Hanazoe Juuzou:
Hey
We need to talk
Can you meet me on the roof tomorrow after school?
Ayu's short auburn hair fluttered around her face from the breeze. She shivered; though it was still technically summertime, autumn yet lingered in the air. Her heart paced; she felt every frantic beat as it pulsed against her ribcage, two seconds from leaping right out of her chest. She heard the creak of old, rusty hinges and her breath hitched in her throat. The door closed. There was no one else around. No one else but them. Ayu forced herself to turn around.
“Hey,” Juuzou greeted. “You’re… here early.”
Ayu nodded numbly. She couldn’t force any words out of her throat. Juuzou refused to look at her. He took a step forward but stopped himself halfway through. He sighed.
“I’m… I want to be clear with you, Ayu.” Juuzou finally looked at her. His slate blue eyes were serious and stalwart. “I want to make this relationship work. I want to be with you. I love you. I want to know if you feel the same way.”
“I do! Of course I do!” Ayu cried. “I want to be with you so bad, it hurts. But…” She hesitated. She couldn’t bring herself to say the truth out loud. Not that it necessarily mattered; they both knew it plain as day. Juuzou shifted uncomfortably. Silence descended upon them.
“I’ll go first.” Juuzou sighed. “Earlier this summer, I was bestowed a Wither Seal by Thade—deity of negativity and destruction—and became its Agent of Hatred: Death Frost. I’ve worked for it since. But regardless of Thade’s influence… Ever since I met you, I’ve tried my best to become a better person and overcome my flaws. That’s the honest truth. But… I know Death Storm’s identity. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to drag you into the proxy war. I wanted to protect you.” Juuzou stifled a laugh. “Well, that was fucking pointless, wasn’t it? Listen. I don’t want to fight you, Ayu.” A flash of fear shimmered in his eyes. “I love you more than anything in the whole world.”
“My story is pretty similar,” Ayu admitted. “Almost as soon as I arrived in Yokohama, Naturae—the deity of life and positivity—gave me my Nature Seal and conscripted me as its Agent of Sky: Lively Eden. I know the identities of my teammates, but I didn’t tell you because… Because I wanted to protect you.” A rueful smile made its way onto Ayu’s face as tears stung her eyes. “Ironic, isn’t it? Naturae expects me to devote all of my time to its cause. But thanks to you, Juuzou, I’ve become less of a people-pleaser. I’m learning how to stand up for myself and have courage. I’m happier now than I ever was before. I don’t want to fight you either. How could I ever fight someone I love so much?”
“Ayu…”
Juuzou’s eyes softened. Ayu felt her expression relax. Tears dripped down her face but she couldn’t help it. She was so relieved. When she ran away yesterday, she simply didn’t know what else to do. How else was she supposed to react to the revelation that her greatest enemy was the boy she loved? But even if Juuzou was Death Frost and she was Lively Eden… It wasn’t the end of the world! Juuzou still loved her. Their feelings—their precious bond—were still intact. Ayu hadn’t lost him forever. They could make this work. Together.
“My Agent of Sky…”
Ayu yelped and grabbed her temples. She nearly fell to her knees as a resounding force pounded at her head. She remained upright but her knees trembled and she hunched over as wave after wave of pain cascaded throughout her brain.
“Ayu? Ayu, are you alright!?” Juuzou ran towards her but knocked into a mysterious force. He pounded against it to no avail; an invisible force field surrounded Ayu, preventing her from getting close. "Ayu!"
“My Agent of Sky, heed my words! I order you to fight Thade’s Agent of Hatred. You must. It is your solemn duty!”
“Who the hell is saying that!?”
“N-Naturae…” Ayu whimpered. Juuzou’s eyes widened.
“That’s Naturae!? What the fuck!?”
“My Agent of Sky. Quickly, transform. This is your opportunity to finally do away with Thade’s Agent of Hatred.”
“N-No,” Ayu shot back. “I won’t.”
“Excuse me!? You dare defy me!? I am your patron! Your deity!”
“I don’t care if you’re some kind of god!” Ayu’s body twisted and she yelped again. It was like vines snuck into her veins to control her from within. She roughly shoved her hand inside her skirt pocket at an odd angle; she bit her lip to keep from screaming in pain. “No! I won’t obey you! I won’t hurt Juuzou!”
“You do not have a choice. You were chosen to become my Agent of Sky. You should be honored to serve me; my will is yours. Do away with Thade’s Agent of Hatred!”
Ayu’s trembling hand removed her Nature Seal. Juuzou’s palms scraped against the force field. He started shouting at her, but she could no longer hear him. Ayu’s thumb squeezed the trigger. She jerked her arm away from herself. She tried loosening her fingers—though it was like her hand had fused to her Nature Seal—but managed to pry her thumb away from the trigger.
“What are you doing? I ordered you to fight Thade’s Agent of Hatred!”
“Shut up.” Ayu sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t owe you anything. You're the one who ruined my life!”
“You are my Agent. My will is yours. I bestowed you with my power and this is how you repay me!?”
“I never asked for this power! I never wanted to be your Agent in the first place!”
Ayu threw her Nature Seal away from her. The force field shattered. Her Nature Seal evaporated into thin air, as if someone snatched it from the sky. Ayu’s knees gave way. Juuzou’s eyes widened.
“Ayu!”
He caught her just before she collided with the concrete floor. He gently shook Ayu’s shoulders but she didn’t respond. Her body was limp in his arms. Juuzou squeezed Ayu’s hand. His breath hitched in her throat. Her skin was ice-cold.
“Ayu… Hey, Ayu… Ayu!” Juuzou gritted his teeth. “Speak to me, goddammit!”
“Such callousness…”
“What the—!? Who’s there!? Show yourself!”
“My Agent of Hatred, do you hear my voice?”
“That’s— Wait,” Juuzou’s eyes bulged, “Thade!? Are you Thade!?”
“Indeed. I come in peace; I mean you no harm. Tell me: do you care for that girl?”
“What kind of bullshit are you trying to trick me with?” Juuzou hissed, embracing Ayu tighter.
“I speak only facts. Heed my words: Naturae has stolen much of that girl’s life force due to her treachery. Life moves however Naturae dictates. It does not have the power to kill but its dominion allows it to toy with all those who breathe its life. If we do not act quickly, that girl may never open her eyes again.”
“What!?” Juuzou’s breath hitched in his throat. “Ayu…” He glanced down. Her face was pale; so pale it almost looked blue. Her chest rose slowly up and down but with every breath, the task grew more and more arduous as her strength slipped away. “What do you want from me, Thade?” Juuzou growled.
“I want nothing from you, my Agent of Hatred. But you need my assistance. I am here to help you. Together, we can save the girl you hold so dear to your heart.”
Juuzou swallowed saliva into his dry throat. This was suspicious as fuck… How the hell was he supposed to trust Thade—the deity lording over negativity and destruction—after all that shit Naturae pulled!? How in the world was Thade gonna help Ayu!? But… Juuzou glanced back down at her. Her chest was barely moving. He gritted his teeth. If what Thade said was really true… He didn’t have any time to waste.
“…What do I need to do?”
“Hold tightly onto her flickering life.”
“Fine. I don’t trust you at all, but,” Juuzou stood up, carrying Ayu bridal style. He cradled her against his chest and leaned her head against his shoulder. He took out his Wither Seal and squeezed the trigger, “I’ll do anything to save the girl I love.”
“Then let us go posthaste.”