One Last Breath
~By: Lauren~
T H E
C R U E L
F A T E S
Meimi groaned as she flopped back down into the moist grass.
"GET UP!" Tony order, obviously very inpatient and annoyed at the younger girl. "We NEED to get to the town SOMETIME today! Didn't you get ANY sleep last night?" He demanded. Behind him Aaron and Tammy were calming waiting by the bikes while Marie made a last minute run to the bathroom.
Meimi frowned. "No." Her groggy voice managed to reply. And it was the truth. After she had awaken from that strange dream she had been unable to get back to sleep while an uneasy feeling grew in her heart. She had finally gotten to sleep only to be woken up a minute later by Tony.
"How can she ride her bike in that condition? She'll fall asleep and crash!" Marie exclaimed as she surveyed Meimi, who was curled up in the grass now with her eyes shut tightly behind her sunglasses.
"Great." The Italian boy threw his hands up into the air as he muttered curses under his breath. He paced back and forth, wearing down the brownish- green grass under him quickly.
"I've got an idea." Tammy spoke up. "Maybe Marie can drive Meimi's bike and she can ride double with her or with Tony!! You do know how to ride, right Marie?"
Marie nodded yes.
"There! Problem solved! You should use your head more often Tony." Tammy chuckled, grinning ear to ear while she crossed her arms.
"Something you haven't talented." He shot her a glare as he clambered onto his bike.
Tammy snickered. "He's not a morning person." She murmured as she helped Meimi to her feet. Tammy helped Meimi climb onto Tony's bike and to latch her arms around his waist. She then joined Aaron while Marie started up Meimi's bike. The roaring noise of the engine was beginning to give Meimi a throbbing headache but it didn't matter for soon she was sound asleep.
~*~
Golden rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining directly on Meimi's face without pity. She moaned quietly before opening her eyes. "W- Where are we now...?" She stated while sitting up, her face remaining completely clueless.
"We're here." Aaron replied, waving his hand in the air in front of his nose. "And brush you're teeth, you've got majorly bad morning breath, or should I say afternoon breath?"
The response he gained was a quick roll of her eyes mixed in with a glare. "I repeat, where are we?" She looked at her surroundings. They were in yet ANOTHER junkyard and she was seriously getting sick of old rusty cars. It was pretty much the same as before, torn up couches, cars to sleep in, dirt for a floor along with some spots of old grass that attempted to grow and some forest-like area that surrounded them. The junkyard must have been smack dab in the town or at least near it for she could hear the distance honking of cars and the chatter of people out doing people-like stuff.
"I'm not really sure about the name of the town but the group thought you'd like it here. It's our surprise for you! Maybe you don't remember it but this is the exact day you joined our group two years ago!" He hugged her quickly with a smile. "We're lucky we have you!! So any ways, we thought we'd pick out a quiet, nice, serene town that you'd enjoy and it would sort of be like a vacation and this ended up being the spot. The ocean isn't too far off so we can go there sometime too! It was Tammy's suggestion because she came here a few years ago and also she said this was where the famous thief Saint Tail used to work too! Isn't that so cool?! Maybe we'll get to meet her!!" Aaron chirped with excitement.
Meimi felt her heart stop beating.
"I-I'm...h-h-ho...me...." She thought, her eyes wide.
"If you like Saint Tail so much why don't you marry her?!" Marie smirked, poking Aaron in his stomach.
"Be quiet!!" He retorted, both of them not noticing Meimi's gapping mouth or her wide eyes but then again, her sunglasses blocked them from view.
"But I haven't heard much about her in like, forever." Marie said, adding herself into their conversation.
Tears brimmed the silent girl's eyes but they were quickly blinked away. "W- What d-do I do? I c-can't just...run away again. The o-others thought I'd e- enjoy being here...but they have no idea...what I left behind here."
"Yo, Meimi! Anyone home?! You ok?" Tammy's hand waved in front of her face. Meimi blinked for a moment before regaining her composure.
"Yeah. I-It's just...." Meimi murmured, afraid of what to say or what to tell.
"What?" Tammy gave her a quizzical look while in the background Aaron, Marie and Tony were now bickering.
"I left....I left this place. Everyone...got tired of me and I h-had nothing left...so I ran away...I ran...and n-now I'm h-here a-again...I'm b- back..." Meimi whispered so Tammy had to strain to hear. She was absently staring ahead. "The fates must hate me. First that incident at the cafe long ago and now THIS?! I CANNOT GET AWAY FROM THIS DAMN PLACE NO MATTER HOW MUCH I RUN!!!!" She thought to herself before she realized that Tammy was still silently staring at her. Meimi blinked, then slowly spoke. "...Have you ever been in a crowd but felt alone, Tammy?"
Meimi's rambling voice was fading as she spoke, but Tammy could still catch every word. Leaning back, Tammy stared sadly up at the sky.
"Always." Tammy whispered, not sure if Meimi heard her or not. Speaking louder, she blinked out the tears that layered her eyes. "Do you want to leave? We can if you want."
This was it. This was Meimi's one chance not to run away. Not to be a coward. She had only one thing she desired to do in this lonely town and then, then she wouldn't be tied down to it and she could leave, free of all ties. She had to visit her parent's grave. She was too afraid, to ashamed to say good-bye to them when she left but now...now she was being given a second chance. She could say how sorry she was for murdering them. She could free herself from the guilt, pain and regret that was now well hidden inside herself. Slowly, Meimi shook her head no. "We'll stay." She coldly spoke. She thought to herself. "I was wrong mother...father. Always trying to run away from hard and miserable things...I now know that there are times when you have to fight even if it's hard and miserable. But I do not want to forget to smile. A smile can become the strength to help many people..." She closed her fists with determination. Meimi would do what must be done and then flee with her true friends. She would be free. A tiny smile passed on her face but was quickly replaced with a frown caused by nervousness. Curious to see what had changed in the place she had once referred to as home, Meimi stood up, surprising Tammy.
"I'm going out for a walk. Be back in a little bit." Meimi have to force herself to take every little step, using all of her will power. What is she saw someone she used to know? What if she ran into her Aunt Sally? What if they had...forgotten about her? Meimi shook her head. "Who cares if they forgot about me? I'll be glad if they did, the better for them AND me." She tried to tell herself although she wasn't quite sure she had convinced herself. Part of her seemed to be saying. "Would anyone from home care of I died? Would anyone cry? Would they be happy if I lived and returned home?" Pushing back the thoughts, Meimi stepped onto a cement sidewalk. She was clad in tall, slimming black boots with a thin heel that ran up to her knees. With that she was wearing a short white skirt along with a white tank top that sported the word "Angel" across the front in silver sparkle letters. Over that she wore her well-used black trench coat that was beginning to gray. Her red hair flowed behind her while her black sunglasses shielded her eyes. Most normal people would be slightly afraid at this sight but her warm smile comforted them a bit. She turned a corner to find the familiar cherry tree, the one she had seen the day she left, by the lake in full bloom, sending thousands of pale pink blossoms into the water and the grass. She paused, resting her body against a railing that separated the park from the street. For a brief moment, she relaxed, feeling her body come to a calming peace staring at the lonesome yet beautiful sight. The once withering solitary tree had grown enormous, sprouting lots of large branches that seemed to reach out to the sky while the old roots were planted firmly into the ground. Meimi smiled at the familiar sight. For once it felt good to see something she had not seen in such a long time. A slightly warm breeze picked up, sending a group of the petals flying around Meimi, lifting her hair up to mix with the pink blossoms. When it settled down, Meimi noticed that she now had the things stuck and tangled throughout her hair. Grumbling a few choice words she promptly began to comb them out with her fingers. A few blossoms landed in the lake and floated along the top, sending ripples every which way. She smiled. Surprisingly...it sort of...felt nice...to be home. She still hurt, yes, but right now it wasn't that bad. If she saw the familiar people she had once known though, she was sure it was going to hurt a lot worse. Turning away from the park, Meimi picked up her pace down the sidewalk. Soon she came to a stoplight where she waited impatiently for it to change.
~*~
Asuka Jr. sighed, scratching the back of his head as he strutted down the street. Lina was yet again latched onto his arm. He swore the girl was like a leech or something- she never let go of him!!! Behind him Seira and Sawatari were walking, holding hands and talking quietly. He blinked, running his free hand through his hair. His eyes stayed locked on the pathway in front of him but he was forced to look up as they came to a stoplight, waiting to cross the street. Around him a crowd had grown. "This is what you get for going shopping on Saturday." He grimly thought. Across the street an equal amount of people had gathered. Finally, the electric sign signaled the group of people to cross the street.
"So are you both going to the school dance together tomorrow night?" Seira spoke up to Asuka Jr. and Lina as they crossed.
Asuka Jr. shrugged.
"Of course we are!!" Lina exclaimed happily.
Asuka froze.
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he caught a glimpse of red hair out of the corner of his eye. The hair had fluttered dangerously close to his face, causing him to breathe in a strange scent. A scent he knew. A scent he hadn't smelled for two entire years. He spun around, searching for her face, searching for the person he KNEW he saw, searching for what he had lost two years ago, searching for what he desired most.
But his eyes only met the backs of people, none even with red hair.
He couldn't look much longer as Lina dragged him forward. She didn't notice that he was trembling. "D-Did I j-just imagine that...? B-But it felt so real...I-I could smell her...I could almost touch her hair...It HAD to be her...!!" Asuka Jr. told himself.
~*~
"T-That was close!!!!" Meimi quietly screamed to herself as she crouched down low into a nearby alley. "I can't let my guard down." She whispered to Ruby who squeaked with joy. "Maybe YOU want to see them but I DON'T." She warned the hedgehog. "We'll stay here a bit longer, I don't want to take chances."
But inside Meimi's mind, the words kept repeating themselves. "Tomorrow's school dance. Tomorrow's school dance..."
~*~
I went to places where
I could forget your name
I can't find anything
Except a void inside
~*~
Lauren: I'm SO evil, aren't I?! What will happen next, hmmm?! Ehehehehe =) I like to mess with everyone in the story. Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews!
Meimi: I'm going to kill you Lauren!! Why must I return home when I FINALLY got over leaving?! WHYYYYYYY?!?!?!?!
Lauren: ^_____^ 'Cause I said so and I'm the author! Weeeeeeeee, I have the power to do anything! I can even make Asuka Jr. appear in drag!
Asuka Jr.: GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! *Wearing a bright pink, frilly, lacy dress with matching shoes, purse and hair ribbon. Make up decorates his face.*
Meimi: O...ok!! I-I'll be good!! *cowers*
Lauren: HEHEHEHHEEHE! Being evil is FUN!
~By: Lauren~
T H E
C R U E L
F A T E S
Meimi groaned as she flopped back down into the moist grass.
"GET UP!" Tony order, obviously very inpatient and annoyed at the younger girl. "We NEED to get to the town SOMETIME today! Didn't you get ANY sleep last night?" He demanded. Behind him Aaron and Tammy were calming waiting by the bikes while Marie made a last minute run to the bathroom.
Meimi frowned. "No." Her groggy voice managed to reply. And it was the truth. After she had awaken from that strange dream she had been unable to get back to sleep while an uneasy feeling grew in her heart. She had finally gotten to sleep only to be woken up a minute later by Tony.
"How can she ride her bike in that condition? She'll fall asleep and crash!" Marie exclaimed as she surveyed Meimi, who was curled up in the grass now with her eyes shut tightly behind her sunglasses.
"Great." The Italian boy threw his hands up into the air as he muttered curses under his breath. He paced back and forth, wearing down the brownish- green grass under him quickly.
"I've got an idea." Tammy spoke up. "Maybe Marie can drive Meimi's bike and she can ride double with her or with Tony!! You do know how to ride, right Marie?"
Marie nodded yes.
"There! Problem solved! You should use your head more often Tony." Tammy chuckled, grinning ear to ear while she crossed her arms.
"Something you haven't talented." He shot her a glare as he clambered onto his bike.
Tammy snickered. "He's not a morning person." She murmured as she helped Meimi to her feet. Tammy helped Meimi climb onto Tony's bike and to latch her arms around his waist. She then joined Aaron while Marie started up Meimi's bike. The roaring noise of the engine was beginning to give Meimi a throbbing headache but it didn't matter for soon she was sound asleep.
~*~
Golden rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining directly on Meimi's face without pity. She moaned quietly before opening her eyes. "W- Where are we now...?" She stated while sitting up, her face remaining completely clueless.
"We're here." Aaron replied, waving his hand in the air in front of his nose. "And brush you're teeth, you've got majorly bad morning breath, or should I say afternoon breath?"
The response he gained was a quick roll of her eyes mixed in with a glare. "I repeat, where are we?" She looked at her surroundings. They were in yet ANOTHER junkyard and she was seriously getting sick of old rusty cars. It was pretty much the same as before, torn up couches, cars to sleep in, dirt for a floor along with some spots of old grass that attempted to grow and some forest-like area that surrounded them. The junkyard must have been smack dab in the town or at least near it for she could hear the distance honking of cars and the chatter of people out doing people-like stuff.
"I'm not really sure about the name of the town but the group thought you'd like it here. It's our surprise for you! Maybe you don't remember it but this is the exact day you joined our group two years ago!" He hugged her quickly with a smile. "We're lucky we have you!! So any ways, we thought we'd pick out a quiet, nice, serene town that you'd enjoy and it would sort of be like a vacation and this ended up being the spot. The ocean isn't too far off so we can go there sometime too! It was Tammy's suggestion because she came here a few years ago and also she said this was where the famous thief Saint Tail used to work too! Isn't that so cool?! Maybe we'll get to meet her!!" Aaron chirped with excitement.
Meimi felt her heart stop beating.
"I-I'm...h-h-ho...me...." She thought, her eyes wide.
"If you like Saint Tail so much why don't you marry her?!" Marie smirked, poking Aaron in his stomach.
"Be quiet!!" He retorted, both of them not noticing Meimi's gapping mouth or her wide eyes but then again, her sunglasses blocked them from view.
"But I haven't heard much about her in like, forever." Marie said, adding herself into their conversation.
Tears brimmed the silent girl's eyes but they were quickly blinked away. "W- What d-do I do? I c-can't just...run away again. The o-others thought I'd e- enjoy being here...but they have no idea...what I left behind here."
"Yo, Meimi! Anyone home?! You ok?" Tammy's hand waved in front of her face. Meimi blinked for a moment before regaining her composure.
"Yeah. I-It's just...." Meimi murmured, afraid of what to say or what to tell.
"What?" Tammy gave her a quizzical look while in the background Aaron, Marie and Tony were now bickering.
"I left....I left this place. Everyone...got tired of me and I h-had nothing left...so I ran away...I ran...and n-now I'm h-here a-again...I'm b- back..." Meimi whispered so Tammy had to strain to hear. She was absently staring ahead. "The fates must hate me. First that incident at the cafe long ago and now THIS?! I CANNOT GET AWAY FROM THIS DAMN PLACE NO MATTER HOW MUCH I RUN!!!!" She thought to herself before she realized that Tammy was still silently staring at her. Meimi blinked, then slowly spoke. "...Have you ever been in a crowd but felt alone, Tammy?"
Meimi's rambling voice was fading as she spoke, but Tammy could still catch every word. Leaning back, Tammy stared sadly up at the sky.
"Always." Tammy whispered, not sure if Meimi heard her or not. Speaking louder, she blinked out the tears that layered her eyes. "Do you want to leave? We can if you want."
This was it. This was Meimi's one chance not to run away. Not to be a coward. She had only one thing she desired to do in this lonely town and then, then she wouldn't be tied down to it and she could leave, free of all ties. She had to visit her parent's grave. She was too afraid, to ashamed to say good-bye to them when she left but now...now she was being given a second chance. She could say how sorry she was for murdering them. She could free herself from the guilt, pain and regret that was now well hidden inside herself. Slowly, Meimi shook her head no. "We'll stay." She coldly spoke. She thought to herself. "I was wrong mother...father. Always trying to run away from hard and miserable things...I now know that there are times when you have to fight even if it's hard and miserable. But I do not want to forget to smile. A smile can become the strength to help many people..." She closed her fists with determination. Meimi would do what must be done and then flee with her true friends. She would be free. A tiny smile passed on her face but was quickly replaced with a frown caused by nervousness. Curious to see what had changed in the place she had once referred to as home, Meimi stood up, surprising Tammy.
"I'm going out for a walk. Be back in a little bit." Meimi have to force herself to take every little step, using all of her will power. What is she saw someone she used to know? What if she ran into her Aunt Sally? What if they had...forgotten about her? Meimi shook her head. "Who cares if they forgot about me? I'll be glad if they did, the better for them AND me." She tried to tell herself although she wasn't quite sure she had convinced herself. Part of her seemed to be saying. "Would anyone from home care of I died? Would anyone cry? Would they be happy if I lived and returned home?" Pushing back the thoughts, Meimi stepped onto a cement sidewalk. She was clad in tall, slimming black boots with a thin heel that ran up to her knees. With that she was wearing a short white skirt along with a white tank top that sported the word "Angel" across the front in silver sparkle letters. Over that she wore her well-used black trench coat that was beginning to gray. Her red hair flowed behind her while her black sunglasses shielded her eyes. Most normal people would be slightly afraid at this sight but her warm smile comforted them a bit. She turned a corner to find the familiar cherry tree, the one she had seen the day she left, by the lake in full bloom, sending thousands of pale pink blossoms into the water and the grass. She paused, resting her body against a railing that separated the park from the street. For a brief moment, she relaxed, feeling her body come to a calming peace staring at the lonesome yet beautiful sight. The once withering solitary tree had grown enormous, sprouting lots of large branches that seemed to reach out to the sky while the old roots were planted firmly into the ground. Meimi smiled at the familiar sight. For once it felt good to see something she had not seen in such a long time. A slightly warm breeze picked up, sending a group of the petals flying around Meimi, lifting her hair up to mix with the pink blossoms. When it settled down, Meimi noticed that she now had the things stuck and tangled throughout her hair. Grumbling a few choice words she promptly began to comb them out with her fingers. A few blossoms landed in the lake and floated along the top, sending ripples every which way. She smiled. Surprisingly...it sort of...felt nice...to be home. She still hurt, yes, but right now it wasn't that bad. If she saw the familiar people she had once known though, she was sure it was going to hurt a lot worse. Turning away from the park, Meimi picked up her pace down the sidewalk. Soon she came to a stoplight where she waited impatiently for it to change.
~*~
Asuka Jr. sighed, scratching the back of his head as he strutted down the street. Lina was yet again latched onto his arm. He swore the girl was like a leech or something- she never let go of him!!! Behind him Seira and Sawatari were walking, holding hands and talking quietly. He blinked, running his free hand through his hair. His eyes stayed locked on the pathway in front of him but he was forced to look up as they came to a stoplight, waiting to cross the street. Around him a crowd had grown. "This is what you get for going shopping on Saturday." He grimly thought. Across the street an equal amount of people had gathered. Finally, the electric sign signaled the group of people to cross the street.
"So are you both going to the school dance together tomorrow night?" Seira spoke up to Asuka Jr. and Lina as they crossed.
Asuka Jr. shrugged.
"Of course we are!!" Lina exclaimed happily.
Asuka froze.
His eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he caught a glimpse of red hair out of the corner of his eye. The hair had fluttered dangerously close to his face, causing him to breathe in a strange scent. A scent he knew. A scent he hadn't smelled for two entire years. He spun around, searching for her face, searching for the person he KNEW he saw, searching for what he had lost two years ago, searching for what he desired most.
But his eyes only met the backs of people, none even with red hair.
He couldn't look much longer as Lina dragged him forward. She didn't notice that he was trembling. "D-Did I j-just imagine that...? B-But it felt so real...I-I could smell her...I could almost touch her hair...It HAD to be her...!!" Asuka Jr. told himself.
~*~
"T-That was close!!!!" Meimi quietly screamed to herself as she crouched down low into a nearby alley. "I can't let my guard down." She whispered to Ruby who squeaked with joy. "Maybe YOU want to see them but I DON'T." She warned the hedgehog. "We'll stay here a bit longer, I don't want to take chances."
But inside Meimi's mind, the words kept repeating themselves. "Tomorrow's school dance. Tomorrow's school dance..."
~*~
I went to places where
I could forget your name
I can't find anything
Except a void inside
~*~
Lauren: I'm SO evil, aren't I?! What will happen next, hmmm?! Ehehehehe =) I like to mess with everyone in the story. Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews!
Meimi: I'm going to kill you Lauren!! Why must I return home when I FINALLY got over leaving?! WHYYYYYYY?!?!?!?!
Lauren: ^_____^ 'Cause I said so and I'm the author! Weeeeeeeee, I have the power to do anything! I can even make Asuka Jr. appear in drag!
Asuka Jr.: GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! *Wearing a bright pink, frilly, lacy dress with matching shoes, purse and hair ribbon. Make up decorates his face.*
Meimi: O...ok!! I-I'll be good!! *cowers*
Lauren: HEHEHEHHEEHE! Being evil is FUN!