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Outside the run-down apartment house, thunder boomed, rattling the windows in their frames.

Omi ran his hand along the glass of one those panes, frowning slightly at his reflection. The glass was cold to his touch, and Omi wondered why the winter down-pour wasn't snow instead of rain.

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Tonight, a cool rain falls
That soothes the sadness that burns like a flame

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Not that he minded the rain, Omi mused to himself as he turned away from the window. It suited his mood. The final confrontation with Schwarz and Esset was over. Weiss was his whole life now; he was stuck in this apartment building with the other members of his group. Not that he minded that, either. They still fought the "creatures of darkness," fought for the ideals Omi held. Protected people. But still . . .

There was something missing from his life. Something that had been taken from him. Or rather, someone.

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We love someone, we hate someone
The pain stings to the bottom of our hearts

//////////////

Omi stiffled a sigh as he lay down on his bed. His thoughts turned to what he had lost.

Nagi.

Omi had thought of him so many times recently, ever since the final battle. The pain and guilt of fighting Nagi still clung to him, wrapping itself around his chest. But . . . he had done the right thing, surely. Nagi was evil. Nagi had wanted death and destruction. But elsewhere in Omi's mind, a soft voice reminded him of a night with gentle touches and equally gentle words. The sense of safety simply from being in Nagi's arms.

Omi had loved Nagi more than anyone. He would have willingly died for the younger boy, had things not been they way they were. But they weren't. What could of happened . . . what could have been was over, in the past. There was no room for remorse.

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What we believed, we do not regret

//////////////

All he could do now was move forward, Omi supposed. He was going to have to learn to live without one of the two people he had ever loved, and had been loved by. The first had died, and now the second was as good as dead. Depression was still heavy on him, but it felt as if the rain had helped cleanse his soul. He looked to the window again. Outside the rain was still falling from the night sky. It seemed like it would never stop. Omi smiled sadly, feeling that the rain reflected his heart. As for the love he still felt . . .

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Someday, it's all going to wither away
That is the promise of fate

//////////////

The rain and his love.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Nagi couldn't sleep. He rose from his bed and left his room, quietly shutting the door behind himself. He silently slipped down the hallway, trying to not wake the other Schwarz members.

He had been dreaming about Omi again. Nagi missed him so much.

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I miss your kiss, we have parted
I wish the two of us could get together again

///////////////

Nagi reached the balcony and looked out, for the first time noticing the rain. Thankful for the balcony's cover, Nagi stepped out into the cold air. He walked to the railing and leaned against it, looking out on the sleeping city. Silently, Nagi realized just how jealous he was of them. Most of them had normal lives, had nothing standing between them and their loved ones. He cursed them silently, hating them for their happiness.

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Even if the dark memories one day become fond...

///////////////

Nagi could never see Omi again. They had had their final duel, and the final curtain had fallen. Even if the other boy could except him again, their relationship would be tainted forever by the pain they had caused each other.

Nagi thought about his life. It had always been so painful. His few and precious moments with Omi had been the highlight of his entire exsistance. And now, Nagi couldn't even have that. The brown-haired boy leaned over the railing. It was a long way down. He could jump . . . end all his pain. Schwarz had lost, anyway. Schwarz and Omi were the only things Nagi had to live for, and in a way they were both gone. It would be so easy to just go over. . . .

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Why are we born? Why do we live?

///////////////

Nagi pulled back, trembling. He couldn't do it. He couldn't let his life slip away in such a crude manner. He stepped away from the rail. It wasn't fair to Schwarz's honor, it wasn't fair to love he had shared with Omi. It wasn't fair to himself.

Still shaking, he wrapped his arms around himself. It was then Nagi realized he was crying, the tears trailing down his face. He wiped at them, then brought his hands in front of himself to inspect their dampness. Tears, so much like the rain. Nagi took a few steps forward, going back to the railing. Cautiously, he stuck a hand out from under the balcony's cover, exposing an arm to the rain. Drops of rain landed lightly on his hand, mixing with his tears and further wetting its surface. Within seconds, Nagi could no longer tell what were tears and what were raindrops.

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The rain erases everything

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Nagi turned away and headed inside, absent-mindedly wiping his wet hand on his pants. He snuck back to his room, knowing he would sleep easier now. Somehow, the rain had comforted him. Life had always been hard, and he would just have to face this hardship like the rest of them.

Nagi climbed into bed and turned the light off. Silently, he wished Omi goodnight for the final time.

///////////////

Nothing gets passed on,
And love comes to an end

///////////////

Outside, the rain stopped.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Owari

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My excuse? It's late, I'm feeling weird, and it's raining . . . I didn't mean for it to be this depressing, honest!!