Disclaimer: I don't own the fabulous HYD or any of it's characters, but how
I wish I did.
Chapter 21: The women he loves
"Woohoo! Looking good oneesan!"
While dabbing on some gloss over my lips I glanced over to the side noticing Susumu's reflection. He lazily leaned against the doorway with his shirt l sloppily left untucked from his pants. His bowtie was slung around his neck untied. I spun in a circle letting the bottom of my gown fan out.
"I clean up quite nicely, don't I?" I laughed. I walked over to him and pulled up his collar to carefully knot his bowtie around his neck. "Remember to thank Akira for lending you one of his spare tuxes."
"Yeah, yeah yeah. I know. You don't have to be such a nag all the time." He pulled away from me and checked himself in the mirror. "Nice job on the bowtie. I spent the last fifteen minutes trying to tie the damn thing. Can't say you're not useful for something!"
"What is that supposed to mean?!!" I screamed throwing one of my shoes at his head.
He quickly ducked out of the room holding my heel in his hand. "I think you might need this." He tossed the heel back at me and dashed out the door. "Haru just got here to pick you up. He's waiting outside"
"That's weird. I thought he wasn't going to pick me up until 6.It's only 4:30." I slung my silver sandal heels onto my feet hopping towards the door, but as a safety notice to any girl it's not a good idea to jump around in heels. I felt my body tumbling towards the ground, but luckily a pair of familiar strong arms caught me.
Haru caught me in mid fall and turned me over to face his. I remained frozen in his arms wishing he would never let me go. Being in his arms and looking up into that face was intoxicating. It had been so long since I had seen him at ease. There was a refreshed outlook on his appearance. I could see some of the liveliness of that immature boy I fell for in the arcade returning. Wearing a black for head to toe in his Armani tux, I couldn't help but fall for him all over again.
"AHEM."
Realizing that we had an audience Haru pulled me back onto my feet.
"Nice catch," Susumu laughed.
Haru put his hand on the back of his laughing. "Well, what else is a boyfriend for, but to catch his clumsy girlfriend?"
"Yeah my oneesan isn't the most graceful person in the world, but she can sure make an entrance. I don't think I'll ever forget that look on her face stumbling through the door."
"Hey! It's not fair I thought you were on my side." I elbowed Haru in the ribs. Feeling exasperated over the two boys newfound camaraderie in making fun of me, I decided to break things up before Susumu revealed anymore embarrassing moments from my childhood. "Hey! Shouldn't you be getting ready to pick up Hana."
"What?! I completely lost track of time. Thanks for sending a driver over to pick us up. Ja ne!" Not giving anyone a chance to say another word he bolted out the door holding onto the corsage he had picked up earlier for her.
With a slam of the door and the screeching of tires, Haru and I were left alone.
"So why did you come so early?" I coyly asked taking his hand into mine.
Haru grabbed my coat, which was draped over a nearby chair and helped me put it on. "It's a secret," he whispered into my ear sending chills through my body. "I wanted to bring you to meet someone."
As I sat beside him in his silver Mercedes my mind wandered as to how tonight would go. I couldn't help but feel a rising sadness in my heart about what I would be leaving behind. Honestly, I was tired of being the dependable one. For once, I wanted to not worry about everyone else. Slowly, tiny snowflakes began to dance across the sky in a slow ballet. They twirled, dropped, and leapt through the air using the wind to continue dancing before falling onto the ground and settling into their deep peaceful sleep.
"Were here." Haru announced as we pulled up to a temple.
"Mmhmm."
As he helped me out of the car, I pulled my coat tighter around me watching my short breaths come out in puffs of smoke from my lips. It didn't really strike me as to where our destination was until Haru lead me through what appeared to be very well kept gardens for the winter. Finally, he stopped in front of a small field of white lilies. In the middle stood a large statue of a stone angel bowing down in prayer. Haru placed his warm hand in mine and pulled me through the small cleared pathway up to the angel. My eyes widened as I looked down at the words inscribed at the base of the statue.
"Tse Yuri."
Haru bent down on one knee. He kissed his fingertips and placed his them against the smooth stone. A serene peace settled in his face. "Hello okaasan. I wanted you to meet someone very special to me. She has changed me more than anyone these last few months."
I stepped forward and bowed in respect. "Nice to meet you."
Haru glanced up at me and smiled before turning back to the grave. "I've come to say goodbye. I never got the chance to say I'm sorry for not being at your funeral. I'm even more sorry for being a coward and never coming to see you, but I made sure you would always be surrounded by lilies. I know they were your favorite." Tears began to stream down his trembling face as his words became choked. "After today I think I will never have the chance to come see you again. I just wanted you to know that now I know why you wanted things to be this way." He leaned in closer clutching his hands against the ground. "Don't be angry at what I have to do tonight. In the end, the ends justify the mean. We both know he would never let me off so easily. This is the only way to end it all for good. Forgive me," he whispered.
"Haru." I knelt down beside him and pulled him into my arms cradling him as he cried. It scared me to see him break down this way. Not once since the day I met him had he ever fallen apart like this. I couldn't help, but think maybe I should stop him from whatever he was about to do. Whatever it was couldn't be worth it. I knew I had to be strong for the both of us.
He lifted himself up from the ground and wiped away the tears. He gripped my hand and solemnly looked down. "I just wanted you to know I'm not so alone in this world anymore." His entire body began to tremble once again. He wiped away the tears and straightened his back. He brushed away some of the snow that was settling onto the lilies weighing them down forcing them to droop. "I regret now for not realizing how much pain I put her through. Now I'll always wonder if there was ever a moment that I made her happy."
"Translated Yuri means lily, right? Haru means spring and Hana translated is flower" I said breaking Haru out of his daze.
"Yeah. Okaasan always said her favorite time of the year was spring when the flowers bloomed. It always reminded her of a time of rebirth when the deathly winter would be defeated by new life of the spring." He picked up one of the lilies and placed it in my hair behind my ear. "These are lilies of the valley planted all around here. I chose them because it is said they represent a return of happiness. It's odd that none of them have died in this harsh weather."
I gently caressed his face with my hand. "Maybe it's just her way of telling you that you've brought her much happiness."
His eyes lit up in enlightenment of my words. "I don't know what I would do without you sometimes." He gave one last rueful look towards his mother's grave before taking my hand and leading me back to the car.
For awhile we both sat silently in the car not saying or doing anything. We new that we were quickly approaching the end of the road where there would be no turning back.
"Tsukushi."
"Hhmm."
"I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you. It would be like losing her all over again. I know you may not agree with me, but I think you may need some extra protection while I'm away tonight in case anything goes wrong. This is the only way I can protect the women I love."
"What do you mean by protection?"
He opened up the glove compartment and pulled out a small black box. He took a deep breath before pulling open the latch and flipping the lid up.
I gasped in horror. "What is that for?"
"Have you ever used one of these before?" Haru pulled out the shiny silver object from its case. He gripped it in his hand like it was second nature and pulled back the barrel with a loud click loading the cartridge within.
I instantly shot back with the most obvious response. "Of course not! Why would I ever need to use a gun?"
"Give me your hand." He grabbed my hand and placed the cold foreign object my palm. He carefully maneuvered my fingers to properly hold it. I nervously felt my hand shaking as he placed my finger around the trigger. "If things go badly and you and Hana get caught. Hana already knows how this works, but I want to know that you will be able to protect yourself. This could save your life. I put on the safety, but all you have to do is pull this back and pull the trigger if worse comes to worse." He pulled up my dress revealing my bare thigh and strapped it tightly on. I trembled at the very touch of the cold metal against my skin.
"Is this really necessary?"
"It is. I just hope to god you won't need it."
Chapter 21: The women he loves
"Woohoo! Looking good oneesan!"
While dabbing on some gloss over my lips I glanced over to the side noticing Susumu's reflection. He lazily leaned against the doorway with his shirt l sloppily left untucked from his pants. His bowtie was slung around his neck untied. I spun in a circle letting the bottom of my gown fan out.
"I clean up quite nicely, don't I?" I laughed. I walked over to him and pulled up his collar to carefully knot his bowtie around his neck. "Remember to thank Akira for lending you one of his spare tuxes."
"Yeah, yeah yeah. I know. You don't have to be such a nag all the time." He pulled away from me and checked himself in the mirror. "Nice job on the bowtie. I spent the last fifteen minutes trying to tie the damn thing. Can't say you're not useful for something!"
"What is that supposed to mean?!!" I screamed throwing one of my shoes at his head.
He quickly ducked out of the room holding my heel in his hand. "I think you might need this." He tossed the heel back at me and dashed out the door. "Haru just got here to pick you up. He's waiting outside"
"That's weird. I thought he wasn't going to pick me up until 6.It's only 4:30." I slung my silver sandal heels onto my feet hopping towards the door, but as a safety notice to any girl it's not a good idea to jump around in heels. I felt my body tumbling towards the ground, but luckily a pair of familiar strong arms caught me.
Haru caught me in mid fall and turned me over to face his. I remained frozen in his arms wishing he would never let me go. Being in his arms and looking up into that face was intoxicating. It had been so long since I had seen him at ease. There was a refreshed outlook on his appearance. I could see some of the liveliness of that immature boy I fell for in the arcade returning. Wearing a black for head to toe in his Armani tux, I couldn't help but fall for him all over again.
"AHEM."
Realizing that we had an audience Haru pulled me back onto my feet.
"Nice catch," Susumu laughed.
Haru put his hand on the back of his laughing. "Well, what else is a boyfriend for, but to catch his clumsy girlfriend?"
"Yeah my oneesan isn't the most graceful person in the world, but she can sure make an entrance. I don't think I'll ever forget that look on her face stumbling through the door."
"Hey! It's not fair I thought you were on my side." I elbowed Haru in the ribs. Feeling exasperated over the two boys newfound camaraderie in making fun of me, I decided to break things up before Susumu revealed anymore embarrassing moments from my childhood. "Hey! Shouldn't you be getting ready to pick up Hana."
"What?! I completely lost track of time. Thanks for sending a driver over to pick us up. Ja ne!" Not giving anyone a chance to say another word he bolted out the door holding onto the corsage he had picked up earlier for her.
With a slam of the door and the screeching of tires, Haru and I were left alone.
"So why did you come so early?" I coyly asked taking his hand into mine.
Haru grabbed my coat, which was draped over a nearby chair and helped me put it on. "It's a secret," he whispered into my ear sending chills through my body. "I wanted to bring you to meet someone."
As I sat beside him in his silver Mercedes my mind wandered as to how tonight would go. I couldn't help but feel a rising sadness in my heart about what I would be leaving behind. Honestly, I was tired of being the dependable one. For once, I wanted to not worry about everyone else. Slowly, tiny snowflakes began to dance across the sky in a slow ballet. They twirled, dropped, and leapt through the air using the wind to continue dancing before falling onto the ground and settling into their deep peaceful sleep.
"Were here." Haru announced as we pulled up to a temple.
"Mmhmm."
As he helped me out of the car, I pulled my coat tighter around me watching my short breaths come out in puffs of smoke from my lips. It didn't really strike me as to where our destination was until Haru lead me through what appeared to be very well kept gardens for the winter. Finally, he stopped in front of a small field of white lilies. In the middle stood a large statue of a stone angel bowing down in prayer. Haru placed his warm hand in mine and pulled me through the small cleared pathway up to the angel. My eyes widened as I looked down at the words inscribed at the base of the statue.
"Tse Yuri."
Haru bent down on one knee. He kissed his fingertips and placed his them against the smooth stone. A serene peace settled in his face. "Hello okaasan. I wanted you to meet someone very special to me. She has changed me more than anyone these last few months."
I stepped forward and bowed in respect. "Nice to meet you."
Haru glanced up at me and smiled before turning back to the grave. "I've come to say goodbye. I never got the chance to say I'm sorry for not being at your funeral. I'm even more sorry for being a coward and never coming to see you, but I made sure you would always be surrounded by lilies. I know they were your favorite." Tears began to stream down his trembling face as his words became choked. "After today I think I will never have the chance to come see you again. I just wanted you to know that now I know why you wanted things to be this way." He leaned in closer clutching his hands against the ground. "Don't be angry at what I have to do tonight. In the end, the ends justify the mean. We both know he would never let me off so easily. This is the only way to end it all for good. Forgive me," he whispered.
"Haru." I knelt down beside him and pulled him into my arms cradling him as he cried. It scared me to see him break down this way. Not once since the day I met him had he ever fallen apart like this. I couldn't help, but think maybe I should stop him from whatever he was about to do. Whatever it was couldn't be worth it. I knew I had to be strong for the both of us.
He lifted himself up from the ground and wiped away the tears. He gripped my hand and solemnly looked down. "I just wanted you to know I'm not so alone in this world anymore." His entire body began to tremble once again. He wiped away the tears and straightened his back. He brushed away some of the snow that was settling onto the lilies weighing them down forcing them to droop. "I regret now for not realizing how much pain I put her through. Now I'll always wonder if there was ever a moment that I made her happy."
"Translated Yuri means lily, right? Haru means spring and Hana translated is flower" I said breaking Haru out of his daze.
"Yeah. Okaasan always said her favorite time of the year was spring when the flowers bloomed. It always reminded her of a time of rebirth when the deathly winter would be defeated by new life of the spring." He picked up one of the lilies and placed it in my hair behind my ear. "These are lilies of the valley planted all around here. I chose them because it is said they represent a return of happiness. It's odd that none of them have died in this harsh weather."
I gently caressed his face with my hand. "Maybe it's just her way of telling you that you've brought her much happiness."
His eyes lit up in enlightenment of my words. "I don't know what I would do without you sometimes." He gave one last rueful look towards his mother's grave before taking my hand and leading me back to the car.
For awhile we both sat silently in the car not saying or doing anything. We new that we were quickly approaching the end of the road where there would be no turning back.
"Tsukushi."
"Hhmm."
"I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to you. It would be like losing her all over again. I know you may not agree with me, but I think you may need some extra protection while I'm away tonight in case anything goes wrong. This is the only way I can protect the women I love."
"What do you mean by protection?"
He opened up the glove compartment and pulled out a small black box. He took a deep breath before pulling open the latch and flipping the lid up.
I gasped in horror. "What is that for?"
"Have you ever used one of these before?" Haru pulled out the shiny silver object from its case. He gripped it in his hand like it was second nature and pulled back the barrel with a loud click loading the cartridge within.
I instantly shot back with the most obvious response. "Of course not! Why would I ever need to use a gun?"
"Give me your hand." He grabbed my hand and placed the cold foreign object my palm. He carefully maneuvered my fingers to properly hold it. I nervously felt my hand shaking as he placed my finger around the trigger. "If things go badly and you and Hana get caught. Hana already knows how this works, but I want to know that you will be able to protect yourself. This could save your life. I put on the safety, but all you have to do is pull this back and pull the trigger if worse comes to worse." He pulled up my dress revealing my bare thigh and strapped it tightly on. I trembled at the very touch of the cold metal against my skin.
"Is this really necessary?"
"It is. I just hope to god you won't need it."
