The Genie's Curse

Chapter 28

Before it reached nightfall, Keme had managed to reach the airport and got the tickets that left the earliest. However, even then he had to book the hotel and stay overnight to leave first thing in the morning. Taking up one room when Tsuru refused to go anywhere alone because of superstition.

"So the Philippines? Never even heard of them..." Tsuru looked through the picture Keme provided her of the place. Every picture was taken near or by a water areas, giving off a relaxing vibe, some pictures felt like she could just jump right into it.

Keme grabbed her bag pushing it against the wall of the room, "Really? Well, there's a first time for everything. I'm sure you'd enjoy it if you took the time."

"Hm." She continued scrolling through the pictures understanding how it worked after the hundredth time Keme and Allon explained it.

"So Tsuru, where would you like to go after the Philippines?" Allon brought up the question he had been wondering for a while. Curious as to what she would do after fulfilling her plan.

She thought about it for a while, "Home, maybe." Playing with her fingers as she said it, as if a sacred subject she looked down and didn't meet their gaze.

Allon smirked mischievously, his eyes slightly glancing over at Keme, "Special man in your life?" He did not notice the shift in her form, disgust clearly in her expression.

Keme glared at him, turning to look at Tsuru expecting her response as he had neither taken notice. Having been caught up in a stare with Allon ready to pounce on him on any given opportunity.

She shook her head, "No, I mean home, as in Arabia."

Allon was still and silent feeling guilty at even asking now. Seeing the shift in her gaze and the now trembling hands near her chest.

Keme's head fell, thinking she perhaps didn't know about the state of the place was in, "Those places are gone, they were taken apart centuries ago Tsuru, not a trace left."

"I KNOW!" She didn't notice herself raising her own voice, "I just want to go there, it's the only real home I've ever known...I just." It was like a stab to her heart which pounded the same spot repeatedly, the reminder that the past would not turn around.

Yet home is a place where beautiful memories unfold, a place which was taken from her centuries ago...

"Keir, look!" Tsuru held up a flower in her hand, small yet delicate blue petals making her eyes sparkle to its beauty.

He looked down at her hands, "It's pretty right?"

"Yes, very. If only there were more." she looked back at the spot where she plucked it from seeing only a few others of its kind.

"Say no more." He smiled at her, "I wish there were more." With those words, she had the good to go. Snapping her fingers once the gloomy-looking patch of dirt was overflowing with the flowers. Every corner you looked at a flower poked out.

"I love our moments like these." she grabbed a bunch of flowers making a small bouquet of them, "Such a shame they'll die."

"Take care of them then." Taking a look at them, "You like them don't you?"

Her lips curled up into a smile looking around and taking a cup. Placing the tips of the flowers inside filling it to the brim with water brought out of thin air, "Yeah, I do."

"Always take care of what you love Tsuru, never know when it won't be around anymore."

Such a sweet and sour memory, of when she did have many to love, now it was all don't to Keir. The only person she had to care for.

Her home drifting to her memories back to all those years

Keme saw her shaking hands and lost gaze, "Just wanna see it one last time...? I'll take you, I promise."

"No, I want to get there on my own, it's something I have to do." She sighed, coming completely back to reality and trying to shake off the feelings of the past. She looked at Allon who looked towards her but not at her. Like he could look through her, a dark aura around his eyes, "Are you alright?"

Keme stared at the boy wondering just what was going through his head to give him such an angry glare. However, he said nothing and waited for the boy to answer himself and come back from his trance.

Allon snapped back to reality and noticed Tsuru talking, "Sure... sure. Tell me about it... Arabia I mean. I don't really remember much of it. I was too young when it all started."

"Arabia." The smile was brought back to her cheeks like old times and she turned to look at Keme, "Do you remember the streets?"

"How to forget!" Keme smiled back at her feeling his cheeks heat up at her stare, having to look away, "I even remembered the smells, the people, the night sky... it's the oddest of things that one seems to never forget."

"I agree, it was just so perfect, so beautiful. Everything was so simple." Her words continued on in company with his tales they both seemed to remember.

Keme stood up from his spot spreading his hands wide, "The sea in its full unknown glory. The highest mountain with a thousand legends and a hundred lies, being a genie, you learned what was real and what was not." He chuckled, "Those were my favorite."

Allon took in on all the fun, "Well my favorite times were the adventures. The truth-seeking journeys with despair on every corner. The near-death experience but the amazing travels for treasures or rumors of glory."

It was her turn to watch in silence, seeing as they didn't seem to be at each other's throats for once. They cheered and laughed together almost like friends but all in all it came to an end. The laughter ceased and the cheers stopped, no more stories, no more tales. The silence was all there was...

"Why are you crying Tsuru?" Keme sounded worried, scurrying to her side to hold her hand, "Is something wrong?"

She tried pulling her hand away but Keme tightened his grip. Allon didn't stand around and grabbed a tissue from the cabinet passing it to her, "Let us help Tsuru."

Tsuru didn't take it and shook her head. She hadn't noticed the tears and just brushed them off with her hand, "I'd rather keep it to myself."

"...you're worrying me." Keme was practically about to beg her while trying to brush off the tears from her cheeks.

Allon crumbled the tissue in his hands and stood in front of her, his expression was that of real worry. Truly concerned about her well being and actually hurt to see her this way, "You're worrying both of us, Tsuru just tell us what the problem is. We've come this far helping you, you can trust us."

Trust... that was a much more complex situation for her than what they thought. Because last time she trusted anyone they deceived her, took everything they could and left her forgotten. So asking her that now was telling her to just get prepared for betrayal. Something she wasn't ready to endure again, not stable enough to take the pain that came afterward.

She didn't want to go back to those days, those nightmares. She just wanted things to finally settle down, to end her nightmare... but the only way she believes in ending it, is the day she ends Keir.