XXI

Song

Alisa sat up suddenly. Startled out of my reverie, I withdrew my hand.

We were back in the hospital, with me sitting at her bedside. I rubbed my eyes a little, dazed at what I'd seen.

"What? What was that?" Her startled voice softened when she saw me. "Just now. I felt your emotions flowing into my mind… I…I know it happened to you too."

I nodded.

She looked down sadly, drawing her knees up to her chest. She seemed trapped in what she had just seen.

I took one of the cans from the side table, handing it to her. Alisa looked up, smiling weakly before taking it. I noticed that she avoided touching my fingers. Instead of being insulted, I was relieved. I didn't really want to go through that again. She reached for the tab.

The moment it opened, foamy drink spewed everywhere.

With a startled screech Alisa threw the can, though that didn't stop most of it from soaking her shirt. I got a lot of it on me, too. I desperately signed 'sorry' over and over again, but she didn't so much as glance my way. She wouldn't have been able to understand me, anyway. She just sat there, looking completely stunned.

All of a sudden, she started to laugh.

It was hesitant at first, as if she'd forgotten how to. And then it became stronger, until it was nearly hysterical. I felt a smile tug at my lips, and then I was laughing too.

"I never would have expected that'd you would try to prank me like that, Song!"

I raised my hands in my defense, shaking frantically to say that I didn't. That just made Alisa start laughing again.

"Alright, alright! I believe you!" Her laughter faded to a smile, and then the smile changed back to sadness. "I thought I'd forgotten all about that day…until right now…"

I put my can aside, wanting to reach and comfort her. She continued talking. "You saw. I know that you saw what happened to my parents. And I saw what happened to yours." She closed her eyes, reliving her painful memories. "It's all my fault!"

I couldn't stand that. I grabbed her hand, squeezing until she looked at me. I shook my head sharply.

She laughed, her laugh bitter instead of happy. "If you say that, then you should know it's not your fault either! I know that that's what you believe!"

I tried shaking my head again, but she knew that I was lying.

She chuckled, threading her fingers into mine and looking away. "We both know, somewhere deep deep down that it isn't true, but we can't stop ourselves from thinking it, can we?"

Shakily, I nodded. It was true. It was all too true.

"I guess we'll just have to deal with our guilt however we can." Alisa said. "You hated me. You hated me when I first came here, didn't you?"

No point in denying it.

"It was because…because I was so rude. That's what made you angry at me. I was rude to Kota and to Lindow, even though they were both so kind to me."

I nodded.

"Do you hate me still?"

This time I shook my head. There was no way. She was just…Alisa. That was how she is.

She smiled slightly. "That's what everyone likes about you, Song. You're so forgiving and kind. Sometimes…sometimes I wish I could be like that."

I freed my fingers from hers, standing up to look for a pen and paper. I hadn't brought my notebook simply because I didn't think that she would have woken up, anyway. Dr. Oguruma's desk had a notepad and a pen. I grabbed it, justifying the theft as something minor against the crimes he'd committed. With my loot I returned to my seat.

You can.

Alisa shook her head. "It's too late. I've already been so rude. I killed Lindow, Song! How can anyone forgive me after that?!"

No one blames you!

My haste made my writing messy and darker than usual.

Everyone's worried about you! They don't think it's your fault!

"I can't!" She sobbed. "I can't face them after this!"

I stood up and ran out of the room, hearing her yell my name.

The first room I visited was Soma's. I knocked as hard as I could. From the stomping, he was upset. When he opened the door his frown just deepened. "What do you want?"

I grabbed his arm and pulled. He was so surprised that I managed to get him through the doorway before he reacted.

"What the hell, rookie?! What do you want?!"

Keeping my grip tight, I took two steps and hammered at the door across from his. Halfway through knocking, Sakuya opened it. She must have heard the commotion and was coming to investigate. She looked tired, but that didn't stop the curiosity in his eyes.

She frowned at the two of us, or maybe just at my face. "What is it, Song…and Soma?"

I grabbed her arm too, dragging them both back to the elevator.

"What's gotten into you?!" Soma snarled, thrashing against my grip.

"Now now." Sakuya said gently, seeming to be enjoying herself. "Let's see where this goes."

Soma grumbled something under his breath.

We rode the elevator until we reached the rookie floor. I knocked on Kota's door.

"Coming!" He yelled. He opened the door with a large grin on his face, which quickly turned to confusion. "What exactly is going on here?"

"Rookie's lost it." Soma muttered.

I pulled him from his room after letting go of Sakuya and Soma. Deciding that at this point I had probably gotten them all interested, I gestured for them to follow me.

When we got back to the hospital, Alisa was sitting up on her bed. Her eyes widened when she saw all of us. They seemed equally as surprised to see her.

"You're awake!" Kota shouted. His surprise turned into a huge grin. "I can't believe it! I'm so happy!"

Alisa was speechless. I took that opportunity to grab the notepad, and scrawl on it:

Do you think it's Alisa's fault that Lindow's gone?

I flipped it so that my little crowd could see it.

Kota denied it right off the bat. "Of course not! That was a freak accident! How could you say that?!"

Sakuya's answer was a little more calm. "How could we blame you for that, Alisa? We all could do nothing."

Even Soma shook his head.

See?

My answer was accompanied by a huge grin.

That was when Alisa started to bawl.

Hello again! ^^

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I really have no other news to say other than I'm working on the next one. Oh, and look! *points to cover* I made a new one! I like this one a lot better, and I think I'll keep it until the story's finished. I guess I actually do have news, and more of it then! I've decided that I will end this story at the end of the Gods Eater storyline. That doesn't mean I'm going to end Song's adventures right there, though. I believe that I'll be making a sequel. The reason I'm splitting it in two is because there's already 21 chapters and we haven't even met Shio yet! This is the longest fanfiction I've ever written, and I don't feel like it having 100 chapters (yeah, unlikely but you get my point). So I'm deciding to split it up. I'll release a sequel, most likely. And, if by the time I'm done the sequel Gods Eater 2 comes out in the US, maybe I'll have to write a third book and make it a trilogy! :p I just really hope 2 comes out in English, at least.

Well, after that lengthy author's note, I'd just like to thank you all, as always, for reading! I appreciate it so much!