(Taimu's POV)
(Please remember that Kokoro is a robot. Also, don't ask what the "beast" is, because I dunno either. Use your imagination.)

The vicious beast had us cornered.

Its glowing red eyes and razor sharp teeth looked like it wasn't wanting to make friends with anyone. It lets out a disgusting hiss of fury.

Next to me, Kokoro looks just as worried as I am. I can hear her mechanical heart pound with worry.

The creature takes a few steps closer to us until it is no more than a few meters away from us. Its long, thin tail lashes back and forth.

It's going to attack.

It crouches down and swiftly pounces at me.

Everything in the next few seconds seems to happen in slow motion.

The beast's jaws are wide open as it sails toward me, the triangular fangs aiming to sink into my flesh. I close my eyes as I prepare for the blow.

"Noooooo!" Kokoro cries.

As expected, I'm knocked down, flat on my back. I wait for the grueling pain to settle in.

But it doesn't.

I open one eye, seeing a sight I'd always hope I'd never see: Kokoro was pinned to the ground by the creature, with its jaws clamped tight around her torso.

I quickly realized what had happened... Kokoro had pushed me out of the way.

An unsettling mix of oil and blood begins to spill from her body. The beast, clearly sickened by the taste of oil in its mouth, releases its grip on her and runs off.

I get up and dash over to Kokoro's side, kneeling down beside her. I lift her body slightly so that her back is on my thighs.

She quivers as bloody oil drips from her mouth, coughing. "T-Taimu?" she stutters.

I feel the tears forming in my eyes burning like acid. "Hey Koko..." I smile.

"A-A--" She takes a large breath. "Am I going to d-die?"

I don't say anything as more fluids begin draining from the large gashes in her abdomen, revealing disturbing metallic organs.

"T-Taimu... Promise me that--" She clutches her bleeding belly. "Promise you'll try to fix me... I don't want to--" She gasps for air. "W-Want to leave you yet..."

"Sure..." My tears glisten as they fall from my face and onto Kokoro's chest. Her electronic heartbeats are slowing.

I lean in and kiss her on the lips, tasting blood and oil. It's a gross mixture, but I wish I could remain like this forever.

After a moment, we break apart from the lip-lock.

"Hey..." I coo, trying to calm her down. "Look at the sky..." The sun was beginning to set, creating shades of pink, purple, and orange to surround us and the forest. "S-Sunsets." I feel as if my heart could shatter like fragile glass at any time. "Like when we were kids."

"Y-Yes..." Kokoro chokes out. "They never change... Taimu?"

I look from the sky and back into her crystal-blue eyes.

"Don't... ever change..." Kokoro sighs, gasping softly a few more times before the heartbeats stop entirely.

The bloody oil has now formed around us, making a puddle in the green summer grass.

"Why..." I softly cried, resting my head on her limp body. Forcing my head up to the colorful sky, I scream in agony toward the heavens.

I silently prayed that Kokoro could hear me.