33|| Ageha
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"Onii-chan." I poke my twin's arm.

He flinches and then turns around.

"Ageha? You have to go to sleep. We have school tomorrow." He turns back around and starts snoring.

I pout and quietly sneak out of bed.

I slowly turn the door knob to my parents' room and climb onto the bed.
"Apa... Apa..." I gently shake my father and he sits up.

"Oh... Ageha." He lies back down and I rest my head on his arm.

"I can't sleep." I say, poking his belly.

"Then you can sleep with me." He smiles and snuggles me closer.

I smile and close my eyes.

.

.

"Apa! It's Ama's birthday today!" I say, skipping around.

"Yup. We're going to go buy the cake now." He picks me up and kisses my cheek.

"Yay! Get a good one!" I wrap my arms around his neck.

"Of course." He smiles and I give him a smooch on the lip.

He sets me down and Kako ruffles my hair before heading to the front door and putting their shoes on.

"Bye!" He kisses me and Ota on the forehead.

If only I knew...

I smile up at him as he smiles down at me.

If only I knew that would be the last kiss he'd ever give me...

"I love you!" He gives two blow kisses.

"Hap!" I pretend to eat the kiss.

That... that would be the last 'I love you.'

"Hahaha!" He laughs.

The last time i'd hear his laugh.

He closes the door.

The last time i'd ever see him.

Riiiing! Riiing!

My mother wipes her hand on her apron and jogs over to the phone.

"I win!" I throw my hand up and Ota pouts.

"How do you always win?!" He whines as I laugh

He then looks behind me with a worried expression. I turn around to see my mother shaking... The phone pressed onto her ear... Her eyes not once blinking... Her heavy breathing.

Apa...

"AMA!" The door slams open and I turn around.

"Onee-chan..." I stare at my big sister.

"AMA!"

It hurts.

The worst expression i've ever seen.

An expression i've never seen.

Fear.

Anger.

Sorrow.

Horror.

Agony.

Pain.

It was as if she had seen the devil.
She runs to mother's arms and they both fall to their knees, crying.

"Ahhhhh!" She screams.

It hurts.

I grip my shirt, taking deep breaths.

"It's my fault! Ahhh!" She screams.

I cover my ears.

It was a scream that could break your heart into a million pieces.

"I want to die!"

Pang!

"Ahh-"

Silence.

I turn around to find that Ota had covered my ears.

"Onii-chan..."

Everything was in slow motion.

He slowly looks down at me... His eyes filled with sadness.

What happened?

.

.

"*Sniff*"

All that could be heard was the sounds of sniffles, crying and prayer.

Apa...

I stare at my daddy's coffin.

Why?

I feel something cold on my cheek and touch it.

Water?

As I was just about to look up, it starts to sprinkle.

As the others start to walk away... I stay staring at Ota who was staring at the coffin.

My other half... Why are you so upset?
I slowly look at the coffin and start walking toward it. I place my hand on the coffin and smile, my eyes prickling.

"Apa... You know what this means, right?"

I look up.

"...You told me... That the reason why we always see it rain in the funerals we see on TV... is because the rain is a sign of forgiveness... That all of that persons sins have been forgiven and wiped away... That... That person is up in heaven. That they're happy." I rest my head on the coffin and close my eyes. "You were my happiness..." I frown and feel tears spill out of my eyes. I shake my head and take a deep breath. "...From now on... It's my turn... I promise to be happy and make them smile when they're down... I'll be their happiness... For you."
.
.
"Guys... This will be our new home from now on." My mother says as we place our things down. "Are you hungry?" She asks as she tucks a strand of her messy hair behind.

She looks so tired.

"No, it's okay." Kako smiles but it doesn't reach her eyes.

Mother smiles slightly and looks at me and Ota. "What about you bozu's?" She ruffles Ota's hair.

"No." Ota looks down and I see my mother frown for a moment before smiling again and looking at me.

"Um..." I look at Kako and Ota.

Surely they're hungry. We haven't eaten any thing since this morning.

I turn to my mother with a bright smile.

"I'm very hungry, Ama! Will you please make us some food?" I say with a cutesy voice and she smiles.

"Of course, baby." She blinks slowly as if saying 'Thank you'

"Yay!" I grab Kako and Ota's hand and start skipping to the kitchen, dragging them along.

"What would you like for dinner, my darling?" She asks as she opens the cupboard.

"Takoyaki!" I clap and she grins.

I look at Kako to see her smiling as she watches mother do a little dance.

I turn to Ota and see him looking down at his hand.

"Ta-ko-ya..." I peer at his face and he looks at me before looking away. "Ya..." I place my fingers under his chin and lift his head up. "Takoya..." I smile and he stares at me. "Ya... Ya..."

"Heh." He smiles.

"Ya!" I yell and he laughs. "Onii-chan! You made me say it so many times already!" I pout.

"Ki!" He says with a grin and I grin.

"Ta-ko-ya-ki~!" The four of us sing and laugh as we watch our mother dance around the kitchen.

"Hahaha!"

Finally.

.

.

"You can sleep with me." My father smiles as he snuggles me close.

Badum. Badum.

"You can sleep with me whenever you have a nightmare, okay?"

"Okay..."

Who do I go to now that you're not here any more?

"I'm always here for you." He says in a gentle voice and I smile.

"Ha!" I sit up and stare at the door. "Apa..." Tears well up in my eyes.

I can't hold it in anymore... I miss you...

"*Sniff*"

"Ageha..." I look up and see my father sitting with his legs crossed in front of me.

"It's not really you... Is it?" I ask and he shrugs with a smile.

"It is me... But well... I'm not really... Here." He says with a wry smile.

"So I can't hug you?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Sorry..."

I frown and he mirrors me.

"Hey... I'm still here, aren't I? Kinda..." He scratches his head and I giggle.

"It really is you..."

"You're such a good girl, Ageha... I'm proud of you... I saw what you did today."

"You... Saw that?" I tilt my head and he smiles.

"I'm always with you... And Ama.... Kako and Ota. I'm here to look after you."

"Like... A guardian?" I ask and he chuckles.

"I guess so."

I grin and look at him lovingly.

"We'll meet again... Right?" I say and he nods.

"Yeah..."

.

.

Kao-chan... I wonder if he likes onee-chan?

I gasp.

"Kao-chan..." I tug his hand.

"Y-Yeah?" He looks away from Kako who was walking in front of us.

"Do you like onee-chan?" I ask and his cheek turns a slight pink as he purses his lip.

"I think so..." He smiles. "...But you can't tell her."

"Why not?" I ask.

"Because... i'll tell her."

"When?"

"Uhm... Later?"

"No! Later is too late you have to tell her as soon as possible!" I say and his eyes widen.

"But... Why?"

"Because! Because... there's a guy I know that... Likes onee-chan. Yup, and he told me that he was going to confess to her soon." I say and he bites his lip as he looks back up at Kako.

"Really...?"

"Yup. He's met mummy too and she seems to like him. My mummy may even consider marriage!"

I may be going a little overboard.

"M-Marriage?!"

"Uh huh." I nod and smirk when I see him gulp. "But... I much prefer you, Kao-chan." I say and he looks at me. "I think that you'd make onee-chan happier."

He smiles slightly.

I giggle and give myself a pat on the back.

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So yes, Ageha has done a lot for the people she loves. She has gone through a lot, just as much as Kako and has helped her family smile again. Please give Ageha just as much love as Ota <3

- Luca