Hi! Sorry for the long wait! I had sooo many things to do, for classes have started again! Anyway, here's my third chapter of my fic. And it's whoa…!! It's Otaru's turn this time. Reviews will be… oh oh, gosh… always a great help. Thanks!!

DISCLAIMER: I have just borrowed the characters of this animè to someone… huh? Who's that someone? Nah… I think it's the owner… you? Wacha think? 3

I don't own anything!!! Story's excluded.

Chapter 3: Dreams Can Explain Too

O T A R U

I saw her breathe her last. I held her hands… how bloody it was. I heard her whispered those last words to my ears. I couldn't bear it.

Lorelei… Oh, Lorelei… Why, of all people?

Why, why… you?

Huh… Lime? B-But----

Hey! Where are you going? Come back! Lime!

Oh no… Not again… Lime!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

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People were bellowing, shrieking and chasing each other everywhere as thick smoke enveloped the whole town. As Otaru was running to reach the temple stairs at once, another bashed the other side of it. He trembled, he's sure that's where Lorelei's main laboratory room was located.

Otaru made bigger steps so that he can be able to reach the area on time. He almost tore down the door with all his strength, and then more smoke were coming out from it. Not minding the suffocation it brings, He walked inside and there he found the main computer system damaged together with its other gadgets and equipment. There might be something wrong in their tests, but it doesn't need to explode like a bomb that frightened the crowd from below.

He strolled around, hoping to find someone he recognized. He had found lifeless examiners spread out everywhere. Fear rose up on him. At the middle of the room, he was taken aback, for he saw in his very eyes a very familiar image that was lying on the floor. Lorelei's body was red all over messed up by her own blood! More apprehension was filling on Otaru's heart. She was badly hurt, he's certain on it. Blood was unceasingly flowing in her head, arms and in her right leg. Otaru rushed instantly to take her in his arms, unbothered if she'll mess his clothes with her blood too. He would not waste a second of time anymore, just to bring her to the nearest clinic. Otaru was about to lift her but she insisted not to go anymore. She groaned painfully as she was forcing herself to speak...

"God, Lorelei… If only I arrived earlier, it wouldn't be like this! What happened?" Otaru quivered as he said those things. He can't explain what feeling should take place at that time but one thing's for sure…

He must let her keep on breathing.

"Otaru… I—", she whimpered as she held her breath. It was very hard for her to move even a little shift of her head.

"No, don't force yourself! C'mon, be strong…" he said as he was holding her hand.

"Otaru, no… D-Don't… I—uh, I want to c-clarify things for the last t-time. No… I-I want you to c-clarify things …b-between us…"

"What are you talking about?!"

"Otaru…" she smiled as she sobbed; her bloody hands cradling his cheeks full of tears.

Is this a sign of leaving?

"I knew it from the very start. You don't love me. Y-You never did

Otaru shivered. He didn't imagine she would speak of those things; especially she was in the brink of danger.

"Don't say that! W-What makes you say—"

"I know. I always k-know. I… I can feel." She uttered kindly.

"But—"

"I-I knew this time would c-come… but now, I k-knew it would be less pain for me to accept it…" she smiled that almost looks like a grimace.

"We talked about this m-matter, remember?" she continued.

"W-What do you mean?!"

She smiled painfully as she gazed at his face. Otaru didn't know why suddenly he felt anxious of looking those lips he never kissed. And now she's smiling at him… as if she's going away… without him by her side.

"J-Just tell me you want her permanent existence to be fulfilled and… I'll be f-fine…"

"L-Lorelei—"

"P-Please."

"…"

Otaru didn't know what made him say all the things he truly feels. At that time, He told her his deepest insights. Besides, that's the very reason why he's supposed to visit her… to tell her everything. He'll stop on making her believe that he loved her… even if it's really painful in her part.

But he didn't expect this accident would happen. Still, she hasn't told him what had happened.

After that, Lorelei gave Otaru a piece of paper she got from her pocket. Clueless, Otaru picked it up but didn't read it.

"Tamasaburo will… g-give you my other letter I-I think…and t-that thing will lead you to find my comrade… but n-not for now, Otaru. I-I'm sure of it." She referred to the paper he was holding at that time.

Lorelei held his collar tight as she coughed hard. Otaru panicked.

Then she managed to give him a lop-sided smile. "So, e-everything's set. This is it…"

"Hold on, Lorelei! I'll get you out of here—"

"N-No need. I'm r-ready, anyway…" she pleaded as she moaned glaringly.

"Don't be so hard-headed!"

"I'm sorry Otaru, f-for all the things"—she sobbed in between lines—"I've caused you… t-to all you. I-I'm tired. Besides, somebody's waiting for me up there. And oh"—she paused, breathe hard—"just t-tell the others I can't wait for them a-anymore and…

"T-Tell Lime I will see her again sometime, and we could have fun together, as w-what I've p-promised…"

"What are you saying?! You'll survive this! You'll be fine and you'll be—"

Her finger zipped his lips. Then slowly, she clung to his head and kissed him. She gave her last sweetest smile, and whispered like he was the only one who was left untold.

"I… l-love you so much, Otaru. And because of that…I—"

"…"

"—I understand h-how you…"

"…"

"…f-feel."

She loved him. She knew what he felt. Otaru cried after hearing those words, and hugged her tight. He didn't know whether to get mad or to just keep quiet. He felt regretful of so many things. He wished somebody could turn back the time so that Lorelei's life would remain normal as she was. He wished she never loved him as what he was not hoping it to be… but she wasn't. She loved Otaru until her last moment.

Lorelei passed away with a smile on her face, beautiful just like before. She left Otaru without making him realize all the things she was telling to him a while ago. After all had happened, Otaru wanted to give her the peace she wanted for.

As he was carrying her lifeless body outside the room, Otaru noticed three familiar figures approaching. The marionettes came, looked astonished as they arrived.

"We had seen the explosion from below! W-What happened?" Bloodberry said, with all worry in her face.

Cherry checked up on Lorelei's body. But… she has the same reaction, like Bloodberry did.

"This can't be…"

"Now what, Cherry!?! Stop acting like that!" Bloodberry shouted her while looking at Cherry's tearful eyes.

"Lorelei's hurt! We should bring her out!" it was Lime. Otaru wished he could borrow Lime's innocence even for a while, for she still doesn't know what's going on.

Otaru can't tell them what happened. It's just that he ran out of words to say. Well, what he had brought in them explained everything. He cried softly.

Silence.

"Why anyone of you can't tell me what's going on?!" Lime yelled at them as she was walking closer to Otaru. Then she pushed him to go outside.

"C'mon, Otaru, let's take her to the hospital. Isn't it that humans were brought there if they are sick?" she asked.

With what she had said, Otaru sobbed even more, but they didn't notice it. He was still carrying Lorelei then. Still, he didn't take even the slightest step. He just can't.

Otaru thought Lime had given up. He saw her walk past him. Bloodberry was there, trying to stop her. Cherry did the same.

"Darn it! Why? Let me go! I'll find someone who cares for her!!" she shouted madly to them.

"Lime… it's too late." Bloodberry sobbed. Cherry covered her face with her hand and cried as well.

"Eh? J-Just wait a sec; when I come back, s-someone will help us." Lime nervously said as she was taking little steps away from them.

"She's gone…"

Lime stopped from moving when Otaru told her those words he didn't want to say. Cherry wept even louder as Bloodberry was there to comfort her. He knelt on the floor, and put there for a while Lorelei's dead body.

"Tell me you're lying, Otaru. I know I'm always carefree, but don't throw jokes at me this time, especially bad ones…" she said, giving him a fake smile.

"But I'm not…" Otaru whispered as he stared Lorelei's face.

"No…"

"…"

"NOOOOOOO!!!!" she cried aloud and knelt beside him. She almost squeezed Lorelei's body close to her.

They had felt the deepest sadness at that time. They had lost one of the best people who made their entire life strong. She had been very kind to all of them and… for she was selfless for setting Otaru free. And… she loved him.

The marionettes cried for their equal human being. Otaru felt guilty at the same time. If he had arrived earlier than the unexpected, it wouldn't be as dreadful as this. All he knew is that he was the one who must be blamed to all this things.

He can't take all his emotions anymore, so he hit the floor with his bare hands and howled with rage. Tears were flowing down on his cheeks. There. He was about to stand up and leave all of them when suddenly he felt a slight rotation of his surroundings. The smoke he had inhaled a while ago had a bad effect.

"O-Otaru? Are you… W-What's wrong?" Lime wearily asked him.

"Lorelei…"

"O-taruuu!!!!!!!!"

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Tip…

Tap…

Tip…

Tap…

The remnants of the rain drove up my senses. I woke up with swollen eyes, squinting in the well-lit room. I can't believe I managed to sleep sitting at the darkest corner of this house. It was past dawn and still, I can't stop myself from thinking about the situation that took place just a few moments ago. And then that dream… that dream again… that dream keeps on haunting me…

It just happened so fast, so quick that I could see no trace of the accident. It was still fresh on the screen of my memory. I was about to free myself from pretending my very own feelings… from generalizing so many things. And all of a sudden, everything has changed. It has really changed my whole life.

I'm tired of seeking for the right answers. But then I tried and tried, and still got hurt in the end. Anger. Lost. Longing. The answers made me do this unusual things for the long six months, but no one has to be blamed… except me. And now because of my being selfish, many people were affected. Those people I'm supposed to protect, as what I have assured. Those people whom I supposed to love… whom I treated as if they were not different from us… humans.

But now look what I've done. I've hurt them. I have made them cry. I have made her cry in front of me!

I can't erase the image of her face in my mind. It seemed that it's taunting me, mocking me, making me feel like a damn criminal. That face… made me forget everything… anything… but her. The tear-strained face made me look back on the things I have done… the words I have said, and even the time I had wasted… the time I'm supposed to spend along with them… along with my family.

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to be continued…

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more of Otaru's point of view in the next chappie!

Tired of understanding the secret of this fic? Well, get ready for the next ones to be posted!

More revelations on the fourth and fifth chappie!! Sorry again for the long wait!! Hehe!

God, I wish I had a lot of free time!! hassle! R&R!! thanks!!