Flames of Winter

by Shine4

For Misaki, who was struck with illness, the only thing that could cheer her up was to be in her own imaginary world. But when she meets a person who actually resides from it, will she able to tell if he is real : or just a figment of her imagination? (Ou

Disclaimer: Angelic Layer characters do not belong to me as they belong respectively to Clamp, TV Tokyo, etc, with the exceptions of a few original characters mentioned in the story. As it would do you no good to paw off what's left of my money, it would be best to leave me alone. ^_^

Angelic Layer

Flames of Winter

Prologue

How heart:warming this feeling was, to witness this many people suspending their time just to attend what should have been a rather small funeral. Taking into account that she didn't even notice until the preaches were over, the first thing that happened when she did was for her to stand abruptly up and stare disbelievingly at them gathering behind with her jaw hung open : of course, they must have labeled her as a retard : before realizing the indecency of her actions. With a disconcerted grimace, she hastily settled back into her seat :

: but not before she frantically rubbed her eyes with her sleeve : she really ought to control this unnatural habit for tears where the situations were deemed unnecessary. She was someone who kept pretty much everything to herself, so it was a little mortifying to show her tears to everyone in public, even if it was basically acceptable to cry in a funeral. It was raining, anyway, so who could tell the difference?

Her eyes wandered towards the other side of the lawn, where it was specifically reserved for family and relatives. //You would think they're in front of a firing squad with the way they looked.// Tamayo certainly knew enough of the family history to realize the reasons behind their stiff exterior towards their daughter's funeral, and even though she honestly didn't blame them, she couldn't deny her resentment, particularly towards the woman. //It's unhealthy to even think about it.// Tamayo told herself. And that's when she caught the sight of the empty chair among the sea of relatives. A quick scrutiny around the area confirmed her suspicions entirely. //No way, of all the things she did, she can't just miss her sister's funeral!//

And once more, that familiar pang returned with full force after sudden unsolicited recollections wormed its way into Kizaki Tamayo's head : instantly drying her tears : as the girl shook her head slightly, as if it would drive those memories away. But it would always be hard to forget, especially about the person who had brightened up : if not a little : Tamayo's dreary days. Those little memories were returning rapidly now, and Tamayo had to regain her composure to prevent herself from falling face:down dizzily.

To prevent herself from losing it completely, she concentrated intensely on the headstone of the girl who had inevitably lost her life. A person who had so much to live for, only to lose it all the moment she was dealt with the wrong card. It was foolish to believe that it was caused by none other than fate, for she didn't believe in fate, and she never will. If she did, she would say that fate was spiteful of the purity the girl held, of the future she would have lived in, and that was why it was all taken from her.

She was also sure the others were grieving as well. Especially...

"Tamayo, are you all right?" a voice broke into her thoughts.

Startled, Tamayo glanced up and saw her mom staring worriedly at her. With a quick assured answer, Tamayo detached herself from troubled thoughts and focused instead on the words spoken in the front of the lawn; every word, she hung onto immensely. //I'll never forget you.//

Here Lies

Suzuhara Misaki

May She Rest In Peace Forever