Komaeda's moving castle
Word count: 10.0k
Summary: "I finally found you, dove."
The clouds of Kingsbury flutter through the air, spinning and weaving the blue sky. The greens of the hill sparkle under the sun. A shepherd herds their sheep, waving at the moving machinery. A young male in the window waves back with a smile. The shepherd swoons as a result. This is how the outskirts of Kingsbury are, and it's how they will remain. The peaceful pasture, animals roaming, and the endless skyline.
The loud whistle of the morning train pulls you from bed. It's another work day. The mess of fabric sits on the table, and you grab a basket to head downstairs. The other women are in their respective rooms, threading away at the cloth. If you're not mistaken, the wizard would be picking up his cloak today. You have to make sure that everything is in place. It wouldn't be good to give a wizard a cloak that isn't the best quality. The madame said that, not you.
The bell at the door jingles as you step into the shop.
"Good morning Y/n, love!" The other maiden looks up from making last-minute adjustments to you.
"Good morning," You smile back at the girl. "How has work been?"
"Slow, but it's progressing," She hums. "Will you be closing again?"
"Yes," You smile. "What time is the wizard coming in?"
"Y/n, darling!!" Shirogane rushes over, pens in her hair and glasses around her neck. "Could you serve the customer? He's here, and we need to hurry up to finish adjustments. His castle is moving this week."
"W-Wait, Komaeda? I thought it was a wizard from the royal academy!" You panic as she pushes you. "He ate Victoria's heart last week, no?"
"He is!" She mumbles. "Top of his class. Be careful, I heard he likes pretty people and hates the ugly."
"What?!" You're promptly pushed to the front of the shop, and you sigh. You pat down the excess strands from your legs and glance at the wizard. "Sorry for the wait. Shirogane-san needed to make a couple of last minute adjustments."
"I don't mind," He smiles, charmingly so.
You understand why Victoria would fall for him. He is pretty. With stunning white lashes and charismatic pale eyes, he's surely a looker. His auburn hair glows almost angelically under the setting sun, and the rings on his fingers must feel cool under the heat of the July sun. The pendant around his neck is pretty too. The silver suits him. You wonder who he holds dear to his chest despite playing so many people. Maybe he didn't hold anyone dear. Who knows.
"Do you work here?" He glances at you. "Oh, no you don't need to worry for trash like me-"
"Yes," You hum, handing him a cup of tea. "I work here. You're Komaeda, the wizard with the moving castle."
"Yes," He smiles. "You're gorgeous, by the way. What's your name?"
You smile at him. "A fae?"
"No," He smiles. "There is no way. I am but a magician."
"Y/n," You hum, hearing the other girl rush to the front with the jacket.
"It's finished," She smiles. "Sorry for the wait, Komaeda-san."
"No worries," He smiles. "May I try it on?"
The girl hands it to you, and you help Komaeda into the jacket. A mirror is pulled in front of him, and he spins, checking how it fits him. He looks good in it. As much as you don't want to fall for him, his face and charm make it hard enough.
Komaeda notices you glancing at him, and he winks at you. "Like the view?"
"Kind of," You pause. "I like the coat better, though."
Komaeda pouts. "You don't like me?"
"We literally just met," You deadpan. Grabbing him by the shoulders, you spin Komaeda in the mirror, checking for any frayed edges or issues. "I have no need to fall in love with a stranger."
"Well, I do," Komaeda smiles. "So, how about dinner?"
You hold back the urge to punch this man to next week. "My apologies. I have work."
Komaeda watches you head back.
"Hey... do you have her house number?"
"That's creepy."
The setting sun of Kingsbury is hot. It's red with melancholy, orange with the fires of hell. Kingsbury is just another town, but when the sun sets at night, the sky opens its gates to let the hail or bombs destroy it. War is inevitable just as the human race was beyond saving. It's something you realize early on when serving customers. Some people care more for their own than for the safety and health of others.
"I'm going off for the night!" Shirogane calls from the door. "Be sure to lock up!"
"Got it!" You call back.
If the setting sun was red with melancholy, then the night of Kingsbury was terrifying. Creatures and critters are scattered at every corner around magicians. The guards, drunk beyond comprehension, ran through the alleyways to find a night. If you were less attractive, perhaps you'd be let off. You're not, unfortunately. You really pray you could somehow get out of this situation.
"A pretty deer!" One guard slurs.
"A lovely doe-eyed darling!" The other agrees.
You purse your lips. "Kind gentlemen, may I pass?"
"How about we take you for a drink?" One tries sliding his arms down your shoulder, and you brush it off.
"No thank you." You smile forcibly. "May I pass?"
"This one bites!"
"I'd say they're more like a cat!!"
You sigh, tilting your head to the side, getting ready to punch one of them.
"Ah, I finally found you, dove," A voice emerges from behind you, and you recognize the sleeve of the jacket. "What are you doing, taking such a creepy alleyway at night?"
"I got lost," You smile. "It's also a quicker way home."
"How about the two of you," Komaeda eyes them, snapping his fingers. "Do your job to actually protect the people?"
The two guards march off behind the two of you, and Komaeda hums. "My apologies, but you're going to have to continue walking with me. You see, dove, I'm being followed."
You follow along, the blotches of darkness slipping out behind him. They come in the form of gentlemen, little hats to cover their heads. You wonder if that was the work of the witch. There had been a rumor that they were exes.
The creatures cage in the two of you from every direction, and Komaeda smiles calmly as you start growing restless.
"Ready?" Komaeda wraps an arm around your waist, and he lifts the two of you into the air. The streets are empty as he continues walking in the air. You lift your legs, scared to fall.
"Let your feet down and continue walking as normal," Komaeda smiles reassuringly, and you listen. The streets are empty at night other than the oil lamps. You take the chance to stare out at the horizon. It's dark from the clouds of smog, yet the stars still shine brightly over your head. It's pretty. The stars are pretty.
Komaeda notices the way you aren't paying attention to him, and he pauses to stare up, making sure the two of you don't fall. The view renders him breathless. The stars are scattered across the sky, the moon shining seemingly brighter. Komaeda exhales, admiring the moon in all her beauty. She's gorgeous; he's breathless from her beauty. The moon looked so peaceful, up in the air, protecting the town from the sky ripping open.
You glance at Komaeda pause in his steps, and you stare down. It's high up in the air.
"My apologies," Komaeda smiles at you, tilting your head with his hand. "Don't look down, dove. Will a dance make you feel better?"
"A dance?"
Komaeda's arm around your waist spins you, his hand holding yours. Komaeda guides you in the sky, swaying you left and right, spinning you to where you needed to be. You feel like the lead in a fairytale dancing with their prince charming. Yet, this prince charming was a wanted man of the government, and you were but a simple tailor who worked night shifts.
The stars sparkle under your command, twinkling and chiming at each step of yours in the air. Spinning you with a gentle smile, Komaeda hums at each ring of the stars. The sky would part for you, covering you in a star's glow, anything to keep you alive. The moon adores you, and so do the stars. He wants to stay in town longer. Just two days.
With a final spin, Komaeda lands you on your balcony.
"It was lovely dancing with you, my dove," He presses a kiss to the back of your hand with a bow. His cheeks are warm with pink, and his heart flutters as he catches your embarrassment.
"Thank you for walking me home, kind one," You imitate his bow, and he smiles.
"Shall I see you around?"
"We shall see."
The clouds cover the moon as you part from him, and Komaeda's heart races.
Ah.
The second morning rises, and the second evening falls. You get ready to close down the store when a young woman walks in.
"Darling!" She wraps her arms around you. "You're the worker here, right? I ordered a coat for my boyfriend a couple of weeks ago, but I was told he already came to pick it up. Do you have any idea where he is?"
"Who was the order placed for?" You pry yourself from her arms.
"Komaeda," She smiles, her grin broadening. "Ah, so you're the chick who caught his eye and undid all of the stupid spells I cast on him."
She pinches your chin between her pointer and thumb, eyeing you in disdain. "Well, you certainly aren't a sight to behold. I wonder how something as plain as you could cause someone like him such hope. Well, not that I care."
Her hand reaches through your face, and you feel your muscles lax and sag as she does. You yelp, falling to your knees as they give out under you. You claw at your face as her laughter rings, and you watch her step out of the shop, two of her dark blobs rushing after her. Flashing you a menacingly gorgeous smirk, she laughs. "May despair ring throughout all of your life!"
You sit there on the floor, heart pounding and tears falling. You don't know what this feeling is, but you know what it is. You've aged. She's aged your dazzling face all because of some stupid man!! You get up, staring at yourself in the mirror. You look old. You look old.
You want to cry.
Your knees are weak, and you have to support yourself as you get up from the floor. The old hag that stares at you in the mirror makes your stomach curl. You hate it. You despise it.
You dust off the apron and step out of the store, locking up to prevent the burglars.
Walking as an elder all alone is much safer than walking as a young one. The guards don't look twice even as you pass them. Your steps have grown slower, and your lungs squeeze at each step uphill. You want to scream or cry. You prayed that somehow, you'd be able to miraculously reach the castle before you die of exhaustion. You really ought to treat your grandparents better after this.
Your bed is so much comfier when it's night.
Yet, you rise before the first train. You wonder if your parents woke up this early. Well, it's not like you can stay here. Just from looks alone, you're already off the marriage market. All because of a man? How strange.
You wait for the others to file out of the house before you grab a bit of food and head out to the hills.
The chiming and clanging of Komaeda's castle ring in the distance, and you sigh. "I can hear it... hah, but I can't see it."
You sit at the base of a scarecrow, the moon illuminating your skin. The age spots scattered across your skin and arm cause you to hold your breath. The midnight mist makes it hard to see where the castle is exactly, but you don't really care. It can't kill you. Well, even if it could, you're already old anyway.
You get up again, getting ready to continue.
The wind blows behind you, and your eyes widen in fear as the scarecrow starts hopping.
"What in god's name-"
The scarecrow hops down the lane, and you watch it spin twice. You assume it wants you to follow it.
It has a weird build. He looks like... you're not sure. He resembles a gentleman more than a scarecrow, but you don't complain. He seems to be leading you to the castle... or leading you at least somewhere.
The fog clears, and the wood and metal emerge. The scarecrow hops twice under the door to the castle, and you nod at it the best you can. The door to the machinery rushes, and a puff of smoke greets you. Bloody hell. You struggle to get on the moving castle, the house refusing to slow for you. These old bones of yours, ugh.
When you finally step onto the platform - not really step, the house had forcibly hooked you onto it. Your cloak flies off from the wind.
"My cloak!"
You watch as the scarecrow hops after it, using its arm to hook the cloak onto it, and it bounces back to you.
"Thank you," You smile. "You're very kind, scarecrow!"
You turn to face the door, pushing it open. A short staircase leads you to the first floor, the sound of the fire crackling. You pause to take in the room. Straight across from you is a wooden chair in front of a fire, and a little bit behind that is a purple divan. To your right is a wooden table, messy yet organized, with all sorts of bottles and spellbooks. The corners are filled with cobwebs, the spiders settling down. It's... a mess. To say the least.
You sit yourself on the wooden chair, exhaling and holding your hands out to the fire.
It's warm.
Though, the fire could use a little more wood.
You sit back down after tossing two logs of wood into the fire.
Oh... it's so cozy...
Your eyes threaten to close on you. The crackling and movement of the house become familiar to your body. You're worn out from the walking.
"Wow, that is one nasty curse you got there, upupupu!" A voice speaks up. "It won't be easy to break."
"The fire talked???"
"And you can't even talk about it."
"...Am I going delusional?" You push the chair back slightly.
"No!! Upupu, I'm Monokuma! I'm a fire demon," It cackles.
"Why are you shaped like a bear?" You pause. "My apologies. That's not the question. Can you help me break the spell? Since you're a demon and all."
"Easy! If you break the spell that chains me to this place, I'll break yours in exchange." He crackles.
"In other words, bargain with a demon," You chuckle; you barely recognize your own laugh. "You sure you can keep that promise?"
"Demons don't make promises."
"I suggest you look elsewhere." You hum, leaning back into the chair.
"But I'm exploited here!!! I'm chained here by Komaeda who works me to death!!!" The fire whines. "I'm the one who keeps this castle moving!"
"My, you have it rough," You draw out.
"If you figure out the secret contract, the spell will break!" He exclaims. "If you do that, I'll break your spell too!"
"I see, a bargain...huh...." Aaand you've dozed off.
In the early hour of the morning, you're woken up by a series of knocks on the door. You crane your neck, at least twelve of your bones cracking. Footsteps dance down the stairs as you do, and a young child with a mask stops next to you.
"Who let them in?"
"Porthaven!" Monokuma calls.
"I wonder when she got in." The boy reaches for a cloak on the table and pulls it over his face, hopping down the stairs.
"Why, mayor, sir," The boy's voice is two octaves deeper than before, and the mayor answers.
You take the chance to look around the room now that it's day. It's still the same mess as yesterday.
"Porthaven again!" Monokuma yells, and you slide him two new logs. You step around the first floor, peering over the fence as the boy opens the door again.
"State your purpose."
"Mama sent me," A young girl beams.
You stare out the window, glancing at the birds and seaside. A magical door? Perhaps.
The young girl giggles. "Are you a witch?"
You stare at her, laughter rumbling. It wouldn't hurt to entertain a child.
"Yes, darling. I am the scariest witch in all the land harhar," You smile as she giggles and runs off with her order.
"Stop lying," The boy grumbles, reaching for the food. From a drawer, he pulls out bread and cheese. You follow to where he was, and you glance at the table.
"Ah, darling," You mumble. "There's bacon and eggs!"
"Monokuma only listens to Komaeda." He frowns. "Can't use him."
You hum, staring at the fire. "Nonsense."
"I'm a demon!!" The fire roars as you set the basket on the ledge, reaching for a pot.
"Now, now," You hum merrily at the fire engulfing the pan. "Either you cook the bacon and eggs like a good fire, or we have a quaint little discussion about our deal with Komaeda."
"I was wrong," Monokuma shrinks, and you hum as you place the bacon onto the pan. Monokuma tries burning it, and you glare at the fire.
"Darling, do we have a kettle? I want some tea." You call at the other magician, and he nods.
"I'll find one."
The door to the house rattles, and everyone turns to watch the master come home.
"Welcome home, master!" The boy greets, holding a kettle. "You have letters from the King to both Meshitsukai and Servant."
You pause. Isn't that just the same name in different languages??
"Ah, dear," Komaeda chuckles. "There's no need to call me master. I told you, trash like me doesn't deserve it."
"But master-"
You glance at the male, then turn your eyes back to the bacon, flipping it in the pan.
"My, Monokuma," Komaeda hums amusedly. "You're being so obedient."
"They bullied me!"
"I did no such thing!" You gasp offendedly.
"Regardless, that's not something easy to do, right?" Komaeda takes the pan and spoon from your hands. "Who are you, by the way?"
"Your neighborhood elderly," You hum. "Your new housekeeper."
"Please pass me six eggs and two more slices of bacon," Komaeda holds the pan close to you as you slide two more pieces of bacon onto it. "Who hired you?"
"I did," You pause. "Just to mop the floors and such. Your table is suprisingly organized despite the mess."
"Well, I am a little of a clean freak-"
"Please don't let master handle the fire! He can't cook," The boy yells from the table as Komaeda misses an egg.
"Jataro, dear, I most certainly can-"
"He can't!"
"Not risking it," You nudge him to the side, taking the stuff from his hands again. "Can you set up the table?"
"That, I can do," Komaeda chuckles as you crack another egg onto the pan, copying Komaeda and tossing Monokuma the eggshells. Komaeda helps you plate the food, and you glance at the utensils the boy holds up for you. The others are dirty, he tells you. You thought Komaeda was organized. Organized chaos, maybe. You're not sure.
"Let us partake of our morning bread," Komaeda hums.
"Daily bread!" Jataro echoes, biting into all of his food at once. "It's been a long time since I've had breakfast."
"Neglect of child," You mumble quietly, cutting into the eggs.
"Ah, by the way," Komaeda hums. "Dove, you seem to have something in your pocket. May I see it?"
You hum, reaching into your pocket. You hand it to Komaeda. The paper burns him at the touch, and the spell falls onto the table, carving itself into it. Komaeda sighs at the symbol.
"A curse?"
"Yes. Ancient Magic." Komaeda hums, reading the spell. "He who catches a falling star, oh heartless man. Your heart shall be mine."
"Wow," You deadpan, biting on the eggs. "Romantic."
Komaeda chuckles, sliding his hand over the spell. "Well, even trash like me wouldn't stoop to her level and give her my heart."
"Master!" Jataro gasps as the spell disappears.
"The two of you," He smiles. "Please enjoy breakfast." He gets up, tossing the rest of his breakfast to Monokuma. "Monokuma, please move the castle 100km and send hot water upstairs."
"Not the hot waterrr," The flame grumbles.
You scoop the eggs back into your mouth and pause as Jataro asks you a question.
"Do you work for the witch of the waste?"
"Lord forbid I work for that wrench of a whore," You spit. "If it weren't for her bastardry, I wouldn't be- mmmrph- I wouldn't- hrrmph- ARGH!! BLOODY HELL! Oh, once I get my daintly old hands on your thin little neck you wRETCHED WHO- ARGH!!"
Jataro clears the table and moves the books outside as you smack the broom on the ceiling. Dust and bugs fall everywhere, and the rats scurry to safety. The whole room fills with ashes, and you hurl the water onto the wood, scrubbing at it violently. You're pretty sure you're going to die of exhaustion soon; your muscles are sore. Curse your old age.
The floors of the first floor echo with cleanliness as you step to the fireplace.
"Can I have more wood? Hello???"
You toss Monokuma into a pan, the old piece of wood with him. He clings onto it, yelling about how he's going to die. You ignore him, raking out all the ashes from the previous wood. Pulling the edges of the sheet, you ignore him as you take the soot out.
Hurried footsteps rush down the stairs, and the sound of wood clattering makes you turn around.
"Try not to torment my friend," Komaeda smiles at you.
"My apologies," You watch him breeze past you, hair pulled back and adjusted.
"Master, are you going out?" Jataro pauses.
"Jataro, dear, tell out housekeeper not to get too carried away," Komaeda smiles, hopping out the door.
"What'd you do?"
"She abused me!!" Monokuma yells. "If I go out, then Komaeda does as well!"
"I'm the housekeeper," You deadpan. "My job is to clean."
You grab the mop and bucket and start toward the stairs. Jataro runs up before you can, and he yelps.
"No! Not the second floor!"
"If I were you," You hum amusedly, taking a step up the stairs. "I'd put your precious things away right now."
"My room last!" The boy runs up the stairs, and you grin.
The upstairs is somehow even more of a mess than the downstairs, and as you open the door to the bathroom, you are baffled. You thought Komaeda was organized. You swear it's like when a mom yells at a kid to clean their room even though it's clean in the kid's way. Too bad your job was to clean the entire house.
Before you start, you throw the window open, looking out to see the castle.
The view is breathtaking. The castle moves a step at a time, and underneath it is a valley. A river flows between the two mountains, thousands of evergreen trees are scattered, and you watch the castle fly over the forest. The green makes you hold your breath. It's gorgeous.
"Monokuma!! Monokuma!!" You yell, rushing down the stairs.
"What's all the fuss for?"
"Are you moving the castle on your own?" Your eyes glimmer as you stare from the stairs.
"Of course I am!"
"You're incredible!" You cheer. "Your magic is amazing! I'm so sorry for misjudging you!"
You rush back upstairs to start cleaning.
"You think so?" Monokuma turns pink. "You really think so?"
The house speeds up, and you work on the bathroom. The water is brown and murky, and you pull the drain. Rearranging all the bottles on the shelves and tossing the empty ones out, you exhale. Unclogging the toilet, you wince as the foul smell finally starts fading. Then, you grab a brush and start scrubbing. The colors wash off the basin with a brush of your rag, and you sigh blissfully as you finally finish.
You glance out the window, noticing the change in scenery.
"Not yet!" Jataro calls as you rush back into the hallway. It looks breathtaking outside.
"Oh... Lord," You open a door, eyes wide. "It's heavenly outside."
Goats rush through the mountains, pine trees and streams scattered about. Down the hill, a giant lake sits in the center. The water is bluer than the Aegean, and the sky is clear. A couple of clouds hide the rest of the lake, and rocks lead down the mountain to the lake.
Jataro rushes next to you, looking down.
"That's star lake," He points.
"How beautiful."
In the corner of his eye, Jataro notices a wooden pole sticking out of a hole.
"Huh," You reach for it, pulling at it. "Jataro, dear, could you lend me a hand?"
The two of you pull the pole out of the crevice, and you pause at the sight of the scarecrow.
"The scarecrow from earlier..." You mumble. "Did you follow me?"
He hops twice, spinning.
"I'll take that as a yes," You smile.
"Who is he?"
"A scarecrow I met on my way up," You hum, heading back inside. "Let's get back to cleaning, hm?"
Jataro helps you pull the laundry basket down to the lakeside as Calcifer lowers the hose. The two of you hand the laundry on the scarecrow's arm, and he hops around as you prepare lunch. The breeze by the lake helps you calm down as you exhale. Your shoulders relax, and you hum happily as you drink from the bowl.
"Does the scarecrow have a name?" Jataro holds the bread to his mouth, taking a bite.
"Turnip," You pause. "I think."
"Do you think he's a demon?" Jataro chews with his mouth open, and you wipe his cheek. "Monokuma seems to like him."
"Maybe," You exhale, heart light. "But despite that... he's the one who led me here."
The breeze flies off with the hours, and you sit yourself by the lakeside.
Your shoulders relax, and you hum a soft tune to yourself.
It's calm.
Night falls, and the door to the house clicks open. Komaeda stumbles in, feathers dragging behind him, feet in the form of claws. His breathing is labored as he pulls himself to the chair by the fire. Kicking both legs onto the brick, his chest heaves, and he grunts in annoyance. The feathers sticking to his skin disappear, and his feet turn back to normal. He exhales once he's human again.
"Keep doing that and you won't be able to transform back," Monokuma reminds. He reaches for a log on the side, and he grins. "Isn't this great? The housekeeper did this for me!"
Komaeda sits straight, a pained moan slipping past his lips. "The fighting is awful. The entire country is in flames. From the southern coast to the northern border, there is not a single town that isn't aflame."
"I hate the fire in gunpowder," Monokuma spits. "They have no manners."
"My own kind attacked me," Komaeda laughs airily.
"The witch of the waste?"
"Hack wizards masquerading as monsters."
"They'll cry plenty later on." Monokuma laughs evilly. "When they can't regain their human form."
"No, Komaeda stands up, stretching his arms. He feels a bone pop back into place. "They'll just forget that they ever knew how to cry. Like Kamukura."
"Aren't you supposed to report to the king?"
"Yes, well," Komaeda walks toward the curtains. "Hot water for my bath."
"Not again," The fire grumbles.
Komaeda stares down at your sleeping form. The wrinkles on your skin are missing, and the white of your hair is colored. Komaeda tucks you back in, shaking the blanket twice before covering you. He glances at your chest rise and fall, and he smiles gently. "Rest well, my dove."
The warm water jets against the bathtub, and you shoot awake. You hear a bone crack.
"Was that Komaeda?"
"Yeah," Monokuma reaches for another log. "Wasting my hot water."
You chuckle.
The morning is warm in Porthaven. It's nice and quiet, minus the couples of people bargaining for prices. You pay for the potatoes first, then you take a look at the fish. Jataro follows behind you, mumbling about how he didn't like potatoes or fish. You pause to take a look at the fish properly. The fisherman tells you they're all freshly caught.
A hoard of people rush down to the port.
"The fleet's come home!"
"Is that the smoke?"
You turn your head to look.
"There's been another battle." A passing man tells the fisherman.
"Ah, really? Then excuse me, I'll get to you later." The fisherman excuses himself and runs with the crowd.
"That ship's on fire!"
Sure enough, a battleship heads into the port, the top on fire. Seamen jump off the metal, and the civilians row their boats to help them to safety. In the corner of your eyes, you spot a blotch of black, and you hold Jataro back.
"Witch of the waste henchmen."
It disappears, and you sigh.
Above the two of you, an aircraft roars. Three bombs drop into the water, and you hold Jataro in your arms as they blow up. Papers flutter through the air, and you drag Jotaro back home.
"Papers!"
"They're enemy propaganda. Ignore them, child," You slam the door behind you, and you exhale. You rest on a chair, and you gasp for air. "Water, please, child."
Jataro turns on the tap, filling a clean glass with water. Upstairs, a loud boom is heard, and Komaeda's footsteps echo through the house. He screams.
"Dove, what did you do to the bathroom shelves!!" Komaeda runs to you, grabbing his hair. The auburn has been replaced by a bright pink. "My hair's turned this weird color!"
Jataro blinks.
"It looks lovely?" You tilt your head, unsure what he means.
"Take a good look!" Komaeda cries. "You mixed up everything on the shelves and ruined the spells!!"
"I didn't mix up anything," You raise a brow. "I simply cleaned up."
"But it was already clean," Komaeda bites on his tongue. "I told you not to get too carried away! Oh, how hopeless. How disgustingly despairing. I have no chance like this..."
Komaeda sits on the chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"It's not that bad," You try and comfort him. You take a step back as his hair turns from pink to blue, to green, to yellow... before finally turning to white. "The new shade is quite lovely in it's own way."
Komaeda blinks twice. "I'm done for... what's the point of living... if you're not... beautiful... ugh."
The room warps and darkens, and the floor and walls contort. You glance around yourself suspiciously, and Jataro speaks up.
"He's calling on the spirit of darkness." He blinks. "The last time he did this was when the love of his life broke up with him."
You try and place a hand on Komaeda, finding that a layer of white slime sticks to your hand. You back away slowly, heart wavering and lip quivering. "I've had enough of you, Komaeda! I've never once been beautiful! Never!" You rush down the stairs, throwing the door open. "I've had enough of this place!"
The rain pours on your skin, wetting you from head to toe. Your mind swirls with thoughts. You had never been beautiful. You had just been another country bumpkin who was set to take over the family's business. You stand there in the rain, letting yourself cry. The tears come out, the dam slamming open. It felt nice to be able to cry again. You don't mind the rain, it feels nice. It matches the atmosphere.
It had been a while since you had a good cry.
Behind you, the scarecrow hops next to you, an umbrella in hand. The rain stops falling on you, and you hum at the scarecrow. "Thank you, turnip."
"Y/n! Y/n!" Jataro runs out. "Please come back! Komaeda's in trouble!"
You follow the boy in, staring at Monokuma screaming for help. "Y/n!!! Help me!! I'm going to die!!"
You sigh, pushing your sleeves up. "Come help me out, child."
You feel four of your bones crack as you mop the floors and brick again, but at least Komaeda isn't having a mental breakdown anymore. You bring a cup of warm milk to his room and place it at his bedside table. "be sure to drink it while it's warm." You step back toward the door, and Komaeda's voice comes out.
"Don't leave, dove." Komaeda opens his eyes as you sit next to him.
"The witch of the waste is searching for my house." Komaeda turns to the side. "The truth is, I'm just hopeless. All of this magic is just to keep her despairful presence away. I'm terrified of her."
You pause. "May I know why you're running from her?"
"She's my ex," Komaeda sits up, chuckling to himself. "Isn't that funny? Now the king wants me to report to him... as both of my alternate identities..."
"Can't you refuse to?"
"You see that oath on the wall?" Komaeda sighs. "I swore to obey the king's every order."
"How dystopic," You hum. "Why not just visit the king? Just reject him to the face."
"Dove," Komaeda sighs. "You don't know what they're like."
"But he's a king, right? Kings usually think the best for their people-"
"That's it! Dove, you'll go in my place!" Komaeda gasps. "Meshitsukai's parent! You can pretend to be my parent! Just tell him that I'm an idle, good-for-nothing! Maybe Madame Enoshima will even give up on me!"
"Madame... Enoshima?"
It's official. You hate Komaeda.
You don't want to meet the king or whatnot, and you most definitely do not care about him enough to do this. You don't know why you're doing this. You're dressed in some outfit, and Komaeda pushes you out the door. You want to strangle him. Is that an option? You suppose you might owe him something, but you don't think you do. Maybe this is his way of paying you back for turning his hair white. You'd be lying if you said he didn't look good, though.
"Ah, before you go," Komaeda grabs your left hand, sliding a clover ring onto your finger. "This will alert me when there's danger. I'll also be following you to keep you safe."
Keep you safe, your ass.
You march down the roads of Kingsbury. Cars and machines whiz past you, and the colorful buildings pass in a blur. You don't have the heart to admire the architecture. You have more of an urge to strangle Komaeda. You're the housekeeper, housekeeper. Not his mom. Not his grandma. None of that weird blasphemy.
Ah, the easier way out might just be just to strangle Komaeda.
The visit to the king passes in a blur you refuse to recall. The witch of the waste is first turned into some completely different person, the pink hair turning black, freckles scattering over her skin. The king isn't a king at all. The king is a queen, a woman who looked exactly like the witch of the waste. It was strange. Does that mean Komaeda had dated the king? What sickening twist of events was this?
Your mind is spiraling with newfound confusion as Komaeda removes his disguise in front of you.
"I've kept my oath," Komaeda hooks an arm around your waist. "I've no wish to fight you. I'll be taking my mother."
"Too bad!" The king grins, her cheeks stretching eerily. "I won't let you! I'm sure your beloved mother would love to see who you really are."
A violent gush of water floods past you, and Komaeda holds you up.
"Don't look down, dove. It'll pull you down," Komaeda hums, watching the purple magic swirl around him. It circles around him, and the feathers start growing out of his body as he lunges for the king. You cling to him, screaming for him to stop.
Komaeda shoots you a smile before he rushes you to the plane. He starts the engine, flying off from the palace.
"Ah, it seems like you brought a whole team," Komaeda chuckles. You look behind you and stare at the witch of the waste and the king's dog.
"I should've just retired when I had the chance..." You sigh, and Komaeda moves you to the front seat.
"Too late for that," He hums, pressing your ring. "That'll lead you to Monokuma. We're being chased, so be sure to steer properly."
"I'm going to stab someone," You turn the wheel as Komaeda lets go, and you narrowly miss the tower of a church.
"I can give you five minutes of invisibility," Komaeda swipes his hand, and a duplicate flies the other way. You yelp as you narrowly dodge a tree, and you grimace. You pray you'll make it home before something happens.
As you spot the house, you realize something very important.
HOW THE HELL DO YOU STOP THIS THING?!
"Y/n!!!"
"JATARO!! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP THIS THING!!" You scream, crashing right into the mouth of the castle. You cough from the wood and smoke that fills your lungs, and Jataro searches through the debris for you. You run down the wood and cement to him, and you sigh.
"You're safe." He pulls his arms around you.
"Yes," You mumble. "... I'll clean all of this in the morning."
The night wind blows gently, and the sun makes way for the moon. The crescent rocks gently, back and forth, and back and forth. It lulls the entire house to sleep, even with the dust all over the furniture. It's cozy, and Monokuma keeps the house warm at night. The sound of footsteps creaking up the stairs wakes you, and you grab the lantern next to your bed.
"Komaeda?"
The footsteps grow rushed, and you chase after the sound. Throwing his door open, you notice the hole in his wall, and you continue following the sound. A trail of feathers multiplies in number as you do, and you pause at the sight of a hunched-over bird. The bird is pretty, the black feathers tinted with pink. You run your hand down its back, and the creature turns to stare at you.
"Komaeda," You swallow. "Come on, turn back."
He hisses at you and rushes off into the darkness.
"KOMAEDA!"
You snap awake to the sound of running water, and Monokuma whines. "Y/n, we don't have much more time, Komaeda and I."
"And Komaeda will turn into a demon?"
"I can't tell you that, I'm a demon," He blows a raspberry.
"I was told by the king," You pause. "that Komaeda gave you something precious. What is it? Where is it?"
"I can't tell you," Monokuma grumbles.
"Even if I dump water all over you?"
"How mean!! If you kill me, then Komaeda dies with me!!"
You kick at the plane as Jataro, Turnip, and the dog tug the plane out; harshly so. It's not budging, so you give it a hard kick. The engine starts, and it plummets out of the mouth of the house. Crashing violently into the rocks, the others run out of the way. You pause to exhale, and you stare at the pot over Monokuma.
"Time for lunch!!"
Komaeda steps down the stairs, pausing at the sight of the witch and dog.
"Monokuma, why'd you let them in?" Komaeda tilts his head.
"They came flying in with Y/n," He shrugs.
"Haha, my dove, dramatic as ever," He smiles. "Oh, and you," He takes a step to the Turnip and taps his chin. "You're under quite the spell too!"
The scarecrow spins its head twice.
"Unfortunately, your spell is quite loud, so we won't be able to take you," He hums.
"Take? Where are we going?" You finish eating.
"We're moving," Komaeda smiles. "The king could track us down at any moment, so we're settling down."
You suppose there's some truth to the dysfunctional family you call created. Komaeda drags the paint around to create a magic circle, and Monokuma sits himself in the center. The house cranks and howls as he does. Komaeda steps inside, pressing the chalk into the wood, the white markings digging into the crevices. The dust from the chalk scatters.
Placing the chalk down on the table, Komaeda grabs a pan, scooping Monokuma into it.
"Let's start," He smiles, and the fire roars as Komaeda steps into the circle.
The house cracks and pulls, every corner rearranging itself. As it does, you recognize the interior. It looks like your old house. Your old home before you moved into the castle. The furnace forms itself, and the toilet is in the same position. Even your room looks the same. You're really home. It feels strange.
"There you go," Komaeda smiles, sliding a hand down your spine, and your back straightens almost naturally. "You look much more relaxed now, dove."
"Thank you," You mumble.
"I have a little something to show you," Komaeda smiles, twisting the door to the black section. "Just for you."
"Is that so?" You follow him as he opens the door for you, and your breath catches in your throat.
It's gorgeous. The pastures of lush grass and pink spread through the field. Tulips and carnations sway with the wind, and a stream trickles down the grass. Though it's night, it seemed as though the whole place was lit up. Fairies, perhaps? Who knew. It was gorgeous. The blue mist that sprinkled the fields and the setting sun. The world seemed to slow under the stars here.
"Do you like it?" Komaeda's voice comes out uncertain, and he fiddles with his fingers.
"I do," You exhale, heart calming. "It's gorgeous."
"I'm glad," Komaeda smiles, holding his hand out to you.
The moon loves the stars just as much as the stars love her beauty. The gentle glow from the moon keeps the darkness at bay. The stars join her in the sky, desperate to protect her just as they have been protected. Even if it would take trillions of them to help her, they would gladly die off, one by one, burning just to keep her safe. Maybe they had been blind to think that the moon didn't love them the same way, but it wasn't true. The moon matched their glow, just as happy in their presence.
They are recorded as children in the past, yet no one seemed to notice just how much the stars adored the moon. They were no children of the sun and moon. They were the moon's hearts. The ones who had sworn to stay by the moon's side, even as their precious moon chased after the sun until burnt. The stars would keep her safe, even as she sobbed over the loss of the sun's adoration and glow.
Komaeda takes your hand, helping you lay down in the grass. You notice the thin layer of magic around your body.
"Did you know? When the stars fall, the moon picks them up. That's why the moon is so thin," You hum, flexing your fingers in curiosity. "When searching for a fallen star, she lights herself to her brightest form. When she finally finds the star, she cuts her flesh to turn into a fishing hook, trying to reach for the stars."
Komaeda stares at you reach for the sky.
"Have you ever touched a star?"
"Monokuma was a star once," He chuckles.
"Really? I thought he was just some random fire."
"His name Monokuma was given by the witch," Komaeda sighs, lying down on the grass next to you.
"Ah," You pause to laugh into your hand. "How cute. It's a bit strange."
"Is that so?" Komaeda snaps his fingers, and you smile at the fireflies.
"My body was made of crushed little stars, and cursed with repeating the same mistakes." You close your eyes and feel a bug land on your face. "I longed for a life outside of what I had."
Komaeda brushes the bug from your face, and he hums. "What made you change?"
"Being driven into a corner," You mumble. "Being forced into a place with no way out. I couldn't bear to live while ugly."
Komaeda catches the tears that run down your cheek, and you turn to stare at him.
"How will I marry with wrinkled skin and a society that pushes beauty onto it's children from youth?" You laugh, a smile on your face.
"There are people who aren't just going for looks," Komaeda mumbles. "Why are you sad?"
"Because my sisters were always prettier," You smile. "Because as the eldest, I already had my life written for me."
"Mm," Komaeda leans on his arm, frowning. "But you're here now."
"But I'm here now," You close an eye as Komaeda reaches for you. "With you."
"With me," He smiles.
You don't notice how your wrinkles have smoothened out or how your back seems so much lighter. Komaeda makes you forget the world outside, even when you're under the gaze of the universe. He presses cold fingertips to your burning mind and reminds you that it's alright to take time and cool down. Taking life one step at a time was fine. It didn't matter if you had never felt like enough. Komaeda would make sure that he would save you, just as you had saved him so many years ago.
When you wake up, the house is empty again.
The people of the town are running, and you stare at the car that stops in front of you.
"Shirogane?"
"Oh, Y/n!" She cries, hugging you. "I'm so happy you're alive! You went missing for so long, so I got worried!"
She drops a pouch next to the fire, and pulls you to the door. "Are you not going to flee?"
"No," You shake your head. "I feel safe here."
She gives you a look of guilt, and you have a feeling you know what it is.
"I'm off then. Please stay safe."
"I will," You smile.
The witch of the waste pulls the pouch open as you send Shirogane away. A black worm appears in it, and she tosses the monster at Monokuma, forcing him to eat it. Monokuma coughs up black smoke as the woman pulls the cigarette to her mouth, mumbling quietly. "I won't let you take his heart. I have to be the one to present it."
You step back into the room and grimace at the sight of Monokuma.
"What happened to him?"
The witch shrugs.
You spend the day opening the windows to let the smoke from the cigarette out, and you cough as it doesn't disperse. It sticks to your lungs, driving you insane. You hate this. Ugh. Why can't two countries talk it out like civil people? What was the point of war? To kill the citizens? To destroy the people? For wealth? Conquest? Glory? You found no point in the war over a missing prince.
The sound of planes fly over the city, dropping bombs and bullets. The hail of metal shakes the house, and the monsters crawl outside. You hold the door closed against the blobs of black. Was this what the country was reduced to? An internal conflict with a war? Why the hell did they want Komaeda dead anyway?
You dig your heels into the wood as the black starts seeping in. You can't hold it off for longer. Komaeda isn't home, and you don't know when he'll return. Will this be how you die? You're tired. Yet, unlike before, you don't want to leave. You'll just pray that Komaeda shows up on time, like he always has.
The sound of wings and scattering of black causes your eyes to snap open. He's here.
He's here.
You exhale, the smoke no longer burning your lungs.
Komaeda's here.
You slide down the back of the door, exhaling in relief. Komaeda's alive. He's here.
He's home.
Gathering the strength in your legs again, you rush outside to welcome him.
Komaeda soars down with a bomb, spreading his wings to glide it down and let it land without impact. He lands on the ground, the feathers sticking out of his body, smoke and smog all over his face. Yet, as he lands, you rush over to him, heart in relief. He's safe.
"Sorry I made you wait," Komaeda rests his forehead on yours, and you press your lips to his. Komaeda melts into your touch, the feathers softening to your touch. Komaeda pulls away first, smiling at you. "Let's go in."
Komaeda watches the blotches of black try to squeeze in again and sends a gust of wind their way, knocking them back. Komaeda steps up the stairs, casting a spell on Monokuma to revitalize him.
"Monokuma, why'd you do that?"
"She fed something weird to me!" Monokuma coughs.
"Was that from the king, witch?"
"Nothing my sister hasn't given me," The woman grunts, putting out the cigarette on Komaeda's claw. "We need to chat."
"When I come back," He smiles.
"How rare," The woman stares at him. "You're not running away."
"Stay here, dove," Komaeda presses his hands on your shoulder and steps back toward the door.
"No!" You yelp, clinging onto his back. "Please, Komaeda. We can run away and live somewhere else. Please... I'm begging you."
"I'm tired of running, dove," Komaeda turns to cradle your face in his palm, and you tear up. "I have someone I want to protect now."
You watch him head out the door.
As he does, the magic tries breaking in again, and you turn the knob of the door. The wastelands. They're your only hope now.
"Jataro, darling, please take the witch out." You reach for a pan to throw Monokuma on.
"I'm not allowed out of the house," The fire cracks.
"I'll take responsibility."
"EWWWWW, IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE-"
"Unless you want me to put you out." You glare at him.
"I'll go," Monokuma slides onto the pan without argument. You skip out the door, shielding him from the rain with your sleeve. The castle collapses; the wood and metal crack and tear, ripping the messy masterpiece to pieces. Monokuma winces at the sound, and you step back inside to find the mouthpiece. It would be much more efficient to run with something smaller.
"Monokuma..." You step back into the debris, placing the fire down and tearing away the wood from the stairs to give him something to burn. "Can you move?"
"I need something in exchange," The fire opens its mouth. "From your body."
"Uh..." You stare at yourself, and you grimace. "My hair. Is that alright?"
"Yep!" The fire reaches for your hair, and pulls off what it can. With the new fuel, the castle rumbles, the mouth attaching to legs and starting its voyage.
"That's incredible, Monokuma!" You gasp, staring through the flooring.
"Now imagine what I could do with your body or heart!" The fire roars, and you spot Komaeda in the distance.
"He's surrounded-"
The castle shakes, and the witch reaches for the fire.
"You have a heart... I can... give her the heart..."
You rush to stop her, but she grabs onto the fire, catching ablaze along with it. Her skin chars and burns, and you reach to pull the heart from her hands.
"Witch!"
"No!" She yells. "The heart is mine! Nee-san is looking for it!"
You finch back from how hard it burns, and you think quick. What can put the fire out... oh... oh no... water.
You grab the pail, throwing it at the witch without a second thought. The water drenches her, but it also puts Monokuma out. Your chest heaves, and the castle rumbles. You fall to the other side of it, and you yelp. Shit. Monokuma was doused too. Your heart drops to your stomach as your side of the room breaks from the other, and you fall back into a ravine, the wood and mental breaking with you.
Ah... did you...
You stare at your hands, mortified of what you had just done. You killed him. You killed Nagito Komaeda. Did you kill him? The love of your life? Ah. You've done it now. You killed him. How could you? You swore to protect him. But. But he didn't. He wasn't that. You couldn't watch a person burn from a fire in front of you. You were... saving... another person... by killing Komaeda. Was that worth it? There's no way that was. You shouldn't have... you should've just... ah
You sob into your hands, barely noticing the ring on your finger glow.
The dog you had stolen from the castle breaks free from the rubbish, and he barks, jumping on your lap.
"Huh?" You stare at him through your tears. "What?"
He nudges at your ring, and you inhale, chest puffing up. The ring. It's blue. It's glowing.
You glance at the place it's pointing at and stand up to break the metal chunk away from the rocks.
The door. It's the door. The ring is pointing toward the door. Your hand wraps around the knob apprehensively, chest tight with anxiety. Please be there. You're praying that you'll find him. Please.
Behind the door is darkness. It's muddy, uncertain with black. You reach your hand through it, unsure whether or not to go through. You're scared. What if you don't find him?
It's better to try.
You step through the door, starting to fall. The force brushed your neck uncomfortably, and you try to crane your neck to see if anything was around. It's not. It's dark. Dark with something you can only call nothing. The ring is still glowing on your finger, so you try and reach for it. In an instant, the black turns into the same flower field you were with Komaeda in.
In the distance is Komaeda himself. He's significantly younger, and he's holding Monokuma in his hand. You reach for him, screaming at the top of your lungs. "KOMAEDA, COME FIND ME IN THE FUTURE!"
You fall through the ground again, gasping as you sit up in the rubbish.
You stand up, praying that you'll find him. You dig through the rust and bolts, staring above you as someone flies down. Komaeda. He's back.
You open your arms to catch him, landing on the ground with a rough thud, cushioning his crash.
"Y/n!" Jataro yells from above.
"Darling!" You open your arms as he falls down to you. He cries in your arms, shaking and sobbing over the heart. The witch is still holding Monokuma, Komaeda's heart, in her hands. You let go of the boy, rushing over to Komaeda. Maybe he's breathing. Maybe. You don't know. You wouldn't know until you put his heart back.
"Witch... please?"
The witch hands you the heart gingerly, placing it into your hand gently.
"It's still mine."
"Of course," you smile, kneeling down to Komaeda's level. The debris scratches your knees and digs into your shoes, but you don't care. Your hand shakes as you brush his feathers to the side. You're trying your best not to cry. You can't. You won't until you put his heart in.
The glow that emits from his heart as you put it in causes you to hold your breath.
Please work...
It does.
Komaeda's eyes flutter open, his bird form disappearing and his skin returning. You press a hand to your eyes, crying into them. He's alive. Komaeda's alive. He's... alive.
You throw your arms around him as he sits up, knocking him back down. Your tears drench his shoulder, and Komaeda laughs breathily. You smack him gently at the sound of his laugh, but he only wraps his arms around you. His words comfort you, whispering about how he was alive and how you had done so well. He had found you.
"I found you," Komaeda peels himself from you, wiping your tears with a smile.
"You- hic, found me- hic," you sob.
"I found you," Komaeda laughs, running his hand down your head, humming gently against your skin.
Once your crying calms, Komaeda presses a kiss to your cheek, licking at the salty remains on your skin.
"Mng," You pull away from him.
"Dove," Komaeda hums. "Your curse is gone."
"Ah?" You stare at him. "That's... wonderful. Thank you."
Monokuma takes the form of a star, and the two of you turn to face him.
"Right," You stand up, reaching for the scarecrow. "Thank you, Turnip." You press a kiss to his cheek. "For helping us."
Komaeda wraps his arms around you with a pout on his face. Magic swirls around the scarecrow, the wooden limbs turning into human ones, and his height decreasing. "Ah," he turns to face you. "Thank you for breaking the curse. I'm Prince Naegi, thank you for saving me. The curse would break with a true love's kiss."
You feel Komaeda whine on your shoulder.
"I'll be heading back now," he bows. "To put an end to this war once and for all. I'll see you all again soon."
You watch the prince disappear before your eyes, and Komaeda turns you by the waist to face Monokuma.
"Will you be leaving now?" You reach for the star.
"... can I stay," You can't see it, but you can hear the pout in his voice.
"Yeah," You smile. "Of course you can."
Under the darkened clouds, bomber planes soar. The clouds don't rain or strike, but the darkness is worrying. Underneath the bomber, the grass plains have recovered from the war. Nature heals itself, the wildflowers spreading over the new soil. The colors of blue and pink set you at peace. Over the prairie, the fireflies glitter and glow, and you turn your head.
"Dove," Komaeda smiles, handing you a cup of tea. "What are you staring at?"
"The field," You press a kiss to his jaw and take the cup from him.
"Do you want to visit it?" He tilts his head.
"No," You glance down again. "Just admiring."
"Would you like to dance again?" Komaeda sets his cup on the floor, reaching to take yours.
"Don't let go, please?" You let him take the cup, and he smiles.
"That's a given, love," Komaeda hoists himself onto the railing, and he takes your hand, throwing you into the air.
Above the clouds, the stars and moon watch your every move. The glow from the moon coats both of you in white, hugging and wrapping her arms around you. While the moon does that, the stars gossip and collect stories to tell the sun. That's there's a love so pure that even the fallen stars decided to stay with them. That the dance was so beautiful that it drove the moon to tears.
Komaeda laughs with you under the night sky. He spins you in his arms, never once letting go of your hand. You're dazzling. He couldn't think of loving anyone but you. That was just how you were. The blessing that seemed to fall out from the heavens and promise him hope. That's just what you were. A dove promising him peace with himself in the future.
"Thinking of something?" You spin in his arms.
"Thinking of you," He smiles.
"Ah," you laugh breathily. "How sweet."
"Only for you," He pulls you into his arms, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "Only for you."
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