A/N: After this, there'll be only one chapter left :( Oh well, I hope you guys are enjoying this story so far! PLZ ENJOY CHAPTER 9! ;3
After the sun sets…I'll die.
No, I can't cry. My death won't be pointless, at least. To die instead of Yoshiki and let Sachiko live on as a mother for all of them, seems like a good way to go anyways… But still… I want to see him.
I want to see Yoshiki…!
I sighed and brushed the hem on the white dress I wore that day I woke up with no memories. I guess it's nice to wear it the last day I'll live. After doing so, I went to the kitchen to look for Yoshiki.
…
«Y-Yoshiki?» I called out to him, and hoped to at least get an answer from Satoshi or Morishige. But nothing. Just nothing. «Morishige? Satoshi?» I called out, but no one answered. I don't even know where Sachiko is. I guess her room, but I don't hear any voices or sounds.
I sighed and just sat down by the table where we used to eat together… I remember… In all of my days, we've been eating right here and talking about everything. Of course, when I was a kid I played with Morishige and Satoshi too… To think that there won't be moments like these anymore…
«I…I want to live…» I whispered, leaving traces of tears on the table. I want to live, because I live for experiences like those. Going to see the leave-rain each autumn, eating together and just…enjoy life. The leave-rain especially… Just a few miles away from here by the hundreads of trees with colored leaves, we would watch them float downwards to the ground like feathers and raindrops.
Wait…Isn't the leave-rain…today?
I quickly ran to the window and looked out at the trees. The wind is a bit stronger today, which means… the leaves will rain down. I want to see it…with Yoshiki, just like we used to.
«Ayumi.»
I flinched and turned around, seeing Sachiko by the door. «S-Sachiko…What is it?» I asked. «Will you come with me, please?» she asked. «O-Oh…Yes,» I said and followed her. She followed me out of the kitchen and went a few meters ahead of me, with her face turned to me. Suddenly, I heard a muffled noise coming from Sachiko's room.
«Mmf…! Mmmn!»
«What was that?» I asked and turned to the door to her room. «What? Did you hear something?» Sachiko asked. «Y-Yeah, I thought I heard a voice… As if someone had something stuffed in their mouth or choking on something,» I said. «Is that so…» Sachiko muttered, walking ahead of me again. I guess I was just hearing things… While thinking for myself for a while, I catched up with her and followed her outside.
«Um… Where are we going?» I asked. «There is someone waiting for you by the trees,» Sachiko said, her bangs covering her eyes. «Huh? Someone's…waiting for me…?» «You better come back before sunset,» Sachiko said before leaving me.
Someone… No way. Just as I realized who she meant, I immediately started running down the pathway with threes on each side of it. My whole body, filled with energy I didn't have, was extremelu tired as I ran. Yet, I didn't stop. I ran and ran, what I thought was over a thousand miles, until I saw his silhuette by the end of the pathway. Using the last ounce of willpower and energy, I eventually reached him. He apparently heard my footsteps, so he turned around and smiled at me.
«Don't exhaust yourself like that…» he whispered, reaching out his hand to stroke my hair. «I just wanted to watch it with you,» I said. «Ba. Ka,» he said and chuckled. Interupting our small moment together, a blood red leaf fell down between us.
«Just like old times, isn't it…» I mumbled. He nodded. «Today…the sky is almost blearing me,» he said. I looked up at the sky, admiring the colors and clouds he talked about. «Do you think…that it'll be as beautiful next time?» I asked. «I don't know… Right now…»
He turned to me and finished his sentence: «Right now, I just want to see your face one last time before—…»
«Don't!»
I ran into his arms and clutched my hands into his back, holding him tightly. «Ayumi…Sorry…» he whispered. I didn't answer him. All I wanted right now…I just wanted to let myself sink into Yoshiki's arms and let him hide the truth.
«From the moment I asked Sachiko to bring you here, I told myself to not make this difficult for us both. But…I'm struggling not to cry right now, Ayumi…,» he whispered. «You shouldn't hold it in…» I whispered, almost tearing up myself. He didn't say anything, but I could feel a drop drip down on my chin from his cheek.
«Maybe if I was a little smarter… Maybe if I could just…know that you were familiar…» I muttered. «What are you talking about?» he asked. I sighed and almost shouted out: «All of this may not have happened if I just didn't tell you to bring back my memo-…Oh…»
My words were cut off by him hugging me tightly and placing his warm lips on mine.
In a way, it was a gentle one, but it lasted for what I thought was an eternity. This may…be the last time I'll feel his lips like this. If only both of us could die right here, right now… All of this could come to an end.
He placed his chin on top of my head and whispered: «Don't ever forget what you are to me. I'll always love you, no matter what happens.» «Yoshiki…» I whispered and wrapped my arms around his neck. «Please… let's stay here for a while…» I begged him. «Okay…» he said, nuzzling his cheek against mine.
…
«Ayumi. Please, don't be afraid. The process will be painless,» Sachiko reassured me as she showed me the two halos on the ground by the porch. They were glowing in a clear shade of blue, which I apparently was going to stand in while Sachiko chanted a spell. This is it, then…
«I thought Morishige would sacrifice me…» I said. Where is he anyways…?! «Oh…» Sachiko mumbled under her breath, but kept her composture. «Please, go ahead,» Sachiko said, leading me inside the halo.
I looked up at the sky, the estate and just… the trees. All this…will disappear. I closed my tear wet eyes and smiled. At the very least I have no regrets….
Goodbye…World…
…
«Ayumi?! What the fuck are you doing here!?»
Huh?!
I immediately opened my eyes as I heard that familiar voice ahead of me. My breath got hitched as I saw Yoshiki's shocked figure inside the second halo ahead of me. «Yoshiki?!» I shouted. «Damn….» I heard Sachiko whisper from behind. Yoshiki panted and yelled panicked:
«If I sacrificed myself, you would live! That's what Sachiko said!»
At that moment, I immediately knew what was going on. But I didn't get time to inform Sachiko, until I heard another familiar, yet muffled voice.
«Yofigii! Ayuyi! Geh—OUT OF THERE!»
We both turned around and saw Satoshi and Morishige running towards us, their mouth covered with tape but violently ripped them off as they ran. «Satoshi! Morishige!» I yelled, relieved. «Arrrgh! How did you two escape?!» Sachiko growled out. They were both panting, but Morishige managed to scream out:
«It's all a part of her plan! She lied to you both! This way, both of you will die, just to give Sachiko more power! SO, GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!»
«Ayumi! Hurry!» Yoshiki shouted and sprinted towards me, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the halo. Wait…This means that…I won't die after all…? I should've been overjoyed, but I was way too angry to feel happy. «Sachiko! You tricked us!» I screamed at her.
Sachiko was…smiling? No that isn't a smile… That is…That is…
Sachiko lifted her head to the sky and scared us to death by laughing maniacly:
«AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! THAT'S RIGHT! I TRICKED YOU! AND YOU KNOW WHAT, AYUMI?! I DON'T GIVE A SHIT IF I HURT YOUR POOR FEELINGS BY TAKING YOUR PRECIOUS YOSHIKI AWAY FROM YOU! SAME TO YOU, YOSHIKI! I CAN KILL HER WHENEVER I WANT, AS WELL AS YOU TWO! I. AM. INFAMOUS!»
«Sachiko stop! You'll damage your body!» Satoshi shouted and ran to her, trying to calm her down. «OH SHUT UP, YOU MOMMA'S BOY!» Sachiko screamed and violently pushed him. He kept his composure, but his facial expression was clearly heartbroken. «Sachiko… I thought all four of us meant something to you… Are we really just sources to power to you!?» Yoshiki screamed, extremely upset.
«HAHAAAAAAA! YOU JUST NOTICED?! WHY DO YOU THINK I GAVE YOU THOSE POWERS IN THE FIRST PLACE?! I JUST WANT TO LIVE! I WANT TO LIVE FOREVER!»
«Sachiko…» Morishige whispered and covered his mouth, shocked and drawn into despair by her words. «You…You…YOU MONSTER!» Satoshi yelled and tried to attack her, but Morishige held him back. «I think it's better to leave her like that. She'll die by sunrise, I think…» he said.
I admired him for his bravery and asked him: «Are you really willing to do that…? You love her as a mother, don't you?» He nodded and said: «But… I've had enough. I don't want to live by her rules anymore. None of us do.»
«Then…» Yoshiki spoke up and lifted up his fingers towards Sachiko and went closer to her. «WHAT NOW?! YOU WANT A HUG FROM MOMMY?!» Sachiko yelled after her laughing fit passed by. «Sachiko… Please, forget everything…» Yoshiki whispered as he put his two fingers between her eyes. «W-WHAT'RE YOU DOING!?» she screamed panicked. Yoshiki wiped away a tear and whispered:
«Goodbye…Sachiko.»
«Ah!»
Sachiko let out a slight gasp and just stayed in the same position after she fell onto her knees. Her eyes went dull for a few seconds, before she fell down on the ground with her eyes closed. The halos vanished, and we all remained silent for a moment.
«Ayumi, take care of her when she wakes up in a few minutes. She won't bring us any harm, so don't worry. I made sure to take all of her memories, except her name,» Yoshiki said. «Alright…» I said and sat down by Sachiko, watching over her. And then, just like Yoshiki said, a few minutes later, she woke up:
«H-Huh…? Where am I?» she whispered. Her voice actually sounded like a 7 year old's voice now. «Are you okay?» I asked her. She wiped her eyes, looked at me and asked: «I think so…Who are you…?» I sighed in relief, reached out my hand and said politely: «My name is Ayumi Shinozaki. Nice to meet you.»
Sachiko blinked a few times, but smiled as well, took my hand and said: «I am Sachiko.»
This innocent little girl…was going to die in just a few hours.
A/N: The next chapter will be the last one ;_; HOPE YOU ENJOYED AND PLZ REVIEW! UNTIL NEXT TIME ;3
