Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Tree ❯ Chapter 5: One Year Past ( Chapter 5 )

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Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own Yu Yu Hakusho.

THE TREE: GRAND FINALE

Can you believe it? It's been one year exactly today, one year since you left saying your final goodbye. It's ironic that they had chosen this day to cut down our tree, especially since the ground is already covered in a thick blanket of snow.

When I found out a week ago, I was instantly filled with dread and each minute that passed in the following days only worsened the sick, hollow feeling in my heart. But then last night as I knelt in my bathroom with blood trickling down my arms that came to rest in crimson puddles near my knees and with tears pouring incessantly down my face, the strangest, yet completely reasonable, question popped into my mind.

Why was a tree causing my so much pain?

I had stood up, feeling dizzy and drowsy, and made my way to the gold rimmed mirror hanging above the sink. Two brown, blood shot eyes stared back at me, looking abnormally large on a too thin face. As another tear trickled down my hollowed cheek, leaving a salty trail, I reached up my hand to wipe it away but only succeeded in smearing blood across my reddened raw skin. A million thoughts raced through my mind in that moment. The most prominent being, ` I did this to myself over a tree.'

A tree.

My eyelids grew heavy so I let myself sink, none to gracefully, to the tiled floor. I guess I fell asleep because the next time I opened my eyes, light was pouring in through the tiny circular window above the linoleum tub. I groggily sat up and used the sink to help me stand, and retrieve my balance when my legs nearly gave out. Blinking to clear my sleep fogged eyes, panic surged through me and I rushed to clean myself up, avoiding my reflection at all costs. When I was ready I quickly ran out of my families' apartment, that was located above my parents restaurant, and started towards the park.

So now here I am, standing behind the orange warning tape with the loud hum of the construction workers chain saw filling my ears. I squeeze my eyes tightly shut, only opening them when I hear a thud and the sound of the workers starting to shred our trees frozen branches.

I would be lying if I said I did not feel any sadness, because I do, but mostly I feel regret. Regret for this wasted year. Regret for losing you…for losing our friends. Regret for Atsukos tragic death. And regret for trying to pretend this tree…this plant, was you.

I realize now that it was in fact, what I was doing. I was drowning in the delusion that some how this tree held a part of you and some way I could use it to bring you back.

However, it doesn't and I can't. So the best thing I can do is go home and hug my parents as I tell them that I decided to go abroad for college, after all.

But first I have to do something I've unknowingly been dying to ….

I smile to myself and say loudly, as I turn from our trees demise,

“Goodbye, Yusuke.”