Chapter 1: It's not Because Of You

The Present

"Hikari, how could you do this to me?"Kei said in dismay. He looked at her with sad and painful expressions. But at the same time, he was happy inside. He was happy to see her. Hikari, I won't lose sight of you again. Kei promised himself.

"Well I, I didn't mean to?"Hikari forced the words out. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't even believe her eyes. The person she loved the most was now standing right in front of her. Tears rolled down her eyes. She felt relieved but a little sad. She was so confused that she couldn't think of any reasonable answer to say to him. How did he know where I am? What will I say to him? How could I tell the truth without making him blame himself? Without hurting again his now hurt feelings? Hikari asked herself.

"What do you mean you didn't mean to? After all those years?"Kei asked her. He was angry―angry at himself."Was it because of me" He single-mindedly asked. A dark aura was surrounding him. His eyes were covered by his bangs making it hard for Hikari to make sense of his expression.

"No, it's not because of you."She answered. "Don't blame yourself."She implored. She looked at him in his eyes and touched his face to show that she cared for him dearly. I shouldn't have left without telling him .She now regretted leaving him five years ago. It's my fault, not yours. Her bangs covered her eyes so as not to show the deep sadness in her eyes.

"Then why? If it isn't because of me, then whose fault is it? I want to know why, Hikari."Kei was at a complete loss that the only thing he wants to know is why Hikari left. For the past five years, he just blamed himself even though he didn't know what he had done wrong. Hikari…

"Gomen, Kei. I just. I don't. Gomen nasai."Was all that Hikari said. She couldn't tell the reason why. She was afraid. More tears rolled down her eyes. I'm sorry, Kei.

Kei didn't speak. He held her closely and wiped away her tears. He didn't want to see her crying. He couldn't even stand being away with her, even after all that she has done. Hikari, why? Kei looked at her but she didn't look back. She avoided the question that was asked through his eyes.

Hikari kept crying. She didn't know what to say. She remembered the times she was with Kei, the time she had with her family and friends, which she left behind. It came to her that what she did in the past didn't do any good. She now regretted the decision of leaving them.

Seeing Hikari in so much pain and sadness, Kei hugged her tight and discontinued asking for the time being. He knew that his perseverance to know the reason of why she left was making her sad. He didn't let go of her, he sensed that she needed him. "Hikari, I love you."Kei whispered to her ear. He wanted to assure her that even after all those years that they were separated, he still love her.

Hearing this, Hikari felt at ease. She wanted him to be by her side forever but she knew that Kei wanted reasons of why she left and by telling him would make him hate her. I love you too, Kei…

Five Years Ago

Kei was typing at his laptop until he looked at Hikari and noticed that she was tired again. She's been tired for a couple days and that made him worried. He asked for like a hundred times of what she was doing but she kept silent.

"Are you alright, Hikari?"Kei asked. "Please tell me what you're doing every time I'm not with you."He demanded. He looked at her with concerned eyes. Sometimes he thought of challenging her to know what she's up to but he knew that it would make her sad because he always win. He sighed. He held her hand and see if it was cold.

"I'm alright, don't worry. I'm just a little sleepy."She assured him. She smiled at him to show that she was alright. I have to hurry. I have to finish it… She kept repeating inside her head.

Kei stood up and carried Hikari, then back to his seat. He placed her on his lap and lay her head down on his shoulder. It's the least I could do. Kei thought. He's been worried sick for her that sometimes he thought that it was because of him that she's in the state of breakdown. Why won't you tell me what you're doing? Kei sighed.

Jun, Ryuu, Megumi looked at each other with the same question in head. Megumi, as usual, wrote on her sketch pad. "What are they doing? Is Hikari going to be alright?"

"Well, Hikari has been tired these days maybe that's the reason why Kei is letting her sleep on his shoulder" Ryuu answered while gently patting the koala in front of him wherein Jun and Megumi stared back at it with demon eyes making the koala flinch in fear.

"I'm worried about Hikari's condition" Jun said with concerned eyes. "Is she working?" He asked. Even though he isn't really that close to Hikari, he still cared for her. Hikari is like a big sister to him.

"I don't know but it looks like it. She won't tell Kei if she's working maybe…she is working." Ryuu presumed. "But if she is working, Kei should've known that by now, almost all of the establishments in the region are owned by the Takashima family." Ryuu added while looking at Hikari. He was worried about Hikari as well, but just like Kei he can't get an explanation out of her.

"I am sure everything will be fine." Megumi wrote. She smiled at Ryuu, the smile that make everyone calm, and then looked back at Hikari and Kei who were arguing.

"Takashima, what do you think you're doing" She whined. She already has a hint of what he's doing and she doesn't like the thought of it. I don't want to be a bother, Kei. She said through her eyes as she looks back at Kei.

Kei stared back at her with heartbreaking eyes. He understood what she said through her eyes and he didn't like it. Seconds passed and Kei turned to look the other way. As I thought, it's because of me…He thought. His eyes were covered by his bangs, hiding the poignant expression portrayed in his eyes. "I'm sorry." He finally said, still looking away.

"What are you sorry for?" She asked as she looked back at him. "Don't blame yourself." She implored as she laid a hand on his face. Having a glimpse of his poignant expression, she hugged him and decided to sleep on his shoulder. "If this will make you happy then…" She trailed off. She rested her head down on his shoulder and closed her eyes without further complaints.

"If you'll just tell me what you're doing then I won't blame myself" He said in a heartbreaking tone and eyes. "It hurts me when you keep your thoughts to yourself, it makes me feel that something is wrong and it also makes me blame myself." He said in a depressing tone of voice. "Don't you trust me?" He asked.

Hikari heard all the things that Kei said, but she didn't open her eyes nor say something. She felt bad for making him worry and for making him blame himself. As seconds pass she's slowly drifting into unconsciousness, but before she fall unconscious completely she felt an aura surrounds her, it wasn't an aura of anger instead it was a very sad aura and it made her uncomfortable. I love you…Were her last thoughts as she drifts to unconsciousness.