The Eternal Lover in the Summer Festival

I wore the traditional clothing known as 'yukata' on this hot day of July; it is a lightweight cotton robe which every male participants wears for the Summer Festival. It had a white petal pattern and the background consisted of the color of dark blue. Before evening, I dashed out. Sprinting towards my destination to the shrine; upon reached it - the lights, people, the traditional old music played in the background, the aroma from the various food sold in the stands danced around my nose; so as to tempt me into buying them deprived me of my discernment - shrouding my path. I felt lost in this event of celebration. But I lacked the time to join the occasion for the joy of it. The only reason I was here was to seek out my love. I was never interested in the 'Bon Festival' - otherwise called the 'Summer Festival' - to begin with.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to calm myself. I looked around the place, the stalls, the crowds, everything...except for the shrine itself. I strode over to the shrine, my eyes locked onto the figure of a woman. It was as if she was a pearl among the sands and the sands were every other girl in the world. Her brilliance outshone even jewels and the light that laid themselves over her golden blond hair from the lanterns which hung from the ceiling complimented her lustrous presence. I walked towards her in awe; my jaw dropped open for God knows how long. It felt like an eternity as I marched up to her in a daze. She felt my presence and turned to face me, after which, we viewed each other in our entirety.

Her looking at me - me looking at her - our eyes were locked. I felt the clear need to pull our history's weave forward in order to advance from this particular scene, even though her beauty managed to almost seal my lips in reverence and captivation - I inquired her, "Are you... who I think you are? ... From Fakku?", a simple answer "Yes," slipped out of her sweet, rosy pink lips; I could feel her shyness from her sweet voice which sounded like sublime music to my ears. Judging from her reply; it should be her, because she had already viewed a picture of me over the internet. Though I couldn't see her picture in return because she wanted me to witness her beauty with my very own eyes, standing right before her. And that was a few months ago. This had turned out just the way she had surmised in the past - I was in total awe after witnessing her.








She took a deep breath and uttered her name. I did the same in response as if allowing her to confirm. As her lips stretched wide into a bow-shaped curve; forming a smile on her radiant features, I was asked why I asked her whether she was the person I knew from 'Fakku' the name of a hentai website out of all things for confirmation. I couldn't help but answer with a light chuckle in return while scratching the back of my head; it was something that just sprang in my mind and I blurted out. Next question was if I had come here due to reading my messages on Skype. Guess what? I said "Yes," to her.

I woke up, brushed my teeth and washed my face, had breakfast, and sat down on my computer, as usual. Checking on my messages on Skype from the previous night. I looked over the messages I had waiting from my her, my lover. My eyes widened - blinked - stared, at the computer screen, when I saw that she - with whom I've been in a long-distance relationship for so long - wrote that she's here in Japan in order to meet me. Lots of questions rose as I read through the messages; why didn't she visit Japan for me last year? Why's she here so suddenly? How did her parents even allowed her to pay me a visit? She could have told me sooner! Or is this supposed to be a surprise visit?! I couldn't believe this was happening at that time. As I scrolled down to read more of her messages, I got the timing at which she'd be waiting for me in the festival, and what followed after that - has already transpired.

The development of this happenstance was predictable. We went for a walk, the festive season seemed to have her excited already. She ran ahead of me, pointing towards the various arrays of food. I figured that this would happen, though - she's been seeing such food in animes only, never in reality. So I can tell what fueled the excitement. It's a little hard to believe that we actually got to got to meet each other and are enjoying a festival, though. It's like a dream come true. No, it's more like I'm living in a dream, although I'm not a fan of festivals, I wouldn't have even wore such a gown if it weren't for my forceful mother. But all in all, this is too good to be true. By the time I convinced myself to just let go of such lingering thoughts of the sudden outbursts of happiness and enjoyment; the lass called out to me, raising her arm high towards the vast and open dark sky and called out to me.

As I ran to catch up to her, I realized the stares. The attention we were gaining were extraordinary. She is probably the cause - not just a foreigner, but a beautiful maiden too, guys would go crazy for her... I wouldn't like that. On the other hand, she spared no care for the people encompassing from almost every directions as none of this seemed to effect her; even a little. Her smile was as radiant as a happy little girl who got herself a huge cake for her birthday. She ran to the nearest stall and asked me to buy some food for her. Bossy as always, with a mischievous smile on her face. She probably has buckets of money on her purse. However, I do think it's only befitting for her to be like this. She was always bossy and hot-tempered online, sometimes I thought that I may not be guy meant for her, in the past when I first met her, I did think that she'd be a pain in the butt, honestly. All of that changed after I fell for her, though.

Feeling lighthearted, I'm past reflecting towards the past now - after witnessing her happiness. We soon sat on a bench, with her munching down her food. Suddenly she stopped, "You must be wondering how I'm here all so suddenly, are you not?" she questioned the obvious, my curiosity is reluctant to leave me be - why and how would the daughter of a rich family from England manage to get here? My curiosity came to light before her as I replied telling her that she is indeed correct. And from there started a more serious conversation.

"I came here to meet you secretly. No one is supposed to know where I am," as I looked down to her red-tinted tender cheeks, I was shocked from hearing such a confession. Though, I'm not surprised since she's apparently always guarded and is never allowed to go out alone, she'd have to ditch everyone in her homeland in order to get here. I could only threw out a barrage of questions in return, "Why?! Your parents must worried about you, right? You should go back as soon as you can,". She is probably aware of this fact, "I know, but they're not important. You're the only one I care about and so, I just wanted to be with you... " I had this weird feeling of something wrong about to happen... but as a man, I felt really happy at the same time, "But-" I was cut off from speaking out my next sentence just before I was about to express the feel that I felt, "Just until the day after tomorrow, perhaps, and then I take my leave. I'll be in your care until then!" there was nothing more to say, I can't let anxiety regarding me get to her with my mysterious feeling, now can I? "Alright. Let's make the best of what little time we have together, then!" now that she's here, we might as well make some great memories to remember for the rest of our lives, at least that's what I wanted to accomplish.

"Mhm. I'm really glad that I'm here now." Her smiles came to a halt, she took a pause - looked down - then looked into my eyes, it felt as though she was staring into my bare soul now, "You know, I'm so short-tempered, bossy, mischievous, and sometimes straight-up rude. I accept that part of me. But before I know it, all of this happened only mostly when it concerned you. At first I hated it, I felt as though I was imperfect in nature only because of you, but as my heart raced more and more every time I spoke to you after that - I discovered the feelings I held for you. And after that, our relationship took start. I remain unchanged... however, I just can't be my usual-self right now... I'm sorry if you liked more that way, though I doubt that!" her smile made a comeback - she paused at this moment - giggling, "I can't help it, I'm just so happy right now," I could see the crystalline tears of happiness, made effulgent by the various lights of the festival. Wondering why she was telling me all this right now of all times; I couldn't say anything in return, perhaps she had always wanted to tell me all of this but waited out till we got together in real life. And now, there was nothing more I could, other than...

As light slightly passed through her dimly-lit pellucid tears which slid by her delicate cheek; we felt the warmth of each other as our arms wrapped around our backs after my abrupt embrace, which was the only thing I felt that I could do at this moment. I wiped her tears with my fingers after cherishing the feeling of her warm breaths falling on my neck for a moment. Getting up, she ran towards the stalls once again, hoping to further enjoy the festival with me, "We can still have some more fu-" I wonder if this is the reason why I had that weird feeling. Was this imminent? I ran up to the falling mistress in distress and caught her before she landed on the ground, "W-What's wrong, what just happened to you, are you alright?!" I shudder with an uneasy feeling in fear as I asked. I got too worried - she didn't wanted to see a doctor - so I took her to my place. When I reached home, my mother was surprisingly nice enough to not start an inquisition and decided to help me out in taking care of her, perhaps she had already guessed that she is my lover from just looking at us. Breathing heavily almost as if panting in her weakened state after losing consciousness; it seemed like she had a bad fever, she was put in a bed in the guest room. It had to happen tonight of all times... I tried staying with her and taking care of her as long as I could, but I fell asleep at one point of time somehow, while sitting there beside her.







She struggled to get up on her own. Feeling agonized, I tried looking away as she was slowly helped by the nurse to sit up properly. We were in the hospital.

When I looked around after waking up this morning; my beloved was already gone longer from my sight. I hurried my way to my mother to ask where she went off to, after which I learned that a group of men in black took her to this hospital to have her admitted there. Apparently she had always had a weak body and hence her parents tried to enforce strict protection for her, all her life. But recently, she made an escape, just to meet me. I blamed myself for not knowing anything about her weak body, but she asked me not to, because she had never wanted me to know about it.

She looked down before uttering my name to gain my attention after a while. Startled, I awoke from my musing and looked up to her, it seemed as though she made a decision, "It's our second day today, isn't it?" weakly smiling, she asked. "B-But... but your fever... " I was hesitant, scared, and I just couldn't shake off this bad feeling that I had since yesterday, it never seemed to leave me be - is this the feeling that mysteriously tries to alert me regarding her condition? Is this something that resulted from the bond that we share? It kept pestering me, I felt as it'd leave me after putting me out of my misery, the sheer weight from it's volume is unbelievable. "I'm fine! The doctors likes to make a big deal out of it. But it's okay, I'm full of energy and ready to have more fun!" I felt a glimmer of hope, but... "Please, I'll be taken back home, away from you soon by my father's men, I want to spend some more time with you... and I don't want to do that in this hospital," after feeling the resolution from her voice, I accepted reluctantly. She really wanted to look around the town with me and well... just have fun anywhere outside. I planned to take her out at the evening. Many people wouldn't be around at that time, I assumed.

It was the summer vacation right now, so I didn't have anything like school and it it's meant to be enjoyed, I gathered my savings and stored them in my wallet and visited her in order to have her accompany me - for our date. She seemed mentally prepared for this, eager with excitement. Seemingly trying to muster her strength to stay strong, she got out of the bed on her own before I had a chance to even help her with it. After we went out, she seemed quite fine, I felt a bit relieved, "So, where shall I take you, Princess?", with my hand on my chest, I bowed to show my loyalty to her in jest; treating her like a real princess, she chuckled in return, was I that bad at it? "Anywhere you want, silly. Let's do it like any other couples around here and try out the usual, shall we?" she says that, but with her cloths from the hospital, this doesn't seem very generic. I vowed to take her to some ladies' dress store so that her beauty would once again outshine all the other girls in the world.

And so it begun, our second night with only the two of us. I took her to what seemed like a spacious shop of clothing for women. There were lots of cute dresses she wore just to display her appeal of cuteness to me. With each dress, my blood boiled, I couldn't contain myself, random imaginations shuffled about in my mind, my beastly expression was drawn all over my face, causing a stream of feeling in her mind that embarrassed her as she felt my wildness due to herself. It felt wrong to feel such excitement while she was in such a vulnerable state... but when she removed the curtains of the changing-space to reveal her new revealing dress the next moment... making her lolita figure apparent before my very own eyes, her crimson red blushing face made it all the more delightful after she pulled her dress up for me to witness her undergarments; a scene I shall never forget, I carved every bit of the image of her appearance of this moment into my brain. She bought a more non-revealing lolita type of dress to wear with a pink rose adorned in her golden blond hair, instead of the cloths from the hospital.

We then went to a place where we took a picture of ourselves with my cell phone; smiling. Her flushed face was clear in the photo, which I teased her about later on, as she simply looked away in shame. Next, I took her to the karaoke where more pictures were taken as well, mostly with her mocking my poor singing, and unfortunately - as embarrassing as it was - I was the only one who had to sing. With my crappy singing, I was at least able to make her laugh and that was source of all the mocking. According to her: I'm so useless and hopeless, but lovable. I'm just that bad at it, I suppose. Misfortune struck my heart deep tonight, as she couldn't raise her voice well and was unable to sing, which showed a sign of her weakness that I didn't wanted to see, I tried striking down my worries while maintaining a smile before her, because it'd only get in the way of our happiness, but a tiny bit of it remained at the back of my mind, asking me to be careful and watch out for her.







Our next location is the park, which is relatively close to the hospital. However, it was getting late so I decided to take her back to the hospital even though she protested and ask me to take her to the park. On our way back, her fragility was clear as water. While walking with our hands joined, I could feel her trembling fingers, barely able to hold my hand.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you."

"You're lying, aren't you?" I asked after catching her from falling after a minute this time.

"I hate to admit it... it feels as though I'm about to break apart. But I feel that I may never be able to walk again if I allow myself to completely collapse now."

"Don't worry. I'll become your legs when that happens."

"How?" I face her, then raise her body above the ground with my arms after moving an arm around her back, with the other to the lower body from behind her knees; in order to carry her, "Like this!" she gave a faint smile as a response but I could tell that she found it a little cliched, but was happy regardless. I then start to walk with her in my arms, I could see a few people staring at us; as the lights from the shops close by illuminate our form.

"So... " we both uttered in unison.

"Ladies first," I said following the silence. She gave me a nod, then decided to go first, "So... our time together is ending, huh?"

"Ending? It's not like we won't be able to speak over the internet, you know?"

I take it that it's my turn to speak to her now, "So, how are you feeling?"

"About that... "

"Hmm?"

"I don't have much time left."

"... What?"

"I wanted to inform you regarding this matter long ago but... I never really found the right time until now, the doctors have been saying that I'll be occasionally having fevers due to my weak body as well. But they can't really tell much about the conditions of my body. My life force fading away every moment, ever faster... "

"You can't mea-" she abruptly cut me off.

"You see, I could feel my life fading away for quite some time now, so I decided to spend the last day of my life with you like this. I wanted to indulge myself in you before I passed on. The date was enjoyable, just as I had expected."

"You can't be serious... " drops of tears slid by her face as they rain down from my eyes to her face. Looking down on her face - I didn't wanted to believe her words. But I had to, because I trust her. It all dawned to me now; her condition, weak body, the bad fever that shook my heart last night and the moment moment that transpired while she was about to fall apart again, and then resulted being carried by myself... and lastly, the bad feelings that I've been having. This is preposterous, but I feel as though all of these occurrences were the action of fate itself pointing me to the dead-end of this happiness - this relationship?

"However, there is one more thing I really want to do before I move on."

I could feel the gentle heat from her body as she passionately pressed me to her tender bosom after carrying the upper section of her body towards mine and her delicate fingers reached the back of my neck; hugging me. The time felt just about right for the both of us. As our eyes, noses, ears, closed in as we closed the distance between us, after which her precious, soft lips joined mine as we kissed. It felt sacred, unlike a normal kiss. As if forming some kind of an oath of love. As the folds of our lips departed; she wiped my tears. Her face contained a smile of satisfaction, a gentle expression; exuding pure happiness.

"So that's what you wanted to do before moving on? I thought it'd getting laid with me!" I felt odd blurting that out at such a moment.

"Indeed, some people might think that way, especially a perverted person such as you. But this is what I really wanted to do with you before I passed away. I wanted to give you my first kiss, at least. I don't know if I can last long enough to perform any more activity of romance, unfortunately. I'm so sorry"

"It's okay, don't be, I wouldn't want to do that when you're in such a state. I'm glad that I got to give you my first kiss, too."

"And I'm glad that I'll be passing away in your arms... " at this moment, her eyes started to slowly close.

"Please, hang in there! How the hell do you expect me to live on without you?!"

"You're saying that now? I expected such a line to come out of your mouth sooner."

"I just can't believe it... " it's true. I just want to think that she'll wake up later after she passes out in my arms. But we both just know that such a thing won't be happening.

"I'm sorry that you have to go through all of this because of me. I know that it's going to be hard, but please promise me," after the utterance of my name, she paused as I looked down to her very soul deeply, "That you will try to find a better life partner. And you better not specifically treat her like my replacement, or someone who'd be like me. Fall in love again and take care of her. Live in happiness and bliss. Try to forget me, lest it'd make your future gloomy since can't keep you company for long. But perhaps she'll be able to shower you love a lot more than I ever could and will be there for you all the time."

"But... "

"Please? I don't want you to live on in sadness."

"Okay... but you have to make a promise to me in return. You are to watch over me as I continue living my life, I don't know if that's really possible but I want you to try anyway. If I can't find a suitable partner until my death. You'll be my lover again after I pass on from this world in our afterlife."

"Very well then, I will comply. I shall be your eternal lover if you are to fail in finding another lover. And now, I cannot accompany you anymore, it seems. Thank you... for everything. I was truly blessed to have you in my life," I saw the widest and happiest smile from her at this moment. As if it was all worth it. I gave her the best smile that I could muster as well.

"Remember if you wish to, that the last of my face that you saw, had a happy smile. Live on and find love once again," my name left her lips following her words.

"Thank you, too, for loving someone as hopeless as I am, Cinia."

"Farewell."