Pieces of September

Issei and Sakura: Into the Past VI

Timeline: University Years - April - Senior Year
About 4 Years Ago

When Sakura agreed to see Aki again on Friday, she didn’t realize just how much over her head she was getting. It wasn’t until the train ride back that she began to regret her decision, but she didn’t have the heart to go back on her word. Aki had stayed close to her the whole evening, making frequent physical contact. She couldn’t help but feel flustered around him. He was like one gigantic erogenous zone the way he seemed to find some way to touch her; brushing strands of hair from her face, bumping shoulder to shoulder, his knuckles grazing hers as they walked side by side. Sakura had done her best to ignore it, but it became increasingly difficult on their train ride home with his arm draped around her and his tall muscular frame nearly cupping her from behind.

The train was nearly empty with plenty of open seats and yet they were the only ones standing. Although the train ride wasn’t long, Sakura had longed to rest her legs after all the walking they’d done. But as soon as they stepped into the train cabin, Aki had made a point to drape himself on her and made no motions to sit. Sakura was fully aware of the passengers who were pretending not to notice them and felt all the more embarrassed to realize that they must look like lovers who couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

Oh God…she heard herself utter from the back of her mind.

“Did you have a good time?” Aki whisper in her ear, his voice low and masculine.

“Y--yes.” Sakura nearly jump. Aki was so close that she could feel the warm breath of his words against her neck as he spoke.

“I’m glad. You seemed so quiet most of the evening.”

“Yeah. I’m not really much of a gabber,” she said, her hands fidgeting with the drawstrings on her khakis.

“Strange. I’ve always taken you for the talkative type.”

Sakura opened her mouth to respond, but words failed her. She felt like a timid wallflower being fawned over by an oversexed playboy. Or like a bunny in a den full of lions.

The train squealed and jolted as it came to a stop. Aki pinned her against the train doors, leaving nearly no room between them. Sakura stiffened and refused to look up knowing just how unhinged they must seem to the other passengers on the train. It embarrassed her to think that someone who might recognize her was among the riders.

Okay, so maybe the oversexed playboy bit was a bit much, she thought. He’s just being ultra polite…

“It’s okay,” she said as she ducked away from him. “I’ve got good balance.”

I’ve got good balance? Sakura couldn’t have felt any stupider had she said that Penguins were, in fact, excellent flyers. But Aki merely smiled and took her hand.

As they made their way out the train and onto the platform, Aki leaned over her and murmured, “I like that you’re shy around me.”

Although this had worked its desired effect in making her blush, deep down inside she heard her less tactful self scoff. You’ve got to me kidding me.

When she first accepted this date Sakura hadn’t been stupid enough to believe there were no romantic overtures involved in Aki’s invitation, but now she was having a hard time dealing his express interest in her. Yet it was specifically because Issei didn’t like him that Sakura felt drawn to him. After all, Aki was the anti-Issei. Any way you looked at it, Aki was stronger, more popular, better looking, and far more easygoing. Then there was Issei who liked to wallow in misery, associated with few people outside his circle of friends, and wore his masculinity like a painted rubber mask.

Sakura liked the normality that Aki brought to her life. As much as she had treasured the depth of her friendship with Issei, lately it had become merely suffocating. Worst of all, she was starting to get an intimate look into what it meant to be Enju. It was bad enough that she lived through two lifetimes with front row seats to the never-ending mini drama of Enju’s broken heart, now she was burdened with the prospect of also playing the part.

It was for that very reason that she didn’t shirk away when Aki leaned over to kiss her goodnight. He brushed his lips to the corner of her mouth, and although it was only a half kiss Sakura felt the faintest shudder fluctuate up and down her spine.

“See ya Friday, then,” he said as he pulled away to meet her eyes.

“Yeah, Friday.”

As soon as she was back in the privacy of her own room, Sakura threw herself on her bed and squealed with excitement. Whatever reservations she has about Aki that evening has dissipated at the prospect of being the object of affection of the most sought after guy at Tokyo U.

It shamed her to think how much like a schoolgirl she must have seemed. Although, it satisfied her to realize that Issei had hardly been the object of her thoughts that night. Perhaps there was hope for her after all. She walked across the room to her dresser and stared at her reflection in the mirror.

I am Sakura, she told herself. Not Shusuran. Not Enju’s confidante. She was determined to be her own person separate from Issei. It felt as though her life had always revolved around Issei and Enju’s broken heart.

She brushed her fingers where Aki had kissed her and felt an inkling of excitement spread inside her chest. For once somebody wanted her, and it wasn’t because she was a sympathetic friend or a good shoulder to cry on. She was desired, and the object of desire. So why was it that the thought of being Aki Narita’s girlfriend made her want to cry?

Timeline: The Moon Base - A lifetime Ago

Enju?

Shusuran kicked the covers off her bed and sat up. She must have been asleep for no longer than thirty minutes when the distant echo of sobbing woke her.

Enju, is that you?

The sobbing stopped. Shusuran lay back down and curled to her side. She knew enough not to press her too hard.

I’m here if you need me.

Across the hall and six doors down, she imagined Enju curled up at the corner of her bed, clutching her pillow across her chest and soaking it with tears.

Thank you, Shu.

Shusuran smiled. Enju’s voice had been so small and tender, like a fevered child. Rarely had she come across someone so genuinely kind and good natured. Come to think of it, aside from Mokuren, Shusuran had never met anyone who was so pure of heart. But even pure hearts could be broken.

That bastard, she thought a little too loudly as anger took control of her.

Please. Don’t, Enju pleaded. He’s not the one to blame.

But, Enju—

No, she persisted. He’s never made any promises to me. I’m the one who wanted this.

Shusuran let it go but refused to understand Enju’s reasoning.

You’re too kind for your own good.

You’re wrong, Shu.

Shusuran shook her head and closed off the segment of her mind that hated Gyokuran from Enju. She was obviously hurting, and listening to Shusuran disparage Gyokuran would only make things worse. Still, Shusuran could help but feel outraged by how recklessly he used Enju. Perhaps he just needed the comfort of another warm body, as Enju said. Shusuran could understand that. They were so far away from home, and not days ago they had learned that there was longer a home waiting for them to return to. But she still could not forgive how he easily he could crawl into Enju’s bed while thinking of another, and knowing full well that his new bed buddy loved him beyond reason.

He doesn’t know, Enju’s thoughts interjected.

Shusuran felt embarrassed. I didn’t mean for that to slip. I’m sorry.

Don’t worry about it.

Shusuran was overcome with relief.

But, Enju, she proceeded cautiously. Why haven’t you told him?

Enju was silent and Shusuran pondered if she should go down the hall to her room and check up on her.

It would have been too cruel to him, she finally replied. I’ve known all this time that he’s in love with her. What good would it do to burden him with my feelings?

Shusuran closed her eyes and felt the tears well up along the crevices of her lashes. Why can’t I be your strength, Enju? Why must you be the one to be broken?

Unlike Enju, Shusuran had never suffered the pangs of a broken heart. She recalled during her sophomore year in college how she’d come across her boyfriend’s infidelity. Without explanation or looking back, she broke it off with him the following day. They had been together since their junior year of high school. That was the distinction between the two girls. Shusuran was so unforgiving and calculating. When something went wrong in her life, her answer was not to mope or find forgiveness within herself. Her response was to cut out the factor that might cause her grief. She was not a selfless person; she could never be like Enju.

Not all angels have wings or voices that stir the trees to grow, she thought silently only to herself.

Author's Note: Thank you to my readers. I apologize for taking so long to wrap up this fic. Reviews and comments are always appreciated.

Next chapter will be a Rin & Alice story, with more of Jinpachi. Gotta love it when this guy rants.

I also plan on going back and cleaning up several of my first chapters, the timeline is such a mess. I must’ve been on something good, because I can’t seem to follow it too well myself.