Untitled

At Least


Figures. She’s probably tired waiting up there for hours…

Keiko kicked a stone across the path and shuffled her feet. She was walked back and forth in front of a dark house. She took a deep breath and exhaled. She examined the tip of her shoe then glanced back at the house. She arrived half an hour ago.

Nobody’s here…I guess I’ll just have to wait, she remarked when she got there. The place was so familiar to her then, as she used to go by to check up on him and his mom. Now, it just felt uninviting. She began pacing back and forth trying to organize her thoughts. She thought she prepared enough before she came here.

She knew Yusuke spoke with Botan that morning. She was afraid to ask him herself so she sought out Shizuru if she knew something.

Where are you? It was getting darker but no one came. She remembered that night between them.

It was the most incredible night of her life. She was so scared that he would give her a cold shoulder. Instead he gave her something so wonderful, she’ll remember it for the rest of her life. Her only regret was that they’re not together anymore when it happened. She cried when she found out he left her that morning. She was looking forward to see him when she woke up and hoped he changed his mind.

She decided to come there to talk about what happened between them. She wasn’t expecting Yusuke and Botan’s meeting at the rooftop. She sighed.

“Just a few more minutes… If he didn’t come I’ll just -” She stopped. There he was, sauntering towards her.

Yusuke was surprised to find Keiko at his doorstep. If he was tired just seconds ago, it didn’t compare to what he felt right now.

How much emotional torment does this day have in store for me?

He sighed loudly, wondering why she came. He wasn’t ready for this. He was walking aimlessly all day trying to sort everything out. He thought about what Botan had said earlier.

“Yusuke, you don’t even know how you feel about me!” she shouted when he didn’t move.

He couldn’t believe how right she was. True, he felt something for her… but wasn’t love. Because if it was, he wouldn’t have slept with his ex-girlfriend. He felt like jerk.

Maybe I am one.

But he was jealous of Kurama when he heard about their afternoon at the lake. Maybe he’s just trying to protect her.

Protect her from what? He closed his eyes then glanced at Keiko. Maybe his break up with her demented him a little.

How much emotional torment does this day have in store for me?

“Apparently not enough,” he muttered to himself. He just stood where he was as she approached him.

“Yusuke…” she started, then bit her lip.

“I don’t have time for this, Keiko.” He let himself inside and opened the lights. He went to the kitchen to quench his parched throat. Keiko followed him in.

“I need to talk to you…” she said, touching his arm. They have to talk. Yusuke removed her hand and she felt him stiffen.

“I am not going unless we do.” she confronted. Yusuke sighed and threw his hands up in the air.
“Fine. We’ll talk.” He gritted.

“With a really open mind, I see.” Keiko retorted. He remained the impossible boy she knew and thought about whacking him on the head. She almost smiled at the image.

“Alright, I’m listening.” Yusuke saw a hint of a smile on her lips. He remembered times like these. It’s the same expression she has when she’s about to strike him on the head. Oddly enough, it comforted him somehow.

“You never said anything. You left when I woke up.” she looked at him directly.

“I never said anything about what?” He asked. He knew what she was talking about. He didn’t want her to bring it up. He thought about using that night to hurt her, but still…

“I know you talked with her.” Keiko started. “I just hope…” she sighed. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. “I’m sorry,” she cried in shame.

Yusuke just stared at the sobbing girl beside him. He patted her back. She is his childhood friend and ex-girlfriend. Then he began quietly. “I gave you everything, you know… but you wanted more from me.” He sighed. “I can’t do that anymore, Keiko.”

At that, she just cried. She already knew she was wrong. Only, she’s just realizing how wrong she was.

“Yusuke… I want -”

“We can’t be anything right now, Keiko…” he cut in to her. He can’t be in another relationship with her now. Heck, he can’t be in a relationship with anyone for that matter.

It’s just too much to handle right now.

He’s just starting to sort out what he’s feeling and what he really wanted. At that moment he was just realizing that he needed more time for himself.

Keiko looked on sadly. It’s just pushing him too hard to ask him to take her back again. And she can’t do that anymore. She can’t demand things from him that he’s not ready to give her. More tears flowed from her eyes and she groped in her purse for a tissue.

“Here, take this.” Yusuke handed her a wad from the side table. He stood up and gave her a glass of water. She gulped it down and turned to him.

“So this is it, then.” Keiko conceded. She stood up slowly and reached the door. She thought for a moment and turned around to take one last look at him. She took another step and found herself outside...

“Take care Keiko,” he said then closed the door.

It was so hard to go away from him. She cried harder as she tried to go over the things that they’ve said, how he looked at her. His eyes were so forgiving, she hung her head in shame.

Finally, she took a deep breath trying to collect her self. She patted her eyes dry before she let herself into the Yukimuras’ residence. She put on a smiling face to greet her parents, only to assure them of a fine day.

In her room, she didn’t bother with a shower as she felt so drained. Mentally and physically. She lay on her bed and buried herself under the pillows.

It was final. She would try and forget… even if it’s hard and learn from it. Somehow, something gave her hope. Thinking of the last bit that Yusuke left her before he closed the door…

At least he didn’t say good bye…

At least he didn’t say good bye… He didn’t say goodbye.

At least.


*sorry it took so long, but here it is! i tried to put yusuke's and keiko’s insights in to be fair so i came up with chapter nine. up next is the final installment so watch out okay? i just finished writing everything and editing. i'm thinking about writing another fic, so e-mail me sometime for comments or suggestions. i tried to make a "jump to chapter x" kind of thing like a choose your own adventure kind of thing but it was confusing and hard so i trashed it..

Yana : thanks so much! ^__^ i like Kurama too but i like more him in youko form. maybe i'll write about him on my next project. thanks for the reviews. hope you like this one.

keep on readin' and please review this chapter.
thanks!

isabela Ü
writetoisabela@yahoo.com*


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