Guardian Angel

Chapter 3: The Day I Died

Misaki's POV

"Usagi-san, what do you want for dinner?" I called into the living room.

"Anything's fine."

"K'."

Hello there, my name is Takahashi Misaki. By some twist of fate, I'm currently living with the super famous novelist, Usami Akihiko. I'm paying my rent with chores. I've only been living here for an uneventful week, excuse day one. My landlord hasn't mentioned anything of my revelation. It doesn't bother me that he knows I'm his guardian angel; it's probably better if he doesn't believe me anyway.

Chopping up some carrots, I asked, "Have you finished your work yet?"

"Almost."

"You better finish it soon or Akaiwa will kill you," I warned.

"Yeah, yeah," he mumbled, grabbing his laptop. I looked over as he started typing. I could tell that he didn't want me here, but to me it was convenient being able to protect Usagi from so close.

Speaking of protecting, it's also my duty to guard his emotions. They were fine before my brother got married, or at least he seemed happy. Since then, however, it's difficult trying to keep them in check. I don't really regret hurting him more by forcing myself and those insensitive comments on him. I need to make him forget about Takahiro, and if the only way to do that is to get him to fall for me, then that's what I'll do.

Agh! Who am I kidding? I'm not gay! I've never even looked at a guy in a way that might, even in the slightest, be lustful. Well, not until recently, but that's different! Sure, I want to make Usagi, a man, fall for me, but it's for his sake not mine!

"Misaki, how's testing going at Mitsuhashi?"

"Good. Kamijou the Devil's class is hard though. He actually throws books at us! Can you believe that!" I said, unwilling conjuring up an image of the teacher in question and imaging little devil horns protruding from his scalp. I hope they burned.

"Oh. Sounds fun," Usagi said, not looking up from what he was doing. I had a feeling he wasn't listening or even interested.

I just shook my head and set dinner on the table. "Come eat." After a moment Usagi got up and came over. I watched as he stuck a little wienie with a chopstick and missed his mouth. Yeah, he was definitely out of it today. Well, come to think of it, he's been acting a little strange all week. Then again, I haven't known him for all that long, maybe this was his normal.

I sighed, "What's wrong?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm afraid alien invaders are coming to eat my brain," he murmured, his face suggesting that he was really serious.

My eyes narrowed. Yes. Something was definitely wrong. "Is this about my brother?"

He was about to protest, he decided to agree. For some reason I still thought he was lying, but I let it go.

After we ate, I cleaned up, then went into the living room and sat across from Usagi-san.

"Listen, I told you to forget about him."

He looked at me for the first time tonight. The anger in his eyes shouldn't have surprised me.

"He'll never return your feelings." I don't know why, but I was angry too. "Forget about him."

"I wish I could!"

"Takahiro is married," I hissed.

"What if this isn't about Takahiro?!"

Now I was bewildered and confised. I sighed—long and hard, calming myself—and leaned into the pink plush. "Then what?" I asked, controlling my temper.

The look on Usagi's face told me that he hadn't meant to say that. "It's nothing," he mumbled.

He's lying again... This time I didn't say anything, just sat there quietly and watched him carefully. Would I need to... do that again? I gulped.

There was a long, awkward silence. Finally, someone spoke. "So, just out of curiosity... what's all this about you being my guardian angel. Or something," he added hastily.

I measured his expression for a long moment, then began, "It's just like I said. I'm your designated guardian angel."

"Uh, yeah. Even if that were true, what does that mean?"

"It means that I have to protect you."

He deadpanned. "I got that much, but what about the 'designated' part. Is there some sort of organization for this kind of thing?"

"Sorta."

"So guardian angels are just assigned? Uh, so to speak?"

It took me a moment to answer, "Well... yes and no. I'm not really sure."

"How did you come to be mine? If you really are one, that is."

I had to force myself from laughing out at his indecisive behavior. I closed my eyes lightly as I recalled, "After my parents died, I spent most of my time in the hospital—out of carelessness, depression, or sickness. For the next few years I stared at those monotonous white walls. Takahiro visited often. Every time I saw him it reminded me of my parents and the burden I was placing on him. I tried to recover, for his sake." I paused, unsure about the next part. I began slowly, "It was eight years ago, I was ten and I came down with a bad case of pneumonia in both lungs. My brother was there all the time now. He told me that he was taking vacation time to come be with me, but I knew he had quit."

My voice got softer and macabre, "He quit because of me... I was such a bother..." I stifled the wetness in my eyes. It surprised me how these memories never failed to shake me up. I drew in a long breath to steady myself; the next part was not quite as painful. "One day in early February, my condition worsened. And I died."—There's no other word for it, because that's what it was. I died.—"There was a light, but it was by no means bright, at least not to eyes that were already dead."

No... No, I can't be dead. Takahiro. I can't do this to him. No!

"There was a man. I told him I couldn't be dead, that I couldn't do this to Takahiro."

The man in white robes stared at me intently for a moment. His eyes, the color of his eyes, were undescribable. I could get lost in their depths. He was young-looking, but the endless wisdom that sparkled in his eyes contradicted his age. And his voice. Where did it come from? I didn't know, but I heard it.

"He saw how much I cared for my brother, how much I didn't want to hurt him. He told me he'd send me back on one condition."

"From today onward, you will be a guardian angel, chosen for your pure of heart. Someone who truly needs you will appear, and you will know what to do."

"I was to be a guardian angel."

This chapter was fun to write after I got over a few bumps.

I'm going to V.T. Honor Band this weekend, so wish me luck!

Review and tell me what you think so far! =D