AKI MAE NO AME (RAIN BEFORE AUTUMN)

2.

The black cab shuddered as it entered to a narrow path which was lined from huge trees from both sides. 

Haruhi hurriedly opened her window, taking a deep breath of fresh air, a shiver ran down her spine, she felt born anew. Her eyes sparkled to the view of mountain range covered in forest.

"Wow so beautiful!  At last we are here" Val said turning the steering wheel entering in to a village. The Everen.

They passed few grocery shops and a post office in the side of road. As the road branched into few paths leading more inside to the village core, they saw more houses and villagers gave a surprise look at them. 

"Even after all these years still Everen hasn't got change much. It all still feels so familiar. 

"Possible. I mean this village is so far away from the last town we met. It even a surprise to see there's still normal connection to internet" Val showed her phone screen with few bars of mobile connection"

Haruhi laughed. "its not like these people live without any connection to outer world"

" yeah yeah.." Val speeded the vehicle in a clear path which surrounded by vegetable fields. 

*

" You sure about where we are going?" Val bended forward from her seat to make sure the tree branches are not damaging the vehicle. 

Farming fields are gone now. the forest stood beside the road looked darker and thicker. Tree branches made a fine veil above the road, covering the sky.

"Nope! don't even think about it" Val warned as she caught Haruhi moving the hand to open the window, to the corner of eye. "You are not letting the bugs get inside the cab"

"Finee.." Haru pouted. "Yup this is the way. There's noway I forget the path to my house."

"hmm.. but it looks really lonely and creepy. Why the hell you lived so corner of the village. its all wood here."

"well it is little weird. I remember there were few more houses in this road but seems like they left them to the wood and moved to village"

"No surprise" Val stated nodding her head. "Hey wat are those little statues under the trees? I saw few of them when we enter this path too. but now they are everywhere."

"Jizo statues" Harui said with a smile. " Protection spells for who enter. Like.. they are offered for spirits in forest asking to protect us"

"Wooh... they look old. All are covered in green algae" 

"Old believes of villagers. They probably don't come here to clean or offer new anymore" Haru sighed as her mind locked on to the dark forest. 

Until Val cooed in joy. "Look! That's your house right?"

Haru's eyes quickly turned toward ahead catching a glimpse of roof of a house. And after one last turn, there was her old home infront of her eyes once again after six years.

**

Tatami mat flooring, sliding doors, and wooden engawa verandas. 

 Hipped and gabled roof made by well burnt clay tiles held the house from winter snow and spring fall. The weather-beaten wooden walls craved thin and rugged. The red Lyons Sandstone fence which went a circle around the house gave it the perfect finishing and the beginning 

"Man.. even after abandoning for past years, it still look really good" Val jumped out of the cab.

"it looks similar to the houses we came passing, but this house is more lager and majestic. wow this fence is still super strong"

"My father was the chief of the village. He loved the forest so much he built our house here most closest to the shinto shrine." Haru said moving her finger tips carefully over the old door frame. The cracked worn out black painting reminded her how it used to be so bright and polish.

"After he passed away, Mom didn't want to remain here any longer. This forest and village is full of his memories" She sighed.

Val remembered how Haru's mother refused to join the trip.

Pulling Val out from thoughts, A car entered to the yard with a friendly horn making them both startled at once.

"Haru!!" A woman with a pleasant smile and simple fashion hugged the girl warmly. "I'm so glad to see you again. Look at you now, grown into a beautiful lady..." She hugged her again making Haru blush a little. 

"This is Valda, my girlfriend. Val, this is Mrs. Tanaka, my former teacher"

"Nice to meet you." Val smiled. 

"I was at market when I heard someone mentions about your vehicle. I didn't thought you both will come this soon." she said while opening the door lock. "But no worries, I already took care of cleaning and other supplies you need for few days." 

"I'm so grateful for this Mrs. Tanaka. I was worrying about staying in another place until you assured me to have the house" 

"To be honest there was nothing much to do inside the house. All the furniture and cushions were in good quality, I only had to arrange few workers to dust and wash. but about the garden.." she turned to the green yard. Newly cropped grass up to the stone fence but well grown bushes above it with simple wild flowers and tree roots showed true nature of an abundant house. 

"Before it was a grass lawn here, now I think forest came pass through it" Haru said to Val entering to the house.

"Yeah. After your family left here, people moved more in to the village giving all freedom to trees. No-one left to take care of these houses or maintain the lawn. Even before we knew, forest is right at your door now" Mrs. Tanaka explained while serving tea.

"But I think its still beautiful to see a vulnerable nature around the house" Haru chuckled.

"Oh of course you would say that" Mrs. Tanaka laughed.

*

Crimson beams of setting sun poured through the wood and shaded the mat floor giving a dreamy surrounding to Haru's sleepy eyes.

Val was already sound asleep hugging her on the bed. After a long journey she was finally at rest. Haru brushed the side of her face carefully and kissed her smoothly on lips before let herself more curl into Val's embrace and fall asleep.

The familiar warmth of her old room welcomed her and she felt she is belonged again.

In the place she love most with the person she love most.