Atrocities

Chapter 14

Maki felt her contrition consume her with each passing day. She felt so selfish knowing she was forcing Kaito to keep fighting. It was at a point where she'd have thoughts about harming herself.

Maki wiped a tear from her eye as she looked out the window of the hospital room. She watched as the cars rushed through the street. The world seemed much brighter before Kaito was hospitalized.

She never told Kaito about her suicidal thoughts. She felt as if she told him, she'd make things worse. Maki just spent the whole day staring out the hospital windows and bathing in her agony. It hurt Kaito. It hurt him to know that she had given up her promise.

"Pretty grey day today, huh?" Kaito said, finally breaking the silence. "Yeah," Maki said. Maki just wanted to have one more conversation with Kaito. One that would have nothing to do with him dying. One that would remind him of things he experienced when he wasn't Ill. Like the sound of the waves crashing against the sea on a June sunrise. Like the vision of the millions of stars in outer space, and all our planets aligned with each other. If Maki had just kept her promise to be strong, they could talk again.

"I'm gonna go back home," Kaito said. Maki whipped her head toward him. "What?"
"I'm going back home. I can't stand to be in this hospital. The gross food here is nothing like your cooking. The bed is nothing like yours at home. I want out, and I want it as soon as possible." Maki stared at him for a good second. "We can't go home, Kaito."

"But I wanna go home." He protested. "I wanna see my fans again. I wanna go back to NASA. I wanna wake up in our house like I used to. I wanna feel normal again." Kaito wiped a tear. "I wish I never said that stupid prayer. Why, god? Why did you have to let me down when I needed you?"

Maki sighed and kissed his cheek. "It's okay, baby. How about this? We cuddle and watch a movie together until your mind is cleared." Kaito sniffled and nodded. Maki grabbed the remote to the hospital TV and put on 'The Outsiders', one of her and Kaito's favorite movies.

Maki planted soft kisses on Kaito's neck. Shuichi and Kaede walked in, but they said nothing. They just smiled and left some gifts and cards that came in the mail sent by Kaito's fans. They stood in the doorway watching the two cuddle.

Kaede hugged Shuichi and kissed his cheek. "Look at them. All happy and peaceful. They deserve it." Shuichi giggled and stroked her ash-blonde locks. "They sure do, my girl. They sure do."