[ He can breath again, a tremble of one yet he breathes nonetheless. Her opening her eyes alleviates his worries some. He knows that this pain would pass, but she'd willingly given up a manifestation of her soul for him. He let her hurt herself for his sake. Forget Ayato's ire if he were to ever find out. The one who'd be hardest on him was himself. He doesn't cry...yet it's when her words reach him again behind a strong-willed smile...
"I missed you so much, Cloud."
His fortitude's tested. His eyes visibly quiver as carefully hugs her against his shoulder. Cloud has to get a hold of himself... Breathing again, he wills any notion of crying away as the gravity of her further words rests deep in his heart. He hadn't done anything wrong, yet it's because he willingly stayed away so he could continue to work and accrue money that it only made the heart grow fonder. If he had any clearer of a mind, it'd be telling him to kiss her again. To breath life back into her after what she'd willingly put herself through. The oni walks up to them then, however, congratulating the couple upon successfully passing.
Then...they both passed? The whole thing about "marriage" doesn't register yet so much as the fact this was a trick. The importance of the Trial of Love was so that the bonded pair would simply participate altogether. To surrender, to break one's Soul Artifact and trust the other, it mattered not, only that their bond be tested. And judging by what it's done to the two? As Cloud cradles Ayaka against his shoulder, fingers threading into her hair whilst she nuzzles her head against him... It worked. It sure as hell worked.
Cloud's artifact remains intact, entrusted and laid to rest by the man's side as the onis presiding the trial offer their support now that the ritual was over. ]
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"I missed you so much, Cloud."
His fortitude's tested. His eyes visibly quiver as carefully hugs her against his shoulder. Cloud has to get a hold of himself... Breathing again, he wills any notion of crying away as the gravity of her further words rests deep in his heart. He hadn't done anything wrong, yet it's because he willingly stayed away so he could continue to work and accrue money that it only made the heart grow fonder. If he had any clearer of a mind, it'd be telling him to kiss her again. To breath life back into her after what she'd willingly put herself through. The oni walks up to them then, however, congratulating the couple upon successfully passing.
Then...they both passed? The whole thing about "marriage" doesn't register yet so much as the fact this was a trick. The importance of the Trial of Love was so that the bonded pair would simply participate altogether. To surrender, to break one's Soul Artifact and trust the other, it mattered not, only that their bond be tested. And judging by what it's done to the two? As Cloud cradles Ayaka against his shoulder, fingers threading into her hair whilst she nuzzles her head against him... It worked. It sure as hell worked.
Cloud's artifact remains intact, entrusted and laid to rest by the man's side as the onis presiding the trial offer their support now that the ritual was over. ]
I'm staying. I'm staying right here...