Finding the Future

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I do not own The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

It just didn't make any sense. Time had always felt slow to Makoto, but lately it seemed to go even slower. Which was already sluggishly slow to begin with. Maybe it was because something imminent was going to happen after ten years of waiting. Chiaki, after all this time, I'll finally be able to see you again.

Makoto looked at the clock, which was in the corner of her studio, and looked back down disappointed. Only five minutes had passed since the end of her tour. There was still a long time before dinner with Kosuke and Kaho. Before she and Kosuke could start piecing things together and make a second plan. Then maybe, just maybe, she could meet Chiaki again. Then they would be free from the almost two-hundred-fifty-year barrier of time.

A knock on the door snapped Makoto out of her thoughts. She looked up to see her Auntie Witch in the doorway. Even though there were gray streaks in her hair now, Makoto still thought her aunt was strikingly beautiful. Not that Makoto cared about looks when it came to herself, since her own hair was still cropped short like a boy's. She was still the same tomboy from ten years ago, just older, wiser and now had a good paying job.

Makoto tried forcing a smile on her face, but from her aunt's expression it wasn't working. She sighed, wondering why she was so transparent when it came to her aunt or anybody else whom she was really close to. Will it always be this way? "Is there something wrong, Auntie?" Makoto asked, hesitantly.

The older woman just walked in with a strange look on her face. It seemed calm on the outside, but sadness seemed to be lurking underneath. Makoto sat on the edge of her chair, waiting for her aunt to speak. It had to be something important, very important. Auntie Witch put a hand on Makoto's shoulder then spoke. What she said put Makoto's nerves on end.

"You're still waiting for him, aren't you?" Auntie Witch asked. There was worry swimming in her dark brown eyes. She knew how it was for Makoto, since she had gone through the same thing when she was her age. She didn't want Makoto to continue going through the same process she had when she was young. Ten years was long enough. Yet, Makoto just wouldn't let go. Auntie Witch didn't know what to do to make things different for her niece.

Makoto shook her head slightly. Maybe I should tell her. Maybe she'll understand. She's been with me since the beginning. "No, Auntie, I'm done waiting for him. I'm running to him," Makoto informed her aunt, her smile growing wider. Hope was glowing inside her heart. She hadn't felt this happy in ten years. Her aunt's eyes went wide with confusion.

"What do you mean?" Auntie Witch asked, a little startled. Makoto beamed and started telling her aunt everything. What Auntie Witch heard surprised her and left her speechless. Her niece was planning to build a time machine? It might be possible, but there was a high risk of it not being safe. There was no telling what it might do to the flow of time. Auntie Witch tried breaking through Makoto's excited chatter, but couldn't. A heavy feeling of dread came over Auntie Witch and she hoped Makoto would be all right. The worry must have showed, because after a while Makoto finally noticed it. Makoto felt guilty, because she didn't want her aunt to worry about her. She wanted her to be happy along with her. The studio soon became silent and awkward to the point that Makoto couldn't stand it.

"I'm sorry, Auntie, but I really have to go. I'll see you tomorrow," Makoto said, getting up from her desk. She bolted out of her studio without a second glance. Her heart was pounding hard against her ribcage and Makoto had to work hard to calm down. What can I say to make her understand? How can I ease her mind? These questions swirled through her mind as Makoto walked down the stairs. Before leaving the building however she turned left towards the security area to make sure all the artwork was safe. Emotions gripped her as she passed the painting she was protecting for Chiaki. Makoto touched the bullet-proof glass and smiled thinly as tears of conflicted emotions flowed down her face.

"Miss Konno, are you all right?" asked the security guard who was doing his nightly rounds. Makoto cringed slightly before wiping the tears away and turning toward him.

His kindness made her smile slightly. "I'm fine, just a little stressed out is all. It's been a long day," Makoto said as she walked past him. "I'm sorry to have bothered you." She stopped in the doorway when she heard him speak again.

"You know, if you need someone to talk to, I'm always here," the security guard said, smiling at Makoto with kind eyes. They were a familiar shade of hazel. His eyes are so much like...like Chiaki's eyes. How is that even possible? Makoto forced herself out of her stupor and nodded her head stiffly.

As Makoto exited the museum a cool night breeze whipped at her hair. It was then that she noticed how fast her heart was beating. The question was: why? Why was someone she barely knew affecting her so deeply? Makoto put a hand to her forehead and sighed, trying to calm herself. Wry laughter came bubbling out of her mouth, startling her. Makoto Konno, you have officially gone off the deep end. As the thought crossed her mind Makoto laughed at herself even harder. Maybe that was true. Getting all worked up about a guy just because he had the same eyes as Chiaki was not a good sign.

Despite the two of them having the same eyes they were complete opposites. While Chiaki had flaming orange hair that could stand out in any crowd, the security guard's hair was pitch black like any common man in town. The Chiaki Makoto remembered was loud, hyperactive and was only serious when he needed to be. From what Makoto knew, the security guard was always kind and calm, in a strong way. Besides, the security guard was a couple inches taller than Chiaki with a more muscular build. Chiaki was built to be more lanky. The two of them were so different it was funny.

Makoto had to wipe her eyes, because tears had formed from her laughing so hard. She unlocked her bike from the bike rack, tested the brakes to make sure they were okay then was on her way to Kosuke and Kaho's. Time finally felt like it was going a little faster.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry this took me so long to post. I've had major writer's block lately. Please, don't be mad at me. I added a new character, so I hope you like him.