Chapter Two: The Swinging Bench

There's a curtain that kept my view away from the city. It's been there since…since he passed away. I had not let myself nor anyone go past that. I looked at the city through my window in the bedroom, through the front door of the house…but I did not near the balcony, nor dared to part those cutains. None have either, not since Shuichi, not since I forbade them.

But beyond those thick cloths that covered the pathway to the exterior…I was the only one who knew about the lonely swinging bench, swinging in silence as it waited for its owner to come back.

Much had changed. That I had realized when I came back home.

There was a Sakura tree that hung its hands on our balcony, and Shuichi had bought himself a bench to also put it on the veranda while I was gone.

When I had returned, I didn't care about the changes. I just needed him like he needed me, and it scared me to know that…but it didn't faze me, neither did it to him.

Now that the season of fall was nearing its end this few days, I felt braver to reclaim dominace over the household, and even though he had whined, he willingly allowed me do anything-he allowed me to store away his persian rug Mika had left for him, and he allowed me to rearrange the furnitures back to our liking-and really I only did that because he said he had done it alone, and now he wanted to me to move everything back-something about knowing I was the one who placed everything in its natural state.

But that swing bench, nothing flashy, just the dull color crème on iron bars- he was adamant about me moving it away.

'Touch it, sit on it, dust it or swing on it-but never Yuki. Don't ever move it.'

And he repeated that over and over again when I brought up the subject.

I didn't care. In fact, I just wanted to know why he wanted it there. I didn't plan on moving it, but I was curious. There was nothing significant to me about it. He had no memory relating to me with it…so why keep it?

"Did Sakuma or Hiro give it to you?" I asked. It was late already, and he was huddled next to me on the bed. I had hoped to ask him near sleep so he wouldn't dodge it.

But he returned to me,

"Will you sit on it with me. Tomorrow maybe Yuki? I heard Fall is going to end the day after."

He turned to me with his eyes close and kissed me so softly on the lips.

"Sure." I whispered. Somehow things turned. Instead of getting answers, I got myself committed to one of his fluff things.

The next day, the sun hadn't risen for more than a few hours before completely disappearing behind the gray ominous skies. I had thought to get away from the promise, and I had wanted him to stay inside since his coughing fit had worsened in such a day, but instead he bundled himself up in my large coat, brought out my scarlet scarf, wrapped it around himself, and finished the warming touches with my own wool mittens.

He beckoned me with his large eyes to dress myself warmly; we both stepped out to the cold exterior.

I was cold, so I returned inside with a grumble, returning in moments with a large, thick blanket. I wondered why he was still standing, but as soon as I sat down and relax on the swing bench, he smiled and all too happily sat on my lap, laughing while I threw the blanket over our freezing bodies.

I wanted it to be over soon. I wanted to know why we were there, and then go inside and warm ourselves up with hot milk.

He was sitting in front of me, so I brought my arms around him and pulled the cover tightly over us. He stopped giggling and sighed contently. It didn't look like I was going to get my answer soon, so I tucked his head underneath my chin and looked over what our balcony had to offer to us.

A panorama the made my heart clench.

I was suddenly brought back when I felt his arms around my waist hold on tighter.

"When…before Mika decided to stay here and take care of me." He whispered, knowing he didn't need to clarify to me what he meant, "I use to look out towards the city from here, and I would stay for hours until I finally bought this bench to help me stay longer when my legs started falling apart on its own."

But that was impossible. Shuichi barely weighed anything.

"Baka. Why did you do that?" I asked, making sure I was gentle with my first word.

"Because I needed to spread my arms out at the length of the city." I tightened myself around him as he continued, "And when I couldn't do even that anymore, I had this bench to help me see over the small wall of the rail."

"You went out here everday?"

He nodded, "Yeah. It allowed me to look at the city for hours on end, sometimes for the whole day, and I could wonder in peace of your whereabouts."

I felt his smile on my chest. He didn't need to see how surprise I was that I fit in his little tale.

"I could ask the world through the city to give you back to me where ever you were wondering to, and even if it didn't, I knew as long as I kept saying it, you would come back. And I was able to say it every single day…I was able to tell the world I wanted you back."

He looked at me, and he knew me so well, knowing that if he didn't wipe that small puddle of water on the edge of my eyes, I would cry.

"Can I kiss you Yuki?" he voiced in much fragility.

I looked at him for a prolonged time, wanting to say something back, and finally, "No." I paused while nearing him, "Let me."

And I captured his soft lips before the last of the wind blew away.

All of a sudden not wanting the moment to end.

But I kept a secret. That sometimes, when all the lights were dim, when it was very late at night, and when I couldn't sleep…I lifted a corner of the drapery and checked if the bench was still swinging. We both were waiting for something that wouldn't come back.

AN: Inspired by an AMV of Rurouni Kenshi, here's the url if anyone wants to watch: http/ the song is by Coldplay: The Scientist.

Thanks again Aly, EarnestInBerlin, Sohmaniasan and Tsuki for the great support. I'll keep writing for you guys.