The Oracle

Chapter 60: Whirlwind

AKARI

Having seen Sekai in his black suit whir out of the room with a flash of purple and black by his side, I decided to follow after him and Gambit to see if something was wrong.

As I'm walking around the castle grounds, I spot them standing out on a balcony, the glass doors having been opened to the terrace, the bright blue and green lights in the night sky visible from the balcony's perch, planters on either side of the balcony itself.

"Wow," Gambit breathes out, turning to face the lights, her dark purple gown with a corset top and a black bow in the back swaying with the breeze, revealing her dark purple stilettos as well, her long and wavy black hair shifting in the wind too. "It's beautiful out here."

"Yeah," Sekai smiles, his eyes focused on Gambit instead. "It really is."

As if aware of Sekai's double meaning, Gambit's breath hitches and she turns to meet his gaze.

"Look, Gambit," Sekai clears his throat, running a hand through his black hair. "When this is all over, when things are finally settled. I was wondering if you'd want to move back to Elvenowl with me."

"What?" Gambit's purple eyes widen as she looks into Sekai's sheepish blue ones full of hope.

"I mean it," Sekai continues. "I want you to come home with me-- back to our home."

"Sekai," Gambit sighs, her eyes sad. "You know that I have a duty."

"I know," Sekai says. "I know that you do, but you also have a life. It's okay to want things for yourself, you know. And nobody ever said that you had to stop what you were doing. You can still continue to use your abilities for the greater good, leave on missions whenever you have to. I don't know what the future holds, Gambit, but all I do know is that I want a life with you."

"Sekai?" Gambit questions whenever he slowly gets down on one knee and my eyes widen, my right hand coming up to cover my gasp of surprise.

"I know that I'm a mess. I get that," Sekai starts. "And, I'll never stop being a mess, but without you, I wouldn't even exist. And I know that I don't deserve it, but I'll be damned if I walk away from it, or if I let you get taken away before I have the chance to tell you this. You're the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me, that will probably ever happen to me. You're strong, confident, beautiful, wise, kindhearted, loyal to a fault, and as honest as anyone could ever be. And I could never not want to be by your side. Being with you was heaven, and having to live without you was hell. I don't-- I don't ever want to go through that again. In five years, in ten years, in forty years. I want to always be by your side, through the worst and the best, while we're young and when we're old. And that's why..."

"Sekai?" Gambit repeats, stunned as she looks down at him.

"And that's why," Sekai says once more, reaching into his pocket to pull out a silver ring with a black diamond that's surrounded by small amethysts, "that's why I'm asking you, Gambit Lychn, will you marry me?"

Tears begin to pool in Gambit's eyes as she brings her hands to her mouth and nods happily, making Sekai beam with joy.

"Yes!" Gambit exclaims with a laugh. "Yes, of course!"

As Sekai moves to put the ring on her finger, I begin to back away with a smile on my face to give them some privacy, hearing Gambit's joyous laughter clear from down the hall. As I slowly continue backing up, however, I run into somebody just as I'm about to turn around, making my eyes widen. Their one hand comes up to rest on my elbow to steady me in the process, making me grateful that I didn't trip and fall in the process.