Kintsugi (金継ぎ)

the art of repairing broken vases.

// Yui's point of view

After a few minutes, I received a text from one of my students saying "Yukio is awake." and another one says "Please come soon!" I read the chats out loud.

"The princess is awake, let's go greet his highness," Shura said as she took her leftovers.

We return to our dormitory in haste. But when we return.

"What happened...?" The bed where Yukio was supposed to be, is now empty. "Where is he?" I asked the exwires beside me.

"Exorcists escorted him out, they said it's the Vatican's orders," Shiemi informed us about the situation. Her face was painted with worry and anxiety. As exwire, she was probably not given a chance to argue back to the Vatican Exorcists. 

"Is it time?" Shura commented on the side, looking at her phone. "Time for what?"

Shura explained that in the light of recent events, the higher-ups, like the Vatican won't let a Lucifer's descendant be awakened either as an angel or a demon. They fear the unknown. Most likely, the Vatican will investigate this matter and will settle on a decision of letting me roam free, or the other way around.

From what I've been told, the council was never been the one to be open to new things, they stick to what's known, and eliminate the unknown. Because for them, what is known is the safest route. 

"There's not much we can do, Yukio had to go with them anyways," Shura said as she finished typing on her phone. "He has to?" I asked curiously.

"Yah, well to testify on the council's court. And to somehow convince the court that you're not a threat. They're probably on the way to the Vatican." Shura said as she sat on Yukio's bed, sighing. With the magical keys and the doors still damaged from the calamity, they would have to board a plane.

"Is there..." Shura and the others waited for the next thing I have to say.

"Is there any way I could speak to him before he leaves?" 

// Narrator's view

A cold breeze of the morning with a coffee on hand, all calls for a good morning, right? Okumura Yukio thought as he took a sip of his freshly brewed coffee. He stood before a wall window, to sighted the sun that was about to rise. And the sky looked like a sea with few waves.

Somehow, these sceneries reminded him of his childhood friend, whom he will leave behind without saying goodbye. He feels awful that he couldn't fulfill the promise he made to her. And now, he's leaving without resonating with her.

And now, he has to face a battle against the Vatican Council. Who's been known to be cruel towards demons, to be more specific, Yuri and Satan's spawns. But he had to do it, for his friend whom he truly treasures.

"Yukio!" A familiar voice was heard on Yukio's left. He turned to look and confirm if he heard right. That she's here.

"Yui.." Surprise by what he's seeing, dropping the coffee he was drinking.

"Yukio..." Her eyebrow furrowed and her eyes began to drop tears like waterfalls. Seeing that Yukio walked towards her, she also responded by doing the same but also giving Yukio a farewell embrace.

"I'm sorry that I believed Bou's illusion. Yo- You were right, she lied. You were my friend, I should have trusted you more. I'm a bad friend-" Yui cried on Yukio's shoulder, shrinking in guilt and disbelief at her actions.

"A- and you were right, I shouldn't have accepted Lilith's offer. There were a million things I could have done, I shouldn't have-" Yukio shushed Yui, stopping her in her mumbles and stopping her guilt.

"There were a million things you could have done, and you chose to save me. At first, I was in disbelief you did that for me, but now that I think about it, I'm grateful you saved me. I'm sorry for how I acted that morning." Without breaking the embrace, Yukio admired her ocean eyes,  he wiped the water that has been slipping on her cheek.

"If I was in your place, I would do the same for you too," Yukio said, cupping her cheek. At this point, Yui has halted her cries, waiting for Yukio to finish what he was about to say. "We can deal with that demon blood, later. Together." Yukio rested his forehead with hers. Slowly easing each other's hearts. 

"And you were never a bad friend. You were the best. I'm glad we met at that playground. I'm grateful you became my friend," Him, borrowing his own words that night when Yui lets Yukio in his tent. His hand slowly went on the back of her head, while his teal eyes still locked on her ocean eyes. 

"And if I have to do it all over again. I'll still be your friend, through ups and down. If you'll allow me to." Yukio smiled and was about to pull Yui closer, in order to reach Yui's lips with his. And Yui closed her eyes, preparing for what Yukio is about to do.

But a doubt reached Yukio. 

Fearing that she might not want what he wants, he pulled out and placed a kiss on her forehead instead.

Yui looked surprised when she opened her eyes. Not what she was expecting. But only thought of it as Yukio being his usual gentle sweet person.

She was happy with his gesture. Somehow, when she talked to him, all of her worries and guilt were flushed out of her, and only comfort remained. 

But her happiness was replaced by embarrassment when she started getting hiccups from all of her crying. She couldn't control it, resulting to Yukio letting a few laughs out of him. He soothes her back, in the hopes with it will help with her hiccups.

A radio announcement would eventually interrupt their resolution. Calling on the passengers of Yukio's plane.

"That's my flight. I'll have to board it..." Yukio said while lowering her head.

Yui, knowing she couldn't do anything to stop it, slowly accepted that Yukio will leave for her sake. "Be careful..." She reached his hand, to place a white braided bracelet with a cute snowman on his hand.

He let out a small laugh when he sighted the snowman charm on his bracelet. "A snowman?"

"Snowman will... maybe.. protect you and will probably... give you good luck," Yui said as she tried to hide her blush. It was her idea to give Yukio something before he leaves. She wanted to give him a lucky charm, but the snowman was the only thing available at the shop they stopped by.

"Thank you, I'll treasure it." Yukio smiled at Yui's small gesture, still holding her hand.

"Snowwoman will wait for snowman," Yui said as she points out her own snowwoman bracelet, "So return safely, okay?" At this point, she miserably failed to hide her blushing cheeks. Embarrassed that she's saying these lines and that she's giving Yukio this snowman bracelet instead of a proper farewell gift.

Yukio slips a few laughs. "I will, thank you," He said as he placed a kiss on her hand that he's been holding. "Take care, Yui. I'll see you soon."

And slowly he finally broke free from her hand, as he walk further from her. She bid goodbye by waving at him, and he did the same.

Yukio feels relieved that they were able to talk before he left the country. Resolved a lot of the issues that arose during the crisis and now, he feels light and comforted. He has a lot of courage to face the Vatican now that he has more reason to go and return, to her.

His only regret today was the fact that he didn't kiss her on their farewell. But he believed that he did the right thing, as someone who received a stolen kiss, Yukio felt like he would have to ask Yui properly for it.

He smiled at the thought of it, he could ask the next time he comes back. He thought as he looked at the funny snowman on his wrist.

On the other hand, Yui awaits his plane to take off, smiling at the thought they were able to patch things up before Yukio left. She took sight of the snowwoman bracelet on her wrist, and she also placed her lips on her hand too, where Yukio kissed her.

Now, he's in a place where she can't follow. 

He's eager to come home to her.

and she waits until he comes back.

( Epilogue of Snakes and Rabbits Arc )