Promise to Sirius (An Utapri / Uta no Prince-sama Fanfiction)

Chapter 52: Eternal Flower

We are with you, just like you are with us. Just like under the ever-changing, glowing lights of those lanterns, just like in every other place that we have visited together, just like always. But right now... you are in so much pain, Ai-chan. As we hold you and hope with all our hearts that everything is going to be okay, you are trembling, your body extremely cold and limp pressed against mine, tears that have fallen glimmering faintly on your cheeks.

The blinding blue light remained streaked against the surface of Ai's hands as the tremors of his body silently quavered through the cold silence like a hollow voice.

As vivid as those places were, if we were to go to any of them right now, with you being tortured by this much pain and sadness... they would only be extremely hurtful to see. And right now, we don't want to go to any of them at all. Not like this. Not when you are hurting and we are hurting with you.

"I hate to inform you this, but Hakase is not answering any of my calls."

Camus looked over his shoulder, his narrowed, ice-blue eyes deep with grim concern.

"I have called four times consecutively, but I suspect that his cellphone is currently inactive. Therefore, regardless how many attempts I make, all of my calls have been forwarded to voicemail."

"Oh God..."

Ranmaru gritted his teeth as frustration flashed across his heterochromatic eyes.

"How is it that now of all times, when we need him to help Ai more than ever, he ain't respondin'?" he demanded, his voice edged with anger. "The least that he could do is tell us what we can do while we're on the way there so that Ai doesn't have to suffer this much! We're still an hour away and you're tellin' us that there ain't anythin' else we can do?"

"Are the extra layers helpin' at least?" Reiji asked, his voice filled with worry as he made a turn at an intersection.

"A little, but Maru-chan and I could hardly feel it," Natsuki answered softly, shaking his head as he gently placed a hand onto Ai's forehead. Sadness crossed his heart like cold waves. "I tried checking again, but it's still more or less the same. Ai-chan... is the pain disappearing?"

"N-No..." Ai whispered, his voice wavering as Ranmaru and Camus looked down at him. "I... I still can hardly m-move either... It is like my movement... has been numbed while the cold... translated to pain." 

His lips twisted into a quiet wince as his eyes remained an empty teal and he exhaled painfully. 

"An endless pain that does not feel... like it's fading anytime soon."

"Ai-Ai..."

"I'm just glad... that at the very least... I c-can still hear and feel... and speak..."

"Ai, don't say it-"

"Because it's already so dark..." Ai uttered quietly, a lone tear slipping down his right cheek as his hand quivered in Natsuki's, his fingers curling even more as his shoulders trembled, "being unable to see anything... any of you, or even a fragment of light... even as my eyes are open. Even as painful as it is... I am glad... and thankful..."

His other hand clutched the lapel of the olive jacket that Reiji had lent him, his lips wavering slightly.

"...t-that you are here... a-and I know it."