𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙚 | 𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘩. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

˚⊱ 7. | ᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴘᴛ. 2 ⊰˚

Touko observed Aki's expression, her eyes scrutinizing every flicker of emotion that passed over his face. She noticed a dark, sorrowful change in his features, his eyes clouded with painful memories that seemed to weigh heavily upon him. His body tensed, his fists clenching and unclenching, his jaw set tight as he struggled to find the courage to speak. Even his normally stoic demeanor seemed to crumble as he grappled with the ghosts of his past.

Touko could see the internal battle he was waging, the memories and emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. She watched him struggle to find the right words, his gaze distant as if he was reliving every moment of pain and regret that he had tried so hard to suppress. The intensity of his emotions was palpable, almost tangible in the air between them, and she knew that there was something more to his story than met the eye. "Aki.." she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to..."

Aki's gaze remained distant for a moment longer before he finally seemed to snap back to reality. He let out a slow, unsteady breath, his body relaxing as he slowly regained control of his emotions. Touko's words seemed to have a calming effect on him, grounding him in the present moment. "No.." he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's... it's alright. I'm just... processing.."

As he spoke, his voice held a hint of vulnerability that Touko had never heard before. It was as if the act of confronting his past verbally had chipped away at his walls, revealing the raw, vulnerable core of his being beneath. The pain in his eyes was palpable, and it was clear that the memories he had pushed aside so meticulously were now rising to the surface, demanding to be acknowledged and dealt with. "I.." he hesitated, his voice trailing off as he grappled with what to say next.

Touko waited patiently, giving him space to organize his thoughts. Her gaze never wavered from his, her expression soft and understanding. She could sense the turmoil roiling within him, and she knew that this moment was a pivotal one for both of them. It could either bring them closer together or drive them further apart. Aki finally met her gaze, his expression raw and open. "It's a contract I made with the Curse Devil," he said quietly. "Every time I use the nail..."

"...the contract demands that I lose something in return," Aki said, his voice barely above a whisper. "A piece of my lifespan."

Touko gasped, her eyes growing wide with shock and disbelief. She had heard rumors of such cursed items before, but she had never met anyone who had actually made a deal with one. To hear Aki confess to such a dark secret was almost too much to bear. "But... why?" she whispered. "Why would you make such a dangerous deal?"

Aki's expression darkened, the memory of the deal he had made still fresh in his mind. "It was a matter of necessity," he explained. He paused, a pained look crossing his features. "It's the only weapon that I can use to harm high-level devils."

Touko's eyes widened with shock and dismay as she listened to Aki's confession, her heart sinking in her chest. She felt a sudden rush of guilt, knowing that the danger she had been in during their last mission had forced Aki to make such a terrible choice. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, as the weight of his sacrifice sank in. Her heart felt heavy, the pain and remorse of her own actions suddenly all too real. In that moment, she knew that the cost of her safety had been far too high.

Touko reached out a trembling hand, gently placing it on Aki's shoulder. She could feel the trembling in his body, the tension that seemed to coil within him. "Aki.." she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I had no idea... I never wanted you to sacrifice anything for me. You shouldn't have." She closed her eyes, her brow furrowing in grief and pain.

Aki's eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and vulnerability at Touko's words. He had fully expected her to recoil in horror, to judge him for making such a reckless decision. But instead, he felt her compassion and concern wash over him like a healing balm. "I had to.." he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I couldn't let anything happen to you. I know it was foolish, but..." He trailed off, his throat tightening as he choked back the words.