Disclaimer—I own nothing but my girls. I wish it wasn't so but it is.
Chapter 6- Realization
Haru awoke to a damp cloth being pressed against his face. He groaned as the pain swept over him. It was then that he heard a voice break through the pain. This voice, unlike the cold, hateful voce of Akito, was kind, warm, loving, and even a bit sorrowful.
"Oh, Haru! Finally, you're awake!"
He opened his eyes to find a weepy girl staring down at him. "Rin? What are you doing—"He got cut off suddenly by Rin throwing herself against him and hugging him tightly. "Oh, Haru!! I am so sorry! I didn't…I didn't know he would do that to you! I'm—I'm sorry!!"
Haru looked at her in shock, pushing her away. "W-what? You were the one who told Akito? How- how could you? How did you find out?" Rin's eyes began swimming with tears and she quickly held them back. "I-I-I saw you two the other day, at the park. I just got so jealous, remembering how we used to be like that…and…I wanted to be like that again. I knew we could never be that way again with her in the picture. So I let it slip to Akito, hoping he would just forbid you to see her. I never imagined he would hurt you so badly. I was a stubborn and selfish horse…"
Haru sighed as he slowly got up, careful not to bump his bruises. "Rin…you don't know what you've done. Not only did Akito hurt me, but he will probably hurt Lila, as well. I have to go find her. I have to make sure she is okay."
"Why? Why do you care about her so much?"
Haru turned to look at her, a glow around his face. "I finally realized something, Rin. It was there all along, but it just now dawned on me. Lila is special. She is the only one who can keep me from becoming my other self. I didn't realize just how important she was to me until just now." He smiled brightly before walking out the door to find Lila.
The freedom he had felt had blossomed into something more. It had turned into something much more powerful. He was so happy at this moment in time, despite his bruises and concern. He wanted to shout at the top of his lungs. In fact, that is just what he did. If you had walked down the street just then, you would've seen a grinning boy with spiky white hair stop, look towards the sky, and yell, "I love her! I love Lila Aso!"
"Hello, Miss Aso, please come in." Shigure smiled as Lila cautiously walked into the house. She ran the whole way and she was out of breath, but she wasted no time in asking whether or not Haru was there. "I'm afraid not. We have not seen him since yesterday afternoon. He is no longer staying with us. He went back home, you see. Would you like me to pass along a message?"
Lila shook her head, and after bidding them farewell, she started the long walk home. Her mind fell on the old woman and then on what she had to do the next day. It was a Saturday and she planned on spending it with Risu. Little did she know that across town, in a crisp, almost too-bright hospital room, the sound of knitting needles began to slow down and the old woman prayed that they wouldn't have to stop completely.
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it has taken SOOOOO long to get the next chapter up. These past months have been insane! But I am back and ready to finish getting this thing up. For the most part I am done but I might make a few adjustments to the end if I see fit. Keep the reviews coming and enjoy chapter 6!