𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙚 | 𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘩. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

035. | ʟɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴇ

Aki's heart pounded in his chest as he strained his eyes, trying to pierce through the thick smoke. Just when he thought all hope was lost, he saw it again—a faint silhouette standing still in the distance. "Touko!" he called out, his voice filled with a mix of relief and desperation.

He took a cautious step forward, his eyes never leaving the figure. As he drew closer, he could make out more details—her hair, her posture, the familiar curve of her shoulders. It was definitely Touko, but she was standing with her back to him, unmoving.

"Touko, it's me, Aki!" he shouted, hoping to break through the eerie silence. But she didn't respond or turn around. Aki's mind raced with worry. Why wasn't she moving? Was she hurt?

He quickened his pace, closing the gap between them. "Touko, please, answer me!" he pleaded. The oppressive smoke seemed to close in tighter around him, but he pushed forward, driven by the need to reach her.

Finally, he was close enough to almost touch her. He reached out a trembling hand, hesitating for a moment before gently placing it on her shoulder. "Touko..." he whispered, his voice breaking.

The figure slowly turned her head to look back at Aki over her shoulder. Her expression was solemn yet stoic, her eyes reflecting a depth of emotion that Aki had rarely seen. "Aki...what would have happened if you came later?" she asked slowly, her voice calm but tinged with an undercurrent of pain. "Would you have let me die?"

Aki's heart clenched at her words. "Touko, I would never—" he started, but she interrupted him, her gaze unwavering.

"Would you have let me die?" she repeated, each word a heavy weight pressing down on him.

He shook his head vehemently. "No, Touko. I would never let that happen. I would have saved you, no matter what. I promise."

The expression on her face softened as she turned to face him fully. Her eyes searched his, looking for the truth in his words. "You would promise that to me?" she asked quietly, "Even if I didn't love you back?"

He took a deep breath, his resolve unwavering. "Yes, Touko. I would promise that to you, even if you didn't love me back. Your life means everything to me, regardless of how you feel about me."

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her stoic facade beginning to crack. "Aki, I..." she started, but the words caught in her throat. She took a step closer, her hand reaching out to grasp his. "I'm sorry.." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Aki didn't hesitate. He pulled her in and immediately hugged her tightly, wrapping his arms around her as if he could shield her from all the pain and fear that had been haunting her. He felt her body tense for a moment before she relaxed into his embrace, her head resting against his chest. "It's okay, Touko.." he murmured into her hair. "You don't have to be sorry. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

He felt even more vulnerable as he held onto her, the weight of their recent argument pressing heavily on his heart. He had been convinced he would never hold her like this again, that the rift between them was too wide to bridge. But now, with her in his arms, he felt a glimmer of hope.

As he held her, something caught his attention. Both of her arms were normal. The sword her arm had turned into was gone. He found it odd that she hadn't had it during their ongoing fight, and there were no signs of her contract taking her body or strength away.

Aki's suspicion mounted, his eyes flickering as he held her closer. Her arms were back to normal, her contract with her devil seemingly inactive. It was odd, considering the recent battle. But his thoughts were cut short as an sudden wave of unease washed over him.