Chapter 60: The Fighting is Done

"You still don't have the will to live?" Light asked Erika as she was contemplating and relaxing with the sound of the serene lullaby that was being sung by the wind and trees and grasses that surrounded the both of them.

"I never had the will to live." She replied but she did not look at him. "I told you that I don't need saving." Erika bit her lip- it was her mannerism that she can't help every time she lies. She knew it herself that she needed saving- but after knowing about the discoloration of his necklace and what would happen to him once his mission is over, she doesn't want to add up to the reasons for him to be forgotten by everyone.

"I wonder what I could do for you to in return for cheering me up." Light said and thought of things that she can possibly like. "Want ice cream?"

"No. sweets are a no-no for me."

"How about chips?"

"I don't want to be fat."

"What do you want then?"

"Nothing. Just… I need rest." Erika said and leaned on the grass and closed her eyes as she sunk deep into the comfort of the sound of wind and leaves.

"Rest then." Light said and looked at his necklace. The image of Erika was no longer there, and the clock was ticking again. It was just 3:00 pm, 2 more hours and it would be the dismissal of students at their school. He saw the moon through his peripheral vision, and he looked at it thoroughly. He remembered every single day of his stay in the world that was made more beautiful because of Joy's presence beside him. He realized that he never was alone because Joy was walking with him in that path and she lit up the way and because of her, he wasn't lost at all, nor he feels like that. Light looked at his necklace and wondered why Erika's image was gone even if he did not save him. He looked at her and realized that she looked more relaxed and peaceful as she laid down the grass.

'You… have you decided to live?' Light thought. 'Or did you save yourself because you wanted me to live longer?'

Erika was asleep and she moved- and Light saw a full image of her face. She was smiling- maybe having a good dream. Light cheered up.

"I didn't know that one voice can make a person smile genuinely after so many days of sadness. Your voice helped me so well." Light told her as she slept but drowsiness was also creeping onto him.

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The sun was already beginning to set when Light woke up, and Erika was still sleeping meters away from him. He looked at his necklace and saw that it was already 4:30 pm and he needed to go back to his house so Joy won't figure out what he did because he promised her to not to take on missions alone anymore. He looked back at Erika for the last time and smiled. He took a sharp rock and carved at the tree and left.

Erika was already awake then and she watched him as he left. When he was out of sight, he approached the tree and read what he wrote.

"Light was here" she chuckled and faced the sky. "Fate really is funny." Erika said and started dispersing and fading away like ashes. "Light, you really are stupid for not noticing, that I was already dead."

She reached for the stone he used to carve his name on the tree and she carved her name too. "Erika was here as well." She drew a circle necklace with a heart on the center near Light's name and she let go of the stone as her arms started to feel numb. She looked at the both of her arms and watched them as they turned to grey ashes and the strong wind carried them upwards.

"The pieces of me are going up." Erika said and watched as her ashes went upward. "How beautiful."

Tears started to stream her cheeks- but it wasn't the cry of resentment or sadness. She was crying because she was happy for finally being able to rest, for finally being able to be reunited with her beloved grandmother again. She can see her. She can see the vivid beautiful smile of her grandmother as she was being welcomed to where she was.

"The days of your fighting is gone dear." Her grandmother said as she embraced her. "Good job. Good job my love. Let us now rest. You did well."

Erika was on a comma for many years and was fighting the cancer on her brain she was born with and that day was the end because she stopped fighting.

"Your hands are beautiful without those cords. Come now my child." Her grandmother said as the both of them turned into butterflies and flew upwards, away from the world.

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"Where are you from?" Mari asked Light as he saw her on the hallway. Joy wasn't at home yet so he went back at school. "Joy is on the gymnasium, waiting for the match. Let's go there."

"Hey! Light you show-off! Come here! Have you forgotten about our match today?" Nick shouted as they were preparing for the match. Light had forgotten that they had a match today and he was supposed to play. However, he did not know that the match would be volleyball because Nick was the captain of the Soccer team.

"I don't know if I'll be able to play good. I haven't even practiced. And Nathan why are you there?" Light asked.

"I am the ace of the team. I wing spiker. You go here." Nathan said. Mari pushed Light and he was forced to enter the gym. "We are up against my former school. You have been absent for a month, so you missed many things like our school festival. Your uniform has been prepared for you so go change." Now it was Nathan who pushed him. He saw the black uniform with white linings- but Nathan and Nick prepared something to cover the cuts he has on the both of his arms. He looked at the both of them, but they punched him lightly on his shoulders. "You'd play middle blocker since you are tall. You know how to play right? You did well on our PE class before."

"I.. know.." Light said coldly but he can't hide his smile as the whole gymnasium cheered for them.

"The game is starting. Go now."