Third person POV  
"What do you mean things aren't working out? Did you two get into some kind of argument?" Zen exclaimed in a concern tone, folding his hands together.

"We didn't engage in an argument, but rather, the atmosphere between us two just seem so distant now... It concerns me because it feels like we're just friends when really we are...are..."

"Dating...?" Zen completed for Akuma.

"F*ck... Yeah, that word...." Akuma sighed, rubbing her temples annoyingly as Zen gave her a look for her language.

"Language... *Sigh*. You two were just the happiest people ever about a month ago. What ever happened to your relationship?" Zen put aside his paperwork, clearing his desk to show that he was putting their friendship and conversation first.

"I would also like to know that..." Akuma groaned, walking over to take a seat by the cushioned window sill.

"Why does it feel like friends between the two of you?"

"... There's just something in his eyes that seems...confused or hesitant." Akuma shut her, exhaling a heavy sigh.

"Perhaps Ryu is just stressed about something right now. Like herbalist work. Plus, he is new to this and is quite the shy one." Zen reassured.

"... Yeah. Hopefully." Akuma leaped off from her seat and stretched out her arms.

"Plan to go somewhere else?" Zen raised an eyebrow.

"Just some training. I need to polish my skills a bit." Akuma hummed. "Thanks for listening to me..." Akuma nonchalantly said, exiting the room.

"... I really do hope everything goes alright." Zen heaved a heavy sigh, rubbing the side of his head.
—————

"Stressed about work he says... Hm. Maybe I should ask Shirayuki how to make tea or something....." Akuma mumbled, swinging around a wooden sword in a carefree manner.

"Why the f—.... Why the heck are emotions so complicated?" Akuma clicked her tongue, battling with a wooden dummy.

'I remember the times he made me feel there... His declaration. His small and shy, yet sweet smile. His smile again. His flustered face. His reactions when I tease him. When Ryu extended his hand out to me falling off that tower... When he came back for me—'

Akuma widened her eyes and felt a striking jolt of pain shoot around her heart. The wooden sword clattered onto the marbled floor and spun a few feet away from her. She crumbled to the ground, unable to move her joints but able to gasp in pain.

"E-a-wha-ugh...! *Cough*... Wh-what the h-hell?!" Akuma pounded her chest, slowly able to gain control of her body.

"That hurt!" Akuma shouted angrily, kicking the sword even further.

"Why did that hurt so badly...?" Akuma whispered, placing her hand over her heart. She felt each beat thump weakly. The sensation just wanted to make Akuma silently cry.

"... Don't tell me that Ryu is hesitant because..." Akuma lowered her head and gaze, eyes turning blank.

"... He still thinks of Kiroyuki to this day...." Akuma whispered, brushing her fingers over her lips.

'Was that hand held out only in hopes of finding her?'

*Drip drop*

"Eh? Why am I crying?" Akuma asked herself, weakly chuckling. She became furious and wiped away her tears hurriedly with gritted teeth.

"... There's no need for me to cry... There's no need. Stupid body. Stupid feelings!" Akuma scoffed, stomping out of the training arena.
—————

"... *Yawn*..." Ryu opened his eyes, rubbing them to lose the bury sight more quickly.

Once his vision became focused, it took him some time to process what his sight is gifting him to see. Though it was something he wouldn't wish to seek.

"... What?!" Ryu's eyes shot open and bolted up, standing on top of a dry and gray like surface. Everything in sight was painted in monochrome colors.

"Crepacuore...?!" Ryu's breathing pace sped up, and his body shook.

"How... How did I end up h—"

"Ryu!" A hand graced and danced over Ryu's cheek from behind, embracing him into a hug that snaked around his sides.

"G-Gwaaah!" Ryu screeched in shock and jumped up. He ran a few feet ahead of him and whipped his head back to meet a black silhouette in the form a young girl.

"Ryu! I really miss you!" The girl jumped in joy, her twin tails bouncing within each delightful step she took.

"Wh-what...?!" Ryu panicky stepped back, tripping over a crack in the earth. "Aaahh!"

"Ryu! I love you!" The silhouette jumped onto Ryu, encircling his neck, but the silhouette immediately crumbled into dust once she touched Ryu.

"..... Kiro...yuki...?" Ryu breathed out, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. His eyes widened in bewilderment, his body completely frozen and still with an icy touch taking over his boy.

"AHH!" Ryu bolted up and out of his sleep, whipping his upper half of his body upwards.

"Ouch...!" Ryu groaned and held his head after making a harsh contact with his desk. He painfully and slowly crawled out from underneath and shook his head.

"..... Ugh...!" Ryu quietly whimpered, rubbing his sore spot.

"But... What was that dream?" Ryu gulped, looking out the window to meet contact with the bright sunlight seeping through the glass.

".... Kiroyuki...." He whispered and let out a sigh right after.

"It was all just a dream... Just a dream..."
—————

"Tch...!" Akuma angrily walked around the halls of the castle, unable to hide her frustration on her face.

'This is a load of crap! Why should I be concern or angry?!' Akuma scoffed, slamming open her bedroom doors to only slam them back closed.

She let out a deep sigh, throwing her shirt onto the vanity chair, leaving her camisole on. She kicked off her boots and took a long look at herself in the mirror.

"...... Maybe my white hair and duller eyes are uglier than I thought. I suppose it would be bothersome since I look older since that day..." Akuma growled, unable to accept her appearance the slightest bit.

"I can see why Ryu may be losing hope in our relationship." She sighed, pulling onto her hair a bit with a frown.

"I look old." She bluntly put out, frowning. "I did give away my youth..." Akuma heavily sighed, feeling deeply depressed.

Akuma groan in displeasure of her appearance and self, reviewing all of the horrid memories of her past up to where Kiroyuki sacrificed her life in exchange for Akuma to be free. With a heavy sigh escaping her lips again, Akuma slightly glared at herself in the mirror with a blank stare.

"Maybe I should have been the one to go instead..." Akuma brushed her fingers onto the mirror over the reflection of her face, her lips parted slightly as if there was something she wanted to say, yet couldn't convey.

"... Am I really free though...?" Her brows lowered in a saddened state.

"Help me..." A quiet and weak whisper looped through Akuma's ear, making the girl's eyes widen in terror as she stared into the mirror.

Behind her reflection was a lightly faded out appearance of a very familiar girl.

Kiroyuki.

The ghost like girl reached out her hands around Akuma's neck, hugging her tightly with a cool like mist surrounding them both. The atmosphere grew heavy with the scent of blood and the cries of screams. Akuma's body froze purely into an ice block.

"... K... Kiro...yuki...?" Akuma mumbled quietly in horror.

Once the name was spoken out into the atmosphere, the misty figure dispersed away as if a strong wind blew away the girl into broken pieces.

Akuma shook her head, scooting away from the mirror, hugging herself in comfort to collect her shaking body to become more still. She let out a shaky breath and planted her back onto the wall as she slowly slid down to sit down.

"... Has my guilt built up so much that I feel compelled to hallucinate?" Akuma gritted her teeth together, letting out a disappointed sound.

But deep down in the depths of her thoughts, Akuma doubted if the odd occurrence was a simple yet powerful hallucination. Part of her had hoped for it to be real and for it to be a nightmare. She wanted to disappear to replace herself, but wanted everything to be a lie for her own sake. How ironic it is that she desires to be replaced when her pain and hatred had come from being abandoned and replaced.

8/24/19

It was my birthday a couple of days ago!! I was planning on publishing this chapter on my Bday, but school starting and all made everything delay. Story writing will be very delayed in most cases and my stories, so my apologies!!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!! Have a great start to the year everyone~! ❦