A New Route

Grey Waves

The inn is already busy by the time I wake up. The light of the sun pierced through the curtains and shined brightly in my face. Warm. It feels warm, warmer then the city ever felt. I looked at the clock. "8:26am." It's still early. Maybe I could take a shower before we get going. Knowing Tora and Winter, they'll take forever to wake up. As I get up the bed, I see Winter sleeping soundly next to me. He's still my little brother, no matter how old he gets. I get up to wash and wake up. When I step into the bathroom, a set of clothes have been laid out along side a note.
"Morning Les! Just wanted to let you know that we'll be leaving at around 10:15am or around that time. I got some clothes for you already set up, I hope you don't mind me going through your bags! Anyway, wake me up if I'm still asleep!"
Going through a girl's bags is just plain rude, but he did get my clothes for me, so I'll let it slide.
"Interesting alarm, Tora." I say to myself.
I look in the mirror and notice my hair grew. Already? That didn't take too long. I grab my bathing suits and head towards the showers, but I'm interrupted by Mrs. Ooshima.
"Oh, good morning Leslie! You and the kids are going to the beach today, right.?"
"Yeah! Winter is still asleep, so I was just going to take a shower before I get ready."
"I'm honestly surprised your up this early. Young ladies do need their beauty sleep after all."
"Heheh, Mrs. Ooshima, I'm not that kind of girl."
We both laugh after our small conversation. She hands me a small necklace locket.
"Ma'am? I can't have this. This is yours."
"No. It was a birthday gift for you. I was going to give it to your mother the day before you moved. Promise me you won't open it until you and Winter go back home."
I nod my head and look at the little trinket. It's beautifully made, with a rose pattern along the edges. She's held this, for five years and waited to give it to me in person? Oh my, Mrs. Ooshima must have a ridiculous amount of patience. She some how managed to convince me to help make snacks and lunch for the trip: sandwiches, chicken, fruits and even some sweets. Then the random remark she makes, begins to make me think of some things. I'm a seventeen year old girl, soon to be into adulthood. So why haven't I thought about finding someone I'm compatible with? She said Lane and I looked cute together that one day he was here with Leto. Constantly insane and hyper? I don't think I can handle that much craziness. Leto is quiet and studious, somewhat like me, but not the most active person. Marston is kind of cute, but can be a bit too naughty for my taste. I'm not sure about Tora either. I mean, he's an awesome guy and is my first and best friend ever since I could remember. Wouldn't be weird to like a friend like that? I'm interrupted from my thoughts when a customer comes in and Mrs. Ooshima welcomes then.
"Welcome! Oh! Mr. Aotsuki! It's been a while hasn't it?" She spoke.
Wait. Aotsuki? I turn to see a grey husky. Black tank top, darkish green pants, black bands on this left wrist and right bicep. Toned body.
"Aotsuki? Kouya Aotsuki?" My voice started breaking. I couldn't contain my excitement.
"Shiriyuki? God, it's been five years." He walks up to me slowly, and pulls me in for a hug. The distance between us quickly went to zero.
"I didn't even know you were here! Langdon just told me that there was someone I had to pick up today, I would've never expected it to be you!" He starts to sound crazy. I've never heard him talk like that before. It brings a smile to my face to know that he missed me this much. We break our conversation by Winter screaming my name.
"Sis! Let's get going!" He shouted out to the world. Nice to see he's awake at 9:56qm. I still need to wake up Torahiko from his possible coma, waking him up is a challenge is itself.
"Going to wake up Ooshima? Well, good luck with that Les." He laughs as he walks toward the front door but stops in his tracks.
"Hey, Leslie? It's... nice to see you again. You should visit more often."
I look behind myself once I hear Kouya. I couldn't help but smile. Now that I know that they are still here, I have even more reasons to come back often.
"Oh! One more thing! Mikazuki is coming along too! So let Tora know for me!"
"Juuichi!? Sure! No problem!"
Kouya laughed as he closed the door. Once he mentioned Juuichi, I did blush a little bit. Hopefully Kouya or Mrs. Ooshima didn't notice. Once I get to Torahiko's door, I could already hear him snoring. I check my phone for the time. "10:01am". I opened the door to see his bed a complete mess, besides that his room is pretty clean. He's covered partially with the blankets and also not. Honestly, he looks cute when he's sleeping. I noticed some crumbled up paper on his desk, and my curiosity took control. I unraveled the closest one and read it.
"Hey Shiriy-" It was scratched out. How long has he planned this?
I smile as I place the paper back on the desk.
"Heh, Tora. You never changed, even as kids, your still the same." I whisper.
He starts fumbling through his covers in his sleep. Me, well, being me, decides to sit on the bed next to him.
"Tora, come on it's time to wake up." He just shuffles more, and snores loader.
"Come on, wake up." More shuffling.
I spot a glass of water on his nightstand, and a mischievous thought comes to mind. Since I'm not that evil, I'll only use the straw. I gently press the tip of my finger on the top on the straw and firmly press on it. I lift it up and see the water trapped inside the straw, the pressure holding up up drips a little bit. Holding it in my hand, I release my finger tip and let the captured water slide out and land into the sleeping tiger's face.
"Gaaah!! Geez! What the hell?! Leslie?!" He shouted out as he woke up in a wet shock.
"Heheh! Well you told me to wake you up, so I did! Heheahaha!!" I couldn't help but laugh at him.
He gives me an angry and annoyed look, which made me laugh even more.
"Yeah yeah, god, warn me next time." He says as he dries his face with his palms.
"Heh, well you know what they say, the early bird gets the worm!" He comes diving at me while I soak his face and bed with the remaining water left in the glass, and all of a sudden, a thud was heard. We both fell on the ground, the cover slowly falling on my legs. When I opened my eyes, Torahiko was above me, his sharp blue eyes staring wide at me.
"Uh.. Sorry.." He smiles nervously as he says that. His large arms were on both sides of me, our faces weren't far apart. If I move my lips about a few centimeters closer, I could kiss him. Wait... why am I thinking that?! My face turns red and my heart begins to beat fast, would seem to be the same for Torahiko. Now I just realized, he sleeps shirtless and in his underwear. I have to move before someone walks in on us.
"Oh, no it's okay Tora. Let me just..." I shuffle my body into a sitting up position, then my worst fears confirmed when I looked at the door opening up.
"Hey Tora, do you know where Leslie... went..?"  Winter opened the door and saw Torahiko and I in this embarrassing position. Torahiko and I looked at each other and back at Winter.
"Okay, first. Get dressed you two were going to be late, and second. I'd say you two look rather cute together." Winter said with a grin as he took a picture of us on his phone. We both gasp in embarrassment and lunge at him.
"We do not!" We both shout. As we stand up we both collapse at the door way.
"Oh he is so dead when I catch him." Torahiko whispers to me.
Finally, we both get up I notice Tora's tail was wrapped around my ankle.
"Oh! Sorry!" He nervously scratches the back of his head. I shake my head and giggle at him, brushing it off.
About a few minutes later, we're all ready to go to the beach. I managed to get Tora to carry most of the heavy stuff, as payback for pepping in on me that first day we got here. Pretty much all three of us were wearing blue. Winter had on his light blue t-shirt and navy blue swimming shorts, and sandals. Torahiko wore his usual get up. Red tank top, blue cargo shorts and black sandals. Me? Pretty much normal beach attire. Under my blue tank top and shorts, I was wearing my dark purple bathing suit. The top was dark violet with a lighter shade of purple rose pattern under the left cup.
"So Ooshima, how's the beach?" Winter broke the silence.
"I haven't been there in a while, but they are absolutely gorgeous!! I think you guys would really love it there!" Spoke the optimistic tiger.
"This is going to be a great day, I can feel it! Heheh!" I said, joyfully.
Before we left town, I stopped by at the sweets shop and bought some small snacks. I popped a lollipop in my mouth and remembered its familiar taste. Cherry and watermelon, oh how long it's been since I've had this flavor. Tora was holding the chairs and cooler, Winter was holding the the towels and floats, and I was carrying the food and beverages. I look up and see a couple of birds flying in the sky, high above us, but close enough to hear they're wings flapping. Sometimes in the morning, I do often think about how it would be to fly like that. No worries, no problem, just freedom. I feel the warmth of the sunlight but I'm forced to squint my eyes, but not long before someone placed a pair of sunglasses on my face. The blinding bright sky becomes dark, but clear for me to see. I turn to see Torahiko smiling at me with that casual grin of his.
"Look at the sun too long and you'll go blind, Leslie." He said jokingly.
I made a bashful look and I could hear Winter giggling in the back. To be honest, it hurts to see Winter now. It's like we were only kids yesterday, and now we're both adolescent teenagers. I hate time, because in a way, it's taking him away from me. At some point, I'm going to have to let him go, hope to see him graduate, hope he finds... love, and enjoys his life. A sudden thought pops into my mind. "Why does it take a second to say hello, but forever to say goodbye?" I banish the thought from my head and start laughing.
"What's so funny, puppy?" I teasingly ask.
"Heheh, it's just that I'm surprised."
"Must you play the pronoun game?"
"Okay, party pooper. I'm just surprised I've never heard you call Tora senpai."
My face turns red almost instantly. Senpai?! Why would I ever call Torahiko that?! I don't look to him as a superior!
"Yeah, he's got a point Les. After all the years I've known you, I've never heard you call me Senpai, or Kouya or Juuichi and everyone else for that matter." Torahiko butts in.
"I don't call you that because..." I stop myself, and I see Winter making a smug grin towards me.
"Because?" Winter speaks up.
Right when I open my mouth, we hear a shouting in the distance. We all turn to see Kouya waving his hands at us, standing along side other individuals. From the looks of it, they seem to be Lane, Leto, Langdon, and... Juuichi!
"Oo! Saved by the bell! You got lucky this time sis!" Winter laughs.
I giggle and Torahiko lets out a chuckle. All three of us run towards the group, standing by the bus sign. As we got closer to them I realize a new member was also awaiting, he seems like Winter's age, but I'm not entirely sure.
"It's about time you three showed up! Geez, you guys take forever." Kouya snickered.
"Sorry for that. We did some last minute shopping before we left." Winter replied.
Everything seemed to be in check. Kouya brought his an old fashioned guitar case, along with some diving gear. Lane and Leto took some floats along with them. And Juuichi was carrying an extra cooler for the food. Next to Kouya, I noticed the new individual standing to his side.
"Oh? Hi, I don't believe we've met. My name is-"
"Leslie, right? Kouya told me about you." He interrupted me mid sentence.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I usually speak faster then I can think."
"Heheh, oh it's no problem. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh! Hiroaki. Hiroaki Aka."
Aka? That's red in Japanese. Makes sense since he's a red panda.
"Okay you two that's cute and all but we should get going." Kouya says to us right as the bus stops where we are.
We all gather our stuff and as I'm about to greet Juuichi, I'm suddenly tapped on the shoulder gently, I turned to see Hiroaki.
"Hey.. um, Leslie? Can I ask who the wolf boy you came with is?" He asked me.
"Who, him?" I point to Winter and he nods yes.
"Heh, that's my little brother Winter. Don't mind him he's always a smartass." I answer jokingly.
He looks at him, and asks if I can accompany him to say hi to him. We both walk up to Winter before we bored the bus. Not before something catches my eye. In the corner, I see Kouya, taking off his sweat shirt. I felt like I was staring at him, he was sweating from the heat, his toned body showing through his black tank top. He grabs his sweat shirt and ties it around his waist. I snap back into reality, hopefully before anyone noticed.
"Hey Win! Someone wants to meet you!" I yell at Winter.
"Oh? I don't believe we've met. Hi, my name is Winter Shiriyuki. Your Hiroaki Aka, right?" He answers holding out his hand towards the red panda.
Hiroaki makes a bashful expression and shakes his hand. I smile at the two, I think they would make really good friends, they seem about the same age.
"Hey Leslie, no attention to me?" A deep voice is heard in the background.
I turn to see Juuichi looking at me waving. I run toward the big brown honey bear with anticipation.
"Juuichi! It's been too long!"
The bear laughs as he carries me in the air with ease.
"You look good, Shiriyuki!" He spoke up loudly.
He set be back on the ground, and crossed his arms. We both share a small tidbit of how our lives have been, before Kouya yells at us to hurry. We both laugh at the husky's display and walk towards the bus. First Hiroaki, then Juuichi, and Winter and I bored the bus.
"Ahh, this AC feels nice."
"Yeah, feels nice when being in the hot sun. So sis. Should we sit together?"
He asked it out of the blue. I guess it would be best to sit together, or we could hang out with the others on the way there. I mean, we haven't seen them in five years. Besides, Hiroaki seems to take a liking to Winter, so it would be a good idea for him to make more friends. Hmm, what should we do? I look over my shoulder and I see the red panda sitting alone on the fourth row.
"Hey Win, why don't you sit Hiroaki? The two of you seemed to be getting along."
"Huh? Um, okay, sure. Wait, who are you going to sit with then?" He asks me making a puzzled expression.
That's true, who should I sit with? There's Kouya, Juuichi, Torahiko, Lane and Leto.
"Hm, I'll just sit alone. Listen to music on the way there." I tell the young wolf.
He shakes his head since he probably expected this response. He walks toward the red panda and sits next to him. Almost immediately they start a conversation. I couldn't help but smile for him. I decide to sit in the seat behind them, just to do it. I sit on the window side and put my earphones on. Feeling the sunlight pierce through the window pane felt and the cool air circulating through the bus, gave me a very nice feeling throughout my whole being. I place my hand on my cheek and I look at the bracelet wrapped around my wrist. The light glistening off it like a reflection on water. The song that plays is an instrumental, a piano solo. I used to play it when I was younger, I close my eyes. An image, a scene appears in my mind. A little girl, no younger then probably 12, playing a grand piano in the rain. The notes, the tune, the brilliant sound it makes. I notice my fingers mimicking the rhythm as the song goes on.
"I'm sorry... I promise I'll always be there.."
What, was that? It sounded like a child speaking, but I know it wasn't my voice. It sounded male. But who's voice was it? Was it the one who gave me this bracelet? Just as I was getting deeper in my thoughts, Kouya throws his sweatshirt at me to get his attention. I was so distracted I didn't even know that he sat next to me. I take off my earphones and put them in my bag, but as I turn around, he holds a small red box to me, within his grin, I see a thin brown covered stick protruding from his teeth. My mouth starts to immediately drool.
"Kouya? Is that, a pocky?" I ask him eyeing the small box in his hands.
He simply laughs between his teeth.
"Heh, they sure are." He says with a joyful yet mischievous expression on his face. Right as he opens his mouth again to speak, I snatched the box from his hands, holding it tightly.
"Holy hell, I haven't had one of these in years!" I couldn't help but scream in delight. As soon as I pop out one of the chocolate covered snacks, Kouya places his hand on the box, stopping my further progress.
"Nope, you know the rule Shiriyuki. You want one, you have to play the pocky game with me." He says with a smirk on his face.
My face almost immediately turned a bright red. I couldn't speak coherent sentences. Before I could even say anything, two other box of pockys were given to me. One of vanilla and the other of strawberry. Once I noticed the other two providers, my jaw dropped.
"Tora?! Juuichi?! You two are in on this too?" I stared at the tiger and bear standing on the walkway in the bus, shocked.
"What? You haven't had one of these in like what, five years?" Torahiko tosses the box of strawberry flavored pockys and Juuichi calmly hands me the vanilla. I pop one of each of the three flavors, and I gaze at them like a child getting ice cream on a hot day. I noticed Winter and Hiroaki looking at me laughing, I did to, until Winter spoke up.
"So sis, who's it gonna be?" He says with his arms crossed laid on the bus seat.
"Wait, what?" I was confused at first, then I realized that I have to chose one of the three only. Oh crap, what do I do? I stood there thinking, completely blocking out everyone else.
"C'mon Les, don't keep us waiting." Lane says out of no where.
"Okay okay. Fine." I took out one of each flavor out of their boxes, and hold each in one hand.
"Okay, so the first one I bite, will be the one to play the pocky game it's me." I held all three close to my lips, and looked at everyone, all anticipating my decision. They all stared at me, eyes wide open, waiting for a choice. So to satisfy they're them, I bit down on all three at the same time.
"WHAT?!" They all yelled at the same time.
I simply laughed at their confusion, and continued eating the delicious snacks.
"Leslie? That's evil, and you know it." Juuichi said with his arms crossed with a slight smirk on his face.
Just as Torahiko and Kouya lowered they're ears and hung they're arms, the bus came to a stop.
"Alright kids, here's your stop." The bus driver said.
We all packed out bags and made our way to the exit of the bus.