Memories of a Life Gone By pt. 6 The Ghosts of Childhood
Homura, Shien, and Zenon stared curiously at the jar sitting in Homura's hands. Several, gelatinous eye-like eggs stared back at them.
"So this is it, is it?" Homura asked as he turned the jar staring and studying all the eggs inside.
"Yep," Zenon proudly grinned. "It took a little digging around the demon black market, but they had it."
Shien nodded. Homura grinned.
"So," he began. "These are the eggs of the parasite demon... These will come in handy..."
Hakkai sighed as the jeep stopped in the dense fog filling the forest.
"This is a dead end too..." he frowned as he pulled out a map.
"I'm hungry," Goku whined.
"Is that all you ever say monkey?" Gojyo questioned annoyed as he looked over Hakkai's shoulder. "So, why can't you just admit you're lost?"
Hakkai let out a nervous chuckle. Miyuki giggled.
"Well we're not wandering around aimlessly," Sanzo added in his usual sneering tone. "I'm not in the mood."
"And what do you expect us to do if the fog doesn't clear?" Gojyo snapped flatly.
"Rough it," he replied curtly. "You should know that by now."
Miyuki groaned. Not again! We've been doing that for how many days now! She thought despairingly. Quickly grabbing Miyuki in his arms and throwing her over his shoulder, Gojyo let out a snort and hopped out of the jeep. Confused, Miyuki blinked.
"Where are you going, Gojyo?" Goku asked.
"I've got a small rule for things like this," he began. "And that rule is 'Don't sleep unless there is a woman in your bed.' I've got the woman. I just need the bed. So, I'm finding a way out."
Smiling, she sweat dropped.
"Oh let me come!" Goku cried as he leapt from the jeep. "Maybe I'll find some food!"
"Sanzo?" Hakkai asked worriedly as the three ran off.
"Ch," he snorted. "Let them do what they want."
He leaned resting near a tree on a small steep embankment by the path. A faint cigarette glowed in his mouth as he smoked. Patiently, she sat with him waiting.
"Oi, Goku!" he called out into the fog. "Just wait for food until we find the next town!"
"But I think I smelled some good food over this way!" He replied his voice coming from deep in the mist. "And I can't move around on an empty stomach!"
Gojyo sighed.
"He's such a brat," he muttered as he stood.
"Well," Miyuki began. "He is still somewhat of a child. To be expected."
Gojyo didn't reply as he stared off into the distance. She turned. A batch of red flowers grew at the entrance of a stone tunnel. Slowly, he walked over and picked up a blossom feeling his painful memories surface.
"Okaasan! (Mother!)" he called out as he offered her the bright red flowers. "The man at the flower shop said these were for you! Don't you like it?"
A tall woman smiled as she stared at the blood colored flowers through the long bangs that hid her swollen crying eyes.
"Yes," she replied as she slapped the flowers from his hand. "They're such a nice bloody color!"
Gojyo watched as the flowers went scattering around him. Growling, his mother pulled his hair and dug her claws into his skin. He cried out in pain.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" he cried. "I'm sorry mother! I'm sorry!"
"What are you trying to do to me! If only you weren't around!" she screamed.
"Gojyo?" she asked as she walked over and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Are you all right?"
He turned. A worried look quickly etched itself on her face. Well that dredged up some awful memories... He thought to himself as he twisted the flower in his hand.
"Nothing," he replied his lips curling upward. "Just thinking."
Playfully, he placed the flower behind her ear. She giggled. The heavy dark clouds above them began to leak their heavy drops. Quickly, they ran inside the tunnel quietly cursing the rain. Nonchalantly, Gojyo took a long drag from his cigarette. The sound of Miyuki's heels bounced off the wall as she slowly wandered into the tunnel stopping at the horizon were the dim outside met the inner darkness. A cool wind blew. She looked up questioningly. A breeze? Gojyo thought. He turned out into the pouring rain watching as the fog slowly dissipated. I wonder where this leads...
"Oi, Goku!" he called out. "You there? I found some free meat buns, buddy!"
The thousands of pittering and pattering of the rain replied. Miyuki shrugged.
"Should we follow it?" Miyuki smiled. "I should think Goku's probably found himself somewhere to take shelter from the fog and rain a while."
I've got time to kill... He thought. Gojyo smiled nodding as he pulled out his lighter. Gently, he took her hand in his as they walked down the long tunnel quietly talking.
"So why so silent?" she asked smiling. "It's not like you."
He turned to her. He smiled.
"Just thinking," he replied still smiling.
"Of what?" she wondered aloud.
He chuckled.
"Nothing you need to worry that pretty little head of yours about," he grinned as they stopped at a sudden split in the tunnel. "Which way?"
"I don't know," she began scratching her head. "I can down one and you go down the other."
"No way," he replied oddly stern as he smiled. "I'm not losing you like the I lost the monkey."
He pulled her close a devilish smile coming to his lips.
"And besides," he grinned. "With that stupid chimp, the angry monk, and the old prude around, I never get to be alone with you."
She smiled blushing lightly.
"I'll agree to that," she grinned. "But would you really want to be alone with me in a place like this?"
"Well," he winked. "If it gets any colder, I'm going to need someone to warm me up."
She laughed.
"But until then," he smiled as he pulled out a coin. "We'll flip for it. Heads we go right. Tails we go left."
The small copper coin flew in the air landing with a soft clink that echoed off the tunnel walls.
"Left it is then," He grinned as he took her hand and led her down the hall. "And you little coin, will be our breadcrumb. So don't get taken o.k.?"
She laughed. They continued walking and flipping coins as they came across the forks in the tunnel. Their soft chitter chatter and laughter bounced off the walls as they went. He stopped coming to another fork.
"Again?" he sighed as Miyuki giggled. "This was a good idea the first time, but I'll go broke at this rate."
"I've got a few coins," she smiled. "So don't worry about it."
"You might not need to worry about it," he began as he studied the small copper coin on the floor. "Didn't we get tails the first time?"
She stared downward nodding.
"Just as I as thought," he said as he turned staring back at the way they came. "Now, what could be wrong with this tunnel?"
The long dark tunnel returned their stare. Pitch blackness suddenly engulfed them as the last of the lighter's fire burned away. Gojyo groaned.
"Oi!" he cried. "What are you doing going out at a time like this?... Gutless bastard..."
He slumped down to the floor. She placed herself beside him. She smiled taking his hand. He chuckled.
"So when do you think whoever thought it was funny to lock us in here will show up?" she asked laughing lightly.
"I'd say right now," he glared in the distance as small light came their way.
Quickly, he pulled out his shakujo and stood in a stance pushing Miyuki behind him. She prepared her claws. Slowly, the light grew brighter as it landed on them. Gojyo stared shocked at the figure holding the flashlight. The light cast its shadows on his face and his long white and blue coat.
"Gojyo!" the man with short dark hair called out. "Is that you, Gojyo!"
Miyuki watched staring over her shoulder. Shimatta! (Damn it!) She thought worriedly. It's one of Kougaiji's servants!
"Dokugakuji!" Gojyo cried as he stepped out from his stance.
"So did you guys do this?" Gojyo asked suspiciously as they walked down the tunnel.
"If we did, I wouldn't be locked in here. It must be Homura's doing," Dokugakuji replied. "So who's your friend? I don't get an introduction?"
Miyuki walked staring blankly at the floor in a reverie. Gojyo smirked turning to her. His arm rested itself around her waist.
"This pretty little flower of mine is Miyuki," he grinned.
She perked hearing her name. She blushed and smiled.
"Nice to meet you," she greeted.
Dokugakuji smiled. Then, he stopped shining the light on a mark on the wall. Gojyo and Miyuki turned.
"That explains it," he began. "That's the mark I made earlier. There's a barrier in this place. And I thought I was getting lucky when I found all this change."
He pulled out a handful of coins as Gojyo stared.
"Oi!" he cried making a grab for them. "Those are mine!"
She watched as Gojyo jumped for the taller man's closed fist. A familiar feud replayed itself. Quickly, they stopped.
"I'd say you'd only waste it, but I guess you're a little old to hear a lecture on money," he said quietly as he tossed the copper coins to the ground.
"Oi!" he cried as he scrambled to pick up his change. "Hand them to me nicely next time will you! And I could use a little light here!"
Smiling as she knelt, she picked up a few coins and handed them to him as Dokugakuji shined the light to the floor.
"Grah..." he groaned as he gathered the other coins on the floor. "I'm missing one!"
She smiled a comforting smile as she went and leaned against the wall falling back into her reverie. Who did Homura send this time? She wondered worriedly. Gojyo turned suddenly grinning. A talisman stuck out from a crack between the floor and the wall.
"Ah ha!" he began as he began peeling it away. "Here we go. This little talisman's the one making the barrier. The little troublemaker!"
"No! Don't!" Dokugakuji cried as Gojyo held the removed talisman in his hand.
"Fools!" a voice suddenly cried out. "You've hastened your own deaths! I'm Yosui! And I'll be your guide to the Underworld!"
Underneath them, the floor began to rumble sending them plummeting into the room below.
"Ow!" Miyuki cried painfully as she landed.
"Shouldn't the ceiling collapse in a situation like that?" Gojyo wondered.
"Why did you do that!" Dokugakuji cried. "It was obviously a trap!"
"Hey, don't blame me," he shrugged as he grinned. "I'm a master at removing and stripping things. Whether it be talismans or Miyuki's clothing."
Miyuki blushed awkwardly.
"You're such a brat," Dokugakuji sighed as he stood.
"You were once one too," Gojyo retorted. "We all were."
"Smartass..." he muttered.
A sudden pain shot through his arm making him fall to the floor. Gojyo rushed over.
"You hurt?" he asked worriedly as he pulled off his bandanna.
Dokugakuji's white sleeve slowly grew stained with red. He watched as Gojyo continued wrapping the wound.
"It used to be me wrapping the bandages..." he murmured as he remembered the ghosts of his childhood. "All because there was a little kid who always wanted to tag along. And he always seemed to be covered in fresh wounds."
Short flashes of memories went through their heads.
Gojyo winced as he held his scraped knees in his hand. Chuckling quietly, Dokugakuji gently wrapped his wounds.
"You got the wrong guy," he replied. "I got no such memory of things like that."
"So that's why you wear that bandanna!" he suddenly cried. "You keep it around for emergencies!"
Miyuki smiled. Heh, she thought as she quietly listened to their conversation. I didn't know he had family on Gyumaoh's side.That must keep things very interesting. She smiled her eyes closing in thought. Her ears twitched as she heard another quiet rumble. Her eyes went wide as she watched the walls slowly closing in. Quickly, Gojyo pulled out his shakujo and sent the blade flying at the wall. The wall kept closing in. He growled.
"That's pretty sturdy," he growled frustrately. "Credits for using a classic though."
"It's been proven to work rather well," Dokugakuji replied.
"Well," Miyuki began sarcastically. "What do you all suggest now? If Gojyo's blade won't work, then my claws and your sword are obviously useless."
Dokugakuji slowly moved along the wall knocking quietly.
"You can knock all you want, but I don't think anyone's home!" he cried as he turned to him.
"Will you two keep quiet!" he cried as he keep knocking. "Everything's that's man made has some sort of weak point."
"You can find it by doing that?" he asked slightly frantic.
"Well could you find it?" Miyuki worried as she watched Gojyo adjust his shakujo in his arms with the decreasing width of the room.
"I don't care what you do, but it's getting rather cramped in here, brother!" he cried sarcastically. "Wanna hurry it up?"
"I will!" Dokugakuji cried. "You two just keep quiet!"
"Ch," Gojyo snorted. "You and that big brother act of yours."
He knocked finding a soft hollow sound.
"Here!" he cried as he backed away.
The crescent blade went flying crashing a gaping hole in the wall as the two walls slowly drew closer in. Dokugakuji scrambled through.
"You go first," he said as he pushed her through following quickly behind.
"Not bad," Yosui's dark figure chuckled. "Tenacious. Just as I expected. But you all won't escape from here that easily..."
A cold and gleaming metallic hall awaited them as they burst through the second wall. She let out a quiet gasp as her heels slipped on the cold smooth metal. A slanted floor? She wondered. Her large ears twitched at the faint sound of rushing water in the distance.
"This is different... Is this floor slanted to you?" Dokugakuji asked.
"You might want to run..." she warned as she heard the rushing water's sound come crashing closer. "A lot of water is on it's way..."
Slowly, they turned gasping as a large wave raged down they corridor sweeping them off their feet. They struggled to keep their heads above the current. Their loud gasping and sputtering bounce off the cold metal walls as they rode the crashing wall of water.
In the dark, he grinned as he petted a large purple scaled beast with shining water blue eyes. Its sharp and yellowish white teeth and claws glistened in the dim light.
"Be a good pet," he grinned. "And bring me the girl, will you?"
The water beast seemed to growl with amusment as the figure made it disappear with his magic. The figure's grin grew.
"Good pet," he said with a sneering smile.
The water continued raging down the hall. They continued struggling against the fast current. With its growling muffled by the current, the water beast swam easily reaching the three of them. Roaring, it reared its head. Quickly, it entwined Miyuki in its slimy grasp as it wrapped itself around her. Frantically, she clawed at its sharp scales. Miyuki watched as the gaping cuts quickly healed.
"Miyuki!" Gojyo cried out sending this blade flying.
"Gojyo!" she sputtered as the creature dove under the water missing Gojyo's blade.
"Miyuki, hold on!" he cried as he swam quickly as he could against the current.
As the hard current pushed him away, he watched as the creature swam with Miyuki in its grasp. She struggled to breathe as she clawed at the beast her frantic screams coming as blasts of blubbles. Gasping, he resurfaced.
"Give her back you bastard!" he cried as he gasped and struggled.
"Gojyo!" Dokugakuji gasped. "We'll get back don't worry! We just gotta keep going with the current for now..."
The beast crashed through the floor in the dark room throwing Miyuki at the figure's feet. She grunted and gasped as she glared up at the dark figure. Quickly, the beast disappeared through the opening it made. The wound in the floor quickly closed as it left. Ocean blue-green eyes studied her through the darkness. The soft light from the reflection pool cast itself onto him revealing a dimly lit man with green and white clothing. He brushed his blonde bangs away from his face as he smirked.
"Why hello, Megumi," he grinned showing a set of pearl white fangs. "Or should I call you 'Miyuki' as your lover does?"
"What do you and Homura want now?" she glared.
He continued grinning.
"Why we want absolutely nothing. Nothing but the Maten Scripture!" he laughed maniacally. "You're taking much too long with this you realize."
She turned away glaring at the cold metal floor and the lifeless stone walls. He stood and began stalking toward her. His bare feet padded quietly against the damp metal. Small droplets of water splashed as he walked. The his long toe nails scraped the floor. The high pitched sound grated on her ears. He grabbed her face in his hands and made her turn to him.
"He's making you go soft isn't he?" he grinned as she continued glaring.
"No!" she denied fervently and angrily.
A cold shiver ran through her as her mind processed his words. He's lying! She cried inwardly. He has to be... Tears began prickling her eyes. A set of tears slowly slipped and ran down her face. He chuckled as he slowly brushed her tears away. It just can't be true... She said in her head again.
"Don't deny it," he began as his grin grew. "Everyone knows but you. You loved him 500 years ago, and you're only falling for him all over again."
Her tears continued to fall as she turned away her head slumping. The warm familiar feelings flooded her in a rushing and crashing wave of memories and emotions. The ancient and recent voices rang in her head. The visions blinded her.
"You treat me so kindly... Just like in my dreams.."
"... If I weren't on this trip I'd flirt with you good and proper."
"I... Had a good time tonight...
"So did I... Minus all the running we had to do from that stupid monk..."
"Hold it! Don't I get a little 'Hello, why thank you for helping me up from my fall?' or 'Why thank you so much for the flowers?'"
"I wouldn't miss saving you for the world..."
"Sometimes the forbidden fruit is a lot tastier than the common ones lying around..."
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears. She let out a loud cry as her tears gushed from her eyes. She covered her ears curling herself into a ball as she wailed. No, she whimpered. It can't be true! Why does it have to be true!
Chuckling, he walked off and returned to his throne picking up a small jar. Inside, the gelatinous eye-like eyes looked out. He twisted his lips devilishly.
A while before...
Homura handed him the jar smirking.
"Make good use of these on Megumi," he smiled. "I think her part this little story is slowly coming to an end..."
Grinning, he opened the jar reaching in and grabbing a handful of slippery and squishing eggs from the thick gooey liquid from the jar. Slowly, he stalked over to her wailing figure. Quickly, he thrust his claws into her shoulder making her wailings louder.
"Now when, they get here," he grinned as she struggled. "Just make sure you act like the pretty and helpless little hostage that you are."
She winced feeling her blood drop to the floor. A slippery substance slipped inside stinging her wounds.
One should be enough, he thought as he returned to his throne and continued watching through a reflection on the floor.
"Now don't think of this as a simple inundation tatic," he called out to Gojyo and Dokugakuji. "My secret spell is calling out water beasts! Either be killed by them or drown. It's your choice!"
He watched through the reflection chuckling lightly. He watched as Dokugakuji ran Gojyo through with his sword.
"Oh look," he grinned as he watched with his head resting on his hand idly. "Your lover has just died."
Her crying suddenly stopped as she turned to him with wide gold eyes. No... She denied to herself. No!
(Author's note: I've decided to split this episode into two chapters. I'm sure if it were animated, there would be some way of making it fit into 30 min., but my old instinct of adding a lot of description is starting to come alive again. So yea. Stay tuned! It's not much of a cliff hanger anyway if you've already seen the anime...)
Memories of a Life Gone By Side Story: Romancing the Memories pt. 6 Forbidden Acts
Panting nervously, Nataku stuck himself against the wall as he stood just outside the ajar office door. The rolls of toliet paper in his hands quickly dropped to the floor.
"What's wrong, Nataku?" Goku whispered as he held the several other rolls of toliet paper in his arms. "Are we gonna do it or what?"
"We can't, Goku," he pouted as he stubbornly crossed his arms. "Megumi's in there with Kenren."
The toliet paper in Goku's arms went flying as he excitedly threw his arms up.
"Ooh!" he grinned making a break for the door. "Lets say hi!"
"No!" he whispered sharply as he dove for him.
Nataku's fingertips brushed against the ends of Goku's long brown locks. Horrified, he watched as Goku burst through the door.
"Hi!" he heard Goku call out as a set of shocked screaming and scrambling came in reply. "Eh? ...What are you doing?"
Nataku leaned in to listen.
"H!" Goku cried as he burst into the door. "Eh? ...What are you doing?"
Gasping as she turned red, Megumi quickly pushed Kenren off her and scrambled for her ruffled and wrinkled dress. Kenren quickly pulled up his pants and hopped onto the examination table. He fidgeted uncomfortably as his leather pants started cutting off his circulation to his lower regions. They sweat dropped. A nervous and twitching smile grew on her face. A confident grin grew on his.
"W-why, Goku..." she began nervously. "We... Were... Ah..."
"Playing a game," Kenren grinned confidently as he pulled out a cigarette and began smoking. "We were playing a very fun game..."
Miyuki slapped her forehead and slid her hand down her face. Not the best reply, Kenren darling... She thought nervously.
"Ooh!" Goku laughed. "I like games! Can I play too?"
Kenren chuckled as he stood and ruffled his hair. Megumi's blush quickly darkened.
"Heheh," Kenren continued chuckling his cigarette hanging on the corner of his mouth slowly burning away. "I'm sure we'd love to have you 'play' too, but this game is meant for older people like me and Megumi. Maybe when you're older you'll find someone who wants to play it with you too."
"Oooh!" Goku grinned. "Then do you think when I'm older Konzen or Nataku will play it with me?"
Now you've gone and done it... Megumi thought as she hung her head. Sweat drops coated her frazzled hair. The cigarette in Kenren's mouth fell to the floor with his jaw. He twitched nervously sweat dropping as he smiled.
"S-sure," he twitched smiling.
"Ahem!" Megumi coughed as she walked up and rested her hands on Goku's shoulders. "I think we'll discuss this subject with you when you're a little older, ne Goku? Right now, I'm sure Kenren-san wants to continue the game. After all, I think he was winning. And I'm very sure he wants to win."
Kenren grinned resting his palms on the back of his head. Goku pouted.
"Aw," he frowned as Megumi guided him out the door. "Okay."
"Now you two go off and play somewhere else for a little while all right?" Megumi asked as she smiled at Nataku and Goku. "And you two, make sure you don't tell anyone what you saw. It's a rule of the game, all right?"
"Ok!" Goku cried as he started off. "Come on, Nataku! Lets go find someone else's room to toliet paper, ok?"
Nataku grinned as he grabbed the toliet paper on the floor.
"Ok!" he agreed as he ran. "Lets do the Jade Emperor's!"
Walking back in, she let out a relieved sigh as she closed her door quietly and locked it. Kenren grinned as he sat on the examination table and leaned back. Slowly, she picked up the slowly burning cigarette on the floor and snuffed it out tossing it away.
"A 'game' huh?" she smirked as she stood beside him.
Kenren's lips twisted upward.
"And I was winning, apparently," he chuckled as he pulled out another cigarette. "Think Konzen will be mad if he found out that Goku said that?"
"Well," she laughed quietly. "As long as you didn't just turn Goku gay in the end... I'm sure he'll get over it."
Grinning, she pulled herself onto the table and laid down beside him. He slipped his hands into her dress as he quickly undid the clasps.
"Care to finish what we've started?" he grinned.
"Most definitely," she grinned as she pulled his cigarette from his mouth and placed her lips on his.
With a worried look on his face, Nataku walked into his father's office. Li Touten sat behind his desk his fingers entwined as he watched his son walk up to him. He smiled a conspiring smile.
"So, son," he began his smile growing. "Did you and your friend toliet paper Megumi's room and office like I suggested?"
"No..." Nataku replied obediently. "We went to prank her office, but she was there..."
Li Touten's facade changed into a convincing questioning look.
"Oh?" he asked as though he were curious. "Why would she be there this late?"
Nataku hung his head his gold eyes shifting away from his father. He bit his lip.
"She was with Kenren," he muttered.
"Oh?" Li Touten wondered. "Now, what was he there for?"
Inwardly, his conspiring thoughts slowly fell into place as his inward conspiring grin grew. Nataku hesitated in his reply.
"Tell me what they were doing, Nataku," Li Touten commanded.
"They.." he sighed quietly. "They were doing a 'game' according to Kenren... But he was on top of her from what I saw... And..."
Li Touten smirked as he stood and walked over to him. Gently, he patted his head as he smiled a false kind smile. Nataku shivered and cringed at the sight of it.
"You did well for me, Nataku," he continued smiling. "Just like I knew you would..."
"Thank you, father," he replied sadly and obediently.
Megumi sat in her office smiling as she continued writing her reports and filling out papers. A warm breeze flew in through the large windows. I've got to remember to clean those examination tables... She chuckled as she stood. Got to keep things sanitary now.. She sighed. You and your "games", Kenren... She walked to a storage closet and pulled out the cleaning supplies quickly beginning to scrub her tables. As she scrubbed, her door quietly opened. A figure walked inside.
"Cleaning up after you and Kenren's escapades?" Li Touten sneered as he leaned in the door frame.
Gasping, she stopped. She growled.
"What do you want, Li Touten?" she snarled spinning around to him as she glared. "You can no longer control me."
He walked over to her as he gripped her throat digging his nails into the skin. She clawed at his hand.
"Let go of me!" she gasped kicking at his legs.
"You're very wrong my dear!" he sneered tightening his hold on her throat. "Nataku has told me of you and Kenren's little act right here in this office!"
Her clawing arms slowly fell from his. She stared at him with wide silver eyes.
"You should know by now," he began grinning. "Nataku obeys my every command. For once that brat's love of pranks has come in handy!"
Glaring, he dropped his hands. She panted coughing as she breathed.
"You know what happens to those who have relations with a heretic don't you?" he grinned turning to her. "After all, Rinrei happened to be down in the dungeons with you that day."
She could feel her freedom slipping away from her grasp. Kenren... Her mind whispered longingly. She hung her head.
"Then," she murmured sadly. "What do you want me to do?"
"Quit the army," he commanded grinning. "And go back to being Nataku's doctor, and never see that rambunctious general ever again."
Tears prickled her eyes. They quickly spilled onto her face.
"Yes sir..." she whispered.
"You want to what!" Kenren cried as he looked down on her from his tree branch.
She smiled a convincing smile. She watched him as the sake cup fell from his hand and went crashing and shattering to the ground. The pink cherry blossoms flew around her.
"That's right," she began shakily. "I want to quit the army and go back to being Nataku's doctor. Li Touten's changed! And... I... Don't want to see you ever again..."
A painful pang shot through him. She turned away her tears shining in her eyes. Leaping down, he grabbed her hand.
"You can't mean that," he began quietly. "Someone's put you up to this! I know they did!"
She pulled her hand away. Her tears began to fall. She kept her face hidden.
"No!" she replied as her tears ran down her hidden and smiling face. "I'm doing this on my own!"
The warm wind fluttered the pink falling cherry blossoms around them. Strong arms wrapped themselves around her. A warm mouth breathed into her ear.
"All right," his voice whispered into her ear emotionlessly. "Then.. This is goodbye..."
His arms around her dropped as he started walking off. His booted steps slowly faded with the soft sloshing of sake in the bottle tied to his waist. Her tears began gushing from her eyes. The wind blew a curtain of cherry blossoms around them making him disappear as his words echoed in the swishing of the flowers.
".. This is goodbye.."