Chapter 6 My Heart

After quite some time, Toya's father noticed that his son hadn't made any new paintings for that duration of time. He was getting frustrated about that. He wanted to talk to his son to find out what he was wasting his time on. He had a hunch that it was because of a girl but he was determined to straighten him out.

One night...

Toya came home rather late than usual. He had called earlier and told their butler that he wasn't going to eat dinner there. Since he knew that his father won't be home either but still he called just in case his father would arrive earlier than him.

Indeed, his father had arrived before Toya was able to. It was the last straw for him. He decided to wait for his son. Toya soon arrived, he was happy when he got back. But his father immediately called him to his office. Toya somehow knew what was going to happen but just followed his father inside.

Once inside, his father said, "Sit down." Toya was just silent and followed what his father said. His father then just walked around for a moment before saying, "When was the last time you painted?" Toya was about to answer when his father said, "Be silent! You haven't produced anything for quite some time now and I want to know why?"

Toya wasn't sure how he was to answer that. "Answer me!" His father said angrily. "Because I didn't feel like it, Father." Toya just replied. "You didn't feel like it? You didn't feel like it? Does your emotions dictate your responsibility now?" That was when Toya lost it. "When did it become my responsibility to paint? It is not some job." He said, raising his voice a little. That was when his stepmother entered the room. She had heard them raising their voices and wanted to know what was going on.

"You don't raise your voice on me, young man! You will not talk to me that way!" "Father, I will talk. I will. I have kept this inside for a long time and I think it's time for you to know what I think." Toya said. "Father, I've always followed what you tell me to do because I thought that I would be happier. When Mother died, you told me to forget her and you asked me to put all my time into painting. I tried to do those things because I was young and I didn't know better. When I did learn what was better, I still continued to do those things to please you." He added.

"But I was never happy. But I forgot my pride and followed what you said. Now, I will not do that anymore. I have my own life and I want to start making decisions on my own." Toya said. His father then walked towards him and slapped Toya with the back of his hand with all his might. Toya stumbled back His stepmother tried to plead her husband to stop. "It is your responsibility to excel by painting. You will do this to honor our family. I won't tolerate laziness. Your mother had made you soft and had prevented you from achieving this. You will forget her and you will continue to paint. I know what you have been doing. You have been fooling around with a girl. She too has made you lazy. From now on, you are forbidden to see her again. You will stay as far away from her as possible." He said as he took off his wife's grasp around him and angrily left the room without saying another word.

Toya just stood there and punched the wall in anger. His stepmother then gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "Don't mind your father. He's just tired. I'm sure he didn't mean what he said." "Oh yes he did. He's always like that." "Don't say that...he just wants the best for you." "By what, enforcing what he wants? What is right for him is not exactly right for me." "I know, dear. I know." "He will never change." Toya said as he left the room.

His stepmother just stood there for a while. She had been there for a long time and had raised Toya like he was her own. She never bore children of her own but she loved kids that was why she gave all her love to Toya. She then followed her husband to their bedroom. She closed the door. She found her husband there by the window, looking outside.

"Good job, Tetsuya. I applaud you for a job well done." She said sarcastically. Tetsuya then turned to her. "I did what I had to, Kaori." Kaori then walked towards him and said, "You did what you had to? Do you even know what you have to do for your son?" "Look I know what's best for him and he mustn't mess around." "Mess around? It is his life. It is he who has the last say."

"I'm his father. I know best and he will do as I say." "Do you, Tetsuya? Do you really know what's best for him?" "He has great talent and I'm not going to allow him to waste it just like my father did." "I am aware of his talent and he is too but you mustn't be this hard on him. If you continue to strangle him like this, you will lose him." "I will not lose my son." Kaori then stood there and said firmly, "You know you're right. You're absolutely right. Because you know what? You already lost him." She then turned to leave.

Tetsuya then became furious. He quickly turned to his wife and said, "You have no right to tell me that! He is not your son!" Kaori quickly turned back and answered back, "No! He is not your son! You were never there for him. You are always away or too busy. When you are around, you boss your son around like a slave. He may not be my flesh and blood but he is more of a son to me that he is to you." She then turned and left without saying another word and without waiting for her husband to answer.

Kaori then stormed down the stairs to let her anger pass. She then opened a window overlooking the garden. It had made her calm down. After a few moments, she noticed that above, at the balcony, there was Toya. She then decided to go and talk to him. She headed to his room. She knocked but Toya didn't answer. She entered anyway. She made her way to the balcony.

"Toya?" Kaori said as she approached him. Toya didn't look around at her. "Don't get me wrong...I love to paint it's just I don't want to be forced into anything by anyone especially by my father." "I know, dear. Nobody wants that. There are just some people who are stubborn and wouldn't want to give up their pride because you know what?" She answered. Toya just looked at her. "Because they are afraid that other people would know how much they fear, not anything but themselves."

"I don't get it." Toya answered. Kaori just smiled. She caressed his cheek and said, "Your father just can't see past his nose. But that doesn't mean he does not love you, Toya. Your father just doesn't want you to lose the opportunity of becoming great artist and for you not to lose your gift unlike what your grandfather did to him. He just doesn't know that he is doing the exact same thing...well not that exact...it's a little different."

"I won't lose my gifts because it's innate and no one can ever take that away from me. He should be more trusting on me." Toya just said. "Don't worry, dear, he will come around sooner or later." "I hope so..." "You don't need to hope because he will. You just have to show him that he's wrong." "Oh right? Like he's going to listen?" "He will. Have faith." Toya just grinned and hugged her. He then said, "Even if you're not my mother, I'm glad that you're my stepmother." Kaori just smiled. But his mood hadn't really changed. He just wanted to be alone so he put on another mask, a task he had already mastered throughout the years.

After Kaori had left, his phone rang. It was Aya. Toya answered it. "Hey Toya. I just found out that there's a new exhibit tomorrow. You want to check it out?" Aya enthusiastically said. Toya was in no mood to talk. "Toya? Hello? Are you there? Is this a good time because I can-" "No...look...I'm in no mood right now..." "Oh well then maybe tomorrow." "Well, you know what...I don't think tomorrow is good too."

"Then the next day then." "No...you know what just forget it." "Toya, what's wrong?" "I said forget it!" Toya said, raising his voice. Aya just took a second before saying, "What happened to you?" "Look just drop it ok. Leave me alone." "Fine. You want to be left alone...why didn't you say so in the first place? You know what? I thought that you had a chance. I was just so stupid to believe that. You can never change. You want me to forget it, I will. Don't come running to me with your problems next time." Aya said and quickly put the phone down. Toya, realizing what he had just done, tried to change what he did but it was too late. In frustration, he threw his phone.

Aya then put the phone beside her bed and let herself fall back. She was hurt and disappointed at the same time. She really thought that he would change and that he was different. At some point, she even thought that she had already fallen in love with him. But after what happened, she didn't want anything to do with him. She finally realized that he would never change and she couldn't be with someone like him.

Aya hadn't realized that tears had started to fall from her eyes. Just when she was realizing it, Aki suddenly burst in and was going to ask a question about school. Aya quickly turned to wipe her tears. But it was too late. Aki had already seen the tears and asked what was wrong. He then walked towards her and sat beside her. "It's nothing, Aki. What were you saying about algebra?" Aya then said.

"Aya." Aki just said. "What? You were asking something...let's see...maybe we could answer it together." Aya just replied. Aki then placed an arm around his twin. He then said, "Aya, don't hide it. You know you can't hide it from me...me! Me of all people! Why don't you tell me what's wrong and we'll worry about algebra later." Aki said. Aya then lost it. She turned and cried in Aki's shoulder. Aki just said nothing but comforted her.

"I just don't understand it Aki. Why is he like that? All I wanted to know is why...I was starting to understand when the whole thing exploded in my face." Aya just said. "What did he do to you?" "It's more about what he said. He didn't need to say the words but it sure was signaled in his tone. I was just so stupid...I persisted on becoming his friend when all this time he didn't want anyone...he just wants to be alone..." Aya explained.

"Aki, is there something wrong with me?" She then said. Aki then wiped the tears away from her eyes. He then answered, "No...there's nothing wrong with you. You tried to help him and yet he blew it. It's he who has the problem...not you. You're a kind person and stubborn...even if this happened, you're strong! You'll get through this just like the other incident in your life. You faced that head on. If you're here crying and blaming yourself, I'd have to ask you what you did to my sister because certainly my sister isn't like this." This made Aya smile.

"There we go...a smile. Don't waste your time on a guy like him. He is not worth your time." Aki then said. "You know you're right." Aya then replied, smiling. "It would be easier though if I hadn't fallen for him..." She then added. Aki then grinned, "You'll get over it. You said the same thing with...you know..." "Yeah. I did. Well anyway, let's get working on algebra and stop worrying about him. It's his problem right? Not mine..." "Exactly!" Aki said.

The next day...

Toya woke up early and would not come out of his room. He sat in front of his paints, easels and a canvas. He then started to paint and would not stop until he finished. But as he looked at his work, he felt disgusted because now he saw what Aya had been telling him all that time. He felt frustrated and would start another one. When he finished, he just felt that same and would start another one. He went on doing this, over and over again.

Kaori would peak from the small opening of the door. She wanted so much to go in and talk to him but she knew that he was in the middle of finding something out for himself so she stopped herself. She watched there in agony, not being able to do anything other than to just wait.

After trying countless times, Toya felt so frustrated that he just had to stand back and lay down on his bed. He was angry, disappointed, guilty and frustrated all at the same time. He couldn't understand why he felt so confused. He had never felt that way before. He then closed his eyes.

Just then, Aya filled his mind. From the first moment they met until what had happened the night before. Then one conversation they had struck his mind. He remembered Aya telling something.

flash back

"Toya, who are you painting for?" Aya suddenly asked as they were sitting by the park one day. "What do you mean?" He asked. "I mean, who are you painting for?" She just replied. Toya then took sometime to think. After a while, he finally said, "Why do you ask who I'm painting for? Maybe my father...I don't know..." Aya just smiled at him.

She then started to laugh. "What's so funny?" He asked. "You." She just answered. "Why?" "Because you do something you really like doing without a purpose. I find that somewhat amusing because how can you do something without a purpose? What keeps you going then?" Aya just commented. That made Toya think.

end of flash back

Right then and there, Toya finally knew what Aya meant. He quickly started to paint again. As he made each stroke, he was starting to feel at ease and comfortable. Before he realized it, he was already smiling. He didn't notice the time because before he knew it...he had finished it. As he stepped back to look at what he did, he felt something that he never felt before.

Right then, everything Aya told him were coming together. He had finally seen what couldn't be seen with just the eyes. He felt it inside his heart. Toya finally had the answer...Aya. She was now the reason why he paints. Because of her, he was a new man and had found happiness at last. He understood things that he never did. He felt things that he never thought that he'd feel. Aya had opened a lot of doors for him. And for once, he was exhausted. He just went over to his bed and collapsed with a smile on his face. Sleep soon claimed him.

It was already time for dinner so Kaori took it upon herself to call Toya. She knocked at his room. When no one answered, she slowly entered and found Toya sleeping in his bed. She couldn't help but smile. She knew how exhausted he must be. She knew that he had been working hard all day. As she placed a blanket over him, she noticed all the paintings Toya was able to finish lying on the floor.

All were like his usual paintings. She didn't know they were his rejects. But still she knew that it would please her husband somehow. But then Kaori saw Toya's masterpiece. It was there on the stand, separated from the rest. She couldn't keep her eyes away from it. She looked with mouth wide open. It was the most magnificent painting she had ever seen him do. It didn't just overwhelm her eyes but it also filled her soul in some way. She couldn't understand the feeling but she liked it.

Kaori hadn't realized that Toya had already awoke. He looked at her as she stared at the painting. "So what do you think?" He finally said. Kaori quickly turned to him. Tears were building in her eyes. "I'm proud of you, Toya. It's wonderful! It's magnificent! I don't exactly know what to say. No words can explain it." This made him smile. He stood and said, "Now I finally understand..."

"Understand what, my dear?" "I finally understand that real art does not need words of explanation." "Who told you that, dear?" Toya smiled again and walked towards her and hugged her. "The love of my life, mother. I've finally found her and she helped me find the answer...the answer that was inside me all along." He answered. "Good for you, my son. This will please your father even more." She said. "Don't tell him just yet. I want to make him something for him to understand. It would be my way of making him listen. All I have to do now is win the trust of the love of my life again."

Kaori just gave a nod. "Do it according to what you think is right for you." Toya then hugged her again. They then headed downstairs for dinner.

A few days later...

It was already late in the afternoon and the school was almost deserted. The only people there were Aya, Aki, Yuhi and Chidori. They were starting on another school project since spring break was coming near. They were asked to decorate the school once more for the Cherry Blossom Festival that they held annually.

Aki had to meet some friends that afternoon before they left so he asked Aya, Yuhi and Chidori to go on without him and promised that he would follow. When his friends had gone, he noticed Toya standing there. He was frustrated with him for what he did to Aya so he turned away and started to leave. But Toya called out to him and caught up with him.

"I can't believe the guts you have coming here. I praise you for that." Aki said sarcastically. "I know you have every reason to despise me but please give me a moment." "Why should I? You already hurt my sister...hadn't you done enough?" "Not yet. Would you give her this for me?" He said as he handed him a parcel.

"Give me one good reason why I should give her this?" Aki said. "Because I finally saw the things I never did before. She's the reason for that. Just give that to her." Toya said. Aki thought for a minute. "Ok. I'll give it to her." "Thank you." Toya said. Aki then turned and left him by the gate. Toya just stood there for a moment, not sure whether he should leave or not.

When Aki was about to reach them, he stopped and looked at Aya. She was laughing together with them and he wasn't sure what it would do to her. But after debating a while, he finally decided that she should have it. "Hey Aki! What's that?" Yuhi called out as he approached them. He ignored his question and went straight for Aya.

Aya looked a little confused but she said nothing. Aki then held it out in front of her. "Toya wanted me to give this to you." Aki just said. Aya hesitated but finally took it. She didn't say anything. She looked at the package for a moment. "Aren't you going to open it?" Chidori said. Aya just looked at her and then looked at Aki.

Aki had a straight face but still gave her a nod. Aya then looked at it again and finally opened it. She was shocked when she found out what it was. There was a note inside that just said, "It's yours. Thank you." All of them were breath taken with the masterpiece. Aya didn't hear anything else after that. It seemed that they were only muttering things.

Just then Aki spoke, "It was hand delivered by the way." Aya just looked at him. But after a moment, she quickly handed it over to Chidori and ran. Aki just watched her go. Chidori and Yuhi just watched her go in confusion. "Are you sure this is the right thing?" Yuhi asked. "No. But I shouldn't stop this from happening." Aki just replied. Soon they decided to follow her in secret, Chidori still carrying the painting.

Toya took a final look and left. But then Aya called out. He turned and said nothing. He watched her as she ran towards him. When they were standing face to face, neither said nothing at first. "Why?" Aya just said. Toya then smiled and said, "Because you opened my eyes for me. Besides, if you saw what I did, you'll know everything. You're the one who told me that real art does not need words. Are you backing out now?" Aya just smiled. "What took you so long?" She just replied. Toya smiled at her and said, "It's better to be late than never. I-""Don't say it. You have a lot of things to fix. I don't think we're both ready for it." Aya just said.

Toya just nodded. Aya just placed a hand on his cheek and said, "I'll wait for you." Toya smiled again. After sharing a sweet kiss, they parted with the hope that they will be together one day. They were just friends at that moment but maybe someday they'll take it to another level.

Aki and the others then joined her. "Why are you letting him go?" Chidori then said as they watched Toya disappear into the distance. "I'm not. We're still not ready but I've seen what is to be." Aya replied. "What does that mean?" Yuhi asked. Aki then answered for Aya, "Just look at the painting man and you'll find out." "Yeah. There are things that need no words." Aya just added.

"No one can stop the seasons from passing...or time from flowing. Memories of the moments as well as emotions are then locked and lost in the vast endlessness. But moments captured in the frame of the heart will never be forgotten. As we look at the album of our lives, every picture will bring back all the emotions...sadness, happiness, tragedy, horror, indifference and love...and will be able to relive the moment."

THE END

Well, guys this is the end all right! And for the last time for this fic, I would like to ask you about what you think. Please send in your reviews and it was a pleasure being with you. I thank you for all the support and the kindness of reading my work. It took some time, I know but it was worth it I guess. I'm planning on writing other fics after I finish all the unfinished fics I have on my account. I hope that you'll read them too. But I'm not forcing you. Anyway, thanks to all those who sent in their thoughts about my story...it's very much appreciated. Thanks!!!!

Michiko