by Tsuzuki Asato

I don't own the AIR series or characters. This happens during episode 9. The song belongs to Three Doors Down. Read and enjoy.

I looked up to the sky as I saw her trying desperately to protect me and Uraha.

I curse myself under my breath as to why I didn't stop her when I already had a bad feeling that she was going to do this.

I was suppose to protect her! Not the other way around!

And now, it seemed too late for either me and Uraha to do anything. Except only to helpelssly watch her so heartlessly get killed.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a scream of pain from her as hundreds of arrows kept coming at her. Even with her power, she was already having a difficult time protecting herself.

I couldn't bear watching the sight of her being hurt like this. I attempted to ram the invisible wall she made to protect us, but it hurled me back. I then heard Uraha saying that monks were trying to put a curse on her. I look up once more and I could visibly see a crimson bind spell ready to render her helpless against the onslaught of the arrows that were aimed to kill her.

I shout at the top of my lungs, shouting for her to fly higher. But it was impossible as she recived too many blows and gravely weakened her. Uraha and I watched in horror as we saw her being mercilessly shot to death and the spell the monks were chanting finally bound her.

I could see her tear stained face, filled with pain and sorrow.

"Ryuu...ya...do...no."

My eyes widened and I felt like my mind and life would threaten to shut down. She was falling straight down to the ground. I pray that even in her condition, we could still reach her alive.

I hope.

The invisible wall she made dissipated and Uraha and I immediately made a sprint for it. Right now, time was our worst enemy. She fell nearby us and we were able to find her first. My eyes narrowed as I saw her covered with wounds. Her beautiful white wings were torn and dyed red with her blood. The bind spell was holding her tight and looked like snake, trying to crush the life out of her.

Uraha was horrified and rush towards here. Uraha touched her and thank the gods, she was still alive.

I could then hear voices of the men who were hoping to have killed her. I didn't want to imagine what they'd do to her had they found her first. I took the unconcious winged girl in my arms and both of us made a run for it.

We prayed under our breaths that all of us made it out alive this very night.

Time passed us without making us realize that we were already far away and were no longer followed by our pursuers.

I looked around and sensed the vicinity for any intruder who would attempt to kill her. And thankfully, there were none. I then turned my attention to the winged girl I held in my arms. Her eyes were still closed. Pain and sorrow was engraved upon her face.

I gently laid her down and attempted to free her from her binds. As I clutched the binds, I was immediately thrown back. I felt like I was struck by lightning. In frustration, I clutched the binds once more. I tried not to scream as the power the binds had continued to attack every portion of my body. Uraha immediately held my hands and in a few moments, we were able to break the bind spell.

I never thought that a spell could be broken by physical means. In a split second, pain stung my hands. I look at them and saw how badly injured I was. After seeing I was in bad shape, Uraha then said to look after her as she attempted to look for water.

Before I could say anything, she had already left. I then slowly tried to bind my wounds to stop the bleeding for a while. I look back towards the unconcious angel and saw her wings have shrunk back. I then sat by her side and waited for her to regain conciousness.

I looked at her for what seemed like time has stood still. As I watched on,it looked like this was the first time I've ever noticed how beautiful she really was. Her body, her face, her beauty. It was completely not of this world, but truly from that of the heavens above.

I could then hear a weak sound coming from her. As I looked on, her eyes slowly began to open and struggled to focus.

"Kanna?" I asked, but my voiced seemed distant and weak.

As I called out her name, she smiled at me weakly and had a hard time keeping her eyes open.

"Ryu...u...ya.---" she said in broken words. Tears began to streak downwards from her eyes.

"I...I'm---" Kanna tried to continue but I cut her off as I sealed my lips with hers. He lips were so soft and so warm. Kanna didn't protest as this moment lasted much longer. I then parted my lips from her and my vision began to haze.

Water began to pour from eyes and the hot droplets shatter as they landed on her beautiful face. Both of us were crying, but I don't know why. But the one thing I do know is that we don't know what to say or what to do at a time like this.

She was torn and bleeding. She was crying and hurting.She was so beautiful.

And all of it was so wrong. This wasn't suppose to happen! Dear God, why did this happen!?!? I shut my eyes and clenched my fist tightly, trying to shake off the image of a dying Kanna right in front of me. I don't want to accept, or even believe, that what was happening right now was real.

I then felt a warm, but trembling hand reaching out to my clenched fist. I opened my eyes and saw how much saddness Kanna was feeling right now.

"I'm...so....sorry. Ry...uuy...a...don...o. Please...forgive...me." her voice was filled so much hurting that it almost made me want to wish that I'd die where I stood.

I wanted to ask her why did she do this to herself. Why didn't she let me protect her? What was I to her in truth?

Her painful sobs shut off the thoughts in my mind. The answer wasn't important to me anymore. All I just wanted was for Kanna to live through this ordeal.

But hope for her seemed so bleak. I opened my hand and held hers. I gently replied "No need to apologize."

I took off my upper garments and gently lifted Kanna and held her close. I didn't want anything to interfere as I held her close to me. She rested her body against mine. She was so soft and so warm. Her skin was so soft and so smooth.

A hundred days had made me older since the last time that I saw your pretty face
A thousand lights had made me colder and I don’t think I can look at this the same
But all the miles had separate
They disappeared now when I’m dreaming of your face

She gently placed her hands on my chest as if trying to find comfort in our embrace. I could hear her calm and slow breathing. For me, that was the only this assuring me that she was still alive. That she can se and feel what we're doing right now.

I looked down at her as tears continued coming down from her eyes. Kanna shifted her head a little and said "I wish...you could...hold me like this...forever."

I smiled a little upon her comment and replied by gently kissing her forehead.

I’m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight it’s only you and me

Kanna giggled a little. I think she was amused by my reply as she snuggled closer to me. Indeed, I wish this moment would last forever. I gently stroked her soft wings with my hand, attracted to its softness. She twiched weakly, making me worry.

"Did it hurt?" I asked worriedly.

She shook her head weakly and smiled. "It felt...good...but...it tickles." she replied.

Then a thought ran across my mind. I then asked "Kanna?"

"Hai?" she repled without raising her head.

It took me a few moments to gather up my courage to ask and finally, I just said it "Why...did you...kiss me back there?"

The miles just keep rolling as the people either way to say hello
I hear this life is overrated but I hope it gets better as we go

She didn't look at me, but then she asked "Do you...remember the time...Uraha said that...I was fond...of you?"

"Yeah." I said.

She buried her face aginst me chest and said "I was...I was really fond...of you."

A part of me saw that answer was coming, but I was still completely caught off guard. "I was...just...too embarassed. Too ashamed...to admit...the fact...that I had...special feelings...towards you." she continued.

I’m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it’s only you and me

I stared at her wounded and bleeding figure. She was completely naked and vulnerable, and yet utterly trusting. I then became lost within my thoughts, asking myself a lot of questions with no answers.

For what reason did humans hate the winged race for? Is it because they're different? Or is it because they have a power capable of destroying humanity?

Kanna was now the last of the winged race, and there wasn't a single thing that I could do to save her. Wasn't losing her mother enough? Haven't enough lives been claimed this night? Does Kanna deserve to die as well?

She never even had a chance to live freely and now she's just gonna die just like this!!!

Everything I know, and anywhere I go
it gets hard but it won’t take away my love
And when the last one falls, when it’s all said and done
it gets hard but it won’t take away my love

Where's the justice in that?!

My mind was suddenly interrupted by a thud from Kanna's hand. I looked at her face and I could see the life slowly dying out in her eyes.

"Ryuu...ya...I..." she said weakly. The sound of her voice already gave me a warning her life was fading out. Fast. I held her tightly and said "Kanna! Don't you dare close your eyes! Don't you dare die out on me!"

With all her remaining strength, Kanna placed her arms around me. She whispered in my ear and said " If perhaps...someday... I am reborn again... just like...that day...we'll surely...meet again."

Then, Kanna's hold on me began to loosen. Her arms slipped down and her breathing has stopped. At that very moment, I felt like the world had ended.

I didn't want to believe what was happening. I don't want to believe that Kanna was dead. I looked at her face once more and her eyes were closed...forever.

I began to shake her and cried hysterically. "No, Kanna! You can't die! You can't! You can't die without me telling you how I really feel towards you!"

"I never had the chance to say "I love you" to you!"

My cries echoed in the night. And at that moment, I could hear footsteps running towards me.

I’m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it’s only you and me

I looked up and saw it was Uraha. Her eyes were filled with fear and disbelief upon the silent question that I can see in her eyes. I looked away and sank my sobs upon Kanna's lifeless body. I then heard an object drop on the ground, followed by a splash of water. And then, Uraha's cries of loss and disbelief that Kanna had already left us.

Then, something pierced through my tightly shut eyes. I look toward the source and saw the first light of dawn creep upon us. The sun was beginning to rise.

I lifted the lifeless angel in my arms and said in between my brokeness "Kanna. Can you see this? Can you see the beautiful sunrise?"

Uraha stood by me and tried hard to stop her sobs. I looked down at the lifeless Kanna and saw her body covered in bright light. In the next moment, her body exploded into white feathers and was blown away.

We looked up to the sky and saw the sun was already up and a trail of white feathers were being blown towards the blue sky.

I’m here without you baby but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby but your still with me in my dreams
but tonight girl it’s only you and me

Kanna. We'll see each other again soon. Won't we?

END