Yes PEOPLE! YOU SAW RIGHT... This is kinda the end of No Choice! I'll talk more at the end... For now enjoooy! XD
The dejected trumpeter followed the cracks lingering on the slate grey pavement. After cornering Kahoko earlier that day, he was slowly eaten up by an overpowering guilt. His amber eyes lost their shine. What could make them gain their vibrant glow again?
(Why am I so stupid?)
When a guy was head over heels in love with such a dense girl, it was blatantly obvious that there was a lot of hurt coming around the corner but was it wrong for this poor guy to be a little bit true to his feelings and poured them all out to the girl of his dreams? No one, not even Cupid, was a good enough judge. Matters of the heart were better left trickling with time. This particular guy's heart did not even allow him to be true to himself, something he actually deserved, if it meant Kahoko would be hurt.
Under the canopy of the princely twinkling stars, he made his way through the moonlit darkness to Kahoko's house.
(Is two hours too late to apologize?)
=.=.=.=.=.=.=
Trudging past the closing shops, he spotted cherry red locks whipped in all directions by her hurry.
(Could it be?)
His heart skipped a beat.
"Kaho...chan?" He asked hesitantly.
The redheaded figure started on a light jog.
"Kaho-chan!" He called out a little louder.
The shadow began to rush through the desolated street.
Kazuki clenched his fist and ran after the escaping figure. It did not take long for the running champion to get a hold of her slim wrist.
"OH MY GOD! DO YOU WANT MONEY? I CAN GIVE YOU MONEY! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!" The terrified woman screamed.
"Uh... Sorry... I thought..."
"IS IT NOT MONEY THAT YOU WANT? WHATEVER IT IS I CAN GET IT TO YOU! JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!"
"No... I-"
"JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT! DON'T HURT ME! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"I just mistook you for someone else!"
The woman peeked out from the pink purse she was covering her face with. Not a single muscle moved. Her blonde eyebrow started to rise, barely perceptible in the less than adequate lighting of the night street. The white of her eye then widened and she looked like she had just found a billion dollars.
"Oooooh! Hahaha... So stupid of me... No I did not think you were a stalker or anything like that... Hahahaha," she tried to laugh it off while lowering her shield.
(How would I have reacted to this if I were my normal self?)
"Well, little boy! Don't go grabbing women's hands in the dark like this! You'll just get some kicks, slaps and maybe punches... The point is don't be so desperate ok? Now please excuse me, I have some business to do... And remember that I'm a very good-natured woman who never, not even for a second, suspected that you are from the dark side!" The woman blabbered quickly as she edged away from the silent boy. In less than a second, she was off with full speed, the purse she used to cover her face gripped tightly on her right hand.
(Must have given her a fright... I'd usually care... Right? But now nothing's on my mind except...)
His train of thoughts was interrupted by yet another appearance of a redhead. He bit his lip to stop the bubbling emotions that started boiling inside of him.
(I've got nothing to lose right?)
From the incident a few moments ago, he had learnt the right way to approach someone he thought he knew, stealthily until he was completely certain that it was her.
The black silhouette paced through the secluded district, the trampling of her footsteps echoing against every solid wall. The moon watched with tranquility as the two played a game of chase.
The more Kazuki followed the silhouette, the more he was sure that it was Kahoko, he finally made up his mind to confront her when she turned the corner. The instant the silhouette vanished into a new junction, Kazuki broke into a run and jerked his head towards the spot he expected her to be.
The silhouette was then revealed under the cavalier rays of light descending from a street light. Red locks grew from the silhouette's scalp but it was not the only thing that was red. Any hint of fair skin had been dyed red, a few shades lighter. The golden eyes Kazuki stared at were droopy and tired. The stagnant smell of chemicals filtered to the night air.
(Alcohol?)
In front of him was a bottle of half-empty wine, held loosely by a stout man in his fifties, most probably after cheating on his wife.
(Did I just mistake Kaho-chan for this...?)
"Whatcha looking at?" The old man demanded, trying to be cool.
Kazuki just stood gaping in disbelief and walked away.
A wind blew past the blobby man.
It blew through an alley up ahead where a red-headed girl hid.
=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=
Kazuki frantically looked from left to right, his eyes darting in every single direction, hoping that he would not miss her. Through the empty supermarkets, closed office windows and the barely inhabited streets he scanned. Despite the chilly night, his shirt was drenched in sweat. His ears were pounded by his rapid heartbeats. As he paused to gasp for breath, he shut his eyes and clenched his fists so tight that warm blood began to well on his palms. He threw his head back towards the velvet clouds, begging them to strike a lightning and just kill him.
=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=
"Goodnight Hino-san. Is Ka- I mean Hino-chan home?"
"Kaho? I thought she was out with her friends... She's not home..."
His mouth went dry and a lump started to form on his throat.
(Then that silhouette must have been... And she knew I was coming... She...ran...away...?)
"Hihara-kun? Is something wrong?"
He was at a loss for words. He merely stood there, drowned in disbelief.
"Should I be worried?"
"I'll find her! I promise!"
There was something about his voice. It was not strong or anything but it was so sincere. Kahoko's mum smiled.
"Please do so."
=.=.=.=.=.=.=
Maybe it was because of the adrenaline invading every part of his body but Kazuki did not realize that his blood had stained the concrete pavement. The fierce growl coming from diagonally below him succeeded in snapping him back to reality.
"I'm not against eating cat meat!" He threatened.
The cat from the park looked shocked for a while then it bit the edges of his pants.
"I don't have time for this!"
The cat's exotic eyes glared at Kazuki's amber ones. Its irises were of myriads of colours. The black pupil in the core of both disclosed a tunnel of secrets only a feline would know.
It strutted into the direction pointing towards the lonely moon. Its furry head turned back to manifest a knowing glare. Its legs and tail were bent in the perfect way that it looked mystical.
(I hope you're telling me what I think you're telling me...)
=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=
What were the chances that two people out of the billions of people in the world would be in the same place at the exact same time?
The green pigment on the leaves was drained into the darkening sky, leaving it withered and fragile. The leaves which sheltered the two as they walked home together that fateful summer afternoon were floating elegantly towards the ground. They had reached the end of their tales. It was no longer time for them to shine since summer was gone and autumn has arrived.
Through the seasons the park ventured but it still contained every single parchment of the events held there. On the very bench where Kazuki had met the cat for the first time was a very gloomy Kahoko, her hair forming a veil between her and the dark world.
His heart skipped yet another beat. His eyebrows were finally parted after being furrowed for so long. His knees gave way in response to the enormous wave of exhilaration surging through him.
As he kneeled between the park's open iron gates, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. His muscles finally relaxed. The thumping against his chest gradually slowed down as he feasted his eyes on the amazing sight. He found her.
His eyes fell on the cat that guided him. Without knowing it, his hand reached to pet the cat. In contrary to the violence he expected the cat to present him with, it moved closer and stroked its tiny head against Kazuki's slightly bleeding hand.
(You're so unpredictable... Are you actually pushing me and Kaho-chan together?)
The cat purred, as if answering his thought.
Kazuki curved his mouth to what resembled a smile and summoned the courage he had left to approach Kahoko. At least 'someone' is supporting him.
=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=
"Kaho-chan..." He whispered hoarsely.
Quiet as it was, Kahoko jerked her head to the voice that had haunted her for the past few hours.
"I'm so sorry!" She cried before rashly picking her stuffs in an attempt to get away.
Before a single grass could twitch, Kazuki already held Kahoko's hand in his.
"Please go home. Your mum is worried about you."
Kahoko's face was one of confusion and her mouth parted and closed several times.
"Okay. I'm sorry."
"Will you please let me take you home? I'm the one who caused this aren't I?" Kazuki offered with a smile. His mask of happiness was too fake to fool anyone as his eyebrows, eyes and voice all betrayed his real emotion.
=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=
The path their eyes took meandered through the various shadows of things unknown. The clouds seemed to freeze. The moon was as unmoving as ever. The stars tried to be in the limelight but even its shimmering glint was ignored by the troubled students. It seemed like time has halted since they were the only indication of movement in the autumn night.
"I'm sorry..." Kazuki started to break the deafening silence.
"What? No! I'm sorry..." Kahoko replied, still eyeing the branch of a bare tree.
"No. I shouldn't have done that back in the music room. I'm really sorry. Can you please forgive me?"
Although Kazuki did not say it but Kahoko could hear it loud and clear.
"Look at me in the eye!" He was screaming.
"It's not your fault. You're right. I shouldn't have ignored your confession." Kahoko stated with a slightly trembling voice.
"I was really rude. I'm sorry!" Kazuki apologized, bowing a perfect right angle at the redheaded violinist.
"I'm the one who should be sorry! I truly hurt you for such a long time!" Kahoko stuttered while bowing to the bowing Kazuki.
Even without straining his ears, he could sense it. Kahoko was holding back tears.
The rough pavement blankly stared as his face contorted into a painful grimace. His chest was really hurting then. It was shrieking 'Don't! Don't!' disconcertingly. His brain, on the other hand, was being brave. 'It's time for you to grow up,' it advised. The two pilots argued. Kazuki let out a barely audible sigh, ending their deprecation.
"Kaho-chan?" He called as he stood upright.
"Yeah?" Kahoko glanced up as she too, stood upright.
"Please forget about my confession," he said, flashing a melancholic smile. A mourning zephyr that swept past the mundane streets, the agonizing street lights, and the bleak black car parked in the corner, showered him with an insurmountable amount of regret. The leaves rustled in protest but their scraping against one another just portrayed the fresh wounds that were forming in his heart. It was like a thousand shards of broken glass were plunged into every part of his body. After uttering his request, he was only capable of swallowing back all the opposing words that were tumbling their way out. It was time to end her pain regardless of the excruciating pain that he would need to bear later.
(It hurts... Haha...)
"But..."
"I was just a little bit over conscious because of what my brother and Kanayan had said! I thought I liked you that way but it was just because you're the closest girl friend I have! I was mistaken! Really!"
(It hurts...)
"I guess if that's what really happened..."
"Come on! Don't be gloomy! It is true!" Kazuki said ruffling her cherry red hair.
(It hurts...)
"Ok then!" Kahoko finally gave in.
Before those words were out of her mouth, Kazuki had already turned his face towards the shunned moon. That way, Kahoko would not be able to see that expression, the one which would surely reveal that everything was a lie. The vigilant moon did not miss that expression and it seemed to have a new crack forming on its lunar surface as a result of the pain the poor boy displayed. The stars' light became vague and distant. Instead of the magical feeling they usually crooned, they merely looked miserable and broken. The velvet night sky clearly reflected Kazuki's feelings but Kahoko was not looking up.
"Sorry for making you worry! Ah I know! I'll buy you a juice as an apology ok?" Kahoko offered before trotting towards the vending machine she spotted.
(It hurts...)
=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=.=
"Here you go, Hihara-senpai!" Kahoko extended the hand holding a can of cold orange juice.
Seeing the smile again melted away Kazuki's regret.
(It was worth it...)
"Thanks! But don't think that I don't know that this is the cheapest thing in that vending machine!" He grinned, accepting the gift.
"No! That wasn't the reason I bought it! I just thought you like orange juice!"
(I do now...)
"I get it! I get it!" He replied while raising the can towards the vast sky which mirrored his emotions. The orange colour of the can of juice contrasted against the dark blue sky. The streak of light renting from a flickering star aimed for the can, bouncing off with a sparkling sheen. The shimmer was intrinsic to the hope radiated from that gleam. Under the can was a set of digits printed in black.
Kazuki brought the can closer and tilted it to read the digits.
"Haha… The date of my birthday…"
"Date of your birthday?"
"The expiration date for this juice is the date of my birthday!"
"Really? It's on the 12th of December?"
"Hohoho… Young kids nowadays…"
They turned their heads to find an old man wiping his tears with a dirty handkerchief.
"You remind me of me and my wife back when we were dating…"
"D-d-dating?" Kazuki stammered.
"Now would you please dance for me?"
"?" The two exclaimed in shock.
"My wife just passed away and I just need some…" but the old man could not continue as he had burst into tears.
"Kaho-chaaaaaaaaaaan… The old man's…"
"I know…" Kahoko replied.
"What should we do?" Kazuki asked with a hint of laughter, a vine of hope slowly sprouting out.
"Dance of course!" Kahoko happily declared.
Kazuki offered his hand but when he noticed the more than visible wounds on it, he directly grabbed Kahoko's hand and clasped his hand into hers, his fingers filling the empty spaces between Kahoko's slender ones perfectly. Kahoko blushed, surprised at his swift movement.
"We can't waste any more time! We have to stop the old man's tears!"
As Kahoko placed her hand on Kazuki's shoulder, Kazuki could feel hope flourishing inside him. He still has plenty of chance. Maybe it was not time for the end yet. The curtains had not fallen and the show was still going on. He drew a breath and placed his hand gently on Kahoko's waist.
"Off we go!"
They waltzed into in circles, stumbling and tripping from time to time. Their eyes were locked into each other's. The naïve met the concealed. Their feet lightly tapped the concrete pavement as they spun and twirled. They were having so much fun dancing that they did not realize the old man's slumber. Their laughter tinkled into the night.
(I don't get it… But I'm happy with what I have now… I'm sure that time will decide everything… Besides I have that cat which supports me! I know that we'll end up together! I know! I'll make that date the deadline! I'll be Kahoko's boyfriend before my birthday this year! That can of juice is the proof of my promise! I just have to not drink it! Oh my god! I forgot about the other guys! What will happen if they confess?)
Kazuki suddenly let go and grabbed his head with both his hands.
(OH NOOOOO ! AAAAAAAAAH! )
"Hihara-senpai? What's wrong?"
"Nothing… I just felt like holding my head… hahahaha…"
(Don't think negatively… Just focus on the deadline! Before my birthday! 12th December! YOSH! There's no other choice than to wait! It's not the end!)
======I would really like u guys who r reading this to review since this is the "end" ... please?... anonymous is totally ok
Hello guys! I can't believe i've come this far! XD I actually kinda finished no choice! XD Ok wat i mean is that this is like the first part of a long long story but they're not REALLY connected sooo... well i'll write a new story entitled "No Class" which is kinda the sequel (KINDA) so people who doesn't read "No Choice" can understand "No Class"... The reason i do this is bcos i dun really like making long stories so i separated them but i still wnna make them connect... my original plan was to finish in like 5 chapters but due to circumstances i prolong the story ! XD Thanks a lot for reading everything up till now! I really appreciate u guys! XD U made fanfic seem like heaven! XD Seriously!
Thanks to:
my super loyal reviewer/no.1 kazuki fan XD: kazuki-senpai
wonderful amazing multi-language XD friend and encourager: kasumisou
my first reviewer: sakura125
myawesome and extremely kind teacher: tentsubasa
best reviewer an author can have: Ongaku no Usagi
first story favourit-er: sakura125
first story alert-er: kazuki-senpai (no surprise here! Thanks a lot! XD)
first author favourit-er: ValkyrieGeiravor
first author alert-er: Aeia Amane
reviewers: sakura125, Kasumisou, kazuki-senpai, Blizzard Winterfrost, NotJustAnEmotion, tentsubasa, Ketsueki no Kuki, TaylorHinataSwift, kitsune's miko, nicholee33, jiyu22, ak, , Theasib, bridges888, Kawaii-flower, kouhaixsempai, person294, Yueres De Leo, , Deme.P, misslaly19
(i feel like im giving awards! XD it's just like graduation ! XD)
and all u people out there who have read this fic thanks a lot! I'm happy u guys take the time to read this work of mine! X'D
Hope u enjoyed my first fanfic XD I sure enjoyed writing it! (although fighting against laziness was no easy task)
LittleBottle OUT! XD - first time i actually wrote my name XD
im just so happy X'D yes i know i totally need to improve 0.0
...please review...