Reborn

10: Hesitation

Breaks:

[L1,2 or 3] represents the beginning of a flashback to one of Elena's past lives. There is more than one past life, which is why I have put up the numbers. Though, these memories are usually told as she sleeps and Elena herself cannot remember them.

[/L1,2 or 3] represents the end of a flashback to one of Elena's past lives.

[P] represents the beginning of a retelling of a memory in Elena's current life.

[/P] represents the end of a retelling of a memory in Elena's current life.

~3~ is just a timeskip

AN: Enjoy the story!

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After some time, there were no more tears left to give. Slowly my hard breaths calmed and my body no longer shook with every one I tried to force into my lungs. Practically boneless, I stayed where I was until the deep tiredness one can only get from expending all their emotions fell over me. Only this time, the drain wasn't nearly as taxing as I had expected. There was no deep ache left in me, like how there would always be when I cried alone- no emptiness. Instead, all that was left was a calm peace within me that left me content to simply be.

Through it all Yugo had only held on to me. He hadn't said anything more, nor had he needed to. He just... stayed. It was an action that, despite the all encompassing hurt that had run through me, brought a sense of relief that I hadn't ever really felt before.

Until a startling thought occurred to me which ripped my mind out of the peace I had been enjoying.

"Yugo?" With how comfortable I was mixing with my tiredness, the last thing I wanted to do was move. A questioning hum answered my call, informing me that he was listening, and I got the feeling he didn't really want to move either. "Yugo... please be weary of the villagers. Do not be alone around them."

That got his attention. Yugo tensed, then pulled away just enough for our gazes to meet. His brows had pulled together with worry while his mouth pursed with confusion. "What do you mean?"

In that moment I wished that he could simply see into my thoughts and just understand. At least then I wouldn't need to find a way to get my jumbled worries and reasons straightened out enough to be spoken aloud. Maybe my fear was unnecessary, maybe the villagers had changed. Still, I didn't want to risk Yugo's safety on a mere chance. If he wasn't careful he could get hurt. Like I had.

"They... they don't like the magic I have." I tried to explain. My voice fell even quieter, "and they... get rid of the things that they're scared of." For a moment I paused as his eyes widened and realization seemed to pool there. I hesitated but soon added how, "we have the same type of magic," just to make sure Yugo could know what I was trying to tell him. "So... please, try to be with someone when you go near them."

Gaze sharp with alertness, Yugo gave me a nod. "Okay."

Relieved, I felt my shoulders drop with a release of tension. Then I blinked, surprised. Small purple flowers were gently floating down from above. We both sort of stared, stunned at the pretty but odd sight. Then Yugo held out a hand and one of the blossoms landed on his palm for him to inspect. I lifted one up that had landed on the ground and I let out a small gasp of surprise. It was the special flower that can be used to create more of my pain tonic! With how rarely the flower actually bloomed, it had been hard to come by.

When I looked above, it was to spot how Moon held a little more than a handful left in his arms. He grabbed one at a time and let them fall onto us, his mouth wide with a grin that showed all his teeth.