Chapter 3: Goodbyes
"Ryuuji? Ryuuji! Hey mutt! Wake up!" yelled Taiga as she shook me out of my mini coma. The sudden realization that my girlfriend was now living here must have been enough to topple me over. I sat up and rubbed the back of my head before looking over to see an angry Taiga. "If you didn't want me to live here you should've just said something!" she said with a huff. She crossed her arms and I could tell that even though she covered it, she was a little hurt at my reaction. It made me feel pretty crappy.
"N-no that's not it Taiga!" I said in an attempt to fix my mistake. "It was just surprising was all! I didn't expect that you would immediately come live here after being back so soon!"
"Well what did you expect, dumbass?" she snapped, "It's not like I was just gonna go back home! You know how far away that is?!"
"Yeah… I do" I said gently, looking at the ground. This caught her off guard and she looked at me curiously. Looking back up at her, I fixed her with a gentle gaze and said "After over a year of you being so far away, the last thing I would ever want is for you to go back with your mother. Granted I didn't expect you would be living here… but now that I know you are, I couldn't be happier! And knowing that we have your mother's approval… well that just makes it even better." I opened my arm to invite her for an embrace. She didn't budge for a few seconds but then let out a huff and turned around, falling back so she would land into my side. I chuckled and wrapped my arm around her, resting my hand on her lap.
"Good then, because I wasn't planning on leaving." She muttered, taking my large hand in her two small ones, fiddling with my fingers as she sat there. I smiled as I watched her, seeing how cute she can make little actions like that look. She eventually pulled my hand up to her lips and gave it a small kiss before turning around and kissing me. Afterwards, she stood back up and said "I am going to unpack, then I'll help you finish with the dishes."
I smiled and nodded as I watched her walk over to her suitcase and pick it up, talking it over and opening the door to… my room. Oh dear, I was tempted to fall over again, but instead I shook my head and chuckled, standing back up and heading to the kitchen.
I had assumed that Taiga wouldn't be done before I finished the dishes, and that assumption was right. Just as I had put away that last dish, I turned around to see her just getting out of my… our room. "Took you long enough" I said teasingly as she walked up to me.
She stuck out her tongue and let out a noise that sounded something like "meh" before leaning forward and pressing her face into my chest. I laughed and caressed the back of her head with my hand, she grabbed my free one and wrapped it around her before stepping up onto my feet, perching herself onto them. "Walk" she said in an adorable fashion. I couldn't help but to comply, and with an awkward waddle, I made my way through to the room, hearing her giggle as she tried to stay on my feet, hopping off as I slid open my door. Looking down, I noticed a second futon next to my own, and memories of being back at grandmas flooded to me. I also noticed the small group of dresses that now hung from my closet, my shirts and such pushed to one side to make room.
"I hope you don't mind, I didn't put all of my dresses in there, just the ones I liked the most." She said as she walked over to her half unpacked suitcase. She pulled out a couple more things, more like trinkets. Her camera that she carried around, some item that was wrapped in paper, and last…
"My scarf?" I asked as I looked at the red cloth. She smiled and looked up at me.
"I wanted something of yours so I could feel I was close to you. Whenever I felt lonely, I would wrap it around me and it would make me feel you were right there beside me." She said softly, running her fingers gently across the fabric. I knelt down to her and picked up the scarf, draping it around her shoulders.
"You look better wearing it than I do anyway" I said softly, earning a smile from her. She moved the items to a shelf but silently cursed as she moved the one wrapped in paper. As I looked, a few small pieces of glass fell from it, making a small pattering sound as it hit the table underneath.
"Is that your star ornament?" I asked her as I picked up the little pieces.
"Yeah" she replied sadly. "It held up for a while, but some of the smaller pieces started coming off. You can throw those pieces away, its ok."
I don't know why, but I didn't throw those pieces away. Instead, I stuck them inside a small box that was sitting on my bookshelf, deciding they held too many good memories to just get rid of. Taiga looked at me confused, but asked nothing. Letting out a yawn, she stretched her arms out then rubbed her tired eyes. "That train ride was exhausting" she said, "and now that I have a full belly, I can hardly keep my eyes open."
As she said this, she rummaged around through her suitcase and pulled out her sleeping gown. With a blush, she looked at me and said, "C-could you please turn around? I-it's still kinda… weird if you saw me change…"
I blushed about as deeply as she did, and complied, turning around as she slipped out of her day clothes and into her sleepwear. "Ok, I'm good now" she said gently, signaling that I could look again. I froze as I looked at her. I wasn't sure what it was, maybe the moonlight making her glow, but she looked… absolutely beautiful. "Wh-what are you staring at?" Taiga asked somewhat defensively, pulling her hands to her sides.
I kept my smile as I said, "You."
Her hands dropped to her side and she looked at me with an intensified blush. Looking back down she said "Wh-whatever mutt… let's get some sleep." I laid down in my futon and arranged myself so I laid comfortably, then looked up at her, who hadn't even budged yet.
"Taiga? Is everythi-"
I didn't get to finish my question before she quickly darted down, opening my covers and sliding herself down next to me. "Taiga?" I said with a mad blush. She simply sighed and turned around so she could nuzzle into my shoulder.
"I wanna stay close as I can… it's been way too long since I got to be with you… and now I want to be right here." She said softly, not looking up from her nuzzle area. I smiled gently and lifted her head to me so she could look up, then I leaned down and planted a soft kiss which she accepted without hesitation. She let out a happy sigh and snuggled in a little closer before saying "Goodnight Ryuuji"
The next morning was interrupted by the sound of my cell phone ringing on my desk. It was still early in the morning and Taiga and I were very much happy still laying there sleeping, but eventually the ringing became too much and Taiga groaned, bumping me with her foot and muttering, "Get the stupid phoooone, I can't sleep like thiiiis…"
I groaned, annoyed by her bumping me, so I got up to get my phone, Taiga pulling the covers over her yet again. I saw that I was getting a call from Ami, what was she doing calling? "Hello?" I answered groggily before I was barraged by the loud voice of Ami Kawashima.
"YOU BONEHEAD! DID YOU FORGET WE'RE ALL GONNA HANG OUT WITH KITAMURA TODAY?! HURRY AND GET YOUR LAZY ASS OUT OF BED AND COME ON! WE WANNA SURPRISE HIM AT JOHNNY'S BUT WE CANT UNTIL YOU AND MISS PALMTOP GET OVER HERE!"
This was loud enough for Taiga to hear, as she turned around and glared at my phone, "Dumb Chihuahua! Quit your yapping already!" she said, making Ami stammer on the line.
"Wh-wha? Is Taiga… in your room with-"
"We will be there soon, sorry for sleeping in!" I said hurriedly as I ended the call. It wasn't that I didn't want them to know, I just didn't want Ami to know first… who knew how she would act if she had that piece of knowledge all to herself. I sighed and looked over at Taiga with an amused smile. She had pulled the cover over her face so only her eyes could be seen looking up at me.
"Do we really have to get up already?" she asked cutely, her voice somewhat muffled by the sheet. I chuckled and laid myself down next to her so she could snuggle into my shoulder again. "We promised we would do something special for Kitamura today, he's leaving for America today, remember? I'm sure he would have done the same if it were us."
Taiga groaned a little but kicked off the covers. Looking up at me, she gave me a quick peck and rolled over me and onto her knees. "Fine, but just this once. I wanna be able to sleep in tomorrow." She said as she grabbed a change of clothes and a towel. "I'm gonna get cleaned up, you should do the same… a-after me of course!" she said, her last bit there causing her to blush madly before darting off to the bathroom.
I couldn't help but chuckle, here living together, and the thought of being exposed still made us nervous to no end. I listened to the running water as I grabbed my own clothing, my attention returning to the small box where I had put the little glass fragments.
"Not something generic, but something that will mean something to you both…"
Those were the words of Taiga's mother that echoed through my head. Ideas ran through my head and I closed the box, placing it in my pants pocket before Taiga came back, changed and drying her hair with her towel.
It didn't take long to get cleaned up, and soon enough we were heading out toward Johnny's Where Kawashima and Kushieda were waiting on us. Taiga, who had her arm wrapped around my own, ran forward to greet Kushieda in her normal fashion, who in turn swung the small girl around with glee, saying her name in a sing-song voice.
"It's about time you got here" said Kawashima, clearly annoyed by our late arrival, "did you really sleep in? Or were you too occupied by certain… bedroom guests?" she asked in a teasing manner, making me blush madly. Before I could answer, she simply laughed and said to the group, "Okay guys, let's get inside and wait for Kitamura."
With that said, we made our way inside, Kawashima leading, followed by Kushieda giving Taiga a piggy-back ride, then by me. I noticed that one section of the restaurant had a large section cleared, prepared for a good sized group. My guess was that Ami and Minori pulled some strings to get this to happen. It was strange to see Ami get so worked up over making sure this went well, perhaps it was because she had grown up with Kitamura. After about ten minutes, we spotted our guest of honor walking to the restaurant, and Ami signaled us to hide among the booths.
Kitamura walked in and looked around, not seeing us as he came closer to our seats, then we suddenly shot up yelling "SURPRISE!" in unison, taking him by complete surprise.
"You guys did all this for me?" Kitamura asked, rubbing the back of his head and chuckling. We all gathered around and greeted him with hugs before sitting down and ordering food. We had a large feast for breakfast, of course Kitamura didn't have to pay any of it since he was the guest of honor. We all talked about life now that we were graduated, what plans we had for college or jobs. Kawashima was going back into the modelling business full time after this, but decided she would commute so she could stay in this town near all of her friends. Kushieda still had her dreams of going to play softball for a big college, and even surprised us with an acceptation letter that she held with pride. Kitamura went on to talk about his plans with studying abroad and even hoping to find Sumire Kano, the student body president before him, while he was there. He really did care for that girl, I could tell.
Soon enough Kitamura looked at his watch and said "Well if I am going to catch my flight I might as well get going." He stood up, and so did we, saying we were going to see him off. He was happy to hear this, and together we made the way to the airport, joking and laughing all the way there. Eventually we reached his flight gate with ten minutes to spare, so we took the time to say our goodbyes.
Kushieda fist bumped him before pulling him into a hug, "Knock 'em dead! And let me know if you find a fat American in a scooter!" she said laughing at the visual thought. Kitamura agreed and said he would even take a picture for her to see.
Next was Taiga, who jumped up and hugged him, wishing him the best of luck in America, not that he would even need it.
Ami was a bit more emotional in her goodbye. Tearing up as she pulled him into a tight hug. "I've known you since we were little kids, I never thought I would have to say goodbye" she said as she held back her tears best she could. Kitamura tightened his hug and told her that he would miss her, and that he would be sure to call once he made it safely.
"Takasu" he said to me, gaining my attention. He walked me over a few feet so he could talk to me privately. "I am going to miss you buddy." He said to me, patting my shoulder, "Take care of Taiga ok? You two deserve one another, so don't ever let her go ok? And let me know when the wedding will be, because I will make sure to come for it!"
"You better come for it! You're gonna be the best man" I told him in reply, pulling him into a hug as his flight was being called to board. He waved his final goodbyes, and we stayed there until he was out of sight. "See ya later buddy" I muttered. As I did, I felt a small hand take mine, and I looked to see Taiga looking up at me with a gentle smile, like she was saying something with that expression. I knew what she was saying… and she was right. Just like with her, Kitamura leaving was not a 'goodbye', but more of an 'until next time'.
Remember when I said I would have a chapter up later this week? I actually meant like two hours later :P This filler chapter actually got smacked in the face with inspiration, and before I knew it, I had the whole thing typed up! Also, question to you readers, when it comes to saying names, I am not really familiar with the japanese ways of using them. I know they tend to use last names if it is a friend, and first names on a more personal basis, but should I just stick with their first names rather than bouncing back and forth? Let me know!
ps... wow this chapter was long.