***Shiemi's POV***

I was worried. Worried for Ayana-chan.

Her injuries were bad. Yuki-chan and I... Even Shura-San, did our best to help her. But holy water is a terrible thing when it touches a demon. We all tried our best, however. I just hope it was enough to help Ayana-chan.

It had been two weeks now. Two weeks since the incident at mount Hikaru. The exorcists stayed at the resort for an extra four days to make sure everything was back to the way it was. And to see if the Ryokō demon was still around. He wasn't. Rin was unconscious for only two days. Then he woke up and we told him everything. He was fully healed now and I knew he was definitely worried about Ayana-chan. Two weeks. She was still unconscious in her room. Yuki-chan had to bring many supplies in there as well. It kind of looked like a hospital room now. We had to make sure that Ayana-chan's health remained good as well. Now all we could do was wait.

Wait until she woke up.

But when was that going to happen?

No one knew.

***Rin's POV***

I dragged myself to class. I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay at the dorm. With Ayana... I wanted her to just wake up already. I wanted to see those mesmerizing purple eyes again. It's just been too long. I've been only seeing her in that same spot. The same bed. The same position. I wanted to hear her voice again. These past two weeks have been miserable. I was just too worried. Ayana hadn't even been an exorcist in training for more than two weeks and this already happened. This was just terrible luck. Terrible timing. But... she saved us on that mission. Her first exorcist mission. She saved us all.

Ayana really deserves a medal.

As I was walking, everything just seemed like a blur to me. I didn't even realize that Shiemi was walking next to me. Watching me with a worried expression. Shiemi has been a huge help these past two weeks though. She's been coming by everyday to make sure Ayana was alright. When Yukio nor I could be there, she and Kina would stay with her. I'm really grateful to Shiemi... I really am.

Everyone else like Bon, Shima and Konekomaru would come visit her as well. Even Izumo. They would come maybe every other day. It was really nice of them. Even though they might not know Ayana as well as they'd hoped, they still came.

After some time, Shiemi and I finally got to cram school and our long day of lessons began.

***

Last period finally ended. And I right away raced back to my dorm. Leaving Yukio to do what ever he needed to do before he went back as well.

When I got there, I ran up the flight of stairs to Ayana's room. I then opened the door slowly and peaked my head through the room. Like always, I had my hopes up. But like always, they deflated. Same position. Same everything. Still unconscious.

I walked into the silent room as I could only hear the taps of my feet as I walked towards her. And the soft sound of her breathing.

I sat at the edge of her bed and watched her as it looked as though she was asleep. Which she was. She wasn't dead thankfully. Yet her hand was still cold as I placed my palm over the back of her bandaged hand. I stayed like that for quite some time. Just staring at our hands as I drew circles on the back of her hand with my thumb...

I missed her.

She was right here... But I missed her.

I blinked as I heard soft shuffling. My heartbeat increased. I looked up, but once again, I was disheartened.

Kina in her cat form and Kuro slept on the other side of the bed beside Ayana's form. They were both shuffling around and slowly awoken. They both groggily looked around, until their big eyes landed on me. I gave them a soft smile.

"Hey Rin." Kina's voice echoed.

"Hey," I replied, "have you two been here all day?"

"Yeah. Nothing really happened though." Kuro now muttered. Then I said,

"You two must be hungry... I have some food in the fridge if you want?"

Their moods seemed to brighten at the sound of food. Kina's voice then echoed,

"Thanks Rin" at that, they hopped off the bed and scurried towards the kitchen.

I knew Kina was just as worried as I was. She practically admitted it the night I woke up after the mission. She's been glued to Ayana's side ever since then as well. The only time she would leave her, was when she needed to eat and stuff like that. I wouldn't blame her though. I was basically doing the same thing.

My gaze went back to Ayana's face. My grip on her hand was still there. So I then lifted her hand as I shifted myself closer to her, so I could rest her hand over my lap. Both my hands held that hand. That soft cold hand that was gradually warming up to my touch.

I sat in that silence for a while. Listening to her breathing. Then I finally looked at Ayana's face again.

I brought my hand to her face to move a strand of misplaced hair.

"Hey Ayana." I whispered as my hand hovered over her black hair for a moment before coming back to my lap, "I really don't know if you can hear me. But I really hope you can. Or I'd just be talking to myself." I chuckled and continued, "y'know everyone's really worried about you. They still keep asking if you woke up yet, like I'm not going to tell them when you do. I'm pretty sure even Takara's concerned! I don't really have much proof for that though."

Ayana remained still. Like she's always been. Sleeping soundly. It then came back to me again.

I missed her.

I missed her so much.

"And you know, Ayana..." I started, "There still hasn't been enough time when we've been able to just... Hang out... So much happened these past few weeks... Months... Yet I still want more time... With you... I don't want things to end now... We just came together. After seven whole years. I wanted to make up those seven years." I looked at Ayana as if she just might reply to me. But of course she didn't. I sighed,"please Ayana..." I lifted her hand to my face as I pressed my forehead against her knuckles and nuzzled against it, "please wake up..."

***

Another week has passed. It's been a month...

Ayana seemed to be getting better. Her skin wasn't as pale as it was at first. Her burns were practically gone. But the only thing that got me down was that there was no sign of her waking up. And... She had a scar...

This one spot. A spot that should normally just heal over; but it didn't. On the left side of her neck, there was a scar that went horizontal at the side of her neck. Kina kept telling me it wasn't my fault. But I still couldn't help but think that. She's been out cold for a whole month. What am I supposed to think?

"Rin, you're being stupid." Kina would say, "would Ayana want you to think like this?"

"...No"

"Exactly."

She still blamed herself too though. I could tell. She would try to hide it. But really anyone could tell how she was feeling.

I had no clue what to do. I was aimless. I didn't even feel like I existed. My time in school was mostly spent staring blankly out the window. Wandering around the school grounds as well when I wasn't in class. And checking up on Ayana to see if there was even hope of her waking up...

There was nothing.

Until one night.

I was in my room. Attempting to do homework as Yukio was marking tests at the desk beside me. It was almost six when we heard a knock on the door and saw Shiemi.

"I'm going to start heading back home now."

"Alright, no prob. Thanks for coming Shiemi." I smiled, and she smiled back in response.

"I'll walk you." Yukio offered.

"Oh no, it's alright Yuki-chan! I'll be fine!"

"It's alright, I insist"

"O-okay..."

At that they both left, as I turned to look back at the blank paper in front of me. I growled in frustration as I got up from my seat and collapsed onto the bed. Hearing it creak against my body.

I let out a sigh as I stared at the ceiling above me. I let my mind wander until my eyes felt droopy and I fell asleep.

***

My eyes slowly opened as I was hearing sounds coming from the hallway.

Tap tap tap

Was it Yukio? Did Shiemi forget something here?... Alright... My eyes slowly closed again as I tried to fall asleep again.

The sounds of footsteps then faded. It was kind of odd though... Hearing from where it went; I didn't hear them walk past the door. They needed to go past the door, coming from the entrance. But I only heard those footsteps coming from the complete opposite.... Direction... Wait...

My eyes shot open. I jerked my body up and sprinted out the door and looked left, down the hall. It was empty and dark, but I didn't bother about that. I ran down the hall and opened the door to Ayana's room. And my heartbeat increased drastically as I looked at her bed.

It was empty.

I turned around and kept running down the hallway. My breathing increased more and more along with my pounding chest. Was this real? Was this really happening? Where was she?

As I was running, I realized that there was only one place she could go here.

My running sped up as I made my way to the roof.

When I got there, I shoved the door open and then... I saw her.

She was standing with her back facing me. Barefooted as she was watching the night sky. Wearing a thin, white shirt with black shorts. Her long, black hair trailed down her back as it blew in the wind.

Ayana.

It was really her. She was finally awake. Right here.

I was panting as I was still standing by the door.

"... Ayana!" I yelled between pants.

Hearing her name, she turned her head around to look at me. And my blue eyes locked onto her purple ones. God I missed those eyes.

A smile grew on my face, "Ayana! It's really you!" I ran towards her to tackle her into a hug.

But as I was running towards her. I noticed that she seemed really shocked for some reason... Confused... Nervous...

She started backing away from me. And I stopped abruptly. Realizing that she was backing towards the end of the building. My eyes widened as I put my hand in front of me and yelled,

"Ayana, wai-"

But before I even knew it, her foot stepped off the building, and she was falling.

"Ayana!" I ran to her without even thinking.

And jumped as well.

We were both falling now. She looked up at me for a moment, then down towards the ground. I was surprised when I saw her curl into a ball and started spinning in circles, then stretched out as she swiftly landed on the ground.

I was also not surprised at the same time.

Now I was left free falling on my own. I then crashed into the ground, however, the impact wasn't as hard as I expected. Thank god.

I then pushed my body up and to my left, I saw Ayana watching me. All her bandages were gone now. So I could clearly see the scar on her neck and the light burn around her left wrist. Yet I didn't expect her expression to be like that.

She was afraid.

Afraid of what though?

Me? Did me being possessed really scare her that much?

I then wearily stood up as I said with caution, "Ayana?" She took a step back, "Ayana, it's alright. It's me."

Before I could say anything else though, she turned around and sprinted the opposite direction.

"Wait!" I pleaded as I chased after her.

She ran. I ran. I was confused. She was afraid. What did I do while I was possessed that scared her this much?

She ended up running into the nearby forest as I ran after her. We seem to always end up here, don't we?

We continued running. Just when I thought I caught up, she jumped and and disappeared into the trees. How the heck did she do that?! She was barefoot too!

I stopped and looked up around the trees trying to find any signs of movement. There was nothing.

I sighed and got my phone out of my pocket. I called Yukio's number. The phone rang twice and then he answered,

"Hello?" Yukio said,

"... Ayana woke up." I stated.

"What?! Really?! How is she?"

"Well uhh... I kinda... Lost her."

"... Lost her? What do you mean?"

"She ran off into the forest. I'm there right now. I'm trying to find her..."

"I see..." There was silence for a moment until Yukio continued, "alright Rin. You keep looking. I'll come as well. I'll call you if I find her. Call me if you do too."

"Alright."

"Okay, bye"

"Bye."

I ended the call and walked ahead, deeper into the woods. Hoping to find the girl I've missed so much.

A/N:
Hey people! Thanks for waiting! I'm hoping to update a bit sooner for the next chapter hopefully. Life is just so busy -.- I don't like it. I'll try my best anyway!😊
So, Liking the story? Please Vote, Comment and See you soon! ^.^