~I must stay strong.~

Roses

Elise

After much running, I reach the little spot, a clearing behind the trees, behind my house. I stand there and wait, but the face I didn't expect to see, yet appeared, so perfect, so whole.

"Why... w-why are you h-here? You're supposed to b-be dead," I asked in a small stutter. The boy standing before me, olive eyes and blue hair, just spread his arms out and combed his hair with his fingers.

"Well, well. I came to see you." He took out a phone, with the text there, on the glowing luminous blue LED screen.

"You know that doesn't really count as a reason."

"You know yourself, you know me. I told you I wanted to see you, what do you think I actually wanted, huh? Something else?"

"Please stop, Weiss. Please. Leave from my sight. I met you because I won't know what you could possibly do if I didn't." That's when I saw that dark aura inside of him.

I could see it... a growing monster.

He was a Fallen.

Michael...

"What are you standing there for?" That dark aura was gone... instantly.

Where was it? I backed away, shying away from a worse fate as much as possible, hoping Weiss would not notice -

"Why are you now backing away? What's wrong with me that-"

"I've got school to attend now, okay? Could you not harass me at 6.30am in the morning, Weiss? Could you at least have some concern and consideration for me? You made me run all the way here so early, but at least it's on the way to school. Seriously, you could talk to me any other time but now." Weiss' eyes seemed weird.

"...What if I can't wait?" I was on the verge of leaving the vicinity, but I turned back to see a struggling Weiss.

He was struggling to control... that dark aura that was manifesting itself...

"I know you can see it. You're the only one that can stop this. I don't want to kill anyone, please... help me," I stopped in my tracks, mustering all my courage to walk on and leave that jerk to die, but thinking of what would happen once I let a potential Fallen arise, I told myself I had to save Weiss.

It's a mixed feeling, but for a greater cause, I went back and tried to contact Michael.

Michael, I need you now, where are you?

"Thought you would never ask." Michael strolled up to where we were until he saw Weiss and started going defensive.

"Why are you with such a man?!" He roared in anger, but that was short-lived. He then realised the real situation, and sat down immediately, working his magic.

"This isn't so bad," Michael was in deep meditation now; I waved a hand in front of his face but he was deeply absorbed, a bright light forming over Weiss' chest.

I took the chance to look around, and the peace of the forest clearing appreciated me. I could hear the grass rustling in the cool wind breeze as time passed - but the sun never made its appearance.

Or was it just my imagination? I felt a cold sensation on my shoulder, Weiss suddenly sitting up and his eyes a deep black...

Next thing I knew, I was out cold.

***

"Hey... you okay?" I woke up with Michael healing my wounds, his own not even treated.

"Please, save yourself first, I'm not of importance." He did not listen.

"You're a heart of gold, and I must keep it that way. Look, I can't afford to let you be injured. I've taken leave for both of us. We'll be skipping school a few days. Looks like you can only go back next week."

"What are we going to do these few days then?" Michael made a bright orb of light, and smiled, "We shall learn magic."

"C'mon, don't joke around with me. Getting back to the main topic, after I saw Weiss with that weird eye colour, I just blacked out and I found myself here, so what exactly happened in that period of time I was out?" I actually don't even know what I was saying, I just happened to blurt them all out, and Michael just sat there, hands frozen over my still-aching chest, probably wondering what to say.

"The Fallen appeared. Not just one or two lone scouts or anything. It was a group of them; even I wasn't prepared. I heard a body falling to the floor, and saw you down there, unconscious. I had to protect you. Weiss was, however, in the way, and I had to pass him. He wasn't a bad fighter... with the immense numbers, Weiss managed to scratch me, and I found a few higher-ups within the ranks of the group. I decided to flee instead of continuing to hold up the fort... I can not let them know you had a Captain for a protector..." But if they didn't know he was a Captain, how can Michael survive the events to come, if the Fallen think of my protector as an easy target?

"That's why I must teach you how to use magic. It's a matter of self-defense and to defeat them-" Michael placed a finger on his temple, seeming to listen to something.

"Varus told me experiments have revealed... that you being a half-breed means you can possess more power than either kind. About the experiments, when Wayne saw you, he ordered that we do it. So... you up for being one of those on the front lines?" Michael fidgeted, looking away, "I'm sure you know a war is coming for custody of you. You might want to make a stand yourself." With that, he disappeared from my sight again, leaving only a book with symbols.

A book about casting spells and magic... Captain grade. I have been given a book to cast spells meant for the experienced. Can I manage? Can I even understand the content? I flipped to a page, to realise my hands were already moving according to the instructions, my mind understanding each and every single thing mentioned in the book.

"Elise, it's time to eat dinner!" My mother called out to me from the kitchen. When I did not leave for another five minutes, I guess she gave up waiting and decided to barge into my room to find out the reason why. She probably saw me making spells, chanting the casting words and all so fluently, just reading them for the first time. I bet she was surprised. I bet she was probably amazed out of her mind.

"Hey, darling, it's time for dinner." I instantly felt a weird sensation, and I felt hungry after that. I seemed to be snapped out of my intensive training of spells, and yet I did not seem to remember a thing. Oh well. Practice makes perfect, after all. I wonder why I still could execute the spells so smoothly.

Picking on my food during dinner, the sound of the keys unlocking the front door make a jingle and next thing I knew, my father seemed battle-worn from yet another day at work. He sat down on his seat at the dinner table, smiling weakly to tell us he was okay and we could continue. I really want to know why my father is choosing such a difficult life for himself when he could have a better one up there.

"Michael visited me just now. Mom, that book, Michael gave it to me, or should I say, 'left'. He said Wayne and the Fallen's leader, Xandor would wage war over me... he wants me to learn in order to defend myself. I think it shouldn't just be for me, I should protect you all. I am the cause of this mess." My parents suddenly perked up, staring at me. I bet my mother's Fallen side emerged from the depths within her body somewhere, and the powers of Light reawakened within Father's heart.

But no, it wasn't. It was just heartfelt words of encouragement and promises.

"That's great. Fight for your stand in this. Fallen and Heavens can coexist. They must learn that. Why would Michael approach you?" Father stood up from his seat, and within seconds, flew up the stairs and back. I realised he had just used one of the many powers he had tried to keep within himself, and his eyes flew through the pages of the book I received from Michael.

"How thoughtful of him. As expected of his compassionate and helpful self. However, leaving without a word and just leaving this book here... Is he a little too shy to express his feelings?" I never told my parents I had actually liked Michael, being a Moonwalker and all. It doesn't matter now.

"I am not shy, Baron." Michael? He was leaning against the wall beside the stairs, combing his curls with his fingers.

"You decided to appear, after all, Michael." My father chuckled.

"Wouldn't wanna barge in on your family time, but you are embarrassing me." My father motioned for Michael to sit at the dinner table, and Michael just strolled casually to the seat he was told to sit at, right beside me.

"Now, how did Elise get to know you, and the reason for you being her protector?" Ah, the long story now comes again, but it isn't me telling the story, it was Michael.

It felt like I was in a grassy meadow with colourful flowers and bright, clear skies, just sitting beside him alone. All I could feel was warmth, acceptance, and understanding. In a bid to hide my feelings, I quickly wolfed down my food as fast as possible and escaped to my room. I did not want Michael to know about my feelings for him. I want to make sure he can live his life as it is, without having to worry about whether he hurt me or not...

I just want the best for him, because, to me, he's my bed of roses.

Author's Note:

Well, I got to take leave from school in the story! The awesomeness of having a teacher for your boyfriend whom you just can't confess your love to because you are just so thoughtful for the other party. :)

I'm struggling with exams. I don't even know whether I'm faring well. I wrote this chapter and Author's Note during the weekend break before I have Geography, Math, and Science EOYs...

You must be thinking how slack I am, right?

Anyway, with my unspoken love, how's this gonna progress? Wonder whether Michael will know about it himself, or will me in the story confess?

What a dilemma! Stay tuned :) Thanks for supporting!

*12 Oct Update for Author's Note:*

Whoop! All the main exams are over! Just listening comprehension to go!

*celebrates with joy and a flurry of food and games and anime*