Broken Promise

The fight with the bandit's had taken the last of everything from her, as if this world had not taken enough from her already. She kneelt next to the one that had saved her she felt despair at what was now happening to him. He had been shot in the chest by one of the bandits, he had shoved her out of the way to take the bullet all to protect her.

"It's ok he" whizzed "Its ok your safe now." as he looked around to see Saeko finish off the last bandit.

She looked to sensei Shizuka screaming at her "Do something" as tears fall down her cheeks.

Miss Shizuka could only look on in horror realising there was nothing she can do. When he first went down she had tried to help, but after her initial assessment, she found she was powerless to help. all she could do was block the holes in his chest and back.

It was a sucking chest wound. The bullet had entered the chest, puncturing one of the lungs, then grazing an artery and out the other side. He would ether bleed to death or suffocate as his lungs collapsed. Unless he was taken to a hospital, but in this horrible new world there was no hospitals.

He was not disappointed that he was going to die. He was disappointed that he could not keep his promise.

He looked up at her as she placed his head on her lap. A place only hours ago he dreamed of being, but at that time felt like an imposable dream. It was a good place to go and meet your maker he thought.

Then with the last of his strength he spoke to her, gasping in-between strained sentences. "Saya…. I'm Sorry… I won't be able to keep that… promise I made your father." he smiled up at her. Reaching to caress her face, if it was to be his last moments on this earth, he wanted to take at least the memory of the touch of her cheek with him.

She smiled back at him and whispered back. "Baka why did you have to do this now"

Coughing he answered her as best he could. He knew what was happening to him, what is the point in hiding it. A broken heart of a dying man won't last long. "Because… I…I…Love you I always have."

She laughed a pleasant and nervously. "I know and I love you. I just wish I told you sooner."

Her laugh was music to his ears and her confession filled his failing heart.

Then with trepidation, he asked his new love "would you mind if I rest here a bit longer?"

Felling the dread of the loss that was soon to happen, she was nodding through her tears, pink hair fluttering in the breezes. She bent down kissing his forehead. "Yes... stay with me as long as you like Kohta."

His spirit lifted when she said his name, with none of the normal honorifics. Then it started to happen, He was feeling cold and day was becoming night. His strength started to fail him, as his arm that was caressing her cheek, slowly dropped to his side. Only for him to feel the warmth, of her hand in his, as she lifted it back to her cheek. "He struggled with his last breath, to say just one name "S…S…sayaaa" and with that name on his lips he left this world.

She could see the end was not far. His hand that held her cheek fell to his side, she snatched at his hand placing it back and holding it to her cheek, as if to ward of the reaper, denying him this soul.

He then softly spoke her name, as she felt his final breath. Saya then witnessed a sight that no person her age should. He became limp, the eyes that where locked on her became vacant, as the pupils opened slowly to the full, covering his hazel eyes in a vacant black. His body no longer moved, the soft pulse in the hand she held stopped. All signalling that his heart had failed, the heart that held a place for her, for so long that could only in death speak its love.

She pleaded, even though she knew it was pointless. Saya was intelligent enough to know he was gone. But she still whimpering out "Kohta Pleases don't go" as her own heart broke. knowing as much of the genius that she is, she cannot bring him back she cried out loud.

Her inner self was in pure turmoil, hating her at the way she had treated him, over the course of her survival. As she sobbed over her loss, she gently removed his glasses and closed his eyes.

After some time Takashi told her "we have to move on."

Looking back at Takashi and the others Say defiantly said "not until we bury him… I am going nowhere until then."

Not wanting to argue, Takashi looked around to a small park, with a lone Sakura tree that was still blossoming he pointed out to her. "There" all she could do was nod her approval. at the fitting last resting place for her now lost love.

The burial was quick and as the others lay him to his eternal rest, Saya inscribed on the Tree

Hirano Kohta

My only true love

You kept your promise