Clannad

The Lost Girl

Note: Hey hey hey everyone! Not much to say here, but...Yeah. This chapter is super-ultra sad. :

Read, REVIEW, and Enjoy! Like always!

Chapter Twelve – Forever

I found myself being ignored by Risha after that. Even though I sat behind her for most of the day, she made sure that I wouldn't be able to talk to her. I figured she'd eventually get over it...Hopefully.

"What's wrong with Risha?" was the question I heard for the next few days in the club-room. I just sighed. There's no way I'll tell them that, I'd think, not giving any help on the matter.

"Tokoi, will you walk home with me?" Ushio asked that Friday after school. I still had the problem with Risha on my mind, and I told her, "Um...Sorry, I have to do something." I found myself under her gaze for a few moments, before she finally just nodded and walked away...

Only after Ushio had left did I realize that I haven't been talking to her. I sighed. Sorry Ushio... I thought. The black box had been sitting in my pocket every day, because I was waiting for the best moment to give it to her...But I probably missed a chance right in that moment.

I sat in the club-room for a while longer, just staring out the window at the fading sunlight. Then, I got up, and was about to leave...

...But the door suddenly opened, and I saw Risha standing there. She was obviously surprised to see me, and opened her mouth to say something...Only to turn her head and close the door. "W-Wait!" I said, running to the door and opening it. Looking down the hall, I saw her quickly walking away.

Alright, I need to talk to her, I thought, going after her. She rounded the corner, and I quickly followed her...But when I came around the corner, I lost track of her. Looking around, I couldn't see any signs of where she had gone.

"Risha?" I said, hoping for a response. Nothing. I sighed. I guess I'm just going to be avoided forever... I thought, turning around and starting to walk away.

"Tokoi..." a voice suddenly came. I stopped. The voice wasn't Risha's, but it sounded familiar to me. Turning around, my eyes widened as I saw who it was...

"N-Nagisa?" I exclaimed, seeing Ushio's mother standing at the end of the hallway. The image of her serene expression in the hospital came to my mind. N-No way...She can't be here, I thought. She began to walk towards me, and I took a step back, closing my eyes. I must be seeing things...When I open my eyes, she'll be gone...

...But I opened my eyes when I felt a hand on my cheek. Surely enough, Nagisa was standing there in front of me. "I've been watching over Ushio ever since she was born..." she told me. I raised an eyebrow. "B-But...you've been in the hospital the whole time..." I said, and Nagisa nodded.

"My body has been in the hospital...But I have been here, always watching through the eyes of another..." Nagisa told me. I was about to ask who it was, but footsteps came from behind, and I turned to see Risha standing there...and I realized... "Risha?" I said, "You've been watching from Risha?"

Nagisa nodded. "Did you do something to that girl out there?" Risha's voice echoed in my head as I remembered that time many months earlier. "I heard nobody has been visiting her in a while...So I decided to come myself." I remembered when I had found her sitting in the hospital room. It wasn't just Risha's protective nature or stubbornness that guided her to protect Ushio... I thought.

"Risha is her own person...But she's been kind enough to be there for Ushio when I really couldn't." she told me. I looked over at Risha, who blushed slightly and looked away. "But...why are you here now?" I asked.

"My time is here," she told me, and my eyes widened, "And I won't be able to look after Ushio any longer." I watched in awe as Nagisa suddenly seemed to glow slightly. "But I know you can be there for her...So I can sleep in peace..."

Nagisa took a few steps back, and a light appeared behind her, growing slowly, and enveloping her body. "W-Wait!" I said. "Tell Tomoya...that I won't be a burden on him anymore." Nagisa told me, giving a smile. Then, the light turned blinding, and I looked away...

...And when the light disappeared, Nagisa was no longer there. I stood there for a few moments, thinking about what had just happened. "Risha..." I said, turning, but Risha had gone.

Without hesitation, I quickly ran out of the school, heading towards the hospital. She can't die now, I thought, Not after all that her family has done for her. I continued running, but stopped at the Furukawa Bakery, where I found Ushio standing outside.

I stopped, panting, and she looked at me worriedly. "T-Tokoi? What is it?" she asked. I had to catch my breath for a few moments, before grabbing her hand and telling her, "I'll explain later...Come with me." She blushed slightly, but complied, and we quickly made our way to the hospital.

Once there, I looked around. Dr. Chaan was nowhere in sight. Please...I thought as we headed to the elevator and rode it to the fourth floor. I don't want Ushio to have to go through this... We quickly made our way down the halls, until we reached the door to Nagisa's room.

The door was open, and we both looked in...Tomoya was sitting beside the bed, grasping Nagisa's hand...And the honest, caring man I had saw before...was actually crying.

I glanced at Ushio, who's face was blank. She let go of my hand and walked over to her father's side, looking down at her mother's still peaceful expression. "I promised myself that I wouldn't cry when this day came..." Tomoya said, almost to himself...

Ushio was silent. No expression could be seen on her face. "Ushio..." I said, moving beside her, wanting to support her...But she didn't seem to be registering what was going on. "Ushio...?" I said, and she looked at me for a few moments...

Gazing at her, I realized what it was... "Ushio...It's alright to cry," I told her, grabbing her hand...And, after a moment, the tears finally came...and I embraced her as she cried...

"M-M-M-Mom." she said while sobbing, and I held her tighter, feeling a tear some to my eye as well...

"But I know you can be there for her..."

Hearing Ushio's wails and sobs...I told myself, I will...

I will be there for her...Forever.

To be continued...

Next Chapter – Love

Note: I'm not all that good with writing death scenes, especially when it has to be super sad like this, but tell me what you think. This whole Risha-Nagisa connection was an idea since about the second chapter, so I decided to write it. Please leave a review with what you think!