The Cold Into Warmth or The Warmth Into Cold

"Don't." His voice was low, almost a whisper. His hands grew colder against mine as he rested his forehead on my shoulder. "I really care."

It wasn't Kaito.

Someone else. Someone who cared.

A-ai-chan?

My vision blurred for a second. 

When it cleared, I looked down at our hands. His fingers wrapped around mine. But they felt wrong. Her cold and his warmth. Mixed together.

Ai-chan had never taken over anyone before. So this was unfamiliar.

I could hear her breathing—Kaito's breathing, but slower now. The weight of her forehead on my shoulder made my heart race.

I wished it were her body. Her small hands. Her purple hair. Her cold staying as just cold. Not someone else's warmth turning cold.

But this was still something.

This was contact. The contact I had craved.

Anything is better than nothing... Right, Sora?

Her voice echoed in my head. I didn't answer.

Kaito shifted and then slowly raised his head. His eyes met mine. The glimmer was gone. Completely gone. 

Then a light flickered in his eyes. My heart skipped a beat. 

She moved his hand... her hand... from mine. I felt the warmth return as she slipped away. Like water rushing back into a space that had been empty.

Kaito blinked and smiled. It was his smile now.

"Sorry, Sora." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't even remember what I was trying to say."

I sighed.

Ai-chan left him.

I diverted my gaze to the TV. The colours flashed. The characters shouted. I stared at it without actually seeing anything.

Kaito was still looking at me. I could feel it.

I turned to face him. "What?"

He shook his head and stood up. "You want something to eat? I'm hungry."

I nodded.

He walked to the kitchen. I could hear him opening cabinets, rummaging for food. Then something clattered softly.

I lay back on the bed. The pillow smelt like him. Like his shampoo. Like his room. For how long had he smelled like that?

I closed my eyes.

The moment replayed in my head. The hand holding mine. Her fingers... or his fingers, but they were the same fingers.

'Is it wrong?'

The thought arrived on its own.

'Is it wrong to use him like that?'

I didn't have an answer.

I blinked and turned on my back. I watched the ceiling. It was white with a small crack running from one corner to the light fixture. I followed it with my eyes.

I blinked again.

And blank.

When I opened my eyes, I was out on the street. The blue building looming behind me. I turned around to count the floors. 

"Five."

It was no longer stretching towards the sky.

You enjoyed that... Sora~

Ai-chan peeked at me from behind the pole. She smirked and marched towards me.

"N-no." 

She stood on her toes and chuckled. Liar~

My face burnt. I took a step away from her. 

I walked past the vending machine and that woman's garden... the one she is always sweeping. Ai-chan followed me. She hummed a soft melody during the entire time.

I had heard that melody before. I glanced back at her. I wanted to ask but decided not to.

I don't know how, but we ended up at the bridge. I looked at the railing, and the same old broken pavement. I ran my fingers along the bars, looking down into the water. It shimmered under the morning sun.

The mark pulsed. 

My feet had brought me there, of course they had. 

I turned to her. She looked at me. 

Do you like seeing me die?

With a loud splash, her words fell into the puddle between my feet.

"NO!" I spoke louder than usual. I took a few small breaths."No-"

Then why are we here?

I looked at my hand. The memory flashed before my eyes. The warmth or the cold. I swallowed. "Because I held your hand."

Ai-chan pressed her lips. Her cheeks seemed to swell with air then-

Pfft...haha

She burst into laugher. My eyes glued to her. She looked like a normal girl.

Haha I held it through Kaito's body. You still know I am dead, so it's fine.

"So I am still sane?" I walked closer to her.

She nodded.