Kukai
"Ah! It's five! I'm gonna be late!" I dashed to the door and flung it open, throwing on my best hoodie over my shirt. Tonight was a big night, I couldn't be late.
"Make sure to call, Kukai!" My mother called after me.
"See you later!" I jammed my feet into my brand new shoes and began to run at top speed, out of the neighborhood and down the streets, panting with exertion. I sprinted headlong into a nearby alleyway and began banging on a thick metal door. "HEYYYY!"
A young man, probably a couple years older than I, peeked out the doorway. "Who's there?"
"Hey, it's me. I—"
"Password?"
"Dude, open up. You know who I am."
"Password?" He insisted.
I sighed. "Crossing the Lines."
"Good. Come on in, Souma-san."
"Kukai. You're late." Yukari Sanjou-Nikaidou stood in front of me, crossing her arms and giving me the typical tapping-your-foot-in-annoyance-because-you-have-more-important-things-to-be-doing pose. "She's waiting on stage behind the curtain. You have..." She checked her watch. "Five minutes."
"Thanks, Yukari-san!" I sped away from her.
"Call me Sanjou-san!" She said crossly.
Utau was indeed standing on stage. She looked beautiful even in the shadows. I could just see an outline of a long billowy white dress. Her trademark pigtails were braided with leather cords. "Kukai! You're here!" I saw her smile. "Thank goodness."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, babe." I leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "You ready?"
"When would I ever not be ready?" She laughed. "Oh, it's almost time." She shooed me away. "I'll meet you after I'm done with the concert."
"Good luck!" I sped off stage, just in time to see the opening act, Raspberry Anemia, troop off stage watch the curtain begin to rise and her new single, Crossing the Lines, began to play.
Immediately the crowd went absolutely wild when Utau began to sing, her clear voice ringing out into the theatre.
"Hello, Osaka! Are you ready?" I hear her yell into the microphone. A roar filled the stadium. Think just over 800 people in a sold-out concert. "Get ready to hear old meet new! Let's see if you can remember these!"
"In the empty stage
the curtain has already fallen on my time for dreams.
Just like yesterday, tomorrow will
not come again…I've realized it…
The last scene is always painful and beautiful, but
I'll wipe my tears and knock on this door!
"My Heartful Song
My Heartful Song
"I'll change into a brand new me!
I bring out my courage
without being ashamed!
My Heartful Song
My Heartful Song
I will always sing
so that it'll reach you!
"I wonder since when did I stop showing my true smile,
don't give up on me, you've waited for me!
"I brought up the shield of loneliness and fought myself,
but now I release my chains of deceit.
"The affection in my nostalgic memories
opened my eyes and
I've become more honest!
My Heartful Song
My Heartful Song
I open my heart!
"Today,
I'll change into a brand new me!
I bring out my courage
and continue to shine!
My Heartful Song
My Heartful Song
I will always sing
so that it'll reach you!"
Utau bowed. "So glad you guys remember that song! Now, My Heartful Song meets my new single, Crossing the Lines!"
"Love is such a hard habit to break
Even when it's your own heart that's at stake
Trying to erase your face from my mind
Run from this love till it's far behind"
The light shone onto her skin and illuminated her with a golden glow. I smiled, then slid a hand inside my hoodie pocket and felt around, trying to find the object I planned to give her.
"Oh, crossing the lines
If only your heart were mine
Oh, it's too late now
I'd give you up if only I knew how"
My hand closed on what I was seeking, and I pulled it out, stepping off out of sight in case someone managed to glimpse it.
"I thought that I'd kept myself safe
Throw up the walls and lock all the gates
How did you manage to get through
And make me fall in love with you?"
I held up the little black box up to eye level, feeling a rush of excitement surge into my chest.
"Oh, crossing the lines
If only your heart were mine
Oh, it's too late now
I'd give you up if only I knew how"
"Tonight''s the night," I said to myself, grinning at her on stage, and let the rest of her song flow inside my head.
"Oh, crossing the lines
I wish I could leave this behind
Oh, it's too late now
Emotions once tied up, unwound"
"You're the exception, you're inside my head
I can't try to think, all my common sense is dead
I lost my own heart and I know it'll crack
Already it's broken, you don't love me back
"Oh, crossing the lines
If only your heart were mine
Oh, it's too late now
I'd give you up if only I knew how
"Oh, crossing the lines
I wish I could leave this behind
Oh, it's too late now
Emotions once tied up, unwound
"Oh, crossing the lines
If only your heart were mine
Oh, it's too late now
I'd give you up if only I knew how
"I'd give you up if only I knew how..."
I tried not to watch in both horror and fascination as Yukari-san and her husband Nikaidou made out. It looked like they were eating each others' faces.
"Uh..." I inched forward and tapped on Yukari-san's shoulder, trying to ask them to maybe get a room or something.
She broke away, panting, and snapped, "WHAT?!"
"Never mind," I mumbled.
Nikaidou leaned and whispered in her ear. Immediately she went red and shoved him away, muttering. He chuckled.
"Ah!" Utau panted, throwing herself into her chair and panting. "That was amazing! I can't believe I lasted three hours singing songs."
I tossed her a waterbottle. "You were great."
She snorted. "Thanks for the tip."
"You were." I grinned and kissed her forehead. "Ooh, you taste all sweaty."
"Shut up. I'm hungry."
"Then let us go eat ramen." I held out a hand, and she took it. "I bet I can beat you again."
"You're on."
"Wait!" Sanjou-san leapt forward. "Put these on!" She shoved a pair of dark sunglasses and a white hat into her hand.
Utau sweat-dropped. "It's eight o'clock. How am I supposed to see with these on?"
"Just wear them!" Sanjou-san said crossly. "Or do you want a repeat of last time?"
"Fine," Utau grumbled, snatching them from her hand and jamming the hat over her head, tucking her hair into the hat and sliding on the glasses.
Sanjou-san inspected her with satisfaction. "Perfect. I'm off to eat dinner!"
"Come on, Idol!" I pulled her out into the cooling night air. "Let's go eat ramen!"
Twenty minutes later, I was groaning in pain, gripping my stomach with seven empty bowls and one half-finished bowl of ramen in front of me. Utau had finished all eight of her huge bowls and was shouting triumphantly. The locals of our favorite shop were laughing and cheering her.
"I won!" Utau laughed, raising her arms into the air. "This night just got a million times better!"
"Yeah, I get it," I clutched my stomach. "You won. Congratulations."
The manager, who was watching from the sidelines, laughed and came up to us. "You two are my favorite customers. You always get so many bowls of ramen, and you always come back. Helps keep my store in business."
"You're welcome," I told him. "Now if you don't mind, I think we should get going. I need to find a better place where I can be in pain in peace."
He shook his head. "Utau-chan has beaten you in every match fo the past month. Shouldn't you be used to this by now?"
"Shut up, Hisato-san." I slapped some money down on the counter.
Utau giggled. "Let's go."
I got to my feet, grumbled and hobbling out of the restaurant with her. "How did you even manage to consume so much food?"
"I spent, like, three hours on stage and only got an energy bar at the very beginning. You're lucky I wasn't feeling hungry for more."
I felt something compact bump against my coat pocket. "Hey, can we go to that old park?"
"You mean, the swings?" Utau asked in surprise. "Good idea." She slipped her hand into mine. "It is our anniversary, after all."
"Good memories there." I looked at her. "Remember when we first started dating?"
"Ah, you were such a kid then," She teased. "And obnoxious, too. Just flat-out kissed me so I would stop calling you a kid. You hit my teeth too."
"It was my first kiss," I sighed. "And I gave it to you..."
"Hey! I'm an awesome kisser. Don't you forget it."
"Although, the first time I kissed you, you froze up."
"Baka." She conked me on the head. "You surprised me. And even then, I kissed better than you."
I smirked and leaned downward. "Do you doubt my kissing skills? Because, I can fix that."
She flushed. "We're in public. Wait till we get to the stupid park."
"Then can I prove that I'm a perfectly good kisser?" I chuckled.
"Baka," She repeated. "Let's go."
She dragged me through the city, which was of course abuzz about Utau's concert, past the familiar water fountain and crossing the boulevard hurriedly into the old park. The old trees, plum, peach, and cherry, were gnarled, but the peach blossoms were losing their petals; the white-dusted plum blossoms had been gone for a while and the trees were already their beautiful and strange velvet red shade. The cherry blossoms, however, were already beginning to sprout a few buds that would soon grow to thousands, and bloom in a few weeks for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
The two of us walked through the playground, where the swings moved slowly in the breeze and the merry-go-round was creaking and turning every so slightly.
"It was right here," I said, settling on a swing. "I sat here, and you sat there. And then..." I leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips. "I kissed you," I whispered against her lips, smiling.
"I have a present for you," She untied her tan trench coat and pulled out a bag.
"How did I not notice you had a bag-shaped lump on your chest?" I wondered.
She laughed. "Open the bag, idiot."
I reached into the package and pulled out a tiny old soccer ball. "You stole my old soccer ball!" Oh, my God." I laughed in dibelief. "I'll be watching for you on the Olympic team. Signed, Takahashi Sekizuka." I looked at her. "You got Takahashi Sekizuka to sign my old practice ball?"
"Only for you," She kissed my cheek.
The two of us were silent for a while, just watching each other. Hazel eyes to violet, smiling, because we never wanted to look away.
"I have something for you, too," I said quietly. I pulled the black box out of my pocket and flicked open the lid, still watching her expression.
Her eyes went wide. "Kukai?" She said in a small voice.
I smiled. "Don't worry, Idol. I'm not proposing to you just yet. Don't think I'm quite ready for that."
She gestured to the ring, a delicate silver object with hearts twisting into the shape of a butterfly. "Then why...?"
I leaned closer. "It's a promise ring, silly. But I'll only give it to you if you promise that you're only ever be mine." I moved closer, and she looked up at me, flushed and starry-eyed.
"Look, I know we've been together forever, I just..." I trailed off, feeling silly. "Want us to stay like that." I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "Heh. I'm not very good with words. I just wanted to say, I love you." I gulped, and stared at her expectantly.
She burst into tears and slid her arms around my neck and kissed me. "I love you, too," She said against my mouth.
Suddenly her phone began ringing. She pulled away and growled in frustration, flipping the phone open. "Amu! I was in the middle of something!" I heard a faint voice on the other side. Utau looked confused. "Wait, what? I can't understand you. I'm coming to pick you up. We'll talk later." She snapped it closed and turned to me. "Amu needs me to pick her up for whatever reason."
"Can I come?" I asked. "Seeing as, you know, I'm not a paper driver. We can take my car."
"Shut up," She muttered. "I can drive. I just need a little more practice."
"Love you, Idol," I put an arm around her shoulder.
"Love you too, baka. Let's go pick up Amu."
"Hey, shouldn't she be on a date with Ikuto right now?" I wondered, swinging our hands as we walked out the opposite way we entered the park, through
"I think so," Utau said at last, frowning, "But as of late, they don't seem very happy together.
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen them together often," I scratched my head. "I hope this isn't bad."
"I know." The two of us turned the corner on the next street. "Ikuto's not usually here for so long, but this time, it's like something's keeping him here. I'm just hoping it's because he doesn't want to leave her, not that he's trying to fix things."
"He told me it's like she's suddenly more distant." Soon enough, we were nearing my street. "That doesn't really sound like our Amu. Hey, Mom!"
My mother rushed over. "Utau-chan! Kukai! How good to see you!"
One of my brothers sauntered over. "Why, hello, Utau. Come to see me?"
Utau rolled her eyes. "Don't even go there, Unkai. Hey!"
Unkai ruffled her hair. "Eh, you're too young for me anyways. I prefer older women. Just like little Kukai-chan." He winked at me.
"S-Shut up!" I yelled.
Kaidou came out of the kitchen. "Otouto." He nodded to me. "Idol."
"Hey, Kaidou-san." Utau smiled up at him, and then turned to me. "You didn't tell me your brothers were visiting."
My mom cocked her head. "Kind of a family reunion. Shuusui's probably up in his room talking some business stuff with his company. Rento's introducing his new fiance to my dad."
"Oh, cool! Can we—?"
My mother giggled. "Of course." I led her into the kitchen.
There in front of stood a smiling Rento next to his new fiancee, who smiled at us happily.
"Otouto, Utau-chan," Rento flipped his hair. "You're finally here. This is my new fiancee, Aki Tsunaga."
"Nice to meet you," Aki Tsunaga nodded, smiling at us politely.
"Hisoka-chan, this is Kukai, my younger brother, and Utau Hoshina, his girlfriend."
"Ah—you must be..." Aki's eyes widened.
Utau smiled. "I'm a singer."
"How amazing! You're very talented," Hisoka gushed. "This is so amazing! You both can call me Hisoka-chan."
"Nice to meet you, Aki-chan." Utau shook Aki's hand.
I turned to my dad. "Can I borrow the car?"
"What for?" My dad asked curiously. "It's late."
"Utau and I need to pick up one of our friends."
My father looked doubtful, but my mother nodded, giving us a bright smile. "Just be careful, okay?" She tossed me the keys."
"I'm driving," I said firmly to Utau, who pouted.
"Fine."
"See you later! Nice to meet you, Aki-chan!" I called over my shoulder, and the two of us headed back outside.
"So what did you think of Aki-chan?" I asked Utau.
"He was pretty cool," She replied. "I'm so glad your brother finally found someone. I just hope he can keep up with your brother."
I chuckled. "Yeah, Rento's pretty... well, let's call it, loud. Ah-ah!" My hand hit the door with a bang, trapping her against the diver's side door. "Nuh-uh," I ran my hand over hers, which was latched tightly to the door handle. "Let go."
"No."
I smirked and leaned closer, pressing a kiss to her neck. She blushed, and her grip loosened. "Let. Go." My hand trailed up her arm and neck, and I kissed her trembling, but stubborn, lips, pressing her back against the door. I slipped one hand behind her lower back and pulled her closer, before pulling away, panting slightly, and murmured, "Ha."
She blinked, and realized I had managed to pry her fingers from the door. "Cheater."
I laughed, and stepped past her, plopping myself into the driver's seat. I cursed. "Mom must've been driving. The seat's way too close."
"Karma," Utau said gleefully. "That's what you get for cheating."
"It's fine." I grinned and nuzzled her cheek. "I wouldn't mind doing that again, anyways."
"Just drive the damn car."
I pulled out of the driveway. "So where'd Amu say to pick her up?"
"I think she said somewhere outside Seiyo Academy."
"Seiyo?" I was incredulous. "What's she doing there? Also, why can't she just walk back to wherever she needs to go?"
"Something important, whatever it is." Utau looked out the window. "I hope she's all right."
Fifteen minutes later, we were driving right past Seiyo Academy, where a lone figure stood. It was Amu.
"Amu!" Utau opened the passenger-seat door and leapt out, running to meet Amu.
I parked the car and hopped out as well, coming to join the two. "Hey, Amu. What's up?"
Amu's face was hidden behind her pink hair. I saw her shoulders were shaking. She looked up, and her expression was one of pain and anguish. "We broke up," She sobbed. "Ikuto and I broke up."