CRASH!
The door slammed shut in my face, making me recoil in surprise. I looked at Noir and Rubrum, both with a similar reaction to mine.
For a moment, I wondered if I had done something to annoy her. I prepared to knock on the door again, but a series of noises coming from inside the house made me stop.
BAM!
CRASH!
"DAMN IT!"
Not to mention the curses Rose was yelling amidst the mess. For a moment, her face peeked out from behind the curtains; I nodded, offering a smile, causing her to close the curtains immediately.
Then I waited, leaning against the wall while tapping my feet on the floor.
Minutes later, I returned to my initial position upon hearing the door open, readjusted my clothes one last time, and opened my mouth to speak as soon as Rose appeared again.
"IDIOT!"
SLAP!
I brought a hand to my left cheek, now sore and probably marked with a handprint.
"Okay, I guess I deserve this."
"DUMBASS!"
SLAP!
"I guess I deserve this too."
I expected a third blow after being hit on the opposite cheek, but Rose slowly lowered her trembling hand and stared at me with a face full of sadness.
"Honestly, you're treating me like a husband who just got back from war."
The emotional pain was greater than the physical, but being pulled into a crushing hug was welcome. Rose buried her face in my chest and began to sob.
I closed my free arm around her, pulling her close as I felt the tears streaming down my face.
"Do you have any idea how I felt?! I thought you were gone forever! And then you show up almost dead in that shitty town!"
"And I thought you were dead, imagine my surprise when I found out you'd become the big sister of a bunch of little girls!"
"You should mind your own business!"
She punched me in the chest, making me flinch from the force of the blow.
"And you should be less stubborn!"
In return, I pinched her arm, making her flinch.
"Idiot!"
Then she hit me again.
"Hardhead!"
And again I pinched her.
"Soft-hearted!"
And again.
"Rude!"
And again.
"You… You…"
Her fist stopped in mid-air and she raised her head, staring at me with tear-filled eyes.
"You've changed."
"I could say the same about you."
"You've become uglier than before."
"And you look like a child pretending to be a pirate with that eye patch."
She let out a laugh that seemed a mixture of joy and disbelief, pulling away from my embrace.
I offered her a handkerchief to dry her tears, which she accepted with a smile before doing what was expected. However, my face contorted in disgust when she used the handkerchief to blow her nose.
I caught the object with the tip of my index finger and thumb, tossing it to Rubrum when Rose wasn't looking, watching as the piece of fabric was reduced to ashes with a spell.
"Come in, you must be tired of waiting out there."
Rose stepped aside, allowing us to enter. Despite the emotions, Noir and I acted calmly, unlike Rubrum who practically threw herself against our friend's face.
"Rubrum!"
"It's okay, I don't mind!"
Rose laughed, pushing the book away from her face, holding it by the sides and smoothing its cover.
"It's good to see you again. You're not mad at me, are you? I lost you the last time we were together."
Her sad smile turned to laughter as the book slipped from her grip and floated swiftly around her.
"I guess that's a no."
We sat around the kitchen table at Rose's request, watching as she opened the cupboards searching for something, only to turn to us with an embarrassed expression.
"I… I wasn't expecting visitors, so I didn't prepare anything. I have water… And stale bread…"
I frowned at the response, seeing how empty the house seemed.
"Rose, have you been taking care of yourself? We can help if you need anything."
"No, no! I'm fine, I just… I have no reason to keep this house tidy."
I'm alone.
That was the unspoken message.
"I understand, then I hope you like the gifts I brought."
I placed bottles of wine, cheeses, and sweets on the table, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.
"Is this for me? I would have made something for you if I had known."
"Don't worry, seeing you is already a gift for me."
Rose blushed and took a knife from a drawer, while Noir removed a pair of glasses from inside him. I opened one of the bottles and filled the glasses while she sliced one of the cheeses.
We drank and ate, but an uncomfortable silence soon settled in.
"So… What have you been doing?" Rose asked, and I swirled my glass, observing the wine while thinking about what to say.
"Hm… You might not believe it, but I'm a teacher now."
"You?" One of her eyebrows rose in disbelief.
"Of history specifically. I live in an Elven village in the Land of Forests and teach the children at the local school. They're little devils, but I love what I do. And you?"
Rose immediately jumped in her chair and looked around before answering.
"W-well, let's just say my job is much more exciting. First, I started as a singer."
"That's something I never imagined before, but judging by your powers, I think it's appropriate. Would you mind singing for me sometime?"
"You're pushing your luck, but I'll make an exception. However, I might be rusty, as I haven't sung since I changed professions; I'm a bounty hunter now."
Now it was my turn to show surprise.
"That suits you better for some reason. Your new name and bad attitude must create an intimidating image."
"Of course, Zero the bounty hunter is better than Rose."
"Speak for yourself, I'd die of embarrassment if I changed my name to a Mega Man character."
"I don't know what a Mega Man is, it sounds stupid, but you can keep calling me Rose, I like it when you do that."
"Rose."
"Yes?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to say your name."
"Then please continue."
"Rose."
"Again."
"Rose."
"One more time."
"Rose."
We stared at each other in silence for a few seconds, until I felt something forming inside me. What started as a chuckle turned into a long laugh.
"Oh, you have no idea how much I missed this!"
She laughed as she ate a handful of cheese and emptied her third glass in one gulp. The bottle was almost empty and I hadn't finished my first glass yet, apparently the glutton is still there.
Huh, cute.
"You can call me by my name too. I feel left out."
"Sure, idiot."
"That's not my name."
"Weird, it suits you."
I shook my head, chuckling slightly.
"I guess certain things never change, no matter how much time passes."
"Ha, you could say that."
Rose lowered her head slightly, dragging her hand along her eyepatch, and I frowned at the sight.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but what happened to your eye?"
"I'll tell you if you tell me how you got this way."
"Fair enough. I got this way after Noir and Rubrum absorbed all the magic from the institute so we could escape. My old body disintegrated, and when it was all over, I was like this. According to Noir, I'm a Gestalt, but we have no idea what that is. As for the flowers and feathers, that's the result of One using her song to save my life."
She turned to the books, which nodded in confirmation, then quickly filled her glass and drank it all in one gulp before slamming her fist on the table, clenching her teeth in anger.
"That bitch, she doesn't know what she's doing!"
I didn't comment, but I clenched my fist on my knee, holding back my anger.
"Don't talk about your sister like that. None of them, they've been through a lot and don't deserve this hatred. One did what she could to save my life and I'm grateful for that. I'm happy to be alive, or would you prefer I were dead?"
Her mouth tightened into a thin line and she clicked her tongue in frustration.
"None of this would have happened if you hadn't gotten involved."
"You know me too well, Rose, trouble follows me. I won't ask what happened between you and your sisters during the time we spent apart, at least not today, I don't want to ruin our reunion, but I will want answers in the future."
"I have no problem with that, but as you said, let's not ruin the moment."
"So, are you going to show me what's behind the eyepatch?"
She took a deep breath and, her face flushed—whether from embarrassment or alcohol, I couldn't tell—lifted her eyepatch, revealing a white flower in her eye socket.
"I died in Cathedral City, but this flower brought me back to life and created my sisters from my personality and memories. This is the source of my powers and the girls' false memories."
I reached out toward the flower, and Rose nodded in confirmation. I rubbed the petals carefully, feeling a bad sensation as soon as I touched them.
"It's the same feeling I had at Mercury Gate."
"So you know about the Black Flower, or Mother, whatever she was called."
"Just what your sisters told me."
"Then it's not much."
The uncomfortable silence returned, the kitchen was filled with a heavy atmosphere, and I immediately thought of something to lighten the mood.
"So, are you seeing anyone right now? Some guy or girl? I promise I won't judge."
I nibbled on a piece of cheese to disguise my interest, doing a terrible job, as always.
"PSHHH! Me? Seeing anyone? No! I just fuck and move on with my life, romance isn't for me! And you? You must be in paradise, right? Five lusty women draining you every day, right?"
"No? What do you mean by that?"
Rose's eyes widened and a devilish smile spread across her face, leaving me worried.
"Oh, they didn't tell you? We Intoners suffer from a constant lust, an itch that won't go away and needs to be satisfied so we can concentrate on other tasks. Didn't they drag you to the bedroom? That means you're still a virgin, doesn't it?"
"Well… That explains a lot."
I drank my wine and Rose almost spat hers out, trying to contain her laughter.
"They were very direct, weren't they?"
"Mostly Five and Three…"
"And Miss One, she kissed Lord Alan on the cheek, they walked arm in arm for a long time and also exchanged several hugs."
I know Noir just wanted to join the conversation and the tone of his voice indicated how proud he was of my developing relationship, however, he couldn't have chosen a worse moment to open his mouth.
"Really? I bet they must act like two romance characters, exchanging promises of love and all that."
"Not yet, Miss Rose, but I hope so."
Rose chewed a handful of cheese like a rabid dog, trying to punch a hole in my head with her gaze. Suddenly, she stopped and assumed an impassive expression, yet her eyes betrayed a plan.
I jumped in my seat and gripped the table, letting out a surprised cry when I felt something poking my shin.
"Rose!"
"What? I'm not doing anything."
She shrugged, smiling innocently as she traced circles on the rim of her glass.
The thing rubbed against me, slowly moving up towards my thigh.
"P-please!"
"Please what? You need to be clearer."
The thing reached the inside of my thigh and I immediately dragged my chair back when it touched a sensitive spot.
"HAHAHA! YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR FACE!"
"Hahaha… You got me. Would you like a prize?"
I returned to my seat, clapping sarcastically.
"Actually, yes, do you wanna do it?"
"Do what?"
"You know."
She raised her eyebrows suggestively, and I immediately understood what she wanted.
"Nice try, but I'm not falling for that again."
"I'm not kidding."
"Seriously?"
"What do you think?"
I felt something poking my leg again, and again I dragged the chair away.
"It's a great offer, but I have to refuse."
"And why is that? I felt the thing you're hiding down there, size sure isn't a problem, or don't you think I'm pretty?"
Her playful attitude lessened slightly, and my gaze drifted to the flower in her eye. That should discourage most people.
"It's nothing like that, Rose. Honestly, you've become an attractive woman, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't find you pretty, but…"
"But?"
"…But I'm interested in someone else, and well… How do I say this without offending you… I've known you for years, Rose, we've lived together for a long time and been through a lot, because of that, I don't see you that way."
"That's because of One, isn't it? That mark on your forehead, she messed with your head, and now you can't think of anything else but her. I can make you forget her, let's go to my room and…"
"ENOUGH!"
I slammed my fist on the table, surprising everyone.
"I didn't come all this way to hear you complain about your sisters! I don't want to sleep with you or any other woman besides the one I'm interested in! Only when my relationship ends, if it ends, will there be a possibility of me going after another woman, and it still won't be you! I'm not a playboy and I don't want a harem! I came all this way because I missed you for years! I carried your broken body in my arms and buried you! I cried for you! I thought it was all over now that you weren't by my side! I loved you! And then I find out you're alive and now that we've reunited, you treat me like someone's toy! Nobody's controlling me! There's no changing the past, we're different now, it won't be the same as years ago, but even so, is it so hard to have a genuine conversation? Forget the flower, magic powers and all that, I'm Alan and you're Rose, can we talk like the friends we've always been? Is it that difficult?"
Her expression softened, and slowly, Rose reached across the table. I returned the gesture, removing my glove and intertwining my fingers with hers.
"Sorry, let's talk, please."
I saw tears welling up in her eyes and felt my own welling up. Rubbing my eyes with my sleeve, I nodded, smiling weakly.
"So, do you have any hobbies?"
"Recently I've been training with other weapons, but in my free time I enjoy fighting in the Colosseum and…"
-XXXXXX-
"Come on, Rose, you need to rest."
"No! Just a little longer!"
"That's enough, you've had too much to drink."
I threw Rose over my shoulder, pulling her away from the empty wine bottles and carrying her to her room upstairs.
On the way, I noticed the marks of furniture, paintings, and small objects on the floor and walls, realizing that this house had been decorated at some point; now there was only the bare minimum for someone to live in.
Upstairs, I opened a door, only to slam it shut immediately when a mountain of trash nearly crushed me.
Well, that explains the noises when I arrived.
I had better luck at the next door, finding a dark room with only a bed and a wardrobe. I tiptoed to the bed, avoiding stepping on underwear and other clutter scattered on the floor.
Carefully, I laid Rose on her bed, ignoring her incoherent murmurs, but as I turned to leave, I was pulled into a hug and soon found myself trapped by a pair of arms and legs.
Looking to the side, I saw Rose asleep, snoring in my ear like a broken engine. I shifted my focus to the books that slowly drifted away, closing the door as they left.
At least the bed is comfortable.
-XXXXXX-
I left the room the next day, finally having escaped Rose's grip, but not without waking up with a foot on my face. I was exhausted; she rolled around in bed like a ball and snored like an animal.
Readjusting my clothes, I went downstairs and took a good look around the house. My hands and eyes trembled at the amount of dirt in the place.
Taking a deep breath, I searched for Noir and Rubrum, and after finding them, we made a quick trip to the nearby town to get food and cleaning supplies.
We thoroughly cleaned the house when we returned, leaving everything sparkling so bright you could see our reflections.
With that done, I went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, and minutes later, I heard someone yawning. Turning to the source of the noise, I saw Rose with a sleepy face and messy hair, wearing a large white shirt.
"I don't mind the special treatment, but why are you doing this?"
"For old times' sake."
I put two plates of scrambled eggs on the table for us, and together we had our breakfast, enjoying our reunion.
END OF CHAPTER