Standard disclaimers apply. Pls. don't sue me. I'm not making any money
out of this. It is purely for entertainment's sake.
Rain kept pouring down that Saturday night. People with their umbrellas made way through the streets, finding its own way either their homes, work or somebody special. Even though it would be uncomfortable to move around, people with their special somebody, cuddled together under one medium sized umbrella or even a jacket that is fit for one person only, still stroll around the park. They don't care about the rain. They don't care if their clothes will be ruined. They don't care if they get wet and catch a cold or worse pneumonia. They don't care. They don't care at all. As long as they are together, they can adapt to the rain.
Sakoshita Yanagi entered the old gazebo at the far end of the park. Closing her umbrella, she headed for the two-seater bench, sat down and waited. 'I wonder where is he right now? What is it that he wanted to tell me? I hope it isn't any bad news. Oh well. I'll just know if he'll come here.'
Her eyes wandered around the gazebo. Rose vines embraced the pillars ever so tightly. The floor is filled with wilted leaves that came from the big oak tree beside the gazebo. It may not be the world's most beautiful gazebo, but in the mind of Yanagi, it is perfect. She is one of the very few people who only knew this gazebo exists. It is very well-hidden and some people thought that there is a monster sleeping for a long long time. Yanagi, of course, didn't believe all these rumors. She had been here almost every day and no monster came up and frighten her.
'Even if there is, I don't need to worry. He'll definitely save me. She smiled at that thought. She closed her eyes and thought of her own special someone. He also knew of this place. Actually, he showed her this place. In total, the two of them made a world of their own with this gazebo. Because of this place, they have fallen in love with one another. Because of this place that her life is complete. Because of this place, she felt that she'll never be alone. She sighed heavily. 'I'm so lucky to have him. He is really one of a kind.' The succeding events of how they met, how she realized that she loves him and how he declared his love to her replayed in her mind. She treasured every minute of it and she knows he treasures it as much as she do. 'Here he comes.'
A faint figure, passing through the secret path, appeared before her eyes. She stood up to welcome him.
"Konbanwa, Mi-chan," Yanagi greeted with a big happy smile on her face. "I wonder where you have been. I've been waiting for you for quite some time already. I thought you would never come!"
"Gomen ne," Tokiya apologized trying not to meet Yanagi's eyes. "I didn't mean to."
Yanagi felt that there is something wrong. "Mi-chan? Is there a problem?"
"Gomen ne," Tokiya apologized again. He turned his back to Yanagi. "Gomen ne, We have to stop seeing each other. This relationship is getting nowhere. This has got to stop."
Yanagi, hearing the harsh words that came out of Tokiya's lips, fell down to her knees. Tears started to fall down one by one. She can't understand why Tokiya would want to break their relationship. She thought over the common reasons why relationships end. Nothing can fit to thier situation unless........
"You love somebody else?" Yanagi guessed. Not hearing Tokiya's answer, she pressumed it was correct. "I guess it's Fuuko, isn't it? She always come out prettier than me. I think you two will be happy together. Don't mind me. I'll let you go. For yours and Fuuko's sake."
Tokiya turned to face Yanagi and help her stand up. They both walked towards the bench and sat down. Tokiya lifted her chin up and wiped the tears away. "You are the most beautiful lady in the whole world, at least in mine. I have never loved any woman more than I love you."
"Then why?" Yanagi managed to say in between sniffs. She could clearly see in Tokiya's eyes that he still loves her. But amidst the love and concern in his eyes, Yanagi felt that nothing would change Tokiya's mind. She have to admit it too. For some strange reason, her mind dictates her to break her relationship with Tokiya.
"If we continue this," Tokiya started to explain. "Sooner or later we will both end up unhappy. Our carefree days are coming by to us with no hesitation but when these days are gone, we can't survive together."
"You're saying that it is destiny?" Yanagi mirrored his words. "That's insane! Can't you see that it is destiny that brought us together? To fall in love?"
"And it will be destiny that will break us apart," Tokiya interrupted her. "Not only us as a couple but us as individuals. I know this really sounds unfair and harsh but this is the ultimate truth. We can't continue this."
"I thought you said that you will always be beside me. Whatever the situation that will arise, we'll face it as long as we're together," Yanagi reminded him. "I thought you are true to your word. Not as the man that I love but as a warrior. I can't believe this."
Tokiya can't hold on to his feelings any longer. He let go of Yanagi, stood up said, "You aren't the only one who thinks this is unfair. I almost sliced my house to pieces just to let out the anger in me. All the dreams that I have night after night say that we can't go on as a couple. At first, I never gave any attention to it thinking that it was nothing. But now, once I thought of it over and over again, I realized that your good future is at a arm's length if you spend the rest of your life with Hanabishi Recca. I just can't waste your dreams."
"I have had bad dreams too," Yanagi said, remembering her experiences. "You will become a successful rich bachelor. You outrank everybody by the means of your sword, even your own master. But, I don't see myself at your side. In one of my dreams, you said to the media that your secret to success is being a bachelor that having a woman and having a relationship will only tie you back. I guess it will all come true, someboday." Yanagi's tears came running down her cheeks. Nobody can stop her from crying now. It is all over. She'll never feel complete, protected and loved as Tokiya would make her feel.
"I guess.........this is good-bye.........forever.............to us," Tokiya said with a sign of crying in between his words. He came closer to Yanagi and pressed his lips against hers...............for the very last time.
'My last kiss from my true love' Yanagi thought, tears still falling down continuously. 'I'll never love anybody like I loved you, Tokiya.'
"Gomen ne," Tokiya apologized for the last time as he broke their kiss. He charged through the rain, leaving Yanagi behind.
"Good-bye Tokiya, my love," Yanagi whispered, falling down to cry and
cry all through the rainy night.
That's how the Tokiya-Yanagi relationship ended. Just like their dreams narrate, Yanagi was married to Hanabishi Recca. They had 2 children both excelling in their studies, sports and Martial Arts. Tokiya became one of the richest bachelors in all of Japan. He just bought an estate in the States to serve as his rest house whenever he has a chance to go there. He still train himself with his ensui and the sword fighting style, Hyomon Ken. Always busy about so many things and perhaps never forgetting his experience with Yanagi, he never married any woman, asked any lady to be his girlfriend or even bed a whore. Yanagi, on the other hand, will stay forever loyal to her husband, but in her heart, her one and only true love that reigns in her heart is Mikagami Tokiya.
Rainy Saturady nights still passes but the sight of the couples cuddled together under a jacket or an umbrella while strolling around the park can't be seen anymore. Most of them fear the diseases that might come their way. Even if their are couple under the rain, they are most likely to be unfortunate ones just like Tokiya and Yanagi.
But still, people like to challenge destiny. They think they can survive
with the you-and-me-against-the-world attitude. Will they also end up just
like Tokiya and Yanagi? Maybe yes. Maybe no
Afternote: Now, I'm beginning to hate the word last. So you like it?
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you think!