Hearing
Gray
By
Hibiki
All
rights go to Fred Gallagher Rodeny Caston and Megatokyo.
The room was dark and cold, the
only flicker of light was from the small TV screen in the corner of the room. I
sat before the game system, one of the few items left from Largo
and my crazy adventure. My eyes grew sad for a moment.
Our time in
Japan hadn’t
been very good, and had ended in a disaster. Even Seraphim had been quiet,
though supportive from the experience since, her attitude towards my actions as
of late however were not supportive, but I didn’t blame the little Angel..
We had returned to bills and
foreclosures. Eviction notices and the lot. For a few days Largo
and I were on the streets. But before we had to go any lower, the bills that
had piled up had been taken care of Largo
of all people, selling off his computers and getting a reliable job. Largo
had changed since his time in Japan,
he seemed more distant and withdrawn, and seemingly only a husk of what he had
been before. I often caught the man looking at a small dog-eared photo he kept
in his wallet of a certain Idol singer. It was the only photo he had in there,
so I knew it meant a lot to him, because he only took it out when he thought he
was alone or when it rained. The last time he saw her was when it had rained
that night before they left. Largo
had recently begun going to college, into brain surgery of all things. To my
surprise, he was getting all A’s. The old Largo
would never have done that. While he still plays his games religiously, it’s
not the same, as if he’s off in another world, the fact I see how sad his eyes
are when he looks at that photo tells me everything. We had come across a radio
station playing one of her songs not too long ago. Erika Hayasaka’s Gray Wings.
Largo had listened to the song from
beginning to end, never blinking, never making a sound, as her voice sang a
sad, lonely song. About a man who had left after mending her heart. Once the
song was over Largo rose and left the apartment without
a word, he returned a day later completely drunk and a sobbing mess. He hadn’t
had a drink since returning to America
before then, and he had never had one since.
I figured it was about Largo.
Partly because of his reaction, and because in a way, he had helped her stand
on her own again. Dom’s influence on her fans had driven her to her knees, only
Largo there for Hayasaka-san. I
working to get closer to Her and getting money for
myself and Largo, Kimi… Her working
on her acting, Erika-san had been left alone, to fend for herself when she
needed help. Largo had come to her
aide, and while screwing up a lot, he had helped her regain her confidence.
They had fallen in love, despite everything, they had seemed very happy. It had
only lasted a month before the fans found out. Around that time I had finally
saved enough for our tickets. I told him as he nursed a drink, even then he was
drinking less. He looked at my eyes, he looked so tired. For two weeks he had
fought the crowd as he and Erika’s relationship had been pulled apart by jealous
fanboys. That afternoon, I found out later through Her, that Erika had been
threatened by one of the jealous fans, the man had pulled a knife and if Largo
had not interceded she might have been seriously hurt, maybe even killed. He
looked at the smile on my face, the tickets in my hand, and then finally rose
to his feet. He said he would be back later and left, that was when it had
begun to rain. He had gone to see her.
It was morning when he returned, Ping
had tossed me out to change and I saw him slowly trudge up the steps. He was
soaked, and when he looked to me I shivered, his eyes were haunted and dull.
All he said was. “Okay, let’s go back.” I called Her, told her what was up and
said my goodbyes, left Ping to Help Yanagisawa in the store and the two of us
made it for the airport. Kimiko was waiting for us. Or should I say was waiting
for me.
The words we said have often been
repeated in my mind since then, and I find myself wondering, how she really
felt about me. I am such a chicken. The game’s name had come up and I stare.
“Sight”, Kimiko’s game, Tubassa had sent it to me not to long ago, but I had
been scared to play it. Finally, today I broke down and began to play the game,
my self-pity too dry to use as a shield, and listened to a voice I hadn’t heard
in almost a year. She sounds so beautiful. Old emotions stir in me as my hands
play the game with ease, It was almost as if Kimiko
was Kotone, and he was… A slight bout of Jealousy crosses my mind. I shake it
off, telling myself, it’s only a game. Hours went by, Largo
left for his night courses and I continued to sit in front of the screen,
transfixed by the game, the voice of Kimiko, the girl I had fallen in love
with, and I had let go. It was nearing midnight,
Largo would soon be home, and I was
beginning to hear rain spatter against our roof, when the game finally ended. I
sighed, the credits began to role in the game when all of a suddenly everything
went dark on the screen. I reached for the controls, wondering what had
happened when Kimiko’s voice flooded the empty room again.
[Are you sad, Mr. Piro-san?] My
head jerked up at the screen, my heart beating fast.
[Please, don’t be, cheer up. I
loved it when you smiled…. I had this made for you, I
want to give this special copy to your friend to give to you, to tell you
something I wanted to say the day you left.] I feel myself tense.
[I… I had wanted you to stay; I had
wanted you here to be with me, Mr. Piro-san. B-but the words….. the w-words
just wouldn’t come out.] I could tell she was crying, the sounds of her voice I
knew so well, not just because of the game either.
[I was scared what might happen;
scared you would do what Largo-san did to Erika the night before… So I just
wanted to tell you now, hoping this reaches you. That…]
Words scrolled on the screen as her
voice, sobbing told the words I had longed to hear. She repeated them and
something inside of me broke, my shoulders began to shake as sobs began to rack
my body, I just couldn’t stop crying, and that’s how a somber Largo
found me, he put a hand on my shoulder and looked to the screen, where the
words she had said were printed.
{I
love you, Piro.}
Thinking about some of the ideas in the main thread I had a
burst of inspiration. It's a fic that suffers from a little over explanation
and I tried cutting out the filler some.
Piro and Largo head back to America,
but their hearts still belong in Japan.
It’s pretty much what this is, C&C appreciated and remember I wrote this in
about an hour so please understand if there are some rough spots.
Largo and I
walked towards the Airport, I had thought about catching a train or a taxi, but
I just wanted to be sure we could get home. Even though since he and Erika’s
Sensing
Gray.
By
Hibiki
I watched as Piro put in that game
from Tubassa. I sighed, realizing he wouldn’t go look for a job yet again and
went into the kitchen to get a snack before I had to leave for school. Then
after that I would head to my job, a small corporation’s security had picked me
up almost immediately when they heard I was an ex cataclysm division agent. The
money went to the apartment, paying off my tuition, and supporting myself and
Piro. Piro had withdrawn from the world it seemed since returning, much like I
was before our trip. I dug in slowly at my quick bowl of instant ramen. I
blanched, the taste left something to be desired. The time me and Erika found
that little ramen shop in Nerima, they had good noodles. I feel myself smile
wistfully. She practically had to force feed me before I got the hang of chopsticks.
My smile falters; I idly play with the ramen now, as the chopsticks twirling
slowly in the mess. I miss her so much. I resist the urge to pull out that
photo in my wallet.
I shake the thoughts from my mind
as I finish off the ramen before grabbing my coat, calling out my leaving to
Piro then heading out. I walk, despite having a car, it reminds me of Japan
when I walk. It was always so crowed with cars, it was better to just walk. I
had fun walking with everyone in Japan.
Some of my most memorable moments were of me, Erika, Junpei, Piro and Kimiko
just walking, laughing, and hanging out. How odd, back then, it seemed like I
was so crazy, that everything was so skewed out of proportions. That Miho girl
who graduated from my class, the gamer I remember all so well, always ready for
another game. How wrong I was of her, zombie queen, what was I on? I wonder how
she’s doing. I wonder how they all are doing. If they’re
okay, safe, alive even, and… if she’s found someone else by now. My face
went slack as I tried to reign my feelings again. Why can’t I get her out of my
mind, even after everything? Clouds are forming to the north, looked like rain
soon. I hurried on my way.
Class was the same as usual, took a
test, I knew all of it. It was just something to keep my mind off her,
something I could do to maybe become someone she could be proud of to love,
that her fans would appreciate. I sighed, a fools errand if I saw one, I doubt
I will see her again. I know she said she didn’t care, I know she said it was
okay, but I knew, had I stayed, I would have brought her down with me.
I finished my classes and headed to
my work, the sky was growing dark and soon I saw lightning dance among the
clouds. My thoughts returned to Erika. When they found that I was seeing her,
the fans went hostile. That month afterwards, despite all the good and
happiness we shared, will always be remembered by us by that last day. It was a
lot like this weather wise, I met up with her at the park, like we normally
did, and we would walk, her on my arm as we just talked about nothing and
everything at the same time. I have relieved this moment so many times, in my
dreams, and in my nightmares as well.
“Largo?”
I looked to her; she smiled and pulled me into a kiss. I smiled at the memory,
her lips were so soft, and I often find myself longing just to feel those lips
against mine again. We lost ourselves in it and I almost didn’t hear the sound
of a knife being pulled. Pulling her to the side I felt the knife graze my
side, a small wound, nothing I wasn’t use to, but Erika, her face as she saw
the blood spill. That look pains me to this day. It was a fan, a man who seemed
to look to her with wild eyes, a glazed look as he said words to her, her eyes
widened more in fear even more. Later on, when I was back in America
I looked up what he said, ‘If I cannot have you, no one will.’ My blood chills
at remembering the words, as it did then. I quickly moved to protect Erika, as
the man charged, he had little skill, and years of gaming had given me some
skill in blade fighting. I broke his arm, knocked him out and removed the
weapon from his grasp. Sonada came and arrested the man, then my old associate
in the CD told me the gist of Erika’s position, just how much was at stake
because of me and I knew then, I had to leave her. Silently I took her home, to
the arms of Kimiko, asked the younger girl to watch her in my halting Japanese,
then left for home. I didn’t want to leave Erika. I didn’t want to leave Japan,
I felt more alive there then I had ever felt in America.
But I knew.
I made it to my job, and as usual
the company members left, and I alone watched the building from the guard
house. Alone I pulled the photo from my pocket. My idol angel, a smile just for
me, for I knew her face by heart. The photo had seen a lot of use, and I am so
very thankful I scanned in the picture when I got it, because to lose the only
piece I have left of her… I would die. I got it from her that morning, oh yeah,
that was the day Piro told me about the tickets, a way ‘home’, too.
“Largo! I
finally got enough to go home!” I looked up at him, I felt so drained, so
tired, I fought so hard and to realize that I had to let her go, nothing felt
right. I looked at the tickets as if they were both a blessing and a curse, because,
to me, they were. I took a sip at my then tepid b33r,
the urge to drink had long since faded the more I found something to focus on.
Erika was my focus, and even to this day, she still is. I rose; wincing as the
movement tugged at the small wound, Piro never knew I was injured that day.
Piro looked to me as told him I would be back; as I left the rains began as I
went to a payphone and called her up.
She agreed to see me at the park
like before, since it was between her house and Megagamers. I stood at our
spot, feeling the rain soak me as I saw her approach, she under a dark umbrella
while wrapped in an overcoat, I felt something inside myself begin to ache and
I pulled her to me. I told her what was happening, that I had to leave.
Somewhere along the way I had begun to cry, yeah I know, Mr. b4d455
Largo crying over some Chick? I
guess that shows how much she meant… means to me, I never cried that hard
before. She knew what I said and only asked me once not to go, her calm face
slowly falling away as tears began to form in her eyes.
“Largo, please stay, I don’t care
about them, I don’t care about what anyone else thinks, I
just want you to be you.” I silenced her with a single kiss, taking in all that
I could of her, while slipping a ring onto her finger. It was to be our second
month anniversary in little over a week’s time, and that ring was to be her
present. What, surprised I could be romantic? I was myself. Erika always
brought the best out of me. When I released her, she was sobbing, she knew I was
going.
“Please be happy, goodbye, Erika.”
My final words to her, I turned and began walking away, I tried very hard not
to look back. If I looked back and see her crying I would never be able to
leave her. I failed but when I did I found she was gone, almost as if she was
never there. But I know she was, she had changed me so much, I would never be
able to forget her, not even in a million years.
The time nears midnight, and the shift change happens as usual, Carl, or
whatever his name is takes over. His wife just divorced him; he at least got an
end to his relationship. I still wonder what she thinks about us, about that
ring I left her. Does she wear it? I got an answer to it in a way, not to long
ago. Erika sang a song on the radio, a new one. Its sad haunting melody echoed
the pain I felt from that day, and from it, the pure mindless urge to hop on a
plane and return to my home and my love was almost beyond me to resist. I had
to get myself as drunk as to where I couldn’t do it no matter how much I wanted
to, to stop myself. That was probably the first time Piro ever saw me cry. Piro
still denies everything, as if it never happened, he hasn’t changed. It was as
if he is asleep from reality. I did change, I awoke and moved on and I know,
one day, I will try my damnedest to return to her. But now, I am not good
enough.
I open the door to our apartment
and I hear the sounds of crying. I quickly run over to Piro, and notice he was
alright; I laid a hand on his shoulder as I look to the TV.
{I love you, Piro.}
I shake my head ruefully. Are you
awake now, Piro?
______________________________________
Okay this took a little more time
but I still think it’s wordy…
bravenet.com