Boys Before Flowers
XXVI.
Hikari swiftly preened in the mirror, a ritual usually partaken in whilst in the hallway of Takeru's apartment complex. By now, however, it had become habit before entering someone's house. She checked her lip-gloss and smoothed her hair. Then she knocked on Ichijouji's door.
Ken-kun himself answered.
"Oh, Hikari." He smiled his easy smile, "I thought you'd be sleep."
"Well, you know my brother. May I come in?"
"Yeah, sure." He stepped aside, Hikari welcoming herself into their familiar, spacious apartment and slipping off her shoes.
"I'm glad you came."
Hikari fought a blush.
"Oh?" She said casually.
"Koushirou-kun and Miyako-chan were just about to leave. But now that you're here, I'm sure they'll stay longer."
"Oh." It was not disappointment, this Hikari knew. They headed through the hall towards his room, where Koushirou-kun and Miyako-chan's voices echoed loudly over a computer game. The conflict fell sharply at their entrance.
"Yoo! Hikari-chan!" Miyako waved candidly while Koushirou, apparently still sore over their argument, gave a small wave.
"Since Hikari-chan is here now, we should start studying." Ken-kun looked at her, "This isn't high school entrance exam stuff, but some of it's likely to be on the test as well. And this way, you'll get a feel for what the exams cover."
"Okay." Just as Hikari began to settle down, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." Koushirou-kun moved for the door.
"I wonder who it could be…"
"Oh yeah, Hikari-" Miyako-chan took a sip of oolong tea from a tall cup, "Did you ask Takeru if he was taking the Todai entrance exam too?"
Hikari scoffed. Ken and Miyako exchanged glances.
"He didn't seem interested."
"Look who's here!" Koushirou-kun reentered, closely followed by another familiar face.
"Hey, Takeru-kun!" Hikari and Takeru exchanged a stifling glare. Miyako said, "Gee, if I had known everyone was going to be here I would have brought beer from the convenience store…"
Ken coughed,
"Sit down, Takeru. We were just about to study, if that's okay."
"Actually," He hesitated, then chose a seat strategically across from Hikari so that, at a normal vantage point, he did not have to meet her eyes if he did not want to, "I just came to ask if I could join your study group."
"What?" Hikari's voice was a little too loud, and a little too surprised. Takeru noticed this, but shrugged instead, looking pointedly at her in a nonchalant, but meaningful way.
"My mother wants me to take the Todai entrance exam."
"Ooh!" squealed Miyako-chan, "It would be so much fun to have everyone at school with us! It's too boring with just Ken-kun and Izumi-sempai."
"How kind." Koushirou quipped. He appeared lost in thought for a second, then, "Oh yes. I heard Mimi and Yamato were at war. You know all about it, right?"
Neither Takeru nor Hikari said anything. They were too busy glaring at each other.
Koushirou waited for an answer. None came.
Again, Ken coughed.
"Really? I never pictured them to be fighting."
"Yeah. I wonder why?" said Miyako.
By now, everyone was watching the pair. Hikari opened her mouth to speak…
However opportunely, the maid Kaede entered the room.
"Ken-sama, Kido-san is on the phone."
"I must be popular tonight." He excused himself briefly, and left with the maid. Silence seemed ominous, the tension created between Hikari and Takeru both thick and contagious.
Finally, after a few minutes had passed, Miyako could not take it anymore.
"What's wrong with everyone?!"
Ken returned then."Jyou-san just called to see if you were here, Koushirou-kun-"
"I…should go now." Takeru stood up, "I just came to ask if I could join your study group. But I need to go home now."
"Oh…alright." Ken smiled softly, "I'll call you next time we get together."
"Fine." He waved to everyone, and bowed to the maid who had reappeared in the doorway. When he was gone, everyone's gazes naturally fell on Hikari.
She remained silent. Once again, however, Miyako spoke up.
"Hikari…go!" There was no use disputing it.
XXVII.
"…Takeru." He had been fixing his hair in the mirror. He glanced in her direction and, seeing her suppress her anger, pushed away his as well.
"What…what's wrong? I mean…you didn't want to take the Todai exam, now you do-"
"My mother wanted me to-"
"You hardly talk to me anymore."
"I…" He fell silent. In place of Hikari's anger, Takeru felt concern. Now she stepped towards him, familiar compassion glistening in her expression.
"…what's wrong?"
"Hikari-chan…" His hand reached up and stroked the top of her head, starring. What could he say? He wanted to tell her.
But then Takeru noticed bits of blue, purple and red hair peeking out from the open doorway. Therefore, he swallowed his words, or rather, replaced them with something new.
"I'm just…worried about Yamato."
"Oh." Hikari sounded disappointed, "I see."
"Don't worry about me. I…I'm just, weird right now." He took his current hat from his pocket, a black and green beanie that matched his sweater, and pulled it over his eyes. Hikari's stare penetrated through the cloth. He pulled it up again.
"Come study with us." She said.
"I can't. I have to go home."
"Oh…I'm…I'm tired too." She had looked down now, "Let's go home together."
They blushed. But perhaps because of their own embarrassment they did not notice the others.
Takeru quickly acknowledged the spies with another wave, and then turned around, Hikari at his side. She said,
"You really don't have to worry about Yamato so much."
"I know."
"I'm sure he's just fine."
"I know."
Hikari glanced at him, and smiled very, very gently.
"Okay."
XXVIII.
With Yamato suddenly so near, Mimi grew much warmer. He was less than a foot in distance from her, watching her expression in his jeans-cum-pajamas, hands stuffed in the pockets and wearing his trademark cool. Then slowly, and with surprising tenderness, he leaned forward. Mimi allowed her eyes to close, and the cold feeling of the wind to disappear.
Then a voice, his voice as soft as she had ever heard it, said,
"I would rather beg."
Mimi opened her eyes.
First, she resisted the initial urge to slap him. It was, by her standards at least, uncivilized and unladylike. Second, she resisted the urge to kiss him, the natural urge brought about by his warmth and closeness. Then, as if she had transcended all anger, all embarrassment and all disappointment, she spoke with a soft smile on her lips.
"Then you will have to pay the forfeit."
Yamato's expression did not falter, but his voice betrayed him with slight interest.
"Forfeit?"
"How much money do you have on you, Yama-kun?"
He studied her,
"Two-thousand yen."
"Fine. Go to the convenience store across the street. I want a present."
Yamato knew better than to ask, for she told him soon enough.
"One box of 'protection', one box of tampons and one pregnancy test."
Mimi could hear, in the depths of her mischievous ears the angry and flustered hammering of his heart. Yamato, however, was a master of concealment. He nodded and left the roof without a word.
Once he was gone, Mimi returned to the room and went to sleep. It was a good thing, she thought just before she faded into slumber, that Yamato had his jacket with him.
It was also a good thing that Mimi was such a deep sleeper. That way she did not hear Yamato's fervent banging and quiet curses when he returned, with her requested items, to find the hotel room locked for the night. It really was all for the better. Guilt is such an unnecessary feeling in the midst of war, after all.
XXIX.
Sunday morning rolled around.
Ishida Hiroaki rolled out of bed.
"Yamato, what's for breakfast?"
Yamato did not answer.
This was odd. Usually, he would find his son watching the news, breakfast waiting on the table. Homemade delicacy likes special breakfast curry or a simple kayu with fried egg on the side. In all actuality, Hiroaki was pretty spoiled. He thought of this whilst he drew a long deep breath. The house smelled, like much of the time, of unwashed dishes and old clothes. Nothing new, certainly nothing enticing, and it was over this that he began to worry.
Hiroaki slouched into the kitchen, heading for the phone. It rang before he could pick it up.
"Ishida."
"Otou-san. It's me."
"Yamato." Hiroaki rubbed his eyes mournfully, "Where are you?"
"On the Moonlight Nagara."
"What?" He spat incredulously. He could sense his son's wince over the phone.
"It's a long story. I should be back in Tokyo in an hour."
Hiroaki looked skeptically at the phone.
"A long story I'll hear when you get back?"
"To be honest, not likely."
He sighed.
"Alright, I won't pry. But you'd better make me breakfast."
"I'll stop at the convenience store on the way. Ja." He grunted and hung up the telephone. His stomach rumbled irritably, and he checked the time. Nine-eighteen. Just enough time to catch up on some paperwork before breakfast.
XXX.
Taichi had come upon the fortune of finding Pocky that morning and, being too lazy to make breakfast himself, ate them while waiting for his sister.
Hikari ambled out of her room. She gave Taichi –or rather, the five Pocky sticking out of his mouth –a disgusted glance.
"Ohayo."
"Oofwao." In one great gulp, he swallowed the remainders. Hikari looked sick. "They're back."
"Mom and Dad?"
"Yamato and Tachikawa. Sora called this morning to tell me."
"It's about time!" Hikari fell onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. She was much more dramatic in the morning. "Takeru was really worried last night."
"I thought you said you went to see Ichijouji."
Hikari shrugged.
"So what were they doing?"
"Something about kabuki."
"Kabuki?"
"Yeah, but here's the thing." Taichi stuffed another two Pocky into his mouth, "Dey came onf diffrwent twains."
"Different trains?"
"Dats fwaht I thaid."
"I bet they got into an argument." Hikari sighed dreamily. "Lover's quarrel."
She was also much more dreamy in the morning.
"What makes you say that?"
"Haven't you ever thought Ishida and Mimi might like each other, and that's why they're arguing?"
"They don't argue. They're just at war."
"What about the time when you gave Sora that hairclip and you two fought? It was because you liked each other."
Taichi blushed. And shrugged.
"Maybe."
"Nii-chan…"
"Maybe." He looked at Hikari with a lingering glance. Hikari stared back, apprehensively, and finally coughed.
"What?"
"Make breakfast."
"Idiot."
XXXI.
--New Text Message--
from. Tachikawa Mimi
received at: 12:24 PM
I can't believe you left me alone in Kyoto.
NEW TEXT MESSAGE: SUNDAY, TWELVE THIRTY TWO P.M.
It's my turn to call. –Ishida
--New Text Message--
from. Tachikawa Mimi
received at: 12:39 PM
Says whom?
NEW TEXT MESSAGE: SUNDAY, TWELVE FORTY SEVEN P.M.
I paid the forfeit. It's my call. –Ishida
--New Text Message--
from. Tachikawa Mimi
received at: 12:58 PM
Fine. Call it.
NEW TEXT MESSAGE: SUNDAY, ONE ONE P.M.
Monday. I'll find you. –Ishida
XXXII.
Yamato arrived at his own apartment well into the afternoon, and Natsuko was already waiting for him.
"Oh." He blinked, fishing for his keys, "How long have you been waiting here?"
"Not long." She said vaguely. Actually, she had been waiting for quite some time.
"You should have called –Eiri could have given you the spare key."
Yamato opened the door, and she stepped inside. Her hair, still the same vibrant blonde that her sons had also inherited, swayed side to side as she pulled off her shoes. Her tension seemed contagious. Yamato moved to open a window, letting through the pleasant chill of winter. Finally, she asked,
"Is Takeru here?"
"He called." That was all he would say. She knew Yamato did not like to pry into their affairs.
"Oh." She fiddled with her hair, "Have you eaten?"
"I made breakfast at Dad's house."
"Oh."
Yamato sighed,
"He's probably at Yagami's house. He might be with Ichijouji, too. You can wait for him. I'll make some tea."
"No tea, please."
But he had already moved into the kitchen, pulling a pair of clean cups from the cupboard. Natsuko sat at the table then, examining fingers and fingernails. When, she wondered, had the river between them become an ocean? Natsuko felt as though she had already lost Yamato, during the rocky years when he learned the meaning in 'divorce'.
Through it all, Takeru had remained faithfully by her side. But soon, he came home less and less frequently, studying quickly and spending the night in Yamato's apartment. Staying with Hikari as late as possible. Or turning in early and leaving before she awoke. She could hardly bear a house with one other person –
How could she bear one alone?
Yamato placed the tea on the table. It filled her with sweet, tangy smells. Beside it he placed two, small French pastries.
"Help yourself." Before he could sit down, the doorbell rang. He excused himself mutely and went to answer it. Natsuko listened, quietly sipping the tea. Then the door shut.
Silence.
"Yamato?" He had left.
The phone rang. Natsuko answered it.
"Ishida residence."
"Mom?"
"Takeru?"
XXXIII.
"…what are you two doing out here?"
Suzuhara and Ikeda looked terrified.
"Please…Ishida-san…"
"Ishida…san?" inquired Yamato.
"We were wondering…if…you…"
"Did you…?"
"G-go to Shi-shi-shi-"
"Shibuya?"
They erupted in bright red. Finally, the brown-haired one Suzuhara said,
"…yes."
Yamato grinned. He could not help it.
"Yes."
"What about Shimane?!" Ikeda burst forth.
"Shimane?"
"YES!" They asked together. Now he shook his head.
"No."
In spite of their terror, they let out simultaneous, gaping sighs.
"We went to Kyoto instead."
They froze. Again, Yamato could not help himself.
"Kyoto?"
"Yes."
Silence enraptured them. However, unlike the still and tense silence experienced with his mother, it was an amused, if not mischievously so, lack of dialogue.
"Do you want some tea?" He asked finally.
Again, they erupted bright red and, with a flurry of poor excuses, left.
His mother opened the door then.
"I'm leaving now. Take care."
"Bye."
Then Yamato was all alone.
He returned inside, the dirty teacup had been washed and neatly and returned. He reached for a pastry and chewed it slowly.
The doorbell rang. He answered it.
"Yamato." Said Mimi.
He rolled his eyes and, ignoring any formerly engrained manner or sentiment, attempted to close the door. No such luck. She slid through the small margin and tugged his shirtsleeve.
"I'm sorry." It was enough to stop any door from shutting.
He leaned on it now, fixing his thoughtful gaze. The hallway was rather private, vaguely secluded from the rest of the floor by a turn two doors down. Yamato stepped into it, leaving the door ajar.
"Love and war." He answered, with a small huff. She smiled.
"The Christmas festival opens today, near Tanpopo Bridge."
Yamato stared at her, knowing and incredulous and confused simultaneously. Mimi continued,
"It's the best one in Minato. Everyone says so." She shrugged innocently, "Let's go together."
He pushed her into the wall without any real force at all.
From the cracked door there could be seen the window of Yamato's apartment. Early winter night had fallen over Tokyo –in the distance, the multicolored glow of Rainbow Bridge mirrored on the bay, flurries of bright lights and the subtle, moving noises of the city could be heard, dimly, from the outside. Yamato leaned over Mimi, protecting her, cornering her, all of these things as if to distance themselves from the real world. The moving world.
For now, time stood still.
Yamato said,
"I keep thinking I should stay away from you, but here you are, always next to me. I wonder why…"
It came together so easily-- the air, the lights, the sounds of the street.
"War and love-" Tachikawa started.
He kissed her.
End of Act V.
notes.
- Minato is the area in Tokyo where Odaiba and Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower are all located.
- Moonlight Nagara is one of the trains used to go from Kyoto to Tokyo and vice versa. I think it leaves at night, hence the name 'Moonlight'.
- When Yamato asked if Suzuhara and Ikeda would like some tea, it's kind of a vague and (rather harmless) innuendo. As read once in a book about Japan, a common pickup line is 'Let's have morning tea together'; a kind of sly going about to say 'sleep with me tonight'. Yamato knew this, and Suzuhara and Ikeda assumed it. And since they're already scared of him, you can only imagine.
…it's almost over.
-Love Artemis
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