The wait is over! Here is the latest chapter of The Untouched Ring! I terribly apologize for the long delay. Not only did I have loads of things to do, but my dad also monopolized the computer. Had a hard time squeezing in to type up the chapter.
This is for TwilightSonnet!
Disclaimer:ONLY THE RING FINGER KNOWS does not belong to me. All elements below belong to Kannagi Satoru and its proper copyrights. The only things I do own are my original characters.
Note: These are not, I repeat, these are NOT the actual events of the fourth novel. This is what I guess you could call an alternate storyline. Please do not rely on this fic for information about the fourth novel or on any of the books, although I will be borrowing some scenes and events that took place there.
Asaka quickly came upon them; taking in Wataru's sleeping form. With a light and gentle caress, he ran his hand through Wataru's messed dark locks of hair. The boy stirred ever so slightly, and worry sparked in Asaka's tan eyes once again. The scene played was so beautiful that it was like a spell had been cast and only silence could be heard. "Senpai," Kazuki spoke, breaking the spell. "Can you drive us to the nearest hospital?"
"…Of course," he replied, also breaking himself free from the spell. He opened the back door for them, and helped them get in, while Sayuri remained comfortably tucked in the front-passenger seat. Asaka went over to the driver's side and started the car again. He glanced at his rear-view mirror and took in the sight of Wataru peacefully slumbering on Kazuki's lap. Kazuki as well, had his arms wrapped tightly around the young boy's figure, embracing him closer and closer.
He didn't want to let go… He wouldn't let go… He'd keep holding Wataru like this to keep him warm—so that he wouldn't get any colder… so that he wouldn't get anymore hurt.
THE UNTOUCHED RING
Chapter Twenty-Three: Beyond All Truths
It was a summer that somehow had engraved itself deep in his heart. From his six year-old mind, the landscapes and sceneries of Karuizawa seemed like a page lifted from a story book. He remembered sitting at the back seat of the car with his face pressed up against the window, gaping at the towering trees. The scent of pine lingered in the air, and he imagined himself as an adventurer trekking across the threshold.
Beside him, his sister, clutched her teddy bear tightly, holding the same spark of interest as he did. The music coming from the car radio seemed to fade away, as it was drowned by the merry chatter of his parents. "Are we there yet?" little Wataru asked, bouncing on his seat. His mother turned her head to look at him, and smiled brightly. "Not yet, dear," she said. "But we'll be there soon enough. Just be patient."
Wataru was a very young child to understand the complexities of the adult world. But he did know that a trip to Karuizawa was something beyond his father's capabilities. He recalled that one lazy afternoon when his father returned home from work, barging through the door as he did so. "I won!" the man leapt into the air, much to the astonishment of his wife and children. "That lottery in the office… I won! We're going to Karuizawa for the summer!" Wataru's mother immediately squealed with glee at the news and joined her husband in jumping from the floor. Children, being children, did not entirely gauge on the reasons for such celebration, but Karin and Wataru understood one thing… They were going away for the summer.
The car came to a halt in front of a grand rest-house where they will be staying. The moment Wataru's small feet landed on the dirt, he could feel a strong and refreshing breeze that carried the scent of pine. In the distance, he could see acres and acres of green fields, and his eyes lit up with excitement, wanting more than anything to run around those trails. Mr. Fujii could clearly see the glitter of anticipation in those black orbs. He gave a sigh and chuckled lightly. "All right," he said with a deep voice. "You can go and play. But don't wander too far or do anything dangerous." That's all he needed to hear. He went off into the tranquil wilderness with his sister following closely behind him.
"Wataru-chan, wait up!" Karin called out, gasping as her small legs tried to keep up with her older brother. She clutched her teddy bear tightly as she stopped for a moment to catch her breath.
"Karin…" Wataru drawled as he came to a stop as well. "You're so slow… Why'd you follow me anyway? You're too girly for this."
Karin pouted. "Who's too girly? You and I look alike, you know. So you're girly too."
"Well, I'm not the one wearing the frilly dress with lace and ribbons," he laughed at his sister's embarrassment. Somewhere in the distance, he heard a car come to a halt. He followed the sound and caught sight of a charming villa, with big golden gates. A black sedan was parked in front of it. "Hey, Karin," he nudged her. "What do you think of that?"
"Hm?" she followed his gaze. "Wow… that's completely different from the one we're staying at. They must be rich…"
"Maybe…" Wataru drawled, and noticed the luggage being hauled out of the trunk. "It's not far from where we're staying. I wonder if they have a kid too…"
"Ah! Wataru-chan!" Karin jolted, pointing her finger at a nearby cypress tree. "Look! Is that… a baby sparrow?" She hurried off to the foot of the tree, and took the fledgling in her small hands. "It's so cute… It must've fallen from its nest."
"So?" Wataru asked, coming from behind her. "Just leave it. Its mama will come get it."
Karin looked up into the tree and saw, in one of its sturdy branches, a small nest made with straw and grass, and some tiny twigs. Inside the nest were three other fledgling sparrows all chirping loudly. Her eyes began to water at the sight. "They must be sad that their sister or brother is gone. It doesn't look like their mother is around either. What to do…"
Wataru looked at the tiny baby bird as it chirped a horrible tune, like a small child crying loudly for its mother. If left alone on the ground, who knows what will happen to it? And that mere thought was enough to make him feel sorry for the poor thing. "I'll put him back," he said, surprising his sister. "I'll put him back in the nest."
Karin knit her brows in uncertainty. "You sure? It's dangerous…"
"Don't worry!" he patted himself on the chest. "I'm a very good climber, as you know. Kawamura hasn't beaten me in it!"
"…But Kawa-kun isn't a very good climber at all…"
"I'll be fine!"
Whenever her brother got determined to do something, he will do it no matter what. With no other option, Karin gave a sigh and handed the tiny sparrow to him. Wataru carefully placed the fledgling in his pocket, and then began his climb while Karin looked on. The higher he climbed, the more difficult it got. He had once or twice looked down, and felt dizzy at the height. But he shook that fear away and focused on his goal. From below, he could hear his sister's voice constantly calling out to him to be careful.
By the time he reached the nest, the baby sparrow began to toss and turn in his pocket, tickling him a bit. He held firmly on to the branch, and gently pulled the sparrow out of his pocket. He reached out to place it back on the nest. The other sparrows chirped loudly at the presence of the foreign hand, but as soon as their sibling was returned, they began to settle down. Wataru smiled as the sparrows began to chirp a different tune, soft and alluring to the ears.
"Hey! What're you doing up there? It's dangerous!"
The sudden outburst from an unknown person surprised Wataru so much that he lost his balance, and leaned over the side. He heard something snap, and the next thing he knew, he was falling—the ground approaching closer and closer. Karin's screams echoed in his ears. He closed his eyes too, bracing for impact. But when he expected to feel a solid hard collision with the ground, instead he felt himself come to halt as if he was floating in mid-air.
Curious as to why he didn't feel any pain, he opened his eyes and was mesmerized by the sight of a pair of ice-blue eyes staring back at him. "Are you okay?" the owner of those eyes asked. Wataru could only nod as he studies his savior's features. He seemed to be a boy around his age or probably older. He was much taller, much to Wataru's chagrin, but there was no mistaking that handsome face that was like a doll's. "Hey," the taller boy said again. "You're pretty light. You sure you're all right?" Wataru squeaked in response, indicating he wanted to be put down.
The older boy obliged, but as soon as Wataru's feet touched back on the ground, he winced and felt something, like a static electricity, run through his left hand. "Oh, did you hurt yourself?" the boy asked him gently taking hold of his wrist to examine it properly. There was a mild swelling at the joint where his hand and his forearm were connected. Seeing it, the boy took out a handkerchief, tore it in half, and carefully wrapped it around the swelling area.
Wataru watched with astonishment. "Where'd you learn to do that?" he asked. The boy smirked as he finished off with a tight knot. "I know a lot of things," he answered. "Hard to believe I'm only seven, huh?" So the boy was older than him. But by one year…? The differences in their height made Wataru feel sullen. How come he was always the short one?
"Wataru! Karin!" their father's voice called out to them, growing nearer and nearer. Before the two siblings knew it, their father was upon them with a face as red as a ripe tomato, and steam coming out from his ears. "What's going on here? Didn't I tell you not to do anything dangerous?" He had apparently heard Karin's screams and came rushing as soon he heard them. His eyes blazed with anger while the two children held their heads low, not attempting to meet their father's enraged gaze. "I swear… do both of you want to be grounded for the entire vacation?"
Wataru winced again from the bellow of his father's voice. He had never seen the man this angry before, and he was downright afraid—much more than when he was scaling that tree or when he fell. The throbbing on his wrist made things even worse. But luckily, his father had seen his bandaged hand, and his features softened a bit, but anger was still present.
"What's this?" he asked. "Did you hurt yourself?"
Wataru instinctively hid behind the older boy, still afraid of his father's temper. The older boy sensed the distress, and took the liberty to answer for him. "He hurt his hand, sir, probably when he fell," he said. "I think someone needs to take a look at it right away."
"I… I see…" Mr. Fujii said, a bit stunned at the composure the young boy had.
"If you want, you can bring him to my uncle. He's a practicing pediatrician, and he runs a clinic not far from here. I could draw a map for you, sir."
"My…" Mr. Fujii was once again at a loss of words. "You're pretty smart. There aren't many kids I know who can even pronounce 'pediatrician', let alone know what it means. All right, thank you for your help…" He handed the boy a piece of paper and a pen, and waited for him to finish. When the map was drawn for him, he thanked the young boy again, took his children by the hands, and led them away.
Wataru turned his head around to catch one final glimpse of the boy who had saved his life. The boy waved back at him with a smile on his face. Wataru returned the smile, but felt somewhat dour that he was unable to utter one word of thanks on his part for saving his life. As the figure of that boy began to grow smaller and smaller, disappearing in the distance; he silently wondered whether he'd meet him again.
Then that summer began to fade away…
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It took a few seconds before everything came into focus again. When Wataru had opened his eyes, all he saw were blurry images, and he felt sluggish. When his eyes finally adjusted to the light, he surveyed the area, noticing that he was surrounded by white walls that bounced off the sun's rays, prickling his eyes. He felt the soft cushions against his back, and a warm blanket wrapped gently around him. And there was the distinct smell of disinfectant lingering in the air. He had to blink a few times before he came to the conclusion that he wasn't definitely dead.
He tried to prop himself up, but he ended up falling back on the soft mattress. He swore he heard every muscle in his body groan with pain. He took a deep breath and tried to collect himself. Judging by the white curtains on the window, the strong smell of disinfectant, and that long dextrose tube attached to his hand, there was no mistaking that he is definitely in the hospital.
He felt around the sheets, trying to find something solid to grab on. As his hand roamed around the mess of tussled blankets, he felt something soft and silky. It wasn't the blanket; no, this one felt like… hair… He turned his head over to try and get a better view, and it wasn't long before he saw the mess of long golden locks lying next to him. The soft breathing indicated that this person was sleeping. He tried to get up again, pushing himself upwards the headboard so that he would be in a seating position. But his motion caused the slumbering visitor to stir—those ice-blue eyes gradually opening and sneaking a peak at him.
The moment their eyes met, Wataru cracked a smile and greeted, "Hello, Takako." Hearing her name, the little girl immediately launched herself on to the injured boy, ignoring the sudden groan of pain Wataru gave. She hugged him tightly, her face burying in his chest, and her legs wagging at the edge of the bed. "Oniichan!" she cried out. "You're awake! You're finally awake! Takako was so worried!"
Wataru let out a small chuckle, and brought up the hand that wasn't attached to the dextrose, and gently patted her on the head. "Takako…" he muttered. "I'm fine. I'm all right." He kept assuring her that he was fine, anything to calm down the little girl's hysterics.
"But…" Takako murmured, meeting his gaze; her eyes reflecting worry and concern. "Takako was really worried. Even Yuichi-oniichan was…" The moment he head Kazuki's name mentioned, Wataru felt something jolt inside him. It was an emotion that he really couldn't explain, but it had a mix of anxiety, longing and anticipation. "Ah!" the young girl suddenly spoke, startling the young boy. "Takako will go tell someone!" With that, she hopped off the bed and ran out the door, closing it behind her. And Wataru was left alone in the room.
He had no idea how he ended up in the hospital. The last thing he remembered was falling asleep in the cave with Sayuri, and then… and then… Well, he couldn't remember what happened after that. It was all a blur. Even if he tried hard to think, all he got was a splitting head ache.
The door swung open again and the sight of Karin and Kawamura greeted him. "Wataru!" the boy immediately greeted. "How are you feeling? Still groggy? Do you want something?" Karin, on the other hand, quickly switched to mother-hen mode and went to Wataru's side, placing her palm over his forehead as if to check his temperature. "You feeling okay, Wataru-chan?" she asked, carefully examining him. "You should get some proper rest."
"I… I'm fine," he pouted, shrugging her hand off. "What happened anyway?"
"Don't you remember?" she asked, straightening out the creases on her skirt as she sat on the edge of the bed. "You disappeared without any word. Everyone went looking for you. In the end, Kazuki-san and Asaka-san found you somewhere along the road of Highway 54."
"Eh…"
"We were so worried, Wataru-chan! You have no idea how relieved we were when we got the call from Kazuki-san, saying that they had found you."
"Kazuki…" Wataru still felt disoriented. "Kazuki… found me?"
"He and Asaka-san did… But I hear it was Kazuki-san who brought you in."
The thought of Kazuki carrying him in his arms and bringing him to the emergency room of the hospital made him feel kind of giddy—like a school-girl who squeals at the immediate contact with her crush. If Kazuki was the one who brought him in, that probably explains why Takako is there. But where is Kazuki? Wataru figured that he'd be the first to enter the room or at least the first thing he sees when he opens his eyes. But the boy was no show.
As if sensing his thoughts, Karin immediately cleared his doubts away. "If you're looking for Kazuki-san, he left about an hour ago. But don't take it the wrong way. He was ordered to leave."
"Ordered?"
"Man, Wataru," Kawamura sighed as he shook his head. "For how long do you think you've been out? You've been sleeping for three days."
"Three days?" Wataru gasped. He was out for that long?
"Yep, three days," Karin added. "And throughout those three days, Kazuki-san stayed by your side. He wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep, he wouldn't do anything until you woke up. And you should've seen the way he looked. He looked absolutely haggard!"
"……"
"But this morning, otousan and okaasan spoke with him, and urged him to go home and get some rest."
"Otousan and okaasan?"
"Yep. They told Kazuki-san to rest, seeing as he was about to collapse at any given time. They told him to go home, rest, and freshen up. It took a lot of time to convince him to do so. I must confess, I also urged him to take a break."
"……"
Wataru didn't have anything to add to that. But he also couldn't deny that he felt somewhat uneasy that his parents and Kazuki spoke to each other. He knew full well that his parents knew about his relationship with Kazuki. He wondered what other things they may have discussed while he was in a three-day coma. But Karin's nonchalant nature seemed to reassure him some bit. She was being her chipper-self, so that must mean something.
He took a moment to ponder over things before he asked something that he really wanted to know. "Where's Sayuri?"
"The girl you were with?" Kawamura asked. "She's fine. She's in another room with her parents. Asaka-san's with her too. Dunno what they're talking about, but it looked kinda' serious. Anyway, she's fine. She should be discharged any time now."
"I… I see…" Wataru settled back against the pillows, quite relieved that Sayuri is all right. That was one weight of his chest.
The door swung open again, and this time, his parents walked in still wearing their coats as if they had hurried all the way from where they came from. Upon seeing them, Wataru gulped and suddenly felt nervousness creeping back in him. He hadn't spoken to both of them since he left their home and went to stay with Kawamura. Are they mad? Or have they decided to ultimately disown him?
"My baby…" his mother uttered, and immediately came upon him, trapping him in a strong embrace. Her arms wrapped around him so tightly that he was left breathless and he swore he felt his rib cage crack a bit. He could smell his mother's perfume, but more than that, he could take in the scent of blueberry pancakes and sweet chocolate-chip cookies. That was the scent he had always associated with mothers—the scent that he used to smell on his own mother when he was but a small child. And in an instant, he felt like he was a small child again, one who had just scraped his knee, and then she comes along to take him in her arms and kiss the pain away. It was the feeling that all mothers should give. Wataru was so overwhelmed by that feeling that he couldn't stop small tears to brim at the corner of his eyes, and he returned the hug, not minding the static of pain that jolted in his sluggish body.
When the hug was finally released, Wataru looked into the older woman's eyes and found that they are as warm as they ever were. He sniffed a bit, wiping away the tears that had threatened to fall earlier. He turns to look at his father, and finds him standing a few centimeters from him, his hands in his coat pockets and with a stern look in his eyes. Wataru immediately lowered his head, still feeling the unmistakable anger of his father.
"I… I'm sorry…" he muttered in a low voice.
"That's right! You should apologize!" his father bellowed loudly that he had to cringe. But soon after that, he saw a smile appear on the older man's lips, and gentleness flashed in his eyes. "You should apologize for making us worry so much," he continued. "Really… it's just like that time you climbed up that cypress tree…"
Wataru sheepishly blushed. He never forgot that incident, but he was hoping his father did. Before another word could be uttered, the older man came upon him as well and gave him a great big hug. Wataru gasped as he felt another bone crack inside him. But it was a pain that he was welcoming.
"Right," Kawamura coughed, reminding everyone of his presence. "I better go and let you guys enjoy the family reunion." With that, he excused himself and left the room.
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Despite the heartfelt reunion earlier, Wataru felt uneasy once again. He kept glancing at Karin every now and then, but she always met his gaze with a smile, as if assuring him that everything would be all right. "Er…" he drawled. "I should apologize for the other stuff as well…" His parents piqued with curiosity as if unsure what he meant. Wataru cleared his throat before elaborating. "About me and Kazuki…"
"Listen, son," his father interrupted him. "I'll be honest with you. No parent really wishes that kind of… um… setting for his child. But if it does happen that way, it doesn't mean that the parent would automatically stop loving his kid."
"……"
"Your mother and I were just shocked, and it only needed some time for that thought to sink in."
"…But you still don't approve, right?" Wataru hesitated to ask.
"This is the case," his mother answered. "We spoke with Karin and Kawamura, and they both assure us that you and Kazuki-kun are serious with this relationship. The both of you aren't just fooling around, which is what we had initially thought, but you two are really in love. And when love strikes a person, what could others do to stop it? As I recall, your father even…"
Mr. Fujii coughed to gather their attention, afraid that they may stray from topic. But Wataru really knew that his father was always embarrassed whenever his mother began to narrate the story of how they got together. True enough, the man's face was colored with crimson red. "The point is," he spoke before his wife could continue. "Whatever parents may do or say, all they ultimately want is their child's happiness. And I don't want to be called an unfit parent merely because I cannot accept my son the way he is. Parents don't do that."
"…So you're not mad…?" Wataru asked again. "I mean, you're willing to look past this disappointment?"
"Disappointment?" Mr. Fujii scoffed. "Who said you're a disappointment?"
"Eh… But…"
"Wataru… let me tell you this. That girl you were with told us everything—about the jump and the cave… In that situation, most people would just freeze and watch, and then say they did all they could. But you… you jumped in after her. Now that takes a lot of guts and courage. You saved her. You risked your life for her, and that is something that not everyone is capable of doing."
"……"
"With that, how could we possibly be disappointed in you? If anything, we're more proud of you than ever before. Other parents would brag about how their child got into the honor role or won first place in some competition. But your mother and I, we get to brag that our child saved a life. How about that?"
"Let's not forget about your popularity!" Mrs. Fujii suddenly added out of the blue. "I never realized that you were so popular with the men, Wataru. Very handsome and elitemen… You should invite them over for dinner some time. If they like my cooking then I'll give my approval." She snickered mischievously and her eyes glimmered brightly.
Wataru chuckled, almost forgetting his parents were Kazuki-fans. But he had to admit that this conversation settled all his fears. He felt indescribably relieved, and he could only say one thing: "I'm home."
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Wataru shifted in his bed, trying to get a comfortable position. After patching things up with his parents, Takako had returned with her mother in tow. Kirie was a very sweet woman and inquired about his well-being. He answered honestly, and apologized for troubling her. Takako pounced back on him, giving him an affectionate hug, and the entire room burst into merry laughter. He was having such a good time, but the nurse picked that of all time to pop in and advise him to get some rest. He was about to argue that he had been sleeping for three days, but the icy glare coming from the woman instantly reminded him why he disliked hospitals so much. Everyone quietly shuffled out of the room, promising to visit him again.
Not that Wataru wasn't grateful for the peace and quiet but he really missed his own bed. He missed his stereo that would be blaring with Latino music if he were at home. His father would shout from the living room, telling him to keep the music down, and from the kitchen, he could smell dinner being prepared either by his mother or Karin. Darn hospitals, he grumbled, twitching his nose at the strong odor of disinfectant. Better make sure I don't end up in here again.
He was about to drift off to sleep when he heard footsteps scurrying down the corridor. They were drawing nearer and nearer with each passing second. Wasn't there a rule against running down the corridors in a hospital? Wataru listened some more, and straightened up into a sitting positing. He kept his eyes fixed on the door, almost expecting it to blow open at any moment.
The hasty footsteps came to a stop. Wataru gulped for a moment. Then, the door burst open, and he was blinded by the sight of the panting young man in front of him. "Ka… Kazuki…" he uttered breathlessly. He blinked, and the next thing he knew, he was swept in another fierce embrace. He was so surprised that the continuous murmur of his name barely registered in his head. He felt Kazuki's cold fingertips trailing across his skin, cuddling him and caressing him. His breath felt hot on his neck, and he distinctly heard the sound of an erratic heartbeat. But he couldn't decipher whether it was his or Kazuki's. It could even be both of them.
"Sorry…" Kazuki whispered, slowly releasing him but keeping him within reach. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up. I would've come sooner if I had known… I never should have left."
He kept on rambling that Wataru had to silence him by holding the older boy's face in his hands. True enough, Wataru could see the dark circles around Kazuki's eyes. He also looked visibly pale and thinner. Did Kazuki really have that much cheek bone? "It's all right," he answered. "I know it was my parents who told you to go home. And they were right. You look awful."
"Wataru…" Kazuki eased a bit, and sat on the edge of the bed, staying close to Wataru. "How are you feeling? Are you okay now?"
"Well… aside from my hand that is obviously out of commission, I'm A-okay."
Kazuki sighed. "What have I told you before? Having even a single injury isn't something to be thankful for. I worry for you even over the littlest things." He took Wataru's bandaged hand into his own and gave it a soft and gentle kiss, sending a static electricity throughout the young boy's body.
Wataru was oddly reminded of that time when he injured his hand with the ice-pick. Kazuki had said the exact same thing. He even kissed his hand the same way. Wataru could only call it déjà vu. Even his injured hand was the same as that time. He watched as Kazuki continued to love and caress his hand with his lips, causing the butterflies in his stomach to flutter.
"Kazuki…"
"I wanted to be the first thing you see when you opened your eyes. Well, at least it was Takako. That, I can still forgive."
"Kazuki…"
Kazuki looked at him and smiled. "You know, Wataru, we should talk. There are some things that need to be cleared up. I know it isn't a good time, but it needs to be said."
"……" Wataru didn't know if it was a good idea. Things were going so well… But the spark in the older boy's eyes finally convinced him to do so. He nodded his head and gave his approval.
Pleased and relieved with the decision, Kazuki settled back and searched for the right words to say. But feeling that sugar-coated words won't do, he decided to be straight and direct about it. "Wataru," he spoke. "I never sent you back my ring."
"Eh…"
"It was a misunderstanding… a mistake. I never meant to send you the ring with the letter."
Wataru was dumbfounded. But he waited for Kazuki to explain it to him properly before he gave a reaction.
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"So what you're saying is that I was supposed to receive the locket, but by some sort of mistake, I got the ring and the locket ended up in Mizuho-san's hands?" Wataru repeated, trying to make sure he got all the facts straight.
Kazuki nodded and pulled out the familiar silver ornament from his pocket. He presented the silver locket, still shimmering with splendor, to Wataru. The young boy contemplated for a moment how Kazuki was able to retrieve it from Mizuho, seeing as the older woman treasured it so much. The moment the accessory landed in his hands, Wataru gave it a long and hard inspection. Now that he thought about it, he did notice that the design was kind of masculine when he had first seen it around Mizuho's neck. But he never really questioned why that was so. But if it was meant to be for a guy then it made sense. So this was supposed to arrive with the letter… The letter!
He looked at Kazuki, his eyes still bearing questions. "I still don't get the letter. It was… cryptic."
"I did tell you that a lot of nurses were peeking over my shoulder as I wrote it."
"But what does it mean?"
"You don't know?" Kazuki took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to the young boy. When it was unfolded, Wataru discovered it to be the so-called 'Dear-John letter'. "I asked Karin to give it to me. Now, read it again."
Wataru frowned a bit, mentally complaining that his sister went through his stuff again, but he shrugged it aside and turned his attention to the piece of paper in his hands. He began to reread it, but this time, he kept in mind that the locket was what should've come along with it.
"Dear Wataru,
How are you faring with your exams? You had better passed or my credibility as a tutor would've gone down the drain."
The introduction still made him scoff. And for the record, it wasn't only Kazuki who tutored him. Asaka also pitched in to help him with his studies.
"I also apologize for the lack of communication. A lot of things have been happening these past few days. The moment I arrived, Mizuho was about to go into surgery. Talk about calling it close… I made it just in time. She looked really relieved and happy to see me. The truth is… so was I. It felt like I hadn't seen her for ages. When she was wheeled off into the operating room, I felt by breath hitch. For the first time in my life, I felt really scared. I don't think I've ever prayed like that in a million years!"
Wataru stared at the paragraph, still not liking the level of intimacy it was suggesting. Kazuki brushed away strands of hair that were on the young boy's face, noticing his confusion. "Mizuho and I have been out of contact since we broke up," he explained. "I couldn't really tell if we were on good terms or not. To be honest, I don't want things between her and I to be left sour. So when I saw her again, I felt relieved that we hadn't become estranged to one another."
"…Right…"
"But I was genuinely scared when she went into the operating room. It's true that I was concerned for her well-being, but there's an even greater reason than that."
"Reason?"
"Keep reading…"
Wataru obeyed and returned his focus on the letter, proceeding to the next paragraph.
"Anyway, the operation was a complete success and she's currently recovering. The doctors said that she's recovering really quickly, but she still needs to stay under observation for a few more days in case any complications arise. Though she's out of danger now, she's requested me to stay with her a bit longer.
I know I promised that I'll be back by the end of the week, but I just can't simply ignore her request. If by staying with her helps her recover sooner, then I want to do so. I truly care for her, which is why I've made up my mind to stay. Seeing her life and death struggle like that, it made me think about all sorts of things—especially the future… Our future…"
Kazuki made the choice to stay to help make sure she recovers. Wataru understood that choice. That was the older boy's free will to do so. Truth be told, if Nano had been placed in the exact situation as Mizuho was, he wouldn't hesitate to stay with her until she recovers. Because she was more than just an ex-girlfriend, she was also a very dear friend. And like Kazuki, Wataru also does not want to remain on sour terms with Nano. But what he couldn't understand was Kazuki's contemplation. What "future" was he referring to?
Then the phrase "all sorts of things" caught his eye. It had bothered him the first time he read it, and it still bothered him now. There was a hidden meaning in those words, but he just could put his finger on it. As Wataru continued to think it over, he felt Kazuki's hand place itself on his hand. The older boy gave it a small squeeze as if reassuring him of something. Wataru looked at his bandaged hand that had faint traces of blood on it. Oddly enough, he was suddenly reminded of an incident a few months ago.
Kazuki had just begun working in Asaka's circle, and a mirror had fallen and shattered on him. His left hand was injured, and although that was the only injury he got from it, Wataru still made a big fuss over it. He began to think up scenarios wherein he would never see Kazuki again. The older boy had scoffed, "Don't kill me off in your head." It was then that Wataru had understood just how much he loved Kazuki. He loves him so much that it was almost unbearable.
Wataru felt Kazuki squeeze his hand again, but not too tightly—being careful about the dextrose. The gesture sparked something inside him—as if a great revelation was made. "All sorts of things"… It couldn't mean what he thought it meant… could it? What Kazuki had been thinking about that time… Did seeing Mizuho's operation open a realization or query in Kazuki's mind? Was he contemplating what it would be like if Wataru was the one in a life-and-death struggle? If so… then the "future" the older boy had been referring to wasn't a "future" with Mizuho, but with Wataru!
Is that it? Is that the "even greater reason" Kazuki meant earlier?
He stole a glance at the older boy whose eyes seemed to shine brighter than he had ever seen before. Their hands were still intertwined, and they could somehow feel the other's pulse. The idea had seemed far-fetched when he first thought of it. But now that he was staring straight into those ice-blue orbs, he couldn't think of it as any thing else other than the truth.
He opened his mouth to say something, but instead he gave a small "hm", and returned to reading the letter.
"I know how the paired rings stand out too much, especially when people take notice of it. I guess it must have been troubling at times for you. I know I said that it's upon your own discretion whether to wear it or not, but I still can't help but feel how troubling the situation becomes when you're seen wearing it next to someone who has the same ring."
"Which is why… I've decided to send this to you. I realize I may not be conveying the message properly, but it's the only solution I could think of. I'm sorry I can't be there in person to give it to you. I truly hope you can forgive me for this ridiculous foolishness of mine. But this is how I truly feel."
It was because of the presence of the ring that, when he read this part, he thought Kazuki was breaking up with him. But the locket was really the item he should've received. The locket was the solution to something? That didn't make sense.
Kazuki noticed his confusion, so he took the locket and opened it for Wataru. The younger boy looked at it quizzically and stared at the circular slot that was sticking out like a sore thumb. It wasn't something that one would normally find in a locket, that's why Wataru got the impression that it was custom-made. But as he stared at it closely, he looked at its round outline and imagined something of equal size, shape and figure. Then his eyes lit up.
"Kazuki, don't tell me…" he muttered. "This is where the ring is supposed to be put?"
The older boy shrugged and smiled wryly. "It always discomforts you whenever someone takes notice of our matching rings," he said. "So I thought this would be the best solution. Plus, it's much better than keeping the ring in your wallet like a lottery ticket or a good luck charm."
"……"
"It's really supposed to be a Christmas present. But I got impatient and sent it to you right away. Guess I should've waited, huh?"
"Impatient? You? That's surprising."
"I'm also only human, you know. And I had also meant it as a peace-offering for not coming back in one week like I said I would. That's why I said to excuse my 'ridiculous foolishness' or did you miss that?"
Wataru shrugged and read the last paragraph.
"I realize that it's a bit cowardly to not say these things to you directly. It's just that… if I heard your voice or any complaint you have now, I might falter and end up terribly embarrassing myself. I know it's a bit selfish, but I want to stand by my decision no matter what. I can only hope for your understanding…
Yours truly,
Yuichi"
"You think it's cowardly to not tell me directly?" he mused.
"I wasn't supposed to call you," said Kazuki. "I wasn't planning to stay much longer than what I had agreed with Mizuho. But I really wanted to find the ring. So I called you to give you a heads up. But I was already missing you so much. Just hearing your voice made me want to jump on the next available flight back to Japan." He then turned his face away, his cheeks slightly turning pink. "If I did that, I would've broken a promise and probably looked like a fool in front of you."
"……"
"That's why," he met his gaze again. "I wanted to stand by my decision. I was really hoping you would understand."
"But I do understand!" Wataru interrupted. "All you had to do was explain it."
"Wataru…"
"…Well, now I feel incredibly stupid for all the heart ache this incident caused…"
"You're not the only one. I feel a bit stupid as well. I was the one who urged for both of us to be honest about the rings yet I was the one who hid the fact that I lost it."
"Wow… the Kazuki Yuichi admitting that he's stupid? Has hell frozen over?" the young boy snickered.
"Stop being so cheeky…" Kazuki snarled. He leaned forward, causing Wataru to lie back on the pillow, with him hovering sheer millimeters away from the younger man. "You know what that does to me…" he spoke in a faint, almost sensuous, whisper. He leaned further down until Wataru could feel Kazuki's hot breath upon his lips. But before they could make contact, Wataru put his hands in between them, gently pushing the older boy off of him.
"You're the one being cheeky," he said. "Even though all misunderstandings have been cleared up, that still doesn't change the situation between you and me."
"……"
"This is no longer just an issue that involves only the two of us. It also involves Asaka-san, Shohei-san, Mizuho-san, my parents, and practically everyone else who knows about us. It's not as simple as kiss-and-forget like before."
Kazuki let out a long breath, and picked himself up from his position on top of Wataru, giving the young boy some space to breathe. "I had a feeling you were going to say that," he spoke in a melancholy manner. "But it's fine. I also wasn't expecting it to be this easy. Especially with my brother involved… Well, I can wait. I can wait…" He gave a small smile, leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on Wataru's forehead.
It was innocent… gentle… almost shy… Wataru couldn't believe that such a kiss came from Kazuki. Right from the beginning, the kisses the older boy gave him were always filled with passion, desire, and an unquenchable thirst that would eventually ignite a fire inside him, blazing and burning him to the very core. But this kiss was very tender that it gave him the sense of calmness and soothing.
He relaxed a bit as Kazuki pulled up a chair and sat right next to his bedside. He glanced at the open locket which still lay comfortably in his hand. The words "Forever with you" that were inscribed there glittered under the light. He felt Kazuki take hold of his other hand again, gently stroking it as if to banish the pain and the hurt away. Wataru liked the sweet caress, and softly closed his eyes, lulling himself back to sleep. Not once did he feel Kazuki's hand slip away from his.
Unbeknownst to the two, Asaka stood outside by the doorway, listening to everything that was said. He clenched his hands into tight fists until his palms hurt and changed into a maddening red color. The bouquet of flowers he had been holding was crushed and its petals scattered all over the floor.
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The very next day, Wataru got visits from his classmates and friends, all congratulating him for his heroic rescue. Even the members of Asaka's circle had come to visit him. He was extremely embarrassed and asked for their forgiveness for causing such trouble. But Mitsuki had brushed it aside. "Anything for our precious kohai," she said. She kept giggling, and her eyes were flashing with an all-knowing gleam. That only led Wataru to conclude that they indeed knew about the love-triangle with him, Kazuki and Asaka. He buried himself underneath the blankets as he tried to dodge questions and teasing remarks.
When they left, Wataru got to enjoy the peace and quiet for only a few minutes before the door rattled opened again, revealing a fuming and upset Miho. He cringed under her predatory gaze, and he felt like the helpless prey. "Fujii!" she snapped. "It's about time you woke up! Now, I'll give you a piece of my mind!" She stomped over to where he was and pointed her index finger at him closely that it nearly hit his nose. "Why didn't you tell me where you were going that night? I go over to your classroom the next day to look for you then Kawamura-kun tells me you're in the hospital? Do you have any idea how shocked and worried I was?"
"Um…"
"Don't ever do that again! Now it feels like it's my fault!"
"S-Sorry, Miho…"
"Yeah, you better be sorry! I got gray hairs from this! And I'm only seventeen!"
"All this needless shouting…" a familiar voice spoke from the door. Wataru looked at the new visitor and was particularly surprised to see it was Tachibana. Behind her, Kawamura was waving nervously. "Ookusa, please keep your voice down. This is a hospital. We could hear your voice a mile away. And you should address your elders properly."
Miho frowned. "Well, sorry about that Tachibana-senpai."
Wataru shifted uncomfortably. Having Miho and Tachibana—both extremely popular girls in Ryokuyo—standing in the same room was really a sight to behold. But at the same time, the atmosphere was a bit intense that he found it hard to breathe. Anyway, he decided to clear such thoughts away. "Tachibana," he spoke. "What brings you here?"
"I'm your classmate," she answered. "Don't I have a right to visit you?"
"……"
"Besides, I'm also here to deliver something."
"Deliver something?"
She pulled out some papers from her bag and tossed it to him. "Those are the notes for the lessons you've missed. Since you'll be confined here for a few more days, chances are, you'll miss some of the exams. So the teachers have decided to let you take the make-up test."
"Really? Thanks," Wataru mused that this girl wasn't class representative for nothing. "But you didn't have to give me your notes. I could've just asked Kawamura."
"I thought that as well," she said. "Unfortunately though, Kawamura-kun also didn't keep up with the lectures."
The boy in question sheepishly scratched his head as all eyes focused on him. He chuckled nervously at the amount of attention being given to him, and opted to change the subject. "Ah, Wataru… want to hear the latest news in school?"
"Latest news? It's only been three days…"
"And in those three days, a lot of things happened," he continued. "There's still gossip about Kazuki and his 'mysterious girlfriend', but they're not as intense as it used to be."
"Flavor of the month," Miho commented.
"Anyway," Kawamura added. "I must say though that you started a revolution, Wataru."
"Revolution?"
"Whoever knew that there were so many in Ryokuyo? But they're all coming out now…"
"Many what? Who's coming out?" the boy was confused, while the girls snickered.
"What else could it be, Fujii-kun?" Tachibana giggled. "A lot of guys are coming out of the closet…"
"Eh?"
"Apparently, that confession you got from that handsome man instigated a new movement in school. There are actually some students like that, and people who support such relationships. But none of them ever came out because of the social standing. It's all thanks to that public declaration of love that things have been changing."
"…You have got to be kidding me…" Wataru groaned.
"No joke!" Miho laughed. "Surprisingly, lots of girls are actually supporting it. Truth is they're in the process of setting up a fan club now. The Asaka Masanobu x Fujii Wataru Fan Club."
"No way…"
"But isn't it amazing, Wataru?" Kawamura jumped with eager eyes. "You're leading a new revolution! You'll be remembered in Ryokuyo history! You'll become a legend like the great Kazuki Shohei, himself!"
Wataru paled and shook his head. He suddenly got a terrible headache. Like being put in the same bracket as Shohei-san is what I want… he groaned.
"No use moping about it now, Fujii-kun," Tachibana added. "At least you're popularity just sky-rocketed. Oh well, I only hope Kazuki-senpai doesn't mind…" She flicked her hair in a nonchalant manner, and glanced at her wristwatch. "Oops, sorry but I gotta go. I'll see you then, Fujii-kun." She excused her self and left the room.
Miho crossed her arms. "She knows…" she muttered.
"Huh?" Wataru asked. "Knows what?"
She glanced back at him and sighed. "Nothing. Just my woman's intuition acting up. Anyway, I have to go too. Get better soon, okay?"
The moment she left, Wataru and Kawamura stared at each other. The mystery of women continues to boggle them.
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As the sunset dyed the inside of the room with a bright orange color, Wataru continued to stare at the silver locket. He traced its design with his fingers. It truly was a wonderful work of craftsmanship. He wondered how much Kazuki spent on it, or what he had been feeling when he bought it. Excitement? Anticipation, perhaps at seeing Wataru's reaction? He didn't really know, but the thought amused him.
A knock was heard on the door, and Wataru called for the person to enter. When the door slid open, his eyes widened with surprise at the presence of this unexpected visitor. "M-Mizuho-san…?" He watched as she entered the room and shut the door behind her. There was something different about the woman since the last time he saw her. How could he describe it? He had last seen her as the epitome of feminine warmth and charm. But now, she seemed like a cold beauty.
He gulped. He didn't know why, but the air felt heavy like he was about to suffocate. His stomach began to churn, almost ready to throw up. He was feeling a sense of dread. Mizuho walked towards him—her approaching steps resonated like deafening echoes in his hears. In what seemed like an eternity, she finally reached him, and sat on the chair that was placed by his bed—the very same chair that Kazuki had sat on.
"Mizuho-sa…"
"Wataru-kun," she interrupted. The sternness in her voice was crisp and clear, but her hands were shaking as they clutched on to the pleats of her skirt. "There are things we need to discuss."
To be continued…
Scans of volume 5 are up! Go over to my LJ site to take a peek, but if you don't want to be spoiled then steer clear. Honestly though, the pictures of volume 5 don't really say what happens. Is it a happy ending or do they go separate ways? Really, I don't know… Must begin scouring for translation/summary…
Ha-ha! Just to remind you, I ain't done with all the drama just yet… evil snicker
Yes, I am so eeeeeevil….. XD
Next chapter: Choice and Circumstance. What does Mizuho have to say to Wataru? What is the ultimate outcome? The end is near…! Rejoice with me, guys!
Don't forget to review, people! :-)
