The Guardians of Light

A Teddy Bear

Later that night, I was so eager to go to Orpheus and talk to Ayami. I was too excited that I couldn't sleep. And because of it, I had to swallow sleeping pills again.

These days, I'm kind-of overusing those pills.

Anyway, I used them to accelerate the process.

                                                                             -----*-----

I came out of my room as soon as I gained consciousness, but the problem is I don't know the room number of Ayami.

I didn't want to stay in the room, waiting to meet her the next day, so I started to search for her in the HQ, hoping I would cross paths with her.

Unexpectedly, I ran into Mr. Reynolds.

' Mr. Gloom, wait for a moment. '

' Yes, Mr. R R. '

' Congratulations on your promotion. You are officially an L1 Protector now. You shall receive the paraphernalia of an L1 Protector tomorrow morning. '

' Oh, my God. It's fantastic. So all the interns got promoted, right? '

' I hate to say this, but no, only you have. '

' What? Why? '

' After you guys dispersed, Ayami came to meet me and told me that it was all you. The rest of them were just sharing the credit of your smart work. '

' Wow. I didn't expect that. By any chance, did you see where she went? '

' The last time I saw, she was in the Gyro. It was 15 minutes earlier, I suppose. '

' Thank you so much Mr. R R. '

Without wasting any more time, I rushed to Gyro and started to look for her. Thank God, I found her in the Gyro.

I approached her table, but she started to leave right after she noticed me.

' Please wait. All I need is one minute. You don't even need to talk, just listen. '

She sat back in the chair, which made it clear that she had given me one minute of her time.

' I want to apologize to you first for misunderstanding you. Back when we completed our first assignment, I felt dejected because no one appreciated me but shared my success. I have met with Mr. Reynolds just now, and he told me about your little visit. I wanted to thank you for that. '

She thought that was the end of what I wanted to tell her, so she stood up again to leave.

' Please Ayami, wait up. I also translated the Japanese phrases that you used earlier. I was surprised when I found out one of those was a compliment. I'm glad you are impressed by my work, and the other phrase was "Useless." We'll talk about that later. I also have a message that might intrigue you. '

Before I said it, Ayami walked away from the table and took almost 3 steps. She stopped when she heard me saying, ' Shiro. '

She froze for a few seconds and then turned back. Her all-time poker face now turned into a confusing and yet hopeful.

She approached me expeditiously and slammed the table with her fist and said, ' How do you know that name? '

' Calm down, Ayami. Sit down and listen to me. '

She leaned over and punched me in the stomach, a tad lighter this time. 

I groaned in pain.

' Would you please control your irascible fists and listen to me patiently?'

She didn't storm off or tried to hit me again. She just resumed her position calmly.

I couldn't understand her erratic behaviour.

' So, I have a message from your brother. '

' Don't f*****g play with me, Ryan. You can't even imagine what I would do to you. '

' I'm not interested in kidding you and getting punched, alright. Your brother's name is Aito. Am I correct? '

' How do you know his name? '

' I can talk to spirits. '

' Cut this bullshit and I only want the truth. Trust me when I say this Ryan I'm gonna ask you once again and if you lie this time, I will punch you in your face right here right now. '

' Ok, ok. I'm going to say a secret about me, and I want your word that you are going to be discreet about it. '

' I swear to keep it a secret. '

' Alright, then. As you know that a visit to Orpheus is one way, and there is no going back, but I am an exception. I can go back and forth to Earth. I've met your brother today, and I have seen your photo in his house. I was bewildered when I saw your picture. I asked your brother if he wanted to send a message to you. He told me that he wanted you to know that they conducted a proper funeral for Shiro. '

Ayami who always projected strength burst into tears. I scooted over and sat beside her to console her. She leaned on my shoulder and continued to sob.

' I now understand that you stuffed all your emotions deep inside, and they are finally out now. Weep all you want, but once after all the sorrow, you are going to feel a lot better. Trust me. '

' Can you please take me to my room? '

Saying that she gave me her room keys, and then I got to know her room number. It was 404.

She became weak all of a sudden that she was unable to walk, and I had to help her walk all the way.

Beneath that tough exterior, she was all but a teddy bear. I wondered what she might have faced that turned a sweet loving girl into an apathetic girl.

Anyway, we finally reached her room. I didn't want to talk about anything else because I thought she needed some time to process these unresolved emotions.

' I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. '

' If you don't mind, can you stay for a while with me? I don't want to be alone right now. '

I couldn't say no to her, especially in her condition.

' Yeah, sure. '

She sat on the couch, and I stood near a wall.

' Did my brother tell you anything else? '

' Yeah. He said that he loves you, and he misses you. I presume you both were very close. '

' Very much. Everything was going great in my life, and everything has fallen apart in the blink of an eye. '

' I can be your shoulder to lean on and can also lend my ear to hear your pain. Only if you are willing. '

' You said, trust me earlier. Did you mean it? '

' I'll tell you about an incident of my life, and after listening to it, you decide whether to share your story or not. When I was small, my father brought home a dog. We named him Boots. I got so connected to him that I spent most of my time with him. After a few months, the results of my academics were out, and I scored a bit fewer marks than usual. My father has a very stern personality. He didn't encourage that sort of behaviour. He inferred that the dog was the reason for my inadequate performance. So he got rid of the dog. For the first few weeks, I bottled up my emotions, didn't speak to them, hoping that he would bring back my Boots. I began to feel worse, but he didn't bring him back. After a while, I couldn't keep it anymore, and I burst into tears. I cried all day, and at the end of the day, I had some relief. Up till now, I don't know what happened to my Boots. '

' That's awful, Ryan. I'm sorry. '

' It's not about me now, Ayami. It's about you. Would you like to share your burden? '

' Aito is my dissimilar looking twin brother. I had a very loving childhood. Wonderful parents, marvellous brother, and when Shiro joined our family, it felt like my family became whole. When I turned 15, my mother got diagnosed with cancer. She battled for months, and her struggle ended after six months. A small happy family became shallow. My father was so drowned in the pain that he cared very little about us. It took almost a year for me to get over the pain, and my brother had a key role in it. His relentless efforts and persistence finally made me normal. And when I thought everything was going back to the way it was, I met with an accident that killed our Shiro. It was my fault. I shouldn't have taken him out. '

Ayami burst into tears again. I can understand her pain because I know-how painful reliving a tragedy is. At that time, all you need is a supporting shoulder to cry on.

I didn't have anyone like that back then, but I can act like one for Ayami.

I sat beside her on the couch.

' It's going to be okay. '

After a period of crying over my shoulder, she swept into sleep in my lap. I couldn't wake her up, so I just decided to sit in that position till she wakes up.

After a few hours, she was awake.

' Oh, god. Yurushite. I mean, pardon me for my behaviour. I'm so sorry you had to sit like that for hours. '

' It's no big deal. You have nothing to apologize to me. '

' On the contrary, I have to apologize to you for being a b***h to you all this time. '

' Please, cut yourself some slack. You were going through a rough patch. In fact, I was just like you but a little less violent. A friend of mine turned me to the rational and sane person that you are witnessing now. '

' She must be a very good friend. '

' That she is. '

' I owe you an explanation en passant my behaviour. I only acted like that because I couldn't stand anyone being kind to me. I pushed you hard sometimes because a part of myself wanted to be friends with you. '

' It's really relieving to know that you wanted to be friends with me. Also, how did you end up here? '

' I was conscious after I hit my head. I saw my Shiro got run over by a car. I knew at that moment that he was dead. I started to feel that everything wrong that had happened are because of my faults. The guilt became so unendurable that I wanted to escape the pain. I began to see glimpses of this place, and I thought that is what death looks like. Later on, I had a dream where I saw a woman getting mugged. I stormed there and saved her and ended up here. I regretted after coming here because I felt like I was a coward who ran away from pain instead of enduring it. The reason I don't take the yellow pills is because I want to feel the pain. I wanted to suffer, and I wanted to grieve. '

' Yeah, I always wanted to know about the yellow pill thing. And you don't need to face your pain alone because you got me now. If you desire to say something to your brother, here I am. '  

' Tell him,  Watashi mo anata o aishitemasu. '

' What does it mean? '

' It means I love you too. '

' Can you please repeat it to me again? '

' Watashi mo anata o aishitemasu. '

' I will deliver him the message. So are you going to be alright by yourself now? '

' I hope so. I feel better now. '

I patted on her back and left for my room.