Clannad
The Lost Girl
Note: Hello! Here's the big game-changer of the whole Fanfic, and I really, REALLY hope I can squeeze some emotions out of you!
IMPORTANT NOTE: When you see the /POV/ tag, it means that the story is now being told from an omniscient view, instead of from Tokoi's first person view.
Please Read, REVIEW, Enjoy, and maybe shed a tear or two!
Chapter Eighteen – Tragedy
It was a normal day, like any other.
But, unknown to me...It could only end in Tragedy.
"T-Tokoi, wait up!" Ushio said. I turned and grinned at her. "Come on, you should walk faster!" I told her. Ushio squinted at me. "You're so mean Tokoi..." she said, then we both laughed and entwined our hands, and continued to walk down the street.
"I'm glad we were able to find a place." I said. Ushio nodded. We found a nice apartment that was rather cheap, and could accommodate for all three of us.
"I'm looking forward to decorating his room." Ushio said, rubbing her stomach, which was starting to grow rather large. I smiled at her, and asked, "What color should the room be?" Ushio looked up in thought for a few moments, then said, "Green."
I raised an eyebrow. "I was thinking blue..." I said. Ushio shook her head. "Blue is too...I-I don't know, but I like green!" She said. I chuckled, and leaned over, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Green it is then."
After a few minutes, we came to the apartment. I took out my key, and then realized something. "Oh man, I forgot to lock the bakery up!" I said, realizing I had failed to do the one thing Sanae and Akio had trusted me with while they were away.
I unlocked the door and opened it for Ushio. "I'll be back in not too long." I told her, and I gave her a quick kiss. I then ran off back down the street, towards the bakery...
But, as I ran, something came into my head... A memory? No... This is...
It was Ushio and Tomoya sitting in the shade beneath a large tree...
"Aikou! Don't run that far off!" she shouted. The response was only laughter, and she sighed and Tomoya stood up. "Hey! Don't make me come after you!" he said, and a child's voice said, "Oh yeah? Bet you can't catch me grandpa!"
Tomoya ran down the hill, and there were squeals of delight, and Ushio giggled and watched on happily...But then, her expression changed to a sad one, and she looked upwards at the leaves above her...
"Tokoi...If only you were here to see this." she said...
And as the image faded, I stopped. What?... I thought, a shiver crawling up my spine...
SCREEECH! a noise came from the side, and I turned my head and watched a blinding light come towards me...
Then everything went black.
"Tokoi..." a faint voice called through the darkness.
I opened my eyes slightly, and could see many blurs of shapes above me. "He's waking up! Tokoi...Everything's going to be-"... Then there was only darkness once again.
What's happening? I thought. A wave of cold overcame me, and I found that I couldn't move my body. Am I...dying? I wondered. More faint voices began to speak to me, but I couldn't comprehend what they were saying...
But then, suddenly, there was one that I could hear loud and clear.
"Tokoi?" a voice came. I blinked, and the darkness gave way to sunshine up above. I quickly sat up and looked around, wondering where I was...
And when I turned, I saw the familiar figure of my mother. Still in her youth as she had been in the picture I saw...
"M-Mom?" I said, standing. She smiled and nodded. "I didn't think I'd see you here so early..." she said. I looked around, and then asked her, "Where...is this?"
My mother frowned, and spoke the words that nobody ever wants to hear:
"You're dying."
My eyes widened, and my breathing grew heavy. "No..." I said, setting my hand over my chest. There was barely a heartbeat.
My mother nodded, and her eyes saddened. "I'm afraid so..." she told me. I shook my head, and felt tears beginning to come into my eyes. "No! I can't...What about Ushio?" I shouted. My mother stood and began to walk towards me.
"She can continue to live on...Your son will be the spitting image of you, and that will help her recover from her grief." she told me. I stepped back, and shook my head. "I can't let that happen...Ushio..." I said, staring down at the ground, tears beginning to run down my cheeks...
"USHIO!"
/POV/
In the waiting room of the hospital, there was a lingering air of sorrow and grief...
Risha was crying, and, for the first time in his life, Yurino was attempting to comfort her seriously. Nyou sat in silence, unsure if what was happening was real or not...
And Ushio could only stare at the doors to the Emergency Room. No tears, no thoughts...And still stricken by grief.
But that silence was only broken when Ushio suddenly heard a call...
"USHIO!" the familiar voice of Tokoi came. She looked around, unsure of where it had come from. Nobody else had seemed to notice it. "Tokoi..." she said softly. Risha, Yurino, and Nyou looked up at her...
And watched as all of the tears and sorrow spilled out. "Tokoi...Tokoi..." she continued to say his name, sobbing and covering her face with her hands.
Memories flooded her mind...
When they had first met.
When they visited her mother in the hospital.
When he established the Theater Club for her and helped her make friends.
When he had stayed by her side when she was ill.
When he came for her before she left forever.
When he kept his promise to her and gave her a ring.
When he comforted her after her mother passed on.
When he moved in to always be by her side.
When he found a home for them to live in.
When he gave her a reason to live...
"TOKOI!" she screamed at the top of her lunges. And, outside of the hospital, hundreds of glowing orbs rose from the ground and floated around, filling the dark sky with light, each one filled with a moment of Happiness that Ushio had been able to have...
But if she lost all of that happiness now...Where would she go? She would be lost in the world...
She would be...a Lost Girl.
To be continued...
Next Chapter – The Lost Girl