Disclaimers: I don't own it.

… See for yourself…

000

Chapter Six: Two Different Paths

One would think, after all this, that more wasn't possible. That nothing more could be said and all they could do now was wait and hope that everything was going to be okay. But what were the chances with that? How were they supposed to deal with such a case?

It was just too much to take. It couldn't happen. It wasn't possible; it just wasn't. They didn't want to know.

Did they?

000

Kotarou looked up. For all this time, he had been unable to see a thing at all. Yet now, now… he could see everything before him. Did that mean he was okay? Or was it too late now?

But supposing that he COULD see his body down below, with people in white uniforms rushing along, it was either a really bad dream; or his nightmare had finally come to life. And that wasn't exactly a good thing.

"Kotarou-kun…"

A voice he hadn't heard for so long. And he had never expected to hear it now. Floating in between two worlds, he knew that much, and turning, he saw Misha. He stared, unable to help it. How long had it been since they had talked? It was so long and he missed her so much, and yet…

The pink-haired angel seemed sad. Even the bunny hair-clips didn't look particularly happy as she gazed into his eyes.

"Misha-san…?" He looked down at his body and stared at himself blankly, unable to work out what was going on. But to be able to meet the angel… and see himself… surrounded by doctors and nurses… "What happened? I-I-I-I mean… what's going on!" He panicked, not really wanting to know the answer, but if he didn't get it now, when was he going to get it?

Misha took his hand, forcing him to look back at her; "Kotarou-kun… you were in a car accident…"

"… Wha-wha-what!" This was worse than what he could have imagined. The noise had been horrible… the blinding light… the fact that this was the exact same way his own mother had died. The one person he loved because she was able to comfort him when he was scared… when he could still see creatures from the other worlds… he was dead?

"I'm dead!"

Something about that seemed so… ridiculous. Of course, he did the first thing that came to his mind: he laughed.

It was the least funny thing that he could be told at the moment, but it just seemed to come out on its on. He didn't find anything hilarious with the situation, but what was he to do.

He was hysterical, wasn't he? He could tell, and that was besides the fact that he was crying as well as laughing. It was just too much. Why did it happen? What would happen now? And why? Why!

"Misha-san, why!" he sobbed, the laughter lost in between choking and gasping, "Why did this happen? Why did it have to happen now? When I was happy with my life. When I was happy not only for you and Shia-san and my mother but for myself as well!"

Pulling the distressed boy into her arms, Misha stroked his hair slowly, waiting for him to calm down. It was hard, of course it was, but she was a full-fledged angel now, wasn't she? That could help now. And she knew that it was the only way to make him happy. Sure, she was glad they had met, but this was the worst possible situation to find them in.

It was insane, it was stupid, it shouldn't happen to children who still had many years left in their lives. That was what hurt about losing Kotaroh-kun the first time; he had so much in his future, but because of the villagers and others who could not accept him for who he was… it was so ridiculous. And his reincarnation was not going to die that way… if she could help it.

"Kotarou-kun… it'll be okay…" she hushed him, trying to remain calm as she ran a couple of thoughts through her head, trying to find something that might both work and help him.

But Kotarou wasn't listening to her, "Misha-san… will I be able to stay with you now? And with Shia-san and mama…?" He held onto the angel tighter, not wanting to let go. "Please tell me this isn't true--!"

"Please, listen to me," she pushed him away just enough so that he would meet her eye, "You just have to remain calm. Please calm down, su."

Sniffling, the purple-haired boy blinked, waiting for her to continue.

"I'm an angel," Misha explained simply, smiling just a little bit for reassurance, "and I know that I couldn't change what happened, but I can still help you, su. I can help you get back."

"R-really?" he stared at her in disbelief. Was what she said was true?

She nodded, "See before you?" She gestured to the planes before them where two different shimmering pathways gleamed at them, "There are two ways you can go now, Kotarou-kun. One will take you to Heaven, but the other will allow you to go back. It's your choice, su."

Kotarou took a long look at the two pathways. So, he had a choice. One would take him back to life as he knew it, and with a lot of pain, but the other… if he really wanted to, he could go back with Misha… and his mother…

It had been so long since he'd seen her… it would be a blessing just to be with her again… just for a little longer… but that would mean leaving the others… his friends… his father… and Shino, who probably didn't know what was going on.

A dilemma that he hadn't even thought possible waged war upon one another in his mind as he struggled to work out what he truly wanted. What did he want? And when he made the choice, it would stick with him forever.

As if noticing Kotarou's internal struggle, Misha smiled again and added softly, "Kotarou-kun, you're still very young and have a long life ahead of you. You know that I'll always watch over you, and one day you'll come into Heaven, so… don't let your friends down, su."

He looked up and met her smile, "Misha-san…"

She hugged him tightly, "Do what is right, Kotarou-kun. But if you want to come, then I can't change anything, su."

Hugging back, Kotarou knew where he had to go and slowly, painfully, let go of Misha, who watched him. Two pathways: one up, the other down. Back to earth or up into Heaven, where he would no longer feel pain.

But then it would hurt his friends. He couldn't live with that and he knew it. So there was only one choice he had, and he knew that it was the right one. Taking a deep breath, he tread towards the path that led back to his body; to the nurses and doctors that were panicking so badly.

He couldn't see Misha anymore, but he knew she was still there; watching him, giving her silent support like she had so many years back. It was painful to see her again, only to leave once more, but she was always there, and he knew that one day he would see her again.

And that was enough. To keep looking forward to the future; and to know that the angel he loved would always be watching him every step of the way.

Up above, Misha nodded to herself, "Kotarou-kun… you made the right choice."

000

"Kotarou Higuchi has reached a stable condition and is now resting," the doctor finished, offering a small, reassuring smile. "He'll be okay now."

Tears formed in the corner of Koboshi's eyes as the news hit her; he was okay now. He wasn't going to die… he was alright.

"Thank you," she said in a slightly choked voice to no one in particular, "Oh, thank you so much…"

Hugging the shaking girl, Takashi felt relief wash over him. It was all going to be alright from hereon in, and he had never felt so happy in his whole entire life. Sure, Kotarou could be a jerk and distant at times, but he was still a great guy to hang around, and just hearing that he was going to be fine now was enough to have HIM crying. But he wasn't, so there was no point looking forward to that happening.

Oh yeah, he was going to give Kotarou a piece of his mind when they were able to visit.

000

"Kotarou-chan!" Koboshi half-shrieked as she burst into the private ward and scaring the purple-haired boy to no avail.

He had been asleep for at least two days, which caused a bit of anxiety between his friends, but as soon as he'd woken up this very morning, they had come to visit instantly; despite the fact that it wasn't exactly visiting hours… and they also had school.

The small spotless room didn't have much and was insanely white; like all other hospital rooms before and after it. There was a window that overlooked the actual city in which they lived in, and the television hung overhead at a slant, the remote sitting at the head of the single bed that there was. There were three seats next to it as well; one having been occupied by his father, who had come to keep an eye on him for a while before having to go back to work.

"Koboshi-chan… Ten-chan…" murmured Kotarou, smiling when he caught sight of them. "Sorry about all this…"

"Yeah, you're telling me!" commented Takashi, who had Shino in tow, "Do you know how freaking worried the other two were! Geez, the next time you pull that stunt with us I'm going to KILL you!"

And obvious joke, but it didn't stop the blonde-haired girl shooting him a glare, as they took seats around his bed, settling themselves down while Shino climbed to the foot of her cousin's bed. She blinked, staring at the bandages around his arms and neck.

"Onii-chan…" she began softly, tugging at his blanket unconsciously, "Onii-chan got hurt… but was visited with Onee-chan."

"Onee-chan being… Misha-san?" asked Koboshi, curious as to why the little girl would say such a thing, "Is that what you mean, Shino-chan?"

Shino nodded firmly, "Misha-onee-chan helped onii-chan and that's why onii-chan came back from the sky where mama and grampa are now!"

Takashi raised a questioning eyebrow at this, but then shrugged and faced his friend, who was watching his cousin with wide eyes, "You know, she's a strange kid, that one. Awfully cute, but strange."

Grinning, Koboshi elbowed him in the side, "Ooh, Ten-chan actually doesn't act like a dork sometimes. That is just so funny, you know! And at least she doesn't have an inflated ego like you!"

"Hey, who ever said that I had an inflated ego?"

Laughing at the two began to argue, Kotarou pulled Shino up and hugged her lightly, actually glad of her company. Sure, she was – in many ways – his responsibility, but she was also family, which meant many things. And she seemed to know about these sorts of things, although she hadn't been able to see angels, but that was a good thing.

"You miss Misha-san, don't you?" he asked. "Because she's gone now?"

The little girl shook her head, "Misha-nee's always with us. She's always watching us. You didn't know that, onii-chan?"

He hugged her again, not even noticing the single tear that fell across his face as he smiled at her.

"I knew that… I always did…"

000

To wander the world alone, I try,

To walk, to seek, to live my life

Without you by my side, I wonder

Is it truly possible for me?

But I know that you'll always watch out for me

To guide me in the right direction

To attempt to protect me from pains in life

Allowing me to learn about what is right.

I learnt this so long ago, I walk this path alone

But sometimes, I wonder

Am I really that alone?

Aren't there others standing with me? By my side?

Even now, you try to teach me about life, to keep me going

So thank you.

Thank you.

000

Whoa, was that totally unrealistic or what! I mean, sure, I could never kill him in the end, and all, but still… it's just one of those things. But they're all happy now and… yeah.

Only the epilogue left. Whee.

Miharu Shimizu: Well, he came close to death, but I suppose that was still bad, huh? It's a short-ish sorta story, since you really can't lengthen something like this… or at least I can't, and thanks :) Whoa, you serious? You haven't asked me yet… but I would be so… honored if you did place it on your website! I've been there a couple of times and it's really nice :D

j6girl: Here's the update! XD

Kyuubi-Tenshi: Thanks D

Oh, and while we're on this topic, please read my new Pita-ten fic (Within the Shadows) which, despite being AU, will hopefully turn out well and… yeah. I need your support everyone and I really, really appreciate it! Thanks again!