Chapter 157
"Then we'll just have to make sure such a mistake never happens again."
"Yeah…"
Feeling her warmth behind him, his shoulders got just a little bit straighter. As his senses focused on Shuri who was alone in her room, he released a sigh. He could only comfort himself that Akeno and Asia would not be there to witness what was about to happen.
"I might as well get this over with."
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|DxD|
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Shuri was not in the best of moods. Just within these past 30 days alone, everything had become a mess. It was a downward spiral that only had two enjoyable moments for her.
Without a doubt, she could admit that in her new life, the two brightest lights were Akeno and Igor. The blonde was the direct catalyst for her revival and Akeno was the light of her heart, the daughter she loved above all.
Yet, she managed to disappoint them both.
[Where did I go wrong?]
Sitting on the edge of her bed, her mind receded back to the memories of the last few days. Her complete break-off with her husband, the crying state of Akeno when she broke the news…
'No! Papa can't leave! He can't leave! It's my fault! Tell papa he can come back! Please tell papa he can come back! T-Tell papa I was joking! Please mama!'
…and Igor's angered state when he learnt the news…
'Where. Is. He.'
…all served to make her drown in guilt. The consequences of her actions were catching up to her, and she was scared for what the future entailed.
[Perhaps I…perhaps I shouldn't have left him.]
Her thoughts were spiralling into disarray, the regret gnawing at her incessantly. It had been just over ten minutes since Igor had left. She couldn't forget his question, that faint but hopeful gaze when he asked.
'Aunty. If you were to be given some time to recover, maybe a few years, do you see yourself possibly getting back together with the old man.'
That faint spark of hope in his cerulean gaze as he asked pierced into her very core. To watch that faint glimmer shatter the same way Akeno's did was something she could never forget, would never forget.
Because that was the result of her selfishness.
"..."
Looking at the clock on her bedside table, she debated to herself in calling Cleria. She was worried of the potential conflict that would arise from Igor descending into the Underworld.
Having been informed by her just what kind of chaos might erupt if he went down there, she wished she stopped him, or maybe tried to persuade him.
Yet when she saw those red eyes…
'Don't worry. I won't kill him.'
…that crimson gaze that frightened her to the core, her heart clenched at the prospect of terrible harm coming to anyone because of her actions. Even now, she questioned herself on whether it was right to prioritise her feelings, to break apart her family for such a frivolous reason.
"I don't want my family to be like this anymore."
To live in a house where her daughter has not laughed, to live in a house where the air is heavy with the emotion of sadness was not something she wanted to experience.
If all it took to let happiness reign in this home was to open her heart to…him, then she would do it.
[I'll…I'll go back to him.]
As she said those words, it was as if someone violently squeezed her heart, but she shoved down the feeling. How she felt was not important. If her choice could preserve the sanctity of her home, if it could make her daughter and Igor smile again, then she would be satisfied.
"I'll do it."
Standing up from her bed, she affirmed to herself.
"I'll get back together with him."
There was that painful sensation in her heart, but she pushed it down again. Walking over to her bedside, she was about to grab her telephone when a familiar sound she knew resounded in her room.
Tswii!
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.
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Silence…
Two eyes met each other. Golden brown met royal blue, one filled with shock and worry and the other with weariness and resignment, for Igor truly appeared tired.
Shuri raked her eyes over his form, his destroyed clothing only serving to make her heart palpate more and more in worry. She dropped the telephone on top of the bed in complete shock, her eyes refusing to process just how horrible he looked.
"Dimori-kun!"
Running over towards him, she placed her hands on his chest, her eyes searching his figure for even the most grievous of wounds. She grabbed his shoulders and turned him around, the blonde not resisting in the slightest.
Her eyes trailed along his back until she saw the dried scabs on his lower back, right where the spine was.
"Lie on the bed!"
She vehemently commanded with a teary glare, but the blonde didn't move.
"Calm down, aunty-"
"No I can't calm down! You're hurt!"
Igor could barely suppress a smile at her concern for him, but he reassured her. Turning around, he looked into her eyes.
"I'm really fine, aunty. My injuries are already healed."
"..."
She was not entirely convinced. Yet before she could pressure him, he spoke.
"Believe me, aunty. What you're seeing is just a bit of dirt and a few scratches. Nothing my regeneration and a shower can't fix."
"..."
Raising her hands to grab his cheeks, she lifted her head to meet his gaze.
"Are you really…alright? Are you completely fine?"
"Yes, aunty."
Her concerned gaze was not doing well for Igor's confidence. He planned to break the news of Baraquiel's hospitalisation as soon as he greeted her, but this was already stretching beyond his plans. Regardless, if he didn't break the news now, he wasn't sure if he would get a chance later.
Steeling his nerves, he closed his eyes briefly to gather his confidence before opening them.
"Listen aunty. I actually have something to say."
"..."
Her hands remained on his cheeks, her gaze recognising the slight fear and apprehension in his eyes. A bad feeling already arose within her heart. His trip into the Underworld, and now his state of clothes.
Did he…
"Did you…kill Baraquiel?"
"..."
The silence was deafening. His silence spoke more than a thousands words, his silence painting a horrible new reality.
She found herself retreating from him step by step, her eyes watering at the implications of Baraquiel's death, a result of her selfish choice.
"You didn't. Please tell me you-"
"I almost did. I almost killed the old man. He's in a hospital in Grigori as we speak and his condition is stable. But…I was this close to killing him."
He didn't speak any further. He let his words hang in the air for Shuri to process. Unconscious or not, he wouldn't provide a flimsy excuse.
"It was my fault and I take full responsibility for my actions. I will understand if you hate me, aunty."
Former husband or not, Baraquiel was still a significant part of her life. He would understand if she hated him. In fact, she expected him to hate him.
But, she was uncharacteristically quiet.
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|DxD|
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Aurelia was hovering outside the window to Shuri's room with her presence suppressed. She was privy to the entire conversation Igor had with Shuri, and it took her utmost will not to interfere in what would clearly lead to a misunderstanding.
Under his vehement insistence, she did not venture inside with him, yet now she wished she did.
[He's blaming himself.]
She sincerely wanted to respect her lord's wishes, but not at the expense of his relationship with Shuri. It was why that subtly, she formed a telepathic connection with Shuri in order to clarify things.
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|DxD|
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Shuri felt as if she was in a rollercoaster of emotions. It was a constant state of concern and relief with the former being what she felt more. Her heart almost stopped when he remained silent at her question of killing Baraquiel. And relief flooded her when he elaborated.
"I almost did. I almost killed the old man. He's in a hospital in Grigori as we speak and his condition is stable. But…I was this close to killing him."
"..."
Her mind started to wonder. She knew Igor's capabilities. To imagine how intense the fight must've been for him to return like this shook her to the core. Her mind fell into a buzz of emotions as emotions as she sat down on the bed.
At his words, a new problem had been tossed on her shoulders.
[Oh no.]
Politics. Even if she weren't there, she could guess that relationships between Igor and Grigori would be strained. No matter what, this would also extend to Akeno and the long term consequences alone would-
{Shuri-sama. Please do not panic and listen to me.}
"..."
That voice in her head. She recognised it as Aurelia's. Fortunately, she did not panic at hearing her voice in her head.
{Apologies for disturbing, Shuri-sama. However, I must be quick before my lord senses my use of mana. Lord Dimori's story, while indeed true, he neglected to mention a significant amount of information. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to share my memories with you currently. But I will brief. My lord never intended to attack Baraquiel-sama. When we entered the Underworld, he was fully resolved to just understanding the basics of the situation. However, we both neglected the existence of senjutsu energy and the effect it would have on him. To summarise it bluntly, Shuri-sama, when my lord attacked Baraquiel-sama, he had already been consumed by the malevolent energy of the world. And as much as he will deny it if you ask, I believe it were his instincts that prevented him from killing Baraquiel-sama. Azazel-sama is also aware of the situation as he was also one of the few people present. I shall show you my detailed memories should the appropriate moment arise. Until then, please rest assured and know that Baraquiel-sama will recover to full health without any complications within this week.}
As fast as it came, the connection broke.
"..."
After hearing Aurelia's clarification, she felt…relief. Baraquiel would be fine. No one was hurt too much. She no longer needed to inform her daughter that she had lost her father…for good.
Hope for her family still existed.
"Aunty?"
"..."
Now, she had to deal with this stubborn blonde who tried to shoulder the blame when he had no need to.
[You're still young, Igor.]
Standing up, she made her way towards him and silently wrapped her hands around his waist. She felt him tense at her embrace, but she tightened her hold.
"Aunty…?"
[Idiot…]
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AN
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And our lovely silverette comes in with the save. Now, for those of you who are wishing for Igor x Shuri, I just want to say that all of you are paedophiles. Igor is only nine while Shuri at the very least, would be twenty if we take her revival into consideration.
This is beyond perverted. This is degeneracy. Downright degeneracy and you should be ashamed of yourselves.