𝐓𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓

SHE HATES THE SUN.

«I don't like you» Yuki blurted out, narrowing her eyes at the guy in front of her.

He sighed, his grip on the small bouquet in his hand loosening. Technicolor flowers falling at his feet and blown away by the feather-like gusts of wind were all that remained of his juvenile attempt to ask her out.

«Wait, I did not mean to sound rude. – she added shortly – I'm not invested into relationships» she said, a small smile curling her lips. Was it the truth, though?

It was the fourth guy in a few months that had settled down and asked for her hand. Yuki, however, turned their offers down without even pondering on whether they deserved a chance, or not. She did not like them, she had never lied about it. Yet, her heart was not unclaimed. She refused to admit it, God, she was far from swallowing her pride and let the name of the man she loved falling from her rosy lips.

The guy nodded in defeat and took his leave in embarrassment. She did not feel any kind of remorse for breaking hearts throughout the Temple. No one deserved her, but him.

She sighed and glanced up at the sun. Another sunny day. She loathed the sun. During the hot summer days, when the scorching heat of the sun blessed the Earth with its rays, she was forced to spend most of the day alone. He could not walk by her side, stroking her cheek as they sat on a bench, or going downtown to buy whatever he thought would suit his faithful companion.

What was she to Douma?

She was going to turn seventeen in a few months. She was not a kid anymore. Most of her friends had already gotten married, some of them were even pregnant. Still, there she was, waiting for him to keep the stupid promise he had made years ago.

"When you will grow up, I'm going to marry you".

His words rang in her head day and night. Maybe, she should have stopped waiting for him. Maybe, she should have moved on. All he had ever done was controlling her, gently imposing his authority on her and compelling her to become what she learnt was a slayer.
She had million reasons to hate him, yet she held on the only one which gave her hope: her love for him.

She heard light footsteps making their way to her for quite a bit now. Her senses had become sharper. The hard training sessions she had been attending had forged her into a skilled warrior. No one could keep up with her, no one except him. However, her physical abilities were not enough to keep up with gods. That is why she had been attending other lessons with another God. Every single time she was in his presence, she found it hard to breathe.

ONE YEAR AGO.

«May I introduce you to Kokushibo-dono?» Douma purred, his cold breath fanning the shell of her ear. His hands were resting on her shoulders, gently squeezing them, and his tall figure towered over her from behind. His shadow loomed into the mostly dark room and overlapped hers.

The only visible track of her shadow was the hilt of her katana, protruding from her left hip. A white snowflake.

«He is a powerful God, darling. Even stronger than me!» he crooned, sending shivers down her spine. Her blue eyes widened as a man emerged from the dark. Six bloodshot eyes locked with hers and something within her cracked. Danger, she felt danger and a mystical track of sorrow enveloping her heart. What was it? Did she know that man?