[
"Mistress…"
"Yeah, Aisha?"
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"What was your life like before you bought me?"
"...I… I thought that I would never be happy. That I would never… that I would never have someone who would love me back."
"Really? Never be happy?"
"Mhm. Fen and 'Kasha are great, you know, great friends… but…I dunno. If I would be happy watching them flirt all the time."
"They're flirting?"
"Of course! Haven't you seen the way they look at each other?"
"...No?"
"Mmmm… anyways… What makes meeeeee happy… is kissing you."
"Ah… really?"
"Yeah. You know… love's a hard thing to find, you know."
"You found me, didn't you?"
"Hee hee. Yeah. And I'm really, really, really really really really-"
"Uuuwww… mistress… please."
"-Lucky. Okay okay. But I'm just so glad I found you."
"I'm glad you found me too."
"Yay! Okay, then what was your life like before you met me?"
"...There was no life before you. Before I met you… I was just an empty husk. But you've given me life. You-"
"Oh, Jeez! You're so corny, Aisha! Come here…"
]
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Aisha gasped as she burst awake, trying to sit upright, but being weighed down by something on her left side.
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Or someone. It was one of the church girls, happily snuggling into her, laying her cheek on top of Aisha's fluffy head.
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"Awake?" The priest asked, her bright blue eyes beaming happily.
"...Yeah." Aisha mumbled, after a bit. "Why am I here? I don't remember…"
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Aisha's eyes narrowed as she saw the priest's expression grow visibly guilty and saddened. In fact, sitting up, she saw…
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"...Hi." She said, glaring at Raxas, Aless, Celeste, Hana, Fei, Vigil, and Kua, all sitting around her bed, as if she was an alcoholic in an intervention. They all had varying dark and guilty expressions on their faces, and Aisha felt a pit open up in her stomach, as they each wouldn't meet her gaze.
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"What's wrong with me?" She asked, specifically turning to Raxas.
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"You're dying." He said, at the same time that everyone else said, "nothing."
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"Sir!" Aless cried, looking at her boss in horror. "You can't just say that-"
"Hey, what's your problem!?" Hana demanded.
"Y-you… you should have given her some time…" Kua whispered quietly.
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"Enough." He said, tiredly. The judge looked older than ever, stress lines and wrinkles enveloping his entire face, combined with the dark circles under his eyes. "She deserves to have the truth."
Fei turned to the frightening man. "But she's-"
"She's more mature than you all think."
"What do you know?" Hana demanded. "You're just her boss!"
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The room erupted into a loud clamor once more, as everyone turned on Raxas, the judge merely staring at his boots with a downcast expression.
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"I don't want to lose her any more than you all do." He said. "But I'm not going to lie to her."
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"What about you?" Aisha said, turning to the priest cuddling her midsection. "What do you say."
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The blonde woman gulped as she looked around the room, sliding out of bed with Aisha and putting her heels back on. After a tense silence, she put a hand on Aisha's shoulder.
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"I'm… I'm sorry." She whispered. "They're right."
"What is it?" Aisha asked quietly.
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The priest extended her finger, pointing at Aisha's collarbone. Aisha followed it, and visibly jumped as she saw what she was pointing at.
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It was the infection from her dream. A black, shadowy spot, right in the middle of her collarbone, that extended outwards, spreading over a good portion of her neck and chest.
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"I… How did this happen?" She asked. Her eyes met the priest's, demanding answers, and she couldn't help but catch the way she glanced at one of the people in the crowd…
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"I'm sorry, Aisha!" Celeste wept, gripping Aisha's amulet in her hand, the black centerstone glimmering evilly. "I didn't realize-"
"It's mist poisoning." The priest explained. "It's… when you're exposed to chaos magic too much."
"I'm sorry!" Celeste whimpered, throwing the necklace on the ground. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I-"
"It's fine." Aisha said tiredly, more out of a desire to get the woman to shut up, than actual forgiveness.
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"If you've been having trouble breathing… or coughing, or… hallucinations…" The priest continued, her mouth going dry. "That's the poisoning. When it reaches your brain… you… you'll…"
"Die." Aisha finished, turning her head on the pillow.
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The priest didn't respond, but Aisha knew, by the look in her eyes, that she was correct. It was obvious. The silence in the room was palpable, as everyone watched as Aisha accepted… the end.
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"What's the cure?" She demanded.
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The priest's face sunk, as she gazed at Aisha with a fearful expression. "There isn't one."
"..."
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There was silence, before…
"Don't fool around." She muttered darkly. "What do I have to do? I have money."
"I…" The priest looked down at her feet. "I… I'm sorry."
"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Aisha shrieked, gripping the collar of the priests' dress. "THERE HAS TO BE A CURE! I-"
"Aisha, stop!" Raxas said, walking over and releasing the death grip the girl had on the poor little priest girl. She fell backwards into Hana's lap, and while usually the succubus would have preyed on the woman, but she decided, with the circumstances…
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"I HAVE TO LIVE!" Aisha shrieked, thrashing madly in Raxas's grip. "I-"
"Stop!" Raxas said firmly. "Aisha-"
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All of a sudden, all the occupants of the room felt an immense pressure, as footsteps, and the sound of immense, restrained power radiated through the room. Raxas's expression instantly grew hateful, as he gripped the broken handle of his greatsword-
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A smug voice spoke up. "Let the girl go, she's right."
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"Your grace!" The priest gasped, laying herself prostrate on the floor.
"YOU!" Raxas spat out, his voice scratching with the sound of absolute hatred. "You just couldn't be happy with politics, you have to-"
"Ho ho." Ifrit smiled condescendingly. "Now now. I have a cure, for little Aisha here. No strings attached."
.
"...What is it?" Aisha croaked hoarsely.
"I can wash all that mist right out of you with my powers." He said absentmindedly, instantly conjuring a flare at his fingertips. Raxas flinched, at which Ifrit laughed nastily, quashing the flare instantly. "Of course, taking my powers into her will…"
"Convert her." Raxas seethed, finishing his sentence.
"Yes."
"You said there were no strings attached." Raxas growled.
"It's not a string." Ifrit tutted, raising his arms in a shrug. "Converting her will save her."
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"What's your stake in this?" Raxas demanded. "Why do this?"
"It's a gift." Ifrit smiled. "An act of benevolence. Like that stone, that you've so carelessly tossed on the floor."
"You did this!?" Hana demanded. "You-"
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Ifrit turned to Hana, and she instantly clammed up, her fight or flight instincts going into overdrive as she realized who she was talking to. A literal god, who could erase her with little effort.
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"Never seen a succubus wearing clothes before." Ifrit muttered, after a tense silence. "Anyways, decide now. Take it, or don't take it."
"Hardly seems like a choice." Aless said bitterly.
"This was your plan the whole time." Aisha closed her eyes. "...I despise you."
Ifrit raised an eyebrow. "Is that a no?"
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"Aisha, you should take it!" The entire room chorused, in a variety of pitches and tones. Notably absent from the group cry was Raxas, who, when Aisha looked at him, gave back a knowing look.
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Aisha closed her eyes again. That was right… Raxas was the only other person who knew… about what the conversion did.
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[
"The conversion changes people." Amir muttered. "It makes them…"
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"different."
]
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It made them lose what was most important to them. Amir's brother lost his determination to help his youngest brother. If she took Ifrit's offer… would she lose…
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Would she lose mistress?
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Aisha's gaze hardened. Death was worse.
"Fuck you." She spat.
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For the first time, Ifrit's expression curled into one of distaste, as his will was denied to him once more. The pressure in the room increased for a split second, beginning to crush Aisha, but just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished.
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"Fine then." Ifrit said disdainfully. "Die."
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He slammed the door behind him, leaving six shocked faces behind.
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"Aisha, why did you do that!?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Why would you throw away your life like that!?"
"We-"
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"Stop." Raxas growled. "Aisha has made her choice. I'm leaving."
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The tall man got up from his seat, starting to make his way to the exit, but he stopped at the foot of Aisha's bed.
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He took Aisha's hand in one of his calloused, marred hands, squeezing it in a compassionate gesture. She looked into his eyes, and while he hid it well, behind his neutral expression was immense grief, and sadness. Whenever they made eye contact, Aisha felt... that in a lost of ways, she and Raxas were similar, that they had the same look in their eyes.
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But Aisha had never had that look in her face.
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"I'm sorry." He said quietly, before leaving.
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"Aisha…" Aless was the next to come up to her bed. "...Why?"
"I didn't want to take it." Aisha murmured.
"What could possibly be worse than death!?" Aless demanded. "Why… why are you so selfish?! Maybe… you think death is the better choice, but what about us!? What about… your friends? I don't… I don't want to lose… another friend…"
"I'm sorry." Aisha said softly, the words feeling fake in her mouth.
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Aless gripped one of Aisha's hands in both of hers, trembling as she brought her forehead to it. For a while, she held her hand, shaking, holding back tears, but eventually, Aless got up, leaving too.
.
"I have to visit Kro." She muttered.
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Kua, Fei, and Vigil were next.
"Aisha…" Vigil sighed. "I know… we don't know you that well."
"Yeah, but you've been a great friend!" Fei quipped, trying to stay bubbly and happy, but… failing. "Us lady adventurers have to stick together, right?"
"Yeah." Kua whispered shyly, the amazon staring at her shuffling feet. "So… we'll be there for you. Until the end."
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The girls left too. Fei shot a backwards glance at Aisha, right before she closed the door behind her.
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Aisha turned her head to see Celeste and Hana. Her two… friends with… varying benefits. Each one took a place on either side of Aisha's bed, holding one of her hands in theirs.
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"Aisha…" Celeste muttered. "I… I love you. We love you. I know you… really love that girl, that you keep talking about… But… is she worth-"
"Yes." Aisha answered instantly.
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Celeste gave her a look that told Aisha she didn't understand her, but she just sighed, patting Aisha on the head.
"We'll take care of you, for as long as you have." She whispered. "I'm… honestly. I'm so sorry… For… everything. For… causing this. For forcing you to be my girlfriend. For… not being there for you…"
"It's okay." Aisha whispered, meaning it this time.
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Aisha looked then at Hana, whose eyes told Aisha that she understood her decision. She bit her lip, looking like she wanted to say something, but she held her tongue.
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"Let's get you home, okay?" She said gently, patting Aisha's hand. "Let's not… be here."
"Oh!" The priest squeaked from her corner, having moved there as to not spoil the moment. "Your stuff. Of course. It's here."
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Hana passed Aisha's clothes to Celeste, who started to dress the girl. Hana leaned over to the priest.
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"How long?" She whispered.
"I don't know."
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The walk down the steps of the church was slow, partially because of the mood, but also because the two women insisting on sticking to the girl. Celeste held Aisha's right hand, while Hana wrapped her arm around Aisha's shoulder on the other side.
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Every step they took from that church was like the ticking of a clock hand, each footfall a second off of Aisha's remaining time. Her heart pounded in her ears, and her breath quickened - at this point, she didn't know if it was because of the poisoning or not.
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Tick.
.
Tock.
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Hana said something, but Aisha didn't hear her.
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Tick.
.
Tock.
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Aisha palmed the object that Raxas had given her. It was her adventuring plate. There was now a large V carved onto it.
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Tick.
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They were at the bottom of the stairs.
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Celeste sighed. "Well, why don't we all go home, and we can all take a bath together! Doesn't that sound like fun?"
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Heart pounding in her ears, Aisha wrenched herself away from Hana and Celeste's comforting grips, sprinting away into the distance, the hardest her little legs could, which turned out to be, extremely fast.
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"Aisha!" Celeste cried in shock. "What are you-"
"We have to catch her!" Hana cried.
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Hana took off, flying through the streets, and Celeste ran two steps in her heels-
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"What are you doing?" Hana asked incredulously, watching as Celeste panted, leaning over and bracing herself on her knees.
"You go ahead." Celeste panted. "I can't…"
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Hana rolled her eyes as she took chase.
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The demon soared through the streets, keeping a careful eye on Aisha as the girl ran wildly, arms swinging wildly, as she pushed through crowds of people, passerby stopping and staring at the sight. Thankfully, the commotion drew a bit of attention away from Hana.
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Hana cursed as Aisha took a sharp turn, making her almost crash into a wall as she had to switch directions hastily in order to catch up with the girl. Hana was surprised. Aisha had been much slower when they had first met, but a combination of her desperation, and her training, sped her up immensely. Hana was starting to worry - she was flying slower than Aisha, and she was quickly getting smaller and smaller in her view.
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Speaking of desperation… Hana felt something was off. Although her form was wild, the way Aisha ran, was the movement of someone who had a specific destination in mind.
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And Hana quickly figured out what it was, when Aisha barged into the doors of the adventuring hall. The demon sighed as she landed outside the doors, peeking in to see the destruction Aisha had left in her wake. Tables and chairs were flipped over, and in a straight line from the doorway to the front desk, disgruntled adventurers murmured amongst themselves. The job board was a mess, papers on the ground, but Hana could see where one was missing, as half of the paper was still tacked onto the board, the other half ripped off.
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"Guess little Aisha's really excited to go sapphire." Someone muttered.
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Hana raised her eyebrows. Where was Aisha? She couldn't have…
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She looked at a broken window, and sighed.
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"Aisha, wait!" She called out, as she climbed through the broken window ungracefully, seeing the girl running towards the city limits. "Please- I-... Ugh!"
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She had to run out of energy at some point, right?
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As it turned out, she did run out of energy, but only after three hours of a full sprint. By that time, Hana had lost the girl in her sights, but she kept flying, despite the burning in her wings, and the hopelessness of her pursuit. She was beginning to lose hope, when she caught the sight of a fire, burning brightly under the branches of a tree.
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She found Aisha at the base, and she groaned as she landed, folding her wings into her back and resting the poor appendages. She glared daggers into the little fey, stumbling slightly, her body feeling weak.
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"Hana?" Aisha whispered. "I… why are you here?"
"You didn't notice, when I was screaming your name, the entire time?!" Hana cried incredulously. "You've got such large ears, how come you didn't hear me!?"
"I…" Aisha whispered. "I'm sorry."
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Aisha pulled her legs into her chest, and Hana instantly felt her irritation disappear, seeing the girl tremble. She sat down next to Aisha, wrapping her arms around the small girl, and pulling Aisha into her.
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"Aisha…" She sighed… "What are you doing?"
"I-I'm going on a contract." She responded shakily. "I h-have to get to diamond. I have to get diamond, and then, mistress will be really impressed, and then we can live together forever-"
"Aisha…" Hana said sadly. "I don't… dear…"
"I'm cold." Aisha whispered fearfully. "I'm cold… please… please hold me. "
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Hana pulled Aisha into her lap, turning her around so they were chest-to-chest. Aisha wrapped her trembling arms around Hana, squeezing the demon in a death grip as she buried her face into Hana's sweaty chest.
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"Aisha…" Hana said softly. "Come back… please. Come back, and me and 'Lessy… we'll take care of you. We'll have fun. Until you…"
"No." Aisha shocked her head frantically. "I'm not going to die. I'm not going to die. I can't die. I can't die. This life… this life isn't mine. I don't get to lose it. I-I-It's… it belongs to my mistress. So, until s-she tells me to, I won't die. I can't die."
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Hana couldn't do anything but stare sadly at Aisha, as she started to break down in her arms, her words going shaky.
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"I can't die. I can't die. She's waiting for me. She's waiting for me. She's-"
"Aisha, please!" Hana cried. "Just come home. You still have-"
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"DON'T SAY THAT WORD!" Aisha shrieked, pushing herself off Hana's lap, and the succubus backwards onto the dirt. "THAT PLACE ISN'T HOME! I DON'T HAVE A HOME! MY HOME WAS WITH HER, AND NOW- NOW I-"
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Hana reached out her hand, "Aisha, please-"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Aisha screamed. "YOU'RE NOT HER! YOU'RE ALL JUST REPLACEMENTS! YOU'RE ALL FAKE! YOU'LL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS HER! YOU'LL NEVER… be as… good as her…"
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Aisha broke down into sobs, tears flowing freely down her face as Hana once more crawled over to the girl, enveloping her in her soft body. Hana was hurt, but… seeing the fear, anger, and desperation in Aisha's face, she realized that what Aisha needed most was someone to comfort her.
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It was so sad… Everyone thought that Aisha was a hardened, mature girl, who just liked to act childish, but… Hana had seen inside her. Seen the truth.
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On the inside… Aisha really was just a sweet, childish, needy girl. Who loved cuddles, sweet things, kisses, and being taken care of… who was forced to act so sullen, so dark, because she had never been loved before… because she had been touched by so much darkness.
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"Oh Aisha…" She whispered, as she pulled the girl back in. "You just love to run from your problems, don't you?"
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Aisha whimpered, still sobbing, in her arms.
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"I've seen a lot of people die." Hana muttered. "More than I can count. And everybody… gets scared when they're about to."
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"But I've never hurt so much, watching someone else die." Hana whispered. "Aisha… you're so sweet… It's such a shame that you had to end up like this…In another life, you would have been so happy…"
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"I'm scared." Aisha croaked. "It's so unfair. I finally… I was happy. And then… it was ripped away from me. And now… now I can't ever…"
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"I can't ever hug her again." Aisha whimpered. "I can't ever talk to her again. I can't ever kiss her again, I'll never… I'll never get to marry her, or have sex with her, or-or…"
"Aisha…"
"I can't…" Aisha turned to Hana, with a look of absolute fear and panic. Hana's heart wrenched. "I can't remember her name. I can't remember it. I-I… I knew her as mistress, for so long… I don't remember her name. I-I can't remember any of your names. I don't want to- I don't want to die without… knowing anybody's name."
.
"What's your name?" Aisha begged, her face squeezed into an ugly, tearful expression, desperate. "P-please. I want to… I want to know someone's name before I die. I don't…"
"It's Hana." The demon whispered, pulling Aisha in. "It's Hana."
"I'm scared." Aisha repeated. "I'm scared, Hana. I feel so tired, b-but I don't know… I don't know if I'll wake up, if I-I-I do. If I go to sleep. I want to- I want to… I-I-I-I-"
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Hana hugged the girl tight as she stroked her fluffy ears lovingly, for whatever little comfort it gave Aisha. The girl babbled incoherently against her breast, and Hana shushed her.
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"You can rest." Hana whispered. "You've been a good girl. It's okay."
"But I… But I…"
"It's okay." Hana said sadly. "It's okay. Everything will be okay."
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Aisha's words turned into a whisper as her eyes closed, and Hana held the girl, for what could be the last time she ever slept.