Chasing The Sunset

            The sunset was beautiful. Reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, purples and blues blended on the western horizon in an awesome display of solar hues. A quick glance over the shoulder, and the moon was rising. Damn that frozen orb. It ruins everything.

            I looked at my partner as he focused still on the setting sun. I watched the reflections of the swirling colors in his eyes. He seemed content to merely view the retiring sun each evening, but I wished I could reach out and grab it. He was always content with simple things while I always strove for the impossible.

            "Are you happy?" I asked and he nodded.

            "There is nothing else in the world you could possibly want?"

            He flinched. The colors in his eyes dimmed and blackened as thick lashes obscured them from my view for a moment.

            "Nothing in the universe…"

            "You lie."

            "I never lie."

            "You are not aware that you are lying, because you are lying to yourself."

            "Isn't the sunset lovely tonight?"

            "Don't fuck with me."

            He turned to face me. His violet eyes were full of questions.

            "What? What is it?"

            "I'm not a child. You don't have to shelter me."

            "Who says I'm sheltering you?"

            I stood up and took a step towards the edge of the roof.

            "What are you doing!?"

            "Exercising my freedom." I prepared to jump, but he grabbed my wrist.

            "You're insane! Stop this nonsense."

            "You're sheltering me…"

            "What…?" he released my wrist and I fell.

            When I awoke, he was standing over me. I felt something warm and sticky on my face.

            "You're a fool," he said and I smiled.

            "You had a choice: take my freedom and protect me, or let me be free and take a risk. You made the right choice."

            "How can you say that!?" He knelt down and took my hand.

            "My freedom is more important to me than my well-being. Now, you take a risk."

            "What are you talking about!?"

            "Take a risk and tell me what you want."

            "I want… you. I want you, you stupid fool!"

            "That was worth the fall…"

            "Have I told you you're a fool?"

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Kegawa: From a personal experience?

Tori: Sort of… I fell down the stairs today.