CHAPTER 1 MY FAULT
How could this happen? …
Why was I so blind to her pain? …
NO…This cant be real…Sakuno can't die. Not like this.
I should have stopped her when I saw her this morning. I knew something was wrong but I …I was too scared.
…And now this happened. If only I arrived there sooner… If only…
Flashback
It was somewhere around sunset when Fuji Suyusuke decided to stop by Ryuzachi Sakuno's residence. His steps were hesitant betraying the conflict he had within his mind. He was torn between going and returning home. Between finding the real truth behind her strange behavior or accepting the easy way out which was to believe what others told him. But he didn't have a chance to solve that riddle for soon he saw an ambulance and several police cars heading towards her apartment.
Worry seeped inside his heart and he found himself running through the door where the once innocent and sweet Sakuno used to leave. What he saw there would stay inside his mind forever. The images of her, beaten and bleeding were burned in his memory. The moment he cracked was when a pair of cops untied her hands and left her to just drop to the floor as if she were nothing but a piece of meat. The resounding thud echoed through his ears growing louder and louder till it was too much to bear. He didn't know how but he managed to get them away from her enough to hold the small girl in his arms. He called her name over and over again praying she would answer, that he would hear her voice if only for a moment. But she didn't say a thing, and her skin was getting colder and colder. He was pushed away by another cop. She looked at him like he was trash and for some reason he couldn't blame her, he could only blame himself. The doctor that finally examined her said that she was still alive so he left with her in an ambulance. Everything seemed surreal to him, and in his mind he kept repeating only one phrase "This is just a dream…" but when he woke up he was at the hospital listening to a doctor telling the cop how serious everything was.
End flashback
"How did this happen? … Why didn't you stop him? Aren't you supposed to protect people? …" his voice kept rising till he was screaming at the young cop. He felt like he would explode if he didn't do something but then she hit him. The shock was so big that it rendered him speechless. But what really hurt were her words.
"How about you? Weren't you supposed to be her friend? Don't friends listen and trust each other? Support one another when times are hard. Why did you turn your back on her when she needed you most, when she needed all of you. Open you eyes… this hasn't been the first time it happened but it is the last! Tell me … What did you do to help her?"
At this he could not answer.
She's right…it is my fault. I should have listened to her more, trusted her, instead I turned my back to her. I left her alone to deal with this. I just never thought it was so serious.
God… please, please save her. She doesn't deserve to die… she doesn't deserve any of this…
The doctor came with a somber look on his face. His eyes were full of pity and sadness, and it was because of this that Fuji knew she had died. Yet no matter how obvious the fact was hearing it gave it finality, one that Fuji wasn't prepared for. He silently followed the doctor to the operating room where he saw her, and although she was lying on a table surrounded by instruments soaked in her own blood covered by a white sheet she looked peaceful.
He walked towards her and knelt at her head watching her like you watch a sleeping child.
You look so peaceful, like you are sleeping. But you won't wake up this time will you? You will no longer smile nor look at me with those innocent eyes that I adore. I will never again hear your sweet voice calling my name or feel your hand tugging at my sleeve when I am lost in thought. I will never get the chance to tell you that I love you because now… you're too far to hear my words, to see my tears…
"I'm sorry but you'll have to leave now." The doctor told him in an icy tone.
And he did leave, he left the hospital, he allowed his feet to lead him to wherever they wished. He didn't hear nor see anything, if he did he might have noticed that it was close to dawn, but the beauty of the sunrise was lost to him. He kept walking till he stopped. To tired to continue he finally took notice of his surroundings.
And it was then that the tears he had held came full force. He fell to his knees his legs no longer able to support him, and there on the grass they often laid their tired bodies, in the clearing they often came to talk he shed his tears of sorrow.
How ironic… the place that watched us grow up is where I am to part with you. But how can I when everything is a constant reminder, when there were so many things left unsaid? Tell me …do you remember how we met? How much fun we used to have?
I promised that I would always be there if you needed me. Why couldn't I keep that promise? Did you know I was jealous? I was…you would probably laugh if I told you this, but you won't, not anymore.
He was awakened from his thoughts by the ringing of his cell. It was Tezuka. He wasn't really up to talking to anyone right now so he just hung up. What could he say to them anyway? What will he tell her mother and grandmother?
He didn't know. It seemed as though he didn't know anything anymore. The evening air made him aware that he hadn't been home since yesterday, yet he didn't want to go there. He would only see more memories of her and he couldn't take that. Not yet. So he started to walk again, his destination unknown to even him. He knew that he was running but there was little else he could do.
Back at the hospital
After Fuji left the doctor went back inside the room to finish preparing his patient. To his complete surprise a faint pulse was evident. Wasting no time he began operating on the girl once more, and this time the outcome was far better. She was in a coma, but she was alive, the chances of her waking up were slim but there were.
As soon as the operation finished detective Garland was the first one informed (the cop that slapped Fuji). She was happy yet sad for the girl, because even if she did pull through the wounds would never fully heal. And with the command issued by the chief of police she really doubted of a full psychological recovery. She wasn't allowed to let anyone know that the girl was alive and was to move her to a safer place as soon as the doctor would allow it.
And then what? What will I tell her when she wakes up and asks for her family? Sorry honey but you can never see them again. But hey thanks for risking your life to help us catch the creep. How will I be able to look her in the eye ever again?
Maybe this is for the best…I doubt that she would be a lot better with her own family and friends. The ones that she lost all faith in…
"Detective Garland, what are we going to do now?"
"What time is it Tsujiai?"
"It's close to 12 in the afternoon"
"Then I guess will interrogate him and talk to the family and friends tomorrow. Remember she is officially dead, so no slip ups."
"Yes mam."
I'm sorry Sakuno… sorry for everything…
Sorry for updating so late but I've had family problems but now I'll try to update the story at least once a week. If you still like it that is.
Thank for the wonderful reviews and even if it's pretty sad right now I'll try to give it a happy ending. If there is something that you don't like about this story please tell me because I want to get better at writing so any comments are welcomed.