《Living in His Dreams (Ongoing)》 Prologue Where? Where is it? My picture. I left it in my bag. "Hurry up, sweetie, we''re going now!" "Coming!" "What''s the matter, Amaris?" "It''s not much, I just lost my picture." She looked up and smiled at her, "you can always take another, mom!" "That''s right, now hurry along, we''ve got to catch a taxi to the airport, we''re late," her mom laughed, ruffling her hair. "Oh, mom, I wish I could stay here forever. When I stay in another country, it feels like a dream that I don''t want to wake up from." "You still have to go to school." "I know, I know, I was just saying." "But, of course, next time we''ll come again. To your favorite country." "You''re the best, mom!" **** Going to school everyday is so... I want to go back to a dream. But I can''t find any inspiration. I guess it''s not possible. One more day. Just one more or I''ll dream about myself. "Hurry, dear," came a woman''s voice from the background. "The luggage got stuck," another voice sounded. I want to play with a person''s heart for this dream. But nothing comes along. Shall I make a boy fall in love with a flower?The thoughts ran through his head and he found himself laughing to the ground.A picture would be the best. To help me remember the face to dream of. But picking a flower would be good enough. In the background, the door of a certain taxi shut and drove off. What''s this? A picture? Just when I was about to dispare.The boy picked it off the floor. It''s a pretty girl, just what I was looking for. Is this Fate? I''ll play Cupid for a while. Just a while. **** The taxi stopped at a traffic light close by. As was customary, Amaris took one last look back. Is that...mine?The light turned from red to green and her eyes widened in shock.Wait...I need to get it back. I can''t let my picture fall into the hands of a stranger boy.The taxi took a turn and the boy''s back, then his face, then the picture finally disappeared behind the hotel building. **** This is going to be fun. I''ll hook her up with a friend. I think they''ll go just ever so nicely together.... Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. **** Amaris stared at the blue sky. Somehow, she didn''t remember falling asleep in the open; she can''t, not usually.The sky is so pretty, I''ll just stay on the ground and admire it for a while longer... Her hands twitched a little and she found herself standing. What''s this? I wanted to stay on the ground. Her eyes scanned the surroundings so quickly that she can barely process more than that she''sin a valley. How? How did I get here? Why...isn''t my body responding to how I''m thinking? Her controlled body began running, and with purpose too, as if it knows where to go when her head didn''t. She scaled the low mountain. Even though the rocks cut her, she didn''t stop to tend to them like she usually would have. Who am I? What am I? Where am I? I have to find out! Stop! You can''t just run anywhere! But the body continued its run. Why? What happened to me? Without warning, she came to a stop. Her heart beat faster. I can''t tell if it''s because I''m scared or because of the run. But..but who am I? She looked up into a boy''s face. He was clothed fully in armor and he wore a mask. What in the world?! That shocked me. "Come on, princess! Your toilet break took long enough." Wha-! To say such a thing to a lady! A princess, he says! Hmph. He shouldn''t dare say such a thing to a princess! However, contrary to her thoughts, she heard herself giggle. "Did I take that long? I beg your pardon." You got it all wrong! Why are you behaving like that in front of this guy?! "Let''s go, then. We''ll ride back." "Sure." Are you serious?! You''re scared of all animals except rabbits and you''d dare touch a smelly horse?! The masked man helped her up and got up after her. He''s too close...Way too close...I''m extremely nervous around guys. Wait...is he a kid or a man? "What was your name again?" "My name is Polla." Finally, you have some sense not to tell a total stranger your real name. "I''ll remember it. Po-lla," he whispered into her ear. Breathing animals! This guy is scaring me out of my brain! "You''ve forgotten mine already? I still remember yours," the controlled body, or Polla, said, totally composed. "Oh you do?" "It''s Romerus." Romerus! I shall remember your face! I shall come back to collect a debt you have to repay! "Your''e good at remembering names, I should think." "Of course!" How?! Why am I saying all this? "All I can remember is your ugly face." "Hey, that''s so mean!" Polla whined, trying to slap him. Stop it! Idiot! You''l fall! He''s going to catch you and then you''ll be in trouble! "Woops!" Romerus caught her. "Don''t play to rough on the horse." I can''t believe I experienced that...I already warned this body that won''t respond to anything I''m thinking! Romerus tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and Polla felt a blush creep upon her face. What in the world?! Are you blushing!? This is so totally not me. I would have slapped him! A few minutes later found them riding off across a meadow. The breeze was blowing just lightly. The perfect romantic pace. The flowers had bloomed a carpet below the horses'' hooves. Everything was so....so programmed...so prearranged... Did I...by any chance....become an actor?! To This Crazy World Who''s this kid I''m holding?! Why''s there a mask on my face? I hate masks. They send steam all over my face and it''s too hot. Romerus was holding her waist, in the most romantic way too. The horse they were riding had been sent to a gallop. Her golden brown hair flew with the wind; he was surprised it didn''t whip at his face. Well, I have to admit, wherever I am, whatever I''m doing, it''s quite something. Soon, the horse came to a stop. They got off and went for a stroll. She was holding his hand, a pretty smile spread on her face as she looked up at him with those big brown eyes. I''m stuck in the middle of a flower field. OH! The stench! I hate flowers. Polla let go of his hand and started running, backwards at first, she smiled playfully andwith those perfect slender fingers, she beckoned to him. Romerus let out a sigh and smiled at the ground. Her face was shining too much. Hurry! Why are you staring at the ground? She''s calling you. Time slowed. Somehow, butterflies appeared on the scene. Be it in his stomach, her stomach, or the meadow, they just suddenly seemed to have burst from their cages. It was too programmed.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Somehow...I find myself... Is this love at first sight? It''s probably just a dream. Who cares. I''ll fall...nothing will happen because it''s all just a dream. Still...I can''t help but wish this dream would never end. There, in the middle of a flower field, when he was running to her, and the butterflies were fluttering everywhere, he decided that he really liked her. But when he caught her, and the sun began to set, making her face glow even more, he decided that he didn''t just like her. He loved this girl in this fantasy. To this crazy world, I love you. To this fantasy, I love you too. But... to this wonderful girl, I love you the most. So, don''t stop, don''t ever wake me up. I don''t care if I never wake again. As long as I have her with me. They laughed, played, teased. They did all the most fun, romantic things. It''s definitely a dream. It''s sad, because that means I''ll wake up. Even when the sun has set, she''s there, lying on his lap, playing with a butterfly. This cute girl...has stolen my heart. Too bad she''s in a dream. I''ll never see her in reality. I''ll never love her like I can. So to this fantasy, this magical world....I beg you never to stop. The moon rises and casts her lovely beams upon the couple. They''re not sleeping...they''re talking...about funny things, sad times, happy moments. It was too programmed, but it was programmed to make them fall in love. So to this crazy world, I''ll do anything...to stay for one more day, one more year, or....eternity. I''m so senseless...falling in love in a fantasy...I know, but even then...to this crazy world...I''ll beg. Figured Somehow, I feel like I''ve fallen asleep, but I''m not dreaming, and I''m still thinking. Why is that? (Amaris) They had somehow come across a tree and there they were now. He was propped up against the tree, his mask still on. She was lying on one of his thighs, fast asleep. But, not really, her eyes were closed, but scenes from the day were playing in her mind, her thoughts running along with them. If I''m an actor, I must have suddenly become super professional to even ignore my own thoughts, so that means I''m not acting. But...Where...am I? It seems as if I''ve gone back in time. His clothes are not those we wear nowadays, but it doesn''t seem like it''s his style. He''s kind of tall, and...hot...wait...I''m not acting. Who sleeps while acting? I''m being bewitched! That''s it! Someone likes me and is trying to bewitch me! I can''t fall for it. Wake up, Wake up! (Amaris) If only I could wake up. I''m not tired, I''ll never be. She''s my source of energy. I want to see what she looks like when she''s asleep. (Romerus) It could almost seem like the boy who was dreaming could read their thoughts though he really couldn''t.... Romerus awoke. The moon was shining on her face, and he couldn''t help but feel awed by her beauty. As the cool night breeze blew softly at her, a smile formed at the tip of those pretty lips. She''s so pretty, curled up like that, asleep....no...She''s so pretty, whatever she does, whenever. She has captured my heart. (Romerus) Come on, don''t fall for it, whoever that''s done it has cast a sleeping spell on you! Wake up! RUN!!!! Do you want to sleep until that idiot comes around and steals your first kiss? Who are you, Sleeping Beauty? Get up! You don''t even like to sleep! (Amaris)If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Open those pretty brown eyes. Look at me and smile. I''ve fallen and I can''t fall any deeper. (Romerus) Open your eyes and slap that pervert! (Amaris) Polla opened her eyes and smiled at Romerus. I wish I could see you in real now. I''m sorry, but I''m greedy. I can''t help but wish for more. (Romerus) Then, Amaris slapped him. "What are you?" Romerus/the boy dreaming asked, shocked, "you overcame my power." What in the world am I talking about? What power? Why did she slap me? (Romerus) "You! Pervert! You cast a spell on me. Brought me to some unknown land and tried to make me fall in love?!" she screamed. "How do you know that? How do you know that I did it? It might have been some other jerk!" Romerus/the boy dreaming yelled back. Why did I say that? Now I''m busted! Totally! (the boy dreaming) "If it''s not you....wait...it can''t be. Whoever you are! Show yourself! You''re freaking me out and you have no idea how high-pitched I can make my scream!" Amaris threatened, eyes flashing, hair flying, tiny fists clenched at her sides. "If you insist, I''ll tell you." You''re going to die. For sure. Don''t do it. (the boy dreaming) But...I guess I must, she must think I''m a pervert ''cos she doesn''t know how she was transported here...ah whatever...so annoying (the boy dreaming) "I''m not a pervert, I''m telling you!" "Why?! You think dragging a crush on a horse ride in front of some guy is not perverted?!" "It''s not! Because....you''re....transported....into a dream." "Hmph! You think I''ll believe you?! Does that make sense?! Where is my physical body then?! Won''t my mom get worried? WHY!? You pervert!" she flew as a ball of fury and started throwing fists at him. What''s going on? I''m in a dream? Like she asked...does it make sense? Who''s this idiot? Pervert!? Taking over my body like this! (Romerus) You''re going to die when I wake up from this dream! Look forward to it PERVERT! (Amaris) You''re going to die when I wake up from this nightmare! Look forward to it....PERVERT! (Romerus) Bewitched "Hey, pervert, when will you wake up?" They were on a hill overlooking a lake. He was lying down facing the sky and she was sitting beside. "I don''t want to go to school. So, I''ll sleep until I feel like going." "You can''t do that!" "I can do anything I want in my dream." "Hmph, I got out from under your spell!" "Yeah...everything except for you. I don''t know why it doesn''t work so well on you," he replied lazily. "Hey...you said you can do anything in your dream, right?" she asked. "Uh huh?" he said, still lying down with his eyes closed. "Wake up!" she said, slapping his stomach. "Ow, but just in case you don''t know, I don''t feel any pain. I just feel sorry for this guy. That''s why I''m waking up." "Terrible pervert," Amaris muttered. "I heard that," he said, getting up, "besides, I never touched you, you were the one who slapped my abs. You did that onpurpose didn''t you?" "Hey, then where else do you want me to slap? Your face?" The boy smirked. "You...I haven''t finished...you went into this guy, aren''t you a pervert?"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Nope. I play jokes on this guy a lot." "Well, you took over my body as well!" "Ok, fine, you win," the boy said in his cool tone. "Pervert! Why do I feel like I''m the only one affected." "Because you are," he said, lying back down. "So...if we''re going to stay here for so long....let''s exchange names." "Sure," he shrugged his shoulders. "Can''t you be more excited or something about it?!" she said annoyed. She was going to slap his stomach again... "Uh, uh, you don''t want to be labeled the pervert, do you?" he asked, his eyes opened in tiny slits. "Are you a girl or a guy?" she asked. "You know, in real life," she added shyly, tugging on a strand of hair at a side of her head. "You''re curious?" he asked, turning to her. She nodded. "Ok, then I won''t tell you." Amaris glared at him. He smirked again and turned back to face the sky. "My name is Kaito," he said, his eyes still closed. Amaris perked up, he was really telling her his name. "My name is Amaris." "Hmm...nice name..." he said carelessly. Did he just say my name was nice? (Amaris) "You''re blushing." "What!? I''m not! You can''t even see! Your eyes are closed." He smirked. "So noisy." "You....idiotic jerk!" "Call me whatever you want." "Kaito, why don''t you want to go to school? I''m going to blabber in your ear until you''re tired of me!" "You can be noisy, but that''s about it. Annoying are the girls at school." "What are you?! You''re more than a pervert! You''re a player! I bet your face stinks! That''s why you''re hiding behind someone elses face!" "No...it''s because my face is too perfect." "Yeah...you don''t even think this guy''s face is nice, that''s why you covered it with a mask," she muttered. "I was just kidding. I can''t bring myself into any dreams....that''s why." "Then, do you want to see me in real life?" "Maybe, if you don''t go crazy over me." "Pervert! Player! Go back to sleep! No...no Don''t. Wake up!" He smirked. "I can let you hear my voice, but that''s all." "I don''t care, just wake up! I hate you!" she said slapping the floor. "Don''t slap the floor," he sighed, "you''ll hurt your hands." (Kaito''s voice) Player, his voice is already so nice, no wonder. I hate him so much....but I think...he''s bewitched me. Time Stops When Im With You "So. What is this power? Explain it to me." "So noisy. I''m trying to sleep," Kaito muttered. "Hmph. You''re already sleeping." "Fine. I''m up. So now what do you want me to do?" he asked, getting to a sitting up position. "If you can control anything in your dream, make it snow." "Piece of cake," he smirks. In a few seconds, it begins to snow. "Wow! So cool! You really did it!" Amaris got up and held her hand out to catch the falling snowflakes. A smile spread across her face and it seemed to glow together with the white snow falling around her. "Hey. Kid. Did you think? You''re going to freeze," Kaito said, standing up. She just laughs and continues watching the snowflakes fall. I should teach her a lesson. (Kaito) Her outfit suddenly changes from a designer black long sleeve shirt and white skinny jeans to a sleeveless dress. "Wow! Even cooler! Can you make it slant upwards slightly? And get me two hairbands!" Kaito/Romerus stared wide-eyed at her. "You really don''t feel cold?"You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. "Of course I do. But I like black designer dresses." "I can''t tell if you can''t feel cold, or if you''re just plain dumb." "Stop it or I''ll throw snowballs." "Ok! I''ll stop!" "You don''t like snow?!" "I hate anything cold." "Too bad then. This is payback!" And a snowball came flying at him. "Fine but it''s just for payback. After this you can''t call me a pervert." She laughed and threw more at him. Her nose, cheeks, ears, and fingers were turning red from the cold. But she didn''t stop. She was so cute, so pretty. Though he would never admit it to her face. "Your face is so ugly. And you already threw seven snowballs at me. I''m tired of it. Let''s go." The snow disappeared and he took her hand and dragged her away. "Where are we..." "Look before you ask. We''re already here." "I''m...I''m scared of animals," Anaris said, hiding behind him when a dog padded up. "It''s ok. I made them all friendly." She just shook her pretty little head. "Are you that scared? Most girls like puppies," he said, randomly picking one up from the floor. She really screamed. "You scared me! I thought you bumped into some beast!" "I''m really scared. I told you already." "Hey. I''ll give you one black designer dress for every animal that you pat for three minutes," he said, handing her the puppy, "starting with this one." "Really?" she asked, but able to believe her ears. "I said it, didn''t I?!" he raised his voice slightly. Cautiously, she reached out and poked the puppy in the ribs. It yelped and she went to duck behind him. "You don''t poke it. You pet it. scratch it behind the ear and on its scalp. The cheeks too." "Like this?" she asked, patting it. "Can''t you run it and scratch it at those spot? See how it melts into my hand when I do that? Yes, that''s better." "Try the cats, they''re my favorite." "Ok." She spent awhile patting it before moving on with joy to the rabbits. "Now I get the designer dresses! You promised!" She''s stealing bits of my heart. For some reason, she had a way of charming me....I guess you could say.... time stops whenever I''m with her.... this cute little girl who likes designer dresses. (Kaito) Because This Is Not Me "So...erm...Kaito." "Huh?" "What''s going on...in the real world?" "Nothing. Time stopped," he answered in his same carefree way. Now they were in a forest. He held a cat in his lap, patting it now and then. She was sitting a little way from him, ready to protect her designer dresses with her little hands in case the cat were to find it interesting. "So...we''re stuck in a world without time?" "I''m not stuck. You are." "YEAH WHATEVER! Mean grumpypants." "I heard that, and I''m not mean. I never once got angry at you," his voice came softly. "How are his ears so good? Did he pluck out the hairs or something?" "I didn''t. I was born this way," he sighed, propping himself up against a tree. "Elf," she muttered, glaring at him. "Are you hungry?" "Yes!! I want sushi, sashimi, korean bbq, fish soup, spaghetti, and a cup of punch!" "You can eat that much?" he asked, staring doubtfully at her. "Yup. Just a little of each. Oh and some pizza too. I wouldn''t mind steak."This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "Fine, it''s my treat for taking you to my dream." "Yes!" she squealed, letting go of her dresses to push her clenched fists at her cheeks. "You look like a fish when you do that," he said walking over. Amaris slowly let her hands drop to the dress and cleared her throat. Kaito/Romerus sat down beside her, still holding the cat. Amaris inched away. "Your cheeks are so fat, you still want to eat some more?" he asked, squeezing her cheeks. "Ya! You can''t just touch me whenever you want!" she pouted, rubbing her red cheeks. "Says who? You can feel it but you''re not really hurt physically." "How do you know that!?" "You don''t need to know," he said, poking her nose. "You!" she raised her hand to slap him. "Uh, uh," he said, tapping his head, "remember?" "Pervert," she grumbled, turning away. "Still want to eat?" "Yup!" and her hair whipped around faster than lightning. "Ow. Your hair. Tie it up first." She tied it into two lazy ponytails and clapped her hands. "Done! Can I have the sashimi first? With wasabi?" "You like wasabi?" She nodded. Her mouth was already full with the raw fish. "I''m Japanese, but I like Western food better." "I think you either work out a lot or eat very little." "How do you know?" he asked, surprised. "I''ll tell you when you take off your mask," she said teasingly with a smile. "I''ll pass. Besides, that''s not even my real face...." "I know what your real face looks like." "You do?!" "Uh huh, if you''re who I think you are, yes, I caught a glimpse of your face." "You''re bluffing," he muttered turning to pat the cat. "I''m not! You were wearing a school uniform! Black and white. Your pants had a thick white stripe on both sides of your pants!" "Where!? Where did you see me?" "Forget it," she said, feigning unconcern. "Yeah, forget it." She ate in silence and he sat there, patting his cat and watching her from time to time. "You want some?" she offered when she saw him eyeing the steak. "No thanks, I''ll get my own." A plate of Steak appeared in his lap. He cut a piece and gave it to the cat before taking a bite of the medium rare. I can''t even if I want to. Because...it''s my weakness. I can''t dream of myself. I have to stop myself from doing anything because....this is not me. Waking Up This time, they were at the beach. She was standing so that the waves would just barely wash over her toes. He was sitting under the shade of a palm tree playing with the same gray cat. "Hey, will I get the designer dresses back?" she asked, her arms crossed, eyes glaring. "Stop grouching and have fun. You won''t even wear them here or in real life," he said, then added rather sadly, "we''re in an illusion anyway." "What?!" "Nothing! Just go and swim, you said you liked to!" "But I don''t want to swim here. There are jellyfish, stingrays, eels, octopuses, squids, and fish, maybe even sharks!" "Ah, so annoying. It''s our last day together in this illusion! Now go do something that you like." "Why? Are you going to wake up?" "No. I just turned off the time freeze. You''ll find yourself back in your body when you wake up." "Then what about you? Aren''t you going to have fun too?" she called, smiling and waving. I have fun only when you''re having fun. (Kaito) "Yeah, can''t you see that I''m patting a cat?" "Oh. That makes sense. I''m going now." "Go, go, there aren''t any sea creatures in there." "Can you change my swimsuit first then?" she whined. "To what? A designer dress?"If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Pervert!" Kaito laughed and her sleeveless swimsuit changed into a long sleeved one. "Go then." She turned and waded down to her waist height before starting to swim. She looks like a mermaid when she swims. So cute....I''m smiling and she''s right there before me so why....am I crying? (Kaito) After a few more hours of playing, Kaito called her back. Her clothes changed back to the dry set that she had worn during the first moment in the dream as she ran back. "We''re going now. So lie down here and close your eyes." "Oh...so fast?" but she obeyed. "I''m going to erase Romerus''s memory of the dream. But I can''t erase yours, because I can''t control you anymore. So...promise never to mention it to anyone." "Ok." Stop, don''t look at her. She''ll make you want to stay. (Kaito) "Also...promise me that you''ll come find me again in the real world." "Ok. But only expect me next year summer break......" **** "Kaito! It''s time to go to school! Get up, get ready, and go! No time for breakfast." Summer break next year. (Kaito) Kaito got up and marked the calendar on the next year''s summer break. Naming the event ''See her again''. Who is she again? I only remember her face but I forgot her name. I remember her in the valley, the flower field, the....the forest, the ocean. There''s something more...but....what is it....where do I remember seeing her? "Kaito!" "Coming!" What was it....think...think! Yes! I remember! A picture! Kaito wrecked his bed looking for the picture but it was nowhere to be found. Why? "Kaito! Wake up! Why is your bed in a mess? Go, hurry. You''ll be late for school! Hurry, I''ll take care of the bed." But...the picture... "Kaito! Hurry, I''ll drive you today. Don''t do this again!" his father''s voice thundered from below. No more time to find a picture. He had to go...now. Goodbye brown-blonde haired girl with pretty dark brown eyes set perfectly into a sweet round face...I only remember....that you were pretty and that I love you. Looking For Someone I Dont Know Flash! "I got another flashback! Or is it the future?" Kaito said "Shut up! You''ve been going on about flashbacks all day!" Romerus snapped **** "Good morning, Amaris, did you rest well?" "Yes! Better than ever!" "I bet you had a nice dream..." I''ve been bewitched....I''ve fallen....for you...I miss you already...when? Where will you meet me? I forgot to tell you that we''re countries apart. "Mom... what happens if you miss someone alot and you dream about them? What can you do when you miss them so much when you wake up?" "Are you talking about dad?" her mom asked softly. "Yeah..." she lied. "I..I just try to think about something else....but if I think about him...I think it''s good too...." But I can''t stop thinking about him... "...that means I''ll love him more than ever when I see him again." "Thanks mom. That helped a lot!" Amaris gave her a hug and ran off. To Kaito...who I remember so clearly....I love you...I miss you...I wish you could dream of me again. **** "It''s true!" "As if!"This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. **** I see you in everything I do...wherever I go... but I can see you most clearly when I am looking in the mirror. I remeber your face, when you turned to look for the owner of the picture. I remember how much I wanted to get it back. But now...I want you to keep it...to treasure it...to remember it forever...to burn it into your heart. **** "In one of the flashbacks there was a picture...That I picked up from the floor! If I find it, you''ll buy me a steak!" "I''ll buy you a whole condominium if you find it!" "Deal!" "Wait..what do I get if you don''t find it!" "I''ll give you a copy of her when I do...faster...so slow...race you to my house!" "Hey! Not fair, you have a head start!" **** I can''t wait for next summer break. I feel like I know you already, even though we never exchanged our ages. My heart beats crazily and I smile like a dummy whenever I think of you...so I don''t know why I''m crying when I think of your back turned away... **** "Check under the bed!" "I already did." "What about the cupboard?" "Nothing." **** Are you thinking of me? Are you staring at my picture? Are you trying in vain to find me? I''m here... smiling... thinking of you. **** "I was super sure..." "Hey...the bet isn''t fair." "Fine! Just twenty bucks! You''ll regret it later!" "Twenty bucks? You''re saying I have to change the currency myself?!" "Yup." and the roll of bills scattered onto the floor. "Whatever, I can really buy myself a steak with this...not some imaginary..." "It''s REAL!!!" "Fine." **** Is your heart beating? Are you smiling? Are you anxious? I''m selfish but I wish you''d be... **** "Are you frowning right now?" "Ya. I can''t remeber what her face looks like, thanks to you." "Good! Forget her face." Then he muttered, "like you could remember the face of someone in a fantasy..." **** You''ve stolen my heart...not that I mind. I just wish you''d dream of me. Again. Tonight. And we''d stay in it forever. **** "Ah! Whatever! I just want to sleep." **** Kaito...I think...I''m crazy...in love...with you. I can''t wait to see you in real life! Next summer break! The Picture It has been 352 days since the dream. Kaito had been trying in vain to find out. Find out who ''she'' is. It doesn''t help that the flashback''s have stopped Kaito is at home, he''s feeling the holiday mood set in, but he just can''t figure out... "Who is she?" he asked aloud. His head was rested on his left hand, and with the other, he spun a pen. He closed his eyes, trying to remember when he even wrote that. "Did I even write that?" he asked, staring at the roughly scribbled words on the calendar. "Ah! Whatever! Could have been some prank!" he said, throwing the pen. The pen rolled behind the desk, out of sight, out of mind. **** Amaris collapsed onto the hotel bed.I''m finally back! I''m going to see Kaito again! But...why didn''t he dream of me again? Has he perhaps...forgotten? No, it can''t be. He''s definitely going to remember! **** "What should we do today, dear?" "I want to go out for a walk." "But the condition of the air isn''t good, dear." "Still..." "Alright." Amaris waits, the cars pass, passer-bys stare, everything is going by. Time is flying. Night has fallen. There Amaris still stands...hoping, waiting...for him to come. Yet another day is gone. He hasn''t appeared. Amaris''s heart fell. "Hey!" Kaito? "You! You''re new here aren''t you." "Eh."Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "You are the perfect description that Kaito gave almost one year ago!" "Oh?"Romerus? "Come! Kaito is not going to believe this." Romerus dragged her away. **** "Kaito! It''s the girl!" Romerus announced. "Kaito!" Amaris smiled. "What girl?!" Kaito asked coldly, eyeing Amaris suspiciously. "Kai...kaito?" "Do I know you?" he asked. Amaris averted her eyes to the floor, hiding the tears that were welling up. She shook her head. "Romerus, did you think that you finally learned to prank properly? You just dragged a girl to my house," he said in his cold, lazy manner. Then he turned to the girl, "Don''t come back." Amaris''s eyes widened, still fixed on the ground, tears rolled. Invisible...hurting...tears of sadness.So, he had really forgotten. It feels like my each teardrop is a piece of my heart. They''re tearing a hole, bigger...and bigger...it hurts...to be forgotten **** "Romerus! What is wrong with you!?" Kaito yelled when she had left. "But..she fit your descriptions perfectly..." "Shut up! Just because I lose memories, it doesn''t give you a reason to poke on my weakness!" There was silence. Romerus stared in shock at the usually lazy Kaito. "I''m...I''m sorry...I''m in a bad mood now." Kaito went back into his house and shut the door. She looked...vaguely familiar. She''s scary. She''s.... **** "Amaris, dear."knock knock knock."Amaris,are you asleep? Are you alright, dear?" It hurts, mom. It hurts...I wish you could see through my silence and open the door. I''m hurting. He doesn''t care. He''s forgotten. He''s rejected me...it hurts... "Ok, dear. I''ll tell you the news tomorrow," and the footsteps faded. Mom, it hurts. It feels terrible. My quilt wil be soaked with tears tomorrow. I missed him so much. I miss him even more now. He stole my heart in a dream but he has forgotten...His face, it has been ironed into my brain, my heart, my very soul. I can''t bear it....it''s the first time I have ever felt this way...I never want to experience this again...this sense of loss, emptiness, and something unexplainable. **** What''s this? Am I feeling hurt? Lonely? No...it''s an unexplainable feeling. Kaito got up from lazing on his bed. He put his hand to his forehead. It''s hot. I''m probably getting a fever. Might as well take a walk in the terrible haze. Where''s my pen? Need to write a note to my parents. He squeezed his hand into the gap between the wall and his desk.What''s this? A paper? Ah...here''s my pen. might as well write on this....picture? Is It Too Late Amaris? Who is she? What if...it really wasn''t a prank? She....kind of looks like her... **** "Hey, sweetie, did you sleep well?" "Slept alright," she answered rather moodily. She grabbed a cup of orange juice and sat down. Didn''t even take an omelet. So much for sleeping alright...there were bags under her eyes. "Amaris, tell me, what happened?" her mom said setting down her fork. Amaris gulped some juice down and sighed. "Mom, how would you feel if when you saw dad again, he''s totally forgotten all about you?" "Well," she said, choosing her words carefully. " I''d love him regardless. Usually, if fate set the path, the loved ones will remember. Why?" she asked. "Nothing much," she said, swallowing the last bit of drink down and standing to leave the table. "Amaris, sit down, I have something to tell you." Her mom said, eyeing her rather suspiciously. Amaris sat back down, rather surprised at her mother''s tone. "We are going back home. Tonight." Her mom blurted. What was this....A strange feeling pulsed through Amaris. Was it fear? Was it relief? Was it the little bit of hope left that was crying out in its own way? **** Kaito scanned through the clothes in his cupboard.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Who cares what I wear? Oh shit...no time to think about that. What an idiot I am! To have forgotten about Amaris! Kaito took his gray cat and put on a hoodie. I''m so sorry! Amaris! **** "Amaris, sweetie. I''ll treat you this round. Let''s pack and check out of the hotel now, ok? We''ll go sightseeing for two hours before we head to the airport..." her mom said. But left when Amaris didn''t answer. She was too busy....too lost. She was looking out yhe window.Kaito...? You''re smiling and waving to me? ...cursed illusions. She turned back to reality to see her luggage. Besides that, she was left alone, with her thought as well as illusions. **** Amaris! Where are you... to death with my short term memory. Where did I see you before? **** done...Amaris sighed as she looked at the picture she had brought for him to see. She had written a little note on one. A pretty note to her love. It was fun. That dream we shared. But dreams are dreams. In anger she crumpled it up and walked to the window. "I hate you, Kaito, for forgetting me," she muttered and threw the crushed photograph down from the seventh storey. **** Amaris! Yes! I remember now! **** "Ready to go? The taxi''s here!" "Coming!" **** Amaris....wait...I''m not the best at running. **** "You can get up now, Amaris."the luggage is all loaded...I''m leaving without even looking at him twice... **** Is this...another picture? A door to a taxi shut in the back ground. Am I too late, Amaris? A certain taxi drove off in the background. Kaito looked around, just like he did before. And just then, the girl in the taxi turned to look back once more, just like the last time. Somehow, even through the window of the taxi, their eyes locked. Kaito''s shocked ones and her sad ones. And the taxi turned the exact same corner... the day has passed so quickly...I don''t know whether to be happy or sad...that you have seen me and remembered...and that we shall never meet again. Dreamers Thump thump..... **** Thump thump..... **** Should I or should I not? (Kaito) **** He saw. He remembered. He picked it up. Will he...dream again? (Amaris) **** Kaito sat on his bed, thinking. What should he do? What if he forgets again? Such thoughts churned in his head. But...I remembered. I should...shouldn''t I? I should meet her again. Let her live in a fantasy. Her note... ''Living in a dream... it''s not fun. It''s terrible. It''s hurting. But it''s worth it. With you.'' She''d get hurt again. She''d burn from the inside out. It''ll be my fault. He covered his mouth and looked out the window. They were so close...but they could never meet. Because no matter where or what, there was a wall between them that neither would ever scale. How hurt she must have felt. How terribly I treated her. It''s all my fault. She deserves better. I know that this is cruel, what I''m planning to do. I''m just doing this for her. To cut this illusionary boy from her heart. He lay down and looked at his watch. The time? 4:55.... A tear trickled out. There''s no time to think. Just get it over with. Take a deep breath and drop her heart. It''s better now than later. He closed his eyes, stopping time, flying into the land...of frighteningly terrifying yet sweet dreams.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. For a while, just for a minute, a second even. I just want to see your face again. I''m selfish, and cruel. I''m in love. **** ¡°I''m going to sleep on the flight back, hon.....¡± Mom stopped. Everything did too. He''s pulling me back into a dream! **** Amaris opened her eyes. She was in a meadow. A clean cut one too. She got up quickly and turned around. Where are you, Kaito? (Amaris) There he was...in Romerus'' form. His eyes were searching her, his brow, tainted with a bit of longing, fear, hope, guilt, sadness. The rest of his face was covered with a mask. ¡°Kaito!¡± she smiled. She took a step towards him. He took a step towards her and reached out a hand. She smiled and ran forward. You can''t be doing this! Kaito was going to speak when he froze...His eyes widened and he crumpled to the floor, curling in pain. Amaris....I love... A sharp pain pulsed through him just as she touched his hand... **** His name echoed back with her to reality. Why?! Was I hallucinating? ¡°Attention please, ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing a slight turbulence...¡± I''m back, but what did I do wrong? Why did he crumple? **** She...called me. She...smiled...at me. Instantly...she forgave me. I know...her heart was beating like mine did. I know now...that it''s useless. I can''t tell her to forget me. I know she won''t. I can''t tell her I don''t like her. She''ll see through it. It''s terrible, like what she said, this dream. (Kaito) **** Did I, perhaps, hurt him? Am I, really, but a pest in his life? A darkness clouded about her. An object sensed, not seen. Of course. How could I have been so na?ve, to see this dream as anything besides an illusion? ¡°Honey, what''s wrong?¡± her mom asked, placing a hand on her knee ¡°It''s nothing,¡± she answered hoarsely and turned to look away. But it''s something. **** Then...the only thing to do is to forget...again. Do everything like every normal day. Forget about her. So she doesn''t hurt as much as I do later on. **** What''s wrong with me? What''s wrong?(Amaris) **** But...what if I can''t take it?(Kaito) **** It''s four more days to the end of summer break. Both of them, struggling with millions of internal thoughts, are dying a little every day, every hour, every minute...all because...of his dream. Occupations "Hey! Kaito! Clocking out already?" "Yes why?" "I was going to ask you to go out on a double-date tonight." "Hmm," Kaito mused, "do you remember what happened the last time?" "Well...that was only ''cos the girl was too jumpy." "Hm, do you remember what happened the time before the last?" "Oh that was just ''cos the girl wanted a Mr. Perfect." "Then, do you remember what happened the time before those two times?" "That''s because..." "And I''m not going because this time I don''t want to. Every time I go out it was because you dragged me into it and I''m seriously not going this time." "Oh...then...what do you want to do?" "It''s the night..." "Who? Amaris?" "So you remembered..." "No, I didn''t. It seems you forgot that that was the reason your third last date was wrecked." "Hmm...Amaris...is a faraway dream." "I think it''s weird enough that you remembered her for five years." "You think so?" **** "Ready, girl?" "Uh huh!" "Let''s steal this show!" Amaris took a deep breath and let the nervous feeling out. She stepped right behind the stage and watched as the line of models went down. Soon it''d be her turn.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Not that she was always that nervous before a fashion show. But it was the anniversary of that night. The next girl came and did her pose. My turn... (Amaris) She catwalked out to the beat and did her pose, flaunting the multiple layers of the designer black dress she was wearing. Then walked back. The lights flashed around, the music played, and she finished the walk perfectly. "You did it, girl!" "Yeah." "Get ready for the interview from the reporters. You''re getting famous!" Amaris just shot her a smile before resuming her straight face. **** "Kaito, you''re still here?" "Yeah, my friend just left and I thought I''d wait for you." "That''s too bad. I was going to a fashion show to get someone for our new advertisement. I think I found her. We can meet later on." "Oh, ok then." **** Amaris smiled to the compliments and answered the questions that the reporter asked. The flashes of the cameras flared from all sides, but she was used to it. The heat, the brightness, the attention, it all suffocated her today, though. After two hours, they had faded. Amaris sucked in a breath of the not-so-clean air, it was cool and that was enough. She put on a sweater and took her bag before walking off. It wasn''t long before she caught someone''s attention. "Amaris Colt?" "Yes?" "I''m from the OSS Bank and I''d like to take some of your time." "Sure!" she smiled, groaning inwardly. **** "The talk ended well. She agreed. She seemed in a hurry and ran off early." "Hmm." "Oh yeah, she got your number for the finalizing call." "What?!" "Hey, I''m sorry man. I just got a new number and I totally forgot it while I was talking to her. I gave her yours instead." "Hey! I''m terrible with girls!" "Yeah, only your face can actually pass." Kaito stared in surprised awe. "You...you gave her my number?" "It''s not like I wanted to!" "Wait...so let me get this straight." "Uh huh?" "You set me up...with some girl..." "Model." "You set me up with a model...for a finalizing call on our new advertisement?!" Hand in Hand; The Last Dream Amaris picked up her phone and dialed the number. She waited impatiently as the ringing echoed. Twisting her blonde curls, looking out the window, staring at the window, she felt nervous for no reason. Her heart beat faster as the instrumental continued. Finally... "Hello, this is the OSS Bank customer service. How can I help you?" "Hi, I''m looking for Kyle. Kyle Rein." Kaito''s head spun at the voice. It was out of the ordinary. "He''s not here at the moment, would you like to leave a message?" "Yes, please, I''m Amaris Colt. I was calling to agree to acting in the advertisement." "Am...Amaris?" Kaito stuttered, his hands shook as he jotted down her name on a paper. "Yes, Amaris Colt." He composed himself before continuing, "So Amaris Colt called regarding the advertisement. I''ll tell him when he gets back. Is there anything else?" "No, thank you." The line went dead, as did Kaito. His face turned deathly pale and he traced the name he had written before suddenly fainting. It''s because of her... in my dream, she didn''t stay under control. She went on to take my heart. Now, I don''t know why...she''s killing me. "Kaito. The phone." No answer... "Kaito? Kaito!" "He''s not breathing! Someone! Help!" "Call the ambulance!" "Kaito never really gets sick, his record accounts for it. Why did he suddenly...?" a co-worker whispered. More people cluttered round to stare at him, sitting with his face on the desk, unconscious. He was lifted onto the back of another co-worker. Slowly, with difficulty, he opened his eyes a slit. His fingers wrapped around the slip of paper, before he was carried off to the nearest hospital.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "Kaito, stay with me. Wake up. Wake up!" a colleague cried, running by his side. Kaito lapsed back into unconsciousness and his fingers uncurled slightly. The piece of paper slid unnoticed onto the floor. A few pairs of feet crushed and stained the words with the mud. The words so cherished by him... **** "What do I have on today''s schedule?" "Nothing, you were off today." "Oh, I was...I must have forgotten." **** The first co-worker stopped and watched Kaito disappear into the hospital across the road. He sighed and turned back to his desk when a slip of paper caught his eye... "Isn''t this the person he was talking to before he fainted?" he asked aloud. **** "Ms. Colt, someone wants to speak to you." "Is this Amaris?" "Yes." "Do you remember Kaito?" "Ye...yes, why?" "He fainted after a call with Amaris Colt. He''s at **H hospital now. But listen, he has been lapsing in and out of consciousness for two hours...." Amaris didn''t care to wait for the speaker to finish. She hung up and quickly flagged a taxi. She jumped in and gave the destination despite the calls to slow down from her attendants. Kaito...wait...I''m coming. **** "Amaris..." "Kaito! What happened?" She ran to his bedside and held his hand. A surge of pain flowed from where she touched him. It was like a high-voltage bolt of electricity flowing though, but Kaito grit his teeth and hid the pain. Amaris...you''ve gotten...prettier. Ow...it hurts. The pain is close to unbearable...BUT, I won''t let go again. Even if it kills me...I won''t let go. (Kaito) Kaito smiled and called her name. "Yes?" "Let''s dream again. Let it last forever. You and me. We''ll dream forever...together." "Kaito..." a tear slipped out. "Amaris...I wanted to tell you that I''m sorry. I wanted to tell you that I missed you. I wanted to tell you that I didn''t forget for a minute after that day. I wanted to tell you...that I love you." Kaito let out a gasp and smiled. You''ll be my death one day. But I won''t let go...not for a second. You''re an uncurable disease. A disease that I love.(Kaito) The strength left his hand, but the fingers clung tightly to hers. Amaris stared in shock as reality hit her. She dared not cry, she dared not let go. She bit her lip till the blood came...along with the dream. **** "Amaris..." "I''m back...in a dream." "Amaris..." "Yes?" "This is the last dream we''ll ever share..." "Kaito..." "It''s the only way I would ever be with you. Even for a day, for an hour, for a minute, it''d be worth it....even if it kills me for an infinite number of times....even if you were the cause of my death....I love you. Because... for this last dream I''d be with you. No wall would ever be able to come between us...ever again."