The Past

-----Yui's POV

After lunch, I decided to head to Kaede's place alone, leaving Natalie behind. Since I had already talked about my problems with both her and mom, Natalie was quick to leave me be, but only if I'm back before dark.

And so, I made my way down the hill before approaching Kaede's house. But upon being let inside by Mell, I find myself in quite a strange atmosphere.

Kaede: "Ah, hey Yui."

Yui: "H-hey."

I can't really see who it is is that's clinging onto Kaede as they're covered in a blanket, but upon looking around, I can pretty much deduce that the person clinging onto Kaede is Neda. Also I can't help but notice that Kaede's hair is quite wet, which probably explains the towels that she's sitting on.

Yui: "What happened exactly?"

Kaede: "I uhm. I'd rather not bring it up. For Neda's sake."

Erytheia: "We were at the ocean and..."

Ocean... So that explains why Kaede is wet, but what happened? I can't help but be curious as to what happened. Neda seems to be a bright person, full of positivity and life, but ever since stepping inside, not once has the blanket moved as she just remains where she is as the only part of her body that I can seen is her feet slightly poking out from the bottom of the blanket.

Yui: "Is she asleep?"

Kaede: "...I don't think so."

Melanthos: "I have to say though. Is the oceans in your world like this, Erytheia?"

Erytheia: "Well... Kinda. We do have massive creatures that live in the ocean, but nothing like that."

Kaede: "Hnng!"

Suddenly, the blankets moves ever so slightly, but Kaede ends up tensing up just a little bit, almost as if she's feeling quite a bit of discomfort.

Kaede: "C-could we talk about this later?"

Erytheia: "Ah! Sorry, Neda."

Again, Neda refuses to move to even respond, choosing to remain under the blanket against Kaede. I guess there wasn't really any point with having Natalie stay back if this is how it turned out. I don't think now's the time to bring up our past life, not when something bad has clearly happened. 

It was then that I felt a tug on my arm as I turn to see that it's Mell.

Mell: "Come."

Curious, I follow Mell into the dining room as she gently pulls me along by the hand. The dining room isn't that far from the living room, but maybe this is far enough to maybe ask what is going on.

Mell: "Neda got eaten by a big fish."

She spoke in a hushed voice that I'm not quite sure if I heard that correctly.

Yui: "What?"

I respond back, also in a hushed voice. I don't want to believe that I heard that correctly. Neda, eaten?

Mell: "It's true. Mom cut open the fish's stomach, before kissing Neda."

Yui: "Wait, kissing?"

Wait wait wait… I end up shaking my head in disbelief at what I'm hearing. First Neda was apparently eaten, and now Kaede kissed Neda? Am I really hearing this correctly?

Mell: "Yes. Ever since, Neda's been clinging onto mom."

Okay, I'm sure I'm missing something. Kaede wouldn't just kiss someone she just met, at least not the Kaede I know... Neda is beautiful, there's no doubt about that, but surely I'm just misunderstanding. But with my stomach feeling tight all of a sudden, I kind of wish I just stayed back home and not heard any of this.

Sicily: "Hey~ Can I join?"

Suddenly, Sicily comes around the corner, speaking in a hushed voice, seeming to be wanting to join into the conversations.

Yui: "Is it true?"

Sicily: "About Neda? Yeah."

I want to ask Kaede, but with the current situation, it doesn't look like it'll be easy. But maybe Sicily can help me out?

Yui: "What exactly happened?"

Sicily: "Oh, I wasn't there, but all I heard was that Neda drowned while swimming in the ocean."

Mell: "And eaten."

Sicily: "Wait. Eaten?!"

Mell: "Shh!"

Despite Sicily raising her voice for a moment, it did give me one piece of the puzzle, and arguably the most important piece. So Neda drowned? Normally one would do CPR in that kind of situation, right? I've never done it before but that would be my first thought. If Mell was talking about CPR, then it would make sense for her to say "kissing." Which means that Kaede gave CPR to Neda.

Yui: "Hah~"

I end up sighing in relief at the realization. Mell, you're adorable, but you make me worry sometimes. I knew it was unlikely, but I still think it'd be possible for Neda to have snatched Kaede away. Or actually... Neda isn't even a human, so she wouldn't even know what relationships mean, right? Maybe I was just overthinking too much from the start.

...

After finishing our little discussion, we joined up with everyone else, however the whole room was in silence.

Mell: "I explained it to Yui."

Kaede: "Thanks."

They again spoke in soft tone as to not disturb Neda who has not moved at all this entire time. But even though I know it's CPR, I still find it mildly frustrating. I don't disagree with Mell, calling it a kiss. Sure it's a life saving kiss, but a kiss is still a kiss. I know that it was needed, I get that, but a part of me wishes that things turned out differently, but maybe everyone thinks the same... Poor Neda. I heard stories of people drowning back in my past life, but I've never been around someone who has experienced it. From the looks of it, with how Neda is acting, it must be pretty bad. And that's not even talking about the fact that she was eaten as well on top of that. Wait... Didn't Undine and Ona mention some kind of monster that swallows people in shallow waters? I think it was a crackal? No, a crawcal? Yeah, something like that.

Lillian: "Hey, we were about to have some lunch. Did you want something?"

Yui: "Ah, no thank you. I already ate."

Lillian: "Well then what about some tea?"

I have a feeling that nobody here really wants to hang around any longer, and I don't think Kaede and Neda will be moving anytime soon from the looks of it.

Kaede: "Ah, then could you bring a cup for me as well?"

Lillian: "Sure thing."

It was then that everyone, besides Kaede and Neda, began to move towards the dining room, sitting down at the table. Kaede shoots me a soft smile as I end up smiling back. I feel like the more time I spend time around Kaede, the cooler she gets. She just saves someone like Neda like it's nothing. And seeing what she has built for herself... Maybe it's selfish of me to talk about it with her. I've already come to the understanding that Kaede feels a lot more at home by being here rather than in her past life. Sure that could be Selene's influence as Kaede shares her memories, but still... No... I'll still talk about it with her. It's not like anything will change anyways. We're both stuck here whether we like it or not. Even if it's possible for me to go back, I'll still be unable to go back and see my old parents, my old friends... My old life...

Kaede: "Yui?"

Yui: "Eh?"

Kaede: "You're deep in thought again, hehe."

Yui: "Ah, mm. I was just... Just thinking of our past."

Kaede: "..."

Yui: "..."

Yeah, maybe now isn't the time.

Kaede: "You wanna go back... Right?"

Yui: "Huh?"

Kaede: "Mell told me. She overheard you the other day apparently."

Is she talking about when Natalie chased after me in the woods? I didn't even realize Mell was there...

Kaede: "I get it. Our life there was pretty nice. I miss your parents a lot too. To be honest, even though I only knew them for about a year, I felt like they were my own."

Yui: "Well, maybe that could've been the case if we married. They would've been your in-laws."

Kaede: "Hehe. I guess that's true. That's of course if marriage was possible."

Yui: "Didn't they pass that law though?"

Kaede: "Yes, but my parents would've never given us their blessing if we were to take that step."

Right... I remember now. Her parents were quite religious. Kaede never liked to talk about them much, but I'm pretty sure Christians in general tend to view same sex relationships as some sort of sacrilege. I guess Kaede's parents were on that side.

Kaede: "Which is why I've grown to love this place."

Yui: "Even with your problems being a vampire?"

Kaede: "Yeah... I just feel like I can be who I want to be. Sure I wish that I could live like a normal human, but this is what life has dealt me. So if you asked me whether I choose between this world and my old world, I'd choose this one."

Yui: "Mm. I know."

It's exactly like I thought. I'm not sad about it, and actually, I can share a lot of her feelings about this world.

Yui: "But for me... I can't abandon our old world."

Kaede: "...You can't return to your parents though."

Yui: "...I know."

Kaede: "And you'd still choose it?"

Yui: "...Maybe. But that's only if you'd be there as well. Sure my parents and my friends are important parts of my life, but you are too, and so is my current mom, and brother. I can't just pick a side."

Kaede: "Hehe. But wouldn't staying here mean that you've chosen a side?"

Yui: "I guess if you put it that way, haha."

I don't know, it's difficult. Let's say I was still alive in my past life, and Kaede was stuck here. I think if I had the option to come here, I'd be stuck on the fence, deciding on what to do. So I guess it'd be more accurate to say that I just can't decide... That being said.

I end up leaning down, brushing away some of Kaede's wet hair, revealing her forehead before planting my lips against her, gently kissing her somewhat cold forehead.

Yui: "I love you."

Kaede: "Hehe. Love you too."

You can have Kaede for now, Neda. But next time I'm here, you better not be stuck on her like this. I can't even wrap my arms around her for a hug!