This one is for Reyna108.

Page XI: Death God and the Blind Soul

..

Okita Sougo knew he wouldn't last longer. Their family doctor diagnosed that he had only few months to live before he would succumbed in his critical illness. But deep down, he still hoped that in his remaining time, he'd be given a chance to see what the world looked like. Since he was born, he was already blind and after he had gone puberty, it was discovered that he had chronic disease that would eventually end his life earlier.

Indeed, the life he had been living for may never be worth living. Maybe that's why eventhough he had only three months to stay, he wasn't much anxious. But despite that, again his only wish was to see even a single glimpse of this world.

But then he knew it was impossible.

Throughout his limited period, something came. In the midst of the darkness, he could sense it. Something was there all along. Sougo couldn't point out exactly what it was. But he's certain 'it' was watching him for quiet some time.

For all this time he finally decided to ask.

"What are you?" Okita spoke, pitch black enveloping his vision. His sick body slumped on the soft matress in the room that he had spent his life for almost eighteen years.

"I can sense you.." He continued. "I know you have been watching me for this past few months." Soft pitter patter of the rain was humming outside. He waited for any response. The blind boy could feel that the 'mysterious unknown thing' was still around. And he had his suspicions already.

"Are you by chance.." he paused, "here to take my life?" He wouldn't be shocked if 'it' was a soul reaper given the fact that he started sensing 'its' presence roughly on the time that his departure had been confirmed definite.

Serenity lingered. And for a couple of moments, he finally received a reply.

"I am truly surpised you are aware of my presence." It came from a soft voice, a gentle feminine tone. "And to think that you actually got it correct." In his dim-lighted room, a figure appeared. The creature wore 'its' or better, 'her' pinkish locks limply cascading over her raven-winged back. Her eyes were the deepest azure color of the sky. Her skin was the palest as if she had been sheltered away from the sun for centuries.

Okita shifted to her direction. He couldn't see her but he could sense how the being moved closer to settle on the bedside he was rested. It was strange that he didn't have any apprehension and doubts of her being the creature who claimed to be a death god who would soon take his life.

The atmosphere could be described as solemn. Okita opened his mouth to ask the first thing his composed mind could come up with. "Hey, do you have a name?"

Another couple of seconds of silence. Sougo deduced that she might be taken a back at his casual inquiry.

"Kagura..." He heard the voice spoke. "I am called Kagura."

"Hnn, I see.." Though he couldn't literally see. Sougo wasn't sure what hit him to quirk his lips into a soft tug.

..

Through the passage of his remainings days. The 'soul reaper' kept on visiting him. Surprisingly, the blind guy wasn't that foreign to the idea of her staying around. They would sometimes converse about random topics they could come up with.

Feelings grow, they eventually developed an odd relationship. They even often argued over nonsensical subjects of their talks, to sweet laughters on Kagura's invisible quirks. With her presence, Okita Sougo finally caught a wisp of light he had long wanted to see with his impaired eyesight. Regardless of their current circumstances, they had formed a strange connection with each other, until the day had arrived.

The end of Okita Sougo's life span.

That inevitable moment, drops of tiny salty liquid touched his lifeless face as he drew his last breath.

It was ironic that she had unmistakably fallen in love with the guy whose life she was obliged to take.

-xXx-

It was late afternoon. Cool breeze gently blowing a certain classroom's curtain revealing the view outside. From the side of the rear window, a sleeping figure could be seen.

"Oi.."

"Sadist.." Someone's calling him.

"Wake up.."

He could feel something was shaking him.

"Sadist.."

There was a speck of light. Sougo struggled to open his eyes.

"Sadist." The familiar voice continued repeatedly.

It became clearer and brighter. His eyes finally caught the form in sight. A petite girl with vermilion hair and a pair of large blue orbs staring at him. He immediately recognized her.

"Chi..na?" He asked as if not believing what he was seeing.

"I've been trying to wake you up for minutes" was the response he got.

"Where am I?" Sougo further muttered.

The girl in front of him was looking at him confusedly.

"What are you saying? We are in the classroom." Kagura spoke. "You were sleeping the whole afternoon until we're dismissed."

Sougo looked around. Yes, there were rows of chairs and desks in the vicinity. China was wearing a school uniform, so was he. For all he could remember, the girl who woke him up was his cru- rival rather. After another glance around, it finally dawned upon him. The soul reaper Kagura and him being a blind sick boy were all just a dream.

A tragic yet strangely beautiful dream.

His musings were cut off when she spoke. "It's already five in the afternoon, an hour after the class was over. As I've figured. You were still sleeping pathetically." She sighed. "Be thankful, I came back to check your lazy ass out." Knowing the sadist insanely tight sleeping habit, Kagura thought he could've spent the night sleeping in the school building if she didn't woke him up.

"Oh, is that so?" He grinned after hearing what she said. He didn't take offense at her tactless choice of words. As rivals, the implication of her act was downright touching. "Thanks for the concern."

"Huh? Who said I was concerned about..." She couldn't finish her tsundere sentence at the sadist display of his rare smile, though it was mild, still it looked genuine.

Sougo arranged himself and picked his school bag and gestured to walk. "Let's go home."

Along their way, Kagura noticed the slightly different aura he was emitting. He wasn't insulting her like he usually did.

"Sadist..?" She was curious. Did some weird stuffs occurred to him?

"Hmm.." Sougo hummed too laid-back (for her liking).

"You're a bit acting strange. Did something happened?" She inquired glancing at her side to have a better look at him.

"I had dream." He answered.

"Dream?" She repeated.

"Yeah" he sneaked a second to peek at her before turning his eyes back ahead on the road. "It was weird. I was a sick blind boy."

Her pondering was instantly casted aside as she spoke "Sounds fitting to you." She always viewed him as that, metaphorically. Sometimes dreams were reflections of reality.

Sougo turned his gaze to her intently as he continued. "And you were a death god trying to take my life."

At that, Kagura laughed. "I knew it!" Sometimes my ass! "Dreams were always an embodiment of what was happening in real life!" Even in his dreams, she was killing him. Kagura mentally praised his awesome nightmare.

"Really?" Sougo curiously confirmed. The reaction Kagura didn't expected from him.

She was a little baffled. Her words were clearly insulting but he seemed to be anticipating.

"Yeah.." Kagura hesitantly muttered.

Then the sadist smirked. She was more confused.

"Ok, I'll take it. Dreams are portrayal of reality." He moved and continued his steps happily.

"Hey, did you hit your head or something?" She was annoyed that she couldn't found the reason he was being cheerful. Did she miss a thing along the lines again?

"Nope." Maybe it's just her imagination that his sadistic grin was expanding more.

"Then why are you grinning like a creep?" Her brows knitted.

Okita Sougo ceased his strides before staring at her. His crimson eyes glinting at the setting sun's reflection. For a second, he looked less detestful in her sight.

"Actually in my dream, you also fell madly in love with me." His boyish grin was almost blinding.

Kagura's eyes widened in disbelief.

"WHAT?!"

Apparently, dreams were in a way, selectively reflections of the actual reality.

or maybe...

Whatever and whenever they were, Okita Sougo and Kagura were just meant to be.

.

.

.

A/N: Thanks to those who still follow this fic. I've been so busy for the past few months. Sorry for the late update and especially for not updating my other Okikagu fic. Life for me have been pretty hectic. But I still try to get in touch with fanfiction on my free time. 'Til then Ja neh.