Summary: Starting with the final five minutes of Angel Beats! Episode 13, Otonashi confesses his love to Kanade, to whom is known to the SSS, the Shinda Sekai Sensen; the Afterlife Battlefront, as Tenshi. Kanade reveals that she was originally in a coma, wandering to Afterlife because she lost her way to thank Otonashi for giving her his heart. She disappears, defying Otonashi's will, and leaves him alone. In the end, everyone graduates... but therein lies two more questions - Are their memories of each other still intertwined... or where they just mere dreams?

To Live Life Fully

Prologue: My Most Precious Treasure - Ichiban no Takaramono

Disclaimer: Angel Beats!'s characters, setting, and plot do not belong to me. Even Mazui's subs, to which I have his subs extracted to form this FF.

Otonashi faced Kanade when they went outside before a brief glimpse at the rippling water in a pool. "Hey, Kanade? I kind of just realized it. You know... there are others like Yuri and Hinata and the rest who couldn't find their way here right?"

"I suppose," Kanade answered.

"And they might end up staying here, like Yuri, being sad, suffering... and resisting life."

"I suppose."

"But if we stay here, we can teach them, like we did this time, about how the satisfactions of life and help them graduate." Otonashi looked down for a minute. "Maybe I came here to play that role... So won't you stay with me?" The wind tugged at Kanade's hair, whom put it back into place. "If I stayed here," Otonashi said, "I wouldn't be lonely, even in this world. I might have said it before, but I want to be with you." Kanade walked down the stairs as Otonashi said the words. "Because, I... I really... love you." Otonashi stepped forward and hugged Kanade. "I love you."

Kanade closed her eyes at the confession. "Why aren't you saying anything?" Otonashi asked.

"I don't want to," the silver haired girl said softly, opening her eyes. "Because if I tell you my feelings, I'll disappear."

"Why?"

"Because I came to this world to say... 'thank you' to you."

"What do you mean?" Otonashi asked, puzzled.

"I was able to stay alive because of your heart." Kanade put a hand to Otonashi's chest. Otonashi's eyes widened as he absorbed the words. Kanade pushed him away from her and put a hand to her chest. "Even now, your heart is beating inside my chest. My one regret was being unable to say 'thank you' to the person who saved my life. I wanted to tell you so badly that I got lost and wandered here, to Afterlife."

"No way..." Otonashi said. "But how... how did you know it was me?"

"I realized it when I first stabbed you - you didn't have a heart."

Otonashi checked his heart, and for sure he couldn't hear or feel the heartbeat. "But from just that..."

"You also regained your memories when you were sleeping on my chest. Your body recognized the sound of its own heartbeat."

"No way..." Otonashi gasped.

"Please, Yuzuru... say what you said earlier once more."

"I... I can't! You'll disappear!"

"Yuzuru... please!"

Otonashi looked down and shook his head, "I just can't do it!"

"Yuzuru...!" Kanade urged him, gathering Otonashi's attention. "Let me believe what you've always believed. That living is wonderful!" The words made Otonashi about to cry.

Otonashi couldn't help but repeat his words with difficulty. "Kanade..." he said, stepping forward to hug Kanade. "I love you... Let's be together forever..."

Kanade walked up to him and wrapped him in her arms, which Otonashi could not help but do the same. "Thank you, Yuzuru."

"Stay... stay with me forever!" Otonashi's eyes leaked tears, but Kanade continued anyway.

"Thank you so much..." she said as Otonashi tightened his grip on her, hoping that she won't disappear in his tight grip.

"Kanade!" Otonashi forced out behind his crying stature.

"Thank you for loving me."

"Please don't disappear! Kanade...!"

"This gift of life you gave me... thank you so much..." And she was gone.

Otonashi stumbled forward, the weight of Tachibana Kanade gone to support him. He fumbled for where she originally was, only grasping air.

Otonashi, taking him three seconds to realize she had accepted her regrets and passed on, hugged himself; the only entity in the Afterlife school grounds. Tears streaked his face. In anguish, he threw back his head and cried out to where God would be, in the skies:

"KANADE!"

Fifteen minutes later, Otonashi picked himself up. He still snuffled, but walked away from the stairs to the Principal's office, the headquarters of the Shinen Sekai Sensen, the Afterlife Battlefront. The door was cracked open, no need for the Yuri's password. He glanced inside, the belongings of his friends neatly placed in various areas. He smiled a bit before leaving to the Library's Computer Lab.

There, Otonashi booted up Angel Player and reset the environment of NPCs, but removing the skill shadow from their abilities. He then made a new program, which he left unnamed. Otonashi saved the settings and shut down the computer. Otonashi then left the building entirely and started to stroll around the campus, watching the NPCs leave to their dorms. Otonashi walked around the track, then around the gymnasium, the cafeteria, and the incinerator, all places that he had been with the SSS. When the sun had set, Otonashi looked up from the low wall he was sitting at and walked to the girls dorms. There, he located the room of Kanade Tachibana, whose door was cracked open with the light still on. He entered the room.

At first, he thought he saw Kanade on the bed, but he realized he was hallucinating because the image disappeared. Her computer was still booted up, the logo of Winding bouncing across the screen. He closed the door, sat at the desk, and nudged the mouse with his finger. The screen of Angel Player with her Guard Skill abilities in check, his idea of wings still in check. He alt-tabbed from the window, finding a different window. The title said March 26, 2011; today's date. Ignoring the act of invasion of privacy, he read the entry:

It was a very fun day today. We all graduated from Afterlife, even my new friends at SSS. Three other members graduated at the ceremony I helped set up, Naoi, Yuri, and Hinata.

In the end, it was me and Otonashi, whom asked me to stay with him. He told me that his largest regret was not being able to have people say "thank you" to him, but he didn't disappear, as were the conditions. We walked outside, and he asked me to help him help the other people who cursed life and God to help them graduate. I was heartbroken by the two paths to walk: disappearance or staying there forever. I chose the first choice, and I left him in tears. Even as I had went through the Tunnel from Purgatory, I still felt his arms around me, and his voice pleading me not to leave him.

Otonashi; If you are reading this I hope we will find each other again, even if that contingency is lower than we think. Again, thank you for your heart, your love, and everything else. Thank you. I will always remember you.

Otonashi closed the program, and shut off the monitor. He couldn't bear to read any of the previous entries. They were probably also directed to him. He stood up and looked around the room. He glanced at a small teddy bear on her neatly folded bed. He looked outside to see a full moon outside, just peeking from behind the gymnasium. He smiled softly as he closed the light and exited the dorm.

Otonashi walked to the Infirmary and found the bed he first woke up in. He took off his SSS coat and his dark dress shoes and laid on the bed, staring at the square which was the lamp. He slumped his shoulders, and said, "Kanade. You're welcome..." Otonashi closed his eyes and went to sleep. A bright light entered the vicinity, enveloping Otonashi...

A/N: This is a first Angel Beats! Fanfiction. When reviewing, please do not flame. Thanks for reading!

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-1caiser