Song of Truth

When I found myself standing on the cliff overlooking the village once again, I closed my eyes and sang my heart and soul's refrain...

Every night, I sing the words I couldn't say,
Hoping that there would come one day
When you'd just listen and hear me play...
This song of truth wherein my heart lay.

Though the leaves have already turned yellow
Falling endlessly on the meadow,
I'd always sit there singing in sorrow...
This song of truth as I waited for tomorrow.

Do you think of me as you wander about?
Are you willing to hear me out?
Do you know that I sing even in times of drought?
This song of truth saying "I love you" without a doubt?

If only...If only...

If only I could be brave and strong,
I wouldn't have been here all day long.
I would've looked for you as I sing this song...
This song of truth telling me that giving up is wrong!

Every night, I let my feelings travel the speed of sound, hoping that somehow, they will be able to reach you. Everybody deemed me foolish for wasting my time, for waiting for someone who would never come back again. But they didn't know anything about the promise made under the old cherry blossom tree, the ring that bound our hearts together as one. That magical moment, witnessed only by the gleaming stars in the night sky, made me feel like a bride melting under the intense gaze of her beloved, and it gave me enough courage to hope that I have a special place in your heart.

I remembered seeing you blush slightly as you placed a beautiful gold band on my left finger and whispered, "That diamond ring was my mother's. It's the only remembrance that I have of her, so I...want you to know that I'll be back for it." Your voice was unusually thick with emotions, and your onyx eyes looked into my hazel ones with an intensity like no other. It was as if you were afraid that I'll misinterpret your words, and that I won't be able to see what lies underneath them. Yet I have always understood you, because whenever you speak, your eyes tend to give away everything that your ego and pride wouldn't let you say out loud.

I gave you an assuring smile, and promised, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of it." The ring that held the memories of your mother, as well as your unspoken vow to come back to me.

It has already been four painfully long years since that beautiful night. There were times when I regretted not begging you to stay by my side, but I know that it was only right to let you go, to set you free so that you can look for the answers that you longed to seek. Only these answers will be able to get rid of the nightmares that haunt you every night, the restlessness that made your teenage life a living hell.

After taking one last look at the oldest cherry blossom tree in the whole village standing just a few feet away from me, I heaved a sigh and started to walk away, back to my cabin. Back to the place where I reflect on my sadness and solitude.

For four years, I've been alone, waiting, anticipating. There were a few friends who visited, but it was all because they only wanted to stop me from believing what I steadfastly did. They wanted me to leave this cabin and the cherry blossom tree, both of which held so many precious memories of our days as twelve-year-old swordfighting trainees, yet I never listened.

I titled my head upwards to look at the night sky. I caught a glimpse of a shooting star, its tail scintillating tiny sparks of silver and gold as it started to fall down. Closing my eyes, I clasped my hands together and wished silently. If only my song can make time open its unyielding gate, I'd go back in time and change the fate that has befallen upon us.

Suddenly, I felt tears falling down my cheek. I thought I told myself that I'd never cry, that I'd never be weak! I tried to wipe them away with the back of my hand, but the tears still continued oozing out of my eyes like waterfalls.

That was when I realized that I couldn't bear to wait nor hope any longer, for it hurts so much to be alone and be separated from the one person that has stolen away my heart. When you left, it was like you deprived me of all the warmth and happiness that I have inside me.

Pulling myself together, I headed towards the front door of the cabin and found it slightly ajar. If I remembered right, I did close the door properly before I left. I stepped into the cabin in stealth, a katana in my hand. Whoever he or she is, that person will pay for tresspassing into a swordswoman's territory, for intruding into my private world of silent mourning and isolation. I checked the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen, but there wasn't any sign of an intrusion--or the intruder. Perhap, in my desperate wish to go out and feel the evening zephyr against my skin, I really did forget close the door properly.

Slipping my left hand into my pocket, I fumbled for my keys and climbed up the stairs to my room, only to find its door unlocked. Bracing myself for a fight that might occur, I kicked my bedroom door open and demanded, "Who are you? What the hell are you--" I stopped in my tracks when the figure walked a few steps forward to reveal his face, which was, a while ago, cloaked by the shadows of the room. My whole body quivered with mixed emotions when he smirked and asked, "Were you crying?"

It was his deep voice, his handsome smirk. It was none other than the one who I've been trying to reach with my song. "Y-You're back. I-I can't believe it, you're back!!!" Without thinking, I threw myself into his arms, and let the tears that I've been suppressing earlier fall freely.

"Didn't I tell you I'd be back? You have something that is important to me, and you promised to take good care of it." Tentatively, he slid an arm around my waist.

"Oh...the ring! Here..." But just as I was taking the ring off my finger, he stopped my right hand and held it firmly.

"No, that's not what I meant." He frowned slightly, as if contemplating about what he should say next. Then, out of the blue, his dark raven orbs flicked with emotions that I've never seen before.

"But I thought you--"

"Listen to me. I've finally found the answers to my questions. I finally knew who killed my parents. I fought with that bastard...and I realized that revenge didn't really drive away the restlessness inside me. I didn't feel any accomplishment or satisfaction; just emptiness. I continued my journey after that, to understand something that I couldn't explain."

"What was that?"

"Actually, there was a voice in my mind that kept on nagging me to go back to the village because I'll be able to find the answer there. That was when I heard you sing...and it dawned on me that what I'm looking for has been right there in front of my eyes for so many years, but I was so concentrated on figuring out the identity of my parents' murderers that I failed to notice that." His eyes softened a little as he pulled my body even closer to his.

"What do you mean?" No, I didn't dare hope. I have to hear it from him.

"The song that your heart sings...is the same as mine, Kyoko. You have something that's important to me, and it's not the ring; the ring is a fragment of my past, and I learned that dwelling on the past is no good. It's your song of truth...your feelings...your love...that really keeps me going. It's like the light at the end of a tunnel, the thing that'll bring light to my future." Did he just say what I think he did? I can't believe it! It's like a dream come true...

Before his lips captured mine, I heard him murmur the words that I thought I would never get to hear, "Ai shite iru..."

It really does pay to wait...

DK's note: Hey ya'll! I can't believe I just wrote that! I was really in a good mood today, but somehow, my story turned out melodramatic. And the ending...yeah I know...it's kind of lame! :) I promise I'll do better next time! To those who don't know what "Ai shite iru" means, it's "I love you" in Japanese. :P

Oh yeah, I want to dedicate this story to one of my close friends. Her great, unconditional love for her special someone has never failed to inspire me to love and cherish what I have wholeheartedly! Just wait for a bit longer...and I'm sure he'll realize just how much you're really worth, girl! Otherwise...I'll be glad to personally give him a one-way ticket to hell!!!