Rewritten: 6/6/2012

Chapter 4: Tears

(Risa)

I returned home to my parents. In between hugs and kisses, they told me they rounded up some of the neighbors and looked for me for several hours. If I hadn't come home that morning, they would have called the cops. I was glad it didn't come to that. After all the tearful exchanges, Riku and I retired.

I was still irritated that she told Satoshi I stare at him during class, but I let bygones be bygones. I sat down on my bed ran my fingers through my knotted mess of hair. Riku hugged her knees and stared out the window.

Time seemed to have slowed. I think it was because of Riku. We were twins, so I would always be able to read her mood.

Rain drops pattered on the window sill.

When Riku and I were little girls, she used to say that rain was the tears of the world.

"I'm sorry." I turned away.

She pointed to the downpour.

"Look Risa, it's everyone's tears."

She went to bed afterward, leaving me to wonder if I was forgiven.

We went to class the next morning without a word to each other. I had the feeling everything that needed to be said between us had been said.

Riku, Daisuke, Satoshi and I had study hall together 4th period. I couldn't be bothered to be productive. The papers in that red folder would only pile up.

Satoshi Hikari sat up straight, scribbling in his little black book. After what happened yesterday, I thought he would talk to me again. But he was just as distant as he'd always been. He was acting like it didn't even happen.

To make things worse, the happy couple was it again.

I knew they'd always be together.

Would I always be alone?

"I love you," Daisuke whispered.

Riku blushed. "I love you too."

The pain hit me hard.

Before it could worsen, I hurried out the door. I could hear faint gasps. The teacher called after me.

"Come back, Risa!"

It sounded like Riku.

I bolted up a flight of steps and stopped at the 4th floor. No one was here. I opened the door to the roof. The wind blew the hair from my face and cooled me. The scent of rain was in the air. I blinked away the blur and sat on the floor. I wanted to stay on the roof and never be found by anyone. My heart throbbed.

Why was I so easy to upset?

Someone turned the knob. I jumped up and looked around. There was nowhere to hide. I backed away and anticipated an unwelcome face.

"What are you doing on the roof, Risa?"

"Just leave me alone, Satoshi."

"I wish you would tell me what's wrong."

He already knew what was wrong. He just wanted to hear me say it. Once I had my back to him I wiped my face.

"I'm such a baby," I scoffed.

"Don't feel too badly about it. I've been this way too."

"You cried?"

He chuckled and pocketed his hands. "Not me, right? I'm a robot."

"What did you cry about?"

His smile faded. I regretted asking.

"Since Dark left, I've been having a difficult time finding another thing to dedicate my life to, aside from crime-fighting. But Dark had been the reason behind that too."

A strange comfort came from his words. Just like me, he was unsure of what the future held.

He must be feeling that pain inside. The emptiness. Just like me.

"Then why don't you spend your time with anyone?"

"I'm in the police force. I don't exactly have a lot of time to spare for social interaction outside of work."

I was right about that too. It was disheartening to know.

"Come inside. I'll walk with you." he said.

"Are you sure?"

"It would be my pleasure."

After what occurred in 4th period, I didn't feel like being in Riku's presence. Satoshi and I parted ways after our last class, and I walked home alone. My mother was watching TV by herself in the living room.

I shut the door to my room and locked it. My mother called out something indistinct.

I knew what the problem was now.

"What is wrong with you?"

I was in love.

"In love with who?"

Satoshi.

"But?"

I didn't think he loved me back. He wouldn't have time for something like that anyway. He wouldn't have time for me.

(Satoshi)

Before Dark and Krad were sealed, I didn't dream. Now that they were gone, I dreamed all the time.

I stood outside the Harada home with Dark at my side. The streets were black and empty, except for the Harada home. Small yellow lights shone through the windows. Risa walked up to the balcony. Dark and I looked up at her, but she didn't notice.

Risa sat on her bed, crying. She wore the same gown as she did in the previous dream.

"You love her, Hikari. You always have."

The very sentence made my stomach knot.

My unwilling eyes fluttered open. Dark sat by the window, where I expected him to be. But something wasn't right. A look at the clock revealed it to be only 9:45. I never fell asleep this early, much less caught Dark anytime before midnight.

"What were you doing all this time?"

"Watching you sleep."

When my blood pressure stabilized, I snatched my cell phone by my bedside table and dialed her number.

"Hello, may I speak to Mrs. Harada, please?"

"Yes, this is Mrs. Harada."

"My name is Satoshi Hikari. I'm one of Risa's classmates."

"Oh, of course! I remember you. Did Risa get in trouble with the teacher again?"

"No. I actually wanted to talk to you about something else."

"What happened?"

"Risa, Riku, Daisuke and I all have study hall together. During class, I think something upset her. It might have been related to Riku and Daisuke, but I'm not sure."

"Well, what did they do?"

"They said they loved each other. Risa looked pained and rushed out of the classroom."

"Where did she go?"

"She was on the roof when I found her."

A pause on the other line. "Did she get angry?"

I remembered Risa's explanation of her fight with her mother and sister. The morning after, she found out I had messed with her belongings and became very upset. If the doorbell hadn't rung when it did, I couldn't be certain she wouldn't have hit me. I had never seen her so angry before.

"May I speak to Risa for a moment?"

"I'm sorry, but she locked her door and hasn't come out all day. We've been trying to get her to come out, but she won't even talk to us."

My heart sunk.

"I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize. I'm glad you called. I'm still not so sure what's up with her, but maybe she'll come around."

"Good night, Mrs. Harada."

"Good night."

I sighed as I closed my cell phone. What to do?

Dark crossed his arms and shook his head. "Your sacred maiden... She needs you."

(Risa)

All I can hear is the clock ticking. A soft voice broke the silence.

"Risa, honey, are you okay?"

My mother.

She sighed. "Look, I know you don't want to talk to me right now, but I just thought I'd let you know that Satoshi called me to tell me what happened in study hall today."

Satoshi called my mom? How did he get our number? I had never given it to him, so it could be him.

"That was Riku wasn't it? Riku's the one who's been ratting me out!"

"No, she hasn't," she said.

"What?"

"Riku hasn't been telling me what you've been doing. She's too afraid of you." Her voice shook. "I'm afraid of you, Risa. I'm afraid that you might do something… drastic."

"What're you saying?"

"It was Satoshi the entire time. He went to my job after school the day you yelled at the teacher. And he called me today to tell me you were on the roof."

I should've decked him when I had the chance.

"Risa?"

"Leave me alone."

I drew away from the door. I placed my feet in between the bars of the railing and peered down at the yellow lights of Azumano.

He didn't tell my mom what I was doing in class because he was trying to stir up trouble, or ruin my life, I realized. Satoshi would never do that. He had only ever been there when I needed him.

He must have done it because he cared about me.

(Satoshi)

Dark and I looked up at her. As the dream had predicted, Risa didn't notice. Her gaze rested on the city before her.

"I hope she's not angry with me." I pocketed my phone.

With a smile, he said, "Don't worry, I'm sure she's not."