I FEEL SO GUILTY.

I have recently been untrue to my GakuLuka fics. Q~Q Too busy with LenxIroha.
SO NOW, I SHALL PRESENT TO YOU-...

On with the story.


With a soft chink, Luka gingerly lighted the candles. A gentle scent, reminiscent of raw tuna and grilled eggplant, drifted softly into the air. Luka counted again to make sure. Eighteen lighted candles, the candles of ivory color with various decorations carved and molded upon it—an eggplant poking out, a tuna carved in—and some other designs, such as an angle's wings and a sword.

Come on, she shouldn't be crying.

It was his birthday, after all.

But Luka blinked back tears as she stared at the cake. Not because of its perfection—a result of her baking. Not because of happiness. Because of…well, sadness. Loss and sadness.

How long have we been together?

Since when did we meet?

The times we've shared…

The candles' bright glows distracted her from reality. The world around her disintegrated, and Luka sunk into memories made of long ago, precious as a silvery bell's sound and tough as the stringy, strong tendons threading through her entire body.

In one of the candles' reflections, she saw a shy pinkette hand a surprised purplehead a fistful of pink and purple flowers.

In the next, she saw the same girl be presented with a fish in a store by the grubby hands of the boy, the owner of the store chasing the sheepish purple-haired.

And the next. She hopped onto the boy's bike, and they rode into the sunset, laughing and talking.

And then they were watching a movie of two chairs. He'd said it was boring, but she had thought it was rather interesting.

Then she cut herself with a piece of shattered glass; he'd bandaged it.

A bright red rose's petals strewn across the floor, the girl giggling as she kissed him.

They threw paper planes into the sky, watching as the folded paper was carried away by the strong wind.

New Year's Eve, and they were sharing a smoothie together even though it was so cold, the light illuminating her blushing face.

Playing the guitar.

Tickling and teasing each other.

The girl getting mad because of the mess in the kitchen.

Karaoke.

Playing with the hose.

Building a snowman.

Messing around with the leaves in the backyard. She'd been surprised nobody had been hurt, since the rake was nearby too.

Reading a mushy romance book together.

Making a wish under mistletoe.

Watching the cherry blossoms fall, one by one, onto the ground. He picked one up and stuck it into her hair; she squealed and pointed out that it had already fallen in the mud, and he laughed because of his mistake.

The tears came out hard now, and Luka struggled to keep them back in. The eighteen candles came back into view. If it was my birthday… There were plenty of wishes to consider. But now, today…it was his. His chance to make his own wishes, to choose his own path. How much times have I wished for us to be together until the end of time? Luka had to force herself to be silent, because the inside her was screaming out.

There was a soft bang that signaled his coming home. Luka immediately wiped away her tears.

"Happy Birthday, Gakupo," she said quietly, stepping aside to let him see the cake she'd baked.

It was in the shape of a eggplant—rather small, but well done. Dark purple frosting and lime green gumdrops for the stem of the eggplant, because she couldn't find any green frosting, not even in Miku's store.

Gakupo only nodded wordlessly and got the plates and forks.

There were no birthday songs to be sang. All the songs were in their hearts, which were beating so loudly to the tunes that Luka was sure that Gakupo could detect the song thrumming inside, and she caught a forlorn note of Ai ga Tarinai.

A soft blow from Gakupo and all eighteen candles were extinguished. Luka thought she saw the sparkle of a teardrop on his eyelashes as his lips moved to his wish.

They ate the cake in silence.

Only until Luka laid down her fork softly did Gakupo speak. He reached across the table and brushed a chunk of light pink hair out of her aquamarine eyes.

"I'll miss you."

Those three words triggered another immediate rush of sadness. She gasped for air between her tears, and his forehead pressed against hers as he kissed her for the last time before having to get up for his train.

His train to college.

Luka would not see him for a year.
Perhaps he would not choose to go home at all, and just finish his first year and take up a job.

"I'll miss you, too," Luka said in a small voice at the closed door.


*hides* DON'T KILL ME FOR DOING SOMETHING SAD! Especially you, Gaku... (I act like Vocaloids are real sometimes.) I just wrote this for Gakupo's birthday. A happy fic didn't come to me, so that's why I did this...

Anyway, a lot of the memories Luka had were in Just be Friends. Familiar much? ;) The rest of them, I made up. They harbor no particular meaning; Luka and Gakupo aren't really breaking up; I just wanted something to use, so I thought a few references to Just be Friends would be enough. Of course, I don't own the song, neither do I own Vocaloid.

Hope everyone enjoyed it~! Review please!

~Unyielding Wish