[Dawn and Dusk] Day 788: You and I, All Alone

(The night was long. Rei, Aika, and the three soldiers ended up going to sleep. Because of her condition, we were allowed to stay the night. Even I, somehow, began to feel tired. I kept my hand on Isabella's, and I didn't let go of it for a second.)

It was nearly three in the morning. Back at Yoko's house, Izanami prepared to leave for the hospital. Yoko and the Shoku Twins had returned to bed in an effort to go to sleep. The task proved impossible.

Izanami stepped outside and closed the front door behind her, dreading what was about to transpire. A golden light flashed in front of Izanami, and out of that flash came Amaterasu and Tsukiakari.

"Amaterasu?! Why are you here?" Izanami recoiled.

Amaterasu arrived in her lavish, floral robes and hoari, her hands hidden beneath the sleeves. Tsukiakari trailed behind her with her hair tied into twin tails. She wore a jean jacket over her black, knit sweater. One clearly stood out from the other, but it would've been even more jarring for everyone involved if Amaterasu had arrived in casual clothing unbefitting of her status.

"My daughter was worried about the young girl." Amaterasu answered. "I didn't realize how urgent it was until I checked with the Shinigami. I imagine Osamu's over there fighting along with her, right?"

Izanami nodded. "Yes, he left a few hours ago."

Amaterasu sighed. "It is not within our power to stop death. However, Osamu still has my thanks for what he did for my daughter. At the very least, I believe we can make this easier for him."

"Easier?" Izanami repeated.

"Take us to Isabella. I'll show you what I mean." Amaterasu said.

"All right." Izanami agreed.

Izanami, Amaterasu, and Tsukiakari all teleported to Isabella's hospital room, where Osamu and the others had already fallen asleep. On this particular night, Izanami couldn't care less for the custom of checking in and out with the hospital during visitation. None of it mattered now that Isabella's condition had taken such an awful turn.

Seeing their friend on the brink of death hurt so much more than they thought it would. Izanami and Tsukiakari had mentally prepared themselves for it, but it proved meaningless. Their hearts shattered as they laid eyes on the weakening Isabella. Tsukiakari covered her mouth and held in her tears as Izanami held her close.

"Oh god..." Tsukiakari cried.

Amaterasu went ahead and walked up to Osamu and Isabella, both of them sleeping hand-in-hand. "What a brave boy you are, being here even when you know it will hurt. Though I cannot interfere in Death's business, I can still do you one favor here and now."

Amaterasu placed her hand on top of Osamu's and closed her eyes.

Osamu woke up in a black void. Nothing existed in this place except for himself. He looked around and saw nothing but deep, empty darkness.

"Am I dreaming? At a time like this?" Osamu asked.

"I suppose you can call this a dream, if you want to be simple about it."

Osamu recognized that voice immediately. He turned his head and saw Amaterasu sauntering up to him, her body radiating with golden light.

"Amaterasu?! How...why are you here?!" Osamu stammered.

"I heard about the girl. It seems her life hangs in the balance, doesn't it?" Amaterasu asked.

Osamu bit his lip as he carefully considered his next words. "Amaterasu..."

Amaterasu raised her hand, as if to stop him in his tracks. "I already know what you're going to ask, and the answer is no. I cannot just wave a magic wand and save this girl. Besides, I'm not the one who ultimately decides who lives or dies."

"...I still wonder why. For what reason does such a beautiful and amazing woman like Isabella have to die like this? Who does this help? What does it help?" Osamu questioned.

"We do not ask why the sun rises or falls, or why the rain clouds pour over us on days we'd never expect it to. Such is the way of death. It is as natural as the winter snow, as melancholy as the moonlight, and as sacred as the salt of the earth. And like all of these things, death moves on its own accord. It comes, and then it goes. It has no will, no judgement, and no agenda. To question it is foolish." Amaterasu said.

"But...still..."

Amaterasu placed her hands on Osamu's cheeks, her warm touch giving him comfort.

"I think the reason why you question nature itself is because, up until now, you've been able to do something about it. But Osamu, no matter what you were once able to do, no matter how many exceptions and loopholes you were able to exploit, you are just a human, and so is Isabella. In the end, you're all subject to the forces of nature."

(She's right...)

"What do I do? I don't know what I can do at all..."

"Even when a man cannot change his circumstances, he can still act. What we're in right now isn't really a dream, but rather, I've connected your subconscious with Isabella's."

"We're connected now?! How did you...wait, when did you.."

"You were already sleeping when I came in. I'm sorry to do this without warning, but I figured this would be a better solution than for you to simply wake up and find her gone. "

A golden door appeared besides them. Where it led was a mystery to Osamu.

"Now hurry. She doesn't have much time. You two will be able to talk like this. Just go through that door, and join her. Good luck, Osamu."

Amaterasu began walking off, stopping when Osamu called out to her.

"Amaterasu. Thank you."

Amaterasu smiled before she disappeared. Osamu braced himself for whatever lied beyond that door. He took a deep breath and slowly pushed it open. His eyes where overwhelmed by the light beyond the door and the white noise that filled his ears. Both of these things subsided, and the first thing Osamu heard was rain.

(Rain? But, isn't it snowing outside?)

When Osamu opened his eyes, he found himself in an outdoors cafeteria. There were dozens of empty lunch tables, and not a single person around. Upon taking a look at the buildings around the cafeteria, he realized he was in the same high school he met Isabella.

"No way...how on earth did I end up here?" Osamu questioned.

Osamu picked a place to sit and watched the raindrops slam against the ground. The longer he sat down, the more nostalgic the scenery became. His high school years were mundane and ordinary for the most part. There were plenty of days were he sat alone just as he was doing now, watching the rain from the shelter of the outdoors cafeteria.

"Come to think of it, didn't I sit in this exact spot when Isabella asked me out?"

As he said that, he spotted a lone girl walking towards him, an umbrella shielding her from the rain. She wore an olive green coat and a sparkling scarf. Her blonde hair was a little bit wet from the rain. The girl collapsed her umbrella and revealed her face. It was Isabella, smiling as she sat down with Osamu.

"Hey there, champ! Crazy that we ended up here of all places, huh?" Isabella said with a smile.

"Izzy! You're here too?! Are you okay?!"

Isabella hushed Osamu's lips with her finger. "Shh. Don't waste your breath on words of worry. This may be the last time you and I ever get to speak again. I only have until dawn."

Something about Isabella's presence and her calm, collected demeanor washed away all of Osamu's dread. He realized he had spent the night worrying for nothing. Isabella had clearly made peace with her fate.

"You know, love wasn't even on my mind until I met you." Isabella said. "You used to sit alone just like this, like an outcast. On those grounds, I thought I could understand you. Even though I was popular back then, I'm pretty sure it was just my classmates' curiosity of foreigners. I can't say any of them were my real friends. When I asked you out, right here at this table, and you said 'sure' to me, I went home with butterflies in my stomach.

“I think it was the first time I went back into my empty house with a huge smile on my face. And then, every day with you was amazing. I don't even regret the days where we argued or disagreed over something. Even those days taught me what it means to love someone. And then, you just...up and left. Gone, without a trace, and without a warning. Four years I waited. Four years I looked for you."

"I'm sorry..." Osamu lamented.

Isabella shook her head. "Don't be. You had your reasons. And then, for the first time in those four years, my men told me that a sign of you had popped up online. They told me it looked like you had already returned to town. That was the first night you came back."

"Yeah, and you were furious, weren't you?"

"Of course I was!" Isabella pouted. "You left me for four years! Not a single call, a text, a letter, nothing! I wanted to kick your ass and blow your brains out! Thankfully, I wasn't the only one with that idea. Aika, Yoko, and Izanami also kept track of you. Ironically, that night brought all five of us together. And then..."

Isabella waved her hand as if she was waving a wand. "The rest is all written on the pages of my heart."

"I just wish it didn't take me four years to come to my senses." Osamu said. "If I had known it would all end up like this, I would've come back sooner. I would've at least taken you around the world with me."

"Hey, now. This is no time for regrets! I just told you that I don't regret a single thing. Zip. Nada. I don't care how much time we had. I care that it happened. I care that you came back, and we got to live together under the same roof for over two years. You'd always correct my etiquette, Yoko and Izanami would always cook, and sometimes I would too.

“Aika would play the sweetest guitar, and we'd all compete over you. We all ate, slept, laughed, and cried together. I couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling two years than that. It was all of the pleasantries and hardships of life wrapped together in one house."

Osamu smiled. "So, you don't regret anything at all?"

Isabella shook her head. "Not anymore. Well, maybe I wish we could've had more sex, but hey, you take what you can get, right?"

The two laughed as the rain turned into a gentle drizzle.

"Still a pervert until the end, huh?" Osamu joked.

"Come on, Yoko is a much bigger pervert than me. See, I'm reserved about it, but Yoko is explosive when it comes to that. She's so direct and forceful!" Isabella explained. "I don't know how you're going to survive marrying her."

"Yeah, I know. I don't know how I've survived it up until now." Osamu said.

Isabella turned her head to the waning drizzle of water coming from the sky. "Still, I have no regrets. I can die happy knowing that much. I worry about my parents, Rei, and everyone else constantly, but I know you guys will be fine. I have strong parents, and strong friends to match. That's why I feel like I can leave in peace."

Osamu nodded. "Yeah...you're right."

"I suppose I have to apologize. My pain is soon going to end. Yours may leave a scar for the rest of your life. I wish death wasn't such a sad event." Isabella sighed.

"It might. Who knows, I may continue crying about it for a long time. But still, we've got strong hearts." Osamu said. "They can carry on with a scar. I know you wouldn't want any of us to remain depressed about it."

"Good! That's good to hear. So, Osamu, you've gotta tell me. Was I the best girlfriend you've ever had?"

"Eh?! You're gonna put me on the spot right now?!"

"Of course I am! I’m dying, damn it! This is my last chance to ask!” Isabella proudly declared, leaning in closer.

"Well, you're one of the prettiest. You're honest, never told a single lie. You were fun to be with, and I really did love you. I still do, honestly. You made me happy too. Perhaps a little annoying and energetic, but for some reason, I found that charming about you too. I loved putting up with your antics.

“You were a beautiful bundle of joy and trouble, with a strong attitude towards life. So...yeah. I think you really were the best girlfriend I've ever had. A lot of the traits I have now, I have because I met you. Your stubborn attitude in the face of hardships really rubbed off on me. Now look at me, I'm the one playing the hero the most. Most of all, I think I learned patience with you. It's something I wish I had back when I was younger."

Isabella looked like she was falling love all over again just hearing Osamu talk. Her gaze softened and her cheeks reddened with joy.

"Uhh, you're just staring at me..." Osamu said.

"Oh! Sorry! I got a little captivated there! My bad." Isabella stammered.

Osamu chuckled. "Hopeless romantic..."

"Was I good ex-girlfriend too?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"I guess...was I kind the ex that you looked at and still remembered why you fell in love with me?"

"Of course you were, silly. You're the type of ex I still think of fondly, the type that every girl that comes after has to measure up to. Even if we ended up separated from each other, you're the type of ex that I don't regret ever meeting or loving, because you were so influential to who I became later. Osamu Ashikaga wouldn't be half the man he is if he didn't meet Isabella Bailey. If only we had more time...I'd marry you as well."

Isabella smiled. "The feelings are very, very mutual, Osamu."

Isabella stood up and grabbed her umbrella. "It looks like it's almost time for me to go. Guess I'm not gonna make it out of this one. Sorry, Osamu."

Osamu stood up too, holding Isabella by the hip to prevent her from going. "Not yet! There's so much more I want to say to you! Please, just stay a little longer! So many people are hoping you survive this!"

Being held onto, knowing that her friends wanted her to come out of this alive, nearly made Isabella break down into tears. She exhaled and smiled. "I've been fighting all night. I'm getting really tired, you know? I'm afraid this is a fight I can't win. Osamu..."

Isabella stood on her tippy toes and kissed Osamu with every ounce of her love and longing. It would be their final kiss, as well as a parting gift to Osamu.

"Thank you so much for being a part of my life. I couldn't have asked for a better man to fall in love with." Isabella cried. "I couldn't have asked for better friends, or a better home to stay in than the one we made with Yoko and all the others. So, if I can just ask for one last favor from the man I love...will you hold me until it's over?"

"...Of course, Izzy."

Osamu and Isabella closed their eyes as they embraced each other. Everything else seemed to melt away as they locked themselves in a tight hug. Nothing else mattered to them but each other, and all the memories they had built up until that very moment.

It was in that moment that Osamu too felt the last of his dread fade away. He felt nothing but warmth, comfort, and most of all, peace.

"You're so warm, I forget it's even raining..." Isabella said.

"So are you..." Osamu whispered.

"Do you love me?"

Osamu nodded. "I always have."

"Even after I'm gone?"

"I always will."

Isabella smiled and hugged Osamu even tighter. "I feel so warm and calm. I'm not scared anymore. I love you, Osamu."

"I love you too, Isabella."

Those few minutes felt like hours to them. As the rain ceased and the light and white noise returned, Isabella and Osamu locked loving eyes. They smiled at each other as the cafeteria and all of their surroundings began to fade away.

"Live for a long time, and live a life you'll never regret, Osamu. Don't let me down." Isabella said, raising her fist towards him.

Osamu bumped his fist against hers as tears streamed down his cheeks. He made sure to look into her eyes, savoring their emerald luminescence as much as he could. "I won't. I'll tell you all about it when we see each other."

Isabella wiped the tears away from her cheeks, taking in the sight of her best friend and lover for the final time. "Good! I'll be waiting. Until then, my love, goodbye."

The light and noise reigned supreme until everything went back to darkness. Isabella and the cafeteria had all disappeared.

(When I awoke, our hands were still together. Isabella's grip was weakened, almost non-existent. The sun had just risen, shining its blinding light through the window. When I looked at Isabella, her beautiful blonde hair, her angelic skin, and her peacefully shut eyes...when I truly realized the glory of everything Isabella was, she was already gone. Even then, I didn't want to let go of her hand. I knew that, in a world away from ours, Isabella Bailey, the strongest woman I had ever known, was finally at peace. There was no more pain, no more sorrow. Finally...she could rest.)