Forever and a Day: The Unspoken Cross (Interlude-Part II-Final)

Two children ran through the streets of Mitakihara, a boy was leading a girl by the hand. The two were puffing as their feet hit against the ground.

The two children finally reached a warehouse near the outskirts of Mitakihara, it looked fairly old and worn out. It was dark, but it was clean and neat.

The girl, a redhead spoke up, while holding onto her companions hand. "What's this Rokan?"

The boy glanced back at Kyoko with his bright green eyes. "This is a warehouse."

"Really?"

"Yep!"

Kyoko paused. "You brought me all the way to Mitakihara just for this?"

Rokan nodded. The redhead sighed as Rokan opened the door. "Wanna come in?"

"Sure."

The two walked into the warehouse, the darkness gave off an ominous aura to them, as they were just children. Kyoko gripped Rokan's hand tighter. "I've known you for a year Rokan, why would you bring me to such a scary place?'

Rokan chuckled. "Cherry Blossom, this isn't scary. It's just dark."

Kyoko narrowed her crimson eyes. "You know I'm scared of the dark?"

Rokan glanced back. "Oh? Sorry about that..."

Before Kyoko could object any more, her friend turned on a light switch, revealing the room to them.

Before the two children was a plain room, at the end of the warehouse. Kyoko pulled back a piece of rolled up carpet to look properly. "R-Rokan, what's this?"

"It's our hanging out spot."

Kyoko glanced at her friend. "Hanging out spot?" She repeated.

Rokan put his hands on his hips proudly. "Yep! We'll hang out here often. If you're allowed I mean. It's a spot for both of us." He paused. "Cause we're friends right?"

Kyoko smiled affectionately. "Of course idiot!"

Rokan scratched his head sheepishly. "Anyway... Do you like it?"

"It's a bit plain.. But we could spice it up a little bit with a few things."

"Like what?"

Kyoko pulled something off her neck, and hung it off a nail half dug into the wall, she grinned.

Rokan gasped. "Not your gem! Mr Sakura gave it to you!"

Kyoko paused. "Oh yeah, Papa would be mad at me." She pulled the necklace off and put it back on. "That was dumb of me."

"You're right." Rokan slung off his backpack, and Kyoko glanced at him. "Whatcha doing?"

The emerald eyed boy pulled pieces of paper out of his bag, and then a pencil case. He placed it on a table at the side of the room and grinned at Kyoko, who raised an eyebrow.

"What's that?"

"What do you think it is?"

"Uhh..."

Rokan gestured to the objects. "They're drawing stuff!"

"Oh!"

Rokan grinned. "Do you like drawing?"

Kyoko nodded enthusiastically. "I do, but I don't think I'm good at it."

Rokan pulled out a chair for her. "Let's see then."

The redhead sat down, accepting the challenge. "Fine. What do I draw?"

"You should draw... A lizard.."

Kyoko creased her forehead. "Okay..."

One minute later, Rokan glanced back at his friends work, and let out a loud childish laugh. Kyoko glared at him.

"What is it?!"

"Is that a lizard... Or a twig?"

Kyoko shot daggers at her friend. "Watch it! I said I wasn't good at drawing!"

"Watch this." Rokan sat down next to Kyoko, taking the pen from her grasp and snatching a piece of paper. "I'm gonna try, don't laugh when I'm done okay?"

Kyoko giggled. "I'm not making any promises."

To her surprise, Rokan had drawn an incredibly realistic lizard by the time she opened her eyes, she was genuinely surprised.

"Rokan that's awesome!" Kyoko exclaimed.

Rokan blushed. "Y-you think so?"

"Totally! You could be an artist when you grow up!"

"Really?"

"Of course!"

Rokan quickly coloured the lizard green to cover his embarrassed face. "Hey Kyoko."

"Yep?"

Rokan looked at her. "Whaddya wanna be when you grow up?"

"Easy!" Kyoko made a gesture of being taller. "I want to be just like my Papa!"

"And taller?"

"That too."

"So you wanna be a priest?"

"Of course! I wanna be an inspiration to people, just like Papa is!"

Rokan smiled warmly while Kyoko was speaking. She really does have a big heart. He thought.

A ten year old girl strolled casually across the streets, waiting until something, or someone would show up. She noticed the buckets littering the streets, money was pouring out of them. Kyoko eyed them and kneeled over to them.

What is this? She thought, picking up a note.

"Stop!"

Kyoko spun around at the familiar voice, she stopped. "Is that you Rokan?"

Rokan stepped around the corner, his eyes full of fear. "Kyoko, please don't steal the money."

"What?" The redhead walked over to him. "Is it yours?"

Rokan nodded. "I'm giving it to others."

Kyoko's eyes widened. "To.. The poor?"

Rokan leant over to pick a bucket from the ground. "Yeah, I dropped the buckets while I was running, but I didn't notice. I thought people would be stealing it."

"You are... Giving things to the poor?"

The emerald eyed boy lifted his head up. "Is that a bad thing?"

Noticing Rokan's distress, Kyoko waved her hands about. "No of course not." She calmed down as her crimson eyes softened. "In fact, it's really good of you."

Rokan's eyes widened. He stood, looking into the whirl of red that overtook his mind, glancing at the bright smile.

Kyoko's smile faltered. "What's wrong?"

"!" Rokan faced away from his friend, cheeks heating up. "N-nothing." Kyoko frowned.

"Why don't I help you with this?" The redhead asked, kneeling down to help her flustered friend.

Rokan faced her again, emerald eyes shining bright against his tanned skin. "You'll help me?"

Kyoko grinned. "What's the problem?"

"No problem. Nobody's helped me before, that's all."

"What?" Her grin faded. "Not even your family?"

"Well I had a cousin, Tohno, who helped me once, but she moved with her family."

"Oh. Is it okay if I help you give money to the poor?"

Rokan's face lit up with a bright smile. "Of course you can!" He paused. "Is it against your father's teachings?"

Kyoko shook her head. "I believe it's a great thing, and I don't think it's against Papa's teachings. Giving money to the poor is like giving them hope right? To live on. So it's exactly what Papa preaches for."

Rokan nodded, a smile still on his face. "You're right."

Kyoko picked up the golden pieces of money scattered along the ground, she watched as the sun caused a shine to appear, it flickered as Kyoko moved the coin and placed it in the bucket.

Once the two were finished, Rokan wrapped his fingers around the handle of the bucket and pulled it up, awed at how heavy it was. He carried six, and Kyoko carried seven.

"Do you do this often?" Kyoko asked her friend, struggling with a bucket.

"Do what?"

"You know, give money to people?"

Rokan nodded, and Kyoko felt a slight smile cross her face for a second, until it faded.

"Does this happen often too?"

Rokan eyes turned to the redhead, although he faced away from her. "What does?"

"The money being scattered all over the town?"

The emerald eyed boy frowned. "No, this doesn't happen much."

"How does this happen?" Kyoko asked, suddenly curious.

Rokan hesitated answering, gripping the handles of the buckets tight. "Some people are so poor they rush at me, and I drop a few things."

Kyoko's eyes widened, her face showing concern. "Are you alright?"

Rokan smiled. "Yeah, it doesn't happen much anyway."

"Okay.." Kyoko said, doubtful. "Whenever you want me to help you, just say so."

"Sure."

The two walked in silence, they admired the orange sun setting over the hills, watching the yellow glow turn the sky into a bright shade of red, the clouds dimmed pink.

Kyoko watched the sunset with soft eyes, before turning to face Rokan, who was walking beside her. "Hey, Rokan."

Rokan faced her. "What?"

"Would you like to come to my place tonight?"

"Eh?" Rokan seemed unsure. "Is it alright?"

Kyoko smiled. "Course it is you weirdo! Papa and Mama will like you, especially Momo." Her smile faltered. "Is it alright with you and your parents?"

Rokan nodded. "Yep, it's fine."

"Alright!" Kyoko clapped her hands together, ignoring the buckets knocking against each other as she did so. "Let's go!"

"So this is Rokan?" Nakane said warmly, the greeting being accepted.

Rokan bowed. "Yes, ma'am."

"You don't need to be so formal with me, don't worry." Nakane said, she gestured to the table. "Would you like to sit?"

The family sat around the table while Nakane handed out the food. Rokan glanced around the table, at Momo, Nakane, Kyoko and Mr Sakura as he sat down formally.

The family prayed, before heading back to an ordinary, calm and yet cheerful atmosphere.

"It's very nice to meet you Mr Sakura." Rokan blurted out suddenly, suddenly turning nervous in the presence of his idol.

Kyoko noticed. "Rokan, why are you nervous?"

"Eh? I'm not nervous!"

Kyoko looked at her father. "Papa, Rokan is a very big fan. He wants to grow up to be just like you."

"Really?" Mr Sakura smiled warmly at Rokan. "It's very nice to meet you too."

Rokan smiled and shook hands with him.

Nakane grinned. "You see, this is the first time Kyoko's brought a friend home."

Kyoko blushed. "I told you to keep that a secret Mama!"

"Oh I'm sorry Kyoko. But it is true."

"I guess." The redhead grumbled.

After dinner ended, Kyoko and Rokan stepped outside to view the night sky. The stars twinkled brightly, but the sky was dark and the street lamps were the only real light the two had.

Rokan was mesmerised, into he heard Kyoko's faint voice.

"Rokan."

The emerald eyed boy turned to her. He noticed that Kyoko looked worried. "What's wrong?"

"Papa.. Said he was going to preach new things to his followers."

"Is that good?"

"Of course it is! Just..." Kyoko sighed, pulled back her fringe. ".. I was really happy, and now. I'm worried if it's not going to work out."

Rokan smiled. "You worry too much cherry blossom."

Kyoko closed her eyes. "Do I?"

Rokan wrapped his arm around his friends shoulder casually and squeezed her. Kyoko jumped inwardly. "It's gonna be fine, so don't worry." Rokan smiled at Kyoko, whose face lit up in a bright pink. She was glad it was night, although she felt her face was glowing or something.

"Y-yeah." Kyoko stammered. "Thanks for the support, Rokan."

"No probs Cherry will get better. Trust me."

They didn't.

Everything went downhill from there.

As you know, people hated Papa's new ideas. And due to his low success, he got excommunicated. We became poor, and couldn't afford any food.

Of course, I didn't tell Rokan this.

He kept on asking me why I was so thin and pale, or why I had bags under my eyes for ages because of how I'd been crying. I always told him I was alright, but it was obvious he didn't believe me.

After that, I became a magical girl. I was so happy. Although I had to distance myself from Rokan for a while, I met Mami and we became a great team.

I hang out with Rokan a lot more since then. And now that I was a teenager, I started to realise my feelings more.

Why was I suddenly nervous around Rokan those days? Why was I all jumpy whenever he held my hand and hugged me like we were kids again? When he invited me to the town festival and he danced with me alone, why did I feel like I could fly?

In what way did I like Rokan?

Of course, Papa eventually found out about my secret, and I separated myself from both Mami and Rokan, while I was extremely depressed. But while I was with Rokan, I was always cheerful and it pleased him. Until that one day..

"You're leaving?!" Kyoko exclaimed, staring into Rokan's large emerald eyes. Sadness transmitted into her voice as Rokan smiled at her, face now more mature.

Rokan nodded. "I hope you're not mad Kyoko."

Kyoko's breath hitched, and the two stayed silent. The cherry blossom petals drifted across from where the two were standing, under the cherry blossom tree where they had first met. Kyoko felt nostalgia, as the two were much older and mature (well, in a way).

"Of course I'm mad!" Kyoko almost yelled, grabbing onto Rokan's hands. "That's a stupid question! You just told me out of the blue!"

"I'm sorry Kyoko." Rokan said softly, his face turning slightly red. "But I have to go."

Kyoko lowered her head, and stroked her soul gem ring with one finger. "When you you be leaving?"

"I'll be leaving in tommorow." Rokan answered, and Kyoko gasped while meeting his gaze. "That's too soon!"

Rokan chuckled. "Kyoko stop freaking out, I won't be gone for ages."

"How long then?"

"Around four years."

Kyoko gasped. "What?! You can't be serious! What kind of idiot are you?! Four years is a long time!"

Her shouting started to get a few looks from others. Rokan noticed and tried to shush his friend, but she just squeezed his hands tighter, which made his cheeks heat up.

Rokan finally pulled her hands away and smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be back for you."

Kyoko was still unsure, and she crossed her arms.

The emerald eyed teenager sighed. "I promise, that whenever you get into trouble, I will come back for you."

The redhead calmed at his words, and grinned. "What makes you think I'll get into any trouble? Have you seen how strong I've gotten lately?"

Rokan laughed. "Yeah I have. You've gotten much stronger, physically and mentally."

"Y- you think so?"

"Yep."

Kyoko paused, and glanced at Rokan who was still beaming his usual bright smile. "Hey Rokan."

Rokan seemed to notice the tone in her voice, and his smile vanished. "What's wrong?"

"Do you absolutely promise?"

"Eh? Promise what?"

"What you said just then, how if I ever got into trouble you'd come back to me."

Rokan's expression softened, and he held a fist over his heart. "I, Kuroi Rokan, promise to keep my beloved friend Sakura Kyoko safe at all times, and save her from any harm that will come."

Kyoko giggled. "That's so corny, yet I like it." She paused. "So you promise?"

"Of course I do cherry blossom!"

"... You haven't called me that in so long."

"I know, it's nostalgic."

The two fell into silence and watched the Sakura petals fly by, admiring the rosy pink that captivated their eyes.

"Will you be able to see me tomorrow?" Rokan asked softly.

Kyoko thought deeply. She so desperately wanted to, but... I'm meeting up with Mami tomorrow.

"I'm so sorry Rokan."

Rokan frowned for a second, and then grinned at the redhead. "It's okay, everyone has things to do."

Kyoko felt extremely guilty. And she moved her hand so that her fingers brushed against his. "Be back soon okay?" She said, smiling.

And that's all he needed. Rokan brought her into a bone crushing embrace, wrapping his arms around the smaller girl and burying his face into her hair.

Kyoko, still slightly in shock, wrapped her arms around her friend and squeezed. "I'll miss you Rokan."

"I'll miss you too, cherry blossom."

A day after Rokan had left, Kyoko travelled to the warehouse Rokan and her used to always play in, she walked past the objects and the dust. Other than that the warehouse looked good to her.

Why am I here again? She thought, and she walked over to the desk, where she sat down and slumped against the desk.

Kyoko traced her finger over the cold hard surface, but she stopped once she noticed something digging into the desk. She lifted up her head, and noticed a sharp knife placed on the desk. Kyoko eyes moved to what seemed like scratches and her eyes widened.

There before her was writing, and it seemed familiar. Tears came to her eyes once she read it.

I will come back, this world may be empty now, but many years is not as many as it seems. Goodbye, Cherry Blossom.

A tear fell down Kyoko's cheek and she sobbed while smiling. "Rokan.."

Kyoko walked depressingly down the street, her eyes were dark and her expression was neutral. She watched her hair drift in the breeze.

Papa, will you forgive me? I'm scared of coming home because of what happened. I hope Momo and Mama aren't hurt.

Kyoko reached the church and walked up the steps, ignoring the empty bottles of sake scattered across the front, and the shattered windows.

Kyoko opened the door with the soft touch, took off her jacket and dropped it onto the ground.

"I'm home." She said softly. She glanced up at the room, realising nobody was there to greet her. Kyoko smelt something and she started to get worried.

"Hey, Mama! Momo! You here?"

Kyoko walked through the main part of the building, that smell was intoxicating and she couldn't find out what it was. "Hey where are you guys?"

Kyoko noticed where the smell was coming from the most, and opened the doors.

She gasped.

Before her were her mother and sisters pale and limp bodies laying on the floor, coated in blood and a knife on the floor. "The kitchen knife?!" She turned. "Who did this?! Who?!"

Kyoko blood froze and her mouth let out a silent scream at the sight.

Hanging from the ceiling was the body of her father, lifeless. She could see the crack of his neck with the rope tightened around it. His once cheerful and kind eyes were hollow and dark.

Pure terror filled her body and her eyes were widened. "P-Papa..."

She let out a terrified scream that echoed around the walls of the now abandoned church. The windows shattered completely and wood fell from the walls.

Flames engulfed the church, and Kyoko sat in the middle of it; crying hysterically as silver tears fell down her cheeks. Blood from her family's corpses coated her legs and a whimper escaped her throat.

"Everyone's dead, I couldn't even protect the ones I love..."

1 week later...

Kyoko separated her alliance with Mami and became sadistic, cruel and yet still had a soft spot down inside. She hunted the demons on her own, and forced herself to leave Kasamino. Although before she left, there was one place she wanted to go.

The warehouse was dusted down, and the windows were shattered. Rolled up carpet lay on the floor, which was covered in dirt.

Kyoko walked into the main room. Her dark red eyes ran over the drawings, the message in the desk, and the knife.

Her mind switched to her friend, whose voice ran her mind.

"I promise, that whenever you get into trouble, I will come back for you."

Kyoko finally lost it and let out hysterical sobs, crying once again. She had an absolute fit, screaming and sobbing wildly, her voice became raspy as she screeched out unknown words.

She scribbled all over the papers and ripped most of them to shreds. She didn't care if she could see her soul gem darkening rapidly, she kept going. She kicked and smashed everything in the room like a child.

Kyoko grabbed the knife and brought in the her wrist. She wildly cut like a madman, letting the red substance ooze out rapidly. She just stared at it with insane like eyes and grabbed the desk.

Tears still streaming, she stared at the message on the desk.

I will come back, this world may be empty now, but many years is not as many as it seems. Goodbye, Cherry Blossom.

Kyoko screamed, stabbing the knife into the wood and scratching the message out crazily. Next to it she wrote in messy writing.

LIAR

After a while Kyoko finally calmed down and slumped against the wall. She sobbed quietly and hugged her knees. She watched her soul gem turn dark with a white spot floating around inside.

"Rokan.." She said softly, the rasping in her voice growing stronger. Kyoko ignored in and clenched her fists.

"You fucking bastard.." She choked out. ".. You broke the promise."

A/N: The interlude is over. Finally. Well it won't be finally to you but it's finally to me. I literally was brain dead for weeks, until I finally decided to speed it up.
I hope you understand the plot hole now. I was originally going to make a solution to the problem, but I decided to place it in later so...
I hope I didn't move everything along too quickly and I hope you guys liked it!