Sincerity's Path
Times no Longer; Changes
Lifting the dark leather currier bag from its position on the floor, Mimi closed the locker door with a rattle, the sound reverberating down the empty hallway. Unhurried, she adjusted the bag to settle over her shoulder; undoing its flaps and placing the large textbook taken from the locker within it.
Turning, her eyes wandered down the empty hallway. Glancing to her watch, she sighed and tugged at the curriers strap. It was to late to catch any of the others before they left in hopes of walking home together. As it was, not many people lingered within the school grounds, most having already made their way home. She just happened to be later than usual today.
Looking down at her outfit she sighed yet again, her hand running over her white skirt as she moved to straighten the shirts tails of the white collared blouse from underneath the dark sweater vest atop it. Satisfied with her ensemble, she gave a final look down the empty halls.
Turning to her left, the heals of her white knee high boots clicked against the floor as she lazily made her way out towards the main gate.
The weather outside really was unusually warm for the season. Already early into November and despite the warm breeze, the only tell tale sign of the season came in the shape of the changing leaves. Splashed with vibrant gold's and reds, the trees had begun to loose their many leaves. As it was, the many trees lining the walkway too were loosing their leaves to the gentle breeze brushing past them.
Once again noticing the hour, she found few people remaining upon the campus. Although a few still remained, most had already taken off an hour or so ago at the end of the last bell. Finding the faces of the few still scattered about unfamiliar, Mimi remained silent as she walked.
"Tachikawa!" The familiar call startled her, pulling her to look over her shoulder. And while the voice startled her, it did nothing to warn her as she tripped head first atop the pavement, her foot catching against the loose rubble.
A manhole of loose rubble.
A giant man-eating-hole; even if in reality it was nothing more than a loose upturned stone. She squeaked all the same, her foot catching and her weight pitching forward. Unable to right herself, she wailed and tried to brace herself for an uncomfortable landing, her eyes closed and waiting for the inevitable.
An inevitable that didn't come, "Eh?"
Opening her eyes, Mimi found herself suspended mid fall, hands encircling her waist.
"Nice catch Yamato!" Taichi laughed, his face suddenly appearing before hers with a grin as she was lifted to her feet. "Clumsy as always, eh Mimi?"
Still stunned, Mimi could only blink as the hands encircling her waist lifted her up and planted her back upon her feet. Catching Taichi's words, she frowned, narrowing her eyes. "Thanks for the warning, Taichi."
Batting away the brunette's hand, having come to ruffle her hair, Mimi was settled upon her feet; the fingers at her waist drummed against her sides, his hands still against her.
She tried to suppress a shiver.
"Be nice Taichi." Sora laughed, suddenly appearing to his left and slapping him across the shoulder. "Hey Mimi, on your way home?"
"I was, but then I took a trip." Mimi frowned again.
A soft laugh came up over her shoulder. Tilting her head up, she tried to catch sight of him without moving, not wanting to break away from him just yet. But his fingers gave a final tap against her skin before he moved a hand to rest atop her head, giving an affectionate ruffle to her hair before he moved from behind her, "I've got to go, I'll see guy's later."
"Later Yamato."
Mimi could only watch as he walked past them, a hand raised from over his shoulder in a short wave. Her eyes lingered.
"Alright, I've got to go too." Taichi said, pulling her attention back towards them as he glanced to his wristwatch, "I'm supposed to meet the guys at the field."
"The guys?" Sora questioned, "Daisuke and Ken?"
"Yeah," Taichi gave an exaggerated sigh, quickly bending for a quick kiss to Sora's check before leaving. "I'll call you later."
She couldn't help but think how nice it must be.
Eyes momentarily trailing after Taichi, the red head turned inquisitive eyes back to the strawberry brunette. She quirked an eyebrow, "Hmm…"
Brought from her daze, Mimi shook herself, "Hmm… what?"
Sora smiled from the corner of her eye.
Mimi sighed, slumping forward, "Is it that obvious?"
Sora laughed.
Glancing at the picture frame across the room, Mimi smiled softly remembering that day three years ago.
She remembered that day the weather had been perfect, white clouds lining the sky. The spot had been beautiful; they'd chosen the perfect place beneath a Sakura tree in full bloom. The blanket laid out matched perfectly with the blossoms, a lightly tinted pink, large enough for the eleven of them. She remembered there being enough food to feed a small army. As it was, it ended up enough for one Taichi and one Daisuke.
Wrapping her hand about its black wooden frame, Mimi lifted the picture from its setting, her thumb brushing over the figure under the tree.
To his side, Taichi stood turned, watching the scene unfolding just behind them with amusement; a small brawl between Daisuke and Takeru having erupted, Ken somewhere in the middle of it.
He stood under the tree, leaning back against its trunk with folded arms as he too watched with disinterest the small scene.
In the picture she sat kneeling upon the blanket, holding her bangs behind her ear at the sudden gush of wind; her eyes watching his every movement. Her simple stature was drown out by the movement beside her, Hikari, Sora, Jou, and Koushiro grouped together.
Sora'd given her the picture shortly after it had taken place, handing her the only known copy. In the picture, his hair was still just above shoulder length. It was shortly after that he'd trimmed his hair back to its original shape, though it was now a bit longer in length. She didn't mind. She actually preferred his thick blonde hair as it was now. Somehow it played more on his features, accenting his jaw line and bringing more attention to his beautiful blue eyes. One's she wished would look to her.
The sudden ring of her phone pulled her from her memories. Startled, she placed the frame back down upon the desk and reached for the phone, glancing at the name on the screen; Takeru.
"Hello?"
Mimi shuffled out the door after changing into a pair of jeans and grabbing a light jacket from the closet. Walking down the apartment complex stairs, she started to have second thoughts. This really wasn't a good idea.
Takeru's voice laughed on the other side of the line, "Were all heading out tonight to watch the meteor shower at High View Park. I've already called everyone else, and with the exception of Yayoi and Iori, I think they said they were doing some extra curricular thing, and Yamato having band practice, we're all going to be there. What do you say can you make it?"
"Aa, what time?"
At a quarter to nine, Mimi found herself walking down the sidewalk towards the park despite her doubts. The days in which they spent time together were rare, few and far in between lately. The times in which she remembered no longer existed; care free.
Despite knowing how the night would turn out, she couldn't help but find herself seeking their company. Even if by the end of the night she wished she hadn't. Once or twice she caught herself stopping to turn around before she shook herself and continued on her way.
Turning the corner, Mimi continued down the darkened street, her heels sounding behind her. Despite the time of night, Mimi herself wasn't paying attention to her surroundings. Not the smartest move on her part, she realized, but again her thoughts wandered about her.
Faintly, over the usual nighttime traffic, she heard the sound of a small engine approaching the deserted residential street from a distance.
The sudden revving of the engine behind her, all to close in proximity, pulled a startled cry from her as it zipped past. The wave of wind upsetting her hair as she clutched instinctively to the back of her head.
The screech of tires against pavement pulled her eyes open. Just before her, the rider pulled to a stop, the engine humming softly as he placed both feet upon the ground.
Half expecting him to leave without apologizing, she could only watch, curiosity outweighing her fear as the rider twisted to turn the bike about, moving to face her directly as he moved closer.
She could only watch a face hidden from her own by a helmet and tinted visor as he pulled the bike to a stop before her. A shiver raced down her spine, she stepped back fearfully.
Slowly, the rider twisted his torso about, lifting the seat compartment and pulling something from it. She took another step back.
Turning back around, he tossed it to her, startling her once again with the helmet now within her hands. Raising a leather-clad hand to his own helmet, he pushed up the visor obscuring her view.
She gasped, taken aback at the sight of blonde hair and blue eyes, "Yamato!"
A grin.
Raising both hands to his head, Yamato moved to pull the helmet off completely, fingers running through his hair. "You know Mimi, its not exactly safe to be walking alone this late at night. I thought I told Takeru to come pick you up if you were coming."
Finally managing to find her voice, Mimi stuttered, still shocked, "I thought… He said… I don't understand." She finally shook her head.
Yamato laughed softly, "I canceled practice, the guys had their own things tonight."
"Like a lift?"
"Oh!"
Stepping forward, she pulled the helmet over her head, Yamato's hands reaching up to pull it snuggly in place before clasping the belt around her chin for her.
"Feel alright?" He asked, hands on either side of her, giving the helmet a small tug.
"Aa."
"Good." Flicking down her visor, he picked up his own and deftly placed it over his head, "Hop on."
She hesitated a moment after seating herself behind him, a blush coming to dust across her cheeks after realizing how close they were. Unsure of where to place her hands, she held lightly to his sides.
His grin was hidden from view, "Hold on tight!"
Startled at the sudden movement of the bike, she quickly looped her arms about his waist, clasping her hands about his middle. She held his shirt tightly between her fingers and closed her eyes.
What would have taken fifteen minutes by foot, took but a few as they sped down the street. It was frightening at first, the rush of wind blowing past her, the road blurring underneath her. But she felt strangely relaxed against him; safe. She sighed softly, bringing her head to rest between his shoulder blades.
She didn't want to let go.
But the ride was short lived, and when they slowed within the parking lot before the park, she was forced to pull herself away from his as they pulled to a stop. Cutting the engine, Yamato switched off the lights as Mimi brought her leg over the seat to stand.
He was already running a hand through his hair when Taichi and Takeru hollered a little ways away, heading towards them with excited grins.
"Yamato! You lucky dog! When'd you get it?"
She didn't even have time to say thank you, the conversation between the three boy's having strayed away from her as quickly as the other two appeared before them.
Hiding behind a small smile, Mimi gracefully bowed out.
Giving a small tap to the helmets gray plastic, she set it down upon the vacated seating and turned to disappear past the park gates to where she knew the others to be waiting.
She found them a little ways over the hill just past the main gate, where the ground evened out.
It seemed they weren't exactly the only ones with the same idea, as several other groups loitered about the park to stargaze that night. Already settled atop a large blanket, Sora sat with Hikari, Jou, and Koushiro around a small picnic basket Daisuke sat eyeing beside Ken. The scene reminded her of the picture sitting on her desk, the picnic under the sun.
She smiled, "Sora!"
"Mimi! You made it!"
True to their predictions, the shower started just past ten; The sky alight with a dazzling display. Painted across the sky, breath-taking trails burned white against the dark night sky. It was like a game of tag among the stars as they flew across the night, their bright bodies flying forward only to fade from the eyes of those that watched as its tail finally caught up to it. Burning the night sky.
They'd fallen into a circle of sorts, each head in and every foot out atop the blanket. From where she lay, Mimi found herself between both Hikari and Sora. Respectively, Takeru to Hikari's left and Taichi and Yamato to Sora's right.
Excited whispers circled about, awestruck gasps and giggles overhead, hurried fingers pointing towards the night. Every once and a while an off topic would start and Daisuke's voice would bellow far about their laughter as Ken tried to calm him down, the laughter at his expense only spurring his rising voice.
She smiled and laughed along.
But she could already feel the small stab of loneliness as the night wore on, the groups sectioning off, as she knew they would.
Hikari and Takeru laughed and whispered beside her, Daisuke and Ken arguing close to them. Jou and Koushiro chatted idly together. Sora whispered in Taichi's ear. Taichi's laugh as Yamato groaned and tried to ignore what he over heard.
She felt sectioned off.
As she listened to the voices about her, she realized they were drifting apart, and she became quiet. Her thoughts drowning out the voices surrounding her. The loneliness gnawing at her.
While as of late get togethers such as these had become all to rare, she couldn't bring herself to be happy. Because she knew times like this wouldn't last forever; she knew they were slowly drifting apart. They weren't as close as they used to be, not anymore.
Though she still considered Sora her best friend, and likewise, she couldn't remember the last time they'd spent all day on the phone together. Taichi now took up most of her time.
The boys, Daisuke and Ken spent most of their time upon the soccer field, practicing. Hikari and Takeru were to busy with each other, oblivious to what everyone else all ready knew.
It was hard to work in time.
"Isn't that right, Mimi?" She blinked, her head tilting to the side of Sora.
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, right." Not exactly sure what it was they were talking about, she gave a shallow laugh.
Mimi resigned herself, watching a cluster of stars trail across the sky in their game of tag.
Beside her, at least one other was silent, cautiously watching the person a little ways away from him. His blue eyes watching her from the corner of his eyes.
She didn't stay much longer, finding the conversations becoming stifling and the loneliness suffocating. Opting for a silent retreat, she gave Sora a quick kiss to the cheek and gave her a small smile. "I'll see you tomorrow Sora, I'm going to head home."
"All right, I'll call you later. Night."
Careful so as not to disturb the others, Mimi picked herself up from the blanket and hastily made her way past the parks entrance gate. Cutting through the empty parking lot, Mimi paused just before Yamato's motorcycle.
She couldn't help the quick glance she threw back to where the others still sat.
Enough. She straightened herself at the small twinge that ran through her. Things were changing she had to remind herself. They were all changing.
She took in a breath, pulling herself from her thoughts as tears threatened to fall. The heels of her boots echoed over the empty lot as she strode down the street.
Because things weren't what they used to be…A slender figure watched from atop the hill, his eyes trailing after the strawberry brunette rounding the street corner.
An engine revved behind her, tires screeching wildly as it pealed out from the parkway. The sound pulled her eyes from the shadows lining the pavement under the overhead lamplight. Mimi froze, her fingers clenching in her palm as she quickened her pace.
She couldn't outrun him, and looking about, she realized there was no place to duck into or hide behind. Her attempts were futile, yet she couldn't bring herself to stop or turn around. She didn't want to face anyone right now; she didn't want to see him. Because she didn't want him to see her; she tried her best to compose her features.
Passing her, Yamato threw the bike to a stop before her when he realized she would not stop. Watching her behind the visors screen, Mimi slowly opened her eyes, previously closed tight. When they opened, he could clearly see the overwhelming sadness laced in her eyes along with her silent resolve.
His eyes held to her with sympathy, his fingers tightening about the helmet in his lap. Lifting it, he held it out towards her.
She let her gaze fall to her hands, her head dropping, her eyes no longer trying to find his from behind the screen blocking her view. And yet, even after hesitating, she obeyed the unspoken request, deftly sliding atop the bike behind him, her arms once again wrapping about his waist. Her head coming to rest against his shoulder.
Though her arms were wrapped about her, he could feel the distance she'd placed between them. And yet, at the same time, he could feel her clinging to him as if attempting to keep him from leaving. He closed his eyes, listening to the sound of her breathing, relishing in the warmth she presented and the soft feel of her heartbeat. He didn't want her to let go.
It was almost like a dream, she felt like was in such a deep sleep. The whirl of sounds as they passed, the blur of lights against the dark night. It almost didn't feel real, but even so, she didn't want it to end, even if it wasn't real. Even if it was only a dream. But for the both of them, the moment was fleeting, and all to quickly they pulled to a stop in front of her apartment complex.
Stiffly, Mimi pulled herself from him, removing herself from the seat she came to stand to the side of him. Fidgeting with the helmet strap, she lifted her eyes to his, no longer hidden from her own. A smile drew across her lips, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Thanks for the ride… again. You really didn't have to though, but thank you…" Her smile faltered, and she lowered her eyes, her fingers sliding across the plastic in her hands. Pulling her mask together, she brought her eyes up once again and held out her hands, the helmet at her fingertips.
"Well, I better go." She laughed somewhat nervously, as he slowly took the object from her hands. "Thanks again."
A quick spin and she turned to step away.
The helmet dropped to his lap, his hand reaching out to gently wrap about her wrist, pulling her back to him; lips pressed against hers.
She stood paralyzed, unable to move. She stared forward in shock, his lips moving against hers. Tears welled in her eyes, slowly closing as she responded to him.
He could feel the tears slide down from her cheeks against his skin, warm. Sighing into the kiss, his freehand rose up to cradle the back of her neck, his fingers sliding to intertwine with her hair as he deepened the kiss. Yamato pulled her closer, never once letting his touch stray from her, letting them linger across her skin.
Breathing in deeply, Yamato slowly parted from her. Her fingers clung to his shirt, her forehead coming to rest against his. Her eyes closed with tears.
Don't leave.
"I'm still here." He whispered against her skin.
"You'll leave…"
He laughed softly, his arms wrapping about her waist and giving a gentle squeeze. "I'm not going anywhere."
"You going to smile anytime soon?" He smiled, leaning in to steal another kiss, hoping to reassure her with every lingering touch.
She laughed softly, a smile pressed against his skin.
Mimi stepped back from the full-length mirror, giving a quick once around before running to the door. Fumbling with her boots, she hopped from one leg to another, slipping them over her feet.
Through her window she could hear the sound of a motorcycles engine pulling into the apartment complex. Mimi made a mad dash for the closet, leaving the hanger to shake on its railing as she pulled the jacket over her arms.
She gave a quick glance to her clock, her mothers voice calling out to her.
After all these years, after everything they'd been through together. Out of everyone, he alone still remained the same. Somehow, the others had stepped ahead of her, in some way leaving her behind. They all had things that were important to them, their lives prioritized around them.
Everyone seemed to have changed, and she couldn't help but feel the difference. Because somehow, she was the one left behind, despite all her efforts to keep in stride with them.
And she was suddenly left alone.
She couldn't find the cut through, the door they'd all managed to find and slip through. And so she was left alone, in what felt like a dark and empty room. And she could only watch, as one by one, they disappeared from her view.
Somehow, that door alluded her, and she couldn't figure out why. Was there some reason? Or maybe it was because she herself wasn't sure she was ready to find it, to walk through. Because what waited on the other side? Where she was was comfortable, and well known.
She could only sit alone.
But suddenly, there was a hand holding hers, pulling her up with a smile. An embrace that held her tightly and walked with her, easing her fears; because that someone was now with her, easing her loneliness. That hand was guiding her, and where she was suddenly didn't seem so dark anymore.
The engine revved outside again, and Mimi dashed down the hall, her purse in tow. Giving a quick shout to her parents, she left with a brisk goodbye and shut the door behind her as she trailed down the complex's stairs.
Having just stepped from the motorcycle when she appeared, Mimi jumped forward, her arms leaping up to wrap around his neck as he spun around, holding her tightly in surprise.
He blinked, "I would have come to get you."
She smiled and pulled him closer.
She wasn't alone anymore.
an: What's left of my original one-shot; Revised, though unbeta'd Written forever-ago, when Mimato was my OTP. Having gone back through it, I made myself sick reading over the horrible style, punctuation and grammatical errors. It's currently going through a revision process; hopefully with a few additional chapters.