Of Winter and Spring
by: Eniar (nsmx_01@yahoo.com)
Standard disclaimers apply.
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Act 05 – Rain
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There were few people who were out in the streets in this wet evening. Cars were bumper to bumper and its mufflers were somewhat in harmony with the pouring rain, its soft water was falling down from the sky like a thousand needles to be crushed hard into the pavement. While some of it fall and rolled down to the umbrellas of the two couple walking together. The lady seemed to be constantly looking at the man who accompanied her to someone's house. She was invited to a small gathering although the man never wanted to be a part of it. One reason was that, it was his duty to accompany the lady to his friend's house, although yes, he was invited to come, and he was the one who volunteered to accompany her, but he felt a bit uneasy whenever he was with her. It was like he was facing his past and that past made him recall the events that was too painful for him to handle. The man looked at the lady very sternly, if it was possible, he never wanted to be involved with her.
They continued to walk without talking to each other.
The lady seemed to be crushed by the way he treated her. She knew for a fact that the man was avoiding her, but for what reason? It was like she was in the huge jigsaw puzzle with complicated pieces to fill in, secrets, past and the clan. It was probably the reason why she agreed to come, she was scared and happy at the same time. Scared because she might not be ready to accept secret and happy because she was welcomed openly by these people besides that, she couldn't dispose the fact that this stern man used his time just to take her to that place, whereas he could have done something else, she knew she have to thank him and now is her chance to do it.
"Anou…" she began. "I just wanted to thank you for coming with me."
His green eyes returned to gaze at her austerely. "There's no need to do that," his voice sounded flat. "I was the one who volunteered to do this."
"Hatori…I just wanted…" she trailed off. She knew that it was useless to talk to him. She just couldn't get it.
Hatori never replied. She looked down as she watched her shoes kicked the rain. She never liked the feeling to be treated as nothing, not to be liked nor hated. To be a stranger to someone she knew. Tears gathered in her eyes as she continued to walk looking down at her shoes.
In the noisy setting that they were in, there was a deafening silence between them.
She accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm sorry." The lady quickly apologized.
"That's oka—Hatori?" the woman said.
"Kana…" the man muttered. He couldn't believe that he could find her here. In this rain.
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"What did you do when you saw Kana?" Tohru asked.
"I didn't know what to do." Hatori looked up. "When I looked at Kana and Haruka, they seemed alike. It was as if I was staring at my past and present."
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Just as she'd thought, his facial expression changed as he talked to the woman named Kana. He was very much different when he's with her. He was very stern and cold, but now, he's a kinder Hatori. She just wished that the tears wouldn't fall from her cheeks. She didn't like to cry in front of them.
"Kana…" Hatori said, "This is Kamina Haruka, she works as my assistant at the clinic."
"Pleased to meet you," she bowed respectfully. "I'm Souma Kana."
"H-hi." Haruka was struggling not to let her tears fall. "T-then you're Hatori's cousin."
"Yes. I used to work at Hatori's clinic too."
"Yeah…I heard that only members of the Souma family are allowed to work there."
"Oh, don't worry, even so, Hatori's kind enough to make you feel welcome."
"Mn…Yeah…" Haruka don't think that she could agree with that.
"Oh," Kana said looking at her watch. "I really need to go now Hatori, Haruka."
"Yeah…bye." She replied.
Haruka didn't know that Hatori was watching her secretly. He knew that she couldn't understand why he was treating her coldly, that she wanted to cry, to run away from this. He knew everything but he couldn't tell the reason.
Kana left. Hatori and Haruka was the only one left at the sidewalk. In the middle of the rain.
So the rain continued to pour as Hatori waits for the stoplight to turn to red so that they could cross the street. Haruka resumed looking at her shoes as she was lost in thought.
The stoplight turned red and the sign says walk, in green light. Hatori lifted his foot and is about to cross the street.
"Wait!" Haruka called. "What are you doing?"
"Crossing the street." He said, wondering what was happening to her. "Is there something wrong?"
"A-ah well…" she stammered. "Shouldn't we wait for Momiji?"
"He called to tell me that we should go ahead, he said he'll be late. Didn't I told you that already at the clinic?"
"You did?—oh, I mean—yeah, sorry I forgot." She gave and awkward laugh. She paused. "Anou…do we really have to cross that street?"
"That's the only way to Shigure's house. Are you sure you're alright?" He was starting to get suspicious.
She nodded nervously and then swallowed hard. "Let's get going."
Hatori grabbed her wrist. "We're not leaving until you tell me what's bothering you."
"N-n-nothing. I told you there's nothing." She finally gave up and her cheeks started to turn into crimson. "Yeah…well actually…I couldn't cross the street without holding someone's hand but don't worry I always hold this strap tightly when I'm crossing alone, I'm used to that already." She said without pausing. She sighed. "I know it's stupid…You can laugh if you want to."
Hatori blinked. "All these years she's doing that?" Hatori smiled and looked away. "But you're not alone." He mumbled as he slipped his hand to her and held it tightly.
Haruka felt his warm hand laced with hers. She looked down then smiled at Hatori. "Thanks." She gently squeezed his hands.
Hatori smiled. "Sorry." He said beneath his breath. She wasn't sure if she heard that correctly but now, whenever Hatori looks at her it has a kinder glitter in it and that's all that she needed. Only that.
In the middle of the rain, there was a couple who crossed the street hands held together.
Author's notes:
I dunno if that was a good ending to the story…^_^;;; anyhow, Haruka is a little bit childish isn't she? Well I guess everyone's childish in is own unique way! ^_- Ja~
