CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The Black Out

I don't know how long it's been since we landed in this place, but I know it has been quite a while since Akira had gone missing. Tadashi stopped calling out to her and so did I on his suggestion that Akira would have wanted that we push on.

We have been moving around – and I mean around. I could've sworn that we had passed that bush twice already or maybe all the plants here look identical.

Tadashi had been silent all the while we walked. I would clear my throat every once in a while, but all I would get was silence. Not even a glance.

Losing Akira was something that struck us both, only, Tadashi was struck harder. Although we both love Akira, the way Tadashi loved her was definitely different from how I did. I love her as I would a sister and she does the same. Tadashi loves her in more complicated manner. A manner in which only few people can truly understand. For Tadashi, Akira is someone who cannot be replaced. She is the only one that can make him feel different, to say the least. Admittedly, it's hard to explain that feeling. I do not know how he truly feels about her, rather, it is hard to describe it. Someone has to feel love in order to describe love. Maybe, no, it's not maybe. But, definitely, that's how I feel about—

"Hikari," Tadashi finally said breaking my train of thought. "Let's stop her for the night."

"Night?" I looked above us and saw that the sky hard turned black and small twinkling lights have appeared. Night. How can it be night?

"Tadashi, I'm sorry, but we can't stay here over night. We have to get out of this place. I have to get to Takishima!"

"Sit down," he said unfeelingly.

"But," I bit my lip. "How can you not understand how much I need to get to him? You guys were all go from the start even if I wasn't. How can we stop now? We have to get to him!"

"I said sit down, Hikari," Tadashi said sternly.

"No! I won't! I won't just sit down while all the work you guys have put it are being thrown away!"

Tadashi went behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. Without warning, he pushed me down hard.

"I said sit down," Tadashi said without another look. "I'll gather some firewood and some food. Stay here and make sure you don't get into any trouble."

"Tadashi…" Before I could say anything, he darted into one of the nearby bushes.

All alone again. Somehow, this time, I feel as though this loneliness would be permanent. I have trampled on everybody because of how stupid I was – or maybe, still am. I didn't catch on to what Takishima had been trying to tell me all this time and now that I'm here about to tell him how I truly feel, all is lost. The wedding is probably over and he's off to some uncharted island with his new wife.

I can't say that I brought this upon him or myself. But if not I, then who?

I hear rustling from some bushes. I turned to see whether it was Tadashi, but nothing; probably some small animal looking for food. We've been in this place for what seems like a day and yet I still have no idea where we are exactly.

I have no idea what a jungle is doing in a skyscraper, come to think of it. Being in the S.A. I've gotten used to some weird things like a person with a split personality when faced with a girl. A girl who saves her voice for singing. A boy who has wander lust. Lastly, a boy who keeps animals in his condominium. I guess I should've expected the boy who keeps animals to have a jungle in his condominium.

I guess, despite everything that has happened, they have all stuck to me. Here I am, again, throwing it all away.

I've lost someone important to me. All I can do is sit around and let the others work and fight for me.

Come to think of it, each floor we've been on, we've lost someone. Almost as if Takishima Corp had planned to strip everyone from the S.A. and to keep me the only one left. Conceited, isn't it? What would a multi-national global conglomerate do with a high school student? Thinking about it, I don't think I want to know.

I close my eyes and lay on my back. The cold, loose earth relaxes my back on contact. I feel as though I am at home again. I'm in bed, though I've just woken up. That surge of energy racing throughout my body, waking up all my senses.

Something fell.

I bolted upright.

"This is no time to be sleeping," Tadashi said. Tadashi was fixing the wood he had dropped on the ground.

I sat with my knees to my chest, my arms wrapped around them.

"I'm sorry," I said almost inaudibly.

Tadashi had managed to start a fire and from the faint glow that lit his face, he seemed puzzled.

"For what?" I don't even need to say anything. He already knew the answer.

He sighed and scratched his head, messing up his hair. He sat down, and from what I could tell from the faint light, he was smiling.

"Hi-ka-ri," he said in a sing-song manner, the same way he'd sometimes say it. "Don't apologize for anything."

After seeing him with an expressionless face for quite some time, it's hard to comprehend the smile that played across his lips.

"But, I've dragged you with me," I started. "I can't even begin to apologize about everything. I don't know when—"

He reached out and patted my head. I just looked at him quizzically.

"W-what?"

"Trust me everything will be fine. We'll all get through this." His familiar smile lightened up the place somehow. I feel as if I could believe what he was saying, only if reality would keep out of my head.

"No, Tadashi," I said as I brushed his hand of my head. "There can't possibly be a way. I mean, look." I spread out my arms. "We're in the middle of nowhere. Well, we are in a building but as for where we are in this jungle, I have no idea where we are."

"We're closer than you think," he grinned.

"What makes you say so?" The more he seems like his usual self, the more I get confused.

"Just this gut feeling."

He lied on his back and spread out his arms.

"I can't do this anymore! I've had enough!" He yelled at the top of my lungs. He inhaled and exhaled deeply.

I had an odd look on my face composed of wide eyes and a slightly parted mouth.

"Tadashi," I started slowly, "are you okay?"

"Hm?" He sat up straight again. "I'm perfectly fine. Look, sorry about how I acted earlier. I don't like being that way, really."

With the grin and all the things that he was saying, I couldn't help but feel just a bit lost.

"Tadashi," I started, "are you sure that a bug didn't bite you or something?"

"Oh, I'm sure," he said, still the same wide grin. "Just relax will you? Everything will fall into place soon enough."

I heard rustling from one of the bushes. It made me jump, but all Tadashi was doing was smile.

"What was that?"

"A bear, probably," he said casually.

"You're not afraid?" I was starting to worry about him.

"Nope," he said, smiling at me. "Trust me, there's nothing that's worth being afraid off, honestly."

Just then, a rock hit Tadashi.

"Ow!" He rubbed the part of his head that got hit.

Then, from the bushes, I head a grunt.

"Tadashi," I said, "I think we should get moving."

"How are you going to see anything in the dark?" He had a knowing grin on his face.

"Eh?" I hadn't thought of that. Stupid.

"Anyway, let's just wait a while. Morning will come sooner than you think."

"I'm going to get some sleep before morning."

"Suit yourself, Hikari," he said. "Just remember, everything will be fine."

"Right," I yawned. As I closed my eyes, I kept my gaze fixed on Tadashi's smiling face. It's nice to see something happy for a brief moment; it takes your mind of whatever's troubling you even for just a while.

"Good morning," a familiar voice said. I felt a warm hand on my head. I felt a smile creep on my lips. I remembered snuggling to the person next to me. He was warm and he smelled of sea breeze. I opened my eyes to curtains billowing in the soft breeze.

I looked around me. The whole room was a soft, off-white color. I was laying on his lap. His long legs were covered by his light beige pajamas. We were on a soft, white coach. I looked up and saw that he was reading the newspaper.

"Anything new?" I asked.

He ruffled the newspaper. The crisp sound of it relaxed me.

"Anything interesting you dreamed about?" He asked.

"Nothing," I said as I dreamily traced lines on his lap.

He set aside the newspaper on the side table. He ran his fingers through my hair. I dug my head onto his lap. I looked up and he looked at me as dreamily as I did at him. A small smile swept into a grin, and soon a soft laugh.

"What is it?"

"Nothing," I yawned. "Is this real?"

"What do you think?"

I thought for a while. "I wish it were real." I stretched a bit. "Do you think this'll ever happen?"

He smirked.

"What?"

"You may not be Miss Number Two for long."

"What do you mean?"

"You're starting to think," he said with a laugh.

I got up and said, "Excuse me! I have always used my brain! How do you think I ever got to be second place?"

"Had you used your brain more you would've become number one, don't you think?"

"Are you kidding me?" I lied on his lap again and he stroked my hair. "That'll never happen. With your superior skills and non-human qualities, who could beat you?"

He stopped stroking my hair. I felt I slight shove from his lap, so I got up.

"What's wrong?"

"Who are you?" He looked at me as though I were a stranger.

"I'm Hanazono Hikari?" I answered him a bit confused.

"Are you sure? So, why answer my question with another?"

"I told you my name. Isn't that what you asked for?"

"You're not sure about who you are, are you?" He looked at me knowingly.

"I-I'm sure."

"You're stammering," he said casually. "I don't you're my Miss Number Two. You must be someone else's."

"One, I'm not anybody's. Two, who are you calling Miss Number Two?"

"You are, someone else's Miss Number Two."

I got up from the sofa and so did he.

"Who are you calling someone else's Miss Number Two?"

"You are, Miss Number Two."

"I am not Miss Number Two! I will surpass you!"

"Sure you will, Miss Number Two."

"I am not Miss Number Two!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

He grabbed me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. One of his hands traveled to cover my head.

"You are my Miss Number Two," he whispered softly in my ears. "I want to be everything. I want to be your everything. I want to be everything that you'll ever need. I don't want you to look at anybody else but me."

I heard insecurity in his voice. His body quivered as he held me. I wrapped my arms around him and dug my head into his head

"I won't look at anybody else. You are everything. You are my everything, Takishima. You'll be the only one I'll ever need. Just you, so please, just stay with me."

He smirked. "That's something I'll never hear from you."

"Eh?" I looked up at him. "I just said so, didn't I?"

"Right now, but I'm pretty sure you'll forget about everything when you wake up."

"But—" he placed his finger on my lips.

"Just enjoy this moment." His finger traced from my lips to my chin and lifted it to meet his.

He inched closer. "Just close your eyes, trust me."

I closed my eyes.

I expected his lips to meet mine, but when I opened my eyes, I was fact-to-face with Tadashi.

"Eh, Hikari?"

"Ah! Sorry!" I said. I smelled something burning. I looked down and part of my hair was singed. "Ah, ah!"

My hair was now uneven, but all I could do was laugh.

"Now that's good to hear!"

"I don't know. I just feel like laughing!" I said between giggles.

"Do you feel better now?"

"Yeah. How long was I asleep for?"

"A minute and a half or so."

"Eh?" I blinked. "You're serious?"

"Well, at least now you're awake. You don't have to wait long, we'll be leaving soon."

"What?"

"Well, just – Ow!" A twig hit Tadashi. I blinked.

"Are you okay?" I asked worried about the random flying objects being flung at him.

"Just fine. Anyway, Hikari –" Snap!

It's as though the sound was magnified a hundred fold and sent vibrations throughout the whole jungle.

"What was that?" I said keeping myself close together.

"A hatch," Tadashi said, looking around.

"What hatched?"

"No, there's a hatch that opened."

Suddenly, the vibrations became stronger. I looked behind Tadashi. The morning sun rose and shone. I placed my hands before me to shield part of the light from my eyes. Something, another sun? It was getting bigger. It was rolling towards us just as the sun reached for the skies. It was getting bigger and the vibrations became stronger.

"Tadashi, there's something large behind you."

"I know," he said grinning.

"It's getting closer and bigger."

"I know."

It might crush us."

"I know."

"We have to move."

"Give me a sec."

"Okay." Who am I kidding. "Tadashi! Run!"

Before I could move, he swept me off my feet and carried me.

A large boulder was trailing behind us. On the jungle floor, there were red markings that were lighting up. The arrows!

"Should we be following the arrows at a time like this?"

"Don't worry, we'll get there in time!"

I looked ahead and saw nothing but bushes and trees. It was a dead end.

"Tadashi, what are we going to do?"

"Don't worry, Hikari! Just trust me!"

He ran fast despite carrying me. We passed numerous trees and bushes. As we passed them, I saw eyes – glowing eyes.

"I think the animals in the forest woke up!"

"They won't harm us! Just keep on looking ahead!"

As we ran passed the trees, I started getting dizzy. The blur of green is not something that someone who just woke up would want to see – even if that person slept for just a minute.

"Bluh," I was trying to restrain myself from vomiting.

"Are you okay?" Tadashi yelled above the vibrations.

"I don't think so."

"Hang on!"

"Tadashi, wouldn't it be better if you dove into the bushes – Ow!" My head just hit a protruding branch.

"Hang on, Hikari!"

As my vision was starting to dim, I saw the bushes and the trees part like a sliding double doors. I think my vision really is going.

"Almost there!" Tadashi's voice was muffled.

"Okay," I said softly. I blinked and my vision became even blurry. All I could see were different shades of green swirling and framing a completely black abyss.

The green frame was getting smaller and the abyss bigger. Before I knew it, I was engulfed in black; a complete and total black out.