gentle and affectionate

Chapter 34.

Good morning, Black Steel.

If you weren't too gentle, I wouldn't be so decisive.The moment I woke up, I was greeted by a mottled ceiling, surrounded by death-like silence, only the sound of the endless acid rain that continued to devour the world; but I didn’t have to turn my head to know that he was beside me, because I could feel his presence when I closed my eyes. breath.

So struggling to sit up.The newly assembled joints rattled, and the residual pain finally woke me up.

I turned to look at him.

There was an expression in Danfeng's eyes that shouldn't belong to a ninja. The general who always raised his chin looked down at me, his thick eyebrows were wrinkled in worry, his eyes were bloodshot, and there were black shadows under his sockets... It was a sight to see. I didn't close my eyes day and night, but my eyes were still gentle like that, and even seeing me wake up, there was a barely audible sigh of relief, as if I was relieved.

His gentle look looked too familiar, reminding me that in the dream, he also looked at me so gently, even the way he frowned was exactly the same as in memory... So, when I first woke up, I couldn't tell whether this was a dream Or reality.

However, he is so different from the memory, because compared to the memory, he looks too haggard, and the new green and black stubble on the jaw makes him look several years older.

Nothing like him.

So, once again making up my mind, I burst out a habitual perfect smile as before, replacing my long-forgotten true expression, and answering the sincerity in his eyes that were too full to overflow.

"Good morning, Black Steel."

The first time I seriously called his name was on such an occasion.

What an irony.

From the first time we met, I corrected and quarreled all the way about the name, and now I finally got it right, but he was not half happy, and he didn't hide his shock at all. Stab deeply.

I don't know if I can be proud of being able to hurt the undefeated general who is on the battlefield.

I think he must have understood, otherwise his expression would not be so gloomy, and his sharp eyebrows would not droop so sadly.Something familiar to me flashed in his eyes, and then, I saw him showing such a humble expression in front of people for the first time; only his thin lips were still stubbornly pursed, so I had no choice but to not face me, but just I can lower my head even lower and remove the lonely and guilt-ridden eyes.

The wrinkles between the man's brows were instantly smoothed away, but not because of happiness.

And I face him, can only smile.

Just a few seconds of confrontation seemed as long as a century.

……

"You can't move yet."

As soon as the words fell, he finally left without looking back, finally as decisive as usual.

I wanted to keep laughing, but I was as sad as if I had lost something important; so I could only lower my head and relax my stiff neck from trying to raise my head.In fact, my whole body was in pain like a pinprick, and I didn't even want to move, let alone get up and go somewhere else.

The thin blanket hung on my head as docilely as when he threw it over, blocking most of the cold in my world, even his temperature.

The newly installed joints are not very easy to use. You can hear the sound almost every time you move it, just like a damaged machine that cannot be restored to its original state no matter how hard it is repaired; I tried to fill this heart with big mouthfuls of breath, but it was in vain, only the oppression as heavy as a boulder made it even more difficult for me to breathe.At this time, I realized that his overly considerate finally had some benefits, at least I didn't have to endure this feeling to go elsewhere, and I didn't need to fall to the ground uselessly before I got out of his line of sight.

However, the pain in the left eye was better, and it was no longer as painful as before, probably due to the vampire's resilience.The gloomy day and night are still indistinguishable outside the window, making people have no concept of time, but I know that I have probably slept all night... because his bloody back is already covered with hideous scabs.

Strong enough to be invincible, strong enough to ignore all pain, and support everything with one's own shoulders.

— But, is that really the case, Heigan?

Lifting his creaking hand, he pressed on the hole in his left eye.No one knows better than me how strong the magic of blue is, but that man who doesn't know any magic at all uses this body as a shield to protect a small world in his arms. He didn't let go... After that, there was nothing left in the world except violent breathing and heartbeat, as well as scorching warm care.

His never leaving makes the dream warm so that it is not like the world.

The body is wounded, and the world on that side is extremely small and crude, yet it can shine uncontrollably just because he protects it meticulously, so brilliant that it seems that even Tokyo can be illuminated.

……

But at this time, he only left a broad back, and his snow-white shirt was smeared with blood and dust.Even though his shoulders sank sadly, he still looked reliable, reliable enough to believe in his world, as if it could never be shattered.

It's a pity that it's not good who is the person in that world, but it's me.

It is precisely because of this that he who wished to let me survive is unforgivable.

……

According to my temperament, it is normal to have no contact with him, but the journey is not over yet, and Sakura can’t be without someone by her side... If she really broke her face with Heigang, it might not be good for the children to be caught in the middle Do.

However, I didn't expect that even Miss Witch, who seemed to have nothing to worry about, would specifically ask me.

"You and Black Steel..."

"I spoke to him," I just laughed, "and I said 'Good morning, Black Steel'."

Miss Witch's worry was beyond words, and a faint sadness flashed in her dark red eyes, somehow she resembled that person.

I think it's just because this kind of pupil color is too rare.

"...Is that your answer?"

Otherwise, how should I answer, I looked at this man who taught him how to save me.Besides Fei Wang, the manipulator of this trip should probably belong to this Miss Witch... Even so, even though I can't understand why she led Hei Gang to save me, even though I blame her in my heart, I can't not answer her words , because she is really 120 sincerely kind to us-for example, she told Heigang just now that they said that I can recover my eyes if I get them back, even if it is meaningless for me to recover.

For example, now, the witch lady who put Mokona to sleep from the very beginning of the conversation seemed indifferent, but she was actually extremely gentle.

...Even this is like him.

"In the beginning, I wanted to call him by his name as honestly as Xiaolang, Xiaoying and Mokona, but..." I laughed at myself, "Every time he calls his name indiscriminately, he will get angry, really It's funny...and I haven't called anyone by a nickname, so it's kind of fun."

As a result, after playing and playing, I overplayed it.

The happiness that should not belong to me is too addictive, and after a long time, I can't extricate myself.

"So I was so happy that I didn't realize that I had already surpassed the boundary I had drawn before."

It's also my fault that he doesn't know how to joke. He dared to show his heart to a person like me—even if a person like me is saved, so what?Are you going to hurt the boy who holds half of my magic just to let me recover?

I'm not a saint. It's not because I'm kind that I don't want my eyes back, but because I think it's really unnecessary.

Because there is no future.

……

And black steel, you don't understand anything.

"Why did you let Sakura alone replace the price?"

You don't understand anything, have you even forgotten the protection you have been talking about?

Even I, a person who begged for death, wanted to save you at all costs, why did you let a 14-year-old girl walk alone in this Tokyo shrouded in death?There are dangers everywhere, isn't the friendship that came along the way enough to make you stop her because of your heartache? !You left that back injury untreated, wasn't it to save the medicine for Sakura?

I thought so, black steel.

But you answered all this with a calm and ruthless voice.

"Because the princess wishes so."

"Didn't you try to stop her?"

Then answer me with a nonsensical monotone.

Heigan, is your protection just like this?

I thought I could be a companion, but he let me down again and again... However, he can see my intention clearly, just like I can see him clearly at a glance, and he hesitates a little The obstruction still betrayed his true state of mind.I finally knew that he was still the cold-hearted ninja I knew——

"You know she can't come back unscathed, that's why you didn't even heal the wound on your back," I tried to say in an extremely cold voice, but I felt as if my chest was trembling, and it seemed that even my breathing was about to go away. To run away, "There are very few medicines in this country, so you are like this, just hope that when she comes back, you can leave a little more medicine to treat the injury?"

Hei Gang, you are also worried about her.

……

He acquiesced, and it was finally the same as I remembered.

Even if you turn your back and don't look at his expression, you can still outline his frowning at this moment.I want to know where that ninja who was once resolute and not dragging his feet in the slightest has gone...but I don't want to know, because maybe I already know why he became like this.

So, I could only listen to him speak in a low voice.

"...she said she would come back."

"But what if she doesn't come back even if she wants to?" I couldn't help being a little impatient, "It's fine if it's just an injury, but what if... if she loses her life, then she won't be able to come back even if she wants to!"

Acid rain is everywhere, alien creatures are everywhere, so far away, she is alone...

"That princess has already made up her mind."

His answer was unexpected, and I turned around abruptly.

"Since you are so clear, why..."

"That's why," he interrupted, "that's why I trust the princess, because she has made an appointment with us to come back, so... I'm going to wait."

Then Heigan showed a look that was completely strange to me.

"Even if waiting is more painful than going with her."

……

"I don't want to wait."

No, Hei Gang, you were not like this before.

You should take the initiative to draw your sword as you did in the Hanshin Kingdom, and let your heart do it. When there is a battle, you will never stand still. A smile is the most dazzling arrogance in the world.

What's the matter with you, Black Steel?

Haven't you been protecting us with your strength?Now, the little wolf who walked with us at the beginning is gone... No, I don't hate the little wolf now, nor do I think who is more important or unimportant than the other, but... the boy who used to be can't come back, And Heigang... I did the injury, that's right, but why are you unwilling to even protect her?

Why are you different?At this time... Xiao Sakura, there is only Xiao Sakura, what if Xiao Sakura, what happens to her, what if she... I...

Distraught.

I, who didn't keep the little wolf, was deprived of half of my magic, and became a tool to help the evildoers, and I also implicated Hei Gang in order to survive... Now I can no longer afford to lose it.

—Are you so afraid to believe it?Hei Gang asked me this, but how should I answer him, so that I, who watched my loved ones die in front of my eyes, believe that the people around me will not have any accidents?Or take him to see the country of Thrace, where blood flowed overnight, crying in vain and asking why the king who loved me the most suddenly turned into a devil?

But I, a sinful person, don't even have the right to cry.

……

The rain started to fall again, hitting my heart so that I couldn't wait any longer.

"Wait a moment……"

"If you stop again, I'm going to attack."

I interrupted his slightly hesitant blocking with a voice without warmth, the hesitation betrayed his worry.

So, only the sound of rain filled the silence.

The rain is getting heavier and heavier, hitting the ground full of holes. The gray sky before dawn has no beauty. In this Tokyo, there is only suffocation that makes people feel that danger is approaching.I stepped on the sandy ground with bare feet, and when I heard the boy's voice, I was trying to move my sore leg bones, trying to take a step forward.

"if……"

The voice was exactly the same as that boy's, but he knew it was no longer that boy.

"If you get hurt by trying to save her, Sakura...no, the princess will be even more upset."

The place where the boy's heart is rooted, of course, will not be the slightest bit inferior, his eyes are much deeper, but they are as firm as the other him.

"In that case, her inner wound will definitely hurt several times more than her physical wound, just like you don't want the princess to get hurt."

It's not right to be sad because of me, but with the kindness of a girl, it will definitely be like this... The boy with the same eyebrows and eyes speaks so sincerely...

Let me how to refute.

The heavy legs were put down, looking at the ground, even the eyelids were heavy.

"You are really... the same."

But if you're like this, I don't even have a chance to redeem myself.

Because no matter what, I will bring you bad luck, which cannot be changed.

……

The rain hit the back of the head and flowed down the strands of the hair. It felt a bit hot, but as Xiaolang said, the pain was far less than the pain caused by waiting; I really want to let go, but there is always a voice that makes me hold on to my feet, and even want to rush out desperately... Until this kind of dilemma is about to drive me crazy, Mokona exclaimed Let us all follow her gaze at the same time——

Standing in the center of the horizon, the small figure is so weak that it is almost swallowed by the ruins and the rainstorm, but it is as powerful as a god.

"Sakura-"

……

Don't worry about anything, just come back.

I don't know why the joints that were creaking in the last second suddenly become so flexible. My body and even my eyes seem to no longer hurt. I don't feel anything when I run on the gravel with bare feet. I run almost mechanically. Beside that girl, there is something fresh in my heart that is about to come out.

"Sorry……"

I never expected to hear this sentence anyway.

"When Mr. Fay is in pain, I can't do anything... I'm sorry," she forced her head up, "So, now you must be more...in pain...much..."

"Sakura."

Wrapping the poncho on her thin body, the wounded girl held my arm, and I saw that one of her originally emerald eyes had been covered by the dripping blood... She was obviously in a terrible state of distress, and she was so weak I was about to faint, but she...but she actually said such words, which made me stuck in my throat, and I couldn't even say a word.

"even so……"

——I'm still very glad that you survived.

Silly boy, what are you apologizing for?

……

As for the consequences, Ms. Yuko’s explanation of the truth of the whole journey is the same as the result I have been guessing all the time. It is nothing more than the "wish" mentioned by the man in the gap - two conditions need to be fulfilled, the first One is Sakura's country, the ruins of Jiulou country; and the second is the journey itself, in order for Sakura's body to accumulate strength by traveling through dimensions and time, so as to achieve his goal.

I knew it, but didn't say it.

"Because of this, Fei Wang turned the memory of Princess Sakura into feathers and spread them to various dimensions, so that you were forced to embark on a journey of collecting feathers," Yuko said in a deep voice, "He caught the girl who had already known about Fei Wang's plan. little wolf, and then create a little wolf who knows nothing and makes collecting feathers his number one priority,"

...These are exactly the same as what I heard in the ice and snow and what I thought of in the future, so I can't make an expression of surprise.

However, there is also something I can't think of, and that is Heigang's past.

——It turned out that he was ruined by that man.

……

"Is there any connection between this?" He said in a deep voice.

"In order for you to leave Suwa and become a ninja in Japan, and then serve Princess Tomoyo, waiting for a day to travel...Because in Japan, the only person who can send people to another world is Princess Tomoyo."

He frowned deeply, "Serving Princess Zhishi is my own decision."

"Well, Princess Zhishi also believes so. Because of this, even if she knew Fei Wang's plan, she still sent you out."

Miss Witch agrees with his statement, but I don't think it makes sense.

——Why did you send him out?

I know what Black Steel said is true.He doesn't know Dimensional Witch at all, let alone being her pawn, and if under Zhishi's hands, even if the blade is bloody, he doesn't have to become Fei Wang's pawn, then... why did Princess Zhishi let him come?

I don't know what flashed through my mind, and I couldn't grasp the flash of thoughts because of the chaotic thoughts. I only heard the name that has been called for more than 100 years being mentioned... I couldn't help but tremble.

Fay.

"You already know what is arranged and what is not arranged?"

I put my head down.

……

yeah i know.

Of course I know about the fate that was arranged and that I killed him—because I have been dreaming about the scrawny boy being kept alone in a dark prison and making wishes for more than 100 years.

He said "I want to die".

I also want to die.

Therefore, there is nothing more important than keeping the princess in front of me, or finding the lost boy.

……

Fei Wang's dream is a dream that everyone dreams of, but no one can realize it; Fei Wang's plan is to let the four of us meet and travel until he gets what he wants.

I no longer know whether my wish can still be realized, and I am not even sure whether it will last until the day it is realized. I can only walk along the established destiny, step by step, without end... But Miss Witch wants to talk about travel Everything along the way is our own choice, which leaves me speechless.

—Can man choose his own path?

I do not know.

Because I thought it was impossible.

However, when the girl endured the injuries all over her body and struggled to sit up from my arms, the firmness in her eyes was still so dazzling.Even if she knows that everything is a conspiracy, even if she knows that she will lose a lot, she still believes that there is hope and keeps this hope... Even if she falls into Fei Wang's arms, she must work hard to get back the heart of the one she loves go down.

How dazzling.

"Can I go together?"

So I break this silence.

Because I don't want the brilliance to disappear.

"My left eye is now with the little wolf, the same magic will attract each other, maybe I will help find the little wolf.

I explained it to her in this way, and when she was suspicious for a while, I made sure again, turned the topic to the direction that I can't heal magic, and asked her if she disliked me like this.

——Is this what Mr. Fay really thinks?

"Ah."

of course not.

Because I have never been a good person, just for redemption.

"Whether you can use magic or not, Mr. Fay is Mr. Fay."

But you paid the wrong expectation, so I had to give a hand kiss in shame.

—I hope you can remember your words, anyway, no matter who you are, you will be our only princess.

So... the princess made a wish, I made a wish, Mokona is the same, and the little wolf still has something to protect, but the only person who is the least likely to meddle in other people's business uses the excuse of seeking revenge from King Fei, He didn't even seize the opportunity to go back to Japan, it's not like he said something changed.

He bowed his head and said the promise, let me see myself in his eyes, his heart twitched fiercely, and then, he couldn't face those dark red deep eyes even more.

There can indeed be more than one agreement, but...

Hei Gang, you really paid by mistake.

Only a few days later, we were on our way again.

The darkness before dawn is the most difficult, but fortunately people are sleeping at this time.However, the corrosive noise caused by the rain hitting the tall buildings probably added a little unrest to this place. When the sky was getting bright, the voice of the old man whispered, which was extremely rare in this dead Tokyo. The feeling comes.

The boy who used to walk with us has left, after I was injured and passed out.

Hei Gang and another "little wolf" were packing very few bags. I heard that they arrived not long after I was in a coma that day. The wolf regained his right eye, and then fell into a confrontation with the frustrated little wolf, and the scene was once difficult to control.

But no matter who they were, they were all driven to a dead end by the powerful blue magic, and Heigan's back was beaten to a bloody mess; I also heard that the little wolf later had to use magic because of this, but he narrowly won. The opportunity was lost due to a slight change... So the little wolf was injured, and after the boy we traveled together gave the feather to Sakura, he left this sad place alone through the rift of time and space.

In short, it was the young man who did not stay, and the water that Tokyo residents depended on for survival was exhausted in that conflict, and my magic was integrated with the frustrated young man, and together they became Fei Wang's powerful pawns to destroy the truth and the world.

Cub's right leg was seriously injured. I heard that when he confronted Cub at that time, it was Xiao Ying who stopped him, which made him miss the opportunity; The wolf lost his former heart, but to her, or to us, the little wolf is still a little wolf... I think her blocking is just like I couldn't bear to use magic to repel him at that time.

However, the injury is hurt, the separation is separation, who can be blamed now?

The journey will continue.So, when I thought of the thing Miss Witch said about "recovering the eyes can restore the magic power", I, who has always been good at avoiding it, thought it would be better not to see it.Because of this, you can hold meaningless hopes, hoping that the last moment will come later, hoping that if this is the case, maybe things will turn around.

Even if there is no turning point at all.

……

When receiving the feather from Feng Zhen, the princess's expression was unprecedentedly dignified.This journey to find the feathers that started at the beginning seems to have gradually changed, and I don't know if it has something to do with the feathers that will stay here.

But I think it must have something to do with wish.

She held the feather solemnly, with a pair of small hands wrapped in bandages. She was slender and faltering, but she had a clearer and firmer belief than any adult.The light was so dazzling that it was difficult for people like me who lived in the shadows to open their eyes, because I was ignorant of the future, but I couldn't bear to erase even the slightest hope for her.

She'll be all right, sure.

I will also protect her with my remaining life, until the day when I can finally usher in death.

……

The feather that is about to sleep at the bottom of the water sinks into the bottom of the spiritual water with the past of who knows who and who; the engulfment of acid rain can no longer be effective at last, and the capital hall returns to its original guarding appearance.

There are still five of us, but none of us are the same as before. Walking up the stairs and returning to the ground, it’s like following the journey of fate and getting farther and farther away... Now that things are going on, since there are a few more reasons why we can’t die , since I still have a broken life available, then I am willing to give everything, as long as they can get a little happiness, no matter what kind of darkness and despair awaits ahead, I am not afraid.

Be fearless, because there is nothing left to lose.

And if there is still a little hope, it is probably that I hope that all the pain will be borne by me alone, leading me to the desperate situation.I can't even keep my promises anymore, but I greedily hope that I can keep them this time, because I don't have the strength to abandon them anymore.

Desperate Tokyo, Tokyo exudes death everywhere, on the day before we left, it was rare that there was no rain.When the magic circle was called out, Xiaoxiayue was still reluctant to keep us, so she was hugged by a boy named Nezha... The residents living in this Tokyo actually sent us away with a smile, I watched them quietly It seems that as long as you smile like this, there is hope ahead.

... No, how is it possible.

Even if there is, it cannot belong to me, because my fate is already fixed.

Therefore, that smile is too gorgeous for me, so I can only look away; I look up at the thick and oppressive clouds, look at the gray sky, and see the end of the magic circle——

The gloomy sky, which had been gloomy all the time, finally, unexpectedly, turned the clouds to see the sun.

【Tokyo Chapter End】

The author has something to say:

The following is the notice -

This is the last update of the text for this semester (note that it is only the semester). As for whether there will be one or two extra stories or short stories in June, it’s hard to say. The extra stories will be published in this post, and the short stories will depend on the situation. In short, Tokyo Unlimited Color Lace's continuous abuse, except for Thrace's final outbreak, Wen's overall feeling has basically been on a downward trend, so this is also approaching the end of the term, and everyone is in a bad mood. I also want to preview for the end of the day... I will wait until July to start a new update, probably in the middle of July, and I will inform you of the specific time after my exam is arranged

Everyone who has left a message since Aite opened the pit when resuming, needs Aite to say later today, don’t worry, I won’t catch up, let alone worry, I will never give up, even if it’s for the safety of my life Consider, after all, if Heifa is not happy, it will be bad if husband and wife come and beat me

Ah... The beginning of this article is actually very tasteless. Now it can be written here and written like this. Most of it is due to everyone's credit. Calculating the time, this article will end at the end of this year, so I will stop here for a month Anyway, I would like to thank my friends who have supported me all the time~ In short, I wish you Chaochang for the exam, and wish you a fortune for your work. Let’s see you in July~