Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Nevermind ❯ Laying Blame ( Chapter 12 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Innocence is Futile.

NEVERMIND
By Raven Pan

XII - Laying Blame
Saturday, April 3

Later, I learned that you had been found, collapsed out of your office chair. Your phone handset was gripped tightly in your left hand, and the rest of that phone was broken around you, pulled off the desk and fallen, shattered on the floor.

The memory card said our number was the last one you dialed... at 11:23 PM.

When I was told this, I felt so ill. As though Evil Buu had grabbed my insides and pulled them right out through my heart.

It wasn't a prank call.

It was you.

It was you calling the one person you'd always trusted to be there for you.

You called me... because no matter what, we always took care of each other.

I failed you.

And because of that... you're dead.

They said when you were found in your office, your clothes were soaked in sweat. Your skin was so hot it was tainted red, and you were out of breath like you'd just run a marathon.

And despite that... you shivered as though it was winter.

No matter how they tried... they couldn't wake you.

You never woke.

I heard your last words... the last words you ever spoke were a gasped cry for help that fell on uncaring, disbelieving ears.

My ears.

Apparently, by the time the Ambulance got you to the hospital, you were already in cardiac arrest.

I'm told that right after calling the ambulance, your secretary'd called me.

And I didn't come because I thought it was a prank. You'd think I would have taken it at least mildly seriously, seeing as I'm listed as 'First Contact in Case of Emergency'.

I thought it was a prank.

Your April Fools joke for this year.

And I'm the fool.

It was supposed to be a prank, damnit! A fucking prank!

If I got there in time, do you think maybe I could have saved you?

Did you die thinking I didn't care?

Did you think I was too angry?

Did you think I was coming?

Did you think I hated you?

Kami... It hurts so bad, it's hard to breathe.

We buried you today... I stayed until the last spade of earth was thrown over your ornate casket.

My family dragged me away. They made me leave you, so I convinced them to take me to our home. At least there would be much here to remind me of you.

When I closed the door to our house, I saw our dining table, half of it covered with unopened junk mail. I remember when we bought it - we jumped up and down on it to make sure it could handle a lot of weight.

We had the appetites of demi-saiyajins, after all.

Remember trying to get the couch in here through the door? We ended up breaking it, and putting it back together inside. I guess the door wasn't meant for big huge fold out couches to be carried through.

I walked past the fake fireplace... and remembered when we melted the plastic logs, thinking it was a real one, and the previous owners had left the fire ready to start.

We learned real quick... didn't we?

That's when I just started writing. I hope you don't mind, but I'm sitting at your desk. I've seen you sit here so many times, and even now, your scent permeates the wood. It's because of you I started ever writing in a journal... I saw you sitting bent over one so many times - late at night when you thought I was sleeping.

I miss you so much....

I gotta get out of here.

I couldn't stay. Not with so much there... so many memories.

So now I'm here. My soul is breaking at the loss of our friendship. We've stood against so many storms. So many enemies....

Only to fall to an argument.

A sickness.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's well towards, or even past, midnight now. Here I am, filling the last pages of this journal.

Maybe you can see me.

I'm sitting beside your tombstone, leaning against it for cold, marble comfort. This journal lies in my lap, while my pen scratches along, telling you.... Telling you what? How you died? The rest of our story?

Why I wasn't there...?

I feel like my heart is breaking, it hurts so much. Knowing... knowing I might never see you again. By the time I join you in the otherworld, you might have forgotten me.

Will you even remember me?

Will you hug me hello... or curse me for letting you die?

For killing you....

It's my fault you died.

My fault.

TBC... Please Review!!!