Holding Everything

Chapter 25: Mercury

Eren and Lillya run to the side of the bed, surrounding me, enclosing me in what feels like a group hug, Rika included. As they squeeze me tightly my mind goes blank, I can't think of anything as a sense of relaxation overwhelms me. My body falls limp in the embrace and I release a deep sigh; I let my head droop to the side alittle and notice something different about Rika, then Eren and Lillya. I sit up and look at them properly, then down at myself. In their bodies, a light shines inside, a pleasant aura radiating from its core, I inch closer to Eren whom ended up right in front of me; as I grow closer feel warmth and comfort, like it's inviting me. My mind becomes engulfed in the pleasant sensation; I try to caress and touch the unfamiliar light, but my hand is stopped by a force preventing it from moving forward.

"K-Kou..." I gasp softly, blinking as reality rushes back to me and I realize I was completely overtaken by the pleasant aura the light was showing me, I look up at Eren whose cheeks have turned red, and his pale stomach exposed from my hand lifting his shirt and my other hand pressed against his stomach.

"U-Uhm..." feeling embarrassed I yank his shirt down and push him away, feeling Rika and Lil's eyes on me I squeeze mine shut and cover my face. "I-It's not what you think, I swear!!" I stutter in defense, "s-stop blushing!" I yell at Eren who isn't helping my case right now.

"Are you sure?" says Lillya lifting her eyebrow, "sure didn't seem like nothing, Hm, save his sister so now you think you can 'embrace' him hmmm?" she continues teasing while pretending to look at her nails; Rika giggles and Eren turns red in embarrassment.

"I saw something though, I seriously did, I-" as I try defending myself Rika presses her index finger to my lips and nods, draping her arm lazily around me in a loose hug as she explains.

"It was his soul," she begins, "well; actually you saw the Path." I look at Lillya and Eren and see they both know what she's talking about.

"You see," Eren says while gesturing to the girls, I look at them and see the same thing I saw in Eren, "this means our souls are in a way, being blessed with the Blue Path, or its given name; Mercury." He sees my confusion and continues, "When we all finally awakened, we were given the overall knowledge of what we're supposed to do, and because of your great declaration, I think we were Sealed, but I'm not exactly a hundred percent sure on that one. I believe what you said to Rika, about her being your Handler and that you will protect her, your heart was saying that to us as well, we felt it very strongly; you finally accepted your role as our Natural Handler; truly accepted it."

Everything he tells me sinks in, and I realize that he was right, from the first time I was told about my Gift, I only accepted it as a 'it can't be helped' sort of thing, but I was still bitter toward all of it, thinking how I wasn't given a real choice and yet I was expected to do as I was told with little information. I look at Rika and smile,

"I'm sorry for going into your mind against your permission, but I'm happy I did, I've learned a lot about you, and I don't regret it." Her cheeks turn soft pink and she hides her face in her pillow in embarrassment. I chuckle softly and pull her into a hug as if to once again reaffirm my feelings and happiness.

"I can't believe you went through all of that," Lillya chimes in, she sees my look of confusion and says, "remember? We're pretty much connected now, so the things we buried deepest in our hearts are all out in the open between the three of us. Rika and her abuse, me and mine, Eren and-"

"I think we should go eat!" Eren interrupts while flinging his arm around Lillya, my chest weighs heavy as I wonder what she was about to say.

"Eren accepted right away, so I didn't need to do any 'brain digging' into his past like I had to with Lillya and Rika, I'm so curious. Maybe he also had to deal with Merila when she wasn't torturing Rika, I don't know but I want to find out sooner or later." Eren sees the curiosity in my eyes and smiles apologetically.