The news came on and I glanced at the clock in the corner. I guess I had fogotten I had checked it mere minutes before. The date looked familiar to me, but I couldn't place it. I stared at it until the numbers mashed and blurred in my drowsiness. My eyes closed as my memories fought against my forgetting.
What was today? Maybe I should call Shizuru up and ask…. "Oh crap!" I stood up fast and my head blurred even more, my legs were cramped and my shoulders ached. I fell to one knee and tried to regain my composure. Once I did that, I panicked. It was her birthday today. Of all things today had to be it had to be that!
I ran for my dresser drawer and through on some jeans. I almost fell upon my bed before I grabbed it with one hand and pulled my pant leg up with the other . "Wait, I have to get a present! Damn it, I better have gas in the tank." I swore to myself and tossed my jeans aside. I ran across the room for my biker suit. I grabbed my helmet, keys, and my wallet.
The weather was fair, not a lot of cars on the road. That mad emy life easier. I took to the street in a hurry and shaved a couple corners harder then I should have. I'd be at a small shop in just a few minutes at this rate. They were gonna close in ten minutes, I knew it.
I reached the store and took my wallet out, empty. Damn it, maybe if I did a bank transfer… do I have money in the bank?
I stared out into the empty street. After a time, a car passed by and I watched it leave my my line of sight. Does she need a present? Like flowers? Tea? Gift Certificate? I'll just buy her a drink tomorrow. I took the street again with a sigh knowing I had to go to one place to finish the night right, no matter what it took to get there.
"Natsuki?" Shizuru looked astonished that I was here in front of her door, wet and dirty and looking as if I was out of breath. "It's so late at night…"
"I know, I'm sorry. I came as soon as I could."
"Come in, please. Have a seat." She stepped aside and followed me int after shutting the door slowly.
"Shizuru, time just disappeared on me, I didn't know. I…"
"What'd the matter?"
"I was sitting around all day watching TV and I realized that…"
"Should I get you some tea?"
"Ah well, if you wish to, that would be nice."
"I'll be right back then." She walked away. I watched her, she was wearing a loosely fitting nightgown of a pleasant shade of purple. When she had left the room I realized something else. Why was I trying so hard? She would forgive me, I knew it. I never asked much of her and I knew she wouldn't expect much from me. We were close friends, but it wasn't like that… not really… was it?
After five minutes or so she returned with a tray and set it on the coffee table before me. She poured me a cup and then one for herself, I took it with a smile. "Thank you."
"Please, while the tea cools, what is the matter?"
"I don't know, I just had to be here, I tried to find something to bring but I was out of money. I… to be hinest got lost on the way here and I will need to get some more gas for the bike tomorrow."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"No, no, don't be. I love riding around, I do it all the time. There's just been so much on my mind, so many things going on. I'm afraid I've done something wrong.'
"Whatever do you mean, Natsuki?" she smiled faintly, seems I wasn't being straight forward enough.
"It's your birthday today?"
"Silly, it was yesturday."
"Yesturday?"
"Yes, yesturday."
"Damn it."
"Please, drink." She sipped her tea as I stared at my grumpy face reflecting in the dark green liquid. "Natsuki?"
"I'm sorry."
"Silly, I was out of town."
"It's been a rough week."
"Doesn't seem so bad now." She drank some more and I took a sip.
"No, I guess not."
"Was that all you wished to talk about?"
"I… I'll stay over if you'd like."
"If you wish to, I don't mind." She sipped again and I sighed as I drank for a bit.
"I'll, yes, I'll stay over with you tonight. It's the least I can do."
"Silly, there's nothing little about what you do for me. Just be yourself, I'll be quite happy with that."
I couldn't stop the blush, those words, they affected me somehow or maybe she drugged the tea, I didn't care. "Shizuru, we've been friends for a long time now, I've been considering moving to Tokyo once I get enough funds from that job at the bike shop."
"Tokyo? Yes, I remember. They have many bike shops there?"
"Well, they have many more streets there, so yes, I think I can find a good paying job that way."
"That sounds nice, I was asked to move back by home in Kyoto."
"What? That's… I thought you were going to refuse that?"
"Did I say I accepted?"
"Uh..no..um…did you?"
"Shall I make more tea?"
"I'm ok, thank you."
"I don't know yet. Mother wants me to do a meeting."
"A meeting?" I met her eyes. "Oh, shit, uh I mean."
"No, better than I could say it, I don't mind."
"Shizuru, I don't know what else to say."
"Tell me, straight forward Natsuki," she took my hand, "what is it you want to do with your life? What will make you happy?"
"I… don't know, I don't need much. Just a fun job, a merciless machine between my legs, and good friends."
"Natsuki, you know what I want more than anything else in this world?"
"I had thought you could be a teacher or a nurse, I'm sure the kids would love you."
"Kids?" she blushed, but I couldn't say why, not that moment. "Shizuru?"
"I was actually given an ultimatum by my mother."
"Oh?"
"I would go to that meeting and get to say yes or no, but if I said no, the next one she picked would be my husband. She trusts her judgement of men and thinks she can marry people with skill. Frankly she is great at what she does."
"You sound almost hateful…"
"I'm sorry, it's not that I hate my mother, I hate the situation, you see. I…"
"The…the catch, was that the catch?"
"If I refused to marry, I'd be forced into the workplace. I can handle that, but… well, I'd be forced by having my funds cut."
"Kinda shrewd."
"It works. I don't mind it actually. Natsuki, tell me again, what is it you want in life?"
"I… I… come to Tokyo with me."
"Natsuki?"
"I mean it, come to Tokyo with me."
"We'd be living together… we…" she was at a total loss for words.
"I know what it means, I mean it. It has to be this way, even if your mother was more forgiving it had to be this way, we need to move on, see the world for what it is. This city has nothing more for us. I'm not good with words, but please, come with me to Tokyo." I looked at her eyes and she almost looked like she was going to cry. I held her hand tight and she started crying. I took her in my arms and held her as she cried.
I could not understand what I felt then, it wasn't anything I felt before. I wasn't afraid, I wasn't nervous. I cared for her, I needed her by my side. I couldn't leave her here, I couldn't just let her leave me. I know she loved me so much and I loved her for that, for those feelings she sent me, for her warmth and strength, her weakness and emotions soaking into my hair and shoulder.
She was human, she was good to me. I did what was natural to me. I kissed her cheek and patted her back. She held me tighter. It seems I found a present after all.