[Yu/Megumi] - Speaking of Happiness
Speaking of Happiness
J Ent
Yokoyama Yu / Sato Megumi
a continuation of Visitor. for koneho
1936 words
Author's note: This is turning out to be kinda of a series, isn't it? I shall name it one day; but as you can see from how i title my stories, i'm not very good at giving names. oh! and i found the perfect pictures that IS Kanjani8 in the story:
キエル ノコル ただ 恋焼け
- Koiyake
NewS
When Yassan came to thank Ryo for pleading Yoko’s case, Ryo figured it would be a dent on his ego to tell Yassan his reasons for helping Yoko, so he said nothing in return.
When Yoko returned to the world, looking more like he had been kicked in the gut than freed from his misery, Ryo started to get a little more than curious.
“Hey,” he said, one night after he and Uchi returned from sending the soul of a young lady off. “What was it like, down there?”
Uchi smiled. He had been waiting for this question, knew that Ryo would be the first to ask. “It’s… strange,” Uchi frowned, changing into a clean shirt. “The air is always dusty,” he shuddered. “If you hadn’t come…”
Ryo frowned. When Uchi was punished, he was sent there for one and a half human years. Uchi hardly spoke about what he did during that time, but everyone knew he was relieved to return. Ryo had been the one who had gone to get him.
Uchi had been smiling when he walked in through the gates; just like the rest of them were, waiting for him on the other side.
When Yoko returned, he walked in slowly, lagging behind Subaru and Hina. And Ryo saw what the others did not see; the tiniest glance back at the world he was leaving behind.
“Ryo-chan,” Uchi said softly, sitting down next to Ryo. He took a deep breath. “Some humans, they work hard. Not all of them are as mean as Baru says they are. I… I met some nice people. When I was there. I even went to school. Even though what they learn in school is strange.”
Ryo frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. “He should be happy he’s back… not everyone gets a second chance.”
Uchi just smiled and shook his head.
“Yoko.”
Yoko looked up. He was sitting at the far end of the sacred gardens, near the edge of the world. It was said that if one leaned over the side too much; he would fall down to earth.
“How did you know I would be here?” Yoko asked, shifting over so that Uchi could sit on the grass next to him.
“Because this was my favourite place for a long time too,” Uchi said simply.
Yoko grinned, shaking his head. “I can’t put a thing past you.”
“Not to someone who’s been there,” Uchi said softly.
“I only ended up there for two weeks,” Yoko laughed. “I’m ten times better off than you were.”
Uchi turned to Yoko and looked him over. The scar he got during his fall was almost fully healed, but it was still faintly visible on his skin. Yoko wore a short sleeved shirt; as though he needed to, and wanted to, keep the scar visible.
Uchi sighed softly. He placed a hand gently on his friend’s knee. “Won’t you tell me a bit… about her?”
Yoko paused.
Uchi smiled. “Yokocho,” he said softly. “I learnt a lot about humans when I was there. We were humans once too, right? It’s just that we’ve forgotten…”
“True,” Yoko nodded. “And some of us more strongly than others, of course.”
“Subaru,” Uchi said with a laugh, shaking his head. “Subaru wouldn’t remember a thing.”
“I think Baru-chan chose not to remember,” Yoko said. “He must have had a bad time.”
Yoko stared, off the edge of the world for a long time, before he finally spoke, “The first time we met, she said I was dripping blood on the pavement.”
Uchi reached for Yoko’s hand and squeezed it.
It was another two weeks before Yoko was put back into service; his first job was a routine pick up, and they sent him with Subaru.
“Do you see it?”
“He’s over there,” Yoko turned to his right, and Subaru followed his line of sight to a young man sitting by the road, hands furiously texting on his phone.
“I wonder why they’re so stupid,” Subaru said with a laugh. “It’s obviously not going to watch the road.”
Yoko just shrugged.
The accident was over before they knew it; the boy had been so intent on his cell phone that he had not noticed the car speeding towards him. Subaru calmly stood by the boy.
“I…” the boy said, before promptly freaking out at the sight of his dead body.
“Calm down,” Subaru said. “There’s nothing you can do now.”
The boy turned to them. “Isn’t there a way? I have to go back, I have to…”
Yoko shook his head. Most of them said the same thing, about going back. It was impossible.
There was no turning back on fate.
“Let’s go,” Yoko said. The boy watched the paramedics on site pronounce him dead, and looked away from the entire scene. Subaru nodded and led the way.
Yoko spotted the boy’s phone on the ground. As Subaru spoke to him about crossing the gate, Yoko bent down and read the last message.
Maya,
I just got off work, am coming to see you and baby-chan now. Wait for me!
“Yoko!”
Subaru stood at the open passage, and nodded. “Let’s go.”
Yoko swallowed the lump in his throat. “Right,” he said, walking towards Subaru and the boy. They were about to walk in when Yoko paused. “What’s your name?”
“Me?” the boy stammered. He didn’t look more than twenty years old; Yoko wondered if the mother of his baby was as young as he was. “Tomokawa Kyo.”
Yoko nodded. Subaru frowned and hurried them in.
Hina found Yoko at the edge of the gardens, like Uchi said he would be. Hina stood still for a moment, watching Yoko. In all the time that Hina stood there watching him, Yoko made no move to lean over the edge. To anyone else, he seemed perfectly content, just sitting there and wasting the afternoon away.
“Yoko.”
At his voice, Yoko stood up and turned around. “Hina. Are they asking for me?”
“No, don’t worry about that,” Hina said. He walked over and sat down on the grass. He looked up expectantly, and Yoko nodded, sitting down next to him. “How are you?”
“All right now,” Yoko said, grinning. “Not a scratch. The air up here is much better than on the ground. It heals all wounds.”
“True, true,” Hina nodded.
Yoko sighed heavily and leaned back, sprawling out on the grass. He folded his hands under his head and closed his eyes.
It was a secret he kept to himself, but sometimes when he was asleep, Yoko would be able to dream of her. It was the only place he could see her and be happy.
“Yoko,” Hina said, breaking his thoughts. “Are you happy?”
Yoko opened his eye a crack. “Of course,” he said, with a laugh. “Why would I be otherwise?”
“I…” Hina started. “All of us want you to be happy.”
“I am happy. With you guys.”
A pause.
“But you could be happier, do you think?”
Yoko sighed. “I know what you’re trying to say,” if there was one person he could talk to about this, it would definitely be Hina. It would be Hina because he listened and would not judge. “I can’t go back.”
“Why not?”
“And lose you guys?” Yoko sat up, turning to Hina. “I… I couldn’t.”
“You can,” Hina grinned, although whatever he said was breaking his heart little by little. “You just have to be a little more selfish,” he said softly, turning to his oldest friend. “Yoko, we can’t be happy if you’re not happy. You come here everyday. Do you ever look down?”
Yoko sighed, and looked out the edge of the world, at the clouds beyond. “I… I can’t,” he finally confessed. “If I see her… I will miss her.”
Hina nodded.
“I shouldn’t be, but… why can’t I be like Uchi?” Yoko sighed frustrated, running his hands repeatedly through his hair. “He didn’t have any…”
“He came back for Ryo,” Hina said, and Yoko stopped. “They never said anything about it, but when Ryo found Uchi, Uchi had forgotten. Everything about us. He was working in a job, he went to night class, and he almost had not wanted to leave. He didn’t believe us when we said who we were”
Yoko nodded, remembering. It was something only the four of them knew; Subaru had not wanted the younger ones to hear about it.
“But he came back because he remembered Ryo,” Hina laughed. “You know that human emotion? Called love? Uchi thinks he has that feeling for Ryo, that’s why he came back.”
“Love,” Yoko said, remembering the variety shows and dramas that he used to watch; he would be lying on the floor and Megumi curled up on the bed. Sometimes, he would turn around and realise that she had fallen asleep. “Like on the television.”
“Yokocho,” Hina smiled. “That girl you like, I’ve been watching her. I think she’s nice.”
Yoko snapped up.
“Perhaps, even if you choose not to return, you will need some sort of closure. Tomorrow night. Maru, Ohkura and Yassan will go with you.”
“But… that’s, Baru will kill you.”
“He won’t,” Hina said, and he leaned over to give his friend, his oldest friend in this world, a long hug. “I will miss you. We all will.”
“I’m not leaving,” Yoko said, hugging back. “I’ll come back. I did, didn’t I?
Hina only smiled.
Yoko was nervous; Yassan opened the passageway down, and the four of them walked down silently. Hina had arranged for this night for Yoko to go, putting up a fictitious report for Yassan and Ohkura to report to, and needing Yoko and Maru for support.
“Ne, Yoko,” Yassan said, as Yoko led them down familiar roads and paths. Maru looked curiously at his surroundings; as though he too, was memorizing the way. “Do you know where she will be?”
“I know,” Yoko nodded.
Yassan turned to Ohkura; the younger one smiled and reached over for his hand, squeezing it lightly. Yassan squeezed back.
Yoko turned a corner at the shopping street, and paused when he saw the white walled store; the lights were still on, and he stopped. Yassan and Ohkura, behind him, peered over the wall. Maru took two steps forward but Ohkura pulled him back, shaking his head.
The lights to the store dimmed and shut, one by one, and soon a lady opened the door. Yassan jumped up, excited, but Ohkura held him back. Maru turned to glance at Yoko, but he was not moving. He frowned and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest- waiting.
A moment later, a second lady walked out of the store. Dressed in a white dress and bundled up in a green quilted jacket, she laughed at something the other girl said, shaking her head and pushing her hair out of her eyes. They waved goodbye to each other at the front of the store, and Yoko waited for her to turn around, before stepping out from behind the wall.
“Sato-san,” he said softly.
She stopped dead in her tracks, starring at Yoko as though she could not believe that he was there.
“Yu-san?”
He nodded.
She smiled at him, tears glistening in her eyes. She took two steps forward slowly, as though afraid that if she walked too fast he would disappear… “You’re not wearing shoes again,” she said softly.
Yoko started to laugh. She grinned and he took the two steps towards her, grabbing her for a hug.
“Okaeri,” she whispered, hugging him back. “Okaeri, Yu-san.”
J Ent
Yokoyama Yu / Sato Megumi
a continuation of Visitor. for koneho
1936 words
Author's note: This is turning out to be kinda of a series, isn't it? I shall name it one day; but as you can see from how i title my stories, i'm not very good at giving names. oh! and i found the perfect pictures that IS Kanjani8 in the story:
キエル ノコル ただ 恋焼け
- Koiyake
NewS
When Yassan came to thank Ryo for pleading Yoko’s case, Ryo figured it would be a dent on his ego to tell Yassan his reasons for helping Yoko, so he said nothing in return.
When Yoko returned to the world, looking more like he had been kicked in the gut than freed from his misery, Ryo started to get a little more than curious.
“Hey,” he said, one night after he and Uchi returned from sending the soul of a young lady off. “What was it like, down there?”
Uchi smiled. He had been waiting for this question, knew that Ryo would be the first to ask. “It’s… strange,” Uchi frowned, changing into a clean shirt. “The air is always dusty,” he shuddered. “If you hadn’t come…”
Ryo frowned. When Uchi was punished, he was sent there for one and a half human years. Uchi hardly spoke about what he did during that time, but everyone knew he was relieved to return. Ryo had been the one who had gone to get him.
Uchi had been smiling when he walked in through the gates; just like the rest of them were, waiting for him on the other side.
When Yoko returned, he walked in slowly, lagging behind Subaru and Hina. And Ryo saw what the others did not see; the tiniest glance back at the world he was leaving behind.
“Ryo-chan,” Uchi said softly, sitting down next to Ryo. He took a deep breath. “Some humans, they work hard. Not all of them are as mean as Baru says they are. I… I met some nice people. When I was there. I even went to school. Even though what they learn in school is strange.”
Ryo frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. “He should be happy he’s back… not everyone gets a second chance.”
Uchi just smiled and shook his head.
“Yoko.”
Yoko looked up. He was sitting at the far end of the sacred gardens, near the edge of the world. It was said that if one leaned over the side too much; he would fall down to earth.
“How did you know I would be here?” Yoko asked, shifting over so that Uchi could sit on the grass next to him.
“Because this was my favourite place for a long time too,” Uchi said simply.
Yoko grinned, shaking his head. “I can’t put a thing past you.”
“Not to someone who’s been there,” Uchi said softly.
“I only ended up there for two weeks,” Yoko laughed. “I’m ten times better off than you were.”
Uchi turned to Yoko and looked him over. The scar he got during his fall was almost fully healed, but it was still faintly visible on his skin. Yoko wore a short sleeved shirt; as though he needed to, and wanted to, keep the scar visible.
Uchi sighed softly. He placed a hand gently on his friend’s knee. “Won’t you tell me a bit… about her?”
Yoko paused.
Uchi smiled. “Yokocho,” he said softly. “I learnt a lot about humans when I was there. We were humans once too, right? It’s just that we’ve forgotten…”
“True,” Yoko nodded. “And some of us more strongly than others, of course.”
“Subaru,” Uchi said with a laugh, shaking his head. “Subaru wouldn’t remember a thing.”
“I think Baru-chan chose not to remember,” Yoko said. “He must have had a bad time.”
Yoko stared, off the edge of the world for a long time, before he finally spoke, “The first time we met, she said I was dripping blood on the pavement.”
Uchi reached for Yoko’s hand and squeezed it.
It was another two weeks before Yoko was put back into service; his first job was a routine pick up, and they sent him with Subaru.
“Do you see it?”
“He’s over there,” Yoko turned to his right, and Subaru followed his line of sight to a young man sitting by the road, hands furiously texting on his phone.
“I wonder why they’re so stupid,” Subaru said with a laugh. “It’s obviously not going to watch the road.”
Yoko just shrugged.
The accident was over before they knew it; the boy had been so intent on his cell phone that he had not noticed the car speeding towards him. Subaru calmly stood by the boy.
“I…” the boy said, before promptly freaking out at the sight of his dead body.
“Calm down,” Subaru said. “There’s nothing you can do now.”
The boy turned to them. “Isn’t there a way? I have to go back, I have to…”
Yoko shook his head. Most of them said the same thing, about going back. It was impossible.
There was no turning back on fate.
“Let’s go,” Yoko said. The boy watched the paramedics on site pronounce him dead, and looked away from the entire scene. Subaru nodded and led the way.
Yoko spotted the boy’s phone on the ground. As Subaru spoke to him about crossing the gate, Yoko bent down and read the last message.
Maya,
I just got off work, am coming to see you and baby-chan now. Wait for me!
“Yoko!”
Subaru stood at the open passage, and nodded. “Let’s go.”
Yoko swallowed the lump in his throat. “Right,” he said, walking towards Subaru and the boy. They were about to walk in when Yoko paused. “What’s your name?”
“Me?” the boy stammered. He didn’t look more than twenty years old; Yoko wondered if the mother of his baby was as young as he was. “Tomokawa Kyo.”
Yoko nodded. Subaru frowned and hurried them in.
Hina found Yoko at the edge of the gardens, like Uchi said he would be. Hina stood still for a moment, watching Yoko. In all the time that Hina stood there watching him, Yoko made no move to lean over the edge. To anyone else, he seemed perfectly content, just sitting there and wasting the afternoon away.
“Yoko.”
At his voice, Yoko stood up and turned around. “Hina. Are they asking for me?”
“No, don’t worry about that,” Hina said. He walked over and sat down on the grass. He looked up expectantly, and Yoko nodded, sitting down next to him. “How are you?”
“All right now,” Yoko said, grinning. “Not a scratch. The air up here is much better than on the ground. It heals all wounds.”
“True, true,” Hina nodded.
Yoko sighed heavily and leaned back, sprawling out on the grass. He folded his hands under his head and closed his eyes.
It was a secret he kept to himself, but sometimes when he was asleep, Yoko would be able to dream of her. It was the only place he could see her and be happy.
“Yoko,” Hina said, breaking his thoughts. “Are you happy?”
Yoko opened his eye a crack. “Of course,” he said, with a laugh. “Why would I be otherwise?”
“I…” Hina started. “All of us want you to be happy.”
“I am happy. With you guys.”
A pause.
“But you could be happier, do you think?”
Yoko sighed. “I know what you’re trying to say,” if there was one person he could talk to about this, it would definitely be Hina. It would be Hina because he listened and would not judge. “I can’t go back.”
“Why not?”
“And lose you guys?” Yoko sat up, turning to Hina. “I… I couldn’t.”
“You can,” Hina grinned, although whatever he said was breaking his heart little by little. “You just have to be a little more selfish,” he said softly, turning to his oldest friend. “Yoko, we can’t be happy if you’re not happy. You come here everyday. Do you ever look down?”
Yoko sighed, and looked out the edge of the world, at the clouds beyond. “I… I can’t,” he finally confessed. “If I see her… I will miss her.”
Hina nodded.
“I shouldn’t be, but… why can’t I be like Uchi?” Yoko sighed frustrated, running his hands repeatedly through his hair. “He didn’t have any…”
“He came back for Ryo,” Hina said, and Yoko stopped. “They never said anything about it, but when Ryo found Uchi, Uchi had forgotten. Everything about us. He was working in a job, he went to night class, and he almost had not wanted to leave. He didn’t believe us when we said who we were”
Yoko nodded, remembering. It was something only the four of them knew; Subaru had not wanted the younger ones to hear about it.
“But he came back because he remembered Ryo,” Hina laughed. “You know that human emotion? Called love? Uchi thinks he has that feeling for Ryo, that’s why he came back.”
“Love,” Yoko said, remembering the variety shows and dramas that he used to watch; he would be lying on the floor and Megumi curled up on the bed. Sometimes, he would turn around and realise that she had fallen asleep. “Like on the television.”
“Yokocho,” Hina smiled. “That girl you like, I’ve been watching her. I think she’s nice.”
Yoko snapped up.
“Perhaps, even if you choose not to return, you will need some sort of closure. Tomorrow night. Maru, Ohkura and Yassan will go with you.”
“But… that’s, Baru will kill you.”
“He won’t,” Hina said, and he leaned over to give his friend, his oldest friend in this world, a long hug. “I will miss you. We all will.”
“I’m not leaving,” Yoko said, hugging back. “I’ll come back. I did, didn’t I?
Hina only smiled.
Yoko was nervous; Yassan opened the passageway down, and the four of them walked down silently. Hina had arranged for this night for Yoko to go, putting up a fictitious report for Yassan and Ohkura to report to, and needing Yoko and Maru for support.
“Ne, Yoko,” Yassan said, as Yoko led them down familiar roads and paths. Maru looked curiously at his surroundings; as though he too, was memorizing the way. “Do you know where she will be?”
“I know,” Yoko nodded.
Yassan turned to Ohkura; the younger one smiled and reached over for his hand, squeezing it lightly. Yassan squeezed back.
Yoko turned a corner at the shopping street, and paused when he saw the white walled store; the lights were still on, and he stopped. Yassan and Ohkura, behind him, peered over the wall. Maru took two steps forward but Ohkura pulled him back, shaking his head.
The lights to the store dimmed and shut, one by one, and soon a lady opened the door. Yassan jumped up, excited, but Ohkura held him back. Maru turned to glance at Yoko, but he was not moving. He frowned and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest- waiting.
A moment later, a second lady walked out of the store. Dressed in a white dress and bundled up in a green quilted jacket, she laughed at something the other girl said, shaking her head and pushing her hair out of her eyes. They waved goodbye to each other at the front of the store, and Yoko waited for her to turn around, before stepping out from behind the wall.
“Sato-san,” he said softly.
She stopped dead in her tracks, starring at Yoko as though she could not believe that he was there.
“Yu-san?”
He nodded.
She smiled at him, tears glistening in her eyes. She took two steps forward slowly, as though afraid that if she walked too fast he would disappear… “You’re not wearing shoes again,” she said softly.
Yoko started to laugh. She grinned and he took the two steps towards her, grabbing her for a hug.
“Okaeri,” she whispered, hugging him back. “Okaeri, Yu-san.”