Strawberry Petals
By Rainy D
Disclaimer – Don't own it.
I'm here, Ken-chan, I'm here at our tree.
It always looks beautiful this time of year. I used to put the flowers in your hair, showering you with strawberry petals. I have a lot of memories of us here. I remember once, I was hanging by my feet on one of the branches, and you sat below me, waiting patiently while I tied your hair up with the vines, placing a flower on top. You looked to me like the most perfect thing I had ever seen. I was afraid that if I touched you, you might disappear. But you stayed with me. We stayed there right through the night. I got a bit cold, but you wrapped your arms around me to keep me warm. Do you remember that, Ken-chan?
We often stayed there all night, after...after we told everyone. Your dad, he was angry. Once he came to my house, demanding where I was hiding you. I didn't know what he was talking about. When he stormed out, I ran to our tree, and you were there. He hit you didn't he Ken-chan? You didn't tell me, but I could see it in your eyes. We both cried a lot that night.
I have quite a lot of bad memories there. But there are more good ones. Like the fireworks. Remember the fireworks Ken-chan?
I think it was here that we first kissed...yeah, it was. I remember it now, you had run away again, and I came to find you. You were sitting outside the curtain of pink vines, blowing away the clock flowers. You told me what they were really called, but I forgot. We sat there for a long time, not talking or anything, just sitting. And then you made a noise, and I brushed your hair back behind your ear, and you were crying. You seemed to cry a lot, Ken-chan. I leant in to kiss your cheek, but you turned at the last second.
Sometimes I wonder if we'd never have found that tree, if we'd never made all those memories, if we'd never realised, that you'd still be here with me. But then I think that I've I'd never fallen in love with you, my life wouldn't be complete.
Do you remember the last time we came here together, Ken-chan? We cried then, but tears of happiness. Everyone was here, weren't they? Even Mimi flew in from America. It was such a lovely day, and we all sat inside the vines of the tree, so that anyone walking past couldn't see us, but could hear us talking and laughing. And then, when everything was packed away, and we were getting ready to go home...I can still remember Koushiro's expression when Taichi proposed. That was when everyone cried. Of course Koushiro said yes, we knew he wouldn't refuse. It's a shame that...you never got to see their wedding...
Sora did all the flowers. White lilies hung in great bunches all around the hall, and up right at the front, bluebells draped around the alter. Mimi cried so much we though she was going to flood the hall. I've got a copy of the photo they took at the end. I...I cried when I got home. I thought about you and cried.
I got a gold plaque for you, and asked them to put it on the tree. It used up most of my savings, but I didn't care. It says 'To my dearest Ken-chan, may your spirit remain forever in our hearts, forever your Daisuke.'. Hikari said it was very beautiful. She misses you a lot. She said that she felt that you were her kindred spirit, because you'd been through all that she had, and more.
I miss you so much, Ken-chan. I-I love you...I always will...
