Strings

Chapter XIX: I'm Sorry

The older reaper quickly turned around and faced those amber eyes. Reiner's eyes widened slightly. "Ruve...?"

The former rebel frowned at that nickname. "don't call me that.." he said in a familiar cold tone.

"Ah.. Sorry.." Reiner felt his hand twitch. "So.. Whatcha doing?"

"I was about to leave.." said Ruvel. "Master Hades gave me a mission."

"And.. What's that..?" Reiner said, immediately regretting it.

With little to no emotion, the young reaper spoke up. "He told about some.. Things.. They spawned from this world and escaped into the human world. I was told to find and kill them."

Reiner felt his nonexistent heart stop as soon as the words escaped the young reapers lips. In his mind, he could faintly remember the same reaper humming to himself after he reaped all of the souls he was assigned to. He remembered the same reaper give a few rare laughs at a joke Reiner made. Remembering all of those sweet memories made his throat dry up. He couldn't speak.

Why should he..?

The young reaper rose an eyebrow. "Reiner..?"

Reiner jumped again slightly. "Y-Yeah Ruvel..?"

"You.. Seem tense.." Ruvel said. "Is something wrong?"

"Ah.. It's nothing important..." Reiner forced a small smile.

Ruvel's eyes squinted slightly as he stepped closer to Reiner. "Are.. You sure..?"

Reiner gave a laugh that was also forced. "Nah nothing's wrong Ruvel. Just thinking about some reaper stuff. And speaking of which, I better go because I'm behind schedule! See ya!" and with that, he run off in a hurry.

As soon as Ruvel's eyes averted from him, Reiner covered his face with his hood. His forced smile faded away to reveal his frown. He ran even faster until he was out of the Realm of the Dead.

He turned into his human form as he entered a city. Leaning against the wall, he pulled out his phone. Reiner dialed a number and placed the phone against his ear. He heard a voice.

"Hello?"

"Hey Fey.." Reiner spoke quietly.

"Reiner?" he could feel Feyril give a smile. "Gosh I haven't seen you in a while. How are you? Is your uh... Condition getting better or worse?"

"It was okay but..." Reiner paused. "It got worse again... Ruvel's back but.."

"Yes? Go on.." Feyril urged him, sounded a bit worried.

"He..." Reiner's body trembled as his voice began to crack. "H-He... Oh god.."

"Reiner! Reiner! Pull yourself together.." the angel paused. "I'm about to go to a meeting. Perhaps we can meet up with Raug and continue this conversation. I will bring Latis along for he is much more mature and he'll understand the situation much better. Ask Raug if he could bring Diaval."

Reiner gave a little nod. "Okay then.. I'll see you soon.."

"Alright. Farewell Reiner."

Reiner hung up and stared at the humans for a while. He allowed gravity to bring him down to the concrete sidewalk and began to dial another number. As he did this, the crowds got bigger and louder. The reaper trembled and ran into an alley. Relaxing a bit to the darkness and silence, he finished dialing the number and placed the phone against his ear once more. It buzzed a bit before the reaper heard a voice.

"Who is this?"

"Raug..?" Reiner spoke in a quiet, almost inaudible voice. "It's me.."

"Reiner.." the voice that belonged to Raug was just as cold as Ruvel's. Reiner felt even more hollow. "What do you want?"

"Do you think... That you can meet me after work today...?" said the Reaper. "I need you to bring Diaval also. He's old enough to know about this..."

"Know about what?" said the cold hearted demon. "Reiner what is going on?"

"Ruve.." Reiner began to tremble once more. "H-He's but he... He...-"

"He what Reiner!" yelled the demon. "Just say it!"

The reaper remained silent. He could feel the demon's anger reaching to its peak. "Reiner. Say it! Stop acting like a kid and man up you idiot!" the demon yelled once more. "Just say it! Or are you hiding things... Again!"

The reaper's mind suddenly began to melt. His thoughts pounded wildly against the walls of his head. His nonexistent heart hammered his chest violently. Without a second thought, Reiner began to scream. "I'M SORRY!"

Raug was silent on his end. Reiner continued to scream. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he fell onto his aching knees. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!"

"Reiner! Reiner!" the demon tried to call for Reiner's attention but it didn't work. The phone fell out of the reaper's hands, and he curled up into a ball on the ground. The words "I'm sorry" continued to come out of the reaper's mouth.

"Reiner! Dam it! Hold on!" Raug hung up.

Silence returned to the now broken down reaper. Reiner curled up some more before crying uncontrollably. He began to mumble to nothing. "I'm sorry Raug... I'm so very very sorry..."

After ten minutes, a hand was placed on the reaper's shoulder. Reiner's tear stained face glanced up and faced Raug's crimson eyes.

It wasn't long until Raug picked the broken reaper up into his arms, making sure Reiner's head was against his heart. The reaper whimpered and the demon hushed him. "Easy Reiner.. Easy..." the demon spoke almost as gentle as Feyril's voice.

Hearing the demon's pulse that sounded surprisingly soft began to calm the reaper down. The tears stopped falling down his eyes as he glanced up at Raug.

"Reiner, you shouldn't be apologizing.." he said as he placed Reiner against the wall. "It's my fault for... Reminding you.."

Reiner wiped his face. "It's... It's okay.." he said.

"It's not Reiner.." Raug said with a sorrowful expression. "I shouldn't have yelled at you.. I know how much you hated being in that hospital..."

Reiner was silent for a moment. "They were... So cruel... I couldn't tell anyone... I.."

"I know Reiner.." the demon embraced the reaper. "I know.."

The reaper waited for a bit before he slowly began to hug back. After five minutes, they turned to the distance. Diaval stood there in a red kimono and watched them curiously. Raug gave a small laugh. "Sorry Kid, we're ready to go now."

Diaval smiled and nodded. He then frowned as he stared at Reiner, who still had a broken light in his eyes. "Will he be okay..?" he asked.

"Yeah he will be. Just go on ahead of us." Raug said. "I'll take care of him"

Diaval nodded and run off towards the garden. Raug stood up with Reiner and they followed not too long after.

At the field that was filled with sunflowers, Diaval ran playfully. Raug got Reiner to calm down just a little bit more since he knew that sunflowers were Reiner's favorite flower.

Raug also noticed that Reiner missed a call from Feyril. But instead of asking Reiner to call back, the demon called the angel on his own phone.

"Raug?" Feyril seemed surprised.

Raug smiled a little. "Hey Fey. We're in the sunflower field. You coming or what?" he said.

"Um yes.. I was just about to get Latis." the angel replied.

"Good."

There was silence for a moment. "Um.. Is Reiner alright... He seemed to be hurt the last time i called." Feyril said with concern.

"Yeah don't worry about him..." Raug smiles a little and stares down. His eyes glistened as he held Reiner by the hand. "I'm taking care of him.." As he said this, he gently squeezed the reaper's hand.

A/N: This chapter..... *goes to corner and cries*