A/N: You guys are awesome! XD

I'm so glad so many of you guys love this. And I'd love to talk to you guys individually about your comments, which I will do at the bottom of all of these chapters from now on, so look out for that. I read all of your reviews, even if you are anonymous. And plus, I can't exactly PM anonymous reviewers can I?

So yeah. XD I just have to leave an A/N at the top of each chapter because without it, I feel like I'd be naked. XD

Anyway, this time for your reading pleasure, I recommend finding Yoko Shimomura's "Somnus". The Drammatica one. From Final Fantasy Versus. It set the tone for this one. And that is where the lyrics come from here.

This tragedy destroys, in front of them, every beloved thing.

II.) Flowers.

I didn't know what to think that day. Maybe it was because my tears didn't want to stop falling. Death was all around me and I couldn't stop shaking. Now? I felt like I couldn't even breathe. Everything wrong was happening to me and I couldn't... I couldn't breathe to make things right.

I sat next to my sister and my parents. They were all dressed in black—everyone inside of the church except for Kaori, of course. Kaori always said that she could do whatever she wanted and my parents let her because she was the star of the show. Lights flashed around her, even when she couldn't pay any respects to the dead. In my eyes, Kaori was almighty. Kaori was untouchable.

And almost in an attempt to slap everyone in the face, she wore the brightest, happiest dress in the room. Despite its happy cheer, it was still raunchy. Too raunchy to be wearing to a funerel. I wouldn't have the guts to wear something like that around, but Kaori was Kaori, and she was going to do anything she wanted. I just had to nod my head and clap for her. It was a yellow, bright yellow dress. She was so yellow right now that she stuck out amongst the crowd of hundreds inside the church. She wore a mini-dress with a plunging neckline that had a contrasting lace-up design on it. It had small silts on the side... She was showing too much of herself.

Kaori was strange. She said that yellow reminded her of light, and she insisted that she was more of a night person. She said that the morning and sunlight made her feel really sleepy—which was bad when she tried to play volleyball. She couldn't be sleepy during the game. She was the MVP of the varsity team. She couldn't afford to be sleepy.

"All you people bore me," Kaori exclaimed, brashly. She tapped her fingers on top of her knee as she looked at me. "Why is everyone inside of this place crying? Wah, wah, wah. Everyone in this place needs to grow up and understand the fact that people can't live forever. All of you all are hanging onto something that is already dead!" Sometimes I wondered if Kaori had an ounce of compassion inside of her, but I was sure she did because she was perfect.

She was so much better than me.

I was silent, I accepted, I believed.

And I kept crying, no matter what Kaori said. She was actually there when he died. My only friend. I—I never got the chance to tell him that I loved him. He was the only one who went to all of my games and he watched me dance. I didn't like to do sports and he was the only one who knew that I was on the dance team. Well, besides the people who were on the team with me and my instructor. He would drive me to my dance competitions because my parents were too busy watching Kaori's games... It wasn't like they cared about my dancing anyway...

My parents didn't have time to stop at my volleyball games—and if they didn't have time for that, they didn't have time to drive me around. He was wonderful and had an amazing smile. He was extremely funny, too. Because I had this long, purple hair, people didn't want to be seen with me. I didn't have many friends, but he was like one-hundreds friends built into one person. He told me that purple flowers symbolized purpose and pride. That I was more than what I thought I was.

I wasn't useless.

Of course I didn't believe him. If Kaori said I was useless and incapable of doing anything right... If my parents didn't pay enough attention to drive me around... If I liked to do dance instead of playing a rigorous sport like volleyball, and if I had this weird purple hair (even though I got that trait from my mom, and she's treated very normal and no one cares about her short, purple hair) I was less than useless.

Then he told me that I was like a flower. I didn't understand. Flowers were pretty. Flowers had meaning. Dirt wasn't a part of the flower; I was just the thing that flowers used to grow off of. To leach off of. There were flowers all over Aretha, and he did the strangest thing. We were walking to school and he picked these white, bulb-like flowers. They were small and a whole bunch of them grew on the same green stem.

"These are called Everlasting, Ruri! Because even if you pluck them, they still retain their shape and color. It could be hours since they've been plucked. When a flower gets pulled from the ground, it starts to wilt away, but not Everlasting. They call them "Strawflower" anyway, because of their straw-like blossoms."

"But Kei, why are you giving these flowers to me? I—I can't take care of them. I have so many things to do—I can't tend to these flowers so... Even if they can't die... I'll end up killing them anyway."

"Nonsense, Ruri. You're just like them and you haven't killed yourself yet."

"..."

"Now, don't look so sad. Here, you're everlasting, Ruri. And you're more beautiful than the flowers you hold."

"But I—"

"Isn't that your favorite thing to say? Just take the flowers, Ruri. Now come on, we're going to be late to school."

"..."

"Aren't you going to say anything? Why did you drop the flowers?"

"Because! Because I'm just not fit to hold such beautiful things!"

"Aww, don't cry now..."

"I can't stop crying. Everyone around me is so much better than I am! Even in this land... The land we walk on... There are flowers everywhere, but when will I bloom? Everyone has earned their colors and you know that everyone gets named after a flower. I don't think I can take the name of Everlasting just yet Kei. You know your family has to name you and—"

"Ruri, your name means 'flower', doesn't it?"

"But, but, no! It means 'lapis lazuli'. That's a jewel! The farthest thing from a flower!"

"I am your friend, and I'm in your family, Ruri. I love you, all right? Now if I say you're like Everlasting, than you are. If we find something else, then we'll name you after that. Just smile for me, okay?"

"Okay. My head itches a little, I'm sorry I freaked out a bit..."

"There, better now?"

"Yes, thank you Kei. You're a really nice friend!"

"That's what I'm looking for, Ruri! A nice, everlasting smile!"

It was time to get up to see the body now. What good was it seeing his body—Kei's body if I couldn't see and touch his soul? No matter how many times I told his body that I loved him, that I wanted to be more than friends, I couldn't. I chewed my lip as my row stood up. Everyone walked slowly towards him, his family crying louder than ever. I felt so sad. I felt so miserable. I wanted to make everyone happy like Kaori thought she was doing wearing her yellow dress.

My steps amplified throughout the church that was full of flowers. I felt my heart try to come out of my throat . It was beating so fast. I—I didn't think I could handle seeing him again. Not with his eyes closed. Not like that. Because then I'd know that he was dead—that he was just filled with sand. I had gotten lightheaded. I couldn't breathe again. I thought I was going to faint, but my sister was behind me. She'd catch me if I fell.

"Start walking like you've got some sense, Ruri! Dammit, why is everyone walking so slowly?! I just want to see if the rumor is true, that the bodies of the dead really do end up talking to you. Maybe your boy-toy can wish me luck in our next game!" Kaori looked up at the ceiling in bliss. She was smiling, and I couldn't believe it. My legs did not want to move for me. Kaori was actually pushing me up the aisle. I didn't want to do this anymore! I wanted to sit down, I wanted to breathe, I wanted to go back to my seat but I couldn't tell Kaori that! She'd be upset with me!

The pain of seeing him dead would have been too great for me.

I started to remember why he died. What had happened? It was an accident, and it was because of me! Everything was because of me. If Kaori ever lost a game, it was because of me.

I just have to get away. Nothing is going right for me anymore. I am so sick and tired of losing games. I can't go back to my family... I can't tell them that I had added another loss to my belt. It was my fault... My own team distracted me. They kept commenting on my hair, making me lose focus. I'm not going to go back home. As soon as I served the ball out of bounds and cost us a point... I can't bare to tell Kaori that I lost.

It's raining and I don't know where I'm going. All I know is that I have to keep going forward. There is mud everywhere and I can't control my footing on the ground. I kept sliding, and I fell into the ground, right in the mud. My hair is messy too. It can't get any worse than this... I decided to sit there and cry my heart out, but someone grabbed my arm. It was Kei. He was wet too, and he went to chase after me. … Why did he chase after me?

I do not need him...

I am useless. "Ruri, come on, you're going to get sick." he spoke, like he cared about me. And I knew Kei cared about me. I let out a sigh and I can't get any words out of my mouth. He hugs me close and I know I'm safe with him. Kaori can't pull him away from me and neither can my parents. I—I need him and he knew that. It is unlikely that I'd run into either of them anyway.

"Ssh," he spoke, running his fingers through my hair. He started walking towards the street and I follow every step he makes as he holds me close. It's the first time I've ever been hugged so close. "Don't say anything, Ruri. I'm going to take you home." He is going to take me home. Home. My salvation. My sanctuary. I really love Kei. He saves me from everything I do wrong. I feel happy in his arms. And then something tugs on my arm. I think it's him.

"Ha, I found you, Crybaby! You can't just leave in the middle of a game like that!" I'm petrified! … K-Kaori manages to find me, even though she wasn't at my game? She never comes to any of my games, so why was she here now? Kei held me closer and I look at the two in horror.

"Get off of her case," Kei speaks, gritting his teeth. "I think you're the reason why Ruri's having such a horrible time." Kaori gives him the evil-eye, her hand on her hip. She doesn't care about the rain messing up her hair. Normally she freaks about about that type of thing. I'm crying, but the rain hides my tears and makes them seem normal, like I am crying rain. I wish that I can hide myself like that. I extend my hand, begging Kei not to say anything rash.

"You brat!" Kaori hisses. "She's my sister and I can do whatever the hell I want to do with her. And if I say she gets her ass back in that game, then she's going to get her ass back in that game!" Her voice is loud and domineering, she means every word she says. She grabs my arm, tugging me away from beside him. I am powerless, but he isn't going to stand for that.

"She doesn't want to play, Kaori! That's unfair!" he shouts, stomping his foot on the ground. It's the angriest I've ever seen him. Kaori smirks and lets me go. I'm taken by surprise. She really let me go... Just like that? Smiling a toothy grin, Kaori pushes me. Right into the street traffic. I scream. My whole world spins around me. All at once, I can see stars and cars zooming around me. I see lights flickering, and then a heard someone scream my name. It's Kei, of course. My whole world blacks out and I find myself laying on the ground.

I hear wheels come to a screeching stop—and then I see Kei laying on the street... In a bloody mess.

"Aww! Did you just die, Kei?" Kaori cackles, walking towards me. My eyes water. My eyes widen. My eyes strain. All of my senses shut off. I collapse on my knees and bring my hands to my face. I'm unable to speak. He just saved my life. But he isn't dead right? Right?! Kaori walks towards me and pulls my up by my arm. I'm helpless... I can't say anything. The man driving the truck steps out of the vehicle and yells for us to come back—that we are the witnesses and he didn't hit Kei on purpose.

Kaori walks towards the school with a pep in her step and I hear sirens.

My vision blurs.

Everything I know dies.

My mind starts spinning as the scene disappears from my sight.

And upon realizing that my friend—my lover is dead out on the cold street—I scream out his name in one last attempt to bring him back and save me from the game.

"Hey, Ruri! Stop daydreaming and just put the damn flower on top of the body already so we can get this over with! I want to go home and practice! They won't let me get that scholarship to college if I don't win this next game!" I shook my head and glanced at Kei's cold body. I wanted to touch him, but I knew touching him wouldn't be allowed. My grip tightened on the Everlasting I had brought him.

And miraculously, I didn't cry! That was such an accomplishment for me. But I couldn't move. My breath was taken away from me at the sight of seeing his dead body again. Softly, I put the flowers on his body and nodded my head. I placed my hand on the right side of his chest—right on top of his heart.

And then I felt a push.

Kaori had pushed me into the casket.

"Kaori!!" My dad exclaimed. He stood up and Kaori turned around, grinning impishly.

"What, she was taking too long!" I tumbled all over the casket and over the decorations around it. The casket tipped over, spilling Kei's body out of it. Now, I was laying on top of his body, smashing the flowers that I had put on top of his body. I felt like I was suffocating him—but I couldn't feel a soul inside of him. I started sweating all over my body and I started crying again. Bawling and wailing. "Get up, Ruri! Sheesh, what a klutz you are!"

"I'm sorry!!!" I yelled out, trying to hide my tears. I got up quickly, and I was going to put everything back until I looked at his face.

His cold face.

And I yelled out in agony before fainting.

A/N: Woah. What... Look at how icey Kaori is!

Wow guys, I am wishing Kaori death here. Wouldn't you agree?

NinjaSheik: Thank you, I guess. There's nothing much to really thank, all you just said was a plain 'update soon'. That's kind of suckish. Can you pick out anything that you liked or disliked in the chapter?

007 (Because your new penname sucks! XD): Okay, now's not the time to talk about CCFA, you should really be focused on Ruri and her friends! Yeah, Ruri doesn't know the meaning of jealous, sorry. I'm glad you like this story so much!

XxXSharada-SharadaXxX: Yeah, Kaori is a bitch, isn't she? Talk to you when I update this story! :D

Lizzie's bankai: Yes, thank you! I do make the best OCs don't I? And you should make an account, because then you'll have a spiffy avatar.

Big Mac Attack: When I saw your name, I thought of George Bush. XD Hi lurker! You need to learn how to review more often!

xx-Addict-For-Dramatics-xx: Have I told you how much I love you, Addy? You're always there when I need ya, you little thing you! I blew you kisses of love! And yeah, I'll marry you. I've already married a couple of other people, anyway. XD;

-x.'Sombody's Nobody'. x-: Happy birthday to you too. You're about a month late. Terrible, Sadie.

A Rainbow Of Sunshine: XD Yeah, I like the Goo Goo Dolls. And thanks for saying that my summary was awesome. Because I totally thought it sucked.

I Admire your OC Control: Yeah. Like I said, I make the best characters, not to toot my own horn.

Breathe For Love Today: Thanks. This should be long enough for you. And sadly, there are a lot of people like Kaori. XD

Oh, and it's saying someone else reviewed too, but they're not letting me see you, but I know you did so yeah. XD;;; I'll get you next time! :D