A/N: I want to start off by saying a big THANK YOU for those who reviewed the last chapter: FrannyGazelle, Mi-chan story's, Hibisha

You guys are the best! Thank you so much!!

Hope you like this chapter.

ENJOY!

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A/N Author Notes

"…" Speaking

'…' Thoughts

Ages: 7

Flashback#3 Drowning

"Seems like I want to tell you ... But I don't want you to know."

Gazel's POV

A gentle breeze ruffled my short, soft, white-snow hair as I watched the ocean and studied the waves. I liked moments like this, when I was alone and had time to think. The tide was peaceful to watch and the waves lapping on the shore were relaxing to listen to, it made me want to fall asleep. That would most likely be the case if I didn't have so much on my mind.

It was a hot Sunday, that's why Hitomiko nee-chan and the others wanted to spend this day at the beach. I didn't like this idea, but I couldn't do anything because I was the only one who didn't want to come.

I looked around. The others were nowhere to be seen, probably playing around. Hitomiko nee-chan was buying some food and I was sitting here, alone.

The sun was setting and it was slowly sinking into the blue ocean, sending its rays of light that shone over the darkness of the surrounding clouds. The night was pushing its way through and it was getting a bit cold. The moon peeked out, waiting for its turn to take over the sky. With every moment that went by there was a change in the colors of the sky.

I slightly smiled when the golden color of the sun reminded me of someone… someone that I really liked. His golden-colored eyes were so calming and so warm, just like the sun. He was my sun.

"Hey, Fuusuke, what are you doing?"

I turned around to face the red-haired boy who stood a few feet away with a devilish smirk on his face. He looked really cute in his red swimsuit.

"What do you want, Haruya-kun?" I smiled.

"Come play with us. Are you going to set there till the end of the day?"

"I don't know, I'm tired."

"Come on, it'll be fun. Let's go, I want to push Hiroto into the water!"

"That's not very nice. Why do you always want to beat up Hiroto?" I tilted my head to the side.

"I don't know, because it's fun." He replied.

"But it is getting cold and Hiroto would be freezing in the icy water," I said. "And I don't think Hitomiko nee-chan will like that very much."

He sighed, "Okay, let's do something else. Do you want to swim?"

"N-no," I can't swim. As much as I wanted to learn how, I couldn't.

He smirked, "you don't want to swim, eh? Why not?"

"I don't like the water… I'm going to drown."

"It'll be fun!" He said, "One day you will have to learn how to swim anyway. Why not now?"

"No! We're only allowed to play when Hitomiko nee-chan is around! We're going to get in trouble!"

He sighed, his shoulders drooped, and his head lowered to the ground.

"Sorry…" he mumbled, beginning to walk away, "I won't beg you anymore."

Something about him looked sad, kind of hurt. It made me feel a twinge of guilt as I watched him walking away.

"Haruya-kun, wait!" I called and ran up beside him, splashing at the shore. The water felt cold and I didn't want to catch a cold.

He turned around with a smirk on his face and crossed his arms as if showing his superiority, which made me roll my eyes.

It wasn't long before he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me to the ground.

"It's cooold!" I shivered and bit my lip as the water soaked my hair, almost getting into my eyes.

"You're at the beach and you're still not happy?" He asked with a chortle.

"Haruya-kun, please get off."

I pushed him off and tried to run away, only to find that his hands were around my ankles and I fell to the ground once again.

"NO!" I cried, trying to get away.

"Come on!" In an instant he had my hand and was dragging me. I had only a few seconds to realize what he was doing. First my legs, then my waist, I was up to my chest in the freezing water.

My heart drop into my stomach, my eyes grew wide, and my heart was hammering hardly against my rib-cage. "Haruya-kun, I'm frightened! I wanna get out!"

"Don't be scared, Fuusuke."

"But-"

"I won't be your friend anymore," he warned.

"You are so mean."

"Keep going. Show me that you deserve to be my friend."

I took a deep breath and slowly began to walk in. Probably not one of my best ideas, but it worth a try. Maybe it will help me learn how to swim. Besides, I didn't want to lose him as a friend.

I started to look around to see if anyone was watching me, and the only person was Haruya-kun. If I drown –and probably would- will he be able to save me?

"Go Fuusuke!"

"Shut up," I mumbled and went in farther until the water reached just at my chin.

"See! It wasn't that hard!"

Then I took one more step but couldn't find the ground under my feet. It was like I walked off a three-foot cliff and never touched the ground. And before I knew it, my head was under water.

"Now all you have to do is move your arms and legs," he said, slowly swimming towards me.

"Haruya-kun!" I called, taking in a mouthful of water. I gasped for air while trying to keep my head above the water.

The water pushed down on me from all sides. The more I struggled the more disoriented I got. I pushed with my arms and legs but it was no use. All I knew was that I was pushing myself further down.

"Haruya-kun!" I shouted again.

He began to get worried, seeing me splashing around desperately. "Hold on a minute! I'm going to get Hitomiko-san!"

"No! Don't leave me alone here!" Tears were running down my already wet cheeks.

The salt-water burned my eyes when I opened them under the water. I had inhaled another mouthful of the disgusting water and fought with all my might to breathe through the intense coughing. I couldn't even see Haruya-kun now that he had disappeared. Panic began to take over my.

"HARUYA!" I shouted, frantically trying to keep my head above the water while looking around, searching for my friend.

My body was quickly becoming exhausted. I knew I had done what I shouldn't. I fought a battle I knew I couldn't win. The waves were too strong. My limbs felt heavy and my body was numb. I knew it was over. I knew there was no point in fighting it. I was going to die, all alone, in the ocean, my worst fear.

I felt my lungs screaming for air, crying out, as my legs and arms thrashed around wildly, hoping and praying to get free. I couldn't breathe, and it was horrifying. Couldn't I have ended in another way?! It didn't matter now... soon it would all end.

I felt my heartbeat slowing down increasingly and I felt the panic fade away into numbness. I tried to breathe in, but all I got was water. I tried so hard to breath, tried to gasp and scream, tried to cry out, but I couldn't! I didn't want to die, not now, not ever! I wanted to tell Haruya-kun my true feelings. I wanted to marry him and stay with him forever… but it was too late.

My vision became blurry, whether it was from tears, agony of death, or the painful water splashing into my eyes, it didn't matter. In my current case I had no time to worry about such small details.

I didn't know how it had happened. I had no clue until it was already too late! One minute I was safe and the next minute I was under water... DROWNING! And it was because of Haruya-kun… baka, baka Haruya.

Haruya…

…

…

…

"Fuusuke!"

I felt something around me, holding me tightly as a sudden warmth came over my body.

'Where am I? Heaven?'

"Fuusuke, please wake up! Please… don't die on me."

I felt drops of water dropping on my face. Tears? They weren't my own tears.

"I am sorry, Fuusuke. I never wanted to hurt you. I am sorry."

"Haruya-kun…" I mumbled before coughing and managing to slowly open my eyes. I was tiered and felt dizzy.

I looked up at Haruya-kun. His eyes looked red and puffy, like if he had cried.

"F-Fuusuke? You're awake!" Haruya-kun happily shouted, hugging me even closer.

His face was so close to mine and his breath felt hot, but I didn't mind. The feeling of him near to me was comforting. Not only did it make me feel safe, but there was another thing that I didn't know how to describe. I loved that feeling.

I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him, "Haruya-kun..."

"I'm sorry, Fuusuke. I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, I forgive you," I smiled weakly, "I'm the one who should be sorry."

"What? Why? It was my fault you almost died."

"Yeah, but I thought you ran away and left me… I was wrong," I looked into his eyes, "you were there next to me the whole time. You were looking for me, right?"

He nodded, "after I saw you drowning, I dove underwater and started looking for you. It took me a while to find you since it was dark and I couldn't see clearly." He smiled and hugged me tightly, "I was worried. I thought you were going to die."

We sat there for a while, hugging each other. All that mattered was that he was there with me... but something was still bugging me.

"Haruya-kun?"

"Yeah?"

"I… uh..." should I tell him? After what happened today, I became scared of death. I didn't want to die before telling him how much I loved him.

"What's wrong?"

I shook my head, "nothing."

I felt his hand stroking my hair, "Fuusuke... don't be scared. This won't happen again, I promise."

I smiled and nodded, "you are my hero. I know you will always protect me."

He chuckled, "sure, little princess. I will always protect you."

"Promise?"

He nodded, "promise."

I liked this closeness between us. He was so warm and I started getting sleepy. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes.

'I love you, Haruya-kun! I love you!'

A/N: Hope you liked it! Thanks for reading! Please leave a review if you have time!

And please tell me what do you think of this chapter. I have a stupid feeling telling me that this chapter wasn't good enough T.T