Hankachi (Handkerchief)
(Author's note:: This is just a fiction, I don't intend to make a similar situation with another story or with the events in real life. If that happened it was just coincidental.)
Kyusuke Yamada, a third year high school student in Torigaoka Gakuen, is in the woods in search for a hut wherein a wizard lives. Until he made it in the heart of the forest and he found a very beautiful castle which is surrounded by high walls and it has a tall metal gate as tall as the walls. Because Kyusuke is kind of tired already and thirsty he decided to go in to the castle first to ask for a drink. He is just to press the doorbell when the metal gate suddenly opens, he has no choice so he gets in. After the metal gate automatically close the surrounding suddenly changes. The castle a while ago is now a hut and the high walls and the metal gate disappeared but it seems like an invisible baricade that surrounds the hut. Kyusuke felt terrified but at the same time amused. An old bearded man pop out in front of Kyusuke and he shouted so loud because he was very surprised.
"Are you the man that I am waiting for?", asked the old bearded man.
"I think so? I... I mean are you the wizard I am looking for?", asked Kyusuke in return.
"Well, I've been waiting for you. Come in! Welcome to my world of witch craft!", exclaimed the old bearded man then there came a thunder and lightning which caused Kyusuke to shiver.
When they got inside the hut the old bearded man which is the wizard prepared all the tools he needs to perform a spell. After he did all the preparing he asked Kyusuke to seat down and have a tea first.
"I suppose that you need my help concerning to your girlfriend, isn't it?", seriously asked the wizard.
"Yes.", answered Kyusuke.
"Please state to me what would you want me to do.", ordered the wizard.
"Okay. To start, I am having a very big dilemma about my girlfriend. She is very unkind not just to me but also to others and I don't want such character like that. We are 5 months now. To make it short, I want to break up with her now eventhough we already made a lot of talking she still stay the same, I mean as bad as you could ever imagine. But she doesn't want to break up with me and she threatened me that she will kill herself when I broke up with her. What should I do? I am beginning to be crazy now. Please help me, sir? I beg you.", Kyusuke pleaded.
"Okay. I understand.", then the wizard started making the potion.
The wizard combined three liquids that has different color which are violet- for strong effect, yellow- for loosening, and red- for love. After that he cast oration/ spell to the potion and afterwards he asked Kyusuke to give him the most important and has the most sentimental value thing for him so he gave his handkerchief which according to him that was given by his father in his 13th birthday and that was the last gift his father gave to him before he dies. Then the wizard dropped the handkerchief in the potion and cast another spell. It exploded and the liquid disappear. All you can see inside the big pot is the handkerchief of Kyusuke.
"Here is your handkerchief.", the wizard handed it to Kyusuke. "What you need to do now is to drop it accidentally whenever and wherever it is destined to be dropped. When it is picked by whoever, your girlfriend will voluntarily break up with you but!...", exclaimed the wizard. "...In exchange you'll fall in love with the person who will pick up your handkerchief. It is not a love just because of the spell but because of true love. You want to break up with your current girlfriend because you want to find your true love in no time.", explained the wizard.
"What if I'll just drop the handkerchief?", asked Kyusuke.
"It can't be. Destiny will find it's perfect time for you to accidentally drop your beloved handkerchief. You'll not know it or even feel it when it happens. If it is not yet the time your beloved handkerchief will stay with you until it is time.", explained the wizard again.
"Wakarimashita. So, how can I find the one who'll pick my handkerchief?", inquired Kyusuke.
"Again, destiny will find its perfect time.", after the wizard answered Kyusuke he suddenly disappear. So as the hut and the forest.
Kyusuke woke up, he looked around and sat fast on his bed.
"Was that all just a dream?", Kyusuke asked himself. Then he found himself holding his handkerchief and the last words of the wizard suddenly echoed in his room.
"Destiny will find its perfect time?", Kyusuke murmured.
After school, Kyusuke is with his friends. He narrated about what happened to him with the wizard but his friends don't seem to believe him.
"Dude, what I'm saying is true. Believe me!", said Kyusuke convincing his friends.
"Okay! Okay! We will believe you but can we see your BELOVED handkerchief?", mimicked Koichi, one of his friends.
"Wait. I tell you it's true.", Kyusuke said while looking for the handkerchief in his back pocket when he didn't find it there he looked for it in his bag."I know I just put it in one of my pockets but-", he was interrupted by a pat on his back.
"Nice try, dude!", said Koichi.
"I'm telling the truth!", Kyusuke said still convincing his friends.
"Well, let's just go to the archade so that Kyu~chan will be back on the planet Earth.", said Akira, one of his friends, hanging his right arm around his shoulders.
Sayuri Harada, a first year high school student on the same school where Kyusuke is studying, is going to the school library on the "Reference Section" to research for her assignment in biology. She always sits on the table no. 4, her favorite seat, but at that time her favorite seat is occupied by others same as the other tables except for the table no. 9.
After 30 minutes of researching she stood up and about to leave but something caught her attention under the table so she bent to have a glance to that thing. She picks it up and look at it very well, it's a handkerchief. She looks around to see if there are someone looking at her and when she realized that the coast is clear she placed it in her skirt pocket.
Sayuri is kind of obssessed about the things she really likes and finding some connetions into it.
"Mou! I did'nt see Yamada~san for 3 months now! I am so sad! But to think, Yamada~san's first name is Kyusuke and they used to call him 'Kyu' which means number 9 and I just sat on the table 9 and found a handkerchief there. What does that means??? Could it be that handkerchief is Yamada~san's???? Can be??? Demo dame da!!!!", Sayuri thought to herself.
Kyusuke's friends were about to pull him to the archade when his phone rang that's why his friends stopped pulling him and planned to listen to the conversation.
"Hello?", Kyusuke said to the other line.
"Hello, Kyu!", answered the other line. It's his girlfriend. That's why he started wondering why his gf called this early when he knows it is still school hours because his gf was not used to call while school hours. "I just call to tell you that I'm breaking-up with you! I found a more deserving man for me. That's all.", then she hanged.
"What did it said? Who was it?", Akira asked continously and excitedly.
"My girlfriend. She is breaking-up with me.", Kyusuke said in a strange, cold, I-can't-believe-it voice.
"What????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", his friends exclaimed unbelievably.
"Ha ha...ha ha ha...YES!!!!! Yahoo!!!! She broke-up with me!!!!! I'm so happy!!!! Let's go to the archade! It's my treat!!!", Kyusuke said joyfully he even hops while walking while his friends were shocked and startled that's why they became paralize for a second.
"What was that????", they all asked while looking at him hopping away.
Tomorrow came. Morning, after their second subject, Sayuri with her friends are walking along the corridor while she is telling her friends about the handkerchief she found yesterday.
"What do you mean? You want to imagine the sempai~ guy that he owns the hanky?", Riza asked.
"Can be.", Sayuri said with dreamy and sparkling-heart-shaped eyes.
"Your crazy.", said Michiko shaking her head for disapproval.
"Just let her. Gambare Sayuri! I sympathize with you.", Ryoko said while patting Sayuri's shoulder.
"Thank you, Ryoko.", Sayuri said hugging Ryoko.
"Whatever!", exclaimed Riza and Michiko while shaking their heads.
Then the wind suddenly blows so hard. Because they are trying to hold down their skirt, Sayuri's files were blown by the wind and were scattered along the corridor. That time two guys were passing the corridor and they saw what happened so they helped Sayuri and her friends in picking up her things.
"Here.", said the guy handing the papers to Sayuri who is still picking up other papers.
"Thank you.", Sayuri said looking at the hand of the guy handing him the papers. She looks at him from his arm going upward. When she recognized the guy she felt her heartbeat gone fast.
"Your welcome.", the guy said smiling at her then he left with his company.
Sayuri was startled, blushing but pale and her hands are cold.
"Oh my gosh!!!!", Ryoko exclaimed excitedly when the guys were already away. "That was Kyu~sempai right?", Ryoko asking for confirmation.
"Yeah. But why did he help Sayuri?", Riza wondered.
"Guys, I guess we need to bring Sayuri to the clinic.", Michiko said looking at the pale Sayuri. They all look at Sayuri and sigh.
While going to their next subject, Kyusuke is in deep thinking. Koichi pinch him on his nose which caused Kyusuke's nose to turn red.
"Kyuu~ the red nose reindeer walking like a zombie here. Thinking about some bad things-", Koichi stopped jinggling. "I'm lost.", he laughed at himself. "Are you awake now?", he said looking at Kyusuke. Then he nodded. "So, what is the big deal?", he asked again.
"Huh? What do you mean? Ah...nothing. I'm just wondering... I think I already saw that girl.", said Kyusuke while still thinking about the girl he is talking about.
"So?", Koichi asked.
"I don't know. But when I saw and helped her a while ago I felt something peculiar. I-I don't know.", Kyusuke said confuse.
"Have you eaten your breakfast? Maybe what have you felt a while ago was just hunger. Don't you think?", Koichi said with a grin. Kyusuke just shrugged and shook his head.
One day, in the bus, Sayuri can't find a seat because the seats are already full that's why she just stand when suddenly she heard someone calling her with a very familiar voice. She turned to see if who is it, it's Kyusuke inviting her to sit next to him. Sayuri don't know what to do but he keeps on calling her. So she had no choice but to accept it. She sits next to Kyusuke with trembling hands and fast heartbeat.
"Thank you.", Sayuri said nervously.
"I think I already saw you.", Kyusuke said trying to remember where and when he saw Sayuri.
"Ah. Yes. You helped me with my things, in the corridor.", Sayuri said eventhough she's not looking at Kyusuke because at that point her heart is beating really fast.
"Oh yes. I remember it now.", said Kyusuke smiling. "Mind it if I ask your name?", he asked.
"Hai. Watashi wa Harada Sayuri desu.", she said smiling in spite of her nervousness.
"Boku no namae wa Yamada Kyusuke desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.", Kyusuke said reaching his hand to her to do a shakehand.
"Ah. Yoroshiku.", Sayuri said while taking Kyusuke's hand and they did a shakehand.
From that day they became friends. Each day they are knowing more and more about each other until it came to the point that Kyusuke woo Sayuri. Everyday he fetches Sayuri. They are making sweet moments each day. Because of his seriousness about how he love Sayuri, she realized at last, and gave Kyusuke the long awaited "yes". Their sweetness with each other didn't vanish instead they felt the love even more in spite of some misunderstanding but those were just seldom. Koichi once said, because of enviousness, that they are the most perfect couple he have seen in his entire teenage life, after Koichi said that he pouted.
Their first anniversary came and Kyusuke planned a date on that day for Sayuri. After class they went on a festival. They played festival games, ate takoyaki, yakiniku and other food on the food stalls that surround the place. They took pictures of themselves.
Evening came. They went on a restaurant. After they ate Sayuri went into the powder room and left her bag to her boyfriend. Kyusuke decided to wait outside the c.r. than waiting on the table where they ate so that they will be ready to go as Sayuri finishes. Suddenly he was bumped by an old woman that's why he accidentally released the bag of Sayuri. All the things inside the bag fell out, including a thing that is very familiar to him. He picks it up and fixed the bag of Sayuri.
"Let's go?", Sayuri said when he came back from the powder room.
"Ano... I have something to ask you.", Kyusuke said looking straight onto her eyes.
"Hai. Nani?", Sayuri said smiling.
"...", Kyusuke didn't answer but he showed the thing he saw from the bag.
"Where did you get that???", said Sayuri shockingly then he tried to grab it from Kyusuke but she failed.
"I am the one who must ask you that question. Where did you get this?", Kyusuke asked in return.
"But why? Why are you asking me that?", she said confuse.
"Just answer me.", Kyusuke said, he showed interest to what Sayuri is about to tell.
"I...I found it in the library...", then Sayuri told all what happened that day when she found that handkerchief.
"Sou desu ka?" But why did you kept it? I mean you don't know whose handkerchief is this then you treasured it that much?", Kyusuke asked.
"I don't know but I felt something strange when I found that handkerchief.", Sayuri stated.
"Don't you have any idea if who owns this?", Kyusuke asked while showing it to Sayuri.
"I don't have any idea but I assumed that you owns that.", Sayuri said with a weak voice, downcast
"What did you say?", Kyusuke asked unbelievably.
"Ah. Nanimo nai.", Sayuri shook her head hard.
"Sayuri, I heard you.", Kyusuke said.
"Ah. Actually, Kyu, I already know you eventhough you don't know me yet. I had a crush on you since I saw you. I said that because I just connected that table number 9 to you since I didn't see you that day.", Sayuri confessed to Kyusuke.
"Really?", Kyusuke asked in surprise.
"...", Sayuri slightly nodded her head.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that from you. You are right. I own this handkerchief.", Kyusuke said then he smiled.
"Huh? What do you mean you own that handkerchief?", Sayuri asked.
Kyusuke told Sayuri about his encounter with the wizard. That his father gave that handkerchief to him in his 13th birthday before he died. That's why the handkerchief is also important to him.
"You're serious?", Sayuri asked after Kyusuke told the story.
"Yes.", Kyusuke answered with a smile.
"I-I can't believe it. I mean are you saying that I am destined to you?", Sayuri said unbelievably but deep inside she is full of joy.
"Yes. I am very happy to know that all this time...it's you.", Kyusuke said joyfully. He reached for Sayuri's hand and squeezed it gently.
"I guess this is the very special gift that you gave me.", Sayuri said bursting with happiness that's why she can't keep her lips from smiling.
"No. You gave me. You made me very happy.", Kyusuke said and he squeezed her hand even more but gently.
"Really? Oh Kyu I love you!" Sayuri said and hugged him.
"I love you too, Sayuri.", Kyusuke whispered to her ear and he hugged her tighter.
In the woods where the wizard lives, he is watching a t.v. with his animal friends.
"Oh! How sweet!!!", exclaimed the owl on his hut's window.
"Yes. They're sweet but I'm actually sad that their love story will end now like a drama but still it will end up happily ever after.", said the tiger sitting on the left side of the wizard.
"Is that true???", asked the rabbit, sitting on the wizard's lap, sadly to the wizard.
"A bit, my dear. It will end up happily ever after but it's not yet the time to end. It's just the beginning. We'll see more of them because before they achieve that "happily ever after" they need to surpass all the trials that will come to them. But don't worry my dear friends, they really love each other so they can make it.", after the wizard said that all of them nodded slightly and turned again to the t.v. where they are watching the couple, Sayuri and Kyusuke.
Like the wizard said, Sayuri and Kyusuke undergone to many trials but because they have the element of understanding and love it's so easy for them to surpass any trials.
They had 4 years bf-gf relationship. After they graduated and found a job they married. After 2 years Sayuri became pregnant with their first baby girl. And after 3 years it was followed by another baby and it's a boy. After a year again they followed it with another baby girl. They had a happy life with their children.
After 10 years...
Sunday morning, in their backyard, Kyusuke and Sayuri is watching their children playing.
"They are so cute to look at.", Sayuri said while doing something.
"Right.", Kyusuke said while reading a newspaper. Then he noticed Sayuri. "What are you doing with my handkerchief?"
"Your handkerchief? I thought it's already mine since I found it on that table no. 9?", Sayuri said teasingly.
"Yeah right! So, what are you doing with my former handkerchief?", Kyusuke asked.
"You're really funny sometimes! I'm embroidering.", Sayuri said while doing her thing.
"What is it you're embroidering?", Kyusuke said looking at her beautiful wife.
"The names of our children and of course our names.", Sayuri said.
"You really love that handkerchief, don't you?", Kyusuke asked.
"Yes but not as much as I love you!", Sayuri said drawing near her lips to Kyusuke's ear.
"Really?", Kyusuke asked facing Sayuri.
"Hai. If I didn't find this hanky I won't find you as well.", Sayuri said.
"Oh.", Kyusuke said then he pinched Sayuri's cheek.
"Dakara koso...aishitemasu!", Sayuri said to Kyusuke while looking at his eyes.
"Boku mo anata wo aishiteimasu!", then Kyusuke kissed Sayuri.
~~~THE END~~~
(Author's note:: *Kyusuke~ is not Yamada Ryosuke, it is yama~chan's look-alike in our school. lolz. I call him KYU because of yama~chan's birthdate the "9" on May 9. *t.v.~ the t.v. that the wizard is watching is a magical t.v. lolz. *Torigaoka Gakuen~ is not a real school in Japan (or is it???lolz), I just created it in my imagination. [Torigao means bird face?? lolz] Thank you for reading!!!!)