The Goddess who Defied Fate

Chapter 6

“I came to see you because it’s nighttime.” Hue’s secretive whisper of a voice had Shiro’s heart pounding for a variety of reasons. “I need you to do something for me.”
“And what the hell would that be?” she asked. Her voice had a bite in it. So why was it that she couldn’t push him away?
“Please come with me.”

Hue brought Shiro to the cabin’s porch, where the other gods had been waiting, including Kuro. The porch faced the water and the breeze from the lake was cool against her skin. She didn’t need to think particularly hard about why she was brought here on a night of a meteor shower.
“You’re late. You’re awfully brave to keep me waiting like this,” Leon said. Shiro ignored him. 
“Sorry, I know you were about to go to sleep,” Teorus smiled. Shiro merely shrugged.
“The inconvenient part of our job, the part we need your power to accomplish,” Leon said.
“We’re going to use this lake to scan for wishes of the children of man. If we were in the heavens, I would fill a basin in an appropriate place with water and create a special reflecting pool to view wishes,” Hue explained.
“But that place doesn’t exist on Earth, so we’re using a lake instead this time,” Teorus said.
“Fine, do what you want,” Shiro grumbled and took a seat on the grass next to the lake.
“Okay, let’s get ready to do this,” Teorus said. “Okay, here I go. Let me borrow your hand.” Shiro begrudgingly put her hand in his.
“Give me your other hand,” Hue said. Kuro stood aside as the Wishes gods and Shiro joined hands, forming a circle.
“Look up, Shiro,” Kuro said.
“I know.” She looked up.
“It’s here,” Leon said. Shiro couldn’t stop a smile from crossing her lips as millions of lights streaked across the night sky. The surface of the lake came alive, glittering as it reflected the light show above.
“We’re surrounded by stars…” she mused. Dying stars.
“And you’re surrounded by the gods of the stars on your right and left,” Teorus said. “Look, those shooting stars carry people’s wishes.”
“Yeah…”
“The bigger the wish, the brighter the light reflected on the water,” Teorus said.
Leon scoffed. “These wishes are all ridiculous.”
Shiro still wondered what someone like him was doing being the minister of the Department of Wishes. Was the king senile or something? Wouldn’t he have been better suited to the department of punishments? The thought almost made her snicker. Leon and Zyglavis, working in the same department. She’d pay real money to see that. Shiro closed her eyes, listening for the voices of the humans’ wishes. Would she be able to hear them as she was now?
“You’re so cute, Shiro. If I heard your wish, I’d personally grant it,” Teorus said.
“You just never stop flirting…” Hue said.
Shiro slowly opened her eyes, attracted by a light brighter than the rest. She leaned closer to it, her hand outstretched. 
“Watch out. Don’t lean that far out over the water to look at the wishes,” Hue warned her. Maybe she should have listened. She reached out to the balls of light on the surface of the lake like she used to. She heard Hue’s voice as he shouted her name. “Shiro!” Illuminated by the powerful light of the shooting star, the world went white around her. This light was so bright.
She felt the star settle between her hands, washing over her. Then she heard a voice. Her voice. Her heart’s voice? “This is… my wish… But how?” Shiro gasped as a scene unfolded in her mind’s eye.
A pool filled with clean water. A million wishes shone, reflected on the surface of the water.
“Please let my newborn daughter grow up to be a kind child.”
“Please let my father get better soon.”
She loved looking at wishes like this. She loved the way humans’ whispered wishes reverberated in her mind.
“Still gazing at the wishes of the children of man?” The owner of that familiar voice wrapped his arms around her from behind. She felt relaxed as she leaned back against his broad chest. “You really do love this place. I love this place too. Just like I love you.” Soft hair, the colour of night. She put her hand on the side of his head, feeling it. He held her in his arms, softly touching her hair as well as he spoke. She could see the silvery moon glowing in the distance. “This fountain is beautiful, of course… But why don’t we visit another fountain on our next rendezvous?”
“Which fountain?” she asked.
“Which fountain? You’re not the type to feign ignorance. You don’t know? There’s only one other fountain I want to visit with you. I want to go to the fountain of love with you so we can swear our eternal love,” his hushed voice whispered in her ear. “Please, come with me. Don’t say no.” she turned around in his arms and cupped his cheek.
“There is no way I would ever say no.” She smiled happily. “Because I love you, Hue.”
“I love you so much.”
“Wake up!” Shiro heard a voice calling out to her. “Shiro!” It took her a while to open her eyes and come to her senses. Both Hue and Shiro were soaking wet. Did she fall into the lake? And why was he staring at her like that?
“Hue…” she mumbled.
“It can’t be… Did you remember?” Hue hugged her tightly. “How can this be…? I was certain I would never see you again.” Shiro’s eyes widened. “But I… I found you again. This is so…” He spoke haltingly like he was forcing the words out and squeezed her tighter. She felt water drip down her face. It was warm; not the water from the lake.
“Hue, um… Shiro is all wet. She’s shaking,” Teorus said. Hue brought her to the shore and snapped his fingers. She was dry, but the shaking didn’t stop.
“You’re still shaking. I should get you into a warm bath,” Hue said.
Shiro rubbed her arm, unable to meet his eyes. Without another word, Hue picked her up. Shiro didn’t react; didn’t meet his eyes. 
“H-hold up. I don’t really know what’s going on, but Shiro looks pretty shook up,” Teorus protested.
“Teo,” Leon said.
“Leo, what in the world is Hue—?”
“Do you ever shut up?” Kuro asked, annoyed.
“Let him do what he wants for right now,” Leon said.
“Let’s go. I’ll draw you a bath right away,” Hue said. Shiro couldn’t find the words to say, so she simply nodded.
“Wait,” Kuro spoke up, taking a step forward. Shiro looked over at her sister. “You’re tired, right? Isn’t running away… what you’re tired of?” Shiro gasped loudly and her eyes widened. Kuro smiled gently; something she didn’t do often. “It’s enough. Stop lying. Stop running away.” Kuro’s eyes became serious. “Shiro, trust your heart.” Shiro’s eyes grew wider. Trust… her heart?

Hue took Shiro inside and sat her down inside the changing room. “Sit there. I’m drawing your bath.” With a snap of his fingers, the water was immediately warm. He snapped his fingers again, filling the tub with water. “You’re trembling… How is this?” He took her by the hand and laced his fingers through hers. When he peered into her eyes from just inches away, she felt her body grow hot.
“Your hands are always so cool, yet… I feel so warm now.” Shiro tried smiling.
“You can’t take a bath in your clothes. Let me help you.”
She shook her head from side to side. “It’s okay, I can do that myself.” She smiled up at him. “I’ll get warmed up. I’ll be fine.”
“I see. Tell me when you’re done. I can’t let anything happen to you.”
“You always worry so much…” she whispered. She kept the smile on her face until he left. Then, she let the floodgates open. She broke down, putting a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out loud. Shiro wasn’t sure how long she stayed curled up in a ball like that before finally getting in the bath.

Even after taking a bath for what felt like an hour, Shiro had to steel her nerves before leaving the bathroom. The bedroom was pitch black.
“Did you warm up?” Hue hugged her from behind. She stiffened. 
“Hue,” Shiro said his name.
“I gave up on everything back then. I thought I had to let you go. I thought that was the end of everything. But now… Wanting to hold you like this again… I know now that I never really gave up hope. It’s like I’m still dreaming. I never thought I’d be able to hold you in my arms like this ever again.” Shiro’s eyes widened at his declaration. He ran a hand through her hair, caressing her cheek and drew his face close to hers.
Before their lips could touch, Shiro pushed him away. “Stop that.”
Hue froze. “I see… Your memories have returned, but your feelings haven’t.” Hue looked sadly away from her.
“You’re wrong!” Shiro shouted. Hue’s eyes widened at her sudden outburst. “I didn’t… forget. I remember everything. I have since the beginning. But I’m different now. I’m not the same goddess I was.” Shiro gripped his shoulders. “I’m human. I’m Kuro’s big sister. You understand, don’t you? Kuro killed people. I knew that. And I protected her. I’m not the goddess you used to love anymore.”
“You don’t love humans anymore?” Hue’s eyes were gentle and kind as he looked down at her, a small smile playing on his lips.
“No, I… I do. I just love Kuro more.”
“She’s your sister. But you’re still you.”
“Am I?”
“You are.” Hue cupped Shiro’s cheek.
“That reminds me. Since the truth is out, I guess I can say what I’ve been wanting to since I first saw you on Earth.” Shiro levelled a serious look at Hue and rested her hands on her hips. “You’re honestly an idiot, aren’t you?” Hue’s eyes widened as Shiro’s demeanour took a sudden turn. “Honestly, I can’t believe you! I knew right away from the minute I saw you. You only have stars in one eye. You tore the stars from your right eye to keep my soul on the reincarnation cycle, didn’t you?! God, what the hell were you even thinking?! Using that forbidden power, getting exiled…” Shiro stopped short when she felt strong arms envelop her. “Oi, weren’t you listening? I’m mad…”
“I know.”
Shiro sighed. She could never win against him. Not then. Not now. “Well, whatever. It’s not like anything can be done about it now. Besides, I don’t hate this life. I love this life. I love this world that I saved. Thank you.” Shiro smiled, the corners of her eyes stinging. Smiling quietly, Hue wiped her tears and pulled her close. He reverently took a section from her hair and brought it to his lips, kissing it silently. Shiro narrowed her eyes as fresh tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “Hue…” She kissed him, and she felt him inhale sharply as if surprised. She pulled away and buried her head in his chest, wrapping her arms around his back. Still hugging, they lay down in bed together. He continued to hold her tenderly, never attempting to do anything more. When Shiro woke up the next morning, he was nowhere to be found. Neither were Leon and Teorus. Only Kuro remained, but she, too, took her leave before the retreat had come to an end.

It was hard for Shiro to focus on work after that. Hiyori was as cheerful as ever. But Shiro didn’t feel like talking to her either. Even if she saw Hue, she wasn’t sure what to say. But not seeing him was worse. Even so, she couldn’t seem to bring herself to go see him.