I do not own anything. This story will probably be short. I know it's been long since I promised to write this story, but as the lame excuse goes "better late than never". Okay, first, I know I shouldn't just drop the bomb and add a bunch of drama in the first chapter, but because of my selfish desire for a shorter story, this will be it.

CAW... CAW! CAW... CAW!

My flaring amber eyes fluttered open at the crow's screeches. Throughout my entire body, the dusk's chilly wind permeated each and every nerve, depriving me of any warmth I could have possibly gained from my thin jacket. My knees scraped against the cement under me. My fingertips, numb with the cold, stroked the tombstone in front of me. Underneath my touch, I could feel the engravings of his name. I parted my lips for a sound to come out, but my dry throat prevented it from escaping. After my dry tongue ran itself over my chapped lips, my lungs heaved in a long deep breath.

"Y-Yoru, I can't lie to myself anymore," My hoarse voice came out shaky and uncertain. "I love I-Ikuto. I can only repress it from him; but I-I can't keep lying to myself."

Whenever my mind considered the thought of my loving, or even liking, Ikuto, it would flee back to the simple moments—the moments when it was just me and my two favorite people in the entire world. In our youth, we would lay in the green, prickly grass under the warming rays of the sun. On my first day to preschool, the two boys would grab hold of my hand and reassure me. When I had my first heartbreak, they cared for me and spent the entire day with me; and I was sure that they punched him into the following week…

Just a few days ago, death snatched my boyfriend from me… Well, in truth, he would have been my ex-boyfriend, if he had lived and not died in that motorcycle accident. My boyfriend with dark purple tresses was the ideal boyfriend of whom every girl dreamed. I was that ungrateful, traitorous girlfriend who fell in love with his brother. To be even more honest, I never liked him the way he did for me. I cherished the relationship between us and wanted to keep the peace between us… One of the biggest regrets I had for our relationship was ever starting it.

"I'm sorry, Yoru. You never got the life you deserved. You never even got the girl you deserved." I cried louder and steadier, leaning my forehead on the engraving.

"You're wrong. You were all he ever talked about… all he ever wanted." The deep, enigmatic voice rang through the cemetery behind me. Of course, Ikuto would be here in my darkest moments. My pink hair was probably in a mess, and this black dress, hugging every curve I didn't have, definitely told him I'd slept here all night long after the funeral. I didn't bother turn around, because I knew I wouldn't be able to hold myself back from throwing myself in his arms.

"I want to be alone, Ik…" I trailed off without finishing his name. His name falling from my traitorous lips would be pure cruelty in front of Yoru's grave. To strengthen my resolution of keeping my eyes away from Ikuto, I pressed my fingers on the freshly sharpened engraving that read 'Tsukiyomi Yoru'.

"You shouldn't be alone. You'll break down… I know how much you loved Yoru, but you should learn to let go." He spoke with a slightly wavering pace. Here he came to comfort me, and he was still coping with Yoru's de… departure. That's just like Ikuto… I took a sudden deep take of breath, feeling guilt—guilty that I just fawned over him when I was in front of Yoru.

"You don't know a thing." With the harshest voice I could manage, I spat the words out, trying to emphasize the distance between us. Trying to get him away from me before I fell apart.

"Amu—" The man of whom I always dreamed spoke my name, which made the situation all the more difficult.

"Hinamori. I told you, 'It's Hinamori, now.'" I selfishly demanded. Ikuto never did anything but be the person he was.

"Amu," He spoke with a fiercer yet more caring tone, obviously making a point. "We were friends long before Yoru and you went out. What makes the us before different from the us now?" His question was deeper than what he was expecting, and I wasn't ready to pour my heart out. Despite knowing that, I couldn't quell the words that were pouring out of me.

"There's a big difference from the past and the present. We've both changed… No, it's not that we've both changed. It's—"

"Iku-koi, I decided to surprise you and visit your brother with you." I heard a new, feminine voice speak. I snapped my head and turned my body to their direction. A cute girl about Ikuto's age was latched onto his arm. Her hair with beautiful locks of green lay on his shoulder, and her sky-bright eyes with an innocent and curious intent peeked over at me. My eyes migrated from her to him, seeing him dressed in casual attire. I should've remembered the girlfriend. The sight of her with him resuscitated me back to reality. I was no longer drowning in my sorrows and despairs. I knew what I had to do—smile and act normal. I walk up to the couple with probably the most superficial smile I had worn in all my life, and stopped right in front of the two.

"Hello, I'm Hinamori Amu, ex-girlfriend of the deceased." I introduced myself, keeping my hands to myself. "If we met in any other circumstances, it would have probably been nice seeing you. Well, I'll be on my way." I quickly say before she can say anything in reply. I walk past Ikuto but not before I tell him, "Ikuto, I know you don't know much about women; and so I'll tell you this. Next time, don't bring your girlfriend when you're trying to comfort me." As I walk away, I don't even turn to look at his puzzled face that viewed me as his brother's girlfriend. I didn't want to see how good they looked together, and for the most part, I didn't want to see how well they connected.

Since the forest leading to the park was just down the hill from the cemetery, I decided to take a walk through the park to get my rushing heart low. The whole trek down the hill killed my ankles that already had to deal with my heels. I decided to give my sore feet a rest from the oppression and slipped my heels off. Right at the first step into the forest, I could feel the rocks and twigs littered on the patches of grass and dirt, yet despite the pain, I endured it. The pain I felt there was just the right distraction for me. I danced and skipped around the grove of trees, twirling in the parade of falling leaves.

The pain of coping with Yoru's departure, watching Ikuto with another, and seeing my horrible nature just blended into a strange form of hysteria. In that hysteria, I laughed at how ridiculous it all was. The breeze joined into my dance and whirled around me in sympathy. Never looking where I skipped or twirled, I tripped over one of the roots of a tree and fell face first into the pile of leaves. I turned to let the sunshine, peeking from the leaves and branches, greet and bathe me.

"You always did like frolicking all over this forest during the fall." This voice with his usual casual manner commented. I didn't need to even think, when my body sat up and my darted to the source. I stared at the flicker of shimmer that resembled Yoru. The azure eyed boy sat next to me in a leisure manner. He just looked at me with those calm, placid eyes and wore a smile. Each time the wind blew at him, it seemed to break him apart; and when the wind settled, it showed his image clear as day.

"This was the place I would have brought you when you were going to break up with me." His statement left me speechless… well, more than his presence already had.

"Y-Yoru? Why?" My apparent surprise brought bitter sweetness to his face. His hand scratched the back of his head… a clear sign that he was nervous. His eyes left mine momentarily to catch his thoughts… Hesitance.

"You could think about it as if I'm here to teach you to let go." He grinned his Cheshire grin.

Thanks for reading~!