World 4.22

"Luca!!!!"

The shattering sound of the tapping rain on the balcony invaded his sense of hearing. The room was cold and chilly, dim lights with low temperature. The first rain after the full moon. He turned his eyes around, he saw no one.

He noticed his arms reaching out in the air the moment he woke up, he clenched his chest very tight. He tried to move his legs but it suddenly turned to numb, he caressed down the blanket covering his being and saw the red and black lines all over his body.

There was something missing, he was expecting that he would wake up with him by his side. 

"What happened? I should remember.." he uttered rubbing his head

He went silent in a minute, letting his ears enjoy the relaxing sound from the rain. It was so unusual in this place to rain, he didn't even know if it's really raining or if he was just dreaming.

"Am I dreaming?" he mumbled to himself, he tried to move and stood up. He reached the glass door of the balcony slowly while supporting his numb legs. He stopped when he saw himself reflected on the mirror. His face was different from the face he used to have.

"Is this me?" he asked himself when he saw the small wrinkles on his forehead, his yellow hair turned to winter white. His skin was not as smooth as the skin he used to have, but it was still pale and fair. He touched the glass and saw how his fingers turned to crooked and gnarled.

Homura opened the glass door with his limping movements, he walked barefoot towards the balcony ledge. He looked up, feeling the raindrops onto his face. It wasn't a dream, it's true.

He smiled when the cold touched his body, he couldn't remember what happened yesterday. It was really yesterday? It felt like he was sleeping for so long.

While he was staring into nothingness, he saw a familiar figure before the horizon in the middle of the rain, his heart pondered in joy and sadness. He was looking for him, the moment he woke up he knew that something was missing in his eyes.

He reached out his hand "L-Luca!" he yelled. Only the sound of shattering rain echoed back, it was so loud and heavy.

Homura ran, he dashed outside the room. He was stunned the moment he saw the changes outside the room. The hallway was quiet and dim, there was no one there. As he strided the long stairs, the chair and tables with the frames hanging on the wall are now covered in white cloth.

"What is happening?" he uttered to himself

He slowly walked while roaming his eyes around, the place was very old and dusty. Homura walked past the old training ground "Where are they?" he said

A sudden jolt strike his knees that caused him to almost trip, but managed to hold his body. He was very weak. He then remembered the old times when there are so many recruits training with him.

"Homura, you're slacking your job again! Idiot.."

The wind flashed with his heart when he heard the familiar voice, he quickly turned around "Yuna?!" he exclaimed 

There was no one there, it was like he was just seeing an illusion of the past. As he walked through the other part of the mansion, he saw some silhouettes running in the hallway. He chased it but found no one.

A small room greeted his sight, he opened the door and saw the familiar desk with the soft cushion chair,he went inside and roamed his eyes around. The shelves were already dusty and the book covers were already covered in thick spider webs. He saw the stack of papers on the desk, the white texture of it is now yellowish; and the words written on it are quite blurry.

"Master Homura..You need to take a rest for a while.."

He almost dropped the paper he was holding when he heard the familiar voice.

"Tadashi?!" he exclaimed, turning his head around but found no one there. The tickering sound of the rain again flashed in his ears, he realized that he was alone for so long.

"Tadashi?" He called out "Yuna?" he called out again

He only remembered their names but he couldn't remember anything about them "Where are you guys?" he called out

Homura dashed outside the office, he ran with his trembling knees. The familiar figure he saw at the horizon a while ago bangs his thoughts. "Maybe he know something.." his voice was hoarse

He ran and ran with the numbness crawling inside of his system, he reached the open field. The silhouette of that familiar figure is still far away from him. He needed to run more, but his body already stumbled down onto the wet grasses. The rain once again touched his body, he was now soaked.

"Come on! Move!.." Homura exclaimed in annoyance while slapping his legs

He wasn't like this before, he knew that he was strong but why does it feel so nostalgic and the melancholy inside him was eating his heart.

His body was shaking under the cold rain, like a kid having a fever "Why am I like this?!" he snorted "What is happening?!" he yelled

He watched again the familiar figure far away from him, then some memories struck him.

"Luca!" his eyes widened, clenching his chest very hard "L-Luca..Who is Luca?" he asked as his face turned to completely madness

He dropped his body down, facing the crying sky. Homura laughed like a crazy freak, he laughed his heart out until sadness struck him back. His lips twitched and his eyes squinted.

The more he resisted, the more he felt something heavy. "Why can't I remember anything?" then he chuckled "Am I going insane?"

He closed his eyes, letting the raindrops touch his skin.

"Homura…"

There was again a familiar voice, but the voice was different. It was melodic and enticing in any one's ears.

Homura opened his eyes and saw a man, his skin was white as snow, his silver hair was dashing through the rain. His crimson eyes looked familiar and tender.

The other man reached out his hand "Come.." he said 

Homura unconsciously grabbed his hand as they both stood, he was the familiar figure far away from him. "But what is he doing in the middle of the rain?" he asked himself

Homura accidentally stepped on his hem and was about to fall when the man quickly grabbed him by the waist "It's been so long since I embraced you like this.." there was a lonely tone in his words

Luca smiled at him, it's been so long since he saw that face. The youth on his face already vanished but his heart still wanted him. Homura seemed very weak and frail right now. Luca put his hand around Homura's waist.

Homura grabbed his shoulder for support 

"Who are you?"