Author's note: haha... I got an idea while eating a meatball sub. THE FOOD
OF INSPIRATION!! Muah hahaha!! Arigatou for reading, and reviews are
always appreciated ^_^!
I plopped into a whicker chair at my small kitchen table, sighing heavily. The large windows, which made up one of the walls in my small apartment, sat in front of the table, and overlooked a tiny strip of park, and then another apartment building. They had been the only reason I bought the place after I had moved out of the Hot Spring, but I somewhat regretted my decision as I looked around.
I stirred my weak coffee, staring at the little bubbles forming on top. I always was easily amused. I took a sip, the scent of the beans greeting my tired senses. I watched the children playing in the park, wishing I could be small again. I could never go home.
flashback (to a year earlier)
I stood at the door of Shigure-sensei's house, fingering the thin paper sliding door. I was trying to figure out whether or not to go in, so uninvited... unwanted. They would probably kick me out. Even Tohru. Tears formed behind my eyes, and I studied my feet for a moment, trying to come up with my decision.
I slit the door, and looked through the tiny crack. The entrance room was empty. I opened the door, slipping inside and quietly making my way around the room so as not to draw any attention to myself. **I shouldn't be in here!! AAAUGH what if they catch me?! What will I do?! They'll disown me!!!!** Tears streamed down my face as I whispered "Gomen nasai gomen nasai gomen nasai gomen nasai..." over and over. My mantra became more urgent as I made my way farther into the house.
Nothing but nothing in all of the rooms. I poked my head around corners, blinking hard and trying to figure out where everyone was. Silence filled my ears and I realized everyone was gone. Even the cat. "AAAAAAAH!! I HAVE BROKEN AND ENTERED!! I AM A COMMON CRIMINAL!! I AM SUCH A DIRTY PERSON!!" I leaned on the doorway, and then leaped away from it. "I AM GETTING FINGERPRINTS EVERYWHERE!! OOOH THE HORROR!! I MUST FIND SHIGURE- SENSEI AND COME CLEAN!! I AM SUCH A BAD PERSON!! I MUST APPEASE HIS ANGER!!!!" and with that I headed out of the house, glancing back at the roof, for once disappointed that the neko wasn't up there.
***
The towering wooden Honke doors loomed over my head as I stood in their frightening shadow. I hate this place. I tugged at the heavy metal rings hanging from the metal band encompassing the doors, and slid inside the compound.
"Konnichiwa..." I said to no one in particular. I supposed I would go and see Hatori and Momiji. They always seemed welcoming, and the little rabbit boy was kind. I walked past Akito-sama's home, my khaki pants brushing the ground as I walked. I had made sure to put my hair into a ponytail, and dress like a boy so I didn't offend him. I saw a small movement from the window, but my eyes were recently playing tricks on me, so I ignored it.
As I reached Hatori-san's house, the silence that had been surrounding me since Shigure was broken by a small cry. My eyes widened, hoping it was nothing. "Hello?" I called, and noticed the small blonde boy sitting on the end of the porch. "Momiji-san! Konnichiwa," I waved, trying to smile. He didn't look, but drew in a long breath and let it out shakily.
"Momiji-san?" I rushed over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. It slumped under my touch, and suddenly his arms were around my waist. He let out a cry as his shoulders shook, and he cried into my green shirt. "GOMEN NASAI!! DAIJOBU DESU KA?!" I didn't know how to respond to his sudden outburst, and protectively hugged him back. "DAUIJOBU?!" he looked up at me, his light brown eyes watering, and buried his face into my stomach again. I started panicking. What was going on?! I hugged him, and he lifted his face, staring at me.
"Tohru...-sama..." he sniffed, his tears beginning again. "Hari... Akito..." he couldn't make out full sentences without bursting into tears again, his little face flushed and tear-streaked. "She... she... w- won't..." he shut his eyes, bringing his hands up to his face and sobbing sadly. "remember."
I sat, and before I knew my own actions, burst into the house, to find Tohru laying in a small heap on the floor. "TOHRU-SAMA!! NO!!" I bawled, my tears immediately dropping onto the floor. I slumped to my knees, cradling her head in my arms. Hatori sat in his doctor's swivel chair, breathing softly and watching my display. "no... no!! Why, Hatori!? Why!?" he didn't answer, just turned his chair away, and picked up the picture of Kana-san. I cried, burying my face in her hair.
end of flashback
Tears welled up as I finished my coffee, absently concentrating on the park's greenery. In my peripheral vision, I could see a large white van pulling into a parking spot, followed by a small blue car. I watched as a man got out of the van, and helped a little brown-haired girl in a green dress out of the car. She smiled softly, looking blankly around.
"AAAUGH I SHOULDN'T SPY!!!" I turned my face away, but was suddenly so struck with fascination for some reason, that my eyes kept traveling back to the van and blue car. The girl and man went inside, and I made myself another cup of coffee, sitting dazedly into my chair. "So familiar, however." I searched the building windows for signs of life, stopping at one on the third floor, second from the end. I saw a small light flicker on, and the girl walked past the big windows happily. "Those apartments must be set up just like ours." I was suddenly very intrigued as to who this person was. Something about her struck a chord with me, and I scrutinized her face. "I AM SUCH A PERVERT!! GOMEN NASAI, UNKNOWN GIRL!! SUMIMASEN!!"
I stood, brushing out the wrinkles in my khakis, and hurried out the door. I was so flustered by what I had seen.
***
The manager of the small convenience store I was employed at currently stood in the doorway, tapping his foot. "You are late, Sohma."
"GOMEN NASAI!! I RAN LATE THIS MORNING BECA-" I was cut off since he abruptly turned and headed to the back of the store. My panic intensified and I followed him closely.
"Baka. I am giving you one last chance to get here on time or else you are gone," he turned to me coldly, speaking in his ever-monotonous tone.
"Hai, Nakamuri-sensei," he turned, handing over the cash-register key. I clipped my nametag on quickly, and made my way back to the front counter. He left quickly, eager to get home, and I began to clean the store.
***
I set my keys on the table, sighing and opening the refrigerator. I poked amongst the frozen products and closed the door, rubbing my eyes. I shook my head to wake myself up, and opened my small pantry. I retrieved a small packet of ramen, and decided that it was good enough.
I hadn't stopped thinking of the pretty brunette that had moved in across the park. In a way, it was somewhat exciting, in a childish sort of perverted way, to be able to spy, but it was perverted nonetheless. I didn't bother to make more dishes by putting the ramen into a bowl, and just set the whole pot onto the table and grabbed a pair of chopsticks.
I hadn't stopped thinking of that sweet smile all day, however. The blank stare, the green dress. It was all so very familiar, on the tip of my tongue, you might say, but I couldn't grasp exactly who it was. That little flip of brown hair, the girl walking past the window. I couldn't get the images out of my mind. "Gomen ne, shitsumeishi..." I looked at my feet as I ate, slumping into my seat, but my eyes kept traveling back to the third floor, second window.
A light flickered on, and I squinted my eyes to see into the apartment. It had furniture sparsely decorating its bare floors, but there were no boxes anywhere, despite the fact that she had moved in that day.
"Ah... I wish I was as diligent as you..." I said softly, leaning forward as I noticed a bit of movement, and I took a bit of noodles between my chopsticks.
The room had barely any furniture. Merely a chair, and a small cot, a little radio and a stove. There was a door, the only one I could see through her big windows, through which light spilled, and she walked in, pulling at the collar of her dress. My eyes widened, and I stared quickly into my pot of ramen. "I am such a pervert!! Sumimasen, shitsumeishi- san!!" I realized I still didn't know this person, yet I was watching her through a pane of glass like a stalker. "GOMEN NASAI!! I HAVE BECOME A PERVERT!! A PEEPING TOM!! A STALKER!! AAAH I CANNOT TAKE IT!! I AM SO SORRY!!" I ran from the window, quickly throwing myself under the covers of my bed, and closing my eyes.
***
Several hours later, I was still awake. I wept softly, thinking of the horrible perverted creature I had become. I couldn't get her out of my mind. How was it that I could be so obsessed with this person!? It was unhealthy.
I rolled onto my back, and looked at the ceiling fan spinning. The moon filtered into the room through the big window, and I lifted my head, looking at the lights flickering in the park. "I'm so alone." There was nothing for me to live for any longer except for the girl across the park. It was mere infatuation, a small act of love and devotion to someone who will never know. I began to cry once more, wiping the tears softly with my palms. I was so alone. "I love you, Tohru-san, and I miss you," I mumbled, flopping my head back down and closing my eyes. Tears squeezed out of my eyes as I tried to sleep. "Come back."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Author's Note: shitsumeishi= unknown person. I hope you enjoyed it, and if so, please review. Even flames are welcomed ^_^;. I hope this will live up to your expectations in the end, and thank you so much for reading!! ^____^ *~*~*~*
I plopped into a whicker chair at my small kitchen table, sighing heavily. The large windows, which made up one of the walls in my small apartment, sat in front of the table, and overlooked a tiny strip of park, and then another apartment building. They had been the only reason I bought the place after I had moved out of the Hot Spring, but I somewhat regretted my decision as I looked around.
I stirred my weak coffee, staring at the little bubbles forming on top. I always was easily amused. I took a sip, the scent of the beans greeting my tired senses. I watched the children playing in the park, wishing I could be small again. I could never go home.
flashback (to a year earlier)
I stood at the door of Shigure-sensei's house, fingering the thin paper sliding door. I was trying to figure out whether or not to go in, so uninvited... unwanted. They would probably kick me out. Even Tohru. Tears formed behind my eyes, and I studied my feet for a moment, trying to come up with my decision.
I slit the door, and looked through the tiny crack. The entrance room was empty. I opened the door, slipping inside and quietly making my way around the room so as not to draw any attention to myself. **I shouldn't be in here!! AAAUGH what if they catch me?! What will I do?! They'll disown me!!!!** Tears streamed down my face as I whispered "Gomen nasai gomen nasai gomen nasai gomen nasai..." over and over. My mantra became more urgent as I made my way farther into the house.
Nothing but nothing in all of the rooms. I poked my head around corners, blinking hard and trying to figure out where everyone was. Silence filled my ears and I realized everyone was gone. Even the cat. "AAAAAAAH!! I HAVE BROKEN AND ENTERED!! I AM A COMMON CRIMINAL!! I AM SUCH A DIRTY PERSON!!" I leaned on the doorway, and then leaped away from it. "I AM GETTING FINGERPRINTS EVERYWHERE!! OOOH THE HORROR!! I MUST FIND SHIGURE- SENSEI AND COME CLEAN!! I AM SUCH A BAD PERSON!! I MUST APPEASE HIS ANGER!!!!" and with that I headed out of the house, glancing back at the roof, for once disappointed that the neko wasn't up there.
***
The towering wooden Honke doors loomed over my head as I stood in their frightening shadow. I hate this place. I tugged at the heavy metal rings hanging from the metal band encompassing the doors, and slid inside the compound.
"Konnichiwa..." I said to no one in particular. I supposed I would go and see Hatori and Momiji. They always seemed welcoming, and the little rabbit boy was kind. I walked past Akito-sama's home, my khaki pants brushing the ground as I walked. I had made sure to put my hair into a ponytail, and dress like a boy so I didn't offend him. I saw a small movement from the window, but my eyes were recently playing tricks on me, so I ignored it.
As I reached Hatori-san's house, the silence that had been surrounding me since Shigure was broken by a small cry. My eyes widened, hoping it was nothing. "Hello?" I called, and noticed the small blonde boy sitting on the end of the porch. "Momiji-san! Konnichiwa," I waved, trying to smile. He didn't look, but drew in a long breath and let it out shakily.
"Momiji-san?" I rushed over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. It slumped under my touch, and suddenly his arms were around my waist. He let out a cry as his shoulders shook, and he cried into my green shirt. "GOMEN NASAI!! DAIJOBU DESU KA?!" I didn't know how to respond to his sudden outburst, and protectively hugged him back. "DAUIJOBU?!" he looked up at me, his light brown eyes watering, and buried his face into my stomach again. I started panicking. What was going on?! I hugged him, and he lifted his face, staring at me.
"Tohru...-sama..." he sniffed, his tears beginning again. "Hari... Akito..." he couldn't make out full sentences without bursting into tears again, his little face flushed and tear-streaked. "She... she... w- won't..." he shut his eyes, bringing his hands up to his face and sobbing sadly. "remember."
I sat, and before I knew my own actions, burst into the house, to find Tohru laying in a small heap on the floor. "TOHRU-SAMA!! NO!!" I bawled, my tears immediately dropping onto the floor. I slumped to my knees, cradling her head in my arms. Hatori sat in his doctor's swivel chair, breathing softly and watching my display. "no... no!! Why, Hatori!? Why!?" he didn't answer, just turned his chair away, and picked up the picture of Kana-san. I cried, burying my face in her hair.
end of flashback
Tears welled up as I finished my coffee, absently concentrating on the park's greenery. In my peripheral vision, I could see a large white van pulling into a parking spot, followed by a small blue car. I watched as a man got out of the van, and helped a little brown-haired girl in a green dress out of the car. She smiled softly, looking blankly around.
"AAAUGH I SHOULDN'T SPY!!!" I turned my face away, but was suddenly so struck with fascination for some reason, that my eyes kept traveling back to the van and blue car. The girl and man went inside, and I made myself another cup of coffee, sitting dazedly into my chair. "So familiar, however." I searched the building windows for signs of life, stopping at one on the third floor, second from the end. I saw a small light flicker on, and the girl walked past the big windows happily. "Those apartments must be set up just like ours." I was suddenly very intrigued as to who this person was. Something about her struck a chord with me, and I scrutinized her face. "I AM SUCH A PERVERT!! GOMEN NASAI, UNKNOWN GIRL!! SUMIMASEN!!"
I stood, brushing out the wrinkles in my khakis, and hurried out the door. I was so flustered by what I had seen.
***
The manager of the small convenience store I was employed at currently stood in the doorway, tapping his foot. "You are late, Sohma."
"GOMEN NASAI!! I RAN LATE THIS MORNING BECA-" I was cut off since he abruptly turned and headed to the back of the store. My panic intensified and I followed him closely.
"Baka. I am giving you one last chance to get here on time or else you are gone," he turned to me coldly, speaking in his ever-monotonous tone.
"Hai, Nakamuri-sensei," he turned, handing over the cash-register key. I clipped my nametag on quickly, and made my way back to the front counter. He left quickly, eager to get home, and I began to clean the store.
***
I set my keys on the table, sighing and opening the refrigerator. I poked amongst the frozen products and closed the door, rubbing my eyes. I shook my head to wake myself up, and opened my small pantry. I retrieved a small packet of ramen, and decided that it was good enough.
I hadn't stopped thinking of the pretty brunette that had moved in across the park. In a way, it was somewhat exciting, in a childish sort of perverted way, to be able to spy, but it was perverted nonetheless. I didn't bother to make more dishes by putting the ramen into a bowl, and just set the whole pot onto the table and grabbed a pair of chopsticks.
I hadn't stopped thinking of that sweet smile all day, however. The blank stare, the green dress. It was all so very familiar, on the tip of my tongue, you might say, but I couldn't grasp exactly who it was. That little flip of brown hair, the girl walking past the window. I couldn't get the images out of my mind. "Gomen ne, shitsumeishi..." I looked at my feet as I ate, slumping into my seat, but my eyes kept traveling back to the third floor, second window.
A light flickered on, and I squinted my eyes to see into the apartment. It had furniture sparsely decorating its bare floors, but there were no boxes anywhere, despite the fact that she had moved in that day.
"Ah... I wish I was as diligent as you..." I said softly, leaning forward as I noticed a bit of movement, and I took a bit of noodles between my chopsticks.
The room had barely any furniture. Merely a chair, and a small cot, a little radio and a stove. There was a door, the only one I could see through her big windows, through which light spilled, and she walked in, pulling at the collar of her dress. My eyes widened, and I stared quickly into my pot of ramen. "I am such a pervert!! Sumimasen, shitsumeishi- san!!" I realized I still didn't know this person, yet I was watching her through a pane of glass like a stalker. "GOMEN NASAI!! I HAVE BECOME A PERVERT!! A PEEPING TOM!! A STALKER!! AAAH I CANNOT TAKE IT!! I AM SO SORRY!!" I ran from the window, quickly throwing myself under the covers of my bed, and closing my eyes.
***
Several hours later, I was still awake. I wept softly, thinking of the horrible perverted creature I had become. I couldn't get her out of my mind. How was it that I could be so obsessed with this person!? It was unhealthy.
I rolled onto my back, and looked at the ceiling fan spinning. The moon filtered into the room through the big window, and I lifted my head, looking at the lights flickering in the park. "I'm so alone." There was nothing for me to live for any longer except for the girl across the park. It was mere infatuation, a small act of love and devotion to someone who will never know. I began to cry once more, wiping the tears softly with my palms. I was so alone. "I love you, Tohru-san, and I miss you," I mumbled, flopping my head back down and closing my eyes. Tears squeezed out of my eyes as I tried to sleep. "Come back."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Author's Note: shitsumeishi= unknown person. I hope you enjoyed it, and if so, please review. Even flames are welcomed ^_^;. I hope this will live up to your expectations in the end, and thank you so much for reading!! ^____^ *~*~*~*