Chapter 6 Moonlight Tears

"Miki, we're almost there!" Takuto said excitedly, his face pressed up against the window. Mitsuki looked over at Takuto sleepily from the seat beside him. He looked so happy. She was so glad he was here with her, and just felt so overwhelmingly happy that instant.

"Takuto," Miki smiled and reached over and hugged him. Takuto jumped, surprised, and turned red. Takuto turned his face closer to the window. Mitsuki looked over and laughed.

"Takuto you're blushing," she teased. "What, you've never been--"

"Mitsuki," Meroko said, trying to hide her glare, but failing. "…What room are we in again?"

"Room 64."

"Oh." Meroko turned back to her window from her seat across the aisle from Miki, irritated.

"MIKI!" Takuto exclaimed. "Look!" His eyes filled with a childish awe. She looked out his window. The Rosewood hills were in full view. They were majestic, beautiful. Takuto stared out the window. Truthfully, Mitsuki had never seen this side of Takuto. She smiled, looking at him.

"Takuto." He looked over, his eyes wide. She smiled at him; she just called his name, just because.

"Mitsuki," Meroko called again, breaking the moment. "…um…we're almost there right?" Miki scowled at her, opening her mouth to say something, but the bus stopped. Everyone aboard cheered and a rush of excitement filled the air. Mitsuki jumped out of the bus, the crisp breeze touching her face. Someone pushed her shoulder as she walked past her. Mitsuki sighed watching Meroko walk by. I have to fix it somehow.

Mitsuki flopped down on her bed. Everything was finally unpacked, she stretched and crawled under her covers.

"Meroko?" Miki questioned. There was no answer. She turned disappointedly and drifted off to sleep. Meroko stared silently at the wall.

There was a soft knock on the door. She ignored it, but it persisted. Meroko slowly got up and opened the door. She was taken aback to see Takuto standing there.

"M-Meroko," Takuto stammered. "Um…"

"Mitsuki's asleep."

"Oh…" There was an awkward silence. Meroko looked to the ground, her heart beating hard. I should say something…say something Meroko…

"Well…I'll see you around Meroko," Takuto smiled at her. Meroko looked up, watching him walking away. No…

"W-wait." She froze. It was a split-second decision and regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Takuto turned. "I...I can't sleep. Want to go outside?"

"Sure," Takuto replied, "I can't sleep either." She quickly put a jacket over her pyjamas and put on her boots. They went outside; it was almost pitch black, the moon hidden behind the misty clouds. The world was faintly lit up with the stars. They walked noiselessly, the snow soft beneath their feet. Meroko bit her lip. Say it…

"I…" Meroko started softly.

"Meroko," Takuto said, unaware that she started to talk. "I…I have a favour to ask you." Meroko stopped walking, her eyes focused on the ground. She didn't reply.

"It's Mitsuki," Takuto continued. Meroko opened her mouth, but nothing came out. "I don't know why you're being so cold to her, but it's hurting her a lot. So stop." Meroko took in a sharp breath, holding it in, holding in her tears.

"I can't do that," Meroko replied, her voice barely audible. Takuto looked back at her, she could feel his gaze pierce through her through the darkness.

"What?" Takuto asked coldly. Meroko looked straight at him, her face expressionless.

"I can't do that." An empty silence filled the nighttime air.

"I can't believe you Meroko," Takuto said to her calmly and walked away.

"…She already has you Takuto," she whispered to herself. She watched him walking away. She caught up to him and grabbed his wrist.

"Takuto…" He didn't even turn around. "Takuto." He didn't reply and kept walking, out of Meroko's grasp. Meroko squeezed her hands tightly together, so tight that they hurt.

"Takuto." She didn't expect an answer. He turned. Her heart skipped a beat. "Takuto…I…" I can't do it. "…I…" Her face revealed nothing. "I love you." Takuto looked at her for what seemed like forever.

"I'm sorry Meroko." And with that, he left. Meroko's expression was still masked. Takuto walked deep into the darkness, out of her sight. A tear dropped down her cheek. She closed her eyes, and fell onto the snow, drained. She stayed there for a long time, staring faraway into the night.

Mitsuki opened her eyes from a pleasant sleep and smiled. Takuto… His name was the first thing that came to her mind. She got up and got ready for skiing, tiptoeing quietly around the room not to wake up Meroko. She shut the door as lightly as she could and started running down the stairs. She burst out of the doors and looked at the rosewood hills. It was barely sunrise. Mitsuki ran into the nearby café and ate breakfast. She sipped her hot chocolate, looking out into the shimmering snow. Waiting for the sun to rise. Waiting. Mom. She felt two hands over her eyes, and she snapped into reality.

"Takuto," she laughed. He sat down beside her.

"What are you thinking so much about?"

"It's nothing let's go," she said, her chair scraping as she got up. Takuto felt he should tell Miki about Meroko, but he stopped himself.

The door squeaked open and she trudged in, shaking her boots off. Dropping her coat on the floor, she went over to the window. She was shaking: out of hate, out of anger and out of sadness. Why did I say it? She hated herself for it. It just came out; she needed to tell him. After a year, a wasted year, liking Takuto, it came down to this. She's done so much for him, things he didn't know about. She loved him. Seeing it all flashing before her eyes, she couldn't stand it.

"Man, how are you going to finish that?"

"I don't know," Takuto sighed to his friend. "I don't think I can."

"The production is tomorrow, you need to finish it."

"Yah…I'll...I'll figure something out..." They continued walking in silence. Meroko was walking quietly behind them as the students rushed to their lockers. The school bell rang and the students went home.

"Mom I'm going to school!" She yelled.

"Whaat? It's 7 o'clock!"

"It's for our play tomorrow!" With that, she ran out. She got into the school and stared at the mural. It was only half finished: a beautiful painting of the sea. She pulled her hair back, took a deep breath and got started.

Takuto ran to school early the next morning, panicking. When he burst through the gym doors, he saw the mural finished. He stared at it with disbelief. He walked towards it; it was breathtaking. He smiled broadly with relieve and thanks. As people stared to arrive, Takuto received a lot of praise for the painting. He accepted the praiseguiltily. Meroko slammed into the classroom seconds before the bell, looking terrible. She flopped down at her desk and looked over at Takuto. She smiled because he was okay.

Tears flowed down her face. The moments, the sacrifices, her secret love, it all blurred through her head. She couldn't let go like this. Mitsuki, I can't let you have him like this. She went and lay in her bed, half asleep, half awake: half conscious, and half unconscious. She couldn't sleep the whole night and heard Mitsuki get up and leave. She opened her eyes as she heard the door click shut. She felt overwhelmed and started sobbing. Big tears rolling freely down the side of her face. She screamed and burst out in unstoppable crying.