74 Volume 3: Rhythm of a Heartbea (1/2)
”You want me to what?!”
”I need you to stay on the outside for a while.”
”How long is 'a while'?”
Little Sister rubbed her hands together nervously.
”Well… truthfully… it might be longer than a while.”
”And how long is 'longer than a while'?”
”…don't know… exactly.”
Mister Light's body stiffened.
He'd only been gone a day this time. While there was a time difference between the outside and her world… he'd thought she'd be excited to see him based off their last interaction. He'd even mentally prepared himself to deal with her ”yang nibbling” so he could hold a coherent conversation with her. But who would have thought he'd have immediately been told to leave after arriving!?
”So, you want me to leave for an indefinite amount of time?”
”En!”
”…”
”..?”
”Did you really think I'd scram just because you asked?!”
”But it's so I can get stronger!”
”You can get plenty strong with me here, guiding you!”
”No I can't!” She stomped her feet, tears starting to form in her eyes. ”Your methods are too slow! I want that poison out, and Shuya will help me do it faster!”
”That damn twig again!”
”Yes, the twig again! She will get me stronger, so strong not even the poison will be able to beat me! Then I can be with you forever and ever!”
”Is that what the twig's telling you? And you believed it?! How can you trust a twig you just met, over me who's been with you from the beginning?!”
She reached out and touched his face, causing him to reflexively flinch for fear of hurting her. But there was no pain in her expression and, in fact, her fingers felt pleasantly cool on his ever-hot skin.
”Because she taught me to touch you and not feel any pain. Could you have done that?”
He hesitated, unwilling to admit to the truth of her statement.
”That's right, you didn't even know that was possible.” Her expression softened as she lowered her hand. ”But it is. She knows things you don't know. Those things will make me strong. Once I'm strong, we can spend all the time we want together.”
”No.”
She looked away from his face, frustrated that he didn't understand. It's not that she wanted him to leave, but if it meant being together longer later… she could endure the separation. Why couldn't he?
”I won't leave. This Shuya… how can I trust her? I don't know her, I've never met her. And you say she doesn't even like me. How do I know her intentions are good? Maybe she's using you to get to me and—”
Reaching up she used a finger to silence him, eyes narrowed and frowning slightly.
”Shuya isn't like that, just like you aren't like that. I had no reason to trust you at the beginning, but I did, and I'm glad I did. It's the same with Shuya. If you can't trust her, trust me.”
Seeing him shake his head in denial, she pleaded even more earnestly with him:
”Please? It won't be forever. Just for a little longer than 'a while'. Give me some time to do this.”
Anxiety welled up within Mister Light as he felt her world's will pressing against him, demanding him to obey.
”Don't do this. Don't push me away.”
Biting her lip and feeling awful for the pain she was causing him, she tried one more time to convince him.
”It'll be alright. I promise, it'll be alright. Trust me. We'll be together forever and ever when we're done. But for now… you need to go home.”
He reached out and tightly grabbed her hand, not caring if he burned her, eyes wide and fearful. The world around him began to darken, a rainstorm forming overhead and a fog swirling around their legs.
”Don't.” He whispered desperately.
She reached up with her free hand, stroking his face gently. How could a stoic face express such sadness? It made her heart ache.
”It won't be forever, I promise.”
He grabbed the hand stroking his face and continued shaking his head. Biting her lip and feeling horrible, she steeled her will and said earnestly:
”I'm sorry, but you need to go now.”