digi-gal-rox: it's been a while since i've last been on. partly because i had a lot of assignments to do, and exams. but after that, my mind has been blank in writing. but as of recently, after reading some bitter sweet mangas, some stories came to mind. and right at the moment, my head is only filled with bitter sweet stories. so here is my first one. but i will update my other stories hopefuly later today or sometime this week. happy readings!
Summary: He returns a few years later after leaving his friends. And a long the way, he learns of the truth of a long departed friend
BROKEN PROMISES
He gave a soft sigh, leaning his head back. Beside him, the sounds of snore from the much older man kept him awake. With a grunt, he faced the window, observing the dark sky. How many years had it been? Too long to count, but at last, he was returning. As he began to drum his fingers on the arm rest, he couldn't help but smile at the young
woman beside him. His sleeping wife. He was excited. To see them again. He closed his eyes, allowing the memories of his past to flow back. Than, he smiled.
He awoke, with someone nudging him. Opening his eyes slowly, the frown on his wife's face greeted him. Shaking his head slightly, he chuckled, bringing his leg up to him, allowing her to pass. They had arrived.
"Hurry up," she said, slinging her handbag over shoulder. He sighed, unbuckling the belt, he followed the smaller woman out of the plane, waiting to be greeted by the familiar warm face.
"Wait here," he murmured, "I'll get the bags." she nodded mutely, observing her surroundings. Unfamiliar faces seem to fly past her, grabbing their bags and departing, with much haste. The grip on her shoulder surprised her, causing her to yelp. He chuckled softly in response. "Jumpy much?" he asked, teasingly. She snorted in response, grabbing one of the bags and leaving him behind. "Hey!" he called after her, laughing. Rolling her eyes inwardly, she looked for the face she was looking for, before smiling.
"How's everyone?" he asked. His friend remained silent, eyes concentrating on the road. "I asked a question."
"Everyone's... good." was the quiet response. "It's been quiet here lately, as you can imagine." he nodded his head slightly.
"How is-"
"Good." was the quick response. "Everyone's doing good." silence took over the trip, as familiar surroundings began to form. He smiled slightly, as they passed the familiar street.
"Hey, where are we going?" he suddenly asked. "I thought-"
"Change of plans."
He sat quietly, his wife fidgeting beside him. Moments later, his friend returned, a box at hand, which seemed to be wrapped up in a parcel.
"What's that?" his wife asked.
"Something left for him." was the friend's response. "It's been sitting here for... sometime now. You never really did give us your address." the friend supplied.
"Yeah, sorry about that." he said sheepishly. "Where is she, Eriol?" the other man remained quiet, his eyes focused on the package.
"Free..." was his misty response.
"I'll be back in a moment," his wife murmured. Nodding mutely, he watched as his wife departed from the room. With a heavy sigh, he slowly opened the package, revealing an almost faded box. Curiously, he lifted the lid. Dropping the lid, his eyes widened, along with his mouth hanging open. At the sound of the door opening, he saw his wife with two mugs at hand. "You O.K?" she asked curiously. He nodded, picking up the lid and placing it over the box.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"The number you have dialed is no longer available..." groaning in frustration, he hung up, once again. One thing on his mind. Where was she.
"Syaoran?" he turned around slightly, Eriol at the door.
"Where is she?" he demanded. Erio closed his eyes, as if debating to tell.
"She's gone."
"Gone? Gone where?" his voice rising. Eriol didn't respond. "Tell me damn it!"
"A year now." Eriol murmured, "She left... a year ago."
A frown was evident on his face. Beside him, his wife trying to sooth him, with no avail. Grunting, he rose to his feet.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to look for her." he said hastily. "I'll be back." nodding mutely, she watched him as he left. With a soft sigh, she slowly made her way to the laptop. An idea still sparked in her head. Typing the name in the search engine, she waited for the results. Her eyes widened, arms hanging loose beside her. 'OUR FAVOURITE FLOWER' had caught her eye. Below, the single picture had caused her to hang her head in defeat.
"Aren't you going to tell him?" he asked quietly. The pale woman shook her head.
"I can't..." she murmured.
"And here we thought everything would remain forever." he murmured, he held onto her hands tightly. "I hate this, you know that." she smiled weakly, closing her eyes briefly, before opening them again.
"If anything happens... give it to him?" he nodded his head. "Promise?"
"Promise." silence had greeted the room.
"How is she?"
"They say she's getting worse." he said quietly. "When you see her, you can't but think that she's going to make it, that look on her face..." he closed his eyes, fists slightly clenched. "Why did he do it?" it was obvious to see that he was in pain. "Why did SHE do it?" no one answered him. "I hate this."
"What's that?" he looked down at the box in his hand.
"She wants me to watch over it for now."
"What is it?" a frown formed on his face.
"A promise."
"Where are you?" he asked. He watched silently, as children happily ran past. Ignoring the ringing of his phone, he continued walking down the familiar streets of his childhood, the happy laughter now fading into the air. It wasn't long till he found himself in front of the familiar house. Hopes rising high, he stepped foward into the front yard, making his long journey to the front door.
"Hai?" an elderly woman opened the door meekly, poking her head out. A kind smile on her face.
"Anou... I'm looking for Kinomoto...-" the woman's eyes widened, her mouth hanging in a slight 'o'.
"Gomene," she said softly. "They haven't lived here for a year now. They moved away last year." he hung his head slightly.
"Do you know their current address?" he asked hopefully. She shook her head.
"No." the elderly woman respond softly.
"You can't tell him." a voice said. Turning around, dropping her phone, the young wife looked at the other man, obvious confusion written on her face.
"Doshite?" she asked. He closed his eyes defeatedly.
"It's something that he has to find out on his own." he paused, "Or at least from her family." her faced soured slightly.
"Demo-"
"You really don't understand do you?" he voice was harsher than he inteded. "You really don't understand." turning around, he started to leave. "If you tell him..." he didn't finish his sentence. She watched helplessly, as he departed from the room.
"What happened?" she asked quietly.
"Me?" his grip on the phone tightened.
"She may spill to him anytime soon." he heard a sigh on the other line, as he started to pace up and down the room.
"I don't know if I can, Eriol-kun." she said quietly. "They... he is still angry."
"Tomoyo-chan," he murmured, "He will never give up on his search on her now." an awkward pause greeted them.
"Has he found it yet?" she asked.
"Iie." he responded, his eyes now gently closed. "He will soon though."
"I'll get the next flight in." she said quietly, after another pause.
"They left this behind," the elderly woman handed a small wrapped up book. He looked at it intently, before slowly removing the cloth. His eyes widened, as a small gasp escaped his lips. The elderly woman sighed softly, sadness written in her eyes. "The poor girl," she mumbled. "So young..."
"What happened to her?" he asked desperately.
"It's not my place to say anything," the woman responded.
"I deserve an explanation, Eriol." an overtly pissed Syaoran burst into the room. The dark haired man looked up, before returning to his book.
"Tomoyo-chan is coming by, hopefully tonight." Eriol said lightly. "It'll be good to see the gang again."
"And Sakura?" he asked, his voice demanding.
"She won't." he replied airly.
"Where is she? Why did she leave her book behind?" he demanded.
"Book?"
"Album. The album I gave her." Eriol's features suddenly changed.
"Oh..."
"Eriol, please..." the young man begged desperately.
"I... I can't. Not yet."
"You seem cheerful today." she smiled, entering the room. She nodded her head, vigorously.
"Hai!"
"I wonder why..." this had caused the other to frown. The first smiled slyly, as she sat down on the chair by the
bed. "Everyone's getting together for that festival tonight," she sighed happily, it sure is gonna be fun!"
"But I thought-"
"Hm?" the other began to pout. "You forgot!" as tears began to form in her eyes, everyone suddenly struggled to get
into the room, tumbling over one another.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
"Hoe!" the room erupted with laughter, as her father came in, carrying a cake.
"Happy Birthday, Sakura-san."
"He'll find out eventually!" he exclaimed.
"But she didn't-" she retorted.
"Don't you think I know that?" he responded sharply, "He's digging in deeper. He's found it!" she didn't respond.
"She-"
"I know." he responded, earning a glare from her. "Tomoyo-chan, I think it's best if we tell him."
"Tell me what?" the two turned around, to see a confused, yet curious brunette at the door.
"Syaoran-san!" Tomoyo jumped to her feet, a smile plastered on her face.
"Tell me what?" he repeated, a glare on his face. The two looked at each other nervously, before Tomoyo sunk back to the chair.
"I think you should sit down." she said quietly.
With her face pressed against the window, she couldn't help but let out a giggle. He chuckled softly, hands in his pockets, before copying her movement.
"Well?" he asked, teasingly.
"That," she announced, pointing to a particular object. "Promise me you'll get me that?" she asked. Another chuckle escaped his lips.
"Hai, hai, Hime."
"Hime?!"
He looked at the two, Tomoyo's hands fidgeting, and Eriol's hands drumming silently on the arm rest. A few minutes later, his wife entered the room, taking a seat by her husband. Tomoyo and Eriol cast each other nervous glances.
"Well?" Syaoran asked, impatiently. His wife placed her hand gently above his, whispering soothing words.
"For sometime, after you left... she'd been in the hospital." Tomoyo began quietly.
"Hosp-"
"Leukemia." Eriol supplied quietly, his eyes down cast. The room fell silent.
"I'm really sorry, Sakura-chan." a voice said quietly behind her. The young girl, however, remained frozen, watching the scene before her.
"Iie..." she murmured silently, backing away slowly. Shaking her head slightly, she turned around and ran, failing to ignore to two voices calling after her.
"Sakura-chan!" the image stuck in her head, as she ran blindly down the streets, before running to her comforts of
her home.
"Doshite?" she asked quietly, as if in pray. "Doshite, Syaoran-kun?"
"At one point, we all thought that she was doing better. And she was, but than it got worse." Eriol continued. A soft sigh had escaped Tomoyo's lips.
"As of today... she-" she chocked, unable to complete the sentence. "She...-" Eriol looked at her sadly, tears were now forming in the woman's eyes.
"She passed." Eriol finished for her. Syaoran froze, as his wife hung her head. He stared at the two intently, questions whirling in his head.
"Why didn't-"
"That, you have to ask them." Eriol responded lightly.
"Where-" Tomoyo smiled grimly.
"Near her mother." he nodded, rising to his feet.
"Where are you going?" his wife asked.
"I'm going to see her." Eriol shook his head.
"Go tomorrow. It's late anyway." Syaoran stared at the other man intently, before walking away.
"Tousan!" a child cried out happily, running a head of a darked haired man. "Hayaku!" shaking his head slightly, he smiled, following the young, energetic child.
"Hai, hai, kaijuu."
"Tousan!" the child whined, turning around, pouting. He chuckled.
"Kai-juu." he stated slowly, laughing. The child stuck out her tongue, before moving on a head. Sighing softly, the older man ran his hand through his hair, a gentle smile on his face. "Sometimes, you are just so much like her."
"Auntie!" the young girl exclaimed happily, as her father placed the cherry blossoms down. "It's me again! And tousan! How are you?" she giggled, as she closed her eyes.
"Ne, Sakura..." the child looked up, curiously.
"Hai?" he simply looked at her and smiled, hugging his daughter tightly. "Betsuni..."
He sighed softly, as he continued walking down the vaguely familiar path. Pulling to a stop, he noticed a familiar figure there, along with a child. He couldn't help but wonder if she ever got married.
"Tousan!" the child shrieked, as her father started to tickle her. "Auntie, help!"
"Auntie...?" he murmured, his eyes widening in realization. "Touya-san..." quickly hiding behind a tree, he watched as the child ran by happily. He stiffened slightly, as the other man stopped in front of his hiding spot.
"Just so you know, gaki," his voice came out, surprisingly warm, "She was happy." with that, the older man hurried after his daughter, calling after her to slow down. Stepping out, he watched the two disappear. Sighing, he walked up, to the grave where the cherry blossom sat. With a heavy sigh, he sunk to the earth before him, tears brimming of his eyes.
"Sakura..."
In the opened box in the room, two clearly seen objects sat at the top. One, a letter, the other a shining object given years ago. What was in the box? Paper cranes. And the object? A promise ring. The letter had only two words written on it: 'A promise'
END
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digi-gal-rox: ta!