Trio (A Sword Art Online Fanfic) ✔

Chapter Twenty-Two

"How do you live with yourself?"

He snapped his head up when he heard my question. He pressed his face against the bars of the cell, as if he were physically trying to shove himself through the bars.

I almost laughed at the irony.

Now he was the one in a cage.

"Whatever do you mean, mademoiselle?"

"You ruined hundreds of lives." I said, clenching my fists. "I killed one man and I can't get past it. What makes you different?"

He laughed, looking me up and down. Shivers of disgust rolled up my back underneath his gaze. I glared at him, so when he met my eyes again, he was faced with a snarl. He smirked, his eyes gleaning maliciously.

"What do you want, Harumi?" He finally asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I want you to help me."

Tenma burst out laughing, supporting himself against the bars. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. He laughed and laughed, and I became more irritated.

"Tenma!" I finally snapped, stomping my foot childishly.

He fell silent, raising an eyebrow, "You want me to help you?"

I sighed, reaching up and massaging my temples. I forgot how irritating this man could be. Finally, I said, "This is what I said, is it not?"

He started chuckling again, but I quickly cut him off, by glaring at him.

"And what can I do for you, princess?" He asked.

"Tell me."

"What?"

"Tell me how you cope with destroying so many lives."

It was silent. The cell was dark, and dingy. There was a small toilet in the corner, and a bed across from it. I shuddered in disgust as I watched a rat run along the wall behind Tenma.

I couldn't help but feel a little pity for him, despite all he had done.
"You want to know how I deal with it?" He asked. He seemed suddenly weary, as if the weight of the world was pressing down upon his shoulders.

I nodded.

He leaned forward and said, "But first, answer me this: Why should I help you?"

I glared at him, and said, "Because I can kill you right where you stand. I've done it before, now."

"And it led you to me." He retorted.

I narrowed my eyes, looking away. It was hard to admit to myself that he had a point.

"I don't."

I whipped my head back in his direction, completely confused.

"What?"

He sighed, before he said, "I don't cope with it."

I frowned, and couldn't help but move closer to him.

"You don't?"

"No. I try to forget about it." He told me. I believed this was the first time he was being 100% sincere with me. "If I don't think about them, then I don't have to deal with it."

"That does not help me at all." I said, huffing in irritation.

"That's because you are good and pure." He told me.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. I backed away again. It had been such a waste to come here.

"You just need to face your fears." He told me.

I kept quiet, waiting for him to continue.

"You and I are similar, Harumi, no matter how much we protest. We insist on being alone, when the thing we needed most was company."

I closed my eyes, clenching my fists. I gritted my teeth, but I knew what I was hearing was the tragic truth.

"You need to face your fears and go talk to my brother. You need to let yourself open up." He told me. "And, as much as I hate to say it, Rikimaru is perhaps one of the only people who can help you through this."

I felt tears well up in my eyes, and I slid to the ground, wrapping my arms around myself.

"Ah, well don't go crying." He groaned, leaning away from the bars.

"You know, you aren't so bad when you're not trying to destroy hundreds of lives." I finally said after a couple minutes.

"And you aren't so bad when you are away from my idiot brother." He replied.

I chuckled, climbing to my feet and wiping the tears off my face. I turned back around and bowed my head slightly.

"Thank you."

"It was all my pleasure, Princess."

He turned away and moved back to the cot in the dark corner of his cell. He turned his back to me, facing the grimy wall. I saw his shoulders shudder, and I turned away, clenching my fists.

I steeled myself and walked out of the room without another word. I made my way out of the prison, and shivered when the cold wind blew around me.

I sighed, my breath coming out in a visible fog. I hugged myself and started trudging through the snow.

I thought about what Tenma said, and the more I pondered upon it, the more I realized how right he was.

The only thing I was sure of, was the fact that I needed to talk to him.

I picked up my pace, racing forward. It was hard to see through the snow, but I was able to make my way to the apartment.

I raced up to the door, and realized I forgot my key. I pounded my fist on the door, my breath coming out in shuddering pants.

"Hang on!" I heard Rikimaru shout from inside.

I pulled my fist away from the door, and bounced up and down on my toes, anxious to see him.

Finally the door whipped open.

"Do you realize what the time is at th--"

He fell silent when he caught sight of me. His lips tightened and he started down at me warily, as if he was sure I would blow up at him again.

I didn't exactly blame him for thinking I would.

Finally I spoke, "I'm sorry.

He moved to the side, opening the door louder.

"I'm think you need to come in."