｢Chapter 18｣

Maker slid the note she wrote this morning between her favourite poetry book and placed it on the her bookshelf. After that, she climbed onto her bed with Mochi following right behind her. Maker sat on her bed, with the blanket covering her legs. "Yes Mochi?" Maker carried the puppy up, resting him on the cover. With her right index finger, she tapped Mochi's gently. "You missed Fighter too, didn't you?"

Mochi whinned in response, pointing her nose in the direction of the connecting door.

"I know Mochi. I missed her too. But I don't think she would be coming over tonight." Maker spoked to the puppy. 'Or maybe even, I don't think I will be . . . '

Mochi started to whine even more, interrupting Maker's thoughts.

"You want to see Fighter?" Maker asked. "Alright, I will put you over tonight." Maker got off her bed and carried Mochi in her arms towards the connecting door. She opened the door slightly and slowly, and she noticed a shadow casting on the floor of Fighter's room. Maker released the door, wanting to close it when the force from the other side forced open it.

"Yes? You're looking for me?" Maker asked inaudibly.

"I - I was about to ask the same question." Fighter looked down on the floor.

"Mochi missed you." Maker answered as she place Mochi on Fighter's arm and turn back into her room. "If there's nothing else, I - I will see you tomorrow. Good nights."

"Maker!" Fighter grabbed Maker retreating hand with her own free hand, stoping Maker's motion. Maker however, did not turn around to face Fighter.

"Yes?" Maker quivered.

"I'm . . . Sorry." Fighter managed to fork up her throat the words that she had been wanting to speak.

"You don't have to." Maker replied quietly, 'I have said before, the last thing I want to hear about this situation from you is the word sorry. "You don't have to be sorry. I have seen this coming. That was why right from the start, I wanted this relationship to be a secret one. You don't have to be responsible for me. In the eyes of others, our love is inexistent. The only love they knew is your love for Serenity. She still stands a big space in there. I could never win that space over." Maker tried to make it as cold sounding as she could.

"Then why not we announce it now?" Fighter demanded. She was not sure why she was so worked up when she had the feeling that Maker is going to give up on them. "I know I was wrong. I know I was bad. I'm really really sorry about these period of time. I'm sorry."

"Stop it Fighter!" Maker snapped, pulling her arm back from Fighter. Her whole body was shaking with fear and pain that were consuming her from inside. "I don't want to hear any words of sorry from you!" 'Sorry means that she is more important than me. I know it Fighter, but you don't have to constantly remind me of that fact. Do you know how much your sorry hurts? It hurts as much as if you were to say that this whole year is just a dream, a dream that was not suppose to be brought into the world of reality.'

"Maker!" Fighter dropped Mochi on the floor and ran forward, hugging Maker from the back. "Don't I'm ..." Fighter stopped before she made the word sorry. "I - " 'I wanted to say that I will chose her. But how sure am I? How sure am I to say that my decision will not change when I meet Odango. How fair am I to her? Fighter. . . What do your heart wants?"

"You don't have to say anything, Fighter. You don't have to make any decision now. I - I don't want you to have any regrets. I'll wait. . ." Maker assure. She knew what was going inside the mind of Fighter.

Fighter rested her face on Maker's back, allowing her own tears to fall on Maker's garment. 'What have I did in my past life to deserve such love from you? I'm not a person who is worthy of your love, Maker." Fighter thought internally at Maker's consideration and understanding. 'I have owed you too much.'

Maker on the other side, allowed her tears to flow freely down her face to the floor. She did not use her hand to wipe them off. She did not want Fighter to know that she was crying. She did not want Fighter to know that she was hurting inside. 'Whatever decision you are going to make, Fighter, it doesn't really matters anymore. Because, I have already made mine."

Fighter opened her eyes when the light of the sun shone into the room. She realised she was lying on Maker's bed, hugging something really tightly just as what she did in her dreams. It was just that the item she hugged was different. Right now, she was hugging the covers which was threw over her. In her dreams, she was hugging Maker who slept right at her side.

Fighter sat up from her lying position on the bed and glanced around the room. 'Where's Maker? Maybe she's washing up in the bathroom?' Fighter thought as she remembered about the things happened last night, after she broke down crying.

[Flashback]

Fighter could not stop crying. She held Maker close to her and allow her tears to completely soaked the back of Maker's dress wet.

Maker turned around and cradled Fighter, carrying Fighter onto the bed. "Stop crying Fighter. Tears are not suitable for you. I want to see you smile." Maker hoaxed, as she wiped away the tears that had been falling off Fighter's Sapphire eyes.

Fighter breath in deeply a few times, trying to control her tears. But these actions seemed fruitless. Fighter buried herself in Maker's chest where she continued sobbing uncontrollably. 'Just tonight, let me cry in your arms about Odango. And I'll promise, I will not cry for her anymore. Maker, I'll make my first promise to you, before we leave for Earth.' Fighter thought.

Slowly, her eyes grew tired of crying. Her eye lids felt heaviness. She closed her eyes and fell asleep in Maker's cuddle.

[End of Flashback]

Fighter noticed something weird about room. Something is missing. 'Where's Mochi?' Fighter got off the bed and walked around the room, calling out Mochi. "Baby, where are you?" Fighter frowned. 'Where's that little chap ? Maybe Maker's bathing him now before we leave later. Wait, will Mochi be going with us?' Fighter walked towards the bathroom door and knocked. "Maker, is Mochi inside with you?"

No response.

Fighter opened the door of the bathroom, only to find it empty. 'Weird.' She then walked over back to her room, hoping that they would be over there. But no, her room was empty as well. Then Fighter noticed a white envelope lying on her bedside table. 'What's that? I don't remember seeing that yesterday nor the day before.

Fighter picked up the envelope, only to see Maker's neat handwriting over it.

To Fighter . . .

Fighter picked up the letter and opened it up. 'What's this for?'

Dear Fighter

I knew you will be looking for once you are awake. You do not have to do that. Maybe you can say that I was selfish with my choice. I have chose to leave, Fighter. This is now my turn to say sorry to you. "I am sorry, Fighter"

Watching you from far, witnessing your agony, seeing how you fall apart, how torn apart are you, I have decided that I shall make the decision instead. I wished that we did not start in the first place. And perhaps, if you and I did not came together to become we, things and decision today would be much more simpler.

I will put the end to all these struggles , Fighter. I will leave this relationship. You will not need to choose. You will not need to worry about not being able to be by Serenity side to cheer her up. You will not need to worry about hurting my feelings. I am the one who gave it up, not you. You need not feel guilty about that.

Since young, all of your dreams had became mine. Having you as the starlight leader had always be the right choice. You are the one with stong dreams and target. You have led us from ups till downs. And slowly, my only dream I dreamt off was that yours to be true and fulfilled.

Then I realise, I never had my own dreams. I want to find my own dreams. I want to see the world with my own eyes. And maybe the next time, if I get the chance to see you again, Fighter, I may be able to tell you that I'm over you. You are not the love of my life for that I know that Serenity is the one for you. I will be able to put this down.

Fighter, spread your wings and fly. Forget about what happened this whole year. Forget about us.

Maker. . .

Fighter dropped the letter that she was holding her hands. Tears started tickling off her face. Moving her hands up, she covered her face with her palm. 'Maker . . . Why did I say it last night. WHY!'

"FIGHTER WAKE UP!" Healer screamed out, bangng against Fighter's room door violently.

' I don't want to see anyone one.' Fighter decided to ignore Healer for now. 'Maybe Ouhi knows where Maker is. I'm definitely going to get her, there's no way I'm going to let her go this way.'

"FIGHTER! YOU BETTER GET UP THIS INSTANCE BEFORE I DESTROY YOUR DOOR!" Healer continued. "IT'S SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT! GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF YOUR BED!" Healer demanded.

Healer tapped her foot impatiently outside and was ready to knock down Fighter's door if she did not open it at the next second. Just then, the door swing open and Fighter sprang out of the room.

"Where are you going? I have something to tell you!" Healer exclaimed, trying her best to follow behind the leader of starlights. There' was no way for Healer to be able to catch up with Fighter. Fighter is way too fast for her. "Fighter!" Healer screamed out.

"To Ohui's room to get my answers!" Fighter screamed back, not slowing down her speed to allow the petite starlight to catch up. Instead, she picked up her speed, leaving Healer to chase after the air Fighter left beind.

"Ouhi!" Fighter knocked on Kakkyu's room door. "Ouhi! I need to see you." Fighter continued.

Ryuuji opened the door, already dressed up. Kakkyu on the other hand was half way through getting her hair done.

"Fighter, you're looking for me?" Kakkyu started off.

"Ouhi, do you know where's Maker?" Fighter asked anxiously, hiding the fear of losing Maker forever behind her eyes.

"Maker? No. Isn't she in her room? You girls are leaving in 2 hours time, aren't you? She shouid be in her room for preparation." Kakkyu replied pulling the last strand of hair over the top.

Healer finally caught up with Fighter, puffing heavily to get air into her system.

"No she is not." Fighter said.

"She is not? Is she in Himeko's room." Kakkyu suggested.

'You mean Ouhi is not informed? That's impossible.' Fighter thought.

"I'm going over to Himeko's room now. Come over with me." Kakkyu stood up from her dressing table and walked out of here room side by side with Ryuuji. Fighter and Healer followed closely behind.

Once Kakkyu was in Himeko's room. She was stopped dead in her track.

"What happened, Ouhi?" Fighter and Healer asked at the same time.