– Don't stay too long, you'll catch a cold, – Tayuki slowly removed her hand from Hikaro's shoulder and slowly walked away into nowhere.
Rain. Reality sank into despair. Everything around no longer had colors. One complete mess. With her death, his life lost its meaning. His life made her death meaningless. For an hour he sat near her grave, soaked to the skin. He leaned against a nearby table and fell asleep. A crooked inscription «You will not die» was carved on the gravestone with a knife.
***
– Hello, doctor, – the guy entered a featureless room in which there were no walls at all. Just a door, a bed and a leather armchair. The endless white environment blinded his eyes, causing a desire to run into the distance, just to break the pitch emptiness.
– Oh yeah! Greetings, dear Hikaro! How are you feeling after your recent session? Go to bed, you want your girlfriend back, don't you?
– Of course. I hope for your help, – he replied coldly.
Takigami lay down on the bed. A short gray–haired man with funny separate curls on the sides of his bald head immediately began to massage the patient's temples. His fingers pressed so hard that it seemed, they say, now they will push through the bone and plunge into the slippery skull. But the movements did not cause pain.
– On the count of three, you will fall asleep. Once – a joyful past will appear again. Two – the illusion will become reality. And three…
Hikaro's mind sank before he heard the last sentence. The vague laughter subsided.
***
Hikaro's hands held the leather–wrapped steering wheel of an old car. The right foot pressed the gas pedal to the maximum. The field wind, flying in through the open window near the passenger seat, furiously fluttered long black curls. The guy didn't want to look at the road. The corners of his lips turned up.
«It's true... a joyful past».
– Hikaro, is that lightning striking in the distance?
«Damn, that's right!»
The boy twitched slightly, holding the steering wheel tighter to keep from sliding into a ditch at the edge of the road. From time to time, bluish threads sparkled on the horizon, serving as almost the only source of light in the overcast night sky, and were accompanied by a slightly delayed roar.
– Y–yes, we might get caught in a thunderstorm.
The girl half climbed out the window and boldly spread her arms, embracing the cold damp air.
– Come on, turn on the gas! Yu–hu–u! How cool, huh!
«Did she do that then too?» – Careful, Emily. Damn it!
The car behind them overtook them and almost cut them off. Takigami wanted to shout something insulting after him, but he did not have time to come up with this «something». And he didn't want to spoil the moment. After all, Emily is alive again , and nothing threatens her. Forget that this is a dream and get stuck in it.
– Hu–uh. «Dangerous. Just a little more and ...» – He again drew attention to the girl, who, apparently, did not care much about that car. She continued to enjoy the fresh air that hit her body and at one moment began to sing:
– Life was given absurdly clear , you just had to endure ...
The guy's eyebrows raised inquiringly, and the thought entered his head: «Where did I hear that?». When the answer was found, Hikaro's eyelids fluttered open.
– ... and now in partial love we want to die at this moment! Ah ha ha ha!
In an instant, a huge hard branch of an old sprawling tree touched a wet forehead, and without sparing broke the cervical vertebrae and separated the head from the beautiful body that fell out of the car like a broken doll.
– Fuck!
Hikaro slammed the door and ran headlong towards the fallen body of the girl. The eyes reflexively closed more and more, the gaze slowly rose from the feet higher and higher, passed over the knees and reached the bloody chest. The guy did not want to realize what was happening. «No, it can't be, right? She is all right?»
Eyes all the same closed ... And resolutely opened, all attention was focused on the most terrible place. A desperate cry rumbled through Hikaro's soul, but only heavy wheezing from his panicked breath could be heard from his throat. The guy took a couple of steps back, trying to break away from the alien body held by his hands, and forced his trembling legs to run to Emily's head. Falling to his knees, he reached out a hand to his hair, wanting to turn her to face him, but she did it before him. The eyes on the mutilated face stared insanely, wildly, terrifyingly, but unusually seriously, straight into Hikaro's eyes.
– It was you who killed me! Dumb bastard! And the same will happen to everyone you care about!
Couldn't say a word. Eyelids fluttered shut in pent–up pain. Head hit the steering wheel.
– Is that lightning striking in the distance? Hikaro, what's wrong with you?
– What? – the guy was in a terrible stupor for several seconds, trying to realize what was happening. He carefully looked at Emily, periodically lowering his gaze to her neck. «Time has turned back».
– Are you crying?
The boy shook his head, wiping tears from his face.
– I won't let you die, – a confident phrase came out in a trembling voice, after which Takigami pressed the brake pedal and got out of the car.
– What are you?
– I want to get some air.
– Okay. Wow, what a pleasant wind!
«Events have changed. I hope she doesn't get into her head to climb out of the window again when we continue on our way».
– How cool! Official atmosphere! Emily was circling right in the middle of the road. – Why are you so gloomy, Hikaro? By the way, do you have gum with you? I forgot to brush my teeth.
This phrase abruptly interrupted the boy's thoughts.
«Not! Not again!»
The girl spread her arms, circling randomly on the road. After a dull blow from the collision of a car flying at full speed and a fragile human body, a sonorous crunch of bones was heard, and Emily fell to the ground without life.
The guy opened his mouth, wanting to shout the same thing as last time. He reached out his hand and fell to his knees, losing his balance. It was enough just to close your eyes to hear again...
– Hikaro, is that lightning striking in the distance?
– Yes, lightning.
There were no more tears. Only nervously and partly viciously tense cheekbones on the face. Now he kept a close eye on the road.
«I just move on. Carefully. Yes, here is that car, and now ... here is the tree!»
Events repeated the first trip. Seeing the tree, Hikaro turned left. The girl stopped singing that ominous song and sat quietly.
«Done?»
– Stop please.
– Why?
– Sorry, but I need, ahem…
– What? I do not understand.
The girl made a disgruntled face.
– Well ... I want to piss, you dull–witted!
– Oh, I'm sorry.
There were no more cars in the vicinity, so Emily could safely move behind the nearest bush.
«Damn, something she long. Hmm. This phrase…» – Emily?!
The guy hurried out onto the road and immediately heard a cry:
– Ah–ah–ah! Snakes!
«Sat on a snake ball?!»
On trembling legs, Takigami cautiously approached the bush. Slippery, disgustingly writhing vipers tormented the partially naked girl, greedily grabbing her tender body with their fangs. She still tried to shout something out, but the creatures squeezed her neck too tightly.
«How much can you torture her?» The guy slowly closed his eyes and resolutely shouted out, holding the brake pedal:
– Yes, it's lightning!
Emily froze for a couple of seconds, surprised at such a violent reaction, after which she laughed sweetly.
– How did you guess what I'm going to ask?
– Wait a minute.
For almost a minute he sat with a straight face, staring at a single point on the horizon. Emily was afraid to break the silence, she was just waiting for something. At that time, the car that hit the girl the year before had already passed.
– Get out of the car...
– Umm, what?
– Get out, I said!
– What the heck? – Emily was outraged, but she left anyway. The guy came out too. – You decided to leave me here? – for a moment, she was horrified at Takigami's menacing face. – Do not dare! What are you, Hikaro!
He realized that he had acted too strangely, and made his face simpler.
– Calm down, I'm just tired behind the wheel, I need to get some air.
– Hmmm. Have you tried to go crazy? – the girl spread her arms to the sides and suddenly ...
– Emily!
A huge flash of light hit the girl directly, and in just a second, thunder was heard. Hikaro ran into the light and hugged Emily, but was immediately electrocuted and woke up in a cold sweat, falling off the bed next to the doctor.
– Ay–ya–yay, Hikaro, admit that all your efforts are in vain.
– In terms of? «Why does he say that?»
– Emily died because of you, but you are afraid to accept it. Even just now, in a dream, did you see who was in the car? Tell me, have you seen it?
– T–tsukisuke…
– Exactly! It seems to you that it is him, because you are trying to shift the blame on him.
– No, of course not!
Yes, Hikaro, yes! Believe me, I know better.
– Why all of a sudden? Doctor, you are crazy.
– Young man, stop playing these games already. Both of you and I are well aware that I am not a doctor, but an ordinary projection – the subconscious, hidden far in the depths of your mind.
– Can't be!
– You are afraid to admit that your hands are again covered in blood, as then, as a child, you asked your father to teach you how to ski. «Daddy, daddy, let's go to the mountains». A terrible snowstorm began, you could not get out of the snowdrift ...
Takigami stood up from the couch and waved his hand, intending to hit the doctor.
– Enough! No need!
The man literally flew off the guy. His feet melted into the surrounding darkness, replacing the light.
– ... father gave you warm clothes and hugged you, protecting you from the cold. The next morning, people from the nearest village came, but dad was already dead. Do you still remember the icy hugs? – the insane face of the doctor, running around Hikaro, gradually began to get younger. A wild smile turned into an incredible sadness and immediately returned back. And behind her it became clear – the doctor is Hikaro.
– Why are you telling me this?!
– I don't know that. Do you remember? I'm just your subconscious, agreed that you are guilty of all deaths. Past... And future.
The doctor disappeared, bursting into wild laughter.
– I'm not to blame for the death of dad ... And her ...
Amidst the solid dullness, the image of a young girl appeared, abruptly changing to memorable granite. The girl appeared again. And again the grave. The guy fell near her, once again losing strength in his legs.
– Get up, – someone said angrily.
It was Tsukisuke. Behind him stood Himitsu.
– Are you sitting here all day? Okada continued.
The boy turned and stood up slowly.
– Bravo, asshole, how did you figure it out? – Hikaro sneered brazenly, clapping his hands. – Why are you with umbrellas?
– We are all saddened by Emily's death, – Himitsu calmly interrupted.
«Something projections to the edge have become insolent».
– Even you? Fuck her! – guy stood before Himitsu, almost spitting in his face. – No one tried to save her that night except me! – You only cared about Tsuki's ass, just like him!
Tsukisuke did not tolerate such insults and immediately punched Takigami in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.
– Are you hurting the most? Are you saying my pain can't compare to yours? Indeed, why should I worry, my girlfriend just died! – The guy was as aggressive as ever.
– Who did she die for? Forgot already?! She believed that if you died with you, you would go to heaven where you would always be together. But you sent her alone!
«Our meetings in a dream always end in a fight. This time, I will definitely emerge victorious!»
Takigami tried to feel for his sword under his hand, but instead of it there was only a knife. He did not attach much importance to this and immediately stood up with the intention of impaling Tsukisuke with it.
– Stop!
Himitsu noticed Hikaro's attack at the last moment and pushed his brother away, standing in his place. Takigami confidently moved the knife deep into his stomach, pushing it in with all his might. For a moment, his rage and sadness were replaced by extraordinary joy and satisfaction.
«Why am I so cold? Am I wet? What warm blood...»
– What have you done?! – Tsukisuke pushed Hikaro away and sat down next to his fallen older brother. – Himmitsu?
The guy convulsively tried to close the wound with his hands so as not to let out blood, but it gushed like a crimson waterfall that could not be stopped. Realizing his fate, Himitsu wanted to say something to his brother, but only managed to vomit out a black bloody mass, after which his eyes dimmed forever in just a couple of moments.
– Well, now it's your turn! – Takigami laughed and rushed at his friend with a knife out.
– A–a–a!
Tsukisuke was filled with rage and charged at Hikaro without thinking. He grabbed his legs and knocked him to the ground, during which he received a knife in the lower abdomen, but did not pay attention to him, but only with all his anger kneaded Hikaro's face blow after blow until it became mushy.
– Why did you do it?! Why did my best friend decide to ruin my life and kill the people I love?! Why do you hate me so much?!
– Why does it hurt so much? – he hissed, coughing up blood. – Sword, give me a sword, – he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.
– Really… Do you really think this is your dream? – the guy took his nervously trembling hands away from Hikaro and got to his feet, taking a few steps back, as if he was afraid of something.
– That's it, – the boy laughed. – I'm just having fun. Don't be afraid, in the morning everything will be as before.
– Well, you're crazy ... Do you remember where you went to bed?
– At home in my ba… No, I seem to have fallen asleep near Emily's grave.
The guy threw up his hands.
– Where the hell do you think we are, you fucking bastard?!
Rain is coming. The white space was immediately replaced by the city cemetery. Hikaro's eyes widened unnaturally as he realized what was happening. Eagerly swallowing air, he rested his fists on the ground and unsuccessfully tried to get up, slipping back a little.
– Sorry! – he roared. – I thought… I thought I was still dreaming! What have I done?!
– So that's what you've been doing? Killed me and my brother in his crazy dreams? Crazy... Fucking Crazy... And fucked Emily too, didn't you, bitch?! Oh!
The wound in the stomach made itself felt. Tsukisuke writhed in pain and fell to his knees in front of Hikaro.
– We need a doctor! Can anyone hear me?! Call a doctor!
– It's not worth it...
– How worth it! I don't want you to die too! I beg you, forgive me!
– Goodbye!
A sharp wave of the hand. Blood gushed out. Tsukisuke pulled the knife from his stomach in a matter of seconds and slit Hikaro's throat. The guy grabbed his throat and began to convulse. He was seized with fear. Fear of imminent death, which will come in one of the following moments. Can a moment last forever, he thought, and closed his eyes.
As soon as Okada considered his friend dead, he without hesitation stuck a knife right into his heart and fell to the wet ground, which was already bleeding with might and main. His eyes closed too.