As if to confirm something, you tightly clench your right hand
If the rules are annoying you, just go ahead and break them
If you're thinking of resting your ailing legs
Move just one more step forward from here, instead
Even if we push our way through the distorted winds
Even if we outdistance the cold sky
Even then, we still continue to wander
The two of us are screaming all the time
Just continuing to believe isn't the answer
Expose your weaknesses and your wounds
If we don't continue to struggle, nothing will begin
So break through, beyond the door
Society has become entangled in complex problems
If reality is vexing you, just go ahead and blow it away
If you're planning on moping over abuse and slander
Let out your selfishness and desire, instead
Drown out the confusing noise
Shake free the gazes that have grown apathetic
Continue from here, on to the next stage
The two of us are searching all the time
This accelerated speed can never go back
Bind your strength and resolution together
If we don't continue to run, there is no future
So move foward, beyond the door
Even if the pride you hold over your head is a mistake
Even if the ideal you paint crumbles
Even if everything here turns to lies and wears you down
I'll definitely be here
--Full Metal Alchemist (Tobira no mukou e)English translation by frong
I was in dark place. Light from above illuminated me from the rest of the shadows.
I couldn't see beyond the circle of light. At far I thought I could see monstrous shapes forming. I stayed well inside the protective circle of light, confident that whatever out there will not catch me.
Wait. There was something. Listening intently, I tried to make out what it was.
…a sound…like a tune…
The lullaby! The one that she always sang to me…
Far off, I saw another beam of light. And inside the beam of light, was Yuri and Okasan and Otosan.
I wanted to go to them, but I was afraid to step out of my protective light. Afraid that whatever out there will get me when I ran.
Yuri's gaze was questioning; she looked confused. Okasan and Otosan's faces…instead of the always ready smile on their face…
…where they're faces had been, there was nothing but a blank mask. My stomach felt like a knot was forming in it, tightening and tightening. Fear rushed up to my throat.
I couldn't go out now. Okasan and Otosan are gone, but Yuri…I willed her to get out of there. She looked at me curiously, tipping her head sideways.
The light disappeared above me. I was clad in darkness. My stomach gave a lurch as I pondered on the sudden feeling of lossness. The only beam of light in that world of darkness was Yuri's.
I ran towards it. A hand descends on her shoulder and she looks up.
Behind me, the shapes are forming. They rushed towards me, their semi-liquid bodies giving a sickening whoosh, mouths open in endless cries of agony.
Running as fast as I could, I reached out a hand. Yuri saw and reached out one too, and it extended out beyond the beam of light.
Just a few inches more…
Okasan reached out a hand slapped Yuri's hand away; it fell back into the circle of light. One of the shapes behind me grabbed my ankle, liquid splashing over. I screamed.
With a sudden consciousness, I was whooshed back into reality. My heart beating fast and my breathing coming out in gasps, I turned over.
My shaking hand came up to partly cover my eyes. The dream replayed again in my mind; I remembered the semi-liquid hand clutching my ankle; the fear and horror coming back in a rush. I felt sick and frightened all over.
Experience told me that sitting didn't help. Anywhere near here didn't help. I got up shakily and put on my jacket draped across the chair. Turning the cold steel knob, I peered out into the hallway. All was in shadows. The night-shift nurse behind the counter was dozing. I slipped put quietly and padded down the hallway.
The smell of antiseptics and medicines hit me as soon as I entered, along with the cold air-conditioned air. I hated hospitals. So white and dead. I shrugged and went to the counter.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for a patient named Sohma Isuzu. Do you know--?" I didn't finish my sentence.
"Sohma Isuzu? Ah! That one!" she exclaimed. "The one who swung her drip stand at her visitor the other day! Bad temper, that one!" she giggled.
"Huh?" My mouth slightly gaping.
"She's in Room—oh, hi, Miyako-san! Could you come over here for a second! Never mind," she looked at me apologiclly and gestured to the nurse coming over. "She will take you to Sohma Isuzu."
"Miyako-san! Could you bring this young lady to Sohma-chan's rom, please? And let's hope she doesn't wack this girl with her drip stand too!" she chuckled.
"EH???" The nurse gapes at me, before pointing at me in horror. Perplexed, I blinked.
"HOW CAN IT BE!!?? I JUST RETURNED YOU TO YOUR ROOM A FEW MINUTES AGO!!" She practically screeched, and a nurse wheeling a old man in a wheelchair shot her a glare, which went unnoticed. "HOW DID YOU—"
"Ehh?" Now it was the woman behind the counter's turn to exclaim. "You mean she is Sohma Isuzu??"
"HAI!! I SWEAR, I JUST SAW HER IN HER ROOM AND NOW—" She continued screeching like a banshee.
"Gotcha, Miyako-san!" She saluted and came out of her counter.
"In this hospital, young lady," she strode towards me, eyes flashing. "We abide by the rules very strictly. So if the doctor doesn't say you may leave, then," she gripped my left arm in a death-lock. I frowned and opened my mouth to protest.
"Sumimasen, but I'm af—"
"—then you may not leave." The nurse follows suit, and together they half-dragged me towards Rin's room.
"Now you had better not try to—" the door opened fully and the nurse froze so deathly still she could have turned ice. The receptionist's eyes nearly popped out of her head. The nurse looks at Rin by the bed, expressionless as she watched, back to me in her death-lock grip, and fainted.
The receptionist gaped at us, before reclining back from her death-lock grip so fast as if she was on fire. I gingerly massaged my arms.
"Anou…" her eyes darted to me and Rin. "Are you two.."
"Twins? Hai." I answered curtly, a false smile plastered on my face. "Domo arigatou, but could you…" I nodded towards the door.
The receptionist spluttered and managed to drag her unconcscious friend with her before I slammed the door. Sighing inwardly, I faced her.
"What are you doing here?" Relief flooded me when she didn't chase me out with her drip stand. Intense eyes regarded me coolly. After a while when I didn't answer her question, she broke off contact and looked out of the window. The slight breeze that blew in caressed her silky long hair.
"I suppose you want to know what happened. Forget it. You shouldn't have come anyway." I remember reading once in a diet book, that you should be firm to your decision. Don't make half-hearted statements like "I shouldn't" or "I can't".
A good sign?
"Honda-san told me everything." I said slowly, with no reaction from her, I continued.
"You can't keep pushing yourself, Rin…it's not good for your body…" Oh great. What a spectacular opening statement.
"I don't need anyone to tell me how to handle my body. It's my body; I choose how to take care of it." She retorted. "And I don't need you. Go away." She added rudely.
"Do you?" I asked casually.
She stilled momentarily, and when she glared at me I knew I was right.
"If you don't need me, then why do you try so hard to protect me?" Her eyes widened. Then it immediately narrowed in anger.
"Shut up. I don't need to hear you. Get out." She threatened, the walls around her building up again, cutting her off from everyone else.
"You shouldn't push people away. Even though you think it does them good, it actually doesn't. It only makes them hurt more."
"Shut up. Go away."
"It isn't a crime to be weak. Everyone has a weakness of some sort. Running away doesn't solve it."
"Fuck! I said shut up!" she hissed, eyes flashing dangerously.
"You have to face it, Rin."
"I said, shut up!!"
She's still so stubborn.
"…Onegai, Rin, I need you in my life."
After the last sentence, there was a silence in the room. Rin's face had a look of absolute shock in it, not expecting this.
"…Why do you need me?" she whispered so softly, I didn't hear it.
"Why do you need me?" she repeated. "You have Mother and Father who cares about you, a new life at Hokkaido. Why? Why??" She lowered her head, her long hair cascading down everywhere.
I stepped forward and stopped at her bed.
"Because you're my sister. I really can't do without a sister to protect and vice versa, right?" I smiled sadly, tears stinging at my eyes. I squatted down and came level with her face.
"You've done enough protecting already. It's my turn."
She shook her head, and her hair followed, swaying from side to side.
"Dame…you cannot protect me. Akito will not allow it. People will only get hurt."
"Rin…you have to believe in yourself. You have to believe in me. You have to have hope."
"…there is no hope, Yuri…there is no hope for all of us…" she shook her head sadly again.
"No. Rin, listen to me. You have to have hope. Without it you will not free yourself and the others. Without it I cannot protect you, and you cannot protect anybody." I dare not touch her face, so I shook her shoulders gently, not used to intimacy.
"You are not alone, Rin. There will be a way to fight the curse. There will be."
Slowly, my hands released her shoulders and wrapped around her in a loose embrace. Not used to intimacy, I tried to do the right thing without pushing her.
"You have to believe." I whispered.
For a moment when I got no reaction from her, I felt a feeling of loss.
Then, much to my relief, with a cry she hugged me tightly. Smiling, I responded and hugged her back.
It happened again. I pulled her thin frame against mine, hugging her tightly.
Believe. Hope. I thought I would never hear those words again.
Running as fast as I could, I reached out a hand. Yuri saw and reached out one too, and it extended out beyond the beam of light.
Just a few inches more…
Okasan reached out a hand slapped Yuri's hand away; it fell back into the circle of light. One of the shapes behind me grabbed my ankle, liquid splashing over. I screamed.
"From now on, I'm protecting you. I won't let Akito hurt you or me." She suddenly said. I felt myself gently pushed back.
I stared at her little finger poised up quizzically, before staring at her.
"We won't give up on each other, neh?" she beamed. Her other hand reached and took up mine.
"It'll be our little secret." She smiled again, until her eyes almost closed.
You have to believe.
I sniff softly, and took hers in mine.
"I won't."
The hospital hallway bustled with nurses wheeling patients in wheelchair, doctors rushed past so urgently it seems that if they suddenly slowed down they would trip right over their heels. Cool white walls framed everywhere he walked, just in contrast to the outside.
But as he looked in through the small window, oblivious to the two occupants inside, he felt somewhat a warm feeling inside.
Turning away from the small window, he walked coolly down the hallway, ignoring the glances people gave his black and white hair.
A/N: okay, climax over now. Originally, this should be the end. But i still wanted to continue on Yuri n Rin's relationship. I wonder if anyone thinks this came to easily? Well anyway, Kyo's the wise one here for a change.
