When Shinjiro looked at her and told her not to cry she felt empty. How had she figured it out that she would never hear him say those words? Losing him had been such a great loss. For a time she went to the hospital and visited him frequently. But as November came she felt she could no longer do it. He didn't have that tender look anymore. He'd left her, never warned her, and if only he had...
And that was when Ryoji came.
From the moment she met him, she knew him. His sweet voice and his eyes were so familiar, and she loved him at once for reasons she could hardly explain. When she wanted to put the words into reality, he did it for you.
'Have I met you before?'
She didn't want to leave Shinji. But he had left her. And then she didn't want to love anyone else, but Ryoji seemed so familiar. His flirtatious nature seemed different with her. When he touched her hand it was sweet and warm. It was everything and nothing. It was right.
"Minako..."
She touched him as he asked. He wanted to feel real, but so did she. She wanted to believe that the sinking feeling in her chest was wrong. And when he unbuttoned her shirt and pulled up her skirt and looked her in the eye, it wasn't a tender look. It was a fulfilling one. "Ryoji.." she said with a forlorn smile. "Minako..." he said again, his voice just as sad as hers.
He gripped her hand, and took her. His arms enveloped her, and every desire she'd ever had he met. Being with him was like being complete, and being totally fulfilled. He hadn't asked like Shinji had. He knew. Somehow, just like she did. Death was all around her. And when Ryoji was there, that was alright. She called out his name and let him take her every way he wanted, because it was always what she wanted.
He knew her inside and out. And when she looked into his eyes she felt the love tingling throughout her entire body. He wanted to stay with her too. And when he came he did it inside of her, with no reluctance or care. He touched her face. "Sorry," he said sweetly with the same sadness there. "I didn't want to leave." She touched his face as well, and they again felt complete.
"I didn't want you to either."
And for a time the boy who had been death had been able to be with her, and become part of her once again.