Morning! Hope you enjoy this.

(the rose is my second favorite flower, next to the water lily)

-AbnormalWriter

Aichi woke up, stirred by banging and a shout. He turned his head slightly, and in the corner of his eyes, he saw his friends.

Naoki was banging on the seal, ranting angrily and charging at the strong force field, as if he expected that recklessly charging at the seal would shatter it. Kai stood next to him, his gaze long and mournful, and he simply touched the forcefield, ignoring the electrical shocks it gave him.

Aichi wasn't very surprised that they were here. Every plan had their flaws, and he knew Kai was smart enough to figure out a way to get in the sanctuary. Sighing, he turned back away and closed his eyes.

"Ishida, don't do that. You need energy for when we can get inside." He heard Kai remark, a frustrated growl, and the loud banging and zapping subsided. Aichi sighed in relief, sealing his lids, hoping that they would go away so he could continue to slumber, but he still felt their presence here.

Suddenly, Aichi heard a large zap as his eyes snapped open and he turned to look.

Kai had thrown a rose inside the seal, the water making large ripples as it gently landed. Aichi felt confused, glancing at Kai, puzzled, who silently stared at him, a sorrowful expression gracing his face. Aichi turned away, he couldn't bear seeing Kai like that.

"Come on, Ishida, let's go look for another way to get in." He heard Kai murmur flatly, and Naoki cursed loudly as the sounds of footsteps could be heard. Aichi turned his head, looking at the rose.

It was floating towards him, looking as light and delicate as a feather. Aichi softly picked it up, afraid that it would shatter if he wasn't careful with it, and he examined it.

It was a soft shade of velvet, looking young and beautiful. Aichi caressed the petal. It felt like silk, and he gently breathed in the rustic scent.

Aichi realized that Kai left the thorns on, and he held it a bit farther away from his face, looking at it from different angles. The rose reminded Aichi of Kai, seeming handsome and graceful and cold but fiery and ambitious when you see the true side of him. Smiling, he held it to his heart, closing his eyes.

Aichi was shaken awake by a scream, loud and dreadful, the sound he never wanted to hear.

Kai's scream.

It was full of agony and regret and longing. Aichi felt a tear roll down his face as he said a silent apology to his beloved. He suddenly realized he was still holding the rose, and he looked down at it,

The once beautiful and lively flower was starting to wilt.

Aichi felt his lips curl into a despondent frown as he let go of the rose as it slowly began losing the alluring colors and the petals started feeling like paper as they slowly started curling up and clinging to each other, and even the thorns seemed less lively, the stem turning dull. Aichi felt liquid on his cheeks as he gazed down on the shriveling flower, being reminded of how he made Kai sorrowful, by choosing the most harsh path for himself and Kai. He covered his face with his hands, tasting his own tears, turning away from the dying plant as he started silently weeping, unable to do anything to help the flower regain its health and beauty.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered. "I'm so sorry."