Chapter 10:
Ritsuka snuck back into his room as the sun began to rise over the hills. Soon his mother would be up, and she punish him for being out all night. To respect Haru's wishes, Ritsuka had snuck out and stayed with Soubi. He got bored quickly, for Soubi and Kio only talked and painted.
"Haru," Ritsuka whispered as he opened to door. "Haru, are you awake?" He quietly closed the door behind him and gasped. "Haru!" There was not a trace of life in that room. Everything seemed dead and stiff. Ritsuka spotted something silver on the floor. He reached for it, but retracted his arm. The silver thing was a pair of scissors coated in dried blood. He gulped and reached for them again. He gingerly picked them up with his forefinger and thumb, tears blurring his sight. He fumbled for his cell phone and dialed Soubi's number. He held the phone up to his ear, trying to hide his sobs.
"Hello," Soubi greeted.
"S...Soubi," Ritsuka sobbed quietly. "Please…please come over."
Soubi led Ritsuka down to the park in a sullen procession. Ritsuka was carrying a decorated box in his hands. The box held the scissors Haru used to kill himself, and the fork Saki used to do the same before Haru. Ritsuka set the box down on the grass and stepped back. Soubi lit the box on fire to give Saki and Haru a proper cremation. They stood there in the still of night with a full moon shining above their heads, watching the box and its contents burn to ashes. When the flames had gone out, they scooped the ashes and remains into an elegant wooden music box. Then, Soubi led Ritsuka to the stream. He produced a candle from his pocket and handed it along with a lighter to Ritsuka. Ritsuka nodded and lit the candlewick.
"Goodbye, Haru, Saki," he said, setting the candle on the water's surface. He watched the candle he set down float away with Soubi's tagging along behind it. He grasped Soubi's hand tightly to stop his tears. Soubi smiled and stroked Ritsuka's hair.
"Go ahead," he soothed. 'I don't mind." He kissed Ritsuka's forehead and watched the pair of candles disappear behind a barrier of shrubs.
Saki, Haru, he thought, your sacrifices will not be forgotten. I hope you find each other soon.
As Soubi and Ritsuka walked home, Ritsuka sensed a presence nearby. When he turned around to see who was there, he couldn't see anything.
"What's wrong, Ritsuka?" Soubi asked.
"I sense something," Ritsuka replied, "or someone." Soubi playfully ruffled Ritsuka's hair.
"It's probably just your imagination," he smiled.
Haru grasped Saki's hand as they hid behind a tree.
'Did they see us?' Saki asked.
'I don't think so," Haru chuckled. 'Come on, Saki. Let's go. Let's go see the stars' Saki giggled and ran after Haru as he leapt into the sky. She jumped and grasped his hand.
'Wait for me,' she grinned. When they came to a stop, she gasped in surprise and wonder. 'Wow,' she murmured. 'The stars are so beautiful.' Haru smiled and wrapped his arms around her.
'Yeah,' he replied. 'They sure are.'
FINIS
