Chapter 7: Fireworks
"Ko-sama, Jill's shoe!"
It was one of those hazy memories Jill always had. She was no more than 3 or 4 at the time and they were all going to see the summer fireworks. It was considerably hot but it was tradition for everyone to wear kimonos. She remembered she always felt like a princess wearing her pink kimono and her pretty sandals. However, the strap always seemed to be breaking…Koji stopped a moment and knelt, fixing the strap as he always did. As she looked down at him, Jill pondered. Koji had always been the mysterious type, hadn't he? Even at 5, he was so quiet and reserved. And he'd always been some form of attractive, hadn't he? His mess of brown hair weighed heavily over his left eye for some reason at this point and at kindergarten age, he'd just about bypassed cute. Jill remembered frowning though…something was bothering him. No matter how reserved he was with other people, he wasn't quiet with them and he had barely spoken a word since returning from their grandfather's farm. When questioned, he simply waved it off, smiled, and walked away. Something was bothering him… he rose to his feet, fixing his yukata and patting her head absently. He walked forward and she quickly caught up, wriggling her tiny hand into his. He didn't pull away and he held it a little tighter. That was what the Fireworks Festival was to her, time with her family…but…
Jill sat up in shock when her alarm clock buzzed wildly. Startled and more than a little confused, she looked around and everything came back in a slow haze. Oh yea…farm…place. Sighing, she looked at the clock and saw it read 5:30 p.m.. She must've been wearing that snooze button out. Deciding to take a nap might not have been the best idea but that bath was so soothing… standing, she wandered over to her vanity and saw the parcel with the folded kimono inside. Popuri informed her the kimono thing was a tradition here as well and Jill had realized, horrified, that she hadn't even brought a kimono with her. She'd called her mother, hoping the women could dig up one of her old ones. But her mother was a fashion designer and an old one was just not good enough. The woman had made an 'exclusive' one just for Jill. It was crimson silk and elaborated with black cherry blossoms, the lining black as well. It was pretty but she had the idea her mother might have outdone herself again…but oh well. Pulling on all the proper garments despite the incredible heat, she carefully put on the robe. Tying the obi, she stared at herself in the mirror as she put her hair up. It bothered her a little that she wasn't that little girl anymore, content in holding big brother's hand…but time moved on and it was time for new things, right? She sighed and pulled on some sandals before rushing out the door. She would be late…and she wanted to be there before Cliff but that didn't look like it was going to happen. It frightened her, though, to tell him about Kai for some reason. But…it had been what he wanted, right? She pouted. All this was ridiculous. She wondered when she left if this would all seem like one big dream or one really big nightmare…
She arrived at the beach and much like she had assumed, her kimono was one of the most elaborate there. She rolled her eyes as the girls sneered at her, though apparently jealous. She looked around the beach, hoping to see Popuri or…Cliff. She spotted Popuri with her brother and mother, chatting away happily. It made Jill feel a little homesick but it was okay…she smiled. Her brothers had called her and told her to go and party. They weren't going to do the fireworks thing until she returned to them. Why? It was a family thing and if Jill wasn't there, it wasn't right. Her smile widened a little and then she looked around for Cliff. She finally spotted him, sitting on the dock. His hair was down again and he was wearing a black yukata. She swallowed and her heart fluttered. She didn't know why she loved it when his hair was down, she thought absently. Slowly wandering over to him, she carefully sank down beside him, obviously startling from his daydreams. He glanced at her and his eyes widened.
"…Jill?"
"Hi" she said sheepishly.
"…Wow, you look…great."
"Thanks…"
Staring at her a moment longer, he turned and glanced out at the water.
"So…I guess Kai just totally left and blew you off…"
"Actually, we said good-bye and everything" she amended.
He looked at her, surprised, before looking away.
"Jeez…you two must've been serious then…" he mumbled.
"Well…I doubt we could work long distance so we did kind of break up. But it wasn't bitter or anything at all, I think" she sighed contently.
He stared warily at her, "You…broke up with him?"
"Yea…Kai and I weren't meant to be a couple. He's more like…a friend" she smiled.
He gazed at her, "…Like we're meant to be friends?"
"Huh…?"
"Nothing, never mind" he said softly.
She blinked at him and cringed when a cold chill went down her spine. He glanced at her and sheepishly pulled her into his side. She sighed and rested her cheek against his chest.
"It's hard to believe half a year's gone…"
"Yea…time never moves this fast" he murmured.
She closed her eyes, content as Cliff held her when a loud crackle broke overhead. She jumped a little but remembered this WAS the Fireworks Festival. Staring up, she watched as thousands of colors exploded in various shapes and sparkles. Full of awe, she murmured gently.
"It's so pretty…"
"Yeah…" said Cliff absently, though he wasn't really watching the fireworks…
The show ended all too soon and she smiled, pulling away from Cliff and coming to her feet.
"That was nice."
"Yup…"
"I think I might head in early…get ready for harvesting and stuff. Fall…I can't believe it" she sighed.
He quickly came to his feet, "Hey, wait! Um…let's go for a walk. It's way too early to just head home."
"I guess…okay" she nodded.
He seemed happy and they walked from the festival into the forest near the mountains. They came to the crossroads that lead to her house and he stared up the opposite way before asking:
"Have you ever been to the peak?"
"No. I heard it was really high…" she replied.
"Not really…c'mon. It shouldn't take that long."
'It shouldn't take that long' turned into three hours and she wheezed as the summit finally came into view.
"Cliff…I think we're far enough from mankind for me to kill you and no one would find out" she glowered, panting.
He chuckled and wiped his brow, "It's easier when we're not wearing heavy kimonos and it's not late at night…"
She snickered and strolled over to edge cautiously before gasping. The scene before her was so surreal, so beautiful. The crescent moon almost looked as if she could touch it as it sat upon the peaks of the mountains. The stars surrounded the moon in all it's majesty and glowed just as magnificently. Awed, she was startled when Cliff wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered into her ear.
"It's pretty, isn't it?"
"Um…yeah…" she murmured, now a tad distracted by him.
She felt his light breathing against her neck and blushed. Cliff was just being silly, that was all, she told herself. But she closed her eyes and hugged his arms. Still, it felt nice.
He lifted his head a little and murmured.
"I think I've been patient, don't you?" he suddenly asked.
"Patient about what?"
"You, of course."
Her heart pulsated a little and she pouted, reddening.
"I don't know what you mean…"
"I messed around and let Kai have you the whole summer…and I accepted that as my punishment for losing you. Now though…I think I've been patient."
She swallowed, "Cliff…"
"I'll jump if you say no."
She scoffed, "No you wouldn't!"
"We're already here so I might as well."
She turned to face him and scowled at him, "Don't play like that."
He smiled, "Sorry."
He then took that opportunity to pull her against him, kissing her again. Jill's heart beat quickly but she wrapped her arms around his neck. There was no guilty conscience this time, no one to get in their way…
Summer had ended…and everything was perfect.
