Fate Beckons

Chapter 15: Precious Time (Revised)

Disclaimers apply. The lyrics used are excerpts from F4's 'Liu Xing Yu' (Meteor Rain)

July....

Heart thumping wildly, she stared at the water that was barely one foot below her. This was it--all for her school. It was not her first competition, but she was nervous all the same. She knew she would not come in first--her rival Jean, a national swimmer, already had that position within her grasp. However, Misao knew she stood a chance for the second and third positions. It was either that or nothing.

All for the school...for the team...for Aoshi...

She had barely a month before he left for the United States. All those months since they had first been reunited had passed by in a whirlwind and she often wished that time would not go so fast. Still, it had been pure bliss, just like in the happy dreams she now had of them both--no more blood or nightmares.

But good things don't last, and that was one thing she regretted.

After she told him she wanted him to further his studies and not suspend them because of her, she had frequently had second thoughts about it, mainly because she feared. Many couples had grown apart when separated by distance, if third parties had not already ruined their relationships. Aoshi did not seem like the type to be unfaithful, but Misao had no way of knowing if they, too would grow apart again. She did not want to lose him. After all, fate had meant for them to be together.

If fate wants us to be together, then I shouldn't be afraid, because it will make sure that we stay together, she decided as she dived into the water. And she concentrated on nothing else except swimming, amid the cheers of the thousands of spectators on the stand.

She didn't have to think of him, for she knew he would be there with them, cheering for her all the time.

Itsumademo...no matter what.

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August

The O' levels drew closer, now being only 3 months away. The prelims were even closer--just a month before they started. Even so, they did not matter to Misao that August 9th as she leaned against Aoshi's shoulder, staring at the darkening evening sky.

"It's a pity we could not get tickets this year..." Misao said woefully as she snuggled closer to Aoshi. It was a little strange, sitting on the field outside the National Stadium, but it was one of their last days together and she did not mind as long as she was close to him.

"But we can still see from here anyway...no crowds, no noise, just the two of us," Aoshi reminded her. "I'll try to come back at this time next year, maybe we'll get hold of tickets then."

"I always used to love the National Day Parades...I'd dream that I was one of the dancers in the Mass Display...or one of the Girl Guides or Singapore Girls marching in the parade...or a cheerleader or choir member.

"You loved everything about the parade when you were little--except for the fireworks. You'd cover your ears and scream like crazy, or even cry. A few times you hugged the person sitting closest to you tightly--which was always me."

"I didn't like the loud noise, but I got accustomed to it," Misao blushed. She gazed in awe at the sky, by now like a piece of diamond studded navy blue velvet.

"I've never seen so many stars in one place...look! At the corner over there, where the moon is! It's just like our flag isn't it? A crescent moon with five stars beside it..."

Aoshi smiled as he looked in the direction she indicated. " Nature's National Day gift to our country..."

Suddenly, a rather loud crackling could be heard from a distance. Before they knew it, a golden shower exploded in the sky, followed by a metallic red flower blooming in the backdrop of stars.

Misao covered her ears--the loud roars of exploding fireworks hurt her ears. But it was all too beautiful to miss--showers of fireworks falling to earth...just like a rain of shooting stars.

Before she knew it, she was in Aoshi's arms and he was hugging her tightly to him.

wen rou de tian kong ying gai rang ni gan dong
Wo zai ni shen pang wei ni bu zhi yi pian tian kong
Bu zun ni nan guo, ti ni bai ping ji mo
Meng xiang de zong liang quan bu dou jiao ge wo

Qian ni shou, gen zhe wo zou,
Feng zai da na zhen yang
Ni you le wo zai ye bu hui mi lu fang xiang

The loving sky should touch you
I'm by your side, decorating the sky for you
I won't let you be sad, I'll chase your loneliness away
Let me bear the burden of your dreams
Leading you by the hand,
No matter how strong the wind grows
When you have me, you'll never lose your way again

Aoshi did not want Misao to be lonely, he too had qualms about leaving, but everything had been settled, there was no turning back. He would be leaving the day after...for now he was content to hold her in his arms, and watch the rain of fireworks with her. Although they were not meteors, they were close enough.

He felt something wet on his shoulder, and realised that Misao was crying, her tears falling onto his shoulder just like the fireworks raining onto the ground. He had known that she had not wholeheartedly wanted him to go overseas, but had insisted on it, just like her unselfish self. Now she was finally releasing her fears in a stream of tears.

Pei ni qu kan liu xing yu luo zai zhe di qiu shang
Rang ni de lei luo zai wo jian bang
Rang ni xiang xin wo de ai zhi ken wei ni yong gan
Ni hui gan jue xing fu de shuo zai

Accompanying you to watch the meteor rain fall onto this earth
Let your tears fall onto my shoulders
I want you to believe that my love can be brave for only you
Then you'll see what happiness really is

The truth was that she was his first love, and he had a feeling she would be his only. He had always hated to see her upset, but now all he could do was to lend her his shoulder to cry on.

When I come back after graduation, I'll make her happy. Then she'll know what happiness really is, he vowed silently.

Shang gan ruo tai duo, xin jiu gei wo bao hu
Pi juan de yan huo wo dou hui ti ni gan zhou
Can lan de yan yu zhi neng dian zui gan qing
Ru guo wo chen mo ying wei wo zhen de ai ni

If you have too much sadness, then give me your heart to protect
I'll chase away all the tired fireworks for you
Glib, flowery words can only decorate feelings
If I'm silent it's because I really love you

Aoshi had never liked talking a lot, doing so only when necessary. Therefore, he said what he meant and meant what he said. He had never believed in peppering his sentences with sweet talk--to him, they were insincere. Often on their dates, Misao had yelled at him for being silent, even though she knew that he was not characteristically talkative. The past months with her had really cheered him up and helped him get over their friends' deaths, and he had come to realise that he loved her so much that he could not bear to hurt her with insincere words. And so he kept silent.

Yu he yun jian jian san kai
Sa xia yi pian wen nuan
Wo yao fen xiang ni yan zhong de lei guang

The rain and clouds gradually part
Releasing a piece of warmth
I want to share the tears in your eyes

Pei ni qu kan liu xing yu luo zai zhe di qiu shang
Rang ni de lei luo zai wo jian bang
Rang ni xiang xin wo de ai zhi ken wei ni yong gan
Ni hui gan jue xing fu de shuo zai

Accompanying you to watch the meteor rain fall onto this earth
Let your tears fall onto my shoulders
I want you to believe that my love can be brave for only you
Then you'll see what happiness really is

Together, they watched the fireworks in silence, making the most of the time they had together, each knowing how precious time was and wishing it would all never end.

Tbc...

Notes: I thought this chapter before I changed it was kind of irrelevant to the story, so I've replaced it. Hope this is better, although I must admit I can't get F4's 'Liu Xing Yu' out of my head, hence the semi-songfic. I have plans to write another A&M songfic with this song, though with a more um...usual setting (19th century Kyoto)

To all Kyoko Saiki fic readers, if anyone is wondering why she hasn't put up any new chapters for 'Kokoro' for so long, well, here's what she asked me to tell you:

Saiki has run out of ideas for 'Kokoro' and is currently taking a long break but she is open for ideas and people can mail their suggestions to dreams_foreva@hotmail.com or review her fic "Kokoro' for ideas.
She is also currently editing 2 WAFF fics. Be right back, minna!

-------------------Kyoko Saiki

Anyway, ja ne for now!