I Wish I'd Never Been Born At All

I Should Never Have Ever Slept

!!!TW!!! Slight mention of sexual harassment, physical abuse, child abandonment, and human experimentation. If you are uncomfortable with any of these topics, skip from when "he smelled like Sakura blossoms" to Korri's eyes snapped open. But if you're here for Scara angst, I recommend you read the nightmare sequence.

Mona woke up in the middle of the night to a small sobbing noise. She blinked.

She didn't remember this... the last thing she remembered was falling unconscious into Korri's arms. (Ugh, into Korri's arms...)

When they went out that day, she went straight to the Cats Tail. She wanted to play some Genius Invocation TCG, just to take her mind off the small fact that she might have a crush on Korri.

The Traveler showed up, and they started playing a card game. "Do you know the Wanderer?" She asked her. "Ah, you mean Scaramou- ah, never mind." Mona looked confused.

"Wait, what's his name?" Lumine looked like she said something she shouldn't have. "Ignore that, Mona, let's just play." Mona looked at her weirdly. "Come on, I want to know more about him!"

Lumine just shook her head. "Mona, lay off it. Don't try to figure out more about him, it'll only end in trouble." Mona huffed. "What? He's a little mischievous, but otherwise really kind."

Lumine almost dropped her cards on the floor. "The Wanderer? Kind? Mona, are you okay?" Mona laughed. "He's really caring, if you could believe it."

The Traveler raised her eyebrows. "I can't." Mona laughed. "Well, he said he has many names! Just tell me one. I'll keep calling him Korri, I just want to know what his real name is."

Lumine sighed. "Fine, but don't tell him, he'll kill me. The name he took up at first was Kunikuzushi." Mona snorted. "Country destroyer? Seriously?" Lumine laughed. "Yeah, that's what I said. Anyways, keep calling him whatever you've been calling him." Mona nodded. "Alright."

After the Traveler left, Mona attempted to play a few more rounds, but an overwhelming dizziness took her over. She felt queasy and sick, so she went over to Korri to try and get them out of there, and- oh.

That's where she was! Korri must've somehow brought her to Albedo's lab for proper treatment. But that didn't explain the crying. She turned over and saw Korri in the cot next to her. I was under the impression that he didn't need sleep. She thought.

She scooted closer to Korri. "Hey!" She whispered. "Korri!" Then she noticed. Small, silver tears running down Korri's cheeks, his face in a distorted and pained expression.

"N-no, please, don't leave me... I've lost everyone else... please, stay... please..." Mona got up from her cot and went over to Korri's. "Hey! Korri! Get up! You're having a nightmare!"

Her only response was a light whine and a "I'm not that bad, please..." Mona groaned. Great, so he wasn't waking up. His arms feebly reached out to grasp something that wasn't there, resulting in another round of shaky sobs. She sighed.

Maybe if he had something to grab...

No. That was violating his personal space. But he looked so helpless, not like the Korri she knew at all. She sighed.

If she could help soothe his nightmares in any way, she would.

She slid into the bed, and noticed he had slightly calmed down. She was a warm body against his cold, lifeless one, so he was probably more content feeling the warmth on the cold snowy mountains of Dragonspine.

She slipped her hands around his waist, and gently rubbed his back. She pulled him in so his head was resting just over her shoulder.

Korri let out a shaky breath, and Mona smiled. He smelled like Sakura blossoms.
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Another TW for those who didn't read the top. Sexual harassment, physical abuse, and child abandonment. Read at your own risk!
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Kunikuzushi was having a nightmare. A bad one. He dreamed he was back in the doctor's laboratory, having "adjustments" done to awaken his powers.