Chapter Fifty

It was while Mahiro was busy stuffing her face for the second time that day that Kyo was finally able to think over last night and this morning. Saya had been gone for a while when he woke up; he couldn't even feel her warmth in the sheets. He had missed her, though he didn't want to say it.

He had been happy when she had talked to him freely the other day in the deserted town. Walking around with her, he felt…he couldn't give it a word. Normal perhaps? He was leaving tomorrow. It didn't matter what he felt.

Mahiro continued to eat, and Kyo looked out at the river. Ichiro was marrying Juri; Saya would be left as a strange appendage that was no longer needed in the new family that would be created. But nothing distressed Kyo as much as how he knew he was being affected by everything around him. He had to get out.

-

That night was a huge celebration. Everything was ready when Kyo returned with Mahiro. Saya had done an excellent job decorating, with help from Hotaro and Kentaro, which was obvious by how crookedly cut and hung all of the paper decorations were. The food was delicious and the cake, a nice pastel blue thanks to the food coloring, delighted Mahiro, whose favorite color was blue. Kyo thought it looked quite unappetizing, but it tasted good enough. Then came the presents. Saya told Mahiro that she and Kyo had done the party; Ichiro and Hotaro had worked together to make her a frame from some colored glass and silver that held one of the few remaining pictures of her mom and dad; Mrs. Aizawa gave her a dress that she had made and Kentaro had picked the colors for; Kazemichi gave her a necklace he had found in a nearby town's jewelry shop. That was undoubtedly Mahiro's favorite present, but she was so delighted with everything that no one felt as if they had been slighted. Indeed, she was even very grateful towards Kyo, who had merely taken her out for a ride, and revealed the mystery behind one of life's biggest events. But no one mentioned that.

-

That night's commotion ended in a way much similar to the night that Ichiro and Juri announced their engagement, only this time he had Saya to help him take Mahiro and Hotaro upstairs. Hotaro also had to be wiped down before bed; his face, hands and just about everything else was covered in blue frosting. Saya carried him upstairs as Kyo carried a sleepy Mahiro, who protested bedtime even while rubbing her eyes sleepily. Saya told Kyo to go ahead and put her on the twin bed; it was her birthday after all. Saya would sleep with Hotaro. Kyo continued to lean against the doorframe even after putting Mahiro in bed, watching Saya clean Hotaro. He felt a strange urge to stay and watch her act maternal, and since he could think of no good reason why he shouldn't, he indulged in his desire.

"Kyo, come'mere for a second." Ichiro was behind him in the hall looking in on the little scene as well. Kyo must have been too wrapped in the situation to hear him come up the stairs. He was getting soft.

As soon as they were downstairs in the kitchen, Ichiro laid out his plan to Kyo. Juri's family had a summer home far in the mountains, down a dirt back road to the west. It was apparently in isolated wilderness, and despite its intended use in summer, it had many fire places which could keep the house warm throughout the cold season. They would leave the day after tomorrow. Kyo thought that was a very good plan.

"I know you're planning on leaving in a few hours, but don't you think you could stay one more day to help pack? You could leave early the next morning with us; we could travel together until you think you need to split off from us." Kyo was compelled to say no, that he must leave tomorrow, but he agreed to stay for just one more day. He had a higher chance of not returning if he knew it was too late to return and find them all here. Ichiro was grateful for his help.

As Kyo climbed the stairs after turning out the lights in the kitchen, he felt a slight despair in the back of his mind. Despite all his railing and ranting to himself about how awful this place was, he was going to miss it. He was going to miss these people, who, although he wasn't treated exactly like family, at least included him like some long-lost nephew or cousin who had recently come back into their lives. As he reached the top step, he saw that the door to Saya's room was open, soft light radiating out from it. Part of him wanted to walk in and see her, but he went into his room instead, and got into bed.