Work Text:
Hoshino Ai had never been able to say those words. The words every child longs to hear from their parents, words that lovers share with each other. Words that for her, meant nothing.
Her life had not allowed her to see how to love others truly. Her mother, between bouts of anger and throwing rice bowls at her, had hurled insults and foul language, but never love.
Her relationships with the other children in the orphanage also never grew close enough to call it love. A fondness, as for a favorite pet, was all she could ever muster.
Her fans, as many as there were, also were never an object of her love, instead being the targets of skillful lies that continued to make them adore her. Some more so than others.
Even Hikaru Kamiki, her onetime lover, was never someone she could truly say she loved. Oh, there was passion, that was never in doubt. The result of their union being the testament to that. But his own tragic past as well as hers did not allow for an emotional attachment to form beyond passionate touch.
But now, as she sat in the entrance to her apartment, slowly feeling her life fade away, she began to reminisce on her life after her children had been born.
Ruby, her little star, ever a happy and bright child. She had been so proud of her at the preschool recital. Her daughter had shone brilliantly after gaining her confidence. Ai wondered if she would one day be able to become an idol like her.
And Aqua, her shining baby boy. He was brilliant as well, wise beyond his years. Sometimes she wondered what went on in his mind, as mature for his age that he was. Aqua had become a star as well, being an actor so young. She was sure he'd be a teenage heartbreaker with how much confidence he had.
Both of her children were so precious to her, and yet…
And yet, with a shock, she realized she had never told them. Those three words that mean so much.
It wasn't that she hadn't loved them. She knew that now. The warmth, that feeling of fondness. That burning passion to see them grow and succeed.
Oh. It seems that will be something she won't be able to do. She knows she won't live past today. How ironic, her lies had finally caught up with her. And now she was paying the price.
But even so…
"Aqua, Ruby… aishiteru. (I love you.)"
Ah. There it was. She was finally able to say it. Those words with such a big meaning, those words that she didn't believe would ever be for her. She said them.
And it wasn't a lie.