It's already the third part and I'm still confused every time I'm posting here. o.o" Why the hell is this so...confusing? xD But I'll bravely keep on updating because of the great comments I got.First from Sessol Seeker and now from BendyStraw! Thank you sooo much. I'm really happy you get this story so well, because, although it's not full of descriptions and stuff like that, when I was wrting it I found those words really emotional. Subtle emotions - it's my other name. xD"

But seriously one more sush a marvelous review and I'll melt. blush

Okay, no more talking, let's stick to the point.

Only one more thing: sorry for bad editing, because in second chapter I had second and first one placed. It should be fixed now. of course only if the editing will be willing to co-operate xD"

1) As always - 'I'll' is not mine. At least until I make Asada marry me. xP

2) As always - sorry for mistakes.

3) As always - please, enjoy.

THE SCENT OF THE SEA

CHAPTER 3

I wake up but for some time I lay still with my eyes closed, just enjoying this lazy morning.
I feel sun rays gently smoothing my face.

I hear Hitonari going out of a bathroom. He woke up not long before me. He approaches me and covers me with a blanket.
Owww, how sweet of him.
I feel so in love.

I don't let him realize I'm awake and listen to him going around the flat, making tea and turning on a radio.
Finally, when I smell food I decide it's time to get up.

-Hello, sleepy head.

I look at him. He's smiling gently this beautiful smile of his.

-Want some tea?

I nod and go to the bathroom. When I come back food and a steaming mug of tea are waiting for me on a table. I sit down opposite to Hitonari and start eating.

My thoughts start wandering and I end up thinking about last night. I remember our talk and his warmth. I look up from my plate and stare at him.
He seems indifferent, slowly, obliviously eating a breakfast.

I want to touch him...

Without even realizing it I reach out my hand and put it on his.
He stops eating and looks up.

Why does he seem so sad suddenly?
I smile slightly but he doesn't react.

-Something is wrong?

No. Why would anything be wrong, my dear?

-No...Actually, I just remembered yesterday night...

-Tachibana. It was...

Telephone ringing interrupts him. He goes to pick it up.

What did you want to say?
It doesn't look too well.

I get lost in my thoughts and don't hear him hanging up and talking to me.

-Tachibana? Would you please wake up and listen to me?

Ups, he got annoyed.

-Oh...sorry.

-It was Kanemoto. He said we are meeting at the beach in half-hour. Finish eating and let's get going.

Is it only me or do you not want to talk about yesterday?
But we didn't do anything wrong, did we?

We finish our breakfast in silence and go to the beach.
Our pack is already there.

We spend all day there. We talk, play, swim in the sea. When the evening comes we light a bonfire. We have a great time. I forget about my worries and have fun.

But soon enough I remember them again.

I was avoiding Hitonari for the whole day. But I can't stop staring at him. I think he realizes that and it makes him feel uncomfortable. But I can't help it.

Suddenly, he decides to go home.
That's my chance. I'll go after him and make him talk.

I leave soon after he disappears from my view. I run and catch up with him.

There he is.

-Hiiragi!

He turns around.

You aren't surprised, are you, darling?

-What are you doing here?

-I think we should talk.

-Is that so?

-Yeah, it is. I won't let you get away without explaining a few things to me first.

He stares at me for a little while.

-Okay. Do you want to go somewhere or will be walking home with me good enough?

-It's fine, let's go.

Oh god. Only now I realize how nervous I am.
Where should I...

-So I suppose you want to talk about last night?

-Well, yeah. Because you see...

-Tachibana. We both were drunk.

-So what? I wasn't so drunk that I wouldn't know what I was doing!

-Well, but maybe I was! And maybe now I consider this a mistake!

I am stunned.
What...But.
It's impossible...

'a mistake' he says..

...It cannot be...

-I'm sorry, Tachibana. I'm really sorry.

He whispers.

Please, don't be sorry.
Don't be sorry, just tell me that it's a stupid joke.

We walk in silence.

I have to think. I have to get him to tell me more somehow.
But I can only think about how bitter I feel.
I feel like crying.

Why is it like that?

We are getting near his flat. The moment I realize that it means we will be parting soon, we are standing in front of the door of his flat.

And suddenly I see that in this whole story one element seems missing.
And I come up with what I want to tell him.
Because something just doesn't seem right.

Why would he act like that if he didn't mean it?

-But, why did you do this?

-I told you I was drunk.

-But why all of a sudden you decided to do something like that?

-What? Ah...Well, I don't really know.

Avoiding an eye contact.
The best give-away when a person is lying.
My poor darling, don't you know I can clearly see that you aren't telling the truth?

He opens the door. I quickly block his way into the flat by resting my hand against the edge of the door.

-Well, usually people when drunk do things they restrain themselves from doing while they're sober.

I see him tensing.

-Look at me...Tell me the truth. I beg you, Hitonari...

-I'm telling you the truth.

I remove my hand from the door, grab his left arm and force him to face me.

-Hitonari...

-Stop it! What do you know? I already have enough problems, I don't need more!

He tries to struggle but I don't let him go.

-You consider my...our feelings a problem!

-Yes! Akane, I just can't...I...my father, my whole family...they already hate me but if I...if we...

If we what?
Do you feel the same by chance?

I pull him closer and make our foreheads touch. He stops moving. I look at him and he's avoiding my gaze again.

I want to kiss you.
I want to kiss you and make all those stupid qualms go away.

Slowly, I shift my face a little and get our mouths closer.
Alas.
Gently but firmly he pushes me away.

-Don't. Let's just forget about it...

He sounds like he's on a verge of tears.

-Please...

No, don't ask me for this.
You have no right...

-I won't forget. You hear me! I won't! Why should I!

He pushes me away and I let him go. He quickly gets into his flat and shuts the door.

-So this is your answer! You are just freaking out! You coward!

Out of frustration I kick his door. I'm making hell of noise but I don't care.

-Come out! You smartass! You only care about yourself, don't you!

Suddenly, one of the neighbours appears.

-What the hell is going on here? Get lost or I'll call the police!

-Nothing! Absolutely nothing is going on!

I shout and go away.
After a while I start running. I want to get away from this place as soon as possible. I end up at the beach.
At the same place where I confessed to him.
All this time, was I hoping for nothing?
Couldn't you tell two years ago that you didn't want it? Didn't want me?

-You coward! Coward! Coward! Coward! COWARD! I hate you! I hate you...

I let go of my feelings and start crying uncontrollably.

-Oh god...I love you...

I lay down and just cry.
I think I've needed this since all this mess started two years ago.

And to think that only yesterday I was falling asleep in warm, peaceful atmosphere with him by my side. Everything seemed so perfect back then. I felt incredibly happy.

And today.
Today I'm feeling incredibly miserable.
I'm lonely.
I'm crying.
I'm falling asleep outdoors on the cold sand.

And Hitonari is not here.

TBC

Owwwwww, how angsty. Poor Akane. I'm sorry I'm making you feel so bad. Gomen!
When I first came up with this ending - with Akane crying on the beach - I felt really sad. And I thought that it'll be a good turn in a plot.
I hope you liked it.

And I really like when Akane calls Hito 'his darling' in his thoughts. xDDD