7 Hold my hand

"Can we change our past?

I will find a way

And then kill my future."

                                                                                                -E. E. B.

EMA's pov

I barely got any sleep. I went to my bed around midnight with hope I'll get enough sleep for next day, but life got another plan for me. Well Connor had another plan for me. Not just that image of our first kiss still bothered me, but Connor decided to visit me at 4 in the morning. Not to talk about what happened yesterday, but to take me to Japan.

"Ema, wake up.", he said shaking me softly. Seeing his face after all thinking about him that I had yesterday made me realize how this must have been a dream. So I just smiled and turned around to get some more sleep.

"We are going to Japan to get Yuko. Get your ass off the bed.", he said, now shaking me a bit more.

"You are crazy.", I commented and he laughed. His laughter was so pretty and deep. So I did as he asked and sat down on my bed instead of laying on it. "Why are we going to Japan?"

"Yuko wants to show you around before we go to England. He insisted you get up early so you can see how Japan looks during night.", Connor said and pulled me on my legs. I didn't get enough sleep for this. "Get dressed. I'll get something to drink."

So he left my room. Everyone was asleep. Even my dad. And he is going to walk around the house? Wow he was brave. I wrote a note to my dad how I had to meet up with few friends from school early so I left already and got dressed.

"Ella? Who are you talking to?" I heard Luka say behind my door. Shit, shit, shit what now?

"A friend from school.", Connor said through link.

"A friend from school. We are meeting up today. Professors from school had an idea for a trip so we will talk about it." I lied to my brother. Without saying anything more, Luka left back to his room.

I turned around and there was Connor, smirking. I felt like he was playing some sort of a mind game on me.

"Come, hold my hand.", he whispered and opened his arms. His voice sounded so good when he whispered. So I did it. In less than a moment we weren't in my home anymore, but rather in some sort of a library.

"Ema, Connor, welcome to my home!" Yuko said. He got up from a chair he was sitting on and approached us. "Let's go out."

We walked through that library inside his home to door that led to a garden. Even now, in very hot summer, all flowers bloomed. I knew Yuko was behind that. Even for few times we had to stop so he could touch few flowers that looked off. I saw how beautiful his garden really is. Even in night, there was plenty lights all around garden in all different flowers. Connor walked one step behind me while Yuko walked right next to me. Yuko had serious look on his face especially when we approached black car that waited at the end of a garden.

"Sir, did master allow you to leave home at this time?" one man asked Yuko and Yuko, almost instantly responded:" As much you serve my dad, you serve me. Now take us to the city."

We went inside that car, all three of us in back seat. Connor sat in the middle. The car had a lot of space but somehow Connor's leg still touched mine what made my mind go places. One thing confused me – why did that man and Yuko speak on English?

"Most of people who work for my dad aren't from Japan, so we all speak English.", Yuko answered. He still looked annoyed at driver that was taking us to the city. Outside of car, I saw remarkable city lights. Every building had its own lights in every color I could imagine. There was a lot of people outside even now and it all looked like one big dream. I will surely show this to Luka with hallucinations.

Connor looked very calm. Then I felt so much warmth hit me in lungs. He was anxious. But not because he was in unfamiliar place, but because I was so close. I guess he was overthinking what happened yesterday too. But I don't regret it. If we were correct with theory about numbers, then Connor is a person I'll stay with forever. Suddenly pretty lights outside didn't matter anymore. I moved my hand so our fingers touched. He gave me a confused look for that, but without hesitation, he moved his hand over mine.

"Eww guys... get your own room.", Yuko commented and I couldn't hold back a giggle.

Auto stopped in the middle of one street. We all went outside and driver went away. What really attracted my attention was clothes of people. Everyone looked super fancy except few people that were just smoking on their balconies in pajama. No wonder Japan is so popular. This place was awesome. I've been here for only half an hour and I already don't want to leave.

Connor squeezed my hand a bit so I would start to walk with Yuko and him.

"See that shop over there?" Yuko said pointing at one small book shop. "That's my favorite spot in this whole city. It's very small and old, but its calm. Owner couldn't keep up with rent so I bought it. Nobody can go inside except me."

Yuko looked happy. Excited even. He took us inside and it was quite dusty and old, but Yuko clearly loved it here. We all sat at the floor as Yuko went to prepare some tea. I didn't know he could prepare tea here. Connor and I stayed alone but we said nothing. This situation wasn't awkward. No, it was perfect. My hand in his and this dusty book shop fit perfectly.

Then Yuko came back with three cups of tea.

"Why don't we call you by your last name? I heard it's rude to call people by their first name here or without asking them.", Connor asked. Yuko stopped drinking and leaned back to one shelf.

"As I said, a lot of people that are not from Japan work for my father so it's annoying to explain that to them. And I don't mind really. If anything, I like when people use my name more, dear.", Yuko said. "And using father's last name just makes me feel like I should be like him more. Let's stick to just Yuko."

Connor nodded and finished his tea. After a minute or so I was done drinking too together with Yuko se we went to wash our cups at some sort of a kitchen that Yuko went to make tea at. It only had one sink and an oven. Modest, but adorable.

"We should go pick up Fran and go home. Astra and Zack planned out whole day for us.", Connor said after drying his cup with a napkin. He took my and Yuko's hand and we disappeared from book shop.

I don't think I will ever get used to this transportation thing. All of that is just confusing mostly to my body. Lights, air, temperature change as we get to new location. The most confusing ones are probably time zones. In England, it was now 4 a.m because it's one hour earlier then in Croatia. And I have left at 4 a.m home, been in Japan for one hour and came in England back to 4 a.m like I didn't spend a single minute out of my home. So when big hall appeared in front of me, I again felt very lost. Unlike both Yuko and Connor. They just started to walk through it, but it took me a second to gather myself back.

"Wait for me!" I yelled and both Yuko and Connor turned around and smiled. I ran to them and didn't stop running even after I passed them. "Who's faster?" I said even louder as Yuko's soft laughter reached my ears. He sprinted towards me together with Connor. Even if Connor could just use his powers, he ran with us. We probably even missed the door Astra and Zack waited for us, but we didn't care. This was way too much fun.

"We-", Connor started to talk but needed to stop to breath. "Fuck, wait... I need to breath. We should head back... Astra is waiting.", he said and Yuko and me started to walk back to the hall we were first in.

"What about Fran?" I asked. He did say we will pick her up too.

Connor was silent for a second and smacked his head. "Shit. Okay, stay here I'll go get her.", he said and went to one shadow made my door.

"I want to go too!" both Yuko and I said at the same time. Connor nodded and we went to him. He once again took our hands and everything disappeared.

We appeared in front of a small house. It looked like it will fall apart every second. Roof was barely stable and walls looked rotten. Was this where Fran lived? We didn't go inside. Instead Connor called her out through link and she was out in few seconds. This whole street looked to...sad.

Fran ran outside and smiled as soon as she saw us. "It's so early, dude. Why are you already here?" she asked Connor. Fran had one t-shirt on herself and shorts.

"Astra has a lot of things planned out for today.", Yuko said instead of Connor. In return Fran glared at him. Then one more person came outside. She looked like more feminine, taller and older version of Fran. She only had one long dress on herself and looked distressed.

"Dove vai cosi presto? Chi e 'questa gente?" woman said angrily. But Fran calmly said: "Mamma, sono ragazzi del campo di cui ti ho parlato. Ti shiamero piu tardi."

After she said that she started walk away. Woman didn't like it very much but still let Fran leave.

"What was that?" Yuko asked.

"Mom asked who were you. I said that you're from camp I'll be going to soon."

"You're going to a camp?" I asked. Weren't we supposed to go to England?

"That's the lie I picked up so I can leave for the rest of the summer.", Fran explained. Well that makes more sense. I didn't know where were we walking to, but we stopped as soon as we reached forest.

"Where are we going?" Yuko asked Fran. She didn't respond as she continued to walk deeper inside forest. At first I felt scared a bit, but Connor's hand found mine once again and fear washed away. I looked at him and he smiled. Then I almost fell over a branch.

"Darling, are you okay?" Yuko said seeing my gracious movements. Fran and Connor were barely holding back their laughter. I nodded and continued walking behind Fran.

Then I saw what she wanted to show us. Inside forest, there was a lake with glass clear water. It looked untouched and blessed. Grass and few rocks surrounded it. As we reached it, my heart started to pound faster. I looked at Connor and he looked scared. Does he fear water? Instead of going closer, I turned to Connor and put my hands around his neck. I had to stand on my tiptoes to reach it, but it was worth it. He was scared. He started to shake so I held him tighter.

Yuko and Fran noticed his reaction, but instead of coming closer to help him, they stepped further away from him. I didn't know why until I saw grass started to move around us, creating walls around us. Yuko made safe place for Connor. As soon as walls closeted Connor fell to his knees. I fell with him and we were eye to eye now. I put my hand on his, now wet, cheeks. He cried.

"Shhh... you're okay. You're safe.", I repeated to him, my hands still around his neck. Then his shaking stopped and his hands slowly went around me. Who did this to him? It took his few seconds to be ready to let go and, when he did, his head moved from my shoulder and he looked at my face. He studied it for a second and then he kissed me.

We didn't make out. We just kissed. Slowly, sweetly. I tasted his tears on his lips. Then Connor moved away again.

"Are you afraid of water?" I asked him.

"No... I just remembered someone."

Then it flashed before my eyes. I know who was it. It was that shadow woman from my dream. That woman who pushed me from a cliff into water at the end of a dream.

"She won't touch you again Connor. You are safe here with me. With us. Yuko and Fran are here too."

"How do you know who am I talking about?" Connor panicked.

"We shared a dream few days ago I think. I saw what she did to you."

Then Connor hugged me again. His heart calmed down and so did his breathing. I put my hands on his cheeks and pecked his lips once again. They were so soft and perfect that I couldn't hold back.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked him. He took a second to think and nodded. Then flower walls fell down and we were greeted my Fran and Yuko. Both of them hand their legs in lake. Yuko had to pull his jeans up since they were long, but that didn't stop him from enjoying lake. Connor and I sat next to them, but didn't put legs in. Connor's hand still held mine as he started to talk.

"I... I met Mia when I was around fourteen. She is one year older, but still we got together. Mia was wild. Always chasing new high, always so far away, but I wanted her. Then one day we went out and she gave me LSD. Then weed, pot, more LSD, crack... she gave it all to me and I wanted to fit in. It took less than a year for me to know I'm addicted. And when I was high, Mia fund someone else. I still didn't let go of her. I would steal her bike and ride around just like we did when we started to date. Then she decided that I became a burden and took me to a cliff. We got high together one last time and she pushed me. I barely survived and then Zack found me. He was me in hospital and gave me one more chance in living. He felt the bond we all have. I met Astra and went to live with them. Then I saw Astra use his powers and I showed him that I have powers too. We trained together and now we're family.", Connor said. He didn't stop looking at water.

"Dating sucks.", Fran said and laid in grass with her feet still in water.

"Good thing I only go with platonic love.", Yuko added. I remembered my past dating and how bad they ended.

"I once dated this chick that outed me to everyone. In less than a day everyone knew I was a lesbian.", Fran said. "I made sure she doesn't do that again by telling everything to her mom."

"I only dated twice before. Both were boys that only wanted sex. And when they didn't get it, they guilt tripped me and I felt bad for not giving it to them.", I said and Connor held my hand tighter like he wanted to take my memories away.

We stayed in silence for few minutes, just breathing. Wind blew gently and I felt like a huge rock was taken off my chest. This felt so right.

"Well at least there will be no bad boyfriends or girlfriend for us again. We found our soulmates, right?" Fran asked.

"We did.", Connor said and smiled once again.

Yes, this is how it's supposed to be.

"Let's go home now. Malia is waiting for me.", Fran said and got up. She called house at England home. Yes, home. Our home.