Disclaimer: I don't own Hikaru No Go
Thanks to Daniel Song, Kickkid3, Catsy-chan, Xiar, Halycon Clouds, Haruka Clouds,Haruka Akira, Chidoriochibi and abc for reviewing and encourangements. And also thanks to those who read this fic!
Chapter 25
"Do you think Yuuki will like this?" Akari asked holding out a winter jacket in her hand. She and Kuniko were doing some very last minute shopping for Christmas.
"Getting him that for Christmas?" Kuniko asked.
"I think so." Akari replied folding the jacket on her arm. "I think I will get it for him. I didn't have much time knitting for everyone this year."
"Of course, with your wedding coming up next year, spring, I am surprise that you still have time to knit for Touya-kun!" Kuniko chuckled.
"There you go teasing me again." Akari rolled her eyes.
"So what did you get for me this year? Are you going to buy something for me with me around?"
"Of course not, I have already gotten yours and Kaneko's presents last week and I am not going to tell you."
Kuniko pouted slightly.
"And don't give me the puppy eyes, it doesn't work." Akari grinned and looked down at her watch. "It is about time that I should be going over to Akira's place. I need to head back to my apartment to change first. So I should get going. I want to give Akira a surprise."
"Alright, make sure you come for the Christmas Eve celebration tonight."
"Yeah, this time I will be there with Akira under the huge Christmas tree." Akari grinned. "Last year we couldn't make it and we had countdown outside the GO Institute."
"Shindou-kun told me that he'll bring his family too." Kuniko told Akari. "He told me when I bumped into him two weeks ago."
"Really, that will be great." Akari said. "So I will see you all tonight?" At the cashier, Akari paid for the jacket that she was getting for Yuuki. Then, she was on her way home to get ready for Christmas Eve tonight.
Touya got dressed warmly since the weather was so cold. He took out the scarf that Akari had made for him last Christmas and wrapped it around his neck. While studying his reflection in the dresser mirror, he saw another reflection behind him. He whirled around quickly to see Yuii standing in his room.
"How did you get in here?" He frowned.
"I have my way." Yuii answered smiling seductively. "Getting ready for Christmas Eve?"
"You better leave." Touya said rather curtly walking over to his door. He pulled it opened waiting for her to go. "You know better than to come into someone's house without permission. It is called break an entry and if I report you, you know what will happen."
"You know better than reporting me. The police won't be able to do anything."
"Yes, your father will bail you out in no time." Touya answered rather sardonically. "Get out, Sugisa! I really don't have time to deal with you."
"No…" Yuii replied curtly and in a more seductive voice while stepping up closer to him, she said, "You really had grown up gorgeously, Akira."
"Leave, Sugisa!" Touya snapped stepping away from her. No matter how desperately he wanted to keep the distance, Yuii kept closing in on him.
Akari slung her bag over her shoulders so she could blow warm air into her freezing hands as she walked towards Touya's house. She had a feeling that it was going to snow again tonight since the weather was so cold. Even the warmest clothes would be no help. She smiled when Touya's traditional house came into view. The frosty night made the house rather large and gloomy. She wondered why Touya didn't turn on the lights. Usually, he would at least turn on the porch light. Stepping into the grounds, she walked towards the front door and took out her keys. Then she realized that the door was slightly opened.
She found it strange since Touya would never leave his house unlocked, even if he's home. He was a cautious and secure-oriented person. His house was really important to him since he inherited it from his parents. 'So, why was the house unlocked?' she asked herself. After a few debating minutes, she pushed the door open and stepped in cautiously.
"I am sorry for disturbing…" Akari called out to the quiet house. She got no response but she heard some fainted noise came down from the rooms upstairs. Curiously, Akari went to the stairs and she stepped up towards the noises gradually.
"I really don't want to repeat myself, Sugisa!" Touya was loosing his patience. "I want you to leave or I will call the cops!"
"Call them then." Yuii said in an uncaring voice.
There was no way Touya could scare her with the police. Her father practically owned everything just like herself. She owned whatever she wanted and there was no way she couldn't get her way. She moved her hand up towards Touya's shoulders before he could react and she pulled him towards her.
Intending to get away from her, Touya tried escaping her hold. He was gripping tightly onto both her arms to get them away from him. Touya stepped back and pushed her away at the same time. Yuii tried to hold on to him so tight. During the struggle, Touya lost his balance. Tripping so suddenly, Touya landed on top of Yuii in his bed but he was still unsuccessful at prying her arms from his neck.
A faint gasp from the door made both Touya and Yuii turned around. Touya felt like his heart stopping when he saw Akari staring at them with her eyes wide in shock. Yuii, on the other hand, was happy beyond words at Akari's sudden appearance. She couldn't stop but praised Akari for her good timing silently. Touya of course thought otherwise.
Why must this happen, especially when things were going so well between Akari and him?
"Akari!" Touya tried pulling away from Yuii roughly without success. "It is not what it seems!"
Akari had already left the room and she ran out of the house as fast as she could. After struggling in Yuii's hold, Touya finally broke free. He got up and made a dash for Akari but Yuii managed to pull him back.
"It is too late, she won't believe you anymore!" Yuii cried furiously. "Why do you still want her when you have me?"
"Because I never wanted you!" Touya pulled away from her and ran out after Akari.
When he reached the street, Akari was gone. Touya dashed back into his house to grab his jacket and car keys. He didn't even care that Yuii was still in his house at the moment. He knew that she would leave since he wasn't around.
Akari could feel her heart wrecked rather agonizingly as she ran down the street. She managed to flag down a cab and got in before broken down in tears. Back at Touya's house, she had followed the sounds coming from Touya's room. The door was slightly ajar as she pushed it opened and she was greeted by the most awful sight. Yuii was trapped under Touya on his bed in a rather passionate embrace. As soon as she reached her apartment building, Akari flew up the stairs and got inside hers. She locked the door safely before leaning on it. She then sank to the floor breathing heavily. She had a feeling that Touya would arrive soon and she had no intention on seeing him. Not after what she saw with her own eyes! True enough, Touya was outside of her door five minutes later. He begged her to open the door to let him in. Akari stood up from her position and turned on the radio with high volume. She wanted to drown out his voice. She really didn't want to hear nor see him at the moment.
"Akari, please let me explain!" Touya begged almost crying himself.
He leant his forehead on the smooth surface of the door with both hands flat against it waiting for her to respond. He tried to listen to Akari's voice but only heard the sound of the radio. Shutting his eyes tightly, he tried knocking again.
"Akari, please open up! I won't leave until you let me explain!"
Christmas Eve had a special song for everyone… Eternal Snow from Changing My Life…
The radio announcer voice blasted through the room as Akari made her way to the bathroom. She washed her face with freezing cold water. She looked up at the mirror to see the expressionless face staring back. That was the look that she wore when she watched Hikaru marrying Natsume. She could still hear Touya's begging over the music but she tried to block his voice out of her mind. The music carried out sorrowfully towards the heart-broken lovers…
Kimi wo suki ni natte Dorekurai tatsu no kaNA?
Kimochi Fukurande yuku bakari de
Kimi wa Kono omoi kidzuiteiru no kana?
Ichido mo kotoba ni wa Shitenai kedo
(I'm falling in love with you, and which will come to pass?
Will the feeling do nothing but swell, or
Will you notice it
Even though I've never said anything?)
"Please Akari, open this door!" Touya repeated as he slid down toward the floor with tears falling down his face. "It really isn't what you think…"
Inside the apartment, Akari slid down to the cold bathroom floor hugging her feet to her front and burying her head on her knees.
Yuki no youni Tada shizukani
Furitsumori Tsudzukete yuku
(Like snow, but quietly
It continues to pile up)
"I would stay out here the whole night if I have to, Akari!" Touya whispered this time, knowing that no matter how he shout or call, it would be fallen onto deaf ears. "Just… let me explain… please!"
Very gradually, Akari looked up to catch sight of the engagement ring in her finger glittering in the light. Thinking that she will never cry; tears began to burn her eyelids. She pursed her lips in an angry manner. She pulled the ring out roughly, while tears poured down her face.
Hold me tight Konna omoi nara
Dareka wo suki ni naru kimochi
Shiritaku Nakatta yo
I love you Namida tomaranai
Konnan ja Kimi no koto
Shirazuni ireba Yokatta yo
(Hold me tight if I think like this
I didn't want to know
What it was like to fall in love with someone
I love you; my tears won't stop
Therefore, I should be free of you)
Touya sat outside Akari's apartment leaning his back on the door; his head inclined slightly looking rather dazed as he waited. As long as he waited, he had feeling that Akari would come out. All he needed was to see her. Just see her to talk to her, explain to her and hold her so tightly that he wouldn't let her go running out on him again like she did today.
Behind the door that separate two hearts entwined couple, Akari still remained in the bathroom with tears that couldn't stop from flowing. Out of anger, she threw the engagement ring on the wall as it bounce off and landed on the floor far from her. She so badly wanted to trust him, to believe him but her eyes told her otherwise.
Kimi wo itsumade omotteiru no kaNA?
Tameiki ga mado GARASU(Glass) Kumoraseta
(How long will I keep thinking of you?
My sigh makes the window glass fog up)
Yureru kokoro Tomosu KYANDORU(Candle) de
Ima Tokashite Yukenai kaNA?
(Now, a burning candle
Can't melt my shaking heart anymore?)
From Akari's apartment, the music was flown out to Touya's ears but there was still no sound from her. He bowed his head towards his knees pulling them towards his chest. Why can't Akari just let him explain? All he needed to do was to explain what happened to her. Touya pounded his fists on the floor desperately. He then clutched the scarf that Akari had made for him tightly in his hands and buried his face in the soft material.
Akari could still feel Touya's presence outside her door but she didn't really want to see him. She knew that he would never leave until she comes out. In slow movements, Akari reached for her bag that she had left on the floor next to her and took out her mobile. She dialed a number and waited.
Hold me tight Oreru hodo tsuyoku
Kogarashi Fubuki ni deatte mo
Samukunai youni to
I miss you Kimi wo omou tabi
Amikake no Kono MAFURAA(Muffler)
Konya mo hitori Dakishimeru yo
( Hold me tight, strong enough to break me
If we meet in a biting cold blizzard
I won't feel cold, and
I miss you everytime I think of you
This scarf that I knit for you
I'm holding it alone tonight)
"Moshi moshi?"
"Hikaru?" Akari croaked slightly, she could hear loud cheers and joyful singing but her heart couldn't feel the same.
"Akari, where are you? Everyone is waiting for you and Touya!"
"I need you to do me a favor."
"What's wrong Akari?" There was concern in Hikaru voice. "Where is Touya?"
"I need you to come to my place Hikaru."
"Akari why…?"
"I need you to bring Touya home." Akari whispered.
"Why are you calling him Touya? Akari what happened? What do you mean to…"
"Please, Hikaru." Akari choked and her tears started to fall again.
"I will be right there."
"Arigatou…" Akari whispered before hanging up. She dropped the phone with a loud clank on the tile bathroom floor and buried her face in her hands sobbing. "Why does it hurt so much? Why can't it stop? When did I start loving him so much?"
Eien ni furu yukiga aru nara
Kimi he to tsudzuku kono omoi Kakuseru no kaNA?
(If there were an eternally falling snow
This feeling I have for you, could I hide it?)
Hikaru reached Akari's apartment to see Touya was sitting on the floor outside of Akari's apartment. His rival was leaning on the door looking rather torn in a self induced haze. Slightly surprised and afraid at his rival's expression, Hikaru strode towards him quickly and knelt down with a worried expression.
"Touya," Hikaru shook him slightly when he didn't even realize that he was there. "What happened?"
Touya looked up at him slowly, recognition coming back into his eyes gradually and his eyes widened to see Hikaru next to him. His hands flew up and clutched Hikaru's arms.
"Tell Akari to open the door, Shindou. Please!"
"Akari called me to come and take you home, Touya."
"You talked to her?" Touya's eyes widened more and got up from his sitting position so he knelt in front of Hikaru. "Is she alright, I want to talk to her. Is there any way I could?"
"What happened, Touya?" Hikaru asked anxiously, worrying about how bad this situation was.
"It was an accident, it wasn't meant to be that way!" Touya looked down as new tears appearing in his eyes. "I just need to explain to her."
"Akari wouldn't see anyone right now. It is best if you give her some time." Hikaru said. "Let me take you home, Touya. Let's go."
Hikaru pulled Touya up to his feet. Even though he did not know the whole story yet, he was very upset to see Touya looking so defeated.
Akari could hear them leaving from where she sat. She got up slowly and left the bathroom in small dragging steps. She looked around her empty, cold apartment and felt her heart freezing along with it. She walked towards the window and looked out to see that Hikaru was driving off with Touya. From the dark gloomy sky, the snow started to fall down slowly. The snow was drifting in the dark night towards her. Were they trying to send her a message that being cold and hard was so much better than falling into a warm romantic fairy tale that will never last?
Hold me tight Konna omoi nara
Dareka wo suki ni naru kimochi
Shiritaku Nakatta yo
I love you Mune ni komiageru
Fuyuzora ni sakebitai
Ima sugu kimi ni Aitai yo
(Hold me tight if I think like this
I didn't want to know
What it was like to fall in love with someone
I love you; my chest fills up
I want to cry out to the winter sky
I want to see you now)
(Third ending theme; Eternal Snow from Full Moon wo Sagashita, lead singer by Myco from group musician Changing My Life)
TBC
Eternal Snow, the song that gave me the inspiration to write this fiction! I really love this song! I hope I got all the translation correct! Well, it is quite a touching song. I will put the next chapter up soon.
Thank you forreading!