Everything Changes

"Kaede, we're moving to Osaka."

I stared blankly at my dad in shock but he kept his gaze at the TV.

"What do you mean? Are you kidding right now?" I half-hoped it was a lame joke, but my dad never joked. The world had made him weary, jaded and without the ability to find humor in anything.

He turned to me and clicked off the TV.

Holy hell. He's serious. I thought.

"I got an opportunity in Osaka...managing a shop for my cousin. He wants us out there by next month. I figured you could finish your year out there."

Osaka? Really?

"Dad, we're not moving to Osaka. That's crazy. Who is this...cousin? Honest with me. Is it he? Do you even know what you're doing?" I stammered, trying to undo the decision that had obviously already been made without my input.

My dad rubbed his eyes. He was tired and worn through. He was a man hitting middle age with nothing to show for it and I could sense this meant something to him.

"Kaede, we need to get out of here. There's nothing for us in Kanagawa."

This utterly sucked. I was basketball player of the school. I was working on it. These were accomplishments I needed to highlight on my applications for college so I had some chance of getting scholarship. Otherwise, there was zero chance I was going to school.

And school was my only way out of my trailer park existence.

My plans were deteriorating before my eyes and my dad was back to watching the football game like I wasn't having a silent emotional meltdown.

I grabbed the remote control from the arm of his Lazy-Boy and clicked off the television.

"I'm not going!" I yelled.

My dad wasn't too surprised by my reaction. He knew I was working for. He knew I had my own plans. He rubbed his eyes and blinked purposefully as if to help them refocus from the TV screen to my tense figure hovering over him, and then he finally gave me his full attention.

"Dad, you know I have to finish my school here. I can't go with you. I have my whole life figured out here. I'm going to be a basketball player and that's not going to happen in Osaka. I don't even know anyone there. You know how your son right? Beside, nee-chan wouldn't follow us."

I could feel tears pushing their way up, but I held them at bay. The only time I allowed myself to cry was alone, where no one else could see me. I learned a long time ago that weeping in front of people translated to weakness, and I wasn't going to look weak to anyone. I was Rukawa Kaede, after all, I was a survivor.

His long, frail frame struggled out of his chair and then he put his arms around me. An awkward and rare hug from my father. As much as I was skilled at pushing my feelings down, I had learned from the Master. This hug was very uncharacteristic of us both, but maybe he had known all along I wasn't going with him. It felt like he was already saying goodbye.

"Kaede, I don't want to stand in your way, but you can't stand in my way either," he mumbled through my raven-haired--a carbon-copy of him. Feeling sad that he could so easily leave me, I pressed my face into his chest trying to imprint the infrequent moment of fatherly tenderness into my long-term memory. I closed my eyes, the cold metal of tge small, gold cross he wore around his neck against my cheek. If there was one constant throughout my childhood, it was that cross. He never took it off.

"Dad, I want to stay in Kanagawa" I never thought in all my years I would ever utter such a wish, but there was no other way for me. I knew from young age I would have to claw my way to something better than a mobile home on dirt road. I had a decent plan for the future and I wasn't going to let it go without a fight.

My dad let me go and grabbed for his cigarettes in his shirt pocket. I cringed as he lit one between shaking fingers stained with motor oil, and took a long, deep drag as if the toxic smoke was life-giving oxygen. He always claimed that he couldn't think without having a smoke. Truth be told, he couldn't start the day, finish a meal or go to sleep without one either. I had stopped trying to get him to quit a long time ago.

"You're too young to stay here alone. You're only seventeen, besides, your sister Kanara always busy with her works. Sometimes she sleeps at his boyfriend house. You're alone, you even don't have any friends here." He reminded me, and then looked at me expectantly like I should easily solve the one problem standing between me and the rest of my life.

Thanks for your help, dad.

But I was Rukawa Kaede and I would overcome this.

Suddenly my sister appear. "Dad, don't worry about Kaede. I promise you I will take care of it." My dad only was stare at her. Still not convinced that she can take care of me. Well what to say, after all, I am the youngest child in this family. "Dad, do you remember Sendoh Azuma?" My dad seems to think deeply for remember it. And what the hell my sister try to imply anyway. "Yes, I remember. His son's isn't your best friend's? What his name again?" My dad remember that weird guy. "Sendoh Akira, dad. He came to our house during the day, but of course you're not at home" My dad just smiled.

"His family has moved here." And now I can feel something bad. Don't you dare trying nee-chan. I give her warning look. I can sense already what would happen. "If I was busy, Kaede can go to Mr. Sendoh place. I already talked to them. And there's was happy and most of welcoming Kaede to their house." My sister smirk at me. What the fuck she try to do. I will kill you nee-chan! Do it all of this without my permission! And what makes me horror, my dad faces was lighting up!

"Well Kaede, if you don't want to follow me. I'm okay with that. But you have to promised me." I know what he meaning it. If I'm not oblige, he might force me to come with him to Osaka. Well, looks like I don't have any choice. And I will make sure, I will kill my sister!

It didn't take much convincing. Dad come over to their house for dinner and we talked about moving to Osaka. Everyone was horrified to think that I might leave Kanagawa. Before I could even bring up the idea of staying behind, Sendoh Ayumi, a daughter of Mr and Mrs Sendoh, brought up the solution to her parents.

"Rukawa-Kun can live with us! He can finish his senior year here with me. Oh mom, dad, please?" She pleaded with every fiber in her bring. She's looks like love-struck fool with me.

Mr. Sendoh nodded his head so his wife could see his approval.

Mrs. Sendoh spoke up first.

" Of course he can stay here." She said with her smiling.

"I'll pay you rent and money for food," my dad offered lamely. He was obviously feeling some pang of guilt for abandoning his only son.

"No, no, no. Rukawa-Kun can eats what he wants here. This is his house too. We will treat him like our son." Mrs. Sendoh graciously responded. She smiled at me as if I were a pure angel from heaven.

"Thank you so much for this. I appreciate. But I already discussed with my dad. I will stay at our home. But I will be here often." I don't really mean it. Who the hell want to live with people I'm not very familiar with. I agree for this only to avoid moved to Osaka! And what makes me feel more sick... That guy of course. Sendoh Akira house for pete-sake! Damn my sister!!

"It's fine Rukawa-Kun, we don't want to push you. But you have to come here to eat. Especially dinner. No excuse. We will take care of you. You're our son now." Mr. Sendoh talking with smile on his face. I just nodded while my brain was blank.

I'm warning him before for not talked to me.

And know... This is going my bad day!

Karma pay me back!

"Tadaima." I heard he greet. I know that voice! And for the second times, our eyes meet again.

P/s : No sexy scene here. But no worries. I will make it happen later. This is just starting for our lovers SenRu! Thank you!