Almost

Chapter Five

Karamatsu lay in a comfy bed, two thick, wool blankets on top of him.

Next to his hospital like bed, there was a small chair and a table, which Ichimatsu was sitting at, his head in his hands.

Behind the chair, there was a tall window, looking out on several bird feeders, which Karamatsu adored watching.

The air was cool, though it wasn't at an uncomfortable temperature.

Hospice was a very pleasant place, though it was filled with many sorrows. It was rare if a patient ever left this place alive.

Off and on, as Karamatsu's first day at hospice passed on by, many people visited him. And he never failed to give them a warm, loving smile. Yet, when he smiled, it only made those cry.

"I don't want to make others sad..." Karamatsu thought to himself, closing his eyes. His chest felt heavy, though the rest of his body, which had previously had been in pain, felt extremely numb. The strong pain killers offered to him really did work.

"Hey, Ichimatsu," Karamatsu spoke to his brother several hours later, after having awoken from a nap. "this time next week, I could be with Osomatsu and everyone else...Wouldn't that be nice?"

Ichimatsu knew crying would only make his brother depressed, though it was difficult to hold back at such a simple statement.

Turning away to face out the window, Ichimatsu nodded his head, tears running down his cheeks.

"I-It'd be really nice..." Ichimatsu replied softly.

"I'm sorry...for all the trouble I've caused you," Karamatsu apologized as he closed his eyes, immediately falling asleep again.

Ichimatsu stood up from his chair, leaning down to hug his dying brother.

"I never imagined I'd have to live without you, too..." Ichimatsu thought to himself. "You've been the only reason I've stayed alive for so long...And now my reason to live- is dying."

One week later...

"Ichimatsu, I'm sorry..." Karamatsu whispered quietly early one Saturday morning. "I'm sorry I lied to you..."

Ichimatsu grabbed his brother's hand and squeezed it tightly.

"I-It's fine!" Ichimatsu choked. "Every moment we've spent together has been amazing! Y-You helped me through so many t-things...even when I thought I couldn't live anymore...You were my reason to liv-"

Karamatsu hand went limp, slipping from Ichimatsu's. The weak man was deceased.

Ichimatsu didn't say another word, as he collapsed to the floor, crying out in anguish. He had no words, just as the previous time he was forced to live another life apart from his loved ones.

Immediately, he began to mutter, "Please...Please...Please..Please..."

Begging wasn't going to bring Karamatsu back. Nothing would.

And no person in the world would ever be able to bring Ichimatsu the peace and joy Karamatsu did.

~~~

Years upon years after the death of Karamatsu, Ichimatsu could be found harvesting peaches in the summer, and eating sweet, peach cobblers in the winter. All was done in the remembrance of the brother who loved living more than anything.

"Karamatsu was just like a peach..." Ichimatsu spoke to himself softly as he celebrated another Christmas all alone. "He was sweet, soft, and amazing..."