Escaping Reality

By: Megori

Author Notes: This is an original fanfiction created by me, otherwise, known as a story I suppose. Everything and everyone is an original piece of work created by me, so please avoid stealing anything from this story. Also, my inspiration for this story was created by watching “Autumn Story” a Korean Drama, watching a Korean Pop music video by Kiss and just bits of depression. Anyway, enjoy and please do tell me what you think.

“C-cancer?! Are you sure?” Her dark blue eyes were full of terror as the doctor nodded. “You’re one hundred percent sure?” She heard herself whisper softly.

“I’m sorry, but according to the test results and x-rays, you came out positive,” the doctor replied slowly.

Her body turned rigid as long strands of her beautifully black hair fell over her shoulder. The tears stung her eyes as she grasped tightly upon her heart, gasping for breath. She felt a strong crushing pain suddenly arising in her chest as her free hand grasped tighter onto her prescription paper.

“Ma’am, are you all right?” the doctor asked as he leaned forward, trying to help her.

She nodded, lightly pushing his hands away from her. “I-I’m fine, thank you.” Her breathing calmed a little as she finally looked up to him again and smiled faintly. “My-my family doesn’t have to know yet do they?”

“If you were under eighteen years of age, we would’ve had to call them and tell your parents but being twenty-one years of age, we believe you have that choice,” he replied.

She thanked him as calmly as she could and left the small ivory colored office. As she walked, she stumbled to and fro slightly. Trembling madly, her hand continued to grasp her heart. I’ll be fine. There’s no need to worry anyone about it. Father doesn’t need to find out...

Her legs came to a stop and her breathing calmed as she caught sight of the sign that read “Prescriptions.” She paused uneasily as she felt the paper in her other hand. Taking in a massive breath, she approached the lady at the desk with a bright smile.

“Good afternoon, how may I help you ma’am?” the lady greeted, smiling in return.

Trembling still, she handed the paper forward. “Uh, I’m Matsuya, Chidori Matsuya. I’d like to get my prescription please.”

“Of course, give me a moment to get it please,” the lady replied beaming still. She turned around and left the front counter.

Chidori uneasily reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. Shaking terribly, she managed to uncap it and bring it up to her mouth. “F-father said grandmother had leukemia as well...but since her and grandfather’s divorce, he hasn’t talked to her again...” She trembled madly as she recapped the bottle and slid it gently back into the bag.

She felt a deep sinking pressure-like feeling in her chest. Instantly, she placed her palm against it, trying to decrease the increasing pressure she was feeling. Taking a deep breath, she mentally slapped herself to snap out of it. “Come on, its not like I’m going to die right now...”

“Here you are ma’am,” the lady stated as she returned to the counter a few minutes later. “It didn’t take as long as most did because Dr. Sasaki had remembered to order it beforehand.”

Chidori took the bag and nodded thankfully at the lady before turning to leave the hospital. Without even looking at it, she quickly slid her medication into her bag. “I should get home and clean up...” She increased her speed as she came towards the park entrance.

“Oy! Wait! Hold up!” came the shouting of a man’s voice. The man was stuffing papers into his bag while shouting at the bus he had just missed. As he turned the corner of the park entrance wall, he rammed straight into Chidori.

Both of them fell to the floor, Chidori falling first and scraping her arms against the sidewalk. The man shook his head lightly before realizing he had his knee right in between her legs. Instantly, he snapped up to a standing position.

“I-I’m sorry...I didn’t mean to...” he began.

Chidori sat up, a bit dazed still. She winced as she finally felt the pain from her bleeding arms. “It’s all right...don’t worry about it...”

The man kneeled down in front of her, pulling out a piece of cloth from his bag. “Here...let me wrap your wound for you.” Swiftly, he took her arm and wrapped it comfortably with the cloth. “I’m really sorry...uh...” He scratched his head as he felt uncomfortable since he didn’t know her name.

“Matsuya...Chidori Matsuya,” Chidori replied as she stood up and patted the dust from her clothes and turning to him with a smile.

“Chidori?! Is, is that really you?” he replied, shock covering his face completely.

Chidori raised a brow curiously. “Eh...oh my gosh! Haintsu! What are you doing here?”

“I’ve recently moved back here. I’m going to the university here,” Haintsu replied ecstatically. His dark brown hair still as messy as ever.

Instantly, Chidori threw her arms around him. “Oh my goodness! It’s been about eight years! I’ve missed you so much!”

“Heh, I’ve missed you too! Like I told you before I left, no one can ever replace you. I had lost your new phone number and address however...so I wasn’t able to stay in contact,” Haintsu replied glumly. “I recently found your address and was just about to head there now.”

Chidori let go and smiled brightly towards him. “Eh, don’t worry about it. Meh, it’s not like I’ve got anything special that’s happened to me.” Unless you include finding out that you’ve got cancer is special...

“Hm, why don’t we go out for some sweets? Well, if you aren’t busy with something else that is. It’d be great to catch up and of course, it’ll be my treat,” Haintsu suggested smiling faintly.

Nodding ecstatically, Chidori agreed. “Of course! You’ve got to fill me in on everything in the past eight years!”

“Aha and you’ve yet to tell me about how your years without me has been,” he replied, grinning from ear to ear. “About your past crushes and most current love...”

“Eh?!” Chidori punched him upon the arm as she turned her head away from him. “You know as well as I do that I don’t have time for it. Besides, when it comes, it’ll come itself. I haven’t tried to look for it yet.”

“Oh come on Chidori...not even a little?” Haintsu mumbled, faking a disappointed look as he rubbed the spot where he was hit. “You can’t be that same little tomboy you used to be can you? Always beating up on the guys and such...”

“Don’t make me prove it to you that I’m still going to kick butt,” Chidori replied with a grin. She held out her fist in front of his face. She turned back towards the street and put her fist back down. “Nah, seriously, I don’t think I’d ever beat up anything again.”

“Oh?”

Chidori sighed softly to herself.

“So um, how are your parents?” Haintsu questioned randomly, trying to ease the tense rising between the two.

Chidori sighed once again. She let her arms hang loosely beside her with her right arm constantly hitting against her bag. “They’ve filed for divorce about two years ago.”

Haintsu turned to face her, shocked and speechless. His jaw dropped open and stayed open for who knows how long.

“Eh...my mom had brought her boyfriend home with her one night while drunk. He picked a fight with my father...and then father broke his nose with a measly punch. Mother, although drunk, announced she hated him. That he was the cause of all of her misery, so she left with her boyfriend. That was two years ago though. I haven’t seen or talked to her since then. She took Ayumi and Sasuke with her,” Chidori mumbled almost inaudibly. “She had never liked me anyway...so I had expected she’d take them and not me. I’m happy with father though. We’re doing so much better now.” She turned to him and smiled as brightly as she could without letting the tears fall.

Haintsu stopped abruptly. He kept his stare towards the ground, unsure of how to help or what to do at all.

“Haintsu?”

He looked up and saw her in front of him. She had stopped as well with a questioning look of ‘I’m all right, really’ on her face. He took a step forward and placed her in his arms tightly. He had always been there to comfort her in the past and to her, him being here again to comfort her made it feel like a dream come true. Tears slowly began to slide down her pale cheeks.

“Chidori, you know how special you are. If your mother could see that too, she’d love you as much as I do,” Haintsu replied.

Chidori choked on a sob as the word ‘love’ was spoken. “Big brother Haintsu now finally tells me he loves me...”

Haintsu let out a soft chuckle as he pulled away slightly. “Big brother Haintsu has always loved you but was afraid you’d beat the crap out of him since you had done it to all of the other guys who has said it to you. Of course, I love you as a sister only though.”

“Of course, that’s what it had best mean anyway,” Chidori replied, still sobbing in between her words. She sighed heavily as she wiped away her tears. “Ne, why don’t we go visit my father? I’ll make us some tea there. I bet he’s lonely and maybe, if you don’t already have a place to stay, you can stay with him too.”

“Oh?”

Chidori turned to Haintsu with a faint smile. “We live close to the university you’ll be attending. However, the one I’m attending is in the opposite direction and takes at least three hours of walking to get to it. That’s why father made me move into the dormitories.”

“Oh, is that so? You sure your father won’t mind?” Haintsu replied curiously.

Chidori nodded as they turned the corner. “It’s right up there.” She pointed towards a row of houses not too far away.

“Eh, how did you know which university I was attending though?” Haintsu replied pondering the answer to himself.

Chidori pointed towards his bag. “It’s printed out on your school bag idiot.” She bursted out laughing, though Haintsu was able to tell it was a fake laughter.

“We’re here,” Chidori proclaimed as they came up to a rather small pale blue house.

The front garden was beautifully planted with various flowers and surrounded by a slightly old bronze gate. The path leading up to the front door was short but fairly well decorated with perfectly cut grass on each side and various wild flower beds along the edge.

“It’s beautiful,” Haintsu mumbled in complete awe. “Your father keeps the house looking this beautiful?”

Chidori let out a chuckle. “Well, he needed a hobby, or so he said, so he took up gardening. It appears to be suiting him rather well for the moment. However, I’m afraid things are going to begin to change a bit if his condition continues.”

“Condition?” Haintsu replied as he barely heard the word escape Chidori’s lips.

She sighed slightly and nodded. “You’ll see for yourself once we get in.” She slipped in the key and slowly opened the door. “Father! I came to visit. Guess what too? Haintsu has come back too!”

“Haintsu?” came a soft muffled voice of a male. From the living room of the house, a man, about his mid fifties rolled into the hallway in a wheelchair. His hair was beginning to gray, however, it had appeared to be falling off more than anything else. “Goodness me! It’s been so long Haintsu! You’ve been well no?”

Unable to speak, seeing how this once ever so healthy man could oddly end up in a wheelchair and looking more like he was eighty and ready to die than someone in their mid fifties. “Uh, I’ve been good Mr. Matsuya and yourself?”

“Come on in and sit down won’t you? All of this traveling must be tiring. Prepare some tea and biscuits won’t you Chidori? I’d love to but...” Chidori’s father replied smiling faintly.

Chidori nodded as she removed her shoes and wheeled her father back into the living room. She reentered the hallway and directed Haintsu to move and stop standing as if he was nailed to the ground. After he finally went in and sat down with her father, Chidori left to the kitchen to prepare the tea and biscuits.

“You’ve been well haven’t you Mr. Matsuya?” Haintsu replied a bit shocked still.

Chidori’s father laughed softly as he trembled madly to get his glasses on. “I’ve been as well as well can be son. Five months ago, I’ve been diagnosed with leukemia, but never before in my life have I felt so alive.”

“Really?” Haintsu replied, more shocked and realizing how rude he had just sounded. “I mean...”

“Ha! It’s all right Haintsu. It’s just, one doesn’t know how precious life is until they’ve almost lost it,” her father replied once again. “I’ve learned to enjoy everything I have and everything I have is Chidori. Watching her strive for her dreams is my sole source of pride and joy.”

Haintsu remained silent, unsure of how to reply. He wasn’t sure if he was to feel empathy for the two or feel happy. He couldn’t compare to them as his parents were still together and very quite healthy.

“You’ll be attending the nearby university, right? If this small place suits you, feel free to stay here. You’re family to us too Haintsu and you’re always welcome in my home,” Kakashi replied, smiling as he fumbled with his glasses, still trying to get them on.

“Father!” Chidori exclaimed as she entered the room with a tray of tea and biscuits. She placed them onto the table in the center and rushed to help her father with his glasses. “You know better than to strain yourself to...”

“I know sweetie, but father was just trying to get a better view of Haintsu. My vision isn’t as good as it used to be you know, “he replied jokingly. “Besides, the doctor’s said a lot of things, including that I was supposed to have died last month, but I didn’t. Heh, so I’ve come to believe I should be allowed to do what I think I can.”

Chidori frowned, disagreeing with her father. “Father!”

“I’m sorry Chidori. I was merely trying to state a joke. I guess I shouldn’t mention that again. I’m really sorry sweetie,” Kakashi replied as he placed a trembling hand upon his daughter’s shoulder.

Chidori sighed faintly with a smile. “It’s all right father. Here.” She reached for the tray and distributed the two cups of tea to herself and Haintsu while handing a cup of juice to her father. She placed the plate of biscuits and sugar cookies onto the table between Haintsu and her father.

“Have you found a place to stay yet Haintsu?” Kakashi asked curiously after he sipped a bit of his juice. His hands trembled slightly as he returned the cup to the table.

Haintsu smiled and shook his head. “I was on my way to Chidori’s dorm and then uh, I haven’t thought about a place to stay yet...” He scratched his head, realizing how stupid he must have sounded.

Kakashi let out a soft chuckle. “Stay here with me then sonny. I’d truly love your company. Chidori only gets to visit me once a week. It truly does get lonely.”

“You sure you won’t mind Mr. Matsuya?” Haintsu replied curiously.

Kakashi smiled and nodded. “Not one bit son. I’ve got a spare room prepared for guests. You can take that room.”

“Thank you so much!” Haintsu replied gleefully. “I’m so grateful to the both of you!”

Kakashi chuckled once again. However, before he was able to say anything, he began to cough terribly.

“Father!” Chidori exclaimed as she moved forward quickly and took hold of her father, patting him lightly on the back. “Father, are you all right?”

His coughing turned into gagging until finally he threw up a bit of blood. He sighed hopelessly as he wiped a trail of blood falling from his mouth. “Ah, sorry about that. Stupid coughs and gags that come every so often.”

“Father...” Chidori whispered worriedly. Her hands trembled terribly as she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the blood. “Let me take you to bed father.”

“Really now Chidori, I think I’m quite fine. I don’t need to sleep yet. It’s still broad daylight,” Kakashi retorted half-heartedly.

Chidori sighed as she apologized to Haintsu and wheeled her father out of the living and into his room. After a few minutes, she returned with a faint smile. “I got him to finally sleep. Now, why don’t we go get your bags and show you to your room?”

“Ah, actually, I haven’t brought any of my things with me yet,” Haintsu replied with a grin. “I was told to check out the city and area first along with the school. Mother will be dropping off my belongings tomorrow.”

Chidori widened her smile. “Oh all right then. Well, I’ll show you to your room then and then you can call your mother and tell her you’re staying with us.”

Haintsu nodded in agreement as he followed her up the stairs to his room.

“Miss Matsuya may I see you in the hall?”

Chidori looked up from her desk as the counselor called her. She stood up, in the middle of class as she quietly followed him out. “Yes Mr. Takahashi?”

“The hospital just called...” he slowly began as he pulled out a piece of paper. “Your father was just rushed to the emergency room a few minutes ago. He has fallen into a coma.”

Chidori gasped as tears began to fill her eyes. Her hands trembled severely as she tried to let the news process through her mind completely. “Y-you’re not serious are you Mr. Takahashi?”

“We’ve already got your excused absence form ready if you’d like to leave school to see how he’s doing,” he replied, ignoring her question slightly. “I know it must be really hard on you, but please, don’t lose hope in him or yourself.”

She nodded, her way of thanking him and grasped tightly onto her bag as she headed out. As she stepped outside of her school, she instantly went into a run. The hospital was across the city, hours away by foot, but she didn’t really care at the moment. She didn’t want to wait for the bus at the bus stop. Father, please...just please be fine. How will I go on without you? How?!

As she neared the hospital, she ran into someone but was grabbed before being able to fall. As she shook herself and looked up, she realized it was Haintsu, also out of breath like her. “Haintsu?!”

“They told you as well?” Haintsu replied worriedly. It had only been half a month since his arrival and already, Chidori’s father was worse than ever.

Chidori nodded. “I came right after I was told about it. Heh, I ran the whole way...” She continued to tremble heavily as Haintsu tightened his grip on her.

“It’ll be fine Chidori. Your father will get better,” Haintsu mumbled quietly. “I bet he’s doing better now. Let’s go in together and check up on him.”

She nodded as she followed closely behind him, walking into the hospital. Haintsu walked up to the front desk, shaking lightly as Chidori grasped tighter onto him.

“Um, Mr. Kakashi Matsuya is a patient here in this hospital right ma’am?” he asked in a muffled voice, trying not to choke and let the tears out.

The lady at the front desk smiled at him. “Hold on a minute sir. I’ll check for you.” She typed quickly and after a few seconds, looked back up to him and smiled. “Yes he is sir. He’s currently residing in room 407 on the third floor. Have a lovely visit.”

Haintsu thanked her softly as he led Chidori to the elevator and stepped in after her. “Don’t worry...” He patted her hand on his arm softly. “It’ll be fine. You just watch...” Slowly, he began to grasp onto her hand as she released his arm.

The elevator came to a stop and they stepped out slowly. Haintsu looked right and left before deciding that room 407 was to the right. As they walked passed five doors, they finally came upon room 407. Chidori trembled as she placed her hands upon the handle. Tears slowly slid down her pale cheeks. She took in a deep breath before finally being able to open the door, closely followed by Haintsu, who was still holding onto her other hand.

“Ah, you must be his daughter Matsuya Chidori, am I correct?” the doctor in the room asked as she saw them approach her.

Chidori nodded softly as she tried to let out a ‘yes’ but found out she couldn’t.

“You’re father had earlier fallen into a coma after his blood pressure dropped dramatically. However, he’s doing slightly better at this moment. On the other hand, he’s still in his coma. I’m afraid we cannot do much for him from this point on. If he had chosen to do the bone marrow transplant when we offered it...” she stated softly. She returned her gaze to the clipboard in her hands and finished writing something before looking up at them again. “There is a possibility he can wake back up in minutes...”

“A possibility?” Haintsu retorted, raising a brow questionably. “What are you trying to say by using that useless word?!”

The doctor’s eyes began to sadden a bit more. “I’m sorry sir, but there is a chance he can pass away in this coma of his too. It’s a miracle he’s lived this long since being diagnosed with this cancer without the bone marrow transplant, but no person can live forever. Also, miracles don’t last forever either.”

Completely speechless, Chidori turned to Haintsu and cried as she held his arms. Haintsu slowly put his arms around her, trying his best to comfort her and stay strong for her. After about ten minutes of sobbing in his arms, Chidori finally let go of him and turned around, looking at the ground.

“I-I’m sorry Haintsu. I shouldn’t have done that,” Chidori whispered hoarsely. She choked on an oncoming sob as she wiped away more tears. “But thanks for not complaining...and for being with me.”

Haintsu smiled faintly as he handed her his handkerchief. “Just like the old days Chidori...I’m going to always be here for you. You can’t get rid of me no matter what you do.”

“Thank you so much,” Chidori mumbled as she took the handkerchief and smiled weakly at him. “Just as you cannot get rid of me.”

After a few more minutes, Chidori pulled up a chair and sat down beside her father. She took hold of his hand and quietly, Haintsu left the room.

“Father, you’ll wake back up won’t you? You won’t leave me here all alone now will you? Please, don’t leave me here alone. I love you so much father, please don’t leave me,” Chidori whispered, mostly to herself. “Don’t be so selfish father...don’t leave me...”

For the next few hours, Chidori sat quietly beside her father, crying, wiping her tears and softly whispering a prayer to the Lord to help save her father. She tightened her grip on her father’s hand as she began sobbing harder than before. Her head was perched lightly upon her hand, which was gripped tightly around his. The area below their hands was soaked as she continued sobbing harder and harder.

“Do you hate me father? Do you hate me so much that you are going to leave me alone?” Chidori whispered after a silent prayer.

She choked as she tried to speak more while sobbing. After a minute of constant coughing, she began to breakout and sweat heavily. She pulled her bag up to her knee immediately and pulled out her medication bottle. Tears streamed her face as she looked upon the bottle distastefully. Her heart yearned to throw it across the room, but she knew she needed it because she, too, was diagnosed with the same cancer her father was currently dying from. She grit her teeth tightly together as she uncapped it and poured out two pills. After swallowing the two pills, she returned immediately to holding the hand of her father.

Suddenly, a light knock came from behind her. As Chidori turned around, she smiled faintly though the tears continued to fall. “H-Haintsu?”

“I figured you were hungry. Last meal you probably ate was breakfast, which was about nine hours ago, so I brought you some dinner. Why don’t you break for a while? I’ll watch over your father until you get back all right?” Haintsu suggested as he handed her a nicely packaged box. He had left home for a while and apparently, he had left to cook her something to eat.

Chidori nodded as she thanked him for the meal and left out of the room. As she closed the door after herself, Haintsu took a seat where Chidori once sat and also took a hold of Kakashi’s hand.

“Mr. Matsuya,” he began slowly, already sobbing madly. “For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve always been like a second father to me. I cannot thank you enough for the love you’ve shown me, even though I was not your flesh and blood. Please, come back to Chidori and me, won’t you? You won’t let the two of us go already will you? It would break my heart to see you go.”

He choked once again as he stopped to blow his nose. Squeezing Kakashi’s hand, Haintsu whispered a prayer to help send a miracle to save Kakashi.

As Chidori sat down at a table in the lobby, she began to sob softly to herself. Even if you go father, I’ll be joining you soon. Mother, Ayumi and Sasuke won’t even know about you... They, how could mother have left you when you dedicated your entire life to her?! Father...

As she slowly untied the box, a note slipped out. Wiping away a tear, she picked it up and read it.

You’re heaven sent! Don’t forget that, okay Chidori? I’ll always be here for you. Your own guardian angel...so don’t forget, you’re not alone. You never were and you never will be.

-Haintsu Tanaka

Chidori smiled weakly as she refolded the small note and placed it in her bag. She picked up her chopsticks and took off the lid of the box to reveal her most favorite dish.

“Chidori...” came the soft whisper of Haintsu’s voice. “Chidori...? Good morning my heavenly lover!”

As the last sentence passed through Chidori’s ear, she snapped up and glared at him, even though her vision was still very blurry.

“I knew that would’ve gotten your attention,” Haintsu stated gleefully. He handed forward another beautifully packaged box. “Here. It’s your breakfast. You haven’t been eating much lately, so I made a lot. You better eat all of it too because if you don’t eat, you won’t have the energy to watch over your father. You’ll be snoring away and he’ll be awake laughing with me at you’re cute little face while you sleep.”

Chidori frowned as she took the box from him. “Oh aren’t you just mister hilarious now.” She rubbed her eyes, clearing her vision.

“I’ll be down in the lobby waiting for you. I decided we’d eat breakfast together today. You can go clean up first. I’ll get us a table,” Haintsu replied, smiling wider than usual. “Two and a half weeks of just bringing you food and not watching you eat is making me nervous. Besides, its not everyday someone like me gets to eat with such a beautiful lady.”

Chidori glared at him once again. However, as she saw the big smile on his face, she couldn’t help but smile herself. “Fine, just go down there already. I’ll meet up with you in a few minutes.”

As she finished washing herself up, she headed down the stairs and towards the lobby. She spotted Haintsu, who was waving ecstatically to her to come quickly. She let out a faint smile and walked over to him as slowly as she could.

“Oh come on Chidori!” Haintsu proclaimed as he rolled his eyes. With his large strides, he came up to her quickly and dragged her towards the table he had chosen. Pulling out a chair, he seated Chidori comfortably before going to the seat across from her and taking his own seat. “What shall we discuss this beautiful morning as we blissfully eat our breakfast?”

Chidori raised a brow questioningly as she looked up at him from her food. After thinking it over, she decided it was best to not ask anything that pertained to his strange choice of words. “Hm, why don’t the great Haintsu tell me about his past love life eh? I do so fondly remember you asking me of mine and my ever so grand reply. Now, why don’t you fill me in on what I’ve missed out about you in these oh-so-lonely eight years apart?”

“Ha! You are too much Chidori,” Haintsu replied. He chuckled gleefully before finally deciding to answer. “Well, I’ve had a few relationships I guess. None of them had ever lasted more than three months. Heh, I had even considered marrying one of them!”

“Oh?” Chidori replied, becoming more drawn into the conversation. A smile crossed her face as she tried to imagine how this girl looked like. “How so?”

Haintsu sighed as he swallowed the food in his mouth. “She was everything I had ever wanted in my soul mate. Charm, beauty, elegance, manners...”

Chidori bursted out laughing. She instantly covered her mouth to prevent any food from flying and to stifle her laughter. “Gosh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh...”

“Aha, very funny isn’t it?” Haintsu sighed once again as he poked at a piece of broccoli. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll find my soul mate one of these days. She’ll be perfect in every aspect.”

Immediately, Chidori stopped laughing. “That’s great to hear Haintsu but, what if...” Chidori placed her chopsticks down and looked at her food, however her mind wandered off into its own little world. “What if you’re too late and she’s not here anymore?”

“...meaning?” Haintsu questioned, slightly unsure of what was being asked.

Chidori looked up to him and smiled. “Eh, forget it. Don’t mind my silly questions. I’ve just been doing a lot of thinking I guess.” She picked up her chopsticks once again and began to eat as well. “Mm, its delicious. You’re a wonderful cook Haintsu.”

“Thanks,” Haintsu replied quietly.

As she returned her chopsticks to her food, she let them go once again and swallowed the food already in her mouth. “Do you know, Haintsu, if I were to die today, I would regret so many things? If I were to suddenly fall sick and become unable to take care of myself, I would regret so much. Really, really, I don’t think I’d know how to go on.”

“Chidori?”

“Haintsu, if, for some reason, my eyes had been harmed and I couldn’t see anymore, what would you do? Or what if I was dying from cancer?”

“I’d give my eyes to you. I would rather have you see with my eyes and have myself be blind than to see you hurt or saddened in any way. If you had cancer, I’d do everything in my power to help you get better.”

Chidori turned to him and smiled faintly. She shook her head lightly as she placed her chopsticks in her hands again. Softly, she let out a chuckle and whispered a ‘thanks for not asking Haintsu’ to him.

“Father, weren’t you always the one who said ‘when a man can’t even wash himself, its when he needs to kick himself in the behind and get back on track’? Well, you haven’t been able to wash yourself lately,” Chidori stated to herself as she washed her father’s right arm.

She sighed as she dipped the cloth into the bowl of water and squeezed out the excess water. Once again, she returned the cloth to her father’s arm and began washing it again. Silently, she began to hum to herself.

Out of the silence, a steady beep suddenly began to go off. Chidori snapped rigid immediately as her hands froze holding onto her father’s arm. No, no! Please... She slowly turned her head towards the heart monitor. Immediately, the cloth fell to the floor and Chidori threw herself upon her father’s body, wrapping her arms around him.

“Father! No!”

Tears streamed down her face as doctors rushed in, followed immediately by Haintsu. As the doctors came up to the bed, they pulled Chidori off of her father. Haintsu instantly took her into his arms and she sobbed. The doctors stood around examining a few things before finally turning to the two of them.

“I’m sorry. You’re father’s gone now.”

“WHAT?!” Haintsu exclaimed as he took a step closer to the doctor.

“He was at a steady blood pressure in his coma, but it had suddenly dropped dramatically, causing his death.”

At the word ‘death’, Chidori sobbed even louder, grasping tighter onto Haintsu’s shirt. “No... Father, no! Why?!”

“It’s okay Chidori, don’t worry,” Haintsu whispered in a muffled voice. Tears slowly began down his face as well.

As the boat slowly made its way across the river, Chidori began to stand up, unwrapping the box containing the ashes of her father slowly. Her fingers trembled, making it even harder to untie the knot. Tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision as she finally freed the box from the cloth.

“Father, I never got to tell you how much you meant to me. I was never able to tell you how much I appreciated you. Because of you father, life was much more bearable...”

She dipped her hand into the box and let a handful of ash into her palm. Slowly, she lifted it up and out of the box. As her arm came to a stop at the edge of the boat, the ash began to depart from her fingers.

“Take care of yourself father. You’ll be in my heart always. You supported me in every way that you could and I love you so much for that.”

She dipped her hand into the box once again as her palm filled up with ash for the second time. She let her hand slowly drape over the edge of the boat this time while the wind blew away the ashes of her father from her hand.

How will I go on without you in my life? My entire life, you were the only one besides me, from start till now. How can I go on without you?

From the shore, Haintsu wiped away his tears as best as he could. “I’m sorry Chidori. I’m so sorry I couldn’t do anything to help your father get better...”

He balled his fists tightly as he gritted his teeth together. His mother, who was standing behind him, stepped forward and took a hold of his arm softly.

“Son, some things in life cannot be controlled. You cannot blame yourself for something you did not cause. It was merely his time to go,” she whispered softly.

Haintsu turned his gaze away from Chidori and towards the sand below him. “But he was her father. She has no one left! Her mother refused to let Ayumi and Sasuke attend the funeral. She has no one left to turn to...”

“She has you doesn’t she? You say you’re her guardian angel, yet you claim she has no one left?” his mother replied questioningly.

Haintsu turned to her, tears still streaking his face. “Eh?”

“Be there to comfort her in the next few months son. This is when she needs you more than anything. Don’t let her down. Don’t let her be alone in this world. Let her know she’s still got someone to lean on. Be with her. Be her guardian angel,” she replied with a faint smile as she patted her son’s shoulder. “She’ll be fine if you just don’t give up hope on her. She may isolate herself from everything, but always be there to help her. She’ll eventually find out that she’s not alone and she’ll move on from there.”

Haintsu smiled faintly towards his mother as he patted her hand gently before looking back towards Chidori, who was still spreading the ashes of her father. “I hope so...”

“Ne, Chidori, eat just a bit won’t you?” Haintsu asked as he looked up from his bowl of rice to hers. “It won’t help you to starve yourself... Come on, we’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

Chidori nodded as she slowly picked up her chopsticks. Her eyes remained emotionless as she dropped her chopsticks instantly into her bowl, as if her arm lost all of its muscles. “Thank you for the food... I’ll excuse myself now.” She placed her chopsticks horizontally across her bowl neatly and left the table swiftly without even turning back.

Haintsu sighed hopelessly as he too placed his chopsticks in the same position as hers. Slowly, he began to clean up, mumbling silently to himself while trying to hear anything that Chidori could possibly be doing.

As Chidori came into her room, she sat down. The day her father died, she had returned to the house to live with Haintsu. She wasn’t sure of the reason in doing so herself, but to her, doing so just felt like the right thing to do. She sighed as she looked up to a portrait of herself and her father a few years back when she had taken him to the amusement park in Tokyo.

Suddenly, she felt a thrusting force in her chest as she leaned forward instantly and covered her mouth. Her eyes widened in fear as she saw the red liquid oozing from between her fingers. Immediately, she grabbed the handkerchief on her dresser and wiped the blood dripping down her mouth. Taking her medication with her, she slowly slipped out of her room and quietly into the bathroom.

“This can’t be happening...” she mumbled quietly, the handkerchief tightly being scrubbed between her hands. “This can’t be real...”

“Chidori? Are you all right?” Haintsu called from outside the door as he knocked lightly.

Chidori looked up immediately, fear running through her body. As she tried to reply, she felt a huge lump in her throat. “I-I’m fine...”

As she turned back to look at the cloth in her hands, she felt another force in her chest as she once again saw the red liquid emerging from her mouth. The liquid fell directly atop the cloth, making its semi-white color stained with red once again. Slowly, tears streamed down her face as she took a paper cup from the shelf and two of her medication pills. Filling the cup up with faucet water, she placed the pills in her mouth and swallowed a the cup of water after washing her mouth out from the blood.

Heh, this is it. My life is going to end just like father’s did. Father, I’m coming with you soon. You’ll wait for me won’t you?

Tears streamed down her face even more as she continued to look at the bloodstained cloth. Picking it up, she squeezed all of the excess water from it and threw it into the trash. She sighed, placed her medication bottle into her pocket and opened the door, smiling faintly at Haintsu, who was standing outside waiting. Haintsu smiled back at her as she left towards her room.

Stepping into her room once more, she opened her top dresser drawer and placed her medication into the far back corner, underneath her other belongings. She slowly changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. She sighed, staring up at the empty ceiling for several minutes.

“Chidori? May I come in?”

“Huh? Oh, uh, sure.”

Haintsu slowly opened Chidori’s bedroom door as he first let his head in to peek on her. He grinned innocently, just as a child would. As soon as Chidori smiled faintly back at him, he pushed the door open completely and stepped fully inside.

“Ah, uh, well, I just wanted to say goodnight to you,” Haintsu replied, laughing slightly with his right arm behind his head.

“Thank you.”

Haintsu walked over to her, still smiling. “Here, let me tuck you in.” He pulled the covers over her and patted her blanket lightly. As he looked from her blanket back up to her, he blushed and turned away instantly. “Well, uh, goodnight and sweet dreams Chidori. I’ll make your favorite for breakfast tomorrow. How’s that sound?”

“It sounds great,” Chidori replied faintly.

Haintsu turned back to her, blushing like mad still. “Ah well then, goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight Haintsu.”

“Chidori?! Chidori?! Where are you?” Haintsu proclaimed as he ran throughout the house in search of Chidori. After rampaging through the rooms, he ran to the front door, where he noticed her shoes missing. “Chidori...” Slipping his shoes on, he ran out of the house into the raining morning. “Chidori! Chidori! Answer me! Where are you?! Chidori!”

He ran passed the old coffee shop, where she and he had their first drink together in eight years. His tears slowly began to mix with the rain dripping down his face. You idiot! Where could you have gone?

“Haintsu! Haintsu wait for me!” came the shrieking voice of a ten year old girl with long black hair and dark blue eyes. “You’re so mean! I said wait for me! I can’t keep up with you! WAIT!”

The boy running several feet in front of her turned around and grinned. “Sorry! You’re going to have to keep up with me this time!” He picked up his speed and disappeared into the horizon.

“Haintsu!” the girl called out once again. She suddenly tripped along the sidewalk and fell, causing a large cut upon her knee. The baby blue ribbon in her hair fell into the small pool of blood on the floor. She winced in pain, seeing the large amount of blood oozing out of her knee. Tears streamed her cheeks as she tried to wipe away the blood. “Haintsu...you meanie...”

“Chidori? Hey Chidori...?” the boy stated as he finally stopped and turned around, seeing no one appearing behind him. He sighed hopelessly as he slowly began to walk back towards the direction he came from. “Chidori! Where’d you go? Chidori!”

As he came upon the corner street where he had left her, he looked towards the ground and saw the pool of blood containing Chidori’s blue hair ribbon. “CHIDORI!” He ran up to it, picking up the ribbon, which was dripping blood. With worry running through his entire body, he looked up and began shouting her name, running in the direction he saw a trail of blood. “Darn it...why didn’t I wait up for her?! Darn it!”

“Chidori!” Haintsu shouted as he ran across the small bridge hovering above the river. As he looked down, he caught sight of a small female figure sitting by the river alone, a small pool of blood beside her. “Chidori!” He jumped off the side of the bridge and ran towards her. “Chidori! Are you all right?”

The little girl looked over to him and nodded, drying her tears. “You came to back to look for me?”

“Of course I did idiot! I wouldn’t ever just leave you behind like that,” Haintsu replied as he held out the bloody ribbon. “You really had me worried there too. Here, let me look at that cut.” He kneeled down beside her and looked at the wound upon his friend’s knees. As he searched his pocket, he found a small pocket knife and cut a part of his sleeve off. He walked over to the edge of the river and dipped it into the water before returning to Chidori and washing the dried blood from her knee. After he washed all of the blood from her knee, he ripped off another piece of his sleeve and wrapped it around her wound. “There, that should do it.”

“Thank you Haintsu,” Chidori replied, smiling at him with tears in her eyes. “I had known you wouldn’t leave me.”

Haintsu smiled faintly at her as he looked away towards the sky. He placed his hands in his pocket and turned back to her, tears brimming his eyes. “I’m really sorry I didn’t wait up for you Chidori. I shouldn’t have gone ahead like that.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. You can’t wait up for me all the time. I understand that. I’m just happy you came back,” Chidori replied.

Haintsu smiled as he sat down beside her. “I’d never leave you Chidori. We’ll be friends until the day we die. We’ll die together too won’t we? I never want to leave you...not ever.”

As the rain began to fall harder, Haintsu turned the corner and ran towards the park. Where did you go Chidori? His vision began to blur slightly as more of his tears began to mix with the rain dripping into his eyes from his hair. “CHIDORI!”

As he ran passed the park entrance, he caught sight of a black figure sitting alone in the rain on one of the swings. “Chidori?” He wiped his tears away, along with the rain and ran over to the figure. “Chidori!”

The figure looked up as it finally became clear to Haintsu that it was Chidori. She smiled faintly at him and began to swing herself slowly.

“What on earth are you doing here right now Chidori?!” Haintsu shouted partially angry as yet more tears fell from his eyes.

Chidori slowly began to swing her legs like a child. “Eh? Don’t worry Haintsu, I won’t get in trouble. Father knows I’m here, so he won’t yell at me like last time.” She turned back to him, sparks that were seen only in the eyes of a child appeared vividly in hers. “Why don’t we play in the sandbox when it dries up? I want to build the biggest sand castle ever!”

“Chidori...” Haintsu whispered, tears falling as quickly as the rain down his cheeks. He knelt down in front of her and wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t, don’t ever run away like that again you hear? You hear me? Don’t go off on your own without telling me like this! Don’t you know how worried I was?!”

Chidori slowly placed her arms upon his shoulders. “I’m sorry Haintsu. I just wanted to play at the park for a little bit. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I hope father isn’t mad at me too.”

“Chidori...?” Haintsu muttered as he pulled away slightly, looking at her questionably.

She smiled at him innocently. “I mean, if you were worried, father must’ve been scared to death. But I had really thought I told him I was going to the park this time. Eh, maybe he forgot I told him. What do you think Haintsu?”

“Hey, let’s go home all right Chidori? Breakfast is probably getting cold and I don’t want you to get sick,” Haintsu stated, not wanting to reply.

Chidori’s smile widened as she nodded childishly. “Yes! Let’s go! I’m really rather hungry too.”

Haintsu lowered his eyes, trying to hide the tears even though they were already wet from the rain. He placed her into his arms yet again and cried silently for a few minutes before standing up and leading her back home.

“Haintsu, you aren’t crying, are you?” Chidori stated quietly as they had almost reached the house and Haintsu’s sobs were getting a little bit louder.

Haintsu turned to her and smiled weakly. “No, it’s nothing Chidori. Don’t worry about it...there was just something caught in my throat.”

“Well, let’s go in before you get sick!” Chidori chirped blissfully. She dragged him into the house by his left arm and sat him on the couch. “I’ll get you a towel!”

Haintsu sighed as he looked down towards his hands, which were placed in between his legs. Tears began falling faster down his cheeks.

“I’m not sure if Chidori has ever told you Haintsu,” Kakashi began slowly as he picked up his cup of orange juice. “But for a long while after you had moved away, she just couldn’t move on. She began to hallucinate...as though she had returned to her childhood days of when you two were always together. It had lasted for almost one full year. I had thought I lost her completely...but one day, she came back to me. That’s how much you mean to her Haintsu. Please, if anything happens to me, I beg you, don’t leave her.”

Haintsu looked up from his plate of food. His eyes slowly began to tear up as he smiled faintly and nodded.

“I believe the reason she did what she had done was because reality was too harsh for her. You were the person she confided everything in. So of course, having you leave was something she’d never want. She was merely trying to escape reality,” Kakashi continued after taking a sip of his juice. He looked up to Haintsu and smiled brightly. “When the pain becomes too great, one must find a way to make it go away. As for Chidori, she creates her own little world of the past.”

“Haintsu?” Chidori stated questionably as she looked down at him with a towel in her hand. “Haintsu? What’s wrong?” As she knelt down beside him and touched his shoulder, Haintsu finally snapped back to reality.

He turned to her and smiled faintly. “Oh? What?”

“Here’s your towel,” Chidori replied, handing him the towel. “I’ll go set up the table for breakfast so you just stay put until I get it all ready!”

Haintsu watched as Chidori ran into the kitchen and then into the dining room several times to set up the table. As he watched, he noticed her bringing three plates and three sets of chopsticks.

“Haintsu, where’s my father? He will be joining us for breakfast won’t he? He hasn’t ever skipped breakfast before, but he’s not home right now is he? I hope he’s not out in the rain looking for me,” Chidori mumbled, somewhat talking to herself.

Haintsu turned back to the towel in his hands and twisted it as tightly as he could, trying to stop the tears from falling.

“Haintsu! You promised you’d never leave me! Please! Don’t go!” Chidori cried out as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.

Haintsu wiped away his tears as he too placed his arms around her. “I’m sorry Chidori. If I could, I’d stay with you, but my parents want to move. I’ll come back though, I promise. I’ll write to you everyday too, so you do the same won’t you?”

“No! Don’t go! Please!” Chidori cried harder as she tightened her grip on him. “You promised! Don’t go!”

Haintsu pulled her arms off him and placed his hands on her tear covered face. “Chidori, I’ll come back to you. I’ll write to you everyday...just think, it’ll be as if I’m on a long vacation. Just don’t forget me all right?”

“But you promised Haintsu! Now you’re going to leave me!” Chidori cried as she slapped his hands away from her face and ran away. “If you’re going to go, then just go! Leave me! GO!”

Haintsu watched painfully as Chidori disappeared into the horizon. Tears streamed down his face as he too turned around and began walking away from her. He felt his heart breaking. She was right. He had broken his promise.

“Let’s eat!” Chidori chirped from the dining room.

“Eh? Why would daddy ever leave and not let me know?” Chidori mumbled as she peeked through the closed window shade. “It’s been two weeks already and daddy hasn’t called, written or anything! Haintsu, I’m worried about him. What if something happened to him?”

Haintsu looked at her with tears in his eyes. I can’t let her continue living in her world of lies anymore. It hurts too much to watch her like this. I can’t let her go on living this way! He stood up and walked over to her. Slowly, he placed his arms around her. “Chidori, please, please wake up! Try to remember won’t you? I can’t stand seeing you like this anymore. I know it hurts, but please, stop acting as if we’re children again!”

“Haintsu, what are you talking about?” Chidori replied curiously.

Haintsu huffed heavily. “What the heck is wrong with you Chidori?! How can you forget that your father is dead?! Stop living in your world of lies! I can’t live in it with you! I can’t pretend as if nothing is wrong! Snap out of it and tell me what’s wrong!”

As he pulled away from her, she began to cry. Her sobs grew louder and louder as she pushed him away from her.

“No! Don’t say that to me! I don’t want to hear it! No!” Chidori cried out, covering her ears tightly. “I don’t want to hear it anymore!”

Haintsu looked down to her as tears fell from his eyes. “Chidori, please, I want to help you, but how can I when I don’t know what’s wrong with you?”

“You want to know what’s wrong with me?!” Chidori retorted as she looked up to him. Her face streamed with tears. “You want me to tell you what’s wrong with me? Fine! I’ll tell you! I’m dying! That life eating disease my father had, I have it too! I’m dying because of it! It’s too late for me to get a bone marrow transplant too and if it weren’t, it’s not like I have anyone who’ll match me! I’m DYING!” She began sobbing once again immediately after explaining it to him.

Haintsu fell backwards into the couch, not wanting to believe what he had just heard. Tears fell from his eyes as he sat blankly for a few minutes. Finally, he stood up and walked towards the door. “I-I’m going out for a while. I’ll be back whenever. Don’t stay up for me.”

“Haintsu...” Chidori mumbled as she looked up to him, her sobbing finally died down. “But, but it’s passed midnight...”

“I don’t care!” Haintsu shot back loudly as he opened the door and walked out.

Chidori grasped onto her chest tightly and ran to the bathroom as a trail of blood followed her to it. She leaned over the sink and just as she opened her mouth, a large pool of blood came spilling out. Tears fell endlessly down her cheeks. “Haintsu...” As she coughed, more blood dripped down her chin. “...I’m sorry.” She dropped her blood covered hand to her side, allowing blood to drip onto the floor. “I don’t want to be alone. Please don’t leave me.”

She fell to the side of the sink, the lower half of her face covered in blood, including both her hands and her shirt. Her right arm hung off the side of the sink and her left arm was wrapped around her legs.

As Chidori finished washing up early the next morning, she heard a loud crash from below. Slightly alarmed, she walked down the steps carefully only to find Haintsu stumbling to get to his feet. He was obviously drunk and completely out of it.

“Haintsu!” Chidori exclaimed as she ran over to him, trying to help him to his feet.

As Chidori’s hands took hold of Haintsu’s shoulder, he smacked them away, proclaiming that he was a man and didn’t need the help of a woman. He slowly got to his feet but quicker than his current reflexes, his foot slipped and he went crashing down once again.

“Haintsu...” Chidori mumbled, tears filling her eyes to the brim. She covered her mouth, trying to hold back the sobs.

After Chidori made sure that Haintsu had made it safely to his bed, she walked out of the house and sat on the porch steps. As she stared down the walkway of the front, she noticed a small moth cocoon lying on the ground. As she continued to watch, she noticed the little creature within it struggling to free itself. Continuing to watch for several minutes, the creature finally stopped struggling as it let its few final breaths out and the cocoon laid still. Slowly, she walked up to it and picked it up, tears running down her cheeks. After picking it up, she walked over to the side of the garden and dug a small hole. When she finished digging the hole, she placed the cocoon inside and covered it back up. She reached further into the garden and picked two beautiful white daisies, placing them atop the miniature grave she had made for the cocoon.

From the front door, Haintsu’s eyes quickly began to water. He slowly balled up his fists as he watched her whisper a silent prayer for the dead moth. Not wanting to watch it anymore, he turned around and stumbled back to his room.

“Ah! Haintsu look!” Chidori shouted as she pointed to a powdery-white object on the floor.

Haintsu turned to look quickly and his smile disappeared immediately. “It’s a moth trying to escape its cocoon, but this one doesn’t seem like it’s strong enough to get free...”

“We have to help it!” Chidori exclaimed as she ran forward and knelt down beside it.

“No!” Haintsu shouted abruptly. “If we help it, it’ll surely die soon afterwards anyway. It has to free itself and prove that it’s strong enough to live.”

“But Haintsu! I can’t just watch it die like this and not try to help!” Chidori proclaimed as tears began to form at the tip of her eyes.

Haintsu sighed softly. “There are some things in life you can’t do anything about. Besides, it’ll be all right. I think this moth will be a lot happier the way it ends up anyway.”

Chidori watched quietly as the struggles of the moth finally stopped, signaling its death. She wiped her tears away slowly and picked it up. “The least I can do is bury it with some pretty flowers.”

“Yes, let’s do that Chidori,” Haintsu replied, smiling weakly.

As Haintsu patted the dirt firmly together, Chidori came running back to him with two white daisies in her hands. She knelt down silently beside him and placed the flowers atop the firmly packed dirt. After doing so, she whispered a silent prayer.

“Haintsu, will you be staying here for lunch?” Chidori stated calmly, though she had a feeling of what his answer would be already.

As Haintsu passed the kitchen, he didn’t even look up at her. “I’m not hungry. I’m going to go out again.”

“Where did you go last night Haintsu?” Chidori asked softly.

Just as Haintsu was about to walk out of the door, he turned back and threw his jacket upon the floor, causing a loud thud. “What does it matter to you where I go?! It’s my life! I can live it the way I want to! What I do doesn’t concern you so just stop acting as if you care!”

“Haintsu! You can’t escape reality. Trust me, I’ve tried...and you told me...you told me I couldn’t keep lying to myself like that. So, so why are you doing the exact same thing you told me not to do?” Chidori replied, tears falling from her eyes.

Chidori stood stiffly as she heard the front door slamming a few minutes after her last statement. Slowly, she dropped to the ground and began sobbing to herself quietly. She placed her arms around her knee and let her head drop into the comfort of her lap as she continued crying to herself softly.

“Don’t leave me Haintsu... I don’t want to die alone, please don’t leave me.”

“My, my Haintsu dearest, back so soon?” stated the lady behind the bar as Haintsu entered the strip club.

Haintsu glowered at her as he took his seat before her. “Just give me the strongest you’ve got Marlene.”

“Oh? Would you like a lady or two this time as well? They’re telling me they had a lot of fun with you yesterday evening. For a one night customer only, your name’s already gone throughout the entire club,” Marlene replied as she grinned at him. She removed the bright blonde curly hair from her eyes to reveal a deep hazel color.

Haintsu placed his hands heavily onto the counter with his money, creating a loud thud. “Just give me the damned drink will you?”

Suddenly a man beside him began to laugh uncontrollably. He was around his mid thirties and didn’t look as though he was in too much of a good condition. He moved next to Haintsu and placed his arms around Haintsu.

“Sonny, listen here,” he said as he pulled Haintsu’s face close to his. “If this depression is over a female, I suggest you go make up with her. Whatever your problem is, if she’s let you come out here and have sex with other women freely, she’s got to be one in a million. Not every man is as lucky as you are.”

Haintsu gulped down the first cup right as Marlene placed it in front of him. He turned to the man beside him and laughed weakly. “Heh, you want to know my problems?”

“Sure sonny, tell me everything that’s bothering you,” the man replied with a fatherly smile towards Haintsu.

As Haintsu began the story, Marlene leaned against the counter and listened in as well. As he continued on, more and more of the other workers slowly began to listen in. As he neared the end of his story, everyone in the bar was listening closely. Haintsu gulped down his fifth cup and wiped his mouth before finally saying, “and now, she’s at home dying from the same pathetic cancer that stripped her of her father.” He slammed the cup down and slowly began laughing like a madman.

Every female in the club was sobbing. Their mascara dripped down the edges of their eyes as they wiped away their tears.

“How could you be such an evil man?!” one of the ladies shouted.

“She’s probably crying her eyes out for you now!” another added in.

“Don’t you know how much she loves you?” a third interrupted.

“Have you no shred of love or mercy for her?” Marlene finally stated through her sobs. “If you think you’re suffering, try being in her position. She knows she’s not going to live long! She didn’t want to tell you because she was afraid you’d leave her. Look! You’re merely proving her right that it was better to have never told you!”

The man placed a comforting arm upon Haintsu’s shoulder, patting it lightly as he did so. “Sonny, these women are right. You’re the only person this friend of your’s have left. However, the way you’ve reacted to her condition, it proves that she’s a lot stronger than you. She doesn’t have much time anymore, so I suggest you spend as much time as you can with her. Really though, look deep into yourself and think of how you truly feel about her. From the way I see it, you’re afraid to lose her because you’ve grown to love her more than a friend, just as she’s grown to love you more than her friend as well. Just think it over for a while sonny...and before it’s too late.”

Just as the man finished his statement, the door flew open and a young man, about the age of Haintsu stood there, breathing heavily. His light brunette hair messy as it was obvious he had been running quite a ways.

“Haintsu! Please be in here...Haintsu!” he shouted.

As Haintsu heard his name, he turned around and looked towards the man at the entrance. “Takeru? What’s wrong?” Haintsu ran up to him and took hold of his friend.

“Haintsu! Chidori! She’s, she...” he paused to take in a breath. “I went to your house to visit you but when I got there, the door was unlocked and, and...” He paused once again to catch his breath again. “Haintsu, Chidori was passed out on the floor. I don’t know what’s wrong with her but I called an ambulance. They’re taking her to the hospital right now! You’ve got to go see her!”

Haintsu’s eyes widened dramatically as he ran out of the club and towards the hospital. Chidori, wait for me, please! Chidori! You’ve got to hang on and wait for me! I’m so sorry...I-I... He wiped away the tear that fell from his eyes as he ran as quickly as he could. “Please just wait for me Chidori...I have to tell you something! Please don’t die yet! Please!” Haintsu whispered to himself, hoping against hopes that she’d be fine. As he continued running, more and more tears fell from his eyes. I’ve been such an idiot to you. If you could ever forgive me Chidori, I need you to forgive me! Please!

“Her blood pressure is dropping dramatically! Quickly!”

As Chidori gripped tightly onto the bed sheets, tears streamed down her face. Blood was dripping from her mouth as the pain inside of her grew. “Haintsu... I’m sorry...” Chidori whispered softly.

“We’ve got to bring her to an emergency room immediately! Ma’am, you’ll be all right. Just hold on for a few more minutes.”

As Chidori’s vision blurred, more blood came spilling out of her mouth. “Haintsu, I love you...” The words barely came out of her mouth as she took her last breath before reaching the emergency room. Her head turned to the side limply and her fists slowly began to loosen their grips on the bed sheets.

As Haintsu rounded the corner towards the hospital, he wiped away the tears streaming down his eyes. Chidori, you’ve go to hang on for me. I have yet to tell you how much I love you! Chidori!

THE END

Wells, I’m done at last! Yes! What a miracle! *sighs* Dang it took forever to finish this story. Lol. Call me pathetic, but yes, I was actually going to cry while coming up with the ideas of this story. Hehe...anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it! I hope it was enjoyable. o.O Anyway, feel free to drop me a line at or whatever. I’m just afraid for my life now. *cowers from Jeanette*

This story has no dedications...it was merely written to help me let out some of my deep depressions and anger. I’m the type who writes out their emotions and use it within their work. Anyway, I really do appreciate you reading this! Take care and best wishes to you always and forever! Laters!