Disclaimer: I own nothing in here except the plot of this fan fiction and by any chance, my own characters.

THE ISLE

Epilogue: This Is What I Can Do

"Hihara-senpai!" called Tsukimori while panting. He made his way towards the greenhead and frowned at him. "Why did you leave all of a sudden?" he demanded.

The greenhead turned to him and stared at him curiously. "I just thought I'll bring any remembrance of this isle, you know," he stated. "Anyway, are we leaving yet?"

Tsukimori glowered at him and sighed.

"What?" demanded Hihara as he moved closer to Tsukimori.

"They already left," said Tsukimori with another frown. "I decided to be left behind just to find you."

Hihara stared for a long while at Tsukimori before blurting, "WHAT?!"

Tsukimori sighed and turned around to leave. "We need to hurry to the shore … Wakato-san distinctly ordered that to me … let's … go …" Tsukimori muttered.

"Tsukimori, are you fine?" asked Hihara with concern. He sighed in relief as Tsukimori nodded. Together, they walked out of the forests with Hihara supporting Tsukimori—he insisted that Tsukimori still needed to be supported in walking.

Their walk was incredibly silent, with Hihara feeling guilty all the while and Tsukimori … hiding something. Hihara didn't notice though, he was so engulfed by his guilt that all the while he kept muttering softly to his self. Alas, they reached the shore, the breeze hitting their skins. No choppers yet, but they assumed they'd come in some minutes.

"Well, I think we'll just have to wait," said Hihara with a grin. He turned to the blue-haired lad and his eyes widened. "Tsukimori?!"

It had been a week after the adventure took place. The people involved were the topic of unceasing lurid and exaggerating news. News started this way: 'It was said that Tsukimori Len had a breakdown when the rescuers got back …' then when it came to the next person: 'Tsukimori Len had been in the brim of death!' then it came to the next person: 'Tsukimori Len is in comatose!'

People were too exaggerating; the reality changed as it passed to another person. Not only did it change but it worsened! Maybe later on, Hino Kahoko would hear: 'Tsukimori Len is dead!'

No … that'd never happen … the redhead thought as she passed through narrow corridors painted plain white. She tightened her grip on the bouquet of flowers she bought as she got nearer and nearer towards the confinement of Tsukimori. He's just fine … right? she thought to herself. Everything would be fine.

Her worries wavered as she saw children playing happily in some rooms with open doors, as she saw people wearing smiles while visiting their loved ones. But her smile faltered as she halted in front of a white door.

"Hino-san?" a feminine voice called from her back.

Kahoko jolted and spun around to come face to face with the beauty of Hamai Misa. "Ah! Ohayo Misa-san," she greeted with a bow.

The woman smiled weakly at her and put her hands on the redhead's shoulder. "It's nice seeing you, Hino-san," she said with her melodic voice. "Why not join me in?" She turned the doorknob and smiled at Kahoko. "Let's go? He's definitely waiting."

Kahoko suddenly felt nervous at her last statement. He's definitely waiting. She knew that her friends already visited Tsukimori and only she hadn't … she's … nervous into seeing him unconscious.

"They're here!" Tsuchiura softly cried as he watched with great anticipation the chopper landing. He turned towards an uneasy Kahoko who as well was watching with expectancy.

Smiles broke in their lips as the tall figure of Hihara Kazuki hopped off the chopper.

"Kazuki!" cried his older brother, Haruki. He ran towards his younger brother and gave him his fraternal hug, smiling incessantly. "You made us worried!"

Hihara merely smiled weakly and turned towards his friends. His smile completely wavered.

"Where's Tsukimori-kun?" asked Kahoko at once.

It turned out that Tsukimori had this breakdown because of worsening infirmity and injuries. Until now, even if a week already had passed, he was still unconscious. Luckily, he was not in worse state just like having fifty percent chance of life and death. Heaving a sigh, Kahoko entered the room.

"Hino-san, please take a sit," said Hamai Misa with a smile. She gestured the redhead to sit on a chair beside Tsukimori as she started preparing tea.

"Oh, you don't have to prepare tea, Misa-san," said Kahoko as she noted that Hamai Misa was preparing two cups of tea.

The woman smiled at her but insisted. "Please, take it," she said. "I'm good in making tea!" She smiled and took a sit on a chair beside Kahoko. She offered one of the cups of tea to Kahoko and she got one for herself.

"Oh, Misa-san, where can I put this?" Kahoko inquired, referring to the bouquet of flowers she brought.

"Hmm, let's see," Hamai Misa muttered. "You can put that in that vase over there." She pointed towards a well-designed vase on top of a bedside table on the other side of Tsukimori's bed.

Kahoko complied and listened as Hamai Misa spoke.

"Len keeps mumbling your name, Hino-san," said the older woman.

Kahoko paused from work and turned incredulously towards Hamai Misa. "Pardon?"

Hamai Misa chuckled and motioned Kahoko to continue her business. "Even if unconscious, he mumbles your name every time. He keeps saying 'Kahoko' every once in a while," she paused and smiled at her unconscious son. "Hino-san, are you in love with each other?"

Kahoko choked on her own saliva and turned incredulously towards Hamai Misa for the second time. "I-In love?" she stuttered.

Hamai Misa smiled and took a sip on her tea. "And one more thing … is Yunoki-san dating you? I've heard rumors that he is," she continued.

Yunoki-senpai? Dating me? What?! thought Kahoko with wide eyes. Nevertheless, she shook her head. "H-He is not," she said. She finished fixing the flowers she brought and got beside Hamai Misa.

Hamai Misa sighed in … relief? "Good, my son stands a chance," she said with a cheeky smile. But the smile faded once again as she locked her eyes at Tsukimori-kun's figure.

"Ahm, Misa-san, how's Tsukimori-kun doing?" the redhead asked while reaching for the cup of tea prepared by the woman.

"There's nothing bad according to his doctor though he's not showing any signs of awakening," the woman answered with a distressed expression. "I'm just sad … I never wanted my son to suffer like this."

Kahoko took a sit beside the woman and sipped some tea. She continued listening to the woman's statements.

"Hino-san … I'm not a good mother," said the woman unexpectedly. Kahoko turned to her bewilderedly before registering everything she said.

"Misa-san, why are you saying things like that?" she asked with concern and faced the woman.

Hamai Misa shook her head before speaking. "I am his mother but it was I who got the news the last. I mean, the whole Japan knew about the problems you all faced and your relatives and parents were there to approach you when you arrived … but we were never there. I'm a bad mother," the woman said sadly.

"Misa-san, don't say things like that," said Kahoko with a weak smile. "You were just busy with your work, ne? And to tell the truth," she paused before smiling to herself, "Tsukimori-kun took that positively."

Hamai Misa stared at her before giving her a motherly hug and smiled. "I'm glad Len met a person like you …"

They remained like that for the following silent moments until a beeping sound invaded the solitary silence.

Beep … beep … beep …

"Excuse me," said Hamai Misa with a smile before standing up from seat and rummaging through her bag. She smiled sheepishly to the redhead before answering the call.

"Yes hello?" inquired Hamai Misa while dragging the phone to her ears. She listened for a while before speaking. "Right … I'll be there in ten minutes." She pressed the end button and turned sheepishly to Kahoko. "Hino-san, I need to leave, can you please stay with Len as I am out? There's just another emergency I need to attend to."

Kahoko thought for a moment before nodding. "Sure," she said.

[Second Person POV]

You heaved a sigh as you cupped your chin with your hand. Please wake up. All he needed to do was wake up and you'd be fine. You heaved another sigh. It was your entire fault, you knew it.

You stared at his sleeping face before heaving another sigh. He looked so vulnerable. Fringes of hairs freely fall over his forehead and his hair, all in all, looked messy. You creased your nose and played with his hair.

"Please wake up," you muttered.

As you stared at his face, (his vulnerable and 'angelic' face) it reminded you of a song you used to love before you even met your concours friends. A song that made a great impact in your life. It was just now that you came to realize … the song was somewhat the same with your situation now.

You got your phone from your handbag and got to the music player, searching for the certain song. You passed through many different songs before you paused at the song you were searching for.

Watashi Ni Dekiru Koto

You pressed play and got Tsukimori-kun's hand.

Tooku hanarete temo anata wo omotteru [Even if I am in far place, I think about you.]
sonna watashi no kimochi ga todoitara iina [It is good that my heart is able to reach you.]

His hand was so soft. You smiled and closed your eyes to listen for more.

futoshita guuzen de ima majiwatta jinsei [By accident, now, my life met yours.]
dakara watashi ni mo nanika dekiru koto arukana [So, is there something that I can do?]

It was true you met him by accident … and true that you couldn't do anything else. Hah, it was so ironic. This song greatly resembled what happened to you both.

sasaetekureta no wa itsudatte dareka no kotoba [Always, supporting me is someone's tongues]
yasashii hagemashi ga kokoro ni sutto shimikonda [A kindly cheering reaches deeply in my heart]
dakara ima watashi kara mo kono kotoba wo okuritai [So, now, I want to send you these words.]

You brushed the back of his hand on your cheek as your listened with great contemplation. Please wake up.

hitori jyanaiyo nani mo dekinai kedo [You are not alone although I can't do anything.]
tsurai toki koso kokoro ni uta wo kakagete [In hard times, hold on this song to your heart]

That moment, when you were stargazing, he told you that there's something he hadn't got. Something you would never think he would wish for. What could it be? You wanted to know badly, please wake up, Len.

ganbatte hoshii norikoete hoshii [I want you to fight. I want you to overcome]
todoite hoshii kono kimochi [I want that this feeling and this song reach you.]
anata ni okuru uta watashi ni dekiru koto [This is what I can do.]

You wanted him to fight. You wanted him to overcome this predicament. And you wanted him to know what your heart felt all the while. You could only entreat that he'd wake up. Yet there were many things you would like to know … please wake up.

You sadly smiled and leaned towards him. Please, wake up. Wake up. Wake up for god's sake!

But for now, you feel afraid that he'd get to know what your really feel. Why? Maybe you were afraid that you would get to hurt Yunoki-senpai? Maybe you were afraid that he didn't like you back.

Nevertheless, you leant forward towards him and started whispering words you never expected your mouth to say.

"I. Love. You." Your eyes widened. How could you? You should never say this! But your body was working without your brain's consent. You leaned forward and gave him a kiss on his lips.

His lips were cold but soft. Just now, you would want to know how it felt like to kiss someone you love. Your lips stayed clashed with his for a few more seconds, your kiss deepening in each second that would tick by. You never expected him to return the kiss you gave yet to your utter amazement you felt him kiss you back and felt warm hands cup your face.

He was awake.

. . . THE END

. . . ?

©SERA-CHAN