Chapter 8 True Love

"Takuto!" Mitsuki yelled across the room, her face broke into a smile seeing him. She came over and sat down in front of him, examining his face, trying to get a hint of what he wanted to talk to her about.

"M-Mitsuki," he said, it came out more nervously than he expected. He looked at her, his mind blanking out.

"Ohh, I'm going to get something to eat, one second." She bounced up and went to the cashier. He let out a sigh of relief, more stalling time. He went through it a thousand times in his head, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. She came back with two drinks. "Here." She smiled at him. They drank and talked for a while.

"Did you want to tell me something?" Miki finally asked. Takuto forced a laugh to hide his sudden embarrassment.

"Oh it's…I…you…you've really improved skiing," he looked out the window. He was messing it up, he couldn't find the words, and she would reject him. He kept finding excuses. Miki stared at him.

"Takuto…" she started, confused. "You can't be serious." She had caught him. She knew what he was going to tell her. "You think I've improved? I don't know I'm still pretty bad but… thanks." She smiled to herself, blushing and accepting the praise. He tried to restrain himself from laughing and shook his head. Mitsuki… He looked at her: her innocence radiated. She was beautiful.

"Mitsuki, it's not that." Miki looked up at him, confused again.

"Then…"

"It's…"

"Mitsuki!" Takuto's eyes shot up. It was Meroko. Their eyes met for a second. No Meroko… She looked away quickly. "I have something important to tell you." Meroko smiled with mock kindness. "You'll love it." Miki fell completely into it and smiled back at her.

"Okay what is it?" Meroko looked over her shoulder to the door. Mitsuki's eyes followed. Her eyes went wide. She stood there speechless for a while.

"E-eichi?" she whispered. She was overwhelmed. "Eichi." She walked over and looked at him shyly. He grinned and pat her head.

"You've grown a lot Mitsuki." He remembered her. She stood there silent for a while, memories rushing back to her.

"You…you remember me?" They started walking outside.

"Yah, it was raining and…" Miki dazed out, falling into her own reverie. She didn't know how long she waited for this. They talked and laughed about past memories, Mitsuki falling in love with him again. Takuto couldn't look at them. He looked straight to the ground. Meroko came over and sat down in front of him.

"I guess Mitsuki found her true love now…" Takuto didn't looked up.

"Meroko." He said with difficulty. He looked straight at her. He knew her intentions entirely and hated her for it, hated her for showing Mitsuki Eichi. Takuto had heard stories about him.

"Takuto…I…" His chair scraped up. The whole café seemed to go quiet.

"Meroko," he started again. He paused.

"Even if its not Mitsuki…its not you." He walked away.

"You…you don't understand," Meroko said, her voice filled the room. "I love you Takuto. Why--" Takuto had already walked out. Everyone in the café saw her cry.

Mitsuki walked home. It was late. She had finally met Eichi. Eichi. It's been a while since she'd thought about him. She smiled to herself for the strange twist of fate. She was opened the door to her building. Someone leaned against the door stopping her. She stepped back.

"Takuto, what are you doing here?" He didn't look at her.

"Mitsuki, I- I want to tell you something. Its…I've never felt this way before and I don't know how to say this but…I love you. I care about you, so much, and I— " She put her hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"Takuto. You know you mean a lot to me but…" Takuto looked at her, he gave her a sad smile. The light reflected on his eyes, giving her one last look then walking away. I understand Mitsuki...but…I can't hear you say it. He walked away and a tear fell down his cheek. Mitsuki looked at him. She wanted to call him back. It hurt seeing him like that. She felt the shock numbing her body as she fell into her thoughts. Why did it hurt her so much sending him off like that? Seeing him leave. Mitsuki looked down. She was in love with Eichi; she had found her true love. She was waiting for him for nearly her whole life and now it was done. She went inside, hesitantly, almost waiting for Takuto to come back. Come on Mitsuki… She stepped inside and walked up the stairs into her hotel room. She lay down in her bed, unable to fall asleep. When she turned back over to her clock, it was already 3 am. She snuck outside.

She walked through the beautiful starlit winter night. She loved the way the crisp snow felt under her feet, the way the cool air touched her face, the way everything seemed peaceful, perfect and it seemed like the most beautiful moment in the world. She lay down on the snow facing the stars and looked for Orion, the hunter. It was the simplest constellation to find but finding it always made her feel some sort of magic. She could almost feel her mom's hand guiding hers, pointing out the stars, and connecting them. She smiled. Closing her eyes, she felt the serenity of the night blanket her. The stillness. The coolness. The beauty. Nights like these she thought of her mother.

Mitsuki sat on the hard seat in the airport, right in front of the terminal her mother would come out of. She couldn't sit still with the excitement.

"Grandma, is she here yet?"

"Not yet…" her grandmother sighed. Mitsuki sat as patiently as she could.

"Now?"

"Mitsuki." Mitsuki quieted. She swung her legs, smiling; ready to show her mother all the things she did and learnt in the time she was gone. Then a voice blared from the speaker. Her grandmother's eyes glazed with worry.

"Wait here Mitsuki, I have to go to the front desk." Mitsuki scowled. She got up and followed her grandmother's quick pace quietly, unnoticeably. She hid behind the corner, listening to the flight attendant speaking to the group of expectant family members and friends. She couldn't hear much but she saw, one by one, collapse crying.

"I am so sorry, the plan crashed on the way…there was nothing we could do…" Mitsuki's eyes went wide and she stepped out of the corner. The flight attendant saw her and looked over. Then her grandmother looked over, her face crumpling into a fierce scowl.

"Mitsuki," she said harshly. "I told you to stay put." Her voice cracked and she turned back around, so the child wouldn't see her face. Mitsuki understood. Her mommy wasn't coming back. It registered in her mind slowly. Never. Tears streamed down her face. Never again. Her mommy wasn't coming back. She screamed and wailed, drawing attention from the passers-by. Her grandmother was in a crumpled heap and didn't know what to do, overcome with emotion.

Mitsuki remembered crying and screaming for at least a month. Be strong Mitsuki…don't cry… her mother's words echoed through her head. It was the last thing she said to her and Mitsuki followed it the best she could.She swallowed back her tears. Slowly, she got up and made her way back home with heartache. She had organized her thoughts and made her decision. It was final, and this time she was not backing down. Never.