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It was quiet, or maybe it wasn't... I was just lost in my thoughts, letting the world pass by. Here I was, spending Christmas, alone...
I had hoped I could spend it with him... But, then... Why? Why did things have to turn out this way?
"Kotone..." A familiar voice says my name, a voice like honey- so sweet to my ears, like a song being sung...
I turn, and meet soft blue eyes looking back at me.
"Ryoji?"
I didn't know for sure if he was actually there, was I hallucinating? I thought he wasn't coming back until-
"I... Saw you sitting here alone... With all of these couples around and... This is a day humans spend with those they love most, right?"
I nod, and he takes a soft, yet deep breath.
"Then... Can I, sit with you?"
I nod more eagerly than I mean to, but that doesn't seem to bother him at all. The way his eyes light up...
"I-I would love it if you did..." I tell him.
Ryoji smiled softly, almost as bright as it was before-... Before that night. He sat down next to me, wrapping an arm around me.
"I won't ask you, about your decision... Today is, likely the last time we will meet each other like this... How about we just be two teenagers, classmates, a boyfriend and girlfriend, enjoying each other's company?"
"You won't hear any complaints from me..."
I lean against his chest, and hear his breath hitch. I look up at his face, seeing the slightest bit of pink that his scarf failed to hide. Seeing that, I couldn't help but smile at him- and that made his eyes sparkle, in the same way they did when we stood by that river. Like the night sky full of stars, all shimmering and filled with... Life.
"You're so cute... When you smile like that..." Ryoji said with a hum, "I love it when you smile... I love it so much... I love..." He hesitated, a hint of fear appearing in those blue eyes as he glanced away.
"I love being with you, too." I told him.
He relaxed a little, then I felt him running his hands through my hair, gently playing with it. I leaned into his hand, feeling a warmth in my chest as he hummed softly.
"No matter what happens, I will remember these moments... I will remember this moment... I promise..."
He leaned his forehead against mine, smiling sadly.
"I... I'll remember, too. I won't let this moment go..." I whisper softly to him.
He sighed deeply, and moved away without warning, shifting and turning away from me, his expression downcast.
"I... I don't... I don't want you to remember me, Kotone..." He said, with a pained voice- one that betrayed that he was lying. That, and the way he refused to look me in the eyes as he said that, spoke to his true wish, but he thought he was protecting me... He thought that forgetting might save me the pain...
"Ryoji..." I whisper his name.
I shift over to sit next to him again, and he looks at me, his expression softening.
"I'm... Sorry. We, really should just enjoy the moment, huh?" He said with a soft sigh, then he smiled again.
I leaned against him and he wrapped an arm around me, and we simply sat there, enjoying each other's company. The silence stretched on for a sweet moment, when I remembered something.
"Oh... Um... I, actually made something for you..." I said softly, and pulled out a little plush rabbit I had made myself, before gently handing it to him. I even gave it a little yellow scarf that matched his.
"Kotone..." His soft whisper was filled with so many emotions, I could hear how happy he was, how surprised he was, but a strong sadness still- we both knew that happy moments like these were only going to be temporary, but... "I'll treasure it. Forever..." He said softly, and smiled at me, though I noticed how his eyes started to water.
I smile back at him, reaching up and wiping the tears away, before hugging him.
It would be lovely, if this moment could last forever.
How long we sat there, holding onto each other... I lost track of how long we were there, I just knew it was starting to get cold when he stood up, and he didn't even give me a chance to say anything, before he gently scooped me up in his arms and started to carry me away.
"You're going to get a cold if you stay out here much longer... Let me get you home." He said, with that sad yet soft smile.
I didn't argue, I just rested against him as he held me close, and hummed softly. I hadn't realized that it was starting to get dark, but he paused briefly as he looked up at the moon. I didn't know what it was that bothered him about it, but something did. The look in his eyes... It wasn't a happy one... So...
"...Say, I hear some people mention that you can see the image of a rabbit on the moon, do you see it?" I asked him.
He turned his attention away from the moon and nodded softly.
"Yeah... I guess so." He then closed his eyes briefly. "There's actually a story behind it... Tsuki no Usagi..." He then leaned down and put his forehead to mine again and gently nuzzled me. "If we ever get to talk properly again... I'll tell you about it, okay?"
"You better... Because I want to have many more conversations with you!"
Ryoji chuckled softly, a laugh I missed so much...
"I hope we do get many more conversations, as well..."
He said it. He said it. Standing in my bedroom, I told him I wasn't going to kill him. He tried to change my mind, but I still refused... He wanted to say farewell, before he disappeared, and so we talked for a moment longer- just the two of us. He took that glow ring he bought for himself on our trip, he took it off his finger and slid it onto mine.
"Could you... Hold onto this? It's proof that I was 'human,' for however short a time... If you held onto it for me, I... I think I'll be able to stand it." He lowered his head, and so I gently reached up and brushed my hand against his cheek, then he looked me in my eyes, and he said it... "I love you."
"I... I love you too..."
He leaned in and gently kissed me, one last kiss... Before... Before this all ended.
We then went out to meet with the others.
It was cold, and I felt so... Weak, there in the dark.
This was it, this was the end-
"Kotone!"
Ryoji's voice was filled with worry as he came up to me.
"Ryoji... You're... Back to..."
He pulled me into his arms, his familiar warmth, and I smiled softly at him.
"No... No, no no no... You can't die..."
I weakly reached a hand up to his cheek, and he started to tear up.
"Why did you choose to sacrifice yourself...? I... I can't..."
"It's okay... I'm happy with my choices."
He held me close, his eyes filled with sadness.
I could hear the others, they were confused... A part of me felt bad I wouldn't be able to fulfill our promise to each other, but-
The sudden warmth that enveloped me was enough to catch me off guard, and I felt... A bit stronger.
A green light radiated from Ryoji's hands, and I realized his other form- the form of Thanatos floated by his side, with that same green light coming from it.
"I never understood why you taught me healing skills... But... Now I'm simply glad that you did... I won't be able to be with you there, not all the time, but... I can watch you live again, even if just for a short amount of time... And, you can fulfill your promise... I know how much that means to you..."
His eyes were filled with tears, but he smiled at me, a sad, yet sweet and loving smile.
"Ryoji..."
"And when your time comes... I'll take you into my arms and hold you close forever..."
"That... Sounds nice..." I leaned my head against his chest, and he got pink in the face again. So cute...
"I love you..."
"I love you too..."