Under the Starry Skies

They walked along a familiar road surrounded by forests on either side. Illuminated by the starlit sky, the road brought back memories. For here was the place where they had first met each other and the misunderstandings between them had begun. They became bound by a relationship of butler and lady after the former rescued the latter from being kidnapped and driven away along the road that they were presently walking on. With their entwined fingers and beating hearts, they walked along, while sneaking glances at each other every now and then. They found a bench on the pavement after a few minutes and taking a quick look at each other at the same time, they went towards that bench. Settling down, they gazed up at the sky with smiles on their faces.

"You know," said Hayate breaking the silence. "I've always wondered how a shooting star would look like during the day."

Nagi giggled. "How would you know? Would you be able to see it?"

Hayate smiled. "I guess not. But it makes me wonder why the stars come out only at night."

"Because they're too bright Hayate," said Nagi. "They want to be known, to be seen, and the night sky enables them to do so."

"Yeah. Without darkness, there is no light."

"Don't feel bad for lack of shooting stars during the day, Hayate. We have our old friend, the sun, and it always reminds us of it's presence, by shooting down it's rays, wanted or unwanted.

Hayate laughed. "Yeah. Sun is always there. It's the only star we can see everyday."

"And why do you seem so interested in stars today?" Nagi seemed a little agitated for, no matter how engrossed as she was in the night sky, tonight was Christmas Eve, the special day when she got reunited with Hayate after two years. She wanted Hayate to talk about the same thing that she desperately wanted to be discussed.

"Hayate," she said with a firmness in her voice. "It's been a while, I know. It feels strange to say this, but I want to know everything. Whatever you've been doing these 2 years, I need to know and you need to say it."

"Of course,"said Hayate. "I forgot how impulsive you were."

Nagi reddened. "I'm impulsive? Then what are you? You're impulsive and impatient as well. I know you've been stalking me for two years."

"Yes. I've been following you around," said Hayate, still gazing up at the sky.

"I know each and every detail of what you've been up to. You've been working hard." He looked at her and smiled.

"Well I couldn't help it," said Nagi looking down and blushing. "I had to take up a part time job to pay for my school fees. I'm still good in studies. I got to learn a lot of things that I could've learned if I hadn't skipped school."

"Yes," said Hayate. "But I'm glad you enjoy your days with Chiharu. Otherwise I would've been worried sick if you returned everyday to an empty apartment after your lonely hours at school."

"Yeah well, Chiharu definitely is fun to stay with. And yeah, although I am lonely at school, I sit by the window everyday and there's this tree with a weird branch that often moves up and down whether there is wind or not. It's fun to watch. And there's this eagle with gigantic eyes that always sits on that branch and stares at me. Sometimes I feel..." Nagi stopped short.

"Hayate?"

"Y-Yes?"

"How did you know that I spend lonely hours in school?"

"Um.."

"I never mentioned it before you did."

"Y-yeah".