Listen

Ann gripped the window ledge with her fingers, her legs swinging absent-mindedly. She was so different from other girls. She wasn't obsessed with the new farmer any more. She was content with him.

Cliff.

Or was she?
Cliff got up from his seat and walked over to the door, checking back to see if Ann would give any reaction. She continued to daydream, her light, sky blue eyes closing as she rocked herself back and forward on the ledge.

One of his hands reached out for the doorknob, twisting the knob around, pulling the door open a little, sliding around the edge…

"Phew. Freedom."

Suddenly pain exploded in his head as someone walked into him, sending him flying backwards. His back connected against the door with a crack.

"…..Sorry." The other mumbled, pulling the brim of his cap down to shield his face.

"Ow….." Cliff rubbed his back, his face twisted in what seemed to be a half grin, half wince. "Hi, Gray. Where are you going?"
"I was coming back here," Gray said quietly, putting his hands in his pockets and staring at the ground.

"Funny…I was just going out," Cliff stated darkly, side-stepping around the red-head and starting off down the street. He heard footsteps behind him, then a hand closed around his arm.

"Wait." Gray looked up at the other, raindrops plastering his hair to his forehead.

"What?" Cliff squirmed at Gray's cool fingers touching his already wet and cold skin. "Let go."

"I want you to listen," Gray pleaded. "Just please….hear me out, 'kay?"

Cliff sighed and stared at the other. "What's the matter?"
Gray stared back down to the ground. Cliff could have sworn he was blushing, but it was hard to see in the rain.

"Maria won't talk to me anymore. I've been such an idiot, I left her for too long and she found someone else from outside the city. And I tried to talk to her but I ended up so mad, and now she won't even look at me." Gray's shoulders quaked. "I've been locked out of someone's life now. I feel so mad at myself, because I didn't have to yell at her, I could have still been her friend…"

Cliff stood there, his face taut. "You mean….you and her…"
"We won't see each other again….And it's all my stupid fault!" Gray mumbled to himself, looking up at the other to reveal tears were flooding his cheeks.

"I'm sorry…." Cliff's arms somehow made their way around the apprentice blacksmith, and he pressed the other boy close to his chest. "Don't cry…"

Gray's sobs died against Cliff's shirt, the warmth of his tears sinking into the fabric. "I'm so pathetic….I'm trying to be a blacksmith but I can't even maintain a friendship…"

"I think you can," Cliff whispered in the other boy's ear. "She's just not the one for you…"

"Hmmm…." Gray reached up at the other boy's face and brushed dark brown bangs away from Cliff's eyes. "Hn…."
"What's with the humming?" Cliff asked gently, softening his grip on the other boy.

Gray shook free and turned into the doorway of the inn. "Thank you. But just so you know, I don't need pity anymore, and I don't need sorrow. Please don't give me either of those."

He gripped the doorknob in his hand and turned back for one second. "But Cliff, there's still….one thing I need to say to you."

"Huh?" Cliff froze.

"Try and figure these out. J'utaime. Aishiteru."

And with that, he turned around and disappeared into the inn.

"Ju'taime, Gray….Aishiteru to you too…"

owari