"A Love Story" Kaede and Shuichi

Chapter 15 (I'M BACK!)

Shuichi's POV

The next day...

I woke up and I rubbed my eyes, starting to bring myself back to reality and leave my dreams. I yawned and sat up in bed, looking down at the ground. It is starting to feel normal waking up in this place. How long have I been here?

I got cleaned up and dressed, ready to face another day. I left my dorm and walked to Kaede's dorm, knowing she usually got to the dining hall after me. I wanted to walk with her to breakfast. I rang her door bell and within the moment the door swung open. Kaede looked up at me with sad eyes.

"Ah- Kaede, are you okay?" My eyes widened as I studied the tears shimmering in her eyes. A drop rolled down her red cheeks. I saw her lip start to tremble ever so slightly.

"This.. this is too hard, Shuichi!" She cried and wrapped her arms around me, hiding her face in the crevice of my arm and torso. She started to sob and gripped me tightly. I stood there, stunned for a moment.

"Oh Kaede.. I.." I didn't know what to say so I held her as tight as she was holding me. I heard footsteps over the sound of her muffled cries and turned to see a concerned Rantaro. He started to walk up but stopped as he discerned the situation. I looked at him and said, "We'll probably be late to the dining hall." He nodded and swiftly left.

"C'mon Kaede, let's go inside." I felt the reluctancy of her arms as she lessened her grip on me and looked up at me with a nod. She walked over to the bed and sat on it's edge, her face in her hands. I gently shut the door behind us and then grabbed some tissues from her bathroom. "Here." I laid the tissues on her lap and she peeked through her fingers at them. I received a muffled "thank you" and I began to rub her back.

Once again, I was at a loss for words. I really don't want to say the wrong thing here.. her eyes looked so broken and defeated when she stared at me just now.

"Kaede.." No response.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I want to leave. I want to escape. I don't want to be here anymore. I want my old life, my family, the crowds and applause, the simplicity of it all." She said, her hands now holding her forehead as she stared at her lap. "If I could just perform.. one more time.. then maybe I would have more strength to keep going. But their smiles and joyous praise is growing distant. I-I am growing distant from what I used to know. Memories are fading, new thoughts are appearing. And I had a really bad nightmare last night that just made everything so much worse," she explained with a few pauses and voice cracks within her speech.

"I'm sorry Kaede... all of this isn't fair. I feel some of the same things as you. I can't relate with the crowds of course, but there is a new division in my mind that wasn't there before. It feels like I am losing track of time and who I am, who I used to be." I wrapped my arm around her, gripping her forearm with my free hand. I rested my head delicately on her shoulder.

"You aren't alone. I know we haven't even known each other a month and I can't even start to fully understand what you are going through but I think we all feel an amount of loneliness and hopelessness here."

Kaede lifted her head, making me lift mine. She stared at me, fight returning to her eyes.

"I can't let this defeat me, we will get out of here! Hope isn't lost and all the others must keep fighting and believing too!" She began to resume her old self. I raised my hand from her forearm to her cheek.

"This won't defeat you, Kaede, hope is still alive and this hope and love will keep us going forever. But.. it is okay to cry and answer your heart. You are in turmoil and you can't stuff that down forever, even with your constant optimistic speech." I watched her face sadden once more. Don't mess this up, Shuichi.

"I-I don't mean to make you more upset, it's just, I don't want you lying to yourself. Love is true. Hope is real. But so is this terrible situation we are in. You have a wonderful spirit, Kaede, for your eyes focus on what is beautiful and that brings joy to the heart. But when your eyes are focused on the fight sometimes you can forget to acknowledge the emotions you are stuffing deeper and deeper inside. Don't lose your fighting spirit and your precious hope, but don't lie to yourself too. It's okay to cry, and we are all gonna be here for each other." Her facial expression changed as she took in everything I said. Another tear fled from her eye and I wiped it away with my thumb, my hand still holding her face.

"You.. you are right, Shuichi. Sometimes I find myself lying in my heart, or making myself distracted. I want to focus on what is beautiful and keep love close to me, even here. Life comes through seasons, right? I guess this is just the most outrageous one..." Her sad eyes looked deeply into mine as a soft grin filled her lips.

"Yeah, this season of life is the craziest one to come so far. I'm hoping that there isn't a crazier one." She chuckled and that made me smile. "I don't know what is in store but we will go through this together. You and me, Kaede. And the rest of the sixteen. We will not be driven to kill, or to deceive one another."

"You are right, Shuichi." Her smile widened and she placed her hand on top of mine, squeezing it softly. "What would I do without you by my side?"

"You would be filled with hope and the will to fight, for that is who you are." She inched her face closer to mine.

"If you say so, then I believe you." I rested my forehead against hers, closed my eyes, and silence filled the room. Relief flooded through me. I'm glad she is okay now. I know this has got to be so hard for her, it is for me too.

I felt her forehead move from mine so I opened my eyes and stared into the windows of her soul.

"Give me a kiss," she said softly and directly.

"As you wish," I replied as her hand released from mine and was placed on my shoulder. I tightened my grip on her waist and drew her into a sweet, delicate kiss, as if her lips were made of fragile glass. She kissed back and I felt the smile on her face and in her kiss. After a long moment we drew back and stared at each other. She sniffled and chuckled.

"Well, I really need to blow my nose." I chuckled too.

"You do sound a little stuffed up, but it's cute." She blushed pink and went to the bathroom to clean up her face and nose. After returning she sighed.

"I look like a puffy mess."

"No, you look real. Who wouldn't cry during this situation."

"I guess you are right."

She sat back next to me and I studied her slightly swollen face and eyes, she is still so beautiful. Anyone who wouldn't think so doesn't understand what true beauty is.

"Do you want to have some time alone now? Or do you want to go do something fun? We haven't eaten yet, we could go to the dining hall. It's all up to you." I suggested.

"Oh- I'm sure the others could start to worry from our absence! Let's go to the dining hall then." She jumped up so I stood up as she went to the door. Before opening the door she turned back at me, holding out her hand.

"Together?"

"Together." I affirmed and grasped her hand, giving it a loving squeeze. She smiled at me, squeezed back, and opened the door, beginning yet another day in the new world we lived in.

( I hope you guys liked the update! It's been so, so long. If you guys have any suggestions, corrective criticism, or something you want to see written in this story let me know! God bless you guys <3 )