Flowers From Above
Chapter Seven
Over the next few days I continued watching them. Observing their every move, I'd closely view the way Akihiko buttoned up his shirt in the morning and his routine never changed when he got dressed.
I saw Manami cook breakfast although she never ate a lot of it apart from the few small bites she'd forced down, whereas my brother didn't eat at all. He never spoke he remained quiet staring blankly into space.
"Takahiro" She said quietly. "Have the police been in touch today?"
My brother may had been numb but he could clearly hear what she'd said. In response he grunted then shook his head while wearily sighed before removing himself from the kitchen table.
Manami's posture slumped even lower into her seat. I knew what she was thinking and it was the same for everyone else.
Was I okay? Was I alive? Was I dead? Would I ever be found? As much as they hated to believe it was as if they already knew I was dead. We all have a small spark inside of us for everyone we know but my sparks weren't there any more. I died and a part of them died too.
The news quickly travelled across my university. I saw many students whisper mostly people from my classes. Sumi didn't look too good either, including my teachers even my Literature professor was stunned. I will admit that I was touched when I saw his expression, I didn't think he would of cared at all.
But he did and so did others too.
The police search went on for weeks which had soon turned into months. My brother and Manami's relationship was falling apart between them. Takahiro had grown distant he wouldn't speak to her she was lucky if she'd received a single word from him.
He'd leave for work early before she woke in the morning and he'd return back in the evening as she was going to bed and sometimes he wouldn't come home at all.
I spied on my brother and he'd head to our old neighbour hood where we grew up. He'd pass the house we used to live in, stop and then stare. The family who lived there had a daughter who found it strange that a man was just standing there in front of their house. She called her mother in a panic but before her mother got there my brother had already moved on.
Akihiko on the other hand wasn't doing so well. I worried for him the most so badly that the boy who stuck by my side in heaven had to continuously calm me down.
"B-But he isn't eating properly!" I'd gripe.
"He can look after himself."
"Obviously he can't just l-look at him!" I cried. "U-Usagi-san I'm so sorry"
"There's nothing you can do, Misaki he'll be fine."
I turned to him nervously. "What if he isn't though?"
"Trust me, he will."
It had been nearly over a year since my death by now. Falling straight into 2003 the police hadn't given up but the headlines for my disappearance were dropping. People from university had other things to talk about now but every once in a while they'd mention "the lost boy" or "that guy from economics class that was never found". No I wasn't forgotten just yet.
Akihiko never gave up he remained fighting. The relationship between Manami and my brother was somehow still hanging on by a thread. It was the same between them, they never really spoked or were around each other. They were strangers living together.
Until one night my brother let his guard down when he came home from work. Immediately he threw his arms around Manami pulling her into one of the most deep and passionately kisses she'd been given since before I had vanished. She lovingly wrapped her arms around him right back where they both stumbled around shyly on their feet.
"I want you"
That was all my brother whispered and with that the two of them drifted into the bedroom, the door still open and lazily flocked onto the bed.
I'd kept my eye on Ijuuin who for over a year had kept me hidden in the bottom of his freezer. He never really had visitors, family nor was he a suspect in this case. It had been the perfect crime.
But unfortunately for him he'd taken one of my favourite treasures and hung on to it for a long time. That was before he had already broken up my phone, burnt my clothes and bag.
When I was seven just a year before my parents death that Christmas my father had bought me a watch. It was a classy, traditional old fashioned brown watch and he had my name engraved into it.
My mother thought it was a silly present for a seven year old and that I'd probably break it sooner than I thought. So she put it into a safe place for me. Years later Takahiro handed it over to me, I never really wore it but I always kept it with me.
And it seemed Ijuuin carried it everywhere he went too. Accidentally on his way out of Marukawa he'd dropped my watch.
It remained there in the entrance until a boy slightly older than myself picked it up.
Shizuku Ishi.
I don't know if anyone remembers in the manga but Shizuku Ishi is the black haired kid who also works with Misaki at Marukawa? He wasn't in the early series but he's definitely in the latest chapter where he lets on to Misaki about his phone ringing too much...
Anyway... Thank you again for reviews and I'd love more please eeee !
TB