Crimson Threads
I'm utterly bored, so I shall continue the series!
:DISCLAIMER: I do not own the rights to Fruits Basket or Girl Got Game, but I do own Mike, Ari, and Mayra.
The Reason
Mike ran back to the building, ablaze with fire. How the heck can I get in there? The fire's everywhere! Mike searched for an open spot to get in. He saw a window that wasn't necessarily blocked by flames. Mike pulled together what courage he had, and leaped into the blazing building. Mike coughed from the smoke. He used his shirt to try to filter out the thick smoke. Mike fought against the fire, searching for any sign of Ari.
"Ari!" Mike screamed. "Ari! Where are you!"
"Mike? What are you doing here! I don't want you to get hurt!" Ari yelled back.
Mike turned to where Ari was. She was on the floor, her body on a giant slab of concrete. Her leg was free, thanks to a falling piece of concrete. She was cut up, with blood slowly dripping from all her cuts.
"Mike! I told you, I don't want to see you get hurt!" Ari yelled. "Get out of here now!"
"You don't want me hurt, I don't want you hurt, so let's get out of here." Mike said. He picked up Ari, bridal style. He searched for an exit, but all he could see was smoke.
Ari coughed, "Mike, I don't deserve to live. Just leave me here and get yourself out."
Mike refused. "You are the last reason I have to live. I know all this sounds corny and fake, but it's true."
Ari coughed even more. The smoke was filling her lungs. She needed to get something to filter the air, but her arms hurt too much to move. Ari then felt a cloth put against her mouth. She looked up at Mike, who was still looking for a way out. Ari saw the staircase that led to the roof free of flames. She tried to tell him, but all she could manage to say without going into a spell of coughs was his name.
Mike saw Ari coughing. "Ari! Ari, are you okay!" He was worried. She really needed fresh air. He remembered how bad her asthma could get under certain conditions. His thoughts were interrupted when Ari squirmed, trying to lift her arm. Mike tried to stop her, knowing how badly she was injured, but when he saw where she was pointing, he wished he could thank her without coughing.
Mike ran up to the roof. The roof wasn't in fire yet, but Mike knew it wouldn't be long until they were surrounded by the flames. He looked down. even though he's gone bungee jumping off cliffs, these three floors seemed insanely high. Dammit, why should I be scared of heights now! This is the worst time to be scared! Mike mentally screamed at himself for being a wuss. Mike put the coughing Ari down on the roof, and Mike looked down, trying not to feel sick while searching for a way down. He spotted an empty flowerbed, out of reach from the flames, and easy to land in if... he could jump.
"Mike..." Ari coughed. "The roof feels... warm..."
Mike knew that this meant the fire was about to come up to the roof. He had to make up his mind now. Would he stay on the roof until help came, or should he take Ari and jump into the flowerbed? He looked at Ari, who could do nothing at all. He had to jump. It was the only sure way to make sure she would come out alive for sure.
Mike picked up Ari, and walked up to the side of the roof. Ari, who had gotten over her coughing, sensed Mike's plan. "Mike! What are you doing! You'll kill yourself!"
Mike ignored Ari's pleas to stop. He leaped from the roof, making sure Ari was on top of him, so he would break her fall. Ari clung onto Mike as the two fell.
Ari's POV
I woke up, feeling the fresh earth against my face. I had never felt so much pain until now. I was even more amazed that I could get myself. I leaned on my arm, pushing myself up. I should have known that Mike would thwart my plans again. I guess it was for good this time. I had never seen him so scared. Did I mean that much to him? Oh no! Mike! Where is he? I must have crushed him from landing on him!
I looked around, and I saw Mike a couple feet away from me. I crawled my way over to him. I felt his pulse. He's alive! I didn't kill him! I pulled the both of us over to a tree, and I leaned against it. Mike was still unconscious. I lay his head in my lap. I wished that I could get help, but I didn't even have enough energy to stand up, much less look for help. I tried to keep awake. The flames were still alive, and I couldn't understand why I was so intent on killing myself anymore. I had come so close to seeing death so many times, I don't know why I wanted to see it again.
I almost fell asleep, until I heard voices and a siren growing louder. A fire engine skidded to a halt, and men started piling out, trying to put the fire out. I heard more voices, talking about how there were kids inside. Someone must have called the fire department. Soon, I recognized one of the voices.
"...but I really need you to get my friends out! My two best friends are in there! I know it's hard to explain how this happened, but right now, I just need to know they're alive!"
I smiled. Of course Mayra would get help. She's always the one to ask for help, even if she can do it herself. I tried to lift my arm, but it hurt too much. I strained my voice to call out to her. "Mayra...! Over... here...!"
I started coughing again, but Mayra had heard me. She ran over, and I could tell she was about to start yelling at me for being so stupid again.
"Ari! You're alive!" She hugged me, like she would never let go. "Why do you keep thinking you're worthless? I don't care what you call yourself. Like my mom said, 'To the world, you're one person, but to one person, you are the world.' But you're the exception. You're the world to all of us! To me, to Tohru, to Shigure, and especially Mike!" Mayra let go of me, and collapsed into tears.
Tohru saw the three of us, and came over to us. She started crying along with Mayra, while asking me if I was alright. We must have been quite a sight. Tohru must have noticed Mike in my lap, because she instantly started panicking. "Ari! Is Mike okay! Do we need to take him to the hospital?"
I tried to tell Tohru that Mike needed attention, but I started coughing again, and all I could see was black.
Normal POV
Ari woke up again, only to see once more, insanely bright light. Only the only blinding thing about it was it reflected off white walls, making it brighter. She moaned. What is it with me and the damn bright light? Ari then realized she was in a bed, wearing a hospital gown. Great, if I'm in the hospital, then they'll find my medical records, and they'll find out I'm a runaway, and then I'll have to go home, back to my hating family, and-
"Ari, are you awake?" Shigure whispered. He peeked into her room, and saw Ari wide awake. "Ari! Are you okay?"
"Well, I don't know. I mean, I haven't talked to the doctor. Not like I want to." Ari sighed.
"Ari? What are you talking about?" Shigure asked.
"If they see my medical records, they'll know that I'm a runaway, and they'll send me back to America, because I don't have a parent of guardian here, and-"
"Ah! But that's what I'm here to talk to you about!" Shigure smiled. "Your father called me a couple weeks ago. He told me that all the parents found out about where you were living. But, he said that if it could be arranged, they would let us Sohmas adopt you. They don't want you to have the same parent, but at least you all will stay here, right?"
"Shigure! This is wonderful!" Ari hugged him. "Have you figured out who is adopting who yet?"
"Actually, we have. We have been planning this since the call. It's already official." Shigure smiled proudly.
"What! And I thought you were the procrastinator!" Ari laughed, amazed by Shigure's efficiency. "So? Who's going with who?"
Shigure put a finger to Ari's lips. "I can't tell you yet! We have to wait for Mike and Mayra!"
Ari's thought suddenly went to Mike. "Mike! Is he okay? He's not hurt, is he?"
"I'm fine, don't worry about me," Mike said, entering the room.
"Mike! I didn't squish you!" Ari squealed. The three of them laughed at Ari's random burst of joy.
"Don't worry. The doc said I inhaled a lot of smoke, but besides a couple bruises, I was perfectly fine." Mike's face fell though. "But I'm more concerned about you though."
Ari looked at Mike. She didn't feel bad or anything, just tired. "Mike, is there something that the doctor hasn't told me?"
Mike looked up at Ari. "You lost a lot of blood again, and you had an asthma attack when you were being transported to the hospital." Mike sighed. "You're pretty accident prone, huh?"
Ari giggled. "Shut up Mike, I don't get hurt that much." Mike gave her one of those 'sure-you-don't' looks. "Okay, okay, I am, happy?"
"Well," Mike said, "I'm happy that my little Ari is okay." Mike leaned over her, and planted a kiss on her forehead. Ari blushed madly.
Shigure, sitting by them the whole time, cleared his throat. "I think I'll go leave you two to talk a bit, and I'll be back with the others for the good news!" Shigure winked at the two, and quickly left the room, closing the door.
Ari laughed at Shigure. "Isn't he funny?"
Mike became serious. He had to know if she understood how he felt. "Ari, do you understand what I said now? I really do love you!"
Ari looked out the window. "I understand now. I just couldn't understand. I mean, you could have any of those fangirls. You're the most popular boy in school. Well, at least the day that I went. I just don't understand why you picked me, the odd one."
"But, Ari," Mike explained, "it's because you're unique that I love you. The other people are just asking for attention. But, you are someone that people would want to spend time with, get to know."
Ari smiled. "You know Mike? You're more than I deserve, you know that?"
"No, I don't deserve you. You're the one that should have more." Mike playfully argued.
Ari sighed. She looked into Mike's soft brown eyes. "You know, Mike? I love you too. You are the reason I smile nowadays."
Ari wanted to continue, but was cut off with a deep kiss. She was stunned by the action, but pulled them deeper into the kiss. After their kiss, Mike and Ari looked into each other's eyes. Wow. My first kiss. Ari touched her lips, and smiled. I'm so glad I have an Angel by my side.
Yay! Happy ending! Well, gotta get to bed. Otherwise, I'll get grounded, and I won't be able to keep writing. We don't want that, now do we?
See ya next time!
Sarah-chan
