A Second Chance
Dawn came and passed. A nurse entered the room, her intentions being to wake Sakaki.
Her scream rent the air.
The hunters of STN-J and the doctors were called immediately. When Robin, Michael, Amon, and Doujima arrived, the doctors were trying to calm a shaking, sobbing nurse. Amon walked over.
"What's the problem?" he asked.
One of the doctors explained. The nurse had gone into Karasuma's room to wake Sakaki when she saw that part of the sheets and floor around Sakaki were stained crimson.
The foursome entered the room. Sakaki's body rested partially on the bed, like someone who had been studying and fell asleep over their books. He had one hand around Karasuma's, the other was resting on the bed, blood beginning to dry around the long deep gash across his wrist. Both had the look of one sleeping. Both had an identical smile, peaceful and content, playing softly on their lips, frozen there forever in the cool bittersweet embrace of death.
After checking on them, the doctors concluded that Sakaki had indeed committed suicide, and that both of them had died at the same moment.
The melancholy call of a mourning dove echoed though the hospital grounds.
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The hunters silently placed the two minute crystalline jars in their rightful place, then stepped back and watched as the front panel was sealed on.
In a day or so, the smiling pictures of Sakaki and Karasuma would be placed onto the marble slab's surface, along with parting messages. Even after everyone else left, the foursome stayed, reflecting on all they had done with the irrepressible accident-prone Sakaki and the prim but friendly Karasuma.
Finally, Michael could not bear to look at the blank face of stone any longer, and turned away. An exclamation of surprise and awe made everyone follow his gaze.
Two pure white doves sat side-by-side in a nearby sakura tree, wordlessly watching the group. An image flashed; the four hunters caught a glimpse of Karasuma, returned to her former self before the cancer, and Sakaki, the two standing arm-in-arm, smiling in a way they never had a chance to in the material lives. As if it were a signal, the doves burst into joyful song, and, spreading their wings, took flight and disappeared, their voices echoing like the final peal of bells.
White wings spread open wide
I embrace the warming grace I feel inside
Flying together to the heavens above
I enter afterlife with my dear love