The Absence of You

Chapter One

It was the middle of the night, and Goro Majima found himself unable to sleep. As such, he decided to have a cigarette to calm himself down. As he took a drag, he leaned on the windowsill, staring out at the horizon. I wonder how she's doin', he thought, sighing to himself as his gaze turned to the street below. And just then, his phone rang. Grumbling complaints about the lateness of the call, he put out his cigarette and answered, saying, "Yo. Majima here."

"Majima? It's Kiryu. It's...urgent."

"Did somethin' happen?"

"Not really, I just wanted to tell you that Makoto is back in Japan for a while."

"Funny. I was just thinkin' about her. How's she doin'?"

Kiryu sighed deeply. "Not good. She's at my place right now, and she's asking for you."

"I'll be right there." And with that, he ended the call, hailed taxi after taxi, and headed off to Kiryu's apartment in Kamurocho. When he arrived, Kiryu opened the door and stepped outside. "So, what's her problem? You said she ain't doin' well, but what's up?" Majima asked, his face displaying his concern.

"She said someone's after her."

"Again?" Majima replied, rolling his good eye. "Well, ain't that a kick in the dick?"

"Majima, please, just help her."

"Alright. But only if you promise to keep what I'm about to say to yourself."

"Of course. What is it?"

Majima leaned in close to Kiryu's ear and whispered, "I'm thinkin' about gettin' an eye transplant, so she can see me with two eyes."

"I think that's a wonderful idea," Kiryu answered with a smile, patting his friend on the shoulder. "She'd love that. And don't worry, I won't ruin the surprise."

"Thanks. I'm gonna head home, but tell her I said I'd help her. Oh, and say goodnight for me too."

"Will do. Goodnight."

"Night." Majima walked away, scratching his head as he tried to process what he had been told. Meanwhile, Kiryu went back into his apartment to check on Makoto. "Sorry, that was a friend of mine. I asked him to come over after explaining that you were in trouble. He said he's happy to help you. He also asked me to say goodnight to you for him."

"It's alright. And oh? How sweet of him. I heard him outside, and...I recognize his voice, but I don't know his name, or his face." She sighed sadly as she spoke.

Crap! Did she hear his plan? I have to stall, just in case! Kiryu was suddenly at an impasse. A part of him wanted her to know what Majima was planning, but another part of him wanted to keep his promise to his friend. "Oh, that's right. You were blind when you met him, weren't you? That explains why you don't know his face. But I'm surprised that he never told you his name. It's Majima, Goro Majima."

"Majima," she repeated, smiling. She finally had a name to go with the voice, but...when would she be able to see his face? Only time would tell. But she found herself wishing that it would be sooner rather than later. After talking with Kiryu for a little while longer, Makoto decided to head to bed. But before she laid down, she thought it best to say a prayer, for her brother whom she missed dearly, for Kiryu who had taken her in when she had nowhere else to go, and for Majima who held a special place in her heart for the last few years, even though there was another vying for her affection; the doctor who had helped her regain her sight. She was torn between the two men, both important to her for very different reasons. But something inside her was telling her that Majima was the one. With that thought in her mind, she laid on the futon Kiryu had set out for her and drifted off to sleep.