"I'm gonna miss you." Bubbles whispered as she embraced her red haired sister.

Buttercup waited for them to break apart before sharing her goodbyes. "Don't hurt yourself while we're gone."

Blossom chuckled lightly. "I won't. Have fun you guys."

The two girls shared a cautious glance then smiled back at their leader.

"Promise you won't forget that we love and care about you." Bubbles spoke.

Buttercup nodded. "Without you we wouldn't be here. We could never live without you, Bloss."

The pink puff felt her heart flutter. She gave them a reassuring look. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I love you, girls."

They picked up their bags and called in sync, "Love you!" Then took off into the sky. Blossom watched them go, a heavy weight falling onto her chest. Yes, now that her sisters were headed to Hawaii for a vacation, she would be able to have alone time. That alone time would give her a chance to relax, something she hadn't done for months, ever since Butch's death. But her sisters' presence provided her with comfort, because she could keep an eye on them and make sure they were safe. Now, she couldn't be sure of that. But what possible harm could come to them? They were the strongest beings on Earth and, as far as anyone knew, in this universe.

'They'll be fine.' She told herself, heading upstairs to take a much needed nap.

Blossom had just closed her eyes when she heard her window slide open. Suddenly, she was lifted into someone's arms and her head rested against a rock solid chest. She pulled a face as she looked up at Brick.

"I was trying to sleep." She stated, none-to-happy.

He shrugged, placing a fierce kiss on her lips. She pulled away, causing a look of hurt to spread across his face.

"I can't right now." She said, averting her gaze.

His crimson eyes narrowed. "What's wrong? You seemed perfectly fine while you were asleep."

She scoffed, "I wasn't asleep. I could've been, if you didn't barge in."

He placed her on the bed and sat across from her, listening intently as she went on.

"I've been thinking a lot lately and I just don't deserve any of this." Her lips parted as she released a light sigh. "I screwed everyone over. You, the Professor, my sisters, even Boomer." She bit the inside of her cheek. "Butch..." Her chest felt like an empty, hollow cave. Just minutes ago she felt peaceful and ready to take a delightful nap. Now, as she sat in the presence of Butch's brother, of her lover, of her victim, she realized that Brick wasn't at fault, nor was Boomer, or Butch. No...it was her all along. It had always been her. She just refused to believe it. She refused to accept her fate. It had been the first time she spoke to Brick in a week, and things suddenly felt so much different. Maybe it was because within the past week she had cried more than ever. Or maybe it was because of two simple words that she had inked into her skin.

Don't Leave

He pressed a kiss to her lips then met her gaze. "What's wrong?"

Her pulse fluttered. It always felt good to know he did care, sometimes. "I still don't understand why you kidnapped me."

His eyes widened. "I told you I can't-"

"You can't tell me that. I know." She pushed him away but he caught her wrists, easing her back down.

"Don't leave." He spoke.

There was another significance to the tattoo.

She knelt down before his casket, tears warningly gathering at her eyes. The wind blew a few petals off the flowers scattered over the plaque. Her heart burned as she leaned forward and rested her forehead against the smooth coffin.

The words she whispered were quiet pleads, to whoever could hear her. "Please..." She touched his name. "Don't leave."

There was a third meaning behind the words, a moment she swore to never forget.

"Professor?" All three girls slipped into the room and watched as their father finished packing his suitcase.

He turned to them with a grim smile. "Don't worry girls, I'll be back very soon. It'll only be a week."

His words couldn't ease their worry, however, and all at once they leaped into his arms.

"We're gonna miss you." Bubbles sobbed.

"It'll be kind of boring I guess, without you." Buttercup muttered.

Blossom simply squeezed her dad as hard as she could, without causing harm, and buried her face into his shoulder. Yes, she was a teenager. No, her and her sisters shouldn't be making this big of a deal about the Professor leaving for a little while. But their father was getting old and he hadn't been his usual self lately. The fact that none of the girls could save him, when they were used to being able to save anyone, because their powers could not prevent old age, broke their hearts. Who knows, this could be their final goodbye. For Blossom, it was.

"You girls will save the day even with me gone and be just as awesome as ever, alright? Don't fret." His voice was so soothing, so reassuring and calm. Blossom nearly believed him.

'I should worry. I should fret. Because letting you leave, to go to this science convention, is going to lead to the creation of a terrible monster, an experiment gone wrong. And at some point in time I'll get kidnapped by my counterpart and won't be able to save you, when that terrible monster kills you.'

After a few moments of saying their farewells, the Professor exited the house. He strode outside and went to open the car door when a pink blur stopped him.

Blossom stared up at him with desperate eyes. "Don't leave."

He bent down to her level and kissed her cheek. "I know you'll keep your sisters safe and be responsible. Please, don't be worried about me. I'll be just fine. Back in a week, okay?" He kissed her again. "I love you."

She threw her arms around his neck once more and mumbled into his chest. "I love you, too."

And as she watched his car drive away, she repeated to herself, "Don't leave."

At one point she had been so fragile and unaware of the pain around her. She didn't realize that life wasn't all about stopping evil, didn't realize that other people were suffering. And up until now, she hadn't realized that the man before her was suffering...because of her.

She took his hands suddenly, and looked deep into his eyes. "I know I've done bad things. I know I've hurt you. Hurt Butch. Hurt Boomer. Torn your family apart, and you in the process. I understand that I don't at all deserve your forgiveness, but please..." She tightened her grip, eyes filling with tears. "Don't leave me."

Brick pulled her into his arms and hugged her. She had been receiving a lot of hugs lately, but none of them felt quite like this one. This one felt reassuring, passionate, and most of all...hopeful.

"We've both fucked each other over. But the shit we've gone through is what keeps us together. Without you I'd be a complete mess." He muttered into her neck.

She let the smallest smile slip over her face. "I would be, too." She tucked her head into his shoulder and breathed in his sharp smell. "I love you."

He wrapped his arms around her more firmly, protectively. "I love you more."

"Impossible." She mumbled.

He responded with a simple chuckle and they stayed like that, in each other's arms, for what seemed like hours. Completely at peace and with no distractions whatsoever. Yet somehow, Blossom still felt a horrible, deep guilt building up inside her chest and she realized that her apology wasn't enough, it would never be enough...

...

Some people tend to take life for granted. They see the world as a boring and pointless place, a destination in which they can leave at any point. People and events break them down piece by piece until eventually one final step sends them tumbling over a cliff to their death. Do they realize what end they've faced? Any idea what will come after death? No, but it doesn't matter to them. Because in the moment you only feel a terrible, painful, endless, unbearable weight on your chest. An emptiness in your gut. A hopelessness in your heart. Nothing and nobody can make it better at this moment, nothing can save you. You've come to the point of being devoid of any care or emotion. Maybe to some people this event seems selfish. To others, it's a way out, an escape from the constant dread. No matter what it is that causes this feeling, it will always hurt. It will always lead you down a dark path. But you admire that dark path, you want to feel dark and evil, you want the pain to go away. How will the darkness take that pain away? You don't know, yet you still fall into it's devilish claws.

When a person dies, nobody knows for sure where they go. You have to die to know. But if you've lost someone, then you're still alive. Up until the moment of losing someone, you were set on a religion or maybe believed in nothing. Now, you're questioning everything. You have a great hope that they've been sent to heaven and you will one day see them again. Yet a voice in the back of your head tells you that they're gone for good. This statement shatters you completely. The only thing you have left to hang onto is hope. But the initial feeling you receive when someone dies is consuming. It's a burst of confusion, horror, hysteria, disbelief, and a crushing pain that brings you to your knees. Then, after the initial reaction, you find yourself sobbing. Images of that person run through your mind. You refuse to believe it. You don't want to believe it. You insist they're alive, or that you can bring them back. But you soon realize that's not true and that they're gone for good. Words spill out of your mouth uncontrollably. It's a blurry, confusing jumble of a moment that goes on in these hours. Then you pass out, exhausted and filled with emptiness. When you awake you immediately remember the events and break down again. Nothing could ever compare to the feeling. You wish you had been the one to die, not them. They didn't deserve it. Crying, crying, and more crying. Still crying. Crying again. Then regret, terrible, heavy, regret. It hits you hard and you break down, shatter, are absolutely torn. Finally, endless depression. Forever. Because you will never forget them. That depression is the very thing that can destroy you. Maybe the initial discovery of their death caused you to end it all or do something you'd regret. But if you've hit the depression stage and it's been a long time that you've been suffering through it, then things begin to grow worse, that's when you'll finally make the decision. You'll pick up that knife and slit your wrists, no longer caring about anything. Losing someone is so hard. It's not possible to fully explain the true pain or emotions. But when someone you love passes, it could bring about your fate very quickly.

There's always a choice, for every single thing you ever do, there is a choice. Right or wrong, destiny is set out. Eventually you will choose right, just as eventually you will choose wrong. In the end, it will determine whether you live or die.

Mistakes happen. They can and can't be forgiven. You can get passed a mistake and do better. But when you've made too many mistakes, too many that have harmed people, then there's no way out. Especially when you've been blind the entire time.

Butch was a good person, so good. He never did anything to Blossom that made him deserve to die. But she had an affair with him, she gained his trust and threw it away, she broke his heart, broke his dignity, disrespected him over and over again, then couldn't even save his life after he saved hers. Boomer, he was kind to her. He admired her. He drugged his own brother, was in part the cause of his brother's death, just so he could be with her. It was all about her, and because of that, Butch died. Brick did bad things to her, but made up for them. He kidnapped her because he loved her. He gave her all his love and passion. She returned this with anger, resent, greed, lust, betrayal, and most of all...heartbreak. Brick killed Butch because he hurt Blossom. She was the reason Butch died. She was the true murder.

And yet Boomer was the one sitting in prison, living his days out in starvation and torture. Brick was suffering from the death of his brother as well as the intense passion he felt for his counterpart. Both of them were innocent, but were being punished. Blossom was guilty, and remained untouched.

That wasn't going to last for long. No, she was all about justice, all about equality and respect. She had hurt everyone she cared about and disrespected them all. She deserved only one punishment, only one sentence.

Her pink eyes glared into the mirror sitting in her room. Her hair was perfectly brushed and cascaded over her shoulders. Her clothes were clean and beautiful. Her skin was unblemished and unscarred. How was that fair?

She stood up and strode over to the mirror, raised her fist and smashed the glass with one clean blow. Her knuckles bled, but that wasn't even close to enough punishment.

She spun around and marched to the door, went downstairs and into the kitchen. She yanked a drawer open and pulled out a large Butcher's knife, made sure it was sharp, then returned to her bedroom. Sliding down her wall, she stared at the windows, at the dark, glum town outside. It was all so wrong. She didn't deserve to be happy like this, didn't deserve love and affection. Her gaze fell to her arm and shifted down to her wrist, where she could just barely spot the vein that connected to her heart. The knife grazed her skin and she once again glanced to the window.

Some people tend to take life for granted. Some people are just suffering. Some people are unworthy of life. Some people are oblivious. Blossom, was unaware of how stupid her actions truly were. But most people are. However, her actions were unforgivable. She needed to take her punishment.

Her eyes flickered to the mirror, then to the floor, where a shard of glass laid beside her leg. She carefully picked it up. Her fingers were still wrapped around the knife, she had had a plan, but she couldn't carry it out the way she wanted. She tossed the knife away. She was not going to use a weapon with the same name as her best friend, she was not going to dishonor him like that.

She held up the piece of glass and watched the moonlight glint off the clear object. The first time her and Butch had ever had an actual conversation was at night, and the moon had been glowing so bright.

The Mayor had called and said there was a brawl near the outskirts of town. So Blossom quickly left her bed to find the criminals and break it up. She should've taken her sisters with, even if she was a super hero she was still only 12 and men around here were beginning to get sadistically sinister. But her sisters had been sleeping. They had been exhausted from a day filled with crime fighting. Blossom didn't want to wake them for something as simple as a brawl, she could easily handle that.

She was walking down the alley, not hearing any noise. Had the Mayor lied? Was he delusional? Could she be walking into a trap?

A metal can rolled passed her feet and she whirled around.

Butch Jojo gave her a flirtatious smirk. He was leaning against the brick wall, hands in pockets, just staring at her. How long he had been there? She had no idea. Maybe he had been following her the whole time.

The glow of his eerily excited green eyes disturbed her to the point that she had to avert her gaze.

"What are you doing here?" She snapped.

He flashed her his teeth. "I live here, Pinky."

She furrowed her brows, realizing it was a stupid question. "Right...have you heard a fight going on anywhere around here or-"

"Nah, it's long over." He stated casually.

Her mouth remained open.

"The idiots never should've challenged me, but hey, not all villains are so smart." He brushed off his shirt.

She cocked her head to the side. "You were apart of the fight?"

He nodded.

"Oh." She didn't know what to say. Her job was done, if the fight was over, so she should return home. But for some reason it seemed as though the green ruff wanted to talk. "You know that's littering." She said as she pointed to the beer can. Her eyes widened. "Hey! You're too young to be drinking!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Hell if I care."

She pursed her lips. He had committed three crimes now; fighting, littering, and drinking underage. She could arrest him...if he wasn't a super-villain. It would be a fight she could definitely win, seeing as Butch wasn't too bright, but at that moment she just wanted to go home and sleep.

"You seem a bit tired, Pinky." Butch spoke.

Blossom looked up at him and blinked. The moonlight was glowing overhead so she could very clearly see his face, and his dark circles were horrible. Who was he to talk?

"You ain't talking as much as usual." He spoke again.

She glared. "That's because you're my enemy and I don't talk to you."

He shrugged. "Unfortunate for you I suppose. You're missing out on all this." He gestured towards his figure.

She snorted. "Yeah right." But she had to be honest, he did have a pretty handsome face, not so much body seeing as he was only 12 as well.

Butch shifted off of the wall and strode over to her. He picked her hand up, much to her surprise and horror. He whispered, "Until next time, Pinky." Before placing a quick kiss on her hand and disappearing into the shadows.

The entire event had at first disgusted and shocked Blossom. But now she realized that his love for her had started long before high school...and all that time she had still ignored him.

She clenched her teeth and tightened her grip on the shard of glass, so tight that a rigid edge pierced her skin and drew blood. The crimson liquid dribbled down her arm slowly, her eyes fixated on it. This was what she deserved; pain. Just like she had given it to others. It was pure karma, finally.

Her heart began to pick up pace as she took a deep breath. She let her eyelids fall, shutting out the memory of Butch. Brick would be so mad. So disappointed. So broken. But it would only be temporary, for the cause of his pain would finally be removed, allowing him a free passage to pure happiness. He could easily find a new girl, one who was true and returned his love, something Blossom could never do. She could never meet his expectations, let alone her own, so why try? It was an impossible challenge. She was not good enough for him, he needed to be happy and pain free. Boomer needed to be released from prison. She had already written a note ordering whoever read it to free the blue ruff. It was a long note, explaining why she was doing what she was and how much she loved everyone in her life. Then at the very bottom, it was signed 'Blossom Utonium The Murder of Butch Jojo.' Maybe that would allow everyone to get over her and not miss her.

A breeze swept in through the window and brushed over her skin, cooling her entire body. She opened her eyes again and stared passed her dark room and at the starlit sky. Whenever she looked at stars she swore they twinkled red, green, and blue. But maybe it was just her imagination.

Her muscles tensed as the time drew nearer. She ran her thumb over the glass and told herself that she had to do it now, before someone showed up and stopped her. She had to get it over with.

The powerpuff leader swallowed hard as she aimed the shard at its target. This would be the answer to everyones problems, the answer to all of her problems. She lifted the glass into the air, releasing a final breath through her lips. This time, the words she spoke were going out to her sisters and Brick.

"Until we meet again." She whispered.

Then the shard of glass was driven into her stomach. A gasp escaped her and she leaned forward in shock, holding onto her wound. At first, she felt nothing at all. Then she coughed and blood splattered across the carpet. The pain instantly hit her and was unlike any other. Tears spilled down her cheeks and blended with the blood that dribbled out of her mouth. She sobbed softly, still clutching the glass that was submerged into her stomach. It hurt so badly. The pain only continued to intensify as all of her senses were taken over and panic began to set in. The area of the wound was throbbing, pulsing. Blood leaked out, soaking her shirt, pants, and the carpet. She tried to hold onto it and stop the bleeding, out of pure instinct, but the liquid flowed through her fingers just as easily. She slammed her head into the wall and stared up at the ceiling. Her vision was beginning to spin and nauseas was rising up her throat. She felt as though she would turn and throw up her entire insides out onto the floor. Then the dizziness set in. Everything was spinning and blurry, she had to close her eyes tightly. But she was growing faint, drifting in and out of reality. She had to have hit her liver because she could clearly tell that she was quickly dying. Her breathing became heavy, she was almost hyperventilating. The sharp taste of iron was thick in her mouth. Then...she felt a sudden calmness wash over her, forcing her eyes shut. Her head drifted off the wall until she was lying on her side. The pain slowly dispersed and she felt completely numb, but giddy at the same time. She felt at peace. Carefully, she fluttered her eyes open to take one last glance at the night sky that she would never see again. And through her blurry gaze, she caught sight of a red streak in the darkness. Then she closed her eyes for the last time and fell asleep at last, with a loving smile forever sealed on her face.