loyal_cube | ✪ Stop! Beware of crystals! ✪ [Text]

Oh, right, right! Thanks, it looks good. Ahh, I can't wait to try some-!

[Alpha took the box and jumped right into tea preparation, the actions so familiar she could do them in her sleep. She was grateful for something to keep her hands busy, as well as an excuse to not look Cube in the eye as she thought of a way to start the conversation. She really...really could have planned this better.]

[Cube sat there, watching her. It was soothing and somehow relaxing to watch Alpha make Tea and Coffee. He placed his elbows on the counter, something he normally wouldn't do, but he barely noticed as he watched her]

So, did Alpha-chan find any crystals with memories in them yet? The ones I've found are... strange.

Ah-

[Lucky she had her back to him at that moment, so he didn't see her hands shake. She grabbed a rag and wiped up the water she'd spilled, buying herself a few extra seconds to answer.]

Actually...I did. I guess 'strange' is a good word for it, heh. But it was also...very interesting.

[She returned to the counter and set two cups of tea between them, finally looking up at Cube with as much of a smile as she could manage.]

Would you like to see it, Cube? The memory...that I found.

[Oblivious, he smiled and nodded, breathing in the aroma of the tea]

I'd love to see, Alpha-chan. Thank you.

[He took a sip of tea and smiled even though he caught a sense of "something is off" again but waited]

[Alpha headed into the cafe's back room, returning a minute later carrying the crystal wrapped in a small towel. She walked up to the counter across from the demon and hesitated for a long moment before gingerly unwrapping the fragment and holding it up to him.

The memory (http://community.livejournal.com/discedo_logs/305085.html) started playing as soon as her hands touched the surface of the gem. It only lasted a few minutes, but seemed to drag on forever to her- even after watching it over and over, she was fixated. It was only because she had seen it before that she could keep her face neutral now.

When it was over she didn't say a word. Her expression never wavered as she watched Cube's face for the reaction, waiting for the explanation that would fit the pieces together at last.]

[Cube took another sip of tea as his mint haired friend disappeared into the back room. He thought to himself just what could it be of? He knows about the cafe and has seen photos of all who she knew so he was really waiting for a treat.

However, when Alpha returned she didn't look pleased at all... more tranced. He said nothing while he waited for her to unwrap it. It wasn't until then he wondered if she too received a bad memory. At that moment, she touched the crystal and Cube immediate picked up on the familiar voices... shapes. His breathing and posture changed completely. The demon's yellow tinted, tired, blue eyes darted around the floating memory, wide awake now.]

Saburo...

[The name softly poured out of his mouth while his ears twitched to hear more. But then, nothing. The memory was over. However, Cube's eyes still remained where it had been floating. He didn't feel like he was sitting or standing, just floating. Floating in his own mind.

It took a long moment but the small demon started to sink back into his chair, letting his bangs cover his worn face. He tried to keep himself together but that was his brother and sister. That was Oneechan and Niisan... and Jiro. Cube never saw them really fight and for the first time, felt guilty he sided with Saburo about his purpose... but more so he felt an overwhelming sadness as reality sunk back in.

His hands attempted to grab something but nothing was there. They just Balled into fists and his head hung.]

I- I'm sorry.

Edited 2010-07-12 01:27 (UTC)

[Alpha pulled the crystal back as the scene ended, gazing into the surface with a sad smile.]

This is Discedo, isn't it? From the last time I was here. It's weird...even after watching this, I still can't remember anything else. But...

[Triggered by her touch, the memory started again. She turned the crystal over in her hands and continued, speaking over the distant voices.]

'Saburo' and 'Jiro.' I finally know their names. There was always something off about the pictures, but...I didn't expect it to be like this.

[She closed her eyes and sighed.] I didn't know who else to ask. But you knew him. You said it, right? When I arrived here again- "maybe Saburo will come back too." I remembered that. So when I saw him in here, I knew. I had to ask that person, the one who knew everything. I had to ask you.

[Cube's head still hung while he listened. She was asking him for answers. He couldn't sit there... he took a breath and after a moment he lifted his head and tried to look up but stopped short]

Saburo-san... [Cube took his shades down from his bangs and looked at them. They were more scratched the last he saw them but when looking at them be could see that familiar scowl behind them still] ... He sort-of lived with us, back at the apartment. He claimed not to but he was around enough that I like to think he did...

... but... then he stopped coming around. He said it was because we prevented him from his purpose. [Cube couldn't say it was just Alpha. He wouldn't... he just couldn't say that] Saburo-san and Jiro-san are brothers who were created to kill one another... but Jiro-san seemed to not want to fight... or so I thought.

Even though Saburo-san looked down on humans and others emotionally driven, he stayed with us for a while. I'm sure he had feelings but always denied them. He said he didn't have some kind of device that Jiro-san had to have emotions... but he always would make sure Alpha-chan... He'd always be worried about you... even when he said he couldn't be around the apartment anymore.

... I really wish he was still here. Since you both left... nothing has felt the same anymore. We were like a family... Oneechan, Saburo-san, and I...

[He was shaking a little. In a way he felt relieved and in others still very alone]

[Alpha continued staring at the fragment as Cube spoke, running a fingertip across the flickering images.]

I don't...understand. I don't understand any of that. Being created to fight, or not having feelings...it doesn't make any sense to me. But, I still- Every time I looked at the pictures, I could feel it. How much I cared about everyone. How much they meant to me. We were very...very close, weren't we? Every one of those feelings were mine, but it seemed like they belonged to a stranger...

[She wrapped her hands around the crystal and held it close to her chest, as if she could absorb the memories through the surface of the gem. After a moment, she let out a shaky laugh and wiped roughly at her eyes.]

I'm sorry, Cube. I don't know what I expected. I just...wanted everything to make sense again. I wanted to remember...the brothers who were so important to me.

But, I guess I've known it for a while...that that was impossible. Aahh, but it'd be so much easier- !

[The brothers that meant so much to her... he wondered if she was speaking of Saburo and Jiro or... ]

I'm sorry... I... when you returned and didn't know... I thought it would be best not to say anything... seems I was wrong.

[That last part bothered him. Staring at his reflection in his tea... he looked at her with puffy eyes]

... impossible? Does Alpha-chan know of a way to make it easier to remember things?

[The demon perked up. Maybe... maybe he could have Oneechan back!]

Edited 2010-07-12 03:33 (UTC)

[She gave a small shake of her head, looking away thoughtfully. Her own tea sat forgotten on the counter.] There was something else that didn't make sense this whole time...

Cube. When I was here last, I must have told you about my little brother and sister at home, right? Can you...remember what I told you about them? Anything at all?

[Cube took a big breath and let it out]

I remember. Alpha-chan had her camera pictures printed with the help of someone in Discedo... so, I was able to see everyone you talked about... even the Cafe.

Makki-san and Takahiro-san, right? Alpha-chan had a lot of photos of them. I hope I get to meet them and their daughter someday...

[A small smile faded to his lips as he thought back to his dream. The dream of visiting Alpha and others in their worlds and seeing their lives. It's what he desired most... and gave up his most precious memories for]

It'll be nice to meet Alpha-chan's family.

That's right. Makki and Takahiro...and their daughter...

[That one word seemed to trigger something in the green haired girl, and a tear slid down her cheek even as she laughed.]

Ahaha...so I was right...I couldn't be sure just from the pictures, but it really did, explain everything-!

[She laughed again.] Cube, listen...just before I came here, I saw Makki, you know. She had...just turned eighteen. [The daughter in those pictures had to have been at least eight years old. She trusted Cube could do the math.]

But there is no way she could have been Eighteen when...

[Ping!

A light just went off in the demon's head.]

W-wait... if... if Alpha-chan.... if you... if she was just Eighteen then...

[he took another moment, his brows came together in thought. Then he nodded slowly to reassure himself]

Alpha-chan isn't a different Alpha-chan at all! She's the same Alpha-chan but just...

[it felt weird to say it]

... younger?

Edited 2010-07-12 05:02 (UTC)

Eheh...looks that way, huh? It didn't make sense, when I saw the pictures of that girl...but I couldn't be sure. I just didn't know how to ask...

But now I know. It's really amazing, isn't it? To think that the 'me' that was here before...was just from later on. That I couldn't remember anything...because it hadn't happened to 'me' yet!

Which means... [More tears slipped out as she spoke, and she didn't bother wiping them away this time.] Th-that I didn't forget. I promised I wouldn't...and I really didn't. I would never...ever forget Cube or anyone...

[He just couldn't hold his own tears back anymore and smiles while they fell]

Alpha-chan is Oneechan...

[He sits there a moment before climbing down the stool and over to her for a hug]

I thought I'd not get to see you until I came to visit you in your own world. I- I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't say anything...

[he buried his face in her clothes, happy but his tears just wouldn't stop]

Edited 2010-07-12 06:04 (UTC)

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