No Return to Innocence

Chapter Elven: A Prick of Thorns


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"Have you forgotten already why you are on this boat?"

Muraki bitterly remembered feeling her challenge him with her eyes, burning into his mind as he responded.

"I did not expect him to be here."

Calmly, he pulls off his glasses wiping them clean, playing along with her.

"The mission is over with. I have what I want. There is no need for you anymore."

Irene lets out a quiet sniffle. Her voice takes on a child-like tone.

"How could you do something like this to me? I'll be so alone. So scared.
You are the only person that ever took care of me. I have grown quite fond of you."

Her voice suddenly turns cold.

"I will not have it stolen by someone else. I WON'T EXCEPT IT! I want you by my side to take care of me, Doctor. If you are not careful, I will have to take drastic measures."

He smirks at her threats. He knows very well what she means by "drastic measures."

"You can't just simply hurt him. He is immortal."

"Even immortals can fall."

He hears her chuckling behind him.

"I have come to learn that Tsuzuki does, in fact, have a weak spot.
If penetrated hard enough, his life will perish."

She touches her chest. "Tsuzuki and I are similar in many ways, Doctor. My weakness is his weakness. His heart."

Muraki eyes widened in shock. But he didn't allow her to see as he kept his back to her.

"And do tell me how are you going to get close enough to him to do that?
He won't break that easily."

She laughs. "Dr. Muraki, I am a girl. So innocent, so fragile. I'll win his affection with that alone."

"The most appealing part of it, though, is that I know you won't kill me. He won't allow it."

She plays with her hair, swirling it around her finger. "He has such a kind heart. He would protect me from harm."

She smiles icily. "A sick and fragile girl threatened by a murderer. What are the odds Tsuzuki will take your side?"

Muraki knew she was right. His heart ached with the knowledge as he clenched his fist, accepting defeat.

"What would you have me do?"

She giggled, becoming her girlish self again.

"Oh, Doctor. I'm so happy you see things my way."

She lowers her voice menancingly, becoming serious. "I want you to leave him. Continue to be my doctor. Continue with the plans as they were suppose to be."

Muraki cringes as he already knew what she was going to say.

"End it with Tsuzuki or I will kill him."


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Muraki enters his room hoping not see Tsuzuki inside. But that was not the case. He finds Tsuzuki sitting at the table reading over Muraki's papers.

"This is quite interesting, Katzuaka." He looks up smiling at Muraki. "Is the heart really that fragile an organ, both physically and mentally?"

Muraki walks over sitting in the chair across from him.

"Asato."

Muraki's face becomes serious, his voice cold. "Get out. It's over. I do not want to see you anymore."

Tsuzuki stands up, finding the platinum blond's words humorous. He knew Muraki was playing a game.

Tsuzuki kneels next to him smiling.

"Stop joking, Katzuaka." The brunette kisses the doctor's pale hand then looks up.
His smile fades as sees the serious look on Muraki's face.

Muraki was telling him to leave. It wasn't a joke.

"Y-you're serious?" He slowly rises, dumbfounded.

"Katzuaka, why?"

Muraki gets up from the chair and walks toward the door

"I don't feel I have to explain myself. If you won't leave, I will."

Tsuzuki, panics, not understanding Muraki's sudden change.

"Katzuaka!"

The doctor turns away unable to bear seeing that beautiful face in anguish.

"Tsuzuki, please. Just go."

"Katzuaka, no!"

Tsuzuki grabs Muraki from behind, clinging desperately. The brunette's voice is firm, despite the pounding of his heart.

"I'm not going anywhere until you explain to me why! What did I do?"

Muraki squeezes his eyes shut as he feels his resolve weakening. But he's determined to see this through. For Tsuzuki's sake.

"Why won't you just let it go?" he asked coldly.

Tsuzuki grip tightens around the doctor's waist.

"No! You're not leaving me! Not after I gave up everything to be with you! I refuse to let you go!"

Tsuzuki kisses the pale man's back and shoulder.

"Please. Don't leave me, Katzuaka." His voice cracking as he pleads softly.

Abruptly, Muraki pulls away from Tsuzuki's arms.

"Enough!"

He spins around, facing Tusuzki, his features contorted with anger. They stare at each other for a moment. Suddenly, Tsuzuki lashes his hand across Muraki's face.

"How could you!" Tusuzuki's body trembles in rage.

"You make me fall in love with you, give myself fully to you just so you could leave!? That is all I was to you, wasn't it?! Just a fuck! Just someone to have for the moment!"

Muraki calmly wipes the blood from his mouth, regretting fully what he is about to say next.

"Yes. That is all you ever were."

Tsuzuki violet eyes widened. He falls to his knees as if the weight of the world had crashed on top of him.

Muraki jaw clenches as he looks down at Tsuzuki's broken form, the sight unbearable to watch. His mouth begins to trmeble. He hates this. Turning on his heel, he walks quickly from the room.

Tsuzki wraps his arms around himself as he shakes violently. It was all he could do. He feels as though his heart has shattered beyond repair.

Despite all that happened, he wanted Muraki. But he was the reason he was on the floor crying in the first place. He just could not understand it. What went wrong?

Muraki walks into the morbid princess's room. But she was not there. He sees that her bed is unmade and a little box empty of its contents was laying in the middle of it.

Realization gripped Muraki. He ran for the door, his hand grabbing for the handle.

"No! Damn her! I hope I'm not too late!"

Chapter Twelve: Core


One more Chapter left!