The One I Call Usagi-san...

The Funeral

Misaki's POV

Me and Nii-chan walked silently towards the funeral of my parents. The rain seemed to be on no one's side since there was a major downpour. I didn't care, however, since I was mostly thinking about my future. What will happen to us? Am I gonna be with Nii-chan? I stare up at him only to be met with sad eyes. A face that doesn't dare turn to look at me.

I felt sadness beginning to take shape in me, filling up everything inside. I felt no happiness whatsoever. Just guilt. The rain continued to fall harder but me and Nii-chan didn't care if we were soaking wet. It got colder but I didn't care. Distant relatives offered us umbrellas and rides but we declined and continued holding each other's hands.

We soon arrived at their graves where the atmosphere felt extremely tight. It was so hard to breathe and the reason being, I was holding back my sobs. It was all my fault. I wish I hadn't told them to rush home. I wish I didn't tell them to come home all for a stupid cake. I'm so selfish. I'm so stupid. Why? Why did I have to say something so selfish?

Now, there I was, trying to hold back my tears from falling any further from my eyes. Seeing two stones, with my parent's names engraved on them. All the happy memories began flooding through my head, which lead to my tears falling from my face and combining with the rain. I let out sobs that only Nii-chan could hear.

He shifted a little and next thing I knew, he was looking at me. His eyes were a puffy red with tears on the edges of his eyes. The eyes that always showed the happiest emotion, gone. He bent down to my level and pulled me into a tight hug. I buried my face in the curve of his neck and just let out my sobs. My tears began to soak through the fabric of his already wet jacket.

"I'm so sorry Nii-chan! It's all my fault! I just can't..." I felt his hand rubbing my back. He began to speak through his cracking voice.

"It wasn't your fault. Please don't blame yourself. It'll become quite troublesome if you continue to blame yourself. I'm sure our parents wouldn't want that."

Troublesome...I don't want to be troublesome. I don't want to be a bother. I don't want to be anything that'll cause Nii-chan trouble. I simply nod my head in his neck but I still had the fault screwed into my brain. "Nii-chan...I feel sleepy..." I don't know. I just couldn't bear with what was happening. Maybe it'd be better to just drift off.

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"Hey, Nii-chan! Merry Christmas! I made you this cake!" I looked around and glanced behind Nii-chan. "Nee, Nii-chan, where's Otosan and Okaasan?" He just stared at me with a cold expression. "Nii-chan, what's wrong?" He shifted his glasses and a sharp white gleam showed in them.

"Misaki, it was you. You're the reason they're not here with us, celebrating Christmas. All of this was because of a stupid cake, isn't it?" I just looked at Nii-chan with a scared expression.

"What're you talking about Nii-chan?" He just looked at me with an emotionless face and pointed a finger towards a bright light in the distance. "What is that?" I look at the light then back at Nii-chan who disappeared into thin air.

I walk over there with the cake still in my hands. With every step, I heard glass breaking. I look around but couldn't find the source of the sound of breaking glass. I continued walking towards the light and heard the crackling of the fire. There was a border between dry and wet; one side was where I was standing, which was dry and the other side was pouring rain. 

I crossed the border and readied myself for what I would see. My eyes widen in shock and I felt the cake drop from my grip. The frosting and cake pieces scattered around, staining my pants and the picture in front of me. A car. The same car that took me places. The same car that shielded me from the rain. The same car that was filled with laughter and happy smiles. It was...engulfed in flames. The flames I wish were extinguished.

I walk over slowly towards the scene only to be pulled back by a strong hand. I look up to see a dark figure. It had a really deep voice and it was too tall for me to see its face. 

"See what you've caused. Maybe it's best to give up. This was caused by you anyways." It was true. I just bent down on my knees and cried. "What a pity. Poor poor Misaki. You shouldn't have been so selfish."

*sniff* "You're right...*sniff* I should just give *sniff* up."

"That's right." With that, the figure disappeared. I heard distant voices echoing in the darkness. I look around with a tear-stained face and saw a white thing in the distant. I walked over to it and saw a small fluffy rabbit.

"Hello." I reached my hand down to it. It nibbled at my fingers and for once, I smiled. The bunny ran around me and sat on my lap. I stroked its ears and it twitched in happiness. "You are pretty cute, aren't you?"

"I could say the same for you."

"Eh?!?"

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I open my eyes groggily and stare up to see me resting on Nii-chan. The voices I heard earlier in my dream were those of my relatives.

"Poor dears. Where are they gonna go now?" What?

"I'm not sure. Maybe Misaki can go into an orphanage?" What are they talking about?

The yellings got more and more aggressive with the more people tuning in. I decided to look around and found myself inside a church, the same church my family goes to when we can.

"ENOUGH!" I heard the voice of someone close to me say. I stare up and find myself looking into Nii-chan's eyes. It was an expression I had never seen before come from him. He looked down at me and hugged me closer to him. He placed his other hand on his chest and looked at the people surrounding me.

"I will take care of Misaki!" My eyes widen in shock. How can someone take care of me when I've done so much trouble? Everyone began to rebuttal against his statement. 

"You're only eighteen!" One of my relatives say.

"You can't support for you and him!" Nii-chan holds me closer.

"I can find a job!" He got up, leaving me on the floor and walked into the crowd. I was there alone. I watched as he argued with the people. None of this wouldn't have happened if I just kept my mouth shut.

I look around and see one person that stood out in the crowd. Emerald met lavender as we both stared into each other's eyes. He took one last glance at me before he mouths I'm Sorry...