Author's Note: This will be last chapter in the stories with Miyagi and Misaki. Next will start Misaki with Hiroki.
MISAKI
I woke up feeling rested and warm. The sun hit my cheeks but it wasn't in an annoying way. It felt nice, like taking a nap
underneath the tree in the backyard when I was little. I sat up and found a note on the table. Miyagi already went to work
leaving me here by myself. It wasn't a problem. I stretched and looked around. Everything was in what Usagi used to call
an organized mess. I stood up and felt the bones in my spine crack. How long had I been sleeping? I dug for my phone. It was
noon. I hadn't sleep like that in a long time.
I looked around. Everything was covered in a layer of dust. I set to work placing all the books in an organized pile behind
the couch, the ones with papers stuck in them went to the top of the pile. I wiped down the tables and dusted the bookshelf
before making my way through the sink full of dishes. I scrubbed, bleached, dusted, and sweeped until my arms ached. I was
like this since my parents died. Maybe because I never cleaned my room, but in my ten-year old mind I was the one who had
done something to not make my parents come back. I remember scrubbing the house from bottom to top that night, for hours
until my fingers ached and I had no tears left. I'd cooked dinner for Nii-chan and did my homework all by myself even
though I knew most of it was wrong. I thought being good would make them appear. For some reason I still had that feeling,
if I was good things would go well. It didn't work in my last relationship, but it was all I knew.
I walked down to the nearest convenience store. Miyagi had left some money of the counter instructing me to get myself lunch
it was almost dinner time now. I bought whatever fresh ingredients I could find and headed back to make dinner. I was so
immersed in what I was doing I barely heard Miyagi walked in. "What the...?" He came around the corner and peered at me.
"You didn't have to clean up."
"It's just something I do." He gave me a strange look, but it passed a second later. "And you're making dinner?" He walked
over and peered over my shoulder.
"Want to taste?" I held the spoon up to him. When his lips brushed my fingers I almost dropped it, but I held still.
"Wow. You really seem to know what you're doing." You have to when there isn't someone else to cook for you. I just smiled
instead of saying anything.
"It won't be done for a while, but the water for a bath is ready." He looked confused. "You worked all day, you want a bath
right?" He nodded.
"Yeah...thank you."
MIYAGI
Coming home to my house in perfect condition was weird. It was never like that, not even while I was married. I settled
down in the bath. Would I be happy for once? Would sensei be proud of this decision? Misaki was a great kid, but I should
I be the one to take all his time for now on? It was something I'd avoided asking myself these past couple months. Things
between us were moving quickly. I was right to doubt myself, two of my relationships started the same way. Only for me to
find out everything about the person after it was serious. For some reason it seemed like Misai wore his heart on his
sleeve, and didn't hide much. I would have to trust my judgement, and hope that the third time I wouldn't fuck things up.
I stifled a yawn and dried myself off quickly before throwing on some pajamas. I walked out as Misaki was setting the
table. I didn't realize how hungry I was until that moment. Dinner went fine, but we were both lost in our own thoughts. He
was probably thinking the same things I was. A few times I noticed he wanted to say something, but he didn't. I couldn't
bring myself to talk about anything I was thinking of either. "So...I guess I should get you home." He nodded.
"I'll get my things ready." I watched as he packed his things up in slow shaky movements. It took me a couple of minutes to
realize he wanted me to ask him to stay. I didn't know what would be attached to that statement though. I looked out the
window just so I wouldn't have to look at his defeated posture, and the way his hands shook. He didn't want to go home, and
I could understand why. At the same time I had to be the adult in the situation. Would things be able to work out between
two broken people? The answer was probably no. If you loved something you had to let it go...that realization alone was
enough to make me want to cry. Things probably wouldn't work out between us thinking of it realistically.
The ride to Misaki's place was quiet. He got out the car without saying anything, and didn't turn around as he walked up to
his place. I drove in a heavy silence the whole way home. As soon as I got in a buried myself in my bed. It seemed like
letting him go home was what I should do, but not what I wanted to do. I closed my eyes and went to sleep.
The next morning when I walked into the office two roses sat on my desk. Each with a different card attached. One was a
white card, the other red. I looked to Hiroki but he just shrugged. "It was here when I got in." He went back to busily
typing away. I sat down at my desk and turned over the red rose to look at the card that was attached. "Miyagi, I've been
thinking about you a lot recently. I was hoping we could work things out. I know I got ahead of myself and forgot about
what was important, us. I just want another chance with you." -Shinobu
I took a deep breath and took the card off of the white rose. Instead of a short note there was a letter in tiny scrawled
handwriting. I put on my glasses and peered at the page. "Miyagi, these past couple months have meant a lot to me. Since I
broke things off with Usagi I didn't think there was anyone else who could love me or wanted to be around me. You've done
so much for me, and not just the scholarship. Because of you I gained back my happiness and made a friend which I really
needed. It's all thanks to you I can be happy now. I've put a lot of thought into what would become of us in the future.
When you brought me home last night, I realized I needed to either stay with you or stop seeing you altogether. There are
not other options but these two things. The choice pained me and barely left me with any time to sleep. The longer I stayed
awake I realized it wasn't Usagi I was thinking about anymore, but you. I think I'm ready to start something with you. I'll
wait however long you want me to. If that's what it takes because I really like you. I realized my mistake. In the past I
never became friends with the one I loved. I jumped right in without knowing much about them and thinking being physically
attracted to someone was the same as being emotionally attracted to a person. Now I understand that I was wrong. Hopefully
it is not too late for me. When I showed up this morning I realized I had some competition. I can understand if it's not me
that you want. If you would like to see me again...please meet me in the library after classes end today." -Misaki
MISAKI
I sat at a table in the library gripping a book so tightly my knuckles turned white. After studying all afternoon I knew I
did good on all my tests. And all I had was one left. Was I good enough for Miyagi? He was someone who's kindness was well
hidden behind a mask of silly actions and mock harshness. Not everyone knew how he could really be, but I'd gotten passed
that wall. I wasn't sure how long I'd had feelings for him. We'd spent countless silent afternoons together, and long days
together where he would explain a problem to me or talk excitedly about what he was reading. Although I didn't get him a
lot of the time I enjoyed the time we spent together. He changed my life in ways he didn't realize. All I could do was wait
now.
The sky was getting darker. When I began to think he wouldn't show up I saw him rush through the door, his hair plastered
to his forehead like he'd been running awhile. I stood up. He made a beeline straight for my table. "Sorry I'm late." I
couldn't help but laugh.
"I almost threw up! Jerk." He smiled.
"I had some students who needed help." I bit my lip.
"So...will you go out with me?" He grabbed my hand and dragged me outside. He kept walking until we reached his car.
"Of course dumby." We took the ride to his place, my hand still in his. I could love someone else...and it didn't feel bad
or forced either.
It was right when they said you could never forget your first love, but it was also right that you couldn't get over an old
love without starting a new one.
MIYAGI
I opened the door and shoved Misaki in ahead of me. It was pitch black. I relied entirely on instinct as my lips found his
in the dark. My leg hit something, the couch. He fell back before me. "Ow!" Misaki pulled the remote out from behind his
back and laughed.
"You okay?" I could feel him smiling against my lips. "Maybe this isn't the best place." I picked him up and headed back
to my room.
It was even more of a danger hazard in here. Books were everywhere and clothes strewn all over the floor. It was the only
room Misaki didn't clean. I sifted my way through the piles of things to the bed. Once on the bed Misaki gripped me to me
tightly. He smelled like strawberries. He kissed my cheek. "Are you tired?"
"No. I'm wide awake." I looked down at him. I touched my forehead to his. "You know we're not allowed to date. So we have
to keep it a secret."
"I'm used to that." He probably was too.
"It should be easy. Unless you're famous and not telling me." I shook my head. "Okay." He pulled me down to him. How could
someone be this cute? I hoped I would get to spend a long time with Misaki."What now?"
"Do you really need to ask?"
THE END
