Same old disclaimer crap. Thanks for all the reviews; this site does need more SR fanfics.
Chapter 2
Note: Imouto-san: In Japanese it means little sister or something. It's what Harima always called Yakumo.
Ojou: Means Miss or something. It's what Harima always called Eri.
Hige: Beard. What Eri calls Harima.
Harima's POV
The entire place was covered with snow when I stepped off the boat, but it hadn't changed at all. Same old Yagami. It might have been the time of day, but there was no one around, no sign of life. There was light coming from one of the stores so I went in. Inside there was an old man who looked as if he was there all his life huddled up in front of the furnace. Yea, it was cold.
"One cup of hot coffee please," I said. The old man gazed at me.
"You coming back from somewhere?"
"Wha.. yes… from a trip, but this place hasn't changed at all," I replied. In the end that was all it was. A trip. I left on that boat knowing I would have to come back someday. I couldn't run forever.
"Tsk, tsk, and at such a young age. Must have been facing some troubles I expect," said the old man, "but no matter where you go, there are always those who remember you and wait for you. One of the laws of life, my boy."
He couldn't have been more right.
"Yea I think you're right. Have a good one," I said as I returned to the chilly breeze of the winter. Now that I think about it, I think it was snowing on the day I left too. I put my hands in my pocket and feel something crisp inside. The letters. I never expected to hear news from the two people. Imouto-san… Ojou… Ojou would be pissed if she knew about it. Would Imouto-san understand? Let's see… 2 o'clock? Both? The meeting place was… wait, where do I have to go first? Ah well, I'll think as I walk…
Yakumo's POV
I picked up my coat and told onee-san that I was going out to meet someone. I didn't say who. I didn't want to. I had to this on my own, no I wanted to do this on my own. Outside the ground was covered with snow, with no sigh of footprints. It was still early morning way ahead of the time I was supposed to meet him… Him… Snow was still falling heavily so I pulled down on my hat tighter. It was snowing on the day he left… And for some reason I can recall the day when he came to say goodbye. It was the night before graduation when Onee-san called me down saying I had a visitor. From her sly grin I could tell who it was.
"Harima-sempai, what are you doing here this late at night?"
"Imouto-san, I wanted to say thank you for helping me out with my manga… if it wasn't for you I probably couldn't have come this far," he said and he handed me his red hat. The one he had always worn when we worked on the manga together. But there was something different about him that night.
"Thank you Imouto-san," and with that he disappeared into the fog of the night. I stood there, watching him go and I felt a twist in my stomach telling me something was wrong. He seemed as if he was going far away.
That night I sat at the foot of my bed waiting for the sun to come up and when it did I left for the apartment he lived in. But when I got there, there was only Itouko-sensei. She told me he was already gone, going away somewhere far. She didn't know where but he was definitely heading down to the docks.
No…
I remember running, faster than I had ever before. I slipped a good few times too but I don't recall the pain. Is that why he had come yesterday? He had given me the hat as a parting gift.
No… I don't want something like this, just to remember him by…
I ran and ran and ran until I finally saw him carrying a big duffel bag. When he saw me he seemed rather surprised.
"Oh, Imouto-san, what are you doing here this early?"
I had so many things I wanted to say to him, but the only words that came out were
"I… I like your manga Harima-sempai, so… so please don't go and stay here and keep working on it. Please"
I'm so stupid…
And with that I held out the red hat he had given me. He looked at the hat. We both looked at it for what seemed like an eternity. Then he pushed the hat back towards me.
"If you like manga… then you can work on it too Imouto-san. You have a real talent, and your smart too. I'm sure it would turn out great even without me."
No… no… that's not I wanted to say to you Harima-sempai, it's not… I…
"No, I can't. Without you, Harima-sempai, I'm… I can't…"
Tears were welling up in my eyes but I fought them back and clinged to him one more time.
"It's alright Imouto-san. You'll do great. And I'll look at them when I come back. I'll come back... I'll be looking forward to it. But now I have to go Imouto-san, but I want to read your manga when I get back. Goodbye."
Goodbye… why did you have to say that? But you said you'll come back…
"Then… goodbye, Harima-sempai, A… and please come back and read my manga."
"Yea, until then, draw lots, Yakumo-sensei"
I watched him walk away, still holding his hat, until the fog swallowed him up. It was the first time he had called me by my name. I let the tears I had been fighting back so hard fall along my cheek and onto the hat. Since that day I haven't drawn a single page but that didn't matter. He was back, and I was finally going to see him again, where we met last time. Where we said our goodbyes.
I want to turn back time… I don't want to stay still any longer… I don't want to be looking only at his back anymore…
Eri's POV
I never liked the winter, especially in Yagami. It was only filled with bad memories. Graduating and separating from my friends, leaving for England and… tears. It was way too early to go out already but I found myself outside, embracing my coat in the winter morning. Nakamura insisted I take the limo but I refused. Akira was right. I had to settle this once and for all, and I wanted to do it by myself. I didn't want to be distracted when I… when I met him again. Snow was heavy today and there were still no shops open. No café's to sit in. Maybe I made a mistake in coming out this early. But I wanted to see him… so badly…
I kept wandering, remembering the last time I saw him, wondering if he changed at all. No, he had already changed a long time ago, I just never noticed it. It must have been at the party when I did. The night before graduation I held a party at my house. He was there, and deep down inside, I was happy to see him. Back then I had refused to acknowledge the feelings I felt when I was with him. The chill it brought down my back, the sudden rush of blood to my cheeks, and the trembling in my knees when I looked at him. But at the party, he was quiet. Even when I made stupid comments at him, he just gave a quick laugh and fell silent again. After the party, I asked Nakamura to follow him and find out what's wrong. I couldn't help feel deep down that something was indeed wrong.
Nakamura came back and told me he was going away, on a boat and he stopped by Tenma's house to say farewell to Yakumo.
W… what…? Why… why was going away…? And how come he didn't tell me?
I didn't sleep at all that night feeling ignored and mad, but really it was just disappointment.
That early morning, I left for his apartment and waited. I must have waited for an hour or so thinking he'd already gone when he came outside with a large duffel bag. I hid.
So he was finally leaving… without a word…
He slowly made his way towards the docks and I followed him until someone came running by, calling his name. It was Yakumo. They began to talk.
You didn't even say anything to me… How come you're so good to her?
And a while later he began walking again, and I followed. It would have ended like that, without a word, if he hadn't stopped to start chewing gum. I over heard him this time.
"Hmm, I guess its goodbye to this place then. Wouldn't have imagined Imouto-san would be the last person I'd see."
How I hated hearing that. That she was the last person he would ever see. I couldn't stand it anymore; I showed myself in front of him.
"Where are you going?"
He turned around and looked at me without a sign of surprise. Instead he gave a chuckle.
"Yo, Ojou, what are you doing up so early. Want a piece of gum?"
W… why are you being so casual? You went all the way to Yakumo's house to say goodbye to her, how come you're not surprised to see me? Stop making those chewing noises, don't you understand it? This is… this is goodbye… You don't know when you're going to see me again and… and… if you don't say it now, you don't even know if you'll see me again… so… so…
There were so so many things I wanted to say but…
"You're going away after all?"
Why did I say "after all?" I could have said so many different things. I could've said something I wanted to say. Why are you leaving? Do you have to leave? Where are you going to go? But I had to say that. It was awkward, but for some reason he didn't seem to think. He just laughed again.
"Yea, Ojou, looks like I'm leaving after all. It's been fun. You and I had some bad times, but we had some good times too right? But I really have to get going now. Goodbye. Oh and here keep this gum, I only chewed one."
And with that he brushed past me. I couldn't stand to turn around. He said we had bad times… but he didn't have to say that, especially when we're saying good bye.
Why? Why did he cut it so short? You took a longer time with Yakumo. This isn't fair.
"You… you said you liked pigtails!"
I yelled, but I didn't have the courage to face him.
"I'm keeping my hair this way so… so…"
I couldn't finish it. If I did, he'd know I was crying.
You have to … come back and see me again… please… see me again… I have to say it… I have to… but I can't…
"Heh now that I look at it, that blond hair of yours is kinda pretty. Maybe it's the morning light. I'll see you again when I come back, Ojou. So take care of yourself until then. And thanks."
That was the last time I heard his voice. When I finally turned around he was gone. Something was sticking out of my hand. It was the gum he had given me. I unwrapped one and began chewing it.
Why do they make these gums so salty? It's just a little bit of tears that's all. Tastes like salt water…
Stupid Hige… What kind of parting gift is this…
The cold chill of the winter brought me back from my thoughts and I found myself at the very place where he walked out of my life. Soon he would appear from amidst the mist just as he had done when he left. At least I had hoped so.
I have to tell him what I should have years ago. I need to see him one more time. Please… Just one more time…
To be continued
