Disclaimer: I do not own Sunrise or any of its creations.

Notes: Okay, for some of you that did not catch it, Yukino died on her way to see Shizuru at the talk show interview. The same talk show interview Shizuru begged her to see.

Three Wishes or You

Chapter 4

Nimara

"Do you think you can fall back asleep?"

"No."

"Ah..." She looked over at me. "I think I know a wish you could make...but you have to trust me."

"A wish?"

"I need you to wish for closure." Her words were cold and blunt to my ears.

"Closure..." The word scraped at my soul. Closure was the solution that I longed for...or did I?

"Yes, but there has to be a desire in yourself for it."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked critically at me. Behind her gaze there was a whole other meaning to her statement. We stared into each other's eyes and the both of us knew the true problem at hand. Did I have that desire? Did I want to let go? Even though I searched for the answer in Natsuki's eyes, I knew I would not find it there. Yukino's memory was one that caused me pain but it always felt so familiar. It was my pain. I could feel Yukino through it. I was not alone when I was grieving...or at least I could convince myself of that. If I let go of her, who would be there for me?

"I fear being alone."

The whisper in my voice had left and my words hung heavy in the room. It was an admission. I had to face the fear that held me back for so long. I had to hear it and so did she. At the same time shame poured through my body, relief did as well. I wanted to move forward. I knew I had to.

Her eyes were gentle as she smiled softly at me. "You're not alone. I'll still be here, Shizuru."

I trusted her. I trusted my Genie that I had known for only such a short time. I could not find deceit in her eyes or her voice.

She reached out and pulled down the covers, letting the night chill embrace my body.

"You've always been able to do this. You just needed someone to believe you could."

"Natsuki," I breathed. My body ached and shivered with anxiety and chilly room. She held out her hand motioning for me to grab onto it. I was ready.

"I wish for closure." I grabbed her hand and the pieces of my shattered world began to fall into place. Her soft and warm fingers laced in between mine and my world went black before I could show her my shocked expression.

Though darkness filled my senses, I was still very much awake and conscious. Her hand was still firmly grasped in mine and I could hear the jingle of her earrings. Strange and unearthly sensations swept over my body but they soon left leaving me once again in a settling darkness. I wondered what my wish would give me.

The darkness slowly lifted and I was in a room. A softly lit room. The smell of the room was overpowering. It was the smell of a cold and sterile Hell. Memories came back to me but I soon realized that I did not need to remember anything. I was right there. My breath hitched as I saw myself sitting in that hard wood chair, waiting.

Fear gripped at me as I tried to grasp where I was and what was going on. I backed up slowly, away from my younger self who was cradled against a well-dressed man crying. There was no one else in the dim waiting room. The sight of the pale and clean linoleum floor made my stomach lurch.

"Natsuki...!" I felt a rush of panic race through my body knowing exactly what was going to happen next. My eyes darted towards the double doors on the other side of the waiting room that was cleared of people. I backed up again, my hands clutched to the buttons on my nightgown. A yelp broke from my throat as my back came in contact with something firm and warm. Secure arms wrapped around my body and someone whispered soothing sounds into my ear. Only in her steady arms did I realize how badly I was shaking.

She pulled me close to her and I let her autumn scent drown out that of the waiting room. I felt my face flush as I tried to turn to look at her but she held me in place.

"Why?" Why did she bring me here? What was going on? Why did my heart hurt so much? Why?

"I don't know," she whispered from behind me. "I don't know...why certain things happen. You can only control so much and I can only control so much. This is not what I intended to happen."

There was regret and sincerity in her voice but it did nothing to ease the anxiety in me. My younger self's sobs filled the room as the man who held her tried to soothe her. It was Reito, an old friend and my one and only agent back when I had a career. Even his eyes were filled with tears.

"Reito..." she cried. I cried. "Why her?"

My younger self was barely understandable behind the hiccups and broken crying. I knew the next words that would come out of my mouth. I knew everything so perfectly already. This moment was burned into my mind.

"I should have never...she doesn't like crowds. What if something happens...-"

Something did happen. The double doors opened. Reito let go of me and I could feel Natsuki hold me tighter against her. I could feel her heartbeat pound against my back but I was too focused on the man in blue scrubs waiting at the entrance.

There was complete silence except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. Tears poured down my cheeks but they stopped with my younger self. I could see myself stand and try and make out the deadpan expression the physician's sweating face. Eye contact was made and my other's tears rejoined with my own. The doctor swallowed hard and dropped his hands to his side.

"Fujino-sama. I am sorry...-" I felt my knees go weak as I heard myself scream and collapse into Reito's arms. The doctor paused for a few moments before continuing softly, "Kikukawa Yukino has passed away. We have done all we could. If you wish...Fujino-sama, you may see her in a few minutes."

The old doctor left quietly.

"I'm so sorry, Shizuru..." Apology after apology was whispered into my ear but just like the doctor's apology, it meant very little. Nothing would ever bring her back.

I watched myself go into a heightened emotional state. I was crying and screaming so hard that Reito could do nothing but drop with me onto the linoleum floor. It was a mass of emotion that I would not feel again until I met Natsuki. I knew after that, I would dull and tarnish. The jingle of Natsuki's earrings sounded and slowly the details of the room began to fade until it was just a white room with no windows or doors. I heard a sigh of relief from my Genie and her hold on my waist loosen. At that moment, I finally registered that she was touching me. I could psychically feel her and it was comforting yet surprisingly unnerving. My heart felt so heavy but in her arms I felt a little lighter.

"I don't know what just happened," she muttered peevishly. "I just now regained control. Tch..."

"My apologies, Kuga Natsuki from Toba. I chose the opportunity to gain control of your magic for a few moments."

Oh God...

Her voice. I left Natsuki's arms and the both of us turned around to see her. From the corner of my eye I could see Natsuki give a firm nod and cross her arms. I stepped closer and closer to her, trying to take in everything. She did not look any different than how I remembered her except she was no longer sporting her glasses. Her short mused hair. Her slightly curvy petite figure and her deep hazel eyes. I had to remember to breathe.

"Hey, Shizuru." She smiled almost forlornly. I had killed her.

"Y-Yukino..." I licked my dry lips and swallowed. She was really there. I reached out my hand.

"Your Genie sure is special." The sadness faded from her smile and I turned behind me to no longer see Natsuki. I frowned and looked around then back at Yukino who giggled softly behind her hand.

"She's still around, Ru-chan. It just takes a lot for her to summon me and keep a psychical form."

"Y-you're...you're..." I stepped closer towards her, my hand still out in front of me.

"I'm dead." Dead. Of course. "I'm not happy with you, Shizuru." Her smiled turned into a frown, almost a glare and I felt a pang in my heart. She wouldn't be happy. I had killed her.

"I'm so sorry." I dropped my head and bowed at the waist. My breathing was constricted and my head floated. When I rose I saw her cheerful smile and was relieved that she had accepted my apology.

"Ru-chan." She closed the distance between us and I gasped when her cold hand came in contact with my cheek. Her fingers grazed over the wetness on my cheek bone and with the pad of her thumb she dried under my eye much like how Natsuki dried my tears back then. I saw many emotions play in her hazel eyes but I could not pin point which were which. She was still smiling when she began to speak again, "You've spent all this time crying, Shizuru. I haven't been able to rest well knowing you're like this. It's very displeasing."

She was displeased but not for the reason I had thought. I felt an overwhelming lightness come over me when she dropped her hand and grinned.

"You're so silly, Shizuru."

"I missed you," I breathed and grabbed her petite form close to me. Her arms wrapped about my body for a few moments before she pulled away. I wanted to object to such a short hug but she had already begun to speak.

"You know, I was happy to have you there in the end. You gave me so much in life." She grabbed my hand and held it comfortably in her own. "But that time has left us, agreed?"

I nodded slowly. She gave my hand a small squeeze. "I could not have lived more happily."

"Forgive me." I choked as my words tumbled from my mouth. I would have said it again had she not dropped my hand and crossed her arms over her chest and frowned.

"You're denser than Haruka sometimes! There is nothing to forgive, Shizuru. Nothing."

She huffed and narrowed her eyes. "I suggest you learn that before I get really mad at you for wasting your life away!"

There was a roughness to her language that I had rarely heard. It was amusing but also relieving. A ghost of a smile met my lips.

"We can't hurt forever," I whispered and her typical soft smile returned. For all the times I had heard her say this and even saying it myself, I was not able to remember it after her death.

"I have to go soon. I cannot stay long." A tinge of worry dashed across her soft features. That familiar heaviness returned and my chest constricted.

"Stop that," she admonished, probably after seeing my face contort in displeasure and anxiety. "I've always been near you but now it's really time to say goodbye. You have people that care for you and they are waiting for you Shizuru. Say goodbye to me."

She came close again and rubbed her cheek against mine and giggled lightly. "Bye, bye, Ru-chan."

I hugged her and let my tears fall, "Goodbye Yukino."

"You're ready," she whispered into my ear. "All you needed to do was say goodbye."

We held each other for a long moment before she pulled away and looked to her side, "Kuga-san, I'm ready to be released now."

I looked to where she was looking to see a blue mist form into the shape of my Genie. There was a tiredness reflected in Natsuki's eyes even though she held herself standing straight.

"Did you know Genies' powers come from their will? The stronger the will, the more they can do? Their will comes from their emotions. To traverse time and space is a great feat for any supernatural entity. Thank you, Kuga-san. You have granted more than one wish this day."

She blushed and nodded politely. I got what Yukino was saying and I was filled with gratitude towards the woman who had given me this opportunity.

"I shouldn't take much more time." Yukino turned back to me. "Like I said...good people are waiting for you. The world is waiting for you. Now that you have said goodbye to me, you can say hello to life."

She took my hand and squeezed it again with a smile. I tried to keep from frowning but I could not smile at that moment.

"Wait, Kikukawa-san. I have a question," Natsuki stepped forward with a hopeful look in her eye just as Yukino stepped back from me. I wondered what she could possibly ask Yukino. Before Natsuki could ask, Yukino shook her head firmly.

"I don't know the answer to your question, Kuga-san. I'm sorry."

Natsuki sighed and nodded. "You are free to return then. Thank you."

My heart raced again and ignoring the oddness of their exchange, I faced Yukino. It would be the last time that I would see this dear one.

"Take care of yourself, Shizuru!" I would not cry anymore. I matched her bright smile as best I could as her body glowed. I probably looked dumb with the twisted smile I wore because she laughed softly at me. The pain and hurt was still there but along with it was hope and life that I had long ago abandoned. I muttered a soft goodbye and she vanished from my sight. My hands shook and even though I still wore my smile, small tears ran down my cheeks. I was happier though. I knew I would continue to be happy, at the very least, for her. Rather, at the very least for my Genie who had made saying goodbye to her possible.

A warm hand grabbed mine and I turned to see Natsuki. She had a lopsided and tired grin. Seeing the sparkle in her eyes only added to the increasing excitement I felt bubbling in me. She had given me a second chance at life. I laced my fingers in hers and wiped away my tears with my free hand.

"Thank yo-..."

She brought a finger to my lips. Her cheeks were beginning to redden. "It's not something you wouldn't have been able to do on your own."

"But..." The soft digit held against my lips pressed more firmly. I looked down at the hand near my mouth then back to her. Her eyes were looking where her finger was placed and her hand dropped. She looked back at me shyly then back at my lips. I could not help but develop my own blush. There was an uncomfortable and uncertain air between us. She leaned in and my eyes widened a bit as I wondered if she was going to do what I thought she would do.

"Let's go home," she said softly. I nodded, only looking into her eyes and smiled back. At the same time I felt our world shift around us, I registered the softest of touches against my lips. Warm, silky, caring, and innocent. It lasted for only a second and then everything dissolved into black.

A/N: Oh ho! My darling readers, I have returned! I know you guys would love to string my up and kill me for the MASSIVE delay that I caused. To be honest, this chapter was really hard to write for its own reasons especially plot-wise. I'm hoping it'll meet the expectations that I set forth for this story as best it can. I feel, even though this will be the first wish of three wishes, it may be the least popular due to Yukino's presence. I KNOW HOW YOU SHIZNAT FANS ARE! Haha! Please don't be offended or put off by Yukino. I tried to make her as likable as I could in this situation. Rest your dear hearts knowing that one of the largest obstacles in the story has been overcome. I'll have the next chapter out by the end of the week (I know, promises promises hehe). In the next two weeks I have lined up another chapter for this story as well as TGG and a long oneshot.

Thank you for have been following and reading this. Your support has been and always will be great motivation for my writings. As always, I hope to get better with each new chapter or story I write!

Please let me know your feelings and future predictions!

Review Replies:

1010'jin- Thank you. Really, thank you so much. Such a review made me blush quite a bit and absolutely thrilled me. I will continue to try and perfect it as I go on!

X-Edge-Meirouki- Haha Mayo Crisps! I knew someone would get a kick out of that. I actually plan on having Mayo Crips become a reaccuring item in my stories. xD Thanks

Ume-sama- My dear, I know you have waited a long while! Thank you! Yes, Natsuki and Haruka seem very uh...wow. Haha I had never actually thought of them as a couple and it's quite amusing actually.

Urooj- I replied to your PM as well! Feel free to contact me at any time! I get busy but I really do try and get back to you. Thanks for your support.

depression76- Omg, I never even thought of Ahn Lu! I guess she could have worked beautifully too but I think people may have had more of a connection with Yukino. I think Yukino's soft temper and sweetness really add a different flavor to her death and the way Shizuru thinks of it. Lol Shizuru is pretty close to a hikkimori isn't she? haha thanks

kikyo4ever- :D as I said with depression (above) Ahn Lu never came to my mind surprisingly. I guess it was just meant to be for me to place Yukino in the spot. Haha thanks!

Krugern- Wheee~ now I know the secrets of your reviews! You always catch the tiny details I leave behind! Thanks

Natsuki-X- HAH! SHE GOT TO KISS HER IN THE END. MWAUHAHA

AlphaWolf69- yes you certinately got where I was going by picking Yukino. Hehe. Nao was actually my second choice...maybe. It would have been a really weird plot twist th ough. Yup, Natsuki and her baby steps even till the first kiss.

Starvi- Yes we haven't seen too much of Shizuru's teasing but that's because she's been under the weather. Can't blame her though. :D We'll see a bit more of Shizuru's light hearted nature in the future.

gurjhime- Trust me, thinking of the wishes for this story bugs me too! I have a crap load written down. The possibilities sometimes! Yay people think this is FRESH! I love fresh, like oranges. Oh I'm glad this has a MYSTERIOUS feel to it even though I have never intentionally written a mystery. hehe. Just to let you know, your stories I wub

S.K- Point taken. You may have read my mind for future chapters. ;D You're so sllyyy. We'll still have to see though!

Ria Zalo- Thank you for your comments and corrections! :D This chapter went unBeta this time D: but I hope I caught a few mistakes. My BETA will hopefully catch the rest and not kill me for posting without her.

ALEXISSA2- Cute huh? :D I love how they live together. Natsuki pushing for the ShizNat-ness! Kiss kiss!

Tippo Teh Hippo- The ShizNat must slowly develop! ;D Gotta get rid of the pain Shizuru is feeling firs

Bleeding Hopes- My dear, Natsuki's past will come!

Thank you all.

-Nimara