∆ Clock Strikes Fourteen

'Somebody found you, Haku.' The old woman standing before me had said and flashed a beautiful smile. It feels like I know the woman and I miss her terribly.

'Found me?' I didn't say it but the words came out of me. It was my voice.

'You can come back now.'

'But the First Bloods would be after me, they think killing me will be the end of Endzeit.' Again, it wasn't me. It was as if I was possessed.

'Don't worry, your savior will save you once again.'

'Savior? Leonardo?'

'You don't remember? It's the eldest son of the Sakamaki household.'

'No, wait... Who am I?'

A very loud screech echoed in my head and it hurt so bad.

-

I didn't know what time it was when I woke up with a start. I was still in Shuu's warm embrace and he was woken up when I gasped. The outside was still dark and the lights were dim.

'Nightmare?' Shuu spoke and his sleepy voice was attractive.

I touched my throbbing head. 'A terrible one.' I said and sat up.

'Okay, I'm going to sleep.' He replied and did just that. I was amazed at his speed of falling asleep.

I stared at the scenery I could see from the window. The dream felt so real and the headache really happened. I tried to dismiss it as a mere coincidence but my heart couldn't ignore the longing I felt when I was talking to the old woman in the dream. My eyes then travelled to Shuu who was sleeping soundly, handsomely.

His face was serene and his hair swayed softly as the fan blew. I touched his face gently. It was pale white and soft like a baby. 'I really, really love you.' I said quietly and lay back down, facing him.

'Your hand is icy cold, you know?'

I gasped in surprise when the blonde spoke. 'Y-you were awake?!'

'I wasn't but your hand woke me up,' he sighed, eyes still closed though. 'Now stop gaping and go to sleep.'

I closed my mouth and removed my hand from his face. 'Well, sorry...' I murmured. Silence ensued for a few while until Shuu broke it.

'Koyuki.'

'W-what?' I stammered, astonished when he called my name.

'Will you go wherever with me?' he asked it so silently that I barely heard it.

'I'll follow you to the deepest pit of hell if I have to.' I said.

'But why?' he paused. 'Why would you go that far? I've never said I like your existence and I have never done anything for you.'

When he said it clearly like that, it kind of hurt my heart. True, he never said that he likes me.'There are some things in this world that could never be explained. Perhaps the way I feel towards you is one of those things. I can call this a very powerful love at first sight.'

'If you think about it, it's ridiculous, isn't it? To devote yourself completely to a stranger, not knowing their true intentions, it's dangerous.' Shuu stated.

I smiled. 'You're right. If you are actually a serial killer, I'll probably be the girl with the worst luck in the world. But my instinct tells me that I should trust you, and I should stay, dead or alive.'

'... That's a very bad instinct.' He commented.

I pouted. 'If you are going to kill me for real, I'll haunt you to death.'

'Oh, is that a threat?'

I huffed in dissatisfaction as he chuckled.

-

After a long round of body checkup, I returned to my room. It was evening and the day was rather gloomy with dark clouds hovering. With Dr. Kubota's help, I was able to get a VIP room, which means I'll be having no roommate.

As I climbed unto my bed, somebody appeared behind me. It was Arthur. 'Oh,' I was taken aback by his appearance. He wasn't with Leonardo. 'Hi there.'

Arthur examined the room then stared at me quietly.

If my face could turn into a huge question mark I'd have done it. 'Yes, how can I help you?' I queried.

'I'm just visiting.' he replied nonchalantly and sat on the chair provided in the room.

'Leonardo asked you to?' I questioned, knowing Arthur wouldn't meddle with anything not concerning him.

He looked troubled by the question. 'Yes...' he admitted.

'Okay then... what are you guys up to on the other side?' I sat on the bed cross-legged and faced him.

He didn't seem to hear me because he looked at me with squinted eyes. 'Have you made up your mind?' he asked.

'About what?' I queried back.

He blinked in confusion. 'Being a demon or human.'

'What?' I frowned the hardest I could. 'What do you mean being a demon or human?'

Arthur frowned back. 'Sakamaki didn't tell you?'

'Tell me what?'

'That you were once a demon?'

'I am once a what?!'I almost yelled, not believing my ears. Arthur kept quiet but stared at me. I sensed a regretful aura surrounding him. 'Is this an April's fool prank?' I asked.

'A what?' he was surprised with the question. 'What the hell is an April's fool prank?'

I wanted to throw a question mark signboard at him. 'You don't know April's fool?'

'No, what's that?'

'People pull all kinds of pranks on the first day of April. Especially this kind of prank.'

'I see,' Arthur nodded in understanding. 'But this is not a prank. That Sakamaki brat would probably kill me for telling you before he could, so I'm off. Bye.' And he quickly disappeared.

I gaped. What the fuck, guys.

-

Location: Sakamaki Manor

The second son of the Sakamaki family, Reiji sighed, as Ayato was the last one to arrive at the dinner table. Ayato's red hair was messy so Reiji guessed he was sleeping when he called for everyone, all except for one.

'Where's Shuu?' Subaru, the youngest sibling spoke. He was leaning against a huge pillar supporting the manor.

'This is a meeting concerning him.' Reiji replied.

Laito, the fifth son of the family turned to Reiji. 'Seriously?' he raised a brow.

'If all of you have noticed, he's been traveling back and forth the Underworld,' Reiji said straight to the point. By then, all of his younger brothers had their eyes on him. 'Father is heavily despised and feared on the other side so I'm afraid, letting that good-for-nothing meddle with their business will ruin our reputation and ourselves.'

'You really watch him a lot.' Murmured the fourth son, Kanato. Reiji merely glared as a response.

'That doesn't sound like a big deal, though.' Subaru said.

'Yeah, it's good that he's up, alive and kicking rather than sleeping randomly on the floor.' Laito added.

'If he messes with the wrong person, he could get us all in trouble.' Reiji pressed.

'So, what do you plan on doing?' Ayato cut in.

'Just keeping him locked up won't solve the problem,' Reiji answered. 'I need one or two of you to find out what he's been doing and then we'll discuss again.'

'I don't like to meddle with other people's business.' Kanato frowned.

'Let's play what all of you like,' Reiji adjusted his glasses. 'A game. Whoever loses has to go.'

-

Subaru sighed. He knew it was going to be him. Or perhaps, did he purposely lose the game so he could know better? He got off his bed and looked out from his balcony. The garden was filled with flowers but it looked more dead than alive.

He inhaled and closed his eyes, focusing his mind at the same time. Brothers have stronger bond (although it doesn't seem so with the Sakamaki family) so it should be easy to locate Shuu.

'Got it.'

-

Koyuki

I couldn't sleep. The clock struck 12 midnight but I couldn't force myself to close my eyes. I longed for the familiar warmth wrapping around me like usual. It was the first time sleeping while being embraced and it felt so good, especially since it was Shuu.

I was staring at the ceiling when all of a sudden, my feet hurt. It felt like somebody bit my legs so I tried to get up to see but my body went paralyzed.

I could breathe but only through small gasps. I wondered if it was another attack but my chest didn't hurt. I couldn't feel my body, then. I panicked. I thought of sleep paralysis but I never knew how it felt like before so I couldn't pinpoint what was happening.

The ceiling moved. My eyes widened in surprise. The ceiling I was staring at seconds ago disappeared and was replaced by a night sky. And then I could move my fingers. I quickly got up and looked around. It was a vast land with a few trees here and there. There were a lot of stars above and the wind was blowing softly.

I scrutinized again and could see a mansion a little far from my spot. Still clad in my hospital gown, I walked towards it and while moving closer I recognized the landscape.

'Leonardo's...?' I whispered but wasn't really sure so I proceeded with my walk. Only a few meters until the mansion and I saw a forest on my left. I dismissed it but a groan from the thick trees halted my steps. I frowned and squinted my eyes as if I could see anything.

Then, a figure limped out, bloodied and badly hurt. I gaped. Not because it was unusual but because the figure was me. The only difference was our attire. I took a step back.

Who the hell is that... looking like me, and all?

She was wearing a hakama that people usually use for graduation and was holding an unsheathed sword on her left hand. She was breathing heavily and seemed like she was running away from something, as she kept looking back.

I watched her every movement.

She was quite far from where she exited when suddenly the trees were cut down in half. I gasped and so did she. The other me turned to see and her face showed panic and fear. A flashing light blinded my eyes and a man stood before her. I recognized him.

'Leonardo!' I exclaimed, relieved to see a familiar (aside from my own) face. But he didn't seem to hear me and I realized I was seeing another side of Leonardo.

He wasn't smiling or grinning. He was smirking evilly, his eyes blazing red and there were swords on both hands; his attire was torn on the chest side, showing his upper body wounded. His face was drenched with blood on one side. The swords were also red, as if it was dipped into a pool of blood. I shivered, feeling the murderous aura constantly coming out from him.

He took one step forward and the other me took a step backward. 'Leonardo...' she spoke.

'So?' Leonardo's voice seethed with a feral intensity. 'What were we talking about earlier? Cowardice? Failure? Fear? Murder?' and he began to laugh. 'This sword,' he raised his right hand. 'I will make sure it pierces through you. Alive.'

'I'm sorry...' the other me said, her voice small.

Leonardo huffed. 'Sorry?' his smile grew wider and his right hand held his sword in a way to stab someone. 'You're giving up now? Why? Tired?' he laughed again and it sent shivers down my spine.

What the hell is happening right now?

The other me raised her sword in defense, perhaps ready for the upcoming attack. My eyes couldn't follow Leonardo's pace. All of a sudden he was already in front of the other me, his sword just inches away as she defended herself.

I could see her strength draining away like a fast-flowing river.

'Where's the dragon in you, Haku?' Leonardo beamed. He was maliciously excited.

Excited to kill someone.

But wait...Haku? Why am I seeing this?

'I'd like to see the dragon! Where is it?! I don't like dealing with weaklings like you!' Leonardo pushed his swords and the girl winced, still maintaining her barrier.

'I can't transform, Leo,' she said calmly. 'Not to you. You're going to kill me.'

'Well, guess what?' Leonardo grinned. 'I AM!'

He removed his swords and attempted to stab her but she dodged sideways and slashed her sword towards Leonardo's neck. However, the man was faster responding. Before the sword could reach his vital point, he had cut her on the abdomen.

My stomach clenched at the sight of blood dripping down from her deep wound.

The girl dropped to her knees and held her abdomen with one hand, gasping in pain. She coughed blood but the sword on her hand remained. She was still able to fight.

Leonardo giggled. 'Wow, you're kneeling to me. Now that's a great sight!' he commented, slowly marching towards the girl.

Her face became paler and paler with each growing second. She looked at Leonardo helplessly, her eyes full with sorrow.

Leonardo mercilessly raised his sword.

'No, stop...' I whispered, unable to find my voice. I walked towards the two figures.

I could hear him chuckling as he thrust his sword into the girl's left side of chest, particularly her heart. She didn't groan but I saw her tears rolling down her cheek, dropping down to the bloody sword of Leonardo as she stared into his eyes for the last time.

Leonardo removed his sword and she fell down on her back, dying. She was still breathing but it was shallow. The man I thought I knew raised his sword again and was ready to stab her the second time.

'LEONARDO STOP!' I screamed.

He seemed to hear me because he did stop. His hand froze and he looked around him, his eyes frantically searching for the source of the voice. But he found no one.

He couldn't see anybody.

I was only behind him but he couldn't see. I was breathing heavily, and my face was wet with tears of fear.

If he couldn't see me... then what am I? What am I doing here? Is this... a memory...?

I watched as Leonardo's red eyes turned to its normal color. I watched as he dropped his swords, as if realization just hit him. I watched as he turned to see the corpse below him. And I watched as he dropped to his knees. And I watched as he sobbed over the girl.

'H-Haku...' he panted. 'I did it... again...' he held his head in his hands. 'Haku... what have I done?'

I hated him at the moment but his cry was sincere. He was genuinely crying. It confused me.

'Leonardo-sama!!!!' another familiar voice echoed. Leonardo didn't look up from Haku.

It was Cyril, his loyal servant. He rushed towards his master. 'Shit,' Cyril cussed when he saw what had happened. 'It happened again, didn't it? Come with me.'

'No, Haku...' Leonardo touched Haku's pale, cold face.

Cyril held his arm. 'She's dead. Let's go.'

'No... but I killed her... she didn't...' Leonardo gasped and his hand travelled down to Haku's unmoving hand. 'Nothing... Come back...'

I frowned. I know those words. It was from my dream the other day...!

'Let's go, Leo. They are coming for her.'

Cyril was pulling his master so Leonardo had no choice but to let Haku go and leave. I stared at the dead figure and felt nothing but sadness. Slowly, I knelt and touched the girl's face. It was as if looking at my reflection. It felt weird but nostalgic at the same time.

This is... me... right?

And I lost consciousness. 

-

A/N: OHMYGOD IS IT GETTING TOO WEIRD???? I'm so sorry if it is D:

I started watching ３年A組 (Sannen A-gumi) and it's. so. good. You guys should give it a try. I don't have anything else to say except wanting to share my bliss writing this story. Shuu is also very out-of-character in this fiction and I have to apologise for it. I'm very good at making OOC characters loooool. I will be updating again so stay tuned!

By my leave, mortals....