Disclaimer: I do not own HYD or any of its characters, but I wouldn't mind
cuz they're all so kawaii!
Chapter 8: Promise me
We sat there in complete silence for what seemed like forever. As I watched him lay there with his eyes closed, I couldn't help but notice how peaceful he looked like he had no cares in the world. I could feel all the tension flowing through every muscle of his body leave him. I leaned back and rested my head against the cold wall. Feeling my eyes suddenly become unbearably heavy I closed my eyes. Before my mind completely drifted off into a dream world I saw the fingertips clutching the side of the door to close it.
I awoke later shivering from the cold breeze feeling a drip of water hit my eye. I stretched my neck, which felt stiff and sore. How long had I been sleeping? I felt my legs go numb and looked down towards them. He was still resting there sleeping. My moving around aroused Haru who dreamily opened his eyes and looked up at me. I looked up at the sky that had suddenly turned dark. Small droplets of rain hit my face before a heavy downpour flooded down from the sky.
I felt a hand grab mine and pull me down the stairs. We ran across the lawns trying to get away from the violent rain splattering in all directions. Finding it futile to continue running through the growing puddles he pulled me under a tree canopying us from above. I stood there trembling. Water dripped off my arms and face. Haru's hair was dripping wet and his soaked shirt now clung to his shivering frame. We avoided looking directly at each other and just stared out into rain waiting for it to stop. It was strange how moments ago we shared such an intimate moment and now we acted as if we were strangers. A few minutes passed that stretched on like hours.
Haru broke this awkward moment and pulled the collar of his coat up around his neck walking out in the rain drenching himself once again. He glanced back at me with a sad look on his eyes. He mumbled, "Thanks for before." He turned his head back strode off with hunched up shoulders bearing all the weight of the world on them. Watching him walk away through the storm his figure quickly was lost in the haze.
I stood there paralyzed wondering what had just happened between us. What secret are you hiding Haru?
The sky continued to drown the world in its tears of sorrow moaning in pain and anger with each bellow of thunder and lightening. Seeing how it was dangerous to be outside I lifted my coat over my head and ran in the opposite direction from where Haru had gone.
When I reached home I slipped out of my drenched gown and sat in my robe sipping hot tea watching the rain plunk against the window pane.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Hello."
"Hello. Tsukushi, why did you leave without saying anything this morning?"
"I went to my usual place to think."
"Why didn't you wake me? I would have gone with you. You always go with Rui" he whined.
"Sorry, but it's our secret place," I teased. "Thank you for last night by the way"
I could imagine his face turning red on the other end. "It was nothing," he muttered. "I was just worried that you got drenched in the storm."
I could hear the concern in the voice. "I'm fine. I just got a little soaked that's all. I just need to dry off a bit."
"Stupid woman walking around in the rain. Take care of yourself. I don't want to deal with a sick woman." He gruffly said.
"Ok. Ok. Ok. I'll see in school tomorrow. Bye."
I hit the end call button and stared at the phone. What had I done to deserve someone who loved me so much. Thoughts off last night happily filled my mind bringing a smile to my face. Inside I could feel a little guilt creeping up on me. I was ashamed for having spent the night with the man I love only to share such an intimate moment with another the next morning. Memories of this morning flashed through my mind like a movie only this time I came to the comprehended what I felt for him. I realized that I had no real feelings for Haru. In a way, it was more sympathy than anything that drew me towards him.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
"Susumu! Can you answer the door?!"
Susumu walked out of his room looking very annoyed. "Why is my big sister so lazy?" he muttered angrily to himself. He swung open the door and with a giant grin on his face yelled, "Hello!". His face suddenly blushed crimson. He stood back. "Hana what are you doing here?"
Hana stood in the doorway with a shocked look on her face from the strange greeting. She bowed her head slightly and said, "Hello. Sorry to disturb you."
Susumu fell backwards a little tripping over his own feet. He nervously gestured for Hana to come in. The look of horror and shock still lingered in his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't' expect you to show up on my doorstep."
I watched my social butterfly brother suddenly lose his cool around Hana. I laughed a little to myself wondering if Susumu maybe had a little crush on her. I had to admit she was quite beautiful. She stood beside Susumu like a petite little angel. She barely reached his shoulder and looked as if he might break her with the slightest touch. I was a little shocked to see her sudden transformation from the night before. He porcelain skin was flawless with only the faintest touch of makeup. She wore a conservative khaki skirt with a red button shirt top. They were a little wet from the storm raging outside. Her hair was twisted up with a pair of chopsticks in a bun allowing spiky strands to protrude. She took out a handkerchief from her purse and wiped the water that dripped off her face and arms. I took a closer look at her. The other times I had seen her were only for a few brief seconds. I looked at her petite frame thinking how innocent she appeared. Watching her taking off her shoes I glanced down and noticed she also had the same eternity tattoo Haru and the others had on her ankle. It was concealed only by a thin silver anklet with a jade pendant shaped like a heart dangling from it.
"Susumu, I actually came to see your sister," she coldly said.
She walked into the living room and she sat down on the floor in front of the table. Her face was stoic and hardened.
Susumu sensed the awkward tension and excused himself from the room. He glanced at me with questioning eyes. I didn't know what the purpose of this surprise visit was either so I just shrugged my shoulders nodding at him to leave us alone.
I sat down opposite Hana and let out a nervous smile. She continued to look right through me with those stone like eyes. I poured her a cup of tea and placed it in front of her. She daintily picked it up and took a small sip before placing it down carefully. I watched her in amazement of her refined, good manners. She definitely had to have come from money.
"Makino-sempai. I came to talk to you about my brother." She abruptly said.
I was taken aback for a moment out of surprise. "Please, you can just call me Tsukushi," I warmly smiled.
She looked down at the table and traced the lines of the wood with her finger before she began to speak. "I saw you with Haru this morning."
My mind replayed that morning in flashes of pictures. She was the one who closed the door, I thought to myself. "Oh..I hope you don't think that we have something going on. I don't feel for him in that way. I already have a boyfriend who I love. He just seemed so sad and he asked me to do him a favor," I blurted out like an idiot. She just continued to stare right through me with that look.
"Please don't misunderstand my reasons for coming here. I'm not here to accuse you of anything. I was just a little shocked to see you together. He asked you to call him Haru didn't he?" she asked glassy eyed. "You must think it's strange his nickname is Haru meaning spring. He's usually so introverted and cold. He wasn't always that way, though. My mother was the one who actually gave him his nickname. She always said he was like spring, full of life and energy." A smile slowly curled up on her lips at the mention of her mother, but quickly disappeared from her face. "She died a few months ago." She twirled a locket that hung around her neck rubbing it between her fingers. She carefully pulled over her head and handed it to me. I opened it up. My mouth dropped open. I stared at the picture of the elegant Japanese woman dressed in the kimono smiling at me. The face. The eyes. The long brown hair that framed her face. It was almost identical.
"I don't understand?" I gasped.
"Now you understand why I was shocked that first time I saw you. I apologize for being so rude and staring, but you look so much like her. I was just in shock from the resemblance. I can see what Haru sees in you. Whenever he is around you I can see a glimmer of the man he once was. You change him." She looked away from my dumbfounded face and slung the necklace over her head letting the pendant dangle from her neck once again. "That is why I came to talk to you today. Can you promise to do something for me?" She looked up at me with pleading eyes.
I was slightly scared to ask what she wanted form me. Haru had asked me to do something strange for him. I wondered what she wanted from me. "Sure," the words uttered out of my mouth
"Promise me you will stay away from him. I know what I am saying might sound a little strange. For his sake and yours, please just stay away. There are things you do not know about us. This is for the benefit of both of you. You being around him is dangerous. We don't need anymore people getting hurt in our lives." Her voice grew solemn and low at the word "dangerous".
I stared at her in shock at such a strange request. I didn't understand really what danger there could come out of being around Haru. I nodded my head and said, "yes". I couldn't fathom how either of us could be hurt from this strange relationship we had.
"Thank you, Tsukushi." Hana quickly stood up and bowed lowly towards me. "I'll show myself out." She pushed herself off the ground and straightened out her skirt. I glanced up at the little girl who had made such a grave request. I watched her pick up her umbrella and dash back out into the pouring rain.
What did she mean by "dangerous"?
Chapter 8: Promise me
We sat there in complete silence for what seemed like forever. As I watched him lay there with his eyes closed, I couldn't help but notice how peaceful he looked like he had no cares in the world. I could feel all the tension flowing through every muscle of his body leave him. I leaned back and rested my head against the cold wall. Feeling my eyes suddenly become unbearably heavy I closed my eyes. Before my mind completely drifted off into a dream world I saw the fingertips clutching the side of the door to close it.
I awoke later shivering from the cold breeze feeling a drip of water hit my eye. I stretched my neck, which felt stiff and sore. How long had I been sleeping? I felt my legs go numb and looked down towards them. He was still resting there sleeping. My moving around aroused Haru who dreamily opened his eyes and looked up at me. I looked up at the sky that had suddenly turned dark. Small droplets of rain hit my face before a heavy downpour flooded down from the sky.
I felt a hand grab mine and pull me down the stairs. We ran across the lawns trying to get away from the violent rain splattering in all directions. Finding it futile to continue running through the growing puddles he pulled me under a tree canopying us from above. I stood there trembling. Water dripped off my arms and face. Haru's hair was dripping wet and his soaked shirt now clung to his shivering frame. We avoided looking directly at each other and just stared out into rain waiting for it to stop. It was strange how moments ago we shared such an intimate moment and now we acted as if we were strangers. A few minutes passed that stretched on like hours.
Haru broke this awkward moment and pulled the collar of his coat up around his neck walking out in the rain drenching himself once again. He glanced back at me with a sad look on his eyes. He mumbled, "Thanks for before." He turned his head back strode off with hunched up shoulders bearing all the weight of the world on them. Watching him walk away through the storm his figure quickly was lost in the haze.
I stood there paralyzed wondering what had just happened between us. What secret are you hiding Haru?
The sky continued to drown the world in its tears of sorrow moaning in pain and anger with each bellow of thunder and lightening. Seeing how it was dangerous to be outside I lifted my coat over my head and ran in the opposite direction from where Haru had gone.
When I reached home I slipped out of my drenched gown and sat in my robe sipping hot tea watching the rain plunk against the window pane.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Hello."
"Hello. Tsukushi, why did you leave without saying anything this morning?"
"I went to my usual place to think."
"Why didn't you wake me? I would have gone with you. You always go with Rui" he whined.
"Sorry, but it's our secret place," I teased. "Thank you for last night by the way"
I could imagine his face turning red on the other end. "It was nothing," he muttered. "I was just worried that you got drenched in the storm."
I could hear the concern in the voice. "I'm fine. I just got a little soaked that's all. I just need to dry off a bit."
"Stupid woman walking around in the rain. Take care of yourself. I don't want to deal with a sick woman." He gruffly said.
"Ok. Ok. Ok. I'll see in school tomorrow. Bye."
I hit the end call button and stared at the phone. What had I done to deserve someone who loved me so much. Thoughts off last night happily filled my mind bringing a smile to my face. Inside I could feel a little guilt creeping up on me. I was ashamed for having spent the night with the man I love only to share such an intimate moment with another the next morning. Memories of this morning flashed through my mind like a movie only this time I came to the comprehended what I felt for him. I realized that I had no real feelings for Haru. In a way, it was more sympathy than anything that drew me towards him.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
"Susumu! Can you answer the door?!"
Susumu walked out of his room looking very annoyed. "Why is my big sister so lazy?" he muttered angrily to himself. He swung open the door and with a giant grin on his face yelled, "Hello!". His face suddenly blushed crimson. He stood back. "Hana what are you doing here?"
Hana stood in the doorway with a shocked look on her face from the strange greeting. She bowed her head slightly and said, "Hello. Sorry to disturb you."
Susumu fell backwards a little tripping over his own feet. He nervously gestured for Hana to come in. The look of horror and shock still lingered in his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't' expect you to show up on my doorstep."
I watched my social butterfly brother suddenly lose his cool around Hana. I laughed a little to myself wondering if Susumu maybe had a little crush on her. I had to admit she was quite beautiful. She stood beside Susumu like a petite little angel. She barely reached his shoulder and looked as if he might break her with the slightest touch. I was a little shocked to see her sudden transformation from the night before. He porcelain skin was flawless with only the faintest touch of makeup. She wore a conservative khaki skirt with a red button shirt top. They were a little wet from the storm raging outside. Her hair was twisted up with a pair of chopsticks in a bun allowing spiky strands to protrude. She took out a handkerchief from her purse and wiped the water that dripped off her face and arms. I took a closer look at her. The other times I had seen her were only for a few brief seconds. I looked at her petite frame thinking how innocent she appeared. Watching her taking off her shoes I glanced down and noticed she also had the same eternity tattoo Haru and the others had on her ankle. It was concealed only by a thin silver anklet with a jade pendant shaped like a heart dangling from it.
"Susumu, I actually came to see your sister," she coldly said.
She walked into the living room and she sat down on the floor in front of the table. Her face was stoic and hardened.
Susumu sensed the awkward tension and excused himself from the room. He glanced at me with questioning eyes. I didn't know what the purpose of this surprise visit was either so I just shrugged my shoulders nodding at him to leave us alone.
I sat down opposite Hana and let out a nervous smile. She continued to look right through me with those stone like eyes. I poured her a cup of tea and placed it in front of her. She daintily picked it up and took a small sip before placing it down carefully. I watched her in amazement of her refined, good manners. She definitely had to have come from money.
"Makino-sempai. I came to talk to you about my brother." She abruptly said.
I was taken aback for a moment out of surprise. "Please, you can just call me Tsukushi," I warmly smiled.
She looked down at the table and traced the lines of the wood with her finger before she began to speak. "I saw you with Haru this morning."
My mind replayed that morning in flashes of pictures. She was the one who closed the door, I thought to myself. "Oh..I hope you don't think that we have something going on. I don't feel for him in that way. I already have a boyfriend who I love. He just seemed so sad and he asked me to do him a favor," I blurted out like an idiot. She just continued to stare right through me with that look.
"Please don't misunderstand my reasons for coming here. I'm not here to accuse you of anything. I was just a little shocked to see you together. He asked you to call him Haru didn't he?" she asked glassy eyed. "You must think it's strange his nickname is Haru meaning spring. He's usually so introverted and cold. He wasn't always that way, though. My mother was the one who actually gave him his nickname. She always said he was like spring, full of life and energy." A smile slowly curled up on her lips at the mention of her mother, but quickly disappeared from her face. "She died a few months ago." She twirled a locket that hung around her neck rubbing it between her fingers. She carefully pulled over her head and handed it to me. I opened it up. My mouth dropped open. I stared at the picture of the elegant Japanese woman dressed in the kimono smiling at me. The face. The eyes. The long brown hair that framed her face. It was almost identical.
"I don't understand?" I gasped.
"Now you understand why I was shocked that first time I saw you. I apologize for being so rude and staring, but you look so much like her. I was just in shock from the resemblance. I can see what Haru sees in you. Whenever he is around you I can see a glimmer of the man he once was. You change him." She looked away from my dumbfounded face and slung the necklace over her head letting the pendant dangle from her neck once again. "That is why I came to talk to you today. Can you promise to do something for me?" She looked up at me with pleading eyes.
I was slightly scared to ask what she wanted form me. Haru had asked me to do something strange for him. I wondered what she wanted from me. "Sure," the words uttered out of my mouth
"Promise me you will stay away from him. I know what I am saying might sound a little strange. For his sake and yours, please just stay away. There are things you do not know about us. This is for the benefit of both of you. You being around him is dangerous. We don't need anymore people getting hurt in our lives." Her voice grew solemn and low at the word "dangerous".
I stared at her in shock at such a strange request. I didn't understand really what danger there could come out of being around Haru. I nodded my head and said, "yes". I couldn't fathom how either of us could be hurt from this strange relationship we had.
"Thank you, Tsukushi." Hana quickly stood up and bowed lowly towards me. "I'll show myself out." She pushed herself off the ground and straightened out her skirt. I glanced up at the little girl who had made such a grave request. I watched her pick up her umbrella and dash back out into the pouring rain.
What did she mean by "dangerous"?
