Finally got this one out. This one was bugging me because I thought I would get it done a lot sooner. But I was trying to make it more like the first chapter of this story style wise. The reason being that for the last few chapters, things have been coming full circle (which a lot of you seemed to miss, wtf). So I thought what better way to make that obvious than keep a similar style and layout between the first chapter and this one.

Seams

Twenty-one

The apartment was quiet, except for the faint sounds of life outside the open windows. Birds loudly proclaimed their place in the trees that seemed to be just a bit taller and healthier than the others on the street.

Bees and other bugs fluttered and scurried between plants and flowers, going about their business and accepting the presence of a quiet red haired man that the children often called the Plant Man.

Sighing, he absently wiped away the beginnings of sweat which, on most people, would have shown up two hours ago given the heat and the sun beating down on his back.

But Shuichi was content in the garden that he took care of for the others in the apartment complex, most of whom were too old or too busy to give it the proper attention.

But slowly and gradually, the residents were making the time to venture to their windows, or head outside and look at the plants that thrived where others had withered away from neglect.

Teenage and middle-age women tittered over the flowers that would often appear at their doors for their birthdays, grandmothers told their families of the nice young man that had helped her carry her things to her apartment, or helped her up the stairs.

Younger boys shared the new games that they had learned, and told others of the man who could fix any broken toy that wandered his way. Teenage boys grudgingly accepted the sound advice that was given to them, and men appreciated the on the spot help that he offered.

And still, he could be seen sitting on a bench, shaded by the vines and flowers of a wisteria, as if he were waiting for something. His eyes would become vacant, and he adopted an expression that people often equated with absent-minded old men in their seventies.

It was completely out of place for someone only in his early twenties.

The wind brushed through the apartment again, and Shuichi’s ears picked up the faint flutter of paper caught by the draft, listened as it resettled. The sound was a reassurance to him as much as it was a pain.

It hung quietly on a cork board above his desk, worn from constantly being folded and unfolded; the pristine white was fading to a cream color that he wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t tacked up a new paper next to it.

He eventually took the new paper down; he didn’t want to be reminded of the time that had passed.

But the ink stayed, boldly reminding him of the author, the smooth, neat handwriting holding promises that taunted him and reassured him. Words that tore into his soul and then pieced it back together.

The only person who had seen the paper besides himself was Hiei, who regarded it quietly and kept any comments he may have had to himself. All of his friends stayed quiet.

He was glad. It allowed him to think. It was hard enough having to deal with his step-father at work; he didn’t need anything but that paper to remind him of what had happened and what wasn’t there.

The wind picked up again, but he ignored the sound of paper in favor for focusing on the scent of wisteria. He was tempted to drown in it, but he wouldn’t let himself.

If she never came back, he wanted to be able to live his life. Letting himself drown in anything wasn’t going to help that. But the plants were the only thing that had nothing to do with the paper.

And her.

The purple flowers seemed to be reaching out to comfort him, but Shuichi ignored them and headed back inside the apartment building. He suddenly found himself wanting to get out of the heat.

He was relieved when no one stopped him on his way back to his apartment to chat. He was hardly in the mood for it right now; he’d let himself think about things for too long.

The apartment was mercifully cool and silent; more plants were welcoming him back home as they quietly and subtly shifted to face him, forgetting the sun.

It was a comforting feeling, but he didn’t stop to give them any special attention. They had gotten that this morning, when he had woken up. He instead headed straight to his room, and began digging for nicer clothes than the ones that he usually wore in the garden.

The paper fluttered slightly, causing Shuichi to falter and pause, looking up from his drawer to gaze at the paper with a sober expression. The words had already been burned into his mind, and he was willing to bet that he had seen them even while he slept.

“You’re slow today.”

Shuichi turned his head to look at the window, offering Hiei a small smile as he slipped into the apartment. “The others are getting impatient. You were supposed to be at the temple an hour ago.”

“I was in the garden.”

Hiei gave a disdainful sniff. The demon wasn’t one to mock another person’s abilities if they knew how to use them and make them useful, but he was less than pleased with Shuichi using his powers for menial human tasks normally meant for a female.

“Hurry up. Without you around everyone’s been talking to me instead. What are you doing?”

“I’m changing clothes.”

“Why? The one’s you’re wearing are fine.”

“It’s a human thing Hiei,” he explained calmly, buttoning up the fresh shirt. He almost reached up to pull his hair out of his collar, but he reminded himself that he had gotten it cut awhile ago.

“Which means it’s completely unnecessary,” Hiei said, looking out the window in disinterest. He narrowed his eyes slightly as the wind breezed through again, the paper catching his attention now.

Shuichi watched him, before glancing at the paper himself.

“That’s pathetic. It’s been almost four years,” the demon said, trying his best not to sneer. When Shuichi made no comment, he continued. “Let me guess: it’s a human thing.”

“More of a fox thing,” he replied wistfully. “Some things we can’t let go.”

“You’ll have to learn. You’re wasting your time with all of this. Throw that thing away when you get home tonight. Hurry up and get to the temple,” Hiei said, before disappearing.

Shuichi closed the window after him, the paper stilling and facing him in resolute silence.

Stop clinging to the past, Kurama.

Sighing, he carefully took the paper down and refolded it, setting it on his desk. He walked out of the room without a second glance.

xxx

‘Shuichi, or Kurama,

‘You have a lot of paper in your room. And this handy pen. But you’re asleep right now, so you don’t have much light. So I’m sorry if things get a little messy in this.

‘I know you’re probably already aware that I’m not around. And I’m sorry for that too. I know you’re probably confused, and I also know you’re probably hurt even if you aren’t admitting it. And the only reason I know that is because you’re going to think that I tricked you into losing your silly bet.

‘And I know you hate to lose. But you haven’t. I meant it, when I told you that you had won. Because you have. But I was also telling you the truth when I told you I was on the end of my rope with the whole thing.

‘I can tell that you’re not happy, because the relationship we have probably isn’t the way you imagined it. And I know that I could probably do a lot better. I know that fox couples are a lot more affectionate than most. I remember Miyu and her mate well enough. They’re a truly, very happy couple. And I don’t think it’s fair that you have to be stuck in one that isn’t.

‘So I’m leaving, not to be with someone else (which I’m sure you’re thinking is Yomi), but to think. I can’t be with you now, and I’m not sure if I ever can be with you at all. So I hope that going away to think things through, without the collar reminding me of everything, that I’ll be able to figure it out.

‘I don’t know how long it will take. Maybe it will be years or only a few days, but I don’t expect you to wait for me. If you find someone else you’re happy with, go ahead. I don’t want you waiting for something that might never come back.

‘I know what it’s like to wait, Shuichi. I waited for that damn collar to fall off, I waited for Youko to let me go, I waited to find out what my fate was. Waiting is awful, and I really wouldn’t wish that upon anyone else, even though I am a demon.

‘And I swear, if you follow me or do anything vaguely related to that, I will kick your ass and hate you forever.

‘I’ll come to you, when I’m ready.

‘Rika’

The End

Yeah, the end. There might be a short epilogue thing, but this is it. Done. I HAVE LEFT YOU ALL HANGING OVER A CLIFF WITH NO HOPE FOR SALVATION. Or another sequel. Now you know why I was cackling. Because I have soul and no consideration for the feelings of my readers. Har har har. Either way, I hope you enjoyed the sequel, even if I didn't write it to make any of you happy at all.

I don't have any ideas for stories after this one, so I might fade away for awhile. Still, I had fun.