Forgiveness (Kazuscara)

Chapter IV

The next morning, Kazuha woke up to find a crying Aether in Xiao's arms, in the living room. Shocked, Kazuha ran to the boys, a little panicked. Aether turned his face filled with tears to Kazuha.

"He looks so miserable..." thought Kazuha. He reminded him of someone... himself at a certain period of his life.

Reacting quickly, Kazuha went to the kitchen. He quickly made hot chocolate and put three full mugs on a tray, before coming back in the living room. When he gave a mug to Aether, he mumbled a thank you and sat straighter.

While Aether drank his hot chocolate, Kazuha exchanged a look with Xiao, that confirmed his fears.

"Of course, it's because of him."

After they all finished their hot chocolates, Kazuha got up. Aether stood up too and Kazuha took him in his arms. Aether started sobbing again. Kazuha could hear him mumble :

"- I'm so sorry Kazuha, I should have listened to you...

- It's okay Aether, it's not you fault in any way okay ? Please take care of yourself now..."

Aether nodded in his arms. After a while, he moved away, not crying anymore but with incredibly red eyes. Kazuha turned to Xiao.

"- Take great care of him, Xiao."

Xiao nodded and put his hand on Aether's shoulder. Xiao looked like he couldn't even manage to be angry. It pained him so much to see Aether like that, that his absolute priority was to make him feel better. Kazuha knew that he could trust him for that.

"- I'm going, I have something to do." said Kazuha.

He quickly put some clothes on and left, determined to make him pay.

°°°

Kazuha didn't have a hard time finding Aether's apartment, he had been there before. He hesitated to knock, but then told himself that he didn't deserve even the slightest bit of respect.

He entered the apartment. Scaramouche was sitting at the kitchen table, looking at his phone. He didn't hear him enter.

"- Are you happy now ?"

Surprised by Kazuha's voice, Scaramouche looked up and was startled by Kazuha's face. He looked incredibly angry.

"- ...What ?

- You don't know what I'm talking about ? Did you already forget about it ? Was it so unimportant to you ?

- ...You mean Aether ?

- Oh so you remember him ! You know, the one who was dating you, who had feelings for you, and who you threw out without any concern apparently !

- I...

- Aren't you tired of doing this ?

- What ?

- Using people for your own pleasure ! Just playing with them as if they had no feelings just like you ! You know, not everyone is apathetic like you... Most people have feelings that can be hurt easily !"

Kazuha now looked very upset and Scaramouche's expression turned from surprise to sadness.

"- I...

- You have no excuses Scaramouche !"

Kazuha was still extremely angry. He grabbed Scaramouche by his collar and looked into his eyes, his own glowing with rage.

"- I would have decided to leave you alone if you didn't interfere with my life, but hurting my friends is something I cannot ignore ! You will pay for this, and regret ever coming back in this city."