But happiness only lasts so long for the cursed. Hatori knew it, and Kana would learn all too soon.
"Oh!" Kana exclaimed, "Hatori! The kite!" They had abandoned the kite while running through the dandelions, and it now soared freely through the pale sky. Hatori watched, unable to tear his eyes from the free white diamond bouncing around on the high currents. It was free; free to float wherever the wind could and would take it, free to fly on forever or fall softly to the earth if it so choose, free to… free to love.
Kana looked up at him. His eyes were so concentrated and frightened and sad. She had seen these eyes many times, and she wanted to forever banish them, and whatever accompanying thoughts, from Hatori. "Hatori?" she asked; no response. "Hatori?" she tried again, and after a pause she smiled and said, "Hey, it's okay! We can get it back! Let's go!" she tugged at his arm and he looked down at her startled.
"No, it's…" he began, still a little entranced, but she was already dragging him after the capricious kite. They ran together, but something was different, Kana could tell, but she pretended not to notice—she had no desire to let him slip back into the world of those painful green eyes.
Suddenly, they stopped, or rather, Hatori stopped, and Kana was obliged to do the same by virtue of his tight grip around her hand. Had his hands always been this strong?
"What…?" she began to ask, loosing her words as she looked at him. This was an entirely new look.
"Kana," he said, shakily but still in his even tone, "Kana, I love you." He looked at her very seriously, helplessly, even. She looked back and then burst into laughter.
"Is that what's been troubling you?" she asked between little giggles, "Oh Hatori, I was so worried that something was wrong!" He looked at her, appalled at first by the laughter but then it infected him and he too began to smile, though he couldn't laugh until he heard her answer.
"There's something I must…" he started to say, still holding her hands tightly in his, but she cut him off.
"I love you too," and for a moment, he was happier than he had been in his entire life. In that brief instant, the curse was forgotten, there was hope, there was perfect harmony, and, though he knew it was medically impossible, he felt certain that his heart would burst from trying to keep in so much joy. He leaned down to kiss her, and she brought her face up to his to return it. When they broke the kiss he smiled at her and she threw herself against him in a tight embrace. POOF!
Her arms locked tightly around him. They said what she was too happy to say: that she loved him, that these arms, her arms, would always be there to hold him and protect him and support him. Always. And he wrapped her in his own embrace, his arms fitting comfortable around her slim waist and drawing her body close to his. They never had to let go if they didn't want to; they had all the time in the world. It felt so nice to have another person so close to him, to bend down and kiss her strawberry hair, and feel her snuggle her cheek up against his collar bone. They were safe, they were free, they were the perfect harmony to each other's songs.
Kana had never been so frightened in her life. A sea horse lay at her feet, eyes closed and unmoving. "Hatori? HATORI!" she began to panic. "Water! Water!" she shouted to no one in particular. A trickle of a brook lay a few hundred feet ahead of her and she grabbed the sea horse and ran. He seemed to wake up in the water but said nothing, only let out a few high-pitched coughs and sputters. She squealed and picked
him up. Hugging him tightly to her chest and softly kissing his head. He closed his tiny eyes, breathing heavily for a sea horse, and listened to Kana's whispers. This would be the last time he was so close to her, he was sure of it. Just then, the wind settled, and the kite dropped down, not far from the little bank where Kana knelt. Somewhere on it's journey, it had suffered a tear, ruining the beautiful word written so simply in black ink.
Author: Thanksto everyone who has read and esp. to those who have left reviews to encourage me! What do you think now? It's not going to stay this sad, I want a happy ending. Do you think it's ok to change the story a little about when she finds out about the curse? Please leave a note a let me know your thoughts! Thanks so much! -Rosie