Hana's Heads-Up: It's been tests, assignments, and contests for the past few weeks. Blegh. Sorry for always being delayed. Good thing I'm going to be on break soon. More writing time! :)
Anyway, this story will be one of my more emotional ones. Not much cute stuff, sorry. It's told from Ichigo's POV and takes place when Team Ichigo get to study abroad in France. And every "he" and "him" that pops up is referring to Kashino. Hope you enjoy~ X)
Theme 5: Unbreakable
Ever since that day, things have been going downhill.
I may very well believe that he and I are not meant for each other. What was that feeling like before? I must've been dreaming it.
Lots can change in a few months.
I think it started just a few weeks after we arrived in France. The campus was simply gorgeous. We marveled the intricate architecture of the buildings, the beautiful gardens of fruits and flowers, and the feel of the country itself. Of course, food was a major highlight also.
Hanabusa-kun and Andou-kun were whisked away to another side of the campus according to their focus of studies. That left me and him to have classes together. It was refreshing. We saw each other nearly every hour, strolled the garden paths; practiced our cooking skills together. As days passed I noticed we bickered less and laughed more often. Talking with him became something I looked forward to everyday. Texting whenever we weren't together became a habit.
I loved every single minute of it all. I'm sure he did, too.
I felt like our bond was gradually growing deeper.
But when that girl came into the picture, my world completely transformed. She transferred into the school on a crisp autumn day, when the leaves were beginning to brown. Her focus was on chocolate, just like him. They ended up as partners in that class and quickly became friends. Two days after they met, he decided to introduce her to me.
From the moment she arrived in the school, he'd been talking on and on about her. How she was a French girl who spoke considerably fluent Japanese, tempered chocolate extremely well, and et cetera. I was slightly surprised at his interest in her, and thus agreed to meet her days later.
She was talented indeed. Upon encountering she offered me a sample of her chocolate. Her dirty blonde curls fell delicately along the sides of her head. She had ocean blue eyes and a cute smile. The girl was stunning, period.
Not to mention she was slim and had a petite figure. A build I seemed to be lacking.
She smiled oh so sweetly at me, greeting me in a gentle and cheery voice. When she learned that him and I were previously teammates and still good friends, I thought I saw a flicker in her eyes. Just for a split second. It disappeared afterwards for the remainder of our conversation.
When the bell signaled the end of break time, he suggested that we all get going. We bid one another farewell before parting our ways. I noticed that she and him were walking close together for the next class they shared. When she realized I was watching, she grabbed his arm and hugged it possessively, turning around to flash me a smug grin. He didn't notice this action at all.
She hated me for sure. I wasn't too fond of her either, to be honest.
Weeks flew by. As they did, I could sense a change in his schedule. Slowly, he began to drift from spending time with me to her. At first it wasn't much of a bother; I told myself he needed to interact with others more and form friendships. But then I became aware of how engaged they were in their conversations, how happy they seemed when working together. Near the start of it all I would get a wave or "hi" from them as I passed their workspace. Now it wasn't even a mere glance. I got no response.
Even texting him wasn't fun anymore. I tried to keep up with his daily life and such, but eventually he seemed almost bored with me. The only times we could manage a "normal" conversation was when it was about her. She this, she that.
I didn't understand the drastic change in him. Was he really Kashino? The guy I'd known for two years now? What was it about her that made her more important than me? I was obviously not in his priority list any longer.
It hurt. A lot.
It got to the point where he didn't sit at lunch with me anymore. He ate with her instead. He ignored me and seemed to disregard my existence. It was extremely appalling and painful to bear. There wasn't a night I could remember where I didn't cry.
I wanted Andou-kun and Hanabusa-kun to comfort me. But I had to stay strong. I knew deep inside I had to. So I sealed my lips and kept my inner heart secret. No one but I had to know.
~x~
It's been months after all that. I've gotten used to the loneliness and empty, nagging feeling.
The wooden bench I'm sitting on feels frigid against my skirt. Before me lies the beautiful lake of the school, the surface gleaming in the sunlight. Birds in the trees overhead sing their afternoon song. Spring is coming.
This has become my new lunch spot ever since he decided to leave me alone for her.
My food tastes dry and bland. It has no flavor whatsoever. At least to me.
I'm halfway through my meal when I hear a noise right behind me. Turning, I see him. What a surprise. My eyes follow as he maneuvers around the bench and sits beside me.
I do not respond, being conflicted by an internal tug-of-war. A battle of overwhelming love and hatred rages within my heart.
"Sorry," he whispers quietly. Out of the corner of my eye I watch him turn toward me. It's the first word he's said to me in ages.
I swallow. The container in my hands becomes clammy with perspiration. My lips struggle to budge and form words to speak. "Is... Is she absent today or something?"
"Ichigo."
I want to cry, desperately. The tears are on the verge of breaking the dam and flowing out nonstop. When was the last time he referenced me like that? I want to say so many things. How much I've missed him, how much he hurt me; ask him why he liked her more. But instead I find myself rendered speechless.
"Look at me... Please."
Seeing no other choice, I obey. For the first time in so long, I see his face directly. Those caramel colored eyes, soft lips, sorrowful expression. His hair is radiant in the daylight. I've almost forgotten this image of him up close.
The tears spill. I don't care anymore. I stare straight at him, lip trembling and salty water droplets sliding down my cheeks. He slowly reaches out and caresses the side of my face. It seems like an eternity since he did last time. The gentle touch causes me to sob harder.
He hugs me somewhat awkwardly, not having done so in a while. I set my lunch box on the ground before embracing him back. Inhaling, I catch the familiar scent of chocolate that always lingers on him. My shoulders seem to shake uncontrollably as I weep against his chest, staining his jacket with my tears. Concealed emotion that had been building up since Day 1 seep out of me right there and then. It is such an immense relief.
"Why?" I ask in the midst of bawling. "Why did you..."
He runs a hand through my hair and softly speaks into my ear. "I'm so sorry. You don't have to forgive me for being so stupid."
I shake my head. "No, I... forgive you."
He leans back and I witness the tears collecting in the corners of his eyes. He is genuinely penitent. "Thank you."
I look down and feel a smile creeping on my face. "You... like her don't you? R-romantically."
He bites his lip and hesitates. Seconds pass by before he answers. "No."
"You... don't?"
"Nope. I'm done being so-called friends with her for good. Turns out her heart isn't as pure as it should be."
"Then why did you... Today, why...?"
He casts a discreet glance at the pond. "I realized something very important is all. She's not worth it." His cheeks redden ever so faintly as he gazes back at me.
"What..."
"Basically," he murmurs, "she wasn't you."
Cliché ending? Sorry if it was. I try hard not to have a lot of overused stuff like that in stories, but... *Sigh* I can't help it sometimes.
Wow. I'm really pleased with all the reviews. Over one-third of this story's reviews are just because of the last one-shot? Amazing. Thanks so much, you guys! :D
1.) RedNeko22
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4.) Mikashimotaku
5.) Aoi Kobayashi
6.) MikatakiArichika
7.) CatchyCally
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9.) Alex
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11.) xBaka-chanx
The next theme is pretty fun. Ufufu... B) Look forward to it! I promise it'll be up soon. Love you all and please review! X3