Summary: Based on 'Common Interest', and parts of the movie, 'Rent.' Aelita is dying again, but this time, she finds a different way to fight it.

Disclaim- The only thing I own is the plot, and the stuff in ( ). That's part of the story too…this a weird little thing.

Notice: I will be back to school on the first Tuesday of January. Please put up with me…I'm not awake.

(Why am I afraid

My life is fading

I should live moments

As my last)

"If the computer dies, so does Aelita."

"This kid has a real guardian angel."

"So does Aelita…so does Aelita…"

I heard everything, as if distant from it all. I want to shout at them. They were already crying, but I was still alive. Scared and weak, yes, but alive.

"Jeremie, dude, wake up! Your girlfriend is dying, but she's not dead yet!"

"Yet, Odd, yet."

"Do you want her to die alone!"

There were tears in Odd's voice. Odd never cries. Jeremie was quiet. I felt my head scream again with pain, and I gasped, then felt the pain leave. Why would he not say goodbye?

"Princess? Jeremie's coming- are you alright?"

"I…don't know."

"Aelita?"

In the dim light of that cold hospital room, I saw him run to my bedside. His hands were warm as he took my hand, and I couldn't help but smile. He smiled back, and smoothed the hair from my forehead. He blinked, and a single tear fell, unhindered by his glasses. My own eyes stung.

"Don't leave me, Aelita."

"Coming…to say goodbye, Jeremie?"

"No, I'm coming to say hello."

I shook my head slowly. He knew better.

(Why are you afraid

My life is strange

There is no future

There is no past)

"There's only yes, only this. Forget regret, or life is yours to miss."

"No other road, no other way."

"No day but today."

My mind went black, my vision black. But I could hear Jeremie crying softly. His sweet voice was pleading me to wake up again. Pleading me to live.

My heart began to beat again, and I felt his fingers thread with mine. I smiled, and let my other hand touch his cheek.

"You are my future. There is no past."

"Thank God this moment's not the last."

Jeremie took my hand, then kisses my palm softly. I smiled, and felt the old, familiar blush creep up my face. He had not been like this the last time I was sick. He had been so young, so afraid. Now, we were older. Stronger. And stranger. I shivered, and looked him in his beautiful eyes.

"I should tell you…I'm disaster."

"You're beautiful, Princess."

"Love can make the pain leave faster. I should tell you…I love you."

A smile lit Jeremie's face: it was the first time either of us had uttered those fateful three words. The next moment, he leaned down, and kissed me gently. My entire body warmed greatly, and I felt my heart beat speed up to normal levels. He was healing me.

"I've always loved you, Princess."

My eyes closed as the last spike of pain left my body totally. I sighed, and sank into the mattress of the hospital bed.

As I lay there, I made a vow. In my sleep, I sang it to the velvety blackness in my mind.

(No more to fear

There is a love

There is a way

No day but today

No more to hurt

Everything is real

Each moment

Love heals)

Jeremie's warm kiss would stay as my healing for the rest of my life. My vow stayed in my mind. His love healed my pain from past wounds, and present. His words, and his voice, kept me going, and stopped death's wicked course. I realized in those moments when I saw death come, and leave, that I was human enough to die. Human enough to live each day as my last.

No day, but today.