Chapter 11: There Is No "Us" Anymore, But There Is An "Him and I"
In one final outburst from Hikaru; I demanded a new room. Far from him, as humanly possible. With mother and father worries of our well-being; I didn't just get a new room; I got a whole wing-side of the house to myself. Kind of like Kyoya's room, but it was more livelier then his.
It was nice and I didn't feel like I was in a choke hold with Hikaru anymore.
I will say the bedroom idea was mostly his doing in the first place. Seeing how him and Haruhi were more around each other now. That third-wheel didn't ache that much, as it did in the past, as it does now. But I put everything behind me, as I tried to study for finals. Haruhi was helping Hikaru. I was starting to feel bad for Takahiro, for he was left alone without her around. But if he was hurt; it didn't show.
Speaking of an alone Takahiro, sorry to say, he couldn't help with testing for finals. He and Tamaki had some things to take care of, and it couldn't wait. Sending a text with a sorry-felt sad face within it as well. It's been a few months from the last time we spent time together. Once in a while I would get a text. Some times it was good; one happened to be, that the record deal came through. Bad times; a fight with his grandfather.
The ones that hurt the most when it was sad; "Sorry K, but we can't go biking today, I have to go to a meeting with the old man. I wish I there with you with studying." And that was just last week.
I can't be thinking of that.
Back to work.
It was about an hour later there was a knock at my door. I told the person to come in, not looking up as I kept working. Whoever it was, just took a seat far from me in the couch and stayed quiet.
It felt like I knew the person, seeing as the silence didn't both me. Just as I was done with my last class sheet, the person spoke.
"Nice room." He's back!
"Thanks, how was your day?" Give me details now!
"I never met a guy I wanted to punch so badly. Six hours alone with him is my limit."
"I can't think of anyone dealing with him any longer than that."
"You want to give it a try?"
"No, thank you." Putting everything away and asked Takahiro to seat closer. "You come to pick up Haruhi?"
"Nope, your brother gave her a ride home, when I came in."
"Oh . . . " And he didn't say a word to me. "Then why are you here then?"
When he took the seat next to me, reaching into his bag that he brought along. Looking for something and pulled out a small paper bag. An unreadable name tag was on it.
"Happy Birthday."
That was a shock.
Was it really?
Looking for the date on my book calendar, and there it was. In orange ink. How did I forget?
Never mind that, Takahiro brought me a gift.
"Thank you."
I moved the colorful tissue paper and peaking inside. It was a hand painted, woodcarving of an yin with string on it.
Where was its mate?
I turn the other side of it when I felt writing on it. It was in kanji, the print read "Always remember the." I wanted to know the rest. Seeing the yin's mate must have it. I turn to face Takahiro, shock to see that the yang was around his neck along with his locket he always had with him.
Something, which I still don't know what's in it. But, then again I never asked or try to peak for myself, and then asking to look at the yang, it was a better option, finally seeing what the rest as to be said; "Good things we shared." Now I was lost again. What did he mean by that?
"I'm leaving."
"What?"
No, he can't, I never said he could. Not that I told him to his face, but in my mind I did and he said he would stay. Because friends don't leave each other like that. They don't! They just don't!
"Don't worry. It's only at the coast." Oh, that was good, scared me a bit.
"When?"
"After finals, I leave the next day."
"What's in the coast?"
"Band things."
Oh, so nothing to do with his family or Haruhi. Okay, I could deal with that.
"The guys are really excited about this and our first cd will happen in a week after this takes off."
"You must be thrilled, too?"
"Well, yeah, I am." His smile, a rare sight for anyone to see. "There is also one more thing?"
"What?"
The next words that left his mouth, I couldn't believe them. I had to tell my parents.
Rushing to my parent's room, seeing that was also, like their meeting study room. I see them go over some plans.
Mother sees me first and tells me to come over to them.
Waiting for the right time to tell them.
When father just get's done with a new program I tell them.
At first their shock. After some time, the oddness they gave Takahiro way back before, had finally come to terms that he was who he was.
Not a problem that had to be worry about.
I wait on thin ice to hear the answer.
I do get answer I was hoping, but it was only happen, if I scored a eighty-five percent or higher average, I could go.
Knowing how math was, that what's was going to hold me down the most. I agreed to the terms and leave the room. Coming back to mine, seeing Takahiro nosing through my work, not telling him to stop because it was the math sheets. Right now, he was all I got for this.
"They said I could go, only, and only, if I can get a score of eighty-five or higher average on the finals." I crashed on the bed not far where Takahiro was. "I'm doom." I muffled through my very thick, plush pillows.
"You'll be fine." I hear him say, sitting next to me, patting my back in a soothing way. "I'll help as much as I can."
"Thank you." As I rise to meet his dark eyes, we were both smiling. An "We're not going to lose" smile to each other and got to work, for the next few days ahead.
There were a few times we study at the Fujioka's house. Rarely for many reason. But this was the last day, and we study til our eyes bleed out. Well more like until my eyes bleed out.
Seeing as Takahiro was "reading" with the book covering his face. Hands folded on his stomach that was rising and falling with his breathing.
He's in nothing but a dark blue tank-top and boxer shorts.
Even without his shoes, my feet were babies to his monsters. I'm starting to think that I have a foot fetish, and I choose not to see it through, if it was true.
Going back to my book, doing more solo studying.
But, then I had this itchy feeling that I needed to do something.
Placing the book down, not to wake up Takahiro and moved a bit. The house may not have been big, but there was enough room to move around in it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see that picture. That couple. Going into the bedroom, seating on my knees, my feet holding me from the back. I look at the picture. For a knowing fact they were Takahiro's parents.
I gave them a pray.
"Rest at ease. Your son is doing well." Whispering the lowest I could do. "Trust in me, that I will look after him, just like his other friends." Taking a deep breath, exiting just as softly. "I wish I got to know you, I bet he acts just like you."
"And you call me a softie." I hear from behind me, Takahiro taking a spot next to me a moment later.
Gazing at the picture in thought. Happiness? Sadness? Anger? Loneliness? I couldn't tell. He places his hands together, to what I was doing and gave them a small orison. He was shaking a bit, but I said nothing, and let him do as he pleased.
"God, I miss them."
"I bet they were outstanding people."
"Mom; yes . . . dad; maybe only mother saw it, as others didn't." He said, eyes never leaving the picture.
"Your father was like Tamaki's mom, right?"
"Something like that . . . he did have his own business in the music life."
So he wasn't poor-poor. In lighter terms to what Takahiro was saying.
"Oh, so music runs in the family."
"Yeah, reason to love it all the more. Being close to someone dear."
We just talked a moment, finding out more about his family. From his side of the story, not what Hikaru told me.
I wanted to know the truth.
His father was African-American; his family was from Ethiopia when he was young, and then moved when he turned eight to live in the States. And eleven-years later, he met a nice, with a cute aura, Japanese woman; Takahiro's mother. They hit it off well, and soon found she was with a child, and left, together, back to Japan, to tell the news to her family.
"Grandfather was thrilled to hear the news; my mom was finally going to be a mother. Something she always wanted."
Happiness went to sadness in a flash.
"Grandmother, before her death, was not pleased and cursed the unborn child, me, that I would be nothing but the end of the family's line."
"How can you be sure of this?"
"My oh-so-wonderful loves to bring it up, when ever they can." Ending it with a shrug.
"Why did your mother go to United States?"
"That's got something to do with Tamaki's dad."
"What happen?"
"Awhile back, my mom and his dad were childhood sweethearts, when they were young. No one knew until she had a miscarried of his child of three months. Both families were very upset of this, and split them up. Tamaki and I were the outcome of this thoughtless plan of theirs."
"You two became the child they lost years ago?"
"A reason for the brother thing, yes."
It made things more clear now. Pity was maybe the last thing they wanted, as they tried to move on from what they were dealing with now. Both their families wanted them to take over the family line. One says yes; the other says "I'm not sure, if I want to."
"Is your grandpa putting a lot of pressure on you about this?"
"Yes and no." Getting up and going to the kitchen. "It's mostly so my cousins don't get it. Even though they're older, granddad will just give the company to me when I come of age."
Coming back with some tea and sandwiches. Something to munch on as we talked and did some more work.
"How old are you now?"
"Sixteen, turning seventeen in a few months, like you."
"You still have about three years left." Looking over this information. "A lot can happen within that time." And I can't help be a little worry about it.
"Yeah, reason why I'm not doing this shit."
"Music is your fall back plan?"
"Plus many others, as you, should well know." And I did know what he was talking about.
This is not just for the rich. People like Haruhi do it too.
The more things that you are good at, the better off you'll be in life. The problem is... getting what you want done before soon your off in the real world. I can see that with Takahiro and his buddies, along with the host club. We're at being good at something, so people will notice. But nowhere close to be gloating about it.
Checking the time out of whim.
"I better get home and get ready for tomorrow. Good luck."
"I'm not the one who needs it."
"I was just even out the playing field." And got my stuff, heading for the door.
"You'll be fine, all you need is at least an eight-six and you can go."
"You make it sound so easy." As we were at the door, I was outside and he was holding the entry. "I wish I could have Hikaru scoring choice. I might have a fighting chance."
He shrugs and we talked a morsel more, said our good-byes, the moment the limo was in sight. Shutting the door, as he was wishing me luck.
I knew I had this test in the bag, but I just had to make it become real. I hope can do this? I really want to go on that road-trip.
On the way home, silence played for the mind to be calm. No brother was in sight, eating a quick dinner. Rushing up stairs to any last work, which was needed for the finals. Three tests, two projects, a report paper, and lastly was a PE challenge. Repeating over and over; I can do this. I can do this . . . Can I?
"Kaoru? You're still up?" Mother asked, walking into my room. A small lamp that shower over on some homework I was doing was my only light.
"Yeah, just going some work Takahiro gave me. He said most of the questions are going to have these formulas."
Her hands rest on my shoulders, gazing at the work that was done. "From what I can tell, he's a good teacher."
Then her gaze must have went to the large folder on the far end of my desk, ready knowing when she spoke out.
"What's this?"
"An art project." Writing off the last problem, to look at my mother. "The topic was a life changing moment."
"May I look at it?"
Already reaching for it, I just shrugged, ready to when she going to demand where the idea came from.
"Honey? Where was this?"
"In Tokyo." Putting everything in my bag for tomorrow. "It was amusing. Nothing bad happen, mom, but I had fun."
"Takahiro's idea."
Nodding.
"Well, I see that it had an impact on you, huh?"
"Yeah, it did."
"This is something your going to be doing when you leave?"
"Yes, mother, but please, Takahiro promise that nothing bad is going to happen. I'll be with him twenty-four/seven."
"I believe he will, but promise me that when you come back . . . You'll be in one piece."
"Are there any more ground rules then?"
"No, but if you do something, make sure your father or brother can't see it."
Placing my work down and gave me a small hug.
"You're the happiest I have seen, and I don't want to see you lose it. Your grandfather was the same way, you know. He only wanted what was best for me and look where I am now."
She gave a very good point, out of people who would understand happiest; it was her. Knowing fully well, who told her when I was hanging out with Takahiro at first.
Father. Plain and simple.
He can't open his mind to this kind of thing. The people I'm with; are good as any one of the high-class world. But it takes time for father to see, that everyone is like that. You just have to give them a chance to show it.
Mother soon let goes and heads for the door.
"Goodnight, and good luck."
"Thanks mom, goodnight to you."
And I called it a night, getting ready for bed, using the last bit of math problems to put me asleep, in hopes I would remember them. Man, I sure hope I do.
