Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

My Last Love Story by Hotaru Imai

Chapter Five: Understanding You

I took a deep breath. I did not know why I had decided to let Ruka know all the things that had been disturbing me.

But I just did.

Breathing in and out a few more time, I told him about my family first.

"If I would be to tell you my story, I should start with my family. Like normal people do, I have a mother and a father; but I also have an elder brother. His name is Subaru and he was my idol. Everything he did was so perfect and all he got was praise. I had wished that I would be more like him."

I paused then. I had said all that in one breath. Maybe I should calm down a bit before starting again.

"You don't need to continue if you don't want to Hotaru-chan. There is always next time."

I shook my head slowly.

"If I don't let it out now, there won't be a next time."

Breathing in and out once more, I restarted on my tale.

"He was the perfect icon to me but then one day, that image came shattering down. That day still haunts me, Nogi-san. That was the day that my brother changed completely. It was the day that the brother I once had, disappeared for eternity. I was in my room studying when it happened. I heard a crash downstairs, and I thought that it was my mother being clumsy again. I went down to see what I could do to help. But when I entered the kitchen…"

I stopped for a moment, trying to recollect my thoughts and stop my voice from giving out.

Ruka then pulled out an arm from the bunny and laid it on my shoulder.

I jerked at it, looking at him with wide eyes.

His hand then gripped my shoulder reassuringly as he said,

"I'm here for you."

I nodded and continued.

"When I entered the kitchen, the first thing I saw was blood. There was blood on the floor Nogi-san: blood. I was so scared. What happened? I asked myself that as I looked around. That was when I saw my mother lying on the floor, blood seeping out from a wound on her head. What made me scream though was my brother. My only brother was holding the vase that had caused the wound.

He had hurt his own mother.

I just did not believe it. I didn't know what to do: so I screamed. He noticed me then, and as he advanced towards me, I could see that his eyes were not as gentle as before. They were cold, so cold. Look at my eyes now, Nogi-san, and you will know what I mean. They had no emotion: no life. I was glued to the floor, I couldn't move. I wanted to, I really did. But I just couldn't lift my legs to run. He was a metre away from me then and I could see the specks of blood on him from my mother.

He told me to go upstairs and get the account book father always had on his desk. I was so scared so I did as he said. As soon as I was downstairs, he grabbed the book out of my hand and tore it open. He grinned when he saw the numbers in there. But his smile was so malicious, it was not like my brother was standing in front of me at all.

He then said to me 'Goodbye dear sister. It looks like this is the last time you'll ever see me. Oh, how sad will you be? But I won't be Hotaru, because I never loved one member of this wretched family. Live your life Hotaru; mother was first. Second will be father. Lastly will be you. All of you will die under my hand sooner or later.'

My knees gave way as he went to the living room to get a backpack and then he left. That was the last time I ever saw my brother a free man. I testified against him, Nogi-san. He killed my mother. He took all our money. He tore away our happiness. Look what I have become. Do I look like a normal girl who goes to school in the morning, shopping in the afternoon and sleepovers at night?

He took all that away from me. All I have left now is my father who is never at home because of work. I was always by myself in the house that my father desperately tries to keep stable. Every time I walk down the stairs I would replay that day in my mind. Do you know how much pain I go through every day?"

Ruka shook his head sadly.

My eyes were watery now. My voice was shutting down. I did not have much talk left in me.

"A lot. I go through a lot. I work during break full time. I work during school part time. I spend the rest of my time studying or being alone. This isn't a life of a human. But it is my life: and I am afraid it always will be."

The tears flowed out. I let all those years of anguish free itself from me.

So there I was, sitting on a wooden bench beside a man I barely knew while sobbing my heart out.

How pathetic.

I smile at the memory of the first time I let him into my life. He was so kind: so considerate.

Why, out of all the girls out there, did he choose me? I did not and do not know.

There were many more moments where he would comfort me when I was feeling my lowest; but all good things come to an end.

And so I am here now, all alone once again.

I had lost Ruka.

But I had lost our children too.

My Last Love Story – Chapter End.

Author's Note: And here is the long awaited, chapter five! Thank you to all that reviewed during my long absence, and here are your replies;

JustSomeone (Anonymous): Of course I will reply, even if they are anonymous. You guys have all taken the time to read my story ^^ After a lot of pondering, I have finally figured out how Ruka is going to leave, but do not worry, you guys will be seeing a lot of Ruka before he takes his leave

Lunarpelt of Waterclan: Thanks for the compliment! And for the continued support of this story (: LOL, you too

Nightmare Chronicles: Thanks for the concern, had my last exam today, pretty sure I failed, but meh, with fanfiction, what else could I hope for? ;) No worries, you have started reading it now, and I hope you do keep doing that.

Sitting in the Silence: Thanks, and I hope you like the update. A new revelation: Hotaru had lost the child. Dun Dun Dun! Ahahas,

Chapter Dedication: JustSomeone (anonymous), Lunarpelt of Waterclan, Nightmare Chronicles and Sitting in the Silence.

Thanks for reviewing my last chapter guys!

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