His And Her Circumstances Fan Fiction ❯ Pictures of Matchstick Men ❯ Gifts ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 6: Gifts

Hideaki was relieved to find that the only person at his place was Piman. Piman had already had the broken windows in both his and Annie's place fixed. He was resting on Annie's front step, looking at a piece of cloth in a hoop and smiling.
"What do you got there, Piman?"
"Oh, hello Mister Asaba. This is a piece of Annie's embroidery. She is very good at needlework like this. Very pretty." he said as he handed the hoop to him.
It was a counted cross stitch image of a small gryphon. The stitches were tiny and even, making it look like the picture was originally woven into the cloth.
"This is incredible. I didn't know she had an artistic side like this."
"Oh yes, Mister Asaba. She has been doing detailed needlework since she was five years old. Her grandmother, my aunt, taught her. Koeda would send me hers, and Annie's needlework for Christmas every year. She must have just started on this one. Annie says that needlework helps her to think. She told me when she studies alone, she reads and sews at the same time. When she has trouble with her subject, she thinks of what she was sewing while studying, and remembers."
"That is not a bad idea. Perhaps I should doodle more when I study."
"Perhaps, Mister Asaba. I am here because I wan to ask you something. Something that makes me very concerned."
"What is the matter?"
"Annie, are you really serious about her? If her father had done what he did, I might not be as worried. She is a very strong willed girl. Her feelings may be fragile, and more attached to you now. I like you very much, Mister Asaba, but I am afraid of the relationship you two obviously have."
"There is no need to rack your head. Yeah, I am serious about her. I just want to take it one step at a time. That way, if in a year or so, if our feelings cool off, we will still always be friends. I was just worried about Annie when I said we were engaged. She didn't need to be carted off by a bunch of strangers, even if it was just to the hospital. She was just way too shook up."
"I thank you, Mister Asaba."
"Here, here is the gryphon back."
"Oh no, you must take it to Annie with the thread. As you can see from the pencil marks, it is not finished. She has not started on the tree or the sunset or the pagoda or the banner. It may help her feel better if she has it."
"Have you been to see her yet? It would mean more if you took her needlework to her."
"No. I tried, but the security around the hospital is good. It is no wonder. Her grandmother created Singing Sun Publishing and Distribution company. Koeda made it well known internationally before she died. Many musicians these days got their start when Koeda signed them to her label. Besides, look at what she wrote on the banner."
"I am sure my notoriety complicated matters as well." Hideaki silently read the words, 'Autumn Dawn' in penciled in English on the banner. It made him blush a bit.
"Perhaps."
"I need to get the present I bought for Annie and then I am heading back to the hospital. Come on with me. I am sure she would like to see you. The hospital administrator is my best friend's dad. I just need to call for a car. You go ahead and give her the embroidery. No use for you to go empty handed."
Asaba ran into his place and found the square jewelry box in the living room. He changed clothes, stuffed the box in his jacket pocket and went outside to meet Piman.
"Can you open up Annie's place? I am sure she would like her own clothes to wear, and she needs a coat. It looks like it is going to start snowing again."
"I will get those things. Please call your friend and go wait for the car. I will meet you."
"Sure, I will be on the curb on the other side of the park, near the bus stop."

Arima met Asaba and Piman as they were on their way to Annie's hospital room.
"I thought you would want to give these to her yourself." Arima handed Hideaki the bouquet. "You might want to wait a little while though. As soon as Miyazawa found out it was Annie's birthday, she ordered cake, balloons and take out. She and Maho went and picked it up. They are having a party in there."
"That's good. She could use the cheering up. Oh, Soichiro Arima, this is Annie's second cousin, Piman Takishiro. She calls him Uncle Piman."
"It is good to meet you, Mister Arima." Piman said with a polite bow. "I think I will go in and join the birthday party, If you do not mind."
"Go ahead. Nice to meet you, Mister Takishiro."
"Everyone just calls me Piman. It keeps me from being mistaken for the family disgrace." He said as he went into Annie's hospital room.
Hideaki was happy to hear Annie's joyful squeal as Piman went in. He smiled.
"She could never make it through without Piman."
"And what are you, Asaba , chopped liver?"
"Well, with me too."
"Well, Mister, 'Knight In Shining Armor,' get your ass in there and give her those roses. I'll go in first and make a path for you."
"Here goes," Hideaki took a deep breath.

Hideaki hid his face behind the roses as he slowly made his way beside Annie's bed.
"Surprise," He said as he handed them to Annie. It was good to see her smile.
"Thank you Hideaki. They are so lovely!"
Hoots and whistles filled the room as their friends teased the two. Hideaki turned beet red as Annie rolled her eyes.
"Clam up you loons! You are annoying the sick person here! And, I am not talking about me." Annie said over the din.
Hideaki smiled. It was good to see her sick sense of humor was coming back as well.
Piman was laughing so hard that his sides hurt. "Annie, you did not tell me that your friends were so nice! I will have to invite everyone to my house for dinner, when I am feeling blue."
"Red roses for a blue lady," Aya and Rika sang out with a plethora of giggles.
"You two nutty birds never quit, do you?" Annie shot back.
"There is only one thing missing," Sakura said as she stood and put her hands on her hips, "Go on and pucker up Asapin."
"Sakura!"
"Kiss her, Asapin before I walk over there and punch your lights out."
Hideaki looked at Annie and she looked back. They leaned forward. As they leaned, Annie gave Asaba a sly wink. A hair's breath before their lips met, they both crossed their arms and turned away from each other.
"Asshole!" Annie said
"Tease!" Hideaki returned.
The room erupted in laughter.
"Sorry, Hideaki, I just couldn't resist."
"Neither could I, they are so hyped up on sugar. I wonder which one of them is going to puke first."
"Is that a bet I smell?" Annie said as she rubbed her nose against Hideaki's.
"Nope, it's a kiss," he said as he put his arms around her and pulled her closer.
"Woo Hoo!" Yukino shouted. Tonami whistled.
"Now that's more like it." Sakura said.
The kissing got more heated.
"I think this is just a show, you guys." Arima shook his head.
"Well I've had enough," Maho said. " Lets go leave these two looove birds alone. We still have class tomorrow. I refuse to be the only one who takes notes for them."
"Alright, alright, you two break it up." Arima said, "Show's over."
Hideaki and Annie were panting heavily as their lips parted. It may have been just a show for their friends, but the electricity between the two still welled up during the kissing.
"I need to go as well," Piman said, "It has been a very long day. I am not as young as the rest of you. I need more sleep."
The group of friends slowly filed out of the crowded hospital room, gathering leftover food as they left.
Yukino made sure that Hideaki had a piece of cake and some food before she cleaned up the room and left.
"Oh, thank god, that is over! I thought they would never leave. It is good to have friends though. I never really had any before."
"I am glad to see you are feeling better. I was very worried about you. Do you want me to stay here and sleep in the chair tonight? "
"If you want to, but you don't have to. "
"I want to stay. I am afraid of nightmares. I don't want to make a fool of myself, breaking into your place while I'm half asleep, to make sure you're okay, and then remember you're here. Plus, it is snowing really hard. The car may have a tough time getting back to my place."
"I don't want the nightmares either. It would be nice to see your face when I wake up."
"It is settled then. Oh, I nearly forgot. I bought you a present, besides the roses."
Hideaki picked up his coat off of the back of a chair and reached into the pocket.
As he turned to Annie with the box in his hand, She crossed her arms and furrowed her brow
"I do hope that is not what I think it is, Hideaki. I am no way ready for that kind of jump."
Hideaki chuckled and shook his head, "No, it isn't what you think. Open it."
Inside the box was a gold coin that had been cut into two pieces. A loop connected each half of the coin to a gold chain.
"It's a promise coin. You wear one half and I wear the other. It means that no mater what kind of direction our lives take, we will always be special to each other. It won't matter if our feelings cause us to drift apart. This means we will always have a special place in our hearts for each other. Do you like it?"
"Help me put my half on! Oh, Hideaki, this is the best gift I have ever been given, well aside from being the muse for your art."
There you go, he said as he helped her with her half.
"Sit and turn around," she ordered as she helped him put on his half. She took a closer look at her side of the coin and studied the symbol. "This coin has the yin-yang symbol on it, divided in half."
"Yep. It just seemed right for some reason. There were other coins with different words and sayings, but I just liked this one best."
"It's because you have always known I love you, Hideaki, no matter how much of a shit I acted like when I was around you."
"Yeah, I guess you are right. I love you too, Annie. We had better get some sleep." He said before he kissed her goodnight.

Review