Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and my OC. Naruto, YuGiOh 5DS and Tokyo Mew Mew all belong to their rightful, respected owners as with everything else.
I love you, so this is goodbye
I kneel by a large boulder and complete my prayer. Ichigo was right; he deserved a proper funeral, even though I wasn't ready to let him go. I place a yellow rose on the ground, in remembrance to mother and the time when we played in her garden. I lean forward and rest my forehead against the cool stone and remember;
"Zakuro!" he frowns. "It was an accident!"
"Yea, well I'm still telling father!" I stick my tongue out and run away.
... So many painful memories…
"Imouto," he grins. "Wanna go prank father?"
"Do you have to be so immature?" I snap; standing and walking away. "Grow up!"
… I was so cruel…
"Imouto," he shifts his feet uncomfortably. "Gomenesai."
He starts walking away, but I rush over and hug him from behind. "Promise we'll stay like this forever?"
… But it didn't matter…
"Hey, you know what?" he asks. "You're right; it is time to grow up. Will you help me?"
"Of course silly," I smile. "but only if you teach me how to fence."
… I meant none of it and he knew that…
"Geez!" he gasps, exasperated. "You're hopeless!"
"You just started sooner," I protest, gasping and wincing at my wound. "wait till I tell mother what you did."
… I only wanted to love my big brother…
"Hey, are you alright?" he mumbles. "I'm sorry, but they were right, you can't enter a fencing contest, you're too weak-"
"No I'm not!" I yell. "You just want it all for yourself! I hate you!"
… But my actions drove him away…
"Want to practice today?" he grins.
"I thought you said you'd grow up?" I mutter. "Not with a loser like you."
… We were changing and falling apart…
"Zakuro! Get lost!" he snapped. "Quit bothering me! You annoying pest!"
I had run so far and father had to send out search parties to find me. When we got back, he wouldn't even look at me and mother was upset.
… Until we were the people we are today…
"Quit interrupting my training!" he yelled.
"Get out of my way then!" I snarl.
"I'm so sorry," I gasp. "I didn't want to let you go."
"… Zakuro?" a cautious Kisshu asks. "It wasn't your fault… You just grew apart."
I reach up and cling to him. I can't bear to let go of anyone else. He flinches, but eventually holds me too. My tear filled eyes barely notice the setting sun behind us or the dew that drips down the stone, like my brother's is one person whom I can never bring back from the afterlife.
Soon I will be ready to finally to let you go, just not today.