Saihate -ver. 2-

I ran through the woods in the local park, tears blurring my vision. Stumbling a little, I managed to make it to a clearing in the forest where a little bench sat, and practically collapsed onto it. I couldn't even bear to look around the clearing, because it was the same one that my childhood friend and I had claimed as our own. If I looked up, I would see the same trees that we had climbed years ago, the large branch that had broken from our swinging on it...I refused to look around. Too many memories were embedded in this clearing. 

Thinking about what I'd just seen, I could feel a few more tears fall. My childhood friend, after hearing that I'd come back into town, had asked me to meet him by the tennis courts in the park. Of course, I eagerly jumped at the idea of seeing him again, after years of being in a different school district. So I had been walking to the courts when I spotted something horrible...he'd been kissing another girl. A redhead, Meiko I think her name was. His arms were around her and everything. Then I had run away, and there I was. All those years ago, before I'd moved, I never had the courage to tell my friend that I loved him. I regretted that now... 

Resisting the urge to put my face in my hands and sob, I started to sing. Seeing that scene, I had come up with a little song dedicated to him. 

"How is it over there? 
It's been a while since I've been with you 
I tried to send you word so 
You'd know that I am doing well." 

He hadn't replied to any of my letters to him, which was painful in itself. But I shook the thought away and kept singing. 

"Opening the door and heading 
Away, but there is no way I can stay 
So I hope that at least this song I sing reaches 
You deep inside your heart." 
 
Remembering the moment years ago, when I had broken the huge branch, fallen, and broken an arm, I sang, 
 
"Not one cloud in the clear blue sky 
I wish that I could wipe the tears from your eyes." 
 
After seeing that scene, I was thinking about leaving town again, because I had come back just for him. 
 
"Now my final day has come 
How I wish I could just let you know that I'm here..." 
 
The first day we had met when we were little, I fell in love with him right there. 
 
"It was just an ordinary day 
But in only a moment everything changed 
Ours is such a small graceful love 
Yes it is a small graceful love 
Don't forget me..." 
 
My voice a little shaky in the beginning, it smoothed out as I sang. 
 
"If I can believe that someday 
We can meet again, that will be my strength 
We'll be together just like before 
'til then, I'll sing this song for you." 
 
Even though you won't ever hear it, I thought. 
 
"Please don't close the door to your heart 
Then we'll truly be apart and that I can't bear 
You always knew my feelings 
So I don't mind even if you move on... 
It was just an ordinary day 
I never thought that I would have to to go away 
It is such a small graceful love 
Yes, you will always be my love, 
Sayonara..." 
 
"Who are you singing to?" asked a voice behind me. 

I quickly spun around. "Kaito! Um, n-no one, I just felt like singing." 

"Really?" He sat beside me on the bench. "Your voice sounded so sad though. You have a lovely voice," he smiled gently at me. 

Blushing, I muttered, "Thanks..." I was still in love with him, even though he was with someone else. 

Kaito reached out to hug me. "Miku, it's been so long since we saw each other last! Why don't you look happy to see me?" 

I gently pushed away his arms. "No reason...I just don't feel like smiling." 

He lowered his arms, disappointment on his face. Then he seemed to have a sudden thought. "Wait...did you see me with Meiko? Is that why you look so upset? You look like you've been crying, too." He extended a hand to touch my cheek. This
time, I didn't push him away.

"Miku...I'm not...I mean, Meiko isn't my girlfriend. I'm not going out with her. What you saw was her practically forcing herself on me. I didn't want to kiss her. My hands were on her shoulders because I was trying to push her off me." He turned my face, forcing me to look at him. "Do you understand now?"

Silently, I nodded. Before I could say anything, he said, "I love you...I've been in love with you for all these years. When you left, I vowed to either wait for you to return or go to you, wherever you were."

In response, I blushed and murmured, "That song...I made it up on the spot when I saw you two together...I've loved you too..."

Smiling, Kaito embraced me tightly. Hugging him back, I knew I definitely didn't want to say "Sayonara" anytime soon.