Chapter Text
Her body felt so light, as if dancing along with a gentle wind, like a feather that could be lost with a simple blow.
Her hands flew upward while her back seemed to face downward as if she were falling but at the same time floating. What was happening? Where was she? Her mind had been completely blank up until now, making her wonder if she was dead.
The only thing she perceived was her own breath on her lips, which was warm. She had the urge to open her mouth, wanting to articulate something, to say a name. But what name? Her eyes felt so heavy as if she had opened them up after a long sleep.
"Ha-Haru…no."
Was that what she wanted to say? Yes, hearing it from her own voice, she knew that it was. She remembered the owner of that name; a young man with slightly narrow eyes that outlined aquamarine irises, a man who had a face that she considered pretty and could admit she found attractive. However, that was not the important thing. Where was he right now? They had recently walked together in the middle of a... Where was it again? She couldn't even remember why they had been walking together in the first place.
Had she really died? She thought so. Despite feeling so numb and cold, her body didn't even shiver. Her memory was fuzzy too. Inside her mind, she only saw Haruno and a couple who seemed to love her. Her parents, maybe?
Was she seeing her whole life flash before her eyes right before she moved on to the afterlife?
"Dad, Mom, Haruno…"
She uttered the names of her loved ones, or so she thought they were. They seemed to be the people who were most present within her thoughts.
Although she wished to hear a response from any of them, for some reason, she wanted to hear from Haruno first. She felt as if he was closeby, or maybe it was because he was the last person she had been with. When she was met with nothing but silence, she began to believe she was alone.
Just when she was resigning herself to the possibility that she was dead, someone suddenly grabbed ahold of her and her body stopped feeling weightless.
Whoever was carrying her emitted warmth and perhaps even a sense of affection, making her feel safe. They must be the one she had hoped to speak to.
Barely managing to keep her sleepy eyes open, she looked with some intrigue at the holder's face, which showed a moved expression. His eyes...
After mustering a little more strength, she called out to him.
"Haruno?"
Those irises were his. Before she could do anything else, however, her senses dulled again. This time, she felt as if she was dying for real.
Now that she thought about it, she slipped somewhere and fell, right? But it didn't hurt at all.
Soon, the darkness gradually ceased to obscure her vision. She thought she saw a light rise in front of her, as well as heard a voice from afar asking her to wake up. There was a softness beneath her body and a perfumed aroma that entered her nose, reminding her of roses. Trying to move, she opened her eyes little by little, as if waking up from a pleasant dream following a hard day.
Her blurred vision was dazzled by warm light, motivating her to stop sinking into drowsiness. When she turned her face, she saw her right hand resting on a velvety red cloth.
She did not remember being there before. It did not seem to be her bedroom or any place familiar, but strangely, she found the atmosphere to be quite cozy. It was the type of feeling she got when she was in her parent's house, her childhood home.
Wake up wake up wake up.
Soft but pronounced was the voice she had heard in her dream. Assuming she wasn't still dreaming at the moment. She blinked and scanned the room for its source, but there was no one else there.
Feeling more and more lost, she closed her eyes in the hopes that when she opened them again, she would find out she really was just dreaming after all. Unfortunately, everything felt so real and vivid that even the bedsheet felt soft against her palm. The wider awake she felt, the more muffled the disembodied voice became until the sound changed entirely and she heard faint instrumental music instead. It calmed her somehow, almost comforting her.
She was not scared, just disoriented.
Sitting up slowly, trying to get used to the light in the bedroom, she grabbed her forehead, expecting her head to hurt, but surprisingly, it didn't. She just couldn't get used to the golden illumination.
How long did she sleep? She had no idea, but she felt as if she had slept for several days in a row.
Sitting on the bed, she rubbed her eyes and then her face, which helped her to better grasp her surroundings. She was on a rather large bed, and next to her, perched on the blanket, rested some kind of sharp blade. A sword? The sight of the hilt resting on the pillow made it seem as if it was sleeping, glowing under the golden light.
The blade was almost forgotten when she looked up and took in the full view of her surroundings. She wondered again whether she was really awake or just dreaming. It was so beautiful; there was a large window covered by long curtains, a golden floor, ostentatious chandeliers, and a chair next to a small round table.
It was a bedroom befitting of a princess.
Wanting to explore, she placed her legs over the edge of the bed and touched the floor. Her feet were bare, but thankfully, the floor was not really cold. It surprised her how shiny and clean it was to the point that she could see her own reflection in it. The person that stared back at her had a simple appearance. That is, she was only wearing what looked like a white nightgown, and her hair was tied in two buns at the top, the rest falling loose at the back.
Her attention was diverted when she saw a pair of shoes right next to her feet; a very fancy pair of dark blue sandals with a golden finish. She picked them up and slipped them on with ease, hoping the owner wouldn't mind if she borrowed them. They fitted her comfortably, perfectly even. Her feet looked delicate and fine in the sandals. Even though they weren't hers, she liked the way the looked on her.
Not wanting to overthink, she stood up and, with difficulty, began to walk. Her body felt a little numb all over, but she figured she would get used to it soon. When she reached the only door in the bedroom, she touched the beautifully finished wood and brought her hand down on the golden doorknob. To her surprise, there was no resistance when she twisted it.
Opening the door, she was filled with trepidation as she peeked out. All she saw was a hallway with golden-framed pictures adorning the walls.
"Hello?" she called, creating an echo. "Hellooo?"
When she received nothing but silence, she revealed herself completely. Leaving the door open, she began to walk into the hallway.
With footsteps that resonated, her eyes became distracted while observing the pictures. They were paintings that showed green landscapes and pure waters such as lakes, rivers, and the sea, with calm waves touching some beautiful structures. Each one showed a different location and transmitted a strange nostalgia.
A smile overcame her. She did not try to touch them, afraid that they would fall apart if she did. She felt a familiarity as if she had breathed the air of each place.
As she continued down the hallway, she realized that she was reaching the end and it led to another much larger space. The floor inside seemed to shine thanks to some large windows framed by drapes.
"So beautiful!" she said in awe.
Before her was a gigantic hall, with large chandeliers hanging from the soaring ceiling over a dance floor. There was a piano far in the distance too. The hall, completely vacant, was so lustrous and elegant that everything seemed to sparkle.
As she admired all the grandeur, she noticed something she had missed at first—the music she heard after she woke up. It sounded louder now, and that was because it was coming from the direction of the piano. There seemed to be a person sitting there, playing it.
Realizing that she was not alone, she became a little nervous, unsure of what to do. Although they were far away from her, the piano player might have already noticed her presence.
She recalled calling out in the hallway just earlier. The piano's melody was so beautiful, she wouldn't blame the person if they had been too focused to hear her.
The best thing to do would be to approach and talk to them, right? They might even know how she got there. She wasn't normally apprehensive, but since she was disadvantaged by knowing nothing about her circumstance, it would be best to be cautious.
Clenching her fits at her sides, she took faster steps. The sound of her movement echoed throughout the room, though it was overshadowed by the music. The piano player seemed to have still not noticed her, though they would soon enough.
As she drew closer, the black cover of the piano continued to almost completely obscure the player, but she glimpsed a little of their clothing. It was black and seemed to be covered in some golden accessories, though she could not be sure.
She finally stood in front of the piano. The music was loud and clear, so she would have to also be loud in order to be heard.
"Hello!"
After saying that, she waited. Instead of hearing a reply, however, a couple of notes continued to ring out. She was completely ignored.
"Hello!" she practically shouted. "Can you help me?"
The music slowly stopped. Thinking she had gotten the piano player's attention, she waited for a reply, only to hear the music suddenly start playing again, ever graceful.
She stood there in disbelief with her hands on her hips, suddenly offended. Just when she was about ready to march right behind the piano and shake the player's shoulders to get their attention, the black cover lowered, revealing the face of the mysterious musician.
A young man stared back at her, seeming as surprised as she was by one another's appearance. She took a step back, stunned by the sight of his fair skin and wavy golden hair that shone in the light of the room.
Then, a big smile formed on his handsome face.
“You've finally woken!”
He stood up from the bench he was sitting on, his charming, adorned silhouette now in full view, and approached her.
"How long were you standing there?" he asked.
He took her hand in his, paying no mind to their closeness. For a second, it looked as if he was about to hug her, but he did not. She could see from his beautiful face that he was affected by her arrival. His aquamarine eyes had a spark that she thought she could fall love for, though he was still a stranger.
"For quite some time actually," she said. "I tried talking to you, but you wouldn't listen."
Her annoyance was only mild at worse, but he suddenly let go of her hand and knelt down before her, seeming to be very sorry.
"Forgive me, I was so immersed in the melody while waiting for you that I lost all touch with reality. It won't happen again."
She stepped back again, startled. What was he doing? She might have been offended, but it wasn't that big of a deal.
The young man stood up again and brought one of his white-gloved hands to his chest.
"Anyway, I'm so happy you're finally here," he said.
"Where am I?" she asked, unable to contain herself.
She gazed into his eyes, which she seemed to recognize from somewhere, before looking around, assimilating the unfamiliar setting a little more.
"I was in another place, with another person," she said, her voice cracking, "and suddenly, I woke up in that bedroom farther down. What's going on? And happened to the person I was with? Where is he?"
All she received from the stranger was a light caress on her cheek. He seemed unable to stop smiling at her.
"All those questions will be answered in time, I promise."
His words were slow and reassuring, but that only unsettled her and she felt the instinctive need to move away.
Taking her hand again, he began to pull her towards the back of the room.
"Be patient, okay?" he said. "That's all I ask of you."
She resisted a little, not allowing him to move her. He squeezed her hand tighter in response as if pleading with her.
"Trust me, my dear. There is a reason for all of this. The last thing I would do is hurt you. I would rather take that sword resting on your bed and slit my own throat before I do."
She was caught off guard by him once again. Somehow, she felt that he was telling the truth, even with that last statement.
"I hope that with what I have just told you," he said, "you can rest your curiosity and follow me until it's time for you to understand what's happening."
Although she still had doubts, she was convinced that she should follow him for now. She let herself be guided slowly by the princely man, more than anything eager to receive answers. With steps that echoed in every corner of the hall, they soon neared a huge, wide staircase.
"My name is Giorno. Giorno Giovanna." He took a more elegant tone, eyes turning to her. "And I have resided in this castle for a long time, waiting for you."
"Waiting for me?" she said, bemused. She suspected she would despair very soon, but she still wanted to hold firm to the belief that she was dreaming. "Who are you? And what am I to you exactly?"
"I'm a faithful friend and your caretaker, a part of your past."
When they reached the second floor, he led her down another hallway before continuing.
"And what you are to me is what I once was to you. I hope there is still some of that in you."
She wanted to continue her line of questioning, but she sensed that despite the patience the man showed her, he did not want to disturb the calmness, the same kind he was channeling to her.
"I don't want to sound rude, sir," she began.
He stopped in his tracks, turning his face towards her. Understanding this to mean that he was listening, she continued.
"I don't know you. I don't remember you at all, and…"
"Are you sure about that?"
Again, he paid no heed to their distance and she instinctively took a step back. He was so close, she could smell a flowery scent coming from him. It captivated her, making her nostalgic for a second. She wanted to decipher that feeling, so she allowed his nearness.
"If you would take a closer look at me," he said in a serious tone, "maybe I'll remind you of something or someone."
She did as he suggested. Feeling his warm breath on her face, she gazed at his lips and his golden hair that barely fit on his forehead, and became more certain than ever that she did not recognize him. But then, when her eyes met his, she saw something familiar in them.
Observing the change in her facial expression, he nodded.
"See, I told you that you knew me. Although, I don't blame you for not recognizing me immediately. It was a long time ago after all."
"Where do I know you from?" she asked.
That question seemed to bring out a slight blush in him, which strangely also provoked a similar reaction in her. But why?
"You slept for so long, it's very likely that you're very hungry," he said, obligingly changing the subject. "Would you like to eat something?"
She only gave a nod of her head, puzzled by his dodginess over answering her question.
Satisfied, he continued to guide her, clasping his gloved hand on her bare, delicate palm.
Following the path, the gentleman Giovanna guided her to a room very different from the dance hall but just as beautiful as the few other places she had already seen. The table in the center was enormous, seeming to be made of gold and silver.
The golden-haired man quickly separated from her and pulled out one of the blue velvet upholstered chairs.
"Please have a seat. It's been reserved just for you. You may not remember, but you really liked this place for its view."
She sat down without arguing. Looking out at the view behind the window, she became fascinated.
"It's beautiful," she said. "It's very similar to the landscape of one of the paintings that were in the hallway leading from the bedroom."
"It was painted precisely because it was one of your favorites."
Standing next to her, he pushed toward her a porcelain plate and several pieces of cutlery along with a pair of crystal goblets.
"It isn't much," he said, "but I hope you will enjoy this meal."
At his mention, she looked to the side and saw bright, colorful crockery on the table for the first time; served on them were fruits, what appeared to be a roast turkey, and several desserts.
"What? But how? These weren't here before."
She looked curiously at the food on the table. Smelling the appetizing aroma it gave off, her stomach growled.
"I don't think I can eat all this," she said.
"Don't worry, if you would, I'd like to share this meal with you. I didn't want to eat until you arrived here." He abruptly sat down next to her. "Hm? How come you haven't started eating?"
"Is this some kind of joke?" she said. "You don't look like you're starving. Just how long have you been waiting? You said I've slept for a long time."
Reaching over, she rested the back of her hand on his cheek and forehead. This drew a small laugh from him, and he took that same delicate hand and kissed it.
"Eating, for me, has not been necessary for a long time, but tasting food like this and with you is a stroke of fortune."
Grabbing the serving utensils, he served her first, then placed his own portion. When he saw her hesitation, he put down his own spoon.
"Go ahead," he said. "I won't taste anything until you do."
She was still shy, but she followed his example and took the smallest spoon for the plate containing a slice of cake. Breaking off a piece, she slowly brought it to her mouth. A pleasant sweetness soon exploded across her taste buds.
Her eyes widened at the delicious chocolate flavor. How soft and fluffy it was, making her cheeks rosy. She almost wanted to dance.
The gentleman Giorno Giovanna seemed unable to resist smiling again, pleased by such a natural reaction. Propping his elbow on the table and his chin on his fist, he silently gazed at her soft but genuine expression.
"It's delicious!" she exclaimed with delight. Shoveling another piece into her mouth, she felt like crying. It wasn't just delectable; it felt as if she had not tasted it in centuries. "I love it…"
"I knew you would. You always had a sweet tooth."
Following, he ate a piece of his own slice. It was as delicious as she said.
"Mm. It's good to eat again."
"You shouldn't have waited for me," she suddenly said.
That seemed to startle him, almost as if she had said something unforgivable.
"I mean, you don't have to stop enjoying these little things just for me." She had gradually stopped questioning everything, now reflecting and enjoying the moment she was living with him. "I don't want to imagine a gentleman like you suffering or keeping yourself from tasting something as delicious as this because of me."
Giorno, seeming to be happy at her words, took her face in both palms.
"You ask something of me that I could never have done, my dear. For me, these things just represent how blissful I am now that you’re here. My pain is not about whether I eat or not when forbidden to me was something more vital to my being."
He did not elaborate, not planning to share more details, and that only caused her some distress.
"Then, there is no need for me to eat either."
She stood up and offered her hand to him. Surprised but delighted, he accepted it. They looped their arms together.
"Jolyne," he said.
She turned toward him curiously.
"Yes, Giorno?" she replied in a gentler tone.
"Would you like to have a little dance like we used to do on the sly?"
She blinked, but then processing the proposal, a huge, bright smile appeared on her face.
"I'd love to!"
To Giorno's astonishment, she stood up on her tippy toes and placed her lips on his cheek, giving an affectionate kiss.
The pounding of their hearts was so loud that they almost missed when a melody began to play in the hall, the same one Giorno had been playing earlier.
The joyful couple, not stopping to wonder who was playing the piano, clasped one another's hand and left the dining room at a more hurried pace than when they arrived; there was only one thing on their minds. Neither of them noticed it, but as they jogged along, their clothes changed with every passing second. Giorno's black suit became a blue one adorned with golden floral accessories, while Jolyne's white nightgown transitioned into a long blue dress that trailed along the floor, her loose hair also braiding itself at the back. Still in the same blue and gold sandals, her steps were confident, as if she had constantly traversed the hallway over the course of an eternity.
And she never let go of Giorno, her ever faithful knight.
Together, they descended the wide stairs and stopped in the middle of the room, which seemed to glow on its own. After bowing to each other in a formal invitation for a dance, the couple finally joined together with huge smiles, eager to begin. Their bodies clung to one another as if they had already shared a deeper intimacy before.
Slowly, their steps began, rhythmic and graceful, and their gazes did not separate even to blink.
With this ritual, it seemed that the longing and nostalgia that once pervaded the place vanished, instead presenting a feeling that they did not stop to examine. The ambiance took on a different meaning and their hearts felt satisfaction just by touching and appreciating one another.
When Giorno lifted her by the waist, Jolyne put her faith in him and let herself almost fall backward, raising her arms. The two of them twirled gracefully together, making for a beautiful spectacle. Both perfectly complemented each other spiritually to the point that even their steps seemed to move together in harmony, as did their slender bodies that practically fitted together.
Subsequently, Giorno subtly drew her close again until she was pressed against him. Almost hanging from his neck, Jolyne embraced him and rested her cheek on his chest, closing her eyes.
"My dear Jolyne, would you like to hear a story?" he whispered into her ear.
She nodded.
"Please," she said, "I want to continue listening to you."
Whatever it was that he was going to tell her, she wanted to stay like this in his arms, which were so lovingly wrapped around her. Although they only danced lightly with minimal waltz steps, it was a very intimate moment for both of them.
"I'm sure you've heard it before in different voices or maybe in other places, but I'd like you to pay attention as if it were the first time and feel what I do, okay?"
"Whatever you ask of me, Giorno."
As if she were a sleepy little girl, she continued dancing along with him. He rested his cheek against her head, closing his eyes for a moment not only to gather the resolve to finally answer all her questions, but to pray that his beloved maiden would renew that feeling and the promises that she had sworn to him.
At long last, it was time.
"It was more than ten thousand years ago, when I was a child," he began softly in her ear, tightening his embrace.
"There was a little girl I knew. She was smaller than me and had a face so beautiful, flushed from crying, that I thought she was an angel. In my youthful mind, I thought she had hurt herself by falling from the sky."
Separating her slightly from his body, he took one of her hands to adjust their dancing position, as he wanted to see her expression.
"But she was no more than a sweet little princess who had lost her way while looking for her mother in the stables."
Jolyne, allowing herself to be guided, raised her head, attentive to his words that seemed to express tenderness for the little girl and his youthful self.
"And I, the general’s son, could not resist the urge to find out for myself what it was like to touch her wet cheeks. She, of course, rejected my touch, because I was only a stranger to her. Neither of us knew that this first moment in our lives would hold important meaning for us…"