I don’t frequent this place much. It’s not my home but it is a place I escape to even if the story here isn’t any better than what’s in Tokyo. Well maybe it -is- better these days.
The realtor left a message again, telling me it’s a hot market and the time to sell is -now-. If I’m serious. But that’s the problem isn’t it, I never seem to be certain these days much less be “serious”. I delete the voicemail and head out.
After a while I find myself in a more swanky high rise. Mine had a nice view of the lake sandwich in between two other buildings in front of mine.
His building? It’s the one that blocks our view of the lakefront but at least the river, he doesn’t get to keep that to himself. The doorman lets me in. He’s seen me before and yet, he still directs me to the receptionist.
“Oh send him up sir? Sure we can do that.” The woman looks up to me, “Please take the first elevator to the left.”
“Thanks.” I say. Pretty girl that one. Well most of them who works here are. Must be part of the requirements as most who lives here seem to be the bachelor type both young and old alike. I take the lift and it lets me off directly into his place.
“Hajime-kun. Welcome!”
He grins at me. He’s younger than Okita and I but his baby face makes him look a lot younger still.
“Thought I’d come by and thank you for helping Hide out in a pinch while I was away.” I pull out a Jack Daniel’s No. 7 and place it on the counter.
“Ah. Thanks.” He comes over and promptly opens it up. “Want yours neat or on the rocks?”
I’m surprised. It’s only past 10 AM but I don’t mind a drink. “Neat of course.”
He grins and pours mine in a glass and as usual he takes a glass full of ice with his. He moves to the living area and opens up the curtains to let some light in. His place is tidy enough, a little bare. Harada and Shinpachi may not have come lately.
“Ah sit down Hajime-kun. Make yourself comfortable like you always do.” He chuckles a little but it’s an odd sound. “Ah Yagi-san forgot something let me get it.”
Forgot something? Either way I do sit down and take a sip of my drink. Looking around, in this place he has everything he needs or could want. I’m -glad- for him. It’s what I wanted for him. But I wasn’t that gracious to Okita. I -made- him stay dead and in that other world? I’m not even sure I mourned for my best friend. Were we ever?
“Here you go. She forgot what I can only assume to be keys to your apartment?” He tosses it to me. “Oh and this, he hands me a bag. She forgot her dress as she hurriedly left my room the last time she was here.”
I open the bag and see it is a woman’s dress, in this time. Why would she need to… and in his room? I look at him, the question likely plain on my face to see.
“The girl was drunk as hell.” He simpers, “After I took her out to dinner, she was falling asleep on the table and of course I took her here. To my room.”
“And?”
“And what?” He simpers again. “Come on Hajime… You know I couldn’t pass her up.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Did anything happen?”
“Would it change anything if it did?” He crosses his legs and spreads his arm on the opposite sofa, “Besides, you have enough girls under your belt. Why you’re still seeing Tokio on the side right? Don’t be greedy.”
Measuredly I put the bag down and pocket my keys. “Whatever is happening between Tokio and I, is -my- business.”
“And whatever happened to Yagi-san and I, is my business.” He mocks me.
I place the drink down on the table and stand up. “It’s a serious thing if you did something to Hide.”
“But only if she didn’t want it.”
The truth was, I know she wouldn’t have and he likely wouldn’t have either. It’s just not in their natures unlike me.
“You don’t have to play games with me. I know you’ve always wanted to be more than just her friend.” If only you didn’t die so young… you idiot.
“Well if you keep appearing, she’ll never see me and yet again, you seem tied to that Tokio.”
“In this place I have my reasons.”
“Then stop seeing Yagi-san. Leave her to me.”
I can only half laugh and snort at that. Even if I wanted to… In fact I wanted them to find a future together here after I find out that Okita was unsuitable. That’s why I regret having had tied her down with children so quickly. She was right, she was just a child and didn’t have a chance to see nor feel the world. I light a cigarette.
“Hide and I, will never be Heisuke.” I tell him the only truth I know now.
“And yet you keep seeing her and kami only know’s what you do to her when you’ve got her alone in your apartment.”
I can’t help but look away. It wasn’t in my apartment. It was anywhere really. When it wasn’t supposed to be. When we shouldn’t because our words didn’t match our actions nor our intentions. “I’m trying to fix that. I’m actually moving.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Both in this world and in Tokyo. “I have no plans on continuing with her.”
He stands up and pats my shoulder, “I’m glad Hajime-kun. Sorry about my fibbing but I just wanted you to realize that it’s not good to be playing two girls like that. You’re bound to hurt one of them and… Well it just means you don’t really love Yagi-san since you were with Tokio first and she’s still asking about you.”
I know that. In this place, Tokio still had me in invisible chains but that’s for -here-. That’s not our true life in Tokyo.
“You just feel guilty because you thought you took Okita away from Yagi-san.” Yes in this world, Okita died in the line of duty to protect his partner, me. I just wanted to be good to her but it went further than I intended. Just like Tokyo 7 years ago.
Reaching down I finish the last of the whiskey. I consider taking the bag but instead, “I better not take that. If she comes looking for it, it’s better if it comes from you.”
“Good idea. You’re a good guy Hajime!”
Not really. Never. Really. That afternoon, I made a call to that pesky realtor and told him to sell to the first offer. I didn’t care much for profit anyway. What would I do with that -here-? Ah but maybe…
(OOC: end)