A/N: I feel like a horrible person because I almost forgot about Kuma's wedding... But I didn't! Enjoy~
Chapter 40: It's Gonna Be A Cold Winter
Ever since they'd met, Yoshida had been trying to spend as much time with Melissa as possible. He'd even invited her to come watch them practice at the dance studio a few times. Not that Sayo minded. She knew that, after their first meeting, she'd basically get put on the sidelines of Yoshida's daily life. After all, love does crazy things to people. She would know…
"Sa-chan," Yoshida started on a rare night where he wasn't with Melissa.
"Hmm?" Sayo just hummed, keeping her eyes trained on the TV in front of her. Not that she was watching it, or paying attention to it. She didn't even know what program was on right now…
"I've been thinking lately…" he trailed off, almost as if he didn't want to talk about whatever it was he was trying to talk about.
"Hmm," Sayo nodded her head a little in acknowledgement.
"I…" he tried, but failed again. A deep sigh later. "I really like Melissa a lot."
"Yeah," Sayo nodded her head again, smiling on the inside for him. Not that she showed that she was happy for him on the outside…
"I hope you don't hate me for ignoring you for these past few months," he continued, guilt lacing his voice. "I know we never really ended our relationship…"
"We don't have to end the relationship," Sayo told him. "We just have to ditch the titles, and go back to being partners."
He gave her a strange look, as if he didn't quite understand. Even though he knew what she meant, and had been thinking of that same exact thing for months before.
She finally looked over at him. "Because we can do that, with no hard feelings at all."
"So, you're telling me that you're okay with me asking Melissa to be my girlfriend?" he asked her, his voice cautious, but eyes glimmering with hope. Like a child on Christmas morning.
Sayo finally smiled, and showed that she was completely okay with this. "Yes." Yoshida's face lit up like a light bulb. "I'm telling you that you two should be together, and that you don't have to worry about me."
"Sa-chan," Yoshida was still trying to calm himself down. He had gotten permission to date his partner's friend.
"I'll be just fine," Sayo gave him a genuine smile. Because that was how she felt about this.
Happy.
It wasn't long before Christmas was upon them again. Sayo was to be home alone this year. Melissa and Yoshida were going to spend the day together. The whole entire day. Morning till night. And then some. Kandi was busy celebrating with her family. Kawamura was invited to a Christmas party that was being thrown by some of the other dancers from the studio that Sayo didn't know.
So, there she sat, on Christmas day, alone in her apartment, in America. With no one to share it with. Seeing that she was alone, she decided to put on music. Or search for music on her laptop. She wasn't all that into Christmas music. Maybe she could find something new from home that she'd like…
While making her breakfast, watching the parade that was being broadcast on the TV, and while washing her dish. Each time, she spaced out and began to play with that special earring that was always in her earlobe. And she remembered something from the first wedding she'd performed at.
That song she sang by *Nsync.
Longing to hear that one song again, she searched online for it. However, when she listened to it, multiple times mind you, she began to feel a heaviness in her chest, and a pit grow in her stomach. Tears threatened to come out and invade her vision. It made her want to go home. Badly.
She missed everyone. She missed her parents, and the Christmas cakes her father would bring home. She missed seeing Saya and her aunt, laughing as her mother told a story about her father's mishaps. She missed seeing the girls wearing their heavy jackets, Mitsu and Kiri complaining about the cold, Maki sighing at them, Juri giggling at them while curling into herself to keep warm, and Saya in five different layers.
Then she wondered what the guys were doing. What they acted like in the cold. What their reaction to it would be like. How would he dress? In a single jacket with just one long sleeved shirt on? Jeans, maybe, and probably boots too.
A small smile crossed her lips at her imagination. And her fingers slid over the smooth cherry blossom petal on her earring.
"…" She stared at her lap, suddenly feeling very much alone. And sad.
"I want to go home…"
Hyuga knocked on the door of the dorm shared by Mitsu and Saya.
"Hello?" Saya asked as she opened the door cautiously. However, a smile broke out on her face when she saw Hyuga standing there. Her demeanor changed immediately. "Hey, she's almost ready."
"Oh, okay," Hyuga nodded his head with a small smile. Then something hit him. "Weren't you supposed to be with Hayato today?"
"Oh, yeah, we'll be meeting in a few minutes," Saya smiled. "His father is able to go with us this year, so Hayato-kun said we'd meet up a little later than before."
"Oh, yeah," Hyuga nodded his head. He remembered the day Hayato's father came bursting into their classroom looking for his 'good-for-nothing son'. It was scary.
"I'm a little nervous about meeting his dad though…" Saya confessed, pursing her lips.
"I don't blame you," Hyuga agreed. She was right to be scared of the man. Truckers were not the type you messed with. "But, if you can handle Hayato, you can handle his dad."
"You think so?" Saya asked Hyuga. He seemed to know Hayato's father.
"Yeah, they're quite similar, even though Hayato won't ever admit to it," Hyuga smiled again.
"Okay, now I'm not so nervous anymore…" Saya smiled at Hyuga. "Thanks."
"Sure," Hyuga nodded.
"Okay, I'm ready now," Mitsu came out to the living room of the dorm. "Oh, you're already here?"
"Yeah," his smile turned into a smirk.
"Why didn't you say anything, Saya?" Mitsu accused her roommate, hurrying to get her shoes on at the door.
"He hasn't been here that long, relax," Saya rolled her eyes as she moved toward her bedroom to continue readying herself for her visit to her boyfriend's mother's grave site.
"What a friend you are," Mitsu called back at Saya playfully.
"I know, right," Saya just smirked and continued into her room.
"Okay," Mitsu stood from where she sat on the floor, shoes firmly on her feet. "Let's go."
"I've gotta hand it to you Mitsu-chan," Hyuga started, walking side by side with his girlfriend. "You definitely like strange movies."
"Well, that's just my taste, I guess," Mitsu smirked with a shrug. "Strange movies, strange food, strange guys."
"I'm not strange," Hyuga sounded a little offended, being called strange.
"I never said I thought you were strange, just other people might find it strange that I like you," Mitsu elaborated.
"Meaning?" Hyuga prodded.
"Meaning I normally go for taller guys," Mitsu gave him this look. A look that said 'no offense'.
"You mean like Tsuchi?" Hyuga asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," she nodded, looking forward.
"But you went after me instead?" he was confused. If she liked Tsuchi, then why didn't she go after him in the first place?
"Yes," Mitsu was trying to get away from the subject. It was embarrassing.
"I don't get it, why'd you choose me then?"
Mitsu sighed heavily and stopped walking. They were in the park, and not too many people were around them. Hell, not too many people were out at this time of the day on Christmas anyway. It was getting pretty late. Hyuga got a couple steps ahead of her before he stopped and turned to her.
"Well?"
"I just did," Mitsu answered, blushing a bit and not making eye contact. "Okay?"
"If you don't like me then why didn't you say anything?" Hyuga was getting a bit emotional. Why were they even boyfriend and girlfriend if she didn't feel that way?
"Look, it's not that I chose you reluctantly or anything," Mitsu tried to explain.
"Oh yeah?" Hyuga asked, feeling a little mad right now.
"I like you a lot," Mitsu told him. "Which is a little weird for me, because you're not the type of guy that I usually date."
"Well, that makes me feel much better," Hyuga told her sarcastically.
"I'm not trying to make you mad," Mitsu told him with a serious tone. "I don't want you to be mad at me…"
"Who said I was mad?" Hyuga took a step towards her, a fist balled up on his side.
"You look like you're mad," Mitsu's voice grew smaller as he approached her.
"Never said I was mad…" Hyuga told her as he stood in front of her.
"But you…"
It all happened so fast, her brain couldn't quite compute what was happening as it was happening. Hyuga wrapped an arm around her waist, tilted her head upwards with his other hand on her neck, and crashed his lips onto her own. Her eyes were wide due to his bold actions. Her brain registered the kiss, but didn't allow her body to react at all. Hyuga pulled away a minute or so later, and gazed into her shocked eyes.
"Sorry," he apologized, giving them a little space between each other. "I got a little possessive there…"
"What prompted that?" she asked him, still unable to react properly to what just happened.
"You said Tsuchi was more your usual type, and he usually gets what I want," Hyuga explained. "Hearing you say that triggered the jealousy I hide from them…"
"…" Mitsu just watched his serious face as he spoke. The movement of his lips forming every syllable.
"I really, really like you, Mitsu-chan," he continued on. "If Tsuchi had gotten you instead of me, I don't know if I'd be sane right now…"
"You don't have to worry about that," Mitsu told him, closing the gap between them herself this time. "I wouldn't have chosen him anyways…"
She kissed him this time. And it was amazing.
Ryu sat on his bed.
Hayato was out with Saya and his family, visiting his mother's grave. The guys, he guessed, were busy with their girlfriends. His parents were on a trip to the southern islands as a way to celebrate their anniversary. There was nothing for him to do, and no one to keep him company. Then again, it wasn't as if he wanted company, to be honest.
A quick glance at his bookshelf told him that reading wasn't going to happen today. And he didn't even want to remind himself of those magazines he had stashed away in his closet. Bringing those out would only get his brain going again…
He grabbed his cell phone and scrolled through the contacts listed. He stopped on her name, and stare at it.
He thought long and hard on whether or not he should try to call her. Maybe she'd be sleeping. Or maybe she'd answer. God, what if she answered? What would he say? What would she say? That was why he had never tried to call her. He didn't know what to say to her. He'd much rather talk to her in person. It was much easier.
As his mind reeled with these questions, his finger hovered over the call button. He was spacing out. However, his attention was caught again when the smooth surface of the button grazed his fingertip. Instantly he pulled it away and exited his contacts list.
"She's doing fine with her boyfriend…" he spat the word boyfriend out of his mouth with so much distaste. That thought, that word, that relationship, just made his innards crawl.
"She's doing just fine without me…"
He decided not to call her after all…
Today, Hayato and Ryu were using the same suits they had worn at Noda's wedding once again. They never thought they'd be wearing them again. Good thing they still had them…
"Oh, you two, glad you could make it," Kuma beamed a super happy smile at them when he saw them at the reception.
"Yeah, it's a nice party," Hayato smiled back, nodding. "Congratulations, Kumai-san."
"Yes, congratulations," Ryu nodded his head in acknowledgement.
"Aw, thanks you two," Kuma chuckled a little at their formalness. It was so unlike them, considering how they used to act. Then again, he had no room to talk.
"Did Yankumi make it?" Hayato asked, looking around for their former teacher, but not seeing the woman's figure.
"Nah, she's down in the southern islands still, teaching," Kuma answered with a shake of his head. "Kuroda-san told me, so I invited them in her place."
"Oh, that explains it," Hayato nodded, as he'd noticed the yakuza boss that everyone in the room was being wary of. He didn't quite understand why though, the man was very kind.
Ryu and Hayato nodded to Kuma as he excused himself seeing someone else he had to greet. They decided they'd go greet the older man and his followers.
"Hello, Kuroda-san," the two greeted with small smiles.
"Ah, Yabuki-kun and Odagiri-kun, it's good to see you doing well," Ryuichiro smiled kindly at the two young men. "Kumiko would be glad to see you, as well as see Kuma-kun getting married."
"Yeah, I would imagine so," Hayato chuckled a little. They all knew the woman too well, it was scary.
"It's a shame Yamaguchi-sensei couldn't be here," Ryu added in, carefully adding in the "sensei", knowing the other men standing with Ryuichiro would go all crazy on him if he hadn't.
"Yes, it certainly is," Ryuichiro nodded his head, moving his gaze to the newlyweds.
"She certainly is a glowing bride," Tetsu commented, noticing how serene Ami's face was as she stood next to Kuma.
"Yeah," Minoru agreed with a nod of his head. "Way to Aniki!"
Ryu and Hayato looked over at the couple. They blinked a little bit while watching the two.
"Is she pregnant?"
"So," Melissa began, walking down the street, latched onto Yoshida's arm with a content smile on her face. "I've been thinking…"
"Yeah?" he asked her, smiling as well.
"I would like to plan a party for Sayo's birthday next year," Melissa told her boyfriend. Yes, it was official. Yoshida had asked her a week or so ago, and she'd, obviously, said yes.
"But that's not until May," Yoshida told her, still smiling.
"Yes, but I feel kind of left out," Melissa pouted a little bit. "Kandi got to take her out this year, so I want to do something for her next year."
"Okay, I have no problem with that," Yoshida nodded his head, looking down at her as they came up to a bench.
"I sense a 'but' coming," Melissa prodded as they sat down together.
"Well, I have this feeling that Sayo-chan wants to go home to Japan," Yoshida informed Melissa.
"That's not a big deal, I have a passport and a visa," Melissa shrugged her shoulders. For her to just up and leave the country at any given time wasn't abnormal. She was always going places with her parents during their business trips.
"Okay, then…" Yoshida was a tad bit shocked by this. "What kind of party do you want to throw for her?"
"Well," Melissa got this sparkle in her eyes. "I've always wanted to throw a masquerade ball, and I think Sayo would really enjoy that."
Yoshida sat in thought for a moment. "Yeah, she'd enjoy that, alright."
"So you'll help me?" Melissa gave him these puppy eyes, and there was no way he'd be able to say no to them.
"Yeah, I can help."
"So, I'm gonna need a list of all of her friends so I can invite them," Melissa was really getting excited about this. "I want to invite everyone that she knows."
"Wow, that's probably a lot of people…" Yoshida muttered, remembering that Sayo was always with five other girls, and then you had to throw in those other guys that they knew, plus… "Yeah, a lot of people…"
"I don't care how many," Melissa gave him a mischievous smirk. "I can pay for that."
"Okay," Yoshida smiled at her.
"Let's go look for masks!" Melissa hopped up from the bench, tugging him along.
"I don't think too many shops are open on Christmas day…" Yoshida mumbled, realizing that she really wouldn't care about that.
Later that night, Sayo had been listening to that same song for a while. She was playing it on the laptop in her bedroom. She ended up crying herself to sleep… Yoshida noticed it when he returned. He had come to check and see if she was asleep or not, and noticed the tear stains on her cheeks when the light from the hall hit her skin.
"Sa-chan…" he mumbled to himself, feeling instant guilt for leaving her alone all day. Silently, he tiptoed over to her cell phone to do what he had come to do. Get Saya's phone number.
It was part of a plan that Melissa was in the midst of concocting. All good, promise.
The next morning, Yoshida was awoken by the smell of tea. He rubbed his eyes groggily as he made his way to the kitchen. His tired eyes were met with Sayo's back.
"Morning," he greeted her, taking a heavy seat on the sofa. He was so tired from all the stuff he'd done with Melissa yesterday.
Sayo turned her head to peer over her shoulder. She let her eyes linger for a moment, then returned her attention to the tea she was making. "Morning…"
The two were there for a few minutes in silence. "Hey," Yoshida turned to her, feeling the need to talk to her about yesterday.
"Yoshida-kun," she interrupted him in a very melancholy voice. He was surprised by this a little bit.
"Yeah?"
Sayo turned to him with a face he'd never seen on her before. It made a pit form in his gut. He felt so guilty, and she looked so depressed and lonely. She took a few steps towards him, holding a very hot cup of tea in her hands.
He blinked as she set it down in front of him and returned to retrieve her own.
"What is it, Sayo-chan?" Yoshida asked her, a little more serious this time. She was hiding something from him, even though he figured he knew what it was.
"Yoshida-kun," she started again, sitting in front of him on the floor, traditional Japanese cross-legged style. "I…" she lowered her head, a conflicted expression taking over her face.
He waited patiently for her to continue. He knew he couldn't rush this.
She lifted her head up with confidence, a seriousness in her eyes, replacing that confliction they held before. "I want to return home, to Japan."
Yoshida had to hide the smirk that threatened to break his serious face. He knew that was what she wanted. She had been away from home long enough.
"I see," he told her, finally allowing the smirk to reveal itself, unable to hold it back any longer. "It has been four years, it's about time we headed home."
Her face lit up, and tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes. "Thank you so much, Yoshida-kun!" She jumped up from her spot on the floor, moved around the table to where he sat on the couch and hugged him tightly.
It was strange. Fate certainly works in mysterious ways.
