Hearing The Heartbeat (Sequel to 'Broken Perfection')

Cry With You

The next morning Taketo had awoken early to cook breakfast for the two of them. He entered his room, about to wake her up, only to find Katsumi on her knees on the floor, having a panic attack. Fear clamped on Taketo as he fell beside her, trying to calm the thrashing girl.

After witnessing Keiichi's death almost 3 months ago, Taketo knew about the occasional panic attacks Katsumi had, since she had one after the death of her husband.

"Kat... Katsumi... Look at me." he said quietly and gently, trying to cup her cheeks and make her look up. But her hands thrashed wildly, making it difficult for the pilot to do anything. Having no other choice, Taketo bit his lip as he grabbed her hands in his.

The girl's eyes constantly looked around, her breathing choppy as her tears choked her up, making it impossible for her to speak. "Katsumi!" Taketo raised his voice at the girl, who calmed just a little bit so that she could look at him. "Hey, it's me... It's me... Calm down, you're okay."

Sobs began to wrack her body once more and she was slowly helped to her feet by Taketo. "I see it..." she muttered, eyes wide as tears pooled in it again. "I see him in the bed... Dying..."

"Shh... It was just a vision..." He soothed, wrapping an arm around her in a hug as the other snaked around to let his hand cover her eyes. Taketo could feel her heart pounding as she placed her hands atop his, desperate to erase the visions from her mind.

"He's going to die..." she muttered hopelessly, "He's going to die, isn't he, Taketo?" she chuckled bitterly, her eyes still covered. The doctor could feel the pilot's arm wrap tighter around her, pulling her closer as the smell of bacon and toast from breakfast outside was overpowered by his own scent.

It was minty, but also a hint of strong cologne.

"He's going to die and leave me... Just like Keiichi did, isn't he?" she asked again, wanting an answer. "Isn't he?!" she shrieked, and Taketo could feel tears wet his hand as she began crying once more.

"No, he won't... he loves you too much to leave you." Taketo comforts her, but Katsumi laughs with sadness and sorrow laced in her shaky voice.

"Heh..." she chuckled, "So did Keiichi... Or was he lying? Because if he loved me, he would've stayed too, right?"

Taketo fell silent, making Katsumi smile sadly. "Yeah... He got taken away from me... I don't know what I've done to deserve it... Maybe I didn't show it enough, just how much I loved him. Or maybe he left because he never loved me to start."

"I'm sure-" "STOP!" Taketo's voice raised again, making Katsumi tense before she heard Taketo's sigh. "Sorry, Kat... But stop doubting everything..."

He removed his hand from her eyes, making the girl's arms drop back to her side. With his free hand, he gently grabbed her chin, making her look up at him. "Things happen for a reason... Things happen, even if we don't want it to."

Katsumi peered up at him and she could see him blink back a few tears. She knew. She knew he fell for his brother's fiancee long before the two had gotten together. She knew that he was slowly letting go, but the guilt and heartbreak still haunted him.

She could tell by the way he looked at him. At her. At them.

"Gomen..." she sighs, burying her face in his chest as the pair hugged. They shared something in common with this. They felt alone, lonely...

"It's cool... Breakfast is ready, though, want to eat now?" "Okay... But I don't want to walk." "Wha-?!" Taketo suddenly finds himself carrying Katsumi, as the girl had climbed onto the bed before jumping onto his back.