Author's Word: It's chapter 10 already, wow. Now onward with the story and drop me a review (or more Bananas) when you're done! ;D

1st July-

Even if Lavi isn't one to be bothered with what clothes she wears, Lenalee had recently gone shopping and today, she'll be visiting him in a brand new flower-patterned dress and flats. Not only that, she also brought a bunch of colorful cranes for him as well, though expectedly, he didn't comment on her outlook.

"Whoa, what's this?" Lavi placed the magazine he was reading on his lap as he took the canes away from Lenalee's hand to look at them.

"There are 100 cranes in total. Allen, Rou Fa and Miranda made them for you, and I did the last one right at the top. But I didn't even know till they were already done with 99 of them."

Lavi gave a short whistle, admiring the hard work. "Wow. I'll have to remember to thank them."

Lenalee smiled and took over the cranes to help Lavi hang them up by the lamp. "This is so that you'll know there are always people wishing you good luck. Miranda had googled for ways to express them and it's said that 100 cranes will bring good luck and wash away sorrow. I don't really know but I hope it's true."

***

After three hours, it was more boredom than Lavi can handle. He threw aside another finished paperback novel and just had to complain. "The hospital sucks to the max. Entertain me, Lenalee."

Lenalee was still busy with her stitching and she scrunched up her forehead in concentration when what Lavi said distracted her a bit. "Uh...wait a second..." She was at a tricky corner and her voice drifted off. Clearly, she was ignoring him to finish her project.

Lavi sighed, and with nothing to do, he ended up looking out at the window.

"Say, Lenalee," Lavi asked casually, "what happens to people when they die?"

Lenalee paused momentarily. She didn't want to speak about anything related to pain and death, not because she was ignorant but simply because she didn't like it. Nevertheless, she replied back with an intelligent, practical answer. "They'd definitely go to heaven." She carried on with her stitching slowly, as if it wasn't affecting her.

Lavi still stared out the window. "I...I want to become the sky." When Lenalee heard that, she turned around to face him.

"...to become the sky...and always look after Lenalee from above," Lavi continued, his eyes glancing into Lenalee's. He wasn't even smiling at her in a sad way, but giving her one full of care and encouragement. Weirdly though, it tugged at her heartstrings.

"To look after me like some stalker, is it?" Lenalee replied cheekily, hoping to lighten her mood more rather than Lavi's. He chuckled at the comment and looked away in slight embarrassment since it wasn't his nature to say the considerably cheesy things that he just did.

It was Lenalee's turn to look out the window. The sky was a warm glow of orange, and even though it might look better if they're out in the open, being here with Lavi is also pretty good.

"Then even time I look at the sky...," Lenalee said in almost a whisper, "I'll think of Lavi."

She really did love skies a lot. They were vast, endless and comfortable to look at and yes, they do remind her of Lavi nowadays. "A clear sky means Lavi's in a good mood. A rainy day means Lavi's feeling cranky and a sunset would mean...Lavi's embarrassed."

She was making it all up as she went along but they did seem to make sense. Well, sort of. Lavi turned away at the last part but she could see he was just hiding his face away from her in embarrassment. Lenalee happily took his hand in one of hers and he squeezed it back tightly.

"...and a night sky would mean Lavi's warmly hugging me." Lenalee smiled at Lavi as he held on to her hand and looked down at the ring on her finger.

"I only bought you a cheap ring," he noted.

Lenalee shook her head. It wouldn't matter even if it's made of grass or straw. So long they were gifts from Lavi himself; she'd love all of it. "It's fine. The important thing is that you get well as soon as possible," she encouraged, "And when you're healthy and out of the hospital, you can get us both better rings, alright?"

"Okay," Lavi promised. "But for now, to make up for it, I'll give you all the stars in the universe."

Lenalee nodded in laughter. "You sound like a commercial for that brand of cereal."

But even as they both broke out in laughter, Lavi never once let go of her hand. To be like this every day would be pretty enjoyable, won't it? She won't even want all the stars in the universe. She just wanted to be with Lavi.

The days seem to be dragging on a little now whenever Lavi isn't around when Lenalee's there. He seemed to be not around more often, doing his checkups and Chemo and blood tests stuff. Lenalee didn't even fully understand but once Lavi appeared, her worries would be pushed aside for the meantime. Days had slowly gathered into months but Lavi never gave up. He was still alive.

Mid-September-

About a week ago, Lavi had been shifted to a larger ward. Even though it looks bad in any outsider's eyes, everyone around Lavi didn't give up and instead, they encouraged him even more. Lavi was choosing to look at it positively as well, commenting on how much more greenery and peacefulness he can get in his new larger and better ward and that cheered Lenalee up somehow.

The only thing she didn't like was when Lavi had to go for his seemingly endless checkups and leave her alone. She knew how much he worried about her and even though he must be in lots in pain, he would still hold it in and pretend nothing's wrong. She knows he's only trying to put up a brave front, but honestly, she'd prefer him not to.

Again, one day, Lenalee came over to visit Lavi.

She pulled a box of sweets out of her bag and waved it in Lavi's face. "Here, I bought you more of those Milk Chocolate candies."

Somehow, she'd influenced him into liking it and when Lavi was hooked on something, he would like it for a very long period of time. However, he wasn't looking very enthusiastic today and lately, he'd been in that way.

"Hey, what's wrong? You feeling okay, or is it another fever coming up?" Lenalee placed a concern hand on Lavi's forehead.

"No, it's nothing," Lavi sat up abruptly and took her hand. "The weather will be turning cold soon. At least put on something thicker when you come over next time, alright?" He reached over for the chocolate, popped one in his mouth and let out a smile, but he didn't hide anything from Lenalee. Again, he was suffering but he was still acting tough and worrying about her. Yet, there wasn't much she could do...

As Lenalee got lost in her thoughts, Lavi had pulled out a camera and snapped a picture of her. It jolted her right back to reality and she cocked her head to one side in question.

"Hey, what's that?" she asked laughingly.

"It's just what it is, silly." Lavi tried to capture another shot of Lenalee, but she'd turned her face away to avoid him and all he caught was her side view.

"I'm not photogenic at all," Lenalee started to protest, "Thought I told you that before already."

Lavi opened his mouth to say something but before he could, a young nurse came in wheeling a wheelchair. "Excuse me; it's time for your check up now."

Lavi frowned. "What bad timing. Couldn't you have come in at a proper time or something?" He snapped at the nurse.

"Lavi," Lenalee tugged on his sleeve, "don't be mean now. Isn't your check up more important, or do you not want to get better?"

"I know, I know," Lavi sighed irritably. But before he got off his bed, he turned around to push the camera into Lenalee's hands. "Say, could you have this printed while I'm gone?" His hand lingered there for a while before he let go of it, his fingers brushing against Lenalee's skin. She could even feel the brief second of warmth from his hands.

Lenalee stared at the camera in her hand for a moment before returning her gaze upon Lavi. The nurse was already helping Lavi onto the wheelchair and Lavi was adjusting himself in it. But there was this feeling that Lenalee couldn't describe gnawing away at her heart. She didn't say anything, but neither could she get rid of the uncomfortable feeling.

"Well, see you later, Lenalee." Lavi gave her a wave, his face all smiles but due to no good reason, Lenalee couldn't seem to feel right. Still, she returned him a soft smile too before watching the nurse push Lavi away and out of the room.

That day was just like any other day, wasn't it? Lavi going for his routine check-up, her feeling insecure but he would always return to her side in the end.

Yes, today would be just like any other day, Lenalee thought. Nothing was going to go wrong.

Lenalee left the hospital immediately after Lavi had went for his check up and stopped by her house to get the beanie she'd finally completed last night. She had been thinking of giving it to him tomorrow, but...today seemed like a better choice.

After that, she went to the nearby photo developing shop to get Lavi's pictures developed. Walking out on her way back to the hospital, she stared at the envelope in her hand. She wondered what stuff had Lavi been taking exactly, since she'd only seen him take out his camera like, twice or thrice all this time. It probably wasn't anything fantastic but Lenalee pushed the bold urge aside to take out his photos and look through them first.

She hadn't even gotten very far from the shop when her phone started to ring unexpectedly. She wasn't expecting any calls from anyone but when she saw Christina's number flashing across the screen, fear was the first thing that struck her and she quickly picked up.

"Lenalee, Lavi, he's...," Christina's tone of voice sounded rushed and heavy. "Come to the hospital quick!"

Lenalee's heart stopped for a second as she hung up without another word and then, she started to run.

***

Bookman stood near the door as two other nurses and Lavi's doctor in charge gathered around him. He didn't really understand the modern western medicine that they were using on his grandson but anyone with eyes could tell Lavi's situation wasn't very positive. He could hear sudden words like 'increase IV flow' and 'prepare an additional 5 liters of oxygen', but such words only worried him. He was already 88; he shouldn't have to worry like this.

Christina burst in through the door as she slipped her mobile into her jeans' pocket. Her face was creased with evident worry as her eyes followed the doctor. He had just given Lavi an oxygen mask and she could see from the monitor that his heart rate was gradually decreasing. This was bad. This was very bad and it made her want to cry out.

Meanwhile, Lenalee had been running as if for her life.

It was the peak hour and she simply couldn't wait around to try and catch a taxi. The next best thing she could do was to run via a short cut down an empty road she knew and hopefully, she could get to Lavi soon.

But bad thoughts kept flooding her mind. She was worried about what might happen to Lavi, even though she hated herself to think of such stuff. Fear was mainly what kept her legs going and she ran and ran, not even slowing down to try and catch her breath. Lavi might be dying...she was afraid that he might leave her and...

Lenalee tripped while she thought on and fell on the rough ground. Crap, it really hurts! She'd accidentally grazed and bruised her knees and arms and worse of all, she'd dropped all of Lavi's pictures all over the place. Lenalee got up, reached out and scrambled to get all of them back into the envelope but suddenly, she paused.

All of them, each and every one of those pictures...were all of her.

Her eyes scanned the pictures hurriedly and seriously, all these pictures only contained images of her. There was one when she was doing some reading, another one where she was changing the water for the flowers and another one where she'd fallen asleep by Lavi's bed...and there were more too...yet, all this time, she didn't even know Lavi had taken so many pictures of her, amounting up to hundreds of photos as the days they had together passed.

The pain cut her heart like a knife through butter. "Lavi...," Lenalee had subconsciously whispered his name and in a fit, she grabbed at all the photos.

***

Christina watched on as the doctor injected something into Lavi. Tubes...there were so many of them stuck up Lavi's arms that it was just terrifying to watch. She didn't even have a clue as to what they were doing and the only thing she could pull off was to stand aside in silence.

Just then, Lavi's phone begun to ring its familiar ringtone, vibrating above the bedside table. The nurse closest to it was obviously annoyed by the sound and grabbed at it to try to turn it off but Christina stopped her just in time.

"Wait, hold it!" Christina snatched the phone back and just as she thought, it was Lenalee. Quickly, she answered and it was Lenalee in a video call. She could see the poor girl running through the small screen, her face red and filled with worry.

"Lenalee!" Christina ran towards Lavi and shook him slightly, holding the screen of the phone in his view. "Lavi, look, it's Lenalee!"

Lenalee didn't stop running as Lavi's face came to view. He looked so pale that it was heart wrenching just looking at him alone.

"Lavi...," Lenalee tried to catch her breath, "Lavi, can you hear me? Wait for me okay? I'll be there soon! I'll be coming to see you!" But Lavi's eyes didn't open. She could see him lying on the bed but she wanted him to just look at her, to tell her that he was still alive and that he'll wait for her to come.

Lenalee ran on as she cried, "Lavi, you're strong! So...so don't give up! Don't give up! Open your eyes! Lavi! Lavi!"

And slowly, she could see him peel open his eyes tiredly. Slight comfort washed over everyone. For Christina, to see that happening, it was almost as if she could feel the hope for Lavi again. Lavi had opened his eyes! This was something really good!

But over at Lenalee's side, she couldn't resist scolding him. "Lavi! Why do you keep taking pictures of me? From now on, we'll have to take them together o...okay?" Her voice was shaking terribly, worsened by all that running. Damn it, she didn't want to see him like this. She wanted him to be all right so badly that it hurts. Without knowing, her tears had started to fall and they were painful ones.

Over the screen, Lenalee could see that Lavi was mouthing something, but she couldn't hear what he was trying to say. Stopping abruptly, her face wet, she asked him, "What? What did you just say, Lavi?"

Lavi's chest hurt horribly and he couldn't even feel his own arms and legs. Taking another deep breath, he slowly forced the words out, no matter how weak his voice was going to sound.

"Lena...Lenalee...," Lavi had said, "...s-smile for me...?"

Lenalee tried to hold her idiotic tears back. This was what Lavi was asking for. But...even if it's hard, she was going to comply.

Slowly, quietly, she managed a smile. A warm, soft smile, even when her tears were endlessly streaming down painfully, but she did it anyway. She had given Lavi a smile.

And slowly, surely, Lavi returned a small one to her too, filled with love and more comfort that anyone can ever imagine. It was just like every other smile she'd seen on his face.

Lenalee had unknowingly stopped crying suddenly. "Lavi, I'll be there soon," Lenalee sniffed, her voice finding the strength. "Wait for me!"

Lavi gave her a nod of reassurance and with that, Lenalee begun to run again. A split second later, the line between them got disconnected and Lavi could see his wallpaper appear. It was the very picture they had taken together, with the sky in the background. It almost feels as if like...everything had just happened yesterday.

But the physical pain was more than Lavi can endure anymore. It hurts so much, knowing that Lenalee would be alone on her own once he was gone, but the pain was killing him. He still had so many things that he wanted to share with Lenalee, so many things to accomplish with her. He wanted them to have a family, have plenty of children and then grow old together.

But all of it were just his own thoughts, a dream that would never come true. He still remembered how he fell in love with her and all the good times they had spent together. Celebrating Christmas with each other, lying on the grassland side by side peacefully and holding her small hand in his...he loved all of it, but mostly, he'd loved Lenalee more than he had ever loved anything else in the world. And he has even yet to thank her for everything. However, he couldn't hang in there anymore, even if he had promised Lenalee he would wait for her.

With Lenalee's smile etched in his mind, Lavi slowly closed his eyes.

I'm sorry, Lenalee. And for everything you've given me...thank you.

One last tear slid down the side of his face, and without another word, he silently went on his way.

Christina called out Lavi's name and grabbed at his arm, shaking him softly at first, then more violently, but he didn't open his eyes anymore. The monitor right next to her gave a long, endless beep sound and it just made everything worse to stomach. "Lavi...," Christina cried desperately, burying her face into her hands. Even Bookman had tears in his eyes and he turned away, making no attempt to wipe at them.

The first picture that Lavi and Lenalee took stayed visible on the screen of Lavi's phone.

But he was gone and he would never open his eyes to see that picture anymore.

To be continued...

The next chapter would be the last one, just a note to everyone. I understand that this chapter has been short but that's the way I break my chapters. Hopefully, I can upload the last chapter as quickly as possible.