Overcoming the Rift [Kyoumari]

Overcoming the Rift

"I have gathered you all here today to tell you something very important." The red-haired male gazes over the crowd of his friends. Most of them looked curious, except for a certain someone.

His little sister, a teenage girl with long, reddish-brown hair and a matching eye color, glares at him. "Would you shut up and get to the point already? We haven't got all day. My cats are probably lonely without me."

"Now Rin," he says calmly. "Let your big brother have his moment."

"Actually, Kyousuke," A black-haired, body builder intervenes. "I have an appointment at the gym in half an hour, so I have to agree with Rin this time around."

"Masato..." His eyes fill with tears.

"Yeah, sorry, but I have a tournament later today so I need to go, too." The silver haired boy in the crowd adds.

"Kengo...why?" He sadly retreats to the window in the room and stares out of it dramatically. "Of all people, I thought you guys would want to spend my last moments with me."

"Whoa! Kyousuke! What are you saying it sounds like you're going to die! What are you talking about?" A short, brown haired boy speaks up.

"Kyousuke," a soft voice floats up from the crowd. The small, blonde-haired girl weaved her way up to the dramatic boy. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Please tell us what's going on." Worry filled her eyes.

Before he can respond his sister speaks up again. "You probably shouldn't worry about it. He's just being overly dramatic."

"Actually," Kyousuke starts and wheels around, "It's not that simple." He looked down at the blonde girl by his side. "Before I say this, I need you to understand: I love you, Komari." He once again gazes upon everyone. "Please no one interrupt until I am completely finished. This is really serious."

The girl named Komari gives him a look of worry and confusion. She knows not to interrupt him, but she has a bad feeling. Kyousuke is a really fun and goofy person to be around. He only ever becomes serious in bad situations. Everyone else has the same feeling of a bad premonition.

Kyousuke senses the unease rise from the crowd. He chuckles and smiles. "Guys. Don't be so worried. It..." He trails off and stops smiling for a second. Then he smiles again. This time it is noticeably forced. "It will only make it harder to talk about." He glances from face to face, noting the worry. "I'm sorry. I'll hurry up. This is just...difficult to say."

He stares passionately back at the girl by his side. "Komari. I'm going to have to break up with you." Gasps sound from the crowd. Tears form near the edges of her eyes, but she continues to smile at him kindly. She nods at him to carry on.

He takes her signal and starts to speak again. "I know this doesn't make sense. It is sudden and difficult but it... has ...to happen." Tears start rolling down his face, but he tries to keep smiling. He doesn't want to make them sad too.

Komari wipes the tears from his eyes and keeps smiling for him. He looks at her and controlls himself.

He takes a deep breath and focuses his gaze on the crowd. "I am going to die."

"WHAT!?" Once again everyone in the crowd gasps.

"Kyousuke! Stop joking with us! Don't you know these kinds of things are sick and..." She trails off. Just by looking at him gently crying and apologizing through his gaze, she can tell he is completely serious. She starts to sob into her hands. Riki, the brown-haired boy from earlier, hugs her for support.

"Let me explain," he tells them. "Back a few months ago when I awoke from my comatose state, I found out I had lung cancer. Inhaling all those gaseous fumes and carcinogens had made my cells begin to mutate during mitosis. The doctors said it was only stage 1. With my permission, they ran experimental tests on me." His tears begin to fall faster now. "It went away, or so we thought. The doctors still had me come in for monthly tests, but it wasn't enough. Two months ago, they found the cells had come back. They started doing more tests on me. Last night was three months after the cells had disappeared, but things turned for the worst. Apparently the cells had mutated and spread very rapidly. At most, I have three weeks to live."

By now, the entire Little Busters are in tears; even the usually calm Mio and Yuiko. They had thought back to times when their leader seemed a little out of it. None of them had thought much of it, though. Only the silently Komari who made sure to keep him happy had noticed the change.

"I'm sorry I waited until now to tell you guys. I thought I could be cured." He says, tears streaming down his face. "I...I want..ted to.. stay....with you...guys longer."

Komari gently hugs him. He looks down at her and she smiles at him. "That doesn't explain why we can't be together." She slightly cries, yet she tries even harder to sound happy.

"Don't you see, Komari," he says defeated, tired; frustrated even. He isn't angry at Komari. He can never imagine a time where he would be angry at her. Instead, he is angry at himself. "I have to stay at the hospital now. I can't hang out with you guys anymore. I don't want you to worry about me, so it's better if you just forget about me."

"Kyousuke." She sees the frustration in his red eyes. She gets up on the tips of her toes and kisses him on the lips to calm him down.

He stares at her, confused. "But, why?"

"Even if you tell me to forget about you, I can't. I love you so much, and you are always on my mind. If you say you're going to die, then I want to be with you every moment until then. Breaking up with me won't stop me from thinking about you. It won't even stop me from searching for you."

He finally completely breaks. He sobs like a little kid and hugs her tightly; he doesn't want to let her go.

After that, everyone takes turns visiting him. Komari and Rin were the only ones who refuse to leave. No one wants to leave, but only those two don't fall victim to his pleading. For the most part he stays true to himself, but every once in a while he will feel dizzy and out of breath. Those are the times that scare the others the most.

Time Skip: Two weeks after everyone found out

Komari sits alone in the room. Riki was finally able to convince Rin to leave for food moments before. He had tried to convince Komari, too, but it was in vain. She refused to leave him alone in his room.

She talks to him about many different subjects. She talks about anything to keep him happy. Right now he is very animated, but out of nowhere, he suddenly starts coughing up blood.

"Ko-mari!" He gasps as blood spews from his mouth.

Internally, she panics. She doesn't know what to do. Ever since that day she had been preparing herself for this to happen. Even so, she stays determine to hide her fear. She smiles the biggest, happiest looking smile she can.

"It's okay, Kyousuke," she tells him and holds his hand.

"Ko-mari. Tell me. Am I going to die now? Am I dying?" He still coughs out blood, but his heart rate begins to drop.

"No," she tells him politely. "It's okay. Just keep taking deep breaths."

He tries to listen, but panic overwhelms him. "No! No! Komari, please! I don't want to die! I can't do this! I don't want to lose you! I don't want to lose any of you! Komari!" He begs. "Please. I don't...want to...go..."

His vitals barely beep. The space suddenly grows larger between each beat of his heart. Komari sobs.

"It's okay. It's okay." She repeats the same thing, hoping to sooth him. She doesn't want his last moments to be panic stricken. Even so, she can't help but picture her brothers death. It's happening again.

"I can't hear anything. Are you there?" He asks, begging for a response.

"Yes, Kyousuke. I'm right by you." She tells him, trying to control her tears.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but.............I....love.....y-." He doesn't finish his last word. His heart monitor continuously beeps and forms a straight line.

"You." She finishes for him. Then she wipes the tears, her tears, off his face and tells him, "I love you, too."