Thank you very very much for the reviews for the last chapter. You touched my heart with your kind reviews (TT-TT) I am eternally grateful for the support you constantly give me m( _ _ )m
I just hope that you like this one as well :)
Spring was in session when Green met Red; an encounter which would not have taken place had it not for Red's parents' decision to move to a more welcoming neighbourhood. They had been living in heart of the city before and found it was quite a stifling environment for the little girl to endure. What they needed was a place which exuded peace and tranquility, a place untouched by the moderns of society and the unimaginable pollution that came with it; be it in the form of boisterous noises, dirty air or something else that disturbed the natural order of things. This was because you see, the father was a doctor and quite recently he had caught onto something which he and his wife could only feel sorrow at the discovery-the girl was terribly ill but not in the sense that she could not move nor eat. She looked normal on the surface which was what lead them to assume all this time there was nothing amiss. They would've have stayed ignorant too if it were not for their growing suspicions.
What had truly saddened them was that inside that poor little girl was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen and no one but the almighty Kami-sama knew what or when something could happen to her. For they knew she could just disappear from their lives at any given moment and there was not a thing they could do about it. So it was in their minds to make life as loving and caring as possible for what remaining time Kami-sama had planned for their darling bundle of joy. But even as they feared for her safety as other parents would at the news of illness befalling upon their own child, they still persisted that she lived a life of normalcy as they did not want her to feel like the only thing she could do was isolate herself and be deprived of the life a child like her should live just because of her constitution.
It was as next-door neighbours did Green first encounter Red. Green always felt awkward in front of new people and she was one of honest opinions which often made her seem brash and lacking in empathy. When Red smiled at her at that time where their eyes first met, Green was upset and did not hide it. She did not smile back but instead ran into her house where her sister, Blue, chastised her for being rude. Green took the scolding with sealed lips, never revealing her thoughts as to why she took such an action against a person she only had just seen for the first time and have yet to speak with.
It would be days later before Green would meet Red again, this time as classmates. The more Green saw her the more she grew to dislike her. She would frown at the girl every time their eyes met and this continued to puzzle Red. Even so, Red continued to smile at her; seemingly ignorant of her obvious aversion towards her. Green had felt exasperation at her persistence and tried to avoid her like the plague; doing as best as a five year old could to ignore the girl but it did not last very long.
When Blue was tasked to bring those two back home from school every day, it became difficult for Green to ignore Red's existence. Blue had noticed Green's demeanour towards Red and decided to remedy the situation. From that moment it was established that when they headed home, Green would have to hold Red's hand. At the news, Green huffed her cheeks in anger but nevertheless did as her sister asked. She loved her sister very much and would rather endure the hand-holding than risk upsetting Blue.
As Green became accustomed to holding Red's hand after getting over her initial reluctance, she began to notice some things. Red's hold on her hand was always very light and extremely warm while her gait was slow and careful. When Green tried to get them to run (whilst ignoring a shout from her sister in the process), Red would try to keep up without uttering a sound in protest but her breaths would get faster and deeper as if gasping for air. Green started to feel worried for Red as she did this. Something was not right with Red, she thought to herself upon pondering her findings. With her thoughts occupied, her dislike towards the brunette was eventually forgotten. Every day Green would follow Red in school without notice. Always silently watching her.
Red, she noted once again, did not partake in any activities that involved any physical exertion. She was always excused by the teacher and she found it odd for the look that Red had each and every time was one that longed to join and yet she sat down to watch the others play. Unable to get her head around this oddity, she continued to shadow Red to gather more clues.
And then a day came when she witnessed something which made her blood boil after having followed Red to the garden next to the playground. A notorious troublemaker Green knew as a big bully (having been once a victim herself but had remedied the situation with moves she had learned from Blue) had trailed after Red without her notice. He probably managed to slip pass her observing eyes at the moment where she had tripped over an unsuspecting rock that had stood in her way. When she finally realized he was there, it was too late. He had grabbed Red by her fine brown hair and immediately started to taunt her.
Watching from behind leafy vegetation, Green's face flushed in anger at the sight but felt stunned surprise at the expression on Red's face. Not once did the smile on her face fall. Red stood there composed and unperturbed of the pain she knew was there and had made no move to get the bully to unhand her. That was enough to make Green burst with rage as she emerged from her spot towards the bully and kick him in the shin while grabbing her hand and pulling her to a place where no one could find them.
"Why do you always smile?"
Green shouted at Red and yet the smile was still there. Undeterred and hungry for answers, Green continued on.
"You are not happy are you?"
Clenching her fists tightly, Green stared harshly upon Red. She did not like it, those smiles. Her mouth looked happy but her eyes said otherwise. She could tell that Red was using it to hide something else. Even from the first moment she saw her she knew that it was not truthful and she hated it. Why even bother to smile? Why tell lies to the world?
"If you want to cry, then just cry! I will not hate you for that…you must be in pain, right?"
She did not know why she said that but that did it. Red had burst into tears and Green immediately went and comforted her.
"Finally, you are being truthful. If only you were honest like this from the beginning."
Green patted her back as she hugged her, the sobs from her companion slowly dying down. She liked Red now that she wasn't hiding behind her smile anymore because Green hated lies and dishonesty. When Red finally calmed down, she beamed, eliciting a grin from Green who would have gotten upset if it were not a real one. Her eyes truly reflected feelings of happiness.
Feeling like she had a friend in the dark haired girl, Red no longer had any qualms with talking with Green after that incident. Green on other hand was taken by surprise at the beginning for she had not heard Red speak before as she usually only responded with curved lips or nods and shakes of her head when Green would speak with her. What a nice voice she had! Green liked it as much as she liked listening to whatever Red would speak about. With legs crossed and eyes ever watching closely at her companion, she never failed to put her full attention onto the things she said. It eventually became a ritual for them to set aside one part of their day to seclude themselves in a quiet, peaceful place where Red would just talk for hours while Green listened with a calm expression on her face. And before Green had ever realized it, she had unknowingly become Red's confidant in all matters of the heart.
Green learned many things from Red. Like how there many shades of purple or why drinking tea was good for you. She also learned many things about Red. The young brunette was actually much older than her, having been hospitalized for an accident that had happened to her when she was much younger and thus, was unable to attend school for quite an amount of time. There was also a period of time where her parents had stopped her from leaving the house when they first learned of her illness. Green had frowned at that, hating the sombre look that crossed her features when she spoke of her disease and resented the fact that her friend could just perish suddenly and without warning. And then she realized why Red had put on such a face of smiles for the world when she herself had felt the opposite.
It was at that particular moment that Green made a promise both to Red and herself. A promise which she made Red accept with a pinky swear and a chaste kiss on the cheek.
"I want you to live happily no matter what and never dwell on the things which make you sad. Promise me this as I promise you I will always do my best to keep you smiling truthfully as long as I live."
Her voice had shaken with the intense emotions she poured out from her heart. She felt very strongly at the need to get her friend to be happy always. Green had seen the expression Red would often try to hide from her but had never known what it was exactly before. It had been filled with pure sadness and resignation; enough to pull tears from her eyes. Now she did and it had lit a fire within her. Her friend deserved happiness. She deserved to live.
Red had always known Green was a nice person. No matter what responses she had gotten from the girl at the beginning albeit a sour look or just plain childish hostility, she knew deep down that Green was anything but an evil uncaring person. She had seen those instances where Green had shown her capability to be kind to even the smallest of creatures. She was there when Green secretly sheltered a lost puppy and had seen the relief as well as sadness on her face when it had been given back to its owner. Red was also there when the girl had beaten up a kid for trying to disturb a mother cat and her kittens and the look of triumph she had in protecting them.
And because she knew this, Red was deeply perplexed. She knew not the reason for the girl's antipathy towards her for she didn't think that she had done anything to warrant such a thing.
Red liked Green but did not know how to get Green to do the same. She wanted to ask but did not know what to say or how to go about it. It was good that Green was the first to close the distance between them and for that she was forever grateful. Green was the friend she had always wanted and so much more. She was her most important person.
Each and every day was a blessing with Green by her side. The awkwardness she usually felt with her parents had gradually faded away and she had begun to see the world in a different light; one filled with abundance of love and care. And she started to love more and more, family bonds -Green and her family included- becoming her most treasured possession. She no longer felt the need to hide behind her well-crafted mask. Instead she would run into her Green's comforting arms for every bit of emotion she felt. Happiness. Anger. Frustration. Sadness. She became much more open with her feelings and that had filled her parents with relief because they worried over her lack of any sort of expression other than that practiced smile that felt out of place.
The two of them became inseparable, spending most of their time together. Even going as far as to sleepover at each others house every chance they could. It had reached a point where you could not see one without the other and it would prove extremely difficult to divide them apart. So if one went missing all you had to do was look for the other because that was always the case when it came to a lost child between the two families.
Well, technically it was almost always. There was one incident where one had gone missing while the other was left in the dark, feeling clueless and abandoned. That moment had been their separation from one another.
All it took was one single tragedy to cause a rift in the seemingly unbreakable bond.
It had taken away green's happiness and with it the girl herself for when Green was called out of class by Blue one particular day, Green never came back. Red never got to see Green after that. She had shut herself in her room, unwilling to speak or see her; not even a single acknowledgement of her presence. All she got was a word of consolation from Blue who, despite her usual self, was so sombre she had to rub her eyes to check if what she saw was real. Never had she seen a side of Blue that was never cheerful. Even her voice lacked the luster it usually had; replaced with one that had struck her heart heavy.
The next day, the both of them were gone; leaving nothing but an empty house in the wake of their disappearance. Her parents claimed to have seen hordes of people going in and out of the house in the middle of the night, explaining to her that they had moved out. It was then that she found out what had happened to the people she considered among her most precious; the car that had contained the two elders of her beloved second family had crashed and not a single passenger had survived that ill-fated tragedy.
She had mourned for days after that before finally deciding that anymore would just be a cause of distress for both her parents and the couple whom she missed very dearly. But it would take some time for body to accompany mind. It took quite awhile before Red could stomach anything more than a small bowl of mush and even longer than that to be able to walk outside of her home; such was the condition of her body after learning of her dear friend's heartbreaking circumstances.
Red did not give up hope in reconnecting with her companion again. Rather than that, she believed wholeheartedly that they would be together regardless of what stood between them and that this sudden disappearance was just one minor obstacle in their journey of life. Because this bond was not a simple friendship; what they had was something even more special than that. She believed this with every fibre of her being.
Without Green to keep her company, Red focused all her attention into studying and reading a multitude of collections found in the nearby library. This was so that when the time came for her to meet Green again she would have many things to tell. And without the prospect of being able to be in the same class with her dear friend, there was no longer anything holding her back from showing her true potential in academics. She skipped grades and someone took notice of that, sending a letter requesting her enrollment into a prestigious school. One she would have never considered to attend had it not been for the full scholarship she was offered and the insistence of her parents.
It was there that Red crossed paths with Green once more but such an encounter did not come without its difficulties. At that time Red was a second year while Green was third. She was in high school while Green was in middle school. However, that was not what made it difficult. They were insignificant and easy to overcome compared to what truly stood in her way. For even when Red was so overjoyed and close to tears to see her, Green did not even have the space in her heart to let her in. Green had changed. She was not the cheerful and honest girl she once knew. In its place was a glum, recluse, grumpy and often ferociously-tempered ice shell that sent shivers down the backs of everyone but herself every time eyes met. Added to that was the surprising absence of an effervescent blonde whom no matter where she thought to look was ever with Green. She did not ponder upon it too much since she understood that maybe it could be because Blue would have finished university by now and could be working.
Even with all these coming in between her reunion with her most precious person, Red did not falter from her promise. She did not curse life but instead took this as an opportunity to return the gratitude of what her dark-haired friend had done for her. It was now her turn to get Green to love life! It became her mission to restore Green to what she once was and wash away the bitter thoughts which plagued her. She knew what was going on in her mind for she had gone through the same although in different circumstances. This task was not impossible; it was doable but extremely complicated as it usually was with things related to the heart. What was important was that she did not surrender all hope and stop trying for doing so would be like abandoning her dear friend when she needed her the most and Red was not a person who would shrink at the face of inexplicable terror nor would she sink to the lowest depths over an unimaginable obstacle that blocked her path. Her life thus far was a testament to that and she owed it all to the person who now needed the same of what she had been given even if on the surface she did not want it.
So Red did her best to become the constant presence in Green's current life; wanted or not. And it all began with a bold move she had decided to take after watching Green from afar days after her first sighting of the rebel of a girl. It involved a precious flower between the once sweet girl's fingers and her refusal to let her end its life.
"You shouldn't do that; flowers should be loved. It is trying its best to bloom with all its might in the however short life it has been granted."
She had said to her at the time, earning a nonchalant look from the girl; one which made her stomach churn from the lack of emotion towards her. What unsettled her afterwards was the notion that the girl did not even remember her, having asked who she was with less than pleasant words. At least she was talking to her she had thought optimistically, fully aware of the rumours surrounding the proclaimed 'ice princess' of the school. One being that anyone who had the nerve to say anything to her would be given an icy glare before being ignored completely while another would be that any sort of touching- accidental or not- would entail a horrid beating which left the perpetrator black and blue. She did not get that when she touched her shoulder as an act to stop her from plucking the delicate blossom; another positive sign which gave her that extra push to continue her pursuit. And with time, she would slowly chip the layers of ice encasing the heart of her much adored bosom buddy.
"Why do you disturb me?"
Red was asked one day as she sat next to Green at the very garden she first dared to approach her. It had been said simply with little feeling; she could tell from the lack of annoyance or anger in her angel's voice.
"It is because I am unable to leave you alone."
"I don't need your pity. Leave if that is what you are doing."
It took her by surprise; the sudden fit of anger emitting from the younger girl who appeared calm just moments ago but it did not disturb the smile upon her lips (whether Green noticed it however, she honestly did not know). Green might've been angry with her suspicions on the matter but still Red had been given a benefit of a doubt having not been told completely to leave.
"Why do you think so? I have been nothing but sincere in my encounters with you."
"You are the Student Council President are you not? Now why is it that you failed to mention this before eh? The highly acclaimed president, famous for good looks, personality and intelligence and is loved by all teachers and students alike. Why else would she be here with me the uncaring as well as violent ice devil other than to take pity on this 'most unfortunate soul' for not having any of the good graces she herself possessed?"
Red found herself further startled at the revelation, feeling anger building within her; not at the girl but at the things which had caused her to have that kind of thinking of her own self.
"Natsuki should never herself to those hearsays born from malicious feelings and what I consider slander from the mouths of hypocrites. They do not know the poison for which they spew and can only think of themselves. I know not any wrongful things to which you are famous for nor have I ever seen the behavior they have accused you capable of."
Green had been silent then, taking in her words.
"You think so?"
Her companion was facing her, an eyebrow raised and eyes filled with challenge. Red begrudgingly stopped herself from staring at emeralds which danced brightly before her. It was not where should be placing her focus at the moment; there was challenge to face head on and she would not let herself be distracted from fighting it with her unwavering determination.
"With as much confidence I possess in this body of mine. The Natsuki I know now is just a lost puppy; misunderstood and immensely hurt. Not a single cell in her body holds any malice; that I am certain."
She grinned widely and that toothy smile grew as soon as she saw the noticeably rubicund display on her beloved's cheeks and the rosy hue remained there even as the girl cried in indignation at her words before slumping down to the grass in defeat. Her eyes were closed but Red knew she laid there in resignation.
"How did you…?"
Came the whisper which left her lips, an arm going across her face, hiding her already closed eyes. Red sorely needed to hug her, barely restraining her hands by grasping tightly on the grass by her feet. Such vulnerability displayed before her! From Green no less! It was almost too much to bear, being so close yet unable to give her the comfort she wanted to provide. She needed to address the question first before she got ahead of herself.
"I have always watched you ever since the moment I first laid eyes on you; the little adorable girl across the street with the dog plushie in her hands, pulling her sister along with her. Although I may have not seen her during those years when she had moved away, I still love and know her enough to be able to see pass the rough surface she puts on because I know deep inside there still exists the person I once considered my other half and will always be no matter what. You can't hide it from me Natsuki."
Plump lips were clenched between even teeth as Green absorbed her words. It was incredible the way Red knew so much about her, she thought to herself. Was she an open book? Did her thoughts show on her face without her knowing? While others would have found it quite creepy to have some stranger know them so well, Red was anything but a stranger to her and she expected no less from her to be able to see her facade for what it was. No, it was not because Red had been there herself in that consuming darkness; far from that. It was because she knew that Red was the only one for her; the only one capable of cutting the thorns surrounding her heart and pulling her out.
She wanted no one else because she could not see anyone else.
There was only her.
"When did you notice?"
Green's trembling voice was a reflection of her hastily thumping heart. It came as light as the breeze that grazed them, the sweeping embrace of rushed air rustling the grass between them. A hand swept through her dark tresses, bringing with it the scent of the flower she had begun to associate her friend with and a warmth she had long forgotten. Red had moved closer, she sensed; feeling fabric brushing against her arm that lay limp on the ground beside her.
"I had my suspicions from the start. You do not play the bad guy very well despite popular belief."
Red let out a mock sigh, shaking her head in tune with what she said. Jades were upon her now, the hand covering her face before having been moved to run across her stomach. Green trained her intense gaze upon crimson with a small simper gracing her lips.
"Really? I thought I did it well seeing as a majority of students would run the second they see me pass by. I think it's probably only you that feels that way."
"Ara, maybe it is as you say. It seems that only I can see the truth buried beneath the lies. Or is it just because I know you so well that the rumours feel so far from the truth and almost comical even?"
A weak chuckle came from Green. Her eyebrows creasing slightly, making her look guilty to the fair headed adolescent by her side. She felt a hand took hold of hers in a soft yet firm grip as she released a shaky breath.
"I did not mean to deceive you. I have changed; I know it very well. The question is would you accept it? This me you see now is not exactly the same as she was then; bitter and filled with hate for the world. I didn't want to pull you down with me. You deserve to be with other people who can make you happy. But I guess I am no match for you and your stubbornness."
Unable to stand it anymore, Red pulled Green towards her with all her might, hugging her as she fell upon her chest. The half smile she was given made her stomach flip, toss and turn.
"Damn right you are. It will do you right to remember that I will not tolerate you turning me away. Do not take light my affections for you."
She sounded harsh even to herself but she needed to convey twinge of anger she felt at her friend for thinking that being with her would not make her happy. It was actually the opposite; she found it hard to be happy without Green beside her. There was never a day that went by that she would not think of her friend and miss her during their time apart. Sometimes she would even cry because when Green disappeared, a gaping hole was left in her heart.
At the sound of her muffled sobs upon her chest, her expression softened, one hand moving to stroke the girl's head. Her anger had dissipated in an instant. Admittedly she didn't think that could ever really get mad at her, having not remembered a single time where she was infuriated with her though they did have some disagreements with Green being her usual hardheaded self.
"Silly Natsuki, don't you know that only you can make very happy? Being apart from you was painful. Was it not the same for you as well?
She felt her nod, the bawls unrelenting even as she did it. Red could not prevent a smile from spreading across her face, having felt reassurance from the answer. She had been afraid of rejection or abandonment from Green. All those nights wondering if Green would still want as her friend had cause insecurity to bloom in her heart. She may have seemed confident but in actuality she was horribly nervous throughout their conversations.
"There, there."
Stroking her back just as Green had done years ago, Red felt that she was one step closer to helping her friend achieve happiness just as she had done for her. Somehow felt even closer to her on a deeper level despite still having no knowledge yet of the events that had taken place during their time apart.
Once again, after all those years of separation, the ritual continued where one talked while the other listened for hours. This time however, it was Green who voiced her thoughts while Red offered her ears and comfort. Little by little, Green's heart would heal and the relationship between the two strengthened. It grew and grew and grew till love sprouted and took its hold.
In the spring marking the 15th year since their faithful encounter, Green married Red in a small ceremony filled with family and friends who shared their joy. Soon after a baby girl was to be born to this lovely couple, Red choosing to be the one who carried their precious little one. She had insisted upon it; wanting to have the experience as a memory. She was healthy now, so why not? She felt that if she waited any longer, she would miss her chance. More importantly, it was something she had always wanted to do and nobody had the heart to deny her even though they worried for her health.
Nine months later, out came a beautiful baby into the world; an exact image of her mother that bore her with copper curls upon her head and tiny rubies which Green had always loved about her wife. Kissing both of them on the cheek, Green felt relieved that they were safe and could not wait for the days that lay before them.
Red loved every single day, every waking moment and every dream she dreamt in the loving embrace of her family. Even as she got sicker with passing of years, she kept her promise and the true smile upon her lips never left. Even with her last breath, she was still glad for the life of happiness she had been granted.