I don't know what gave me the feeling that I was ready for death. Every part of my mind said that, except my love for Taurtis. I would give anything not to die, for him. For Sam and Ali, too. I knew how Sam would react to the death of a teacher, but the death of his friend? Taurtis would be mortified. It might change him. I don't want him to change, for better or for worse. He's perfect the way he is, in my eyes. "Is she still alive?" I heard. Taurtis? Sam? Ali? Okami? "G-gomen N-nasai Taurtis... Damn it, I t-think I'm gonna die..." I managed to mumble. "Mimi! You scared me to death! I... Don't do that again... I get worried, y'know? I... I love you." Definitely Taurtis. I opened my eyes. "No matter what." He finished, looking at me. "I love you too.." I heard a heart monitor slow, lower than average pace in my opinion. "Damn it, don't let her die now!" Love... ends in sorrow. Don't let it be like that. I love Taurtis. He loves me. The monitor is slower now. I felt tears in my eyes. "Don't let me die! For Taurtis.." I shouted. I felt a hand touching my cheek, soft, wiping the tears away. "Taurtis?" I asked. "Yeah?" He asked, shaken more than me. "If I die, I won't leave you. You know that. I love you." I said. I repeated this, more to myself, so I knew myself. It made me feel better, despite hearing the heart monitor slow. Last breath? Or one many more from it? Taurtis kissed me on the cheek. "Yes. I know that."