HAVEN || SATORU GOJO

XXXI

THERE WAS A REASON RIEKA never consumed human souls. Not only was it apart of her self principals .. but it felt wrong. the desire of wanting to consume something so similar to yourself made her skin crawl, itch. It made her feel like she was truly a monster.

In a way .. like cannibalism.

It was the same reaction when she ate the soul of a god. Her body wanted to reject it so greatly that it forced her to stay away from human souls.

But walking around the dead zone of Shibuya ..

There were so many that didn't ascend, lost and would be stranded forever.

But Rieka was tired of caring, tired of being kind. The setting sun extinguished another day of light and the overwhelming wretched sensation of misery and bleakness made her soul feel less clean.

Like she saw less beauty in the world.

There weren't enough apologies given from the world to make up for all of the loss that was sustained.

The wound of anger that would never close, never oxidize, never scar.

It would continue to burn and sting as the truthful reality of it all made contact.

Their world did not grow kinder .. and the desire to make it become something beautiful had wilted like the tulips that hung dry from her back porch, the piece of god that everyone believed in .. it all was a sham.

It felt like she was living a life of punishment.

"Are you being serious .. sensei?" Rieka's fist made contact with the wall as it shook the entire basement, leaving a spiderweb crack that continued to crumble.

Masamichi Yaga sat behind the glass that contained him in a cell. Talismans were wrapped around his hand to cut off the circulation of cursed energy.

For a long time, he felt like a useless teacher, so he found his purpose in fatherhood, harnessing, nurturing and giving life to cursed corpses, raising them as his own, as he could not with his students.

He always found it unlucky that he got the strong ones filled with so much potential and mischief one after the other.

They were annoying, but they brought him so much joy .. but he would never say that out loud. It was humiliating to ever admit that to those cocky little brats.

"Only saving those who are prepared to be saved .. do I look like a coward who's ready for that?" He stared up at the woman. She used to just be a small little thing, dainty, thin, frail, but also terrifying. But she held so much resolve in her eyes. The way she moved with promise and grace ..

"I won't hide anymore, Yaga-sensei. Even if it's for my safety. What worth is my life if I don't live it?"

Now she was taller, put on with more weight and muscle, tired of the world and seemed so painstakingly lonely. But she still relied on him.

He wanted to be just like the courage she had.

The bravery that Rieka Urashima was.

When she looked into his soul, it was so quaint. A small cottage filled with dolls and stuffed animals. Teacups and greenery. An old wood cabin cottage that was enraptured with vines.

The sound of wind chimes and the feeling of the breeze. Even the faint whiff of a loving breakfast cooked by a father for his dear children.

The spring after a long cruel winter.

"Sensei .. I've been meaning to ask .. would you walk me down the aisle at my wedding?"

"I thought that I could be useful to you, even just once. I couldn't teach you anything as your teacher .. and even when you were alone I couldn't help you."