Title: The First Time the Devil Cried

Genre: Romance/Tragedy

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I do not own Eyeshield 21 or any of its character

A/N: I'm not a sadist but I just wanted to try writing sad endings, please don't throw things at me. I'm never a fan of sad endings but this calls for it… Read at your own risk…

"Hiruma-kun!"

Everything was in slow motion as she leaped in front of him and slightly pushed him away. The fired bullet sliced through her skin and pierced her heart, her body jolting at the thrust. Shock numbed the searing pain that coursed through her body.

He was momentarily stunned at the unfolding scene in front of his very eyes but his reflex was on the money catching her limp body.

The police came earlier to arrest the fugitives who broke out of prison and hid at Deimon. The police assumed that no one was at the school premises at this ungodly hour so they executed their plan right away - mistake number one. For in the Deimon Devil Bats clubroom laid the quarterback and the manager pulling an all nighter to analyze new strategies.

Hiruma heard the commotion from a far. He took his gun and went outside to investigate but not before ordering Mamori to stay inside. Mamori sensing the danger on his tone nodded.

He wasn't walking long when a fugitive pointed a gun at his back from a distance.

"Don't you dare move kid!"

In an instant Hiruma was in front of the fugitive punching him hard on the gut. The fugitive skidded to the ground wincing in pain, his gun forgotten. Hiruma picked the man's gun and alerted the police.

The police efficiently moved fast sending two of theirs near the clubroom – mistake number two. One of them barely handcuffed the man when he dexterously took the gun from the police's holster and fired straight at Hiruma.

From Hiruma's stand point if they have been more cautious and vigilant then both mistakes would have not procured avoiding the present situation. Avoiding the fucking manager from being fatally wounded… But if his response was quicker then she might have been saved… His knees buckled.

Blood uncontrollably gushed out of her chest soaking her school uniform with blood. He gently laid her down cradled in his arms. He called out to her but she remained motionless. Wanting, needing a reply from her, he lightly nudged her.

"Anezaki… Anezaki… shit! Anezaki! Damn it open your eyes!"

Heart wrenching seconds passed before she opened her tired eyes.

"H-Hiruma-kun…" she choked.

Seeing her awake he checked her vital sign and the slow unsteady beating of her heart hardly pacified him, he gave her a lashing.

"What's the fucking idea of pulling a stunt like that, fucking manager! What if you…the damn ambulance is on its way so fucking hang in there…"

She cut him off by laying a finger on his mouth.

"H-H…Hiruma-kun… when he pointed the gun… a life without you flashed right in front of me… it was… it was unbearable… I couldn't let that happen… I'll do this again and again… every time… I'm stubborn that way…"

Her chest constricted with pain but she had to let this out. She gingerly placed her bloodied hands on his cheeks.

"No blaming yourself or anyone, am I clear?" she made her voice as stern as she could possibly do.

"Stop talking and fucking save your energy until the ambulance gets here…" his hold on her tightened, needing to hang on to her, scared for the inevitable.

She shook her head.

"Just promise me you'll win the Christmas Bowl… " she expectantly looked at him waiting for a response.

"We'll fucking kill them." He promised, his voice in a controlled quiver.

She gave him a bright smile which in his thought was very ironic given the situation.

"And Hiruma-kun… H…Youichi… Well… I…"

He tenderly kissed her, caging her in his enormous love for her.

"Sshhhh… I fucking know…I love you too Mamori…"

She smiled her smile that was only meant for him.

She coughed blood. Her breathing was in skipped beats and then… it agonizingly stopped…

It was the first time the devil cried…