Over Now

Well, after a lengthy abscence and with much getting in the way, I've returned to the Mai Hime fanfic world, though the content in this fic may not be to anyone's liking, I felt like I had to get this idea down on paper before I was driven crazy by it. I do not own Mai Hime, it is owned by Sunrise animation and distributed to the states by Bandai.

No more holding it in

How many years can I pretend

Nothing never goes the way it should

No more sitting in this place

Hoping you might see it my way

Cause I don't think you ever understood

That what I'm looking for are the answers

To why these questions never go away

Crossfade - So Far Away

The flames of the bonfire danced before in many directions, illuminating the dark night. Before the fire stood one lone figure, wearing a pair of blue jeans, and a green dress shirt over a yellow t-shirt. He wore no particular expression on his face, nothing but a blank stare, one that only paid attention to the flames and nothing more. Breaking this seemingly endless ritual and taking a glance at his watch, he spoke to no one in particular. "Well, might as well get started" reaching over to his side, he picked up a small cardboard box and pulled apart the tabs. Within the box were multiple vests and jackets. All of which bore the colors and crests of Fuuka academy. To anyone who had ascended the small hillside that the bonfire was lit upon, they would see that the young man in question was none other than Yuuichi Tate. A young man who had grown tired and fed up with the way other people had treated him on this island, and it was now time for him to bid it good bye, and watch all he had relating to it go up in flames. Grabbing a vest from the box, Tate tossed it into the bonfire, and watched as it began to burn up into nothing. Another jacket followed and another and a vest shortly afterwards. This continued until Tate had run out of uniform tops to feed into the flames.

Reaching back into the box, Tate picked up a small envelope and pulled it open, revealing a set of photos. Several of the photos were of him with members of the kendo club, along with him getting a pat on the back from its former captain, Masashi Takeda. Tate immediately thought back to when Takeda had graduated a year back, and the speech he had given the club. It was not exactly a warm and heartfelt experience.

~*~

flashback

The students, both male and female gathered around the center of the kendo club training hall, awaiting the arrival of the club captain Masashi Takeda. They had finished off their final training session for that semester. To anyone who had noticed, Masashi Takeda had worn a sort of somber expression on his face. Whenever one of the girls had tripped or anytime during the day when a female classmate had found herself in a humiliating situation, Takeda hadn't batted an eyelash, much less a geizeresque' nosebleed as he had in days past. Other things to note of were his behavior around his former crush Natsuki Kuga, or rather lack of behavior completely. He hadn't stuttered nor had he blushed or gotten flustered when she was around, instead Takeda simply walked past her, and kept silent. He had been doing that alot as of late. Just staying quiet, keeping to himself. Tonight however he was expected to break the silence to give a speech to his fellow club members. It would be a speech none of them would forget.

Tate knew that Masashi was set to graduate in a few days, and had decided to say his goodbyes then and there while he still had a chance since Takeda would be spending time getting fitted for his cap and gown and learning his location for when they would be handed their diplomas. Then he would be gone. He'd be free from this place forever, such a wonderful thing to be gone from this damn place. Mai had chosen to be with Mikoto and had told him that while she had appreciated his help and was flattered by how much he had loved her, she just couldn't bring herself to feel the same. That was the end of it. Over before it even had a chance to exist. The door to the training hall slid open, and the captain had entered, his silence still not broken.

Tate watched as everyone turned their heads in Masashi's direction. Many rose and bowed to him, the proper way to show respect for their captain, especially since he'd be leaving soon. As they took their seats, many took notice of the look of extreme bitterness on Takeda's face. He showed no signs of happiness or relief, only a look that said he'd much rather be anywhere other than here. Taking a short stride into the room, Takeda looked around and after coming to a stop, spoke.

"Wow, what a turn out, of course you're all probably just doing all of this because you have to, or just going through the motions and not because you want to, and that's the thing I've come to expect from this this island and the people on it. Everyone is a fake, no one cares about you, no matter what you do for them, they don't care. They just look at you, give you a dirty look and walk off. So you know what? I'm gonna do the complete opposite and just say what I really feel about you all instead of hiding behind a lie. You bunch of motherfucking kiss-asses! You slackers! You dipshits! You think I don't know what people say about me, or the Kendo Club? Oh I know alright, I know how so many of you talk about me behind my back, about how you look at me in disgust about how I had a crush on one of my fellow classmates. Well guess what assholes? You can relax. She told me flat out that she doesn't like me, and likes someone else.

So while I'd like it if you guys would stop talking about me behind my back, or how you hate to see me fawn and obsess over that girl, its not gonna happen. You're all just gonna keep talking about me and trashing me no matter what. Well you know what? Fuck You All!! Take this island! Take this Club, Take all the things you said about me, and Shove it!!" He was finished speaking after that. Takeda then took his vest and shinai and threw them against the nearest wall, unaffected by the loud clatter they made upon impact. Takeda threw open the sliding doors, but stopped for one brief minute to look upon the wall for the wooden placard bearing his name. He saw one of the students going for it. "Don't touch it" He ordered. The deep chill in his voice was enough to stop the student in his tracks.

Walking back over to the very placard the student was reaching for, Takeda grabbed it roughly himself and then walked towards the sliding doors and walked off into the night, the placard still gripped tightly in his hand. A few days later, a bonfire was seen in the woodland area. Some students claimed they saw Takeda sitting at the fire, but some dismissed it or paid it no attention due to lack of interest, or out of personal disgust for the angry young man.

end flashback

~*~

No one said anything to Takeda following that. He didn't say anything to anyone else either. Tate never saw a smile on his face or any other expression until the day he graduated and was handed his diploma. Upon being handed it and tossing his cap into the air, all that was on his face was an expression of relief. For him, his nightmare and torment, was over. Soon, very soon Yuuichi's own personal hell would come to an end, and Fuuka island would be a memory. No more fighting, no more memories of his own death, no more Mai Tokiha, no more Reito Kanzaki, and no more Fuuka Island. It would all be gone in a matter of days. No more years standing between him, just a couple days. He'd be handed his diploma, and the next day he'd board a ferry and return to the mainlands, away from everyone and everything that was responsible for ruining his life. The fire was dying down now and Tate gave it one last shot at life by feeding it a dry stick and the photos contained within the envelope. He watched as it all caught fire and burnt up, all of his memories of this place, were now going up in smoke. After dousing the fire, Tate made his way back up to the main road and back to his dorm.

Tomorrow he would be given his place and location for the graduation ceremony. If he could just keep his head and keep it together for one more day, then just hold up in his room until the day after graduation, he'd make it out of this with at least half of his soul intact.

"I'm almost done, I'm almost free. I'm so close to getting out of here I can practically taste it" Tate muttered to himself. Finally making his way to the boy's dorm, Tate opened it up and made his way over to the kitchen and began to prepare a simple cup noodle meal for dinner. A bigger one would be waiting for him when he arrived back home in Tokyo. His parents were looking forward to his graduation ceremony but due to a busy work schedule, they wouldn't be able to attend. That was fine by him, this place wasn't worth setting foot on anyways. For him it was no man's land, in more ways than one. Turning on the Coffee maker, Tate set about following the instructions for making the simple Ramen meal when a sudden knock at the door interrupted him from his train of thoughts. "I'm not expecting any company, I don't have anything left to do or say to the Student Council, and Shiho's glued herself to the shrine in an attempt to atone for her actions during the festival, and Takeda had been gone for a year and had been pretty adamant about never coming back again. So whom could it be?

The knocking continued and it didn't sound like it would end anytime soon. Checking on his noodles one last time, Tate walked over to the door and opened it. Standing there was one of the last people he wanted to see, ever. It was Mai Tokiha. "To what do I owe the honor?" Tate asked as he folded his arms across his chest, hoping that whatever the red head had to say to him would be brief.

"I just wanted to come by and, see how you were doing, in a couple days we may never see one another for a long time, possibly even never again" Mai said. Her voice held a hint of sorrow to it, but Tate paid it no mind. "I'm doing fine, and once I get my diploma and head back home I'll be doing even better" Tate said back. Noticing the smell emanating from his coffee-maker, Mai spoke up. "I noticed you're making ramen in the coffee maker, if you like I could come in and make you dinner" Mai said. "I think I'm more than capable of cooking my last meal Mai" Tate said, the tone of his voice sounding firm and unyielding.

"Well I didn't mean that, its just that I thought you'd like a home cooked meal, you must know how good I am at cooking from what Mikoto says..." Mai stopped right there with what she was about to say when she saw Tate's eye's meet hers when the young catgirl's name come up. Tate hadn't said anything out loud about her relationship with Mikoto and choosing her over him, but she knew that it hurt for him to have just willingly stepped aside like that. Which was why she had come that day in an attempt to smooth over any hard feelings that may or may not be there. However it looked like it wouldn't be happening anytime soon. Unfolding his arms from his chest, Tate turned to look Mai straight in the eye and spoke: "Mai, just go away, go home to Mikoto. I've got enough things on my mind as it is, so please just leave me in as much peace as I can get from this place anymore" Tate said, not really begging but making it clear that the conversation had ended.

"I, I see" Mai spoke, hurt by what he had said, but it was understandable. She knew that he had loved her, and had stepped aside so that Mai could be happy with Mikoto, but by no means was he happy about it. He was alone on this island, Shiho had been keeping a low profile and mostly stayed at the shrine in an attempt to put the past behind her and atone, the student council hadn't had much work for Tate, mainly due to it being the end of the year and his lack of enthusiasm in the past year and a half. To say that his staying here would only rub more and more salt to the wound would be the understatement of the century.

Silence reigned in the place between the two teens, neither made a move for a whole minute, until Mai moved forward to put her arms around Tate, when he stopped her by grabbing both of her arms, and spoke. "Mai...don't" The two simple words that came from his mouth in a simple whisper, had an impact on her that could have moved mountains. She had only wanted to make him happy, she was a woman who valued her friends and family more than anything, and despite how much his outlook had changed in the past year or so, Yuuichi was still a friend. "There's no point in putting a band-aid on something that's been bled dry Mai" Yuuichi said as he let go of her arms. Said arms fell back to the girl's sides and her head drooped down low. Looking up, Mai looked him in the face and instead of seeing his usual face of irritatance or the look on his face that he wore when he had no idea what was going on, Tate only wore an expression that seemed like it was pleading for her to go. There was no longer any chemistry between the two of them, and doing something like a hug or an embrace would only serve as a means to give out false hope, and Mai wasn't that cruel.

"Goodbye, Yuuichi" Mai said, her voice cracking somewhat. There would be tears streaming down her face later and Mikoto would try to make her feel better, even threaten Yuuichi, and Mai would stop her, and explain that when people fall in love, sometimes others are the ones that get hurt. Yuuichi had gotten hurt enough in her opinion.

She turned to leave, going back to her apartment and to Mikoto. Tate watched as she left and walked off, for what would be the last time. Closing the door, Yuuichi went back to his cup noodles and sat down to eat one of the last meals he would have here in this apartment.

~*~

Graduation day had come and Tate was standing in line to receive his diploma. Several other students were already receiving their own, Eager to finally be among the greats who were no longer shackled down to the prison that was high school. Tate however just wanted to get the hell out of there as soon as possible. The whole ceremony was just him going through the motions, just as the Kendo club did that one night, probably according to Takeda. But that was where the accusations stopped and the truth began, because Tate surely was going through the motions. His walk was almost like that of a corpse, empty, devoid of emotion and interest. He planned to get his diploma, then once it was okay to disperse, he'd return to his apartment and ready any remaining parcels that needed packing up for the long ride home tomorrow.

Mai watched as Tate stood in line, not making small talk with anyone or counting down the minutes until the diploma would be his. He was just standing there. She wanted to reach out and talk to him one last time, but it appeared as though that was not to be. It was doubtful that his opinion had changed in the hours that had long since past. All that lay between them were at least five other students, in keeping in check with the alphabetical order of the seating arrangements. Those five students might as well have been a mile to her.

Tate was handed his diploma and shook the hand of Fumi, the acting Administrator to the academy, She had taken over the reigns with the disappearance of the previous chairperson Mashiro. Her vanishing act had caused a few people to ask questions, but Tate wasn't one of them. Moving forward to keep the line moving so that the other students could also receive their diplomas, Tate joined the remaining group at the bottom of the stairs, every last one of them eager to partake in the final part of the ceremony where they would toss their caps up into the air and catch it, signifying that they were now graduates. In a small sort of way, so was Yuuichi, if only so it meant that he too was one of them, and that he was one step closer to true freedom.

The diplomas had finally been handed out and the caps had been tossed, Cheers, handshakes, and thanks were being given along with pats on the back to all of the students. Yuuichi however, was desperate for some air and had retreated to one of the overlooks that presented the viewer with a sight of the ocean, colored a bright orange due to the sinking sun. The ocean, would soon be his path to freedom, on the meager ferry that had probably shepparded numerous students to and from Fuuka academy over the years. He couldn't wait, and tomorrow couldn't get here quickly enough.

A set of footsteps alerted Yuuichi to the arrival of another person. Hoping it wouldn't be Mai, Tate turned around, ready to tell her to leave him alone, but instead he was met by the face of one Reito Kanzaki, the former student council Vice President.

"Reito, what're you doing here?" Tate asked, surprised at the former Vice president's arrival on the island he too once inhabited. The look on his handsome face however was more tired than anything. Yuuichi would have been right in guessing that his exhaustion was due to his own grievances of Mai not choosing him either, as well as the weight of maintaining a front of the usual, handsome and charming student council vice president, and the one who was set to negotiate and organize all of the events that the academy. It was a weight that was finally be lifted off of his shoulders a year ago.

I'm just here overseeing a few things, my duties as a former vice president are neverending I suppose" Reito answered. "Nice view, don't you think?" Reito asked. "Best view I've seen in a long time" Tate said, agreeing with his former superior from his days in the student council in regards to the ocean. "I take it that you're going to be leaving us tomorrow?" Reito asked. "Yep, I'll be leaving on the 12 o'clock Ferry back to Tokyo" Tate replied. "I'll be leaving as well on a later boat. I'd leave on the same one as you but I still have some final notes to leave with Mikoto" Reito replied. "I thought you lived on this island?" Tate asked. "I live in Shinjuku, but to be honest I'm thinking of spending the summer in one of my family's homes in Okinawa. What about you?" Reito asked, answering Tate's question and giving one of his own. "I'm going back home to Tokyo. I'm going to stay with my parents for a few weeks and try to get a summer job and see if any colleges have accepted my transcripts" Tate replied. "Sounds like a plan" Reito said in response.

The silence hung thick between the two men as they watched the sun continue to sink into the ocean, causing the once bright orange ocean to turn to an almost violet color due to the arrival of nightfall. yuuichi was the first to break that thick silence. "Though to be honest, I thought there'd be a happier ending to my story out here" he said. Reito smirked at this, half heartedly. "Sometimes, there are no happy endings Yuuichi" He replied back, reminding himself as well as Yuuichi to the painful truth. "Still, despite it all, let's at least part, as friends" Reito said as he extended his hand to Yuuichi. Yuuichi was slow to extend his hand to Reito. He hadn't forgotten what had happened during the carnival and his duel with Reito. Still, the worst Reito could do was punch him out and spit on him, after that the both of them would probably never see one another again. Taking a leap of faith, Yuuichi extended his hand and grasped Reito's in it. Once the handshaking had ended, Reito spoke. "Goodbye Yuuichi, may the path that you walk away from this island, be the one that grants you happiness" Reito said in all honesty to his friend. "Same to you Reito, same to you" Yuuichi replied, removing his hand from Reito's. The two walked in opposite directions, to destinations that only they knew, never looking back at one another, not even once.

~*~

Yuuichi returned to his apartment, still clad in his cap and gown. Setting down his cap onto his bed, he then set about carefully removing his gown and then proceeded to fold it up and put it into the plastic wrapping it came in and loading it back into his suitcase. Now only a short matter of hours lay between he and his freedom. He should get dinner started, but it would mean starting up the oven or the microwave, or calling take out, but he wasn't interested or hungry. Yuuichi instead settled for sitting down in a recliner, and relaxing as best he could, and hoping that sleep would come quickly. The alarm was set for eleven a.m. tomorrow, and it was likely he'd be awake by then. Sleep, was the only thing on his to do list at the moment, as he began to rest his eyes.

A knock at the door startles Yuuichi from his slumber. Looking back, he saw the clock read at least ten o'clock. Meaning at least three hours had gone by. The knocking continued and didn't seem to have an end to it. Deciding to see who it was and to hopefully find some way to get rid of them before it got out of hand, Tate arose from his chair and went to the door. Undoing the lock and opening the door, Tate saw that it was Natsuki Kuga, the aloof loner and biker student of Fuuka, and former Hime. Tate had no real problem with her, but she was a good friend of Mai's so it wouldn't pay off well to be angry with her or to say bad things about the red headed Hime despite how Tate may have honestly felt about her going to Mikoto. Silence hung between the two of them for a time, until Natsuki chose to break it.

"So I hear you're leaving tomorrow. Leaving for Tokyo" She said in a calm tone of voice. "That's right" Tate responded. "Why are you leaving?" She asked back. "There's nothing left for me here, and the only woman here I loved, doesn't exactly return the favor. So I'm leaving, going back home to my parents and seeing if I can find my place in the world elsewhere" Tate said, hopefully answering all of the biker's questions. "I see, guess I can't blame you then" Natsuki said back. "I'm leaving next week, I'm going to.." "To Kyoto" Tate said, answering for her. "Why'd you say that?" Natsuki said, asking why Tate would answer her place of destination for her. "Because she's there" Tate said. Both of them knew whom that she was, and they both left it at that. Natsuki knew why she would be going back and, Yuuichi had enough trouble in the terms of relationships, and to listen to someone else go on and on about their's would only make him feel even worse than he did already. Seeing no other reason to stay and keep him awake, Natsuki turned to leave, and picked up her helmet from the ground, before leaving, she looked at him and spoke: "If its any consolation, I was rooting for the both of you too". Her words were touching, but by this point they were only bittersweet. Tate nodded his head and closed the door, walking back towards the recliner and closed his eyes once he heard the familiar sound of her custom Ducati revving up and speeding off somewhere into the night. Soon it would all end, and by the end of the day tomorrow, he'd be asleep in his family home, far far away from here, and even further away from the memories associated with this place, the Island known as Fuuka.

This is only the first chapter, with the second and final one due out later this week. In closing, I just want to say, read and review and happy new year.