The End of One Thing and the Begining of Another by KirigiriKyoko

Summary: Why does it take only a minute to say hello, but forever to say goodbye? Romance/Drama/Tragedy. TanakaxMurao

Disclaimer: I don't own Ao Haru Ride

- あ愛の鞭を亜城木の周り間 -

The hospital corridor was stuffy and the air had an undertone of bleach. The walls were a plain beige and had scrapes in places from the hundreds of carts that had bumped into them. The pictures on the walls were cheesy prints of uplifting scenes and above the double doors were large blue plastic signs displaying the names of the areas of the hospital that lie ahead. In a small room on the right hand side of the hall sat a young girl by the name of Shuuko Murao who stood by the bedside of a dying woman.

"Shuuko," a weak voice filled the silent room. "My time has come."

"Mother plea-" Murao whispered gently, but was cut off by a light squeeze of her hand.

"You've grown to be so beautiful, my precious daughter." A small smile graced the woman's face. Tears, not of sorrow, but of love rolled down her pale, hollowed out cheeks. "Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito; Yield not to misfortunes, but advance all the more boldly against them. You can survive this my child. I know you can. Be brave, hold your head up high. I love you my beautiful, beautiful little girl."

Tears were threatening to spill out of Murao's eyes. Her petite frame was shaking slightly as she stared down at her mothers ghostly white hand cradled in her own.

"Mother... Don't leave me," she whispered, the tears finally escaping. "Don't leave me here alone! I don't want to go on without you! Please... Mother."

"Just because you can't see me, doesn't mean I'm not there. I will always be looking your way, I'll be watching over you. For. Ever. I promise."

Murao watched as her mothers eyes drifted to a close, and felt as her mothers hand grew limp. She listened as the heart monitor flat lined, and she listened as the doctor announced;

"Time of death, 9:27"

- あ愛の鞭を亜城木の周り間 -

Murao returned to school as if nothing had happened. No one knew about her mothers death and she planned to keep it that way. She didn't need anyone to take pity on her.

"Ugh, I can't believe your mom didn't let you go out last night!" A loud, whiny voice could be heard echoing through out the almost deserted hallway.

"Oh my god I know right?! I hate her, I wish she would just like, die!"

Murao was about to turn around and head to class, but when she heard this her stomach dropped. Her breathing faltered. A sharp pang resonated in her chest.

"I hate her!"

"I wish she would die!"

Thegirls words echoed through mind and chilled her to the very core.

How- how could they say that? How could you wish for a loved one to be dead?

Tears began to cloud her vision. The thought of her mothers cold, limp hand in hers flashed in her mind. The sight of the life slowly draining from her body haunted her. She could almost smell the sick sent of death mixed with bleach that surrounded the hospital she had frequented. Murao felt sick, she felt dizzy, she needed to get away. So she did. Taking off in a blind dash to the roof she tried to banish the thoughts from her head. But It wasn't working and her tears kept flowing. She didn't notice the rapidly approaching body until it was to late. She ran straight into whoever was in the middle of the hallway. His papers went flying everywhere and she went shooting back a few feet.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry!" Murao said trying to make her voice sound less shaky. She hid her tear stained face by keeping her head down and picking up the folders as quickly as possible.

"I'm really sorry again, bye!" The black haired girl shoved the folders back into his hands abruptly and tried to dash away. His hand shot out and grabbed her arm before she could run.

"Murao? Hey, are you okay?" Her face paled. Of all people to run into, why did it have to be Tanaka sensei? She knew if he saw her face he would demand to know what's wrong. She just couldn't handle talking about it right now.

"H-hey Tanaka sensei, I- I'm fine."

Her voice was still uneven, it didn't provide for a strong argument.

"No, you're not. Look at me."

"I'm fine" Murao protested still not turning around. More and more tears were cascading down her cheeks.

"Look at me."

She let out a cross between a squeak and a groan. The black haired girl didn't have time to react before he spun her around to face him.

"Murao?" He said, his voice cracking slightly. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor not daring to look up into his eyes.

"What's wrong? Murao..."

It was to late to go back now, she couldn't play it off as nothing. She could try running but she knew it was a waste of effort. They had become rather close over the years. She had even grown to love him over time. She knew if she ran he would follow.

"Not here." Murao whispered quietly. She Needed fresh air. She need to get out of this building. Murao could still hear those two girls laughing, it hurt, it hurt her so bad.

"Of course"

Murao quickly made her way up the stairs, eager to reach the roof top. Eager to get away from the prying gazes of lingering students; and honestly eager to have some time to sit with Tanaka Sensei. She knew the chances of something happening were slim to none, but a girl could dream right? The breeze on the rooftop was comforting. Murao liked the way her hair brushed her face and whipped around her neck and shoulders. She almost forgot Tanaka had followed her up here, but the sudden hand on her shoulder brought her back to the reality of the situation.

"Why are you crying?" He asked gently,

She opened ger mouth to respond but closed it quickly after.

"I hate her!"

"Mother please, don't leave me!"

"I wish she would die!"

"I love you my beautiful, beautiful little girl"

"Time of death: 9:27"

Murao was so overwhelmed, tears were coming down like a waterfall. Her legs began to give out. She fell to her knees and hugged her arms to her chest.

"Time of death: 9:27"

"Time of death: 9:27"

"Time of death: 9:27"

Sobs wracked the ravenette's entire body. She couldn't contain it anymore. All of her withheld grief, anger and pain was let out all out once. It was like the floodgates meant to contain her overflowing emotions broke all at once.

Warm arms encircled the broken girls waist, she pressed her face and arms against his chest, tears creating a wet patch on his sweater. But She was to hysterical to care.

"Why?!" She screamed

"Why did she have to leave me?! She was all I ever had!" Murao was shaking violently, it was beginning to seriously worry Tanaka. He was so scared and confused. He didn't know how to react. He wanted to hold her and kiss her tears and pain away, but he knew he couldn't. All he could do was sit silently and try and soother the sobbing girl.

"Why did she have to go?" Mauro choked out between heart wrenching sobs.

"It wasn't her time yet! So why?! Why did she have to go..."

"Shhhhhhh it's okay" Tanaka cooed lightly into her ear as her rocked her back and fourth in an attempt to calm the hysterical girl.

"Why..." She whispered over and over. It broke his heart to see her like this. No one ever deserved to feel this much pain.

"I don't want to be alone.." She choked out. She was still crying, but the shaking and the pained screaming stopped. After a few minuets of sitting on silence she slipped out of his grasp and scooted over the the ledge where she swung her legs over the side and rested her head on the railing. Her hair floated around her face, moving with the breeze. It was enchanting to Tanaka, but he quickly brushed the thought off and moved to sit next to Murao.

"I'm sorry." She finally spoke out. Her voice raspy from crying for so long.

"For what?"

"For being a nuisance. you should go back inside now, you probably have something to do."

"No actually I'm off for the rest of the day."

"Oh.."

"Murao?"

"Yeah?"

"You will never be a nuisance to me"

A small smile accompanied by a slight blush graced Murao's face. A small pink tinge appeared on his face as well.

"Thank you." She said sincerely, moving her gaze from the sky line to tanaka.

He smiled "always."

They sat in a comfortable silence, for the rest of the day. Forgetting about school and everything else. It wasn't teacher and student anymore, It was just two friends that both wished they could be something more.

A loud bell ringing interrupted the comfortable silence. School was officially over for the day.

"We should go back down now, okay?" Tanaka said as he got up from his spot next to Murao.

"Okay." Murao murmured in agreement.

They both made there way down the stairs and to Murao's classroom where her bag was. She would no doubt be given detention by the teacher for skipping, but she was okay with the consequences. Murao was about to turn the corner but stopped when she saw the two girls from before.

"I hate her"

"I wish she would die"

"Are you okay?" Tanaka questioned from behind her.

"Uhh yeah" she said, voice unstable.

"Doesn't seem like it."

"I'm fine."

Murao turned around to make a point but she stopped when she saw Tanka making a face. Murao wasn't sure how to describe it, but it seamed to be a mix of disapproval, anger, worry. The black haired girl couldn't help but think he looked silly but undeniably adorable with that dumb expression on his face.

"Did something happen with those girls?"

"It's fine, Tanaka"

"Muraaaaao"

"Tanakaaaa"

Tanaka had a frown on his face while Murao looked rather smug. He didn't like that she wouldn't tell him what was the matter. He just wanted to help her, but she was making it increasingly difficult by shutting him out. Murao turned back around and slowly wandered her way to the classroom. He could tell she didn't want to go it because of the for sure detention she was gonna get. Tanaka sighed and ran up ahead of her and beat her the the classroom.

'She is so lucky I'm here right now' he though to himself as he pulled her teacher aside.

"Hello, Tanaka. How can I help you?"

"Hello, Sato. I'm here to ask that you don't give Murao detention for skipping class. Something extremely traumatic happened to her recently and she's having trouble handling everything."

"Oh my, of course I won't give her a detention. Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she just needs time. Well anyways, thank you for understanding."

"Oh of course."

With a smile Tanaka walked to her seat where her missed work and bag was placed. Grabbing both he left the room and handed them to Murao.

"Thank you, for everything. You really didn't have to do any of this." Murao said, clearly flustered and astounded by what Tanaka had just done for here. The teachers here were not easy to persuade.

"It's no problem, really. Anyways, I can give you a ride home if you would like?"

"That would be... Nice, thank you"

"Anytime."

It was the small things like these that made her fall in love with Tanaka in the first place. She felt like he was the only one who understood her. He was her first friend after all. Murao thought back to the day when she first met him. It was the time when she was called into the office to talk about her after high school plans. She remembers the little mole on his eyelid that he only showed to her and she remembers him explaining why he had to close both eyes because he couldn't wink.

"What'cha thinking about?" Tanaka inquired playfully.

"When I first met you." Murao said simply. She loved reminiscing about all the little quirky things he's done throughout the years she's known him; It pushed the memories of her mother into the back of her mind for the moment. She thought about all of the cat sweaters he owns and begun to smile lightly while suppressing a giggle. He could be such a dork sometimes; but, a lovable dork at that. Tanaka laughed lightly.

"I still can't believe you turned in a blank form."

"I still can't believe you showed me the mole on your eyelid."

They both fell into mutual laughter. Tanaka was beyond glad he was able to get her mind off of her mother. As someone who had lost his mother too, he knew how hard it it's to keep going. He silently applauded the girl for keeping it together for so long. When he got the call he immediately broke down.

"Speaking of which, have you ever shown anyone else your mole?"

Tanaka grinned at the question, remembering when she told him not to show anyone else as she left the office.

"As a matter of fact, I have not."

"Good." She said with a gentle smile on her face. The rest of the car ride was spent in a comfortable silence. The two both appreciated the presence of one another in silence. Tanaka loved the fact that it was never awkward with her.

"We are here." Tanaka said as he pulled into the vacant drive way.

"Thank you tanaka, goodbye."

"Goodbye Murao."

Tanaka waited in the drive way until he saw that she was safely inside. Sighing lightly he took off down the deserted street to get to his own house.

- あ愛の鞭を亜城木の周り間 -

Review! Tell me if you cried XD