And now the next chapter of Guardian Angel. Yep, I changed the title
Chapter 2 - Between Then and Now The hills seemed endless and the ground filled with infinite potholes as Ai and Sayumi felt their way around in the dark. The cold and bitter night sent chills up and down their spines throughout their trek to find a way out of the ravine they were trapped in. It seemed highly impossible that they were going to succeed in getting out of the natural maze any time soon but still the girls kept their spirits up and minds off their unfortunate predicament by chatting about random things. The topic however soon reached a rather sensitive issue as Ai brought up the earlier awkward situation.
"Sayumi, I don't know if I should be asking you this at such a juncture, but did something happen between you and Eri? It's not like you at all to leave her behind."
Along with her unexpected role as the new leader of Morning Musume, Ai acquired the practice of keeping up to date with all the happenings that occured among the members. She was determined to ensure that everything was smooth going with the girls under her charge, regardless of the type of problems they faced.
"Life is one time Ai-chan. Stop running away."
The abrupt change in the role of interrogator caught Ai off guard and she momentarily forgot her own role as advisor and counsellor to the younger members. She pulled on her kouhai's arm to ask her what she meant and the coolness of the other girl's hand shot through her body and surprised her mildly at how fast Sayumi was succumbing to the freezing temperatures. Nevertheless she didn't place too much importance on it and continued questioning her.
"What do you mean by that? I'm not running away from anything."
Sighing, Sayumi in a manner as if she were speaking to a small child, persevered with a pained and resigned voice.
"You are running away from Gaki-san and your relationship with her."
"Nonsense! There isn't any relationship between us at all."
Ai hoped that the deep crimson color that flushed her cheeks were duely camouflaged by the lengthening shadows of the night. Still the younger girl was staunchly adamant that her view was accurate.
"I've seen the way you two steal glances at each other. It's obvious you feel something. Tell her Ai-chan... before it's too late."
Not knowing how to explain her secret feelings towards Risa or refute why she had indeed watched her subleader on more than several ocassions, Ai was alleviated from the embarassing circumstance by the shining headlights of an approaching car.
"Look! A car's coming!"
Highly excited that they might soon be rescued, Ai started jumping and pointing elatedly at the vehicle growing larger with each passing second. Scrambling to ascend up the gradual incline of the hill leading up to the highway, Ai released her hand from Sayumi's arm and climbed on all fours to reach the top.
"Hurry Sayumi. We have to get up there before the car passes us."
-----
Inside the zooming taxi, Reina for the umpteenth time tried dialing all of her friends' cellphones. None of them were picking up and the numerous messages she had sent received no replies. At this rate, she was going to have to inform their manager of the missing four. Reina dreaded the impending conversation as she thought of how to break the news of the disappearance of almost half of the group.
"Why didn't I go with them?"
"Miss, there seems to be a girl on the road."
The astonished voice of the driver jolted Reina out of her daydream and she jabbed at the button to wind the passenger window down. Sticking her head out only to be met by the rush of wind whizzing pass the speeding automobile, Reina squinted hard to locate the figure on the highway. Not daring to believe her eyes, she blinked as the shadowy outline of Ai became clearer.
"Ai-chan!"
-----
The howling winds that suddenly picked up carried Reina's voice away into the distance and Ai did not manage to detect the sound of a friendly and familiar friend. Although the voice of another member of their closely knit group found its way into her ears.
"Ai-chan, tell Eri I love her!"
"Did you say something Sayumi?"
She wasn't very sure if she heard right with the increasing intensity of the winds coupled with her anxiety to advance towards the car. When she finally arrived at the submit, the car had screeched to a halt right in front of her. The dust that was risen by the tyres grinding to a stop settled quickly and Ai saw the relieved face of Reina who emerged from the taxi.
"Oh my god Ai-chan!"
Throwing both arms around Ai's neck and smouldering her with a suffocating hug, Reina refused to let go until she was satisfied that the leader was really safe in her arms.
"What happened? Where are the rest?"
"Gaki-san and Eri are still in the ravine. Quick, we have to get help."
"Where's Sayumi?"
Realizing that Ai didn't mention the whereabouts of the other rokkie, fearful apprehension rose within Reina.
"What are you talking about, Sayumi's right here. Sayumi...."
Reckoning that Sayumi was standing behind her, Ai turned around only to see the rest of the road empty. Letting her field of vision extend along the entire stretch of the highway, she only saw the sight of swirling leaves dancing amid the mournful wailing wind.
-----
The two same aged girls lay huddled with Risa's coat spread out over them. Shivering with the descending temperatures in the mountains, Risa tired to keep the injured girl warm and as comfortable as she could with the limited resources available. Eri was considerably quieter than before and her sobs were sounding weaker as time passed. Seeing her fragile state, Risa began to grow frantic with worry.
"Stay with me Kame, don't close your eyes."
"Gaki-san, I'm tired."
Struggling to keep her eyes open, Eri's eyelids felt heavy as they threatened to close, slipping her into a state of unconsciousness.
"Kame, KAME! Don't close your eyes. Listen to me when I'm talking to you!"
Her attempt at humor to cheer Eri up made the girl smile. She was thankful to have Risa by her side and she wanted to see the face of her companion so badly. Yet she couldn't. Her eyelids felt excessively ladened and her body was filled with fatigue. They were begging her to put them to rest and Eri was tempted to obey.
"Kame! I like you, I LIKE YOU!"
Resorting to shaking her weary confidante, Risa was desperate. Where was Ai? Where was Sayumi? She couldn't handle this alone. She couldn't watch Eri die. She didn't want to.
"I'm not staying here by myself Kame. I won't let you leave alone!"
-----
"Calm down Ai-chan. Speak slowly."
Holding Ai close to her own body, Reina comforted and coaxed the elder as she bundled her with a thick blanket. Balancing a paper cup of hot fluid in her hands, Ai tried her best to calm down as she grappled with all that had taken place. Having been given the all clear by a medical worker and seated safely in an ambulance. She was fine except for some scrapes and an angry looking cut above her eyebrows. Refusing to go to the hospital for a full body check-up until the other girls were found, she rested at the back of the ambulance with Reina by her side. She could hear the anxious voice of her manager yelling instructions to workers as they joined in the hunt for the GakiKame duo. Taking in deep breathes to calm her shaking nerves, Ai recounted the experience to Reina who was listenly intently.
She started the tale with their journey to the supermarket at the outskirts of the town, how a rumbling ten ton truck wandered onto the same path as their taxi, the dangerous tumble down the steep ravine, Risa staying behind to take care of Eri and at the end concluded the story with how Sayumi chose to follow her to find help.
"She was with me Reina, Sayumi was with me the whole time."
-----
"Kame I've felt for you since we did the Hakkan commercials together. I've never confessed because I couldn't decide between you and Ai-chan. I know I'm selfish for liking both of you at the same time so I chose to runaway. Now I regret not revealing the truth. I want to tell you I like you Kame. I...I love you."
A weeping Risa clung onto Eri's shirt as she buried her head in her chest. By now Eri's eyes were fully closed and Risa knew she couldn't hear her anymore. She would never know how much she loved her.
"You are so beautiful Kame, more beautiful than what the eye can see. I can't let you leave alone, because I can't survive without seeing your smile."
Bringing a shard of broken glass up to her flawless skin and pressing it down, Risa watched dazed as a thin red line formed on her left wrist. Applying more pressure, she made the cut deeper until the scarlet blood flowed freely and dripped with steady rhythm from her elbow.
I'm sorry Ai-chan but Kame needs me more. ------------------
strawb3rrykream: You are amazingly quick at updating your thread. Golly so many fics but, I like
JFC: Do you consider what happened during the KameMame bit them becoming closer? I guess in a way it is? Hmmmm...
Sukoshi: For some reason I smiled while reading your comment. They always manage to put me in a good mood
sweeety: Wow, you are pretty close on something. Good guessing there *thumbs up*
ringo-hime: Keep reading to find out
Topic: More Than One Story...[111016 Loving You Forever] (Read 236744 times)