Three years...that was three years ago...

My parents invited her over for dinner on that same night...she was so shy about it and started making excuses like...she needed to call her parents to tell them about it and that they wouldn't want her to eat out and annoy us, but she forgot that our parents are well aqquainted.

We had some fat ridden fast food for dinner, as my parents didn't have time to cook anything in advance.

I was thinking that she was probably right when she wanted to postpone that meal, but I ended up witnessing a battle akin to what happened in Waterloo...needless to say that the food was Napoleon.

When we were finished some instants of awkward silence ensued.

My parents broke the tension:

-You could stay over tonight.

A shiver ran through my spine from top to bottom, but it was probably the lethargy induced by that very "gourmet" food that blocked any visible external reaction from my part.

She looked at me with those two rainforests.

-Yes, I can sleep here today, if it's alright for Kiri.

I looked at my parents, their cocky smiles said everything.

-Y-yes...of course there is no problem.

-Go show your bedroom to Fubuki-chan, I hope you do have some consideration on the sleeping arrangements.

The beyond absurd idea that I was going to make that white-haired beauty sleep on anything less confortable than a bed made out of Chocobo feathers made me laugh.

I wasn't really counting on that so, in order to make myself look less like an idiot and to impress the girl of my dreams, I stated, with a flamboyant and almost offended tone:

-Who do you think I am? I'm a proper gentleman.

She grasped onto my hand. It felt like I was touching a cloud.

-Show me the way, Kiri.

I took her upstairs and opened the door to my chambers.

School books and many manga scattered on the floor. I even left my desk lamp on all this time, what a waste of money.

She surprised me again:

-I like this. If everything was too organized it wouldn't be so interesting. There is some...harmony in this chaos.

I realized that I needed to be more relaxed, there was no point in keeping worried about everything.

-I wouldn't even think of hearing you say that. Anyways...you sleep on my bed, I'll sleep over here, on this couch.

She smiled.

I'll keep a good mood around here but...how could I...SHE NEEDS SOME CLOTHES TO SLEEP WITH.

I don't know if she forgot about that major matter, but I looked for a solution anyways.

-I'm sure you could borrow my mom´s celebratory kimono.

She blushed and seemed embarassed.

-You are sharp as always.

I didn't even care if my parents noticed me, but I didn´t needed any more stress.

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We don't have Tatami's at home so I tip-toed my way to my parents bedroom, found the kimono in...10 minutes or so, and made my way back.

Just as I had my hand on the doorknob I heard my Dad:

-Relax, Kirito is not the kind of kid to do that stuff just like that...she´s our guest, after all.

C'mon...

As soon as she looked at me, she fired:

-Are you sure you don't have anything else? I really don't want to be a nuisance.

I understood where she was coming from, but I wouldn't ruin that chance.

-Relax, my mom doesn't mind, and besides...this would look perfect on you.

-You think...?

-Of course...we know eachother for several months now but I've never seen you in a Kimono.

When she came back from the bathroom...I couldn't believe in my eyes...they are such weak tools...they couldn't possibly capture her divine nature.

-You do like how I look...but it's probably a good idea to close your mouth or your tongue might fall off.

-Uhhh...here, you can put your clothes here.

She sat by my side and sighed.

-Do you want to talk, Kiri? Not necessarily about what happened but...what are you going to do now?

-I don't regret about what I did...even with that cost...well...now I need to enroll in another school...one further away.

I could see a semblance of sadness in her expression, which faded away when I followed with:

-I guess I will need to wake up even earlier.

I wanted to keep the conversation, so I ended up retreating to a safe haven of mine.

-Have you ever read Steel Ball Run?

She found weird the sudden change of topic but replied:

-I've heard about it, but I've never read it.

-Let me check the library here.

I got up and started scrambling around my carpet of print paper.

-Here it is!

-So...how do you feel about a bed-time story? This was a very long day.

-Sure, why not?

With the speed of a Utahraptor, she got up grabbed me by the arm and tossed me onto my bed alongside her.

We got so involved in the story of those two close friends racing acroos America that, at some point, ended up falling asleep.

I remember I woke up in the middle of the night with her grabbed onto my arm to her whispers:

-my herooooo...myyyy herooooo

It was right there that this "cosplay" hobby came into my mind. If I protected her, why shouldn't I protect as many people as I can?

That night wasn't the only one like that.

In the times that followed Fubuki would usually spend time with me after school. Everyday, I had, and still have to cross a large distance of the city of 760 bridges first thing in the morning, but it was always worth it, I always knew I would see that angel.

The Saturday night I decided to tell her my crazy idea she put her hand on my cheek, I could feel her soft breath as she closed up the distance between our faces, and then our lips touched.

Our first kiss.

-I know that you want to do what is right, that golden heart of yours is one of the many things I love about you, but if something happens to you...I don't know how I could keep living.

She was right...I was too naive to think that I could just save the entire world with my good wills and the fighting experience I acquired playing Tekken.

We had so much fun together.

Then...when the Summer Break came along...disaster struck.

Fubuki dissapeared from her house in the middle of the night.

Her parents launched a Police investigation.

So much time searching for clues...and they couldn't find anything.

I didn't go back to school after Summer Break.

My parents didn't even mind, they said:

-If you aren't okay, than it won't hurt to put a hold on school.

Okay is an euphemism.

I wasn't living, I was surviving.

I would even spend most of my days lying on my bed, on the place she used to sleep, trying to smell a little bit of her perfume.

Nothing made sense without her.

I started to get into underground fight clubs with a ski mask.

I guess it was simply to numb myself from the pain.

Most of the times I would just watch the opponent kick my ass.

I think that watching all of that made me more secure about fighting, not that I have ever really needed to.

I had to always hide my face with my hands around my parents, and since I barely left the house I only needed to worry about them. Even when they noticed, I always said that I fell. It was the best excuse I could come up with.

Then I left that and continued on with school, even though I wasn't, and I knew that I wouldn't be okay.

I've been walking around for ages and I can't find any trouble. I think I wanna have a little subway trip, to clear my head. (I don't think it will work)

Deto Station.

Everyone is looking at me but I don't care.

I buy my ticket.

When I get inside I try to take one of the farthest seats, to see if I can calm myself.

I sit down.

The carriages are pratically deserted in comparison to daytime, only some people travel around at this hours.

Memories start flooding in...no...it's always like this, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

I got used to it.

But I wanted to take advantage that I was alone to let it out.

Tears rain from my eyes as I take my index to my lips above my mask.

-Where are you Fubuki!!???

I shouted with desperation all over my being.

I detected a very strange scent, it was like garlic or sulfur...something very weird for a subway train.

I open my eyes and stare at my palms.

What is this smoke?

Green smoke?

And it wasn't like a smoke I have ever seen before. It looked like the particules it was made out of were changing and remolding themselves every second. And it even was warm to the touch of skin.

I lift my head.

My eyes end up meeting two emeralds I haven't seen in three years.