When the 'date' was over, Gabby was so excited to go home, while Murasaki was left longing for more. Gabby noticed him breathe heavily, and it concerned her so much.
Guilty that he may not have had a good time, she slowly pats his shoulder, making him look at her with wonder.
GABBY: Want to play Snake and Ladder next? I'll order pizza.
He laughs gently and pinches her cheeks playfully. They were so soft. He blushed, and felt a bit sad when it was over. Good thing she didn't react any different, instead she just giggled, and maybe took it as a friendly gesture?
MURASAKI: Alright.
...
It felt so long, so horrible, tailing the two chatting lovebirds. Harry felt like throwing up. He also felt like his heart was burning, like he wanted to interrupt them so badly and just straight up tell them to split apart and go home already. It's already 7 pm.
HOSHI: So how does this...this work? Why are you getting paid jewels? If you don't need food at all? What's those for then?
FAE: Those jewels contain flare. Our bodies sometimes can't contain too much flare or we'll explode. We'll handle more when we get older or when we train our bodies to handle more. If we lose some flare and stuff, we can absorb the jewels! Pretty cool, huh?
HOSHI: Nice...so, uh..you can sell these, right?
FAE: Of course we can!
HOSHI: Wow. Now I'm jealous. I don't get paid for doing demon stuff.
FAE: Lucifer's stingy, huh?
HOSHI: For real.
The two giggled, while Harry grits his teeth, quite bitter they're having fun.
FAE: So...what are these flowers called again?
HOSHI: Forget-me-not flowers.
FAE: Ow. Wow. Really?
HOSHI: Yeah, really.
FAE: Why, though?
HOSHI: But I didn't name them.
FAE: No, I mean...why 'these' flowers?
HOSHI: Ah, well..they kinda remind me of your eyes. Plus, ah, its name...it's what I exactly want to tell you too.
FAE: Aww, so cute!
HARRY: Yeah, but I often see those flowers at funerals. He either snatched it on a poor grandma's garden, or an unsecured tomb, I bet.
HOSHI: Oh? Sorry, I forgot you were still there.
Hoshi turned around, his teal eyes shotting a venomous glare at his direction. Harry paid no mind however, and simply stuck out his tongue.
HOSHI: What a brat.
FAE: Huh?
HOSHI: If someone should be angry, it should be me. Don't think I forgot how you made fun of my name.
HARRY: Well it really is so, you know! It's a common girl's name and...and, you're a guy.
HOSHI: It's a unisex name, damn it!
FAE: That's it? I think Hoshi's a pretty name. It matches the small tattoo on your left cheek. And your blonde hair, and that cute floofs in it! Star suits you just fine! You're bright and-
HARRY: Okay, fine! Whatever! I get it!
HOSHI: At least it's better than your boring name.
HARRY: Boring? My name means estate ruler for goodness sake!
HOSHI: Very popular too. Which makes it too common, and therefore-Boring.
HARRY: Hey, you take that back you freaking demon! My name is a good name!
HOSHI: Bland. And nothing special.
HARRY: You're really trying me, huh?
The two began pushing each other, while Fae tries her best to stop them.
She wasn't succesful however, and soon enough, the two were on the ground, stepping on each other's faces and attempting to bite each other's fingers.
FAE: How old are you guys? Even a 14 year old wouldn't behave like this!
HARRY: My name is better than yours! That's why it's popular! Harry Potter too! Do you know that? The main character is named Harry because Harry rocks!
HOSHI: Pfff, that book isn't even on trending anymore.
HARRY: It's still gold!
Fae face palmed as she contemplates on what to do next. Should she turn into a fox and finally end their feud? But somehow she gets the feeling that she'd just get thrown away. Harry is a strong combatant, and same with Hoshi. Plus, she wasn't even sure if it's gonna stop them. They won't even listen to her.
Meanwhile, Humility's secret summon went back to him to report. The white reaper sighed heavily. Then quickly comes to their location.
The two were still, ungraciously brawling on the road as Fae awkwardly tries to stop them.
Humility sighed. And reminded himself that violence won't always be the answer.
HUMILITY: Guys, stop it.
But they ignored him.
Again and again he pleaded, but they continued smacking each other and insulting the other's name.
Irritated, he summons his whip. Then hits their center to split the two apart.
HARRY: That freaking hurts!
But when he turned around to see Humility's pissed face, he quickly turned into a cat and hid behind Fae.
Hoshi too, quickly rose his hands in submission.
Humility looks at Fae rather apologetic, then grabs the cat behind her leg.
HUMILITY: I'm sorry. Harry's never grown. I don't know why, but he just never did. May I know the reason for their fight?
FAE: Uh...well, they were fighting about which name was better.
HUMILITY: Pardon? Am I hearing it correctly?
FAE: Yeah, about whose name's better.
HUMILITY: What?!
The white reaper quickly glares at Harry, who had his cat erect straight up, shivering at his cold stare.
HUMILITY: I told you to behave yourself. And I thought you won't cause trouble. What's the matter with you?
HOSHI: He's prolly just jealous.
HARRY: No, you! I hate you!
HOSHI: For stealing your girl? That I have your girl? Aww, crybaby!
HARRY: You take it back!
HOSHI: That I have your girl?
HARRY: No! That I'm a crybaby!
HUMILITY: Oh, for goodness sake give me a break! I have to double my tasks to make up for Red and you! Just so I could sustain your flares! Please behave! Gosh, I...it's hard to keep my cool with things like these continuing to happen. I feel...like I might go crazy any moment now!
HARRY: So..sorry bud.
HUMILITY: I...crap, sorry too. Just...please behave. Fae, did you have fun though?
FAE: I..I did. I mean, sure it may not be the most peaceful date I've been on but hey, it's cool.
HUMILITY: Sorry, Fae. He's just a little jealous so-
HARRY: No, I'm not! You're jealous!
HUMILITY: (Shut up, Harry! Stop denying it and say sorry to both of them! It's not Fae's fault you're insecure!) Yeah?
HARRY: Yeah, I'm not!
HUMILITY: Pff, whatever you say.
HOSHI: If he's not, then why press him? Let him lie to himself, let him waste a girl so I can have her.
FAE: Harry, you're crying, he got under your skin, huh?
HARRY: No, they're not tears! They're sweat! Cats sweat from their eyes too! Bet ya didn't know that, huh?
FAE: I'm not a cat expert but that, I know for a fact is a lie... Stop doing that to yourself, and Hoshi, please apologize.
HOSHI: Apologize? Apologize for what? He should apologize! He started it!
FAE: Please?
HOSHI: No, not even a billion please would change my mind per-
*Fae kisses him on the cheek.*
HOSHI: Yeah, bud, sorry. Very sorry, it's all my fault. Don't cry. Want some catnip?
...
Deltha seems to be having a blast playing with Storm, with Zefarih watching him carefully, although never in a billion years have he imagined himself doing this sort of job before. He found himself observing the man, pitying him. Since his wrinkly and crippled look, felt painful, and somehow he was simply amazed that despite it, he looks rather happy. Honestly if it were him, he'd rather kill himself that live another day looking like that, and feeling what must have been worse than hell.
DELTHA: Sorry.
ZEFARIH: Huh?
He was surprised by the words that came out of the old man's crusty dry lips. More so, why apologize out of the blue?
DELTHA: Sorry for this. For...troubling you.
The old man's gaze turned sadder, rather depressed, and Zefarih grew mildly concerned. It was the first time he spoke in such a tone.
ZEFARIH: Yeah. I don't care, just...be careful. You're old and they'd kill me if they find you dead or something.
DELTHA: Yeah, but...I...I realized how sad a mortal's last days must have felt.
Storm began licking his fingers, but his smile did not appear like they usually would. He appeared to be staring at the window. It was pitch black outside, couldn't even see the figures. And how the demon wondered of what the old man must be seeing. Should he be alarmed?
ZEFARIH: Yeah, it must have been painful. Good thing we...I mean I...I don't age.
DELTHA: Yeah...I might be the first reaper to...
He sounded more depressed, his stare, still fixed to the blackness outside.
DELTHA: ...to ever die.
Zefarih wasn't sure how to feel. It feels weird having someone said those words to you. It was his first time hearing such. He's a demon, few things scare him. Although somehow, his words of dying and such, it...it somehow was enough to send chills on his spine.
ZEFARIH: Stop saying things like that, old man. You'd live longer. Maybe even outlive me or who knows? We just have to get that fairy and-
He was trying to be positive but was cut short.
DELTHA: What if it's too late? Everyday, I feel like dying. And it hurts everywhere. So at least, help me...help me see the sun rise tomorrow because...I don't feel so good anymore.
There was little hope in his voice, and Zefarih could feel that every word was harder to say, and he was even breathing longer than usual. The old man...was catching his breath between every word.
ZEFARIH: Hey, stop sounding like a dying man. You won't die. I promise you, we'd get your powers back.
DELTHA: How? When? I don't know how old my body is anymore. And if I'm gonna die, I just...at least want to...see it. Rise one more time. At least I'd feel like my sister's there. And besides, I realized that I have no use in this world anymore. Perhaps it's God's way to punish me abandoning my responsibilities.
The old man then mumbled the other words, perhaps they were regrets. Since a tear fell down from one of his eyes, as he kept patting the oblivious dog's head, wagging its tail at him, trying to cheer him up. But it was of no use. Death is near for him. He could feel it.
ZEFARIH: Stop saying that. Your God is loving, kind. He won't-
DELTHA: He can be wrathful. I know, 'cause I've seen it. Stop making me hope when there's clearly none. Do it for the young reaper, but I don't care nor hope I'd be back to normal. Perhaps...I've lived enough. After all, everything comes to an end. Maybe this is mine.
ZEFARIH: Oi, enough with this talk. It's too damn gloomy, and it's not like I know what to say anymore.
DELTHA: Just...make this dying man's last wish come true. Let me see the sun rise again. Let me feel the warmth once more. This room...bores me.
ZEFARIH: But hey, I'm not allowed to-
DELTHA: Please...it's the first and last thing I'd ask of anyone.
The room grew silent, except for Deltha's haggard breathing. And by then, the White Prince thought that perhaps the demon won't agree, until he stood up, and smiles at him.
ZEFARIH: Alright, tomorrow then. You'd get your wish come true.