Project: Karma

67 | Treasuring Love

<Nagisa>
At first I couldn't comprehend what Aguri meant. Did she mean that he was out? Not home?
I looked over at Karma and there was a rough expression on his face. Like he figured what was going on. Aguri led us into the living room and sat down with us. She stalled for a bit before she could even start to explain anything.

I took her hand into mine because, it felt like this wasn't going to be a easy conversation. Aguri looked pale and cold, I know that my oblivious mind was due to it.

"I thought Koro-sensei told Karma, so I suspected that you would already know." Aguri picked up the white cream envelope from the coffee table. "But I guess this was left behind for that reason." She gave it to me.

"I don't quite follow. Tell me what happened to him." I pestered, "why isn't he here?"

Aguri readied herself. Her eyes grew dark and lonely. I felt like I was treading dark waters.

"Nagisa, Karma, he's dead. My husband is gone." She confessed. "It was two days ago when he had finished his job to bring back Karma and he prepared the talk beforehand. Initially it was spoken of earlier but, the most difficult part was telling Ichiro."

Wait. He died two days ago? But we literally saw Koro-sensei this morning-

"He used that method...didn't he?" Karma spoke up.
"What we saw was his spirit, wasn't it?"

"Huh?" I looked at him.

"I'm afraid so." Aguri agreed. "Our minds are so fixed to what we want to see, that it's not impossible for that to happen."

"What? What do you mean he used that method?" I questioned.

Karma inched closer to me and pulled me into his arms. One side of my body was leaning on him, as the other was exposed. I'm scared, why is he treating me so gently all of a sudden?

"Koro-sensei rebuilt my body, It needed a heart  which he had saved. He had everything, except for the one piece that made every project function normally and efficiently."

"And they've stopped making that certain chip so it was practically impossible to obtain. Ever since the Project Death incident, they discontinued all projects. The only 3 people who knew how to create those chips are no longer alive." 

For some odd reason, I felt the frosty chills ride up along my spine. I gulped and asked, "what happened to them?"

"It was filed away four years ago, it was Death who had killed them." Aguri answered.

"Then how is Karma alive?" I was afraid to lurk deeper. Karma's heart was beating through my ears. Loud and clear.

Aguri showed a faint and suffering smile.
"Koro-sensei dug into his own body and took out his own chip." Aguri held in her tears and choked back on her words. "What pained me was when I entered that room and the note left behind said to finish the job. So I took that chip and implanted it within Karma myself. It wasn't till today that you woke up." She snapped.

I was speechless myself.

Both Karma and I took both sides of Aguri and embraced her together. For Karma to live again, Koro-sensei exchanged his own life.

That heart that beats within Karma, is being carried along with Koro-sensei's heart and spirit too.
There was no mistaken it. That Koro-sensei that I saw earlier this morning was the spirit of him. That creature walking beside him must of been the form he had when he himself was still being experimented on.

How could a beast like that, possess such intentions? The world isn't round like that. Not every monster, is a monster at heart.
It's always a give and take that makes the world as it is. It's cruel but, it's how it works.

"Thank you Aguri. I pray that he rests in peace. His soul within Karma, we'll never take it for granted." I assured.

"Just knowing that his life was not wasted, I can't afford to grieve. He's lived long enough to realize that young love, should be treasured." Aguri kissed my cheek and Karma's. "You kids, I can just remember the times when everything began to blossom. At first I was skeptical because I knew what life like that was."

"I'm sorry." I hung my head despondently. I fell emotional with the agony bellowing out but that would do no justice. I can't afford to sob in front of Aguri, when she is the one with the greater lost.

Aguri looked straight into my gaze and with a mollified tone she said, "no need to apologize dear. You've gone through enough. This is my pain, that I have to carry alone. Welcome back Karma."

"Thank you." Karma bowed his head.

She's a strong woman and I commend her for all the sacrifices she has made. I really look up to your iron heart. You're special to me not as a teacher but, as a friend that I cherish deeply.
Who knew that my life after high school, would be taken along side with yours.
••••
By the time we drove back home it was around 9:30pm. Aguri treated us for a meal at their place before we left. The mood lifted once Ichiro and Nakaru came prancing and said that they've finish completing the dog house. When I left, I made sure to give Ichiro an extra long hug.

I think what I told him then, was good enough for his heart to take. He was rather kind and steady with my words. All I saw was a thankful smile, one that Koro-sensei always had on his face.
I said to him, "I'm sorry I took your father away from you. I'm in your debt Ichiro. So when the time comes, no fakes, no pretending to be content. Alright?"

When Karma and I tucked Nakaru into bed, he and I stayed up to read the letter that Koro-sensei left behind for us.
It was neatly sealed and even had a smiley face sticker on the back side of it. His humor was too much for us. I found it assuring that I was going to read whatever was inside.

It wasn't a paragraph or an essay of his thoughts but, simply just a note. For limited words, it clung to us like superglue. Those words, were the backbones to our lives. He couldn't have said it any better. Inside, I could tell that his professor within him shown.

"When pressed to make a big choice, people expose their true feelings and at times they'll struggle with everything they've got." I read aloud to Karma. It was signed by his name at the bottom of the words, plus a small four letters that was faintly visible. Love.

Karma kissed my forehead and held me tightly
The silence spoke for itself but, my tears softly reminisced into the night. It was like my heart was thrown and stomped on all over again.

There's always a balance that has to be kept in the world. Even if you hate, it reminds you how fragile life really is.