Now and Forever @rndmnwierd: Okay, I’ll try to not kill off anyone in my next story
@cogi_yoshi: I feel the same. It’s so sad to see Koharu gone
@Sukoshi-chan: For some reason after seeing those poor monkeys crying I feel just a wee bit better
@kRisZ: I share your sentiments
You Belong With Me @rndmnwierd: I was wondering if anyone was gonna yell for putting JJ in the mean GF role
@HartAKL85: LOL! Should you really use that emoticon to describe a nerdy Sayu?
@badsaints: Tee hee, looks like I’m not the only person who finds it easy to see JJ like that
@9: What does your sis think of you liking Taylor Swift songs besides being ashamed?
@kRisZ: How did you guess it was Reina? The gold accessories? Which other sport could Reina play? Darts?
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Updated version to the trailer. See if you can guess what is going to happen after watching it
[noembed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6B_dpo8ptE[/noembed]
Guardian AngelChapter 12 – Remember Me This Way “Kame?”
With wide eyes, Risa stared at the new entry into the hotel suite. Although she was surprised by Eri’s appearance, what shocked her even more was the terrifying expression she wore on her face.
“After everything I’ve done for you.”
“After all this time. Still, you leave me for her!”
At the end of her sentence, Eri raised her arm and pointed the object she had been clutching onto in the direction of the room's third occupant.
As Eri was standing in the shadows, it took Ai a while to make out the item that the youngest was holding. And when it became clear, Ai unwittingly held her breath and put her hands up in defense against the gleaming barrel of a pistol.
“Eri?”
“How many times have I told you not to utter my name! Why don’t you ever listen! I should have done something about you a long time ago.”
Significantly agitated, Eri’s entire body trembled and along with it, her forefinger which was resting on the trigger of the revolver. Afraid that Eri might lose control and do something she would regret a lifetime, Risa hesitantly made her way up to her flat mate hoping to calm her down.
“Kame, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Liar!”
Jerking her free hand at the pair of plane tickets that were lying on the carpet floor beneath their feet, Eri transferred her attention to Risa. She wanted to hear what lies she was intending to spin and how she was going to break her heart in the process of doing it.
“Ai did ask me to leave with her. But I already told her it wasn’t possible.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Despite her reply, Eri's resolve began to waver. Glancing about the room, she saw that there Risa hadn’t brought any of her luggage with her. Recalling that she had heard Risa apologizing to Ai when she first entered the hotel room, Eri’s face lit up and a hopeful smile spread across her features.
“You rejected Ai? You rejected her for me?”
Nodding at Eri, Risa smiled back at the woman she had been living with for two whole years. Even though Eri was now holding a gun and threatening to hurt Ai, Risa knew she didn’t really want to do it. She was just scared of losing her. As long as she assured Eri that she was never going to leave her side, Risa believed she would release Ai.
Deciding to distract Eri so Ai could escape, Risa embraced Eri in a hug and angled their entwined bodies slightly so that the taller could no longer see Ai. Subsequently, Risa caught Ai’s gaze and told her to run. Nevertheless, she didn’t heed her advice. To Ai, Eri was dangerous and she had to be stopped. Stealthily picking up a vase that had been sitting on the bedside table, Ai raised it above her head and swung it
with great speed towards Eri.
“NO!”
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“Reina is sorry for leaving. Please take care of Sayu when I’m not around. Reina will be grateful for eternity.”
After she had recorded the same message and left it in every one of the member’s voice mailboxes, Reina walked into the kitchen of her apartment. Observing each corner of space intently, she tried to etch in her memory how the items were placed and what they looked like. Before this, Reina had gone through the same routine with her bedroom and the living area. This was the very last room and it would be here where her story will end.
Switching on the stove, the unmistakable scent of cooking gas soon wafted into her nostrils. Proceeding to tug the window shut and soak a piece of cloth under the running tap, Reina leaned her body against the sink, gradually sliding to the floor. When she was certain that the damp fabric was secured firmly around her eyes, Reina removed a lighter from the pocket of her shorts.
Reina doesn’t want to go. But Reina wants Sayu to regain her sight and be happy.Tightening her grip on the lighter, Reina closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. She can’t chicken out now. Not when she could return Sayumi to her old life. She was the only one who had the ability to bring the woman she loved wholeheartedly back to the days where she could beam cheerfully into the mirror and admire her own reflection.
Reina knows Sayu will be elated to regain her sight. And Reina will gladly make that sacrifice. The only thing Reina is sad about is…Placing her thumb on the flint wheel, Reina counted to 3 before activating it.
Please remember there was once a person who loved you with all her heart.“…Reina will miss you Sayu.”
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Blood flowed freely down her arm as Risa cradled it close to her body. Some fragments of the broken vase had pierced her flesh while the rest lay scattered on the floor.
"You tried to kill me! I won't let you leave this place alive!"
Glaring at Ai with menacing eyes, Eri once again trained the gun at Ai. She was determined to destroy her former leader. No one was going to change her mind this time. Not even Risa.
"Please Kame, don't do this. Let her go."
Risa begged as she clung onto Eri's coat. She didn't want to see Eri turn into a murderer. She wasn't a monster. To Risa, she will always be her adorable and innocent kouhai.
"But she tried to hurt me Gaki-san. You saw it!"
"She was just frightened. Let her leave and we can be alone again."
Quieting down, Eri did not speak and seemed to be contemplating Risa's suggestion. After some time, she tilted her head to look at Ai.
"Go. Now. Before I change my mind."
The instruction astonished Ai. Was Eri really letting her leave? Somehow, she couldn't believe what she had just heard was true. Inching closer to Risa, Ai tried to pull her along. Nevertheless, Risa shook her head and replied.
"I told you, I won't leave Kame. Goodbye Ai."
Forever.Tears blurred her vision and a sharp aching pain stabbed at her heart. Why did Risa persist in staying with Eri when it had been proven that she didn't deserve her love? Eri hadn't believed enough in the feelings that she held for her. So why remain with such a person? Ai didn't understand. Overwhelmed with hurt and completely disillusioned, her voice quivered as she spoke.
"I didn't expect you to move on so quickly. I thought you really loved me. I guess I was wrong."
Turning away from the pair, Ai headed for the doorway and disappeared out of it.
...I guess I was wrong...I guess I was wrong...I guess I was wrong...These three words kept echoing in Eri's mind and as she clutched her head, her grip on the deadly weapon loosened.
"Where have I heard these words before?"
~Flashback~“You can’t make that choice for her. Gaki-san would have wanted her to know.”
Trying to explain matters to a clearly agitated Eri, Reina spoke in a soothing tone.
“You don’t know what Gaki-san wants. No one knows her needs better than I. It has constantly been just the two of us and it will always remain that way!”
Her words cut through Reina like a cold steel knife. The
two of us? Wasn’t Reina her friend too? Granted, she didn’t have much time for her in between juggling the role of leader and taking care of Sayumi. Nonetheless she did call to ask about her at some point in those two years, though the phone calls never did span for more than an hour.
“Eri..”
What Reina didn’t anticipate was the older’s decision to cut short their spontaneous reunion. Throwing down some dollar bills onto the table top, Eri grabbed her purse from the chair with rigid resolve. The bitterness in her eyes was unmistakable as she accused through gritted teeth.
“I thought you would understand me. I guess I was wrong.”
~End of flashback~"Kame are you alright? Kame!"
Snapped out of her trance, Eri gazed into the worried brown eyes of her companion and covered Risa's hand, which was cupping her left cheek with her own. A tear fell from her eye and Eri looked away, unable to face Risa after remembering how she had mercilessly kept her and Ai apart.
"I'm sorry Gaki-san."
"Kame what happened? Are you okay?"
The concern laced in Risa's distinct voice along with the memory of Reina admonishing her clawed at Eri’s conscience, cruelly reminding her with each passing second of all the things she had done for her own selfish desires. Utterly disgusted by her actions, Eri hated herself to the core for becoming such a person. Why had she changed so much? She couldn't recognize herself anymore. But it wasn't too late to alter the state of events. Ai and Risa could still have a future, as long as she was gone.
"You deserve someone better than me."
"No, Kame. Don't say things like that. I know how you feel for me and I could never hurt you."
The touching confession warmed Eri's heart immensely and the reformed turtle girl knew Risa meant every word. The elder wasn't capable of lying and she probably will never be able to tell a lie convincingly. At that moment, Eri knew that she would have no regrets even if she had to depart from this world immediately. Her life had been worthwhile, for she had found somebody who loved her for who she is.
"Thank you for making me beautiful again Gaki-san. Please remember only the good side of me."
-----
Jabbing frantically at the button which would call up the elevator to this level, Ai looked around desperately for anyone who could help her. Incredibly, there was none. The corridors were dim and there was absolutely no movement throughout the level.
"Where is the staff when you need them?"
Muttering in frustration, Ai could only wait helplessly for the lift to rise slowly from the ground floor. When the light above the elevator finally glowed, renewed hope surged through Ai. Maybe she could at last get some help before the situation deteriorated further.
In the same second that the elevator doors glided open, a gunshot rang through the hallways and resonated between the silent walls. Stunned by the booming sound, Ai froze in her step and turned around stiffly.
A second gunshot fired and this time Ai started running. She ran as swiftly as her legs could carry her but the corridors seemed endless, the numerous identical doors flashing past in a fuzzy haze. When Ai located the entrance to her room, what met her reddened eyes was a scene that she will never forget...
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“Michishige-san, there is a match!”
The middle-aged and kindly nurse burst into the ward excitedly and almost pounced on Sayumi in her eagerness to convey the joyful news.
“Really? Does that mean I can see again very soon?”
“Yes, if everything goes smoothly. The doctor is arranging for an operation right now.”
Putting down the half knitted muffler on her lap, Sayumi reached out her hands to halt the nurse who was about to exit the ward.
“Could you please inform Tanaka-san?”
“We are unable to contact her at the moment but we will keep trying. Someone will come in shortly to assist you in changing.”
The nurse who has been taking care of Sayumi since her admission patted her on the shoulder before leaving. When the ward was once again empty except for herself, Sayumi ran her hands over the muffler.
In the time that Reina isn’t visiting, Sayumi would spend her hours knitting guided solely by her sense of touch. Progression was painstakingly sluggish and it took a lengthy duration at the beginning for her to become comfortable with maneuvering the needles and yarn without help. She had even pricked herself on a couple of occasions.
Nonetheless Sayumi persevered. She wanted to knit a garment for Reina to take with her everywhere. When they were separated due to Reina’s work and could not meet regularly, at least the ex-yankii could be reminded that there was someone waiting for her when she sees the handmade piece.
"Yours is the first face I want to see when I open my eyes. Wait for me R-kun."