Chapter Eight: Unspoken Sorrows

Takeshi pursed his lips together as he went through the document one last time. He recommended the young woman himself, but the longer he stared at her file, the more his doubt grew. From his telephone conversation with Madam Marume just the night before, he found out that her son, Kuroudo, had become very hard to deal with --- would a girl a few months younger than him be able to do something to make things better? That was what caused the Gear Fighter's doubt, and as he pushed back a stray strand of black hair and lifted the stack of papers closer to his face, he let out a sigh.

Name: Takate, Natsuuko Y.
ID Code: 97304-7195248
Position: Interpreter, Junior Instructor
Department: MIHI
Branch: Tokyo
Head: Rutaro, Keshiku O.

I've got to give her more credit, he told himself as his eyes rested on the information at the front page of the log, uneasiness clearly evident in his handsome features. He then leaned back against his reclining chair, weighing everything all over again but with little success. There was nobody else qualified for the job but her, and even the MIHI-Tokyo Department Head, Keshiku Rutaro, said that she was the best their department could offer with regards to Marume's case. Shaking his head, he told himself firmly, No, I made the right choice.

The door of his office suddenly slid open, and a radiant-looking young woman with light brown hair and gleaming green eyes stepped in rather hesitantly. Flashing a wry smile --- Takeshi could tell that she wasn't in a very good mood but was forced to put on a happy face as the situation apparently called for it --- she made her way towards the table and gently laid a folded piece of red garment on it. "Thank you for yesterday," Lilika said, indicating the jacket he had lent her. She paused, thinking of what to say next, then finally settled for a, "Don't worry, it won't happen again," while averting her gaze towards anything else but the other's face.

He didn't even smile in return, his reaction a combination of his arrogant tendencies and the fact that he actually didn't know how to react to the situation. Brown eyes fixed at her, he retorted, "If you don't have any other business here, Tobita, the door is wide open for you to leave."

Lilika's eyes flew wide open at that, surprised at how cold he was towards her, when in fact it was only the day before when he held her close as she cried in frustration and helplessness, when he lent her his jacket as she shivered from the cold. Her face a mask of indescribable emotions, she told him stiffly in reply, "Very well. Forgive me for the intrusion, Manganji." And then, after giving him one last hardened look, she turned around and walked away briskly, the door slamming shut as she did so.

He leaned back against his chair and sighed in defeat, the tranquility of the morning taking over like the sea breeze. Just great, Takeshi, he scolded himself with a scowl, unable to believe that he did what he just did. Now even Lilika thinks you're a jerk.

The next day was even worse for the Tobita Club --- for its key members, most especially; it was the day of the Marumes' departure for the United States. Despite all the encouraging words and all the affectionate gestures directed towards the blond Gear Fighter who would be undergoing surgery, Kuroudo barely said or did anything in return, except let out a slight nod that was his way of saying goodbye. He then picked up his luggage, turned around and walked away, his black-haired interpreter following him shortly after.

Unable to stand the idiocy of the situation any longer, Kyousuke sprinted on a dead run. "Kuroudo! Kuroudo, stop! Oh for crying out loud!" he yelled, running as fast as his legs would carry him. He ignored the people who spared a glance at his direction, wondering what was going on and what he was trying to do. Panting, he came to a halt in front of the other Gear Fighter, who was forced to stop on his tracks as well by the persistent young woman who was by his side. He could not help but notice, however, the glare Kuroudo was giving her for interfering in such a way, which eventually became directed to him. That did not stop the young Gear Master, however, from saying what he wanted to say. "I told them to give you time, but you're time's up now! So put yourself together and stop acting like a child!"

Kuroudo only snorted.

"Gear Master, please---"

"Don't tell me what to do, Takate, because I know very well what I'm doing here," he snapped in interruption, holding up his hand to stop her from saying anything more. He was aware of how emotionally fragile she was --- they had met and known each other back at the Manganji Laboratories at the short time he was there --- but he knew just as much that it wasn't the time for him to be tactful. There was someone he needed to knock some sense into. "Listen, Kuroudo… I know how painful all this is for you. But don't you ever forget that you're not the only one who's suffering! Do you think I'm happy with who you are now? I'd rather go back to the time when we didn't speak to each other than to see you like this!"

To their surprise, the flaxen-haired youth suddenly let out a laugh, which made confusion appear on the other's somber features. "Listen, you say, Kyousuke?" Kuroudo asked with a voice oozing with sarcasm, his sharp turquoise eyes gleaming with much sadness and anguish. He then shook his head and pointed at the shorter boy, saying, "No, you listen. You're the one can hear, right? Oh, don't bother waste words on me. What's the point? Can't hear anyway. Plus, tired lip-reading, you talk too fast."

At that, he patted the Gear Master on the shoulder with an obviously fraudulent smile on his pale face, before he once again bent down to pick up his bags and proceeded to catch his flight. Natsuuko left in a hurry as well, barely able to say goodbye and assure that she would keep in touch, not wanting to be left behind as she had been given the order to stick by the blond Gear Fighter's side at all times.

"Kyousuke, you okay?" Kouya asked from behind the young genius, the other members of their team catching up with him.

The Gear Master's small form began to tremble, almost unnoticeable at first, but it eventually became as evident as the sobs that escaped him. "Kuroudo…" he whispered in a voice barely above a whisper, his hands clenched into fists at his sides that made him quiver even more, then he lifted his head to look at the passageway that his best friend disappeared into one last time. And without a word, he tore through the crowd that filled the airport's corridors, away from the onlookers, away from his comrades, away from his friends…

Away from Kuroudo.

---

Author's Notes: I noticed that it has become a habit for me to start my A/Ns with an apology, and I'm afraid that's what I have to say again. I'm so sorry for the delay; school's in the way, as usual. So anyway, just wanted to say in advance that this fic will have two endings --- yes, two --- simply because I can't decide which one's better. That's all I can spoil for now though. Well, that's it for now; and of for those who haven't yet, please do find the time to check out Memories of Another Day by Hareta. Trust me, it's really good! =P