Hello, everyone, I hope you've all been doing well since the end of All Alone With You! :D
Greetings aside, this here (as you've likely gleaned from the summary) is just going to be a collection of unplanned and randomly updated one-shots related to AAWY...or just dedicated to the Minato x Minako pairing, anyway. xP
So, without further ado, here's the first story!
Fragments of Our Life
His Side
Monday, April 06, 2009
"Hey, Toto-kun…?"
"Hm…?"
"…Let's stay together, okay?"
"…Okay."
"Forever?"
"Yeah..."
"Promise?"
"I'll never leave you, Ko-chan… Ever."
"…Me neither. It's a promise!"
Silver eyes blinked open in a haze of sleepiness, looking at but not seeing the colors that blurred together outside of the window as Anehazuru passed over the glistening sea.
That's...
The Moonlight Bridge seemed to glow under the moonlight in the distance and his hands clenched into fists, one in his pocket and the other around the metal pole, as–
–screechingtiresburningrubber–
"To…to…k…n…?"
–nonononodon'tleavemetoo–
"Wh…hap…n…d…?"
–lookatmedon'tcloseyoureyes–
"Dun…cry…T…o…k…n…"
–hiseyesstunghishearthurthurthurt–
–his mind recalled indistinct bits and pieces of that night before he pushed those dark memories to the back of his mind with a shake of his head.
That night was...
The ache in his temple was easily outweighed by the pain in his heart as he rested his forehead against the cool glass pane.
…the last time I saw her.
A familiar burning sensation pricked behind his eyelids but he swallowed the urge to simply wallow in his self-pity.
I need to find her…
That singular thought was what kept him going for all of those years despite the loneliness that he felt, the pity that was thrown onto him, the distance that everyone else kept him at…
I will find her.
And it was with that silent confidence that he'd stepped off of the New City passenger train at long last.
Tired…
Silver eyes glanced over at the time–11:47 PM–and closed before he sighed softly at having his entire schedule for the day botched up because of a coincidental train malfunction.
So late…
And, just as he was about to walk forward, a weight settled on the edge of his sleeve.
…?
He looked down only to freeze.
Ba-bump.
His heart pounded in his chest, roaring in his ears, and all he could do was stare into those bright, beautiful, familiar eyes that were as red as the fire that seemed to warm his chest.
Ko-…chan…?
He swallowed thickly and his hands were cold with anticipation despite being stuffed in his pocket.
Are you…really her…?
She suddenly jumped away with heat flaring her cheeks and stuttered uncharacteristically,
"I'm truly sorry! I don't know what came over me and–"
Her formal attitude towards him was disquieting to say the least.
"–I'll try to think before I act so please forgive me and–!"
He plopped a hand on her head and ruffled her hair with an impassive face but his heart clenched, squeezed, tightened with joy and sorrow and so much hurt when he saw the confusion practically emanating from her.
You…don't remember me, do you…?
Her eyes, hesitantly curious, filled his vision again and he had to fight to maintain his placidity this time, blinking slowly to hide the tears that wanted to make themselves known before pulling back his hand with a hint of reluctance that he couldn't quite hide.
She was deciphering him, that much was still recognizable from back then, and he suddenly felt an irrational fear–
Can you see it?
(Just how broken I am without you?)
Will you still want me?
(Now that you don't remember me?)
I don't want to be alone anymore…
–so he diverted her attention with a tilt of his head and parted his lips to call her,
"Pochibi."
She blinked (once, twice, three-four times) as if in shock and he was relieved to have derailed her observation before deciding to push her buttons a bit more by petting her head again.
She face-faulted.
Epically.
And he allowed himself a ghost of a smile, filled with fondness and melancholy in equal measures, before clearing his expression the moment that she regained her composure and shook off his hand.
Please don't push me away…
To hide the way his hand trembled, Minato dug into his pockets once more.
I wouldn't know what to do if even you reject me…
He wanted to cry but forced himself to remain indifferent.
Without your light, I'm lost in the darkness within.
Because he hated that crybaby part of him that had never fully disappeared even after ten years.
But you're lost as well, aren't you…?
Her eyes, though bright and beautiful and familiar, were roaming all over him in wonder and effort and with a hint (just a hint) of desperation that made him want to wrap her up tight in his arms just as he did in the past.
"It's okay, Ko-chan… You're okay…"
"B-But– I-I– And y-you– Everyone was–!"
"It's just a nightmare… We're still here… I'm still here."
His fingers twitched and, the next thing he knew, he'd tapped her on the shoulder.
The way that she jumped so skittishly amused him to an extent but he was mostly overcome by carefully hidden grief because she'd never shied away from his touch before and it hurt to see her so untrusting of him now but…
She'll remember.
His hands fisted in hope and determination.
I'll make sure of it.
And his eyes narrowed an indiscernible slant.
Even if it takes forever and a day.
…he held out a hand and she blinked in surprise.
"Minato," he (re)introduced himself in a soft tone so as to not scare her off, "Minato Arisato. A pleasure…"
She looked him straight in the eye without hesitation, without fear, this time around and he couldn't help but feel proud of her.
(And himself for not just breaking down, if he was being completely honest.)
Her hand, soft and small and still so warm, wrapped around his in a polite handshake.
"Minako," she smiled a smile that was a mere echo of its former glory, "My name's Minako Inoue. It's nice to meet you, Arisato-san."
For a second, Minato felt so incredibly forlorn because of the way that she'd addressed him but he quickly suppressed the feeling before she could glean even a bit of it.
And suddenly, the world around them changed.
All of the lights, the computers, every man-made object shut down simultaneously. Blood suddenly trickled from the ceiling, dripping down the corners and walls of the building, before settling into ominous puddles on the floor. The once beautifully dark sky faded into an eerie shade of green as the glorious silver moon took on a murky yellow color. And black coffins replaced the once bustling visitors of the now silent Iwatodai Station.
Silver eyes flickered around at his newly changed surroundings and Minato shifted uncomfortably, wanting to step closer to Minako but knowing that she simply thought of him as a stranger.
For now…
Instead, he busied himself by tapping on the sides of his headphones before slipping them off and allowing them to dangle around his neck.
Like hers…
With her red-accented headphones off, Minako looked around with a dazed expression clear on her face, as if amazed by the transformation, but he could only frown at that.
If this is her first time moving about in this hour, then…
He took out his pamphlet and resisted the urge to smile when she stepped closer on her own accord to take a look.
I'd best get her somewhere safe to rest or else–
She sneezed, looking faintly disoriented, and he placed the map away after refreshing his memory.
Fifteen minutes.
He was confident with his estimation.
I know she's strong enough to last that long at the very least.
Walking with purpose, Minato was glad to see her follow him without question.
He was even more glad when she began walking closer and closer to him over time.
And he was highly tempted to hold her hand when it brushed against his.
But he refrained from doing so this early and when she was already on edge.
Minako perked up when they saw the dormitory appear in their line of vision and, without much hesitation, they entered it quietly.
"Welcome," an unexpectedly young voice greeted them, "You're late. I've been waiting a long time…"
Minato looked over at the mysterious boy standing behind the receptionist desk and slowly followed Minako as she walked up to him with a sheepish smile.
"Sorry," she apologized, "The train schedule was delayed…"
In response, he simply smiled at her before presenting two contracts and…vanishing…after they'd signed it.
I chooseth this fate of mine own free will…huh.
Something about that line felt ominous to him but he ignored it when he saw those normally bright, red eyes stare blankly ahead.
Ko-chan…
Easily falling back on old habits, Minato entwined his fingers into her hair and stroked her head in reassurance, pleased to see her relax (perhaps subconsciously) under his touch.
So cute…
When she seemed to have realized what he was doing, Minako shot him an unamused look and huffed,
"I should bite you…to death."
The corners of his lips twitched vaguely as he simply tilted his head in response and continued petting her, making her sigh in exasperation.
Heh…
But then she tensed and so did he when a girl in a pink cardigan suddenly appeared before them, looking extraordinarily terrified.
Briefly, Minato wondered why as she stuttered something or another but then he saw her hand twitch towards what appeared to be a gun and he tensed–
No…!
–before immediately stepping in front of Minako–
Never again…!
–because he remembered the coldness in his chest when she laid there, pale and limp and bleeding–
This time… No matter what…
–feeling not quite satisfied when the brunette quailed under his steely gaze.
I will protect her.
Like it? Hate it? Do review in response!