DISTANCE UP CLOSE
Author's note: WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
I'm really sorry for the late update. I have been very busy lately. So how were the holidays? Hoped you all enjoyed! ^.^
Thank you all for the supportive reviews!
Here's my new year's present to all you dear viewers!
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Chapter 4: Uncertain feelings
'Uuugh! This stupid arrogant guy!' Miyu was cursing Kanata while changing her clothes.
The two teens hadn't quite been on talking terms for a while. A valid reason for this? Even Miyu couldn't find one. Just that Kanata is an insensitive jerk.
It had been a normal day at school; Aya planning for an upcoming drama, Nanami trying to calm her down, Santa criticizing the cheesy Nozumu and Christine throwing Santa off his chair in return, and Miyu relishing her friends' antics while Kanata couldn't spare much time since all his time was taken up by his other responsibilities. Responsibilities as well as fans.
But along with the good things there were the unpleasant parts where her outdoor shoes had been filled with rice balls. Lately there were frequent childish pranks being played on her with the culprit remaining unknown. Aya and Nanami had concluded that it must just be a bunch of jealous girls who couldn't bear to see their Kanata-kun having another girl in his life.
Of course, she had become popular with the others; mostly the male crowd. She assumed it to be due to her mom being the famous astronaut Miki-san. But the guys knew it to be for other reasons too. She was a very beautiful blonde.
At the end of school, Kanata and Miyu would go home together and many a times she would leave alone since Kanata had quite frequent time consuming responsibilities as student body president. But she would always ask whether she should leave without him or no.
But today before she could ask him she saw him being dragged by Misaki outside their classroom. She called for him but he didn't seem to acknowledge her.
She felt a burning sensation in her tummy at the sight of this. There had been many who termed Kanata and Misaki as a great looking couple. Miyu wanted to believe he had no feelings for that girl.
As she was getting lost in her trail of thoughts she was startled by the sudden pat on her back.
"Neh Miyu, are you leaving or waiting for Kanata?" asked Aya.
"Uhh er I think I'll wait for him. I have to remind him to go grocery shopping." Miyu smiled back.
"Ok Miyu. Bye bye. Meet you tomorrow." said Aya and both Aya and Nanami waved her goodbye.
Miyu waved back and then she looked back to see Raiden Nakahara standing next to her.
Miyu blinked twice and asked, "Hey Raiden-kun, what's up?"
"Hello Miyu-chan. So waiting for Kanata?" asked the guy with silky long raven locks.
"Erm... Yeah..." Miyu replied looking down. "Anyways it's not what others would think. I need to remind him he has to go grocery shopping and I'm not doing it for him." continued Miyu with a stronger tone.
"Neh Miyu-chan, do you like Kanata-kun?" asked Raiden.
Miyu was startled with that question and looked up at him with wide eyes. She couldn't squeak a word.
"Yes?" asked Raiden again with an arched eyebrow.
Miyu gathered her wits and scrunched up her flustered face and answered with a trembling but a strong tone, "N..n..not like that! We are great friends!"
"Aah. Good." he grinned.
"Huh?" asked a confused Miyu.
"By the way Miyu-chan, you look pretty cute with a blush." he said and the next action of him placing a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear reddened her face even further.
She was contemplating on how to react to the sudden intimacy and just then she saw Raiden look towards the door with a smirk.
She turned back to see Kanata standing by the door but she couldn't make out his expression as his bangs were covering his face. As a reflex action she moved away from Raiden and turned to walk towards him but he didn't seem to notice that and walked away.
'How rude!' thought Miyu and went after him. "Kanata are you coming home with me now?" she asked running after him.
"No. I have work. And I'll be late since I have to go food shopping." replied Kanata with a distant tone with no sign of his footsteps stopping.
Miyu stopped walking after him and saw his retreating shadow. She felt hurt for she waited for him and that was the kind of gratitude he was showing and then decided to head home alone.
They hadn't spoken a word since then.
After changing clothes Miyu decided to read a magazine lying down on her futon. But instead of concentrating on it, she landed up pondering over today's events.
'Kanata didn't need to be so cold towards me. It seems like nothing has changed. But what ticked him? Did he over hear us? And even if he did what's it to him, huh? He was already busy with the attention that Misaki-chan was giving him. That idiot. He's such a jerk. He didn't even look behind while leaving with that girl. He probably preferred her company over mine!'
"Grrrrr… Why am I bothered?! He can talk to whoever he likes!" hissed Miyu through gritted teeth and placed down her magazine.
She walked towards the kitchen since she decided to cook dinner and wondered what groceries Kanata bought. If he had bought pumpkin she would definitely not cook it as a punishment to him. Yes, her cooking skills had developed from terrible to average.
On seeing the ingredients she decided on making a mixed vegetable stew. While chopping the cabbage Miyu was priding herself on the fall in the rate of her kitchen accidents but then she felt a sudden feeling of sadness rush through her veins. She had wondered quite a few times for reasons for her sudden depressing mood swings but she couldn't figure it out. But all of them were related to Kanata in some way or the other.
Just then everything went black in front of her eyes. The electricity seemed to be out. It was already dark outside and now she couldn't see a thing.
She heard the thumping sounds of feet and her name being called out.
"Miyu! Where are you?" she heard Kanata's voice.
"I'm in the kitchen!" she shouted back.
"Okay stay where you are, I'm coming! And where the hell is my stupid father when you need him!"
Now that he mentioned it, Miyu realized she hadn't seen Kanata's dad since morning. 'Where could he be?' she thought.
She saw Kanata walking towards her with the light of his cell phone. She felt relieved seeing him.
"Hey what are you holding in your hand?" Kanata asked.
Miyu looked down and saw her red stained knife.
"Good God Miyu! Put that knife down. You clumsy girl!" shrieked Kanata and rushed to her side.
He slowly took the knife from her and took her bleeding finger in his hand. "You idiot, can't you make out when you are cut?!"
Before Miyu could respond, he dragged her towards the sink holding her wrist; firmly yet gently.
Kanata placed his cell phone beside the sink and poured water on her finger from the tap.
"Honestly Miyu, you ought to be more careful." he spoke in a worried tone.
Miyu felt his warm hands holding hers with care and then looked at her wound. "Aaaah! It stings!" she bit her lip.
"What did you expect, you klutz." Kanata replied while drying her finger gently with a towel. "Now let's get this cut bandaged. Stay here." he ordered.
She did as he told her to. Kanata returned with the first aid kit.
"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked while gently blowing on her finger.
Miyu's eyes started to tear up a little to which Kanata was oblivious to. She felt his concern for her which she had experienced a few times in the past too. She was grateful to have him with her.
But along with gratefulness she felt another wave of emotions take over her body which was alien to her until recently when she came back to Heiomachi.
With the cellphone display light falling on their faces Miyu observed her housemate's features; how they had matured over the years. He looked even more handsome. He had the perfect features and she wanted to run her fingers through those silky chocolate locks.
Her pulse began to quicken. 'Oh God, Miyu. What are you thinking?'
But she couldn't control her wild emotions taking over her as his warm hands made way to her bare shoulders as she was wearing a spaghetti top. She had become wildly conscious of what to wear with Kanata around and always chose to wear cute clothes. She denied the reason being to impress Kanata.
"Hey Miyu? You look dazed. Are you ok?" Kanata shook her by the shoulders.
"Uhh... yeah… I'm good. Thanks Kanata." Miyu smiled back; regaining her composure.
The faint light bordered their faces as they looked at each other with deeper eye contact, a blush on both cheeks. Miyu could still feel herself tremble under his touch. It was a moment of silence, a moment of feelings untold waiting to be revealed.
"Er Miyu…" Kanata was the first to speak. "I…" just then a buzzing sound followed by a ringtone was heard. Kanata immediately removed his hands off Miyu's shoulders and turned towards his cellphone. It was Santa who had called them at such an intense moment.
"Hey… Yeah is that so? Oh ok… Yes Miyu is with me…" were the words spoken by Kanata over the call. The last statement made Miyu blush even more. "Okay Santa. Thanks for the info. Bye."
"Santa said the entire town is experiencing this blackout. When the lights will be back is not known." explained Kanata.
"Aah I see. So we better light up the house with candles." suggested Miyu.
"Yeah you do that. I'll search for that good for nothing dad." spoke Kanata while slapping his forehead. "You know the candles are in my Mom's room." and with that he left.
Miyu grabbed her cellphone and made her way to the late Hitomi Saionji's room. The last time she was there it was Halloween; her death anniversary.
Seeing her photograph over the cabinet, seeing how beautiful she was and where her Kanata got his looks from, remembering what a beautiful human being she was she felt just so peaceful. Miyu wanted to remember what little moments she had spent with her but she was too young to remember.
"We meet again, Okaan-san." whispered Miyu while sitting down in front of her picture. "Please excuse me for the intrusion but I need to borrow some candles."
Miyu removed the candles placed at the bottom drawer and she remembered coming across the baby journal which further made her remember the mention of the incident of her and Kanata having a bath together written in it. It was so embarrassing! She hoped that Kanata hadn't read it.
Her fear of it worsened since the baby journal was no longer there where she had found it earlier.
'Did Kanata take it and read it? Oh God it's so embarrassing! That idiot must be waiting to use it against me!' she thought with a depressed look and her head down.
She looked up and looked at the framed photograph of the female Saionji and her eyes softened.
"You know Okaan-san, you have a wonderful family. They have been so kind to me. Oji-san has always welcomed me whole heartedly and treats me like his own daughter. Kanata has also been pretty wonderful to me despite the teasing and taunts. You have a great son." said Miyu and sighed as she stared at her bandaged finger. It didn't hurt anymore.
"Kanata is great and I know that. But… but I feel more strongly for him. It is not only now but it's been the case for many years. These feeling are just stronger now. I myself am not too clear about what is it I feel. Er I think I love him… but I don't know if I'm worthy of him and whether he has the same feelings for me. He has so many girls swooning over him that it gets on my nerves at times. But then again, I have no right to be possessive. I am sorry if you feel I'm looking at your son the wrong way. I know he is worthy of something great and I will try to never be an obstacle in his life." conversed Miyu further with a lost deep look in her eyes. She was surprised herself at the revelation of her own feelings. Things were a bit clearer now.
"Oi Miyu! You know what a useless dad I have?!" she heard a pissed off Kanata walking in the passage and then entering the room.
Miyu had to change her mood and replied, "What is it Kanata?"
"Here. Read." said Kanata and put forth a piece of paper with writing on it.
Miyu took it and read it out in mumbles.
"To Kanata and Miyu-chan. I have to leave for Tibet urgently. Gen-san needs me to be his disciple and also train others. It is a privilege to serve Gen-san and so I have decided to leave. The date of my return is not known but I will be sure to write to you all. Take care of Miyu-chan, Kanata. The money is placed in the vault. Take care, kids."
Miyu stared back at Kanata with widened eyes. Kanata nodded with a twitching eyebrow as if to reconfirm that that they have to live alone and hide it from their school mates about it. And this time there is no Wanya to save them!
"It's the same pattern! They'll never change!" shouted Miyu while Kanata sweat dropped.
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A/N: I am really sorry for not placing a preview of the next chapter since I haven't had the time to write it. Please excuse me :'(
Do drop a review. Would really appreciate it! :)
Have a great year ahead! ^.^