The never lasting night

My love is ever lasting for you if only time was on our side. If only I could stop time just so I could hold on to you longer. To hold on to you and protect you, until the fiery flames take us back to reality. Where we sink in to our truth…

I knew that our time would soon come to an end, and we would have to part. Even so I wanted to spend the rest of the time I have left with Himeko.

"Hi-me-ko"

I chanted her name like a little girls cheer as I watched her come up the stairs.

"Chikane…Sorry I took to long I was…"

"It's alright come on, were just going to the store."

"Okay coming!!!"

Himeko shouts back at me, while I hold out me hand to her, greeting her with my warm smile. She grabs my hand while we both head out the door in to the night.

"So what are you planning on getting at the store Himeko?"

I looked to her in wonder.

"I was thinking of getting some candy if that's alright with you?"

She looks to me with those innocent eyes of hers.

"Yes of course."

It was the beginning to a wonderful weekend which I was hoping it would be. But the fact that her family hasn't called, or even came over. It made me wonder, if they even cared for Himeko. I glance to see her looking to the dark sky. Sadness crossed my face.

Himeko… I wish you had a better life…

I turn away so she didn't notice my gaze.

"Chikane I know I don't say this a lot, but thank-you"

I looked at her with a red face. I couldn't believe how cute she looked. It made me so happy that she said thank-you to me. I once again turned away to look at the dark clear sky.

"You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad you're here. Plus I love you."

I grabbed her hand and she too held it as well. This was the first time we ever held hands. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach, and my throat becoming choking up. I never felt so much tense before. Not the bad kind the one that made you feel like you could do anything. I couldn't believe how happy this made me feel to just hold her hand.

"Himeko…"

Ack! She's talking to me ok stay calm and don't act any different.

I took a deep breath and answer.

"Yes Chikane…"

"We're here…at the store…"

I looked at the doors of the store and realized she was right.

Was I really that out of it?

"So we are…"

She walks in letting go on my hand. I began to fell a little bit lonely.

Himeko…

Suddenly as if she heard me she turns around.

"Chikane…?"

I embrace reality and walked towards her with a smile, and ignoring my loneliness.

"Nothing…"

She continues to walk in. I follow behind her in her shadow. The shadow that I don't mind walking in, matter of a fact I enjoy it. Seeing her there makes life more enjoyable. I watch her do the simplest of things, and she doesn't even realize that she is a wonderful person. Despite what her family says, she's a wonderful person in my eyes.

"Chikane I'll get this…"

She hands me a bag of candy. I give her a smile and take the bag.

"Wow someone really had a sweet tooth tonight"

I laugh a little making her a little bit embarrassed.

"I think I've changed my mind Chikane"

She tries to go for the candy bag I pull it away from her.

"It's alright Himeko I was only teasing you…"

"I know that…"

I giggle to how cute she was being. She looks away from my. I turn to the casher and paid for our purchase. I gave Himeko her candy she looked so happy. She cradles the candy in her hands I watch her child-like side.

"You're so cute Himeko…"

She suddenly turns towards with her blushed face.

"Um… really?"

"Yeah you act like a little kid its cute…"

"I am a kid you know…"

She pouts still embarrassed about the complement I gave her. I giggle again, then suddenly out of no where. As we made our way home there was a voice calling out Himeko.

"HIMEKO"!!!

The voice came from a vehicle, it was her grandmother. I turned towards Himeko to find her body shaking, and a sad expression across her face.

"HIMEKO"!!!

The voice called out again, but this time a little bit more aggressive. I grabbed her hand and held on tight, and started to run.

"Come on Himeko lets go"!

I crossed the street as I could hear her name being called, but I didn't want her to go back not yet. No not ever. I didn't want to find more scares, cuts, or bruises on my Himeko. I was tired of seeing them on her. I was tried of her wish death in front of me. I was sick of them torching the life that was give to her. I was going to save her. I made a promise that I would stay with her forever.

"Chikane… I can't run anymore… Chikane"!!!

I could hear her voice and the panting that she made. I stopped and turned towards her. Suddenly I realized that she was crying.

"Himeko… Please don't cry… it's alright"

I said in a clam voice trying to comfort her.

"No it's not going to be alright… They will come after me… and then it will be like before…"

I could hear her voice quivering, and yet again I didn't know what to do. She falls to the ground. I follow her before her body touches the ground.

"I was happy for a moment that you started to run… but I realized that nothing ever going to change, because I have to live there…"

I embraced her with no words, because I knew that words would help at this time. I could say was I always said, but it would be pointless. Even still at was all I had to end her madness and give her hope.

"Himeko I'll save you… I'll find away to do that. I know it's hard to believe but I will. And you'll finally be happy. Okay. But you got to promise me that you won't give up…"

She lifts her head, and looks at me straight in the eyes.

"Sniff…Chikane…I-"

That's all she could say before the sound of beeping interrupted her. The lights were shining on us in the dark night. I turned around to find a vehicle behind us. The light shined in my eyes, as I stood up trying to see who.

"Himeko…Get in the van…"

This was a different voice this time. It was her mother. I never really seen her mother before, but I knew that she to was someone that make Himeko cry. I tuned to see Himeko taking a step towards the van.

"Mother…"

She whispers. I put my arm in front of her stopping her from walking any further. In front of me I could hear foot steps coming towards me. I take a glance with angry in my eyes.

"I presume your Himeko's so called mother. Right?'

The woman stops in her steps and answers me.

"Yes and Himeko needs to come home now."

Himeko then again try's to move forward. I don't let her and she waits.

"Oh? And what if she doesn't want to? Are you going to force your our child to come with you?"

She doesn't say many think, but looks at me with angry.

"Plus I think she would be safer with me. What do you think Himeko…?"

I glance at Himeko to hear her answer.

"Mother I want… to stay with Chikane…"

I turn with a smile on my face, as I watch the woman getting more upset with us.

"Well you heard her she wants to stay…"

Himeko hid behind me as I stood in front of the vehicles light. Her mother then starts walking towards us.

"She's coming home and that's that."

Her voice was over powering and I could feel myself shaking. Why was I shaking? Was I scared of her? No I wasn't I was scared for Himeko.

"No she's not! She's coming home with me.

Suddenly there's someone else coming out of the van. It was her grandmother which I seen a lot, and hated her too. They watched me as I stood in front of Himeko protecting her from them.

"Himeko listen to your mother…"

Her voice was as sharp as Himeko's mother. My knees started to shake like there presents was overwhelming.

"Chikane… It's alright…"

I turned to her to find her crying again. Before I wasn't angry, but now I was more even ever. They made it so she wouldn't defy them. I hated it and I was going to change that.

"Himeko it's not alright… You know that, because you're scared of going back! And nothing about that is alright"!

I turned towards them ready for my words to pierce them.

"I know you have been abusing Himeko! You know that's child abuse you could go to jail for that! What makes you think that I won't tell someone?!"

They were frozen and I thought I got them, but oh was I wrong.

"Because that would mean that you won't be able to see her either. That is if she's taken away… You stupid teenager… Plus you're just one person and a teen at that. What makes you think anyone would believe you…?"

They got me and they were right. What could I really do? I really had no power against an adult such as them. They could make what I said and use it against me. They…they… No I could doubt myself not right now. Not now that Himeko was watching. I had to say something. Anything!

"Heh. That would mean you too. Are you really that selfish to save your own sink when your completely hurting Himeko here. I'm looking out for her, protecting her from you! What gives you any possible rights to inflicted pain upon someone else? What makes you god?!!!"

They were speechless, and all I could hear was Himeko crying. I wasn't sure if it was tears of happiness or sadness. I was too scared to see the results of it. Or maybe it was my words that made her cry. If so I couldn't take back what I said, how could I deny the truth? It was all true, but I still wanted her to be safe even if it meant hurting someone else.

"Himeko…"

It was her mother that was calling out to her. But her voice seem a little sad and shaking up. Was it because of what I said to her?

"I'm sorry… Himeko…"

I glance towards Himeko to see her looking at her mother.

"No your not. You're just lying like always… You never let me see father and you always hit me. Why?! I don't understand at all!!!"

She was confessing. She was really talking from the heart, for the first time she was standing up for her self. She stands up and gentle pushes me aside. So that she could be facing face to face with her mother.

"You- You always ignored grandmother beating me. And you ignored my every cry. I wanted you there in my life, but no I end up living with her. I wanted to live with you…mother."

I stood there as she cried her heart out to her mother. I stood there and waited for her to finish.

"Why…All this time… why..?"

I put my hand on her shoulder, and make a gesture that she didn't need to say many more. I could hear her mother crying as well, than her mother tries to walk towards us… no her.

"I'm sorry…"

"I don't want to hear it mother…"!!!

Unexpectedly Himeko starts running, and all I could see again was her. She was the only person I see, and the whole world around me just disappeared. I started running after her leaving her family behind. They called, but by then we were already out of sight. We were in our own world again. I followed right behind her like always, as she ran.

"Himeko…"!!!

I called out to her, but she still continued to run. I laugh a little, but only I could hear. I was happy for Himeko to finally say was she wanted to say, for the longest time. Unexpectedly the dark night skies started to cry. Soon we were surrounded by rain, but it didn't matter. Not as long as we were here together, here in our own little world…

To Be Continued…