DISCLAIMER: I do not own Angel Beats! (but that would be great)

A/N: The first part of the prologue is basically a re-hash of the last five minutes of episode 13. It serves as the starting point of my story.

Prologue: Is this it?

Otonashi POV

"Hey, care to go outside? I'd like...I'd like to enjoy the breeze." I asked Kanade, trying to come up with any I reason I could think of to forestall departing from her.

"Hmm...Uhum" she replied with a nod of her head.

We walked outside to the steps overlooking the field where NPCs were busy with PE or some other activity.

Thoughts were racing through my head. A few moments ago, I had just said goodbye to some of the best friends I had ever made. Now I had to say goodbye to her! I was so sure that this was the best thing to do. To move on, to be at peace. But now the thought of letting her go is killing me! I have to think of something...

"Say Kanade, let me ask you...would you like to stay here?" I asked out of desperation. You idiot, why would anyone want to stay here? I asked myself.

"Huh?" She replied, obviously confused as to why I would ask something like that.

Think of a good response you dumbass. If you're going to ask someone something of this magnitude, you have to have a really good reason. But why do I want to stay so bad? Why can't I bear the thought of letting her go? Could it be...? But it seems like I barely know her. Is that what this feeling is? It seems like its always been there since the moment I met her. I love her. I love Kanade!

"The thought just hit me for some reason. I mean there's going to be more people like Yuri and HInata that come here because they're unhappy with their lives. And many other kids just like them."

"Right." She said still seeming confused. Sometimes I find her very difficult to read. She doesn't show emotion very well, and while I often find it very cute, it can also be a little frustrating.

"They might try...they might try to stay here. Like Yuri and the others did. They might suffer fighting against their lives for all eternity."

"Right."

"But then, if we stayed, we could teach them how great life was all over again. That life is really worth living." Please, please stay with me. "We could help them graduate. Its possible I might have even come here to fulfill that purpose." Only with you. I can't do this alone. Oh god I hope this makes sense to you. I asked her again, "Would you please stay with me? As long as you're with me I won't get lonely, even in this world."

As I ask I notice she starts to fidget and runs her hand through her hair. Not a good sign. I continue with my desperate attempt nonetheless. "I might have said this before, but I want to be with you. I want to stay with your forever. " She starts walking towards me, and then I say it. "Because...because I love you so much." There it is, its all on the line now. She walks slightly past me, but I muster up the courage and say it again more confidently. "Kanade, I love you." I wrap my arms around her and wait for a response.

If feels like forever, and she doesn't say anything! Oh god, I just went and threw my heart on the line, and she doesn't even love me back... "Kanade why don't you say something?" Please.

"I don't want to" she responds sadly.

"Why not?" I ask.

"If I tell you how I honestly feel, I think I will vanish."

All I can say in return is "but why?"

"I came here to tell you thank you for all that you've done for me."

Thank you? She thanks me? Oh no... "What do you mean Kanade?' I ask as I feel despair begin to set it.

"My life was extended because of the beautiful kind heart you gave me. Even now your heart is beating here." She says as she removes her hands from me and places them on her chest. "I feel it beating right here in my chest. My only regret is I was unable to thank the person who gave me my youth. I wanted to express my gratitude, that was the lingering feeling that made me wander into this world."

"It can't be...I mean, how did you know it was me?" I ask as tears start to form in my eyes.

"I noticed when I stabbed you the first time. That you...that you didn't have a heart"

I gasp as I come to the realization of what she's saying. No heart? Does that mean I'm really dead? No chance to ever live again?

"But...but that alone doesn't!" I blurt out in sorrow.

"You regained all of your memories when you fell asleep on top of my chest. You were listening to the rhythm of your own heart beat."

"No way..." How can this be possible? How is it that the only person I've ever loved has my heart? Or is that what subconsciously drew me to her in the first place? It doesn't matter! It doesn't change how I feel.

"Yuzuru, please...tell me...repeat what you just said." She says as she faces me and looks up. Its at this moment I know that she loves me too. She may not say it, but I can just tell.

"No. I won't." I stammer as I start to back away. If I say it again, she'll disappear. I can't see her disappear. Please don't make me. "Kanade, you'll disappear!" I say hoping it will dissuade her, even though I know that it won't.

"Yuzuru, please!" She asks again, practically begging.

"I can't...I can't do it!" I say with one last desperate attempt.

She looks at me with tears forming in her eyes and her voice faltering and says my name one more time.

I feel as if the heart I no longer possess is shattering into a million pieces. How can I deny her happiness? A chance to live again. How can I be so selfish? Even if it is without me...

"Please let me believe in everything you believed in. Let me believe that life is worth living."

"Yuzuru..."

"Kanade..."

"I love you, lets stay together forever." I choke the words out as we wrap our arms around each other.

"Yes, thank you Yuzuru."

"Lets stay together forever and ever, ok?" I say again tearfully.

"Ok, thank you." She says again as I squeeze her tighter.

Barely able to fight back the tears and completely breaking down I tell her I love her for the last time.

"Right, thank you so much." She sweetly responds.

"Kanade..." I say, unable to hold back the tears any longer as they stream down my face.

"Thank you for loving me."

"Please don't pass on Kanade...Kanade!"

"Truly and deeply, thank you for giving my life to me." The last words she says as she disappears from my arms.

"Kanade!" I screamed as I collapse feeling completely broken and alone. How can I go on without you?


Time seemed to stand still. I have no idea how long I laid there shaking and sobbing. It could have been minutes or even hours, it felt the same to me: like an eternity. An eternity of misery and loneliness. Was this it? Was I destined be stay here alone and miserable forever?

"NO!" I suddenly stood and screamed aloud at the top of my lungs. I started cursing god, the devil, buddha, anyone who had created this forsaken place. Then I started cursing all my 'friends' who had left me here. How could they do this to me? Yuri, HInata, Naoi, Kanade... At the thought of her I just started crying again.

After a while I finally stop after getting a hopeful idea. I know how this can all end. I just have to find peace and move on like everyone else did. I mean, what else is there left do? I helped everyone I care about move on. I helped my best bud find the person he was meant to be with. I found love! I even literally gave the girl that I love my heart. It's the ultimate sacrfice.

"I'm ready!" I say aloud. I sit down, cross my legs, and close my eyes. I take a deep breath and concentrate. I start thinking about the fulfilling life I've had. I think of all the great friends I've made and how I was so happy to help everyone move on. And then I think of Kanade, wonderful Kanade. I was so fortunate to have know her. I can just feel oblivion about to take me.

And...nothing. Absolutely nothing! I'm still stranded here all alone. "DAMMIT!" I yell as loud as I can and kick the stairway wall as hard as I can.

*crunch*

"AHHH, my foot!, oh my god!"

I'm pretty sure I broke it, I remember thinking as I passed out.


"Awww man. Never do that again." I say to myself as I start to regain consciousness.

Its nighttime outside. All the NPCs that were in the field earlier have gone in. The lights from the school shine brightly. Fortunately, my foot has healed. "What happened?"

Oh yeah. Everyone left. I'm all alone. Why am I still here? Its just not fair! Why can't I move on like everyone else? I don't want be here. All these thoughts start to bombard me once I'm awake again. Maybe, just maybe not everyone left. Maybe there's someone still here, I think hopefully.

I finally decide to move on from these god-forsaken steps and see if I'm actually alone. I make my way inside the school and start shouting "Hello! Is anyone else still here? Did everyone leave?" Nothing. The NPCs must already be asleep. Figures. God, they suck. Bunch of lifeless zombies.

I spend the next hour or so wandering around the school, repeating myself. Still nothing. I make my way to the principal's office to check it out next. I twist the knob, and that's when I remember too late...

*smack*

I go flying through a window and look at the fast-approaching concrete. "SHIIITTTT!"


I wake up on the hard concrete, the sun shining on my face. I look around at all the dried blood splattered everywhere. Well I guess I must be alone, any decent 'normal' person would have at least stopped. All the idiots have left, but their stupid traps are still here. I'll have to get rid of those. An image of the afterlife battlefront members flashes through my mind and I start to get upset again.

Then as if I hear an angel in my head: "Please let me believe in everything you believed in. Let me believe that life is worth living. Truly and deeply, thank you for giving my life to me."

I almost break down again replaying that scene in my mind. Why did you leave me Kanade? How is life worth living, if I'm alone and miserable?

And then I think to myself, why can't you just be happy for her? Because of you, she has a second chance at life. She's so grateful and you're acting so selfish. You'll always be a part of her, and she'll never forget that. And maybe one day you will see her again. I just know it!

"Ok its settled then." I say to myself as I stand up from the concrete. Maybe it is my destiny to help others that come here to move on. I can't say it'll be easy. And I'm sure it won't always be great, but I CAN do this.

Thank you Kanade. For believing in me and saving me too. I will do my best, I think to myself as I head off toward the entrance to the main school building. I go inside and make my way toward the main office.

I approach the NPC school clerk and say "Excuse me miss. My name is Yuzuru Otonashi. I'd like an application for student council president, I understand there's an opening."


A/N: Well that's the prologue, hope somebody liked it. This is the beginning to an epic story I've been working on for a while now. I love this anime and I've been kinda obsessing over it for a long time. The main story will feature all the characters that were in the anime. It will mainly focus on everyone's life after the afterlife. Otonashi is the man character, but there will be several other points of view. The plot will feature love, hate, and tons of drama. It will also take place over the course of a long time. It is rated M for a reason. Just FYI there will be a lot plot twists and I don't plan on giving any of them away. So if anyone asks, I'll prbly just say "gotta wait and see". Take care, Chapter 1 will be out soon. This is my first fanfic btw. Please R&R.

Xairen