2 A Blue Rose, Celebrating The Flame's Birthday

"I think… this might be it..?"

As Rangen took his next step towards a small house surrounded by trees, flowers, and tall grass, Rose awoke from her slumber, stretching her arms and yawned as she said: "…oh? Rangeyy~ we're heree!"

With energy regained, Rose pats Rangen's shoulder to simply ask to put her down then excitingly walked ahead of him. Then she turned around and said, "This is my humble home!" as she spread her arms with a positive, bright loving smile on her face.

Rangen didn't know that there was such a peaceful place… years passed, of course, the sceneries and places will change through those past times. Rangen, he thought that time was just… so cruel for him. But he has to accept his destiny to continue to investigate why he's stuck in this timeline. He did not plan to turn from his goal.

Rangen felt guilty. Back in his time, he sees his mother suffer every day, staring at a distance from that one balcony in her room, wondering if she wanted something, something that could cure her major insecurity. Thinking about it, he promised to himself, that he'll travel around the world with her someday… Free from the chains of stress, and guilt.

To obtain or achieve that, he has to be the example! He always needed to be positive and happy! He learned that sadness only weighs his life down… not able to do the things or to make progress for your own ambitions. He learned as he remembered from his first meeting with Rose.

From before, Rangen replied to Rose with killing intent and cautiousness, thinking that there's only critical hope. That time, he thought he was going to be deceived all the way… and get killed. But no, Rose approached her with a positive, soft and gentle loving kiss. That time, he had his first friend… or a lover perhaps.

He knew it from the taste of her lips—she was honest towards his face. And because of her beautiful appearances, scents, and most of all, her soft, but snaring voice, it quickly made a trust contract inside of his heart.

But up until this day, he still needed to be cautious at mostly… everything and to everyone, for he thought that this was only an illusion or deceit. For now, he planned to keep up the pace like a detective.

"Rangeyy! Come on in honey!~" said Rose as she waved her arms from inside her house through the window.

"O-Oh… Okay! (Jeez! Why does she call me honey anyway!? We're not even a couple yet! sheesh)"

"Wait, "yet"..?(Oh, great. Now I'm expecting things.)"

Rangen got flustered while having such thoughts… as he went inside Rose's house.

The house was small… but it was beautiful! Behind the house, there was a backyard, full of fragrant, blue flowers. And not a single tattered plant was to be spot.

"Even Rose's house is blue. She definitely likes this colour."

Yes, there was a house. But it's small… yet only one person can live in. From the looks of it, it doesn't seem to have an extra room..?

As Rangen opened the door, he got surprised as she saw Rose, standing right in front of her, holding a round, medium-sized cake. The cake, it had some soft, vanilla wit-cream with strawberries blended in the bits of the chocolates. It also had some fresh cherries on top of it! And mostly, there was a note that says "Happy 17th Birthday Rangen!" and there, a lit-candle was placed on the cake.

"Happy birthday Rangeyy!~" said Rose, as she smiled at Rangen.

"Birthday..? (Hmm… birth… day..? Ah, I see.)"

"W-Why do you have to prepare… something special like this though?? I mean, you could just say that I'm 17 or something… right?" said Rangen, as he was lightly scratching his head.

"(How does she even know my birth date..?)"

Back when Rangen was in his childhood days, Rangen didn't experience a celebration that was so-called "birthdays". What he knows that his grandpa, grandma, or his dad will say; "Congratulations… you're 7 now… my son (grandson), we may expect many good things from you in the future. Okay, now go! Do greater things!"

There wasn't a thing called "Celebration" in their family. That leaded Rangen to thinking, "How did my parents even got married?" Asking about that himself, he felt sad, jumping to conclusions such as her mother was forced to marry his dad, or someone might have died on their wedding… and many more things.

"Say, aren't you thankful that you lived, even after these years?" asked Rose.

"well… (I am thankful. My purpose was to protect my mother after all)"

"Shh~ I too! Am thankful that you're here, that you're 17!~ so that's why, we're celebrating it together! Now, come on this way. Let's eat the cake!"

"I-I see thank you, Rose… (Yep… she definitely knew me for a long time… yes, I see now. If she did know me… I should ask, what happened to me in the past?)"

Both Rangen and Rose went further inside the house. There, Rose puts the cake on a round, wooden table.

"Hey Rangeyy!~ Will you get the plates? You can find them back there on the kitchen."

"O-Oh sure!" replied Rangen.

Inside the house, Rangen felt a positive, happy atmosphere.

Rose then slices the cake into four parts and Rangen was there who sets up both of their plates at the table.

"Oh I forgot, the utensils were in the- said Rangen.

"No no, I'll get it~ You can sit down now heehee~."

Rose excitingly ran and fetched the utensils in the kitchen then returns to the dining table to sit down on the other chair where it faces to Rangen.

"Let's eat!" they both said.

Rangen never tasted something… this sweet! He felt comfortable as he was eating the cake. He felt the wit-cream sticking on to his tongue, the sweet, but a little bit of sour strawberries was being sliced off by his teeth, chopping it to bits then he swallows. Then Rangen picks up a cherry, and he ate it.

He never tasted… this kind of cake before.

"This is delicious!" He said.

"O-Oh really?? Thank you, darling!~"

"(It seems like the cake wasn't poisonous… then she's..?)

…

"Rangen… do you still think of me as an imposter?"

Rangen suddenly stops eating then looks at Rose.

"O-Oh… well, I-

"I see… I guess this would be the perfect time to tell you though… Heehee~" said Rose, as she gazes and smiles at Rangen, putting her hands both on her cheeks.

"(C-Cute!)"

"U-Uhmm what is it??"

"Your mother… Dianne sent you here to this timeline. I don't know the reason why but…"

"Rose, how… how do you even know me?"

"Rangen, today's the date of your birthday, July 29, 2030…

Rose explained;

In this month, unexpectable yet, mysterious memories came rushing into her mind. The first day of the month, Rose remembered the first memory she received, so she saith unto him; A certain person in decent clothes was holding a phone, putting it beside his ear. The voice being heard on the phone, it sounded like an old lady. The next day, another memory rushed into her mind; An old man and a hag draw their swords towards the man in decent clothes. They rushed towards. But before they could hit him, a binding light struck before Rose's eyes before she could ever saw what happened next. The next memories were the times when Rose met Rangen, but it was back before they were little children...

Even though it were just visions, Rose fell in love with the kid, but she wondered if this "Rangen" really did exist…

Rangen was confused. "(First of all, I didn't meet such a beautiful person in my life… so how… what were those memories..? I'm so confused. This didn't even solve anything… oh, wait! Rose said something about my mom… She said that my mom sent me here..? But why… so back then… there was definitely something bad going on? So bad that… she sent me here. But why did she even try to kill me…)"

Rangen took a deep breath then sighed.

"Rose, what were the memories you had with me? In one of those memories, do you remember how we met?"

As Rose blushed, she started looking back at those precious memories she could remember.

"In a night, I saw a handsome, cute person staring at the starry sky… you were sitting upon a high, grassy hill. I could see tears running down from your eyes from afar. Could be, out of curiosity, I wanted to approach you, and try to talk to you. But a certain person… with blue hair came and took my hand, and he took me home afterwards… the next night, again, I went to that place, and as expected, you were there. But you were holding a knife, about to struck it to yourself… I quickly ran towards you, because I had this strange feeling… might be curiosity. But then… I was too late. Well, maybe. Before you could strike yourself, another binding light struck before my eyes, unable to see what happened… As the light fled before my eyes, I saw my little self, leaning on your shoulder. We were both happy as we both gazed at the night sky. Unfortunately… I didn't know what happened afterwards. After that memory, we started playing tag, climbing trees, reading books, and picking up red flowers from a garden.

"*sigh* I literally don't have a single idea of how is that connected to why I'm here. Well anyways… my house… why would it suddenly collapse?"

"The Ghost tribe."

"Ghost tribe??" asked Rangen.

…

"5 years ago… Goth, our country's president declared war between all boundaries, same goes to every nation. It was because… He forbade to let people use magic."

"Magic!?" said Rangen.

"Yes… magic. There was a person who discovered magic a few years ago… Zen, a Japanese citizen; he said that magic exists everywhere, magic exists in everyone. The people of the whole country were excited every time to hear the history of magic, because he had good reasons of why it existed. He said that everyone and everything is different from each other, every person has a unique potential and ability to use magic. His knowledge spread throughout all the countries of the world."

"Zen… how did he... discover magic?" Rangen asked.

"He said… a couple found in the ancient times existed many years ago… Zen didn't know what country they were from. That couple… they both had undetermined blood types. Their blood had some abnormal components. At that time, scientists tried to learn about their blood. But Zen said that the scientists didn't have enough knowledge to try and learn about their blood types. He said that that couple normally raised a big, and a fine family. That family grew and grew, until their population went to a hundred million, one of the biggest families in history."

"W-Whoa."

"Back then… after a few years, a pandemic occurred. It was said that, the virus could make people vomit out their blood. At that time, the virus spreads through the air, water, animals, and by touch. The virus killed 3 billion people in just within 2 years! But a cure was finally found."

"Let me guess… it was because of the blood of the-

"Yes… the cure was from the family's bloodline. The whole family donated their blood to all of the people of the world."

"So that blood… still exists as it was passed on to everyone..?" said Rangen.

"Yes… our blood has magic." said Rose.

"You don't know that you have magic..?" asked Rose.

"No… I don't. I didn't even know that my family could even use it…"

"hmm… I see." replied Rose

"…wait, why did the president declare war again?"

"well, it's because… the people abused their power… their magic. They used it to kill, deceive, and to illegally obtain their pleasures. Before the president would declare war, he made a law. "A person who uses his or her magic in public will be sentenced to death." He simply said."

"All of the presidents in every nation agreed to this law. But it seems that it made things worse. The people disagreed… they said that it's "way too much." "How can we defend ourselves?", "How can we defend our loved ones, our family, our humble homes!?" they asked. But the president didn't answer them. The law was still granted."

"Obviously the people would be angry…" said Rangen.

"yes… and yeah… in the end Goth declared war, and right now, all the plane flights and transportations are banned because of the people's outrage. All of the presidents were now solving this problem in their own countries.

"I see… by the way, one more question."

"Yes Rangeyyy??" said Rose as she puts her chair beside Rangen.

"U-Uhmmm *sigh* my mom… how do you know my mom?"

"Good question. I met her… from today's memory!"

"What!?" reacted Rangen as he moved closer to Rose, gazing at her beautiful eyes.

"U-Uhhh… (Rangen's scent… h-he's… so… this is a man's scent..?)"

"O-Oh… sorry!" said Rangen, as he was flustered, quickly took his distance from Rose.

"(T-This feeling… what is this..? it makes me… want to obtain something from her…)"

"A-Anyways… Rangen, we have to stop this pointless crisis!! The ghost tribe, they are a group of magicians who are against the law. They can create a small earthquake to a small area. They could also use explosions, but it takes makes them lose a major amount of mana. And when they ran out of energy, they use their greatswords against their enemies.

"(I see… it makes sense now.) Understood! Okay… what do we need to do? (I don't know… how… why am I doing this again? Oh yeah… I was here to investigate on how… can I get out of here. Welp… my mother sent me here on a mission… hopefully, this might be it.)"

"You have to focus on how to control your own magic first… you said that you didn't even know that magic existed right?"

"Y-Yeah…" replied Rangen.

"It'll be hard… but you can figure something out! Go to that room, you could try and meditate there."

"How can I exactly do it though..?" asked Rangen.

"Unfortunately… everyone's magic is unique. Only you can figure out what's yours. I'm sorry Rangeyyy!~" said Rose

"I see…"

"Okay! I'm going out for a while~ I'll be back before you even know it!"

"Oh… okay! …Wait! Where are you going??"

"I'm just going to go get something to eat!~ Don't tell me that you miss me already..? Heehee~"

"W-Wha-

"Just kidding!~ Okay… see ya later darling~"

"S-Sure…"

As Rose opened the door, she looked back at Rangen and gave a flying kiss. Rangen got all flustered again, as if he felt like it touched him. Then Rose went out of the house.

Then, Rangen stood up from his seat and went to the room Rose told her to go to. There, he saw the walls painted in blue, and he saw a bed, as pink as Rose's pinkish, blue hair. He saw books on the shelves, a tall night lamp, a cabinet, and a desktop computer. Mostly, all of the objects found in the room we're painted, or coloured in pink and blue.

Rangen obviously knew that this was Rose's room. The scent… the fragrance smelled definitely like Rose… pure Lavenders. He felt really shy as he went on top of her bed.

There, he sat and closed his eyes… trying to focus or figure out his ability, his own magic.

"(Now what… what should I do..? I closed my eyes… I'm meditating… so how? How can I figure this out?)"

…

"(Once that I have obtained my magic… my ability, surely, It would help me figure out my situation, I could use this to help Rose, too! But how… I really don't know where to start…)"

As soon as Rangen didn't realize, an hour passed by, but Rangen didn't even get bored nor tired. During that hour, he heard a voice in his head, saying; "Rangen… what is your purpose in life?"

"(…huh?)"

…

"(To protect my mom.)" he said.

A total silence suddenly occurred around Rangen's ears.

"Incorrect… that is not your purpose."

"(…what?)

"(then what… exactly… what is my purpose.)"

"Think Rangen… think…"

"(To… solve my world… and this world's situation?)"

"Those things… you can't exactly do that right now… that is not your purpose."

Rangen said many many purposes to this voice, and yet, the voice kept replying that… it's not his purpose. He started thinking of any purpose in his mind… and yet, he realized that he was being desperate.

"(Then what!? What exactly!? How would I know!? Why… do you keep asking me!?!?)"

…

"State your purpose… What is your own, selfish ambition?" said the voice, calmly, in Rangen's mind.

…

"(Mother… sorry if I have betrayed… and left you… please forgive me to what I'm going to say unto thy mysterious voice.)"

…

"State your purpose." Again, said by the calm voice.

"(My purpose… is to be with Rose… I always want to be on her side… I want to protect her, I want to figure out those memories' meaning and purpose of why… they were sent into her head. I want her… to be my bride.)" said Rangen in his mind confidently, as a tear ran down from his right eye, while unconsciously confessing his selfish sin to his mother.

(Mother… I'm so sorry… It's true… please, curse me, forsake me, this is what I have deserved for not keeping my own word.)

…

"Rangen…"

Suddenly… the voice talking to Rangen's head changed slowly.

"Honey… don't be sad."

"(M-Mom!?)"

The voice turned into a woman's voice.

…

"Don't be discouraged… I am fine! That girl… she has many more problems than you think."

"(B-But mom!-

"I'm sorry honey… I had been a burden to you all these times… my son… I'm proud of you! It turned out that, in the future, you have become a strong man!"

For a long time… Rangen didn't hear his mother voice. The moment became very sad, yet a lovely, conversation with his mom.

When Rangen turned 5… his mother started to talk rarely… and at his age of 7… her mother….

Truly, Rangen wanted to take this opportunity and talk to her as a mature person! But unfortunately… their time is up.

"Rangen… I am very glad… that I had a conversation with you."

"(Wait, mom! I-I still have-

"Goodbye… I love you Rangen… be safe! Protect that girl!"

"(M-MOM PLEASE DON'T GO!-

"My son… I will always be with you! Take thy love that I have giveth thee. Please, don't cry, don't be sad! One day… You will travel the world with me! That's what you said… right?"

"M-Mom… thank you."

"I love you my dear, Rangen. Take care… Oh, and happy 17th birthday!"

As the voice fled away from Rangen's mind, another tear came down from his eye as he sobbed slowly five times. He opened his eyes, he stood up with courage and determination, with a fast heartbeat on his chest, while thinking of his lover, Rose.