a spider trapped on a cherry tree

Chapter 3 - Before It's Too Late! - Part 3 (Aoi)

Insert song: Taeyeon - Rescue Me

- The wedding night -

"What happened to Peter, Mika-kun? You're... you're not the one who causes this, aren't you?" I wanted it to be a false guess.

"I am. Indirectly," he answered.

"How? What did you do to him?" I ran nearer to where they were.

"I kidnapped you. He came to save you from me," he lowered himself and touched Peter's forehead, "He tried to enter the back gate. You know what's in there."

"He was cursed by Jorogumo?" I panicked.

"Yes. He was bitten by her."

"Oh god," I lifted Peter's upper body and held him in my arms, "What should we do? Will he die?"

"If not saved quickly," he grimly revealed.

"You need to save him, Mika-kun. I can't... I won't forgive myself if he...," I couldn't continue and started crying.

"Not me, you. Only you can, Aoi-kun," he cupped my head.

"But I've only exorcised a stray spirit before. I don't think I'll be able to do this," I hugged Peter.

"If not you, who will? I'm born out of the void. I can only create and cause dark forces," Mikaboshi stated the undeniable fact, "There is no one here who can rescue him but you."

I leaned my face on Peter's face. It was ice cold. When he felt my skin touched his, Peter forced a smile. He grabbed my hand tight. But he couldn't hold the pain for long and his face turned dark again. I couldn't bear seeing Peter in that state anymore.

"Help me do it, Mika-kun. Please!" I requested.

"I'll be right here with you like I always do," he promised.

"W-what should we do first?"

"Move to the world of the living. It may weaken the curse."

"But what about the deal?"

"I'll be the one who'll bring you there. I'll be the one who'll pay the price."

"But Mika-kun that's...."

"We want to save Peter, no? Put your trust on me," he put his hand on top of mine.

"Okay," I caressed Peter's pale cheek, "I trust you."

Mikaboshi created a portal in front of us, leading to the human world. He gently wrapped Peter with his dark tentacles and carried the body.

"This is...," I paused when I recognized the place.

"The place of our very first meeting," he laid Peter on the ground with care, "Remember the steps."

I pressed the spider logo on Peter's suit. I opened it until his waist and looked for the blackest part. It was on his left shoulder. I wish the curse to flow out from there. Little by little the curse streamed into the air.

"Guh," Peter let out a pained grunt.

His expression made me hesitate. I was scared what I did was hurting him. The curse stopped spilling out and entered Peter again.

"Don't be scared, Aoi-kun. Stay focused," Mikaboshi told.

I kept telling myself over and over I can beat the curse and I will take the pain away from Peter. With my firmer mind, the curse's direction of flow was reversed back and it resumed in escaping from Peter. It took a few moments until it was completely out of him. I formed the swarm of curses into a concentrated sphere.