One Last Breath
~By: Lauren~
S T A R - L I T
N I G H T
"WHAT?!" Tony, Aaron and Marie all chorused at the exact same time.
"I think I know how to save Tammy and you won't have to turn yourself in Tony. But we'll have to deal with the police." Meimi smiled and suddenly, she was laughing out loud. She actually had an idea. A way to save her friend. She would be doing something for someone else, not herself.
"So SPILL!!" Marie snapped impatiently at Meimi.
"Maybe we can get the police to wire Tony, you know, those microphones that record things? Then we can confront the Lost Souls, record them saying they did it and then have the police jump in and arrest them!!" Meimi sat back triumphantly while her smile remained plastered to her face.
"It'll never work." Tony flatly and bluntly stated. His eyes grew sadder as the adrenaline of the idea left him instantly.
"Why?" A shocked Meimi barked, her smile fading.
"I don't trust the police. You think they'll believe some street punk like me? No. The first step I take towards a cop, I'll get arrested. They won't listen to us." Tony felt an exhaustion that he hadn't noticed before sweep over him.
Meimi sighed. She thought it was a possibility but no. They were right; it would never work. And Tony wasn't looking very good either. A sorrowful expression didn't suit him. She wanted to comfort him but she knew there was no point in treating a depressed person as though he were just feeling sad, saying, There now, hang on, we'll save Tammy for sure. Sadness is more or less like a head cold- with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer. But she didn't know what was right. Meimi just kept saying how this world was a terrible place to try and live in. And Tammy's voice inside her kept saying, "For God's sake, what other world have we got?"
Aaron suddenly spoke, breaking Meimi's thoughts. "Maybe...No...it'll never work." He shook his head as if he was disagreeing with some invisible person but in reality, it was only himself.
"What?" Marie leaned forward in curiosity at the young boy's statement.
"Oh nothing." Aaron replied, turning his head from her and towards the fireplace. The fire had pretty much died down and had been reduced to glowing embers but it was just enough to see a foot around the entire fire pit.
"Tell me." The Italian girl repeated, crossing her arms over her chest. Tony wasn't any help to her- he only sat staring off into space, as if he saw something everyone else didn't.
"Fine! But it's stupid. Maybe we could put a tape recorder into one of Tony's pockets, sort of like Meimi suggested. Then we could have Tony confront the group while one of us sneaks up and frees Tammy. The other two of us can hold off any of the other gang members. Let's just hope they haven't had any new additions. Last time I remember they only had three." Aaron finished. "I told you it was a stupid idea." He shrugged.
"It's risky." Tony murmured, scaring the three other teenagers.
And the words that were next said frightened Meimi. Because she knew, deep inside, they were true.
"It's something Saint Tail could do." Marie smirked. "If only we could find that damn thief, wherever she went, and get her to save Tammy. She helps out the unjustly treated people of this town! Maybe she'll show some sympathy and help us out." Aaron nodded with agreement.
"Fat chance that'll happen." Tony protested. "I heard she disappeared, high tailed it out of the town or something weird like that. She's just a chicken shit." It was obvious the day's events and lack of sleep was somehow effecting his language and train of thought.
Meimi's eyes dropped down to the dirt. Tony was right. Saint Tail was a chicken. She had run away, pulling off her famous disappearing act. But Tammy needed her. She needed Meimi more than anything did at that very moment and she wasn't about to let down someone she loved again. She wouldn't let anyone else die. She was tired of having blood on her hands. "Maybe...just maybe I'll be able to get Saint Tail." Meimi whispered, unsure of whether they had heard her or not but the dead silence that followed her words indicated they HAD, indeed, heard her.
"Are you serious?" Aaron stuttered, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Meimi smirked while shaking her head yes. "But for now...let's all get some sleep so we'll have strength for tomorrow."
Various goodnights were said before everyone entered their own car and succumbed to sweet sleep.
~*~
Everywhere was fog. It surrounded her in a misty shroud, blocking out her vision. Before Meimi two figures suddenly became visible. A towering, joyful man with floppy hair and at his side was an attractive, red haired woman.
"Mom...dad..." Meimi's heard ached.
Her father gave Meimi one of his treasured, careless smiles. "My daughter. We're so proud of you. You've grown into a fine young woman."
"Meimi. We love you. We want you to be happy. Choose your own destiny." Her mother held onto her father's hand tightly. "Don't dwell on the past any longer. You have a lot to look forward to!"
"Everyone will do what they have to." Her father smiled down at her warmly. A marsh mellow cloud coated out the moon above them. His next words surprised her. "Do you love him?"
Meimi blinked with confusion before realization dawned down upon her. Inside all she wanted to do was run up to her parents and cling on to them, begging them to take her with them but for some odd reason she felt a pulling force holding her back from any of her wild actions. Her thoughts and actions wouldn't connect and so...she spoke from her heart. "I do love him dad. But...why can't we understand each other?"
Her mother answered her question. "Conflicting goals. He's desperate to protect you. To do that, he intends to keep you close to him, so that he can watch over you. Of course, he doesn't understand that by doing that, he stunts your own growth. You may be willing to sacrifice yourself for others happiness but Asuka Jr. won't let you. Love isn't always enough. That's why people have to work out their differences." Her wise words sunk into Meimi.
"I wish I was stronger. That I didn't hurt so easily." Meimi shiver, but it wasn't from the cold. "I'm scared. For Asuka Jr. For Tammy...for everyone. Even more, I'm afraid of facing my past. Of facing the fact that I might have to separate from my new family. I don't want to make choices. I want it to be easy!"
Almost cryptically, her father replied, "Your weaknesses are your strengths."
"We're always near. Watching over you." Her mother blew her a kiss and then...they dispersed.
Meimi shouted for their return while she stood there in total shock. "NO!! DON'T GO!! Mother!! Father!!"
And then she woke up.
Back home, Meimi had once heard of a fairly well to do woman who made her fortune reading tea leaves and chicken bones, which she kept in a bag and would scatter across her floor. On the basis of leaves and bones, she would advise people on what to do with their lives. "No wonder she was rich." Meimi thought. "It seems like almost anything is better than having only yourself to blame when you screw things up."
~*~
Asuka Jr. wandered the night. Why did he plant that stupid tree and waste his energy? Now he couldn't even find it in him to trek back home. With a tired sigh, he plopped down on a bench, only to find someone was sitting there next to him. A few hairs stuck up on his neck as he turned his head, straining in the dark to see who the person was.
"Asuka Jr.?" A voice timidly uttered his name.
"Meimi? What are you doing out here so late?" He questioned her in shock as he made out a ting of red color from her hair.
"I couldn't sleep." Meimi shrugged. It was the truth anyhow. After her weird dream with her parents the redhead was unable to go back to sleep so she resorted to wandering the streets. Until she decided to take a rest on a nearby bench.
Asuka Jr. regretted his words but it was too late to take them back as he said, "You can still turn your friend in, I'll go easy on him."
Meimi frowned, sticking out her lower lip. "Why do you hate my friends so much? And...me?"
Asuka Jr. looked at her in wonderment. "I don't hate you." He noticed a crystal tear glimmer in the moonlight. He brought one hand up and wiped it away. "So don't cry."
"Why can't I cry?!" Meimi yelled. "I want to cry!! I rush, doing stupid things and my parents are dead. I want to cry." She sighed and pulled her legs up against her chest. She wrapped her arms around her legs. "It's my fault their dead, you know."
"Who?" Asuka Jr. dumbly stated.
"My parents. I was out doing another stupid mission trying to be all good and I got carried away. I was careless and they died. They should have lived. I should have died." She smiled sadly. "Silly, huh? But it's the truth. They would have lived if I hadn't done stupid things and been noble."
Asuka Jr. took in the information. Normally something like this would have shocked him but in a way, he knew this was bound to happen. The detective had expected it. He had had his suspicions in the past about Meimi being Saint Tail and all events of the past years had only added to them. But at this moment, it didn't really seem to matter much. They weren't carefree teenagers chasing after each other anymore. Asuka Jr. turned towards her. It didn't matter to him whether she was the queen of England, Saint Tail or some traveling peddler, all he knew was she needed him and he was going to be there for her. "Hey, it was an accident. You had no idea there would be a car there. I was the one who was chasing you also. So it's not you fault." Asuka Jr. told her gruffly.
"But it's my fault! It has always been my fault! My parents died because of me! I'd sworn I'd protect them! I wanted to keep my secret life away from them so they wouldn't be affected by it. I swore I'd protect them!!" Meimi cried. "I told myself nothing would ever happen. They could have lived!!" She couldn't believe the words she was saying. It was as though everything she had been thinking, keeping deep inside, was coming out. Meimi just couldn't stop talking. "It's all my fault. It's my fault for everything..." She whispered. She heard Asuka Jr. scoot closer to her and was surprised when she felt his arms wrap around her and pull her to his chest. She just sat there for a moment, crying, and listening to the soothing rhythm of his constant heart beating. It was something she could depend on. Something that was always there.
"You're just trying to take all the credit." Asuka Jr. spoke after a moment. "It can't all be your fault, you moron." He told her, his voice surprisingly gentle for the words he said.
"Asuka..." She said quietly. She could feel her heart beating unnaturally fast.
"You're letting your grief control you. Is that what you want? To wallow in self pity?" He mocked her. "Your parents died because you were trying to protect them. To protect this whole town. Jeez, emotions are complicated." He finally said. "You talk about protecting your friends, the town and you're family. But...who has ever protected you?"
"What?" Meimi asked, unprepared for his sudden question.
"Well...I guess since I love you, I'll have to protect you. And I WILL protect you, despite what anyone says." Asuka Jr. insisted as he pulled back a bit from their tender embrace.
Meimi sighed, but couldn't get rid of that warm feeling in her heart. She liked having Asuka Jr. beside her. She liked his attempts to make her feel better. She liked his occasional childish behavior. "I...I was running away then. From my role in life...from my actions and their result. From the death and pain. In order for me to heal I had to get away." Her eyebrows arched hopelessly. "But that didn't do me much good. Yes...I found a wonderful family and I learned to heal my aching heart...but it also caused a lot of harm. I hurt my friends here...I hurt you...and Seira..."
Asuka Jr. apprehended her hand, holding onto it tightly. "No, I should've considered your feelings and I shouldn't have shunned you away from me. All I could think about was how I was causing you so much pain because I chased Saint Tail onto a street."
"Stop it." Meimi murmured. Impulsively, she launched herself deeper into his arms. Of their own accord, they wrapped around her waist. Her fingers burrowed into the creases of his shirt. She inhaled and took in all she could, imprinting a million sensations into her mind. She was making a lifetime of memories.
While she could.
"I'm sick of trying to out run my destiny. I can't. Oddly, part of me doesn't want to anymore. Does that make any sense?" Meimi pulled apart gently so she could look into his eyes, even if hers where shielded by her sunglasses.
"What are you talking about Meimi? You're acting like you're going to die or something..." Asuka Jr. gave her a worried look.
She ignored his comment. "I've resolved to meet my destiny. Head on. No backing down." Her explanation was murmured. "I've got to do something tomorrow. I don't know if I'll come back but...it must be done. I want you to know, I love you."
Asuka Jr. clutched her to him. He was so uncertain about what she meant and afraid he would lose her again. He couldn't stand to lose her a second time. "I won't let you go!!" He cried, fighting back tears.
Meimi tore her gaze away from his eyes. It was too painful to watch him while his heart broke. Because of her. Again, she was happy for her sunglasses and the dark night. He wouldn't have to see how hard this was for her or her own tears that trickled down her cheeks. "You have to! Asuka, it's the same as last time. As it's always been. You can't keep the people you love in a birdcage. They have to be free. Including me. This is my choice, my battle. You've had yours. This is mine." She stood up. Meimi had said what she needed to say.
"Wait!! Don't go!! What is that supposed to mean?!" She could hear his voice calling after her as Meimi faded away into the shadows, running off through the night, running back to her home in the junkyard.
~*~
Agony bit at Tammy every time she moved her body. She hadn't been able to sleep a wink, partly because of the painful position she was in and partly from fear of what would happen if she let herself slip into sweet unconsciousness. The brunette's head snapped up as she heard rustling nearby.
The girl with the purple hair strutted over to Tammy. Her blonde hair was straggly, hanging past her shoulders to about the mid-section of her back. From the shoulders down it was dyed a bright purple color. She had deep ringlets around her eyes while they almost seemed sunk in, giving her a dreaded dead looking appearance. She was tall in black leather boots that were tied up the front and she looked to be about seventeen. Her skin was pale, even if many of her days were spent in sunlight and she was clad in a black tank top and black shorts. Around her wrists were spiked cuffs while a ringlet earring pierced into her eyebrow.
"What do you want Zoey?" Tammy's voice came out hoarse and rough. When she spoke, it hurt. Her throat felt so dry and itchy.
"You stole him from me. That's why I hate you. You and that damned sister of yours...always acting so perfect and innocent!!" Zoey roared, marching up to Tammy with a newfound anger.
Tammy sighed. Why didn't people understand plain words? "I hate Rei. And Celeste hated him too. It's not my fault that he has some weird obsession over my sister, ok? If you love him so much why don't you confess your feelings?"
"Stop lecturing me!! You know nothing!!" Zoey snarled as she kicked her pointed boots into Tammy's leg, leaving the girl wincing in pain. "Tomorrow your fate will be decided. If Tony doesn't turn himself in, which I doubt he will, then you'll be with us. To die or some other fun thing. Either way...I'll enjoy watching you suffer. Poor Tony, stuck with an annoying girl like you. You're hurting him, you know that? You're only a weak spot for him. All weak spots are better off destroyed and forgotten." Zoey coldly hissed the words.
"I love you too!!!" Tammy mocked, calling out to the retreating figure. She just didn't get Zoey, Rei or Joey. Not at all. The girl tried to ignore Zoey's words but they kept bugging her. Would Tony turn himself in for her? She hoped he wouldn't. Tammy didn't want Tony to suffer on her behalf. She would never want that to happen. Dismay, Tammy hung her head, letting salty tears drip onto her clothing.
~*~
Wishing on a dream that seems far off
Hoping it will come today.
Into the starlit night,
Foolish dreamers turn their gaze,
Waiting on a shooting star.
~*~
Lauren: Like the new song? It's from the game Lunar SSS and is called "Boat Song." Don't know WHY, but it is. What do you all think of the new chapter? Ugh, I am literally drop dead tired. I actually wrote this last night but I've finalized it today and here it is! Yeah!
~By: Lauren~
S T A R - L I T
N I G H T
"WHAT?!" Tony, Aaron and Marie all chorused at the exact same time.
"I think I know how to save Tammy and you won't have to turn yourself in Tony. But we'll have to deal with the police." Meimi smiled and suddenly, she was laughing out loud. She actually had an idea. A way to save her friend. She would be doing something for someone else, not herself.
"So SPILL!!" Marie snapped impatiently at Meimi.
"Maybe we can get the police to wire Tony, you know, those microphones that record things? Then we can confront the Lost Souls, record them saying they did it and then have the police jump in and arrest them!!" Meimi sat back triumphantly while her smile remained plastered to her face.
"It'll never work." Tony flatly and bluntly stated. His eyes grew sadder as the adrenaline of the idea left him instantly.
"Why?" A shocked Meimi barked, her smile fading.
"I don't trust the police. You think they'll believe some street punk like me? No. The first step I take towards a cop, I'll get arrested. They won't listen to us." Tony felt an exhaustion that he hadn't noticed before sweep over him.
Meimi sighed. She thought it was a possibility but no. They were right; it would never work. And Tony wasn't looking very good either. A sorrowful expression didn't suit him. She wanted to comfort him but she knew there was no point in treating a depressed person as though he were just feeling sad, saying, There now, hang on, we'll save Tammy for sure. Sadness is more or less like a head cold- with patience, it passes. Depression is like cancer. But she didn't know what was right. Meimi just kept saying how this world was a terrible place to try and live in. And Tammy's voice inside her kept saying, "For God's sake, what other world have we got?"
Aaron suddenly spoke, breaking Meimi's thoughts. "Maybe...No...it'll never work." He shook his head as if he was disagreeing with some invisible person but in reality, it was only himself.
"What?" Marie leaned forward in curiosity at the young boy's statement.
"Oh nothing." Aaron replied, turning his head from her and towards the fireplace. The fire had pretty much died down and had been reduced to glowing embers but it was just enough to see a foot around the entire fire pit.
"Tell me." The Italian girl repeated, crossing her arms over her chest. Tony wasn't any help to her- he only sat staring off into space, as if he saw something everyone else didn't.
"Fine! But it's stupid. Maybe we could put a tape recorder into one of Tony's pockets, sort of like Meimi suggested. Then we could have Tony confront the group while one of us sneaks up and frees Tammy. The other two of us can hold off any of the other gang members. Let's just hope they haven't had any new additions. Last time I remember they only had three." Aaron finished. "I told you it was a stupid idea." He shrugged.
"It's risky." Tony murmured, scaring the three other teenagers.
And the words that were next said frightened Meimi. Because she knew, deep inside, they were true.
"It's something Saint Tail could do." Marie smirked. "If only we could find that damn thief, wherever she went, and get her to save Tammy. She helps out the unjustly treated people of this town! Maybe she'll show some sympathy and help us out." Aaron nodded with agreement.
"Fat chance that'll happen." Tony protested. "I heard she disappeared, high tailed it out of the town or something weird like that. She's just a chicken shit." It was obvious the day's events and lack of sleep was somehow effecting his language and train of thought.
Meimi's eyes dropped down to the dirt. Tony was right. Saint Tail was a chicken. She had run away, pulling off her famous disappearing act. But Tammy needed her. She needed Meimi more than anything did at that very moment and she wasn't about to let down someone she loved again. She wouldn't let anyone else die. She was tired of having blood on her hands. "Maybe...just maybe I'll be able to get Saint Tail." Meimi whispered, unsure of whether they had heard her or not but the dead silence that followed her words indicated they HAD, indeed, heard her.
"Are you serious?" Aaron stuttered, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Meimi smirked while shaking her head yes. "But for now...let's all get some sleep so we'll have strength for tomorrow."
Various goodnights were said before everyone entered their own car and succumbed to sweet sleep.
~*~
Everywhere was fog. It surrounded her in a misty shroud, blocking out her vision. Before Meimi two figures suddenly became visible. A towering, joyful man with floppy hair and at his side was an attractive, red haired woman.
"Mom...dad..." Meimi's heard ached.
Her father gave Meimi one of his treasured, careless smiles. "My daughter. We're so proud of you. You've grown into a fine young woman."
"Meimi. We love you. We want you to be happy. Choose your own destiny." Her mother held onto her father's hand tightly. "Don't dwell on the past any longer. You have a lot to look forward to!"
"Everyone will do what they have to." Her father smiled down at her warmly. A marsh mellow cloud coated out the moon above them. His next words surprised her. "Do you love him?"
Meimi blinked with confusion before realization dawned down upon her. Inside all she wanted to do was run up to her parents and cling on to them, begging them to take her with them but for some odd reason she felt a pulling force holding her back from any of her wild actions. Her thoughts and actions wouldn't connect and so...she spoke from her heart. "I do love him dad. But...why can't we understand each other?"
Her mother answered her question. "Conflicting goals. He's desperate to protect you. To do that, he intends to keep you close to him, so that he can watch over you. Of course, he doesn't understand that by doing that, he stunts your own growth. You may be willing to sacrifice yourself for others happiness but Asuka Jr. won't let you. Love isn't always enough. That's why people have to work out their differences." Her wise words sunk into Meimi.
"I wish I was stronger. That I didn't hurt so easily." Meimi shiver, but it wasn't from the cold. "I'm scared. For Asuka Jr. For Tammy...for everyone. Even more, I'm afraid of facing my past. Of facing the fact that I might have to separate from my new family. I don't want to make choices. I want it to be easy!"
Almost cryptically, her father replied, "Your weaknesses are your strengths."
"We're always near. Watching over you." Her mother blew her a kiss and then...they dispersed.
Meimi shouted for their return while she stood there in total shock. "NO!! DON'T GO!! Mother!! Father!!"
And then she woke up.
Back home, Meimi had once heard of a fairly well to do woman who made her fortune reading tea leaves and chicken bones, which she kept in a bag and would scatter across her floor. On the basis of leaves and bones, she would advise people on what to do with their lives. "No wonder she was rich." Meimi thought. "It seems like almost anything is better than having only yourself to blame when you screw things up."
~*~
Asuka Jr. wandered the night. Why did he plant that stupid tree and waste his energy? Now he couldn't even find it in him to trek back home. With a tired sigh, he plopped down on a bench, only to find someone was sitting there next to him. A few hairs stuck up on his neck as he turned his head, straining in the dark to see who the person was.
"Asuka Jr.?" A voice timidly uttered his name.
"Meimi? What are you doing out here so late?" He questioned her in shock as he made out a ting of red color from her hair.
"I couldn't sleep." Meimi shrugged. It was the truth anyhow. After her weird dream with her parents the redhead was unable to go back to sleep so she resorted to wandering the streets. Until she decided to take a rest on a nearby bench.
Asuka Jr. regretted his words but it was too late to take them back as he said, "You can still turn your friend in, I'll go easy on him."
Meimi frowned, sticking out her lower lip. "Why do you hate my friends so much? And...me?"
Asuka Jr. looked at her in wonderment. "I don't hate you." He noticed a crystal tear glimmer in the moonlight. He brought one hand up and wiped it away. "So don't cry."
"Why can't I cry?!" Meimi yelled. "I want to cry!! I rush, doing stupid things and my parents are dead. I want to cry." She sighed and pulled her legs up against her chest. She wrapped her arms around her legs. "It's my fault their dead, you know."
"Who?" Asuka Jr. dumbly stated.
"My parents. I was out doing another stupid mission trying to be all good and I got carried away. I was careless and they died. They should have lived. I should have died." She smiled sadly. "Silly, huh? But it's the truth. They would have lived if I hadn't done stupid things and been noble."
Asuka Jr. took in the information. Normally something like this would have shocked him but in a way, he knew this was bound to happen. The detective had expected it. He had had his suspicions in the past about Meimi being Saint Tail and all events of the past years had only added to them. But at this moment, it didn't really seem to matter much. They weren't carefree teenagers chasing after each other anymore. Asuka Jr. turned towards her. It didn't matter to him whether she was the queen of England, Saint Tail or some traveling peddler, all he knew was she needed him and he was going to be there for her. "Hey, it was an accident. You had no idea there would be a car there. I was the one who was chasing you also. So it's not you fault." Asuka Jr. told her gruffly.
"But it's my fault! It has always been my fault! My parents died because of me! I'd sworn I'd protect them! I wanted to keep my secret life away from them so they wouldn't be affected by it. I swore I'd protect them!!" Meimi cried. "I told myself nothing would ever happen. They could have lived!!" She couldn't believe the words she was saying. It was as though everything she had been thinking, keeping deep inside, was coming out. Meimi just couldn't stop talking. "It's all my fault. It's my fault for everything..." She whispered. She heard Asuka Jr. scoot closer to her and was surprised when she felt his arms wrap around her and pull her to his chest. She just sat there for a moment, crying, and listening to the soothing rhythm of his constant heart beating. It was something she could depend on. Something that was always there.
"You're just trying to take all the credit." Asuka Jr. spoke after a moment. "It can't all be your fault, you moron." He told her, his voice surprisingly gentle for the words he said.
"Asuka..." She said quietly. She could feel her heart beating unnaturally fast.
"You're letting your grief control you. Is that what you want? To wallow in self pity?" He mocked her. "Your parents died because you were trying to protect them. To protect this whole town. Jeez, emotions are complicated." He finally said. "You talk about protecting your friends, the town and you're family. But...who has ever protected you?"
"What?" Meimi asked, unprepared for his sudden question.
"Well...I guess since I love you, I'll have to protect you. And I WILL protect you, despite what anyone says." Asuka Jr. insisted as he pulled back a bit from their tender embrace.
Meimi sighed, but couldn't get rid of that warm feeling in her heart. She liked having Asuka Jr. beside her. She liked his attempts to make her feel better. She liked his occasional childish behavior. "I...I was running away then. From my role in life...from my actions and their result. From the death and pain. In order for me to heal I had to get away." Her eyebrows arched hopelessly. "But that didn't do me much good. Yes...I found a wonderful family and I learned to heal my aching heart...but it also caused a lot of harm. I hurt my friends here...I hurt you...and Seira..."
Asuka Jr. apprehended her hand, holding onto it tightly. "No, I should've considered your feelings and I shouldn't have shunned you away from me. All I could think about was how I was causing you so much pain because I chased Saint Tail onto a street."
"Stop it." Meimi murmured. Impulsively, she launched herself deeper into his arms. Of their own accord, they wrapped around her waist. Her fingers burrowed into the creases of his shirt. She inhaled and took in all she could, imprinting a million sensations into her mind. She was making a lifetime of memories.
While she could.
"I'm sick of trying to out run my destiny. I can't. Oddly, part of me doesn't want to anymore. Does that make any sense?" Meimi pulled apart gently so she could look into his eyes, even if hers where shielded by her sunglasses.
"What are you talking about Meimi? You're acting like you're going to die or something..." Asuka Jr. gave her a worried look.
She ignored his comment. "I've resolved to meet my destiny. Head on. No backing down." Her explanation was murmured. "I've got to do something tomorrow. I don't know if I'll come back but...it must be done. I want you to know, I love you."
Asuka Jr. clutched her to him. He was so uncertain about what she meant and afraid he would lose her again. He couldn't stand to lose her a second time. "I won't let you go!!" He cried, fighting back tears.
Meimi tore her gaze away from his eyes. It was too painful to watch him while his heart broke. Because of her. Again, she was happy for her sunglasses and the dark night. He wouldn't have to see how hard this was for her or her own tears that trickled down her cheeks. "You have to! Asuka, it's the same as last time. As it's always been. You can't keep the people you love in a birdcage. They have to be free. Including me. This is my choice, my battle. You've had yours. This is mine." She stood up. Meimi had said what she needed to say.
"Wait!! Don't go!! What is that supposed to mean?!" She could hear his voice calling after her as Meimi faded away into the shadows, running off through the night, running back to her home in the junkyard.
~*~
Agony bit at Tammy every time she moved her body. She hadn't been able to sleep a wink, partly because of the painful position she was in and partly from fear of what would happen if she let herself slip into sweet unconsciousness. The brunette's head snapped up as she heard rustling nearby.
The girl with the purple hair strutted over to Tammy. Her blonde hair was straggly, hanging past her shoulders to about the mid-section of her back. From the shoulders down it was dyed a bright purple color. She had deep ringlets around her eyes while they almost seemed sunk in, giving her a dreaded dead looking appearance. She was tall in black leather boots that were tied up the front and she looked to be about seventeen. Her skin was pale, even if many of her days were spent in sunlight and she was clad in a black tank top and black shorts. Around her wrists were spiked cuffs while a ringlet earring pierced into her eyebrow.
"What do you want Zoey?" Tammy's voice came out hoarse and rough. When she spoke, it hurt. Her throat felt so dry and itchy.
"You stole him from me. That's why I hate you. You and that damned sister of yours...always acting so perfect and innocent!!" Zoey roared, marching up to Tammy with a newfound anger.
Tammy sighed. Why didn't people understand plain words? "I hate Rei. And Celeste hated him too. It's not my fault that he has some weird obsession over my sister, ok? If you love him so much why don't you confess your feelings?"
"Stop lecturing me!! You know nothing!!" Zoey snarled as she kicked her pointed boots into Tammy's leg, leaving the girl wincing in pain. "Tomorrow your fate will be decided. If Tony doesn't turn himself in, which I doubt he will, then you'll be with us. To die or some other fun thing. Either way...I'll enjoy watching you suffer. Poor Tony, stuck with an annoying girl like you. You're hurting him, you know that? You're only a weak spot for him. All weak spots are better off destroyed and forgotten." Zoey coldly hissed the words.
"I love you too!!!" Tammy mocked, calling out to the retreating figure. She just didn't get Zoey, Rei or Joey. Not at all. The girl tried to ignore Zoey's words but they kept bugging her. Would Tony turn himself in for her? She hoped he wouldn't. Tammy didn't want Tony to suffer on her behalf. She would never want that to happen. Dismay, Tammy hung her head, letting salty tears drip onto her clothing.
~*~
Wishing on a dream that seems far off
Hoping it will come today.
Into the starlit night,
Foolish dreamers turn their gaze,
Waiting on a shooting star.
~*~
Lauren: Like the new song? It's from the game Lunar SSS and is called "Boat Song." Don't know WHY, but it is. What do you all think of the new chapter? Ugh, I am literally drop dead tired. I actually wrote this last night but I've finalized it today and here it is! Yeah!