Stay By Your Side (TakuRan)

Kapitel 1

It's a gloomy day with heavy gray sky. The cold wind blew out some dry leaves along the road.

"So, even the sky doesn't give me a chance, huh.."

A boy with shoulder-length wavy gray hair sighing heavily as he stepping out a glum alley. He had a bundle of papers in one of his hand and a pack of snack in his hug. He should hurry or at least looking for a shelter since the raindrops started wetting the ground, yet he let it fell on him. Instead of speeding up his walk, he kept on stepping slowly, didn't care about his belongings which was soaking wet totally.

"It's totally a vain.." He stopped while the pour was getting heavier, "I'm such a failure being.." He chuckled.

He let the papers slipping out of his hands, scattered down around his feet. A bitter smile plastered on his face as he faced up the gray sky which pouring on him mercilessly. He felt his heart torned into pieces that made him squeezing tight his chest involuntarily.

"What am I gonna do now? Without you being here.."

His voice was absorbed by the downpour, leaving the figure of the grayish boy alone under the dusk sky.

*******

It's a new day with a clear sky which was perfect to do outdoor activities. There was someone who enjoyed the view outside in a certain garden in a small town. He sat down on one of the bench alone while his eyes staring blankly at the sky above. For him, the time was stopped three days before with a very shocking news about a certain person he cared so much. She's the only one who knew him very well and the only one to whom he put all of his life. The figure of the girl was still remained in his mind. A pair of dark brown eyes which sent out her pure warm heart with black hair which tied in a bun on her head. She's no longer could stay by his side like she always said to him.

"Okatsu.." Muttered the gray head boy.

"Shindou?"

A voice snapped him out. He recognized the voice which called him with his sure name which was sure making him annoyed. It wasn't about the called but more like it disrupted his mourning. He found a rosette haired boy with pigtails was standing not far from the bench. His mint green eyes were staring at the gray boy who looked reluctantly greeted him back with a short nod.

The rosette boy sighing, "mind if I sit here?" Said him by pointing at the empty space right next to Shindou.

"Sure, Kirino.." He glanced at Kirino who was already took a seat beside him, "don't you think I'm stupid or maybe crazy to put all the blame on a tiny bee?"

Kirino startled, throwing his sight to Shindou. He saw a deep sorrow in his brick red eyes which were blankly staring at nowhere. He didn't expect that he had drowned this deep in just three days after the lost. Okatsu was Shindou's fiancee since they're kids. It's a force engagement since both of the families had strong connection in their business, but for some reason they could catch in love at each other. Their feelings were genuine and had nothing to do with the parents or their unknown businesses. Okatsu was actually a cheerful girl. She's the only one who gave support with all of her heart on Shindou's music while the others didn't even reckon it. At the time Shindou finished the composition of his first song, he's about to give it to her as a surprise gift when he found she's already gone forever. The cause was just a stung of a certain bee a day before her death. It's not just a stung, but an anaphylaxis shock. Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death.

"It's all my fault.. I killed her.." Shindou clenched his fist.

"Shindou, what are you talking about?"

"I killed her, Kirino.. I'm the one who forced her to come with me into our backyard to look at our flowerbed.. She's already refused, but I insisted on  it and as I realized it, I saw her collapsed.."

"Shindou.."

"We could bring her to the hospital fast, but why does it end up like this?" Shindou hit his fist on the bench, "Why? Why? Just why? I didn't know that she has stung by the same species of bee.. I'm such a failure being.. I couldn't protect her.."

"Shindou, please get yourself.." Kirino grabbed Shindou's shoulders.

"I can't even protect my fiancee.. How can I protect the others including my family?"

"SHINDOU TAKUTO!!"

At the same time, Shindou was shocked by the shout of Kirino. He spotted Kirino's figure with worried face right in front of him. A glint of tears flew down on his face signaling that he couldn't hold his sorrow for more. He ended up crying silently in Kirino's hug.

"It's not your fault, Shindou.. It's not anyone's fault.. It's just her fate.." Said Kirino softly, "please, let her to get peaceful rest.. It's enough, Shindou.."

At the current state, Kirino couldn't let Shindou to go home by himself. He escorted him until they arrived right in front of Shindou's house. Nothing was out from their mouth and they just nodded lightly at each other as a goodbye.

Shindou was stepping into his huge house with a glum face. Not a single word came out from the maids and butlers who saw him home. They're looking at one another with some of them just shrugged in defeat. All they could do was just to keep smiling at him every time they served him. The parents didn't seem care so much about Okatsu's death since they could still be in ally with Okatsu's parents and choosing another candidates for Shindou. Even if Shindou was their only son and the only one who would inherit Shindou family, they just treated him as a marionette.

"Taku-kun, prepare yourself for the next meeting.." Said the mother while placing a cup of hot tea in front of Shindou. They were about to begin their dinner.

"Meeting?" Shindou raised his eyebrow.

"You need to behave yourself in front of them.. They like polite people, so don't disappoint us, Taku.. You hear that?" Said the father by sipping his tea, "despite.. I need to make a deal with them in order to gain more profit.."

"Huh? What's that, tou-sama? Isn't it just about your business? Why do I need to go too?"

"It's a must for you, Taku-kun.." Said the mother signaling the maids to set up the food, "you know what it means.."

Shindou's eyes widened with a sweat flew down on his face. He knew very well the main topic of the conversation just now. It's just him who felt that it wasn't right about his parents. They're calmly enjoying the dinner without even thinking and waiting for their son's opinion or agreement.

"Tou-sama, kaa-sama.. It's just three days since Okatsu's funeral and I'm not ready for another match meeting.." Shindou tried to defend himself.

A loud clank sound of silverware jolted the gray head boy that made him lowered his head down. He could feel tense glare of his parents upon him. Even if they didn't spill a word but Shindou knew what they're up to. There's no refusal should flew out from his mouth and as the youngest member of Shindou family, he had no right to speak back to the parents or the older members of the family.

"You! Send Taku to his room right away after dinner.. Make sure he's ready for the meeting next two days.." Ordered the father by pointing at one of the butlers who was standing near Shindou's seat, "you have no other choice but obeying what I say, Taku.. That's how the head of this family runs the role.."