Chapter Two

Ebony Petals: Mamiya Chida

The day I decided I desired eternity was the day I saw the end of the world. When he showed it to me...

It was a night like another, I suppose, I was lying sick in bed, my only comfort being the cool sheets against my flaming skin. It was the worst fever I had, had in months. Maybe Tokiko was right I should take better of myself, but what would it matter if I was going to die anyway. Gathering all of the strength left in my feeble body I attempted to lift my self out of bed. The hardest part being getting my head of the pillow for it felt heavy as if filled with lead.

My bare feet met the icy tile much to my refreshment. Clutching the wall for I support I managed to stumble into the depths of a pitch black hallway. The darkness didn't not concern me much, I knew my way well.

I made it to the garden, my only solace, with considerable ease. It never seemed to hurt as much in the garden. I stood admiring my roses and the way the moonlight illuminated the droplets of a previous watering like tiny crystal kisses. Yes, my only concern if life now were my roses. At an early age I regreted the fact that I would never bear children so I tended to my roses as if they were such;children. I know its odd for a child to think of such things, but when you're expected to die you consider all aspects of life.

"You really should be in bed, Mamiya," came a sultry voice from my far left.

"Mr. Chairman," I finally uttered choking in my own suprise.

"Please, call me Akio we're practically family."

Family, I cringed at the word. I barely knew this Akio. The only people I considered family were Tokiko and Professor Nemuro.

"Why are you here?"

He took a seat at the small table where Tokiko, Soji and myself often had tea and began to fondle my sister's dried flowers."I came to ask you a question," he turned to me with a look in his eyes much like that of a hawk's to its prey."Do you wish to die, Mamiya?"

I'm postive that the look on my face clearly revealed my shock at the question. No one had ever asked me that before. Tokiko and the others were to caught up in making sure that I did survive. I had accepted the fact that I was going to die soo long ago, but did I really want to?

"It's just the waiting that I can't stand. No one around me understands what its like...just waiting to die," I replied.

"You've been sick along time haven't you, Mamiya?" he stated more than questioned.

He then stood up and strolled past me straight to my roses. I watched in trepidation as he grabbed a pair of sheers and hacked away a single rose.

"You monster," I choked," my beautiful roses!"

I could feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks as I stared in awe as the rose turned to the color of charcoal. What evil magic did this man posses? Gesturing for me to take the rose he whispered.

"I can make it where you don't have to be sick anymore. No more waiting to die, you can live forever."

"But I don't want to live forever."

"But in this eternity you will have undying beauty and perpetual bliss, you and whomever you choose to share it with. Death will no longer be at your bedside, Mamiya."

Imaging life without needles, nurses, imense, and more importantly my sister's tears, I made my decision. With trembling hands I recieved my first black rose...

A/N: Sry that was so short I seem to be incabable of producing lenghty chapters. thats ok bc chap 3 is already ready for you guys I hope you still read and hang in with me oh yea updates on Frost Tips and Roses in the Rain will be coming soon!! Promise! REMEMBER TO REVIEW. oH yea if u didn't already figure it out this was a flash back after this its back to Mikages POV