Romance of Entropy

Chapter I: Disorder

He didn't like the fall. It was the transition period that constituted entropy. Although entropy was only the natural state of things, he wanted things to be orderly. No, to be honest, he needed things to be orderly.

It was just the way he was. But autumn defied it all, using her warm day breezes to lull the unsuspecting passerby into a false sense of comfort, only to cloak the day with a frosty darkness. The mess of conflicting seasons, conflicting emotions, was just too much.

The snow would come; inevitably, sooner than he could predict. Memories of her would come rushing back. Not even the snow could numb the pain of loss. It was the loss of more than just a first love. Without her, it was the loss of sunshine, comfort, hope. However, by now, he had already accepted his fate.

His black leather shoes slightly scraped the sidewalk with each step, kicking up dried leaves brittle at the edges. Hands in his white coat's pockets, his eyes scanned the lonely streets. Time to time, a boy and girl would walk by, hand in hand, smiling and laughing. He had once been that boy, but now he could only look upon the situation as a war veteran; he had been through too much since those blithe times. It was times like these in which he almost wished he wasn't a Sohma. To be free to hold the one you love; such a simple request that could not be granted. Thus was the nature of the curse.

"Hatori-san!" a familiar voice broke through his solitude and a petite figure came rushing from behind.

"Kana-san. It's been a while."

"Yes it has. I've been meaning to bump into you," she smiled. Hatori almost returned her contagious gesture, yet he had long forgotten the feel of a smile upon his lips.

"What brings you here? I heard that you moved to Tokyo with your husband."

"I'm just visiting family and friends. Updates on life, and so forth."

"How is your new job?"

"It's just wonderful! Though, without your training first I would be nothing! Actually, I also came down here because I wanted to thank you for everything. I don't think I ever properly thanked you."

"Don't even think about throwing the responsibility upon me. You were fit to succeed already."

Kana blushed. Never had such praise been thrust upon her! "Well, enough about me! How have you been?"

The question was bound to have bore its ugly face some time or another. Nonetheless, Hatori was unprepared. What was he to say? He loved her, she forgot him, and from then on he lived a meaningless existence while trying to force love out of his thoughts? "Busy with work, as always. The family's sicknesses keep me occupied."

"Ah Hatori-san, always so solemn. You're starting to sound like a work-a-holic. Take a break. Maybe you'd like to go see Tokyo? It's a beautiful city."

"I can't. It's that time of year where Akito-san has a tendency of needing much medical assistance."

"You know what, Hatori-san? One day I am going to book you a weeklong vacation to somewhere in the world. And then maybe, I'll get to catch your rare smile. Or your relaxed face. Something."

He almost wanted to tell her that she had already seen all of those things. And more. He wanted to tell her that it was she, Kana, who gave him that sort of happiness to lighten up. But those days were gone. Unfortunately, she would never know that.