Up in heaven, Here on Earth

by dytia

chapter 4: Not one to love

Finally got hold of some of the manga scans so decided to tweak with my story a little bit. I don't think this story would follow much of the manga storyline. We'll see how it goes. Like always.. all characters belong to Arina Tanemura. I don't own anything.

" So you can't remember any of of it?" Meroko's voice ring through his ears.

My parents... my past life.. did I forgot about them?

Izumi was sitting on the ledge. In front of him was the train station. He always comes here when he wanted to be alone with his thoughts. It was as if something tied him to it. A past life reminders?

All I could remember about my past life was that it was horrible. Nothing that I wanted to remember.

But Miyuki made him think about it. And it scares him to remember about his past life. This fear runs deep.

" Knock.. knock..." Izumi look up. Meroko floated down to perch beside him.

" How did you find me? Is there a big satellite up there that monitors all my movement? Are you stalking me? You seem to be everywhere I go." he retorted.
" Izumi-kun growing grumpier. Must be all these years being a shinigami taking a toll on you."

Izumi rolled his eyes and ignored her. Meroko tapped him at the shoulder but he just sat there not talking to her.
" I see, Izumi-kun is regretting about agreeing to help Meroko with Miyuki. Izumi-kun is mad at Meroko for messing up his assignment." Izumi did not reply.

" Meroko really don't understand why Izumi-kun do not think Miyuki deserve a second chance. She's a good kid with a hard life. Perhaps after this she will get a happy ending she deserves."
" There's no happy ending... " Izumi muttered.
" What did you just say?" Meroko asked. Izumi kept quiet.

Meroko start to jump up and down in front of him and making funny faces. Izumi just shrugged at her," Just leave me alone."

Meroko stared at him. Izumi did not look at her instead he rather watch the trains go by. " Why do you avoid me?"
" I'm not avoiding you."
" Then, look at me." Izumi turn to the opposite direction. Meroko flew in front of him.
" Meroko, just leave."
" Something is bothering Izumi-kun. And Meroko won't leave until she knows about it."

Izumi-kun jump off the ledge and landed on the streets. Meroko followed suit. Izumi-kun walk pass the barrier towards the train tracks. Meroko tried to stop him.

" I am a shinigami. I am already dead so why are you worried?"
" Izumi-kun... get out. The train.."
" If you leave, I'll get out.."
" How do you expect me to leave when you are about to collide with a train?"

Izumi stepped on the tracks and stood right at the center. " You know, Me-chan. I always like trains. I don't know why."

Ting.. Ting... Ting... The bell rang signaling the train was coming. Meroko yelled at Izumi to get out of its way.

Izumi stared at the incoming train. This felt strangely familiar.

Flashback.. Izumi was standing on the train tracks. Staring at a lady who was watching him from the side. The lady was smiling. The train was coming.

In the present.. Izumi remained frozen in front of the train as if he was in a daze. Meroko yelled to get his attention but he did not listen.

Like Miyu.. my life was also something worth to end early.

Just as the train got nearer, Meroko brashly jumped and caught Izumi, just managing to avoid the incoming train by a mere inch. Both of them stumbled down the ground, rolling over the asphalt turf.

They lay still. Meroko still holding onto Izumi. Izumi stared at her. " Why did you do that, baka?"
Meroko did not reply. She was too shaken by the ordeal.
Izumi shrugged, " I guess you forgot that we shinigami are immortal."
" I did not forget."
" Then why did you save me."
" Because I cannot just stand there and watch Zumi-chan die," she tearfully cried,

Izumi was startled by Meroko's words.

Flashback.. The train hitting him.. A smiling lady watching him..

She did not save me. She chose not to save me.

Izumi stared at Meroko. This girl chose to do otherwise.

As Meroko calmed down, she began to realize that Izumi were lying on top of her with her arms wrapped around his neck. Blushing deep red, she asked Izumi to get off her. Realizing her predicament, he grinned. " I guess you want me to reward you for saving me. How about a kiss? We used to kiss each other a lot if I'm not mistaken."
" That's ages ago."
Meroko struggled against him. Izumi mischievously hugged her closer. " Izumi.. get off I said.."
Against her wishes, Izumi kissed her right on the lips. Soft and slow, he deepened the kiss. Meroko tried to struggle free but as the embrace grew tighter, her protests grew weaker and weaker.

Meroko.. a small voice in her heart whispered. " You love him.."
Meroko replied no. " Then why are you in his arms? Why did you try to find him? If it was not love.."
" I love Takuto.." said Meroko. The words echoed in her ears..

Izumi whispered her name. Hearing his voice, she finally got hold of her senses.

Pang.. Suddenly, she slapped him. Izumi caressed his sore cheeks. " Aww.. Me-chan."

Meroko stood up. " This was not why I am here. I.. you're mistaken."
" Am I? Didn't you just said that you didn't want to see me die? Didn't it meant that you still have feelings for me?"
" Not that way.. I love Ta-kun."
" Takuto.. Takuto.. I am sick and tired of hearing that name from your lips."
" Izumi.. I am not here to discuss this." Izumi grabbed her arms and shouted, " What's wrong with me? Why Takuto not me?"
" There's nothing wrong with you.. "
" Then what.. What am I to you?"
Meroko did not reply.

I didn't have any answer.

Izumi pushed her away. Meroko looked away. " I was mistaken. I should not have gone and see you. Goodbye, Izumi."

Meroko flew away. Izumi watched her disappear into the sky.

No.. Meroko was just like that lady. She did not love me. No one would love me.. Not Meroko.. Not Mitsuki.. Nobody..

Miyuki.. She was like me.. someone whose life is a sad story that should have been cut short whether by God or our own hands. No second chance. No fairy godmother or any angel can come down and help her. Because this child was not fated to have a happy ending.

Like I was then..

Flashback...

" Everything would have been different if it weren't for you." A lady was shouting at him. Crying and cursing him.

Izumi knelt in the corner while that lady went out with some strange men. Midnight, she'll be back and hit him again and again.

"You should not have been born!" She always said that.

I was not needed. I am a burden to her.

The lady never smile at him. Wait, she did.. years ago but Izumi cannot remember why. But now, every time she looks at him, it was with hatred. Sometimes, he felt that she was ashamed of him.

I'll make her smile.. I promise..

" Oka-san.. Thankyou for taking care of me," he whispered.. The train was coming fast. And the last thing that Izumi see before the train hit him was his mother's face smiling.

Next: Izumi plots to get Miyuki to kill herself. Can Meroko stop him? Will she figure out her feelings towards Izumi? Will it be too late?