>>19934337
Above a smoking volcano, the plane circles. It's really beautiful up here. The doctors said my heart had grown weak. Very weak. We wanted to spend whatever time we could on the grandest vacation we could afford, and then end it all with a bang.
 
"A-are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Y-yes. If this is our last day together, I want us to go t-together."
 
The pilot turns back to us. I catch a glimpse of a tear springing from his eye. He turns away, trying to hide it, but I can tell his heart is breaking. He takes a minute to collect himself before we take the plunge.
"Are you ready?"
 
I simply nod. Hanako clasps the ends of her sleeves, which fall past her wrists. The man next to us wants to say something. I can tell, but he can't find the words. I give him a look of affirmation and he opens the hatch. The cold wind whips at our faces. Hanako's long, purple locks cover her face and tickle mine. Hanako and I lock eyes and embrace tightly before pushing ourselves out the door.
 
It's surprisingly silent, save for the wind flowing around us. I close my eyes and try to forget how high up we are so my heart doesn't give out early. I release my hands and Hanako tightens her grip. My hands work to remove my shirt before returning to Hanako's hips. She hesitates before letting go of me, putting her faith in my grip. Reaching for her waistline, she raises her shirt, exposing her stomach. The contrasting pale skin looks pleasant against her burn scars. I give her a smile and she returns it, her confidence renewed. She lifts the shirt above her head and tosses it to the wind. What a sight she is to behold. This magnificent girl in my arms chose to give up everything for me. I only have a few minutes to live, but I know that I am the most enviable man on the planet right now.
 
"Y-your turn." she whispers in my ear in a slightly foxy voice.
 
I feel her fingers press into my spine and her face falls gently into my chest. The ridges of her more textured side send a sensation of comfort through me. I undo my belt and let it go before removing my pants. Hanako blushes and quickly reaches for hers, scarcely giving me time to hold onto her properly. She raises her knees to push them beyond her ankles and lets them go. I almost laugh, thinking of how ridiculous the situation we're in is. Two young adults in their underwear, hurtling towards the earth at untold speeds.
 
"Y-you'd better hurry up." Hanako chides me.
 
Soon, we're both naked and locking legs. The smoldering volcano below takes up more of the view as we come closer and closer to the boiling lava inside. From the get-go, I decided I would be on top, partially because it was my preference, but also so she wouldn't be the one to see the volcano. Her longing hips tremble as I enter her crevice. She squeals at first before settling in. Her mouth gently kisses my neck, moving down to my collarbone. I push into her as her mouth and hands send sensation after sensation up my spine. She takes my head and kisses me passionately. I increase the force with which I thrust. I can hear my heart beating at a more pronounced rate. I refuse to let it stop this and push myself to give her all of myself. She realizes my time is growing shorter and attempts to one-up me. How refreshing. This girl is so full of surprises. I wish I had a longer lifetime to discover every one of her secrets, but alas, they will be buried along with us.
 
"Hisao, I-"
No, I won't let her have to be the one to say it first.
"I love you, Hanako."
 
She closes her eyes and embraces me more warmly.
 
"I love you, too."
 
I can hear her sniffle. I can imagine the tear now sliding down her face. I forgo opening my eyes and kiss her to reinforce my words. Hanako's fingers reach for the lowest portion of mine and gently caress it. It pushes me to the edge and I climax inside of her. Hanako almost giggles. We kiss once more. The warmth of the lava begins to make itself felt. Neither of us opens our eyes. Smoke enters our nostrils. Flashes of flaming imagery pass through my mind as I unconsciously piece together the events of that night. I can only imagine Hanako is having flashbacks of the actual event. This time it's different though. She isn't alone this time. She sees my hand reach out to her young self. The child opens her eyes and stops cowering. Her mother is standing behind me, perfectly safe. Her father is waving us to get to the door. I reach for her to pick her up and bring her out of the house...
 
SPLASH!
 
Lava doesn't feel anything like I thought it would. In fact, all feeling vanishes as our nerves deaden seconds after impact. Our bodies sink into the burning, bubbling magma, unbeknownst to the rest of the world. What's next for us? That I do not know. I just can't wait to meet her in the next life. A life without limitations like arrhythmia or burn scars. We are finally one.