I was signing the last batch of paperwork in my desk when I suddenly heard familiar series of knocking patterns outside my room's veranda. I drew out a gun with BB pellets in case it's another pervert who just happens to see my neighbor's undergarments hanged to dry and had been forgotten. Just in case, ne?

"What the heck!" I blurted out when the pellet hit a certain redhead who happens to be lockpicking the veranda's door. "Karma, the eff are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the hospital..." I examined him then faced back with a deadpanned look. "Or not."

The idiot scratched his head, sticking his tongue out while looking sheepish.

"You twat, what did you do now?"

He grinned, "Long story short, I was bored so I escaped that wretched prison. Nagi, let's go out!"

Why in the world is he smiling like he did nothing wrong? Still, he is Akabane Karma so it is really not that unexpected. In fact, I was surprised it took this long.

"First, hospitals are not prisons, Karma."

"They are to me!"

I raised my hand to make him stop for a while.

"Second, I just brought you a couple of games a week ago."

"I already finished! They were so easy!"

I shushed him, placing my index finger on his lips with a small smile on my face.

"Third, let's go. It's summer solstice," I said, grabbing two fur coats from the rack and my wallet before jumping off from the house after locking the door with Karma following after me. I do hope no one has better lockpicking skills than Karma.

~•~

"I actually forgot that the celebration was tonight!" So that was what I have been forgetting. I just noticed when I saw the line of booths downtown.

"Onee-chan, can you come with me for a second?" a small pink haired child tugged my sleeve and led me to a small stall.

"Is that your boyfriend? That redhead onii-chan on a matching coat?" I blushed but immediately shook my head.

"He is...someone special to me. Why?" I like how this girl thinks. She seems so mature at a young age.

"I can feel it. He's not going to be by your side for long, onee-chan. Which is why," she grinned sheepishly and brought out a set of glow-in-the-dark bracelets. "You must buy a pair of these! These are called 'Heartstrings XOXO'. If you feel extreme emotions inside your heart that you cannot express, the pair on the other side will light up, sending a message to the one who holds the other half."

This girl got me good. I guess I can try one. Just a remembrance.

"How much?"

Her eyes glinted with joy. "1000 yen."

I can see my savings wave goodbye.

~•~

"Nagi, remember the promise I made with you ten years ago? We're doing it now."

He dragged me to a Marriage Booth (where the heck did this come from anyway?) and made negotiations with the facilitators which gained us instant witnesses.

'This guy,' I sweatdropped but didn't do anything to stop him. As long as it makes him happy...

~•~

In an instant, I was dressed in a white strapless wedding gown, my hair tugged out of its usual twin tails. They made me wear a pair of satin gloves(?) and four-inch heels because they said it suited me.

"Wow, Shiota-san! Now we could all agree that she and Akabane-san are a perfect match, ne?"

"Aye, Nakamura-san!"

The blonde just flipped her hair and dragged me away from the dressing room.

I really got no say in this, do I?

"Yo, Nagi." I turned around and saw Karma with a white tuxedo and a gold necktie. "Soon, you'll be Mrs. Akabane."

I rolled my eyes heavenward. "You do know this is just a booth, right?"

He stuck his tongue out childishly which made me scratch my nape at his out of character mannerisms. "Whatever."

Our moment stopped when we heard panicking voices behind us. "Where are the rings?! I thought I told you to watch them Maehara?!"

"Apologies, Okano. It's just that, the ladies called for me-ouch!"

"Idiot!"

I suddenly remembered the bracelets I bought from the little girl earlier. Who knew they could be of help?

"Uh, guys? Can these be counted?"

It looks like my one thousand yen was not at waste afterall.

"I, Shiota Nagisa, take Akabane Karma as my beloved husband, to be with him in all my days, to have and to hold, to cherish him forever in my heart, until death do us part. This, I lift my hands to God Almighty."

I placed the bracelet around his hand and kissed it, my heart rapidly racing.

Was that girl right? Do I really love him?

"I, Akabane Karma, take Shiota Nagisa as my beloved wife, to offer her all my remaining time on Earth, to cherish her forever with my heart whole, broken, or missing, to have and to hold, in sickness and in sickness, in darkness and through light. Until death do we never part. This, I thank my God for giving me a chance to say farewell."

What?

I felt a tear fall from my eye as I watched him kiss my hand, wondering why I felt so sad hearing his vow. As if he was saying farewell.

"I love you, Nagisa. My beloved wife."

Karma? Why are you crying?

"This is the end."

Why are you fading away? Why are you leaving me?

The lights blacked out for several seconds, then switched on. But my heart seemed heavier. Why?

"Karma? Where are you? Why did you go back without me?" My sobs grew louder but I did not stop searching for him.

I ran out the booth, my hand holding the bracelet firmly.

"Karma, you still promised me your remaining time, right?! You promised me!"

I found myself at the stall the pink haired girl dragged me earlier, but it was not there anymore.

"Karma, please come back... I still haven't answered back..."

I saw the bracelet light up, which made me cry louder. He really left me...

"I still haven't said I love you too."

'It's time to say goodbye.'

So that song was the sign I was waiting for.

The End.