Origami Girl

Chapter 22: Lest the Blossoms Conceal the Bodies

Origami Girl

Chapter 22: Lest the Blossoms Conceal the Bodies

"When you are used to the kind of life -of never getting anything you want- you stop knowing what it is you want."

- Murakami Haruki, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Yukino-kun and I seemed to be falling into the darkness for eternity. The rustling of the leaves and branches seemed to go on forever. The small gap of light at the top where we had started from slowly disappeared, swallowed by the dark silhouettes all around us.

I had no idea what happened, or how this happened. That bright flash of blinding light had brought about a delirium, fear, shock and panic all blurred into one. I felt my lips agape in silent scream.

But amidst that cold darkness, I could only feel the strong yet gentle embrace of Yukino-kun, his arms wrapped around my shoulders, my back against his back. For a moment, the fear melted away in my heart as I closed my eyes, even though I had no idea where we were heading, down this abyss.

Then, the moving all ceased. The rustling of the hollow branches echoed in the distance, before dissipating into the distant night sky. All sounds seemed to have lost themselves to the silence, save for the Yukino-kun's soft breathing against my ear. My heart was still thumping in my chest, recovering from the shock. I didn't really think about what to do at that moment, I just lay there, Yukino-kun holding me tightly in his embrace. We were in the middle of nowhere in the darkness, but his touch had made me feel calm. Even if there was anything to be feared, I felt safe with Yukino-kun. He would protect me, and I knew that.

I could feel Yukino-kun grunting as he sat up behind me, pushing me up from his chest as well. Only the slightest glimpses of light could penetrate the thick canopy of autumn leaves above us, but even in that darkness, I could make out the faint shadows on my boyfriend's face.

"You all right?" he asked me, as I began to try to sit up.

"I guess so," I replied, my palms feeling about on the ground, the soft blades of grass brushing against my skin.

In the darkness I heard Yukino-kun rummage around for something, before a light went up. The boy used his phone as a flashlight, illuminating a rather dull flash amidst the darkness. I watched as Yukino-kun push himself off the ground, his legs outstretched in front of him. A few dried leaves found themselves amidst his hair. He must have held me in front of him as we fell backwards, risking his own personal safety for me. Thinking about it now, that night as we tumbled down the hill in Sapporo still brings smiles to my lips. Yukino-kun was really such a sweet boy.

"Are you all right?" I asked as I squatted beside him.

"Yeah," the boy chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "I'm fine."

I reached my hand out and rustled his soft, silky hair, sending the small dead leaves and dirt falling to the ground.

"Sorry about that," he muttered after a moment of silence. "The truck just now was reversing. . . Thought I'd pull you away, didn't mean to drag you down this hill with me."

"It's all right," I said with a smile. "You tried to keep me safe."

"Oh," he then said as his hazel eyes seem to hover over me. "You're wearing my blazer."

"Yeah, it's kind of cold outside, so I took it, if you don't mind," I replied. "Well, I'm only wearing-"

I stopped myself. Hopefully his mind was drifting off and he hadn't caught what I said. I didn't want him to think of anything strange, especially now that we were all alone in the middle of the darkness.