I found you in April

Spirit

When I fell unconscious the second time, I didn't go back to my dad. I had what I could only describe as an out of body experience. My spirit was floating above my body. I could see everything that was happening and hear everything being said, but I couldn't interact with anyone. I couldn't say or do a thing. But there was one constant throughout the whole thing. 

Him.

Not once did he leave my side.

Kousei protected me. It may not seem like it considering the position I now find myself in but whether he knew it or not, he was the only thing keeping me here. He makes me feel whole. Without him, I'm nothing. And I promised.

Yet again, he rode with me in the back of the ambulance. After I sat up and kissed him, he wouldn't leave. They tried to make him but he wasn't budging. Did he really care about me that much? Everyone was shocked when they saw it. A girl who had, presumably, been beaten within an inch of her life just sat up and passionately kissed her boyfriend like there was nobody else in the world but them, and went back into a state of what was almost like a coma.

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Kousei's POV

"Please! Don't make me leave. I don't know how much time I have left with her. Please let me stay!" I pleaded. "Don't leave me alone. I can't face the world without her."

She had to be taken away for tests the second she arrived. MRI, CAT scans, X-Rays. That was just the half of it. They assumed she had suffered brain damage. Why does this happen? It always happens. I love someone and they get hurt. It's a vicious circle. It started with my mom. I hated her but I loved her at the same time. She was my mother. 

My dad was a deadbeat but I still loved him.

And now her. 

"Please God. If you are listening, don't take her away. I have nothing to live for without her. TAKE ME INSTEAD!"

"Damn it."

I don't know how long I was waiting. Was it a night? I don't know. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I couldn't do anything. I sat there. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. 

I'm a forgiving person. My best trait is my ability to forgive and forget. But in that moment, I knew, I would never forgive Tsubaki. I hated her more than anyone I'd ever laid eyes on.

*Beep*

My phone went off. It was Watari. How am I meant to face him? I told him I'd look after her.

Watari

"Hey Mozart! How's it going?"

I couldn't hide it from him. I had to tell him the truth.

"Watari. You need to get here. It's bad."

"Stop joking man! What's going on?"

"DO YOU SERIOUSLY THINK I WOULD JOKE ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS?!"

"Woah I'm sorry man! I'm on my way!"

***********

He got here 10 minutes later.

"Tell me everything!"

"It's Kaori. I'm so sorry Watari. I couldn't protect her!"

I started bawling. I was hysterical.

"Kousei! H-how bad is it?"

My crying got worse. Without me saying a word, he knew she was in a dire situation.

He just embraced me.

"What am I meant to do? I'm so useless. I can't protect anyone." I sobbed into his shoulder.

"I'm going to kill whoever did this!"

"W-Watari..."

"What?" 

"It was Tsubaki..."

"Where is she?" 

"I don't know. She took off as soon as police got there."

"And where is Kaori?"

"I don't know. They won't tell me..." I was choking on my tears.

"She'll be okay Kousei. She'll pull through."

"I can't lose her Watari. She can't leave me! She promised me she wouldn't leave me!"

At that point, he started crying too. He had been trying to stay strong but he broke. This was his best friend after all.

"After all Kao has done for that wretch..."

**********

Kaori's POV

All I could do was sit and watch their conversation. 

Watari was so full of anger and hatred. You might think I hated Tsubaki but I don't. That doesn't mean I forgive her but I don't hate her. I cannot allow myself to wallow in the negative emotions. It'll only drag me down. I have to stay positive. I have to come back for Kousei. I cannot allow myself to slip away from him.

No matter what I have to do, I will stay by his side.

Kousei was so full of sorrow. He cared about me just as much as I cared about him. I want to take all his pain away. He doesn't deserve to feel like this. I'm hurting him. But I'll only hurt him more if I leave. For his sake, for my sake...

For our sake...

I have to stay.

I sat beside him and whispered in his ear; "I love you so much. I'm here!" I pointed at his heart as I hugged him from behind. He flinched a bit but then smiled. He sensed my presence.

"I love you too." He whispered back to me. "No matter what. I'll be by your side forever."

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