Chapter 8: Beyond Wammy's House
There were trees everywhere. Trees, grass, and flowers. It was almost unrealistic. Like I was standing in the middle of a picture. Akin and I had walked for seven hours along the side of a freeway that led into the city. The sides of the freeway were blanketed by trees and plants, and for the first time, I was experiencing nature. It was beautiful, and watching Akin walk through it was even more beautiful. She'd try to catch butterflies when she thought I wasn't looking. Then when she did catch them, she'd let them go and smile as if admiring their freedom. She'd watch the butterflies and the birds, and I'd watch her lifespan. It haunted me. Akin was young and perfectly healthy, so I began thinking her death would be caused by an accident. The thought of that gave me hope though, maybe if it was caused by an accident, I could prevent it. No, I had to stop thinking like that. Death was unpreventable.
"Beyond, it's getting dark. We should rest for the night." Akin said, half yawning. She was right. The sun had dipped into the horizon a while ago and the sky was turning a dark shade of blue. I nodded in agreement and opened the suitcase that held our things. I took out the blanket that I'd brought from my bed, and a pillow. She placed the blanket on the ground underneath a tree, and I propped the pillow up against the trunk of the tree. The second everything was in place, she collapsed onto the blanket and looked up at the sky.
"Look at the stars. I've never seen so many." She said, hypnotized by the night sky. I sat to her right and leaned my head against the tree.
"It's amazing! Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" She waved her arms as she asked me this. It was amusing how excited she was getting over stars. Living in the city she probably didn't see them often, but really they were just stars.
"They're pretty I guess, but not really the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I said. She looked at me as if I were an escaped mental patient, and let out a small laugh.
"Seriously? If this isn't the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, then what is?" She said in a confused tone.
The fact that I thought the night sky was so unimpressive puzzled her. I had just seen it so many times in my life, it wasn't special anymore. Her question made me think though. The most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. What was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen? She looked at me as I thought, her dark hair flowing softly in the breeze. Her red-touched dark eyes focused on me, widened, waiting for an answer. She looked almost angelic. I started to get that feeling again. The feeling that Akin was the main event of life, the only thing that mattered, ...the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. I had my answer.
"You."
"What?"
"You are... the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." My heart pounded through my shirt as I spoke those words. She blushed, and sat there speechless looking up at the night sky. It was silent for a few moments, then she shifted the pillow and rested her head on it, ready to go to sleep.
"Beyond, sing me my lullaby please." She asked, obviously trying to end any awkwardness either of us were feeling. I smiled and tried to pull the words from my mind.
"Dream my darling
close your eyes
I'll protect you
stop your cries
Dream my lovely
go to sleep
I'll hold you
don't you weep
Dream my beauty
lose your fear
when you wake
I'll be here..."
As I sang she drifted off. She looked so peaceful I thought she had fallen asleep instantly from being so tired. Her eyes were closed gently, and her breaths were soft and paced. I smiled, and kissed her on the head. She opened one eye and looked up at me, to let me know she was still awake. I blushed, embarrassed, but she sat up and wrapped her arms around me, giving me a hug. She held me tight as if she finally had me and wouldn't let me go.
"Beyond...I feel the same way. I have since...well, since the moment I met you." She said quietly next to my ear.
At this point my face was crimson. She pulled away from the hug with her arms still around my neck. She looked at the ground shyly. Waiting for me to respond to her confession. It was a perfect moment. Except her lifespan glowed above her head as a reminder not to do anything stupid...but I disregarded it.
I leaned my head and kissed her lips. She seemed surprised for a moment, then relaxed. Her lips were warm and sweet, like a summer day. The best summer day. It was almost like her singing, brightening up the dark setting and turning into something warm and loving. She filled things with life.
I backed away after a few moments, and smiled at her. Her face was pink. She leaned back against the tree and looked at the stars once again, trying to hide a grin.
At that moment I came to a decision. I was going to prevent Akin's death, no matter what the cost. I wouldn't lose her, I cared about her. I couldn't lose her. I wrapped my arm around her neck, and together we watched the stars until we slowly fell into a sweet slumber.