Clovers

- All Disclaimers Implied -

Gabriel smiled softly, but the spark didn't quite reach his eyes. It almost never did these days. Arthur stood in front of him, a soft scowl on his face. The scowl really didn't mean anything; he usually had it these days. They stood in the back of the school building, under the cherry blossom tree. He remembered this tree when they first confessed, their everyday 'usual place.'

"It's already over, isn't it?" he asked softly. Arthur looked away.

"Not over, just…will you wait until I come back?"

Arthur's the type to remember everything. He's always chasing after his unreachable dreams no matter where they might take him. He's pretty amazing, Gabriel realized in that moment. He has the courage most people don't.

He smiled brighter this time, and the spark reached his eyes. "Of course I will. I'll be right here waiting for you."

So as he watches the airplane fly over his head, he wonders if Arthur is looking down, looking at the cherry blossom tree that means so much to them. He wonders if he can see him, even as a tiny dark dot in a field of pink and green. He holds the four-leaf clover Arthur had picked for him and he kisses the back of his hand.

In his mind, he thanks Arthur for the wonderful memories that don't make him feel lonely, even if Arthur may never come back. He thanks him for all the good times and the sad times, the love he's shown him, the precious everything.

And one day, he comes back to the field. It's a good five years later; years filled with little flings that didn't mean a thing, long-lasting friendship, hard work, and wistful thinking. There's a small patch of green in the grass by the old cherry blossom tree. It's a patch of clovers. He smiles gently and the spark reaches his eyes because these years, it almost always did.

The tree's looking grand, just like it always had and the sun is shining down. It's spring and so the petals are falling with the wind, blowing away and drifting to a place only the Lord would know. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" he asks with a soft voice.

"Yes, it has," another voice answers. He breaks out into a grin and takes the hand. He can feel the four-leaf clover in their intertwined hands and he leans against Arthur. It's been a while.

He thanks the four-leaf clovers.