Silver Wish

New York - 1:00pm

Getting a flight here undiscovered was not easy at all. But somehow Nobuhiko managed it, even though he is the one who stood out the most. Kiryu sent a message to Huan-san who contacted him beforehand that they would meet them there instead of the makeshift airport. It seemed like however that they were the first ones to arrive.

How can they say Haruka disappeared here?

Kiryu bent down to peer at the edge of the cliff. But he could not see any signs. People who saw them come this way said there was a car. However, he could see no tire marks so it made no sense. If it was a car accident like before then part of the clift would not be here anymore.

"Lila-chan." Kotori said.

"I...I can't.."

Kiryu immediately rushed over to her and took her from Kotori. "Lila." Kiryu said gently. "He isn't dead. I will find him for you."

But even as Kiryu said these words he is not sure. He can't be dead, but where else other than the ocean could he go from here? The only other thing he can think of is they parked the car elsewhere and then both of them jumped of-- Kiryu shook his head. Haruka has no reason to be all suicidal before. In the past yes but now? Now that he has Lila, Kiryu knew that Haruka would no longer do anything to endanger his life.

Kiryu gently kissed her forehead. "Ssh, Lila."

"Haruka." She sobbed.

"Haruka.. I was so stupid, why did I fight with him? Now--now I will never see him again."

Lila thinks Haruka is dead. The answer is clear in front of him. But it can't be true. Haruka won't leave Lila alone. His gaze flickered towards the ocean. If he is alive, please show some kind of sign.

.........…

"What do you think Nobu?"

Nobu shrugged. "I need some paper and equipment. Think you can sneak me inside a lab ringo?"

Kiryu sighed deeply. "Well, I guess I can." His gaze fell on Lila who was in his arms. She was sleeping tightly but bȧrėly. He had no choice but to knock her out. On the plane here she was silent, she did not say a word - but she had no emotion on her face.

So when she broke down and cried like that just now he did not know what to do.

"By the way, I will say this for future references. But maybe you need to lay low on the kissing thing for now anyway."

He looked away at that comment. "I didn't intend anything. I was just trying to calm her down."

"The forehead kiss yeah but the one later?"

He thought nobody was watching but it turns out somebody was. That was the first time he kissed Lila and saw such a dead look in her eyes. "I have this under control."

"Sure whatever you say." Nobuhiko picked up the photographs. "I will look at these again. But we already went personally, what do you think I will find?"

"There are some things only lenses could capture."

"Now that is cool." With those words said Nobuhiko quickly left the room.

He cradled the girl in his arms and kept kissing her forehead and then her lips. He wasn't taking advantage of her or anything. But in the past whenever she was scared or anxious about something he would do this to her.

It's not like the walls could talk.

Kiryu understood this was not the time. However, he felt conflicted right now. They obviously have to find Haruka but maybe this is good for her. Lately, Haruka has caused Lila a lot of distress.

He frantically shook his head. What on earth is he thinking right now? So what if that was the case. They don't know if Haruka is dead or alive, that should be his first priority.

His thoughts broke off when Lila stirred awake.

"Hey, did you sleep well?"

Lila seemed puzzled for a few moments before he felt her lips on his.

His eyes widened shocked at the sudden contact and he pulled away. "You--what are you doing?" Did Lila just kiss him? Why did she do that?

He has kissed her a lot since he saw her again. But not once did Lila kiss him back. So what on earth is she trying to do now?

"My Kiryu, uh where are we?"

My Kiryu?

Kiryu placed his hand on her forehead and noticed that her entire face was hot. She has a fever. But even then something seems weird here. It genuinely seems like she -- "Lila, what date is it today?"

"March 10th."

March?

"The year?" Kiryu probed.

"2035."

When he heard his answer his gaze darkened. It seems like she forgot. He thought she was behaving strangely on the way to New York. But Kiryu thought she was just saving her thoughts until they confirmed everything. Her breaking down and crying like that was normal. It is not like she hit her head or fell when she broke down, so what could have triggered this?

He looked over and noticed Lila looking at him curiously. "Your hair and eyes." She mumbled. Lila wrapped her arms around his neck. "What is wrong Kiryu? Are you upset about something?"

His eyes widened and he felt something prick at his ċhėst. How much time has passed since Lila last spoke to him like this? How much time has passed since held him this way of her own free will and no guilty feelings? So much time, so much wasted time.

In the past, he often transformed into his hanyou state when the situation became worse for him. During those times Lila would comfort him like this.

"It's nothing, would you like something to eat?"

Her eyes lit up. "I want your cooking."

"Alright, stay put her--" Kiryu trailed off when she clung to his arm. "Come with me?"

"Okay!"

Such childish innocence. He has not seen Lila like this in a long time so he felt overwhelmed with everything. His gaze fell on the girl clutching his arm. Right now he wondered what was going on in her head. Did she forget about what happened this past year completely? Then he would have to explain the current situation about people getting infected.

As he thought this Lila suddenly sighed. "My body is too weak to train right now. I hope my skills do not get rusty."

At this he raised his eyebrow. So that confirms his questions. But how is that possible? She only has selective memory loss then? Only the ones that relate to Haruka? If it is like that then maybe it is deliberate. When something traumatic happens people chose to forget.

This is what happened before too. Those previous two accidents with Haruka, Lila ended up forgetting everything. The first time around the doctors ȧssumed it was because she hit her head.

Back then it was not deliberate or maybe it was?