annotate old/stories/dreams2.txt @ 4:69f0191c9016 moonlitnights tip

added error.log and access.log
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:42:35 -0400
parents fc00894c1d4a
children
rev   line source
rlm@2 1 Dreams Part 2
rlm@2 2
rlm@2 3 Megumi shivered as the cold night wind lightly blew against her and
rlm@2 4 Kumiko. “I can’t believe we’re doing this, Kumi-chan. It’s late, it’s
rlm@2 5 cold, and I’m tired. My parents are going to expect to see me in bed
rlm@2 6 in..”, as she looked at her wrist, Megumi remembered that she
rlm@2 7 actually didn’t wear a watch. She could hear Kumiko giggle slightly
rlm@2 8 as if she knew that would happen. “Well, I need to be there in a few
rlm@2 9 hours.” Not like they’d actually be home, but she wasn’t feeling very
rlm@2 10 well and that pain in her chest was getting stronger again. It was a
rlm@2 11 good enough excuse at any rate. At least, she hoped it was.
rlm@2 12 Kumiko sighed. “I know. I really don’t want to be here either, but
rlm@2 13 I just have to learn something about those people in the tape.
rlm@2 14 Remember, in the tape? That Sakura girl said that she always was
rlm@2 15 recording her. So, if there was a tape in the camera, maybe there was
rlm@2 16 another tape? Maybe there are a lot of other tapes. Maybe that could
rlm@2 17 explain why I felt so..” she shook a bit, not wanting to think about
rlm@2 18 it. “Maybe that could explain why I felt so attached to those girls
rlm@2 19 in the video. That wasn’t just some normal deja vu. That was
rlm@2 20 something.. special. What do you think, Megumi-chan?”
rlm@2 21 “Hmm?” Megumi looked up from the lamp she was toying with. “Well, I
rlm@2 22 think that we shouldn’t be digging through some rich person’s trash
rlm@2 23 can. That’s what I think.”
rlm@2 24 Kumiko stuck her tongue out at her. “Oh sure. I’m having lots of
rlm@2 25 fun digging through the trash. Luckily, they’ve only seem to have
rlm@2 26 thrown away most of the yard sale stuff so far. Seriously, what do
rlm@2 27 you think? About the tape?”
rlm@2 28 “I.. I don’t know. I feel so many things about the tape. I feel the
rlm@2 29 pain from falling, I feel the happiness from being with her, and so
rlm@2 30 much more. It seems so sad when I think about it, though. Like
rlm@2 31 something tragic happened to those people. Even though I don’t know
rlm@2 32 them, and don’t even know what happened, it hurts. Like I lost
rlm@2 33 something dear to me, but found it again. Like if you moved away and
rlm@2 34 then came back, I guess.” Megumi ran her arm under across her eyes
rlm@2 35 and was surprised to find that her eyes were wet.
rlm@2 36 Kumiko looked concerned and pulled her into a tight embrace. “It’s
rlm@2 37 okay, Megumi. I feel pretty much the same way. It’s really confusing
rlm@2 38 to feel that way about someone you don’t know. I wish I had the
rlm@2 39 answers, but I don’t. So, I’m looking for them. Do you think we’ll
rlm@2 40 find anything? If we do, should we even look at it? With how one tape
rlm@2 41 was, I couldn’t imagine how a collection of them would be.” Kumiko
rlm@2 42 slowly pulled away from Megumi. With a deep dramatic sigh, she threw
rlm@2 43 her arms down in defeat. “Well, I give up. I’m not going to find
rlm@2 44 anything digging around in the trash in the dark.” Kumiko started
rlm@2 45 forward, but tripped and fell into Megumi’s arms, knocking them both
rlm@2 46 off balance and sending them into the cold hard ground.
rlm@2 47 Both girls just looked into each other’s eyes, curious if the other
rlm@2 48 was thinking the same thing they were. Kumiko opened her mouth in an
rlm@2 49 attempt to say something, but stopped herself. After a few seemingly
rlm@2 50 everlasting moments of silence, Megumi spoke up. “Are you okay Kumi?
rlm@2 51 Aww.. you scraped your knee. Should I kiss it and make it better?”
rlm@2 52 Kumiko blushed and nodded weakly. Megumi ever-so-slowly leaned
rlm@2 53 forward and kissed the slightly injured knee. “There. All better? I
rlm@2 54 really can’t stand to see you hurt, you know, Kumi-chan.” Megumi
rlm@2 55 smiled proudly at the dark blush on Kumiko’s face. Quickly, she stood
rlm@2 56 up and offered out her hand. Kumiko grasped her hand and squeezed
rlm@2 57 reassuringly and let Megumi help her to her feet.
rlm@2 58 “I’ll come over to your house early tomorrow, okay, Kumi? Do you
rlm@2 59 think the library will be open on the weekend?” Megumi asked
rlm@2 60 curiously. She regretted saying the words shortly after they were out
rlm@2 61 of her mouth. She -really- wasn’t feeling good. She needed to get
rlm@2 62 home soon. And she really didn’t know if she’d be up to checking out
rlm@2 63 a library the next day. The blonde was thankful for the darkness in
rlm@2 64 masking her increasingly pale features.
rlm@2 65 Kumiko nodded thoughtfully, brushing back a lock of brown hair
rlm@2 66 behind an ear. “Yeah, it should be. We’ll head there in the morning
rlm@2 67 and see what we can find. There has to be something on the girls in
rlm@2 68 that video. Or at least I hope so.” Sighing, the teenager yawned
rlm@2 69 exaggeratedly. “For now I’m gonna get some sleep. Do you think you
rlm@2 70 could stay for a bit? I need to sneak back in anyway. Mom and dad
rlm@2 71 still think I’m sleeping.” She smiled over at the blonde girl
rlm@2 72 hopefully. “I always sleep better after I talk to you.”
rlm@2 73 Megumi returned the smile weakly and shook her head. “I’d love to,
rlm@2 74 Kumi, but I’m not sure how appreciative your mother would be of me
rlm@2 75 teaching her daughter all sorts of strange things this late at night.
rlm@2 76 And I already know she likes me, so I can’t jeopardize that.” A laugh
rlm@2 77 accompanied the hug she gave Kumiko. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Kumi-
rlm@2 78 chan. You have beautiful dreams in the meantime. I know you’ll be in
rlm@2 79 mine.”
rlm@2 80 The wind picked up slightly, blowing Kumiko’s hair around as she
rlm@2 81 returned the hug. “Okay. Maybe some other time then. I’ll be thinking
rlm@2 82 about you, Megumi-chan. Sleep we...” Before she could finish that
rlm@2 83 thought, Megumi’s lips pressed tightly against her own. Her cheeks
rlm@2 84 darkened as her eyes fell closed and she kissed back.
rlm@2 85 “Goodnight, Kumi.” And with that, Megumi was off.
rlm@2 86
rlm@2 87 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 88
rlm@2 89 Wet tears spilt down Megumi’s cheek to the bathroom tile beneath
rlm@2 90 her. The tile was cold against the bare skin of her legs peeking out
rlm@2 91 beneath her jumbled nightgown, but she’d long since given up on
rlm@2 92 caring about such trivial discomforts. Her whole body was screaming
rlm@2 93 at her, fire burning maliciously at all of her senses. Even taking
rlm@2 94 her medicine hadn’t helped in the least. She should be in bed, but
rlm@2 95 she couldn’t make it the short distance back to her bedroom. So she
rlm@2 96 knelt on the floor in the bathroom, her head leaning against the
rlm@2 97 cabinets under the sink. Her skin was deathly pale, nearly as white
rlm@2 98 as the tiles underneath her.
rlm@2 99 “Daddy... Mommy... Somebody... please...” Her voice barely reached
rlm@2 100 her own ears, seeming no more than a whisper. More cold tears fell
rlm@2 101 down her face. Her parents weren’t there. Again. They were always
rlm@2 102 working these days. To get away from her. No, that wasn’t true. That
rlm@2 103 couldn’t be. They were both working to afford all of the medicine and
rlm@2 104 the treatments and the doctors. Megumi shuddered violently at the
rlm@2 105 memories. It always hurt so much. And the doctors had been pretty
rlm@2 106 grim whenever they talked to her parents. She didn’t need to be a lip
rlm@2 107 reader to know that she was dying. A cold hand was gripping her soul,
rlm@2 108 frightening the poor girl even more. She didn’t want to die. She
rlm@2 109 didn’t want to leave Kumiko. Kumiko... Of course she hadn’t told the
rlm@2 110 other girl about any of this. It would only make her worry. And
rlm@2 111 Megumi had long ago found out that there was nothing that she could
rlm@2 112 do about it. So why worry Kumiko when it was so much nicer to see her
rlm@2 113 smiling, happy face?
rlm@2 114 A sudden fit of coughing shook the blonde girl’s small body as she
rlm@2 115 reached up to her trembling lips. When she pulled them away, they
rlm@2 116 were wet with fresh blood. The sight sent her into more tears. She
rlm@2 117 was so scared but there was no one who would come comfort her. If
rlm@2 118 Kumiko found out, she would be right over, but then she’d worry
rlm@2 119 herself to death. Her parents were nowhere to be seen, so she was all
rlm@2 120 on her own. Be a big girl, her mother had told her, several years
rlm@2 121 before. Be a big girl and you’ll make it through this. Megumi didn’t
rlm@2 122 want to be a big girl. It hurt too much.
rlm@2 123
rlm@2 124 Kumiko yawned tiredly, rubbing the sleep from her violet eyes. Her
rlm@2 125 long, dark brown hair was done up in braids today. Sleep had not been
rlm@2 126 easy in coming to her the night before. Her mind kept going back to
rlm@2 127 the girls on the tape and why it had seemed so familiar. Had
rlm@2 128 something similar happened with her and Megumi, explaining the shared
rlm@2 129 sense of deja vu? Or was there something deeper behind all of it? “I
rlm@2 130 really hope we can find something here. And soon. I’m hungry. I
rlm@2 131 didn’t get any breakfast before we left.” Megumi winced at the
rlm@2 132 mention of food. The blonde girl really didn’t look very good this
rlm@2 133 morning. Her skin was paper white and her lips were drawn tight. The
rlm@2 134 sunglasses she wore looked cute on her and they hid her bloodshot
rlm@2 135 aquamarine eyes well, but Kumiko could see them occasionally as the
rlm@2 136 sunglasses almost slipped off. She sighed as they entered the
rlm@2 137 library. Megumi looked like she was getting sick, but she looked like
rlm@2 138 that so often these days. Her lover would always deny that anything
rlm@2 139 was wrong besides a slight cold when Kumiko would ask her about it.
rlm@2 140 Megumi shivered in the air conditioned building, rubbing her arms
rlm@2 141 as she tried to keep warm. “It’s freezing in here. Let’s just try to
rlm@2 142 get the information and get out of here. Mom wants me home early
rlm@2 143 today so I can’t be out long.” It always pained her to lie to Kumiko,
rlm@2 144 but she really didn’t feel like being out of bed at all today. She
rlm@2 145 kind of doubted her mother would be home at any rate.
rlm@2 146 “Well, if you’re tired, you can always take a nap at my place when
rlm@2 147 we’re done with all this, Megumi-chan.” Kumiko smiled brightly as she
rlm@2 148 took her best friend’s cold hand. A sigh escaped her lips as she
rlm@2 149 looked for a good place to begin their search. “Something tells me I
rlm@2 150 should have just tried to look up all this stuff on my computer
rlm@2 151 anyway. At least then I could go make some lunch.” Another uneasy
rlm@2 152 look on Megumi’s face told her to drop the subject of eating. But she
rlm@2 153 was sooooo hungry. “Here we go.” Finding a free terminal, she began
rlm@2 154 searching for relevant information.
rlm@2 155 Pulling up a chair, Megumi relished the feeling of being off her
rlm@2 156 feet. The entire way there, she had felt ready to collapse. Her body
rlm@2 157 was still aching from the night before, but she couldn’t let it show
rlm@2 158 through. She didn’t want Kumiko to start worrying about this,
rlm@2 159 especially when her heart was so set on finding out who the people on
rlm@2 160 the videotape were. The sick girl wasn’t really sure she wanted to
rlm@2 161 know, herself. It was all just too freaky. Who cared who some people
rlm@2 162 on an old, dated video were? All she needed was Kumiko. As long as
rlm@2 163 she had the other girl nearby, everything would always be all right.
rlm@2 164 “Find anything?” she asked after realizing she had nodded off for a
rlm@2 165 bit. She tried to suppress a yawn, but to no avail.
rlm@2 166 Giggling at her friend, the brown haired girl nodded. “Yeah, I
rlm@2 167 think so. Apparently the mansion had been owned by the Daidouji
rlm@2 168 family previously.”
rlm@2 169 Megumi gasped. “Daidouji? The Daidouji Company kind of Daidouji”
rlm@2 170 Nodding again, Kumiko grew more serious. “Yeah, it looks like the
rlm@2 171 place belonged to the Daidouji family for quite a while, but recently
rlm@2 172 it had been sold by Daidouji Maya, the current head of the company.
rlm@2 173 She went there to move out some of the things that were important,
rlm@2 174 but it looks like some of it got left behind and the new occupants
rlm@2 175 are getting rid of it.”
rlm@2 176 “So does that mean that one of the girls on the videotape was from
rlm@2 177 that family line? Is there any information on them? Maybe we could
rlm@2 178 find some pictures.” Megumi’s heart was pounding in her chest. Part
rlm@2 179 of her wanted to reach over and turn off the power on the computer,
rlm@2 180 to tell Kumiko it didn’t matter who was on some stupid videotape and
rlm@2 181 that she was the only one that mattered to her, but she was
rlm@2 182 paralyzed. She didn’t want to know. She was too afraid to find out.
rlm@2 183 But she couldn’t get herself to keep from hearing more.
rlm@2 184 “Yeah, that’s what I’m checking right now. They’re a pretty
rlm@2 185 powerful family, so there should be a fair amount about them. I think
rlm@2 186 one of them is in our class. That Sumire girl? The one with the
rlm@2 187 glasses and the scary looking dark haired girl that’s always
rlm@2 188 following her?” Glancing back at Megumi, she saw the blonde nod in
rlm@2 189 response. “Come to think of it, she does look a bit like the girls
rlm@2 190 in the video. Though I can’t tell which she looks more like, so I
rlm@2 191 don’t know who she’s related to. And I don’t know how she could
rlm@2 192 possibly be related to both.” Oddly enough, the idea sounded right.
rlm@2 193 She shook her head and kept looking at the screen. “Here it is.” A
rlm@2 194 list was on the screen, showing the family line back for quite some
rlm@2 195 time. “Yep, there’s Sumire. It looks like the first Daidouji on
rlm@2 196 record is Daidouji Sonomi and she founded the company. She had a
rlm@2 197 daughter, Daidouji Tomoyo. Apparently she had a daughter named Bara.
rlm@2 198 And she had a daughter named Maya, the current head of the Daidouji
rlm@2 199 Company. And she has a daughter named Sumire. Yeah, she’s in our
rlm@2 200 class. There’s her picture.” Kumiko pointed at the picture of a
rlm@2 201 frustrated looking girl in big glasses with dark hair done up in
rlm@2 202 pigtails.
rlm@2 203 Megumi nodded slowly, not sure if she could take much more of this.
rlm@2 204 The anticipation was maddening. The sunglasses had slipped off her
rlm@2 205 nose, but she hardly noticed. “Can you find any other pictures? What
rlm@2 206 about the rest of them?”
rlm@2 207 Typing in another command, Kumiko looked back up at the screen.
rlm@2 208 Pictures began appearing by the names, as well as links for more
rlm@2 209 information on each member of the family. First a determined looking
rlm@2 210 businesswoman with a slant style hair cut and then a beautiful pale
rlm@2 211 woman with long dark hair that ended in curls with the same stormy
rlm@2 212 blue eyes as her mother. The braided girl stopped there. “That’s
rlm@2 213 her!! That’s the one from the videotape!” Her violet eyes went wide
rlm@2 214 in shock as she stared at the screen. She was much older in the
rlm@2 215 picture, a full grown woman as opposed to the teenager in the video,
rlm@2 216 but it was obviously the same person.
rlm@2 217 Feeling sick to her stomach, Megumi heard her ask a question she
rlm@2 218 was dreading. “Does it have any information on her? Or who that
rlm@2 219 brunette might have been?”
rlm@2 220 “Let me see...” Biting her lower lip, Kumiko continued looking
rlm@2 221 through the information. A summary of the woman’s entire life up on
rlm@2 222 the next page was briefly skimmed through as her whole body
rlm@2 223 threatened to shake. Being so close to all of this was exciting. She
rlm@2 224 knew that what she was looking for was near, an answer to the
rlm@2 225 question posed by the videotape. “Kinomoto Sakura! Right here. It
rlm@2 226 says that she got married to Daidouji Tomoyo. Wait, that can’t be
rlm@2 227 right. Yeah, it says that they got married and had a daughter. That’s
rlm@2 228 bizarre. But here she is.” The slightly shorter girl moved to the
rlm@2 229 side to give her lover a better look. On screen was a woman with
rlm@2 230 fairly short brunette hair and a happy smile, looking out with
rlm@2 231 emerald green eyes. It had to be the other girl from the videotape.
rlm@2 232 “How’d they die?” Megumi blurted out. “Maybe it was really tragic
rlm@2 233 and they possessed the videotape or something. I thought they
rlm@2 234 wouldn’t have lasted much longer past the videotape if it seemed so
rlm@2 235 important.”
rlm@2 236 Skimming the information, Kumiko shook her head. “It looks like
rlm@2 237 they lived long, happy lives by all accounts. Daidouji Sakura... Oh,
rlm@2 238 she must’ve changed her name when they got married. Anyway, she fell
rlm@2 239 down the stairs when she was a grandmother. Daidouji Tomoyo died a
rlm@2 240 few days later of no explained cause. Her daughter seems to have
rlm@2 241 thought it was heartache over the loss of Sakura.”
rlm@2 242 Megumi shook her head, running hands through her curly blonde hair.
rlm@2 243 “None of this makes any sense. We know who these people are now, but
rlm@2 244 that still doesn’t explain anything. Why do we know them at all?
rlm@2 245 Maybe it was the camera angle. Maybe we just got so caught up in
rlm@2 246 watching the old thing that we started thinking there was more to
rlm@2 247 it.” She was shaking now, afraid. This was all too strange for her.
rlm@2 248 Kumiko took Megumi’s soft hand, trying to comfort her. “Megumi...
rlm@2 249 There has to be something to all of this. I know there is. It’s just
rlm@2 250 too much to be a coincidence.”
rlm@2 251 “How do you know, Kumi? Maybe that’s all it is...” Megumi’s voice
rlm@2 252 was unsteady and she couldn’t meet the braided girl’s gaze. She
rlm@2 253 squeezed Kumiko’s hand.
rlm@2 254 “Then why do I know things about them that I shouldn’t? Things that
rlm@2 255 video couldn’t have told me. That they came up with the baby’s name
rlm@2 256 while strolling through a rose garden. That Tomoyo loved to sing to
rlm@2 257 Sakura. That Sakura liked to cook for Tomoyo even though they had
rlm@2 258 people who could do that for them. That the world looked all tumbly
rlm@2 259 when she fell down the stairs.” Kumiko shuddered at the unbidden
rlm@2 260 images in her mind. It all looked so real. Like she was reliving old
rlm@2 261 memories. Even slipping down the stairs...
rlm@2 262 “Stop it!!” Megumi stood up suddenly, tears starting to form in her
rlm@2 263 eyes. “Just stop it, Kumi! You’re scaring me...” Her voice went from
rlm@2 264 a scream to a barely audible whisper in seconds. Shaking hands wiped
rlm@2 265 at her eyes as she took a few weak steps back. Kumiko reached for her
rlm@2 266 seconds before she collapsed.
rlm@2 267
rlm@2 268
rlm@2 269 “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” Kumiko demanded of the
rlm@2 270 prone girl in her room.
rlm@2 271 “I didn’t remember..?” Megumi ventured after a moment’s hesitation,
rlm@2 272 trying to smile in an attempt to lighten the mood.
rlm@2 273 “Hmph...” Turning away from her, the slightly shorter girl crossed
rlm@2 274 her arms. Megumi could tell that she was fuming.
rlm@2 275 “How did you find out?” the blonde asked quietly, almost ashamed.
rlm@2 276 “Your mother told me when I called and told her that you had
rlm@2 277 collapsed at the library. I thought you’d just fainted from too much
rlm@2 278 shock. But she said you’ve been sick off and on for the past three
rlm@2 279 years. And that you’re getting worse.”
rlm@2 280 “That’s technically inaccurate. I’ve been sick since I was a little
rlm@2 281 girl. It’s just been getting progressively worse for the past three
rlm@2 282 years.” Megumi tried another smile, but it seemed to have no affect
rlm@2 283 on Kumiko’s back. Sighing, she shook her head. She felt defeated. “I
rlm@2 284 didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry about all
rlm@2 285 this. I know how hard it is to know that you’re dying and that no one
rlm@2 286 can help. I know how bad that feeling of helplessness is. And I would
rlm@2 287 never want you to have to experience it. It makes you feel all sick
rlm@2 288 and twisted up inside. Besides, your smiles have always been the best
rlm@2 289 therapy for me. I don’t want them to be tainted with worry whenever
rlm@2 290 you look at me.” Closing her eyes, the wind from the fan rustled the
rlm@2 291 blankets over her. “It’s not like I could have hid it from you much
rlm@2 292 longer anyway. It’s starting to get to the point where I can barely
rlm@2 293 hide the pain sometimes. You would have found out sooner or later.”
rlm@2 294 “But you’re supposed to tell me everything! I’m your girlfriend! I
rlm@2 295 love you! I can’t...” The anger in Kumiko’s voice drained away as she
rlm@2 296 released a choked sob. “I don’t want to lose you... I... I need
rlm@2 297 you... Megumi...” She collapsed to her knees, burying her face
rlm@2 298 against Megumi’s side as she clung to her raggedly. “I love you... I
rlm@2 299 love you too much to let you go..”
rlm@2 300 Megumi couldn’t hold back her own tears as she gently stroked
rlm@2 301 Kumiko’s back. “Kumi...” she whispered softly. This was exactly what
rlm@2 302 she’d feared would happen if Kumiko found out, but she found herself
rlm@2 303 oddly relieved to know that her love finally knew of her personal
rlm@2 304 pain. It felt so much freer. Like it was finally all right to cry. To
rlm@2 305 stop being a big girl.
rlm@2 306
rlm@2 307 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 308
rlm@2 309 Sitting in the tree adjacent to the window, a woman watched the two
rlm@2 310 girls in silence. She had been there for some time, but no one seemed
rlm@2 311 to notice her presence. Her eyes sparkled from behind her glasses as
rlm@2 312 she continued her silent vigil. She had a keen interest in the
rlm@2 313 futures of the two girls inside the small room. But revealing herself
rlm@2 314 would be troublesome. They weren’t supposed to know about her.
rlm@2 315 Especially not yet.
rlm@2 316 Lavender eyes fell upon the sleeping form of Megumi. “Tomoyo-
rlm@2 317 chan...” the mysterious girl whispered softly. She had this all
rlm@2 318 planned out, but now it was almost impossible to continue on. Her
rlm@2 319 heart ached too much to continue on this way. But it was because of
rlm@2 320 her that this was happening. Well, most of it. She had never planned
rlm@2 321 on Megumi getting sick. Or the girls finding out about their pasts.
rlm@2 322 They were supposed to be oblivious to what was really going on. That
rlm@2 323 was their single goal in life that she had set out for them. To eke
rlm@2 324 out lives for themselves, together. They weren’t supposed to get
rlm@2 325 involved. But seeing her lying there, being held by the brunette was
rlm@2 326 almost too much for her. How she longed to go inside there and take
rlm@2 327 Kumiko’s place. She had been so sure of her plans when she’d set
rlm@2 328 everything in motion years before. But now after all that she had
rlm@2 329 endured, she was having second thoughts. It wasn’t fair that she was
rlm@2 330 supposed to be alone. That she was only here for a very specific
rlm@2 331 purpose. And the most painful part of it all was that she had brought
rlm@2 332 it all upon herself.
rlm@2 333 “Tomoyo-chan... I miss you.” Long fingers wiped at the tears
rlm@2 334 building in her eyes behind the glasses. It was a bad idea to come
rlm@2 335 back. She should have known she wouldn’t be able to handle it. Why
rlm@2 336 had she come after all? Because she had to see her again. But
rlm@2 337 watching her in the arms of the other girl, dying, was just too much
rlm@2 338 to bear. A mournful sigh escaped her lips. This was stupid. She never
rlm@2 339 should have come. Standing on the branch she had been sitting on,
rlm@2 340 long wings unfurled from her back. “Sleep well, Tomoyo. I’m sorry for
rlm@2 341 hurting you.” Blowing a kiss through the window, she got ready to
rlm@2 342 push off when Kumiko turned around. Her heart skipped a beat. No, she
rlm@2 343 hadn’t noticed her. Her magic was still shrouding her. There was
rlm@2 344 nothing to worry about. Then their eyes locked.
rlm@2 345
rlm@2 346 Kumiko stared wide eyed at the red haired angel floating outside
rlm@2 347 the window. An uneasy feeling had been building in her chest for the
rlm@2 348 past few minutes and it had just reached a deafening crescendo. Her
rlm@2 349 instincts had finally taken over at the feeling of being watched. But
rlm@2 350 she certainly hadn’t been expecting that. Kumiko had led a rather
rlm@2 351 normal life for the short time she had been alive. Nothing stranger
rlm@2 352 than a slightly eccentric girlfriend. But now there were videotapes
rlm@2 353 of long dead girls and deja vu from some past life and strange
rlm@2 354 feelings she couldn’t pinpoint. And now this. Her heart seized up at
rlm@2 355 the sight, as if her mind wanted to deny the very existence of this
rlm@2 356 girl. ‘No, she’s not there! Ignore her! Pretend that you’ve never
rlm@2 357 seen her and everything will go back to normal,’ her mind screamed to
rlm@2 358 her. And part of her knew that it was true. Everything could be the
rlm@2 359 way it used to be. All of this craziness could be forgotten. But as
rlm@2 360 she watched the girl outside her window, she found herself being
rlm@2 361 drawn closer. The angel knew. She knew all about what was going on.
rlm@2 362 And Kumiko needed answers. She bolted to the window.
rlm@2 363 The angel could easily have flown away by now, but she stayed where
rlm@2 364 she was, perched atop the branch and peering in. Her eyes followed
rlm@2 365 Kumiko’s every movement. The large, white wings moved ever so
rlm@2 366 slightly behind her as she shifted her balance. “You weren’t supposed
rlm@2 367 to see me, Kumiko. You weren’t supposed to see any of this. I should
rlm@2 368 make you forget about all of it.” Her voice was calm, even. Her eyes
rlm@2 369 narrowed through the glasses, giving her a slightly menacing look.
rlm@2 370 The whole thing sent a shiver through Kumiko. She knew that the
rlm@2 371 angel in the tree could very well back up her claim. “Who are you?
rlm@2 372 What’s going on? Why is all of this happening?” she asked, heedless
rlm@2 373 of whatever danger she was putting herself in. It didn’t matter. She
rlm@2 374 couldn’t sit back while all of this washed over her. The only girl
rlm@2 375 she had ever loved lay dying in her bed and she was still so confused
rlm@2 376 about everything. And the firey haired angel was the key to it all.
rlm@2 377 The angel looked back at Kumiko through her glasses, lavender eyes
rlm@2 378 meeting violet in an intense stare that neither was willing to back
rlm@2 379 down from. The angel finally sighed, shifting to the side as her
rlm@2 380 wings stretched out behind her. “Kumiko-chan, you really aren’t ready
rlm@2 381 for any of this. Just go back inside and hold onto Megumi tightly.
rlm@2 382 Love her. Hold her. Comfort her. That is why you exist.”
rlm@2 383 “So I can watch her die?!” Kumiko shouted, rage burning in her
rlm@2 384 heart. Her hands shook as tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.
rlm@2 385 Her violet eyes were ablaze with the pain and anger that clung to her
rlm@2 386 heart like needles. “I exist so that I can watch my only love slip
rlm@2 387 away from me?! So that I can be there for her while she dies so
rlm@2 388 young?” Hot tears fell past her chin as she shook her head intensely.
rlm@2 389 “No!! That’s not it!! That’s not how things are supposed to work!”
rlm@2 390 The angel’s beautiful face turned cross as she flew up next to the
rlm@2 391 window in one long, graceful movement. The wings beat slowly,
rlm@2 392 luxioriously as she remained aloft in front of the startled brunette.
rlm@2 393 “Will you please be quiet? You’re going to worry Tomoyo-chan. She
rlm@2 394 needs her sleep right now.“ Closing her eyes, she chanted something
rlm@2 395 under her breath before motioning with her hand.
rlm@2 396 Kumiko watched in shock as a gentle blue wave surrounded Megumi
rlm@2 397 before fading away. “What the hell did you do to Megumi-chan!?!” she
rlm@2 398 demanded furiously. She reached out and grabbed hold of the angel’s
rlm@2 399 blouse, holding on tightly. “You leave her alone!!”
rlm@2 400 The angel just watched Kumiko for a silent moment, her lavender
rlm@2 401 eyes betraying a deep loneliness in her heart. “I was simply putting
rlm@2 402 her to sleep. She’s in enough pain as it is. Now she’s dreaming, far
rlm@2 403 away from the pain. She doesn’t need you waking her up and
rlm@2 404 frightening her about all of this. All she wants is to be with you.
rlm@2 405 Don’t you understand? That’s all she ever wanted. And that‘s what I
rlm@2 406 gave her.”
rlm@2 407 Kumiko’s hands fell uselessly to her sides as she took a half step
rlm@2 408 backwards. “You... You planned all of this... You know what’s going
rlm@2 409 on, don’t you..? So, you know all about the videotape and the
rlm@2 410 memories and everything... Right?” The angel nodded slowly,
rlm@2 411 thoughtfully. “Then... Then you have to tell me! I need to know
rlm@2 412 what’s happening!! I have to!” She asked anxiously, her eyes welling
rlm@2 413 up as she collapsed against the window sill, barely supporting her
rlm@2 414 weight on her hands. “Please...?” she asked pathetically, her eyes
rlm@2 415 begging the silent angel. “You have to...”
rlm@2 416 Closing her lavender eyes, the angel sighed, shaking her head. “It
rlm@2 417 wasn’t supposed to be this way. You weren’t meant to find out. You
rlm@2 418 were simply supposed to live your lives, to be happy.” Her eyes
rlm@2 419 fluttered open, looking directly into Kumiko’s soul. She could see
rlm@2 420 every nuance of the girl before her, everything that made her what
rlm@2 421 she was. In a way, it was like looking into a mirror. Of course, her
rlm@2 422 life had changed certain things, forcing her to grow up very
rlm@2 423 differently than the girl before her.
rlm@2 424 Kumiko waited nervously through the scrutiny she was receiving from
rlm@2 425 the angel. It was with some surprise that she realized the angel was
rlm@2 426 younger than her. She looked no more than fourteen years old. But
rlm@2 427 even then, it still frightened her to see those piercing lavender
rlm@2 428 eyes focused so intently on herself. “You said... You said that it’s
rlm@2 429 why I exist... What do you mean?” she ventured, hoping that her
rlm@2 430 pleas wouldn’t go unheard this time.
rlm@2 431 Sighing, the angel pushed up her glasses, her red hair moving
rlm@2 432 slowly as the wind caressed it. In the blink of an eye, she
rlm@2 433 disappeared, Sakura blossoms floating gently to the grass below.
rlm@2 434 “No! No! Come back!! Please come back!!! There’s so much I need to
rlm@2 435 know!” Verging on panic, Kumiko leaned out the window and called
rlm@2 436 again and again for the firey haired angel. A tap on her back
rlm@2 437 startled her, almost to the point of falling out the window. Her
rlm@2 438 heart pounded in her chest in shock as she finally turned around. The
rlm@2 439 angel stood before her without a trace of her beautiful wings. Kumiko
rlm@2 440 blushed in embarrassment, staring at the floor. “I thought that you’d
rlm@2 441 left...” she admitted sheepishly.
rlm@2 442 To the brunette’s amazement, the angel smiled softly. “Don’t worry.
rlm@2 443 I probably would have done the same. Which is why I know that I can’t
rlm@2 444 leave. You can’t hide from the truth, even if it is safer that way.
rlm@2 445 You would continue relentlessly pursuing it until it finally consumed
rlm@2 446 you.”
rlm@2 447 “You make that sound like a bad thing to be a little determined now
rlm@2 448 and then,” Kumiko said, frowning as she crossed her arms. This girl
rlm@2 449 knew all the right buttons to push.
rlm@2 450 “It can be. Especially when others are trying to protect you from
rlm@2 451 the truth. You don’t understand how brutal it can be.” The angel
rlm@2 452 looked over at the blonde asleep in the bed. “But you’re beginning to
rlm@2 453 get a taste.” Her glasses glinted in the sunlight as she turned
rlm@2 454 around. “My name is Meishi. I am the reincarnation of the sorceress
rlm@2 455 Sakura Daidouji.” She smiled again, gesturing to the mirror.
rlm@2 456 Kumiko’s eyes traveled quickly to it. Rather than the firey haired
rlm@2 457 angel, the girl Kumiko had seen on the computer earlier that day took
rlm@2 458 her place. She looked to be about the same fourteen years as the
rlm@2 459 angel. Confusion gripped her heart as she tried to make sense out of
rlm@2 460 what was going on. “But I thought... I thought that I was Sakura,”
rlm@2 461 she said quietly, her voice no more than a ghost. Wasn’t that what
rlm@2 462 her memories were telling her? What she had seen in the video? Wasn’t
rlm@2 463 she that girl?
rlm@2 464 “You are a dream. Born from my love for the girl that you know as
rlm@2 465 Megumi. You are here to love her always, to be with her throughout
rlm@2 466 all her life. That is your lot in life. And I would give anything to
rlm@2 467 trade places with you.” Her small body shuddered almost imperceptibly
rlm@2 468 as she closed her eyes. When they opened, her lavender eyes shimmered
rlm@2 469 with unshed tears. Kumiko couldn‘t utter a word in response. A dream?
rlm@2 470 She was only a dream? Some sort of puppet? “I knew that one day I
rlm@2 471 would have to set things in motion, that I would need to return to
rlm@2 472 finish what started with the Cards. But I also knew how difficult
rlm@2 473 that would be. I knew that I couldn’t leave Tomoyo behind. She means
rlm@2 474 everything to me. But I didn’t want to get her caught up in what I
rlm@2 475 needed to do. Too often she was nearly hurt because of my
rlm@2 476 carelessness. Her heart suffered the worst because of me. I wasn’t
rlm@2 477 going to let that happen again.” She took the brunette’s hands and
rlm@2 478 pulled her gently closer until they were both in front of the mirror.
rlm@2 479 To Kumiko’s surprise, neither were present in the mirror. There were
rlm@2 480 instead two Sakura’s standing there, in the same positions that she
rlm@2 481 was in with Meishi. “So I created you to take care of her, to love
rlm@2 482 her, to be with her while I handled the magical side of things. It’s
rlm@2 483 something that I’ve come to regret now.” Her eyes once again settled
rlm@2 484 on the peacefully sleeping form of the blonde girl. “I never expected
rlm@2 485 her to get sick. I didn’t think she would die like this.”
rlm@2 486 As if snapping out of a trance, Kumiko took a step forward. She
rlm@2 487 couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So even though she’s your
rlm@2 488 Tomoyo, you’re still going to let her die? With all the magic at your
rlm@2 489 command, your not even going to try and save her life?” All the fear
rlm@2 490 and worry that had entered her heart at the mention that she was
rlm@2 491 created of a dream for Sakura’s purposes dissipated in an instant as
rlm@2 492 fury returned. “How could you say you love her if you aren’t willing
rlm@2 493 to do anything for her? How could you stick her with a dream and then
rlm@2 494 leave her to die?” Her voice was frantic, pained, but she forced out
rlm@2 495 the words.
rlm@2 496 Meishi slumped to her knees at Megumi’s bedside, holding her pale
rlm@2 497 hand tightly. Kumiko’s brazen words had cut her deeper than any knife
rlm@2 498 could. “You don’t understand. I’m the one who brought her back. My
rlm@2 499 magic is too strong. I can’t die. Not completely. But Tomoyo-chan...
rlm@2 500 She can die. She did die. So I brought her back. I reincarnated her.
rlm@2 501 Because I got scared. I couldn’t bear to be without her. She’s always
rlm@2 502 been there for me. Without her love and support, I’m nothing. I
rlm@2 503 couldn’t go on if she wasn’t there. So when I died and was
rlm@2 504 reincarnated, I brought her with me. I didn’t let her move on. I took
rlm@2 505 her with me. It was selfish. I came back in two bodies. This one,”
rlm@2 506 her free hand indicated herself before motioning towards Kumiko. “And
rlm@2 507 that one. You were supposed to find Tomoyo-chan’s soul in whichever
rlm@2 508 body it wound up in so that we could be together once more. I was
rlm@2 509 supposed to put everything in order with the Cards. But Tomoyo... She
rlm@2 510 came back in this body, but now it’s dying. I have to wonder if it’s
rlm@2 511 my fault. If she wasn’t meant to come back like this. I used my magic
rlm@2 512 to bind her here, to bring her back to life. She wasn’t allowed to
rlm@2 513 move on. Because I couldn’t go on without Tomoyo-chan...” Tears fell
rlm@2 514 down from under her glasses as she watched the sleeping girl
rlm@2 515 intently. “So now she’s hurting because of me. Now she’s dying all
rlm@2 516 over again because of my selfishness. So I can’t try and make her
rlm@2 517 better. Part of me wonders if I should let her live in such pain.”
rlm@2 518 “No!!” Kumiko shouted, reaching Megumi’s side in seconds. “I won’t
rlm@2 519 let you take her away form me! I know she’s in pain, but I...” Her
rlm@2 520 voice trailed off as it hit her. She was saying the exact same thing.
rlm@2 521 “I... need her...” she whispered, her eyes still wide. “I’m... I’m
rlm@2 522 doing the same thing... I’m hurting her, too...”
rlm@2 523 “Because we’re the same,” the red haired girl finished. “You can’t
rlm@2 524 live without her anymore than I could. The thought of going on
rlm@2 525 without Tomoyo-chan by your side doesn’t make any sense. It’s like a
rlm@2 526 world without love or without air. It would be completely desolate.
rlm@2 527 Her heart warms you up that way, brightening everything in your life
rlm@2 528 to the point that you take her wonderful light for granted, not
rlm@2 529 seeing just how wonderful she makes it. Her love and support keep you
rlm@2 530 going when you would rather give up in defeat. It’s just the way she
rlm@2 531 is. Just as it’s the way we are to need her.” She sighed, looking
rlm@2 532 infinitely older than the young girl that rested against the side of
rlm@2 533 the bed. “If I end her pain, I would send you along with her.” She
rlm@2 534 shook her head quickly at the look Kumiko gave her. “You wouldn’t
rlm@2 535 want to live without her. Trust me. The last fourteen years have been
rlm@2 536 like a nightmare. My only happiness was knowing that the two of you
rlm@2 537 were out here. Besides, I wouldn’t want Tomoyo-chan to be lonely on
rlm@2 538 the other side.”
rlm@2 539 A cold chill traveled up Kumiko’s spine at Meishi’s words. Despite
rlm@2 540 her confusion and her own fear of seeing Megumi in any more pain, she
rlm@2 541 steeled her resolve. “I don’t care. I don’t care if you did make me
rlm@2 542 for this reason or if you screwed up when you brought Megumi back. I
rlm@2 543 won’t let you take her from me. She’s here now. That’s what matters.
rlm@2 544 I won’t let you or anyone else take her away from me. I love her too
rlm@2 545 much.” Determination glittered in her violet eyes, her gaze never
rlm@2 546 wavering as the sorceress looked back at her.
rlm@2 547 Giggling softly, Meishi stood up. “I’d almost forgotten what that
rlm@2 548 looked like. You really do have all of her love and support, don’t
rlm@2 549 you? I remember that determination from long ago. It took me a long
rlm@2 550 time to understand that she was the cause.” Her fingers trailed
rlm@2 551 gently along Megumi’s pale cheek before brushing back some of her
rlm@2 552 curly blonde hair. Her heart seized up as she looked down at the
rlm@2 553 sleeping girl. “Oh, Tomoyo-chan... I miss you so much...” A half sob,
rlm@2 554 half sigh escaped her lips. Her head nodded weakly. “All right. I’ll
rlm@2 555 leave her with you. But you better make sure that she’s happy. She’s
rlm@2 556 already in enough pain. I want her to die happily.”
rlm@2 557 “But... I don’t want her to die...” Kumiko whispered. She silently
rlm@2 558 berated herself. Her vision blurred as burning tears stung her eyes.
rlm@2 559 She clenched her fingernails into her palms in an effort to focus
rlm@2 560 past the tears. Meishi was right, the thought of living a life
rlm@2 561 without Megumi was a bleak as walking through an endless desert.
rlm@2 562 Megumi was her best friend, the girl that she loved. They were
rlm@2 563 partners. Neither was complete without the other.
rlm@2 564 “I don’t want her to, either. Please take good care of her for me.”
rlm@2 565 Hesitating for only a second, Meishi leaned down and kissed the
rlm@2 566 sleeping beauty, her firey red hair kissing Megumi’s beautiful blonde
rlm@2 567 hair. Her heart surged as she felt Tomoyo in the all too brief kiss.
rlm@2 568 She smiled sadly down at her love, her fingers trailing gently over
rlm@2 569 the blonde’s cheek as aquamarine eyes slowly blinked open.
rlm@2 570 Megumi strained to make out the blur in front of her as she finally
rlm@2 571 woke up. “Kumi?” her groggy voice asked. As her vision slowly
rlm@2 572 cleared, the figure that had been above her faded away. If she didn’t
rlm@2 573 feel so sick, she may have thought there had been someone over her a
rlm@2 574 moment before. “Kumi-chan?” she asked tiredly, trying to keep the
rlm@2 575 panic out of her voice as she searched desperately for the brunette.
rlm@2 576 “I’m right here!” Kumiko said quickly, taking Megumi’s cold hand as
rlm@2 577 she sat next to her on the bed. The jealousy she had felt when the
rlm@2 578 sorceress had kissed her best friend quickly faded away, replaced
rlm@2 579 with concern for her slowly awakening friend. “I’m right here, Megumi-
rlm@2 580 chan. I’ll always be right here for you.” She still didn’t know quite
rlm@2 581 what was going on with Meishi or what she had in mind, but that
rlm@2 582 hardly mattered at the moment. It didn’t even matter if she was
rlm@2 583 Sakura or just a dream. All that mattered was her best friend and
rlm@2 584 what lay before her.
rlm@2 585 Megumi offered a weak smile before coughing for a few moments. “I
rlm@2 586 know, Kumi. It’s part of why I love you so much.” She didn’t know
rlm@2 587 what had happened, but at least Kumiko wasn’t mad at her anymore. She
rlm@2 588 didn’t know how much more of that she could have taken before just
rlm@2 589 dying of a broken heart. Wet, cold tears splattered against her
rlm@2 590 cheeks from up above. Her arms wrapped around the brunette’s waist,
rlm@2 591 even though they felt like overcooked noodles.
rlm@2 592 Leaning down on top of her best friend, Kumiko kissed Megumi softly
rlm@2 593 again and again, sobbing quietly as she did. “I love you so much...
rlm@2 594 I’ll always love you... I promise... I promise we’ll always be
rlm@2 595 together... No matter where we are...” she whispered, giving Megumi’s
rlm@2 596 lips more feathery kisses.
rlm@2 597 “I know... I know, Kumi. Always.”
rlm@2 598
rlm@2 599