12AN: I am sorry. That is all I can really say for the beginning of this chapter. I do sincerely apologize for the delay, my laziness knows no bounds. My only excuse is that I went into a sort of 'phase' of laziness because school ended and, to be honest, that is an awful excuse.
I did actually have this chapter complete, however I scrapped it. I did this because I made a really stupid error about how I gave Naaza a fear (more like trauma) of blood. When I initially wrote the chapter I gave Naaza almost zero of a reaction to the blood, which is pretty dumb I admit, but then I went and did not notice until I finished the chapter. And it does not help that this chapter was initially longer, but is now shorter.
I really screwed up this time and I just wanted to take my time to apologize to you guys/gals.
I am sorry.
Anyways, thank you for taking your time to read this AN (if you did) and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
-January 1, Naaza's Pov-
It was a normal day like any other, however one thing that's notably different is the distinct absence of a naive, happy-go-lucky friend, Bell. He'd gone out to the dungeon today, and right now I'm just watching over the shop.
'Miach should be back in around 5 minutes...' I mused inwardly, calculating the distance and usual walk speed that Miach takes. He's also quite happy-go-lucky - a perfect friend for Bell - and often speeds up quite a bit. So that was fun and all, except when Bell suddenly barged into the shop.
The sudden blankness in my mind confused me, as well as the sudden crimson color that overtook my vision. That's when it hit me.
Blood.
BlOod.
BLoOd.
BLOOD!
And then I fell into darkness.
-Bell's Pov-
"Naaza!?" I cried out as I ran to her side. The blood on my body had dried out quite a bit, so it didn't fly anywhere when I suddenly used a burst of speed to reach Naaza. She'd fallen backwards as soon as her eyes had been lain onto me.
'Ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodohgod!' My mind ran one million miles per hour.
I hastily checked if she'd split her head (or something similar), she didn't, so I picked her up in a princess carry - a blush formed, but I forced myself to ignore it - and brought her into her room. It only occurred to me now that I'd never gone into her room before, so what I saw was extremely underwhelming.
'Bland...' I thought as I looked around the dull, lifeless room. In every direction I looked - bland. The entirety of the room is a dull grey, creating a lifeless atmosphere that made it seem like someone had passed away in here; though no one did - I hope.
Shaking myself out of my stupor I ran towards the bedside, hastily, and carefully, laying Naaza onto the bed. Her chest moved in and out in the rhythm of her breathing, reassuring me that she's alright (though her breathing is a bit fast). Well, as alright as she can be right now since I don't know what happened.
"Hahhh, that was scary... More scary than monsters..." I muttered, my gaze scouring over the entirety of her room, memorizing as much as I can. 'Why's her room worse then mine? I'm the guest, not her - she should have the better room.' I disapprove inwardly, wondering why she's living in such a state.
Well, I think 'such a state,' but it's not like the room's bad or anything, just... Lifeless. And bland.
It's quite the contrast when compared to Naaza's every day attitude - she's always working, smiling, or pondering on something - she always has something going on, something that keeps her active. Once she even began making potions at the counter of the shop. So you can imagine how odd her room is - the blandness gives me an eerie feeling.
I turn my attention back to Naaza, who's breathing has slowed to a calm, smooth beat. I stare at her face - my expression one of worry - I unintentionally reach out with my hand and hover it over her head.
"Bell?" The confused voice of Miach calls out as he runs into the room, dropping his groceries on the ground in the process. "What happened?!" He asked as he turned on the lamp near the bed, but as he did, he mouthed an 'oh' after seeing me.
"...?" I give him a questioning look, no words able to leave my mouth due to my confusion.
"Well... Bell 'that rhymed,' Naaza has a crippling fear of blood... She most likely had a panic attack and fainted due to that." He explained while gesturing toward my still covered in blood body. My expression went from one of worry to one of guilt, my head hung low as I head off to the shower to get cleaned. As I'm about to leave, Miach calls out to me.
"Bell," he begins, "it's not your fault, okay? We should've told you about it, so don't even think for a second that it was your fault. I know Naaza would say the same." He explained, allowing me to leave with a lighter feeling of guilt. I still felt guilty, however not as much as before because I know that it's true.
2 hours later.
-Naaza's Pov-
My mind flashed between monsters and blood, the constant switching curved my mind into a great turmoil. I didn't know what was happening - only that I was witnessing the things that I feared the most. The constant, almost rhythmic thumping of my mind made an attempt at forcing those thoughts away, though sadly to no avail.
Eventually, something changed. I still saw the same images, - monsters and blood - but instead there was something that forced me to push past my fears. It was the sight of those that I hold dear that caused me to ignore the pain, and call out their names.
"Miach... Bell..." I called in my mind, recalling the sight of Bell covered in blood that caused me to enter my mind. It was then that I realized I fainted, though my thoughts instantly reverted back to the flashes of Bell.
He stood there - a smile on his face - he was covered head to toe in blood. Lots of blood. It shocked my mind more then anything else ever could, and so the light overtook my 'vision,' jolting me in a way no magic ever could.
"...!" My eyes shot open and my body launched itself forward - at a very bad moment. *Thump* My head went straight into Bells, whose face was, for some odd reason, hanging over my own. I instantly let out a cry of pain, though that pain was nothing compared to the worry I felt once I realized it was Bell who I hit.
"Bell, are you okay!?" I asked hastily, hoping that he's alright (from both whatever happened in the dungeon and my accidental headbutt). He rubbed his head while wincing, but slowly nodded his head and made a 'yeah' of confirmation. "Sorry..." I mumbled, my head slightly low, though my eyes looked all over Bell, absorbing every little detail.
"Why are you sorry? It was an accident, it's not your fault." Bell stated, the genuine confusion on his face served as reassurance that he's really there.
My body slumped slightly upon the realization. The tsunami of relief that washed over me was overwhelming - in a good way, though. I took another look at Bell, though I prioritized his face over anything, making sure there was truly nothing wrong. After a brief moment of slight confusion and blushing from Bell, he seems to realize something.
"Oh! Naaza... I'm so sorry!" He shouted as he slightly moved away from me and bowed, the remorse seeping through his body. I honestly didn't know what he was apologizing for, so I asked.
"... Why are you apologizing?" I asked. I'm sure he heard the confusion merged within my voice. He made a face which I failed to understand, though it looked like a bit of inner conflict - I couldn't be sure.
"Well... Because I rushed home... With blood... All over me." 'Oh.' I mouthed, instantly understanding what he was getting at; I instantly denied any thought that he was the cause.
"You didn't know, it wasn't your fault. So... I apologize. And don't think you won't be explaining to me what happened in the dungeon!" I finished sternly, interrupting Bell before he could refute and say that I didn't need to apologize.
I did, really. I shouldn't have kept secrets. It's my fault and I don't want Bell apologizing and feeling bad about something he didn't know about. Bell seemed conflicted and continued to argue that he was at fault; I argued back, fiercely.
We continued to go back and forth for what seemed like hours, but was most likely a few minutes at most. At this point we were interrupted by a loud voice.
"Enough!" We both simultaneously turned our attention from each other to the voice. There stood Miach, his arms crossed and, for some odd reason, a happy expression on his face; it almost looked like teasing smile.
"Gosh, take your lovers quarrel somewhere else please!" He exclaimed dramatically, the ever present smile morphed into the devil's smile, throwing Bell into a sputtering mess and myself into a blushing frenzy. I pulled the blanket over my face to hide my blush, hoping to god (even though that's Miach) that this would end already.
I looked up from my blanket, my blushing face leering at Miach's own laughing one. He seemed to get endless joy from teasing us about our social lives. In fact he's been doing this for the past week when he caught me staring at Bell from the front desk.
It was the worst coincidence ever! And now he won't ever stop teasing me (us, though Bell doesn't know that I looked at him) about it.
Hopefully Miach never learns that I was staring at Bell.
"Please, go away Miach!" I exclaimed raising my voice slightly, shifting my leer (now a smile) towards Bell, who's still sputtering over the previous comment. Miach made one more burst of laughter before leaving the room, and right after he left I dug my face right back into my blanket. The blush was still pulsing furiously on my cheeks and I really didn't want Bell to see it (even if he's seen me blush before).
"N-Naaza! I-I-I'll l-leave a-alright? S-Sorry again, a-and have a g-good r-rest!" He shouted as he scurried off and closed the door. My hand rose instinctively to grab onto him, but I grabbed my arm and pulled it back down. My face rose a little, showing the now fading blush and showed a confused expression.
'Why does he say sorry... I know 'why,' but... Why? He knows he doesn't need to, but he still does... I can't figure it out.' My new-found dilemma caused me to stay in bed for the rest of the day, my thoughts solely on the reason. And a few hours later I was still thinking about this as I was about to drift into sleep, but my thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Naaza?" Bell's voice softly called from the outside. I rubbed my eyes to help myself wake up a little after nearly drifting to sleep and told him to come in. He came in quietly, even though he knew I was awake.
"Ummm... You didn't come out for dinner and Miach said that you needed some time alone to rest after today, so I brought dinner after a while..." He explained as he walked over to the bed and handed me a bowl of fresh pasta.
I reached out and grabbed the pasta from Bell's hands. "Thanks..." I muttered as I stared down into my bowl of pasta, slowly moving my hand to clutch the fork and begin consuming my food. We sat in silence, I ate my food while Bell twiddled his fingers. Eventually, though, I spoke up and asked the question that's been bothering me all day.
"Why do you continue to apologize?" I question as I continue to slowly eat my food. Bell looks up, his face a mixture of surprise and confusion. "I know the reason 'why,' but why do you apologize when there's no need?" I added before he could open his mouth.
Bell closes his eyes in thought - which is unusual for Bell, as he's usually an open book with his thoughts and emotions.
"It wouldn't feel right." Bell suddenly states after a minute of contemplation. I tilt my head in confusion, not understanding what that had to do with the question. "If I didn't apologize, it'd feel like I'd be wronging you. I... I don't understand it myself, but I can't stand the thought of that, so I apologized." H elaborated.
"..." I'm silent as I begin to think about his answer. 'He'd feel like he'd be wronging me... Why? It's not like he's done anything wrong to me. And why can't he stand the thought of that... It doesn't make sense!?' I cry inwardly. 'And why does that make me happy!' I add as an afterthought.
"You're my friend, and I can't wrong a friend without apologizing." He adds, surprising me. Then, suddenly, he stands up and walks out. "Goodnight, Naaza." He said as he closed the door.
'He thinks of me as a friend...' Where my last thoughts before I laid down and went to sleep.
The smile never left my face throughout that night.
AN: Again, I am so sorry.
I really hope you were at least satisfied with the chapter - if you enjoyed it, then that is fantastic. Thank you for reading this chapter.