Realization

Posts : 5994 Join date : 2013-10-06 Age : 30

At first he thought, he was walking with his comrades. His friends. But everything seemed so different. It was all dark. Nothing seemed to exist around him. This utter blackness seemed to consume all, but him. There was a kind of wonder, wanting to know where he was. But at the same time, Joshua felt like he knew where is. Then, there was a vast blue surrounding him. Something was at work, but even so, he didn't feel afraid. All of this felt familiar...

"Hey."

It was soft, but audible. It was a voice that didn't surprise and surpised him. Joshua turned to see him. He was just there, staring at him as a black and white blot in this azure world. He seemed exhausted. No, he was more tired. But there was a kind of sadness to him.

"Sup. What do you want?"

His footsteps began to advance towards him, causing ripples in the water he stepped over. He knew what he was. But why was he here? When he finally stopped and the last of the ripples ended, there was a kind of silence. Most people might have felt uncomfortable, but neither of them did. They just stared at each other. One's eyes were the window to their soul and they were looking through that opening.

"You got the girl."

"Yup."

"Are you... happy with this?"

"Whaddya think?"

His brows furrowed in frustration, staring with angry eyes as if they were shooting daggers at him. But Joshua was unfazed. He didn't really care. All he did was smile and that pissed him off.

"This is fucking stupid."

"Shit's all relative these days, I'm afraid."

Joshua shrugged nonchalantly at him. It was a boiling point that was finally crossed over.

"Shut the hell up.
You think being a fucking third wheel is okay?
Getting kicked to the Friendzone is fucking hip?
Didn't Zachary say she had a sweetheart?"

"So?"

"It's gotta be eating you up from inside!
How can you be okay with this shit? Aren't you just--?"

"I'm okay with it, all things considered. I got what I wanted.
That's all. Why are you so pissed off?"

He stared at him in blank shock at first, not believing his ears. Joshua, for once, just stood there with a carefree smile. It was that smile. It unnerved him. But the space began to fill with laughter, his disbelief. The Nyarlathotep Child continued to watch, as if waiting for him. When the last guffaw left his maw, it clenched with rage.

"BULLSHIT! I CAME ALL THIS WAY! SO DID YOU! I DESERVE HER! YOU DESERVE HER! SHE'S MINE!"

Joshua was quiet, he was still looking at him and that abyss stared back. There was something else despite being sad, it was pathetic. He looked so desperate. Was that what he was like in front of everyone? It was equal parts embarrassing and fascinating, to look from the inside. But, this was no time to just watch. It had to be dealt with.

"She belongs to no one, but to herself.
Seriously, you're starting to get really creepy, man. I don't appreciate it."

He had to be firm. He wasn't someone that could be pacified with just mere words. He wanted to be free, yet that path wasn't anything constructive or wholesome. But there was something more than that. Joshua looked into his enraged eyes again and realized something that he should've known before, "You're scared."

"Bullshit. Stop shitting around, you fuck!"

"You're scared from being left behind.
Scared of being to do nothing about it."

"Shut up! Stop it! You're wrong!"

"Then why are you so angry? We came for Rinna and freed her.
Helped her. That should be enough. Right, Joshua?"

"I said shut up! STOP TALKING SHIT!" his voice was like a child's now. There was a kind of apprehension creeping up the tone. What was a full grown man, was now replaced by a young boy in white. Desperation was replete in his eyes. He wanted to shut him up. Anything. Everything. But, he couldn't. Something in him wouldn't let him.

"You're scared that I'd move on.
Scared that I didn't need you anymore.
Why else did you tell me to forget about Rinna when she told me to piss off?"

The child was quiet, his head bent over as if to hide the tears. Joshua walked closer to him and then knelt before him. His hands cupped his young face, commanding his attention as he smiled.

"But I won't do that. You are me and I am you. That will never change. You are a part of me that I'll accept."

He sniffed and rubbed his nose and eyes to keep from leaking. It was embarrassing and humiliating, to be laid open like this. But the child grabbed him by his shirt and pleaded.

At first, he was surprised. He knew that this side of himself was weak and flawed. Perhaps he really shouldn't be that surprised. Sometimes, things felt very surreal even despite being surrounded by all weird supernatural shit for so long.

"I won't," Joshua promised as he began to hug him, "I'll never forget nor will I forsake you."

He returned the embrace, feeling his warmth. Soon, he finally dissipated like the morning dew and left him. But it began to take form in front of him. Instead of the pristine-white that was once Yamato-Takeru, there was something else instead, something green and sinister.

"I am thou, thou art I.
The great Aragami Yamato-Takeru rages against all challenges!
May my might be known to all!
Pity be unto our enemies!"

It made one final disappearance, turning into red mist and returning back to Joshua. He was getting tired, but fulfilled. His eyes slowly closed for that one moment of peace. When they opened back again, the Nyarlathotep Child would find himself back in a world that he loathed and also needed him.