The Hands of Life

Chapter 10: Time Passes

I yawned and stood up from the couch. I had only slept about two hours last night, which was not very healthy, but I had. I had been spending the last hour reading over the sections that Yukimura and I were to be reviewing tomorrow. Now it was time to wake up Alex for school.

"Oi! Wake up!"

I could hear him grumble loudly from the light now shining into his room. I ripped the blanket off of him and left his room so that he could get ready. I was getting sick of getting him up everyday. I had not exactly found anything interesting to think about the past day since the odd shopping trip and I was getting a bit tired of the new schedule the past week had brought.

I slipped into my school outfit and ran my brush through my hair, hoping to get all of the noticeable knots out. After I finished I turned to my right to see my brother waiting to brush his teeth. I motioned him to come into the bathroom next to me and we both finished up. Our mother was at work by now since she had the early shift, so I grabbed my house key on the way to the door to lock the house up.

"Carmichael."

"Here." I responded, looking at the back of Timauto's back, sort of tired from the day before. I did not feel up to paying any attention in class today seeing as I could sleep for the day and not fall behind, but that would be very unlike who I am supposed to be... And it would just be plain rude.

I watched a bunch of the people in my class stand up as the tone for lunch sounded. I ignored them all and pulled out my small juice pack and small bag of whatever they were. I had seen them in the store on Saturday when I was getting the chips I meant to get for Alex. I had no idea what it was, but it was decent. I sniffed the air as I sipped some of the red juice, smelling something odd.

It sort of smelled like cleaning stuff, but like leather... or something. It was an odd smell. Though, it was sort of nice. No idea what it was. I began to imagine what in the silent classroom could smell like that. Of course, all that popped into my mind was a Windex bottle wearing leather chaps. I felt myself snort, the idea was so ridiculous. I had not thought of anything so odd in a while. So, I guess that's why I immeaditely went into a giggling fit, laughing to myself quietly.

I could not stop myself, so much as to the point that it was painful. Though, I slowed my laughing, trying to compose myself and looked up to see what time it was, right into the eyes of Sanada Genichirou. I already had a stupid smile on my face, which only happened to get wider when I saw the boy before I looked back down to my drink packet, suddenly interested in what the ingredients were.

It took me a few minutes to compose myself and put my straight face back on. I had not laughed like that since my last days in American High School. I ignored the fragmented memories and stood up to throw my trash away before class resumed.

As class went by I began to think about the area that the school was placed. There were the halls connecting the two buildings- silver and nice and all that jazz. There was the boardwalk not too far from here- though I did not take that way to or from home since I live on the other side of the school. There was also the nicely cut grounds. I swear, this place was made for, like, gods or something. I twisted my finger around as the final bell rang. Each of the students left and I stood up to grab my bag, but as I stood back up from getting my bag I turned right into Sanada. My face flared up for a split second, but I kept the heat down before looking up to him.

"Hai, Sanada-san?"

"Yukimura asked me to give you this."

I looked down the the envelope with my name written in Romaji. I nodded and took it,"Arigatou, Sanada-san."

He nodded back before leaving. I felt my legs shake as I felt a bit lightheaded, being so close to him. I wished that he would have called me by my name again, but I knew that that may be like asking for snow in the center of the Sahara.

"Ah, Lynn-chan!" Koizu shouted, running up next to me as I walked down the sidewalk. I was currently on my way home, though I did not want to enter that home. I was mostly thinking about the Library Committee meeting- yes there is such a thing. I was shocked to find out about it, but it is mandatory to spend some of the day in a club and it is actually one of the easier ones.

"Hello, Koizu-chan."

"Ooh, what's that?"

I looked down at the envelope and shrugged, I have no idea. Sanada-san said that Yukimura wanted him to give this to me."

Koizu's eyes sparkled and I felt my friend seem to grow larger in vibrance,"Yosh! Yukimura is taking an interest in you! It is a blessing!"

I shook my head, ignoring the girl. I did not feel such things for Yukimura. I felt my cheeks flush a bit at the thought of Sanada... The way his eyes and my own met during lunch period. Oh, it made me melt in my shoes. I know, it sounds a bit fangirl-ish, but I am not able to express my words so easily.

27th of April passes... It has been 16 days since the day of April 2nd...

"Lynn-chan!" Koizu shouted into my ear as I walked into the gates of Rikkaidai. I had already been woken up this morning by a rude noise from my brother. He had bought the birthday toy the day before and was using it any and every moment he could to piss me off.

PYNJEEH![1]

My fist turned rapidly and connected with his stomach, the toy falling from his hand. I stomped on it until it was nearly dust before I turned off, Koizu trying to catch me from behind. Her black hair bobbed as she stopped in front of me, forcing me to stop as well.

"Otanjoubi omedeto[2]!"

I stared down at the box in front of her, a bit surprised that she even got me anything. I took it from her hands and stared at it. I poked at it, but decided to open it later. I nodded in her with thanks and smiled, feeling happy to have her as a friend as we walked to the shoe lockers.

I opened mine and took out my school shoes, slipping off my tougher tennis shoes. After switching them I set her gift in the locker and made a note to open in after school. Koizu was filling my head with the awesomeness that was our tennis team, but my attention on her was minimal. She would expand on Yagyuu and Niou, but skip over Sanada quickly. It was torture to listen to her sometimes. Apparently they won their prefectuals and were going to also win the Kanagawa thing that would be going on. I waved goodbye to her when my classroom came into view, thankful to be at my classroom.

Throughout the day many odd things happened. It was as if the news on my birthday had spurted out from Mt. Fuji to tell the whole world. Here was the list I had created in my head:

From Marui-kun and his friend Jackal: A Pink Towel.

From Yagyuu: Bath Soap.(which I questioned greatly as him telling me I needed to shower.)

From that Kirihara-brat: Pomegranate lotion.(We stared at eachother for a moment before we shook hands, coming to an understanding after I squeezed the life out of his fingers.)

And now from Niou: Cherry Candies.

I recognized them all as things I had bought with Sanada and sighed as the useless items filled in my bag. I had told Niou that I was in no mood for chocolate and that I would give them to Koizu, from him. He was especially okay with this as I was pretty much giving him the a-okay for harrassing my friend like he does. I sighed as I walked into the library to find Yukimura seeing as I was more than ready to study with the boy.

When I found him we quickly began and only got sidetracked when I spoke in the middle of a passage being read,"My birthday was yesterday, Yukimura-san."

He nodded,"Hai, but I could not have my players going to your house like stalkers. Especially in sweaty tennis uniforms."

I snickered and returned to reading, taking the answer.

"Oh, did you ever open that envelope Sanada was supposed to give you?"

I shook my head and quickly pulled it out of my school bag,"I completely forgot that I had stuck it in there."

The bell rang and the blue haired boy stood, motioning for me to follow him. I quickly did as he motioned and opened the envelope on the way,"Eh? It's a coupon."

"Hai, I found two in a magazine a little over two weeks ago and decided to give you one, another thank you for shopping with Sanada."

I nodded, glancing down at the coupon for a free medium drink at some outside cafe place. I stopped when I looked up to see Yukimura and Sanada talking. I watched as Yukimura pulled a coupon like thing from his pocket, immeaditely it yelled to me that it was the match to my own.

"Sanada, here you are."

The stoic boy looked down at it, a bit perplexed. Yukimura only stepped back and motioned to me,"Lynn-san had the same coupon and asked me if I would join her, but it seems that I can't today."

There was no 'Will you?' to go with the statement, just the truth-bended fact. I felt my mind fly as I fought to keep a straight face as I nodded,"Hai."

Sanada and I met eyes for only a moment before he nodded to Yukimura, who smiled his godly smile before leaving the two of us in the hall. I looked up to Sanada and we both seemed to know what the other was thinking as we both headed towards the front of the school to change into our regular shoes.

I noticed the box in my locker and slipped it out, feeling my eyebrows furrow. I looked behind me to my crush, who was currently fitting his shoes back on.

"Ne, Sanada-san, do you mind if I opened this? I promised Koizu-chan earlier."

He shook his head before returning to his locker. I nodded and began to take the paper off of the small box slowly, revealing a jewelry-like box with painted dinosaurs on it. I opened the box to see a picture and a card that fell from it. I took a moment to stare at the picture, seeing the face of a fourth grade girl with blonde hair laughing next to her black haired best friend. I folded the paper and tossed it back into my locker before leaning down to pick up the card. I shut the locker, my shoes now on, and opened the card slowly.

I haven't seen you in five years, but I tried my best to talk to you in some way everyday. You seem a bit more distant than you were, but you are still the Lynn I remember. We used to parade around Obaasan's home, yelling that we were dinosaur superheroes and how we would one day make it a manga so that we could remember our kid days. It never happened, but I know that I kept each of the drawings we made. I don't know if you did, but I want you to know that you can come to me if you need to talk about something that happened in America. Aishiteru wa[2], Lynn. :D

~Otanjoubi omedeto!

I sniffed and quickly slipped the things into my backpack before looking up to Sanada- who was patiently waiting. He nodded to me and we both exitted the school to find this cafe place. On the way we remained in silence, just the small sounds of life around us. I did not expect him to break the silence.

"Yukimura gave you that coupon in that envelope."

I quickly nodded, not even trying to decipher if it was meant as a statement or not,"Hai, he did."

"Hm."

I glanced up to Sanada's face to watch him think and marvel at him seeing as he had not put his cap on yet. I turned my gaze from him when I noticed the cafe come into sight.

We sat at a table across from eachother, both sipping our drinks. I had gotten something called bubble tea and Sanada got some butterscotch thing. I figured that he liked the taste, though I disliked it. I looked up to him before swallowing what I had in my mouth.

"Ah, what's your family like?"

"I live with my mother, father, and grandfather. My nephew Sasuke is staying with us while my older brother finds a home to live in."

I nodded, feeling that this was one of the few times he had spoken so many words to me. I sipped some of my tea and caught one of the tapioca bubbles in my mouth I chewed it as Sanada asked me the same question. I fingered my drink a bit in my palms.

"I live with my mother and little brother. My father is in the states somewhere."

"Why did you move to Japan?"

I had not expected for him to initiate the next part of our conversation, but I could not even find emotion on his face seeing as his eyes were not looking in my direction. I sipped some of my tea before my response.

"My grandmother, Kiriyama Akane on my mother's side died and left her home to us. My mother found it as a great outlet to get away from my father and allow my brother and I to start fresh in a new place."

He nodded and we both returned to our drinks. I had to think of a new question seeing as I could not just ask what he had just asked me. I took a moment to think of one that would be appropriate for this moment.

"Do you have any favorite foods?"

We connected eyes and I was positive that he saw a smaller version of myself bowing in apology for the lame question in my eyes.

"Nameko Mushroom-Miso-Soup."

I nodded, now connecting the butterscotch drink to the Nameko Mushrooms. I was not one to eat mushrooms, but miso soup was good. He nodded to me and I decided that I was supposed to respond to the same exact question.

"Fish, but it has to be cooked. I may be part Japanese, but I'm not built with the tastebuds needed for sushi."

Sanada nodded again, most of his face being hid by the drink in his hand. I smiled to myself as we sat in the comfortable silence. I looked at him, watching his bangs move back and forth. I wanted to learn so much about him, but I did not want to come off as a freak or something of the such. So, I decided to keep more to myself. Eventually we both finished our drinks and stood up, tossing them away and walking down the sidewalk.

"Hm, that tea wasn't that bad. I might have to go back there sometime."

"Mm." Sanada nodded as his footsteps sounded next to me.

"Look out!"

I had no time to react to the bike that went flying by with some boy on top of it. I refused to become angry at the person as I looked down a bit, noticing that I was not on the ground from being hit. I looked up to see the face of Sanada just above me. I than noticed that he had pulled me out of the way. I felt my face heat up as I stepped away,"Arigatou, Sanada-san."

"Ie ie[4]."

I smiled a bit at the informal speak as the two of us began to walk again and hopefully our silence would not be sliced up by something that was a nuisance.

I stopped in front of my grandmother's traditional home and looked up to it, getting ready to throw myself on the fire that is my mother. I looked up to Sanada and bowed,"This is my home Sanada-san, thank you for having a drink with me."

He nodded,"You're welcome, Lynn-san."

My heart fluttered as he said my name and waited for me to enter the gate. Once I had reached the front door I glanced back to see him walking down to road. I opened the door to my home and smiling again even as my mother rounded the corner to ask me to do a few household chores. Sanada had just walked me home when he did not have to. Ah, Yukimura was becoming my favorite person(or an unknown cupid).

Yes, I finally got this chapter published. I express the largest apologies I can to everyone for this. I have written out my next ideas for the next major plot point, but I need some things to progress Lynn and Sanada to the ideas I have. I need things for the 'in the middle' stage, but it's taking quite the lengthy amount of time and thought. If I was not so concerned with it than I would jot down everything and toss in a long ass time skip XD.

[1] It's supposed to be the sound of one of those loud honker things for birthdays.

[2] Happy birthday

[3] I love you(this is a more feminine way to say it or something)

[4] It means okay and is more casual to respond as a 'you're welcome'

Responses:

foureyesfreak27: Sanada to do a thing like that? It must have just been you XD

Watermelong Ice Cream: Gosh, I feel horrible for never updating DX Apologies!

CemetaryRain: Thank you, I hope to keep Sanada in IC as much as I humanly can. I do plan to elaborate on Koizu and Niou in a few chapters of their own. X3

PurePrincess: Thank you very much :D

Saya[.]Hikari[.]Uchiha: Have no fear! The past will be brought up once my mind creates "middle scenes"!

~[The girl who needs some mental help] Tai.