MEMORIES FROM THE PAST
I am Ikegami Maya. I am seventeen years old. I am an assassin. I was taught and trained to be a cold-hearted killer since I can remember.
Two years ago, as I was walking home, I ran across a guy. He was bleeding. Since I was the only one around, I decided to help. A chance to do something good, I told myself. After that, we became friends.
He's two years my senior, and his name is Yukishiro Rei. He has a very beautiful smile, kind blue eyes and his hair is red. I've never been happier since then. And that happened when I was on vacation, for there are no missions for me yet. I usually get bored from the long wait until the next mission before, but now that I'm with him, I forgot what I really am. I couldn't wish for more.
But the mission came. I was to kill a politician. I was about to leave when Hiromi (my partner) asked me where I was going. I told her I'm going to say goodbye to someone. She understood, and let me on my way.
As I was walking on the way to his apartment, the short time I've shared with him flashed before my very eyes. Seeing that I am almost there, I felt that it was the end of my life. The normal life that I've longed for a long, long time. But reality is here. I can't and I don't deserve to be with him.
I'm an assassin! A cold-blooded murderer!
These words kept echoing in my mind. Normally, I don't have second thoughts or emotions before, but it all changed when he came into my life. Rather, he gave life to my boring existence.
I was just about to knock on his door when I felt I don't have the strength to see him. I turned my back and was going away when the door opened.
"You're going away already. Why?", he asked.
"I just came here to say goodbye."
"Why? Don't you want to be with me? Don't you like me?"
I sighed, feeling him. The silence was deafening. I turned around and saw his eyes full of pain.
"Before you came, I was about to look for you, but I don't know where you live. Funny, isn't it? We are going out for months and yet I didn't know where to find you. I was looking for you to say goodbye too..."
He laughed, but his laughter was dry. I chose not to speak, my heart wanted to burst from the pain I'm feeling.
"Before you go, why don't we have a proper farewell party to each other?"
And he opened his door widely, motioning me to come in. In I went, and he closed the door.
"Sumimasen.", I whispered. I don't know what came over me to apologize, but I did.
"I'm sorry too, sorry to have said such horrible things to you."
The next thing I knew, he was embracing me.
"God, Maya, how I wish everything was different. I wanted to tell you something, would you please listen to me before we part?"
As a silent battle was happening inside me, wondering if I had to tell him all about me, he spoke.
"I've never been happier all my life. It's because you're here with me. But you know, I don't deserve to be happy. Not one bit. After all those things I did."
I looked at him, puzzled. He quickly mustered his courage and began to tell me everything I needed to know about him.
"I am an assassin. I am licensed to kill. I kill people for money. I don't know what will become of me tomorrow, but I want to be with you for the last time."
