The sky was a dull pink, streaked with red like an ink pot had been spilled. Kairi sighed, feeling herself depress into a slumped posture. The wind gently grabbed at her long hair, dragging wispy fingers through the silky strands. Cherry-coloured blossoms fell all around her as she sat in her usual place beneath the grand sakura tree, watching the world pass her by as she swung her legs back and forth.
“Kairi, it's time to go.”
Ryusuki stood by, a little way behind the pale, light-haired girl; he was her keeper, of sorts. He'd been looking after her for years, making sure she wouldn't fall back into her illness. Kairi had stumbled – literally stumbled – into his life when she was 13, he was 15 one day in the street. She begged him to take her to the hospital, knowing she wouldn't make it alone. Had he declined, she would've.. Ever since that day, he had sworn to protect her.
Ryusuki shook his head, chasing the thoughts away. Eventually, he found himself falling for the girl and all her oddities. Ryusuki watched her stand slowly, stilling to gain her feet beneath her, her hair swayed gently as she moved delicately towards him; the slight glint of the golden sun pendant she wore peeked out from behind her coat.
“Ryu-San, it's beautiful ne?” Kairi smiled widely, her golden eyes lighting up at the sight of him. His heart fluttered a little, suddenly becoming alive in his chest and he couldn't help but smile back.
Those smiles that were reserved all for him.
“Yes, it is Kai-Kai.”
You're so beautiful.
The words were behind his lips, but he bit them back, instead he reached for her. Kairi squeaked as he slipped his arms around her shoulders in a hug. Ryusuki felt her nuzzle her nose into his shoulder, her frail hands gripping the back of his shirt.
“I like it when you hug me, Ryu-San,” She whispered, drawing back to look at him with those pools of endless sunshine.
Chuckling deeply, Ryusuki slipped his arm around her shoulder, leading them down the path, “Lets go home, shall we?”
Ryusuki, once again, stood behind Kairi under her favourite sakura tree. The air was crisp, nipping at the parts of his face not covered by his thick scarf. Kairi sat on her bench swinging her legs, whistling a song he'd come to love. Cherry blossoms continued to fall around her, the tree was slowly going to sleep, ready for the winter. Kairi held out a blue mitten-covered hand as a gust of wind blew the leaves about her. One gently swirled into her hand.
“Look Ryu-San! It likes me!” Kairi beamed with her nose slightly pinking, holding out her hand for him to see the leaf. She looked up at him with wide, shimmering eyes – fascination swimming deep within them.
Ryusuki simply chuckled, his eyes in a half-lidded gaze of endearment. How one person could have so much love for the smallest things, he would never know, but Kairi saw the beauty in all things. Her own beauty dimmed all in the world, nothing could compare.
“Awe, goodbye leaf!” Kairi pouted. Ryusuki didn't miss the sadness in her eyes as it fluttered away on the breeze. Kairi shivered, snuggling down into her scarf, rubbing her mittens together to create some heat.
Ryusuki motioned for her to come to him, his arms wide open. Kairi slid off her seat, shuffling around the seat into his embrace. A tiny sniffle made him look down. Tears were in her eyes, descending down her cheeks to wet her scarf.
His heart leaped into his chest at the sight of her mournful expression , “What's wrong, Kai-Kai?”
Kairi wiped her tears with the back of her hand, satin-like strands shielding her face from view, “Why do all good things have to end?”
Ryusuki's face fell, her words echoing in his ears. Slowly, he drew the girl back into him, laying his cheek on her head, watching the world pass them by.
Why did it have to end?
He'd noticed how she'd been lately. Her ribs becoming more apparent, how she slept a lot more, how she couldn't eat as much. How her eyes were losing their colour.
Ryusuki felt like he was watching a clock and he began to hate it. The second hands ticking becoming unanimous with the changes, the hour hand slowly eating away at her life. Eating away at his heart..
Gazing out at the scenery of the mountains beyond them, at the red-streaked sky beyond those, Ryusuki sighed inwardly. Why did all good things have to end?
“I.. I want to go home, Ryu-San,” Kairi looked up, her face pale – her hair made her appear as light as snow. Her eyes were heavily lidded, her breaths were coming in short; the sun pendant bobbed gently with her chest.
“Okay, Kai-Kai. I'll take you home.”
To be continued...
(I have the next idea in my head, brain is blocking ideas from forming coherency.)
t(O-Ot)
