A/N:

I was listening to my Cowboy Bebop "Blue" CD, and then this song just seemed perfect for this chapter. It's a pretty song, so maybe you should download it if you have the chance. It's called "Adieu". You should be able to find it just fine on WinMX. :) Anyways, enjoy. *meep* This is sooo sappy! *smacks self* Baka no nefretiri! ^_^

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Been a fool, been a clown

Lost my way from up and down

And I know, yes I know…

And I see in your eyes

That you really weren't surprised at me at all

Not at all

And I know by your smile it's you…

"Akira…?" Sumire's voice called out to a daydreaming Sendoh. "Sendoh Akira!" she exclaimed again. "You're not listening to me, are you?"

"Aa! Sumimasen…" Startled from his daydream, he found himself staring into a pouting Sumire. It's not that he wasn't paying attention to her. In fact, he had paying too much attention that he was drowned into utter fascination. Her smile…

"Hidooooi desu yo!" she scowled as she pulled on his ear playfully.

"Aaa! Itai itai itai!" he exclaimed as he cringed an eye.

She laughed full-heartedly. And that immense weight she had been feeling earlier felt as if it had been lifted away with the laugh. Since the day she had seen Sendoh in a completely new light, it had been different. He was now just the sincere boy who makes her laugh. And she liked being around him. In fact, there's a feeling of fondness that had grown beyond liking. But…

No, I can't do this now. I can't…

But it's so easy to love him. She realized that as she looked at him trying to lure a passing squirrel with a handful of… pebbles. Thud. She giggled as she tried so hard not to burst out in laughter.

I'm being ridiculous.

It was a perfect day. Sunny, yet with a hint of cooling breeze. The sky was so clear the Mount Fuji was very much visible, standing in the distance in all its splendor, and the ocean was glistening under the warm sunrays.

"You know… Kaede and I used to play in this park all the time… when we were little…" Sumire said, hugging her knees as they sat under a shady tree on a high-ground park overseeing the whole town. "Sometimes I forget how beautiful Kanagawa is." She sighed.

Sendoh looked at her. With every single of the ten days that had gone by, the feeling inside his heart becomes stronger. Is it really so wrong to fall in and out of love so easily like this? He's barely out of the previous one. But he can't help it. He can't help himself, and he can't help his feelings. He loves talking to her, and telling her everything that's in his mind. He even loves just sitting there and look at her all day, and to listen to her stories of her brother, Rukawa Kaede, and everything else of her life. The closer he gets to her, the crazier he gets over her. But he knows, that it also meant that it will be harder to let her go when it's time for her to leave for where her home is, Osaka.

My love for you burns deep

Inside me, so strong…

But he can't deny his feelings.

"Sumire…" Sendoh started, but then he paused for a moment, seeming hesitant.

"Hai?" she turned and looked at him.

There was a long silence, until…

"Daisuki da…"

And the words finally came out. Just like that. And Sumire was shocked into silence by his sudden confession. She never expected this. No, she never expected Sendoh to have developed all the same feelings she has for him, not this fast.

"Sumire… I…"

"Akira, it won't work…" she cut his words all of a sudden, looking away from his eyes.

"Why not?" he asked as he kept trying to catch her gaze. "Osaka is really not that far away… we can make it work…! There's only one more year of high school, then I'll find a university in Osaka and…"

But she kept shaking her head. "You don't understand… it just can't…"

And suddenly her words were stopped by his lips. Startled, her first gut reaction was to push him away. But as his arms gently closed around her and pulled her closer into his embrace, she melted, and parted her lips to receive his kiss.

But then she was awakened from her blissful moment, and promptly pushed him away. Just as she was about to get up and leave, Sendoh grabbed her hand.

"I really do love you. I'm willing to do just about anything to make it work between us…" He said again, his eyes begging her. "Why do you keep pushing me away? Do you not trust me? Do you feel nothing for me?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I do! I really do feel something for you! But it's better if… She opened her eyes, and tried to conceal every bit of the spilling emotion in her heart. But her eyes couldn't hide them.

"Sumire… what are you so afraid of?" he asked, reaching out to touch her face.

Hurting myself… hurting you…

"I'm leaving Japan." She finally answered.

"Nani?"

"I said… I'm leaving Ja…"

"What do you mean you're leaving Japan?" Sendoh exclaimed in shock. Say it isn't true. Sumire?

By this time, her clear eyes had been welling up with tears, but she blinked them away hurriedly. "My mother has decided to leave Japan. We will be moving to America next week." She muttered softly, barely heard.

Don't care for me, don't cry…

Let's say goodbye, adieu…

"Don't go." Sendoh suddenly said.

His words startled her. She was startled by his directness in asking her not to go. Even Kaede couldn't find his own guts to say those words. But even if he did ask her… "Akira, I have to…"

"No, you don't."

Her eyes were now reflecting confusion, anger, frustration… "Do you think I want to leave? My whole life is in Japan! My childhood, my parents, Kaede…" she paused for a moment, and the anger in her eyes faded away into sadness. "And you're not making this any easier for me!"

It's time to say goodbye, I know that in time

It will just fade away, it's time to say goodbye…

And it dawned on him. She really is leaving. And there's nothing she can do about it, or anything he can do about it.

"Maybe it would be better for you… and for me…" she paused for a moment as she looked into his eyes, then continued with a trembling voice. "…to not see each other again."

And thus the world came crumbling down. Sendoh was at a loss for words and motion. He froze then and there, even as Sumire leaned over and kissed his cheek gently as she muttered, "I'm sorry… Akira…" and pulled herself away, taking her steps away from him, further, and disappeared into the street, leaving him still standing there…

I stand alone and watch you fade away like clouds

High up and in the sky

I'm strong and so cold

As I stand alone

Goodbye, so long, adieu…

* * *

Lying on his bed, there were many things being thought in Rukawa's head. Sumire, mostly. Ever since the night that they fought, he hasn't said much to her, although she has tried so hard to make nice to him in every single way that she could.

Was he really that angry at her? He doesn't know anymore. But he knew that he hated the fact that she's leaving for America. Soon. He doesn't want her to go.

And almost everyday now, he keeps seeing her leave the house with Sendoh up from his bedroom window.

Sendoh…

Maybe that's what's really bothering him.

Is it?

And then he thought of his mother. The mother that he had always hated. It shouldn't have been like this. If she hadn't left when he was little. It wouldn't have been like this. And now, she's taking his life away once again.

Why should I love such a mother?

I don't have a mother.

Then he thought of Sumire again. And his heart sunk. The sister whom he really cared about will be so far away. Then it dawned on him. He really doesn't have much time left with her.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming. And that promptly got him up out of bed. As he opened his door, he saw Sumire walking towards her room.

"O… Onee-san…" he called out awkwardly.

Sumire was startled. She turned around and saw Rukawa standing there. She quickly wiped her tears away.

"Why are you crying?" Rukawa asked.

"Ah… iie… nandemonai." She replied as she turned away from him.

Rukawa stepped towards her. "It's Sendoh, isn't it?"

"It's nothing, Kaede. Would just please leave me alone for now?" she said as she went into her room and closed the door in front of Rukawa's face.

Rukawa stood there, facing a closed door in front of him. After a moment, he raised his hand and was about to knock on the door. But he hesitated… then pulled his hand back and walked away.

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(to be continued)