Flat: The Story of an Urban Legend

Episode 7:

-Yukito and Sota sat at a table far away from the restaurant they ordered from under a planted umbrella against the setting orange sun. Sota took a huge bite out of his (food) and looked up at Yukito who was sitting there concentrated on the food in front of her.-

Ok Sota, strike up a conversation all ready, it's not like you two are strangers or something, but why…why has she acted weird all day today? And what did she mean by "You weren't this shy last night?"

-He tries to concentrate and think about what happened last night, but all he remembers is Yukito on his lap as she came in for a kiss on his lips under the street lamp at the park.-

"Why, why, why can't I remember what happened last night?!"

-Saying out loud where the surrounding area, that heard him, looked over for a few seconds and then continued to enjoy their meals. Sota looked up as the people caught a glimpse at him and then went back to their meals, pretending like they didn't hear or see anything. He looked up at Yukito as she had half of a strand of noodles…-

"What's wrong Sota?"

"It's…it's nothing, really."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

-Nods to her question as he returns to the semi-hot meal in front of him. Yukito with the half strand still dangling from her mouth slurped it up and looked down and said to him without warning…-

"You, honestly don't remember, do you?"

-He looks up with a mouth full of food and asks, mumbling…-

"No I don't, what did we do last night?"

-She blushed and seemed hesitated to answer, he swallowed his food but that just got caught in his throat. He stood there frozen with fork in the air as if he was going to eat the air next, waiting for her to answer. Still hesitant to answer he spoke up…-

"What did we do Yukito, tell me."

-She looks up at him, seemed disturbed but at the same time afraid to answer.-

"Yukito tell me!"
"We had sex ok!"

-His eyes widen as his pupils shrink and quiver at her answer, he stood there mouth open almost in horror. Like almost in screenshots and flashes he just saw him and Yukito doing…unspeakable things to each other, her moans and groans…he…he couldn't take it. He almost got up and left but instead he gripped his fork and almost picked it up and brought it to his…He caught a grip on himself and took a deep breath and calmed all the while saying under his breath…-

"When I have anger, don't lose your cool. When I have anger, don't lose your cool. Awww, I feel better."

-Smiling up at Yukito, trying to make it look like he totally accepted what they did, but when he did look up, she sat there, scared of him for some reason. He knew why and looked down and said sorrowfully…-

"I'm sorry, Yukito. I…I don't know what came over me but I swear I…"

"What's wrong with you? Why did you act like that?!"

"I…I didn't mean too…"

"You seemed to be a different person there! If it's me tell me and I'll leave you alone! If you think I'm a burden say it all ready!"

-With that, she got up from the table and ran toward back Sota's house. Sota instinctively gave chase to her. Leaving all the food behind as Sota ran with the purchases yelling up at her…-

"Yukito, seriously, stop I'm sorry!"

"I don't know you anymore Sota!"

-Holding her hands to her eyes as she cried and cried feeling like Sota has changed. They both ran and ran for minutes on end finally Yukito ran out of breath and somehow ran back to the park where they shared their first real kiss. By this point, Sota was still a ways back. She stared at the empty park bench underneath the street lamp. She envisioned that night all over again being played right in front of her on the park bench. Seeing how Sota, through his eyes, was in love with her and she was in love with him. That same feeling seemed to dwindle thinking…-

Does Sota really love me? Does he care about me at all?

"Hey, hold up Yukito!"

-Looks over her shoulders to see Sota still running after her, sweating and panting for air as each arm was holding a bag as dead weights. He panted and continued to ran till he was right next to her. The same hot, noxious feeling came over again, like when he was trying to beat Sakai at running. His vision began to blur and he felt he was ready to past out. Feeling the collapse he yelled in his last conscious breath…-

"Yukito, I love you…."

THUNK

-The darkness seemed endless and huge. No way out and no way in it seemed. Slowly he thought…-

Am I dead? Is this what death is? Empty?

"Sota! Sota! Sota!"

-He could hear in the void of space and knowing it was Yukito's voice. Feeling empty in the dismal area he could continue to hear Yukito's voice. His body moved to the voice, the hope that it filled into it as he could a slit of light and went to it. The next thing he remembers is waking up and seeing through the blur the blonde hair Yukito. She sat down next to him and looked down at him as he looked up at her and smiled and got up slowly.-

"No, Sota, lay still for a while."

"I'm fine Yukito, thanks."

"Thank goodness you're awake I was getting so worried about you. You weren't moving and you weren't saying anything back, I was getting so scared that you might have…that you might have…"

"…died?"

-Finishing her sentence, she gasped a bit surprised that he knew what she was going to say. But, she nodded and hugged him tight to her.-

"Oh Sota I'm so sorry I yelled at you! I know you didn't know what you were doing but it was just so scary that I thought…I thought you didn't love me anymore!"

-She cried heavily on his shoulder as he blushed softly, smiled and placed his hand on her back and soothed her gently to comfort her. Looking around to see that it was night time again, the street lamp above circled around the two like an enclosed room he looked around and then looked into Yukito's eyes and came close to her soft warm face. She blushed seeing he was getting closer to her face as he went to her ear and said softly into it…-

"I love you Yukito, and nothing you do will ever change that. You are the only one who understands me. You made my life, worth living."

-He smiled softly and placed his warm gentle hand on her cheek and came in and kissed her lips with all his heart. She felt the warmth of this kiss different from any other, she blushed bright red, then smiled and closed her eyes slowly and stood frozen in that moment with that kiss. There they were, under the street lamp where they had their first and last real kiss. The groans and movements of bed covers were heard rustling through the dark dismal silence in Sakagi's room. Rustling under her covers as she seems to be having a nightmare of sorts, her eyes tear up, trickling down little strands of fear as she softly mumbles in her sleep…-

"Sota, you're not coming back aren't you? Sota, come back, come back. Don't leave me here."

-Sota arose slowly to the start of a fresh new school week and another week in Hiroshima. The vision blurred a bit but he knew he had to wake up. Rubbing his eyes gently looking over to the side to see Yukito still asleep with a big smile on her face, he smiled to that gently and gave her a small peck on the forehead before getting out of bed and changed for his day ahead. He finished dressing and went downstairs with a smile on his face as he saw the breakfast table was deserted and not a speck of food anywhere.-

"You're late for school Sota."

-Looking upstairs and at the top of the stairs his mom looked down at him seemingly pissed off at him.-

"You're late for school Sota, what are you doing just standing there, get to school!"

-He looked up at the clock near the doorway and it was nearly time for school. He freaked out a little and hurried to get his shoes on and said to his mom quickly…-

"Oh geez, I can't be late, no no no no! Well I'll be coming home straight from school mom so don't worry about me, as for breakfast I'm not that hungry anyway I'll just get something later. Ok I'm off bye mom, have a good day."

"Hey wait a minute Sota, I want to tell you….

BAM

"…something."

-She looked down and sighed and then thought to herself out loud…-

"Did he just say bye mom and have a good day? Nah, I must have heard it, either that or he was just in a rush to get to school that he said it by mistake too. Oh well, I was going to tell him I have a new boyfriend but he'll soon figure that out for himself. I'm going to head to the bar now, but first…(giggled)…I'm going to freshen up."

DING DONG DING DONG

"Ok class, that's it for today don't forget that you will be quizzed on this chapter at the end of the week so please study everyone."

"Everyone rise!"

-The students rise to bow to the teacher leaving as the teacher smiled and waved goodbye to his class and said before leaving them for the day…-

"Have a good day everyone, see you tomorrow."

-The students take their seats upon the teacher leaving and that's when the chit chatter begins as the students talk amongst themselves. Sota gets up and walks to the door to leave to get home.-

"Sota-chan! Hey Sota-chan!"

-Looks over his shoulders to see Yuki waving to him from a far distance. He smiles and waves back yelling back…-

"Hey Yuki!"

-She runs up to him laughing as she did and stops right in front of him.-

"I haven't seen you in a while."
"I know I've been sick and stuff."

"Oh I see, I figured as much."

"So Sota, are you walking home now?"

"Um, actually yes I am."

"Do you mind if I come with?"

"No, not at all."
"Great!"

-He laughs at her enthusiasm and walks with her as she skips briskly by his side. A few minutes later, Sota and Yuki are laughing and talking to each other more than they ever did before. Having a good time with each other's company, Sota smiling and as did Yuki. Both looking at each other as Yuki asks him with a wonder now…-

"Hey Sota, you've changed in some way."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, before you were quiet and shy and depressed it seemed and now you are talkative and happy it seems, what happened to you over the weekend?"

-Looking at him with deviant eyes like she wants answers. Sota looks back blushing and shakes his head trying to dismay her question…-

"Nothing, nothing at all it is just now I'm…I'm…getting use to living here now. This is a nice quiet town to live in and I'm starting to like it."

"Are you sure that's the reason? Or is it…"

-Laughing devilishly before finishing her sentence, wanting more than that kind of answer…-

"…did you get some action over the weekend…"

-Looking at him now evilly, but playing around. He blushed more and dismayed it again…-

"No no no, nothing like that at all I swear, it's because I'm starting to like this place a lot now."

-She sighs and laughs giving him a light hit on his forearm…-

"Hey what was that for?"

"I was just kidding before, geez, you make everything more difficult than it is."

-They reach the intersection where they both depart as Yuki waves and says goodbye and heads off down her road while Sota continues on. He gets close to his house when he notices a bright red car in front of his house. He ponders and thinks to himself…-

That car…it looks familiar…but who is at my house more importantly.

-He opens the door to his house, taking off his shoes and yelling into the house…-

"I'm home."

"Welcome home my son, it's so nice to see you again."

-Recognizing the voice he looks into the kitchen to see his father smiling at him. He smiles back wide, running at him even with his shoes still on. He hugs him and says…-

"Dad! I'm so happy to see you so how is everything?"

"Just great son, everything is just going great. I have a house now to live but no job, unfortunately, but don't worry about it."

-The mom looking on from across the kitchen table as she sees her son hugging his dad like that and thinks to herself…-

Why doesn't he hug me like that and seem so happy to see me all the time, little bastard.

"Your father came down to see how we were doing and talk some things over about court."

-Joining in on the conversation now as Sota looks up to finally notice she was there. He looks down when she mentions court and says…-

"Oh, I see…still fighting…"

"Well now, my boy, I also came to see you too of course I mean you are my flesh and blood now aren't you."

-Laughing at his own stupid joke but none the less, Sota smiled a bit as his father finished laughing and said just realizing…-

"Oh yeah, Sota, that reminds me, I got you a present."

-Taking a white bag from under the kitchen table and looking through it.-

"Here we go."

-He takes it out and shows the British No 4 Mark I* single shot, break open signal pistol, that he saw at Murazan's Antiques when he first went in there. He smiled wide and took it from his father and said quickly…-

"Wow! This is awesome!"

"You like it? I got it down at this place called Murazan's Antiques right here in Hiroshima."

"You went into that shop too dad?"

"Yeah, quite a peculiar antique shop but an antique shop none the less."

"You bought our son a gun!"

-The mother finally realizing what the father had bought him.-

"What were you thinking buying him a deadly weapon like that!?"

"Don't worry, the man said that it is inactive and won't work. Plus, why would he sell it at an antique shop if it did work?"

"Still, it's a gun and I don't want it in here! Do you understand me!?"

"Yes mom…"

-Sota looks down and hands the gun back to his father. A watch timer goes off, the father looks down at his wrist watch and goes…-

"Crap, well I got to run so I'll come by some time later on and talk to you more ok?"

"Sure whatever just go all ready and take that piece of shit with you."

-He puts the gun back in the bag and looks at Sota smiling and says to him…-

"Hey Sota, mind walking me to my car?"

-He nods and begins to walk his dad to the front door. He opens the door for his dad and walks him to the driver seat of his car. The dad turns around to look at Sota, he places his huge hands on Sota's small shoulders and says to him…-

"My boy, you're growing up so fast. Why, it only feels like yesterday that I could hold you in my arms. And now, look at you."

-Laughs to himself and bends down, looking side to side making sure no one was around. He takes the gun out of the bag and places it in his hand and says to him softly…-

"You're old enough, and I know you won't shoot yourself with it. You're too smart of a kid to do such a thing anyway. Oh, and I almost forgot."

-Fidgets in his coat pocket for something, he finds it and pulls it out and hands him a single bullet…-

"He gave this to me too. It's an authentic bullet for that gun. That way, you have the whole package."

"Wow thanks a lot."

"Just don't tell your mom, this is our little secret ok?"

"Ok, I won't, thank you."

"Don't mention it."

-He looks at the bag on the driver seat and sees there's still something in it. He gets curious and asks him…-

"What else did you buy dad from that store?"

-The father looks over at the bag and shoves it to the passenger seat so he could make room for him to sit down in the driver seat.-

"Oh, nothing special just something I bought to put on my desk. It's a war item dated back to World War II. It's pretty cool."

-He gets into his car and shuts the door and rolls down the window and says to him…-

"Well, so long Sota my son. I'll come back soon and hopefully away from all this. Just take care of yourself ok? Will you promise me that?"

"You got it."

-Smiling back at him as the father smiles more and waves goodbye to him and drives off. Sota watched him drive off into the sunset holding the gun and bullet in hand as he rushes back in and up to his room for the night. At a cheap motel on the outskirts of Hiroshima just before leaving city limits, was the bright red car sitting in a deserted parking lot under the receding lights of a flashing motel sign. The building looked like it was ready to fall down with one huff of the wind blowing. Held down together with rusty nails and worn out wood that was painted over with cheap store brand paint. The rooms inside, were not just as disgusting as the building itself. A single bed was the only sanitary thing in the whole room. With a clean bright light blue cover and two fluffy pillows like pumps popping from under the covers, the white bag from Murazan's Antiques was sitting in the middle of the clean island on the bed weighed down by the other purchase he had made while there. A sink right next to the bathroom that hadn't been washed which seemed like forever and the toilet looking like someone just went right on it. It was all disgusting, but inside the middle of it all, inside the filth ridden room was Dunaro, Sota's dad. Sitting at the make shift desk with a really old lamp to the side. He seems to be off in his own space as he looks down at his warm hand holding up to the lamp an old picture of the family, smiling, laughing, and being a family. Sighing and saying to himself out loud…-

"I give anything to get this family again."