Disclaimers: All the characters are from Love Live! School Idol Project. I do not own them.

Kotori thought she was dead. Because as she opened her eyes, white and puffy clouds were staring down at her. There was an orchestra of chirping sound here and there, melodious and in sync. It was like the birds were singing, no, more like they were mourning. She chuckled in disbelief, her death was nothing worth lamenting.

But when she listened closely, they were celebrating. Perhaps celebrating that the worst had come to an end. It was so peaceful. Is this what heaven feels like?

Then she realized she was still breathing. So she sat up.

"Kotori...Kotori..."

She heard someone calling her name. It was so soft, so gentle, so heavenly. She liked it very much. It felt so real when a hand laid on top of hers. Kotori looked up from that hand and saw that person next to her, smiling ever so sweetly. She was wearing a white t-shirt, and surprisingly, a skirt. She rarely wears skirt. Kotori always told her that she looked amazing in them, but the other just shrugged it off and said that it didn't suit her.

A chilly breeze danced around them and Kotori shivered at how cold it was. The hand turned Kotori's hand over and entwined them, letting the warmth spread across her body. She relieved at the feeling as she leaned her head to the shoulder next to her. They sat there, basking in each other's presence, occasionally listened to the rustling sound of grass around them when the wind swept pass.

It was so nice. It felt so good being next to the person you loved.

"Kotori..."

"Hmm..."

"Look at me..."

So Kotori did what she was told. It was perhaps the sunlight's fault that she could not see the person clearly now. The outline of her beloved started to fade and her skin started to whisk away into the air. The warmth in Kotori's hand slowly receded. She tried to retrieve the retreating hand but she couldn't move.

She watched as her beloved's face vanished into pools of dust.

"Kotori, I'm sorry..."

When she could finally move, her hand stretched forward immediately, but her hand caught nothing but air.

"Umi!"

Her vision suddenly contorted into puddles of colour and then it was replaced by darkness swarming in like a disaster. She kept on shouting Umi's name, shouted and shouted until her throat hurt and bleed. Something was trying to pull her, deeper and deeper into the void. Kotori flailed her arms helplessly and tried to claw her way out. But there was no where to go, she cannot escape darkness when she was darkness herself.

When she couldn't take it anymore, she screamed and her eyes fluttered open. This time, she saw light.

It was so bright she wanted to close her eyes again, but feared that she might get drown in that terrible nightmare again if she do so. So she kept her eyes open, until the light became less stimulating. She was still breathing hard and her heart pounded so loud she could hear it in her ears. She sat up, her mind still groggy and her head ached like there's no tomorrow. Maybe there really was no tomorrow.

The human eye's wondered to the right and saw the blonde angel laying still on the floor. Her body was not moving but Kotori knew that she was alive, seeing that the blonde's chest was heaving up and down. Kotori scanned a bit northward up the body and was taken back when she saw the blonde crying. Her eyes were closed but Kotori could see the stream of tears rolling down the corner of her eyes. In addition to that, her face was scrunched up. She looked as if she had just lost a battle, looked as if she had just lost someone she treasured.

The last thought made Kotori's vision blurred as if the tears were contagious, but she didn't know why until she looked down to her hand.

There was a white point peaking out from her enclosed palm. When she opened it, all the emotions came cascading down on her.

She knew this love was wrong to begin with. She should have just ignored that shivering figure back then. She shouldn't have showed that much kindness and led them both into this tragic end. She had sacrificed so many things for this love, and all she received in the end was this lonely white feather in her hand.

This love was a mistake. This love, like a worm in an apple, feasting on the fruity sweetness and leaving nothing but vile in its wake. It was nothing but a fool act.

But she couldn't deny how nice it felt, how nice it was to be comforted in those warm arms, how intoxicating when that pair of lips touched hers. Now that the warmth was gone, her misery will never cease. She will have to live in the shadow of this love while embracing the dark truth, embracing the tainted heart she's now living with. Just like the black streak stained on the fair feather within her grasp.

She brought the feather closer to her chest. The only thing left of this love she could hold onto, a painful reminder of the black vow they'd made.

There was a hand on her shoulder, but it was weightless. Then came a voice so ghostly and broken, yet soft and gentle.

Till we meet again,
I'll be waiting...

The human in black never stop weeping after hearing the words whispered to her ear.

I love you.

This marks the end of this story. (I know this chapter is short, forgive me.)

I've listened to the song a lot of times to find inspiration but still won't get tired of it. Why would I?

The song is really nice and I love the melody. It sounds extremely mysterious and well...tragic. Those who haven't listen to it yet, I recommend you to check it out.

Finally, thank you for sticking with me till the end of the story.

Till we meet again, ;)

Adios!