A/N:I'm so sorry, everyone who reads this fic, for taking so long to update, but lately… it just hasn't come to me! Fear not, I won't abandon it… No, that would hurt too much, so here's a short… chapter?... I'm thinking of ending this fic maybe at the next chapter though…? What does everyone think about that? Well, review please! It will keep me going when the days get rough D Thanks again for the one's who have stuck by me… I appreciate that a LOT! Oh mann… it's almost been one WHOLE YEARR…
It wasn't easy. Walking down the halls, knowing that there was something missing… always missing. It ate away at her, a ceaseless gnawing, slow, and yet, so very painful. At first, she had been spending her time regaining awareness – the slow process of awakening form a deep slumber, trying to find and understand a world that was once so familiar.
But then there was the emptiness.
The constant ache, the knowledge that you weren't complete – not really, and the fact that you may never be complete hurt.
It definitely wasn't easy.
But you learn to adjust – through it all, she found something… herself. She grew up. The changes may not have been evident to anyone's eyes – no, only to those closest to her, but they were there. No longer was she the wallflower; she gained courage. She was polite, yes, but now she knew not to hide – she could speak.
She wasn't jaded though.
Through every piercing step, her love for the world remained, along with the knowledge she gained. She was Sakuno. The only difference? She was more alive… She was real.
Tezuka took a deep breath, and slowly let it out. I must remain calm. I must remain calm… Ironically, the slightly hysterical thought that kept echoing in his mind did calm him. His eyes hungrily devoured the sight of her sitting there, back to full health. This may be the last time I ever see her again… ever. He almost heard his heart shatter with the thought. Don't ever forget me… His nerveless fingers unconsciously gripped the items he held in his hand.
Unknowingly, he had drawn her gaze towards the items in which he was so desperately clutching. Curiosity piqued, Sakuno forgot her fear of the unknown. Softly, she asked him, "Ano, but what do you have in your hands, Tezuka-kun?"
Tezuka, startled, gave a small squeak. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Might I suggest we continue this conversation outside?"
She looked puzzled for a moment, but agreed to follow him outdoors. They were silent as they went down the elevator, each caught up in their own thoughts. As the elevator descended, Tezuka thought about what he should tell Sakuno when they reached the grounds. They finally got off the elevator, and together, they walked out the sliding doors. Tezuka lead her down a small stone path, and the change from institute to paradise was slowly occurring. Paved areas became grassy, towering structures to trees. The gentle melody of lapping water overcame the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets, the two standing silently, unconsciously taking in the sanctuary of this oasis.
Most assuredly, this riverside garden was one of peace.
Basking in the warmth of the sun, neither of them wanted to break the silence. To break it meant to take away the peace… It meant coming back to reality. Sakuno knew she should speak, but the words were lost in her mind, held back by the boundaries that only fear could bring.
Fear… and Hope.
Tezuka wanted to go back, to be away from that daunting task. He wanted to be by himself, away from the possibility of rejection, away from his insecurities, because it was there. Always there…
Love… and Fear.
They pushed and they pulled, a seemingly never ending fight, where the change of characters would only bring a new set of rules into play. They hid, they commanded, they changed an existence into a life. Three emotions. Three cards.
Love. Fear. Hope.
The truth, a lie, and a dream.
They kept pulling and pulling, on and on, until the ropes broke. This time, the truth would win. "I want to show you something."
Her questioning eyes turned toward him, the silence finally broken. He brought the items closer to his heart, as if unwilling to let go, unable to part with such a big secret. He let out his breath, one he hadn't even known he'd been holding, and gave a tersely spoken, "Here." Almost violently, he shoved the package into her hands, and then backed away.
Hoping that against all odds that the shade would bring a semblance of the peace she had found earlier but had now lost, she accepted the package and walked to a nearby tree. Peace eluded her, but she found courage. Knowing that what she held would change her life forever, she was apprehensive, but through all her muddled thoughts and feelings, she found the courage. Her now steady fingers slowly opened the package like a child that had never received a Christmas present would. Her hand movements were precise, not wanting to ruin the paper, her heart savoring the moment. And when it was unwrapped, she was pulled into a vortex of déja vu. She was flooded, each sense being filled with memories, like a balloon being filled with helium, a tsunami that plunged over her, again and again, entrapping her mind, body, and soul. She was racked by it all, and losing energy, she dropped to the ground, a dead weight.
Her light body made no sound, but Tezuka sensed something was wrong. Worried, he turned around, and what he saw was almost too much to bear. Once again, she was gone from him, unknowing, unseeing. His body in a trance, he walked to her, every step like lifting a foot of lead. Finally, he reached her, and crouching, he caressed her face with gentle fingers.
Softly, Tezuka spoke. "Sakuno…?"
Her eyes shot open, glazed over and confused, but she whispered one last word before her eyes closed once more. His eyes darkened in pain, but he understood. "…re-mem-ber…" she had said…
A/N: I hope you come back for more ;) I think the hiatus is over for now.. ) does anymore still remember mee? D
