Promise
"Ya ta se!"
"We did it!"
"Wai yo!!" Yuusuke grinned as he walked behind all the celebrating archers of the Ishikawa dojo. Almost immediately after closing ceremonies were over, the students in the audience had rushed over to congratulate their fellow classmates. Since that time, the entire dojo had been running wild in a local park after putting away their gear, despite the cold breeze that was blowing, the overcast clouds and the skeptical onlookers.
"Ne ne, Sensei," a young junior high school boy called making his way over to Rei's side. The archery master looked up from the ground, his hands tucked deep into his jacket pockets, the right wrist bandaged to keep it from twisting more.
"Nanda?"
"Karaoke iku ka?" Rei blinked at the question as the rest of the team rushed over.
"So da yo, Senpai!"
"Come with us this time. Last time you didn't come because you said it was our victory."
"But this time it's yours. Ne, onegai desu, Ishikawa-sensei." Rei stared from one smiling face to another, confusion and surprise clear on his young features. He had been invited to accompany them many times after a victory, but never with this much enthusiasm or persuasion.
"Ko ra ko ra," Yuusuke said, brushing aside one student after another as he made his way over to Rei's side. "Let him breathe at least."
"Come with us, Senpai," Mariko said with a bright smile. "It'll be fun."
"I think Rei could use some rest."
"Demo, Arisugawa-san�"
"Wakateru." All eyes widened suddenly before turning to Rei. He stood there quietly among them all, green eyes focusing from one face to another.
"Wakateru," he repeated. The moment he finished speaking, it was like a dam had broken and let all its contents come spilling out.
"Ya taaa!!!"
"Sa, iko ka?"
"I know a great karaoke box around the corner. I've even got discount coupons."
"Honto?? For all of us??"
"So desu yo."
"Hayaku hayaku!!" Yuusuke smiled, shaking his head as they all ran ahead like excited little kids. Once most of the students were out of earshot, he turned to the silent figure walking next to him. Rei walked silently, his head down, his hands buried deep in his pockets. He remained silent, but his eyes looked contemplative.
"Rei, daijoobu ka?"
"Eh? Ah." Instead of looking at him, Rei kept his eyes focused on the ground. Yuusuke found that a little disturbing and wondering if he had done or said something wrong.
"Dooshita?"
"Betsuni."
"Come on, something's bothering you. Let's have it." He sighed, unsure how to put his thoughts into words. It took a moment of thinking before Rei spoke again.
"I was just thinking about what happened this afternoon."
"Soshite?" Rei stopped in the middle of their walk just beneath a sakura tree. He looked up at the tree's empty, naked branches before continuing.
"I was thinking about what my father would have said if he were there today."
"What would he have said?"
"That I did well, that I represented the Ishikawa clan perfectly. Then again, he wouldn't have let me finish the shot. He always told me to ignore pain when focusing on a target. But he also told me that it was better to forfeit a win than risk losing the ability to ever be able to shoot again."
"Then, why did you shoot today?"
"Because I wanted to. I wanted to prove that, no matter the circumstances, I can come through. I wanted to show that I'm capable of anything."
"I think people already know that, Rei." He shook his head, turning his face away as a cold breeze blew, blowing his dark bangs into his eyes.
"Not everyone seems to think so. I know there are people out there who think I'm spoiled and incapable of doing things on my own. They think so because of the family I'm from and the kind of household I lead. They jump to conclusions about the type of person I am just by looking at me."
"If they knew you the way I do, they wouldn't think so." Rei chanced looking up at Yuusuke; up to this point he had avoided looking into his eyes for an unknown reason. He found calm and caring in the soft brown eyes that returned his gaze.
"Not everyone is like you, Yuusuke."
"Perhaps. Would you want everyone to be like me?" He shook his head, drawing out a laugh from his companion.
"I didn't think so. If the entire world were like me, you'd probably hate me."
"I couldn't hate you."
"Oh? Tell me why." A soft flush came to Rei's face at the statement. Though he knew he was making Rei uncomfortable with such words, Yuusuke wanted to hear exactly what was in his heart. He knew the only way to get Rei to say what he was thinking or feeling was to be blunt and to the point, otherwise he would clam up and keep silent.
"Because�you're you. You're the only person who can make me feel�."
"What? Make you feel what?"
"Anything. You never backed away if I seemed to ignore you. You wouldn't ever give up trying to make me smile or laugh. You were never intimidated by my coldness. You never shied away if I seemed angry. And only you can make me cry." Brown eyes softened as a gentle hand reached up, fingertips lightly tracing Rei's cheek just below his eye.
"I don't ever want to see you cry again," Yuusuke said in a soft voice, leaning a little closer. "I don't ever want to be the person that makes you cry." Rei nodded, covering Yuusuke's hand with his own. Silence settled in as the two gazed at one another, words failing them. Finally, Yuusuke spoke.
"Rei, I need to ask you something."
"Nani?"
"That night on Christmas Eve, I told you that it didn't matter if you gave me an answer right away or not. But it's been bugging me for the past week. I can't get it out of my mind no matter how hard I try. And, believe me, I've tried.
"Rei, I have to know. How do you feel about me?" It was a question he had been expecting, one that he finally had an answer for. After spending two nearly sleepless nights, Rei now knew the answer to that question.
"How I feel about you�I feel the same that I've always felt about you."
"Rei�" A soft hand to his lips silenced Yuusuke, allowing Rei to continue.
"I feel the same, and more. I've always found you to be a cheerful and kind person, Yuusuke. You're kind to everyone and almost anyone. Nothing ever seems to get you down or push you away. You treat everyone the same as you would like to be treated.
"But, you treat me differently from everyone else. You pay me more attention. You go out of your way to show me the kindness and caring I've been lacking all these years. If I ever need someone to talk to, somehow you're always around. You always make the extra effort to be around when I need someone. You love me, the first person to do so since my parent's have died.
"And I love you." Silence evaded again as Yuusuke reached up and removed the hand still at his lips. He leaned over and kissed Rei's forehead, stepping closer in the process.
"Yakusoku da yo," he whispered into his ear. "I promise to always be with you, to never leave your side as long as you need me. I'll always be there when you need someone, no matter what occurs between us. As long as we're together, I don't ever want to see you cry because of me. Yakusoku." Rei nodded, a soft flush coming to his cheeks. He felt a warm palm cup his cheek, lifting his head. Warm brown eyes gazed into his green orbs, a smile twinkling within their depths. Rei's eyes fluttered closed as Yuusuke drew nearer, his warm breath teasing Rei's cheek just before they kissed.
A little snow began to fall around them, adding a magical air to their kiss. They ignored the snow beginning to cling to their hair and clothes, ignored the sounds around them. All that seemed to exist for Rei and Yuusuke were each other, nothing else seemed to matter. For them, they only needed the closeness of the others to feel complete and secure.
"Senpai! Arisugawa-san!" The moment was broken by the shout and by rushing footsteps. But they didn't mind, there would be time later for each other. Yuusuke broke the kiss with a smile.
"Iko ka?" Rei simply nodded as Yuusuke reached for his twisted hand. They walked to join the others, the fingers of their hands entwined and buried in Yuusuke's jacket pocket.
Aim for the center, Rei. The center is your target; the target is your heart. Aim for your target; aim for your heart.