Red, had never felt this fragile. He tried to understand everything that Murasaki was planning but it all sounded very wrong to him. Was it really enough to act different towards her? He felt himself boiling, just a little bit from breaking down.
MURASAKI: Bring it on.
Fine. He never stopped taunting, eh?
He felt the last thread of patience leave him slowly, the more Murasaki look at him teasingly.
MURASAKI: Coward. Just do what I said. You'll never have her anyways.
He finally snapped.
Murasaki backed off a little when he noticed that his aura changed, but that did not stop Red from charging.
RED: You arrogant wuss!
...
Gabby opened the door, curious of all the noise she was hearing, which had been confirmed that she must truly be so, for Murasaki was now held up by the collar by Red himself. Wrath and hatred present on his odd colored eyes. Murasaki's expression was pure shock and fear.
GABBY: Red! What are you doing?
Her voice made him calm down. And he looked at her. Noticing that Murasaki's collar is still on his hands, he released them, even if he's a bit unwilling.
MURASAKI: I...I'm sorry Gab. It was my fault.
Murasaki tried to act sweet and lovey, making him not seem the bad guy by blaming himself than denying it.
RED: Sure it was.
Red bitterly added.
Gabby sighed and looked at her watch.
GABBY: You guys are so...so...frustrating. Is this date still on or not?
MURASAKI: On.
RED: No.
GABBY: Huh?
MURASAKI: Stop being jealous bud.
RED: Don't call me bud. I am not your friend.
GABBY: Eh, I think you two should be the one to date. You need to get along.
MURASAKI/RED: Him? Eww.
They looked at each other with disgust. Gabby smacked her face in great annoyance.
GABBY: I...*ehem* Well, Red, I beg of you to get along with my bestfriend,
MURASAKI: Correction, soon to be boyfriend.
GABBY: Correction, still best friend, since we're going to be hang out together for a while...
MURASAKI: Ugh.
RED: In your face.
GABBY: Red...what did I told you?
RED: Whatever, you're not the boss of me.
GABBY: Please?
Red tried to look stern and heartless, but despite what he thought to be him, emitting an already cold exterior, an intimidating mascot and such, he still failed to look uncaring when it's her.
He cursed under his breath when he knows himself that he lost her tantalizing eyes like a spell.
RED: Frick.
He finally lets his shoulders down.
GABBY: Yay! Now you two should shake hands.
MURASAKI: Seriously? We're not kids you know.
RED: I'm more than a hundred years old and you're treating us like-
Gabby's face turned from a sweet cinammon roll to murder in a matter of seconds. That scared them both as they don't see her that mad so often. She must have been so pissed by now.
GABBY: Just freaking do it guys.
Her voice sounded like death.
Suddenly, Gabby's phone rang and she had to go and take it. Before she did though, she pointed at the two and told them to hurry up and do what she said.
Red and Murasaki's mind were confused as hell, wondering if the matter is to be taken serious.
Red gulped and immediately reached for his hand. Murasaki, even though he hates him with all his heart, set aside his pride and accepted the hand shake.
But he felt his grip tighthen and a killer smile greeted him when he looked at his face. Red was sending world war 3 vibes and Gabby was too occupied to help him escape such misery.
His hand felt like burning and he knew it was intended by the now villainous reaper.
MURASAKI: Okay dude, uh, let go now.
RED: Not unless you apologize first.
MURASAKI: Okay, what the f*ck, you're the one that lost the cool dude, you're the one who should apologize.
RED: Hmph, still too arrogant, huh?
His hand was gripped more tightly and the pain was beginning to be almost unbearable to not notice.
MURASAKI: Ouch, ouch, ouch. Dude my hand!
RED: Apologize or die.
MURASAKI: Pff, you can't kill me.
RED: I can.
Smoke was already present and Murasaki felt worried that his hand won't survive any longer. Was it real smoke or just effects? Either ways it was becoming hot and hot for him to not cry while trying to ignore the pain.
MURASAKI: Damn boy, that's why you don't deserve her. You're a violent psycho.
RED: I saved your life once, you ungrateful brat.
MURASAKI: Psycho!
RED: Brat!
MURASAKI: Psy-
GABBY: You guys done?
MURASAKI: So as I was talking, sorry for everything Red.
Red felt shocked at how suddenly Murasaki's personality changed, and quickly let go of his hand. To which gave the boy relief.
Gabby smiles and gestures them to follow her.
Murasaki touches his sore hand and tried to stop his tears of pain from falling.
He frowned at Red one last time before deciding to follow Gabby.
Red went on his invisible form then proceeded to follow the pair.
He felt visibly uncomfortable watching the two laugh and tell jokes while he's standing at the back like a guard, not relating to anything and not being able to understand a word of what they're talking about. It was starting to get irritating but he knows that if he leaves them be, trouble might arise.
He yawned in boredom and started to mock their conversation with his hand.
Murasaki grins to himself, knowing how much he affected the reaper.
MURASAKI: Want to go for a walk?
GABBY: Yeah sure, I'd need to burn all this fat I've gained anyways.
Red felt very unhappy now that he has to follow them like an idiot.
He felt cold. Maybe not because of the chilling and falling snow. He felt cold not because of the winter, but because he was set aside by them. Gabby wanted to put him on their conversation, but Murasaki would always snatch away his spotlight making him feel like he's excluded. Because really, he was intended so. Since to Murasaki, it was him and her only. And he's just there as protection. A barrier. A shield. Nothing more. Not even a companion. He was truly a third wheel at that point. Maybe worst than that.
He felt so left out. He knows so little about the mortal world, even if he had spent much time there than they did. He felt like he doesn't belong here. Maybe because his kind simply weren't.
GABBY: Red?
MURASAKI: Oh, I'm sure he's fine.
GABBY: Red?
He looked at her, touched, touched that she was still looking out for him, then he only waved her hand at her.
RED: I'm good. Just...have fun.
It broke his heart when she nodded her head. How she looked at Murasaki, the way she looked at him before.
Selfish feelings surfaced, but he tried his best to conceal them. To hide them. But he knows that a it was no use, some still gets out no matter what.
He crumpled his fists, then put them on his pockets, following them silently.
...
Gabby know that she's hurting him. But wanted so much for the Reaper to forget his feelings as well. She doesn't want to hurt him forever. Even if her heart belongs to him as well. For a year, they have experienced tragedies together, and the reaper's concern for her was genuine, more than just because he's her guardian.
She doesn't know why, but...to her eyes he was perfect. What she does know is that, comparing two different individuals is unfair. For her to compare a high level being to a mortal, it was truly not a fair fight.
Murasaki. Murasaki isn't lacking of the qualities she wanted in men, however, her feelings just won't show yet. They weren't romantically involved yet. And she wonders if it's just because she was still in love with Red, or because she just sees him as nothing more than a brother.
She felt hurt, and felt forced, but Murasaki just can't see that, or maybe he refused to see that. He wanted her so badly that he decided to turn blind. Why does he love her? Even if they were apart for so long. Even if she was denying him all along. What does he want? Is his feelings genuine like Red's?
Murasaki noticed the sadness on her eyes, although she was smiling, looking at him, while their hands are entertwined.
He wasn't blind.
He knew it so well.
She still loves him. Even if she knows that the possibility of them being together may not exist at all.
Murasaki knew, that he can't compete with the red reaper, never. Because he's not strong like him. Because he's not as good looking as him. Because he doesn't hold her heart like him. But despite that, he was hoping he'd somehow stand a chance. By doing his best, by showing her that even if he's just a mortal, he can make her happy too. She was. She was happy, but...not that happy. Not that sweet smile in love people do.
Her hands were holding his, but they felt nothing romantic. She...she doesn't love him yet.
He turned away, feeling himself tearing up. He waited so long to reunite with her. Only to see...to see her like this.
Gabby stopped walking, noticing his odd behavior.
GABBY: What's wrong?
Even Red stopped, a five meter distance between him and the pair.
Although he hated MJ as well, concern was still present on his face the moment that Murasaki's eyes started to water.
MURASAKI: When will you love me?
Tears rolled down from his eyes as he broke slowly like a child. He had kept this negative emotions for so long. He had lost his patience.
That's when Red found himself guilty.
MURASAKI: Would you even learn to love me?
Gabby was speechless.
Then Red decided to help the guy instead. Putting aside his feelings that he knew would never blossom into a hopeful future, he considered Murasaki's plan to end everything he have left. So Gabby would finally have the chance to develop her feelings for the hardworking man in front of her.
RED: Just love the guy already. Get this over with. Because I don't want to see this adult man sobbing like a child. It's awkward as hell.
His voice was rash and uncaring, and that was when Gabby realized he gave up.
GABBY: Murasaki, I'm so sorry. Here!
She grabbed the handkerchief on her pocket and wiped the tears on his cheeks.
GABBY: I'll, make it up to you.
Trying not to be obvious, Red turned around, as he tried to maintain his cool, despite her words acting like spears, as they pierce every inch of his heart.
He gave up. Perhaps this time, he surely did. Murasaki can have her, if it means making her have a future she deserves.
The night seemed colder than before...