Finally! lol
Losing Faith
By: Becka Cantrell
Episode 3: Sight-seeing
*Mirai wakes up, stretches, looks around the room and sees that Ryo is still sleeping*
Mirai: *gets out of bed and walks to Ryo’s bed slowly and quietly*
Ryo: *out like a rock*
Mirai: I wonder what he dreams about… he said he used to dream about his girlfriend. I wonder what she was like, I wonder why they broke up. I bet she did the breaking up, he seems like the guy who was really into her and she got bored. …Why do I care?!
Ryo: *rolls onto his side and lets out a sigh* Mirai…
Mirai: o_o! Is he dreaming about me?!
Ryo: Mirai… *he rolls over onto his back*
Mirai: …Yes?
Ryo: …You’re letting in the sunlight… can you shut the blinds?
Mirai: -_- …No *goes to the bedroom door and puts her hand on the handle* I don’t know my way around except for this room. *sighs and goes back to Ryo’s bed* Ryo…Ryo wake up.
Ryo: nnn… *he rolls onto the side that faces away from her*
Mirai: Ryo… I’m not going to tell you again… Get up. I don’t know my way around here and I have to go to the bathroom! Get out of bed!
Ryo: *puts the pillow over his head*
Mirai: >< Don’t you ignore me! Get up!! *she rips the covers off him and he’s only wearing boxers* O_O
Ryo: *wakes up* O.O What the hell are you doing?! *sits up and looks at her* Do you mind?!
Mirai: I have to use the bathroom! Where is it?!?! >_<
Ryo: *gets out of bed and walks to his door, grumbling the whole way* Are you comin’ or what?
Mirai: …Um. You don’t have any clothes on.
Ryo: *looks at her* You afraid of boxers? I could be naked… Maybe next time I’ll sleep naked so that you won’t tear the bloody covers off of me. ><
Mirai: *follows and blushes the whole way down the hallway*
Ryo: *opens the door and turns on the light for her* Here’s the damn bathroom. *walks back to this room and slams the door*
Mirai: …Thanks *closes the door behind her and goes to the bathroom* Maybe I’ll take a shower while I’m in here. *takes off Ryo’s shirt and hops in the shower*
*20 minutes goes by and Mirai gets out of the shower and is wrapping a towel around her body*
*the bathroom door opens and Ryo walks in still in just his boxers with his hair in his face. He’s scratching his chest and he stops in the doorway*
Ryo: o_o …WAH!
Mirai: O_O WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!
Ryo: O_O I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL A DREAM!!!
Mirai: DON’T YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK!!!
Ryo: WHY SHOULD I KNOCK IF I THOUGHT IT WAS A DREAM!?
Mirai: GET OUT!
Ryo: *shuts the door quickly*
Mirai: *dries off* ….Are my clothes done yet?
Ryo: …*walks downstairs and comes back up with clothes that are basically destroyed* Yes…but you won’t be able to wear them.
Mirai: *opens the door and looks at them and then him* Can’t you put some clothes on? *takes the tatters from him and holds them up to her front* I won’t be able to wear these…what am I doing to do?
Ryo: *looks at her and grabs her arm and leads her to the bedroom*
Mirai: What are you doing? I don’t have anything on!
Ryo: Well put something of mine on and we’ll go shopping for some clothes for you.
Mirai: *looks at him, glances down and quickly goes to the dresser* You really should get dressed first. =-_-=
Ryo: *sighs* I’m just wearing boxers… it’s not that bad! *goes over and randomly picks something to wear* I’ll be back in a minute. *goes to the bathroom to change*
Mirai: *grabs a t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts of his to wear and changes before Ryo comes back and lays on her stomach on the bed*
Ryo: *knocks and walks in* It’s bizarre having to knock on my own door.
Mirai: If I’m too much trouble then show me out of here and I’ll be gone. *she throws a cold glare at him*
Ryo: It’s not like that, besides, then you’re Angel buddy would be pissed.
Mirai: *snorts* As if I care what Aranki thinks! That back-stabbing jerk! ><
Ryo: …Well you still need clothes so… let’s go.
*At the mall*
Ryo: *walking with a smoothie in his hand and he keeps looking at every woman that walks by him*
Mirai: *watches him and glares* No wonder she left…
Ryo: *shoots her down with a piercing stare* What did you say?
Mirai: I said *she stops and walks in a lingerie store* No wonder she left. *she turns and disappears in the store*
Ryo: *clenches his hands into fists and walks into the store*
Mirai: *looks at various clothing items and grabs whatever looks comfortable*
Ryo: Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but my relationship is none of your business.
Mirai: *picks up a handful of thongs and throws it at him* Who cares what I think right? It’s not like you’re honestly going to follow me around on my journey.
Ryo: >< You seem to forget the amazing fact that without me as a guide you’ll be lost by lunch time. *walks out of the store*
Mirai: *a sickening feeling hits the pit of her stomach* Oh shit, he’s right. *she makes a purchase with some money that Ryo gave her and walks out of the store to find him*
Ryo: *is in the food court and he grabs himself an empty table and stares off into space* Smart-mouthed little…. Let’s see her find her way around now. *looks up to see a boy with shaggy brown hair, gray eyes, a crooked grin, and the posture of an 18 year old walking toward him. The boy is dressed in baggy black sweatpants and a loose white tank* Shawken, I told you before, we’re going to have to stop meeting like this… *he grins and stands up to give him a brotherly hug*
Shawken: Hey Ryo! How’ve you been?! Kass has been tellin’ me all sorts of rumors about you! She kept saying something about some chick that came from thin air and right into your arms! She said it had to be the work of some… evil lord or something.
Ryo: Well, she is evil… Oh you should know better than to listen to Kass anyway! *sits down* So what are you doing here?
Shawken: Well *joins him* I came to babe shop but you’re “thin-air” chick sounds hotter. Does she really have blue hair and eyes?!
Ryo: *rolls his eyes* You still don’t get it man.
Shawken: Tch, can’t you give me credit for tryin to make you laugh? *smirks*
Ryo: Yeah, you were always the one with the jokes. *smiles back and looks around* Still no Mirai… I wonder if she’s really lost.
*meanwhile*
Mirai: *walks out of a store wearing black leather boots, short black shorts, and an aqua colored tank. She’s also wearing black aviator sunglasses, has a cigarette in the corner of her mouth and red-lipstick on* Thank you Lord for girls who love to dress up. *she pushes down the sunglasses to the tip of her nose and looks at the staring crowd through her black eyeliner and mascara* Ryo, when I find you, you’ll pay. *she starts to leave the store and her diamond rhinestone earrings catch the sunlight and sparkle; she has seven piercings in each ear*
*back to Ryo and Shawken*
Ryo: So where do you work again?
Shawken: At the record store next to the ice cream place. It’s not the greatest job, but it’s money.
Ryo: Hm.. *looks around unconsciously*
Shawken: *smirks* You know, maybe if you stand up she’ll see you.
Ryo: Not that I want her t- *looks at him* Wh-what?
Shawken: *laughs* You’re so easy to read dude! You always looked like that when you were waiting for Yukara to get off work.
Ryo: *moans miserably and slams his head on the tabletop*
Shawken: Oh man, I’m sorry. It’s just… maybe knowing this mysterious Mirai chick will be good for you!
Ryo: You have no friggin’ clue. *looks up at him and his eyes are wide enough to be owl eyes* What? *he turns to look behind him* O_O M-Mirai?!
Mirai: *makes her way across the food court in her new outfit and sees Ryo* Ugh that bastard… *looks at the boy with him and continues walking across the food court to a hamburger stand*
Shawken: *practically drools* Mirai…. THAT’S MIRARI?! She’s …
Ryo: Don’t…even…think it. *he stares at her* What is she wearing?! She sticks out like a sore thumb!! *gets up from the table* Shawken… don’t move a muscle. *walks over to her*
Mirai: *orders her food and gets her drink*
Ryo: What on Earth are you doing?
Mirai: *doesn’t look at him* I’m going to eat you idiot. *takes her food to the table that Shawken is at and sits next to him*
Shawken: *his mouth drops open and he stares at her*
Ryo: -_-;;;; *goes over and sits across from Shawken* What exactly are you trying to accomplish in that get-up?
Mirai: It’s a lot more comfortable than you’re clothes.
Shawken: DUDE!! She was wearing your clothes?!
Mirai: *glances at Shawken and smirks* Yes.
Shawken: *drools at her glance and stares at her*
Ryo: *snaps his finger in Shawken’s ear* Dude, Shawken! Come on!
Mirai: *continues to eat*
Ryo: Look… why did you sit here?
Mirai: *looks up at him* Is that a problem? I don’t think Shawken is disapproving. *she glances at Shawken and takes his chin in her hand and brings his face to hers until they’re centimeters apart* You don’t mind…do you?
Shawken: N-no… *he stares at her dreamily*
Mirai: *pushes him back* There, see? You’re the only one disapproving. Oh wait… is it because you didn’t expect me to find you so fast?! *gasps* Oh my God! Whatever shall you do?! *looks around the food court as she laughs and she suddenly stops and stares into a corner of the food court* No way…
Ryo: >_< For your information, you were being a bitch and I didn’t have to put up with you! …*looks at her and waves a hand in her face* Are you even listening?!
Mirai: No… *she stands and leaves the table to throw away the rest of her food*
Ryo: Grr… *he follows her as she heads to that corner of the food court*
Mirai: *looks around to see if anyone else sees what she sees and knows that she isn’t dreaming. Standing in the corner leaning against a wall is the figure of a man wearing a loose black shirt and loose black pants. He has shaggy white hair and brown eyes. He looks up to meet her gaze and smiles at her*
Ryo: *stops and realizes what she’s looking at and he hides behind a trash can*
Mirai: *she stops and lets out a breath* …Tsuharu… *she stops in front of him and he puts an arm around her shoulder and leads her out of the food court and to an empty parking lot*
Ryo: *follows so that he can spy on them*
Tsuharu: *stands on the concrete base of a light pole and looks at her* Nice outfit… *he grins at her*
Mirai: Tsuharu… stop. Why are you here?
Tsuharu: *laughs and stands in front of her* You didn’t think you could fall and I wouldn’t come to see you, did you?
Mirai: You… you shouldn’t have come. I don’t need Aranki’s help… and… I don’t need yours. *she turns her back to him*
Tsuharu: Miry… *he places his hands on her shoulders and slides them down her arms and turns her around to face him without letting her go* did you honestly think I would let you fight this alone?
Mirai: I-I don’t even know what I’m fighting! *she looks down*
Tsuharu: *lifts her chin to match her eyes to his* You will… it will take some time. But you’ll find what you’re looking for. You’ll go through a serious change, an emotional and physical change… but I’ll be right there beside you when you do. That is… as long as you want me there.
Mirai: Tsuharu… *her voice trails off* I’m mortal again…
Tsuharu: *whispers* You won’t always be… *her eyes look up into his and he quickly and passionately kisses her*
Ryo: o_o What the hell?! This guy suddenly shows up, says a few words to her and now they’re kissing?! I don’t know why… but it pisses me off.
Mirai: *closes her eyes and slowly puts her fingers through his hair which feels light and soft and she realizes she’s holding black feathers in her hands*
Ryo: O_O He just disappeared!
Mirai: *she looks at the feathers and a tear falls into her palm as she drops the feathers and looks up to the sky* You won’t always be beside me… you can’t stay here for more than two minutes…
Ryo: *stands and looks at her* And you said it was no wonder that she left ME.
Mirai: *whips around to face him*
Ryo: *he stands there with a sympathetic smile*
Mirai: … I would tell you to go to hell… but no matter how much I hate you, I wouldn’t want to damn you to such a foul place. *she reaches into her pocket and takes out the pack of cigarettes and pops one into her mouth* …How long were you there?
Ryo: Long enough. *he watches her as she looks for her lighter* So we are allowed to have love in the afterlife?
Mirai: *finds it, lights her cigarette and draws from the cigarette. She exhales a cloud of smoke and walks toward him* If someone is willing to love you, then yes.
Ryo: You left out that little detail in your explanation of what you remembered.
Mirai: *takes another drag and pauses in front of him to exhale* That’s because… I didn’t remember. *she walks back into the mall*
Ryo: Wait a minute… you mean to tell me that you were lucky enough to find love after you died and you couldn’t remember it?!
Mirai: You heard me. And you also heard what I told Tsuharu… I’m mortal. Pretty soon, I’ll forget everything involving Heaven.
Ryo: But he said that as long as you wanted him, he’d be there.
Mirai: *looks at him* You should know that not all promises can be kept. If I can’t remember him, then I can’t want him near. Being mortal is not what I wanted.
Ryo: You know, you’re not really m- *suddenly he hits the floor face first and gets pulled across the ground* AHH!!
Mirai: *slowly turns and her mouth drops* A demon?! Here?! In daylight?!?! *she runs after him*
Ryo: *tries to see behind him but he can’t see anything there. He gets pulled out of the building and into a dark alley behind the mall* MIRAI?! A LITTLE HELP!
Mirai: *she catches up and is a little out of breath* Ok, where are you, you disgusting creature?
Ryo: Hey, that’s a little harsh…
Mirai: I didn’t mean you, you idio- *she is thrown into a wall and hits the ground* AHHH!! *she stands up quickly and looks around* Damn it this thing is fast!
Ryo: What exactly is it?! Cause I can’t see it!
Mirai: It’s a demon Ryo… the problem is, I can’t see it either!
Ryo: Can’t you fight it?
Mirai: I don’t have a weapon you nimrod!
Ryo: *looks around and finds a baseball bat in a trashcan* Here! Take this!
Mirai: *takes it* Thanks, it’s better than nothing!
Ryo: *watches her* I feel so useless!
Mirai: *snickers* Welcome to being mortal. *she swings at the shadows and an eerie screech echoes on the walls*
Demon: *slowly emerges from the shadows as a giant slug with rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth and makes a horrifying screech*
Mirai: Ew… you’re uglier up close.
Ryo: >< You better be talking about that demon.
Mirai: I AM YOU IGNORANT HUMAN!
Demon: *throws up a green and venomous fluid that falls on top of Mirai*
Mirai: *cries in pain as her clothing and skin sizzles*
Ryo: Mirai!! *looks at her in worry but he’s completely helpless because he can’t see the demon to help her*
Mirai: *she sits on one leg and slumps onto her other leg*
Ryo: *begins to hear the demon slithering around* Mirai? *he suddenly feels a heartbeat. The beat slows down and time seems to slow down and stop with every beat. As he looks back to Mirai he can see the demon stopped in time about to eat her* O_O
Mirai: *she lets out a cry of pain as her wings escape from her back sticky with blood. She stands up slowly and her left eye has changed to the demon eye that Ryo saw the first day he saw her. She looks at the demon with her head cocked to the side and puts her hand to the stomach of the demon*
Ryo: *watches in silence because every time he tries to speak the words won’t come out*
Demon: *its body starts to expand slowly and the expansion starts to speed up as time comes back to the present*
Mirai: *has her hand inside the demon’s body as the body gets bigger and bigger around her*
Demon: *lets out a dying cry as it explodes*
Mirai: *holds her arm where it was before as the pieces of demon fall around her and she closes her hand around the demon’s heart*
Ryo: O_O Oh…my God.
Mirai: *she looks at the heart and brings it closer to her face. She inspects the heart and sits with her wings starting to wrap around her and Ryo can see her open her mouth and bite down on the heart right before her wings close the gaps*
Ryo: *covers his mouth in horror* M-Mirai… *he slowly walks toward the winged creature as it stands*
Mirai: *her wings stretch to full wing-span and her mouth is dripping black blood from the demon heart. She looks at Ryo with a sinister glare and turns to face him*
Ryo: *takes another step toward her* Mirai… I know you can hear me… It’s me, Ryo!
Mirai: *she growls in her throat as she watches him cautiously*
Ryo: *is close enough that he reaches to her hand and grabs it. A blue light pulses from his hand into hers*
Mirai: *her eyes widen as she looks at him slowly*
Ryo: *he stares at her and his arm starts to burn as he lets out a soft but painful cry*
Mirai: *her wings slowly start to retract and her eyes slowly change back to normal* R-Ryo! *she lets out a painful cry and falls to her knees*
Ryo: *he lets go of her hand and she passes out on the ground*
-End
By: Becka Cantrell
Episode 3: Sight-seeing
*Mirai wakes up, stretches, looks around the room and sees that Ryo is still sleeping*
Mirai: *gets out of bed and walks to Ryo’s bed slowly and quietly*
Ryo: *out like a rock*
Mirai: I wonder what he dreams about… he said he used to dream about his girlfriend. I wonder what she was like, I wonder why they broke up. I bet she did the breaking up, he seems like the guy who was really into her and she got bored. …Why do I care?!
Ryo: *rolls onto his side and lets out a sigh* Mirai…
Mirai: o_o! Is he dreaming about me?!
Ryo: Mirai… *he rolls over onto his back*
Mirai: …Yes?
Ryo: …You’re letting in the sunlight… can you shut the blinds?
Mirai: -_- …No *goes to the bedroom door and puts her hand on the handle* I don’t know my way around except for this room. *sighs and goes back to Ryo’s bed* Ryo…Ryo wake up.
Ryo: nnn… *he rolls onto the side that faces away from her*
Mirai: Ryo… I’m not going to tell you again… Get up. I don’t know my way around here and I have to go to the bathroom! Get out of bed!
Ryo: *puts the pillow over his head*
Mirai: >< Don’t you ignore me! Get up!! *she rips the covers off him and he’s only wearing boxers* O_O
Ryo: *wakes up* O.O What the hell are you doing?! *sits up and looks at her* Do you mind?!
Mirai: I have to use the bathroom! Where is it?!?! >_<
Ryo: *gets out of bed and walks to his door, grumbling the whole way* Are you comin’ or what?
Mirai: …Um. You don’t have any clothes on.
Ryo: *looks at her* You afraid of boxers? I could be naked… Maybe next time I’ll sleep naked so that you won’t tear the bloody covers off of me. ><
Mirai: *follows and blushes the whole way down the hallway*
Ryo: *opens the door and turns on the light for her* Here’s the damn bathroom. *walks back to this room and slams the door*
Mirai: …Thanks *closes the door behind her and goes to the bathroom* Maybe I’ll take a shower while I’m in here. *takes off Ryo’s shirt and hops in the shower*
*20 minutes goes by and Mirai gets out of the shower and is wrapping a towel around her body*
*the bathroom door opens and Ryo walks in still in just his boxers with his hair in his face. He’s scratching his chest and he stops in the doorway*
Ryo: o_o …WAH!
Mirai: O_O WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!
Ryo: O_O I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL A DREAM!!!
Mirai: DON’T YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK!!!
Ryo: WHY SHOULD I KNOCK IF I THOUGHT IT WAS A DREAM!?
Mirai: GET OUT!
Ryo: *shuts the door quickly*
Mirai: *dries off* ….Are my clothes done yet?
Ryo: …*walks downstairs and comes back up with clothes that are basically destroyed* Yes…but you won’t be able to wear them.
Mirai: *opens the door and looks at them and then him* Can’t you put some clothes on? *takes the tatters from him and holds them up to her front* I won’t be able to wear these…what am I doing to do?
Ryo: *looks at her and grabs her arm and leads her to the bedroom*
Mirai: What are you doing? I don’t have anything on!
Ryo: Well put something of mine on and we’ll go shopping for some clothes for you.
Mirai: *looks at him, glances down and quickly goes to the dresser* You really should get dressed first. =-_-=
Ryo: *sighs* I’m just wearing boxers… it’s not that bad! *goes over and randomly picks something to wear* I’ll be back in a minute. *goes to the bathroom to change*
Mirai: *grabs a t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts of his to wear and changes before Ryo comes back and lays on her stomach on the bed*
Ryo: *knocks and walks in* It’s bizarre having to knock on my own door.
Mirai: If I’m too much trouble then show me out of here and I’ll be gone. *she throws a cold glare at him*
Ryo: It’s not like that, besides, then you’re Angel buddy would be pissed.
Mirai: *snorts* As if I care what Aranki thinks! That back-stabbing jerk! ><
Ryo: …Well you still need clothes so… let’s go.
*At the mall*
Ryo: *walking with a smoothie in his hand and he keeps looking at every woman that walks by him*
Mirai: *watches him and glares* No wonder she left…
Ryo: *shoots her down with a piercing stare* What did you say?
Mirai: I said *she stops and walks in a lingerie store* No wonder she left. *she turns and disappears in the store*
Ryo: *clenches his hands into fists and walks into the store*
Mirai: *looks at various clothing items and grabs whatever looks comfortable*
Ryo: Look, I don’t know what your problem is, but my relationship is none of your business.
Mirai: *picks up a handful of thongs and throws it at him* Who cares what I think right? It’s not like you’re honestly going to follow me around on my journey.
Ryo: >< You seem to forget the amazing fact that without me as a guide you’ll be lost by lunch time. *walks out of the store*
Mirai: *a sickening feeling hits the pit of her stomach* Oh shit, he’s right. *she makes a purchase with some money that Ryo gave her and walks out of the store to find him*
Ryo: *is in the food court and he grabs himself an empty table and stares off into space* Smart-mouthed little…. Let’s see her find her way around now. *looks up to see a boy with shaggy brown hair, gray eyes, a crooked grin, and the posture of an 18 year old walking toward him. The boy is dressed in baggy black sweatpants and a loose white tank* Shawken, I told you before, we’re going to have to stop meeting like this… *he grins and stands up to give him a brotherly hug*
Shawken: Hey Ryo! How’ve you been?! Kass has been tellin’ me all sorts of rumors about you! She kept saying something about some chick that came from thin air and right into your arms! She said it had to be the work of some… evil lord or something.
Ryo: Well, she is evil… Oh you should know better than to listen to Kass anyway! *sits down* So what are you doing here?
Shawken: Well *joins him* I came to babe shop but you’re “thin-air” chick sounds hotter. Does she really have blue hair and eyes?!
Ryo: *rolls his eyes* You still don’t get it man.
Shawken: Tch, can’t you give me credit for tryin to make you laugh? *smirks*
Ryo: Yeah, you were always the one with the jokes. *smiles back and looks around* Still no Mirai… I wonder if she’s really lost.
*meanwhile*
Mirai: *walks out of a store wearing black leather boots, short black shorts, and an aqua colored tank. She’s also wearing black aviator sunglasses, has a cigarette in the corner of her mouth and red-lipstick on* Thank you Lord for girls who love to dress up. *she pushes down the sunglasses to the tip of her nose and looks at the staring crowd through her black eyeliner and mascara* Ryo, when I find you, you’ll pay. *she starts to leave the store and her diamond rhinestone earrings catch the sunlight and sparkle; she has seven piercings in each ear*
*back to Ryo and Shawken*
Ryo: So where do you work again?
Shawken: At the record store next to the ice cream place. It’s not the greatest job, but it’s money.
Ryo: Hm.. *looks around unconsciously*
Shawken: *smirks* You know, maybe if you stand up she’ll see you.
Ryo: Not that I want her t- *looks at him* Wh-what?
Shawken: *laughs* You’re so easy to read dude! You always looked like that when you were waiting for Yukara to get off work.
Ryo: *moans miserably and slams his head on the tabletop*
Shawken: Oh man, I’m sorry. It’s just… maybe knowing this mysterious Mirai chick will be good for you!
Ryo: You have no friggin’ clue. *looks up at him and his eyes are wide enough to be owl eyes* What? *he turns to look behind him* O_O M-Mirai?!
Mirai: *makes her way across the food court in her new outfit and sees Ryo* Ugh that bastard… *looks at the boy with him and continues walking across the food court to a hamburger stand*
Shawken: *practically drools* Mirai…. THAT’S MIRARI?! She’s …
Ryo: Don’t…even…think it. *he stares at her* What is she wearing?! She sticks out like a sore thumb!! *gets up from the table* Shawken… don’t move a muscle. *walks over to her*
Mirai: *orders her food and gets her drink*
Ryo: What on Earth are you doing?
Mirai: *doesn’t look at him* I’m going to eat you idiot. *takes her food to the table that Shawken is at and sits next to him*
Shawken: *his mouth drops open and he stares at her*
Ryo: -_-;;;; *goes over and sits across from Shawken* What exactly are you trying to accomplish in that get-up?
Mirai: It’s a lot more comfortable than you’re clothes.
Shawken: DUDE!! She was wearing your clothes?!
Mirai: *glances at Shawken and smirks* Yes.
Shawken: *drools at her glance and stares at her*
Ryo: *snaps his finger in Shawken’s ear* Dude, Shawken! Come on!
Mirai: *continues to eat*
Ryo: Look… why did you sit here?
Mirai: *looks up at him* Is that a problem? I don’t think Shawken is disapproving. *she glances at Shawken and takes his chin in her hand and brings his face to hers until they’re centimeters apart* You don’t mind…do you?
Shawken: N-no… *he stares at her dreamily*
Mirai: *pushes him back* There, see? You’re the only one disapproving. Oh wait… is it because you didn’t expect me to find you so fast?! *gasps* Oh my God! Whatever shall you do?! *looks around the food court as she laughs and she suddenly stops and stares into a corner of the food court* No way…
Ryo: >_< For your information, you were being a bitch and I didn’t have to put up with you! …*looks at her and waves a hand in her face* Are you even listening?!
Mirai: No… *she stands and leaves the table to throw away the rest of her food*
Ryo: Grr… *he follows her as she heads to that corner of the food court*
Mirai: *looks around to see if anyone else sees what she sees and knows that she isn’t dreaming. Standing in the corner leaning against a wall is the figure of a man wearing a loose black shirt and loose black pants. He has shaggy white hair and brown eyes. He looks up to meet her gaze and smiles at her*
Ryo: *stops and realizes what she’s looking at and he hides behind a trash can*
Mirai: *she stops and lets out a breath* …Tsuharu… *she stops in front of him and he puts an arm around her shoulder and leads her out of the food court and to an empty parking lot*
Ryo: *follows so that he can spy on them*
Tsuharu: *stands on the concrete base of a light pole and looks at her* Nice outfit… *he grins at her*
Mirai: Tsuharu… stop. Why are you here?
Tsuharu: *laughs and stands in front of her* You didn’t think you could fall and I wouldn’t come to see you, did you?
Mirai: You… you shouldn’t have come. I don’t need Aranki’s help… and… I don’t need yours. *she turns her back to him*
Tsuharu: Miry… *he places his hands on her shoulders and slides them down her arms and turns her around to face him without letting her go* did you honestly think I would let you fight this alone?
Mirai: I-I don’t even know what I’m fighting! *she looks down*
Tsuharu: *lifts her chin to match her eyes to his* You will… it will take some time. But you’ll find what you’re looking for. You’ll go through a serious change, an emotional and physical change… but I’ll be right there beside you when you do. That is… as long as you want me there.
Mirai: Tsuharu… *her voice trails off* I’m mortal again…
Tsuharu: *whispers* You won’t always be… *her eyes look up into his and he quickly and passionately kisses her*
Ryo: o_o What the hell?! This guy suddenly shows up, says a few words to her and now they’re kissing?! I don’t know why… but it pisses me off.
Mirai: *closes her eyes and slowly puts her fingers through his hair which feels light and soft and she realizes she’s holding black feathers in her hands*
Ryo: O_O He just disappeared!
Mirai: *she looks at the feathers and a tear falls into her palm as she drops the feathers and looks up to the sky* You won’t always be beside me… you can’t stay here for more than two minutes…
Ryo: *stands and looks at her* And you said it was no wonder that she left ME.
Mirai: *whips around to face him*
Ryo: *he stands there with a sympathetic smile*
Mirai: … I would tell you to go to hell… but no matter how much I hate you, I wouldn’t want to damn you to such a foul place. *she reaches into her pocket and takes out the pack of cigarettes and pops one into her mouth* …How long were you there?
Ryo: Long enough. *he watches her as she looks for her lighter* So we are allowed to have love in the afterlife?
Mirai: *finds it, lights her cigarette and draws from the cigarette. She exhales a cloud of smoke and walks toward him* If someone is willing to love you, then yes.
Ryo: You left out that little detail in your explanation of what you remembered.
Mirai: *takes another drag and pauses in front of him to exhale* That’s because… I didn’t remember. *she walks back into the mall*
Ryo: Wait a minute… you mean to tell me that you were lucky enough to find love after you died and you couldn’t remember it?!
Mirai: You heard me. And you also heard what I told Tsuharu… I’m mortal. Pretty soon, I’ll forget everything involving Heaven.
Ryo: But he said that as long as you wanted him, he’d be there.
Mirai: *looks at him* You should know that not all promises can be kept. If I can’t remember him, then I can’t want him near. Being mortal is not what I wanted.
Ryo: You know, you’re not really m- *suddenly he hits the floor face first and gets pulled across the ground* AHH!!
Mirai: *slowly turns and her mouth drops* A demon?! Here?! In daylight?!?! *she runs after him*
Ryo: *tries to see behind him but he can’t see anything there. He gets pulled out of the building and into a dark alley behind the mall* MIRAI?! A LITTLE HELP!
Mirai: *she catches up and is a little out of breath* Ok, where are you, you disgusting creature?
Ryo: Hey, that’s a little harsh…
Mirai: I didn’t mean you, you idio- *she is thrown into a wall and hits the ground* AHHH!! *she stands up quickly and looks around* Damn it this thing is fast!
Ryo: What exactly is it?! Cause I can’t see it!
Mirai: It’s a demon Ryo… the problem is, I can’t see it either!
Ryo: Can’t you fight it?
Mirai: I don’t have a weapon you nimrod!
Ryo: *looks around and finds a baseball bat in a trashcan* Here! Take this!
Mirai: *takes it* Thanks, it’s better than nothing!
Ryo: *watches her* I feel so useless!
Mirai: *snickers* Welcome to being mortal. *she swings at the shadows and an eerie screech echoes on the walls*
Demon: *slowly emerges from the shadows as a giant slug with rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth and makes a horrifying screech*
Mirai: Ew… you’re uglier up close.
Ryo: >< You better be talking about that demon.
Mirai: I AM YOU IGNORANT HUMAN!
Demon: *throws up a green and venomous fluid that falls on top of Mirai*
Mirai: *cries in pain as her clothing and skin sizzles*
Ryo: Mirai!! *looks at her in worry but he’s completely helpless because he can’t see the demon to help her*
Mirai: *she sits on one leg and slumps onto her other leg*
Ryo: *begins to hear the demon slithering around* Mirai? *he suddenly feels a heartbeat. The beat slows down and time seems to slow down and stop with every beat. As he looks back to Mirai he can see the demon stopped in time about to eat her* O_O
Mirai: *she lets out a cry of pain as her wings escape from her back sticky with blood. She stands up slowly and her left eye has changed to the demon eye that Ryo saw the first day he saw her. She looks at the demon with her head cocked to the side and puts her hand to the stomach of the demon*
Ryo: *watches in silence because every time he tries to speak the words won’t come out*
Demon: *its body starts to expand slowly and the expansion starts to speed up as time comes back to the present*
Mirai: *has her hand inside the demon’s body as the body gets bigger and bigger around her*
Demon: *lets out a dying cry as it explodes*
Mirai: *holds her arm where it was before as the pieces of demon fall around her and she closes her hand around the demon’s heart*
Ryo: O_O Oh…my God.
Mirai: *she looks at the heart and brings it closer to her face. She inspects the heart and sits with her wings starting to wrap around her and Ryo can see her open her mouth and bite down on the heart right before her wings close the gaps*
Ryo: *covers his mouth in horror* M-Mirai… *he slowly walks toward the winged creature as it stands*
Mirai: *her wings stretch to full wing-span and her mouth is dripping black blood from the demon heart. She looks at Ryo with a sinister glare and turns to face him*
Ryo: *takes another step toward her* Mirai… I know you can hear me… It’s me, Ryo!
Mirai: *she growls in her throat as she watches him cautiously*
Ryo: *is close enough that he reaches to her hand and grabs it. A blue light pulses from his hand into hers*
Mirai: *her eyes widen as she looks at him slowly*
Ryo: *he stares at her and his arm starts to burn as he lets out a soft but painful cry*
Mirai: *her wings slowly start to retract and her eyes slowly change back to normal* R-Ryo! *she lets out a painful cry and falls to her knees*
Ryo: *he lets go of her hand and she passes out on the ground*
-End