Standard disclaimers apply. I definitely do not own Hamasaki Ayumi's "HEAVEN" lyrics!
A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews! I really enjoy getting feedback from you guys. And I totally agree that Sayo's not for Sano…she's a nice person, but she's just not his type. Nothing against her, she's just a part of Sano's past. As for Kanryuu...Let's not even get there. There's just too long a list of nasty things I want to do to him. Personally, I like MadiSano's suggestion of having a piano fall on his ugly head. LOL. Anyway here's chapter 4, please enjoy! For extra effect, I suggest that you listen to Hamasaki Ayumi's HEAVEN before reading the front part of this chapter!
Chapter 4: Fate's plans
After a very satisfying dinner, Sagara Sanosuke found himself bidding goodbye to Takani Megumi. She was standing at his door, holding her handbag and a piece of paper out. The atmosphere was surprisingly heavy, especially when the two of them hardly knew each other.
"Oh, just to tell you, I cleaned up your place."
"Ah. Arigatou."
Megumi shook her head and smiled.
"Can I have your home address so I can mail you the money?"
Even though Sanosuke had no intentions of getting her to pay him back for the toothbrush and the food, he still took the paper from her and scribbled down his address. Somehow, he just felt that he wanted more to do with her. It just seems too weird to bid goodbye and never see her again.
At this point, Hamasaki Ayumi's "HEAVEN" came on air over the radio.
Soba ni ite, ai suru hito
Toki wo koete, katachi wo kaete
Futari mada minu mirai go koko ni
Nokotteru kara shinjite...
(Song translation:
Stay by my side, the one I love
Our love will transcend time; it will change in its shape
The future we have yet to see is right here
And there's still so much of it left, hence I believe…)
The meaning behind the beautiful lyrics hit both of them hard. The future we have yet to see…It was as if Fate has planned to tell them that there is a future in store.
There's still so much of it left…Was it a hint that this happiness should be pursued? Sanosuke thought, slightly embarrassed that such a song had to come up at this point when she was about to step right out of his door and out of his life.
Megumi seemed equally affected by the lyrics, for she began fiddling with her phone. What a weird timing for a song like this…it's just like background music to a dramatic goodbye!
"Can I have your phone number?" Sanosuke abruptly blurted out, breaking the romantic but embarrassing tension in the air.
Megumi laughed, glad that the tension had reverted to a lighter one. "Is that some type of cheesy pickup line?"
Sanosuke couldn't help but noticed how her eyes twinkled with laughter, making him chuckle as well. "Yes it is," He replied with mock seriousness. "Now give me your number so we can go on a hot date."
"You're impossible, toriatama." Megumi shook her head in amusement while keying in her mobile phone number into his phone.
He simply shrugged and smiled, putting his right hand into the pocket of his jeans and holding his phone in the left when she was done.
Megumi straightened up and bowed formally. "Taihen osewa ni narimashita."
Sanosuke couldn't think of anything else to do than bow in return.
"Ja, mata ne." Megumi said softly.
Sayonara nante iwanai...
(Song translation:
I will not say "goodbye")
"Ja." Sanosuke replied, the roof of his mouth feeling dry as realization hit him. This was the first time a girl spent a night under his roof for reasons other than one night stands. At least she said mata ne…
As Megumi turned to go, the final notes of "HEAVEN" echoed around the small apartment and in their hearts.
Ano hi kitto futari wa
Ai ni fureta
(Song translation:
On that day, the two of us were certainly touched by love.)
Sanosuke could only look on as she left without a backward glance.
Takani Megumi pulled her coat tighter around herself as she stepped out of the building where Sanosuke's apartment was. It certainly was cold, but no matter what, the thought of finally seeing Takeda Kanryuu was heart-warming.
There must have been something wrong with the phone…There is no way he could have ignored my message.
Her mind was occupied with thoughts of meeting Kanryuu for the entire period of time she took to walk to hamamatsu-cho station.
How will he react when he sees me?
How should I greet him?
Will we be sleeping in separate rooms when I go to his place tonight?
It will be Saturday tomorrow…where will we be going?
Such were the thoughts that filled her mind as she purchased a ticket going towards Ikebukuro where Takeda Kanryuu worked. It wasn't before long when she found herself on the train, watching the same advertisements repeat themselves over and over again on the screen. As usual, the entire carriage was filled with people, but Megumi's spirits were not at all affected.
Finally, after about an hour or so, Megumi found herself outside the drug company where Kanryuu worked as a researcher, her hand clutching the address and checking it again.
Hai. Machigaenai.
Glancing at her watch, Megumi saw that it read 8pm. He should be getting ready to go home by now. Running her fingers through her long jet black hair, Megumi checked her reflection in the glass sliding doors. Excitement coursed through her veins as she thought of meeting him after two years. I wonder if he changed in any way…
Standing near the main entrance, Megumi smiled politely when the other employees exited the building with questioning looks on their faces. It wasn't everyday when you see a young lady outside your office looking around expectantly.
Searching for any sign of Kanryuu, Megumi gradually grew disheartened when half an hour past with him still nowhere to be seen. The employees streaming out of the building earlier were reduced to a mere few walking out now and then, and the entire street grew darker when the lights of the building were switched off. Just where could he have gone to?
Still, minutes ticked by steadily with no Kanryuu in sight.
By now, weird looks were being flashed at Megumi by passers-by, for she was standing outside a pitch dark building, staring at the main entrance silently. It was already 9.15pm when the security guard stepped out of the building to lock the main entrance up.
Walking over, Megumi asked, "Ano…Do you know who Takeda Kanryuu is?"
"Takeda-san? Yes, I know him!" The kindly old man answered. "Ojou-san, nani ga atta?"
"I am looking for him...Has he left the place?"
"Yes, he left at about 8.15pm. You must come earlier next time."
8.15pm? I was standing here since 8! Why didn't I see him?
"Doumo." Megumi muttered her thanks to the old man and hurriedly pulled out her mobile phone, searching the phonebook for Takeda's number.
The persistent ringing continued until the all-too-familiar voicemail box message came on. Pressing the "End" button in frustration, Megumi put her phone down and sat down on a bench by the sidewalk.
What is going on? Where on earth is he? Where am I going to go…now that my only hope is gone? I am still stranded in Tokyo…
At these thoughts, Megumi's eyes filled up with tears. Tears of desperation, fear and frustration.
A slight drizzle began almost at the same time, raindrops falling down gently from the inky heavens above, as if the angels were crying together with her. She has never felt so alone before.
Megumi couldn't hold her tears back anymore. For the second time since she came to Tokyo a night ago, she cried. Silently at first, until the pent-up frustration broke loose did she allow herself to cry out loud, ignoring the stares the occasional passer-by gave to her.
Until her phone rang.
Sagara Sanosuke was amazed at the state his room was in. Funny how the same old room appeared to be so much more spacious with all the rubbish in it cleaned out. It looked and smelled so much better too. No more ramen cups, bags of chips, magazines, clothes or whatever other rubbish he has stashed somewhere in the room.
Falling back onto the neatly-made bed and messing up the covers instantly, his thoughts immediately went to the person who made all these possible. Megumi…I wonder how is doing now? Is she with her boyfriend already? I wonder what kind of person her boyfriend is…Is he the rich, gentlemanly type? Or is he even better looking than me?
Chotto! What are you thinking of again? He scolded himself. She's out of your life already! You're crazy, Sagara! It has only been 2 hours plus since she left!
But despite his thoughts, his heart couldn't help it but feel like calling her, hearing her voice. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, he searched the phonebook for "Takani". Before he actually realized what was going on, he found himself pressing on the "call" button of his mobile phone.
Calling…Takani Megumi. The phone's screen read.
The phone rang for approximately 4 times before he heard her voice, slightly hoarse, with the loud pattering of rain in the background.
"Mo-Moshi moshi?"
Sanosuke sat up immediately when he heard her voice, before yelling at himself mentally. Oi! Why on earth are you so nervous? It's just a phone call!
"It's me, Sanosuke."
"Sa-Sanosuke? Is th-there anything?" She replied shakily, followed by a loud sob.
Sensing something wrong, Sanosuke pressed the phone nearer to his ear, straining to catch her words over the growing noises of the rain. "What happened? Megumi, where are you now? Why are you crying?"
"I-I am at Ikebukuro…Outside Okazawa drug com-company…"
"What are you doing there? Where is your boyfriend?"
"I can't…I can't find him…"
"Did you call him?"
"No-no one picked up…"
That asshole!
Sanosuke's heart ached when he heard her choke out the words, and all of a sudden, he felt compelled to be there for her. After all, he was the only person she knew in Tokyo, other than her boyfriend of course.
"Soko de matte, Megumi. Sugu iku kara."
Ending the call, Sanosuke jumped off his bed, grabbed his keys, wallet and coat before exiting his apartment.
Please be alright, Megumi. He thought. She definitely doesn't sound very ok…
Running out into the rain, Sanosuke waited impatiently for a taxi to appear. It was late, cold and taking the train would mean too much time. He had to get to Ikebukuro fast.
Where are the damned cabs when you need them! Sanosuke wanted to scream after 5 minutes went past without a single taxi in sight. Finally, when one lone taxi appeared in front of him, Sanosuke spent no time in hopping on.
"Ikebukuro. Okazawa drug company. QUICK."
Sanosuke glanced at his watch for what seemed like the millionth time during the taxi ride.
Kuso…It's nearly 10pm.
"Okyaku-sama, we've reached. It will be 3850 yen-"
"Keep the change." Sanosuke muttered, shoving four 1000yen notes to the taxi driver before hopping out into the pouring rain.
His heart felt as if someone had squeezed it tightly when he saw the very person he was looking for, right in front of him.
Standing rooted to the ground momentarily in the heavy rain, Sanosuke could only look on as she sat on a bench; legs drew up to her chest, huddling in a small ball without any shelter from the harsh rain, illuminated by only the street lamp.
Running over to her, Sanosuke shook her gently.
"Megumi..."
No response. She was staring blankly ahead; it was hard to see if she was crying because of the rain.
Kami…has she gone loony?
"Megumi…Megumi!" He was practically yelling by now; the pouring rain seemed intent on drowning out every single word he said. Squatting down in front of her to face her directly, he asked, "Can you hear me?"
"Sanosuke?"
"Yes, it is me!" He shouted in relief, gripping her by the shoulders. "Why are you sitting in the rain? Quick get up, we'll get out of here…"
"Where can I go?" Megumi asked, her voice cracking slightly with hurt. "I have no place to go..."
"Ahou ka?" Sanosuke admonished, placing his palm on her head firmly. "My place, of course! Hayaku, my hair's no longer spiky-"
His words never got to leave his throat as she threw her arms around him abruptly and clung on to him tightly like a child.
"Arigatou ne…Sanosuke…"
He didn't know what to say. Part of him was shocked at his own reaction to the situation, part of him was angry at Kanryuu, part of him surprised at HER reaction, and another part happy that she'll be putting up at his place again. But for now, words were not needed. He put his arms awkwardly around her, and slowly held her closer to himself.
Holding each other under the seemingly interminable rain on the silent streets of Ikebukuro. For a while, that was all they did.
Unmei to yobu igai...Hoka ni wa nai...
(Song translation:
There is nothing else besides fate...)
To be continued…
A/N: I had fun writing this chapter! Was actually kinda surprised at how well "HEAVEN"'s lyrics fit into the fic…LOL I thought the phrase "Ano hi kitto futari wa Ai ni fureta" was too romantic to be true. But anyway just to clarify things, Sanosuke is NOT in love with Megumi at this point. All he has is a crush…I mean, Megumi is hot and all, so a crush is definitely justifiable. He's being very nice partly because of his crush on her and partly because she is caught in a horrid predicament. Ok enough said. Thanks for the great reviews anyway!
Please continue supporting the story and reviewing!
Toriatama – chicken head
Taihen osewa ni narimashita – Thank you very much for your hospitality
Mata ne – See you again
Hai. Machigaenai. – Yes. There is no mistake.
Ano – Excuse me
Ojou-san, nani ga atta – Young lady, is there anything
Moshi moshi – Hello
Soko de matte, Megumi. Sugu iku kara. – Wait there, Megumi. I'll be right there.
Kuso – Damn it
Okyaku-sama – Dear customer
Ahou ka – Are you stupid?
Hayaku – Quick, hurry up