YESTERDAY'S ASHES
Disclaimer: Do I look or sound as though I'm Anzai? Duh, no. If I were Anzai in the first place, I wouldn't need a disclaimer right? For those who for some strange reason still think that I own the characters and what not, I don't. So, the moral of the story is don't sue me. Ü
CHAPTER 2
Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why.
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye.
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud till they unfold.
In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name.
In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate, that brought us close and now leaves me behind?
'Melodies of Life', Final Fantasy 9
copyright Square
"You… you're Kurenai."
She stared at him, his words echoing in her brain. Her eyes widened as he suddenly grabbed her by her arm and said, his voice shaking slightly, "Kurenai? Is that really you?"
Before she could reply, there was a soft tinkle behind them as the door to the shop opened, revealing a kindly old woman who exclaimed, "My goodness! Kurenai-san, you're drenched! Why don't you and your friend come in and dry off? The rain doesn't seem like it is going to stop very soon."
Kurenai drew her arm out of Kurei's grasp. She glanced at Kurei, her eyes betraying the fear and uncertainty she felt before she turned and walked silently into the store as he stared dazedly at her back. The old woman gestured to him to enter, saying, "Please, come in." He bowed slightly to her and entered the store.
Inside, Kurenai took off the coat she was wearing and laid it across the back of a chair. Carefully avoiding Kurei's gaze, she walked over to where they were standing and handed the folder she was carrying to the old lady, saying, "Here's the file that you wanted."
The old woman took the folder and smiled at her. "Thank you, dear. You didn't have any problems finding your way here, did you?"
Finding her way here? What's so hard about finding her way to the middle of the shopping district? Kurei thought.
"Why don't the two of you go sit down over there while waiting for the rain to stop?"
Kurenai looked as though she wanted to say something, but decided against it and went over to the table beside the window. Kurei followed her there and sat opposite her. They regarded each other in silence for a few moments before she said, almost hesitantly, "How do you know my name?"
Kurei blinked in surprise. "Your… name?" She nodded. He stammered, "I, uh, well, that is, I used to know you. I think. I mean… I do know you, but, uh… You don't know who I am do you?"
She stared at him and shook her head slightly. "I don't recall ever having seen you before in my entire life."
Kurei was stunned. "Are you sure? I'm positive that you are Kurenai that I knew. I'm sure you'll remember who I am if you tried."
She frowned slightly as she thought for a while, the shook her head again. "I really don't know who you are. At least, tell me your name. Maybe, I might be able to remember."
"Kurei. My name is Kurei."
"Kurei?"
He hoped that she would say that she remembered him. Yet, as he saw the confusion that clouded her amber eyes, his heart sank within him.
"I'm sorry, I really don't recall ever knowing you." She lowered her eyes and stared at the table, playing with the necklace she wore around her neck.
"You… really… can't remember anything about me? About us?"
"Us?" She lifted her head and stared at him. "What about us?"
"We used to be close." He bit his lip, wondering whether or not to tell her all about the relationship they had. That was, assuming that she really was his Kurenai. "We were very close. More than friends."
"Your… girlfriend?" She tilted her head to one side and frowned, the way the Kurenai he knew before did whenever she was perplexed. He longed to reach out and caress her face, just to touch her to make sure she really was there before his eyes.
He nodded.
She was silent for awhile, digesting this new piece of information. Her head was already spinning from all the events that had taken place just minutes ago. He looks so familiar, yet, I don't recall knowing him before… Why?
He stared at her and sighed. Kurenai, don't you remember? You were everything to me, and we used to do everything together. Until you… left me.
"I suppose that… you don't believe me, do you?" His voice was soft, not bearing a hint of accusation. She didn't say anything, but her silence spoke more than any words would.
Kurei's eyes fell on the necklace she wore, realising that it was the other half of the one Kurenai had given to him. He took a deep breath and said, "This is going to sound strange to you, and you probably won't believe me again, but… the necklace that you're wearing? The other half is with me. If you turn over the pendent, it has my name on the back of it."
She took off her necklace and flipped over the pendent just to see whether or not he was telling her the truth. She stared at the graceful writing at the back. 'Kurei'… Why does it have his name on the back of it?
Kurei slipped his chain off his neck and took the pendent off her hand, noting that she was shaking slightly. He joined the two halves of the heart together and laid them on the table before her. They fitted perfectly together.
She ran her finger hesitantly over the two pieces, before turning them over. 'Kurei' and 'Kurenai'… Why do they have our names carved on the back of them? And how does he have the other half?
He saw the emotions playing across her delicate face as she continued to stare at the full heart in front of her, her fingers absently tracing the patterns on the cold metal. "You gave it to me a few years back. Don't you see? You are the person I've been looking for, Kurenai."
She shook her head and laughed slightly, albeit a little shakily. "I'm sorry, I think you've got the wrong person. How do I even know that you're telling me the truth? About us… and about me? For all I know, you could just be lying to me." She got up and was about to leave the table when he grabbed hold of her wrist.
"Kurenai, please, listen to me…"
"There's nothing left to say. I don't know who you are, nor do I understand what you are talking about. Just… just leave me alone, will you?" She shook his hand off and almost ran out of the shop.
Kurei got up and was about to follow her when the old woman, who had been watching them for some time, spoke up. "Let her go. She needs time to decide."
"Decide what?"
"Whether to trust her heart, or trust her mind. When she has made her decision, she will find you."
"How?"
The old woman looked at him with deep green eyes that seemed to search his soul. "I don't know how, but I know for sure that life has a way of making things happen. Things that you never thought would be possible."
Kurei laughed slightly in disbelief. "How would you know? You don't even understand what I'm feeling right now…"
She gave a mysterious smile. "Believe me. I know more than you do… especially about matters like this. Stop worrying and go home. It won't do you any good if you are thinking of going to find her again after telling her so much about her past."
Kurei obediently turned to leave the shop, wondering why on earth he was actually taking the old woman's advice when he remember something. "Excuse me… um, how do you know Kurenai?"
"I found her."
"Found her?"
"Yes. In the park, one night when there were shooting stars not too long ago. It was the night of the full moon too, if I recall correctly."
The full moon… could it have been… the night he made that wish?
"Oh…"
"Is there anything else?"
"No. Thank you." He walked out of the shop, deep in his thoughts.
The old lady watched him make his way down the street and smiled slightly to herself. 'Be patient, young man. You'll find that wishes really do come true…'
Insane author's notes:
*sweatdrop* Er… hi. I know this chapter is about… let me count… 5 weeks overdue… *bows profusely* GOMENGOMENGOMENGOMEN!!!
Ahem. Now for the stupid essay on why I didn't update sooner: (Those not interested in hearing why, just skip this paragraph.) First, I had a class chalet on the weekend I was supposed to write, so obviously I couldn't write. Then, I had to take my exams (or block tests as we 'fondly' call them. *bleh*) so I couldn't write again in case I ended up angsting during my English paper. Then, I had the oh-so-wonderful writer's block 'cos I was hyper everyday, and I can only write seriously when I'm depressed. Last, but not least, my computer caught a stupid virus and was 'hospitalized' for the whole weekend = I couldn't write again. Obviously.
Ok. Enough crap. A big, fat THANK YOU to all the nice pple out there who reviewed for me. You guys really made my day! *streamers and balloons* *hyper grin* Also, thanks to Zephyr for updating Blue Waters, otherwise I would never have felt pressured enough to finish this chapter, which has been collecting dust for 1 month. (We're having a private competition on who writes faster and I'm currently in the lead. *peace sign*) Thanks for reading!
Ps: The next chapter should be done soon (I hope) 'cos it's already in the process of being written. I'll try my very best to write it ASAP Okie? Oh, and also, apologies if this chapter sounds a little… I dunno, strained or cliched, 'cos I'm not very good at describing emotions in 3rd person. It sounds nice and looks nice in my head, but it just doesn't turn out right when it's in black and white. )= It's much easier if I do it in 1st person, but kinda confusing if I keep jumping from different POVs, right?
PPS: To tell the truth, I'm not very sure how Kurenai looks like. So I imagined how she would look (somewhat like Neon, I guess) Anyone out there who knows how she really looks like, please tell me. Thanks! Ü
