Chapter One: The Trip
Haru's excitement continued to grow, as she checked over her supply list, trying to see if she had forgotten anything. She hadn't. Setting the list aside, she started zipping up the sizable hiking backpack Hiromi's father had lent her. That man really was too sweet to her…
"Haru?"
Chocolate eyes met matching ones, as the high school senior locked eyes with her mother. She looked worried, but Haru wasn't surprised. The brunette let the bag fall on its back on her bed so she could embrace her mother.
"Mom, I swear everything will be fine. We have plans, guides, chaperones, supplies, and just about everything else."
The red-haired woman continued to cling to her daughter. Haru had always thought that crimson locks were glamorous, and was put out that she hadn't inherited her mother's hair.
"Haru, did you have to sign up for this trip? I feel like once you walk out of this house, I'll never see you again."
The brunette squeezed her mother comfortingly.
"Are you saying that because of Dad?"
The woman laughed harshly.
"I have nothing to fear from him, if he won't let you call him that in public. It's something else. Something serious."
Haru kissed her cheek.
"All the adults and most of the kids have cell phones. If anything happens, we can get help. I'll be back before you know it."
Her mother squeezed her one more time.
"I'm just scared to death of something happening to you, Sweetheart. You understand, don't you?"
"Of course. It's in your list of mother's privileges."
A car honked outside. The brunette pulled herself away from her mother's embrace in order to zip her bag shut. On a strange impulse, she tossed her latest project into the bag before shutting it.
After all, there was no telling if she would have some spare time, down in the caves.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Hiromi was grinning at her from inside her father's truck. Haru smiled back warmly as she opened the back door and slipped the bag in before following.
"Thanks for taking me, Mr. Hashima."
Hiromi's father grinned at her while waving to her mom.
"No problem, Haru. Is your mother still nervous?"
"Yeah, but that's natural, right?"
He laughed while pulling back into the street, Haru blowing a kiss to her mother.
"Of course it is. If I didn't personally know the guys in charge of this trip, I'd have put my foot down with Hiromi."
The sandy blonde girl looked at her best friend from around her seat. Her eyes widened, and the girl stretched a hand back to feel the pretty scarf around the brunette's neck.
"This is gorgeous, Haru. Did you make this one?"
She nodded happily.
"Just finished it last night, and I wanted to show it off."
Mr. Hashima stole a quick glance at the delicate homemade white lace.
"Be careful with that thing. You might not get it back, if you lose it down there."
Haru nodded; knowing that anything could get lost down there, if one wasn't careful.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
An older man, his chocolate hair slightly accented with silver, checked his list, pleased that so many of the students were showing up early. Yes, only ten left before they could leave. His black eyes darted to the bottom of the list, which was arranged alphabetically.
Yoshioka, Haru.
His heart heaved again. Maybe this trip would be able to heal the gap between them, once and for all. He did love her, but he couldn't show it while on school grounds or trips. He remembered all too well what happened when his own mother had taught him, and the attention she had showered on him. Not only had that embarrassed him beyond words, it made everyone else in his class hate him.
And he loved his daughter too much to put her through the same thing.
A familiar truck rolled into the school parking lot, and two girls jumped out one side. They waved to the driver before approaching him.
As they came closer to the trip director, he could see emotion slowly leave one of the girls, a brunette like him. The blonde next to her grabbed her hand to send comfort.
"Hiromi Hashima and Haru Yoshioka."
He checked off their names.
"Hello, Hiromi. Haru."
She nodded at him without emotion.
"Hello, Mr. Niyashi."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Darkness. Everything was always darkness, here.
A lone figure leaned against a broken pillar, pondering…
It couldn't be too long, now. The sign had been given over seventeen cycles ago, and time was running out once more.
He was so tired of waiting…
Endless waiting.