After I regained my strength, I found that my legs were moving on their own accord. They were taking me to the only place I wanted to be. And while the actual location isn't ideal, the person made it perfect. She makes everything better.

So now I'm sitting here at her bedside, doing a thing I haven't done in years. I prayed. I prayed that my mother was doing great in heaven. I prayed that my father will get the help he needs. I prayed Chrome will be able to live until she is old and wrinkly.

I prayed for assistance in navigating this labyrinth called life. I've felt lost for so long, and I'm not sure if god is real most days. But the part of me that craves for hope thinks that he is there, watching us and helping as we go. I wonder if he is really helping though. My father has been a drunk for years and I didn't see anybody helping me. But maybe that's what Chrome was. She was an angel disguised as a human, making the ground turn from dirt to gold as she walked.

I don't think angels actually do that, but Chrome did this. She walked into my life and changed it for the better. So as I sit here besides, I can't control the tears stream down my face. They are never-ending, just like my love for this amazing girl.

Wait, my love? I look down at the small hand that I've been holding for hours. I don't know what love is, but my mind just said I love the owner of the hand. Perhaps it's true that I love her. I feel like it's impossible to deny, but I do want to deny it somewhat. Because, to love her to give her my whole heart and risk watching it be buried with her. It sounds way too painful.

"Please don't leave me, Chrome," I plead quietly, bringing her hand up to my cheek. "Please stay here with me."

I am met with no response, as she lies there sleeping from all of the drugs. I want her to wake up so I can tell her all of the things that are on my mind. I want her to continue being my savior. I want her to be mine forever. Too bad I'm powerless.

I don't know how long I sit in her room for. It could have been hours, even days. The amount of time didn't matter to me. I just want to be there when she wakes up. Even if I don't get the chance to say anything to her, I want to see her smile again and return it.

Eventually, after it seems as if a century has passed, Chrome's eyelashes flutter as she opens her eyes wide, taking in the scene before her. After blinking a little, she smiles and says, "You look like a mess."

I smile back at her, relieved to finally be able to do it. "You don't know the half of it."

The smiles stick around for a moment before unfortunately ending. "I'm assuming my aunt told you the prognosis." I nod and she continues. "I wish it wouldn't be ending like this, especially after having met you. You helped me cope with my illness and abandonment. You inspired me that life is worth living again. And I can't thank you enough, Yamamoto Takeshi." Tears are filled in her eyes as she holds my hand tightly between hers.

Being careful of her wires, I pull her into a hug and snuggle my face into her neck. "No, thank you. Thank you for existing and giving me hope for the future." I take a deep breath, building up the courage to say what I want to say. "I love you, Chrome."

It's quiet for a moment before I finally hear a reply. "Are you sure you want to say that? Are you sure you want to love somebody that is destined to die?"

"I know that I shouldn't, that it'll cause me heartache in the end. But I need to be true to my feelings, so I'll say it. I'll say it over and over again, never regretting a word." I pull away from her, looking into her eyes deeply. "Even after you're gone, you will forever live in my heart. I will love you until I take my last breath and forever after that. I could never stop loving you."

The tears are overflowing in her eyes, but she smiles so brightly. It fills me with happiness. "I love you too, Takeshi."

I pull her close to me again and gently squeeze her. I know that the sadness will come soon enough, but I'm happy for this moment. It will never leave my memory.

Only a short few hours pass before Chrome's organs all completely shut down. I feel my emotions get sealed away, as I don't want to cry in front of all of these people. After speaking with Chrome's aunt about getting information about the funeral, I head straight home. When I enter, I'm tempted to not assist my father, but I do so anyways. Soon enough he'll be better and it'll be okay.

I clean him up and put him to bed. Afterwards, I head to my room, where I close the door and slide down it slowly. I sit there for a moment, my emotions still locked away, until I glance to my right to see a baseball cap.

The first baseball cap I ever received from my mother. The baseball cap I was thinking about giving Chrome as a gift.

And if a dam had been bulldozed, the waterworks begin and, no matter how much I try to hold them back, they don't stop. My hands go up to hold my head and cry so much. I cry for my mom. I cry for my dad. I cry for Chrome. I cry for myself. How am I going to live with myself now? I was still not completely better, and now I'm all alone.

But you're not alone.

My eyes widen at the voice, but I calm down and close them, focusing on the voice. I find myself in the darkness again. It starts to nip at my body and I cringe away, hoping to become rid of it but feeling hopeless. But before the darkness has a chance to eat me alive, a bright light appears, causing the darkness to hide away from it.

As the bright light gets closer, I make out who it is. Chrome. I blink and rub my eyes before looking again. It was indeed Chrome, and she looked more angelic than ever. As she stops in front of me, she smiles and takes my hands.

"I am Chrome," she says, answering my unspoken question. "But I am only here for one more time. And after that, you need to continue life and be happy."

I look away, feeling ashamed. "But how am I supposed to do that? I was mostly getting by because of you."

She doesn't spare a moment as she pokes my chest with her index finger. "Inside you, you have the power to be happy again. You have the power to overcome all of this grief and live a happy life from now on. I know you can do it. You're Yamamoto Takeshi. I believe in you."

The words fill me with hope and so much emotion. I end up engulfing Chrome into a hug. "Thank you for being a part of my life."

She hugs me back, and I can almost feel the warmth of smile radiating from her face. "It was my pleasure." And too soon everything fades away until I'm back in my bedroom. I stare at my hands a moment before standing up and grabbing my baseball cap. I fling it onto my head, mildly noting that it was a little small, and walk out of my room with something I haven't truly had in forever. I have hope. I believe the future will come and it will be okay. I can live through it all and one day I will be able to see her again. But for now, I must live for her. It's what she would want, and I must follow that.

Thank you for reading this story. I truly hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell me what you thought. :) I love hearing what you have to say. I enjoyed writing Yamamoto like this. I believe all of the characters in Reborn have their own inner darkness that needs to be written. I hope I did well on portraying Yamamoto's. Thanks again! :)
-Ashley(dolphinherovamp5)