Red Balloon

Departures

"This is it..." Keito said "Want me to head upstairs with you?"

"Nah its okay." They had arrived at Reiko's flat. "You look tired, hurry home and rest."

"..."

"What is it...?"

"I had a....Great day with you, Reiko...I really did."

"Yeah..Me too!" She beamed.

"And...I will miss it so much."

"..what? Silly, we can always go there again someday! ..." Her smile was soon replaced by a frown.

"Keito..do you have something to tell me?"

"I..."

"...? Are you going over seas?"

"N-No!"

"Whew...scared the crap out of me! I thought you were leaving, that's why you said those weird stuff. " She sighed, stroking the head of the plush."...?!!"

Out of the blue, Keito pulled her towards him and hugged her tightly. He broke into tears and sobbed. She was shocked. She never saw him cry. The only time he cried was when his basketball team entered the finals.

"Keito! You're scaring me.... what's wrong? Tell me!"

"I-I....I'M SORRY.....I..."

"KEITO! WHAT IS IT?!" She asked in clear panic, her eyes widening. The boy had a death like grip on her, as if he could never let her go. Tears damped the jacket she was wearing and there was so much till she could almost feel it seeping through and onto her skin beneath.

"I'm...dead.."

"Wha...? Eh...?" Her words reducing into a whisper. The balloon that was in her hand, flew up into the sky, reducing into a red speck and disappeared over the grey clouds.

"I'm dead, Reiko...you can never see me again.." He breathed heavily beside her ear.

"NO! WHAT HORRID JOKE IS THAT?!" She yelled, shoving him off.

Reiko took steps back and suddenly, she recalled something.

"Where are we going first? Maybe the laser cart game? Ayumi chan told me there was this ride and its really fun--Hmm? Where are these police cars rushing too? Look there's an ambulance too! OH GOD! There's a car wreck over there! I hope no one was injured--"

"...." Keito made no reaction and said, "So what were you saying just now?"

"No..It can't be..." She clasped her mouth, eyes turning red. "No...we were at Disneyland together...and..." By that time, her plush was already left lying on the floor.

"Reiko..I'm sorry..but I just wanted to spend one more day with you..today.." He mumbled, climbing to his feet.

"No...it can't be you. We were talking fine and everything...I can't be talking to a ghost right...?"

"..."

"KEITO! PLEASE! STOP IT! THIS ISN'T FUNNY! I-I DON'T ACCEPT THIS! THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!" She then stopped talking and stared, dull emptiness in her eyes. Her legs felt weak and she collapsed onto the floor.

The first drop of fresh rain dropped and imprinted a round circle on the dry pavement. Then the second fell from the dark skies above. Then the third and the fourth. Soon, the light drizzle grew into a heavy rain.

"Go into the shelter, Reiko. You will catch a cold." He said worriedly. Unlike her being drenched, he was very dry, as if having a personal shelter above his head. Now that she notice, the lamp post that lit up not long ago, cast no shadow on him. He really was dead, a ghost.