Title: Borderline
Disclaimer: I didn't own anything except for the plot
Characters: Inoo, Yabu, Yaotome
Genre: fantasy, romance
Summary: Borderline is a moment in time where wishes are granted but with a equivalent compensation.
Author's Note: I posted this in one of my journal before but i wanted to post it again here... so enjoy readingXD
Borderline
Chapter IX
January 24, 2007; 10:00
I wonder who saves me that day when i was trap in that blizzard and i thought it will be the end of my life. I know i see a glimpse of a shadow coming towards my direction but no one told me who it is.
"Then can you tell me who did it?" Kei asked Hikaru who is busy scribbling something on his notebook.
"Can i asked you? How many times did you asked that to me?" Hikaru asked him while playing the ballpen on his right hands. "I told you i don't know and you know what how can you be so cruel. I just confessed to you right? And you rejected me, right now i am still in pain of being rejected by the guy that i like so much but here you are clinging around with me like nothing happened." he continued.
"I...i'm sorry." Kei whispered and that startled Hikaru. For the first time he heard Kei apologized in a gentle manner, not because he was force to do it, but because he was sincere enough.He put down his ballpen and then scratch his head. "It's not like i am planning to hide this forever to you but i just don't want that guy gaining credits. I guess i am still jealous that you choose him over me."
"What are you talking about?" Kei asked him.
"It was Kota who saves you." Hikaru replied back and then he explained to Kei what really happened that night. Hikaru was left on the room after being rejected by Kei and then just after Kei went outside to search for Kota, the perpetrator arrived and asked where Kei goes. They have a little argument but in the end both of them search for Kei outside but they can't find him. They even get help from the guards but after an hour they can't find Kei at all and then suddenly he is seen lying in front of the main door of the lodge and Hikaru saw what happened and who brings him there.
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January 24, 2007; 16:45
After class, Kei immediately went back home since Kota didn't go with him together in the school. When he is about to enter his room, he heard someone sobbing inside and he is sure that it was crying Kota. Kei immediately open the door and then he saw Kota sitting on his bed while looking at his arms that he can't see at all. His left hand is missing. "Wh...what is happening to you?" Kei asked, he put down his bag and approach Kota by sitting on the bed.
"Welcome back Inoo-san." Kota greeted ignoring Kei's question a while back.
"I asked you what is going on? Why can't i see your left hand? Where is it?" he asked worriedly and then that's the time Kota's tears fall down from his eyes.
"I guess we can't be with each other a little longer." Kota told him. "This is the consequence of saving you that time." he continued and then he explained what happened. When he arrived back to the hotel Kota looks for Kei but he just found Hikaru in there and sulking. He asked where Kei is and he said that he went outside to look for him. They have an arguments and then in the end they both went out to search for him. Kota found Kei immediately but he is already unconscious and he didn't know what to do and then that's the time he used the power of having a physical body for a short period of time to bring him back to the lodge. But making your body have physical form needs sacrifices and that is your spirit will not go to heaven or hell but it will trap to another dimension where nothing is in it. And so before his spirit totally deteriorate he should go to heaven first to prevent him go to an unknown dimension.
"Stupid!" Kei shouted on him. "If you know that it will happen to you then why do you still save me? Do you think I will be grateful that you save me but you will suffer that consequence?" he throw a pillow to where Kota is sitting down though it just pass through him. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"
"But if i didn't do that then you will be dead."
"I don't care..."
"I do care though." he said firmly. "I do care Inoo-san... I don't want you to die. Aren't you enjoying your life? I wanted to go back...i want to be alive again but it's impossible for me already and so, as much as possible... As long as i can i will save people who in danger since nothing will be gone for me. There is nothing important to me that will be gone."
Kei felt guilty. Everything is his fault why Kota is experiencing such situation. He felt responsible, he wanted to dig himself in the very depths of the earth. He wanted to vanished for all the things he have done. Kei clench on the bed sheet without looking at Kota. "Can you bare it a little longer?" he asked him seriously. "I... I will make sure you will go to heaven. I promise that to you" he whispered but it was clear enough for Kota to hear.
"You don't need to force yourself to do it. If this is really my fate then…"
Kei look at him seriously with tears falling from his eyes. "I'll do it… I'll do it… I'll do it.. So you just need to believe on me. You will not go anywhere… only heaven awaits for you coz you deserved to be happy."
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And the days continue to pass by, February, March April and May. Spring arrived and i am now a 3rd year middle high school. But with that long gap of time we didn't find anything that can bring Kota back to heaven and his situation just go worst and worst. Day by day a small part of himself is vanishing and it makes me guilty for not avail to do anything for his sake. I feel useless and i am starting to loss hope but the guy in front of me still have that smile on his face and it seems like he is not worried being thrown in that unknown dimension all alone.
Summer came and it's Tanabata Day. We can do here what is needed to be done Kota's last official wish which is to catch a goldfish with a paper scope.
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June 3, 2007; 17:23
The summer heat already arrived and it makes Kei's body dull and uncomfortable. Like how he hates cold he hates summer as well, it makes him don't want to move and just stay in their house for the whole time. It is their summer break as well and so he has more time to spend with Kota who's right also vanished. Summer means Tanabata festival and they can do ones of Kota's greatest wish and that is to capture a goldfish but since Yuri is not good at it he invited Hikaru to come with them in the tanabata that night.
The night came and Hikaru, Kota and Kei meet in the front gate of the park where the tanabata is happening.
"You look more like a ghost on how you look like now." Hikaru told Kota. Kota's body is slowly vanishing. His left arms is totally gone together with his right legs and half of his body. Kei knows that it means he need to be faster on fulfilling Kota's wish but times is too slow for that.
"Stop joking." Kei answered him back and then he punch him through his stomach. "I'm not good at capturing goldfish so you will do it. Anyone from us is fine right?" he asked Hikaru and the latter just smiled back at him.
"It's been a while since i went to tanabata so i am not sure if i am as good as ever." Hikaru responded.
There are lots of people who are celebrating the festival and there are lots of food booths that Hikaru wanted to taste but like what Kei told him their priority is the goldfish that Kota wanted to do. They went to the booth and they saw a familiar face. It was Kou together with her sister and they seems busy catching goldfish.
"Why can't i catch it?" he whispered.
"It's alright nii-chan, we don't have money anymore right." the little girl said.
"But you like it right?" Kou asked his little sister.
"Yeah but..."
"We will capture it for you." Kei told them as he smiled as a greeting. "Nice to see you again. It seems like the world is too small that we keep on stumbling each other."
He stand up and then vow down to them. "Whoa… nice meeting you again too." Kou said excitedly. "My sister wanted the goldfish and I wanted to capture one for her but then I can't do it and we don't have money to use."
"Don't worry. Hikaru will grab one for you." Kei told them as he look at Hikaru who feels unexcited about it. He didn't play that goldfish catching for 2 years and it is not really his type but it seems like Kei can remember the last time they went there that he can catch 2 of it.
"I am not sure if i can still do this." Hikaru whimpered "It's been 2 years since the last time."
"You can do it Hikaru" Kota cheered him up.
"I know you can do this." Kei added.
Hikaru position himself near the basin where the goldfish are swimming freely unaware that anytime they will be captured by him. He said that he can't do it but actually he practice in his house for this day and he was somewhat confident that he can catch one. He paid for it and was given the scope and he choose what goldfish he will going to capture. He decided to capture the biggest one Everyone are watching him Kei, Kota, Kou and her little sister named Ayaka. But he was shocked that the paper in real game was so fragile and easily tear up and because of that on his first attempt he failed and then the next… the next and the next are fail.
"I told you this is impossible." Hikaru said in frustration wondering why he can't do it when he perfected it while practicing at home.
"But you are near a while back." Kou told him as if encouraging him not to stop.
"Yeah... You are just careless." Kei commented. "Don't worry we still have enough money to pay for it so just try but make sure you can capture it before we run out of money."
"Wait... You don't need to do this." Kou felt bad that they are wasting money for his sake but of course it is for Kota's sake too so he doesn't care about the money that he will spend. HIkaru is also doing his best but maybe he is not that fortunate enough to capture one.
"Shut up... Do you think i will loss to a goldfish. I can capture it so don't stop cheering me up." Hikaru said firmly and that make the other believe on him. Hikaru tried more trials until he has already an idea to capture it. Just a while back the goldfish is just in a pinch of being captured and now he is sure he can do it. He put the paper scope and then watched as the goldfish go to the corner of the basin and then after that he capture it and put in the bowl. Kou and her little sister clap their hands and they are really happy. Kei smiled and tap Ryutaro's shoulder and told him "Good work."
The big goldfish is been captured and they are all happy with the outcome and so as Kota as well but the one who is more accomplished is Hikaru who is happy talking to Kou and Ayaka. Kei eye Kota who that moment is looking at his right hand and he start to feel bad about it. Is he going to heaven already? Is catching the goldfish his wish? "Kota, are you alright?" he asked.
"I think it's not the goldfish either... Look at my finger... i...it's starting to diminish." Kota uttered and Kei take a look to confirm it and he is right. "Then let us do something more, maybe you wanted to play every game that is in the tanabata let us play and win all the prizes." Kei told him.
"No it's alright. You don't need to push yourself doing this for me."
"How can you say that in front of me you asshole." Kei shouted back to him. Hikaru was surprised and so as Kou and Ayaka who are both enjoying the goldfish that he caught. Hikaru knows that the two are having an arguments but Kou and Aya are wondering who is Kei talking to.
Hikaru noticed Kei's worried face and because of that he told Kou and Ayaka to wonder around without them since they have something to do at that moment. Before the two leaves they thanked Hikaru and Kei for a beautiful night that they experienced.
"Kei, you must consider the place you are in before you shout like that. They will think that you are some crazy talking to your own self." Hikaru told him. "is it a fail again?"
"I… I don't want you to be gone like this." Kei whispered.
"Inoo…"
"If it is not the goldfish then I think we should play other games in here. Or maybe there is a ride that you wanted to experience. We can do everything. It's still a long night." Hikaru tried to convince the two who are so down but he was just concern to Kei. He noticed that Kota's right arm was also slightly vanishing and it seems like there is only limited time left for him to exists and that cause pressure to Kei that made him think the way he never been before. Even he is jealous that Kei gives so much importance to a ghost, he can't push away the fact that he is still his friend and he wanted to help him and he wanted to see him smiling again.
When he is about to say something a crowd suddenly screamed that surprised the three. They immediately went to where it happened and they saw a boy being hit by a car. When Kota saw it his head start to throbbed and there are flash of memories on his mind. There is a boy passing through the street and while running he was suddenly bump by a car and he is thrown away.Kota cannot understand what is going on? Are those his memories? Are those his past?
"Are you alright?" Hikaru asked him when he noticed that Kota seems shaking. "You suddenly became silent and not saying anything. Are you sure you are alright? Is your brain vanishing as well?" he asked again but this time he received a slap on his shoulder and it is done by Yuri.
"We need to save someone from an accident that will occur soon." Kota told them all of a sudden.
"What do you mean?" Kei asked back.
"I told you we need to save someone. I...i don't know when though and i don't who it is. I...i can't remember it but we need to help him. We need to stop him from dying. Maybe… maybe it is something that I really wanted to do that time. The reason i… I came back."
"How can we save someone who you can't remember who it is?" Kei asked him again
"Help me... Please... Let us save him."
"I told you...." Kei uttered but Hikaru suddenly interrupted their conversation.
"Alright... We will do it but you better try hard to remember who it is. "
The Tanabata is already over and when they are about to leave someone called their attention again and it is Kou together with the little girl. "I am glad i found you." Kou said and then he give something to Yuri and it is a small bonzai. "You can have this. I don't know how i can thank you enough for all that you have done so please accept this humble gift."
"Where did you get this?" Kei asked them.
"Nii-chan win it in a the shooting. You can have it nii-chan for the goldfish." the little girl and so Yuri has no choice but to accept it and so the two said their goodbyes. He stare for a moment to the bonzai and he feels like he seen it before already. He look at it closer and then to the pot where something is written "Thank You." K.Y. He remembered that he have that same bonzai in his room on the present time and as far as he can remember it is already there and he didn't know where it came from or where did he get it. He asked once his mother where did he get it and she said he went back home together with it one day.
"What is this kind of feeling?" he whispered. "I feel like i have seen Kou before."