Ch. 6: By Your Side, Even So (MOON)
Kairi: "You…really are like her."
Kairi really was acting strange just now.
I remembered his voice, and it had been as if he'd lost his will and given up on everything.
My heart was gripped with a painful unease.
I thought back to the pained look Kairi would have when he looked at me.
Realizing something, I followed after him…-.
I'm pretty sure I saw him go this way.
I had followed after Kairi as he walked silently, but now I had lost sight of him.
Then…
Mysterious Man: "Seems you came alone, as promised."
Who was that?
Following the voice, I peeked out around a street corner.
There stood about twenty men, all physically fit, and surrounding Kairi.
OO: "!!"
Kairi: "Hurry up and say what you want to. If I do what you want, you'll promise to leave that girl alone."
Mysterious Man: "You're willing to go that far to protect that girl huh? You've gone soft Kairi."
The man pulled a revolver out of his coat and put his finger on the trigger.
OO: "Kairi!!"
Kairi: "OO!? Why are you…!"
Mysterious Man: "You're not getting away!"
OO: "…!"
The leader gestured to a nearby guy with an eye patch who then moved to grab me.
Kairi: "Not so fast!"
In the space of an instant, Kairi's small gun went off, and in the momentary lapse while the eye patch man was shocked, Kairi grabbed my hand.
Kairi: "OO, run!"
As the men behind us started making a commotion, we ran, Kairi protecting me as we went…-.
…
……
Having lost the men, Kairi brought me to a building in the town where we hid ourselves.
Kairi: "Why did you follow me!? Do you want to die!?"
OO: "I'm sorry…but I was just so worried."
Kairi's face twisted into a pained scowl and…
OO: "Ah…"
Kairi roughly embraced me.
Kairi: "…please, just don't come inside me like that. I want to be alone…and yet…"
OO: "…"
Kairi's voice was a hoarse, strained whisper, close to my ear.
Kairi: "I…don't want to lose anyone else."
OO: "Kairi…"
Kairi: "But I can't help being worried about you."
That's because…
OO: "Because…I'm like your little sister?"
Kairi: "…"
He didn't answer my question.
That in itself was surprisingly painful and I felt my heart breaking.
But…
OO: "…if that's the case, will you protect me this time?"
At my words, Kairi lifted his head.
Kairi: "…OO."
I'm sure that at this rate, Kairi will always feel hopeless…
OO: "I realize it's presumptuous to think I could be a stand-in for your sister but…Kairi, please let me stay with you."
Kairi: "…"
Kairi released me from the embrace, then looked away as he thought intently about what I'd said.
After a while, our eyes met again…-.
Kairi: "…"
He placed the palm of his hand on my cheek.
Kairi: "…this time, I'll protect you."
Kairi's reddish brown eyes wavered with determination.
OO: "Right."
I smiled sweetly at him, keeping the pain in my heart under control. Once more he held me close.
It's as a sister, but…
If it could help Kairi, I didn't mind.
Within his arms, I prayed for the day to come when he could finally rest and be at ease.
END