Ch.10 (The Road Not Taken)
"Finally, some time alone" Shindou said in a weary voice
"Ya ok, so I'm no one, -_- " the women thought, "I'll leave you to have some rest now..." she said leaving the room
Shindou lays back on the mattress, and tries to get a grip of what's going on, and then...
"Huh, what's that?..." Shindou thought, looking at the weird-looking box
Shindou opens the box's cover half way through, when... "No, what am I doing?...it's non of my business", and when taking off his hand, his fingers, which were still clutched to the cover, completed the opening process and then...
"Me...megumi-chan!"
*Shindou skims through the photos*
"Those pictures...how did they end up in here?" Shindou thought
*The woman walks in*
"Sorry, I forgot to close the lights..." she said, and then headed towards him
"Where'd you get these photos from?!" Shindou asked in anger
"They belonged to my granddaughter..." she answered in confusion, "but why the botherment?" she asked
Shindou just gazes at the woman for a while and then speaks out "You're Megumi's grandmother?!" he concluded in shock
"Where'd you know her from?" she asked
"I'm that kid standing to her right..." he said pointing at one picture, "we used to be really close friends..." he continued
"Noway...I can't believe I've finally found you" she said with joy, "She has left you this..." she said handing him a musical box which was at the top of the shelf
*Flashback*
"Megumi-chan, what's that box?"
"It's the only memory left from my parents...it's the most valuable thing in my life"
*End of flashback*
"Megumi..."
"Stink bomb, the bathroom is yours" Ibuki mocked
Shindou stands up and heads to the bathroom without letting any word out
~Next day~
"Thanks for your hospitality" Ibuki said
"We don't know how to thank you...arigatou gozaimasu" Shindou said
The woman gave them a warm smile and said "Are you sure you know your way back home?"
"We'll be able to find it" Shindou said
And they then waved her a goodbye
"Hey Shindou what is this?" Ibuki said as he grabbed the box
"Noo give it back" Shindou yelled in anger
"Wait wait" Ibuki said as he lifted the box leaving Shindou attempting to jump many times to get it, when suddenly the box opened
"La..la..la" a song played
*Flashback*
"Ne old woman...eh...I mean grandma, Megumi-chan told me about this box, but what's inside?" Shindou asked in curiosity
"It is a song...a song her mother used to sing for her when she was young, and once..." she gulped then continued "Megumi came to me and begged me to give you this as a last memory from her to you, that was the day before her death...she knew that she wasn't going to last any longer so...it was just the right time I guess"
*Tears started forming in Shindou's eyes and then cascaded down his cheeks*
"No no...don't cry, I'm sure that Megumi wouldn't like to see you like this" the old lady said as she hugged him
*End of flashback*
"Who's singing this?" Ibuki asked
"Megumi's mother..." Shindou said, "Now give it back!" he insisted in a wild tone
"What hehe her mother hahahahahahaha" Ibuki bursted with laughter
"Haha that's soo childish, hey how old are you again?" Ibuki continued giving the box back
Shindou's face became as red as a tomato and his eyes became teary
"For your information...if you don't have feelings then others do, and by the way I just can't stand you...annoying pest...I hate you!" Shindou said leaving Ibuki and running away
"Heey Shindou, I was just kidding, wait!" Ibuki called as he followed Shindou
Shindou then stops and says "Don't follow me, I dont need you..."
"Fine then, find someone else to carry you on his back when you go Koko" Ibuki replied as Shindou walked away
"And you know what?...neither do I" Ibuki continued
And now, each one of them has taken a path, where they don't know what awaits, or if they have picked the right decision...
To be continued...