Wish you were here

The chapter 13. The last but one chapter. Hope you enjoy!

When Kakeru came back to Shiori house this night, his thoughts were away. And all these thoughts were focused on one only person.

Shiori-san.

She will be executed.

She loved him. And since always.

Kakeru looked down, feeling completely helpless. Why? Why did she tell him that? Why did she want to sacrifice herself? He knew it was in order to protect her friends. But…She didn't have to do it.

He remembered these words he said to Shiori.

As long as I have my friends, I'm okay.

It wasn't a lie, it was the truth.

So...right now, it was like his heart had been stabbed. He felt a strong pain inside. The feeling he will lose someone very soon. Someone who is dear to him.

During his walk, he reminisced everything he had with Shiori. His meet, interactions they had together, his true identity and their collaboration to battle Liselotte.

…Since when he didn't notice it?

How…Since when…he didn't notice Shiori's true feelings?

Since when…he didn't notice how precious Shiori was to him?

He couldn't know it. He always relied much on Yuka or Misuzu. Kukuri was a nice person but she always will be a kind of memory from his older sister. Since always, he had been blind about his wish of protection toward Yuka and nobody else. He never really paid attention of Shiori.

But he was sure that he had been always afraid of the fact that Shiori could die. It has been showed when he saved her from the water.

How stupid he had been!

Sure, he liked Yuka. Very much, and he would do anything to her. But now he realized it, he wondered if his blind wish could lead to these feelings of love. And if he was really in love with her.

Did he love her?

Did he really love…Shiori? Was it possible that…during all this time, he felt it toward Shiori from the beginning? And his lack of attention toward her could prevent him to see his real feelings?

He didn't know.

But he knew one thing right now.

He couldn't see Shiori ending like it. Never.

He must to do something.

Anything.

"Kakeru-Kun, where were you?"

Yuka stood up in front of him, looking angry. Kakeru sighed. "Yuka…did you know…Shiori will be executed tomorrow."

"What?"

Yuka goggled, really surprised. "Why? How?"

"I don't really know. She lied to Index for us. She wanted to save us."

"It's…impossible. Are you lying?"

"…No. Unfortunately."

Yuka stared up at him, looking very suspicious. Kakeru realized that his eyes were red for having cried earlier. Yuka looked down. "Kakeru-Kun…Can I ask you…something?"

"…? Yuka…"

"…Do you…like Shiori-Kun?"

Kakeru looked up, astonished. Yuka seemed serious. She always felt when something wrong with him. She could feel it and guess why. He was like an opened book for her. As a childhood friend…

"…I don't really know." He wanted to be honest with her. She deserved at least it. Yuka stayed unmoving during a moment then nodded. "I see."

"Yuka…Please! Listen to me."

"…Kakeru-Kun. Your face means everything. I don't need words."

"…I'm sorry."

"…Don't need it." Yuka closed her eyes, pensive. "…Kakeru-Kun…There is one thing I always wanted to say to you."

"…What?"

"…Sorry. I'm…sorry…for having done everything and messed up with everything. I've always been possessive and jealous toward you…and I never paid attention of your feelings about it."

"No! It's all my fault, Yuka!"

"Kakeru-Kun…I always hated myself. I hurt everyone with my jealousy. I hurt Misuzu-senpai, Kukuri-Senpai…Shiori-Kun too." Tears began to roll on her cheeks. Yuka tried to smile. "It's just…I always loved you. And I always will."

"Yuka…" He tried to come closer to her but she moved away. "…Kakeru-Kun. I'm really sorry. Please, forgive me. Forgive me for everything!"

"…"

"Go!"

"What?" Kakeru raised one eyebrow, surprised. "Do you want me to go?"

"…Go. Go to save her! You're the only one! So…Go!"

"…Yuka…" But she kept crying. Kakeru caught her in his arms and kissed her on her forehead. "Yuka…Thanks."

"…"

"Thanks. I promise you…I'll never let you down. I'll never let you alone. Just remember it."

"…Kakeru-Kun…"

Without any others words, Kakeru moved away and went outside in the night, letting Yuka alone watching him.

The day had come. Shiori woke up. She felt nothing.

Surely…because she did everything she wanted.

And there isn't any regret in her eyes. She knew her death would have a meaning. At least for herself.

"…Take it."

She turned back. She thought it was some magus who were here to take her, but it was only Benedictus who stood up before her cell. "What do you want again?"

"Just take it!" He said, throwing off a kind of pill to her. She picked it up. "What is it?"

"Something which might help you…" he said coldly.

"Do you want to poison me now? I will be executed you know."

Benedictus rolled his eyes. "It's not me who warned Johanna that you faked your report. She guessed it alone and you know it."

"…"

"I…think I did a great mistake about you."

"Don't care."

"Just take this pill. It might help you."

"Why?"

"…" He didn't answer. Some magus were arrived. "Ursula. Time has come."

She nodded. "Okay, Sir."

Benedictus just glanced at her, rather concerned. Then he sighed and left. Shiori looked at the pill. She was hesitant but finally swallowed it. Then she began to prepare herself.

When she was taken on the courtyard, there were a lot of people who were here, and looked at the scene. Shiori recognized Chiara, who cried a lot in Sophia's arms, who looked angry and concerned at the same time. A stake was placed here. Johanna was here too. She looked at her. Shiori sighed. That's it. That's her ending.

Without any others words, she headed for the stake and someone attached her tightly. She sighed and closed her eyes. She didn't know what kind of pill she took but she felt nothing. She closed her eyes. A magus lighted the stake and suddenly, fire began to rise up in front of her. So…it was over. She would like just say goodbye to her others friends. Misuzu, Kukuri, Yukiko, Takahisa, Kaori…Even Yuka and the other idiot of Tadashi.

Kakeru wasn't here.

Weirdly, she felt nothing. She didn't feel warmth of anything. She just felt…some wind. And nothing else. It was strange…What happened to her?

"STOP IT!"

A voice raised up. Because of the fire, she didn't see very well who spoke. However, when she saw a shadow coming to her, she felt falling down, as some links had been broken.

And suddenly, while she didn't notice anything…Kakeru held her in his arms, hugging her very tightly, apparently very happy. "Shiori! Shiori!" He repeated happily. Shiori goggled. Was she dreaming?

"How you DARE, HUMAN!" A man cried out. "Who are you?"

Kakeru helped Shiori to wake up but didn't let her down. "Kakeru Satsuki, Sir."

"You…It was an execution! How could you…?"

"Sorry. But…I can't just let a friend dying like this…" Then he muttered to Shiori's eyes. "…A dear friend and love…"

Shiori looked completely stunned. What did he talk about? It couldn't be real…She wasn't in Kakeru's arms…he was away…with Yuka. How could he be here ?

"…Kakeru…"

"Catch him! It's a shame!"

"…Shiori…hold on, okay?"

And without any other word, darkness came around her and she closed her eyes, unconscious.

When she woke up, she was at her home, lying down on her bed, with Kakeru next to her. She saw him holding her hand tightly, as he was doing usually with Yuka. However, this hand…was her own. She goggled. "Where am I?"

"…Shiori…"

"…Please, Kakeru…Say to me…What's happened to me?"

"…It's a bit weird. I think every people in the next room could explain it to you…"

"?"

Suddenly, the door opened up and some people she didn't expect to see here entered in her bed: Yuka, Chiara, Sophia, Samson, Benedictus and more than anything…Johanna!

"Okay…Will anybody tell me what's going on?" Shiori sighed, a bit irritated.

"Calm down, Ursula!" Chiara bent down over her, reassuring.

"How…?"

"…okay, to clarify…" Sophia began.

"What?" Shiori cried out, not so calm as before. She began to cough strongly. "What are you talking about?" "Listen to me, Ursula." Johanna sighed, making everyone quiet. "The trial was real. But after your speech…The wonderful speech you did…I've a…change of heart."

" A change of heart?"

"Yes. After your speech I realized how amazing you are…And I ended up by realizing you weren't just a doll after all. I asked Sophia about it but she assured me your fate wasn't written in her hands and you could make your decision by yourself."

"…What?"

"I've been really amazed by it and I realized how much you were interesting. How you could become a human while you're just a doll."

"…"

"I wonder if…it isn't love which made you human." Shiori blushed, glancing at Kakeru. "Did you know…about Kakeru?"

"…Yes. Sophia is really talkative." Johanna smirked. Sophia shrugged. "Nothing can be helped."

"And…so what?" Kakeru asked.

"I've decided…to let you go."

"It's true?" Shiori goggled.

"Yes. But you know…Council already made its decision. I couldn't do anything about it. So I decided to do a play. I gave this pill to Benedictus which could help you to resist to the fire. As he tried to kill you, I told him it was surely somehow a way to atone."

Shiori glanced at Benedictus. He sighed and turned back. "Then…When Kakeru came, I said to everyone here to let him to me. And…when every people were gone…we took you here."

"…" Shiori looked down, amazed by this story. It was really strange…She couldn't do everything to it…Really strange. "But, why did you do it?"

"…I told you. And…I can do everything I want here." Johanna smirked. "But…now, Ursula. I regret but…I'm afraid of the fact that we must say goodbye to you."

"…?" Shiori took a surprised look. "Why?"

"If people think you as dead, the story will end here. Nothing can be done. So…If you came back to Index…the story will take another turn." Johanna cryptically spoke but Shiori understood. "If you leave, you will never come back to Index anymore. That's all."

"…Yes, I understand."

"But it would be okay for you." Johanna looked at Kakeru. "I'm sure you would have a great life…with your lover."

"…Great Holy…" Shiori said, unsure of what to say.

"…So. Now. Farewell Ursula."

Then Johanna left. Sophia sighed, understanding Shiori's surprise.

"She is really creepy. We would never saw what are her real thoughts."

"So…I think it would be a goodbye, my dear sister." Chiara said, crying out loud. She hugged Shiori tightly. Sophia hesitated but finished by hugging her too. "So…It would be a farewell?"

"I'm afraid so." Chiara sighed. "Shiori…Promise me…Will you keep in touch, okay?"

"Of course…" Shiori said hugging her back. "Thanks you."

"And what about you?" Kakeru asked Sophia. She sighed. "I don't know. I think I will leave too. If there isn't my daughter anymore…"

"I'm honored…" Shiori said very touched, although her tone didn't mean it. "But you know, we'll keep in touch too. And…You aren't alone too." She glanced at Samson, who smiled and caught Sophia's hand. Sophia rolled her eyes. "Maybe but it isn't the same."

Samson pushed Benedictus forward, who stayed a bit apart. "Didn't you have something to say, you?" He scolded him. Benedictus rolled his eyes and ended up by saying. "…Sorry, Ursula."

"What for?" Samson insisted. ""For everything."

Shiori nodded. "I think we are equal now. I killed you, you nearly killed me…I think it's okay now." Benedictus sighed. "To be honest, I didn't help you to atone…Johanna scared me actually…"

"I'm touched…" Shiori ironically said. "So…What will you do too?"

"…I think Scholastica and I will return to our country. In the Caucasus. I suppose…our love is viewed as kind of impure in Index. I don't want…you know…I just want to stay with her and forever." Shiori stayed quiet during some seconds… "Yes. I think so."

"So…Farewell Ursula." He said to her before leaving without any others words. Samson said to Sophia now. "I think we are going to leave too. I think…we should let them alone."

"Yes, I think so." Sophia smirked to Shiori then leaving too, holding Samson's hands when they are leaving.

Kakeru, Yuka and Shiori stayed alone. Yuka ended up by saying. "…So. I will pack my things so."

"…Yuka…" Kakeru said. But Yuka stopped him by smiling even though she was about to cry. "…I let you." She finished, running away too. Kakeru sighed.

"…I think she'll miss you." Shiori said calmly. Kakeru nodded but turned back to Shiori. "…Shiori. There is something…I would like to say to you…"

"…?" Shiori stayed quiet, waiting for his answer. He ended up by saying and caught her hand. "I love you…"

"…" Shiori didn't answer. Probably because there is no need to answer. Her sweet smile meant everything. She just blushed a bit.

"Do you want…go out with me?" Kakeru asked, very fast. "…Are you sure? Do you want it?"

"…Yes. No. I think I'm sure of my feelings now."

Shiori smiled again and ended up by drawing him close to her. She hugged him tightly. They stayed like that during some seconds then Kakeru kissed her passionately. "…I love you."

"…Me too."

"…Tell me. Don't you think we have still time?"

Shiori chuckled then nodded, understand what he meant. Kakeru woke up and closed the door behind him, in order to not being troubled.

Hi! I know it's a strange chapter. ^^ Hope you enjoyed. The next chapter is the last.