This story takes place after the series end. If you've gotten this far I'm not going to warn you about possible spoilers anymore. Some events may be referenced from the dub, while others may be referenced from the sub. Some I will take liberties with. This is where I really start taking liberties...
REBIRTH
By
NinjaNao
Priss:
They say that 'home is where the heart is'. If that is so, then this place, this city is no longer my home. Sure, I grew up here, but I also died here. I no longer belong here. Unlike many of my friends, I moved on, escaped. Although I'm sure that if you asked anybody here about that girl, Priscilla Sonoda Asagiri they will tell you quite a different story. I didn't leave town because of any angry mobs or protestors. I left under my own free will to pursue a dream, a promise. I was willing to accept full responsibility for what I did. I was willing accept my punishment. I was fully aware of what it would be. But no. My parents would have nothing of it. Their precious little baby could never have done such horrible things. Their little Priscilla would never had hung around such people. If they had paid attention to me, they would have seen that I was never the sweet innocent little girl. My father was always at work, and my mother out flaunting his money. The best lawyers money could buy were hired and I got off. I was found innocent of any wrong doing and set free. I served no time, not even community service.
I was free, but I wasn't. My actions haunted me, and I was alone because of it. My heart ached for somebody who was no longer with me, and it was all my fault. My heart still aches, which is why I think I've come back. I left to pursue my dream, our dream. I made a promise to him the day I left that I would continue for him.
As I make my way to the cemetery, I see people I once called my friends... strung out, begging on the corner. I had money. I was lucky. I never had to beg, but would I be in the same position if I had stayed? I could be them. It hurts to see them like that, but what could I do about it now? I have my own life.
When I get to the cemetery, I'm a bit embarrassed that I have to ask where the grave is that I wish to visit. I wasn't allowed to attend the funeral, nor was I welcome if I could. I purchased a white rose from the flower shop. He always liked white roses.
I found the grave. The cemetery gardener was trimming the grass around the headstone. It was sadly overgrown. I could just begin to make out the name. Thomas Hiro Arashikage. The gardener looked up and smiled at me. He asked me if I would like to help him. Gardening wasn't my thing, but I found myself nodding. I put the rose down and took the tool that he offered me. He told me sadly that nobody came to visit this poor boy. Not even his family. Not since the day the trial ended. He wished that he had more time to spend on taking care of all the unvisited graves but there was always so much to do. He only got around to some of them when the families of the neighboring graves started to complain. That hurt.
The gardener must have seen the look on my face. "You're Priscilla, aren't you?" he asked. "The one who..."
"Yes." I said. I could have just nodded. But I didn't want him to misinterpret my response. I felt no shame in who I was. "I go by Priss."
He smiled again and stood up. "Well, then, I'll leave you alone. I'll be back in a little bit for my tools." With that he walked away.
I finished with the overgrown weeds and made the grave look all nice again. I put the rose in the little vase that was provided. I took a deep breath and stood back.
"Hiro, I'm here. I'm sorry it took so long. I hope you don't hate me. I just felt that I had to come and see you. I can't say that I'm sorry for what I did, because the truth is, I don't really know what I was thinking that night. I do regret it. You're no longer with me, by my side. I miss you. I miss having you by my side. I miss your laugh, your smile, even calling me Prissy and making me try on those frilly dresses in the stores.
But I've changed, Hiro. I've cleaned up my act and I'm pursuing our dream. I haven't had a drink or taken drugs in almost three years now. I almost made it. I almost signed a major recording deal, but they wanted me to make too many changes. The worst of which was dropping the band's name, Sekiria. Yes, I named my band that. It's technically, Sekiria featuring Priss, but I insist on Sekiria coming first. They wanted me to change it to Priss with Sekiria if I was insisting to keep the name, but I wouldn't have it. It was your idea. If my name had to go first, then I wanted to use my idea, the one you laughed yourself sick about. Priss and the Replicants. The record company hated it. They wanted me to use my full name, Priscilla. UGH. I felt like they didn't want me for my music, and I would be selling myself out. So I walked away. I've got to start all over again. But I'm not going to let this dream die.
I love you, Hiro. I love you with all my heart, and I will always love you. But I can't be alone the rest of my life. You will always have a special place in my heart. But I think I've fallen for somebody, Hiro. It's taken me quite by surprise. I never would have expected to fall for somebody like this. I don't know how to tell them how much I care because the last thing I want it to lose this person as a friend. I have never been one to make friends. I'm not even sure how this person will take it. I'm not sure how my other friends will take it.
Well, it's getting late. I have a lot to think about. I'm not going to ask you to forgive me, nor am I making any excuses for what I did. I love you, and I will make our dream come true. I'm going to at least make sure that somebody takes care of you."