A/N: Thank you for the reviews and subscriptions! ^_^
This chapter is for NEKO. NEKO. KYUUN. Because your review pointed two or three vital points. :D
One is genre. I did not put it in genre since we're just allowed to enter max 2 but this story also belongs to supernatural genre. We're dealing with the wish and thousand paper cranes after all but at the same time, I am keeping it close to reality as much as possible. So the only supernatural in this story anything that has to do with the paper cranes. Anyway, I still changed one of the genre entered into supernatural. ^_^
Two is the twist. Most of the stories I wrote so far have this.
Three is ending. Though we still got a bit more chapters before that. I leave the decision to the readers of how they will view the ending once the story ends, if it is either a happy or bittersweet one.
NOTE!: 'thoughts', "dialogs", past
Thousandth Paper Crane
Rated: T
Summary: They met when they were kids then got separated by a tragedy. Reunited by fate. Only to be separated again, now by eternity. Playing against life and death, can they win? Now everything lies on the one thousandth paper crane and Fuji's last wish.
Thousandth Paper Crane
Chapter 03
"NNNOOOOOOOOO!" the cry rang throughout the room, into the hallways, into the lobby, and even reached the canteen.
Kurosaki coughed into his coffee while sitting in front of one of the tables for four in the cafeteria. Several others who were also having their breakfast stopped for awhile and looked around.
"What was that?" Sanada asked as he joined Shiraishi and Oishi on the table beside Kurosaki's.
"Probably, it's Akaya-kun," Kurosaki smiled and shifted his gaze to Yukimura who was sitting opposite to him. "Right, Yuki-chan?"
The others also looked at Yukimura who just smiled gently at them. Kirihara was popular to their circle. Yukimura showed interest to the younger boy since he met him and they also knew how Kirihara rejected every advances of their friend, even if the advance their friend made was only to offer help. Yes, they knew with the exception of Atobe who was obviously uninterested when it comes to the businesses of both Yukimura and Fuji. Rather of being uninterested, it's better to say he didn't want to get involved.
Yukimura nodded as he sliced the pancake in front of him, thinking of how he really wanted to see Kirihara's expression now. "He fell asleep without finishing his papers last night."
"Which you finished anyway. Akaya-chan is lucky naa…" Kurosaki sighed. "How I wish someone would do something like that for me too."
"Why don't you ask Red-san to do something like that?" Sanada suggested after putting the cup of coffee down.
"Impossible. That fella enjoys torturing people!" Kurosaki gave a cold stare that made even Sanada flinch. Without further ado though, Kurosaki immediately returned his warm smile before looking back at Yukimura. "How about it Yuki-chan? Want to be my boyfriend?"
Yukimura chuckled. This was one of the reasons why he liked Kurosaki. Random and care-free but at the same time full of mystery. After all, they knew nothing about him except that he had a very close friend called Red. "I don't mind but are you sure about that?"
"Stop it, Kurosaki-san, Yukimura," said Oishi. That's why he always thought that whenever Yukimura and Kurosaki were together, someone must keep an eye on them. Who knows what they might do. But setting those thoughts aside, he feared more what Red could do to them when she's angry. Well, it's not like he needed to worry for them. Those two are 'those two' after all. "Red-san will get mad if she heard that conversation."
"Tsk. Oishi's no fun." Kurosaki frowned and his voice turned bored. "So, what's your plan, Yuki-chan?"
"Plan?"
"About Kirihara."
"Hm. Nothing in particular. I actually like the part of him not liking me. It's interesting."
"But to be disliked the first time they met. It's unusual," Shiraishi commented. His eyes searching around the canteen while he rested his chin on his palm and leaned his right elbow on the table. "Maybe you've done something bad to him in your past life?"
"Past life, eh? You sure have a great imagination, Shiraishi. No wonder you and Red really get along well," said Kurosaki with a smile. A smile Shiraishi did not like. "And also, you won't find Fuji no matter how hard you roll your eyes. He already left."
"Who was looking for Fuji?" Shiraishi cleared his throat. "Since we're at it, why did he left early. His class starts at ten."
Yukimura, Kurosaki, and Oishi laughed while Sanada raised a brow before smiling. "Since we're at it, eh?"
"He has some business to take care of," Yukimura simply answered before standing up. "My class starts at nine so I'm leaving. See you later."
"What business?" Shiraishi asked, expecting that Kurosaki might know something. Kurosaki was someone who knew everything as long as they were under his care. An amazing but at the same scary dorm leader.
"Who knows? Maybe he found something interesting too?" Kurosaki stood up too and smiled meaningfully to Shiraishi. "Rather someone?" He got his tray and whispered something in Shiraishi's ears with seriousness before walking away. "Beware Shiraishi-kun! A potential love rival appeared!" He added as he laughed loudly before he totally disappeared from their sights.
"A potential love rival, eh?" Oishi looked at Shiraishi who was now completely absorbed in his own world. Sighing, he turned to Sanada who just gave a slight shrug.
On the other hand…
"NNNOOOOOOOOO!"
Ryoma's eyes automatically opened and he immediately sat up. "Wh-what?"
"I fell asleep! Echizen, I fell asleep!" Kirihara cried.
"You! Is that all?" Ryoma groaned.
"What do you mean 'is that all?'? I haven't finished my paper!"
Ryoma sighed. "Why don't you check your work first?"
Akaya followed what Ryoma said and found that the paper was already done. "What? … Why? H-how?" He turned to look at Ryoma, his eyes sparkling with gratitude.
"It was not me. When I returned last night, it was already done."
"Then who?"
Ryoma shrugged.
"Then, whoever you are, I really thank you! I promise to treat you some takoyaki when we meet!"
"Seriously, what time do you think it is? Waking me up so early."
"What time is your class?"
"Eight."
"It's already 7:48."
"Say that earlier!"
Ryoma tsk-ed when he thought he got the wrong way again. Supposedy, Atobe would be with him since they both have the same course but the schedule of their morning classes did not match so Ryoma had no choice but to go by himself. "Just where exactly the Business Administration building is?"
"Straight ahead then turn left. You'll easily identify it since it was made of glass," a voice answered.
"Ah, thanks." Ryoma ran away without even looking back and seeing the person who helped him.
"Business Ad. I see," Syusuke smiled to himself. He was leaning at the wall of one building when Ryoma passed by him while muttering something about Business Ad building. "Found you."
Ryoma stopped on his track when he realized the familiarity of the voice. Quickly, he whipped his head back but there's no way he could find the guy in the midst of the crowd of rushing students. "Why am I looking for him, anyway?"
Lunch had long passed but Atobe had not taken anything yet. He stood by the entrance to the Business Ad building, waiting for someone. His classes was already done two hours earlier but needed to take care of some Student Council business.
"That Ryoma, he's late!" He impatiently tapped his foot.
"Atobe!" Eiji waved at him as he ran towards him. Eiji was also taking the same course with Atobe. His classes was just done and now's the time that they would be gathering to have their afternoon snack. Though it's more likely to be called afternoon lunch. "Were you waiting for me? That's rare!"
"Not really." Atobe answered. Even though they had the same circle of friends, Atobe and Eiji were not really that close.
"Keigo!"
Eiji was startled when someone suddenly appeared behind him, calling Atobe 'Keigo' since the diva found it very rude to call someone by his given name, but he couldn't be more surprise when he turned around to see the person.
"E-Echizen…?" It was almost inaudible. Atobe would not know what Eiji said if he had not read his lips.
"Ki…kumaru?" Echizen was surprised too. He had not expected to see someone he had known from the past. Well, maybe he also considered that he might see someone he knew but never someone who was close to him and to that boy.
"Is that really you?" Eiji's hanging mouth turned into a sincere smile when Echizen nodded. He quickly hugged the boy tightly. "It's been a long time, Ochibi!"
"L-let go, Kikumaru. C-can't breathe."
"It's Kikumaru-senpai! I'm your senpai now, you know?"
Atobe raised a brow at the scene in front of him. He did not know that Echizen was close to someone in Japan aside from him. But more than that, he's irritated that someone was actually hugging the younger boy. He pulled Eiji away from Echizen when he saw that the latter was struggling for air. "So, you knew each other?"
"Uhn," Echizen simply answered.
"How?" They started to walk away from the building, towards the usual café to meet their other friends.
Echizen contemplated for awhile, thinking of how he would answer the question because there's a possibility that the conversation might lead to something he did not like to talk about. "He was a friend from the past."
"Obviously. I know you used to visit Japan when you were younger but you never mentioned anything about your stay here. To actually think you know Kikumaru. So, how did you meet?"
Eiji's eyebrow met. He's worried of Echizen, he knew about what happened in the past and now that he saw Echizen was hesitant, he could say that the younger boy was still not over it yet.
"He was introduced."
"By?"
Echizen's teeth clenched as he unintentionally stopped on his tracks. His eyes looking down, but staring far beyond the ground. "By another friend."
Atobe and Eiji stopped walking and looked back at Echizen.
"Friend wh—" Atobe wanted to know more but Eiji covered the former's mouth with the palm of his hand.
"We're here! Look, the others are already waiting. Talk about that some other time. Introduce Echizen first to the others, Atobe," Eiji exclaimed and pulled the two inside the café.
Atobe wanted to know more but considering the way the two behaved earlier, he decided to just let it be. He would just wait for Echizen to tell him or ask Eiji instead.
"Don't ask me. Just wait patiently and you'll know eventually," Eiji quickly said in a low voice when he met the diva's eyes. "I'm not in the position to say anything."
On their usual table, Sanada, Oishi, Shiraishi, and Tezuka were already waiting. Several others were missing, especially the most punctual Fuji. Atobe did not waste any second and quickly introduced Echizen to everyone. They greeted Echizen back although one of them was not really paying attention: Shiraishi, and one paying too much attention up to the point that Echizen felt a bit intimidated by his gaze: Tezuka. Oishi was kind and caring while Sanada was formal was what Echizen thought.
"Sorry, I'm late." Yukimura was smiling pleasantly till he saw those golden eyes. An awkward silence followed when everyone felt the sudden tension created by the two. "Echizen," he finally acknowledged.
"Y-Yukimura-san." Echizen was totally taken off guard. Eiji was supposed to be enough for the day but meeting even Yukimura shortly after was a bit too much shock to him. Why did he meet the people that had something to do with that boy now? What he was trying so hard to bury in the pit of his mind quickly resurfaced just by seeing those familiar faces.
Yukimura tapped Echizen's head gently and ruffled his hair lightly when he saw how disturbed Echizen was. It was a usual gesture he used to do to Echizen from the past. Doing this, Echizen relaxed a bit. "Nice to finally see you again, Echizen."
Echizen nodded lightly. "Uhm, excuse me for a bit. I'll just go buy Ponta." It was an excuse to escape. He needed air. He needed a little time to at least absorbed what happened.
"Alright."
Everyone was silent after Echizen left. Their eyes were all on Yukimura.
"I was already surprised that Eiji knew Echizen but was even more surprised to know that you actually know him," Atobe's arms were crossed in front of him and an irritated expression was all over his face. Awhile ago, Eiji casually hugged Echizen and now Yukimura ruffled his hair like it was a natural thing. To top it off, because of those two, Echizen showed a side of him he never let Atobe see before. "Do you mind to explain?"
"Nothing much to explain actually," said Yukimura. "We just met when we were younger then became friends and playmates."
"Then why did he react like that after seeing you two? He was totally tensed."
Yukimura gave Atobe the look that was saying 'Don't ask anymore.' The diva felt the shiver and decided to drop it. It's been a really long time since he last saw it, that cold yet authoritative look.
"Fine," Atobe sighed. "Just one more thing. I don't want to be surprise anymore. I just thought that since the two of you are the closest friend of Fuji, does Fuji know him too?"
Yukimura looked outside, a bored expression on his face, but sadness reflected on his eyes. "No, Fuji doesn't know him."
"I see."
"Speaking of Fuji, where is he?" Sanada asked. No one answered so they all looked at Yukimura, Tezuka, and Shiraishi.
"I haven't seen him since this morning," said Yukimura.
"I don't know," Tezuka nonchalantly answered while Shiraishi was still caught in his own world. He did not even notice the others' eyes on him.
"Shiraishi?" Eiji called.
"He has been like that since this morning after what Kurosaki-san told him," said Oishi.
"What did he say?"
"Something about a love rival. Looks like Fuji found someone he likes."
"Huh?" Both Eiji and Atobe exclaimed while Sanada noticed the twitch in Tezuka's eyebrows.
'What exactly did Kurosaki-san tell him? If it was just simply love rival, he won't be disturbed this much.' Yukimura was serious when he glanced at Shiraishi. Though Kurosaki was one his favorite people, Yukimura never liked it whenever he said something that would worry his friends.
"Yukimura, you know something?" Tezuka finally asked.
"Who knows? How about we wait for him and ask him?" Yukimura smiled. "Just for safety measures. Those blue eyes are really scary when you get on his bad side, after all."
"Blue eyes," Shiraishi muttered. Realization dawning on him. He suddenly stood up. "I'm just going to look for Fuji," he said and quickly left.
"Shiraishi is seriously weird today," Eiji commented.
"Did Kurosaki-san say anything else aside from love rival?" Tezuka asked. "It just that I don't think Shiraishi will act this way just because of it."
"Well, we did not hear any suspicious statement from him other than that," said Oishi.
"But Kurosaki-san whispered something to Shiraishi before leaving this morning," Sanada added.
Yukimura picked the tissue paper that was under Shiraishi's chair. Shiraishi must have dropped it earlier since the handwriting style on the tissue was his. Yukimura's eyes widened after reading what was written on it and quickly ran out of the café, surprising everyone, and following Shiraishi's steps. 'Damn Kurosaki!'
"Who are you looking at?" Kurosaki suddenly appeared and stood beside her at the rooftop. His eyes following the direction the other person was looking down at. A certain cafe just across the university.
"Looks like Syusuke made his move." Red was smiling her no eyes smile when she looked up to see Kurosaki. Her reddish brown hair was like Ryoma's and was pinned on one side. She stood 171 cm and has a slender body. She almost looked like Fuji, except for the hairstyle and the eye color. Her real gender? Male. So instead of she, it must be he.
"No, not yet. He was just interested especially after what happened last night," it was not the usual goofy Kurosaki. His voice was indifferent and his eyes showed no emotion.
"So, I'm wrong?" Red opened his eyes, revealing the intensity behind his words because Red was always right.
"Tsk. I didn't mean it like that." Kurosaki tensed for a second before relaxing again. "Seriously, your red eyes are creepy."
"Do they scare you?"
"No. I actually love them."
"Just like how Ryoma loves Syusuke's blue eyes?"
Kurosaki smiled gently. "Probably."
Red chuckled. "Ne, Ryuu-chan, humans are interesting, no?"
"You talk like you're not one."
"Oh, am I? You talk like you're one."
Kurosaki scratched the back of his head. "Thanks for reminding me."
"I wonder…"
"Hm?"
"I wonder," Red turned serious. "…who will be it this time." He then smiled but there was no hint of happiness in it. "Let's have a bet!"
"What bet?"
Echizen leaned under the tree near the vending machine. He felt tired. He was not mentally prepared to meet his past again. He thought he had moved on but seeing them personally, the thought he had clearly became a lie. But there's no point in dwelling on it, it's already in the past. What was done can never be undone. He should just face the present and stop running away. It was him who decided to go back to Japan, he should have expected much.
He was walking his way back to the café when he saw him exiting the ToDai gate.
.
.
'Brown hair.'
.
.
'Smiling face.'
.
.
Echizen was frozen in his spot. "Syusuke…"
.
Right, seeing a familiar face, he should have expected much.
.
"Syusuke…" he trembled as his voice got louder.
.
But not this much. Was he dreaming?
.
"Syusuke!" he called once again as the brunet crossed the street. The brunet stopped halfway and searched where the voice was coming from. Then, his eyes met Echizen's.
.
.
.
'Blue eyes.'
.
.
.
Really, he must just be dreaming.
Fuji was humming happily as he made his way to the café. He should have been dismissed earlier but the sudden meeting of their organization took his time considerably. It was when he was already crossing the street when he heard his name called.
"Syusuke!" He looked around and saw the least expected person to know him. He was standing at the other side of the road, staring at him intently. Fuji's eyes opened wide, it was already a surprise to know that Echizen knew his name but what surprised him the most was the younger guy's expression. Was it sadness? Longing? What's up with those golden teary eyes? He felt a pang of sadness and pain upon meeting those eyes.
"Echizen," he uttered just in time a loud horn was heard. He was so caught into Echizen that he did not notice his surroundings. He turned to look at his left and he was frozen.
There was nothing left to say.
.
.
.
"SYUSUKE!"
"I wonder," Red turned serious. "…who will be it this time." He then smiled but there was no hint of happiness in it. "Let's have a bet!"
"What bet?"
The wind blew strongly and the scarf around Red's neck flew along with it. Half a second later, a loud horn and unsettling screech of tires against the rough road was heard. "Bet of who will die."
to be continued...
