Hello! Although I have lurked the Fragile Dreams archive for quite some time now, I have never really felt inspired to write anything. Today [Feb 24, 2013] I started drawing a doujinshi for it, and decided to write it as well. I know the prologue is quite short (It was a lot longer in my fanfiction binder!), it is definately required for the story to get its start! Please enjoy and do drop a review on your way out!

EDIT: I don't have a beta, and I don't have the time to proofread this stuff, honestly! ^^' If you spot any errors do point them out!

PS.. I am aware my writing style is quite bizarre, I tend to overdescribe things...

PPS.. I used the ~ to start and end a memory, if that makes any sense! I didn't want to confuse people with too much italics.

~Sumiare

Prologue -

NOSTALGIC

It was mid-afternoon, and the rays of sunlight were filtering through the cracked glass of the window beside us. Ren was crouched nearby to stroke the head of a purring tabby tomcat, a little smile on her porcelain face. Her silvery, starlight hair was pulled back out of her face with a small yellow rubber band she had picked up while they were wandering the abandoned halls of the station mall, looking for any other survivors of the first Glass Cage. Although Ren was skeptical, I had fervently insisted we search every nook and cranny for other living people.

It's been about a month since I saved Ren.

I paused, a pair of chopsticks hanging out of my mouth, an open lunchbox in front of me. It was steaming slightly still; I had heated it up over the campfire nearby.

I can't say I'm not happy, but…

Crap. My eyes were tearing up. Acting quickly, I rubbed out the drops budding in my tear ducts. I couldn't cry in front of the girl.

There are people I miss so much.

Personal Frame, or PF for short.

Sai.

Crow.

Crow…

Tears were streaming down my cheeks now, dripping wet spots onto the concrete. I quelled any noises that may be escaping me; Ren would realize something was up if she heard my girlish sniffles.

She'd tell me, "It's no use crying over ghosts and robots and android dolls." Her eyes, a light shade of red-violet stared harshly into my own. "They're not coming back. It's impossible." I, being the sensitive one, was lapsed into a stunned silence, tears still dripping stubbornly from my eyes. "Hey," she'd always continue. "At least you have me!" Ren would smile warmly at me, and I'd respond, "Yeah," with a smile of my own.

But the smile of mine was always forced, a fake. Because, honestly, I'd give anything…

~The ladder's metal rungs clanged beneath my shoes as I climbed back to the surface. At the base of the ladder stood a stick, pulled from my briefcase, pushed into the soft pile of dirt. A grave marker, for the precious Personal Frame who had guided me so expertly through the ravaged, collapsed ruins of the Train Station. Even so, the backpack-robot never found out my name.~

Anything at all…

~ "Bye, Seto, Ren. Take care of yourselves." Sai was smiling, pretty blue eyes shiny with unshed tears. Shin, who was beside her, was silent, staring holes into the ground through cracked glasses. The beanie atop Sai's head was slouching off of the side, making her appearance rather messy. She didn't care, though, she was happy just bidding farewell to her friends. "I'll miss you guys. It was fun."~

To bring them back…

~ "Please…" I was clinging to his chilly form, desperately trying to save him. "Crow…" I was crying, sobbing, really, but I didn't care. My dying friend- best friend- was my main concern. "Don't leave me, please." I had his cold face between my warm hands. In desperation I kissed him, something he had done to me back when we were enemies at the Amusement Park. Crow just smiled at me weakly, his eyes fading slightly.

"Hey, Seto, thanks. Y'know, for being my best friend…best friend….best friend…" he had trailed off, repeating those two words that slashed deep holes into my weak heart. And then, Crow the Android, pirate extraordinaire, had died, batteries exhausted to a low that ceased his function.

"He stopped working," Sai had commented as I sat there sobbing silently. "No," I whispered, feeling empty, heartbroken. "He died."~

Back to me.

Ren had noticed my muffled sniffles, and she sighed as she came over to comfort me as best she could.

Elsewhere….

Green eyes blinked open, and a voice hoarse with disuse whispered softly, "Seto's crying…"

PROLOGUE END