It Was All Arranged [R. Sakamaki]

Cordelia

The fire was warm and the couch she lounged on plush and perfectly plumped. Ritcher sat beside her, his eyes following her with every graceful movement.

"This reminds me of the good old days," Cordelia spoke through Yui's body, pink eyes now a harsh green.

"We should forget about the time and dance the night away. It seems just like yesterday," Ritcher said romantically, gently holding her gloved hand, "Cordelia, my sister-in-law..." he ruined it. She leaned forward, pressing her fingertip against his lips.

"You called me that intentionally. That's so cute."

"It wasn't intentional. You are my brother's wife. That fact is inescapable. I am a man who fought with his brother over you and lost. In an effort to forget you, I wandered the world for hundreds of years..." He said mostly to himself as Cordelia returned to her self-absorbed ways.

"But why? There was no need to forget me. You don't owe anything to Karlheinz. Am I right?"

"Only a wicked woman would compel a response to that."

"You're so fun to tease, Richter." She flirted, "Let it go. It's all in the past. As you can see, I have been resurrected, as you wished."

Ayato stood below the balcony, staring up at his mother and uncle in pure horror.

"Hey, what's the meaning of this?" He called.

"Oh, it's you, Ayato. It's been a long time," Cordrlia sighed, picking at Yui's bitten nails with a grimace.

"What have you done?"

"It doesn't appear you're here to say how pleased you are to see me again." She sighed, "As for why I'm here... Richter, would you please explain it to him? I need some rest. I'm not fully used to this body yet." She turned to leave, mumbling, "She shouldn't even be conscious, yet she's trying to eject me. It's tiresome. I suppose this body isn't fully mine yet."

"When you and your brothers murdered your mother, she asked me to cut her heart out and implant it into a vessel to resurrect her."

"So the heart you removed is now inside her?"

"The girl is merely her vessel. The girl still exists, but only just. However, once she awakens, the girl's soul will be obliterated for eternity, leaving only Cordelia." Ritcher shrugged. "Yes, as I am sure you are aware, the awakening is at hand."

-_-_-_-_-_-

Cordelia stood by the river, her blonde hair blew in the delicate breeze, her keen eyes focused on the bright moon's reflection. She didn't move as Ayato appeared behind her, hands in his pockets.

"What will you do now, Ayato?" The woman cackled, "Will you kill me again?"

"I used to be a bad swimmer," he commented.

"Yes, I remember. However... you improved greatly, thanks to me."

"Now it's your turn."

"But surely you know that I am an excellent swimmer?" He didn't reply, he only shoved her as hard as he could into the icy, dark waters he'd been sentenced to as a mere boy. "She can't swim!?"

"Get lost," Ayato scoffed, turning his back on her.

"Ayato!" Yui cried out, Cordelia having banished entirely, causing Ayato's muscles to tense.

They sat on the pier side by side after he'd rescued her, her pink eyes filled with confusion as she stared at the dark dress.

"Why was I in the lake? And this dress... Say, Ayato..."