Hmmm.  My contribution to the Kodocha fanfic world.  I take a few liberties with their world, but in general, it takes place in the same place.  Do not expect drama.  It's not going to happen.  This story is based on the anime, I suppose – after the show ends.  (I just watched episodes 100-102 recently – how darling!  The manga ending might be more romantic, but I love the anime more.)

~

Standard Disclaimer Applies.
~

Prologue: Life as it Stands.


~

The man sat like a stone in his seat, the waiter briefly thought.  He had been waiting there for over an hour, and the waiter could have sworn that he hadn't moved an inch the entire time.  He had approached once, asking him if he wanted something, but the man had cast such a look at him that his courage had failed, and he had ran off.  The waiter shuddered – dang, he made him nervous.  Sighing, he turned away, and picked up his notepad and pen to take orders from another table.  He was going to ask Satoru if he would take that table – after all, what were friends for?  

Hayama waited until the strange waiter was looking away.   Shifting in his seat, he looked suspiciously from the right, then to the left.  Since no one was watching him, he looked up at his watch.  Seven forty five… where the hell was Tsuyoshi?  He was supposed to be exactly on time so that they could get out of there and into private – after all, if someone spotted Hayama Akito out, talking in a low voice with Sasaki Tsuyoshi, they might think they were plotting something.  Which they weren't (Hayama had long decided it wasn't strictly-by-definition a plot, which somewhat relieved Tsuyoshi's excuse-for-a-conscience), but somehow the story would get back to Sana and then Hayama would really be in trouble…

"Akito!"

"AHH!" Hayama yelled, crashing to the tiled floor with a thud.  As everyone else in the restaurant turned to see the commotion, he looked up in blank horror to see Kurata Sana, smiling cheerfully at him through her sunglasses and a colorful silk scarf wrapped stylishly around her hair.

She was completely oblivious to this, of course – she just wore what she felt like wearing, with no clue as to what the fashion was, and she reached out a hand and pulled him up, kissing him on the cheek lightly before she sat down.

"Akito!  You waiting for somebody?  Is it okay if I join you?  Filming for Kaze no Yukata is canceled for the rest of the day!" she said cheerfully, her brown eyes warm and bright with curiosity and sheer happiness.  They were so trusting, so happy… if she knew what he was planning, he was sure they would fall into confusion.  And maybe anger (although he hoped not).

He was hoping that when the time came, he would able to slam the news into her without her realizing what went on, and then just get out of there.  Maybe, he thought, if he did it fast enough, she wouldn't realize what went on… But I wasn't sure, so I was asking Tsuyoshi, but where is he, damn it?  He thought briefly.

Resigning himself to the situation, Hayama waved the waiter over.  Carefully ignoring her earlier question, he said, "… Sana, what are you doing here?  You're hiding again, underneath those sunglasses… er… you really think no one will recognize you?"

She smiled.  "Of course it's going to work!  I'm Kurata Sana, twenty-three year old actress!  I always have perfect disguises that no one can ever recognize me in!  But, Akito, you never answered my question – what are you doing here?  I thought you told me you were working today…" She leaned in suddenly, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.  "Yes – what are you doing here?  You're not… possibly…" 

Hayama gulped.

"SETTING UP A PLAN TO STEAL ME AWAY TO HAWAII, ARE YOU?"  Akito slumped over in relief.  Completely ignorant to this, she continued happily, "Oh, what a nice idea!  But Akito, I have my work to do!  I don't think I can do that…" she said, settling back in her seat and taking a sip of the tea that had already been on the table.  

He smiled at her – just the slightest bit.  She returned one of her wide, gorgeous, real grins – the kind he loved best, even through those silly sunglasses.  He knew her best; that smile was never to be confused with the kind that she showed on TV – or movies – or in concert – or on stage…

It was certainly not the fake, more impersonal smile that the world saw.  Ah, but they believed it; Kurata Sana-chan could make them believe everything and nothing, as one of the most famous and talented actresses in the world.  Although Sana was only twenty-three, the world had known her for years and years, ever since her famous (some called it infamous) debut in Kodomo no Omocha (which no longer showed, especially when the star had left for the final time).  After finishing college, she had devoted herself to her acting work, but carefully balanced it with her social life.  (Which the media tried to document, but failed miserably, since they'd have to defeat Sana first, and that was just not going to happen.)

To Hayama Akito (who was working for his masters at the local university), she was simply Sana, his girlfriend ever since he had gotten his black belt at age seventeen.

However, after much contemplation, Hayama had finally come to a decision: He no longer wanted Sana to be his girlfriend.  Not that this would make a great difference to the media; as far as they knew, Sana didn't have a boyfriend, and was instead, avidly pursued by a list of famous admirers (which still included, to Hayama's great annoyance, Kamura Naozumi, despite his and Sana's constantly stating, "We're not dating!").

Hayama was sick of it – and it had been one of the main factors in him deciding not to date her anymore.

But how should he break it to her?  That was the major problem, which he was going to have Tsuyoshi help him with, but it looked like that it wasn't going to happen now…

As the waiter came over, Hayama waved an impatient hand at him, then handed him the menu.  "I want the Chef's Special of sushi…" pausing, he pulled out his wallet, and flipped through the money.

"Sana, you can order whatever you want – I'll pay." 

Sana beamed at Hayama from across the table. 

"Akito, are you still annoyed because I paid for us last time?"  He scowled.  "No." 

Sana laughed.  "Ok, then you'll pay.  Waiter-san, I'll just have some dumplings, and would you refill the pitcher of tea?  I'm afraid I drank it all!"  She smiled up at the waiter, who unblinkingly took the tea pitcher.  He looked down at her momentarily – then looked back, his eyes widening.

Too late, Hayama realized that Sana's sunglasses had slipped down her nose (she never could wear them properly).  The waiter paused, then put the pitcher of tea on the tray.  Maybe, Hayama thought, the waiter didn't recognize her – he might not watch movies.  Or listen to music.  Or watch TV.  Or go to plays.  Or see any of the ads that had her face plastered on them in the street.

Yeah, right.

"OH MY GOD!  IT'S KURATA SANA-CHAN!  THE REAL KURATA SANA-CHAN!  I'M SUCH A BIG FAN OF YOURS; CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?  HERE'S A NAPKIN!  HOW AMAZING, THE REAL SANA-CHAN IS ORDERING FROM THE SAME RESTAURANT I'M A WAITER AT!"

Instantly, Hayama and Sana were surrounded by the entire restaurant.  Hayama watched Sana quickly collect her thoughts (while signing the napkin with a flourish).

Standing up, she took off her scarf and sunglasses, beaming at the crowd.  "Hello, I'm Kurata Sana!" she said, her brown eyes shining.  Sheepishly, she rubbed her head.  "I guess I was caught!  Oh, look at the time, I really have to be going!  Good bye, everybody!"  And with that, she shoved the napkin into the waiter's waiting hands, and then whirled out, sprinting through the crowd that quickly followed.

Moments later, Hayama's cell-phone rung.  Pressing the "on" button, he heard Sana say over the noise, "Akito!  I'm sorry I couldn't stay to eat with you, but I'll see you later Saturday night, then, okay?  We're still on for dinner, right?"

Hayama nodded briefly.  "Akito, if you nod, I don't know if that's a yes or not.  Say yes next time, okay?  Love you!  Ja!" and with that, the dial tone sounded through his ear.

It was at that precise moment that Sasaki Tsuyoshi walked through the door, grinning like the maniac that he was.  "Oh!  Akito-kun!  I'm sorry I was late, but there was traffic, and then guess who I saw being chased down the street?  San- OW!" 

Hayama had smashed Tsuyoshi very neatly into the ground. 

"I really am sorry, Akito-kun!  You didn't actually run into Sana-chan, did you?" 

He took a brief look at Hayama from the ground. 

"Oh, you did?  Hahahaha!  How funny!  I told you I saw her being chased by lots of people, right?  Hahahaha!  Oh, look, these are her sunglasses and scarf on the table!  Hahaha!  I wonder if I should ask Aya-chan to return them to Sana-chan?"  Hayama quickly snatched the scarf and sunglasses, stuffing them in his pocket.  "Hahaha!  You don't need to be so possessive!  Besides, eventually, you're not going to be dating her anymore!  Hahahaha!  Sana-chan doesn't know what's going on, huh?  Hahahaha!" 

"OUCH!  Akito-kun, why did you hit me again?  And did you go shopping for what you wanted to give Sana-chan before you stop dating yet?"

Hayama scowled.  Reaching into his jacket pocket, he fumbled around a bit before finally grabbing a small, rectangular-shaped package.  Plunking it on the table, he carefully undid the foam packaging, then set it down.

It was a pretty little music box, made out of mahogany.  Carved around it were swirls of flowers, done by an artist's sensitive hand.  He had bought it because it had seemed to be a nice, if clichéd, way to end a relationship.  In other words, a bribe for peace.

Reaching over, Hayama pressed the catch that opened up the box.  As it played a soft, wistful melody, the lid slowly opened up – to reveal a platinum ring, a fairly small diamond set in the metal, studded with pearls.  It was the best Hayama could afford.  Simple, but absolutely gorgeous and unique – and only for Sana.

"Wow!" exclaimed Tsuyoshi.  "You know, I've never seen that ring before, and I went to lots of different stores when I was looking for an engagement ring for Aya-chan!  There as that little gold one, and the little pink one, and you know, I would've just gotten her plastic but Sana-chan told me that wouldn't be a very good idea!  You know, when you first told me you were going to stop dating Sana, I thought you meant that you were going to break up with her!  Hahahah- OW!  Akito-kun, stop hitting me!"

~

Okay, so even after twelve years, Tsuyoshi is still as goofy and dense as ever.  I realize that it might have been slightly confusing through this fic; after all, I refer to Hayama as Hayama while Sana refers to him as Akito – I think that after all this time, she might call him Akito.  Then again, she might still be obstinately calling him Hayama.  Who knows.  I adore Hayama, though – oh, so much comedic torture is heading toward him in this fic… what fun to write!  ^^; Review!

Ah, the Kaze no Yukata?  Well, I was thinking of her other movie in the show, Mizu no Yukata, and at first I replaced it with Mimizu no Yukata (what Zenjirou was talking about), but that seemed kind of cheesy, so I shoved in kaze.  "Palace of the Wind."  So, that's her current project.  If I don't watch it, it'll turn into Nausicaa.  (Okay, so Sana-chan doesn't really fit the description of Nausicaa, but bear with me.)

~

December 27, 2001

2:36 a.m.

~  

Edited and posted again January 31, 2002.

PS – has anyone noticed that with authors who post the time when they finished it, the times are almost always at evil times of the morning/night?