Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 94: Maybe my Reason for Waiting was You~

"So," Leora sighed," Being stuck in here, ill it just reminded me of that; I suppose. I spent all those years, mindlessly waiting like livestock to taste freedom. I was so certain that I'd experience freedom as soon as I became a lady, but I never did, my purpose became existing for my brother's benefit and convenience. Nothing more. After he told me those things on my sixteenth birthday I spent a lot of my days miserable. I help out the servants, mainly because I owe it to Edward for being my only support but...but to try to find a new purpose. I don't want to be my brother's accessory. He has many: all of his friends, yes, even Dorian and Basil...probably also Julian Frost. But me? He could do what he wants with me, and it wouldn't matter. The others could all run from him, but I'm stuck. All because I'm forever trapped to this...this..."
Leora clenched her teeth.
"...house that keeps decaying, along with the people inside it. Even if I didn't have this tuberculosis, I would still be waiting for my death. That's what this house does to its inhabitants. It's a living purgatory, and it's tortured me for years. Until I met you..."
Jiu blinked in shock; Leora smiled weakly.
"True, I told you my only purpose for summoning you was for art..." Leora sighed, glancing out of the window," That was somewhat true, but not my genuine reason, more just an excuse. See, I summoned you, Kong Hun Jiu, because..."

Jiu listened, grasping the blankets slightly, trembling for a reason he wasn't quite sure why. Leora finally met his gaze again, smiling softly.
"Well, because you were new to me," Leora hummed," Something irregular that broke me out of my monotonous cage of a life, in the best way possible. That first time we met, in my dream, I...knew there was something about you; something I wanted desperately. I sound greedy, don't I? Forgive me. You told me to forget you, in the sternest way possible; you practically scolded me! But...I was stubborn, because I think part of my subconscious recognised you all the way when we first met in the past. It wouldn't let me forget you, because I'd waited all those fifteen years for you!"
Jiu blinked in shock, his eyes wide," Leora..."
"Maybe...maybe I was wrong all this time. I thought I was waiting for freedom when I became a lady, but..."
Leora suddenly grasped Jiu's hands, tears dripping down her face, as she cried out.
"...maybe I found that freedom when I found you! Maybe you were my reason for waiting, Jiu!"
Jiu stared in shock, a slight blush covering his face, before he could conceal it; his eyes wide at her confession. Leora grasped his hands tightly, despite her weak state, looking into his eyes with her own tear stained ones; desperately. Without hesitation, he swiftly pulled Leora into a tight hug, burying his face in her hair.

Leora blinked in shock.
"Oh, Leora..." Jiu whispered into her hair, tears dripping down his own face as he held her close.
Leora gently hugged him back, burying her face in his shoulder as her own tears fell. Something about that hug felt distantly familiar to them both; it felt right.
"I wished I could have punched Henry in his dumb, selfish face back then," Jiu whispered; holding her close.
Leora laughed, weakly," Jiu that's not nice. He truly means the best for me..."
Jiu shook his head, holding her tighter.
"He's manipulating you, Leora," Jiu whispered," He makes you think he's treating you well, but in reality he's using your kindness as a step stool to his own success; digging his feet into you, leaving you trampled and abandoned. Hiding you from the world. He's a big, fat liar, and I think, deep down, you know that...but it hurts to think that."
Leora buried her face in Jiu's shoulder more.
"Maybe you're right, but... he's still my brother," Leora whispered," I still care about him. I can't help it."
Jiu sighed, rubbing her back," I understand, just... don't let him break you, alright? If he does I'll... I'll, well, I punch his face in."
"Sounds like a plan," Leora laughed.
Jiu chuckled," Sure does."

The ghost held her tighter as they hugged in silence. He remembered meeting her in the Underworld. He blushed remembering what she's been wearing. Should he tell her? Would it freak her out? He wasn't too sure, but she deserved to know.
"Leora, about that day we first met," Jiu muttered, pulling back to see her face," There... there's something I need to tell you."
Leora tilted her head," What is it?"
Jiu took a deep breath.
"The dress you wore, the chair you sat on, it's-"
The door opened, and Edward stepped in, smiling," Julian's gone, so I made some food. Should we all eat together in the dining room?"
"Sounds like a plan!" Leora beamed, excitedly," I can't wait, it's been so long since I've left this blasted room!"
Edward laughed," All right then, food is ready; come join us."
Leora nodded, before turning back to Jiu.
"You were saying, dear?"
Jiu's mouth opened to say anything, but he found himself hesitating. Maybe now wasn't the time.
"Nevermind," Jiu smiled, weakly," I've forgotten, couldn't have been that important. Let's go get some food, alright?"
Leora smiled, softly," Sounds good. And hey, maybe you'll remember later, you can always tell me then."
"Yeah...will do..."