Moon over the castle
Urashima Keitaro didn't ask for much from the world. He too was born a human being just like anyone else. A human who worked hard in his pursuit for happiness, despite the bad hand life had given him. And yet, the young landlord of Hinata apartments was always optimistic. Always thinking that the grass was always greener on the other side. Dreaming and hoping for good things to come as he treated everyone as a friend.
But now, he was a just a shell of his past self. A walking vessel that lost all emotions and feelings ever since that day. He cried till there were no more tears left to spare. There were some joys to be seen, especially of his kiss back on that playground. But the majority of his life had been a painful one. The betrayals, the loneliness, the heartbreak, the abandonment, the hatred and the cruelty of all who crossed paths with him throughout his life, including his family. All of those powerfully negative emotions came crashing down on Keitaro at once. It was too much for any person to bear. And now he was waiting for the sweet embrace of death. How he longed for it, ever since that day, when the man he once was ceased to exist.
Hinata apartments-Several months earlier
It was a normal week at the dorm. At least, as normal as it will ever be. Su was engrossed with her inventions. Kitsune was shouting at a certain horse on the TV while the race was on. Motoko was on the roof, practicing her kendo. Shinobu was in the kitchen, making lunch. Mutsumi was enjoying the hot springs with the resident turtle Tama-chan. And the 'dorm couple' was busy with their assignments, part time jobs and the like. Or at least Keitaro thought Naru was. He never knew his life would change in the span of a few days.
It all started when he just came back from the store one day, doing the weekly groceries. Normally he would be joined by his beautiful and smart girlfriend, but lately she's been declining his offers. Thinking nothing of it, he went on his own and came back a few hours later. Since it was a school day for both high school and middle school, Su, Motoko and Shinobu were out. And Kitsune was doing some part time work with Mutsumi at the café to make some cash on the side. So the dorm was essentially empty, save for Naru. After returning from his shopping and quietly putting the groceries away, the landlord decided to greet the young woman he loved. Maybe it was luck or godly intervention, but Naru did not notice that her boyfriend was back as he climbed the stairs. Keitaro, ever the gentleman, stood outside her room, his fingers about to gently tap on her door when he heard the brunette's laughter. Intrigued by the hearty outburst, he decided to stall his decision to knock and listen in on her.
'Must be one of her friends on the phone.' Keitaro deduced in his mind. 'Maybe I should leave her alone and say hello later. She'll kill me if she catches me eavesdropping.' He added, remembering the times when she nearly did. But that was when Kami decided to show the kind hearted young man the truth.
"Yeah, he's not in right now. He's out getting the groceries for the house. More time for us to continue where we left off…" Naru said to the caller in a sensuous voice. Naturally startled by the way she was speaking, Keitaro decided to abandon his decision to return to his room. Instead he slowly crept closer to the door, quietly listening in to the conversation that was taking place.
"Oh Kentaro-kun, don't say that! You're making me blush! Talking about that over the phone." The brunette giggled naughtily. Completely engrossed in her conversation with this 'Kentaro-kun', her voice took a lower, more seductive tone.
"I didn't say stop, did I? Can't wait to see you again either. Last week was enjoyable. Maybe tonight we can try something different?" She asked him. It was faint, but Keitaro managed to hear what 'Kentaro-kun' asked as he leaned closer to her door.
"What about that manager of yours?" He inquired. Her tone then changed without warning. It was one filled with disgust and an undeniable chill. Her following words would become a venom that would spread throughout Keitaro's heart.
"Keitaro? Ha ha ha ha! Unlike you, he's a stupid, clumsy and a pathetic excuse for a man. After all the beatings I've given him, he ACTUALLY thinks that I'm in love with him! Then again, he's always been a glutton for punishment." She laughed in a compassionless voice. "Don't worry about that clueless baka. I have him wrapped around my finger. If only he knew the times you came over when he was overseas with Seta. Why am I still staying here? Well, being in 'love' with the manger does have its…benefits. Besides, it's kind of nice having a 'slave'. Ha ha ha, I know. I love you too Kentaro-kun…" She finished as she kissed the speaker part of the phone.
When Keitaro heard those last five words, he couldn't listen anymore. Slowly, he crept back into his room, his heart now a pitiful pile of broken pieces. Left alone in his thoughts, he went through the seven stages in record time, the final one being acceptance. Looking back on past incidents, the young man began to piece together the puzzle that was thrown onto him so suddenly. Everything started to fit. Her part time job, the supposed trip to Kyoto when she brushed him off, all of it became horribly clear; making the truth hurt him more than he could possibly imagine.
'It hurts. It hurts so badly. Oh Kami, it hurts.' He thought dismally as he just sat there and looked at the hole in the ceiling that connected their two rooms. He covered his face with his hands, wanting to cry and release this pain that was beyond description. But his sorrow was too great for tears. All he could do was stare at the hole that held so many memories for him.
Eventually, a tear emerged from his left eye and slowly hit the tatami floor. As the seconds went by, more and more came until it moved like a slow rainfall. He felt so cold, knowing that his source of 'warmth' was nothing but a lie. All the adventures, all the promises, all the chasing, the very rare moments of affection. Everything was a lie. Naru didn't love him anymore…or more appropriately, she never loved him at all. All those beatings were just her sadistic way of expressing her 'gratitude' and, she honestly admitted to him once on their first date, her way of releasing stress. He couldn't help but laugh bitterly at the irony.
As he always did, he thought it was his fault. Somehow, he felt he made his beloved angry and this was her way of payback. Was he annoying her with his attempt to please her? Didn't he prove that he loved her with ever fiber of his being by chasing her all over Japan, giving her that ring, and being so patient when it took her so long to say the three words he said to her first? Didn't he show his loyalty and trust by denying the feelings of the others, including his own adopted sister? But he stomped that thought out of his head quickly. He would not do it again. He would no longer take the blame for other people's actions. Slowly, he took his beloved photo album and looked at his two print club pictures he shared with her.
"Was all of this a lie too Naru? Was it?" He mumbled to himself as he gently traced the pictures with his hand. It was then that his sorrow quickly turned into rage as he threw his prized possession at the wall, breathing hard. Naru heard the sound and proceeded to slide open the hatch that separated both rooms.
"What are you doing, you baka?!" Naru asked angrily.
"I'm changing." Keitaroreplied in a straight tone without emotion while his back was turned. Those were all the words that he could muster at the moment. If he said anymore, if he even tried to look at her, he would be sobbing in between words. And he wouldn't give his now very EX-girlfriend the satisfaction of seeing him like that. Never again.
"Oh, okay then. I'll see you later then. I'll be out for a while. And don't wait for me at dinner. I have to work tonight." She said in an uncaring voice as she closed the hatch. He decided he would wait for her to leave, which she did ten minutes later. Once that was accomplished and he knew he was alone in the house, he finally gave in into an emotion he hasn't shown in a long time. Hate.
He screamed at the top of his lungs and threw his belongings across the room, cursing Narusegawa's name. He punched the wall so hard that his knuckles started to bleed. But his 'immortality' kicked in once more, making his hands knit and heal at an astonishing rate. He just continued to throw things around and punch at anything close to him, screaming expletives that would make even Kitsune and Haruka's ears red. He begun to feel the physical pain of his actions, but it was nothing compared to what he felt inside. After all, he's felt pain every day of his life, especially since coming into the house. What scared him most of all was that he was strangely used to it. Again and again, he continued his tirade, till his own 'immortality' finally abandoned him. He fell to his knees, feeling somewhat better. But it was not enough. The cancerous ache was still there. A few silent minutes later, a voice called out to him.
"Are you there Keitaro? It's Haruka. I need to discuss something with you, so could you please come on down?" The café owner requested. It took him a good minute for him to answer.
"Yeah. I'll be right down." He answered quietly. Now, Haruka was family. And families tend to have a sixth sense. She could tell just by the tone of his voice that something was wrong.
"Keitaro? Hey are you alright?" Haruka questioned as she approached the stairs and made her way to her nephew's room. Not a sound came from the manager's room with the exception of faint, but hurtful sobs. She now knew something was definitely wrong with her nephew. "Hold on. I'm coming in." She told him, her face showing genuine concern.
"DON'T!" Keitaro shouted as she touched the handle of his door."Please…don't." He added in a softer tone. Normally, she would honor the young man's request. But something within her told her that she needed to be in there. And she followed that feeling as she opened the door.
What Haruka saw will forever be engraved in her mind. For it would signal the end of many things to come.