Cage Of Your Soul

      Her long braid is tossed back behind her shoulder, the wind lifting the edges of her blue shawl, already down to her teddy bear and Choo Choo train pants. Her gaze darts toward the blue emanating a pulsed glow, as if speaking to her living incarnation. Hanmun was stable after all that had happened, but before the Golden Color, the girls would have to work anew. Rumi sighed, dropping her tired eyes to her hands.       Her fingers were rubbing a blue, burnt rope with a beautifully woven pattern. Something that had managed to be partially preserved. Postcards lay on the edge of the balcony's square handrail. This stone in her chest doesn't leave her. It's viscous and disgusting. From herself. It ended well. Good for everyone, but...       That blow to her, and Jinu covering for her. He'd given his soul in his demonic body, impure but imbued with feeling. Rumi felt all his pain and loneliness through the matter, worth the blue light touching her. But at the same time, there was such a light, pure feeling resonating with his heart. It was... - Jinu…       Love.       A wet trail of tears rolls down her cheek. A ripple rolls across the demonic tattoos, making them burn against the skin. The eye takes on a bright yellow hue, replaying the very moment they last met. Before she could reciprocate, before she could let him know his feelings were mutual, he was gone. Vanished. Rumi realized it, letting his soul beneath the bowels of her being. All this victory over Gwi-Ma was only because of Jinu's pure confidence in Rumi's strength.       The flapping of birds' wings made her lift her head. Two weeks had passed since then, but whenever she spotted a flock of birds, she would look closely, hoping to see a three-eyed raven in a small hat. Sometimes she made a little mess in the room, listening. What if a cat-spirit would peek in, trying to pick up the vase of flowers again, and holding a spit-up envelope with a letter in its mouth, calling for a meeting? - Rumi. - I know, Mira. I know.       The frowning girl with brightly colored hair pinned against the doorway only covered her eyes, inhaling more air. - But I don't see you applying that knowledge. - ...       Mira came closer. Her friend's hands reached for the shawl, pulling it anew around her shoulders. Her eyes stared at the tattoos, then shifted to the sadness-filled eyes. - Rumi. We can't bring him back. Jinu is gone.        Rumi pressed her lips together, trying to hold back tears. When you hear it out loud, and from someone close to you, it's hard to hold back. Unconsciously, she pretended as if he was just stuck in the demon world and was fine, trying to give herself time, living in illusions. But no matter how hard she tried, reality was destroying her own Hanmun, built to protect her heart. - I don't want to be without him. I don't want to, Mira! I don't want to!       A warm embrace enveloped her shuddering body, a muffled cry and a hoarse exhalation washed over Mira's shoulder. It hurt to see Rumi like this, but it would hurt even more if Mira let her continue to carry this burden alone. - When I look at Hanmun, I unknowingly wait for him. When I see myself in the mirror, I feel like something is missing. My scars are screaming for Jinu! How am I supposed to live with that? - Let's calm down a bit and think, Rumi. Didn't Jinu give his soul so that you could see this?       Mira's hand passes through the air, pointing at the city from a bird's-eye view, while the other hand leads Rumi closer. Blue glow. Clean. Not a single pink smoke in all this time. - Did Jinu wanted you to belittle yourself because of your scars? I'm sure you'd give him the choice one more time. He'd do it again. If you really love him as much as he trusted you with all of himself, then don't you dare do something he would never approve of! - Mira.. - Wake up, Rumi. Zoey and I need you. Very much need.       Rumi said nothing more, and Mira turned and walked away, once again reminding her that they would always be there for each other and that there was nothing more to hide. The owner of the purple thunderstorm scars turned to Hanmun. - Jinu. Everyone tells me to forget you.       The wind blew through, playing with her loose bangs. - But why can't I? A hand covered in patterns touched the side where was the heart, the eyes squeezed shut. The answer came from two significant places. My head is bedlam, chaos hovering in an empty mind. The same thing on repeat every night. Her heart was cracking at the seams with pain, bringing the girl from practices and concerts to the door of her room on a tremendous effort, where the idol mask fell off her beautiful face. - Was it because I...fell in love with you?       Love. There's that Love again. One of the feelings the demon loved to play with the most, not letting the heart forget the beloved even for a moment. And for Rumi, it was her first and, it seemed to feelings, her last one.       Her leg slips over the rail, the bracelet tucked into her pants pocket. Rumi rushes off into the wind, letting the white noise that blends with city life fill her thoughts. Forget for a second, but Jinu had gotten in too deep. Right into Rumi's core. The roof. Rumi stopped, squatting down. That's where she met with him for the first time, wearing the same teddy bear and Choo Choo train print pants. A brief chuckle. She stood up and started walking across the roof, looking somewhere in the distance. The last time she and Jinu had walked in circles here, she had a sword in her hands. How angry she'd been then for those words of his, the one who'd paid attention to her pants out of all the baloney. And now she had brought them back again, one dear shared memory that had been tossed in the trashcan out of spite. - Jinu..       Rumi wanted to say his name endlessly. As if that way his disappearance from this world wouldn't be seen, if anyone would even remember him. The wind picked up once more. But this time it brought with it a sweetish odor. Not a pleasant one. It was acrid, as if someone had mixed incompatible chemical elements. And Rumi thought it was strange. Then the presence of someone behind him. And the light casting the girl's shadow on the roof. A rather familiar feeling that the girls had been struggling with since their debut - demons.       The bright light of the sword dazzles the silhouette behind. The tattoos glisten, sprouting longer. The air cuts through, emitting a sharp sound of quick movements. That demon in a black cloak with glowing eyes bounced back, on the other side of a square roof with an empty space in the middle. Rumi gripped her blade tighter, stepping closer. But the demon was driving her in circles.       Hanmun had long been stable, pure and unwavering during this peaceful time, which made Rumi worry all the time. The demon's absence was causing inconsistencies. Too perfect. Too safe. - You've chosen the most opportune time since you want to end your life. - Rumi also walked in circles without taking her eyes off his opponent.       There's no response to her words. And the demon just walks in circles without attacking. After a while, she realized that this stranger was not going to attack, even though he was holding a spear-like weapon. - Answer me, who are you? - Blade pointed towards the demon, he stopped, as did Rumi. - Are demons crazy to come here after what happened?       The demon hummed. The spear vaporized. He raised the palms of his hands overhead in a gesture of defeat. Rumi frowned. - First of all, let’s talk about your pants, shall we? - Huh?.. - Teddy bears and Choo Choo trains? Really?       The hand shuddered. The weapon fell out of her hand. The demon touched the brim of his hat and pulled it away from him, revealing his face. His other hand came palm up, clenching his fist he pulled it up and down twice.        Ji.. - Choo Ch-!       The trembling body pounced in his arms toward him before he could finish the phrase. A face jabbed into the guy's chest where the heart was, making his breathing hitch all the way down. Not expecting this, Jinu hugged her lightly by the shoulders in return. - I didn't expect a hug this time either. If I'd brought a mannequin, would you have hugged it?       Jinu chuckled briefly, but Rumi didn't want to move away from Jinu. The body shuddered once more, letting out a sob. The demon opened his eyes in surprise, pulling away from the girl. - Rumi? - You... You're alive! - Rumi covered her mouth with her hands, trying not to burst into tears. - You're back! Jinu!       Jinu thought that to Rumi, he was nothing more than a friend revealing his secret. But as time went on, a strange sensation had appeared in his chest, and his demonic body was magnetically pulling him towards her. At first he tried to distance himself, but on that fateful day it was worth it for Jinu to see her broken, accepting demonic essence, everything else became unimportant. There was no way he wanted to erase the memories of Rumi. Not even that moment where she looks up at him with tears in her eyes, trying to hold back because of the brightly glowing marks all over her body. - Jinu..       It because by erasing the memories of her, he wouldn't hear that name from the girl's lips again, dooming himself to suffer alone forever. He longed to hear her voice calling to him, but he considered it a selfish desire. Jinu froze a little, with a sad smile on his face. And abruptly pulled Rumi's wrist into his arms. - Call out again. By name.       But it wasn't enough for the demon. Not damn enough for Rumi. - Jinu.. - More... - Tears came into the demonic amber eyes. - Jinu... Don't go away again. - ...I'm with you, Rumi. Only with you. - Jinu clung tighter.       Rumi burst into tears on his shoulder, crying out Jinu's name. Each time it tugged at something in his chest, Jinu covered his eyes, telling her that it was okay, that he was here for her and Rumi didn't need to hold herself back. Who knows how long they would have to stand. Maybe another hour, maybe forever. The sharp loud sound of something crashing caught their attention. Both quickly pulled away, out of habit that celebrities shouldn't be seen together. A pair of glowing eyes traveled towards the blue cat spirit trying to reach for a sword falling from the roof. A paw dangled and constantly touched the hilt. The weapon fell, crashing down with a metallic crack on the concrete plane by the stairs. Two feline eyes watched intently, dreamily balancing on the edge of the stairs, spun around and stopped. A second of silence, no one broke it, but the blade lost its balance and rolled down the steps, making the sound of impact, distancing farther and farther away. A black three-eyed raven in a hat descended silently from the sky onto the head of his blue friend. The spirit slowly turned its gaze to Rumi and Jinu, looking on in slight surprise. - They hadn't been seen in a long time. - Rumi began suddenly, coming to her senses quickly and wiping away a trail of tears. - They've been with me the whole time. - Jinu coughed into his fist. - So...       Rumi stammered a little, looking into Jinu's eyes. He was staring at her, waiting for her words. She raised her hand mesmerized, trying to reach higher. Ginu's eyes stayed fixed on Rumi's face, her lips ajar as she looked at Jinu in her demonic form. Her palm touched the cheek, and his breathing was interrupted. His eyes looked at her now expectantly for something bigger, grander, sparkling with little fireworks in his pupils. So strange. He has no soul, no heart, but Jinu is here. He can feel it. And the voices in his head, not demonic but his own, that had been muffled by thoughts of her were quieted again, completely silenced by the sound of her voice. Rumi is truly an enchanting girl. - How are you alive? - Rumi struggled to get the lump out of her throat. - You gave up your soul, everything was sealed in Hanmun. - I was stuck in Hanmun's looking glass for a while. I don't know what's going on, but I know one thing.       Jinu's hand slowly lifted higher, laying it on top of her already native hand. His gaze didn't leave for a second, and a slight smile appeared on his lips, prompting another question from the girl. - It was you, Rumi. - Me?.. - You.       Rumi patted her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and another tear came down the wiped path. - But I.. It's my fault, Jinu. - What? No, it's not your fault, Rumi. - No, Jinu. - Rumi pulled her hand away, stepping back and grasping his shoulder guiltily. Her gaze ran from side to side, but finally froze beneath her feet, ashamed to look into eyes that Rumi would take forever to drown in. - You gave your soul for me, and I still haven't figured out how.. To be me without you. Jinu...       Jinu silently approached Rumi, but she continued to talk frantically. - I saved Hanmun because of your sacrifice. I've become a cage of your soul. If I was stronger, you wouldn't have to get hurt! - Rumi, look at me.       Thin fingers with sharp claws pulled the girl by the chin. Wet eyes stared straight into the other ones in front, and amber eyes glowed mesmerization. Jinu forgot all the words he wanted to say to her. To scold her for self-deprecation. But it wasn’t enough for Jinu. So damn not enough Rumi. - Jinu.. I’m so sor-       The man's palms drew the girl to his face, taking the kiss. Rumi's eyes widened in surprise, unable to move. Her ears and face flushed scarlet. Arms fiercely encircled around the demon's neck, and his own hand slid down to the girl's waist, pulling her even closer. Their scars resonated, pulsing with pleasure. Rumi responded with the same greed that she had for Jinu, forgetting where he began and where she herself began. Their lips not willingly pulled away from each other, both greedily gulping air but not moving away from each other. - Rumi.. My soul has long belonged to you. - Jinu, I- - You have not become the cage of my soul. On the contrary, you have given me freedom. At least let my human side be in you rather than in the hands of Gwi-Ma. I would sacrifice myself if it would let you know I care about you. Don't blame yourself for anything else. - Jinu's hands returned to Rumi's face, not letting her look away.       And Rumi was surprised at first. But she smiled back. Such words she had never heard before. And she won't hear from anyone else. Only from Jinu. - I love you, Jinu. - Rumi placed her palms on top of his.       Jinu blinked and froze. - Jinu?       In an instant, a crimson color crept over his face. - Jinu-u?       He didn't expect such a direct answer right off the bat. - Wait, in your ancient days nobody didn’t declare love like that? - Rumi laughed, grabbing her stomach and stepping aside. Jinu came out of his daze. - Uh.. Em.. No, back in the day…       But he didn't continue, by watching the laughing girl. The scars stopped emitting a demonic glow, and the girl's amber eyes became normal. - I love you too, Rumi.       Jinu folded their palms together. Rumi's heart skipped a beat. Looking into those amber eyes soothed anything that could only irritate.       It seemed the soul trapped in the cage belonged not to Jinu, but to Rumi. And the key to the cage was now in the right pocket of her ridiculous pants in the form of a blue bracelet, representing the beginning of their feelings.