A/N - And slowly, I'm figuring out the ending of this story. Believe me, it is one thing that you would NEVER, in your wildest dreams expect. Now, keep giving me reviews, and I'll keep giving you chapters!
Chapter Nine: Takato Speaks
The events of dreams are
real
Let's have the courage to go forward
~Translated from Bokura no War Game
Juri had sat by Takato's bedside since he had been brought to the hospital. No one could make her leave, she seemed determined to see him live. His chances were very slim. He had been taken off life support, but his breathing was irregular and the doctors weren't expecting Takato to live long.
But Juri seemed to have some hope. It was a lingering hope, deep inside her heart, that one who she cared about would live. She spoke to him. The only difference was that he couldn't even look at him, with his bright eyes, or give his crooked smile, or even say a single word. "Hey Takato. Wake up now. You've slept too long. It's been a week. Wake up now…"
Wake up now… Wake up now… Takato heard the words. It was Juri's voice who spoke it. She sounded worried. Perhaps he should listen to her. But this darkness of slumber was so peaceful. But Juri wanted him. His sparkling red eyes opened. "Juri-chan…? Where are you?"
"I'm right here Takato. Next to you. Can't you see me?" Her amber eyes reflected her worry. Takato turned his crimson eyes towards her. They were blank and unseeing. "Oh… Takato! Your eyes… Your beautiful eyes…"
"Juri-chan… I can't see. Everywhere is darkness Juri… All I can see are shadows…" She could feel her eyes well up with tears. Takato was blind. Her best friend, already so shrouded in darkness, was now permanently trapped. "Juri-chan… What would you do if I died?"
She was stunned by the question. "Takato! Don't speak so. You are not going to die." Her breathing rose, as she panicked that Takato would get fantasies and carry them out.
"But Juri, I'm just… So tired of living. Life's never been easy for me. I don't want to live anymore, Juri-chan. But what is death like? Is it painful? Or is it like falling asleep? I don't want to die. But I don't want to live. Tell me Juri, what should I do? I hate life, and I want to leave it, but I'm afraid of death."
"Takato!! Stop, stop!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She was frightened. "Takato! I don't want you to be unhappy, but I want you to live."
He smiled a lopsided grin. But there was a dark meaning behind it. "Juri-chan, we can't have everything in life. In fact, some never get what they want. You want me happy and alive. That is never to be." His sightless eyes fixated on her. They were unnerving, the way they stared unblinkingly on her. "Tell me Juri."
Juri was beginning to get scared of Takato. It wasn't his anger that frightened her this time. It was his steady reliance on her to pull her out of these situations. She stood up as softly as she could. "Are you leaving?" She looked on with shock at Takato. How had he known? "Well than, let me tell you something."
"No! I don't want to hear it!"
"Please Juri-chan. Hear me out. It is but one word…"
"No."
"Please…" She turned to leave. "Aishiteru." Her ears caught the softly spoken word, but something in her heart made her change the simple response she had been planning. She never meant to say anything as strongly as she did.
"I hate you. I hate the way you rely on me, I hate the way you look. I hate the way you are just SO innocent. I hate everything about you. I hate you Takato Matsuda, and I don't want ever to see you again!" And she fled the room.
Takato couldn't move on his bed. His heart was in pieces. He couldn't release his sadness. He couldn't cry a single tear to express the pain he felt. "Juri-chan…" He began gently touching the veins in his wrists, with a new understanding of the life flowing through. His sightless eyes saw more than when he could see.
"I hate life, but I'm afraid of death… I am jaded…" The sunlight streamed through the window, as if to save Takato. But it was too late, Takato was already dead inside.
