5 He Was The One Who Changed (2/2)

His chest was filled with fire as his heart began to boil. The painful throbbing of his heart and the air that became hard to breath seemed to tell him the bitter truth. Trembling uncontrollably, he couldn't stop the rush of tears.

Was he crying?

The anger and hatred he once felt toward this senior sister of his seemed to evaporate to nothing. Was he even angry in the first place? Did he even hate her? A sweet taste surged out of his throat, and Guiren found himself wearing a bitter smile. Blood trickled down his chin from his unstable mental state and throbbing heart.

Oh, so that was what it was.

That uncomfortable sensation in his chest that always appeared when he looked at Daiyu.

It was not dislike.

It was love.

When did he become so misled to not even know his own heart?

But it was too late now to finally realize it now.

His trembling hands took hold of her cold ones. Lifeless. How strange. It was always this hand that comforted him. He gently took the sharp handle from her fingers, removing it from her heart. Did it hurt? What was her last thought? Was it of him? As he took away the sharp weapon, a small crystal fell out to the ground from her heart. Amidst the dark blood, it seemed to shine exceptionally bright, but it caused Guiren's heart to significantly dull. With his wavering eyes and trembling hands, he reached out to grab the crystal.

His heart seemed to stop.

The key.

********

'If you really want to help me then give me the key.'

'I can't. I can give you anything but the key.'

'Then we have nothing to talk.'

********

Guilt pounded into his bones, and his heart turned ice cold. His eyes blurred as he felt tears clouding his vision. With a shaking voice, he tried to open his mouth many times only to give a wounded cry. Holding her body closer to him, he couldn't even feel himself anymore.

Cold.

His heart.

His tears.

Her hands.

Her body.

She was gone. He had the key. Yet he was devastated.

”I-I was wrong, Daiyu.” But no one acknowledged him. She wasn't here anymore. Her soft voice that'll never comfort him. Her bright eyes won't see him anymore. Her hands that'll never save him.

Gone.

To where, he wasn't sure, but she was no longer with him.

No longer by his side.

From her finger, he slid off a black jade ring. Daiyu had tried to give it to him a year before as a sign of her affection, but Guiren had coldly refused. Yet now he was frantically trying to wear it, holding the slightest hope she would return somehow. But his eyes soon dulled.

”I-I don't need the key. I don't need the sect. I won't yell at you anymore. I'll pay more attention to you. Please....please...please come back. What am I supposed to do...without you...please come back to me.”

His voice carried hollowly into the empty night unanswered.

You never changed.

I did.