One Last Breath
~By: Lauren~
H E A R T A C H E S
"Marie!! MARIE!!" Tammy screamed over to the Italian girl who was a few feet to her left.
"What?" Marie stared at Tammy. Aaron and Tony were both standing impatiently by the exit, obviously wanting to make a quick break for it.
Tammy took in ragged uneven breaths. "Go after her. She's too fast for me."
Marie nodded. "Got it." And with that, she took off after Meimi and Asuka Jr.
~*~
Her heart hurt. It ached as she ran, feeling as if her legs would give out any moment. Behind her she could hear Asuka Jr.'s footsteps and his quick breaths. This was too familiar once again. She couldn't keep running. She couldn't run away anymore, even if it hurt to stop. Her legs wouldn't let her. Her heart wouldn't allow her to run. Her parents wouldn't let her. She wouldn't allow herself to run anymore.
Meimi turned on a sharp corner, finding herself by that same lone cherry tree in the park, bathed by the pale silver moonlight. She jumped over a low fence and ran until she found herself under the tree's safe branches. Her legs gave out right about then as she slouched against the tree, sliding down until she was sitting in the damp grass. Her back leaned against the tree trunk as she breathed in deeply. Meimi could hear footsteps coming closer. She leaned her head back, letting it rest on the cold bark also. Tears brimmed her eyes as she shut them, fighting the flood that was beginning to erupt from her. She had drawn her knees up to her chest, hugging them slightly against her. Much to Meimi's surprise, she didn't feel the usual horrible welling sensation in her throat as thoughts danced through her mind. She didn't scream or cry like she had been doing in the past. No. She just sat there, staring up into the darkness of the sky, suffocating slowly on the warmth of her own breath and tears. Her parents were gone. Her past life was...gone. She had no place to just barge back home and create chaos when she was the one to leave in the first place. And even though Meimi knew that somewhere within her, it still hurt. Right now...she didn't feel a thing. Everything with in her, her heart, and her mind...it was all numb right now. She was just a shell. Nothing inside to feel...nothing. Nothing left.
Asuka Jr. was now sitting next to her silently, his face red from the running. Or maybe it was a blush. Meimi wasn't sure and at the moment she didn't really care. She could only close her eyes and hope her tears went unnoticed.
And suddenly one strong arm wrapped gently around Meimi's thin shoulders. After only an instant Asuka Jr. moved closer to Meimi, pulling her to his side. He pulled her so close that Meimi could feel the warmth of breath against her cheek and the strength of the muscled arm around her. The tears flowed freely now.
No one had held Meimi like that since she was a child, long before her parent's death. She remembered waking up from horrible nightmares and having her father rush to her side, holding her like this until she fell asleep. When she was scared her mother would hold her until the tears dried from her cheeks and she could pass into dreams unafraid. She would always feel so safe there, sheltered in the strength of her parent's arms. She was protected from the world and all of its cruel pain. It had seemed like maybe... somehow...everything WOULD be all right. As if she didn't have to hold everything on her own shoulders. Like maybe there was someone else there along with her, looking out for her and making sure she would be all right. But she had lost that when she had caused their death.
Meimi hesitated for a long moment and then...she turned, collapsing against Asuka Jr.'s chest as she cried. She couldn't pretend to be strong anymore. The tears swept down her cheeks in streams of grief, agony and release. They stained Asuka's white dress shirt a dark, tearful gray while shaking the strong, warm arms that held her. Meimi didn't know how long she lay there, crying into Asuka Jr.'s chest, feeling the protective arms around her but...eventually, the tears began to subside. The sobs began to slow and gradually the grief began to lift from her heart. It didn't leave but then Meimi didn't expect it to disappear and she didn't expect it to for a very, very long time. But for now, with the tender arms around her and the tears still warm against her cheeks, the hurt had sunk to the lowest areas of her consciousness. It would hide there for a bit, waiting and recovering, gaining strength and then, the next time Meimi showed the slightest bit of weakness or break in defenses, the pain would return, shuddering through her with the wrath of sorrow and anguish on its side. But for now...at least...it was gone.
Finally breathing softly, Meimi lay still and quiet in Asuka Jr.'s arms, listening to the comforting thud of the man's heartbeat in her ears. Despite the fact that the tears had currently passed, Asuka didn't lift his arms and neither did he open his mouth, trying to ask about just what was causing her such pain. Instead, he only sat there, strong and solid and real, and let Meimi be held.
Time passed.
Finally Meimi lifted her head, brushing the streaks of tear-stained hair from her face as she sank back against the tree trunk. A surge of cold air swept instantly over her flesh while it froze the tears on her cheeks and a wave of cherry scented air rushed into her lungs, cleansing her sorrow even more fully from within her.
"I...." Meimi closed her eyes, letting herself feel for a moment once again the comforting thudding of his heartbeat and the slow rise and fall of his breath. She didn't quite understand what she was saying but before she could even think or stop herself, the words had left her mouth. "I love you..."
Asuka Jr. closed his eyes, fighting back the now sudden mist of tears that had sprung into his own eyes. They were just words. Just three simple, stupid words and yet...they drove into his heart like claws, casting all breath from his lungs and all thoughts from his brain.
They were just words but they felt like so much more to both of them.
"She loves me. She loves me. Why would she say it if it weren't true? Why? She wouldn't. So she must. She must really...really love me..." Asuka thought to himself. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing the blush that spread across both of her cheeks.
"I love you too..." He whispered. Asuka's voice shook just slightly and it wasn't until he heard that quiver that he thought about what it meant to say those words and to mean them.
It was a pledge. A promise. A bond. To say those words and mean them...it was to promise that he would always be there for her, always protect her and to be strong for her and keep her safe. It was to pledge that she would always come first in his life, that from now on, his needs came second to hers. It was living to be there for someone else, living for someone else while they lived for you.
Asuka Jr. closed his eyes, letting his body relax while a blissful happiness spread all throughout him. He noticed Meimi lean closer to him again so he wrapped his arm around her, letting her rest in the nook of his arm against him. She closed her eyes, letting sweet sleep envelop her and after a while Asuka Jr. also joined her in dreamland.
~*~
"Do you think Meimi's ok?" Tammy yawned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
Marie sat on one of the old couches back at the junkyard, resting her legs. "I lost track of her a few blocks down from the dance hall. I'm assuming she's ok. I mean, she's old enough to take care of herself and I doubt that guy would hurt he. Didn't you hear him? Didn't you see him hold her so gently at the dance? I tell you he loves her! I can't believe she left all this behind. I would do anything for a place and people like this."
Tammy sighed softly. "There's a lot of stuff I bet even we don't know about...things only Meimi knows. Things only she would remember. We all have our reasons for leaving, right?" The chocolate haired girl plunked down next to Marie.
"I suppose you're right. I guess sometimes...when I see what she left behind I get jealous. There's a guy who cares about her and from what I saw in the eyes of her friends...I suspect they might care too. I just don't get it." Marie shrugged, murmuring thoughts out loud to herself.
"Ahhh...there are many things in life that no one can understand." Tammy nodded in a very knowing way. She smirked after a moment, listening to her own words.
Suddenly Marie's tone in voice changed, sounding much like fear. "D-do you think s-she'll leave us Tams?"
Tammy winced at Marie's words. She had never thought about that and yet she hated to admit that someone in the back of her mind that same question had been haunting her. "Why would she leave us, we're her family." She quickly retorted, trying to reassure her own uneasiness. Tammy didn't like the doubt that Marie was now placing in Meimi and the questions that were rising in her own heart.
"But she has friends here. She has him. She doesn't need us." Marie coldly replied.
Tammy put a hand on her forehead, rubbing her temples. "I don't know Marie...I really don't know. What happens...happens. It's up to Meimi I guess."
The two girls looked up as rustles filled the air.
"Shit!!!" Tony cursed. He and Aaron emerged through the darkness as they squeezed their way through a fence and then strutted over to the girls. They both looked beaten, dirty and drop-dead tired.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Marie jumped up, eyes completely alert.
Tony bit his lip, drawing crimson blood before he slammed his fist down into one of the old cars. The result was a dent in the hood and a red mark on his hand. "They called the police. Well...duh they did that! Why didn't we think ahead more?! It was stupid!! I don't know if they saw our faces or what. They could have witnesses speak. They could come after us. We were idiots! We've given the damn police another reason to come after a bunch of runaways!!" He spit on the ground with disgust at the situation.
"Are you serious...?" Tammy questioned, raising her eyebrows nervously.
Aaron nodded yes. He quietly spoke up. "And it gets worse. On the way home Tony and I were listening to some gossip passing along with some students from the dance. Apparently a day or so ago the local bank was robbed by a young male in his teens with dark hair. He held them up with a knife. They were saying they think it was the same person who wrecked the dance and that he brought along some of his 'lackeys'." The blonde boy rolled his eyes. "But I just don't get it. Meimi announced who she was at the dance...at least, she hinted at it. So why are they going after us more than her? At least...it seems that way."
"Great!! Just GREAT!" Marie threw her hands into the air. "There goes our vacation to the beach tomorrow!!"
Tony glared at his sister. "Don't worry over petty things like that right now. We have bigger problems. Don't you remember? SOME of us here have records with the police. If we're caught, we're DOOMED. And it wasn't us who stole from that bank but if the police believe it was us, then we're as good as guilty." A mischievous glint sparkled up in his eyes. "That is...if they can find us first. I say we leave as soon as possible. We should sleep and then ride early in the morning around four A.M." His eyes scanned the area quickly, finally taking notice of the absence of one member. He had just assumed she was in one of the cars or something.
"Where's Meimi?" Aaron was the first to speak.
"She's gone. At least...for now. I have a feeling she won't be back for a while so we might as while wait." Marie replied, sighing. Tammy nodded with agreement.
"Just wonderful. This is exactly what we need right now!" Tony hissed as he slumped into the backseat of a nearby car. "Get some sleep you guys...I have a feeling we won't get much soon. If that redhead doesn't get here by morning one of us goes out and searches for only an hour. If she doesn't show we leave without her. It's too risky to wait while she has some stupid reunion." And with that, Tony slammed the door shut.
Tammy closed her eyes, praying to anyone that was listening. "Please...please come back soon Meimi..."
~*~
I don't have anything
Because I don't have you
I don't have anything
~*~
Lauren: L-chan's nerves are officially shot right now.
Meimi: Why are you talking in 3rd person?
Lauren: Because I feel like it...so shush. What do you all think of it so far? I really appreciate all the support, reviews and such. It truly means a lot to me and it's what keeps me writing. Thank you!
Meimi: Awww, it's so touching. I feel special now. I get lots of hugs. But they can't leave without me! No!
Lauren: We'll just have to wait and see now won't we? ^_^ Yet again it's like 1:30 AM. Why do I always write late at night? And then I write like half-asleep too.
Meimi: Don't ask me.
Lauren: Oh well. Any ways, good night everybody. Enjoy.
~By: Lauren~
H E A R T A C H E S
"Marie!! MARIE!!" Tammy screamed over to the Italian girl who was a few feet to her left.
"What?" Marie stared at Tammy. Aaron and Tony were both standing impatiently by the exit, obviously wanting to make a quick break for it.
Tammy took in ragged uneven breaths. "Go after her. She's too fast for me."
Marie nodded. "Got it." And with that, she took off after Meimi and Asuka Jr.
~*~
Her heart hurt. It ached as she ran, feeling as if her legs would give out any moment. Behind her she could hear Asuka Jr.'s footsteps and his quick breaths. This was too familiar once again. She couldn't keep running. She couldn't run away anymore, even if it hurt to stop. Her legs wouldn't let her. Her heart wouldn't allow her to run. Her parents wouldn't let her. She wouldn't allow herself to run anymore.
Meimi turned on a sharp corner, finding herself by that same lone cherry tree in the park, bathed by the pale silver moonlight. She jumped over a low fence and ran until she found herself under the tree's safe branches. Her legs gave out right about then as she slouched against the tree, sliding down until she was sitting in the damp grass. Her back leaned against the tree trunk as she breathed in deeply. Meimi could hear footsteps coming closer. She leaned her head back, letting it rest on the cold bark also. Tears brimmed her eyes as she shut them, fighting the flood that was beginning to erupt from her. She had drawn her knees up to her chest, hugging them slightly against her. Much to Meimi's surprise, she didn't feel the usual horrible welling sensation in her throat as thoughts danced through her mind. She didn't scream or cry like she had been doing in the past. No. She just sat there, staring up into the darkness of the sky, suffocating slowly on the warmth of her own breath and tears. Her parents were gone. Her past life was...gone. She had no place to just barge back home and create chaos when she was the one to leave in the first place. And even though Meimi knew that somewhere within her, it still hurt. Right now...she didn't feel a thing. Everything with in her, her heart, and her mind...it was all numb right now. She was just a shell. Nothing inside to feel...nothing. Nothing left.
Asuka Jr. was now sitting next to her silently, his face red from the running. Or maybe it was a blush. Meimi wasn't sure and at the moment she didn't really care. She could only close her eyes and hope her tears went unnoticed.
And suddenly one strong arm wrapped gently around Meimi's thin shoulders. After only an instant Asuka Jr. moved closer to Meimi, pulling her to his side. He pulled her so close that Meimi could feel the warmth of breath against her cheek and the strength of the muscled arm around her. The tears flowed freely now.
No one had held Meimi like that since she was a child, long before her parent's death. She remembered waking up from horrible nightmares and having her father rush to her side, holding her like this until she fell asleep. When she was scared her mother would hold her until the tears dried from her cheeks and she could pass into dreams unafraid. She would always feel so safe there, sheltered in the strength of her parent's arms. She was protected from the world and all of its cruel pain. It had seemed like maybe... somehow...everything WOULD be all right. As if she didn't have to hold everything on her own shoulders. Like maybe there was someone else there along with her, looking out for her and making sure she would be all right. But she had lost that when she had caused their death.
Meimi hesitated for a long moment and then...she turned, collapsing against Asuka Jr.'s chest as she cried. She couldn't pretend to be strong anymore. The tears swept down her cheeks in streams of grief, agony and release. They stained Asuka's white dress shirt a dark, tearful gray while shaking the strong, warm arms that held her. Meimi didn't know how long she lay there, crying into Asuka Jr.'s chest, feeling the protective arms around her but...eventually, the tears began to subside. The sobs began to slow and gradually the grief began to lift from her heart. It didn't leave but then Meimi didn't expect it to disappear and she didn't expect it to for a very, very long time. But for now, with the tender arms around her and the tears still warm against her cheeks, the hurt had sunk to the lowest areas of her consciousness. It would hide there for a bit, waiting and recovering, gaining strength and then, the next time Meimi showed the slightest bit of weakness or break in defenses, the pain would return, shuddering through her with the wrath of sorrow and anguish on its side. But for now...at least...it was gone.
Finally breathing softly, Meimi lay still and quiet in Asuka Jr.'s arms, listening to the comforting thud of the man's heartbeat in her ears. Despite the fact that the tears had currently passed, Asuka didn't lift his arms and neither did he open his mouth, trying to ask about just what was causing her such pain. Instead, he only sat there, strong and solid and real, and let Meimi be held.
Time passed.
Finally Meimi lifted her head, brushing the streaks of tear-stained hair from her face as she sank back against the tree trunk. A surge of cold air swept instantly over her flesh while it froze the tears on her cheeks and a wave of cherry scented air rushed into her lungs, cleansing her sorrow even more fully from within her.
"I...." Meimi closed her eyes, letting herself feel for a moment once again the comforting thudding of his heartbeat and the slow rise and fall of his breath. She didn't quite understand what she was saying but before she could even think or stop herself, the words had left her mouth. "I love you..."
Asuka Jr. closed his eyes, fighting back the now sudden mist of tears that had sprung into his own eyes. They were just words. Just three simple, stupid words and yet...they drove into his heart like claws, casting all breath from his lungs and all thoughts from his brain.
They were just words but they felt like so much more to both of them.
"She loves me. She loves me. Why would she say it if it weren't true? Why? She wouldn't. So she must. She must really...really love me..." Asuka thought to himself. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing the blush that spread across both of her cheeks.
"I love you too..." He whispered. Asuka's voice shook just slightly and it wasn't until he heard that quiver that he thought about what it meant to say those words and to mean them.
It was a pledge. A promise. A bond. To say those words and mean them...it was to promise that he would always be there for her, always protect her and to be strong for her and keep her safe. It was to pledge that she would always come first in his life, that from now on, his needs came second to hers. It was living to be there for someone else, living for someone else while they lived for you.
Asuka Jr. closed his eyes, letting his body relax while a blissful happiness spread all throughout him. He noticed Meimi lean closer to him again so he wrapped his arm around her, letting her rest in the nook of his arm against him. She closed her eyes, letting sweet sleep envelop her and after a while Asuka Jr. also joined her in dreamland.
~*~
"Do you think Meimi's ok?" Tammy yawned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
Marie sat on one of the old couches back at the junkyard, resting her legs. "I lost track of her a few blocks down from the dance hall. I'm assuming she's ok. I mean, she's old enough to take care of herself and I doubt that guy would hurt he. Didn't you hear him? Didn't you see him hold her so gently at the dance? I tell you he loves her! I can't believe she left all this behind. I would do anything for a place and people like this."
Tammy sighed softly. "There's a lot of stuff I bet even we don't know about...things only Meimi knows. Things only she would remember. We all have our reasons for leaving, right?" The chocolate haired girl plunked down next to Marie.
"I suppose you're right. I guess sometimes...when I see what she left behind I get jealous. There's a guy who cares about her and from what I saw in the eyes of her friends...I suspect they might care too. I just don't get it." Marie shrugged, murmuring thoughts out loud to herself.
"Ahhh...there are many things in life that no one can understand." Tammy nodded in a very knowing way. She smirked after a moment, listening to her own words.
Suddenly Marie's tone in voice changed, sounding much like fear. "D-do you think s-she'll leave us Tams?"
Tammy winced at Marie's words. She had never thought about that and yet she hated to admit that someone in the back of her mind that same question had been haunting her. "Why would she leave us, we're her family." She quickly retorted, trying to reassure her own uneasiness. Tammy didn't like the doubt that Marie was now placing in Meimi and the questions that were rising in her own heart.
"But she has friends here. She has him. She doesn't need us." Marie coldly replied.
Tammy put a hand on her forehead, rubbing her temples. "I don't know Marie...I really don't know. What happens...happens. It's up to Meimi I guess."
The two girls looked up as rustles filled the air.
"Shit!!!" Tony cursed. He and Aaron emerged through the darkness as they squeezed their way through a fence and then strutted over to the girls. They both looked beaten, dirty and drop-dead tired.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Marie jumped up, eyes completely alert.
Tony bit his lip, drawing crimson blood before he slammed his fist down into one of the old cars. The result was a dent in the hood and a red mark on his hand. "They called the police. Well...duh they did that! Why didn't we think ahead more?! It was stupid!! I don't know if they saw our faces or what. They could have witnesses speak. They could come after us. We were idiots! We've given the damn police another reason to come after a bunch of runaways!!" He spit on the ground with disgust at the situation.
"Are you serious...?" Tammy questioned, raising her eyebrows nervously.
Aaron nodded yes. He quietly spoke up. "And it gets worse. On the way home Tony and I were listening to some gossip passing along with some students from the dance. Apparently a day or so ago the local bank was robbed by a young male in his teens with dark hair. He held them up with a knife. They were saying they think it was the same person who wrecked the dance and that he brought along some of his 'lackeys'." The blonde boy rolled his eyes. "But I just don't get it. Meimi announced who she was at the dance...at least, she hinted at it. So why are they going after us more than her? At least...it seems that way."
"Great!! Just GREAT!" Marie threw her hands into the air. "There goes our vacation to the beach tomorrow!!"
Tony glared at his sister. "Don't worry over petty things like that right now. We have bigger problems. Don't you remember? SOME of us here have records with the police. If we're caught, we're DOOMED. And it wasn't us who stole from that bank but if the police believe it was us, then we're as good as guilty." A mischievous glint sparkled up in his eyes. "That is...if they can find us first. I say we leave as soon as possible. We should sleep and then ride early in the morning around four A.M." His eyes scanned the area quickly, finally taking notice of the absence of one member. He had just assumed she was in one of the cars or something.
"Where's Meimi?" Aaron was the first to speak.
"She's gone. At least...for now. I have a feeling she won't be back for a while so we might as while wait." Marie replied, sighing. Tammy nodded with agreement.
"Just wonderful. This is exactly what we need right now!" Tony hissed as he slumped into the backseat of a nearby car. "Get some sleep you guys...I have a feeling we won't get much soon. If that redhead doesn't get here by morning one of us goes out and searches for only an hour. If she doesn't show we leave without her. It's too risky to wait while she has some stupid reunion." And with that, Tony slammed the door shut.
Tammy closed her eyes, praying to anyone that was listening. "Please...please come back soon Meimi..."
~*~
I don't have anything
Because I don't have you
I don't have anything
~*~
Lauren: L-chan's nerves are officially shot right now.
Meimi: Why are you talking in 3rd person?
Lauren: Because I feel like it...so shush. What do you all think of it so far? I really appreciate all the support, reviews and such. It truly means a lot to me and it's what keeps me writing. Thank you!
Meimi: Awww, it's so touching. I feel special now. I get lots of hugs. But they can't leave without me! No!
Lauren: We'll just have to wait and see now won't we? ^_^ Yet again it's like 1:30 AM. Why do I always write late at night? And then I write like half-asleep too.
Meimi: Don't ask me.
Lauren: Oh well. Any ways, good night everybody. Enjoy.