Title: One Final Moment
Author: Sicilian Maiden
Pairing: Narumi Ayumu/Yuizaki Hiyono
Fandom: Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna
Theme: #29—the sound of waves
Rating: PG (minor language, death)
Disclaimer: All characters of Spiral are the property of Kyou Shirodaira; I allege no possession of said characters. I only request to take them to over-rowdy soccer games and force them to play at gunpoint. Inspired by Era's song "I Believe." Such a gorgeous requiem.
Summary: Through the sorrow, it all felt somewhat right—to be here with him.
Hi there. :D Will, here's numero ocho. I deeply apologize for my lateness. Forgive ne?
-o-
Narumi Ayumu groggily turned over in his bed, his arm reaching out for the cellphone that annoyingly rang on his nightstand. It was almost three o' clock in the morning; who the hell would wake him up? The twenty-two year old, being slightly blinded by the light emanating from his cellular device, squinted into the dark in hopes of making out the caller ID.
"What...?" he voiced aloud.
The words, 'Yuizaki Hiyono ,' lit up the small screen and the detective sighed before flipping open his phone.
"You better have a good reason," he spoke mustering up the most malicious voice he could so early in the morning. When he was replied by a soft, shaking exhale, he sat up anxiously.
"Hey, what's the matter?" he asked. He had never shown signs of worry before. He'd always been the calm, cool, and collected one of the duo. But, for some reason, hearing her voice like that made his heartbeat quicken.
The line was quiet for awhile before she delicately spoke, "Can you meet me? At our spot?"
"I-I..." Ayumu was at a lose for words. "There Spot," as it had been so aptly named by the exuberant journalist, was a small cove nearly fifteen miles from both their residences. They had found it together on the night of graduation.
It was a mere forty feet of sand in either direction, hidden by massive cliffs of rock. The view of the ocean was breathtaking, especially at night. Dunes scattered the region—the occasional tuff of grass on the tops. It was secluded and peaceful, allowing the pair to think without being distracted. Soon, they found themselves going to the cove in their times of troubles; when silence was necessary. Once, on a vary rare occasion, each would find themselves there without the other's knowledge and the two would sit in companionable tranquility.
However, neither of them had ever asked the other to meet them there.
"Narumi-san?" Hiyono asked shyly.
"Um... sure. I'll be there in ten minutes." With that, the auburn-haired man hung up and sat on the edge of his bed. Tiredly, Ayumu placed his head in his hands and let out a particularly loud sigh. After pulling on a pair of khakis and a black t-shirt, the detective grabbed his keys and was out the door.
-o-
Hiyono pulled her hair back into a messy ponytail and continued her way down the sidewalk towards the cove. She spotted a burgundy pickup truck and smiled.
An enormously full moon was out and it's light bathed the stretch of beach in an ethereal glow, illuminating even the crashing waves. As each crest broke against the ample shoreline, a multitude of showering crystals would burst into the crisp air.
Finding the small, picket fence, the journalist jumped it only to regret the movement seconds later. A flame grew in her chest, constricting her lungs and halting her breath. The caramel-haired woman fell to the ground clutching her heart in hopes of easing the pain. Within a minute or two, the asphyxiation ceased and Hiyono was able to stand upright again. She brushed a few grains of sand from her white tank-top and walked to the narrow pathway that wound its way through a moderate cliff and into the cove.
Just as she had hoped, Ayumu was there, leaning against the edge of one rock wall as if hardly aware of her presence. She watched him warily. His head was turned away from her—most likely taking in the view of glistening ocean. A soft breeze swept his auburn hair around his face and the normal signs of stress were absent from his features.
"N-Narumi-san," she called out to him albeit, rather quietly. His head turned to face her and his brows furrowed at the expression on her face.
Her normally vibrant eyes were dulling; small bags had formed under each of them. Her caramel colored hair was losing its sheen and the usual flush was gone from her cheeks. The journalist's lips were parted, haggard puffs of breath omitting from her body. She looked as if she hadn't sleep in a couple of weeks and that alone worried the detective more.
"Hey..." he greeted in return. His mind screamed at him to ask her what was bothering her and his heart yelled, telling him to go to her. Just as feet were about to move, Hiyono held her hand out in a motion to stop. Ayumu obliged but continued, "What's wrong?"
The honey-eyed woman shook her head, her ponytail swishing along with the movements of her head. They stood, for what felt like an eternity, the only sound being the rhythmic pounding of the waves against the coastline. It was a calming, soothing sound and its continuous cadenced palpitation almost had Hiyono falling asleep.
"I needed to speak to you, Narumi-san," she stated, the shy, slightly worried look disappearing and being replace by one of determination. Her eyes were hard and steely, a serious countenance upon her typically soft face.
"Talk then," he shot back hesitantly.
Gesturing to the ground in front of her, Hiyono spoke, "Sit... please?" The auburn-haired man consented and sat, folding his legs beneath him.
"Obviously," she began, "Narumi-san wants to know why he's hear, ne?"
"Of course," he replied.
Hiyono sat next to him, their shoulders slightly touching, as the two gazed into the amicable night. After a few moments of silence, the journalist took a deep breath, turned to face the detective, and gently placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth. Quickly, she pulled away after realizing what she had done. Ayumu, however, only tilted his head to watch a blush immediately bloom on her pale features. He inwardly smiled but did not press the situation.
"Gomen, Narumi-san," she apologized.
Surprisingly, he answered, "No worries," and continued to watch the moon. Hiyono's eyes widened at his response but knew that little time was left.
"Narumi-san, you must have been noticing..."
"Yes, you've been looking weaker lately," he cut her off.
"Ah..." How did he know? How could he have known? 'I thought I'd been hiding it so well.'
"You never were a good liar you know," he commented as his chocolate-eyes watched her intently.
"G-Gomen, Narumi-san."
Fully twisting his body, Ayumu gripped her shoulders and lightly shook her, "Enough with the apologizes. You have nothing to be sorry for," he reprimanded.
The honey-eyed woman allowed her gaze to drop and stare mindlessly at a small hermit-crab that meandered its way pass the two. Yet again, both young adults were left silent, nothing but the beating of the waves against the coast to fill in as meaningless background noise.
Hooking a finger under Hiyono's chin, the detective smiled sadly and asked, "What are you not telling me? As soon as I find you, you usually can't wait to talk my ear off."
A small giggle almost erupted from the woman's lips but she stopped herself and looked warily up at her friend. No, she didn't see him as a friend. She saw him as much more but, deep down, she knew that her feelings could never be reciprocated.
"I-I..." she stuttered. Finally gaining courage, she muttered, "I'm leaving."
"Oh?" He sounded surprised. Maybe he hadn't fully understood. "To where?"
"Ne, Narumi-san?" she asked, loosening her way out of his grip and shifting away. "What would you do if I left?"
"Left? I'm not sure I understand," he replied honestly.
"I'll be leaving very soon, Narumi-san. And... and I'm afraid I won't be coming back." There—she said it. Couldn't she just leave now?
"Not coming back...?" Ayumu was fully worried now. Was she planning on leaving him to go to America? Was she in love with someone else? Had he waited too long?
"It's a long and complicated story. One which I won't bore you with. The details are tiny and unnecessary so I won't go into them. Narumi-san, I haven't much longer in this world."
Fear took hold of the detective's heart at her final statement. 'Not long... in this world? What does she mean by that?'
"Ano... a long time ago, shortly after I was born, I was diagnosed with a weak heart but soon it morphed into atherosclerotic heart disease. The doctors told my mother that I wouldn't be allowed to perform any strenuous activities. They said it was only a matter of time before my heart would no longer be able to pump blood to the rest of my body." Her breaths were becoming shorter with each sentence and the chocolate-eyed man abruptly stood up.
"You can't be serious!" he cried his heartbeat quickening and his chest constricting, "You expect me to believe that you're going to die on me!? What kind of nonsense is this?"
"Narumi-san, please," she begged, also rising. Taking a step forward, she tried to reach out to the auburn-haired man only to watch him take a hesitant step back.
"Is this a joke? Is Asazuki-san here too? Come out, you bastard!" he called.
"Narumi-san!"
"No. I won't accept this; not from you," he bit.
"Please, let me explain," she pleaded. Hiyono could see the resolve in Ayumu breaking down. His eyes were less frantic and the strain evident in his forehead was lessening. Several more moments passed and Hiyono knew that she had maybe another hour or two to get everything off her chest. Her knees were weakening and it was becoming harder to breathe.
Sensing the pain in everyone one of the journalist's exhales, Ayumu tried to cool his frazzled nerves. He knew that it was very unlike him to have such an outburst but the news... it was too much for him. All of a sudden; why now?
"Arigatou," she mumbled when the detective's head lowered and his eyes closed.
"W-Why...?" he asked feeling pathetic. Usually he was the strong one; always capable of understanding—using logic. Yet now, when Hiyono needed him the most, he was spazzing out and leaving her to fend for herself.
"I wanted to tell Narumi-san. For so long I wanted to rid myself of this knowledge. I wished for me to somehow lose my memory and live normally, without care. Kind of like Takeuchi-chan does; or Asazuki-kun."
"Why didn't you then? I... you know you could of told me anything, idiot," he said, a hint of optimism coming in his voice.
"I know, Narumi-san but I didn't want to burden you with my own faults."
Without warning, the chocolate-eyed man stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her shoulders comfortingly. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms hoping to sooth not only her, but himself as well.
"Stupid, why would you ever think you would burden me? I've never thought of you like that so please, don't talk like that," Ayumu spoke, his voice shaking in a very un-Ayumu-like way. Still, he couldn't keep the concern from his voice.
"Gomen... Narumi-san." Hiyono could feel the strength dissolving from her body and she began to feel faint. Her hands came up between her and Ayumu and rested against his chest while the later of the two cradled her as best as he could.
The moon had shifted positions and was sluggishly making its way to the horizon where it would soon disappear from sight. The crests remained in their unceasing motions—back and forth, against the rocks. The placative sound comforted the two young adults as the watched the setting moon.
With every passing minute, the caramel-haired girl could feel will slip through her fingers. Her eyes began to droop and, Ayumu noticing this, gently laid her down atop the sand, her head resting lightly against his thighs. From what Hiyono had said, this had been a constant illness that plagued her. He guessed that it had all finally led up to this; her final moments. Tenderly, the detective pulled caramel colored hair from its restraints and watched, fascinated as it cascaded down her sides and over his lap.
"N-Narumi-san...?"
"Shh," he whispered, "Please, don't speak."
"But, I have so much I want to t-tell Narumi-san. So much..." she advocated. She had bottled up too much lately and if she didn't get a chance to say it all, she was afraid she might burst.
"Not now," he entreated.
"Then when Narumi-san? When will I ever get this chance again?" Her voice broke as a few strangled tears spilled down her cheeks.
Ayumu watched, wide-eyed at the young woman below him. She was right; he knew that much. "Fine," he complied.
"Arigatou. I-I just wanted Narumi-san to know how I felt." Gaining more courage as she went, her voice rose a tad in volume, "I…"
"Continue," Ayumu urged. He wanted, no needed, to hear the end. How did she feel? He delicately brushed the several tears from her face with the pad of his thumb.
"Narumi-san, I've wanted to say it for s-so long. B-But I never felt like it was the right t-time. Ano, now my time is limited so: I l-love Narumi-san," she finished, closing her eyes incase of rejection. She knew, without a doubt, that if she witnessed his refusal, she wouldn't be able to take it.
Ayumu lips parted in a barely audible gasp at her words. 'Love? She loves me?'
"Go-Gomen," she hastily sputtered. Suddenly, without warning, the face above her quickly descended and her eyes slipped closed. Her body felt numb and, almost thinking she had left, she was surprised to feel the soft pressure of his mouth on hers. It was gently, caring, and it nearly broke her heart, (though she was sure that hardly mattered anymore.)
Chocolate-eyes closed as he enjoyed the simple sensation. He had never been one for intimate contact but with her, it was a completely different matter. The kiss was effortless—there was hardly, if any actual lip motion and there was definitely no other appendages involved. Seconds passed and soon, both the detective and journalist pulled apart to gauge the other's reaction.
It was the impeccable blush covering Hiyono's cheeks that took his breath away. A couple of tears fell from both young adults and Ayumu bent down to not only capture the journalist's lips in his again, but also to wrap his arms semi-awkwardly around her shoulders.
After parting for a second time, Ayumu slightly chuckled and asked, "So, I assume you know my feelings?"
"H-Hai, Narumi-san," Hiyono replied sleepily.
By now, the vibrant moon had hidden behind the ocean's purview and a lurid, zealous sun was taking the luna's place sending warm rays onto the duo. Hiyono's breaths were almost undetectable and her grip on Ayumu's hand was lighting.
"Ne, Narumi-san? Promise me something."
"What?"
"Promise me that you'll move on. You will find s-someone else and be in l-love again." It hurt to think of Ayumu loving anyone else but she knew it would be selfish to ask any less of him.
"I..."
"Promise me," she repeated, this time more definative.
Sighing, the auburn-haired man squeezed the journalist's hand tighter and nodded, "Alright then."
"One more thing?"
"Sure."
Shakily inhaling once more, Hiyono asked, "Say it, please?"
Knowing fully well what she was talking about, Ayumu complied, "I love you." Then, as an afterthought, he muttered, "Hiyono."
Honey-eyes widened at hearing her name. A small smile crept over her face and she closed her eyes again.
The two sat in companionable silence until the sun had fully risen. Looking down at the slumbering woman, Ayumu touched her cheek affectionately and whispered, "Hiyono."
When the woman didn't stir, sorrow and terror pulled at his heart. Slightly louder, he repeated, "Hiyono."
Nothing.
Several tears pushed past his thick lashes and landed on the face of the caramel-haired woman who laid motionless on his lap.
"Hey," he said, shaking her shoulders.
Still nothing.
Ducking his head, he gently placed it in the crook of her neck and inhaled the familiar scent of lilies. It was a comforting smell but even this wasn't enough for the detective.
Broken down, he quietly cried himself to sleep. With all the commotion, the unveiling of what seemed to be lost feelings, Ayumu's nerves had become shot and the hypnotic sound of the waves crashing and breaking sent him into a state of drowsiness.
-o-
Madoka and Kyotaka searched for the two missing, young adults for several hours before finding Ayumu's burgundy truck parked by the beach. After following the two sets of footsteps past the narrow entryway, Madoka let out a strangled gasp and placed a hand over her mouth.
There, about thirty feet from the married couple, sat the two they were looking for.
Kyotaka's brother was resting against a wall, arms wrapped around the woman's shoulders. What looked like trails of tears shimmered in the now risen sun. Madoka could see the rise and falling of her brother-in-law's chest, but that simple movement was not apparent in the journalist.
"Kyotaka-kun...?" Madoka began.
Shaking his head, the older Narumi placed his hands on either side of his wife's shoulders and guided her out of the cove.
"It's best we don't wake him. Let them have one final moment."
-o-
Phew... almost seven and a half pages. I do deeply apologize for my absence. I really don't have an excuse besides what you readers already know so once again, gomen nasai. :D This was one of the longs Kisses I haven't written in while—I hope you enjoyed it. It was written in a couple of hours so if there are any grammatical or spelling errors, please feel free to point them out. Reviews are welcomed. I felt very sad writing this and somehow, I hope the emotion is conveyed.
You guys... 68 reviews!? I do not deserve you.
nanamisakurachan: Thank you very much for your kind review.
xoxoBlackCatxoxo: I'm happy you enjoyed it. I always appreciate when the readers are fully content with the story.
twilight0331: Sorry for the grammatical errors in that last one. I'm currently without beta and I sometimes don't always catch everything. Please feel free to tell me if any more become apparent. Thanks a lot for your kindess!
LINA1437: No worries. The "Naughty Ayumu" Kiss will be up shortly. It's my first time writing him as such and I want to make sure it's near perfect.
MimiMichie: Thank you! :D Here is your update.
SnowCharms: I am most pleased. I've been trying for different subtleties and I'm glad you liked the last one. If I'm not mistaken, this is the first one where they admit outwardly and verbally to their feelings. Please, tell me what you think.
CrescentLight: Thank you for your kindness. Yes, osteosarcoma can be a pain in the toocus but you can't really control it. Ah, a beta!! I would be honored if your spectacular eyes would look over these for me. You'd have to become accustomed to my usual lateness but I would greatly appreciate it. :DD
4thFromTheFurnace: Ciao! It's been a long time, ne? I read your next chapter and a review will follow shortly. C: Thank you so much Cheese. I love your reviews; they always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Thanks for the props on the creativity. I just calls 'em as I sees them. Hope you enjoyed.
ConfusedJelly: Thanks. AP testing was good—got me a 4 so I'm quite pleased. I can't seem to say thank you enough. :3 I'm glad you enjoy my writing style. I've been working on it so here's to it not sucking. XD
Suuki-chan: Really, a W.O.W? Thanks soo much. C: I'm glad you enjoyed it.
big dreamer girl: Thanks for the good wishes. I take them all to heart. I know this is super, duper late but I hope you like it none the less.
sasukesgirl89: Okie dokie. :D Ask and ye shall receive. No rewrites. When this is all done, (whenever that may be ;;) I will probably add that Kiss too, just for kicks. Thank you.
Sony89: Arigatou. C:
satomika: Yes "Naughty Ayumu" will be peaking quite a few interests. :3 I'll get it up when I feel it's good enough. Hey, here's your expression of undying love, ne? Hope you enjoyed it. P.S. I've got quite the intriguing Kiss in the works for you. :D
