Written by ze loverly ginny-ah
one: girl interrupted
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The darkness of the night was terrifying, but at the same time, oddly comforting. It reminded Akira of what Hikaru had once said to him. During one of their many games before they had a chance to squabble, Hikaru had related playing go to creating the universe.
The go board was their universe, the dark night. One by one, the stars would appear as the player laid down a piece. One by one, the magnificent universe would be created by God.
Hikaru had grinned a lopsided, boyish smile as he laid down another star.
He became God.
It was a romantic notion, rather silly and could easily be excused as another one of Hikaru's oblivious ramblings. Akira himself had never been the least bit romantic or silly, not even as a child. Ever since he was young, there was always a perplexing seriousness about him that adults always commented on. Akira might have passed much of his childhood away without laughs if it weren't for the fact that adults were always compelled to make him smile.
Still, there was something about Hikaru's idea that Akira was undeniably attracted to.
Akira shook his head and the memory shattered away. He drew his breath, cold air nipping at his nose. The weather had been especially chilly these days, though Akira didn't mind. He rather liked the cold.
Akira liked taking walks out in the frosty outside and always admired the way the snow formed after fall. Every once in a while, he'd see a snowman in front of someone's yard and a smile would drift to his face. Akira never made a snowman himself, and he wasn't interested in breaking the status quo, but he always liked looking at the misshapen snow sculptures. Something about them was comforting to look at.
Afterwards, he'd return to his cozy home and eat a quiet dinner alone with his legs under the kotatsu. Winter was always more preferable in comparison to the heat of summer.
For that reason alone, Akira actually liked walking home from the go salon. He always refused rides from anyone who offered, until they hardly offered anymore.
As he neared the bridge towards his house, Akira stopped in his steps when he saw a figure facing the river. The petite figure, most definitely a woman, was holding onto the handle of a black suitcase. After squinting his eyes, Akira recognized the figure. Long, auburn-chestnut hair that's color was dimly visible under the dull street light, pale face with slightly rose-tinted cheeks and haunting burgundy eyes; she could have been no other but Fujisaki Akari.
They had met several times, each time under the presence of Hikaru, who Akira was spending an almost obscene amount of times with these days. Akira was well aware that she had some sort of crush on him back then. But, then again, everyone had known. He must have not seen her for some time now, though Akira vaguely recalled her gentle demeanor at some party not so long ago.
Akira shrugged. It was of no consequence to him. The thought of greeting her had not crossed his mind. They were not friends, and barely even acquaintances. He blinked and resumed his walk before halting to a stop, disbelief contorted in his features.
Akari let go of the handle and the suitcase stood tall on its own. With her hands now freed, she unbuttoned the front of her jacket and slipped it off, letting it fall to the floor. Underneath her jacket, she wore a pale top that contrasted with the ebony night. It was not snowing, but Akira figured she must have been cold. The thought of advising her to stay warm flew to his mind naturally, but he continued to stand still as she continued with her actions. She ignored the jacket bunched up on the wooden bridge and instead focused attention on her black, mary-janes. As she looked down at her shoes, bangs fell over her face and he could no longer see her features. A moment later, she bent down to the ground and undid the small, metal buckles. Afterwards, she took her shoes off and carelessly tossed them aside.
The white of her skin and her top seemed to make her glow against the night. Akari continued staring out into the river, her eyes hard to see from where Akira stood. Akari tossed her head up to the sky, and lifted her arms above. Locks of her dark hair cascaded down her back and hung completely still after it fell. Despite the cold, there was no wind at all in the air, not even an instance of a small gust of wind.
Akira let out a breath of air he didn't know he was holding.
She was almost magical, and Akira was entranced.
She almost resembled an angel.
Then Akari started to climb over the railing, Akira's eyes trailing after her every move.
In the next moment, she was in the air.
Akira continued to stay still, his legs frozen in place. Against all logic, for a moment he felt as if she would sprout wings and fly off into the night until she was a bright light like any of the other stars. He continued watching her figure, waiting for her to fly.
The harsh noise of her body splashing into the water reached his ears and he went back to reality.
Akira ran to where she fell—jumped.
His mouth was agape. He wondered what he should do. It was none of his business. He and Akari were hardly acquaintances; he did not have the right to interfere with her life.Plus, plenty of people committed suicide. It was none of his business at all. Akira could just leave her to do what she desired and no one could really blame him.
Except himself.
He quickly slipped off his own shoes and rid himself of his wool jacket. His wide eyes could see the small figure floating in the river, riding slowly on the current. The streetlight no longer hit her and the angelic glow she seemed to emit only moments earlier had gone.
Akira ran down the stairs on the side of the bridge to the ground level. He tested the river waters with his foot, a wary look crossing over his face at the steep cold.
Akira shook his head with a deep frown before he jumped into the river, swimming towards the faded angel.
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A/N: Akira/Akari. What the hell am I thinking? I have no idea. Oh well. Weeeeeee.
January 4, 2005: edited quite a lot. Hopefully final draft, but in case there are errors and/or I decide to change anything, 2nd Draft.