InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Day After Tomorrow ❯ Day After Tomorrow ( One-Shot )

The Day After Next
by Fat Cat Buyo
A One-Shot Bankotsu/Jakotsu fan fic contest entry.

Authoress note: The Name of the fic was taken from my poem, which will be brought up later in the fic... this is romance/drama/angst. There ain’t a lot of romance, but its there. (Tani: More now that I’ve got my hands on it...) Anyway, here is the summary.

Summary: When something terrible happens to Bankotsu, he finds out what it means to love, but turns it away. Now everything has gone wrong. Someone’s dead because of him. AU Bank/Jak, romance/angst/drama

Disclaimer: In no way do I own Japan, any characters in this fic or any of the songs. I DO however own “The Day After the Next”, which is MY poem! I wrote it! Oh and Inuyasha is not mine, nor shall it ever be. I’m also sorry about writing this and I deeply regret what I did for the sake of a good fic. ><

Key

“Holy Cheese on Rye!” - Talking
‘Holy Cheese on Rye!’ - Thinking
Holy Cheese on Rye! - Exaggeration
Holy Cheese on Rye! - Song
*~*Holy Cheese on Rye!*~* - Scene change
Holy Cheese on Rye! - Poem/essay/dream

*~*

Late one Sunday night in March, Jakotsu was walking Bankotsu back to his family’s house. Yes, Bankotsu DID in fact have a family but he really disliked visiting them. ‘Well,’ he thought with a resigned sigh, ‘they did raise me, so I might as well see them before my mother kicks the bucket.’

The pair walked into the small, dimly lit house, laughing. They laughed and laughed and laughed, but then Bankotsu was laughing alone.

“What’s wro-” He never got to finish his sentence, because he saw for himself what was wrong.

His mother was diced into pieces, her blood strewn across the walls and floor. Bankotsu’s little brother, Hideto, was hanging from the ceiling fan. His father was lying in a pool of his own blood, his clothes soaked. He fell to his knees, shaking uncontrollably. Jakotsu, his friend since childhood, dropped down next to him, and put his arms around Bankotsu, who, in turn, buried his face into Jakotsu’s chest... and cried.

This was the first time that Jakotsu had ever seen a tear cross Bankotsu’s face. He might’ve cried when he was alone, but when anyone else was around, he put on a tough mask. Jakotsu couldn’t figure out why he was crying, since he’d always said he despised his family.

Maybe he really did love them, deep down, where he hid his true feelings. Jakotsu could say that Bankotsu could be called “emotionless,” in a way. He always seemed either happy or extremely pissed off, though he was mostly pissed off when Jakotsu wasn’t around to cheer him up. This seemed strange to Jakotsu. ‘Why doesn’t he smile when I’m not around?’ Jakotsu wondered, as he comforted Bankotsu as best he could.

They stayed in that position for a time, comforting each other until Bankotsu was able to regain control and call the police. They came as soon as they could and dragged the pair down to the station for some questioning, but there was nothing for them to say. It was obvious that Bankotsu had been crying, for his eyes were red and puffy. Once the police had decided there was nothing more to pair could tell them, they escorted Jakotsu and Bankotsu home. Bankotsu was going to be staying at Jakotsu’s for the remainder of the night, because he was in no shape to be by himself.

As Bankotsu slept, fitfully, Jakotsu sat next to him and stroked his arm, whispering soothing words in his ear to calm the nightmares. Jakotsu felt at peace, just sitting there, listening to the quiet breathing of his friend with the occasional shout or toss. The truth was… Jakotsu was in love.

Bankotsu had moved to Kyoto all the way from Tokyo in the first grade, when Jakotsu was in fourth. Despite the age difference, they became instant friends, along with five other people named Mukotsu, Renkotsu, Ginkotsu, Kyoukotsu and Suikotsu. All seven of them were outcasts and had dubbed themselves the “Shichinin Tai”. The teachers paid no attention to them whatsoever. When Jakotsu left for Junior High, the only time he saw Bankotsu and everyone else, — not counting Suikotsu, who was in his grade— was after school. When Jakotsu was at his last year of Junior High, Bankotsu was in his first, but the process started over again in High School.

As it was now, the seven of them barely saw each other anymore. Suikotsu had skipped two years of High School, gone straight to college and became a doctor. Renkotsu was working for the army, making guns. Mukotsu, Bankotsu, and Ginkotsu were in their last year of High School and Kyoukotsu had dropped out a while ago. Jakotsu was in his third year of college and passing with excellent grades, which was strange because he didn’t seem all that bright. They had all found something to do in their lives. Well… at least, those who got out of High School. (coughKyoukotsucough)

Bankotsu and Jakotsu lived in the same apartment building, so they saw each other every now and then, rather than not at all. They took the same bus to their separate schools. Bankotsu wasn’t doing very good in High School, so Jakotsu tutored him after school and helped him with his homework. In the past couple of months, Jakotsu’s feelings for his braided friend seemed to grow, and he realized that he was in love with him.

Jakotsu had always known that he was gay, and had no qualms about showing it. His hair went past his shoulders and was held up into a loose bun, by one of his favorite hair pins, and he often walked the streets in girls’ clothing. None of his friends really cared, though. Since most of them liked Mana and Malice Mizer, they didn’t pay too much attention to another guy wearing dresses. It was normal for Jrock fans.

He abandoned his current train of thought and looked down at Bankotsu, who was finally sleeping peacefully. Jakotsu really cared about him. Whenever Bankotsu was sick, Jakotsu took care of him, even going so far as to miss school so he wouldn’t leave him alone. Jakotsu knew he’d go to hell and BACK for that braided boy, but he wasn’t sure if Bankotsu felt the same way.

Jakotsu was so lost in his thoughts and musings that he didn’t notice the time. When he finally glanced at the clock, he cursed vehemently. It was already 2:00 AM, and he had an important lecture to attend at school. After trying his best to fall asleep, his eyes finally drifted shut, and he dozed off next to Bankotsu.

Jakotsu was seated in a single chair in the middle of a blank, white room. There were no windows, nor any doors. He was trapped. When he looked down, he saw that his arms and legs were chained to the chair. He couldn’t move at all. He tried to scream, but he felt as though something had taken over his throat and closed it off; he couldn’t make a sound. He was helpless.

Then, the walls started to move around him, towards him, closing in on him. They were slowly moving inwards, intent on squashing the life out of the poor boy. He squirmed, but that seemed to make the walls close in faster. Tears streamed down his face as he opened his mouth again to call for help, with the same result. He began to cry harder, but the sobs couldn’t be heard. Then, a bright light shone through the cracks in the walls and someone appeared.

A man in all white, shining like a star from the sky, stood in the middle of the room. It was Bankotsu. As if by a miracle, the locks on the chair broke and Jakotsu stood up and ran to his friend, crying.

“Jakotsu....” Bankotsu whispered. “Jakotsu...” Jakotsu put his finger to his friend’s lips to quiet him, and then put his lips to Bankotsu’s in a sweet kiss.

Jakotsu woke up from his dream to find himself in an awkward situation; he was kissing Bankotsu. There was a bright light shining through the windows and his lips were pressing against Bankotsu’s, just as they had in the dream. Jakotsu pulled away quickly, his face was bright red. He mumbled a quick “sorry” and ran to take a shower before school.

For his part, Bankotsu was still frozen in shock on Jakotsu’s bed. He gingerly touched his lips, and a small smile crossed them as he thought about what had just happened. The kiss had been tender, yet almost rough. “What in seven Hells was that boy dreaming about?” He wondered. Brushing it off, he made his way back to his own apartment to get ready for school.

Bankotsu took a quick shower, threw on his uniform and went back to Jakotsu’s room to find that his friend had already departed for school. “Oh right…” Bankotsu mused. “He said he had an important lecture today…” The braided boy shrugged and trudged back to his room to finish his unfinished homework.

On his walk to school, Bankotsu made as small detour by the Sakura park, just to get a glimpse at the fully bloomed trees. They were breathtaking and he was sorry that he had to miss out on the picnic with Jakotsu and Suikotsu. He had a science project he needed to complete after school, so he couldn’t go then, but he paused nonetheless to admire their beauty.

*~*Bankotsu - School*~*

Consequently, Bankotsu was late for Lit., so his ‘evil’ professor made him stay after school and organize the ‘Encyclopedia Britannica’. All five sets. A glance at the clock revealed that he had missed his bus, so with a resigned sigh he started on the walk home.

When he got back to his apartment, he shrugged off his shoulder bag and made his way to Jakotsu’s apartment for his regular tutoring lesson. To his surprise, he found that Jakotsu wasn’t home. He asked a neighbor who happened to be passing by if he’d seen Jakotsu at all.

“No, I’m afraid Jakotsu left early in the morning, and hasn’t come back since.”

“Oh… thank you, sorry to bother you.”

On the inside, Bankotsu’s mind was in turmoil. ‘What if something happened to him? What if a troop of evil muffins attacked him and left him to die on the side of the road!? No... I’m getting paranoid. He’s probably still at school.’ Bankotsu decided to try to do his homework alone for once, without Jakotsu’s help.

*~*Jakotsu - Apartment*~*

It was late into the night when Jakotsu finally came home, piss drunk and staggering. He groggily made his way to his room and into his bed. Sometime past midnight, he awoke with a scream, for he had yet another nightmare. Jakotsu pushed himself out of bed, the world spinning around him as he stumbled into the bathroom. Holding his own hair up, he threw up violently into the toilet. When he had calmed down to the point where he could stand again, he stumbled out of the bathroom and back into bed.

*~*Bankotsu – Apartment*~*

Bankotsu found himself fitfully lying in his bed, worrying about Jakotsu. It was late, and to the best of his knowledge he hadn’t showed up. Finally, his eyes shut, and he drifted off into sleep.

Bankotsu reached for the door of his old house with a sigh. He knew what would be waiting for him… his mother would nag and nag, and his father would criticize everything about him, and his little brother would just sneer at him…

He opened the door. It was the same scene all over again, except that in the middle of it all was Jakotsu, lying still and bloody with staring eyes.

“JAKOTSU!” he screamed, running forwards and dropping to his knees. He picked Jakotsu up out of a pool of his own blood and held him close, tears running down his face.

The dream changed. He was now in a bright and sunny field of flowers, and Jakotsu was in the middle. He was slowly picking the petals off of a white rose, singing softly to himself.

“Sleep now
Dream…
Of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across a distant shore…”

“Jakotsu!” Bankotsu called, relieved to see him. He tried to erase the image of Jakotsu’s staring and lifeless eyes from his memory.

Jakotsu looked up, startled, and met his eyes accusingly. “I’m dead.”

Bankotsu stared at him. “What?”

“I’m dead, just like everybody else you’ve ever given a damn about. And it’s all your fault.” Here, Jakotsu dropped the rose and rose to his feet, glaring at him. “You saw what happened to me. It’s your fault.”

“No!”

“Why can’t you just admit it?”

“No, Jakotsu, listen to me!”

“It’s your fault…”

“Jakotsu, no!”

Bankotsu woke up in a sweat, the memory of Jakotsu’s eyes burning into him. He lurched to his feet and stumbled into the bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror.

“What the hell was that?” he wondered to himself, his haggard reflection staring back at him from the mirror. “He was dead… like everybody else…” here, his reflection seemed to flicker, but it was only the tears clouding Bankotsu’s eyes. “It was almost as if… no. Jakotsu is my best friend.” Bankotsu knew he was lying, but he refused to give in. “Nobody else is going to die because of me.” He told his reflection firmly, but it only stared back at him pensively, until Bankotsu threw a towel at it and went back to bed.

*~*Jakotsu - School*~*

The next day, Jakotsu made sure he would be on time for school, for today was the day of the “special” psychology seminar. Biggs-sensei, a teacher from America, was going to talk about the human feelings in relation to... fruit.

“There are tons of fruits in a fruits basket. You have the oranges, peaches, apples, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and the pomegranates. Now, let’s look at each one personally.

“The orange has a hard outside, but once you dig through it, you get the soft and juicy centre, where the orange’s secrets are hidden.” As he said this, he held up an orange and tossed it back and forth between each hand. He did this with each fruit in turn. “The lemon also has a hard outside, but once you conquer that, all you have is a sour inside, filled with bad thoughts and no sense of happiness.

“Then there is the apple. This crisp red apple has a soft skin and has a juicy center, unlike the granny smith apples. Those have a soft skin yet they are sour, but once you get to the centre it is juicy and sweet.

“Limes and grapefruits are about the same as the lemons, and what about the peach? The peach is soft on the outside, but inside there is one big soul and a secret that it dares not tell to anyone. The last fruit in this basket is a pomegranate. It has a hard outer skin, but inside the pomegranate has many little seeds, or secrets, that it can distribute among it’s friends. The secrets are sweet and not ill-minded, yet are kind and intended to be nice.”

The teacher walked to the front of the class and faced the students. “Today’s assignment is to think about each fruit in the basket, and think of someone you know who can relate.” The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Biggs-sensei smiled and walked back to his desk, as the students filed out of the classroom.

Already, Jakotsu was thinking about which of his friends related to each fruit. He wrote his essay during his lunch period, which he spent at one of his favorite take-away restaurants.

The Fruits in a Fruits Basket
by Hayashi Jakotsu

In the fruits basket today, there were lemons, pomegranates, apples, oranges and peaches. In relation to the human mind and soul, I can relate each of these fruits, or most, to someone close to me.

My friend Suikotsu is just like the juiciest, reddest apple. He is an all around nice guy, who happens to be a doctor. He smiles a lot, and never keeps a secret. He is always happy to share the latest happenings in the hospital. The only time he doesn’t smile is when he is operating on someone. He’s actually happy on the inside, but has to put on a frown for the patients. They think it’s creepy when someone’s holding a scalpel, cutting someone’s stomach open, and smiling, so he does it for their sakes. I have never met a nicer man.

My best friend, and neighbor, Bankotsu, is like the orange. He puts on this mask, and hides his feelings under his skin, but once you get on his good side, and dig under that skin, he has a soft, squishy centre. There are very few people who can actually accomplish that task, though.

My... “friend”, Renkotsu is a lemon. He has built up this tough wall around him, so people will leave him the fuck alone. Once you break down that wall, all he does to you is bitch... and bitch... and bitch.

I, Jakotsu, am the pomegranate. I have a hard outside, which only my friends can penetrate. Then I spill my secrets to them. My sweet secrets, which I can only share with people I trust. And they enjoy them too, just like you would a pomegranate.

I couldn’t find anyone else who could relate to any of the other fruits, because my friends are somewhat limited. But as you can tell, people can be like fruits, in a weird kind of way.

Jakotsu concluded his essay, finished his burger, and ran back to school.

*~*Jakotsu - A Week Later*~*

Jakotsu’s essay was read aloud to the class, because he put more effort in it than he was supposed to. Bankotsu took him out to dinner to celebrate, though Jakotsu quite didn’t understand why something so trivial should be a reason to celebrate anyway. After a while, he decided not to think about it and just bask in Bankotsu’s company.

Jakotsu looked at Bankotsu. “So, Bankotsu, what’s up? Why the spontaneous celebration?”

Bankotsu blinked at him. “Why not? You got the highest grade in the class, so why shouldn’t we go celebrate at some restaurant?” He gestured around him to the bustling Thai restaurant where Jakotsu had, in fact, written his essay in the first place.

Deciding to let it go, he reached for a roll at the same time as Bankotsu. Their fingers brushed against each other, and Jakotsu felt a little shiver run down his arm and over his spine. He glanced up at Bankotsu’s face, and found him looking back at him with a quirky grin on his face.

Jakotsu found himself blushing as he pulled back, and was gratified to see an identical blush on Bankotsu’s face.

“What do you want to eat, Bankotsu?” Jakotsu asked quickly, trying to change the subject.

“Hmm…” Bankotsu said pensively, his forehead puckering adorably (In Jakotsu’s opinion). He picked up the menu and contemplated it for a time, blinking in concentration.

“I’m thinking Moo Yang, what about you?”

Jakotsu smothered a small giggle at his pronunciation and picked up the menu himself. “I like Yen-Ta-Fo, myself…” he said, lowering the menu and meeting Bankotsu’s eyes.

Jakotsu blinked at the flash of… something he saw present there. It was gone in a moment, leaving Jakotsu to imagine if he’d imagined it.

‘What in seven hells was that?’ Jakotsu wondered, retreating behind his menu. His mind found itself wandering back to that topic it had so often touched before, but never actually delved into. ‘I should tell him… but… I don’t want to lose his friendship, either… and if it turns out that he’s not… like me, then I don’t know how I’ll be able to handle it… I don’t think I WILL be able to handle it… and I know that if he rejects me, I won’t be able to live with it… but if I don’t tell him, I’ll never know if—’

“Hello? Earth to Jakotsu?”

Jakotsu snapped out of his thoughts, putting on a disarming smile in an effort to hide his confusion. “Eh heh… gomen ne, zoned out for a bit there. What were you saying?”

Bankotsu smiled at him, which caused Jakotsu to melt on the inside. “That’s okay. D’ya want anything to drink?”

“Um… sake’s good for me, I guess.”

Bankotsu shrugged. “Suit yourself. I can’t have sake.” He pulled a face and grinned at Jakotsu. “Too young and all that.”

“You can have some of mine, if you like.” Jakotsu said, gesturing to the waiter that was approaching their table.

Bankotsu beamed at him and proceeded to order. ‘God… I have to tell him. But if he doesn’t feel the same… I don’t know what I’ll do…’

*~*Jakotsu – Apartment*~*

Bankotsu sat down on the couch and sighed. “What a week, ne?” He smiled warmly at Jakotsu. Jakotsu took a deep breath and glanced at Bankotsu before redirecting his gaze to his yukata. “What’s wrong?” Bankotsu’s asked him, frowning slightly.

“Uhm... I don’t know how to say this... demo… Bankotsu...” Jakotsu sat down next to his friend and avoided his eyes. “I.. I...”

“You...?”

“Iloveyou.” Jakotsu slurred his sentence together and it took Bankotsu a bit to figure out. His mouth opened slightly, and he looked at Jakotsu.

“Wha?” He asked. “A-ano…“ Bankotsu just stared with something Jakotsu mistook for disgust in his eyes. Tears welled up in Jakotsu’s eyes, and he rushed out of the apartment and into his own room before Bankotsu could do anything more.

Bankotsu sat on the couch, unmoving, lost in thought for a bit. He had been so surprised... but now Jakotsu had left, and he didn’t want to face him now. “I didn’t mean to go silent like that… it was just… so sudden… what was I supposed to say? And I know he doesn’t want to talk to me now… I was such a jerk to him, and he looked so upset before he left.” He sighed. “I guess I’ll talk to him in the morning.” He tried to quell the part of his mind that was telling him to face Jakotsu now, and went to sleep, thankfully without any dreams.

He stopped by Jakotsu’s apartment on the way to school the next morning and knocked on the door cautiously. “Jakotsu? Are you there?” he tried the doorknob; it was unlocked. He pushed the door open and took a quick glance inside. “Jakotsu?” The apartment was empty. He shut the door with a sigh and shouldered his backpack. “Tonight, then…”

Jakotsu had left early in the morning –around three or four– and refused to tell anyone where he was going. He brought a tiny little package home with him which fit in the palm of his hand. He put it next to his bed and poured himself a glass of water. Staring at the glass of water, rippling and shaking in his hand, he began to cry again. He ended up crying himself to sleep and woke up at 4:30 PM. With one last shaking sob, he poured the contents of the package into the cup and drank it. “I have an hour... before the poison takes effect. Might as well spend it wisely.” Jakotsu sniffed and walked outside, heading for the Sakura park. He remembered some information that Suikotsu had told him about poison. ‘If you run while slow working poison is in your body, it takes effect faster.’ Jakotsu thought, deliberately slowing down.

Jakotsu smiled in spite of himself when he made it down to the park, where the sakura trees were still in bloom. Birds were chirping in the trees and there was green grass everywhere; a sure sign of spring. “This will be my last time seeing them, won’t it? They’re beautiful…” Jakotsu smiled again and sat down, his back to the trunk of a nearby tree. “I’m… I’m sorry, everybody…” he said brokenly, knowing they couldn’t hear him. “I… I want to die. I can’t live with the knowledge that what I am is so… that Bankotsu is disgusted by me. I just can’t deal with that. If it had been anyone else, I wouldn’t give a care… but… I love him. It’s just too much.” A tear slid down his cheek. “I’ll miss you Bankotsu. I will miss you, and I shall never forget how kind you were to me. Don’t forget me.” Jakotsu got up and slowly walked back to his apartment. He lay on his bed after setting his will on the bedside table, along with a poem that he’d written and just sat there contemplating what was happening, what had happened, and what could have happened.

“I don’t know why I loved him. Maybe it was because he was so much like me...? No... It was because I felt that I could share anything with him, and that he was the only person I could ever love. I went to hell and back for him... and all he did was become my friend. He never loved me in return.” Jakotsu stifled a sob and looked at his clock. “5:20 PM... I have ten minutes left to live. Oh, god, Bankotsu…” There was a knock on the door and Bankotsu burst into the room, completely out of breath. He saw Jakotsu lying on the bed, and ran to his side. He took in the half filled glass of water and the packet on the bed stand.

“Oh god… Jakotsu!” He couldn’t find words, so he lay down and pressed his lips to Jakotsu’s. The kiss was short, but meaningful; he pulled away and looked into Jakotsu’s eyes desperately. “I love you, Jakotsu…”

“No… you don’t…”

“What on earth are you talking about?!”

“The way you looked at me… like you hated me…” Jakotsu mumbled. It was getting harder to breathe.

“Jakotsu, I could never hate you.” Bankotsu said, tears sliding down his cheeks.

Jakotsu smiled faintly, his vision becoming cloudy. “Bankotsu…”

“Jakotsu, no! I love you!’

One of Jakotsu’s hands rose to gently brush against his cheek before falling back onto the bed. With one last sigh, his eyes closed and he slid into darkness.

“Wake up... I know you’re just pulling my leg! Wake up! ... wake up... please…” He shook Jakotsu gently, but Jakotsu wouldn’t move. “Wake up… WAKE UP DAMNIT!” Bankotsu began sobbing harder as he clutched Jakotsu’s cold hand to his own. “Jakotsu… I LOVE YOU!”

*~*Bankotsu - Funeral*~*

It was two weeks after Jakotsu’s suicide, and Bankotsu was to make a speech at Jakotsu’s funeral. All of the Shichinin tai were attending. Renkotsu was scowling, and Suikotsu was crying, which was the only time he wasn’t smiling. The rest of them remained expressionless, with the occasional sniffle breaking through their masks. Bankotsu cleared his throat quietly and brushed a hand across his eyes.

”Jakotsu was my best friend, but more than that, he was the man I loved. I didn’t discover this until it was too late, and by the time I realized that, he was already dying. He died because of me, and for that I can never forgive myself. When I was in his apartment after he died, I found this on the table next to his bed. It was a poem he had written before he died, and I’d like to share it with you.” Choking back the tears that were gathering at the corners of Bankotsu’s eyes, he began reading in a shaky voice.

“The Day After the Next

If I died tomorrow,
would anybody care?
I supposedly have some friends,
who make me feel alone,
and prove to me that I'm nobody,
in this cruel world.

For if I died today,
or the day after the next,
would anybody shed a tear for me?
Would anybody wish that I was,
back at home crying,
or did I die a lonely death?

People say they love me,
only for it to be a joke,
well I can't take those jokes no more,
'cause I feel like I'm going to break.
The laughing is driving me insane.

I'll never find love,
and I will never succeed,
for I am just one boy in this,
damn lonely world.
If I died would anybody even care?
Would I wish I was still lyin' on my bed.
And If I still walked the Earth wishin' that I,
could finally rest,
I would never be happy.

No one will ever love me,
they way a lover does,
I feel like my friends don't really care,
I'm not sure whether they just tell me,
that they like me,
to make me feel better.
Well, I can't take it no more.

I might die today right now,
or the day after the next,
you'll never see me again,
the one I love, is lost forever.”

Bankotsu was trying his hardest not to cry, but there was a lump in his throat. He bowed and got off the stage to go watch the body being lowered into the ground. It was lowered slowly, and everyone who was close with the boy were crying their eyes out. The body had finally reached the bottom and people began throwing flowers and packing dirt on top of the coffin.

‘Jakotsu… I… I loved you. With all of my heart. Believe me, I never hated you… and I never could. I’m so sorry… I hope you can forgive me. I will always love you.’ Bankotsu left with the crowd of people, not bothering to look back, for fear of crying.

*~*Bankotsu - Five Years Later*~*

Bankotsu stood, carrying a single rose. It was April 9, 2009, and Bankotsu was going to Jakotsu’s grave on the anniversary of his death. He sat down near the tree by his gave. “Hey.” He said, trying to clear the lump from his throat. “It’s been five years since that day, ne? I’ve graduated College without your help, and I have a stable job that’s keeping me alive and well enough, I suppose. I still can’t tell you how sorry I am for letting you die like that. You died for me... I can’t handle it. I loved you too much... correction... I LOVE you too much.” Bankotsu looked at Jakotsu’s grave stone. It read:

Hayashi Jakotsu
June 24, 1981 - April 9, 2004
Si monumentum requiris circumspice

Bankotsu traced each number and letter with his finger. “That was your life, Jakotsu. And it wasn’t a bad one either, nor was it wasteful. You impacted everyone that you came in contact with. If there was someone feeling bad, you would cheer them up! You’re always looking at the bright side of things and always making people happy! They all loved you Jakotsu! But not in the way that I loved you. I wish I could tell you how much I really cared... but sadly, I probably couldn’t reach you... wherever you are...” Bankotsu wiped his eyes on his sleeves. He watched as a single exquisite butterfly landed delicately on top of the tombstone and fluttered its wings before taking off and wheeling away into the light. Smiling slightly, Bankotsu placed the single, red rose on Jakotsu’s grave and moved towards the entrance to the graveyard, where Suikotsu was waiting. Together, they turned and walked back to the car and the lives that were waiting for them outside of the graveyard. Bankotsu paused and took one look back at the solemn tombstone.

“Sayonara. Aisheteru.”

*~*Owari*~*

I hope you all enjoyed the effort that I put into this contest entry, and thankies to Tani, my editor. She, being an idiot, cut out some of my author’s note to save space, then realized the effort was futile and wrote in this little bit so it didn’t look quite so small.

Much love and torture,

Buyo

Tani’s note:

Muahaha…. I get to do one of these, as a special editorial privilege. GO MY L337 EDITING SKILLZ!!

…

Okay, anyways… gomen ne, Buyo, for worrying you so much when I sort of slacked off, na no da. But for the record, you and your author’s angst deserved that.

Do not ask me why Buyo killed his family. I have not, do not, and never will get that.

o.o Somehow, this story has managed to morph from 12 pages to 20… odd…

I added in a few parts with Buyo’s consent at the last minute, because I didn’t have time to send it off to Buyo and have her write them… besides, they were nothing big. The butterfly on the gravestone is mine, because as far as that goes, a butterfly symbolizes “short lived and an early death”. If I could have managed it, I might have stuck in a snuffed candle, but that just seemed awkward (for the record, snuffed candles mean mortality and time, which I though might be fitting).

Anyways, I’ll just shut up now.

Oh, and for the record, I am not telling what his tombstone says. If you know, spiffy. If not… shrug

Tani-san, aka THE Evil Muffin Editing Corp.

P|-|34R.