(All in Soshi's p.o.v.)

Note: I took the ending as a possibility.. what could have happened, and not necessarily what I think definitely did happen after the series ended. It was supposed to start off nice, then it turned.. sad. UU

Disclaimer: I don't own Absolute Boyfriend or any of it's characters..

“Thank you very much!” I called over my shoulder, as I walked away from the food store.

“It's nothing. Give Riiko our best wishes,” The shop owner, Mr. Domouto called back from where he stood.

I turned my head forwards again and began to make my way down the street, carrying a plastic bag in each hand which were both filled with food for the next two weeks. It was a Sunday, so the shops were just beginning to close. It was one of the most beautifully sunny days it had been in a long time, yet my poor Riiko was ill again. It was almost as if the weather affected her health. For the past few days it had been rainy and misty, and for those few days she had been unwell. So unwell, I had moved in so I could take care of day and night.

I hated her feeing pain, but I loved looking after her.

I arrived at our apartment, and walked up the steps. I didn't ring the doorbell, in case she was asleep, but let myself in with my elbow.

I gently shut the door behind me and wandered over to the kitchen, deciding I would make her some lunch.

All the time I was putting away the food I didn't need and cooking her meal, she didn't come in to see me. It made me wonder what she was doing. She was probably asleep in her room, she wouldn't go out without telling me, I knew that, because she knew it worried me when I didn't know where she was.

When I had finished, I laid out apple juice, a bowl of rice, fish, onigiri and a small plate of assorted vegetables on a tray and want to her bedroom.

I knocked once, twice, and let myself in.

We had re-decorated her room. The walls were light blue, and the carpets were a deep shade of red. The wardrobe and her drawers, including bedside table were made of deep chestnut wood, and the curtains were beige. A total mismatch of colours, but it was cozy. The curtains were now drawn, but a bit of light could still be seen through, as they weren't completely opaque. The bed was neatly made, but she wasn't in it. I instantly panicked.

“Riiko? Riiko?” I called frantically. Setting the tray on her bed and dashing out into the main room. I checked the bathroom, her parents room, (Which is where I slept,) and the kitchen, again. She wasn't anywhere.

“RIIKO?!” I yelled into the apartment, at nowhere in particular. Then, I jumped in surprise and spun around as someone replied softly 'yes?'

There she was, just standing there, her pretty eyes blinking slowly, her skin perfect and her light hair resting on her shoulders. She was only wearing a baggy white T-shirt (one of mine) and some of her own green summer shorts with the word “'Daydreaming” printed all over them, but she still managed to look flawless.

“Thank goodness,” I muttered, and I walked over to hug her tightly. She hesitated, obviously confused, but then she wrapped her arms around my back.

“Soshi, what's wrong?” She asked, looking up at me when I broke away.

“I was worried. Don't just wander around like that.. Where were you? I was calling your name everywhere.”

“Well, obviously not everywhere, since I was just on the balcony.”

“What were you doing on the balcony?” I ushered her into her bedroom, and sat her gently down on her bed.

“I was just looking up at the sky. Thinking. It was such a beautiful day, I couldn't help it.” She paused as I placed the tray on her lap and sat next next to her. “I'm sorry.”

“No, it's okay.” I watched her pick up the chopsticks gingerly. “What were you thinking about?” I asked softly.

“Just.. stuff. I saw Yuki walking below me, so I just said hello and that was about it.” She began to eat. I played with a strand of her hair, and we sat in silence until she had finished.

“Are you feeling better?” I asked, taking the tray from her and putting a hand to her forehead.

“Sure I am,” she beamed at me.

“Riiko..” I started,

“No, really, I am. It's not just so you don't have to look after me. But,” Riiko glanced at me nervously. “Go on,” I prompted. “I would feel better if we could go out. Get some fresh air. We could.. go to the park or something,” she finished hopefully.

“Okay.” She beamed again. “Be dressed in fifteen minutes, while I put this away. You need any help?”

“No, don't worry. And thanks, Soshi.”

-Later-

“Hey! Over here!”

She picked up the tennis ball from the ground, and handed it back to its owner.

“Thank you!” the little boy who had accidentally thrown it too hard giggled and ran off.

Riiko straightened up and laughed, shaking her hair back from her face, and she gracefully walked over to the park bench I was sitting on. She looked beautiful. She had a white summer dress on, with dark green sandals and a light purple cardigan, with silver bangles all up her arms. She giggled and stretched her legs out as she sat beside me. “C'mon, Soshi!” She reached into her white bag which was by my feet, and pulled out a purple Frisbee. “Play with me!”

“Okay, okay,” There was no way I could resist that angelic face for long.

As we played, I noticed how elegantly she moved. Sure, I had been living with her a long time, but in the soft sunlight, when she kicked off her shoes and ran through the grass, laughing happily, it was that which made me smile, because I only wanted her to be happy.

That's all I cared about..

-Later-

I sat at the end of the bed, watching Riiko drift off.

I smiled, and gently stroked her lips. She was growing more beautiful each day. I felt so happy that I was the person who got to spend every single day with her..

After a few minutes, I decided it would be okay to leave. I started to stand up, when she muttered, “Soshi?” tiredly.

“Yes?” I squatted down next to her.

“Sleep with me.” Riiko muttered, half asleep. It sounded odd, but I knew what she meant.

I carefully laid down next to her, and wrapped my arms around her waist, holding her close to me, as she rolled over and buried her face into my chest.

We lay there, like that. For what seemed like forever. I didn't try to go to sleep, until the weight on my eyelids forced me to. I felt the tears run silently down my cheeks and onto the pillow, but I didn't sniff or wipe them away. I wouldn't let Riiko know how I wanted to break down, every time I felt her cry against me. I needed to be there for her, she needed someone who loved her to depend on.

So, even as she sobbed through the night, I held her protectively against me, and reminded myself how much she needed me, ad how I had to stay strong, even though looking out for her, actually just broke my heart.