Chapter 34

"Joseph!"

"Claude!"

I cannot believe it. The one man I've been waiting all those years for is finally here.

"You're.... alive....."

Tears streamed down my eyes as he came to embrace me. His hug, as how I had expected it would be, is warm and solemn, exactly like how it has always been.

"You... you came back...." I sobbed, the feeling of happiness sparkling inside me.

Claude smiled, wiping the tears off my face with his sleeves.

"You never change, even after all these years. Be happy, Joseph. You deserve happiness."

I was in a crying mess, my brain looking for words. He is here. He is back. He fulfilled his promise.

My hands were latched into his when he started coughing uncontrollably.

"Claude?"

By now he had broken into a coughing fit  and is struggling to even breathe. Blood had poured out of his nose, in the rate where no one could stop it.

"Claude? Please don't! I cannot lose you again after all these years of waiting!"

He said nothing. Instead, his hands went limp and his body went still.

"Claude! No! Claude! Claude! Please!"

***

I jolted awake as the dream left my head. Sweat had coated my whole forehead and by now my hands were badly shaking to the point where I can barely feel them.

Claude.

Despite it being years already, there is this little thing in my heart that keeps on telling me to deny the fact that he is no longer here.

A slight headache burned through the inside of my skull as I tried my best to dispel the remains of the dream. Claude was my twin brother. My everything.

He even acted as my lifesaver. My shield.

A big sob escaped my lips along with tears streaming down my eyes.

It is not the fact that he is no longer in pain that hurt me,

It is the fact that he is not here anymore.

My gaze went all the way to the window, in which it had displayed the amazing view outside.

It was almost sunset, with the sun hiding behind the clouds, causing streaks of yellow and orange colours to appear on the sky as if it is a painting on a canvas. Not to mention the slight windy breeze that had made all the trees in the garden to sway lightly.

Exactly how Claude would like it.

"I really hope you're happy up there, Claude. I really hope so...." I said, feeling my heart tighten even more within every word.

"....Joseph?"

I deliberately wiped the tears off my eyes.

"Aesop..."

By now the Embalmer was staring at me. His eyes are barely open since he just got up but I can definitely tell that he is feeling better. But, that does not mean he should see me like this.

"Hey. I see you're awake. How are you now?" I smiled.

I had to act quick. I decided to switch the subject. Aesop's condition might have improved but he is still injured.  And I do not want to think what would happen to him if he were to witness me cry before him.

"I'm... great...." He said, giving his whole might on sitting himself up.

I then noticed the rise and fall of his chest. He might be talking more, but he still has to struggle to let the words out regardless of the breathing assistance.

I really hope he gets back to his healthy form real soon.

That was when it hit me.

Claude and I had been in the same situation before, with him being gravely ill and me sitting by his bedside, listening to everything I said to him even though most of them are unnecessary.

Little did he know that I did that just because of how much I fear his consciousness to drift away.

"I learned how to play on the violin today. New chords and all. It's fun!"

I held onto Claude's hands as I let the words out. By now he had spiked a high fever and nasty coughs still ravaged his body, rendering him being in bed the only thing he can do.

"That's... so.... good... of you.... I knew you're.... totally up.... for it...."

I bit my lower lip as the feels sank back in.

My heart still says no.

I must have been in a trance for quite sometime now that the moment I came back to being myself, Aesop had placed his hands on top of mine, latching into them.

"You're..... thinking.... about.... him, are you?"

I froze. I had tried all my best attempts to act all tough towards him. I had reassured myself with this barrier that he will not see me like this. I am good enough to keep up with my feelings.

However, he broke through.

He had read my mind like a book.

I said nothing. I just stared at him, holding off the urge to break down.

"I... know.... dealing... with.... the loss... of someone.... dear to you is.... not easy... at all....."

A strand of teardrop streamed down my left eye.

"But... if.... he... were... to... see you... mourn over him..... like this, will... he... like it?"

My mind felt like coming to an ultimate stop.

Will he like it?

I closed my eyes as the Embalmer's words played over and over in my mind. He is right. He has a point.

I let out a huge smile as his eyes met with that of mine. That was also the exact moment I feel a surge of warmth in my heart.

"You're right... I shouldn't cry anymore for his sake. He won't like seeing me in this state..." I said, taking in deep breaths to ensure him that I indeed am feeling better by his words.

And mostly, his presence.

I had my eyes on him, watching his every move as his fingers fiddled with my coat, a huge smile forming on his lips amidst the action.

I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to do everything with him. I want him to be my everything.

It was when he leaned himself closer on me, the look on his eyes being the one that is more powerful than a thousand words.

However, it was what he said that made my heart jump.

"Joseph....

Will you.... be... my.... everything?"

3rd PERSON POV

Hunters' Side

Jack stood there in the dining room on his own, his head running mental calculations as he paced left and right.

He rubbed one palm on his forehead. The Mercenary's words were still playing inside him, each tone of anger bringing him even lower than the last.

At least Naib remembers me-

He shook his head, snapping the thought away. Naib had lashed out on him, so what is the point of hoping and having faith of starting over now?

"Guess I really am that idiot, huh?" He muttered.

The Ripper then stood up, removing his mask and hat off, revealing his true look.

His face had gotten swollen from crying, not to mention the lack of sleep he has been getting.

"Jack?"

Hastur's distinctive voice chimed in as the Ripper noticed the Feaster approaching him. The Feaster was not wearing his cloak, his human form being the only thing in Jack's eyes.

"I'm sorry about how we're treating you. It's just, you really went overboard during that match, and that is just-"

"I know." Jack interrupted, the look of sadness drawn all over his face.

"But please, Jack. You need to at least eat something. You look nowhere near healthy...." The Feaster said.

The Ripper might have committed something beyond the limits of being a hunter, but the fact that those two had shared a perfect friendship bond still applies to the Feaster.

"No." The Ripper sighed, looking away as he stood up to reach for his coat.

"Jack? Where are you going? Don't even think of doing something bad. You're still on probation-"

"I know, Hastur. However, I have something I should be doing."

"What?!"

"I'm going to see Aesop."