Chapter 23

Lennon

"If I'm being honest, I wish you would run away from a love that makes you cry."

A love that makes me cry...? It wasn't until then that I realized that this wasn't the kind of sweet love that would make me happy. It had been such a warm, tender love…..and yet right now all it did was hurt me. The truth of it hurt so much all I could do was just nod to show Lennon that I understood.

~~~~

As the sky gradually grew lighter, Vlad walked down the hallway of the church and saw someone there.

Vlad

"..."

The morning sun shone through the stained glass window onto his handsome face.

Flynn

"Unusual for you to be up this early. Or perhaps you're just getting home?"

Vlad

"...Yes. Good morning, Flynn."

Vlad answered, not looking at Flynn but at the sky beyond the stained glass window.

Vlad

"You were right."

Flynn

"…?"

Vlad

"Kira looked at me with hatred. No--actually, her eyes were filled with sadness. She turned her back on me."

Flynn

"If you want me to hear a confession, then go ahead."

Vlad

"Ahaha. No way."

Flynn observed the smile on Vlad's face, which seemed to be saying he didn't need to ask for forgiveness.

Flynn

"You're a philanthropist. You love all humans equally with no special treatment." "But that changed when you met Kira. Why are you so attached to her?"

Vlad

"Attached? My feelings are different from attachment." "Hey, Flynn...What are your hopes?"

Flynn

"Why are you asking me that, all of a sudden?"

Flynn grimaced as if even the word "hope" repulsed him.

Vlad

"To a young boy who's fallen in love for the first time, hope is a girl playing piano by the window." "To a man who loves music, hope is the sound of his violin, newly repaired." "To Marshmallow, who was abandoned in the snow when he was hurt, hope is…" "well, I suppose living without anyone ever hurting him again." "Humans need hope to live, no matter how small it is. Even if other people may laugh hearing about it." "But as long as you have hope, you won't lose yourself no matter how deep the darkness you find yourself in."

Flynn

"And so your hope is that girl, le Voivode?"

Vlad didn't answer; he just narrowed his eyes. It looked like he was pulling the image of Kira out of his heart, remembering every detail of her.

~~~~

A few days later, life was back to normal at the mansion as if nothing had ever happened.

Sebastian

"Kira. Today's sunny, so let's air out everyone's mattresses. Will you help me?"

Kira

"Sure. Should we wash the sheets first?"

——

Kira

"Today's dinner is...curry rice with grated apple!"

Dezaki

"That sounds delicious. I bet you'll love curry with apple in it, Ai-kun."

Issac Newton

"Stop it with the apples!"

Kira

"Ahaha. Don't worry, I'll make enough for seconds!"

~~~

After I was done with my work for the day, I went out to the balcony to get some fresh air. The cool night breeze felt so nice. I'm glad I have a lot to do around here to keep my mind off things. Everyone seemed to know that I knew Vlad, but no one brought it up. And as for myself... I tried to push my memories with him out of my mind.

Flashback

Vlad

"Kira…?"

Flashback Ends

It's no use. I keep thinking of the way his voice sounded then. He called my name--he wanted me. And there was a part of myself that just couldn't abandon him. I know that I shouldn't see him anymore. But my heart had been a mess ever since that night, and I just couldn't think straight. Just then, I heard footsteps behind me.

Kira

"Nicholas..."

Nicholas

"I thought I saw someone out here."

I haven't been alone with Nicholas since then either, so I haven't had the chance to tell him.

Kira

"Nicholas . I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Nicholas

"I'm sure you didn't tell me because you didn't want me to worry."

Kira

"Well yes, but there was another reason why I didn't say anything."

Nicholas

"What?"

Now I clearly understand why.

Kira

"I thought that if I doubted Vlad, it would make it real. I know that sounds silly. But that's why I didn't tell

you." "I'm sorry."

He murmured that It was okay, then gazed up into the night sky, where the moon was hiding.

Nicholas

"Ever since le Comte told us his story, I've been thinking." "Can we really write off Vlad's ambitions as evil?"

Kira

"What?"

Nicholas

"Don't get me wrong--I can't forgive him for some of the things he's done. He used people's lives for his own ambitions." "…I'm sure Wellington didn't want to be revived like that." "But…"

Kira

"...?"

Nicholas

"I wondered what I would do if I had traveled to the future and saw that the world had been completely destroyed." "And I realized there's a chance I would've done the same thing."

Kira

"Nicholas…"

Nicholas

"I fought a war in the name of peace. And many people died in that war."

Kira

"..."

Nicholas

"There's a thin line between justice and evil sometimes. That's why you have to keep asking yourself what's right."

If I see Vlad again, what would I say to him?

Nicholas

"Kira. Do you want to see him again?"

I know I shouldn't think this, but…

Kira

" I want to see him. I know it's strange, since I don't even know what to say."

Nicholas

"…it's not strange at all."

I didn't know what was good and what was evil, what was a lie and what was the truth. Just as the thick clouds hid tonight's moon, I couldn't find the answer. I said goodbye to Nicholas and went to my room, still going over the questions in my head. If I keep thinking about this, I'll have nightmares. I need to clear my head and go to sleep. The moment I got into bed, I heard something hit my window. What was that? I put my robe on over my nightgown and went out to the balcony…What? And there was Marshmallow, sitting obediently on the balcony, wagging his pure white tail happily.

Kira

"Marshmallow! What in the world are you doing here?!"

What if… Suddenly, my heart started pounding out of control. I was frozen to the spot. Marshmallow reached out and bit the hem of my nightgown, tugging on it.

Kira

"No, Marshmallow. I can't go."

He stared at me with his crimson eyes identical to Vlad's...and then ran off down the stairs.

Kira

"Ah! Wait!"

I frantically chased after Marshmallow when suddenly I felt a sudden gust of wind blow past.

Vlad

"Welcome back, Marshmallow. Thank you for bringing Kira to me."

Kira

"Vlad…"

The moment we made eye contact, my heart began to ache. I kept going back and forth between wanting to see him and not wanting to see him so many times. But suddenly I realized how happy I was to see him there.

Vlad

"Kira…?"

But he had ambitions that would hurt the residents of this mansion. But he had ambitions that would hurt the residents of this mansion.

Kira

"Why did you come here?" "If you came here to hurt the residents, I'll do everything I can to stop you."

Vlad gave me a vague smile. His expression was unreadable.

Vlad

"I just came to give you this, Kira."

He held something out to me…...and showed me a gorgeous single red rose. That's…

Vlad

"I promised you, remember?"

The words recalled a memory that was still vividly etched into my brain.

Flashback

Vlad

"When the most beautiful flower in my garden blooms, I'll pick it and bring it to you, Kira." "You always come see me. So next time I'll be the one who comes to you." "I want to come find you, over and over again."

Flashback Ends

Vlad

"I found the prettiest flower blooming in my garden tonight. So I wanted to come see you." "Look. It still bloomed even tonight, without the light of the moon."

Vlad happily stared at the rose he held. "All I've been doing lately is cutting away diseased flowers." "This one was so beautiful I feel bad for picking it, but... wanted to give it to you, and to say I'm sorry." "Will you accept it?"

The rose was so beautiful I forgot to breathe for a moment. Why did he keep such a little promise he made to me? I felt expectation bloom in my heart, but I did my best to push it away. I can't take everything he does in the most convenient way for me. After all, the only reason you were nice to be from the very beginning was because– The rose wavered unsteadily in the wind and Vlad slowly lowered his arm.

Vlad

"Kira…" "…Do you hate me now?"

No... It's not that black and white. Every time you looked at me, every time we talked, you stole my heart more and more. So much that I can't even explain it in words. That's how much I adored you. My love for him was as vibrant as this red rose, and it would not wither so easily. But ever since you met me, the only reason you were nice to me is because…The only reason you were nice to me was because…

Kira

"You deceived me this whole time, didn't you?"

Vlad

"..."

My voice trembled, washed away with the wind. He quietly shook his head.

Vlad

"You're the one who found me that day in the snow. And this time I wanted to find you." "None of that is a lie."

So then, meeting him really was just a coincidence? I want to believe him, but I can't. I want to understand, but I don't. I thought and thought, but I just couldn't find the answer. It felt like the lonely feeling of waves quietly pulling away from the shore. struggled to get the words out.

Kira

"Vlad. I want to understand you."

I want to answer you after I understand everything. But…

Kira

"But I just don't. I try to, but no matter how hard I try, I Just can't.

Vlad

"You look like you're about to cry. That's how badly you want to understand me, huh?" "And that's why I can't give up on you."

Kira

"Vlad?"

His crimson eyes looked savage for a split second, staring so intently into mine it was like he could see my destiny.

Vlad

"Do you want to see?" "--Do you want to see the end of the world?"