Saying Goodbye - Difficult Choices Pt. 3 by Yahiko
Saying Goodbye - Difficult Choices Pt. 3
Satoshi woke up to the sound of birds chirping merrily in the skies, hopping from tree to tree.
"H-ho-hum." Yawning, he rolled over onto his side, and would have drifted off into sleep once more if he didn't hear the voices coming from downstairs.
"Where is he?"
Satoshi sat straight up in bed, adrenaline coursing through his veins. S-Shigeru? Straining his ears to hear better, a second later his fears were confirmed.
"Shigeru-kun, he's upstairs and he's sleeping." Satoshi heard Hiroki say.
In spite of himself, Satoshi had to smile. That Hiroki...so protective of his friends...Then again, Shigeru is also his friend...
"I don't care; I have to speak to him now." Shigeru said through gritted teeth.
"I said he's sleeping!" Hiroki said, half yelling.
"Then I'll wake him up!" Shigeru shot back. "Damn it, Hiroki, why are you being so difficult?"
"Why?" Hiroki shot back. There was a crash, and Satoshi winced. "You want to know why, you bastard? Huh?"
Shigeru was speechless. "Hi-Hiroki..."
"The reason I'm not letting you anywhere near Satoshi is because of what you did to him!"
"What? What the hell did I do?" Shigeru asked.
This was getting too far. Satoshi slipped out of bed and pulled on a robe. Pading to the stairwell, he took the stairs two at a time.
When he arrived at the living room, the sight that met his eyes was heart-wrenching.
Shigeru lay sprawled on the cold marble floor, his nose broken and bleeding. Hiroki was standing over him, breathing heavily.
"The time I let Satoshi anywhere near you," Kenji spat, "Is the time I slit my wrists."
Shigeru stared at Hiroki, defiant. His soft, normally friendly brown eyes were burning with a fire that scared even Satoshi.
"Shigeru!"
Hiroki stopped short, and both of them turned their heads to meet Satoshi's shocked expression.
"Sato~shi..."
Satoshi rushed toward Shigeru and helped him up. Glaring at Hiroki, who assumed a somber expression, he bade Shigeru sit on the sofa and sat in a chair across from him.
"Shigeru?" Shigeru looked up.
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry-for what happened earlier." Hiroki's expression was sheepish.
Shigeru grinned. "Apology accepted, Hiroki-kun." The two shook hands and Shigeru turned toward Satoshi. Lowering his voice, he asked in a soft whisper, "Now, will you accept mine?"
"I think that's my cue to leave," Hiroki said, and made his escape.
"Bye, Hiroki-kun..." Satoshi said softly, lifting a hand absently, his eyes never leaving Shigeru's face.
"Satoshi."
Snapping out of his daze, Satoshi shook his head slowly.
"What?" Shigeru said, clearly crushed. "What do you mean?"
"I said no , Shigeru." And Satoshi fell back onto the sofa cushions.
"But why?"
Satoshi sighed. "A number of things."
Shigeru ran his hands through his hair. "Like what?" he wanted to know.
"Like the fact that I saw you kissing Makoto - that bitch - in your backyard."
Shigeru gripped his pendant, frustrated. "Listen, Satoshi, as I told you, we're just friends. There's nothing more to our relationship than pure friendship."
"Oh, really?" Satoshi spit out. "Then what were you doing in your backyard that had you two so absorbed?" He held up a hand. "No, don't tell me. Let me guess. Mouth - to - mouth ressucitation?" Satoshi asked sarcastically.
"I-"
"There's nothing more to talk about, Shigeru." Satoshi stood up. "I think I've said all I need to say."
Shigeru strained to keep the tears in his eyes from trickling down his cheeks. "Satoshi-kun..."
"I really didn't want it to come to this, Shigeru," Satoshi said sadly. "But...well."
"If you don't want it to end like this, at least give me a second chance!" Shigeru said.
Satoshi only shook his head.
Shigeru gritted his teeth. "Listen, Satoshi. Will you just let me talk?"
Satoshi sniffed. "There's nothing more to talk about."
"Okay, fine. If you won't talk to me; I'll just tell you. Hopefully this will change your mind."
Satoshi frowned.
"Makoto told me the real reason for her visit." Shigeru began.
Satoshi turned toward Shigeru. "And what would that be?"
"Apparently her father died and her mother is trying to put her up for adoption or something. She ran to Masara - and to me - because she needed a friend to lean on, that's all."
Satoshi snorted. "And I suppose her definition of 'friend to lean on' is 'someone you can kiss'? Don't try to fool me, Shigeru."
"But I'm telling you the truth, Satoshi!" Shigeru protested. "Won't you at least trust me?"
Satoshi whirled around and slammed a hand down on the table. "Trust? Me, trust you ?" he laughed harshly. "Come off it, Shigeru. I trusted you, and look what happened."
"....Satoshi....."
"Trust is like a crystal vase, Shigeru. Once broken, it can never be repaired." Satoshi quoted solemnly.
Shigeru stood up suddenly. He looked into Satoshi's eyes, and Satoshi was surprised to see tears in Shigeru's eyes.
"I guess now I've got my answer." Shigeru wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "I came here hoping to reconcile, and look where it got me." he sniffed.
Satoshi reached out a hand. "Sh-Shigeru..."
Shigeru pulled Satoshi into his arms, and, with a look of sadness mixed in with love and devotion, kissed Satoshi for what he knew would be the last time.
When they pulled away from each other, Shigeru wiped his eyes with his sleeve once more and turned to leave.
"Shigeru?"
Shigeru stopped in his tracks. "Nani, Satoshi?" he shrugged. "I can't call you Sato-chan anymore, ne?" he said weakly.
Satoshi smiled. "Of course you can."
Shigeru brightened.
"We'll..." Satoshi gulped. "W-we'll still be friends."
"We will."
"Goodbye, Shigeru."
"Sayonara...Satoshi."
Shigeru smiled that little half smile of his, and, with a wave, walked out of Satoshi's front door, and out of his life - forever.
For a long time, Satoshi's eyes remained fixed on the retreating figure, until he was gone, swallowed up by the crowd.
"Goodbye, Shigeru..." he whispered.
It was a long time before he moved.
~ owari Difficult Choices Pt. 3 ~
Author's Notes: Na~a! Well, I did promise everyone with lots of drama and action on this installment, and you all got it. Kya. See, I do keep my word. ^_~
