Disclaimer: Marmalade Boy does not belong to me.
A/N: Hi ya! Here's my chapter 2 finally. First of all I want to thank everyone who reviewed my first chapter! I was so happy seeing the reviews that I got ^__^! My apologies too for not updating fast because I was too busy completing our requirements for school. We had bunch of activities! Waaaaaaahh!!! Anyway, maybe you have an idea who Kai is, right? Heheheh ^_^! I tried to expand some ideas here. Hope you'll be able to like this chapter. Read and review, okay?! ^__^ Thanks!
Note: WAIT! READ THIS FIRST: The bold letters that you'll encounter is the author's narration while the letters that is not bold is the character's point of view.
The Promise of SunsetChapter 2: Unceasing Pain
"You know Miki, life should not be so sad."
~~~~
"Its that dream again . . . Why does it seems that it always haunts me? Yet again it only brings the painful memories of the past."
Droplets of sweat were streaming down my forehead; I felt like I can't breathe calmly. I often wake up in the morning with this kind of manner. It feels like I was running endlessly; I feel extremely tired. I can't even move my body.
The room felt smaller yet colder.
I started to gasp for air. After what seemed of an eternity, I got the strength to go up in bed. The sunlight speckled through my room's window as it shed warmth on my face. I walked towards the window and opened it. With that, the misty green curtains waved as the cool breeze went inside my room. It created a peaceful atmosphere that somehow made me feel comfortable at last. I lifted my head slightly and looked at the early morning sky.
"I know mother and father is already up there . . ." I whispered to myself. "Yet I know that they're still watching over us here."
Miki remained silent at that moment. She was sunk in deep thoughts that usually conquer her mind. Ten years ago was such a painful memory for her. The vivid dream constantly reminded her of it.
"After that tragic incident that killed such innocent lives, that killed my parents, my life completely changed. I thought it was the end . . .", I whispered to myself once more. "How I hate that fire . . ."
The death of her parents brought great sorrow to her. It left a big scar inside her heart that stayed for a long time. She knows that even if the wound already healed, the scar would dwell, which reminded her of the pain of losing such important people in her life.
Soon after what happened, Miki together with her auntie decided to leave Corall Village. They drifted to another place far from it. Her auntie, Ayame didn't want to go back there again. Who would like to go back to a place with such bitter memories in it?
Warm tears started to stream down my cheeks. I can't stop myself from crying everytime I remember the memories that still lies within me I can't even escape.
"Time runs slowly, just like my tears.", I said to myself.
Then birds suddenly crossed the sky, shattering the silence for a moment. I gazed at the direction where the birds had disappeared.
"I wish I am a bird.", I hissed. But I knew that I don't need to be one, 'cause he said he'd fly for me . . . yes, those words that I clearly keep in mind. But we are apart . . . far off with each other. I didn't just lose my parents I also lost a friend.
~~~~
"You know Miki, life should not be so sad.", aunt Ayame used to say that to me very often when I was still young. "There are reasons we meet, reasons for the for the good and the bad times, and more importantly, a reason to an end. We have more to learn, more to experience, and more loving left in this lifetime.".
I was moved by my auntie's words. She wants me to realize that I should move on even without my parents, even without my friend. But how can such an innocent mind do it, seeing the huge fire that killed her parents and breaking a promise that seemed so true?
"How can I move on auntie?", I used to question her.
~~~~
Though miles may lie between Miki and Kai, they're never apart.
"I know that somewhere in this place, in this huge world, Kai is waiting for me. I know he is. I'm also waiting, hoping for me to see him again and be able to witness the sunset, again . . . this time, we'll be together.", I said to myself. "Certainly, we'll be together."
Sudden knocks from the door released Miki's thoughts. "Miki, are you already awake, dear?", said a gentle voice that she didn't have hard time in recognizing.
"Yes, aunt Ayame, I'm coming."
####Downstairs####
It was a typical morning to me. Our house was again filled with the delicious aroma of the food, which aunt Ayame cooked. My auntie took care of me since then. And also, I have always considered her as my second mother.
"So, how was your sleep?" she asked me, smiling.
I tried to hide the feeling of sadness in my face and attempted to look blissful. "Uhmmm . . . Yeah, it was fine. I had a nice sleep. Good thing the mosquitoes didn't bother me last night!" I cackled.
Strange, but she just looked at me. Her long ebony hair danced along with the wind that passed through the windowpane as her tender eyes stared at me. I felt my body quiver at the sight of it. After a long silence, she finally spoke, "Something's bothering you, am I right?"
"Huh," my eyes narrowed.
Aunt Ayame just grinned at me and turned her back. "Its okay if you don't like to say it," she muttered as she fixed the kitchen utensils on the table. "I understand if it's too confidential. Well anyway, it's very hard to find food to eat these days because of the great famine," she said, changing the topic suddenly. "People seem to fight for food."
I stayed quiet and just continued eating my breakfast. There was again stillness between us. I didn't bother to say a single word 'cause I didn't know what to say or do. Someone suddenly knocked at the door, which shattered the silence at last. Aunt Ayame walked towards the wooden, carved door, revealing my best friend, Meiko.
"Good morning, Aunt Ayame!" Meiko greeted, grinning.
"Come in Meiko, come in!" aunt Ayame said as she approached her. "Have you eaten, dear? You may take your breakfast here with us."
"Oh, thanks. But I already did. I just want to visit you and Miki."
I moved my chair close to Meiko and whispered, "Found any plot for your new story yet?"
"Actually, I also went here to ask help from you in making the plot," she replied. Meiko started to flip the pages between her notebooks, which she uses as her draft for her stories.
"Huh? You know that I'm not used in doing such things."
"Oh, please? Just a little help from you is what I need," Meiko begged as if she nearly cried.
"I'll try, I'll try, okay. I just do hope my idea will help you," I answered with a woozy smile.
Meiko and I have been the best of friends since we were young. Her family was with us when we migrated here together with Ginta's family. Meiko is a very good writer. Her works are all great and I'm sure that every reader would end up satisfied or maybe, crying after reading her works. Her stories are romantic and rather dramatic too. She has these powerful hands, which expresses her inner feelings.
"Meiko," aunt Ayame suddenly spoke. "Sorry if I have interrupted you two. I just want to ask if your parents are planning to migrate."
I got surprised about the idea of migrating again. I know we're experiencing famine here, but she never said anything of transferring. I wonder why. Auntie never told me about this subject.
"Yes, my parents are planning it," Meiko replied, looking down at her knees. "They're finding a place where there is good soil for us to produce food with the help of Ginta's family as well."
"Ginta and his parents are planning to transfer too?" aunt Ayame asked.
All of a sudden, there was a loud clatter that broke our conversation. The door suddenly banged open. I saw a lofty man with deep brown hair. He was sweating very hard.
"Sorry," the man muffled into his palms.
"Ginta!" aunt Ayame shrieked. "You made me nervous, I thought there was an accident or something!"
"What brought you here, anyway?" Meiko asked him as she turned her head at my direction with such a nasty smile, as if she's teasing me.
"I came here to tell you that we already found a place where there is no famine."
"What place, Ginta?"
Ginta took a deep breath then finally spoke, "In Corall Village."
All of them stayed quiet at that instant. There was a feeling of uneasiness, which abounded the atmosphere. Ayame knew clearly that she didn't want to go back in that place again. But her priority is to escape the great famine they're going through.
"Is there no other place, Ginta," aunt Ayame questioned.
"Unfortunately no, my parents said that many things have changed in Corall, changed for the better. The townsmen tried to flourish the place once more and succeeded," he replied. "The kingdom in which Corall is located is the only place where there is no famine," he continued.
All of us remained still; no sound can be heard from anyone. Ginta just stood at his position as sweat continually poured down. I knew that he really wanted to go back in that kingdom again, our homeland. He wanted to serve our homeland by being a soldier to protect it. But it just became a mere dream for him, a dream he thought would never be in reality. However, this is now the opportunity for it to come true.
"I know that its hard for you to go back in that kingdom, especially in our home village," Ginta suddenly hooted out, his expressions still the same. "But going back there is our only hope in escaping the famine here. That is the only kingdom that doesn't undergo famine so far."
"I know that everyone's priority is for us to be saved from the immense famine. If going back is our only choice, then I accept it." Ayame said that struck all of them especially her niece, Miki.
I felt a jolt that stabbed me at that moment. Is it the right choice? Will everything be all right if we go back? Will that place suit such people, like us again? Such questions started to form in my mind, questions that is hard to answer, or will there be any answers? I don't know . . . But it seems like fate is giving me a chance to find Kai, to complete our promise, but . . . will it happen if we go back?
Uncertainty and fear conquered my inner thoughts. I don't know what to do; I'm so scared of failing, of losing. I'm so confused . . .
"Well then everyone, if that's the decision, then we should start packing up. We'll be going back tomorrow," Ginta muttered.
####Meanwhile, at the Matsuura Palace####
A tall man was walking towards the balcony. The air blew smoothly as it flipped his blonde hair, revealing his sparkly hazel eyes. There was a trace of sadness in it, though he was trying to hide it.
Yuu's point of view . . .
"It has been ten years . . . ten long, lonely years." I whispered to myself.
I went to the balcony and welcomed the morning mist. The cold air passed through my cheeks. I looked at how infinite our kingdom is. This is the kingdom where people look up high to my family. Everyone would bow down each time they see me. "Your Highness, Your Majesty."—These words are the ones I always hear from them, which for me, sounds incredibly awkward. They could just call me by my own name . . . I'm not different; I'm also a person just like them.
Matsuura Yuu, that's my name. But once, I have been Kai, a child who is carefree, who often runs from the palace guards just to be with her, just to go to the beach together with . . . Miki.
Yuu sighed at that instant. He knows that the missing piece inside him is his childhood friend, Miki.
People say I'm coarse, stern and cold.
"They don't have the right to judge me.", I thought.
But yes, I'm cold. I have changed since then, since that incident happened, ten years before. I already forgot how to smile when she left me alone, alone beneath the sunset. I wish that she could be with me right now; I should have not been alone.
"Then we might be here together.", I said to myself. "If only she's here, I'll hold her hands tightly, and would never let go of it again. . . Never."
But she's gone, gone with the ashes of Corall Village.
"She died 'cause of that fire!", my voice broke, but was trying not to cry. "Time may take us apart, that's true. But Miki will always stay inside me; she'll be in my dreams. The distance never matters at all, even if she's already up there."
"Yuu!", a man called out that suddenly broke up the vivid thoughts in my mind. I knew too well who it was so I turned my head right away and left.
"I'm coming father!"
~~~~
Fate separated them once, and now, fate wants to bring them together once more . . . Once more to fulfill their promise. Even though they are one day further from the last time they saw each other, they are one day closer to the next time they will . . . Miki waited for that chance. However, Yuu thought that Miki is already dead.
Everything seems that it is not in the right situation . . .
But after all, even though there may be miles between them, with each heartbeat they are much closer to being in each other's arms again.
'Cause when you certainly want love, you will find it waiting for you . . .
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yipee!!! Yipee!!! It's the 10th of April! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Wahehehe!!! I'm getting old! Oh nooooooooo!!! *hits herself like crazy*
Yeah, too bad Yuu or Kai (whatever name) thought that Miki was one of the victims who died of the fire that destroyed Corall Village ten years ago. But he was wrong! Waheheheheh!!! However the day of "meeting again" is at hand! Yes, it is!!!! ^__^
So how was my chapter 2? Please send a review, Puleeeezz?! I need to know what you think. You can also email me at rainie_xiao11@yahoo.com if you want. Thanks a bunch! ^__^
