She used to be a top tennis athlete but the sickness consumed her. Now, she just looks so terribly weak and fragile. So fragile that even if a breeze will blow so gently, she'll crumble. Her now pale complexion exaggerates her eyes in the color of a starless night sky. She lay alone. As she always have. But this time waiting for it to end. Finally. She can rest. Eternally. The few minutes it is taking for the clock to strike three seem like an eternity.
A beautiful moonlit sky hovers above her open window. Her room is small which makes coldness and darkness constant company. It is easy to feel empty and lonely in their midst but she had found them to be her best friends. Pathetic. Coldness and darkness for friends. She doesn't have any energy left to wallow in self-pity.
She continues to drown in this welcomed silence but something pulls her back to reality. Visions of that boy. She remembers their time together. His smile. His warmth. Her happiness. Her beautiful and only treasure. She loved him more than anything. It is also precisely the reason why she never told him how she feels. It would hurt him and it would break her heart. She resigned to closing her eyes and sighing deeply.
"I'm going to miss you."
Her supposed slumber is interrupted by someone opening her door. It's him. Why now? She groaned. But before she even get to fully take-in his handsome presence, a coughing fit hit her. Blood spattered her pearl-white sheets. The soft moonlight hits her silky black hair. It seemed to glow like ocean waves at night. The moonlight covered the blood too. It looks like a morbidly beautiful crimson.
The man feels his heart fall into pieces. The sight of the only woman he loves is so beautiful yet so broken. He is one of the only two people who know what she is going through. He takes three long, swift strides and gathers the delicate lady in his arms.
"Ichigo…" He is falling apart but he will never show.
She looks up, and with her remaining strength she speaks.
"Kyou…ya… Why…are…you…here…?"
"I'm sorry. This is the only thing I can do for you." He embraces her tightly but gently.
"I…told…you...not…to…come…" The difficulty in speaking is becoming harder.
"I can't do that. You know I can't." He doesn't let go. Never will want to. He desperately holds on to the little life left lying in his arms.
"But…" Ichigo began to cry. "This is so painful. I don't want you to wear such a sad face Kyou." She puts her arms around him and sobs harder. She doesn't have much strength left.
Kyouya wipes her tears away. "It's alright. Don't speak anymore. I won't go anywhere Ichigo. I can't even if I want to. And I don't." He holds back the tears that have been threatening to fall since he came. He glances at the clock. Five minutes before three. His eyes turn glassy. Only God can help her now.
"Kyouya…I'm finally going to sleep now. Don't cry. I'll always be here." She places a hand on top of his chest and smiles. And Kyouya feels Ichigo slowly turn limp in his arms.
"I won't cry..." He kisses her so gently and so lovingly. "…for the one I do not love." A stream of tears flows down his cheeks and into Ichigo's now closed lids. He pressed his sobbing self against her.
Then the clock chimes three.
"Bravo! Bravo!" Renge claps continuously, feeling overwhelmed. The audience, all in tears after a long silence, applauds just as hard. Kyouya and Ichigo receive a standing ovation.