Linky's Fics

The Hand That Will Not Harm

Ever since their talk in the labyrinth, Rinne had begun to reflect on Ichinose.

He was so relentless when it came to wanting to be her friend. To be everyone’s friend. To create a world where friendship and coexistence between humans and chemies was the norm.

At first she thought this notion was preposterous. Chemies were meant to remain sealed once returned to its respective card. That was the rule. Keeping up the natural order, to follow the rules, it was the duty of every alchemist.

Slowly, Rinne felt all of the walls she had built up begin to crumble underneath the weight of Ichinose.

She had been alone for so much of her life, ever since her father vanished. Isolation and following the rules was all she knew. All she wanted and would allow herself to know. Now this easy-going boy with a big voice and a bigger smile had barged on in, and shaken up everything in his general vicinity.

Her initial thought was that he was rather annoying. Rinne had purposefully ignored all of her classmates, even going so far as to not remember any of their names.

Was that foolish? Perhaps.

Though she didn’t want to get hurt again. That pain was too much.

When her father left, when he betrayed everything she was taught and stood for, it was as if her heart had been crushed into tiny pieces. She had put so much trust into him. Why wouldn’t she do that with her father?

Connection had led to pain.

Therefore, she opted to nip any buds of new connection whenever they’d sprout. Rinne wouldn’t allow it. Any hand that would extend itself to her, she’d refuse instantly.

Until now.

When Ichinose spoke to her in that labyrinth, something had shifted during that whole conversation. Inside her, inside him, and in the very air that surrounded the two of them.

Nobody was as dead-set on being her friend like him. Or so consistent in showing her kindness. Even with having been so cold, he still would showcase his signature warmth. It felt as if it grew even stronger and stronger after every attempt to keep him away.

A warmth that would never fade. And perhaps, a friendship that would never fade alongside it.

Could she allow herself to trust that he would continue to show kindness to her, if she truly allowed him into his life? What if he left her too? Then what? Could she handle such pain yet again?

Rinne already knew the answer to that: Her heart wouldn’t be able to take it.

Despite the fear, there was a part inside of Rinne that wanted to reach back. And accept his invitation of friendship. To allow herself to finally experience what she had secretly longed to have for a long, long while. Maybe it was finally time for the walls to crumble, and not rebuild them as each of the pieces hit the ground.

Deep inside, despite the anxieties and sadness from her past—Rinne felt she could trust Ichinose with being her friend.

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