Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All characters, terms, and affiliates of Noein: Mou Hitori no Kimi e are not mine, but belong to their respective owners, Hiroshi Onogi, Satelight, Manga Entertainment &c.
AN: Based on episode three with no real plot in this. Kind of a "what if" situation in that this is what I had imagined was going on in Karasu's mind.
Quench
For Nushi
His eyes were hazy with fatigue, but he would know that small form anywhere.
After all, Karasu had had many years to study that face from the other side of a glass.
Haruka.
It was still difficult to adjust to the fact that she moved in this timespace, but here she was, eyes huge and footsteps hesitant as she moved further into the dark warehouse. He watched her come to a stop a foot away from where the wedge of light spilling from the open door ended. Her head tilted forward, and he felt his breath hitch.
The illusion even imitated her mannerisms. How accurate.
How cruel.
But then she spoke—
"Ka-Karasu?"
—and something inside him tipped and loosened.
She...
Illusions never spoke first. At least, the ones he'd had of her never did. They had always been so fleeting, the unbelieving blink of his eyes dispelling their short existence.
So short. Just like her life.
Haruka raised her hand slightly. "Is it you who called me?"
For a wild moment, Karasu thought that maybe he had. His body was aching with the adjustment to his prolonged exposure to this timespace, and the discomfort of his empty stomach wasn't so much a painful gnawing now but a constant burn that weighed heavily on his mind. He found himself speaking and feeling foolish for encouraging this illusion of his, however real it seemed.
"Water," he breathed.
It was a far cry from, Don't. You're not real.
Don't make me—
"Hm?" He was thankful for her confusion. Best to address his physical needs before entertaining the thought that had whispered sibilantly through his mind at that moment.
"Water." He repeated. "Could you get me some water?"
Like a robot, Karasu repeated his request again and watched the petite girl search the depths of his shelter for his water. She found it to his left, or so he thought as he watched the upward quirk of her brows. Haruka disappeared momentarily from his line of sight, and within moments, the sound of running water echoed quietly.
Karasu hadn't noticed that he had closed his eyes until he opened them to find that Haruka was kneeling close to his side, small hands cupped and held before him.
"It's water," she said simply.
Simple... It was the water he wanted. She was giving it. With a look in her eyes that told him she thought it was all right.
He wasn't looking at her when he touched her.
He ignored the way his hand wrapped over her entire forearm.
And the startled sound she made when his mouth—lips—touched her fingertips.
He drank.
Most of the water made it into his mouth, the rest down his chin. He kept going, gulping and almost not breathing in between. Knowing that she took it all in, forgetful of the tap she had left running.
Stomach full, he dropped her hand and found that she still wasn't looking away.
Stop it.
"Um, do you want more?"
Stop it.
She shoved to her feet when he didn't respond. "Okay, I'll get some more."
He grabbed her wrist and their eyes met at her gasp.
And with the warmth of her held within his hand, it was really hard not to believe.
Stop it.
"Let's go together."
She's not—
He gripped her wrist tighter.
She is.
"Haruka..."