ERI - Part 2

Eri's Story: Part 2 of 2





Weeks passed, and the three friends became quite the trio. Eri often visited Mitsumi and Raven at school, though she herself didn't bother to enroll. It would've been troublesome. She hadn't been born to normal parents or lived anywhere in particular. For a long time she was a book, and her residence was Mitsumi's desk. She didn't feel like trying to explain magic of the heart to the school administrators.

A Thursday afternoon, lunch time, the friends' usual time together was spent as it normally was. The three sat together at a table in the center of the room, enjoying their lunch. Eri ate the food that Mitsumi refused. She was still enjoying all the flavors of human sustenance, taking them in and analyzing how they were made. Mitsumi had been teaching her how to make various dishes, with the help of Sakura. Sakura had commented that Eri was a natural in the kitchen, but to this Eri only gave a shy laugh and a modest, "I'm only learning from someone who's already quite skilled."

"So do you have band practice tonight?" Eri asked.

Mitsumi took a bite of her hotdog and then thought for a moment. She took time to chew her food, thinking over what Yui had told her the day before. "Yeah," she finally said. "We're gathering at Yui's house for the meeting."

"That sounds nice," Eri said with a smile. "Your songs are very inspirational."

"Aw, you think so? Thanks, Eri. And well, I'd love to bring you along, but we're trying out a few instrument combinations in our solos, so it'd be boring for you. Would you wait back at home for me?"

Eri nodded. "Of course, Mitsumi. When you've finished experimental work on your newer songs, I'd love to hear the result."

Mitsumi grinned. "Awesome." She turned to her other friend. "You, too, Raven. You'll come, won't you?"

Raven nodded before taking a bite of the hamburger he'd bought. He swallowed and added, "Sure."

"How did you do on your math test today?" Eri asked.

"Fine, I guess. Raven, what'd you get on it?"

Raven shrugged. "Eh. Probably average."

Eri looked to him. "If you'd like, I can help you study," she said.

"That's a great idea," Mitsumi encouraged. "Plus, it'd be good if Sakura saw you two working for school. She thinks Eri attends school with me, so...it'd be nice if you actually did school-related stuff at home."

"Aren't you going to tell her the truth about Eri?" Raven asked.

"Yeah...eventually. But now's not the time. I'll do it later when everyone's adjusted to Eri's presence."

"Doesn't Sakura find it a little weird that her daughter's friend is basically living in her daughter's room?"

Mitsumi thought for a moment. "If she does, she hasn't said anything to me about it. But I guess you're right, Raven. It'd be good for Eri to be out of the house, sometimes."

"Where should I go?" Eri asked.

"Umm--"

"My house is fine," Raven suggested. "My parents work night shift, usually. So you can just chill out there."

"Really?" Eri said gratefully. "You wouldn't mind?"

Raven chuckled. "Of course not. We're friends, aren't we?"

Eri offered a sweet smile and nodded. "Yes."






The delicate moment was broken when an obnoxious voice suddenly ripped open the scene and a girl of the brunette's circle of acquaintances showed up beside her. "Hey, Mitsu! Bet you ten bucks you can't beat my team in the softball field!"

Mitsumi smirked and stood from the table to be eye-level with the girl. "Yeah right! You're on, Miko. I'll get my group from gym class and we'll pummel you guys."

The two girls rushed off outside, leaving Raven and Eri alone.

"So...you look nice today," Raven said casually, trying not to sound awkward or stupid.

Eri smiled brightly. "Thank you. Mitsumi helped me pick out the dress."

Raven nodded and took a bite of his food. When he put down the hamburger, though, he heard Eri giggle softly beside him. He turned to her. "What?"

"There's something on your cheek," she explained. "It's ketchup."

Raven felt his face warm at her embarrassing observation. He was about to wipe it off with the back of his hand but Eri was already reaching for a napkin. She brought it to his face and wiped off the red liquid, smiling in humor as she did so.

She was leaning forward, and in the slightly closer proximity he noticed just how beautiful her eyes were. They were such a light, pretty shade of blue—like the sky itself. He doubted he'd ever seen any shade more stunning. The blue color of her dress really brought out their radiance, as well.

Eri finished and folded the napkin, placing it aside for disposal. "Better," she said simply.

Raven quickly continued eating. He couldn't think of anything to say, so he chose not to say anything. Eri was here with him, and for some reason he didn't think he really needed to say much to her. She seemed content just being there, sitting with him. Her eyes wandered the room—taking in people and things. She was a silent angel, tranquil in appearance and gentle in nature.

Then she turned her eyes to him. Raven's heart skipped during that first moment. He knew then that there was something between them. A spark of some kind, maybe a small flame. It burned on its own with little effort from the two of them. It felt...nice. Right, and natural, like Eri's existence in the world.







"All right, then, I'm off to Yui's house!" Mitsumi said happily, about to board the bus with her blond band member. Raven and Eri were seeing her off, standing outside the school building now that classes were over.

"See you soon," Eri said. Raven waved. "What she said."

Mitsumi got on the bus and took the window seat, Yui near the aisle. Mitsumi put her face close to the window and winked at Raven. He eyed her suspiciously and then the bus was off.

Eri turned to him after a moment of silence. "Shall we go?" She gestured to Raven's bus home.

He nodded. "Yeah, sure." He lead her to the bus that usually took him home. The two got on, Raven allowed Eri to take the window seat. She smiled at her placement and took the first few minutes of the ride to admire everything they passed beyond the glass. Her eyes lit up when they passed a large grouping of wild flowers.

Raven glanced at her every so often, curious as to how she was perceiving the world, what she was feeling. Then, halfway home, a guy from the seat behind him, suddenly aware there was a new person on the vehicle that hadn't been there before, gave rise to a blunt question.

"Hey Raven. Who's that chick?"

Raven turned to him, instantly annoyed. "She's a friend."

"Oh..." He took the time to deliberately draw out his response. "Like...a girlfriend?"

Eri turned, aware that someone was referring to her. She got the impression Raven was being bothered, so she looked over to the guy. "Excuse me, but does it really matter? Raven and I are friends...please don't bother him."

The student shrugged. "Whatever." He turned back to the guy next to him, indifferent.

Raven sighed, leaning back against the seat. Eri offered a smile to him. "So, what shall we do tonight?"

Raven opened his mouth to speak, but the annoying voice of the guy behind him interrupted him: "I knew it." Then came laughter.

Raven rolled his eyes. He was tempted to stand up, turn around and punch the guy, but that just wouldn't be proper with Eri sitting next to him to witness it. Later, maybe.








"So, it's between 'Magic Hour,' 'Dead End Castle,' and 'Hawk's Journey,' Raven said, reading the names of the movie titles he was holding. It was getting dark, and Eri and Raven had settled in the living room of the empty house for the night. It was just the two of them, though Raven tried not to think of it that way. It's just two friends, he would remind himself.

"Magic Hour sounds good," Eri suggested.

Raven nodded and placed the DVD in the player. As the opening sequences started, he stood and went to the kitchen, looking for something to make for the both of them. He opened the fridge, looking over the provisions. He sighed, not seeing much, and closed it again. He jumped when Eri was there beside him, previously hidden by the door.

"Looking for snacks?" she asked.

Raven nodded. "Yeah, but I'm not sure we have anything you'd like."

Eri shook her head and moved to one of the cupboards. She opened it and spotted cookie mix. "Peanut butter cookies sound yummy," she said. "I can make them, if you'd like."

"You don't have to, you're the guest--"

"It's okay. Mitsumi and Sakura have been teaching me to cook. I've picked up a lot. It's probably best I put my skills to use, don't you think?"

Raven gave in. "Fine. But don't burn yourself." He crossed his arms and leaned against the fridge, watching her.

Eri grinned and got to work, retrieving a cooking sheet and other tools. It was only once the cookie-shaped creations were in the oven that she turned back to Raven. "Now we wait."






"Do you like school?" Eri asked, trying to pass the time.

Raven shrugged. "It's okay. I like being able to see my friends there, so...it's not all that bad."

"I hear you haven't gotten into any fights as of late. That's also not bad."

Raven chuckled, mainly to himself. "I guess."






"So um, what do you like to paint?" Eri asked.

"I paint things important to me. Or people."

"Have you painted anything recently?"

"No. But...I've thought about it. I guess I've been busy."

"I'd like to see some of your work, if that's okay," Eri said.

Raven hesitated. "Well...I guess. My pieces are stored away in my room, since...my parents don't like seeing them."

Eri smiled in encouragement. "I'm sure they're wonderful."

Raven gestured to her and they went upstairs and down a hallway to his room. He opened the door and Eri stepped inside. She saw several blank canvases along the wall, but she also saw two paintings leaning against the wall opposite her. One of them stood out immediately.

"Is that Mitsumi?" Eri asked, in awe.

"Yeah," Raven said, walking over the painting. "I did this...a couple years ago. It was soon after I'd met Mitsumi. She was in one of my classes, and we ended up being good friends. I thought it only fitting to paint her. She means a lot to me."

"Ah," Eri said softly, admiring it. Then her gaze wandered over to the other painting. "Are those...your parents, by chance?"

Raven nodded, looking a bit more solemn, now. "Yeah. They don't approve of my work in art, but...I still love them. They mean a lot to me, too. So...I painted them. This one was done a long time ago."

Eri nodded gently, giving the piece a long look of admiration. She figured he had more paintings stored away somewhere, but she didn't want to pry. "You really do paint very well, Raven," she said, and smiled.

Raven walked back to her. "Thanks. Though I only got this good by practice. Who knows, you might be a master chef or something some day because of how well you cook."

"Oh no, the cookies!" Eri exclaimed, and ran back down the hall and stairs. She practically flew through the kitchen over to the oven, then quickly turned it off. She hesitantly opened the oven door, peering inside at the peanut butter creations.

Raven caught a glimpse of them and watched as the woman stood back up, slowly. He couldn't help but laugh.

Eri looked to him with a disappointed expression. "What's so funny? I burned them," she said sadly.

Raven shook his head, laughing harder. "You," he said simply.

Eri raised her brow at him, wondering how he could find her failure funny. But he wasn't laughing at her so much as with her. She sighed and removed the cooking sheet from the oven, looking over the blackened cookies.

Raven appeared beside her, his laughter subsiding, and picked one up. They were still very hot, but he quickly took a small bite of it anyway. He crunched it up and swallowed, then chuckled.

"I can kinda sorta taste the peanut butter flavor, but it's being overpowered by the scent of burning," he said, and began laughing again.

"You have a strange sense of humor, Raven," Eri said, but then she found herself smiling at the fact he was laughing. Then she was laughing, too. She picked up a cookie and tried it. They weren't as bad as she'd thought...but they were still bad. "My first time cooking for you and I mess it up," she said, and for some reason that made her laugh harder.








Another week or so passed. Mitsumi occasionally left her two friends alone together during their lunch time. She had picked up on the flame between them, and, wanting the best for the both of them, preferred giving them space.

But she wasn't the only one who had noticed the blossoming affection between the two.




"Do you want to take a walk, today?" Eri asked Raven as they saw off Mitsumi. The brunette was taking the bus to Yui's house once again, off to work on her newest song with the group.

"A walk?" Raven said, thinking it over. He'd found that as days passed, he felt increasingly comfortable around Eri. He spoke more, he voiced his thoughts a little more often. She was rapidly becoming what Mitsumi was to him...and more.

"Yeah sure," he said, looking up at the sky. Being summer, it was warm, and there weren't many clouds. "It doesn't seem like it's going to rain, or anything. But do you really want to walk back to my house? It's a bit of a distance from here."

Eri nodded. "Yes, I think it'll be fun! Maybe we can stop by somewhere for lunch, too?"

Raven smiled and took her hand. He initially thought it an awkward idea, but Eri seemed so friendly and welcoming that he doubted she'd refuse him. And she didn't. She returned the slightly firm grip and grinned. "Off we go, then!" she cheered.






The two never ended up walking as far as the plaza of shops, but they did make it to the local playground. They took turns spinning each other on the merry-go-round, and eventually they ended up on the swings, moving in sync with each other only about a foot forward and backward.

"So that's when we decided to just do the project Mitsumi had liked," Raven explained, finishing his tale of what had happened earlier that week in one of their science classes. "Mitsumi's fond of astronomy, stars and stuff, so getting everything done was pretty easy."

"I could tell," Eri said. "She bought me some astronomy books the other day as a gift."

"Oh, you like it, too?"

"Well, I suppose. I'm more fond of reading in general, though, which is why she got me books. She's so very thoughtful."

Raven nodded. "Yeah."

The two were silent for a long time. It was late afternoon, now, and the sun would be setting soon. Still, there was a tranquil peace here, one that was complemented by the feeling Eri and Raven shared. It had grown stronger as their bond had grown, and it was similar to a physical force. It pulled at each of them, whispered words of encouragement, of love—words from the heart that neither of them could bring themselves to say out loud.

But swinging beside one another, talking, the time they were spending—it was enough, for now. And yet Raven had that nagging feeling that maybe he should try for something more. Would that be so bad? Would it make the friendship awkward? And would Mitsumi get caught in the middle of that awkwardness? He wondered...

And then, suddenly, "What do you think you're doing?"

Raven looked up to see three men his age approaching them. He glanced at Eri. It seemed she'd spotted them before he had, but she wasn't saying anything. Was she scared?

These guys definitely didn't look like they were merely out here for a stroll. They carried a dark aura, one that might be associated with neighborhood trouble-makers, possibly felons.

"We're not doing much of anything," Raven replied honestly, looking up and down the man that had spoken. He was clearly a bad guy—Raven could tell just by the way he was looking at him.

Then the man looked to Eri, and Raven felt a surge of anger rise in him. The way he was looking at her...it was entirely wrong. Raven could almost feel the man's terrible intentions. Someone like that...deserved horrible punishment.

"We're just swinging," Eri said firmly, trying to back up Raven. "Is there a problem?"

The apparent ringleader of the group smirked, his dark eyes lingering on Eri before they turned to Raven. "Why yes, beautiful, there is a problem. See, my boys and I, we occupy this place once the sun goes down. It's a pitiful place to chill, but it's what land we got against the other groups in the area. We've claimed it, and we'd appreciate it if you two would leave. Now."

"You can't claim a playground," Raven reasoned. "Besides, your 'boys' there look half lit anyway, so what need do you have to be out here?"

Eri's blue eyes snapped to him, wide with concern. She clearly didn't think it was a good idea to push these guys. But...he'd done so. And he couldn't take it back, now. Eri had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Well, well," the ringleader said, crossing his arms. "Did ya hear that, guys? This little punk thinks we outta be the ones to leave. This is our turf, bud." He took a few steps forward and leaned down menacingly close to Raven's face. "And ain't no one gonna tell us when to leave our own turf."

Eri quickly stood and stepped between the man and Raven, her arms out to either side as if she were shielding him from their wrath. "Please don't. We aren't here to cause trouble. We'll leave, okay?"

She turned to Raven, urging him with her eyes. "C'mon Raven, let's go home, okay?"

Raven was glaring up at the man who had threatened him. If Eri wasn't in front of him, he would've already stuck it to the guy. But now she was pleading with him, and for her safety he agreed.

Slowly he stood up, guiding Eri with a hand on her back, moving away from the men. The two began their exit, side by side, but then Eri was pulled backwards. Raven turned, seeing that one of the men had a vice-like grip on her upper arm. Her eyes were wide with surprise, and then her expression quickly turned fearful.

"We'll be keeping her," the ringleader said with a sick smile. "Don't worry, we'll give her back...when we're done. Now get on outta here, kid."

Eri didn't take her eyes off Raven. She was afraid now, so clearly afraid, and yet she spoke to him with a forgiving smile. "Run," Eri said. "It's okay. I just...don't want you to get hurt. I'll be fine, okay?"

Raven's heart split in two when she said this. How could he even consider leaving her? He wouldn't leave her behind for the amusement of these guys. He wouldn't let them use her as some kind of twisted play thing. No, she didn't deserve that. She deserved to be cared for and protected. It was only fitting that he be the one to do it, because he was always told that it was right to protect the ones you love.

The ones you love.

He realized in that moment that maybe he really did love this girl—not just as a friend like with Mitsumi, but as a woman. And with that fact resounding in his mind, his chest burned with a bright flame of anger. "Run? Leave you?" he repeated, and formed his hands into fists at his sides. "The hell I would!"

He launched forward at the men, aiming first for the man holding Eri hostage. Eri was released as the man took a punishing blow to the jaw. She stumbled backward and heard something in the man's skull crack with a sickeningly loud sound.

She watched Raven fight, too scared to move, too shaken to step in and help. He wasn't just fighting for the sake of fighting, he wasn't just fighting out of anger, as he did in school. No, he was fighting for her, to protect her, to save her.

Watching him like this—punching, kicking, growling in anger, his eyes full of anger and determination—despite the danger, despite the injuries Raven was sustaining to protect her, it instilled in her a feeling of joy. She was still downright scared—scared for his safety as well as her own—and yet there was that growing joy inside her. This man cared enough about her to put his life on the line for her. And despite the fact they were only friends, albeit close friends, she realized something, then.

She loved him.







"How is he?" Mitsumi asked, looking panicked as she spoke to the doctor. She was the first to arrive after Eri had brought Raven to the hospital.

"He was brought in with a broken rib and a heavy amount of internal bleeding. He's in surgery now, and I'm fairly certain he'll pull through. But his injuries were severe...he must've fought tooth and nail to protect that girl," the doctor said. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "The one that brought him in, Eri, she said her name was, is waiting in room 112C. You can wait there with her, if you like. We'll let you know when he's out of surgery."

Mitsumi nodded. "All right," she said, her voice laced with apprehension. She was then escorted by a nurse to where Eri was.

The blond was sitting in a chair beside the window of the waiting room. There were other seats, but most of them were empty for the time being. When Eri noticed Mitsumi walk in, she went to her immediately, tears in her eyes.

"It's my fault," she said sadly. "I suggested that he and I could go for a walk. If I hadn't said that, we wouldn't have ended up at the playground, and those guys wouldn't have--"

"Hey," Mitsumi said firmly, placing her hands on the woman's shoulders, locking eyes with her. "It wasn't your fault. It wasn't. Do you understand me?"

Eri hesitated. Then, finally, she nodded. "Yeah," she said quietly. "But he's in surgery. Mitsumi. He's in there...because he fought for me."

"He'd fight for you no matter who his opponent was," Mitsumi said with a smile. "Trust me. An elephant could've tried to take you away and he still would've fought that thing with all he had."

Eri laughed a little at her words. "R-Really?"

The brunette nodded. "Yes. Now, please, sit down. We should stay calm. The doctor said he'd recover. Just trust the surgeon to do his job."

Eri bit her lip out of nervousness, but she followed Mitsumi to the seats along the wall and sat down beside her.

"How can I make it up to him?" Eri asked, wiping away her tears. "I mean...he fought for me, but he got so badly hurt, too..."

Mitsumi grinned and took the blond's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Be at his side when he wakes up," she said.

"Really? You think that would make him happy?"

"Oh yeah. And it wouldn't hurt if you wore that light blue dress."

"Why?"

"He really liked it on you," Mitsumi said, recalling the man's not-so-subtle looks during their lunchtime together.

Eri nodded and offered a smile. "Okay then, I will. Thanks, Mitsumi."

The other woman nodded. "Any time, Eri."











He must've died. When Raven opened his eyes, he saw a blurry, white room. A bright light above. An angel sitting beside his bed. An angel with blond hair, a blue dress. He reached out to touch the angel, and she turned to face him. She was radiant.

"Raven?" the angel said, concern lacing her voice. The spoken name, it jolted his mind from its haziness. He realized he was looking not at an angel, but at Eri. Well, she was an angel to him, but not a literal one. He was alive, not dead, in a hospital room, with Eri. He must've smiled at her, then, because she smiled back at him.

Her gentle expression, those beautiful eyes—they drew him in, made him feel warm and loved. She took his outstretched hand in both of her own, lowering his hand to the bed and just holding it. "How do you feel?" she asked.

Raven shook his head gently and looked about the room. "I feel like I got beat up," he said weakly.

"Those other guys looked ten times worse," Eri said. "You did quite a number on them."

Raven started to laugh but it hurt him too much and so he ended up wincing in pain. "Ah, you think so? Well, I'm happy to hear I didn't make that big of a fool of myself, then."

"You weren't a fool at all," Eri said, squeezing his hand. "You fought to protect me. And you succeeded. Those jerks...they went running with their tails between their legs."

"Ah, I vaguely remember that, now," Raven said, thinking back to the foggy few moments before he blacked out. He remember the last thing he saw before darkness overtook his vision. He'd seen Eri. Her tear-filled eyes, her sad smile. At the time, she was probably skeptical on whether or not he was going to wake up again after passing out. Reasonable, judging by how he was feeling now. He must've taken a decent couple blows to feel so horrible even after being worked on. He could feel the stitches in his sides.

"I'm so glad you're okay," Eri said. "I was...really worried. Recover quickly, okay?"

Raven smiled at her. "I'll certainly try." He paused, then said, "You know what would really help my recovery?"

"What?"

"My easel. I can take my mind off things while I'm painting. Would you have Mitsumi bring my painting supplies here?"

Eri stood up, a dutiful expression on her face. "I'll get them for you," she said. "Is that okay?"

"Well, I didn't want to make you go and fetch them after what you'd been through--"

"It's all right, really," Eri said, and grinned. "I'll be back." She took her leave of the room, and just as soon as she left, Mitsumi walked in.

"Hey there," she said, closing the door and then walking over to stand at his right side. "How're you?"

"Better, now," Raven said. "Eri...she... Did she carry me here?"

Mitsumi crossed her arms. "Kinda. She phoned for an ambulance on her cell, but while she was waiting for them to arrive she carried you out to the front of the school bordering the playground. So...quite a ways."

"She must've been scared," Raven said. "I feel guilty for worrying her so much..."

"You know how you can make it up to her?"

"How?"

"Paint her a picture."

"Of what?"

"Of Eri. Duh."

"I wasn't sure that'd be appropriate. She might think it's weird. I mean, we're just friends, and--"

"Psh. We both know you two have something between you," she said, seeing the man turn away to gaze out the window. Mitsumi smirked. "I think it's cute. And I bet she'd just love it if you painted her. She knows how much painting means to you."

"...Really?" he said, sounding skeptical. He turned back to her, unsure.

"Yeah really. I mean, if you want to date her, you'll totally seal the deal if you paint her. She'd love it."

"Well...she did say before that she wanted me to paint her someday. You think someday...is now?"

"You're over-analyzing this, Raven. Just paint her. Make her look beautiful and radiant."

"Like an angel."

"Exactly!"

Raven sighed, feeling tired. "Thanks, Mitsumi."

The brunette waved her hand. "Oh, don't thank me. I'm just glad you're okay." She smiled and leaned down to him, then planted a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Stay out of trouble for a while, you got that? Let your already broken bones heal before you go off and get more broken."

Raven smiled at her humor. "Yeah whatever."

"I'll come back to check on you every day until you're out, okay?"

"Mhm. Hey, how long do I have to stay here and recover, anyway?"

"I believe they said you'd be released in...seven days?"

"That long?" he said, sounding discontent. "Ugh. Fine."

"Hey, don't worry, Raven. You won't be alone, most of the time. Your parents also said they'd be stopping by every day to see you. They're actually on their way, now. And Eri will be here with you for much of your recovery."

"Isn't she leaving with you?"

"Nah. She wanted to watch over you," Mitsumi said, then added, "Oh, hey! Like an angel, as you said."

Raven smiled to himself. "Yeah."

"Anyway, I'll be outside. I wanted to talk to one of the nurses, so if there's anything you want from home just let me know."

"That's okay. I can just ask my parents for that kind of thing. But thanks, Mitsumi."

"You're welcome. I'll be around." She smiled and left the room, closing the door gently behind her.






"It's been three days," Eri reasoned, sitting in a chair beside the window of Raven's hospital room. "Can't I see it?"

She was referring to the painting that Raven had been working on for three days straight. He made time for sleep and the horrible hospital food, yes, but the rest of the time he devoted to painting. He'd kept the canvas solely facing him, not allowing anyone else—not even the doctor—to see it.

"Not yet," Raven said, glancing at his incomplete work.

"But you haven't worked on it all day," Eri said. "It seems like you only paint when I'm sleeping."

"I don't want you to see it," he explained. "Just be patient."

Eri sighed. "Fine." She picked up her book, one of the astronomy books that Mitsumi had given her, and continued reading.

Raven gave her a thoughtful glance before allowing himself to fall asleep, turning his face slightly toward the blond to feel the soothing coldness of the pillow before drifting off to sleep. He blamed the pain medication—it sent him right off only about half an hour after taking it.






Eri ended up falling asleep in her chair by the window, book in her lap. She'd fallen asleep sometime late in the afternoon. For some reason, the nurses hadn't decided to wake her.

She looked to Raven and saw he was painting once again. When he noticed that she'd awoken, he smiled at her, then went back to his work.

"What about now?" she asked.

"No, not yet," came his quiet reply. He was entirely focused on the strokes of his paintbrush, eyes glued to the canvas.

Eri looked to the clock on the wall. It was about 5 p.m. Visiting hours were extended on the weekend, so she let her eyes close. What little sleep she got in the hospital was very light. She preferred staying up and making sure that Raven didn't have need of anything—and that made deep sleep hard to get. Still, she didn't mind. Being able to stay with him during his recovery, seeing his mood improve, seeing his wounds heal up, it made her happy. Mitsumi and Raven's parents visited every day, but Eri was always the last to leave when visiting hours were over.

Before she knew it she had drifted off to sleep again. It was only when one of the nurses woke her that she had to leave. She waved to Raven and left. He looked up long enough to wave back, then set down his paintbrush.

The next day was similar. Eri arrived, bringing with her a basket of strawberries for Raven. She then took her place at the window and continued reading. The two didn't really speak much after the first few days. There was a mutual enjoyment between them in the silence. They enjoyed each other's company, and both individuals did what they wanted to do. Eri was reading, and so Raven didn't interrupt her by talking. Raven was painting, and so Eri didn't distract him by making small talk. He seemed the type to intensely focus on his work, just as she was the type to intensely focus on whatever book she was reading.

Sometimes, though, the two would exchange a smile, or a glance. The nurses sometimes commented on this, saying the current situation was a bit awkward, a bit too quiet.

But the parties concerned didn't think so at all.









On the seventh day of his hospital stay, Raven requested special permission to allow Eri to stay overnight. The nurse hesitantly obliged, and so Eri was allowed to sleep beyond the visitor cut-off time. She slept through the entire night, her half-open book still in her lap.

The day he was scheduled for release, Raven took his finished painting and placed it, still in the easel, in front of her sleeping form. Then he got back into bed. And waited.





Eri awoke at about 7 a.m. that morning. Her sky blue eyes fluttered open, and she was greeted with...a mirror? No, it wasn't--

"Oh my gosh," she breathed, looking at the painting before her. This was Raven's finished work, and it was absolutely stunning.

The painting was of her, but she wasn't awake. She was sleeping in the chair beside the window, her head propped up on one hand, barely balanced, and her book was half-open in her lap. From outside, the light of a half moon shined down and was casting a gentle glow on her tranquil expression. Her blond hair was highlighted brilliantly, her skin a smooth, light shade. Her lips were curved into a very subtle smile. She was wearing the blue dress she'd worn the first day he'd woken up and seen her.

She stared. It was the most beautiful painting she'd ever laid eyes on.

After a minute or two of just admiring the piece, she turned to see if Raven was asleep. She saw that he was. She figured that after being up late painting her while she herself was sleeping, he would reasonably be tired. She then wondered why one of the nurses hadn't woken her up to tell her the visiting hours were over...but that really didn't matter much to her. She assumed they'd forgotten and dismissed it.

Quietly she walked over to Raven, leaned down, and placed a sweet, gentle kiss on his cheek. Her eyes began to tear up again when she thought of how beautiful the painting was.

"Raven, I love it," she whispered, easing away from him. "And...," she took a deep breath, "I love you, too." She found it hard to say despite the fact Raven couldn't hear her. He was sleeping, but it was nonetheless a confession.

She smiled down at him, and then the next instant she almost screamed in surprise.

The sleeping form of Raven spoke. "I'm glad," he whispered. He then opened his eyes. "And good morning, Eri."

The woman jumped back at his sudden words and then smiled playfully. "You scared me! And...you heard that?" she asked, feeling embarrassed.

Raven nodded, then he lifted his hand and gestured for her to lean closer. Eri did so, wondering what it was he wanted.

"I love you," he said simply. He then turned away from her. His heart was pounding from those three little words, and he was sure that Eri would be able to hear it in his chest.

The woman's face lit up with joy, and her beaming smile told all. "Raven..."

She turned to look at the easel, then looked back at her friend. "Raven, you spent so much time on it...is there...anything I can do for you in return?"

Raven turned back to her and smirked. "Two things, actually."

"Yes?"

"You can accompany me to the movies this Wednesday, since the doctor says I should be supervised for the next week or so. I'll need a personal nurse."

Eri felt her face heat up at his request. "All right. Consider it done." She smiled and said, "What's the second condition?"

Raven again motioned for her to lean closer. She did so, and he took the opportunity to lean up and kiss her. Eri was surprised at first, but she leaned down further, taking the strain off him, and returned the gesture. When she eased away from him, their faces still very close—inches away—she heard him whisper, "Make me a batch of peanut butter cookies. But don't burn them this time."

Eri couldn't help but giggle. "Ah, yes. I'll do it."





And she did. Eri brought to Raven a large batch of two-dozen peanut butter cookies the next day. They shared them while sitting in his kitchen. Raven would later recall that they were the best cookies he'd ever eaten—perfect, in fact—as if an angel had descended and personally prepared them just for him.

Raven liked to think that that's exactly what happened.



~Fin~