"Minako-san…"
A faint whisper through the night air stirred the sleeping girl. She opened one bleary eye; her usual red a soft pink.
"Oh, I'm sorry… please, go back to sleep…"
The voice was gentle, and comforting. Minako pressed her head back on the pillow, slipping back into her dreams.
The boy sitting on her bed smiled. He watched her breathing soundly, her mouth slightly open; he hummed a chuckle. She looked so cute when she did that.
Ryoji was a shadow… the living entity of death. Every time he watched Minako like this, he felt mounting pain in his heart. It was indeed getting worse. He had never really understood this pain until recently: he was sad; sad that he couldn't be like her.
He wanted to be human…to be real.
Being able to talk with, cry with, and laugh with this girl had made his heart yearn; it was such a strange, and miserable feeling.
He wanted Minako…
He wanted to be by her side, forever…
But he was a shadow… it was, how they say, forbidden love.
Watching her sleep like this… she looked completely innocent and peaceful, like an angel. It brought a smile to his face as he wondered what she might be dreaming about.
He surprised himself, as something cold suddenly touched his hand.
He hadn't noticed that tears were falling from his eyes. His mouth faltered; he trembled a little before tracing a finger through her fine auburn hair.
"Minako-san…" he repeated, "…I love you."