Ayumi's POV

'Yes, I'm an idiot. But I'm his idiot, always have been, always will be. And now I can go,'

My head was empty again. Urgh, why? Why did I allow Ootori Kyoya say his farewell? If I had known that it would both draw Freya out and chase her away, I would not have said a thing. No matter how selfish it would make me seem. Adults were complicated. If you love someone and they love you back, why hide it? Was it not beautiful that they found solace in each other? A home? Freya's vocabulary, not mine.

Yes, I had taken to use the massive vocabulary in our mixed memories that had given me a headache for a week. I was excited to find so much knowledge crammed into my shared brain all for about ten seconds. Then, I worried what that could possibly signify. Especially after seeing the hidden sad expressions from all the guys connected to Freya. What hit me the hardest was Ootori's reaction.

But now, I knew I had to do something even though I was not sure what exactly I could do. I could not doom Freya's love and close friends the sadness and confusion that came with her untimely 'death'.

I could not.

I would not.

I would never.

"Ayumi-chan!" Mitsu pulled me from my train of thought.

"Hey, Mitsu-kun," I greeted him, quickly wiping my tears before he noticed them.

"How are you feeling today?" he grinned at me, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

Not like it used to.

"I'm alright," I told him with a shrug.

Really, nothing had changed much. But I knew he was sad and guilt-driven. He loved Freya as much as Ootori-san did. As much as he used to love me, in fact. Thought now we were just platonic. It might have felt like yesterday to me, but it had been a long ten years since he last seen me. He managed to survive just fine without me. Yet these past three months, I could see how much he was truly struggling without Freya.

And it made me feel guilty.

"Mitsu-kun," I could not help but ask him, "Do you miss Freya?"

The expression on his face was all I needed for confirmation.

The fact that he ran into my arms - crying no less, strengthen my resolve.

My time in this world was long gone. I was literally on borrowed time now. Freya's time. This was her life. They were her friends.

I should give her back.

'If I could give her back, would you like that?' I could not find it in myself to ask him that.

Because I already knew his answer.

Honey's POV

"Ayumi-chan hasn't woken up in three days! What do you mean she's just sleeping?" I yelled at the nurse that had checked up on Ayumi for the umpteenth time today.

Every time I asked, that would be the reason that escaped the middle-aged woman's mouth. If it happened once or twice, I would not have minded all that much because yes, Ayumi needed her sleep to recuperate. But it had been three days since! Why would she not wake up?

It was scaring me. Actually, every time she slept scared me. Every time she closed her eyes for a short nap scared me. It might had been because we lost Layla. I missed Layla so much, it ate at me every time Ayumi woke up because even though Ayumi was back, I could not help hoping that Layla would show up.

And that made me feel all the more guilty. I mean, how selfish was I? I wanted Ayumi back for the longest time but now all I wanted was Layla to wake up. I was selfish. So utterly selfish that even Ayumi might have noticed.

"I'm sorry, sir!" The nurse hastily said.

She quickly bowed before scrambling out of Layla's (Ayumi's now) private room, probably getting Dr. Kobayashi again. I knew I was being difficult but Ayumi's case was completely different from any of the other patients in this hospital.

"Mitsukuni," Takashi reprimanded me with a look from beside Layla's bed which I pointedly ignored.

It did not do me any good that Kyoya was also falling apart. He was worse than I was when I first lost Ayumi. His hair was dishevelled, his clothes were rumpled, he had panda-sized eyebags and he seemed so detached from the world. I knew he was in love with Layla. I knew a long time ago which made me feel even worse. Heck, everyone was feeling miserable after losing Layla. They were just putting on a brave front for Ayumi.

"Ayumi! Wake up! Kyo-chan is going to leave tomorrow. You have to at least say goodbye to him!" I shook her limp arm, frustrated that she refused to open her eyes.

"Mitsukuni! Stop that!" Takashi lashed out, pulling me away from Ayumi.

I trashed about, struggling to get out of his grasps. Ayumi had to wake up! Kyoya. Kyoya needed to see her. He had to! If he does not, I did not believe that he would ever return to Japan. To us! If Kyoya leaves completely, what would be left of us?

"Ayumi!" I screamed out her name once more within Takashi's arms.

Would she listen to me? Would she open her eyes? Would she? If not for me, do it for Kyoya, Ayumi! Wake up!

I flinched at an unexpected sound.

"Hmmhm…" the lazy hum came after so long.

"A-ayumi?"

Was she awake?

Suddenly, Ayumi sprung from her bed, a forgotten fork left on her bedside table clenched in her hand. Only seconds later did she fell in a dishevelled mess on the floor. A sharp yelp escaped her lips with it.

"Ayumi! Are you alright?" I escaped Mori's lacked grasp, running to her.

She glared at me, body crouched like a wounded animal. That stopped me in my tracks. Ayumi's eye was focus but unseeing. What was happening to her? As if she was an animal, I could hear her warning growl.

"T-Taka! Call Doctor Kobayashi!" I told the still stunned Mori standing at the foot of Ayumi's bed.

Mori scrambled for the door, grabbing me with him and quickly shut the door.

"What was that?" I yelled as we raced to the nurse's desk to page Doctor Kobayashi.

Taka was silent. He did not know what was going on as well but quicken his pace. Taka sensed the weird situation and acted the only way he knew. Fast. Seeing the nurse's desk coming up, I yelled for her to page Dr. Kobayashi now.

"Sir! There is no need to yell. This is a hospital, not some teen concert. You have been scaring the staff since Monday and I will not tolerant it!" the young nurse behind the counter reprimanded.

Reigning in my shock and anger, I tried again. In a much calmer tone while still on Taka's shoulders.

"Please call Doctor Kobayashi. Ayumi's awake but she's aggressive,"

"O-o-oh. Well then!" she grabbed the receiver and announced, "Dr. Kobayashi from Toxicology, please come to room 405 immediately."

I fiddled with my fingers as Dr. Kobayashi examined the stiff girl sitting on her hospital bed. Now and then he would harrumphed, a semi-permanent frown etched on his face. Ayumi's alert eye followed his every move, just as he did. Both were cautious.

And then she spoke,

"Where is Ayumi?"

A sudden chill ran up my spine. I knew who this was. And for one, it was not Ayumi.

"Well, doctor? What did you do with her?" hatred so evident in her eyes.

It was…

"Miss Freya, you have returned," Dr. Kobayashi greeted, a tight cautious smile adorned his face.

"Where is Ayumi?" Freya tried again, her voice tight with impatience.

"I'm sorry, Layla. A-Ayumi had erased herself," I cut in, realising the truth.

The tears finally flowed with my realisation. Ayumi was gone. She left. She did not think that she belonged. And she… She gave Layla back.

Layla's sole eye widen with shock. Her eye searched frantically around the room. Worry and guilt painted her expression. And finally she spoke.

"No… No no no! That can't be! After all I did! After all we went through to get her back! She… she!" Layla was hysterical.

"Layla…" I called out, worried.

Before anyone could move, she trashed about, tearing her IV from her arm. She scratched at her arms, screaming her lungs out, "Ayumi! Ayumi! No, Ayumi!!"

Taka moved faster than I did. He hugged her close, pinning her struggling arms between them.

"Layla!" he yelled, shaking her.

Layla continued to struggle against him. Crying as she punched him over and over, her sadness was overflowing. The air in the room was suffocating. All I could do was hang back and watch as Taka tried to calm her down.

"No! No! Ayumi can't! She wouldn't!" the front of Taka's shirt was drenched with Layla's tears, huge sobs raked through her body and still, I could not do a thing but watch.

Dr. Kobayashi sighed as he pulled out a needle. I quickly stood in his way, not wanting him to knock Layla out with drugs. I knew it would not do any good. Layla needed to be calmed down naturally. No drugs could help her. Not with what Tetsuya did to her.

"No, doctor. That's not going to help and you know it," I told him defensively.

"Well, what do you have in mind? We can't very well leave her hysterical like this?" he gestured to the trashing girl in Taka's arms, the fight in them still going strong.

"Let us handle it," as I pushed the doctor out the door and unceremoniously shut it in his face.

Kyoya would probably tell me I was being unnaturally difficult and rude.

Wait. That was it! Kyoya!

"Layla, stop this instant! Kyoya wouldn't want to see you like this!" I bellowed.

Layla flinched. Her sobbed caught in her throat. Eye wide as she stared back at me.

"Kyoya?" she asked in a broken tone.

And I knew I should not tell her that he was leaving. I just knew. Not with how broken she sounded. I watched as Taka visibly held her closer, knowing what I said would affect her most. He ran calming fingers through her hair, soothing her. My mouth remained shut. I could not form any more words. And I did not need to, it would seem. Layla was pulled back into a soundless sleep. Though soundless, it was still sleep.

Freya's POV

I woke up with Mitsukuni and Takashi beside me. My IV was back in my arm. I looked up at the ceiling, numbed. Ayumi was gone. Ruby was gone. I was all alone in my head. No intruding voice to keep me company. No nothing, really.

Kyoya… He was my only thought. But I knew Mitsukuni and Takashi were not telling me something. And that thing was obviously about Kyoya. I patted Mitsukuni's pockets and pulled out the phone I knew would tell me what I wanted to find out. It really was my luck that these two were such heavy sleepers. Scooting out of bed, I pulled myself to the adjacent bathroom.

Strolling through contacts, I reached the one I was searching for.

Kyo-chan

I'm sorry. I can't stay, you know why. America might do me some good, along with helping my family's business. I'll be on the nine o'clock flight on the 14th.I'm sorry... I can't see her if she isn't Freya.

He was leaving. Kyoya was leaving. He was leaving because of me. I have to stop him! Why did I have to come back if I has not going to see him again?

What date was it today?! Pulling down the tab, the numbers mocked me. It was the 14th. Did I miss him? The time. The time! What time is it?! Eight in the morning. I had an hour! I had an hour to get to him. I have to get to him!

Staring at my useless left leg, I bit my lips uncertain. Could I really make in time with this useless thing?

I had to!

Grabbing what I needed, money, a disguise, I forced myself down the hall to the elevators. No one was paying much attention to me. Not with me wearing such a thick coat and a hoodie hiding my hair. Reaching the lobby was a strain with only one completely functioning leg but by pure luck, I made it that far. And I knew without a doubt that Mitsukuni and Takashi would still be asleep if no one disturbed them any time soon.

Hailing a cab, I half dragged myself into the seat and told the driver to quickly head to Japan's International Airport. It would take at least 30 minutes to get there from the Ootori Clan's private Hospital. And I had already wasted 15 minutes getting down to the lobby. Cutting it close did not even begin to explain the situation. That and I did not know the exact flight he was getting on.

Thinking about it, I started to feel disheartened. Would I be able to find him? I hoped with all the time I had that I would make it. I needed to see him as much as I needed oxygen to breathe. I never thought that I would long for someone so much. All my life it had been for other people. Nothing for myself. For Ruby, for Princess, for Ayumi. Never once for me. But I knew now. He was what I wanted. He was what I needed. Would I make it? I had hope.

But that was what went wrong, of course. Hope. The most beautiful and painful thing anyone could have. I lived with it constantly taken away from me. And I knew deep down that this was one of those moments. Because as I ran into the airport, I already knew I was too late. And yet I still ran with ugly tears in my eyes until I tripped on my useless leg. Falling ungracefully onto the waxed floor.

A pain jolted through me. And I knew without looking, that my good ankle was twisted. Big fat uncensored sobs tore out of me as I watched the big clock on the wall mocking me with the time.

9:45 am.

Kyoya was gone. And I had made myself even worse than with what I started. He was gone. Leaving me behind to go off into America. But... I was the one who left first. I was aware of it. And it hurt even more knowing I hurt him. That I left him. That he did not even know I had returned. That he left.

It hurts. It hurts too much. I clenched my chest, the pain threatening to swallow me whole. Tears continued to rake my broken and battered body. I did this. It was all me. I was selfish. At least now my outside looked as broken and battered as my inside. I want to die. Why did I not die?!

Maybe I could end it. Maybe. Just maybe!

Suddenly the wind was forced out of me. Warm arms held me tight.

"Don't Layla!" his voice called out, "I know what you're thinking! And I won't let you!"

But it was not his voice.

"No! Let me go!" I yelled while staring at my hands.

Angry swells that were not there moments ago had made their appearance. Under my nails was blood. My blood. I had once again tore the skin of my arms. What did I want to accomplish with this? I did not know.

"Frey-chan, welcome home!" Mitsu-kun half-heartedly cheered as Taka pushed my wheelchair into the big bedroom.

An pregnant silence followed his declaration.

It had been more than 4 months since I missed the chance to stop Kyoya and I hated ever day that past. Moving my arms had become a chore though that had everything to do with how weak I had become.

"If you need anything. Anything at all, Frey-chan, don't hesitant to call our names. We would come running to you!" Mitsu's false happiness was wearing thin on me and I could not help but snap.

"Leave!" I yelled at the two.

Forcing my wheelchair to face away from them. I did not need the pity. I did not need the constant surveillance as though any moment I would kill myself. I did not need it. Nor did I want it.

I just wanted them to leave me alone!

After a moment, I heard foot steps walking away from me and out the door. Letting out a sigh, I struggled to roll the wheelchair closer to the vanity table. My arms were shaking like a leaf and it annoyed me to no end. Pulling my attention back to the table, I continued to survey its contents. There were several items on it. The mirror which I pointedly ignored after a disappointing glance at my own reflection - a few hair ornaments, basic make up and a beautiful comb. Staring at the comb, I remembered how tangled my hair was from that small glance up at the mirror told me.

Tightening my jaw, I shakenly tried to grab the comb. Annoyed, I tried to ran the comb through my unruly hair. My hand clumsily pulled at the hair, pulling strands out along with it Feeling every ounce as pissed as I was at everything else I could not do, I forced my uncooperating hand to comb the next strands. Gripping my wrist with my other hand to steady it, I continued to force the comb through, unwittingly gripping the comb too tightly. Without warning my hands started to cramp up and the comb fell unceremoniously onto the ground.

Holding in my tears of frustration, I reached for the comb on the floor. I was not going to call for help. I was so useless that it hurt more. I could hear myself whimpering from the strain I was putting my body through. But I still reached out for it. And suddenly a hand grabbed the comb and with it came a sigh.

My body stiffen as Takashi came into my line of sight. I thought he had left with Mitsukuni. The furrow in his brows annoyed me. He was worried. And I hated it. I glared at him as I wiped at my face to get rid of the tears there. What was he still doing here? Come to gloat at how useless I had became? How childish and stubborn I wa-?

"Freya, stop this. You don't have to do this alone," Takashi held me close and I felt the tell-tale prickling from the corner of my eyes that told me I was about to cry big fat ugly tears.

I thought I had enough. Apparently, it was not quite done yet with the pity party. Hugging Takashi, I let it out. Every annoying thing that used to be simple and now I could not even do without asking for help. Everything that bothered me. Missing Princess, guilt about Ayumi and losing Kyoya. Things and emotions I thought I was trained to be immune from and yet here I was brawling my eyes out.

And all Taka-kun did the whole time was soothingly patting my head. Letting me lay down my heart right in front of him. The silence from him was calming. I never thought I could feel like me, even though it was just a tiny bit of me. But it was me nonetheless.

After a while, Taka-kun pulled away from our embrace and held me at arms length.

"You, Freya. You're too hard on yourself. Please rely on me just a little," Taka-kun peered at my face, "You're like my precious little girl. Please let me in."

And that was all he had to say.

Long time, no see. And that my fault. I really have no excuse buy I hope you guys liked this chapter. RR please!

~StormAria~