Chapter 4 here! We're on a role! Anyway, since it's Bloody Rose 1996's turn for the Author's notes, that's who it is! XD So, please enjoy this chapter!
I woke up expecting to be greeted by the familiar lilac walls; however I was greeted by the white walls of the hospital. I even noticed I was in a familiar room; the one I was staying in at the hospital. With a yawn, I got to my feet.
I could tell that something was wrong as soon as I touched the floor; it seemed as though I was lighter than a feather. Almost gliding across the floor, I approached the door. Eager to get out, I was already thinking about opening the door, before I got to it. The minute I thought this the door swung open, as if a blast of air had hit it.
Ignoring the nagging feeling I had when the door had swung open without my touch, my desire to find the others lead me out of the room into a corridor that I knew well. I could tell it was night time, as there was hardly anybody about.
Making my way through the hospital towards the room that Andropov was staying in, I glimpsed two people standing in the doorway of a room. I began to approach them to say hi, when I over heard their conversation.
"Yes, I heard that too. They are desperately seeking someone to take over her role as carer for him," one of the nurses was speaking in a hushed tone, but the voice carried to me as they were under a doorway.
"He won't do well without a carer, but no one is up for the job like she was. Poor girl, they missed each other y'know. As one woke up the other had slipped into a coma," the other person was a Doctor I knew, but who were they talking about?
I should have felt sorry for the girl and boy they were talking about, but I couldn't. It was as if a barrier was stopping me feeling any strong emotions. I had the feeling that I didn't want to talk to the people after all, so I continued my journey through the hospital.
I glanced through the window that let me see into Andropov's room, and my eyes widened at the sight. Andropov was sitting up, a blank look on his face. Shu and Jiro were sitting in the seats next to him; Shu had his eyes closed and his fists clenched tightly, and Jiro had a tortured look on his face.
I noticed the door was open a crack, so I entered the room; the door seeming to move without me touching it.
"Hi guys!" I said happily, but pouted when no one answered.
"Uh…hello? Earth to everyone? I'm here!" I added, waving my hands in front of each of their faces. When they refused to react yet again, I sighed, and sat down in the spare seat, which was on the other side of the room.
"…why?" I suddenly heard someone choke out, and my eyes gazed at Jiro, whose head had snapped up, and his eyes were filled with tears.
"Why did this happen? Why did it have to be-"
Shu stopped him; placing a hand on his shoulder and shaking his head sadly. Jiro placed his head in his hands, and shook.
I made my way over to the trio, my eyes locked on Jiro's form.
"Hey…Jiro? What's wrong?" I asked, kneeling down beside him. He didn't respond, so I went to take his hand in my own. I gasped, however, when my hand sailed straight through Jiro's, as if I wasn't a solid substance.
"Wha…what the?" I whispered, pulling my hand back to look at it, it looked perfectly fine to me; it wasn't as if I was missing a finger or anything.
"What's wrong with me?" I said, my voice shaky from the shock.
"I think I can answer that question," A familiar voice murmured, and I turned, my whole body going into shock.
"…Zola?" I shouted, gawping at the form of my old friend, who stood in the doorway to Andropov's room, a small smile on her face.
"It's been a while, Kluke," she said, waving me over. I suddenly felt tears welling in my eyes, and I ran over to her, hugging her close to me and crying.
"Zola! It's you! It's really you!" I sobbed, and she chuckled, ruffling my hair.
"When did you become so clingy? This isn't the Kluke I once knew!" she joked, and I glanced up at her.
"I thought…you were dead, Zola," I whispered, and I gave her a look of confusion when she turned away from me.
"…I still am, Kluke. I'm still dead," she muttered, and I gasped.
"But then…how can I see you?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. Surely if she was dead, I wouldn't be able to touch her?
"Kluke…you're dead," she said, and my brain decided to stop functioning in that moment. I was…dead?
"No…I don't believe you!" I screamed, and my head whipped round as I heard Jiro's gasp. Both he and Andropov were staring at me, and for a moment I thought they had seen me. But, they looked as if they were looking through me, not at me.
"Jiro, Andropov, what's up with you two?" Shu asked, glancing at the other two.
"Didn't you hear her, Shu?" Jiro questioned, not taking his eyes from the direction I was in.
"Hear her? No I didn't because she is… is …" Shu stammered.
"GO ON, SAY IT. SHE'S DEAD, AND YOU BLAME ME, I KNOW YOU DO. ME AND JIRO WERE SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO HEAR HER, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S SCARED!" Andropov said this with more menace than I had ever heard him. Tear swelled in my eyes as I realized how much I meant to Jiro and Andropov.
"YES I BLAME YOU OK! SHE WAS TOO BUSY WORRING ABOUT YOU AND LOOKING AFTER YOU, SHE DIDN'T LOOK AFTER HERSELF! IF YOU HAD NEVER GOT INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES, WE WOULD BE SITTING HERE PEACEFULLY, WITH HER AND NOT YOU!" Shu said this with a menacing tone that rivalled Andropov's. I couldn't bare it any longer, so my instinct made me intervene.
"Stop it both of you! Shu, I don't know how you can say those unforgivable things; Andropov is our friend and he did not kill me! Andropov, please stick up for your self," I pleaded to thin air, as Andropov just sat their numbly at Shu's last outburst.
"Shu, that was low. We all know Andropov didn't kill Kluke; Andropov is our friend. Kluke loved all of us; if anyone can see the light in some bodies' heart, it was Kluke. Andropov isn't sticking up for himself, because he believes that he did kill Kluke, but Andropov, you know Kluke would be asking for you to stick up for yourself right now." Jiro said this in a calm voice but I could hear the strain it was taking to say it.
"WELL FINE, NOW YOU TWO SEEM TO BE 'BEST BUDDIES' NOW, I'M LEAVING, AS I HAVE BEEN REPLACED" Shu said this like the little sulky child he was.
"Shu, you weren't replaced by Andropov because you never were my friend. And it's fine by me if you leave." Again Jiro said this with calmness and not a hint of bitterness or anger. With that Shu stormed out the room, but not before hitting the coffee table with so much force it buckled under the pressure.
"Thank you Jiro, but I don't wish to turn you against each other" Andropov said this with sadness in his tone.
"Don't worry, Shu has had that coming to him for a long time, and besides what I said was the truth. You can't blame yourself for Kluke's death." Jiro said this with a controlled voice.
"Jiro has learnt to control his emotions," Zola said, a hint of amusement in her tone. I turned on her, sending a glare her way.
"You think this is funny?" I said, and she chuckled, shaking her head.
"Not at all. It's just that I haven't seen everyone in so long. I kind of…missed the fights that Jiro and Shu used to have," she sighed, flicking her hair to the side.
"…Yeah. They were kind of funny….but wait, this is serious, Zola!" I replied, and she chuckled again, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"I know. But do you seriously think that we can do anything while we're in this state?" Zola questioned, and I broke down in tears.
"I…I just…don't know…what's going on anymore!" I sobbed, clutching at Zola's arm, "One minute I'm with Shu, the next I'm with Jiro, and now I'm…dead," I whispered, wiping my eyes.
"Ah yes, I heard about that," Zola gave a little chuckle, "from what I know you already understand what is happening."
"Well, I have some information, like I went forward in time by two years, and that depending on the choices I make, that is what will happen," I said this with a tone that suggested I did not like it one bit.
"You're on the right lines there Kluke, good deduction," Zola was still acting as if it was a game, but it's not a game.
"There is one thing I want to know Zola; if I'm dead, how can the future happen?" my voice was cracking under the pressure, and from the realization that I was dead. I would never breathe again, or feel warm, or feel someone else's touch, or experience a normal life.
"I know what you are thinking Kluke, but I can't tell you too much, as you will make a decision too rash and we don't want that, just look at Shu," Zola said this with a hint of seriousness in her tone which I couldn't ignore.
"…Maybe you should follow Shu. He seems very upset," Zola murmured, and I nodded, and with a backward glance at Andropov and Jiro, I walked away from them. Zola followed after me, her hand clutching at the hilt of her sword. Slowly, I turned to face her.
"…where is he?" I asked, feeling a little stupid for asking. She smiled, and placed a hand on my forehead, and closing her eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll show you,"she whispered, and suddenly, I saw an image. It was of Shu, with a glass in his hand.
"Drinking?" I said in disgust, and Zola nodded sadly.
"It looks that way. Now go. Think of Shu and you will be transported to him," she said, pushing me away.
"But, Zola…will I ever see you again?" I asked, tears welling once again in my eyes. She smiled sincerely at me.
"If fate wills it to be, Kluke," she said, and I smiled, and hugged her quickly, before dashing off down the hospital corridor…
I sighed in frustration as I spotted Shu, downing yet another drink. At this rate, he would be utterly trashed in a matter of minutes. I drifted over to where he sat; it was a secluded area in the corner of the bar.
"…Why did it have to come to this, Shu?" I whispered, taking a seat next to him, "why did you have to turn to drinking?"
Shu stared at the table, a blank expression on his face. I felt the non-existent edges of my heart beginning to throb, and I turned away, the tears starting to fall again.
"…I don't need them," I heard Shu mutter, and I glanced back at him, to see him clenching his fists around the glass.
"Jiro. He's just a jerk. He'd never understand. Only Kluke would understand. And she's…" Shu paused, about to take a swig of his drink. I acted on impulse. I lunged for the drink, grabbing the glass and gasping when I could actually touch it; felt its coolness. With a little effort, I slammed the drink down on the table; its contents flying everywhere.
I looked up at Shu, to see him staring through me in shock. I smiled; at least I had gotten his attention.
"Shu, I know you probably can't hear me, but listen anyway. I know you're angry, and upset about my death, but please, don't take it out on Andropov. It wasn't anyone's fault," I whispered, pausing to take a deep breath, "So please. I don't know how much time I have left here, so do something for me. Let it go, Shu," I ended, stepping away from him.
"Kluke?" he murmured, and I saw him turn to stare at me. He had heard me.
"Kluke…don't leave. Please. I need you," he said, and I spotted the tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Let it go, Shu. Please…"
"…If that's what you want…Kluke," he muttered, and with that, he stood, and walked out of the bar. I smiled a sad smile, before my thoughts moved onto Jiro. I felt a rush of wind, and when I re-opened my eyes, I saw him, standing against a tree, his head down.
"Great. One down, two to go," I sighed sarcastically, before making my way over to Jiro.
I could already tell that he was crying; after all, the red rings around his eyes were enough evidence.
"I'm such a fool. I could have protected her. She didn't deserve to die. I wish I had died instead!" he yelled, turning and slamming his fists against the tree. I cringed; he was going to hurt himself if he didn't quit it.
"Jiro…stop it!" I yelled, drifting over to him where he stood, shaking. He didn't acknowledge me, and so he continued to pound his fists against the tree trunk, and after a short while I saw that blood had begun to drip from his knuckles.
"Jiro! Stop it! Please!" I screamed, reaching out to grab his hands. My eyes widened when I felt his warm hands, and the blood. So, I could feel Jiro now, too?
"…Kluke?" he whispered, dropping his hands from the tree immediately.
"Jiro, listen. Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault that I died. You have to believe that. So please," I whispered, the wind beginning to blow fiercely, "Don't give up hope. Do it for me. Keep fighting, Jiro. I know you can do it."
"Kluke? Don't go! Don't!" he yelled, and I could feel the wind beginning to blow my form away. I grabbed his hands one last time; kissing his bloody knuckles gently, before letting go, and drifting off.
I gasped as I saw the blood disappear. So my kiss had powers, huh? Weird…
With one last sad glance at Jiro, I turned, and thought of the last person.
I gulped a little as I landed by Andropov's small frail body, watching his chest heave out short gasps.
"What did you do to deserve this, Andropov?" I murmured, moving a little so that I could touch his forehead, "you never meant to hurt anyone."
All I did was stare at Andropov's sleeping form for a while; completely lost in my own thoughts. It was then that I began to feel the tiredness set in. I had to go soon.
Slowly, I placed a hand on either side of his face, and kissed his forehead gently, before trailing down to his lips, where I touched for a short moment.
"I love you, Andropov. Remember that," I sighed, and with that, my form ceased to be, and I slipped into unconsciousness as my ghostly body was forever lost in the wind…
Chapter 4! Hope you liked! Bet you can't wait for chapter 5 now, can ya? Well, sorry but you gonna have to! Me and Lil-Miss-Pokémon aren't gods; we can only meet up when we are allowed to meet up! So, anyway, please review this chapter! XD