Watching Over You ~Chapter 7~
Title: Watching Over You
Author: Stephie
Chapters: 7 / ?
Genre: Sorrow
Rating: PG-R it varies per chapter
Pairing: Inoo Kei x Nakajima Yuto
Disclaimer: DO NOT OWN!
Summary: All they could do was watch over the other.
Author's Note: This may be pretty sad, it seems I’m very good at writing stories that make people cry, but seeing as my life is very depressing at the moment it fits right in. This is dedicated to my friend Jasmine (just_mine23). Although I have no responses for chapter 6 i decided that i should post chapter 7 anyways, it's quite confusing but whatever.
Chapter 7: An old Friend.
The morning came all too quickly for Inoo, the night had come and gone in a blink of an eye and yesterday’s memory of playing the piano once again still rung in his ears. It brought a certain light back in him that made him want to do it again. Playing it, he felt light, freer in a way that was almost pleasant and helpful enough to release pent up emotions that he held in so tightly. His dreams which usually contained his past, Yuto, or his late wife were filled with music and notes he’d never played before. Was it inspiration? Probably not but was he going to play those notes anyway? Yes, during the day while there is company…it may help lighten the mood.
Inoo was all too eager to get out of bed that morning, usually he was groggy and unwilling to come to breakfast, but this newly found old passion energized him. He felt like exercising and playing more, he felt like doing the moves to the songs he played, he’d never forget them, and he even knew the ones from after he left thanks to watching the performances over and over again, but he’d look so stupid doing them by himself, he’d never live it down if anyone saw him. But for some reason he felt like today was the day the burden of the memory was going to be lifted from his shoulders. A weird feeling, yes but that was what he felt. The memory would dissipate from his mind today…he just didn’t know when or how it was going to happen, but he felt light again.
“Good Morning Family,” he bounded in the kitchen with a bizarre upbeat mood that hadn’t risen from him in a good fifty years. His daughter-in-law literally dropped her spoon in the pot and stared at him in shock. Rina looked at her grandfather as though he was crazy and Yoru just laughed at him. It was odd sight to see indeed. Their normally depressed grandfather was bounding with energy, he was already dressed and in exercising shorts too! A very strange person walked into their kitchen just now and it wasn’t their grandfather that they knew and loved.
“Good morning grandpa, sleep well?” Yoru asked after he stopped laughing.
“I slept quite well actually, better than I have in years, I don’t know what happened, but I feel young today.”
“Well that’s good then,” his daughter-in-law said while serving him the hot cereal, “Maybe it was the music last night that brought about your change.”
“It could be, I don’t even remember the last time I played that old thing, but I’ve had it since my teenage years, it holds a lot of memories for me, maybe it helped me release a few.”
“You should play again,” Rina told him. “The music was so pretty and soothing and it made you better so you should play more and more and teach me too!”
“If your mother says it’s alright then I will teach you. But shouldn’t you two be off to school now? It’s almost that time.”
“Yeah, we should get going, see you later mom, grandpa. Oh and mom, I’m going over to Kinta-kun’s house to study and play soccer after school. So I may not be home for dinner.”
“Alright, see you later then honey and see you when you get home Rina,” their mother said and they bounded out the doors to go await their bus. “You’re in a cheerful mood today father.”
“Yeah, I don’t know but today I feel good. I’m going to go out for a long walk today too would you like me to pick up anything?” Inoo asked his daughter-in-law.
“Well now that you mention it, you could pick us up some groceries, I have a list on the fridge, would you mind doing that, we’re having company for dinner tonight and I would like to make it special. Not having to pick up groceries would be great. But don’t worry I have everything I need for tonight; it’s just the rest of the week we have nothing. So take your time.”
“No problem, I’m going to enjoy myself today.” Inoo said and he finished eating his hot cereal. “I’m off.”
“Come back safe!” his daughter-in-law told him and he was out the door.
Inoo walked for a long time, just strolling through the town and saying hello to passersby, many of them were surprised to see him out of his house, let alone going for a walk, but he just brushed off their strange looks and kept going, having pleasant conversations with random people made him happy. The fresh air made him happy, everything made him happy. Today nothing was going to get him down, he just knew it. Something was going to happen today, he just didn’t know what it was, but he told himself to keep an open mind and just stay happy all day. Maybe it was the new outlook on the day or something but he felt that all his worries were going to be gone today and after today he could move on.
After saying hello to the eleventh person, Inoo decided that it would be a good time to go for a jog. A jog sounded like the best thing for him at the moment, he didn’t know why, he hadn’t run or jogged in years, but today he felt like he was on the top of the world. He jogged for a long time, and he hadn’t even gotten out of breath, he was still perfectly in shape, which totally should not have happened, he should have stopped at good 4 kilometres back but whatever, he just kept going. Not caring as to where he was going, but on his way he started to recognize the surroundings he was headed in the exact same direction as his old work, his old friends and his old life. He had no idea how that happened, but the youthfulness in him was controlling where he went without consulting his brain.
Inoo hit the very familiar park trail before he finally stopped to rest on the benches. He had been here several million times before, having come here with the group, his friends, other agency members, sometimes on a date with either his late wife or even Yuto, but mainly he came by his self. He came by his self because this place was scenic, the flower beds made the place smell great and even the stands of food helped it to smell great, the trees lined the brick trails and people everywhere were either walking dogs, running, jogging or even just hanging out. It brought a lot of memories to Inoo, ones he wanted to remember and others he didn’t.
One memory in particular made him stop just so he could remember it. He was right round the same spot, but it was definitely not the right time of day. When this memory happened it was night time, and there weren’t a lot of people around, in fact there wasn’t any. But just around here was where they carved their initials into the tree, it was a special tree at least to them it was. This tree in particular was not a cherry blossom tree as one may think, yes those were special trees but not to them, their tree was a fir tree, right by the small lake and hidden from view from those who didn’t look for it. It was here that the two of them crawled under the low lying branches and hid there from the others. Because it was dark, Hey! Say! JUMP, while taking a break had decided to play hide and seek in this park and Yuto and Inoo had happened to both pick the same tree.
It was under this tree that Yuto had kissed Inoo for the very first time. The memory was so fresh in his mind that he just melted when he saw that specific tree. It was still there and much taller, it was very old now and it was starting to lose some branches but Inoo went up to their tree and pet the leaves. He didn’t know why he did this but he felt as those he betrayed it for not coming back. “I’m sorry tree.” Inoo said out loud, luckily it was low enough that the people around him didn’t hear. Happily, Inoo sat down by the tree and began to look at it. He was looking for something in particular, something that wouldn’t be too high off the ground but still hidden from public view.
“Where is it?” Inoo asked himself. “It’s got to be here, I can’t be wrong, I know it’s this tree.” Inoo said to himself, he was clearly talking to his self but the people around him either didn’t care or they couldn’t hear him.
“It is this tree right?”
“Yes it is, Kei-dear,” said a woman’s voice.
“You remembered my tree?”
“Of course I did, we would always stop here on our walks remember, you told me that this was yours and Nakajima-kun’s hiding place during JUMP hide-and-seek. I remember several things you said, I love you.”
“I loved you too and I still do, I miss you a great deal but I miss him too you know.”
“I know sweetheart and I’m not jealous, I know your love for him would never compare to my love for you, I realized that a long time ago but I never worried, I love you Kei, and as long as you know that, I’ll be happy.”
“Are you sure that it’s this tree? I mean I feel that it is this tree, but I can’t see the proof.”
“It’s there, just look harder,” the voice said and faded into the daylight.
Inoo stared at the tree a little harder and luckily for the sunlight because if it wasn’t there he would have never of seen it. About three metres from the ground, carved clearly into the bricks were the letters KIYN. Passersby wouldn’t notice it and if they did they wouldn’t know the meaning or even how to read it but that was how they wanted it. It was their tree.
“I guess I should head back, I’ve been gone a long time,” Inoo said to his self and he got up from the ground.
“Sir, are you alright?” a young boy said standing beside him.
“Yes I’m quite fine, why do you ask?”
“Well I’ve been attempting to ask you directions for about five minutes, you were kind of out of it. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yes, I assure you, I was just admiring the beauty of this tree and this park, sorry if I spaced out. What can I help you with, but I must assure you I’m not from around here so I don’t know how much help I’ll actually be.”
“That’s fine anything will do, I’m looking for this address here,” the boy said softly and handed over a piece of paper. “Can you help me?”
Inoo just started at the piece of paper in his hand, the address was his own. “Can I ask why you are looking for this house?”
“I’m supposed to meet my grandfather there; he’s visiting a friend today with my mom. Can you give me directions?”
“I’ll do one better I’ll take you there myself.”
“Are you sure it won’t be a bother?”
“I don’t think it would, considering I live there.”
“You do?”
“Yes I do, your mother must be my daughter-in-law’s friend, and it’s no problem I was just about to head home as well.”
“Thank-you,” the young boy said. “My name is Nakamori Yuta, aged 12.”
“Inoo Kei, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you as well, Inoo-san.” Yuta said and the two of them walked all the way back to the familiar streets suburbia. They weren’t too far from the house when Yuta spotted Yoru and Kinta and called to them. “Inoo-kun! Morimoto-kun!”
“Nakamori-kun,” the two of them said together. “Grandpa, welcome home,” Yoru added to his.
“I’m back, how was school?” Inoo asked his grandson.
“It was good, mom wanted me to come home though, apparently she wanted me to meet her friend’s son, but since he’s clearly someone from my class, and we’re going to go, wanna come along Nakamori-kun?”
“Sure, I’ll just have to tell my mom, do you know where they are?”
“Probably in the kitchen, we’ll take you there, and grandpa you may want to, I don’t know, change clothes. Mom’s friend brought someone here to meet you.”
“Alright, tell your mother I’ll be out in five minutes.”
“Okay, no problem,” Yoru said and the three kids moved in the house followed by Inoo who immediately went to his room. When Inoo emerged from his room five minutes later he was ready to meet this new person. He didn’t know what to expect or whether this was the good thing to happen to him today or not. He was nervous but he didn’t want to show it.
Confidently he took the few steps required to reach the kitchen where Yoru said they’d probably be. Unfortunately they weren’t there, nor were they in the living room, the foyer or even the family room. His confident steps were starting to become more casual when he took his first look out the window to see that they were just on the patio. Duh why didn’t he look there in the first place? It’s always the last place you look right?
On the patio were Inoo’s daughter-in-law, her friend, Rina, and an older man who looked really familiar. Inoo honestly didn’t want to believe it was who he thought it was but he figured he better bite his bullets and go meet his long-time-no-see best friend. Nervous, Inoo walked back to the fridge to compose his self before taking the plunge. He took a glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass of water. He chugged it in a couple of gulps and then decided that it would be best to go outside.
He took a deep breath and looked into the eyes of his old best friend. “Good afternoon all, I had the nicest run today.”
“Good afternoon, grandpa, I had the best time at school today, and guess what I got the girls email address and she told me where she lives and it’s soooooo close to here but mommy won’t let me go by myself, and Yoru left already with his friends so I get to stay here with guys!” Rina said quickly, “You know what I think I’m going to go watch some television while Yoru isn’t home, is that okay mama?” Rina waited for her mother’s nod before skipping off inside and giving up her seat so that Inoo could sit down.
“She talks very fast,” the friend said softly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get to introduce myself yesterday, I’m Nakamori Nata, and this is my father, but I’ll let him introduce himself,” Nakamori Nata said softly whilst gesturing to her father.
“I don’t know how to start, but can we go for a walk? I want to see your massive backyard, you always told me that you’d have a massive backyard with a river through it and everything, I have no idea why you went for a run in the park today, just going around this place would take me all afternoon.” The “father” said quickly. The voice was super familiar to Inoo too, he just couldn’t place it.
“Have fun, we’ll go inside and allow you two to catch up,” Inoo’s daughter-in-law stated and the two women headed inside, probably to gossip.
“Sure let’s go for that walk, I know a nice spot near the back of the yard that has a great view,” Inoo said and he stepped down the few stairs that lead to the pathway around his backyard.
“You always said you wanted a house like this Kei-chan,” the man said and Inoo looked at him strangely. The man just smiled and stepped onto the path. “I can’t believe you managed to make the house you always wanted this is just wow, you accomplished your goal, I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
“I just can’t believe it, this is the exact same backyard as in your drawings and sketches all those years ago, you managed to do it all, even the colour scheme, everything is exactly how you pictured it and to think that you of all people managed to keep your dream alive.”
“Me of all people, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Sorry what I mean is that once you disappeared, no one knew what had happened to you, you completely disappeared from everyone, no contact, nothing where did you go? Overseas? We went to your school to look for you, we tried to send you presents and emails on your birthday’s but nothing went through and everything came back to us. What happened?”
“I don’t really think it is something I have to explain at this moment, don’t you think, I don’t even know who you are.”
“You don’t recognize me?” he asked surprised, “weird, everyone recognizes me.”
“Sorry I don’t and I don’t watch a lot of television or listen to music or anything so if you’re famous then I’m lost.”
“My gosh, your best friend. You don’t recognize your best friend?” the man said and then Inoo got it, what he thought in the kitchen was right.
Standing in front of him was his long time no see, very old best friend, Arioka Daiki.
Author's Note: There's Chapter 7, I've had it done for awhile but I was waiting for even one response for chapter 6, unforutnately there weren't any so i gave up and decided to post it anyways.