Chapter 265

Dreamtime

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Seiji..." She was on the verge of tears. "I'm so scared!"

I reached out for her,

but she was so far away.

Far away in the darkness all around us.

I could barely make out her face.

"Seiji? Doko ni?"

"I'm here, Aoi!"

All I could see was the blur of city lights on the other side.

It faded off into the night sky,

like a purple gradient dissolving into tiny stars.

"Where are you??"

I shouted for her, louder this time. But she didn't hear me. Could she not hear me?

*~ Doko - Where?

Chapter 266

Dreamtime

I stepped forward towards where I thought she was and realized I was climbing a steep hill.

Somehow everything was blurry and alien to me.

The sudden inclination threw me off balance and I nearly slipped.

But there was no way I could let myself slip

because I had an uncanny feeling

I would tumble down the hill

forever and ever into eternity.

If I lost my foothold here, I would never see her again.

Chapter 267

Dreamtime

Once I regained my sense of balance, Aoi was nowhere to be seen.

"Aoi!" I shouted. There was no reply.

But I knew she was on top of the huge hill.

I took a heavy step forward,

sweat building at my forehead.

Why did climbing this hill seem so tough?

I tried to move faster, taking running steps but the distance didn't grow any smaller.

It seemed like I was only capable of doing the moonwalk,

staying in one spot or even slipping backwards as I tried.

Before long, I had to stop to catch my breath.

I was panting.

Wait for me Aoi! I'm coming! I'll come to where you are!

Chapter 268

Dreamtime

I now realized why the night sky was like a gradient now;

there were city lights on the other side of the hill.

What I saw stretched out before me wasn't the horizon but the top of a hill.

Where am I?

Where was Aoi-chan?

There was no answer.

I knew I had to climb the hill one step at a time to find my answers. To grow stronger. I will stand at the top of this hill with Aoi.

I promise.

Then I felt a searing pain inside my head and darkness fell.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Chapter 269

Dreamtime

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The next moment, my eyes opened wide but I couldn't see anything. Not even my own hands.

There was a slight trace of the headache I felt.

But I was no longer climbing the hill.

Everything felt cold and lifeless all around.

I appeared to be barefeet,

standing on a flat surface,

but it was so cold it ate its way up from the soles of my feet,

up through my calfs and thighs.

It was so cold, my legs were turning numb.

But I wasn't shivering.

Where was I? Where was she?

Chapter 270

Dreamtime

"I don't know when I'm going to wake up."

Came her voice out of nowhere.

Her voice was really close, almost right next to me.

But I couldn't see her.

"Where are you?"

Feeling my way around,

my fingers suddenly touched smooth and warm skin.

There she was!

I pulled her in closer and she fell against my body.

She was breathing lightly, like she was asleep.

Even though I couldn't see her, I could feel her.

For the first time in a long time, she was right there with me.

I felt so warm, the warmth like fire,

spreading through our entwined bodies.

It was fighting back the numbing cold in my legs.

It didn't matter where we were,

because we were in each other's arms.

There was nothing to be afraid of.

We would never seperate. I would never let her go.

Never.

Chapter 271

Dreamtime

"I don't know when I will wake up."

She said again, muffled against my chest.

She sniffled back her tears.

"You will. You'll wake up. Don't you worry."

I let my hands stroke her soft hair.

Her body was warm against mine.

Nothing felt better than this.

We belonged together like this.

I wish we could stay here forever, in the darkness.

Hidden away from the world.

Forever.

Yet I knew this was only a fleeting dream.

A fragment of a moment in all of eternity.

Chapter 272

Dreamtime

"Will you wait for me?" She asked.

"Of course." I said automatically.

She turned her head to look at me. But I couldn't see her in the darkness.

"Even if it was a year from now?"

"Yes."

"Even if it was ten years from now?"

"Yes."

"Even if it was a lifetime?"

"I promise you."

Chapter 273

Dreamtime

I pressed my forehead against hers.

I could feel her breath on my face, a scent of fresh flowers.

I could feel our skin warm against each other.

I drew her chin in to kiss her. I knew exactly where her lips were without a doubt.

But suddenly, she put her fingers between us and pulled back.

I released her, startled. The cold all around crept back into my body.

Chapter 274

Dreamtime

"Seiji. You can't wait for me." Was what she said.

"What are you talking about?"

She remained silent for a moment.

She sniffed. "What if I never wake up?"

"I'll wait."

"Don't!" She cried hysterically.

"You have to move on with your life... "

I could hear her sobbing now, her tears dripping onto the floor below.

"Don't let me drag you down... Please...Seiji, go on without me.."

The darkness was menacing.

Chapter 275

Dreamtime

"You know how much it'll hurt me if I was a burden to you all your life??

I don't want to destroy your dreams, your future...

You still have a future... W-what if i dont?"

This sounded vaguely familiar.

Where have I heard it before?

I remained silent for a long time. Silent and cold.

Was she right? She would be in pain if I didn't move on with my life.

She always wanted to see me grow and become a stronger person.

I've relied on her so much.

Was I supposed to leave now?

Chapter 276

Dreamtime

Then I pulled her back into a firm hug.

I could feel her silent tears soaking my shirt.

"I'll wait." Yuya's words returned to my mind.

"I'll carry both of us. Aoi, trust me." She remained quiet.

"While you are asleep, I will take care of you.. the both of us."

"Do you understand?"

"You have always been there for me, and I always relied on you.

You've gave me strength. It's time for me to be yours."

"I won't leave you Aoi, no matter how many years. I won't cry. I will wait until the day you wake up."

Tears would always come to me before, but now there would be none.

She hesitated. Then she gave me a tiny nod.

~ ~ ~ ~