The more he thought on it, the more
Sorata felt that the right course would be to allow Arashi some time to
adjust to what had happened between them. Still, the rebel within
compelled him to chase after her and continue where they left off.
He sighed loudly in the quiet garden, tucking his hands into his
pockets and warring with the correct course of action. So intent was
he upon his thoughts that he didn't hear the footsteps approach behind
him...
For Eternity...Days and Days
Part 4
01/03/97
by: Jennifer L. Mondazzi
"Sorata-san, what brings you out here?"
The young priest whirled around, startled by the sudden arrival of
Seiichirou-san. He quickly looked around, but realized that they were
alone in the quiet gardens. The mansion was dark, and it seemed that
no one else would be awake at this hour.
"Thinking," Sorata replied, in his usual off-handed manner. He
smirked, trying to shrug off his dark mood. He buried his thoughts in
the back of his mind, and attempted to put on a good face.
"Wasn't that Kishuu-san I just saw running into the house?"
Sorata's smile fell. Aoki's wiser, knowing look caused him to drop
the false humor. He sighed deeply, and spilled his guts.
"I see," was all Seiichirou said, after having been recounted the
entire story of the night's events. He adjusted his glasses, and
cleared his throat. Just before he spoke, however, he paused,
contemplating how to begin.
<Always thinking before he acts. Wish I was like that>, Sorata
remarked to himself, a wry smile appearing on his lips. He sighed
again, the tenth time in as many minutes. How was he going to
straighten out the mess he had created?
Aoki-san cleared his throat again. This time, he did speak.
"It's fairly simple, as I see it," he remarked casually.
"What is?" Sorata grumbled, turning to the older man.
"Well, you love her, don't you?"
Sorata did not hesitate in his answer.
"Of course."
"And she knows this?"
"Of course."
"Then go tell her again."
Sorata stared across the few feet between he and his comrade in arms,
wishing things were as simple as the man seemed to think they were.
"What good would telling her again do?" Sorata shook his head, and
rammed his hands into his jeans pockets, his face resolute. "Anyways,
she'd only get mad at me again, and throw me out of her room." Things
seemed hopeless to the young priest, and his melancholia was returning
in full force. Once more, he sighed.
Seiichirou sighed as well. This was going to be harder than he
thought. If only he understood the ways of women, this wouldn't be
such a difficult task.
Oh, sure, he was happily married, and loved his wife very much, but he
had never been much on romantic words, and had hardly had much exposure
in the ways of wooing. As a matter of a fact, Seiichirou Aoki hardly
understood the opposite sex at all. They seemed an entirely alien
species to him.
If he had to be completely honest, he would admit that his wife had
been his first real girlfriend.
He had met her in his sophomore year in college -- they had been
assigned to the same study group in a lower-division journalism class.
The first time they had met, there was an immediate bond of friendship
between them, but he had experienced no fireworks, no instantaneous
knowledge that this girl was THE ONE. She was simply an attractive
study-mate.
Later, when they both went on to pursue a degree in Mass
Communications, they saw each other in all of the same classes,
semester after semester. As a result, they would spend much of their
time together, and eventually things led to seeing each other outside
of the library. They'd go to dinner and the movies, or stay home
watching t.v. Sometimes they went on picnics or bicycle rides
together.
Frankly, she had always been the bold one their relationship; leaning
against him, holding his hand, initiating their first kiss.
Then one day, soon after graduation, she just seemed to have decided
everything. Before he knew it, Seiichirou was a married man. There
had been no real pursuit in their relationship, as far as he could
tell. Things had just sort of blissfully happened.
Therefore, Seiichirou was unprepared for Sorata's situation, and thus
was faced with a major dilemma -- how was he to help the young man with
his limited amount of experience in "the chase"?
TO BE CONTINUED....
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
--------------------------
Sorata Arisugawa, Arashi Kishuu, Karen Kasumi, Kamui Shirou, Subaru
Sumeragi, Seishirou Sakurazuka, Yuzuriha Nekoi, Kanoe, Hinoto, Yuuto
Kigai, Kakyou, Satsuki Yatouji, Kusunagi Shiyuu, Nataku, Seiichirou
Aoki, Nokoru Imonoyama, Suoh Takamura, Akira Ijuin, and Fuuma Monou are
all characters created for "X", "Clamp Campus Detectives" and "Tokyo
Babylon" by CLAMP, copyright 1993-1996. All other characters and
events are the copyright of this author, 1996-97.