I made it to twenty-seven. Our families and friends came and gave me presents and wished me the best of health. But at that point, I already knew. I already knew that I wouldn't live through this, knew that I wouldn't live much longer. I had two more months left, by the doctor's estimates. And I didn't say anything. I didn't want anybody to worry.

My birthday was really special because I knew then, that people really did care about me. I guess I always took it for granted. I guess it takes something life changing like this to really wake you up to see the world as it really is.

I'd always wanted to go to Disneyland, regardless of the country. Heck, you could take me to Disneyland in Paris, and even though everyone would be speaking rapid fire French there, I wouldn't care. I just wanted to go to Disneyland. But I knew that in my condition, there was no way we were going to go. I couldn't walk three steps without running out of breath, getting tunnel vision, or dropping to my knees because my legs couldn't hold my weight.

Instead, Ulquiorra asked Wonderwice to go to Disneyland and tape it. The kid used up all the memory on the card, and I watched every second of it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ulquiorra watching, a quiet smile on his face. It felt as if a little ray of sunshine had walked into the room and decided to stay.

Ulquiorra came to my room after he went to the store one day. He had a large stack of origami paper with him. He began making paper cranes.

"What are you doing?"
"Making cranes."
"I'm not blind. I can see. Why?"
"You know, there's a legend that says if you make a thousand origami birds and hang it up in a sick person's room, they'll get better."

I began to help him. I think we were both trying to find a distraction for the day we knew would eventually come. It was a distraction for him so he wouldn't have to cry. It was a distraction for me so I could keep my mind off the pain, off the guilt, off the agony.

Even though Stark and Kaien didn't say anything, even though Ulquiorra kept trying to convince me that I would get better and we would have a happy life together, I knew that it wasn't about trying to save me anymore. It was about trying to help me live longer so I would have more days with Ulquiorra. Stark and Kaien's eyes would always drop when they were talking to me, and Ulquiorra's arguments had only halfhearted conviction, and I knew that they didn't believe I would get better. And I didn't believe it either. Inside, I had already given up hope.

I remember, I had the most touching conversations with Ulquiorra.

"Hey, Ora."
"What's up, love?"
"What're you gonna do after I'm gone?"

"Don't say that."
"It's true."
"I don't care if it is. Don't jinx yourself."

"But really. What are you gonna do when I'm gone?"
"...I suppose it's not a question of what I'm going to do, but what YOU want me to do, isn't it?"
"Maybe....I'd miss you."

"I'd miss you, too."

"But I'd like you to be happy, too, so if you found someone else, that would be okay with me."

"...We'll see how I feel if that time comes around, how's that, sweetheart?"
"Don't kill yourself, though. Or get all depressed and shit. Because that would suck, and it's not good for you."
"I know. I won't."

People began not to care as much the last few months of my illness. I had gone through so many ordeals with this cancer, that I guess everybody lulled themselves into a false sense of security and began to think that I was suffering, but I was invincible.

The only things I could do then were sit propped up by my pillows, and click channels. I couldn't even stay awake for House or 24 or even Jeopardy. Since I wasn't having any more major episodes, I had been dispatched so I could stay at home. I knew, and everybody else knew, that soon the last straw that broke the camel's back would come and fall down soon. It was getting close to the end. I didn't want to accept it. Nobody else did, either.

October went to November, and then to December. A lot of people, including me, were surprised I hadn't croaked yet. And I knew that the people of Japan were waiting for an amazing turnaround or a depressing death.

I wasn't looking for a turnaround. I kind of already knew I was too far gone for that.

I was surprised I'd lived until Christmas. I was supposed to have died a month ago. I woke up early, and Ulquiorra was already awake, looking at me, the nurse by his side. I smiled at him. I felt the strain, the energy it took for me to smile, and I knew that today would be the day.

"Merry Christmas," he said, smiling lightly at me.
"Merry Christmas to you, too."

He placed a sheet of bright blue origami paper in my hands. This would be the 999th one. Ulquiorra would fold the last one. I smiled quietly, and my hands began to make the motion of folding the crane. My hands felt heavy, and the paper felt heavy, and I knew I wasn't creasing it right, wasn't making the points sharp enough. But I couldn't do anything about that.

I finished the crane and looked up at him. In the distance, I saw the clock.

It was blurry, but I could vaguely make it out. 11:44 AM.

"Ulquiorra. Love you."

And I don't remember anything else but black, and the sound of Ulquiorra's soft sobbing.

I wish I had more time.

I hope Ulquiorra heals.

I hope to see you soon.