A/N: I've had the worse case of writer's block lately, and it doesn't help that this is my last week before school starts. I apologize to all my readers out there, especially Ari. I can't say sorry enough to you. I'm a horrible person, and I hope you can forgive me for my inactivity on here. I promise you that I'll whip up something for that collab of ours soon.
She's cold—she's always cold, even in pillow soft blankets covering her from head to toe. She's always cold and it's empty in her head without Konohana Sakuya's soft cawing, her insistent clawing at her metal cage (let me out; I hate it here).
She's dreaming of high ceiling fans and summer days spent indoors, sharing a topsicle with Chie, talking about the future like they didn't have a care in the world. Where nothing mattered except those precious moments that she never wanted to end.
She used to ride behind Chie on her blue scooter, with the wind blowing through their hair and a genuine smile on her face (take it faster, until I can't see this town). The warm breeze feels nice on her skin and there's a little shop in Okina that sells crepes in paper funnels. They're a bit expensive, but she doesn't mind, because Chie likes them and they're a small luxury she can afford.
The scooter collects dust in her parent's garage, hardly driven anymore.
She admits to her one day that she's scared (my sweet prince, please come take me away; my future used to look so bright) and Chie nods and holds her until she's all cried out and her eyes are puffy and red and she's anything, but her usual perfection. Because Chie was the only one who understands. She's the only one she wants to talk to now.
She starts to laugh and Yukiko wants to ask what's funny (because nothing's funny anymore) and she tells her she looks good in red (it brings her back to better days), tucks some hair behind her ear.
The warmth spreads to her cheeks and she's pulling her up for a kiss—hard and slow (let me forget; I can't take it anymore). They're finally kissing and it should be wonderful, but all Yukiko wants to do is cry. Laughing was the same as crying. She can't tell the difference.
"So, what do you plan on doing after high school?" Chie asks, as candid as ever and Yukiko shrugs a shoulder.
She could do anything she wanted, couldn't she? Go to a design school... Or stay here, where all her friends and family are.
"I'd rather not think about that. Graduation is still a ways a way, after all." She replies finally and the conversation is thankfully dropped. Her mind is somewhere else and she catches herself dreaming more and more. What ifs and could bes and the happy ending she deserves.
It's so cold in her room, even with the heater on. And the screams outside keep her up at night.
She wonders where Chie is and wherever she is, if she's happy and healthy and safe(r than her).