User blog:Ore-samma/My Phantom (die and live for love) (no lewd))

Hello fans, Ore-Samma here!

From another forum post = https://monstergirlencyclopedia.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000000068262/r/4400000000000452392

Another fan request; this one was especially enjoyable to write! Such a pleasure!

When I write, I try to make the reader feel.

Feel what the characters feel, or at least be moved to some sort of emotion or thought.

Did it work? Would you let me know if it did or didn't?

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Hope you like it!

Ever your Servant-

Ore-Samma

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My name is Akori.

Or at least that is the name I took when I awoke to my undeath existence.

It was impossible to count the eons since before the current demon lord that I walked the lands. I was almost nothing then. Maybe less than nothing.

But in the hour that the new demon lord deposed the mindless, raging despot; my mine awoke and I arrived on the stage.

A presence of royalty, a force within the theatre. I knew life, emotion, existence, and all that made up the spice of life…. These things were me!

But….. I was not alive.

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I stared upon the empty theatre that I had haunted since forever…. however…. no one could see it as I-

A river flowed over where the ensemble orchestra played instruments that this generation could never even conceive.

Rocks and mud sat where a stage that was constructed of pure gold once sat, trod over by the steps of actors whom the lowest understudy could put to shame the legends of this era.

In short….all that I knew and loved was long gone….but for some reason I lingered.

I felt the burning need for a mate as did all life. But I scoffed at this baseless and mindless compulsion. The monsters of this day thought they knew what love was. They had no idea. They would never know the love stories of my time. They couldn’t possibly know that ‘dying’ for love was such a stupid silly notion.

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No…..try *rising* for love…. the fools….the utter fools.

I sighed as I felt a presence near. But the sigh turned to a gasp as I felt the man’s thoughts begin to intrude upon my own….. a byproduct of my inherent power.

“He….is it possible?” I whispered to myself as I saw him walk along the river bank.

His every step, every gesture evoked memories of rehearsals that I thought were forgotten forever. He stood, resting to a pose that no stage actor in this day could ever imitate.

“What passions do you have?” I whispered, drawing closer. “What is your ‘to-die-for’ fantasy? What is this otherworldly passion I feel in your heart?”

I never once even bothered to peer into the mind of a man since I awoke. It just wasn’t worth my time….even though I was immortal; a testament of the contempt I had for the entire world that had forgotten the breadth and scope of life. The sharp taste of tragedy, and the true flavor of love.

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But this man?

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I extended my power into him, just as his eyes seemed to lock into mine making my non-existent and invisible body feel a thrill that was so alien I thought that I would die even in my undeath. He stretched and yawned, and removed his shirt and splashed water on his face. I noticed a scar that looked like it must have come from a fatal wound and wondered what this man had seen and lived through as I pushed harder with my power.

An enormous feedback hit me with unbelievable force. His imagination was beyond my ability to control and manipulate! HOW?!?! How was this possible? I drifted around him looking at this exceptional specimen from all angles.

To see his imagination, would mean that I would have to surrender my control over the stage. To submit to the play. To accept my small role in the universe that he held as a savage and lethal secret in his heart- no! His soul!

“Hmmmmm…..I never felt like this before. The show must go on….” I whispered, slipping into his mind, accepting whatever role I would be assigned to play in this…..most prestigious of stories.

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(pov change)

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I looked, letting go of my daydream of walking in the woods and looked at the princess I watched and defended since I was inducted as a five-year old soldier.

The day was soon upon us….the day when the princess was to be eaten alive by the ancient and mindless horrors that held our entire world at ransom.

Our world fought and lost an ancient battle against a strange race of demons that demanded a thousand living humans every ten years to be consumed alive; screaming and pleading for mercy.

The humans to be consumed were always marked; no one was safe. Some people were marked the day they were born, while others could be well into their golden years. It was a disgusting fear that everyone was held under.

What made the fear worse was a more-recent birth; what was supposed to be a day of celebration, turned into a day of despair. The birth of the first daughter of the royal family had in millennia, had the mark on her cheek.

The royal family was known to have blood of the divine ones. The ones who defended us against these eldritch horrors for untold millennia….until they were overwhelmed.

A daughter meant the return of the supreme cleric. The one who could work miracles. The one who was prophesied to herald the age when we all would be free from this never ending horror.

The princess Kaori, took to her fate with a startling calm. She wore her mark for all to see, and did not surrender to the despair that all the others with the mark had.

But her air of composure and example did not help much. Her endearment to the people made her fate all the more painful to the very people she was trying to give hope to.

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Especially me.

I tried not to.

I desperately tried not to.

But as we grew together, as I watched her grow…..I grew to love her….more than anything.

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She turned and looked at me. “Kousei?”

I stiffened, “Yes, my lady?”

“Could you...just for today call me by my name?”

I felt my jaw slide open, holding back tears and nodded. “Of course, Kaori. I am sworn to fulfill any request I can for you.”

Kaori smiled and motioned me over. “I’m writing my farewell letters. I know I should have done it sooner! But I kept getting so caught up with giving my smile to others.” She held out an envelope. “This one is yours! Please, promise me you’ll only read it after tomorrow’s sunset?”

With trembling hands, I accepted the letter and nodded. “Of course my lady.”

She held onto the letter, never breaking her eye contact or her soft smile.

“Kaori, of course.” I said, choking back tears.

“Thank you!” She said, letting go of the letter and stretched and yawned. “I’m tired. It is time for me to rest. Tomorrow will-” Her voice trembled and she blinked her eyes a little faster. “-will be a sad day, but the next one will be full of hope, life, and love! I promise!” She said, her composure back under control. “I will see you tomorrow? Before the first bell?”

I nodded, glad my helmet covered my face, she must not see my tears. “I promise, Kaori. Every step, every time you draw breath, every smile-”

She continued the mantra she coined to give others hope so that we now spoke it together.

“Every tear”

“Every sigh”

“Every moment”

“Of every day”

“The sun will rise”

“The moon will shine”

“This hope I feel”

“Is not only mine”

“For we know hope exists here and above”

“Because we have each other”

“Because we h-have love...”

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Kaori’s face trembled, and her tears flowed in earnest down her face. She brought her hands to her face and her whole body trembled with her quiet sobs.

“Kousei! P-p-please….” She said between her choked sobbing, “D-don’t tell anyone! Oh! Please!”

I nodded. “Of course, I swear.”

“Kousei!” Kaori cried out, and rushed into me and held onto me with all her might. “I’m so scared. I want to live! I don’t want to die! Oh!” She slowly let go and wiped her eyes again. “Is that so wrong? That I want to live? That I want to be with y-” She stopped and wiped her eyes again. “...with everyone?”

I shook my head. “The entire kingdom, the entire world feels the same way. I feel the same way.”

Kaori smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Kousei. See you tomorrow.”

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I exited from her bedchamber and removed my helmet, wiping my eyes, feeling as though I was drained of all strength and life.

I finally made it to the Church and reported to my paladin commander.

“Nothing to report. I will escort Kaori tomorrow-”

“-what did you say?” My commander said looking at me as if I had gone mad.

“I-”

“Did you just dare to speak our lady’s name?” He said, stepping forward.

“Forgive me commander. She requested it.”

My commander just stared with rage. The name of the princess was sacred, no one was supposed to speak it. He waved me off. “I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore. Tomorrow she will  just be the first course of those freaks.” He sat back down and waved me off.

I returned to my quarters, tumbling the letter in my hands. I had to know- I had to know before she died!

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 My dearest Kousei, 

'' No words can express how I feel writing this farewell to you. ''

'' My first memory was you, when you picked me up when I fell down on the hill. Your eyes and smile are with me everyday. They remind me that even though I am fated to die, so are we all! Seeing your smile and kindness kept me strong. It was that day I decided to be to the people, what you are to me. ''

'' But as the years continued, I grew to love you. You probably wished I told you sooner, but I didn’t want you to fall in love with me. I want you to find someone special, and raise a family! I want hope to continue! I long for the day we can all be free from this fear that I have fought against every day of my life. ''

'' Kousei, I will wait for the day I meet you in heaven! I will be waiting with some tea ready, and would love to hear the story of your life. How you fell in love, how you spent your days giving hope to others like I did. ''

'' I don’t want to die, I wanted to live...with you…. ''

'' Please don’t cry for me. ''

'' Tears are just the momentary expression of pain. But this letter will outlast your tears, and so will your memory of me…. And my memory of you. ''

'' I love you, Kousei. I wish it could have been. ''

 Yours, and only yours, 

 -Kaori 

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I set the letter away in a numb, dumb shock.

Why didn’t I tell her? Why didn’t I kiss her? Why didn’t I…..

I felt a chaotic panic bubble and well within my being. I walked, I strode out into the night.

Faster- faster! FASTER!

I ran on top of the hill and screamed to the night sky that supposedly held the weak deities that were supposed to keep this nightmare from ever taking place!

I hurled my curses and blasphemies to the uncaring, unfeeling stars…. for I don’t know how long.

My face fully wet from my tears and snot, I sank to my knees and just stayed there…. Numb.

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“You are the most presumptuous and obstinate person who ever addressed me.” A voice suddenly said before me.

I looked up and gasped. “You!”

“Yes, me.” The Lady of the Light said with a curt nod. “I’m surprised that you even recognize me. You humans have gotten so many things wrong that I would have thought even my appearance would have been distorted.”

I stood. “If you’re here! If you exist then why don’t you-”

“-OH! Why don’t I just up and fix the problems you have, right? Why don’t I fix all the problems you have! ''Oh miss lady of light! Let me just lay down and be waited on hand and foot while you just do everything for me! And don’t mind me when I never give you any acknowledgement, praise or consideration''.” She panted. “Is that it?”

I stood dumbstruck. “It- its been like that?” I said in a numbness that was fringed by despair.

“Worse, Kousei. This sickness could have been wiped from the face of your existence at any time. All it takes is one who is willing to die for those they love.” She spread her hands and I saw a living tapestry of the eons of the “red feast” unfolding before me. “All this sickness and tragedy just needs one person. Willing, ready, and eager to die for the one they love.” She sighed and placed her hand to her face. “And it was so close, so very close to coming to be. Kaori was just hours away from wiping them away.” She looked to me. “Until she decided that she wanted to live because of you!”

“Me?”

“'YOU! YOU! YOU! This is YOUR fault!'” The Lady cried out and sank to her knees, weeping as well. “I’ve watched so many die. Cried so many tears. But I cannot permanently eliminate the red feast because as long as I challenged them, no one would believe or could believe that it was possible by their own hand!”

I stood there, looking at the deity of this existence- watching her weep, seeing an even worse despair consume her than my own.

“What must I do?” I said.

The Lady shook her head. “It’s too late, Kousei! You want to live with her! You want this silly happy end!” She glared at me “It’s not possible!”

“You just said it was!”

The Lady stood, her eyes glowing white. “MORTAL!” She thundered. “'''YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE SAYING! IF YOU FAIL- IF THE WORLD BELIEVES THEY CAN’T WIN, THEY NEVER WILL!”'''

I shook my head, “I have to try.”

The Lady shook her head too. “You may be right- but I will not let you.” She pointed to me and then to the tree where Kaori and I would often sit.

Ropes of pure light wrapped around my wrists and ankles and tied around the tree.

“She’s going to die, and she would have saved the world….but she won’t- and it’s all your fault!” The Lady said with a sad expression and faded away.

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(pov shift)

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“My Lady, no one can find Kousei. His armor and sword is gone and no one has seen him.” The Paladin commander said gravely. “My Lady, I’m sorry. But it’s time.”

“I understand.” I said, feeling my heart sink. I knew Kousei wouldn’t have run away. He promised! Something must have happened to him….Oh! I am so afraid! Without him by my side, would I be able to face my death?

I stood and walked, my head was low. I heard the cries of the crowd and stopped and turned to them, hoping to give them hope.

“Tomorrow?” I said, silencing the crowd. “You will see each other tomorrow, promise?”

A few spoke, easing my heart and my fears of them remaining silent.

“Promise!”

“Every step?” I said with a smile, turning round and round to the people.

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I found my strength as they recited my mantra of hope. I felt my courage return as I neared the table of the red feast with the other thousand.

It was a disgusting ritual, to force the people to watch a thousand of our own to be consumed alive, screaming and wailing. But no one could stand before the eldritch horrors that bested the Lady of Light.

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I was suddenly grabbed by the disgusting creatures. They ripped my veil off.

“So, this was the savior as prophecy told?”

The gathered horrors laughed and laughed.

''“She will be the first course! Despair humans! You shall feed us for all eternity!”''

I closed my eyes as I was carried to the table. I saw all their disgusting faces leering down at me. They reached forward and tore my clothes from my body.

“I shall take the first bite, my brothers.” One of them said, leering over me.

I closed my eyes and held my breath. I felt its teeth touch my thigh-

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“STOP!”

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I cried out, it was Kousei! He was here!

I tried to sit up and look, but was pushed back down by the horrors that began to laugh again.

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(pov shift)

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I panted. This was the moment! I had to succeed, I had to die! There was no other way!

The horrors laughed and the dark elder stood and smiled.

''“Come, hero. Be the first I consume!”''

I looked to my wrists, still attached to the ropes of light. The night had been one of agony as I used them to wear the tree down, and sprint here.

I pulled my sword and saw the ropes entangle it and infuse the steel.

“Kaori!” I cried out. “I love you! But- I can’t be with you. But…. promise me? Promise me you’ll live for me? Live for me starting tomorrow?”

I heard her voice amidst the other horrors. “I promise!”

My sword began to vibrate and pulse. “Every step!”

Someone in the crowd shouted out. “Every smile!”

More joined in. “Every tear”

I started to rush, then run, then sprint amidst the screaming crowd.

“Every sigh”

“Every moment”

“Of every day”

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The light from my sword was nearly unbearable to look at.

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“The sun will rise”

“The moon will shine”

“This hope I feel”

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The light made it impossible to see my target… but I kept my focus taught to me by the Paladin order. I could still see it in my mind!

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“Is not only mine”

“For we know hope exists here and above”

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The elder horror was afraid, I could feel it, I could see him in my mind's eye. I heard it roar, heard it drawing its own sword

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“Because we have each other!” I screamed. My eyes fully closed. This strike would be pure Faith.

“Because I have love!” Kaori cried back.

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 “AND BECAUSE I HAVE YOU!”  I roared and swung my blade, screaming out with the voices of all that swore vengeance on the horrors that laughed as they consumed those we loved, those we lost, and those we missed.

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(pov shift)

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I closed my eyes against the blinding light. I heard screams from everywhere, and added my own.

And suddenly the light winked out, and the screaming fell silent, leaving only echoes.

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I opened my eyes and saw Kousei standing near me, his back turned.

I looked, the horrors were gone! They were gone!

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“Kousei!” I called out. Raising to my feet and catching him as he fell into me.

“Kousei! NO!” I cried seeing his blood pour from a fatal  wound across his stomach and chest.

“Kaori?” Kousei said with a soft voice. “I- I can’t see you.”

I gasped, his eyes were sun-bleached-blind. Utterly white.... the blessing of the Lady of Light

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“Kaori? Did I- are they?”

I wiped my eyes and caressed Kousei’s face with my wet hand. “They are! You… you saved us all….”

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Kousei smiled, blood poured from his nose and mouth. He closed his eyes and passed with a soft exhale.

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I cried, and cried….. At last…. I remembered my life from before. I remembered!

Life was nothing after Kousei, love did not exist because I couldn’t have Kousei!

I looked at the one miracle I performed. The one miracle I could perform. He was here. He was here with me!

Kousei turned and smiled as his eyes rested upon me. “Kaori, breathe.” He said.

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I suddenly felt a thrill rush through me, and a vibration that I almost forgotten as a beating heart.

I took my first breath since I last saw my Kousei, felt my feet touch the ground as if for the first time.

“Kousei!” I cried out and rushed to him, kissing him for the first time from both worlds, and both lifetimes!

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Together we sank to our knees. Alive… and in love…. released from the past… released from death....

Freed by courage, by hope, by faith

Freed by love.