AN: new story.. just want it to be a one-shot but coincidences happen..

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Of Cherry Blossoms and Fountains

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Summer, 1998

She ran through the streets holding a suitcase in hand, shaking her head here and their as if there was someone was following her. Her burgundy dress cascaded beneath her giving her an aura of suppressed elegance, matching it was her heels with a butterfly tucked on it. She was now having ragged breaths and noticing a nearby pole, held onto it. She put the suitcase in the ground and puts her hands on her knees.

“I need to hurry, before it’s too late” she said between breaths.

She reached for the suitcase and before she grabbed it, someone walked by.

“I wonder what took her so long, maybe there’s a problem” a girl said.

She knows that voice and turned her back, it was her. She doesn’t have time anymore and at this moment, it would break things up between them if she said a little or uttered a word.

“Hiroko” she barely whispered. But the girl heard it. But before she turned back, she grabbed the suitcase and started to run.

The girl recognized her. “Hey wait! I-“ She didn’t continued her sentence because it was of no use anymore she cannot hear her.

“Etsuko, Why?”

Fall, 2007

Etsuko walked through the crowded street; full of lights and decorations. She realized she was in a carnival. Surprised, she continued walking and ended in a certain place people won’t seem to go. It has a fountain on the middle with lights glowing on the sides. She took a step near it but her gaze landed on the bench opposite it. She searched for any sitting item around the place but found nothing. Instead of wasting her time, she silently walked to the only bench and noticed the figure sitting on it was a girl.

She has long black hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a half-sleeved shirt and baggy pants. Her face was shadowed by the vivid illumination by the fountain.

“Is this seat taken?” I said, pointing at the space on it.

“No” she simply said without looking at me.

And with no further hesitation, I sat beside her. The view from here was really breathtaking; the flow of crystal clear water was twinkling mixed with the tingling sensation of lights surrounding it. But it seemed to me the girl wasn’t paying attention to any of it and the silence between us was killing me. A gust of wind swept up across us causing my handkerchief I was holding to be blown and fall exactly to her lap. I thought that if I could just snatch it lying their, truth is I don’t have the guts. Having no option I say:

“Um, can I-“

Before I can finish what I was about to say, she get the hanky and handed it to me.

“This is yours right?”

She silently said to me. She was looking at me with straight onyx eyes. As she gave me the hanky, I had a good look at her face, It was so familiar to me that when I as contemplating, she got up and walked away. I didn’t know her but my mind was so flowing with many questions. Without thinking, I ran towards her and clutch her wrist to prevent her from walking. She stopped and glanced to my direction.

I gaze at the ground and said “Can I know your name?”

She didn’t answer it quickly but I heard her saying “Hiroko Yumenagi”. At the mention of the name, I looked up to her and saw an unexpected smile. The time stopped for me and a swirling memory rushed into my mind. I was in the same place I was in and with the same person I am facing right now. We’re both standing and she’s holding my hands.

“I remember now, these was the time when I would be going to Tokyo from Hokkaido. The memory came to me now. Hiroko was my best friend whom I abandoned. I didn’t tell her I would be leaving seeing that I will only hurt her. But we always met here; this garden full of falling cherry blossom and a fountain in the middle, our secret meeting place, the two of us best of friends.”

Her heart felt a pang of guilt at the sudden realization how much she felt about leaving her. And I forgot saying goodbye. I felt the need to cry and just then I let go of her hand and shed tears with all my heart.

“Is something wrong?” she murmured. Her voice is so calm and relaxed. I nod my head stating a No.

I know deep within myself I care for her and she is too. I gently detached my hand from her and that instance, tears flowed in my face. It was too terrible, what I did to her, no letters, and no calls with me telling her where I was. I wrapped my hands in front of my face, not caring that she saw me crying that hard.

“You don’t need to cry, Etsuko... It’s been 9 years since you left, there’s no way for me to held on to that long, but now you’re here... I am happy. “ she smiled a warm smile that gently caressed her aching heart. A smile that always stopped her worries away, whenever she has a problem, a smile from her took it all down. She finally had the urge to talk.

“I- I am very sorry Hiroko, I never wanted to hurt you, you were the one who lent a hand to me through all the times I was in deep trouble, I don’t want to lose you that time, but my parents, they-“ she staggered through her words.

“What did they do to you? Tell me...” she murmured.

“Nothing, it happened all too fast, I was gonna phone you to it, but they stopped me.”

“Doesn’t matter, you’re here now... Still, I am holding to that promise you gave me” she uttered the last four words in a hush.

She knew it right before she said it, the one thing she promised her was... to be with here always and always was not the appropriate word because, her friend cannot hold on anymore.

She puts her hands on her cheeks. “I know, I won’t leave you anymore, not now, not any given time.” she said.

“Thank you”

They walked together hand in hand. Crossing the glowing fountain and to the streets. Just as the leaves of cherry blossoms swiped between them.

The bending of time just turned its rims backward. A never-ending fairytale is going to be detached from the beginning.

rippedwings: review?