Meruto's Choice

Sequel to Meruto's Wish...It's been 10 years since she went back in time...so now, she's 16. Meruto found her own Takky, but he died. She told herself to never love anyone else. And a Shinigami has come to take her soul. Will she go?

No, I don't own Full Moon, Takuto, etc. But I do own Meruto! XD And the new Shinigami.

Chapter 2

Tomoko...

Suddenly, Meruto sprang up, breathing hard. Her eyes darted around the room as she asked herself where she was. Then, she remembered. She had fainted right after her mother died. Tears filled her eyes as she remembered her mother. "Mom...you...were the only one who cared for me...you and Takuto...after...after Tai..." Meruto started, but couldn't finish. Her tears were coming out as sobs now and she couldn't speak anymore.

Soon, her sobs stopped, but silent tears still fell. She didn't attempt to make them stop because if she did, she felt she would just be hurting Mitsuki...her mother, her great friend, her savior. Her teary eyes examined the room, noticing that no other person was in it, not even Takuto. Did he not stay the night with her?

As if answering her question, the door to the room opened and Takuto walked in, carrying a tray of food. "How are you feeling?" Takuto asked and then saw Meruto's tears. "Ah, what's wrong?" he asked and almost dropped the tray as he sped over to her side.

Meruto couldn't help but let a small laugh escape her. Then, she looked sadly out the window, away from Takuto. "Mom's gone..." she said quietly.

Suddenly, Takuto hugged Meruto and Meruto sobbed into his shoulder. (A/n: This is a scene between a FATHER and his DAUGHTER! Do NOT mistake it for lovers, please. Thank you.)

"I know...but at least she had a good life..." Takuto replied, allowing silent tears to fall down his cheeks. He couldn't allow Meruto to hear him crying.

"And she had you..." Meruto stated and released Takuto from the hug, still letting tears stream down her face. She looked Takuto right in the eyes and smiled the saddest smile she ever wore, the same smile she wore the day Tai died.

Takuto's eyes grew wide, tears still falling from them, and then he looked to the ground and chuckled. "Look at us. Crying over Mitsuki. She would never want it to be this way..." he stated and raised his head, wiping the tears form his eyes.

"No, mom would've wanted us to keep on living, making the best out of life..." Meruto replied and wiped her tears away too. "And that's what I plan on doing. I can't sit still any longer. I..." Meruto took a deep breath, pausing before she said what's been on her mind for the past 9 years. "I...want to be a runner...just like Tai."

Takuto's eyes grew in shock and then, they calmed. He set his hands on Meruto's shoulders and then looked straight into her eyes. "I can't allow you to do that. It would be too much strain on your heart-"

"I don't care!" Meruto yelled as an interruption and then repeated quieter, "I don't care..." Suddenly, she started coughing again.

"Ah, Meruto...look at the condition you're in. Do you really think you can run like this? And without any practice?" Takuto asked, worried about his daughter.

Meruto stopped coughing for a second and then controlled her breathing. "I've never wanted anything more than to be outside," Meruto said quietly, looking up at her father with pleading eyes. "And running is something Tai loved more than anything else...more than anything...and if he can't run, then I want to. I want to be connected with him... I want to be a part of the thing he loved more than anything..."

Takuto looked away from Meruto's eyes, knowing that if he stared at them long enough he'd give in to her plea. "Meruto...you know I can't allow you to run in your condition. You can go outside, but no running, understand?" Takuto stated firmly, still not looking at Meruto.

"I understand, dad," Meruto replied with sadness and then turned away from him. Her dream was to run with Tai, do his favorite thing in the world with him right by her side. She knew it would never come true for more than one reason, but she always wanted to try...and if that Shinigami was going to come for her next, she had to accomplish her dream soon. "Dad, can I listen to mom's songs now?"

"Now? They're at home, you know..." Takuto stated, wondering what this was all about. He looked up at his daughter and when he saw her eyes, he gave in. "Alright, I'll go get them."

With those last words, Takuto left the room closing the door behind him. I only have one chance... Meruto's mind stated and she glanced down at her watch. The time was half past three and the race started at five. She had an hour and a half to arrive there on time. Quickly, she grabbed her regular clothes and changed into them. Nothing can get in my way now...

Suddenly, something clamored behind her and she spun around only to see a man had fallen to the floor. It seemed like he traveled through the wall since there was no window. Then, Meruto gasped as she noticed the man had tiger ears meaning he was the Shinigami that took her mother's soul away.

"No, you aren't taking me!" Meruto yelled as fiercely as she could, but her voice had a quiver in it and just as she finished, the Shinigami looked up at her. Meruto froze as he looked at her. His eyes were...the same as Tai's...but...that cold look in them wasn't the same...No...he wasn't Tai.

"Tell me, girl, how is it that you can see me?" the Shinigami asked, still glaring coldly at Meruto.

Meruto looked down, asking the same question to herself, but then she remembered the race. "Sorry Shinigami-san, but I have to go!" Meruto raced to the door and ran out with a quick, "See ya!"

"Ah, hey! Wait up!" the Shinigami yelled and flew after her, but when he got to the hallway, she was gone. "Dammit...where'd she go?"

Annoyed, the Shinigami flew up out of the roof and scanned the area around the hospital. About a yard away from the hospital, he spotted Meruto. "There you are girly."

The Shinigami flew down right in front of Meruto who was so surprised that she couldn't stop and fell right into him. "Ow...sorry! But I can't stop to talk! I have to get to a race!" Meruto yelled and quickly rose from the ground and ran on.

"Hey, wait a sec-" the Shinigami yelled back, but then stopped, seeing that the girl wouldn't listen to him. "This is going to be a pain."

Suddenly, Meruto started coughing and she fell to her knees in a coughing fit. Surprised, the Shinigami flew over to her side. "Hey, kid, you okay?" he asked, a bit annoyed by the whole situation.

"Please...don't take me...I have to...race...please..." Meruto said between coughs and breaths. "I can't die...yet...please...just one race...just one..."

"And how are you supposed to race in that condition, huh girly?" the Shinigami asked, standing up with an annoyed look. "Besides, you have 3 months left to live. I'm supposed to make sure you die at that time, no sooner, no later."

Meruto stopped coughing, took a few deep breaths, and then stood up to face the Shinigami. "If I only have 3 months, then I have to race. It's...the only thing..." Meruto stopped, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. It was so hard to go on...

"You have to be alive for 3 more months. Racing will bring about your death faster, so I can't allow it," the Shinigami replied, still annoyed at Meruto and getting more annoyed by the second.

"But...please Shinigami-san!" Meruto begged and the tears started falling down her cheeks. The thought of dying without being able to be connected with Tai was unbearable. She had to race...for him.

The Shinigami looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "If you race, will you willingly come with me in 3 months? No resistance at all?"

Meruto thought about it deeply. What would happen to Takuto if she died? No...he'd be alright. And if she died, she could be with Tai for the first time in so long... "Alright. I will. I'll come with you in 3 months time with no arguments whatsoever."

So, the Shinigami stepped out of the way and Meruto was just about to walk past when she turned to the Shinigami and asked, "Is there a way you can make my heart strong when I run?"

The Shinigami raised an eyebrow at the girl, but when he saw her pleading innocent face, he gave in. "Fine, but I'm just healing the problem, not making any changes whatsoever to the condition of it after the healing is done."

"I understand." Meruto nodded. In three months time, she would be with Tai. Until then, she would be with him in spirit doing the sport he loved more than anything else.

(A/N: I'm not in the mood to explain it...but the Shinigami did what Takuto did to Mitsuki except Meruto doesn't get any older. Okay? sigh I'm lazy, I know.)

The Shinigami snapped his fingers and suddenly, a burden was lifted off Meruto's shoulders. Her breaths came easier and for once in her lifetime, she wasn't afraid she could die at any moment. "Now, get going already, kid," the Shinigami stated and Meruto snapped out of it.

"Right!" she stated firmly and was about to run to the race, but stopped and turned to the Shinigami again.

"What now!" he asked, annoyed beyond his limit now.

"What's your name?" Meruto asked with a smile on her face.

The Shinigami looked taken aback, but answered, "Tomoko...why?"

Meruto's smile widened and she ran up and hugged Tomoko while saying, "Thank you, Tomoko-san! Thank you!"

Please Review. It's coming along nicely now! - I love it...SO MUCH! When you think of Meruto, just think of Mitsuki when she's 16 except with her real hair color. She loks basically like that...I drew her a few times when she was 6. But not 16.