Sketching Tomorrow: A Clannad Fanfiction.
Chapter 33: The end draws near.
The sky slowly began to turn orange as the end of the day came near. James Kotomi Nagisa and Okazaki were all walking towards the residents of Kouko Ibuki to see if she really had reconsidered her engagement or not.
They all felt extremely tired after a hard day's work and wanted to rest but knew deep down that more important things were at stake.
"I'm surprised Sekai couldn't join us" Kotomi whispered to James.
"Meh" James shrugged "That girl is just a show off. I don't think she really cares if Miss Ibuki marries or not. She just want's to show off her work to her"
"Well you look up to Van Gogh-" Kotomi began to explain "If he were still alive surely you would want to show him your work?"
"Hmm I guess-" he mumbled to himself.
They reached the house where Koukou was crouched down outside gardening.
"Hello miss Ibuki" Nagisa greeted
"Hello mahm" the others responded
"Oh hello!" Koukou exclaimed surprised as she straightened herself back up leaving her gardening tools on the ground. "What brings all of you here?"
"If you don't mind us asking we came to see whether or not you'd reconsidered your marriage to your fiance" Okazaki explained as they all glanced at each other nervously.
"Are you saying that you were worried about that and came to verify it?"
"W-well yes-" James spoke up "If you'll apologize for us asking about it since it's none of our business really"
"Oh don't you worry" she smiled "My fiance and I have already disgussed the situation"
"Is that so?" Nagisa murmured as they all gave a sigh of relief.
"Except we cant get a reservation at a wedding hall-" Koukou continued "It looks like it will be a while before we can have a ceremony. That are a lot of happy happy people in the world it seems!" she chuckled half heartedly before going onto explain that she had liked the idea of having her wedding at the school where all her dearest and most cherished memories were held with all the students and her sister congratulating her and her fiance.
They all agreed that that would be an excellent idea but unsure if it were possible and then Koukou told them all the terrible and unfortunate news.
"My sister's condition has gotten worse"
Every gave a loud gasp with Nagisa and Kotomi trying to hold back tears
"The other day the doctor told me she probably won't awaken again. But I-I still believe that Fu-chan will open her eye's someday. But I don't know if that will be next week or ten years from now. After I get married I plan to move to the next town near the hospital then I'll be able to be with her longer.
"And maybe be there when she opens those eyes."
...
The four of them all sat around a park bench with the girls crying their eyes out as the sky slowly began to fade into a darker colour.
"Okazaki do you know where this other town is?" James asked breaking the silence as the two girls continued to cry.
"You can get there by bus but why are you-" and before he could even finish what he was about to ask James hurriedly ran off.
"Hey!" Okazaki shouted as his voice echoed through the park "Where are you going?"
...
James waited patiently at the bus stop. He knew what he had to do. He had to go and see the real Fuko. He didn't know why but he felt as if he had to before it was too late.
"James!" a voice shouted alarming him as he turned his head in it's direction.
There running towards him was Kotomi. She stopped for a moment as she reached him completely out of breath with bloodshot eyes from crying.
"kotomi!" James exclaimed shocked but annoyed at the same time "Why did you follow me?"
He suddenly felt Kotomi wrap her arms around him tightly as her head sank into his chest "B-because-" Kotomi cleared her throat "Because I know what you're going to do! You're planning to see Fuko at the hospital!"
"H-how did you-"
"It was obvious!" she cried holding him tighter "And I'm going with you!"
"Kotomi-"
"We're in this together James Walker and I'm going with you weather you like it or not!" she exclaimed as her face blushed deep in red "We've been through alot you and I with helping Fuko with her starfish carvings and we've both gotten to know each other better and I-I well I-"
But before Kotomi could finish her sentence the bus pulled up and the doors opened as the previous passengers stepped out.
"L-let's get going then!" James smiled as he patted Kotomi on the head. As he walked into the bus he searched through his pocket's only to find they were empty.
"Damn no money!" James grumbled under his breath.
Sensing his frustration Kotomi hurriedly searched through her pockets bringing out a small green purse with pink dots and a gold trim. She opened it up and payed for the two of them.
"Right take a seat" The driver murmured as he gestured his hand towards the seat's.
The bus was more or less empty except for one of two people scattered around.
"Right let's sit at the back" James said as he began to walk through the seating area "I'm sitting near the window ok?"
"Y-yeah sure!" Kotomi half whispered as her face continued to blush as she took deep breaths trying to control herself.
The two sat down and the bus started at a slow pace making it's way to the next town.
"So-" James sighed as he looked outside the window watching the view "What were you saying just before the bus came?"
Still blushing heavily Kotomi brushed up the courage to grab James's hand grasping it tightly "Please look at me for a moment" she gasped in a strangled tone of voice.
James turned his head and looked at her curiously "Yeah?"
"What I was saying was-" She took a deep breath as she struggled to breath placing her free hand onto her chest "I-I-I-"
"kotomi are you-mph!"
Kotomi kissed James on the lips as the two blushed heavily. Their lips parted each other as they stopped to breath for a few seconds.
"K-kotomi!_"James gasped heavily as his eyes widened his heart pumped rapidly he clutched his chest struggling to breath from the shock of what had transpired.
"I love you James!" Kotomi whimpered as her eye's widened "And I want to be with you as-" she took a few more deep breaths as she tried to calm herself "As boyfriend and girlfriend! D-do you think that could be possible?"
James didn't know what to say. He stared at her as she desperately waited for a reply. He liked Kotomi yes but he wasn't entirely sure if he could handle being in a relationship after what has occurred in his previous school back home.
"I'll give you some time to think it through!" Kotomi said realising James was too shocked too reply just yet.
...
After roughly an hour of driving they at least reached the other town. James and Kotomi departed the bus not making eye contact with each other and neither said a word.
Heavy tension filled the air.
They stepped off of the bus and saw nearer to where they were standing was the hospital. The street's were now darkened but you could still make out the hospital with the street lights placed around the road.
"Well-" James broke the silence "There's the hospital we'd better make this quick! Mum's gonna kill me when I come home and I bet your parents won't be too happy either"
Kotomi gave a slight whimper upon the mention of her parents "Yeah" she whispered quietly as she looked up into the sky watching the stars twinkle brightly "I guess they wouldn't be."
...
The inside of the hospital was fairly busy. Pacients sat in the waiting room doctors and nurses rushed around and a woman sat at the reception desk answering phone calls as she wrote down contact details into a notepad.
The two of them walked over towards the reception desk.
"Hello there how can I help?" the receptionist gave a fake smile as she greeted them clearly just wanting to end her shift and return home.
"Um hi we're here to see a miss Fuko Ibuki-" James explained "I'm assuming visiting hours aren't over yet?"
James glanced to the clock on the wall and saw that it was now 10:45.
"How the hell am I gonna explain this to mum?" he asked himself in his head.
"Visiting hours will be over in fifteen minutes" The receptionist replied "You'll have to make it quick. Are you of any relation to the patient?"
"Oh no no" Kotomi replied nervously "We're friends of the patient"
"I see" the receptionist murmured as she typed onto a keyboard "The patient is upstairs and is in the first room on the right"
"Thank you!" they both bowed as they headed towards a flight of stairs to find the real Fuko.
To be continued.
Authors note: In response to a review posted on the last chapter I apologize for the lack of commas. I'm not very good with spelling and punctuation I hope that if you are reading this now you don't think I am using that as an excuse because it is the honest truth.