Disclaimer: I don't own any of the cast of
Imadoki…^_^;; Yuu Watase-sensei does! I'm writing this purely for the enjoyment
of others (and myself) …eh, you know what disclaimers are for…
Author's Notes: Well, I think I got enough encouragement
to continue…(otherwise, would this chapter be here?) Sorry for the short first
chapter, I did write it during class ^_^;; Again, I will be using some
Japanese, just 'cause it sounds…better. Let me know if you need a glossary, but
mostly they're common, very common, words/phrases, and you can use the context
to figure out the meaning. Scenes/Surroundings/Setting etc are marked by
brackets [ ] and actions are marked by // around the action. Inner thoughts are
Italized. I hope that wasn't confusing! Now enjoy…hopefully.
Fulfillment
of a Promise
By
Hikari
===Chapter
2: A New School===
[busy Tokyo backdrop, inside Kouki's house]
"Kugyou, are you ready to go yet?! Oi, HAYAKU!! I can't
wait much longer!" Aoi took off his new pair of Vans sneakers and prepared his
aim to lob it, until Saionji firmly but gently put her hands on his right
shoulder. Aoi put his shoe back on reluctantly.
"That's a good young man," she said as she patted his
blond spikes lightheartedly with her other hand.
Kouki couldn't help himself to a muffled laugh. He
recalled the days the two were hardly getting along, talking crassly to each
other as if they were arguing. Talk about how times have changed so much.
More than a year ago, who'd ever guessed they'd get along, let alone us all
become friends? He grinned as he thought this to himself. It was almost
yesterday that the Gardening Committee first started…Kouki stopped his
movements at that line. He still remembered when the girl from Hokkaido landed
on him that day before the school term had started two years back.
"Tanpopo-sama…" He no longer organized the contents of his luggage, but picked
up a photo his Youji had left him before traveling to America to study
photography. It was with no question a splendid, candid, picture, with Tanpopo
in one of her best moments: laughing and holding one of Poplar's paws up. He
oculd almost hear her enthusiastic greetings – "OHA~" when she entered the
classroom, or saw any of her friends. "Tanpopo-sama, I haven't replied your
letter in so long a time…I've been so busy…with Father's company and
such…but…that's no reason not to reply…Gomen…gomen-nasai…"
Aoi started complain to Saionji. "If he takes that long to
check his belongings, we'll never get to the airport! Oy, Kugyou! Are we leaving
yet?"
"Mm." Kouki rubbed his left eye, wiping away a forming
tear in effect.
"Something wrong, Kugyou-kun?" Saionji started to walk
over.
Aoi watched her walk away from him. She
looks…beautiful…
Kouki shook his head. "Iie. Let's go. Eh, Aoi?" Kouki
waved his hand in front of the blond's face.
"….LET'S GO!" He had snapped out of his trance. "Hurry up
everyone, to the Airport!"
Saionji sweatdropped. "Aoi-kun…ne, there's only 3 of us
total…including the person who's leaving…"
"…I forgot." Aoi hurled the suitcase and duffel bag into
the trunk of the car. "Kugyou's driver, to the Airport!"
"He's obviously enthusiastic about me leaving…"
Nodding, she turned around to face Kouki. "You ready to
see her again, after all this time? You practically could've gone to visit her anytime
you know."
"…I don't know. I would've went, but my father needed a
helper desperately for his company, since it's expanding (yet again)…" He
sighed.
The girl smiled. "Don't worry, everything will be all
right." I've grown…to be..considerate…? For a brief moment, Saionji had
a puzzle countenance.
I wonder if Tanpopo has changed...he mused
over for a split second before sitting in the car. The car drove away with the
3 young adults in the backseat, and from behind the shadow of a person with
spikes being strangled by someone with glasses can be seen, along with a figure
backing away from others.
* * *
[peaceful Hokkaido, a day later]
"Kon Kon!"
"Kon!"
"Kon Kon!"
Echoes of the calls of Poplar, Corn and friends filled her
room. Yet still she slept soundly through this commotion. Poplar and Corn
started to get frustrated at the sound of the blaring alarm clock that had been
ringing for a good 15 minutes. Corn had tried to break the annoying device, but
with no avail, leaving Poplar to devise a plan of action to get he lazy girl
awake for her class registration at the university. A little kit propped
himself next to Tanpopo's head on the soft, flower print pillow she had sewn
herself a week ago during her break. Adjusting himself, he waves his little,
bushy tail –accidently- over Tanpopo's nose. The girl sneezed, moved a little,
and finally rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Nani?" she muttered until she realized that the alarm
clock still rang. "…WAAAAAH! I almost forgot! REGISTRATION!" Tanpopo rushed out
of the bed, absent-mindedly tossing her covers on the poor kit snoozing away on
her pillow. After throwing on a simple, light blue with dark blue borders
sailor dress, braiding two tails with 2 ribbons intertwined in each, grabbing
her school bag, and placing a white hat with a daisy on the front on her head,
she set off walking to the bus stop.
A gentle wind carried the fragrance and petals of
wildflowers by. The meadow basked in the golden hues of the sun, and the songs
of native birds accompanied by the rustle of grass stalks and trees, and hum of
bees created a natural orchestra. Perhaps each aspect of life had a part they
wanted to sing out to, express. Blossoms and other sprays appeared to have
showered the rich, greenness of the leaves on the trees. "How pureeti…" she
tested out her English in her mind, as she lost herself among the natural
beauty.
The sound of steam exhaustion snapped her back into
reality. "The bus!" Tanpopo quickly scrambled to get onboard. "Arigato
gozaimasu, Bus Driver-san, for waiting!" The bus driver let out a deep sigh.
"Hai, please take a seat," he said as he gave her a slight nod.
As the bus pulled up to the stop outside the university
gates, she saw a throng of people. She jumped off cheerfully at the thought of
making new friends, and waved to the bus as it departed away to another stop. I
actually passed the entrance exam for this place…? There's so many people here…And….I
don't know anyone…Too bad everyone is going somewhere else…It's so beautiful
here…Before continuing walking, she looked at the elm trees covered with new
buds and the birds hopping about from branch to branch, all in the front of the
backdrop of Mt. Teine. Kouki-kun would have liked the environment…I wonder…She
took a deep breath, sighed, and joined the crowd pouring into the large wrought
iron gates of Hokkaido University.
===Ending
Chapter Notes===
Again, be a good reader and give me a review…that way I
know whether to continue the fic or not. But I hope you enjoyed this chapter! It
is longer than the first one _;; By the way, I also wrote this
part in class ^_^;