The car was silent and the radio was on low. I kind of with Amu was with me. I snuck a quick peek at Nagi who was 100% devoted to the road. I sighed.
"Nagi…listen-
"What?"
"I'm sorry about what I said in the office."
"The fact is Rima…I'm sort of tired with this. You…us fighting, apologizing the next time. I just think it won't work out between us."
"You think it won't work? That's usually my line! I'm supposed to be the one who questions everything! And you're the one who's always optimistic about everything. What happened to that Nagi?"
"Rima-
"No! Don't 'Rima' me. I had every right to say what I did. Sure I apologize, but I also agree. You know my background better than anyone, so when you all of a sudden decide to do something fancy, I can't help but think-
The car suddenly stopped and Nagi leaned in. I felt it. His lips on mine…they were warm and soft. The kiss was gentle and I couldn't help but melt into his arms when I had tried so hard to prevent this from happening. I was trying not to give in.
Our kiss was rudely but thankfully interrupted when a car from behind us honked loudly. I fell back into my seat laughing while Nagi honked back and began to drive again.
"Was that your way of telling me to shut up or that you're sorry?" I asked.
"Both. But I forgot something."
"What?"
He swerved the car to the side of the road and leaned in for another kiss. He pulled back quickly and stared at me with those deep purple eyes and smiled cheekily.
"I'm in love with you."
"I like you too."
"Good enough," sighed Nagi.
Amu POV
The mud was starting to dry on me and it was starting to itch. Meanwhile Ikuto was in the back pushing the car, grumbling! Seriously he was mumbling little things under his mouth thinking I couldn't hear him. True maybe it was hard to hear since we were on a highway and cars would rush by, but I could faintly hear him. And I saw his mouth moving from the rearview mirror. Ugh, this day sucks. It sucks especially when I have to be stuck with Ikuto. So annoying.
While he pushed I started looking around the car for something…anything to use to call someone. I checked my bag. Nothing. I checked the seats. Nothing. I sighed and pressed the brakes on the car and shouted for Ikuto to stop.
"What now?"
"I'm going to ask someone for their phone!"
"I really don't think that's a go-
But I didn't listen because I was already out of the car signaling for someone to stop their car.
"Hey you. Don't expect me to help you if some stranger comes up and kidnaps you."
"Oh please. Don't be such a worry wart," I said shrugging.
I turned around and started cleaning the mud out of my hair and zipped up Ikuto's jacked to cover up the mud. I ran back to my car and grabbed a water bottle and started to wash my face. Ikuto groaned and I rolled my eyes but ignored him and walked back to the side of the road. I put my thumb out and patiently waited for a car to pull over.
To my excitement, it hadn't even been 3 minutes when a big red Dodge pulled over. The window rolled down and the music almost made me deaf. Inside were two…maybe 3 boys. The looked like college kids.
"What's a pretty lady like you doing out on the side of the road?" asked the driver.
He took a quick look and immediately spotted Ikuto.
"You're boyfriend giving you trouble?"
"Huh? Him? Oh no, no. He's not my boyfriend, we're co-workers. My car broke down and I need to borrow a cell phone."
"Well why don't you hop in and we can lend you our phone."
"I can't leave my…him behind."
"Sure you can. He's a grown man, he can handle himself."
"Listen," I said feeling a bit annoyed. "I just need to borrow a cell phone. Surely you understand that."
"Don't you want to join us?" argued the boy sitting in the passenger's seat.
"Not really."
"Fine, whatever!" exclaimed the driver who pulled back onto the road, honked, and then sped off.
"Assholes," I mumbled bitterly.
I held out my thumb again and just watched the car speed by. Ikuto wasn't my friend, so how come I didn't just leave him here? I could've gone along with those boys, maybe even hit a nice café or something. Could've called Rima to pick me up then come back and pick up Ikuto. My past…maybe that's why. Sticking together was the thing I had to do back then. Ami, the rest of us, and I…I was the one who kept everyone together no matter what happened.
I looked up and saw that a small navy Camry had pulled over and was already lowering its window. There was a petite old lady sitting inside.
"Hi," I said.
"Hello, do you need anything?"
"Yes please, could I borrow your phone? Mine is out of battery and my car is broken."
"Here dearie," she said handing me her phone.
I took the phone out of her hand and began to call Rima.
"Amu, where are you?"
"Still on the highway; my car ran out of gas. Could you come pick us up?"
"Sure thing, we'll be right there."
"Thanks so much Rima. Bye."
I hung up the phone and gave it back to the lady.
"Thank you so much."
"Your welcome sweetie."
With that the lady turned her car back on and started to drive back on the road. I turned around and walked towards Ikuto who was leaning on the car.
"Got the call. Rima's coming to pick us up."
"Okay."
Sighing, I looked forward and immediately noticed a small patch of flowers off the highway. Grinning, I started to head down towards the flower patch. The colors were shining brightly.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" shouted Ikuto annoyed.
"There's something really pretty over there!"
I heard him sigh loudly, but I didn't hear him get up. Shrugging I ran up to the patch and stared in awe. Although it was small, colors from red to purple and everything beyond those colors occupied the flowers' petals. A few blue butterflies fluttered around the flowers.
I picked up a pink and purple daisy and brought it to my nose. It smelled wonderful.
Ikuto POV
Just what was she doing? Was she crazy or what? We were about to be 'rescued' by Nagi and Rima and she just heads down to whatever she needs to look at. God knows what's down there. If it's a snake, and she falls down crying, I'm so going to laugh.
I took another look at her. Freaking kid smelling flowers that'll die in a couple weeks due to the winter. But she seemed so peaceful compared to minutes…hours…days…weeks ago. Sighing, I looked through my pockets for a cigarette. I had never been addicted to them and they tasted like shit, but they relieved stress. So it was fine.
I took out a lighter and lit the end of the cigarette and took one long drag from the stick. When I looked up again, Amu was gone. No, instead she was standing right in front of me with a frown on her face.
"I didn't know you smoked."
"I don't. I just do it when I'm stressed. Plus it makes me look cool."
At the last comment she opened her mouth in shock and I started to laugh.
"Eeew it stinks!" she shouted backing away. "You're going to kill my bouquets!"
I took a look at her hand and saw she had several colorful bouquets tied together with different flowers or cattails.
"Anyways, you shouldn't smoke."
"Aww, is princess worried about me?"
"No, and quit calling me princess. I've just seen too many people die of lung cancer because they were stupid and chose to smoke."
I saw it again. That sad look in her eyes when she spoke about something past tense. People in the past. Events in the past. She always looked helpless and scared.
"Whatever," I said crushing the cigarette out. "Who're the flowers for?"
"Friends…my really good friends."
She didn't look at me this time. No, this time she looked down at the flowers, her eyes once again sad. If I didn't know her and I can safely say I don't, and I was forced to describe her in one word, I would choose mysterious. Yeah, mysterious. A person who is surrounded by untold secrets and sorrow.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a honk of a car. I turned around and saw my black BMW pulled over near Amu's car. Inside Nagi and Rima were smiling. Guess they made up. Amu leaped up and ran over towards Rima and pulled her away and started to chat madly. I on the other hand walked over to my car and Nagi.
"How'd it go?" I asked, walking over towards the trunk and pulling out the pump and hose.
"Nice."
"Is that all I'm going to find out?"
I watched Nagi glance in Amu and Rima's direction and smile.
"Hey, based on the way those two are talking, I'm sure Amu will spill the details to you in a few moments," said Nagi smiling cheekily.
I was about to shrug it off, when I realized what he meant. I stopped in my tracks and faced Nagi.
"I know what you're thinking, and I can assure you that there is nothing between Amu and I. Not only is she 7 years younger-
"So what, you've dated girls who were older and younger than you. Way younger."
"Doesn't matter. I have no feelings towards her at all besides that of a colleague."
I connected the pump to my gas tank and Amu's gas tank and started to fill hers up a bit.
"She's something different though, isn't she?" said Nagi after a while.
"Who? Rima?"
"No, Amu."
"She's a mystery, and I don't like mysterious women. They're too complicated to bother with. Sure finding out they're problem is entertaining but that's as far as it goes. That's why I either take 1-night women or date the simple ones."
"You say that, but your actions speak otherwise."
"Actions?"
"She's wearing your jacket Ikuto. And you may or may not have had any intentions. But just in case…you shouldn't lead her on. She's still innocent at this – Rima told me."
"I'm not goi-
"ACHOO!" sneezed Amu.
"Amu, do you have allergies, you've been sneezing non-stop."
"No."
"Hmm…ooh maybe it's that one thing that like if you sneeze someone's talking about you."
At that they stopped still and shot dirty looks at us. I just shrugged and resumed the gas pumping, while Nagi chuckled nervously.
Later
"The cars are ready," I said finally.
"Thank God!" groaned Rima rushing towards Amu's car. "You driving Amu?"
"Um…sure."
Nagi got into my car and Rima in Amu's, while I put the tools away. I closed the trunk shut, and as I was about to get inside of my car Amu met me halfway.
"Here's your jacket back. Thank you."
"Your welcome. Listen…I don't know how to say this but…you…me…us…-
"Hmm? Wait, us? There's an us? Rima asked about 'us' but I told her there's nothing."
"Thank God you're a blunt person. Haha, I didn't know…Nagi said I was leading you on or something."
"Nu-uh. As far as I'm concerned I'm not ready for a relationship and your just my colleague."
"Exactly."
"Good. Thanks by the way."
"No problem."
She gave me a quick smile then turned around and rushed towards her car. I did the same and we drove back to the park where Nagi and Rima's car was parked.
Amu's POV
Once we got to the park, I got of my car and gave a quick good bye to everyone before rushing back into my car. While I drove, I took a quick peek at the little bouquets I made then smiled softly and sped back home.
Once home, I rushed into my room and took out a black dress and matched it with a pair of knee high black heeled boots. I brushed my hair, put a black flowered bow in it and walked into Ami's room. I smiled when I saw she was already ready to go. Black jeans and a black t-shirt with those sleeves you had to pull up. She had a black headband on with a pink flower on the side. She smiled at me, and we headed downstairs without a word.
We got into my car and she held onto the bouquets as I drove to Kyoto.
2 hours later
"Are we there yet?" asked Ami after a while of silence.
"Almost. We'er in Kyoto, I just need to turn this corner," I said turning the wheel of the car. "Ami look…that was our house before."
Ami quickly pressed her face against the window and just kept silent for a moment as I passed by the house.
"Can we go inside?" she asked finally.
"I'm not sure. I'm not sure if you remember that officer from back then, but if we find him, he may let us."
"Of course I remember, I saw him a couple days ago with you," mumbled Ami.
"What'd you say?"
"I said 'Oh'," she lied quickly.
"Mhm. We're here."
I turned into the parking lot and parked the car. We were the only people here. Ami got out of the car and handed me the bouquets. I took the key out of my purse and put it in the hole of the gate and turned it. After I had opened the gate, Ami and I walked across the vast green grass and looked around the place for a little while. And then I spotted the three stones sticking out of the grass near the end of the gate all the way across from our current location.
I laid down one bouquet on each of the three gravestones and kneeled down in the middle of the three of them.
"Hey Nina, Hikaru, and Renji, today's the anniversary of our first meeting as a new family. How are you," I asked feeling the tears roll down my eyes. "I still miss you guys. I brought Ami too…remember that little baby who threw up on you when you came to feed her Renji? She doesn't exactly remember you guys, but I've told her all about you guys."
I had the tears now. Hot tears rolled down my cheek and gathered at my chin before falling onto the grass.
"…H-he's behind bars for life now. I made sure of it," I said after a while of silence.
My mind flashed back to the day when everyone left us. The day everyone who we really cared about were gone.
Flash back
"Why do I have to hold Ami?" whined an older male.
"Shut it Hikaru," snapped Nina.
Renji and I laughed and Hikaru shot us a deathly glare…we continued to laugh. I ran up to Nina and tugged on her arm.
"Where are we sleeping this time?"
"As usual, an ally way. We were only lucky enough to sleep in the basement of an older lady's house because she was…well nice to put it simply. We won't have that same luck this time."
I stopped still and looked at my 'new' family. Ami my birth sister was 1 years old. Not much to say about her. Ami and I find Nina and Hikaru first. They were both 19 and were going out. Nina had platinum blonde hair with baby blue eyes while Hikaru had chocolate brown hair with sea green eyes. After that we found Renji. He was 13. The clown of the group. He had black hair with natural green highlights. Yes natural.
"You coming Amu?" asked Hikaru noticing that I hadn't been walking with them.
"Yeah, I'm coming!"
And I was the second to youngest compared to Ami. I was 10…actually I had just turned ten a couple days ago.
We kept walking, passing by many passer bys and restaurants. Nina was always strict about this. She always made us keep our clothes looking brand new so we wouldn't look like we were homeless.
"I'm starving!" groaned Renji after a while.
"Don't shout!" chastised Nina. "Look for an Italian restaurant," she whispered after a while.
"Why Italian?" asked Renji.
"Because they could have an ally way and they're food is delicious!" I said rolling my eyes.
"Well how would I know. How do you know?"
"Because I have street smarts and a good taste in appetite."
"So what!"
"Shut it you two," said Hikaru looking around.
"Hey I found one!" exclaimed Renji in no time. "See, I do have street smarts," he said flashing a smirk at me.
"No, you have eyes. And if you used those eyes you would notice that you're about to bump into an old lady."
He turned around, and it was too late because he crashed into an older woman and stumbled back.
"Sorry miss!" he fumbled, trying to help her up.
"No need to panic sweet heart. I've still got some 'hip' left in me," she giggled.
She got up and looked at us carefully and then to Nina and Hikaru…then Ami who was cradled in Hikaru's arms.
"Are these your siblings?" she asked Nina and Hikaru.
"Yes ma'am," replied Nina.
"You're so young, yet you have a child."
Renji almost burst out laughing, so I had to cover his mouth despite my muffled laughter. I looked over towards Hikaru and Nina. Hikaru had looked away and Nina's face was bright pink.
"Happy Holidays," she said before leaving.
"A kid? She was one batty ol-
"Quiet! Look…" I whispered pointing to Hikaru and Nina.
Hikaru was holding onto one of her hands, and Nina's other hand was on her stomach.
"A baby," she said gently, a soft smile forming across her face. "That would be nice…us being a family, wouldn't it? Amu? Renji? No…I'd want an education first. That's more important to me than anything…well besides you Hikaru."
"How come you won't get an education then?" I asked.
"If I did then what would happen to the three of you? Hikaru would come with me, but I would never leave you three. Never."
I smiled and walked over towards her and gave her a big hug. I wouldn't leave them ever. I wouldn't let anything take my family again.
"Eeew, quit the gushy stuff and let's find some food," groaned Renji.
"Emotionless pig," Nina and I said in unison and Ami who had just woken up stuck her tongue out at Renji.
"Ouch, you've got it rough with the ladies don't you," chuckled Hikaru.
"Whatever."
We walked over to the restaurant Renji had found and Nina was right it had an ally way…a narrow ally way. The plan was quite simple actually. Nina and Hikaru would walk in with Ami pretending that was their baby. Ami was actually quite well trained with this. Nina would sneakily put her down on the floor and Ami would start crawling about. Nina would then rush over towards the counter and create a riot about how her baby is missing. Now comes me and Renji's part. The cooks would rush out like they always do to help find the baby so they're customers would be 'relaxed'. As if. In the meantime, Renji and I would sneak in through the back door and grab a whole bunch of food. Nina would find Ami and the plan was executed perfectly.
…LATER…
"My baby's gone!" shrieked Renji imitating Nina from a couple minutes ago.
"Shut it little boy. At least it was believable and we got food."
"Speaking of food, what'd you two get us?" asked Hikaru.
"Pasta, pizza, bread, salami, and cheese," said Renji. "And crap."
"Crap?" repeated Hikaru and Nina in unison.
"It's not crap!" I exclaimed. "I brought chocolate cake, tiramisu, strawberries and milk. Along with a knife."
"Ooh how I've craved cake," smiled Nina. "Good job Amu."
We turned into an ally way and after Hikaru checked that it was safe, we put our things down and began to prepare dinner. As Nina and I prepared the food hastily, we heard a garbage can fall over. My breath quickened but my heart stopped. I suddenly felt someone grab me and push me into the corner and drop Ami into my arms.
"Don't move," whispered Renji sitting beside me.
Renji and I watched from the back to see what was happening, but the position was uncomfortable. Two garbage cans blocked my way, the way I could see was through the crack between them that was actually wide enough for me to see but narrow enough to cover me. Not only that but it stank, and something was crawling up my leg.
"Who's there?" called out Nina, her voice shaky.
"Just me," croaked out a male voice.
My eyes widened and I clung onto Renji's hand.
"Renji, I'm scared," I whispered.
"Don't be…I'm right here and Nina and Hikaru are there too."
I nodded my head but I was still scared. Scared that whoever was there would do something bad. Or worse find us because of the loudness of my thumping heart.
"What do you want?" asked Nina.
"Nothing, just some shelter, food…a little bit of fun."
"Sorry buddy, you can have the first two but not the last. She has a boyfriend," interrupted Hikaru.
Then I saw the gleam of metal shine due to the faded street lamp near Hikaru. He had the knife I had gotten for the cake tucked into his sleeve. For a while, we heard nothing but footsteps and Ami's quiet breathing and I thanked God she was asleep.
When the footsteps finally stopped I looked up and saw a dirty old man standing in front of us. Well not actually dirty…or quite old but I could think that. He wasn't very tall…almost the same height as Nina who was about 5'4. He had a stubbly face, brown eyes, and a crooked nose. He wore a tattered green shirt and jeans that were worn out especially in the knee area.
"Not for long," he said with a smirk.
And then it happened. He pulled out a gun and shot Hikaru. Hikaru fell down, his green eyes lifeless and dull.
"Hikaru!" screamed Nina, tears falling from her cheeks onto the cement.
"Don't move!" shouted the man approaching her.
My breath was ragged, and tears formed in my eyes. I watched the man grab Nina and pin her against the wall, his gun positioned at her neck. He…kissed her…but not like how Hikaru did it. When Hikaru did it, it was slow and gentle. Nina described it as tender love. When this man did it was fast and ravage. He then began to rub Nina's stomach and bring his hands higher and higher.
I watched Nina struggle and she successfully managed to kick him in his manhood. He fell down and Nina began to look for a weapon. But he had gotten back up quickly and punched her in the face and then kicked her in the stomach before pinning her down the floor. He pulled something like a rope out of his pocket and tied her hands together and then another rope in which he tied her feet.
I began to get up, fury pumping through out my blood but Renji pulled me down roughly and squeezed my arm.
I thought about punching him, but instead looked back at Nina. The man pulled out a knife and I saw the panic spread across Nina's face. I couldn't do anything. Nothing I was useless…
The man ripped her shirt to pieces and threw it in the corner…and after that I couldn't see anymore because Renji grabbed my head and pushed it into his chest. I couldn't see but I certainly could hear Nina screaming for help and zippers open and the shuffle of clothes. And then…I heard sobbing. Despite Renji's efforts to keep my head in his chest I pulled away and looked up.
My eyes widened in shock…Nina was completely naked on the floor sobbing. Her tattered ripped up clothes in a messy pile near her. I then wished the man would go away…but he didn't. He raised his gun and shot Nina in the chest. Her moving body froze, her sobs vanished and everything went silent.
I looked over to Hikaru's lifeless body, and Nina's lifeless body. It brought tears to my eyes. Just hours ago…they had talked about starting a family together. Having a baby. Getting an education…and now that was taken away from them.
I clung onto Renji tighter and cried quietly in his chest. He didn't pull me aside and laugh at me as he used to do. He didn't do anything like the normal Renji would. No, he held onto me and brushed my hair with the fingertips of his hand.
When I turned back around, I saw that the man was eating our food and before soon he had finished more than half of it. I felt Renji change his position, but the worse was yet to come because his elbow accidentally slammed into the fence behind us. My breath hitched and my heart began to pump harder and harder. The footsteps that had frozen started to walk. They became louder and louder with each step. And suddenly they stopped again. I was scared to look. Scared to face death…but I did so anyway. And when I looked through the crack, I saw he was just a couple yards away from us.
He raised his gun and aimed for the fence. It all went fast after this. He pulled the trigger, I flinched, it hit the garbage can…I heard a groan and after a while I felt the cool liquid on my arms and legs. Scared to look down, I looked back through the crack and saw that the man had started to walk away.
I kept quiet and listened carefully for the walking away of his footsteps. And even when I couldn't hear them anymore, I waited an extra 5 minutes just in case. And when I was positively sure that he was gone, I leaped up and ran towards Nina and Hikaru. I took off my jacket and put it over Nina's bare body…and I began to mourn.
As I cried I heard the staggered footsteps, but really didn't pay attention to whose it was. I cried because I knew what the consequences of death were. I knew I would never see them again. I cried because I knew that I wouldn't be able to see Nina and Hikaru hold hands while we walked behind quietly again.
I brought my hands up to my face to cry and as I did I smelt something familiar. I had already been smelling it, but it wasn't as strong as it was when I brought my hands to my face. I pulled my hands away and brought them to the attention of the street light. Then it hit me. The smell of rusted iron…blood. I panicked for a moment looking all over for a bullet mark or a scrape…but I couldn't find any.
I turned around and my eyes widened. There in the pale light of the street was Renji…with a bullet wound near his shoulder.
"Renji!" I screamed running towards him.
His face was pale and I knew that it was his blood over me. It was my fault…? He shot me a weak smile.
"I'll be fine. This is just a scrape."
He was trying to make me smile, but I was too worried. I was lost in the moment. Two of my friends were already dead…my family. And the other one was close. I got up and grabbed one of the shredded pieces of cloth from Nina's shirt and began to wrap Renji's wound.
"I'll disinfect it later. Just help me carry Nina and Hikaru."
So we did. I tied Ami to my back with a blanket and I carried Nina, while Renji carried Hikaru. I was determined to pull them to a serene and beautiful place where the sunset would shine on it at just the right moment.
And then…I found it. A vast green grass. Just an open area with a few stones here and there.
"Over there Renji. Let's put them near the exit."
I refused to let Renji touch the dirt fearing infection of his wound, so I dug deep wide holes and filled the bottoms with grass, leaves, moss, and flowers. Anything that would make a comfortable bed. It may have taken a couple hours of exhausting work, but in the end when they were finally buried, the sun rose marking dawn and shined on their grave.
A few tears escaped my eyes and Renji hugged me.
Few Hours later
"Ow, what the hell Amu? Are you trying to kill me?" barked Renji as I disinfected his wound with water and soap.
"No, I'm trying to save you, now shut up."
The wound was still gruesome but it was better than before. The dried blood was gone and the stinging marked that it was being disinfected. I wrapped it up with the same cloth I had used to tie it in the first place except that I had cleaned it and it was now dry.
"There."
"Thanks."
I balled up my knees and leaned my head on Renji's shoulder.
"It all feels like a bad dream," I said after a while. "It feels like Nina and Hikaru are hiding somewhere really good together. Like that game of hide and seek we played weeks before."
"I guess."
I closed my eyes, just to rest them for a while but I managed to fall asleep, and sleep for a couple hours.
A Couple day Later
"Are you sure this is supposed to look like this?" questioned Renji who had started to look pale for a couple days.
"I'm not entirely sure."
He was right. It didn't look normal. All around the wound was yellow and greenish. On the inside of the wound…it was still fleshy but now it had deep black dots here and there.
"Here, I'll wash it again."
"No! It hurts a lot, so don't do anything."
"Renji…"
"Don't 'Renji' me. It hurts like hell, and no one's touching anything."
"Fine."
I held onto Ami, because Renji refused to hold her in case he had an infection. He walked next to me…but with a distance because he was scared he'd pass it to me too. I had also noticed he would cough up every once in a while…and once…once I saw him cough up blood. I could tell he was scared because his eyes were wide when he came back.
We were walking back to Nina and Hikaru's grave…I'm not sure why but Renji said we had to go back no matter what. Since yesterday, he had started to act strange. And not hugging me strange…but just strange. He didn't take things slow anymore…no had recently starting to rush things.
The minute we reached the grave site, Renji began coughing and soon collapsed.
"Renji!" I screamed running over towards him.
I dragged him over towards a tree, where I broke off limbs of dried branches and began to start a small fire. I opened up our backpack and placed two thin sheets of cloth under him and one thick one over him. I worked quickly…but I wasn't sure why. He was still coughing…and there…I saw it again. He coughed up more blood.
I laid Ami on the floor away from the both of us but close enough that I could see her and worked feverishly on the fire. And it was soon lit up.
Renji's face was paler than before and there were purple bags under his eyes. Were they there before? His eyes were sort of bloodshot and red clearly meaning he had been crying. He held onto my hand.
"Amu…remember a while ago when the four of us discussed death? You and Nina were scared of dying, Hikaru didn't know how to feel, and I said I wasn't scared because I was a man?" said Renji, his voice sickly and coarse. "I take it back…I am scared of dying."
"You won't die!" I said getting up and putting some more wood into the fire.
"Haha, thanks for believing in that…but I know I'm going to die soon. Because my wound says so."
I was scared to see it, but I did so anyway. Unwrapping the cloth. The wound was disgusting. It was purple and green and yellow and black. Nothing like the fresh pink and red it was on day 1. I wrapped it back up.
When he held onto my hand again…they were ice cold.
"Renji…are you cold? Your hands are freezing."
"I don't know…I can't feel them."
"You know, I always thought dying would be painful…but it doesn't seem like that. I actually feel quite at rest."
"You won't die!" I protested tears rolling down my cheek and falling on his hand.
He raised his hand and brought it to my face.
"Don't cry…you're much prettier when you're smiling," he said wiping away the tears. "You know the day when you, Nina, Hikaru, and Ami found me getting beat by my old man? That was the happiest day of my life…because I felt as though I got a second chance at life."
"I also had a crush on a beautiful girl…I like you…Amu. Thanks for being with a sissy guy like…me"
His eyes fluttered shut…and his hand that was in my hand fell limp. My breath hitched and I began to sob. I looked at his face and noticed that he too had been crying.
"Dammit Renji…why'd you leave me too? I like you too."
I leaned down on his stomach and began to cry.
End of flashback
I wiped my tears away and kissed the headstones of my family. I looked up and saw the sun setting…and I had been right. Their graves did hit the sunset.
"Let's go Ami."
A/N
Hey…this was finished a while ago on Thanksgiving…but I wanted to add more. And yes. I was in tears at the end of this…I thought it was really sad.
Anyways, thanks a bundle for the reviews. And Happy Belated Thanksgiving!
Read~Enjoy~Review
Neko-Meme