'Dear Journal, Things haven't quite been what might have been hoped for. Everybody got out of the hospital the other day and we all returned to Hinatasou. I guess you could say we've been totally silent amongst each other. Things aren't the way they used to be. I could put a few examples, but mostly I have to say it isn't looking to good for most of everyone. Except of course for Keitaro and Naru, they seem closer then ever. Motoko tries to avoid Keitaro whenever she can for some reason though neither gives a reason why, on the other hand the two of us have become more of friends rather then simply sparring partners since the situation. Kanako has been avoiding Sesaru despite her apologies to him and Sesaru seems nervous around her and just about everybody but me and Seta. Haruka is her normal quiet self despite the fact that she doesn't come near Hinatasou. Kitsune and Seta seem to be a bit quieter around each other then usual and just like the others no reason has been given. As for me...I've probably got the worst problem. Shinobu and Kaolla seem to hate me now, and avoid me like they would the plague. I guess it's kind of hard to face someone that you were forced to do something with that you didn't wish to. I can't really seem to face them either because I let things get out of hand. Things here...just aren't right anymore.'
(Enter opening theme)
Yane no ue de sora o aogu, hizashi wa uraraka
miageru sora, karadajuu genki ga minagitteku
THAT'S SO WONDERFUL! ikiterunda!
yamerarenai, akirameru da nante
Tohou ni kureta kinou ni sayonara
futsufutsu to wakiagaru kono kimochi
nando demo yomigaeru, hana o sakaseyou
omoi dewa itsumo amai nige basho
dakedo tachi kire, asu o ikiru tame
shukufuku no toki wa kuru, te o nobashite
Uruwashi no yawaraka na hada, imada te wa todokazu
me o tojireba fukuramu IMEEJI, miwaku no kajitsu
THAT'S SO WONDERFUL! ikiterunda!
yamerarenai, sono saki o mitai
Dotou no hibi wa tsuzuku, doko made mo
tengoku to jigoku, yukitsumodoritsu
nando demo yomigaeru, hana o sakaseyou
hashire hashire, ai o te nisuru made
sore de kurushimunara nozomu tokoro
shukufuku no toki ga kuru, te o nobashite
Tohou ni kureta kinou ni sayonara
futsufutsu to wakiagaru kono kimochi
nando demo yomigaeru, hana o sakaseyou
omoi dewa itsumo amai nige basho
dakedo tachi kire, asu o ikiru tame
shukufuku no toki wa kuru, te o nobashite
Te o nobashite, ryoute agete!
(End Theme Song)
Episode 12: Recovery
Day 21
Taisuke leaned back in the chair and set his arms behind his head. He sighed loudly and stared at the ceiling. He brought his fingers to his lips and smiled slightly. It had been a week and he still couldn't help but think about it. So the situation hadn't been what he might have preferred, it still was one of the best experiences in his life. Up until the part where a crazed demon possessed all the women and tried to kill him, and the other two. Nearly managing quite a bit of it as well. Yeah...it had been pretty good up until that part.
"Stop kidding yourself. Neither of them think of you as more then a friend, and now probably not even as that. How could they think about me when I responded as I did?"
The door slid up and Sesaru entered. He leaned over and looked Taisuke right in the eyes. "Still being glum? You need to face them not sit her like a lump doing nothing."
Taisuke let the chair bump back to its normal position and stared straight ahead at the wall. Sesaru was fine around him, but he seemed to act nervous around just about everyone else, especially Kanako. "Face them? Who are you kidding? I took advantage of them Sesaru! They probably hate me now!"
Sesaru chuckled and shook his head. He pulled up another chair and sat down beside Taisuke. "Listen to me, they don't hate you. In fact the probably hate themselves more for doing what they did. They probably feel like they used you."
Taisuke blinked in confusion. He turned his chair and watched his friend carefully. "What do you mean? How could they possibly have used me? They were possessed, I wasn't. I did the wrong thing and they had no choice about what they did."
His friend rose from his sit and went to the door. He stood there for a moment and finally looked back. "Being possessed doesn't mean you're free of blame. They were given orders through their minds but they chose how to accomplish their orders. You can't place blame solely on yourself, especially not when women are involved. They take it as an offense."
The door closed behind him and Taisuke sat their in silence. Sesaru's words made sense...but that didn't mean they were true. Even if they were...that didn't change the fact that Taisuke was guilty of doing something he never should have done, he had still given into his desire and taken advantage of them. He could never expect them to forgive him for it. He only had one option left. Taisuke rose and went to his closet.
(Fade to the living room)
Konno Mitsune, or Kitsune as she was commonly called, sat in silence in the Hinatasou living room. She had said some things that she wished she never had, and gotten an answer she didn't know how to respond to. So many people had thought of her as slutty, but it hurt so much to be taken in the wrong way by someone you cared for. She had done the wrong thing at the wrong time and had been hurt because of it. Such was the story of her life.
Normally she would drown her sorrows, if she had any, with sake. This was something that went beyond what sake could accomplish, if she did drink she'd end up a sad drunk instead of just a drunk. "Seta...I'm sorry about what I did. I..." She stood and made her way upstairs. There was only one option left to her. She wouldn't have to live with it for much longer, she could simply do the most sensible thing. Flee.
(Fade to Mutsumi's apartment)
"Ara, is there something I'm forgetting?"
A figure stands in the shadows and a loud sigh can be heard. "Of course there is. We've got a job to do at Hinatasou. Oh, that rhymed!" The figure begins to laugh loudly. Mutsumi stands there for a second looking confused and then begins to laugh with the figure.
(Fade to Naru's room)
*Panting sounds are heard*
(Umm...yeah...elsewhere most definetely)
Shinobu sat with her arms wrapped around her legs in the corner of her room. She reached up and touched her lips. She rested her head against her knees and began to cry. 'I can't believe I did that to Taisuke! I'm horrible! Oh how he must hate me!'
She had done something despicable. She had used Taisuke, tricked him into reacting in a way he normally wouldn't have. Using the word Kitsune would have...she had seduced him. It was the most terrible thing she had ever done before and it made her ache in a way that couldn't be described. It wasn't a physical ache, it was more of an emotional one that had a physical effect.
All she could do was avoid Taisuke, and she seemed to be crying a lot lately. The answer came to her as her sobbing ceased. She rose and looked directly at her closet. Maybe it was time to visit Tokyo, or maybe her home. It was the only way she could let Taisuke be happy. She would let him be free of her.
(Fade to Kaolla's room)
Kaolla sat on the branch of a tree and thought about what she had done. She also thought about what she should do now. Her actions had been wrong, she had been possessed, but the decision of how to carry out commands was hers and hers alone. And she might not have fought enough, in fact she couldn't remember fighting the control at all. And she had worked her wiles on a person she cared for. Taisuke probably hated her now.
Who wouldn't hate her after what she had done? Her sister had told her once before that men couldn't really control themselves when confronted with certain situations such as being seduced like that. They had little self-control so could be seduced easily. Her sister had also told her how wrong such actions were.
So now Kaolla was left with one option. It was time that she return home, time for her to go back to where she really belonged. Time to leave the dream that was Hinatasou.
(Fade to Kanako's room)
Kanako sat there staring at her hands. The hands that not but a week ago had been stained with Sesaru's blood. She wasn't certain about her feelings for him. He was a worthless, no good, hopeless pervert. But for some reason she still felt something for him, maybe it was his quirky sense of humor or his kind nature...and the fact that he was a decent fighter, or maybe it was something else. But he had to hate her now, he feared a bit probably as well. It was understandable since she had nearly killed him.
Standing with new resolve she headed towards her closet. There was only one way out left for her. She would leave Hinatasou and set out on a journey. A journey of self-discovery probably, but at the very least a journey to keep her from hurting the people she cared about. Something she seemed to be particualarly good at. "Sesaru...gomen...don't worry, you'll be safe from me now."
(Fade to Hinata tea house)
A man of an age with Naru rises from his position at scrubbing dishes. He has short brown hair and is wearing a green apron over his white shirt. "Oh, who are you?"
Taisuke runs a hand through his hair and replies in a similar manner. "I'm Taisuke, but who are you?"
"I am Sakata Kentaro."
"Keitaro?"
"Kentaro!"
Taisuke just shrugged and brushed past him. "So where is Haruka-san?"
The older man sighed and tossed his head with an air of arrogance. "She's in the other room. Why do you need to see her?"
Taisuke stopped on his way to the other room and glanced back at Kentaro. "I've got to ask her for some help in getting a ride back to my home."
Taisuke entered through the shoji door and focused his attention on the brown-haired woman sitting at the head of a table talking to a bunch of strange old men. 'The Hinata Old Men Group...they only show up when something serious is about to happen....I wonder why they're speaking with Haruka-san?'
"Oi, Haruka-san. I didn't mean to interupt you, I'll come back later."
Haruka waved her arm in dismisal and glanced briefly at the old men. "It's okay, they were just leaving anyways."
The old men stood and walked slowly towards the door. They stopped briefly when they reached Taisuke and glanced at him. The first one looked at the others and spoke in a creepy voice. "Is running away the right answer?"
The second looked back and spoke as well in a similar creepy voice. "Is running away the wrong answer?"
Together they spoke one last time before they exited the room. "Is he running for the right reasons?"
The left quietly leaving Taisuke to stare at their backs in awe. He sweatdropped and turned his attention back to Haruka, carefully he picked out a spot and sat on the pillow beside her. "Haruka-san, I need to talk to you about getting a ride home. I've already told you where that was...so you know how difficult it will be for me to return. Can you help me?"
Day 22
"NANINANI?" Keitaro winced in pain and rubbed his ears in an attempt to bring back his hearing. Once he felt he was normal again he responded to the screetch....errr...question.
"You don't have to shout, you can look yourself. Each one is a separate note, I don't think they collaborated on this."
Naru and Motoko were the only ones remaining at Hinatasou with Keitaro. When Keitaro had woken up and discovered a complete lack of breakfast he had decided to investigate. There tacked to Shinobu's door was a note saying she had left Hinatasou.
It read: 'I'm sorry everyone but I'm leaving Hinatasou. I intend to go and live with my father in Tokyo for a little while. I can't stay here becaues it is only a painful reminder of actions that I regret. I hope everyone will be able to still get some decent food in their bellies without me there. Please tell Taisuke that I'm sorry.'
He had immediately gone to tell Taisuke about the situation and give him Shinobu's message. When he got to the martial artist's room he discovered a similar note also tacked up on it.
It read: 'I've decided that it is better for me to leave before the predecided time. Haruka-san helped me get a plane ticket so I could return home. I needed to leave early so I chose to leave this note. If anyone would like to say goodbye I'm going to be at the Tokyo Airport, my flight leaves at 4 P.M. from Gate 93. Tell Shinobu and Kaolla that I'm sorry.'
Of course this had worried him even more finding out that both of them had left so suddenly. Because of what the note said he went to Kaolla's room first to tell her. Not only had Taisuke left but her best friend had left as well. To Keitaro's even greater shock he once again found a note tacked up to the door...along with a bananna peel. After peeling the bananna off and throwing it away he had been able to read the note.
It read: 'Bye everyone. Certain things have made me decide to leave and go home. I have to make it to the airport so I had to leave early, if you guys want to say goodbye I'll be at Tokyo Airport at Gate 34. Tell Taisuke I'm sorry.'
Keitaro had known at that point that he needed to walk everyone else up, so he went to it. In the process he discovered Kitsune's note, Sesaru's note, and Kanako's note.
Ironically enough it appeared that all of them were going to be in Tokyo at the same time, and everyone but Shinobu was going to be at the airport. And it didn't take the three of them long to decide that they had to get to Tokyo Airport before they left. A few minutes later a giant metal turtle was seen flying over the small town.
(Fade out)
Mutsumi and a figure in a cloak, the one who had been at her apartment, arrived at Hinatasou. What they discovered were the various notes of the former tenants scattered on the ground. Minutes after that a second flying turtle left the town on route for Tokyo.
(Fade out to Tokyo)
"Flight now leaving from Gate 47, Flight now leaving from Gate 47." Keitaro, Naru, and Motoko each sped up as they raced for Gate 34, they didn't have a lot of time left. And somehow they had to say goodbye to everyone. But of course they didn't know, they couldn't know that they weren't the only ones racing. And while they raced to find Kaolla the others who were running at the same moment were heading to Gate 93, where they intended to intercept a certain boy.
Keitaro skidded to a halt and called out. "Su-chan! Hold on a moment." The foreign turned at the sound of Keitaro's voice and discovered the kanrinin standing there with Naru and Motoko behind him. All of them looked out of breath except Motoko, she was her usual calm self.
"Keitaro! Naru! Motoko! Now I can say goodbye to you guys...but where are the others?"
Naru took a few deep breaths before she could begin, "It's a long story, but to sum it up everyone is here and the only ones who don't plan on leaving are the three of us. Shinobu is somewhere else in the city. We've come here to convince you not to go."
Kaolla shook her head. Her stance was firm and she seemed set in her decision, it was obvious simply from the way she was standing. "I have to go, its better for...certain people that I leave."
Motoko took her turn at speaking and stepped out in front of the foreign girl. "Kaolla. Nobody was hurt by your actions, Taisuke was not hurt by your actions. We all understand that you didn't have control over yourself. Anything you did was not by your choice, and you can't be blamed for it. Nor will anyone hate you for it." As she spoke this she glanced back at Keitaro briefly, who nodded once and smiled at the Kendo girl.
Kaolla looked like she was having a war within herself and she looked sad. Her eyes drifted to the ground and she stood there, head down, thinking. At last her head came up and she smiled. "Lets go find everyone else."
Keitaro, Naru, and Motoko all smiled with her. One down, five to go.
"You made it did you? Why do you have bags Su-chan?" The four of them turned around and found none other then Sesaru. Things looked like they were going to work out. Especially since Sesaru had someone leaning on his shoulder. None other than Kitsune.
"Whats with Kitsune?"
Sesaru grinned and glanced down at the fox girl on his shoulder. "I think she managed to drink all the Sake in the entire airport."
(Fade out)
"Flight now arriving at Gate 93, Flight now arriving at Gate 93, All passengers please disembark and make sure to take all baggage with you. Anything left onboard will be divided amongst the stewards and stewardesses. Please do not leave children or spouses."
Taisuke yawned and pushed himself up and out of his seat. He had been waiting for a long time. He stretched his back out and grabbed his bags. Once all the people were off the airplane then he'd be able to get on and go home. Then everything would be back to normal at Hinatasou...at least as normal as things got at Hinatasou. For Taisuke life would return to the dull routine that he had always known. Training, lessons, lectures, prayer, training, lessons, and so on until he was 18, then he would be able to choose his own training schedule. Be able to do the things he wanted to do, at least within a limit. His older brother and sister were both 23, and though they did what they wanted mostly, they still had limits. Their eldest brother who was 30 had complete freedom because he was married and independent. His sister had almost as much freedom because she was a woman and not expected to inherit the Shutairo dojo.
The last of the passengers were just filing out of the plane when they got to him. Two people there to convince him of something. Taisuke turned around when somebody said his name. "Mutsumi-san?"
The anemic girl bowed her head and smiled the somewhat vacant smile she usually had. She was flaky, but smart. Smart enough to know that this wasn't an easy task. The second figure on the other hand was a complete mystery to Taisuke. It was a woman for sure, but she remained hidden beneath a cloak. Taisuke focused on the cloaked figure, there was something about her that seemed dangerous and yet familiar. A ki similar to something he had sensed before. "Who are you?"
The figure tossed her cloak off and revealed a woman who looked shockingly similar to Kaolla. And that explained exactly why the ki seemed familiar. This had to be Kaolla's sister. "I'm Amalla Su, Kaolla's sister. I'm here with Mutsumi to convince you not to be stupid."
Taisuke blinked in surprise and then anger rose up, he wasn't in the mood for insults. "What do you mean stupid? How dare you judge me?"
Amalla tossed her head to the side and scoffed at the comment. "Ha! I'm me, that's who I am. And I know you're leaving because you don't want Kaolla and Shinobu to feel hurt. You believe that you have done wrong and you have to leave to make up for that wrong, to put everything right. But Kaolla doesn't feel that it is your fault, she blames herself for what happened, and very soon if she hasn't yet she will admit that she had no control over what she did and come to grips with it. And you want to run away and make her feel worse, she'll think you left because of her, and that will hurt her worse then how she is hurting now."
Taisuke didn't realize it, but he had steadily been backing away. Everything Amalla said made sense, and struck a cord in him. Who was he to decide how another would feel? He had made a mistake certainly, but running away wasn't the way to solve it. He had to face his troubles head on and confront them. It was the only way. "What should I do?"
The foreign woman smiled and turned a bit so she could face Mutsumi. Now the girl from Okinawa spoke. "By now one of the people who needs to understand has come to an understanding. You have to go to the other and make her understand."
"The other?"
(Fade out)
DING-DONG!
"Shinobu! Could you get the door?"
"Hai Tou-san!" Shinobu set the sketch book down and got up still smiling. She was a bit embarrassed about what she had been drawing, but she was still in a fairly good mood. Her father had made her feel so welcome that she wasn't as unhappy as she might have been.
She made her way to the door as fast as she could and opened it up to see who was there. Who she saw was the one person she would never have expected to see, and her sharp intake of breath was evidence of that. A bit of pink creeped into her cheeks.
Taisuke stood there smiling, a bit of red in his cheeks he raised an arm in greeting.
"Shinobu."
(End theme)
I'M A DREAMER
yoake no hikari sosogu ka no chi wa doko?
I'M A DREAMER
Honojiroi sono hohoemi, douka sawarasete
Koko wa hi no ataranai basho
hitorikiri de naku toki no himitsu no basho
sakebu youni namae yobunda
kimi ga inakerya, kimi sae ireba
Kitto iku yo, hi no ataru basho
kono mama ja owarenai, yakusoku ga aru
tooi michi, hitosuji no michi
kimi ga inakerya, kimi sae ireba
Kitto iku yo, hi no ataru basho
kono mama ja owarenai, yakusoku ga aru
tooi michi, hitosuji no hikari
kimi ga iru kara, kimi sae ireba
Author's Note: Sorry about that taking so long, as the end of the first semester of school rolled around I got stuck with a huge amount of work. I'm on vacation at last and was finally able to finish this chapter, since I've got two weeks off I think I'll be able to catch up a little bit. Hope you guys like this one, and just to let you know though I will be able to write chapters, I won't be able to upload them until I get home.
(Enter opening theme)
Yane no ue de sora o aogu, hizashi wa uraraka
miageru sora, karadajuu genki ga minagitteku
THAT'S SO WONDERFUL! ikiterunda!
yamerarenai, akirameru da nante
Tohou ni kureta kinou ni sayonara
futsufutsu to wakiagaru kono kimochi
nando demo yomigaeru, hana o sakaseyou
omoi dewa itsumo amai nige basho
dakedo tachi kire, asu o ikiru tame
shukufuku no toki wa kuru, te o nobashite
Uruwashi no yawaraka na hada, imada te wa todokazu
me o tojireba fukuramu IMEEJI, miwaku no kajitsu
THAT'S SO WONDERFUL! ikiterunda!
yamerarenai, sono saki o mitai
Dotou no hibi wa tsuzuku, doko made mo
tengoku to jigoku, yukitsumodoritsu
nando demo yomigaeru, hana o sakaseyou
hashire hashire, ai o te nisuru made
sore de kurushimunara nozomu tokoro
shukufuku no toki ga kuru, te o nobashite
Tohou ni kureta kinou ni sayonara
futsufutsu to wakiagaru kono kimochi
nando demo yomigaeru, hana o sakaseyou
omoi dewa itsumo amai nige basho
dakedo tachi kire, asu o ikiru tame
shukufuku no toki wa kuru, te o nobashite
Te o nobashite, ryoute agete!
(End Theme Song)
Episode 12: Recovery
Day 21
Taisuke leaned back in the chair and set his arms behind his head. He sighed loudly and stared at the ceiling. He brought his fingers to his lips and smiled slightly. It had been a week and he still couldn't help but think about it. So the situation hadn't been what he might have preferred, it still was one of the best experiences in his life. Up until the part where a crazed demon possessed all the women and tried to kill him, and the other two. Nearly managing quite a bit of it as well. Yeah...it had been pretty good up until that part.
"Stop kidding yourself. Neither of them think of you as more then a friend, and now probably not even as that. How could they think about me when I responded as I did?"
The door slid up and Sesaru entered. He leaned over and looked Taisuke right in the eyes. "Still being glum? You need to face them not sit her like a lump doing nothing."
Taisuke let the chair bump back to its normal position and stared straight ahead at the wall. Sesaru was fine around him, but he seemed to act nervous around just about everyone else, especially Kanako. "Face them? Who are you kidding? I took advantage of them Sesaru! They probably hate me now!"
Sesaru chuckled and shook his head. He pulled up another chair and sat down beside Taisuke. "Listen to me, they don't hate you. In fact the probably hate themselves more for doing what they did. They probably feel like they used you."
Taisuke blinked in confusion. He turned his chair and watched his friend carefully. "What do you mean? How could they possibly have used me? They were possessed, I wasn't. I did the wrong thing and they had no choice about what they did."
His friend rose from his sit and went to the door. He stood there for a moment and finally looked back. "Being possessed doesn't mean you're free of blame. They were given orders through their minds but they chose how to accomplish their orders. You can't place blame solely on yourself, especially not when women are involved. They take it as an offense."
The door closed behind him and Taisuke sat their in silence. Sesaru's words made sense...but that didn't mean they were true. Even if they were...that didn't change the fact that Taisuke was guilty of doing something he never should have done, he had still given into his desire and taken advantage of them. He could never expect them to forgive him for it. He only had one option left. Taisuke rose and went to his closet.
(Fade to the living room)
Konno Mitsune, or Kitsune as she was commonly called, sat in silence in the Hinatasou living room. She had said some things that she wished she never had, and gotten an answer she didn't know how to respond to. So many people had thought of her as slutty, but it hurt so much to be taken in the wrong way by someone you cared for. She had done the wrong thing at the wrong time and had been hurt because of it. Such was the story of her life.
Normally she would drown her sorrows, if she had any, with sake. This was something that went beyond what sake could accomplish, if she did drink she'd end up a sad drunk instead of just a drunk. "Seta...I'm sorry about what I did. I..." She stood and made her way upstairs. There was only one option left to her. She wouldn't have to live with it for much longer, she could simply do the most sensible thing. Flee.
(Fade to Mutsumi's apartment)
"Ara, is there something I'm forgetting?"
A figure stands in the shadows and a loud sigh can be heard. "Of course there is. We've got a job to do at Hinatasou. Oh, that rhymed!" The figure begins to laugh loudly. Mutsumi stands there for a second looking confused and then begins to laugh with the figure.
(Fade to Naru's room)
*Panting sounds are heard*
(Umm...yeah...elsewhere most definetely)
Shinobu sat with her arms wrapped around her legs in the corner of her room. She reached up and touched her lips. She rested her head against her knees and began to cry. 'I can't believe I did that to Taisuke! I'm horrible! Oh how he must hate me!'
She had done something despicable. She had used Taisuke, tricked him into reacting in a way he normally wouldn't have. Using the word Kitsune would have...she had seduced him. It was the most terrible thing she had ever done before and it made her ache in a way that couldn't be described. It wasn't a physical ache, it was more of an emotional one that had a physical effect.
All she could do was avoid Taisuke, and she seemed to be crying a lot lately. The answer came to her as her sobbing ceased. She rose and looked directly at her closet. Maybe it was time to visit Tokyo, or maybe her home. It was the only way she could let Taisuke be happy. She would let him be free of her.
(Fade to Kaolla's room)
Kaolla sat on the branch of a tree and thought about what she had done. She also thought about what she should do now. Her actions had been wrong, she had been possessed, but the decision of how to carry out commands was hers and hers alone. And she might not have fought enough, in fact she couldn't remember fighting the control at all. And she had worked her wiles on a person she cared for. Taisuke probably hated her now.
Who wouldn't hate her after what she had done? Her sister had told her once before that men couldn't really control themselves when confronted with certain situations such as being seduced like that. They had little self-control so could be seduced easily. Her sister had also told her how wrong such actions were.
So now Kaolla was left with one option. It was time that she return home, time for her to go back to where she really belonged. Time to leave the dream that was Hinatasou.
(Fade to Kanako's room)
Kanako sat there staring at her hands. The hands that not but a week ago had been stained with Sesaru's blood. She wasn't certain about her feelings for him. He was a worthless, no good, hopeless pervert. But for some reason she still felt something for him, maybe it was his quirky sense of humor or his kind nature...and the fact that he was a decent fighter, or maybe it was something else. But he had to hate her now, he feared a bit probably as well. It was understandable since she had nearly killed him.
Standing with new resolve she headed towards her closet. There was only one way out left for her. She would leave Hinatasou and set out on a journey. A journey of self-discovery probably, but at the very least a journey to keep her from hurting the people she cared about. Something she seemed to be particualarly good at. "Sesaru...gomen...don't worry, you'll be safe from me now."
(Fade to Hinata tea house)
A man of an age with Naru rises from his position at scrubbing dishes. He has short brown hair and is wearing a green apron over his white shirt. "Oh, who are you?"
Taisuke runs a hand through his hair and replies in a similar manner. "I'm Taisuke, but who are you?"
"I am Sakata Kentaro."
"Keitaro?"
"Kentaro!"
Taisuke just shrugged and brushed past him. "So where is Haruka-san?"
The older man sighed and tossed his head with an air of arrogance. "She's in the other room. Why do you need to see her?"
Taisuke stopped on his way to the other room and glanced back at Kentaro. "I've got to ask her for some help in getting a ride back to my home."
Taisuke entered through the shoji door and focused his attention on the brown-haired woman sitting at the head of a table talking to a bunch of strange old men. 'The Hinata Old Men Group...they only show up when something serious is about to happen....I wonder why they're speaking with Haruka-san?'
"Oi, Haruka-san. I didn't mean to interupt you, I'll come back later."
Haruka waved her arm in dismisal and glanced briefly at the old men. "It's okay, they were just leaving anyways."
The old men stood and walked slowly towards the door. They stopped briefly when they reached Taisuke and glanced at him. The first one looked at the others and spoke in a creepy voice. "Is running away the right answer?"
The second looked back and spoke as well in a similar creepy voice. "Is running away the wrong answer?"
Together they spoke one last time before they exited the room. "Is he running for the right reasons?"
The left quietly leaving Taisuke to stare at their backs in awe. He sweatdropped and turned his attention back to Haruka, carefully he picked out a spot and sat on the pillow beside her. "Haruka-san, I need to talk to you about getting a ride home. I've already told you where that was...so you know how difficult it will be for me to return. Can you help me?"
Day 22
"NANINANI?" Keitaro winced in pain and rubbed his ears in an attempt to bring back his hearing. Once he felt he was normal again he responded to the screetch....errr...question.
"You don't have to shout, you can look yourself. Each one is a separate note, I don't think they collaborated on this."
Naru and Motoko were the only ones remaining at Hinatasou with Keitaro. When Keitaro had woken up and discovered a complete lack of breakfast he had decided to investigate. There tacked to Shinobu's door was a note saying she had left Hinatasou.
It read: 'I'm sorry everyone but I'm leaving Hinatasou. I intend to go and live with my father in Tokyo for a little while. I can't stay here becaues it is only a painful reminder of actions that I regret. I hope everyone will be able to still get some decent food in their bellies without me there. Please tell Taisuke that I'm sorry.'
He had immediately gone to tell Taisuke about the situation and give him Shinobu's message. When he got to the martial artist's room he discovered a similar note also tacked up on it.
It read: 'I've decided that it is better for me to leave before the predecided time. Haruka-san helped me get a plane ticket so I could return home. I needed to leave early so I chose to leave this note. If anyone would like to say goodbye I'm going to be at the Tokyo Airport, my flight leaves at 4 P.M. from Gate 93. Tell Shinobu and Kaolla that I'm sorry.'
Of course this had worried him even more finding out that both of them had left so suddenly. Because of what the note said he went to Kaolla's room first to tell her. Not only had Taisuke left but her best friend had left as well. To Keitaro's even greater shock he once again found a note tacked up to the door...along with a bananna peel. After peeling the bananna off and throwing it away he had been able to read the note.
It read: 'Bye everyone. Certain things have made me decide to leave and go home. I have to make it to the airport so I had to leave early, if you guys want to say goodbye I'll be at Tokyo Airport at Gate 34. Tell Taisuke I'm sorry.'
Keitaro had known at that point that he needed to walk everyone else up, so he went to it. In the process he discovered Kitsune's note, Sesaru's note, and Kanako's note.
Ironically enough it appeared that all of them were going to be in Tokyo at the same time, and everyone but Shinobu was going to be at the airport. And it didn't take the three of them long to decide that they had to get to Tokyo Airport before they left. A few minutes later a giant metal turtle was seen flying over the small town.
(Fade out)
Mutsumi and a figure in a cloak, the one who had been at her apartment, arrived at Hinatasou. What they discovered were the various notes of the former tenants scattered on the ground. Minutes after that a second flying turtle left the town on route for Tokyo.
(Fade out to Tokyo)
"Flight now leaving from Gate 47, Flight now leaving from Gate 47." Keitaro, Naru, and Motoko each sped up as they raced for Gate 34, they didn't have a lot of time left. And somehow they had to say goodbye to everyone. But of course they didn't know, they couldn't know that they weren't the only ones racing. And while they raced to find Kaolla the others who were running at the same moment were heading to Gate 93, where they intended to intercept a certain boy.
Keitaro skidded to a halt and called out. "Su-chan! Hold on a moment." The foreign turned at the sound of Keitaro's voice and discovered the kanrinin standing there with Naru and Motoko behind him. All of them looked out of breath except Motoko, she was her usual calm self.
"Keitaro! Naru! Motoko! Now I can say goodbye to you guys...but where are the others?"
Naru took a few deep breaths before she could begin, "It's a long story, but to sum it up everyone is here and the only ones who don't plan on leaving are the three of us. Shinobu is somewhere else in the city. We've come here to convince you not to go."
Kaolla shook her head. Her stance was firm and she seemed set in her decision, it was obvious simply from the way she was standing. "I have to go, its better for...certain people that I leave."
Motoko took her turn at speaking and stepped out in front of the foreign girl. "Kaolla. Nobody was hurt by your actions, Taisuke was not hurt by your actions. We all understand that you didn't have control over yourself. Anything you did was not by your choice, and you can't be blamed for it. Nor will anyone hate you for it." As she spoke this she glanced back at Keitaro briefly, who nodded once and smiled at the Kendo girl.
Kaolla looked like she was having a war within herself and she looked sad. Her eyes drifted to the ground and she stood there, head down, thinking. At last her head came up and she smiled. "Lets go find everyone else."
Keitaro, Naru, and Motoko all smiled with her. One down, five to go.
"You made it did you? Why do you have bags Su-chan?" The four of them turned around and found none other then Sesaru. Things looked like they were going to work out. Especially since Sesaru had someone leaning on his shoulder. None other than Kitsune.
"Whats with Kitsune?"
Sesaru grinned and glanced down at the fox girl on his shoulder. "I think she managed to drink all the Sake in the entire airport."
(Fade out)
"Flight now arriving at Gate 93, Flight now arriving at Gate 93, All passengers please disembark and make sure to take all baggage with you. Anything left onboard will be divided amongst the stewards and stewardesses. Please do not leave children or spouses."
Taisuke yawned and pushed himself up and out of his seat. He had been waiting for a long time. He stretched his back out and grabbed his bags. Once all the people were off the airplane then he'd be able to get on and go home. Then everything would be back to normal at Hinatasou...at least as normal as things got at Hinatasou. For Taisuke life would return to the dull routine that he had always known. Training, lessons, lectures, prayer, training, lessons, and so on until he was 18, then he would be able to choose his own training schedule. Be able to do the things he wanted to do, at least within a limit. His older brother and sister were both 23, and though they did what they wanted mostly, they still had limits. Their eldest brother who was 30 had complete freedom because he was married and independent. His sister had almost as much freedom because she was a woman and not expected to inherit the Shutairo dojo.
The last of the passengers were just filing out of the plane when they got to him. Two people there to convince him of something. Taisuke turned around when somebody said his name. "Mutsumi-san?"
The anemic girl bowed her head and smiled the somewhat vacant smile she usually had. She was flaky, but smart. Smart enough to know that this wasn't an easy task. The second figure on the other hand was a complete mystery to Taisuke. It was a woman for sure, but she remained hidden beneath a cloak. Taisuke focused on the cloaked figure, there was something about her that seemed dangerous and yet familiar. A ki similar to something he had sensed before. "Who are you?"
The figure tossed her cloak off and revealed a woman who looked shockingly similar to Kaolla. And that explained exactly why the ki seemed familiar. This had to be Kaolla's sister. "I'm Amalla Su, Kaolla's sister. I'm here with Mutsumi to convince you not to be stupid."
Taisuke blinked in surprise and then anger rose up, he wasn't in the mood for insults. "What do you mean stupid? How dare you judge me?"
Amalla tossed her head to the side and scoffed at the comment. "Ha! I'm me, that's who I am. And I know you're leaving because you don't want Kaolla and Shinobu to feel hurt. You believe that you have done wrong and you have to leave to make up for that wrong, to put everything right. But Kaolla doesn't feel that it is your fault, she blames herself for what happened, and very soon if she hasn't yet she will admit that she had no control over what she did and come to grips with it. And you want to run away and make her feel worse, she'll think you left because of her, and that will hurt her worse then how she is hurting now."
Taisuke didn't realize it, but he had steadily been backing away. Everything Amalla said made sense, and struck a cord in him. Who was he to decide how another would feel? He had made a mistake certainly, but running away wasn't the way to solve it. He had to face his troubles head on and confront them. It was the only way. "What should I do?"
The foreign woman smiled and turned a bit so she could face Mutsumi. Now the girl from Okinawa spoke. "By now one of the people who needs to understand has come to an understanding. You have to go to the other and make her understand."
"The other?"
(Fade out)
DING-DONG!
"Shinobu! Could you get the door?"
"Hai Tou-san!" Shinobu set the sketch book down and got up still smiling. She was a bit embarrassed about what she had been drawing, but she was still in a fairly good mood. Her father had made her feel so welcome that she wasn't as unhappy as she might have been.
She made her way to the door as fast as she could and opened it up to see who was there. Who she saw was the one person she would never have expected to see, and her sharp intake of breath was evidence of that. A bit of pink creeped into her cheeks.
Taisuke stood there smiling, a bit of red in his cheeks he raised an arm in greeting.
"Shinobu."
(End theme)
I'M A DREAMER
yoake no hikari sosogu ka no chi wa doko?
I'M A DREAMER
Honojiroi sono hohoemi, douka sawarasete
Koko wa hi no ataranai basho
hitorikiri de naku toki no himitsu no basho
sakebu youni namae yobunda
kimi ga inakerya, kimi sae ireba
Kitto iku yo, hi no ataru basho
kono mama ja owarenai, yakusoku ga aru
tooi michi, hitosuji no michi
kimi ga inakerya, kimi sae ireba
Kitto iku yo, hi no ataru basho
kono mama ja owarenai, yakusoku ga aru
tooi michi, hitosuji no hikari
kimi ga iru kara, kimi sae ireba
Author's Note: Sorry about that taking so long, as the end of the first semester of school rolled around I got stuck with a huge amount of work. I'm on vacation at last and was finally able to finish this chapter, since I've got two weeks off I think I'll be able to catch up a little bit. Hope you guys like this one, and just to let you know though I will be able to write chapters, I won't be able to upload them until I get home.