Sour Hearts

Chapter two, The Window.

I spent my time that night, pondering who could've been at that window. Sadly, at about 3 AM, I fell victim to my tired brain, and slept.

I awoke, it was morning. The sun beamed through the window annoyingly, as if the world where trying to wake me up... Well, it worked. I decided to message Akai, the pink haired, lovely goddess thats in most of my classes. But when I tried to message her.. I couldn't. Every message I sent resulted in a counter message that wasn't from her.. it said I was blocked. My stomach turned and my heart dropped. What did I do..? Tears started to well up in my eyes, I wasn't sure why but.. i cared about her. My dramatic reaction was quickly interrupted by a small beeping sound I just noticed, it was bothering me. I wiped the salty tears from my eyes and decided to investigate the noise, it seemed as if it where sourcing from the very place I was pondering about last night.. the window.

I approached the window, cautiously, not sure what to expect. I searched the window for any clues of what the beeping was.. then I noticed a tiny red light. "What in the.." I hovered my hand over the light, trying to find the object creating the light.. and sound. As soon as I put my hand any where near it, the light started flashing, and the beeping got much louder.
I could feel panic arise within me, I knew something was going to happen. Both Neru and Ryuketsu rushed out of their room, annoyed. "What is going on?" Ryuketsu screamed. "I-I don't know, I-"

BOOM!

An explosion destroyed the building, leaving everything In ruins, dust and rocks and wood flew all over the place. A thick mist filled the room. The impact from the explosion was strong enough to mess up the place, and knock us down with some bruises, but not enough to kill us. I sat on the ground, ears ringing. I looked around for a moment, then spotted the silhouette of a woman in front of me. The smoke cleared up just enough for me to see that it was Akai, holding a gun.

I had an unshakable feeling in my gut, some how I knew this was coming. I couldn't help but hate that I let this happen, I was unable to stop the massive amount of tears that flowed from my eyes. The feeling of betrayal was real.

"What's wrong? Is someone cutting onions?" Akai laughed as she stepped closer. "I know what you've done." She said, in a serious tone, she looked away as if she where sad for a moment, and looked back at me with a grin. "I've been watching you for so long.. not just you.. but also you're little.." she scoffed as she pointed her gun towards Ryuketsu and Neru gripping onto each other anxiously. "Group? Heh.. I can't believe this is happening.. I've finally caught you guys. Years of watching.. spying.. admiring.. and I've finally made it here. I know what all of you have done, and I have proof too."

"Cannibalism..."
"Kidnapping..."
"Murder.." Akai listed off our crimes, pointing the gun at each person who committed each crime, one by one. Suddenly her once sweet persona seemed dead. Now the precious glimps in her eyes where replaced by an evil, demonic glare. "There's no where to run now, Yukki.. so.. what's your plan? Accept your doomed fate, or fight your way out of it? Either way you'll end up dead." She stared down at me, awaiting my answer. I had no idea what to do. Should I fight the girl I love, or get put in prison.. it was a tough decision. But.. I had to do it. For the fate of my friends.. no, my family. I anxiously stood up, legs shaking, just barely keeping my balance, I took a weighted step towards her. I struggled as I pulled my switchblade from my pocket. A wide grin came from Akai as I showed my knife and my willingness to fight. I took heavy breaths as I stumbled toward her. I slowly gained my strength back and ran towards her, mind racing, slowly regretting my decisions. I was about to slash her throat, but a force stopped me. I wasn't sure what, but I turned my face away from hers, just to see that she was holding my arm. I quickly grabbed my pocket knife, but she caught that arm too. She looked me right in the eye and said, "you didn't think it was that easy, did you?"

I grunted as she pushed me away. She was much stronger than expected.. especially considering how petite she was.
Her beautiful pink hair was now a pinkish grey due to the massive amount of dust and dirt in the air. Fighting all urges to stop the fight, I continued on, and lunged at her once again with a shout. The most I got was a scrape on her arm that dripped a small amount of blood. Pushed away once again, I decided to step back a few feet, towards the ruins we once called home. I kept my eyes on her as I stepped back into the large hole in the wall with dust and bricks falling. I looked at the area surrounding me, trying to find something to help. My adrenaline was pumping through my veins, my chest felt tight.. I couldn't figure it out.

But then... I noticed it. Something that could end this whole charade. It would take out Akai.. and me. But I didn't care, if it meant saving my family, then it was worth it. I grabbed the grenade quickly and ran towards her, terrified. Confused, Akai stood frozen as I wrapped my arms around her and held her in a tight hug. I sneakily pulled the tab off of the grenade in my pocket. With a tear in my eye, I continued to hug her, awaiting my quick, exciting death.

To my surprise, it's almost like she sensed it... Before the grenade exploded, she pulled it out of my pocket and threw it across the debree filled field. She grabbed me by the wrist and pushed me to the ground, my face was pushed into the dirt. "I don't get you, Yukki.. I thought you where saving yourself.. why would you go and give your life up just to take mine? You could've just tossed the grenade at me and ran."

  I took a moment to answer. "I.. don't think i could live without you." I said, not just truthfully, but also to maybe get her to let her guard down. "What..?" As soon as she said this, her grip loosened. I took the opportunity to push her off. Now, we sat  face to face on the ground. "I mean it. I had to kill you.. to save them. But.. I don't think I could've lived with the guilt."

"Guilt..? I almost killed you and your friends! Why would you still feel guilty? You're a villain.. you're supposed to want to kill me, and LOVE it!" She yelled in confusion. "Why would I love that if.. i love you..?"

She fell silent.

"I.. I love you, Akai." I whispered. Akai's confused eyes narrowed, as she laughed uncontrollably. She stood up, placing a hand on her face as she cackled. She wiped a tear from her eye before speaking, I couldn't tell if it was from frustration or laughing..

"You love me?" She laughed a bit more, holding her gut with her arm. "You really expect me to believe that?  I'm trying to kill you!" She sighed, finally ending her laughter. "You're funny, Yukki. You really are." Her face hardened as she pointed the gun once again. "Now then, let's cut to the chase." She twirled the gun in her hands, "what's your game, Yukki? Why are you lying to me?"

Panic filled me as I realized I might never get through to her.. maybe heros and villains aren't meant to be..
Tears filled my eyes as I came to my realization.

"Just go.." my voice shook as I spoke in pain. "Excuse me?" Akai grinned. "Just.. GO." I shouted, beginning to sob. Her face filled with confusion. She took a few steps back, eventually slowly turning around to leave. She mumbled to herself as she messed with her gun before putting it away. I took this painful moment as mine. She was distracted.. and this was my only moment to end this. No matter how much it hurt.. I needed to do it.

I stood up. I stepped, drawing my knife from my pocket once again. I struggled as I moved towards her.
I stood behind her and..

A long, sharp, gasp came from Akai as my blade cut through her. I winced as I heard the crunch when the blade made it's way through the spine. I wrapped my left arm around her, and withdrew my knife. I turned her so she was facing me, as I knelt, and held her on my lap, holding her head up with my hand. My tears fell onto her cheeks. "I'm so sorry.." I whispered as I watched her loose consciousness. I felt her hand rise to my cheek, I could feel the fleating warmth. She showed a small smile, "so.. you really do love me..." She said, quietly. I held her hand to my face, "I do.." I smiled, trying to be happy for her, so she could die being held by someone who she knew loved her. "I.. love you.. too."

"I'm sorry it had to end this way, Akai.."

"It's okay. I understand.. perhaps in another life.. we can love eachother without dying." She laughed slightly, the breath leaving her lungs. My eyes stung, I gripped her hand harder, watching her face. She finally drew her last breath, life leaving her eyes.

The shock, pain, and guilt from what I'd just done finally settled in; leaving me feeling hollow inside, like a husk of what I used to be.

I love you, Akai.