Geri: UGGGGGH. I hate USBs. Stupid formatting *throws stuff around*

Amu: Calm down o.o"

Ikuto: Let her be.

Geri: I was almost done with the chapter DX Now this update is gonna be extra late. UGH.

Ikuto: It's ok, Geriann.

Geri: You sound like rohit -.-"

Ikuto: THAT'S YOUR FAULT.

Amu: You can do it! Gombatte!

Chapter 28: Coma

Takanari's POV

"Wh-What?"

"I heard you talking to someone." Amu said half-heartedly, rubbing her eyes.

"You must've been hearing things then." I said with a chuckle.

"No, I know you were talking."

"Well you might think I'm crazy."

"I've heard a lot of crazy things."

"Is that so?"

"Mhmm.."

I placed Takara carefully onto the couch and placed a fuzzy pink blanket over her small frame.

"Why don't I make some breakfast?" Amu offered.

"That would be great, thank you."

"What would you like?"

"Surprise me." I replied with a smile.

"Alright." A very amused smile played on her lips.

As she cooked, I could smell the pancakes cooking on the pan.

"What are you guys doing up so early?" Ikuto asked suddenly.

He wore a white flannel shirt with skinny black dress pants. A red silk tie was tied around his neck and a name tag was clipped over his heart.

"Where are you off to?"

"I work part time at Seiyo as a music teacher."

"It's a wonder they gave him a job at all." Amu retorted.

"You know me, I always have had my way with women." A feline smirk adorned his lips.

"Shut up, baka-neko!"

"You two go so well with each other." I couldn't help but laugh.

Takara started to cry and Ikuto swiftly went to her side before either of us could offer to go in his place. I set the table and waited for Amu to finish cooking. As she set down three plates of waffles for each of us, I pulled open a chair for her.

"Why thank you!"

"No problem."

"Well," She said as I sat down. "Take a bite."

"Now why would I do such a thing?" I joked.

"Shush up and eat!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Amu set down another plate, but this time it was filled with sunny side up eggs.

"Why is Ikuto-kun working?"

"To pay back my parents, they've been supporting our expenses." She looked sympathetic at that moment, her pink morning hair seeming almost glowing.

"That must be hard on you." I said, rolling a piece of toast with my fork. "And them."

"Yeah, it is."

"Ikuto-kun is good man."

"Yeah," Amu smiled nice and wide. "He is."

"You're cooking is amazing, Amu-chan." I said, the taste seeming to be very familiar.

"I barely get to cook when Ikuto is home." Her laugh was like music to my ears.

"Well, Takara-chii is asleep again." Ikuto said with a smile and kissed Amu's cheek. "I'll see you two later.

"Alright, bye." We said at the same time.

"Take care of them, will you, Masamune-kun?"

"I thought I could call you 'Ikuto' and you could call me 'Takanari'?"

"Oh, well, I guess." He replied a bit awkwardly.

"Get going, you're going to be late." Amu said sternly.

"Yes, yes."

When Ikuto finally left, Amu and I set out to clean the house. The task itself went by fast and I wondered what we were going to do when we finished. The doorbell rang and Amu ran to get it. An older woman that looked a lot like Amu came in and she looked at me awestruck.

"T-Takanari-san?"

"Uhm, yes?"

"i thought you were dead!"

"Dead?"

"MAMA!" Amu interrupted. "This is Masamune Takanari."

Her mother blinked a few times and took a good look at me.

"Yes, how could I be mistaken?" She bowed. "I'm so sorry Masamune-san!"

"No, no. It's fine." I said.

"Well, are you sure you can babysit today?" Amu asked.

"Yes, of course! I always take today off so I can spend time with Takara-chan."

"Then I'll be taking Takanari-kun with me."

"Alright, have fun you two." Her mother said happily pushing up her glasses.

"Nice meeting you." I said as Amu pulled me out the door.

"Amu, who did she mistake me for?"

"My dear friend."

"Who was he?"

"Miyu Takanari."

"Is he dead?"

"He died recently, actually."

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

When we were safely outside, AMu looked very bothered.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry that this keeps happening."

"No problem, Bubble Gum." I said instinctively.

Amu stopped walking, "Bubble Gum?"

My head started to throb.

"Then click away, Bubble Gum."

"Bubble Gum?"

"Isn't that the color of your hair? Bubble Gum pink?"

"Well I guess."

"Just never mind and pose with me, Idiot."

"Takanari-kun?" Amu asked as she placed her hand on my shoulder. "What's wrong."

"Thanks..." He puffed and dubbed his face with a towel.

"That was quite an exercise."

"You know it! It's good for you and your chubby tummy!" He chuckled.

"I am NOT chubby!" I pouted.

"I'm just joking, Bubble Gum!" He laughed hard and ruffled my hair.

"Hmph."

There was a loud buzzing noise coming into my ears and I doubled over in pain. What was happening? The world started to spin and the colors around me tried into a whole new spectrum of shades.

"Ehhh! Takanari-kun!" She whined like a small child.

"Come on, let's head to class! It's already 6 and you need to get the notebooks."

"Oh, right! I totally forgot!"

"Yeah, Hop to it, Bubble Gum."

My mind tried to analyze all the images that flashed before me. What did they mean? Why were they of Amu and I? When did this happen? Distantly, I could hear the sweet melody of Amu's singing in my mind's ear. Everything was happening so fast that before I knew it, I passed out.

Amu's POV

I yelled and yelled as I cradled Takanari's head. He wasn't responding and his breathing was horribly uneven. He seemed to toss and turn as if he were having a nightmare of some sort. Finally one of my neighbors came out and saw the damage. In no time, Takanari and I were transported to a hospital. The doctor had reported that he was in a coma like state and it would be hard to tell when he would wake up. Why did this have to happen? My mind raced with thoughts of his death and the day that Takanari, my Takanari, died.

That moment would always haunt me. The image of Takanari's body hitting the hood of that damned car, rolling over the roof as it continued to speed by, and how it was mercilessly booted off the back. His painful gurgling still hummed in my ears when everything was silent around me. Ikuto reported that he had to stay with Takara for the night and that I should come home.

"I can't." I replied into the receiver.

"Why not?" His tone held a little anger.

"I'm the one who found him and he has no relatives to claim him. I'll take care of him; he won't be left alone."

"I understand." Ikuto abruptly hung up.

I held Takanari's hand and started to pray.

Takanari's POV

My eyes fluttered open and I was almost blinded by the sunlight that beat down on me. I looked to my side and saw a single tree and lots of fully grown evergreen grass. I looked again when my eyes adjusted to the light and saw the Angel looking down at me. The beautiful blonde one that talked to me this morning.

"Hello again." I greeted.

"I'm glad you woke up."

Emily. That name stuck out at me.

"Is your name Emily?"

The atmosphere changed drastically then. Everything around us turned gray and dead. The tree shriveled up and the grass turned to pale grain colored dust. There was a cold wind that blew past and it ruffled Emily's feathers. Before we knew it, the two of jus were now surrounded by thick misty white clouds. If I didn't know they were clouds, I would have thought I was surrounded by nothing.

"Where are we?"

"I'm not entirely sure."

"You're not sure?"

"Nope."

"Well, that's a big help."

"Sorry." Her british accent was sort of annoying.

Wait. Emily was speaking english. How come I could understand?

"What's wrong?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"I was just wondering why I can understand english."

"This place is a very ancient holy sanctuary."

"I thought you said you didn't know what this place was?"

"Well, I do now." Her tone was dismissive.

"So what are we doing here?"

"Something has happened to your being."

"My being?"

"Yes, your soul is fighting with itself."

"My soul is doing what?"

Maybe this was all a dream. A stupid and terrible dream.

"I told you before.." She squinted and pointed pass me. "What is that?"

I turned toward the direction she was pointing and saw a small blue beacon.

"I think I'm supposed to go towards it."

"Alright, let's go!" She replied and started to run toward it.

"Can't you just fly over there?" I asked, running after her.

"No angel is permitted to fly in areas like this."

"Alright then."

For what seemed like hours, we ran towards the small blue light. However, no matter how much we ran towards the light, the beacon seemed no closer. I finally gave up and sat down, huffing and puffing like a maniac.

"What's wrong?" Emily didn't look like she was evening breaking a sweat.

"This is pointless." I growled. "This is getting us nowhere."

"Well maybe you have to do something in order for the path to the beacon to appear."

"Let's not think about that, how about this. WHy don't you tell me about my other self."

"Your other self?"

"Like who is fighting against my soul."

"Oh, that's easy. The 'Miyu Takanari' that holds all your memories and the 'Masamune Takanari' that has been reborn." Emily stated. "You're two different people."

"Miyu Takanari?"

How come that name sounded familiar?

"You were Amu and Ikuto's friend."

"Oh…"

Everything started to make sense. There was a low rumbling that came from beneath us and the ground began to crack. The clouds parted and revealed a grassy and floral path. At the end of the path was a roaring blue flame. It seemed to beckon to me with such longing. I walked towards it and half way through, I noticed that Emily wasn't following me.

"Aren't you coming?"

"I can't." Her voice held obvious pain.

"Why not?"

"This is your path, not mine."

I ran back to her and I tried to get her to move onto the path, her body refused to move.

"Go on." She said with a sad smile. "You have to keep moving forward."

"What about you?"

"I'll always be watching over you." She laughed. "If I don't who will?"

"That's a good question."

"Go on."

"What's going to happen?"

"A trial will begin."

"Trial?"

"Yes." She pulled my head down and kissed my forehead. "It will be hard and dangerous, but you will do beautifully."

"What will I have to do?"

"I'm not sure."

A twinkling golden light surrounded Emily and parts of her body started to disappear in a spiral of particles. In seconds, all that was left of her was stray ashes that filled the ground. I stared at the spot where Emily was and tried not too feel sad. Somehow, I felt like I had lost a very dear friend. My head throbbed again and i knew a flash back was about to happen.

"I have no idea what it must feel like with such a decision, but you should choose what feels right to you."

"If I do choose to go into this body, will I remember all of this? Will I remember who I am?"

"I don't know."

"Emily, if you could…you know? Come back to life? Would you do it?"

"Only if it meant I could see the people I love again." Emily whispered lightly. "But I think I'm happy here."

I turned my back to her embers and started to walk forward. As I got at arm's length from the flame, I was surprised to realize that I felt no heat what so ever. After much debating with myself, I stud my whole left hand into the flame. It felt soothing and as I reached for the base of the fire, my finger tips brushed against nothing. How could that be? I put more of myself into the flame and realized the salem was bottomless. But it as too late, too much of me was in it and the flame seemed to be sucking me in. A whirl pool of flame engulfed me and I was sucked into a blue tinted darkness.

I landed head first onto an area that resembled the place where The Imprisioned was kept in Zelda Skyward Sword. I looked up and studied the spiral path that led up to higher ground. Would my trial resemble my favorite video game? There wasn't much sound around me, all I could hear was the slight noises of water trickling down stone. As I scaled the top like hole, I noticed the odd looking plants that filled the area. It was a cross between Jumanji and the actual video game plants in Skyward Sword.

Once I was at the top, a small child in a black cloak looked up at me expectedly, "Hello, Takanari Miyu."

"Uhm..hello?"

"What is your purpose here?" Why was his voice so deep? He looked like he was eight.

"I'm here for a trial."

"A trial?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"What for?" He inquired.

"To determine who I am."

"I sensed that there was another presence within you."

"Then may I go through my trial?"

"Of course." A staff appeared in his hand and he tapped it on the ground. "May the games begin."

Everything around me started to explode.

Geri: Well Rohit, this should make for an interesting report [:

Amu: Yeah, don't forget to turn that assignment in!

Ikuto: Give that poor hobo a break.

Amu: He reads too slow.

Geri: Exactly.