Eriko and Kazuya

Eriko was on the couch as rain hit the windows. Early summer always brought rain like this she thought quietly as she waited. It wasn't too long before Kazuya walked in. He gave her a small smile taking his shoes off, "I'm here! The rain is really coming down," He wipes off his glasses and smiles at Eriko, the smile fading when he sees her face. "What's wrong… was it the meeting?"

Eriko nodded. "They… are transferring me… Japan wants the workers to be more integrated in International Sites."

Kazuya relaxes a bit and smiles. "That's great! You can see the world… right? I'll be right behind you… I promise…" He fades when she doesn't smile back. "Unless….where…?"

"Site 354…" Eriko says quietly. She is trembling a bit her hands tightly folded together in her lap. Kazuya mouths the words, "The red pool? There? T-They can't..."

Eriko merely nods. Kazuya stands up and begins to look out the window not saying a word. Calculating, how could things have gone so wrong. This wasn't supposed to happen, they were supposed to be together, get married. "What does this mean…" He finally said. "What did they say…?"

"That I have a duty to Foundation, especially to show what the Japanese personnel are meant to do. My work in the labs are good enough, I should be fine..."

"Eri…. you and I just joined… there are hundreds if not thousands of more experienced Chemists than either of us..."

Eriko nods, "I know…"

Kazuya runs his hand through his hair taking a breath, "They can't be serious… this is a joke, some ijime tatic, I swear..."

"Kazuya?" Eriko looks at him concerned.

"We'll figure this out…. they can't really send you there… its…. Keter Duty… you are too new… Keter…"

"I know." Kazuya pulls out his phone and leaves the room, Eriko sits there  looking at the ring on her finger. She can hear shouting from the other room.

"You can't be serious! You can't do this!" Finally silence and quiet talking. "What do you think her chances are then? Then why?"

Eriko buries her face in her hands as she waits.

"Yes, I understand, my apologies for the phone call in this manner. Yes. my apologies. You'll have it on your desk in the morning." Kazuya comes back he looks at Eriko, and sits next to her and embraces her tightly. "I'm so sorry Eri..."

He takes a deep breath and looks at her. Staring long and hard. "I'm sorry…" He takes her hands in his and touches the ring, "I need you to…return this."

Eriko feels the breath leave her. "K-Kazuya…."

"Please…just… don't make this any harder…"

Eriko looks down and nods. She slowly removes the ring and places it in Kazuya's palm closing his hand around it. She looks up at him. He kisses her gently and gets up and begins to start for the door he pockets the ring and puts on his jacket. "I'll inform your parents."

"You can't inform them we aren't allowed…"

"I can inform them of your death…. we'll say it was an accident, I'll apologize… and I will comfort them. It's my fault for not protecting you better."

"Kazuya! I'm not dead!"

"It's /Keter/ Duty, Eri. Not like here…. you….. its…. it is going to be better this way. We both know that." He seems sure of it. Eriko stands up. "You can't….do this Kazuya…not like this…please…"

"Its already done Eri…."

Eriko crosses over to him as he puts on his shoes. "Then, you have to promise me! Promise me when I return…everything will go back…right? It will be like it never happened."

She reaches out to touch him but he moves out of her way and opens the door, without looking back he says one last word: "Sure."