Together Again - Story

Makoto opportunity for reeling of Kumiko was lost suddenly a's the call for agathering inside the tree house was sounded. He cursed softly but followed the others inside the tree house, the inside was just as he remembered. In truth in was a dumb even when if it was recently clean but there was a warmth and comfort in the place especially when everyone was inside it, no other place could match. He than saw Aya when his heart skipped a beat, she looked gorgeous more so than when they were at school and he didn't thing that was possible. Kumiko forgotten for the moment, makoto wormed his way to sit by Aya and listened to her story intently.
 
Nuburo listens quietly as aya told her story. He would be respectful and save his comments for when she was done. Once Aya finished talking Noburo chuckled a bit. "Being a male myself I can understand why he would want to stair however the part about him not letting you pursue your dream is unacceptable. Though you must be as stupid as me if you want to become a teacher." Noburo sighed and rubbed the back kid his neck. "Guess I will get my birding tale out of the way."


"My parents moved me to a boarding school in england where I stuided in world and American history. The budget for the history program was pretty high so we took trips to Italy, France, and America. Eventualy I got my degree in history and later education and moved back here. If any of you remember old man Fumikawa he retired about three years ago and I am his replacement. So now I'm stuck chaseing after a bunch of middle schoolers at our old stomping grounds"
 
Makoto shook his head. " I agree with Nuburo, Aya, your ex was a damn fool. Better of without him." He said after Nuboro told his story and smirked. "I remember old Fumikawa, a duller man I had ever known made a bore of a perfectly good subject. Must be nice to travel the world though wished I had come with. " He added before sighing and taking a deep breath as he realised he had volunteered himself to speak next.  "Well here go. I am Makoto just in case any of you haven't guessed already of course you can see my big change sInce i left. It is hard to explain the why let's just say I feel my self now than ever have. Still technical male but at least I have taken the first steps. If you don't like it tough, I am fabulous and i intent to stay that way." He said waiving his hair, "I apart from that instead of doctor as my overbearing parents wanted, i left them andhave been trained as chief and working at Dongarashi restaurant in town. I think that is all."
 
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[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]She gave a large smile as Aya spoke of being engaged, but then was a bit taken back by how she spoke of it. Yes it wasn’t right not he didn’t want her to follow her dreams. But why hold onto a ring if what it represented was a failed love? She turned her head and listened to Noburo go next. [/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“ I knew you would stay the nerd you are.” She was glad. He had gotten to travel and experience the world. She was just glad he never lost that part of himself.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]She then watched as Makoto speak. She spoke of her changed and her choice to do what she wanted instead of following her parents orders. “ I am glad you found your freedom! I am also glad you’re in your own skin now. Feeling as yourself I am glad.” She smiled. She’d never been close to Makoto. [/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.666666666666666px]“Alright I’m going now!” She looked away from them all a moment. She didn’t like remembering from the being, but she wanted to share everything. “ After my dad passed away, I went to live with my grandparents in the country. The town was so small. I kept running, I was the ace on the track team. That’s not much of a surprise I guess. It was lonely, so I went to visit Emiko a few times. But then I got scouted, and training was everything. I loved it. I loved every medal I won and I’m sure he smiled every time. I went to college on scholarships. Then last year there was the qualifier…” She looked scratching the back of her head. Before turning back to them. “ It was for a bigger race, the kind they scout you for the olympic teams at. I was so ready, but I fell. It was an accident. Messed my knee up. So I have to wait until the qualifier at the end of this year to try again. I lost a lot of my sponsors though so I had to get a different kind of income. I’m the gym teacher and track coach for the all girls school across town. It doesn’t let my race as much, but I do love my girls. I want them to be strong and full of energy. “ She smiled again and looked back at Emiko. She settled in next to her. [/SIZE]
 
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Kumiko listened intently to the others as they summarized what had happened after they went their separate ways. Noburo was about what she had expected; some boring old man talking about other boring old men to a group of children who can't escape his ranting. It must've been nice to finally have a literal captive audience. Makoto had become a chef rather than a doctor and explained further on her transformation, though she was glad to have certain details clarified for her having been attempting to subdue her natural curiosity ever since she appeared. Kumiko had no real experience with this sort of situation and could ask a million questions but she wasn't so naive as to believe she wouldn't offend him in doing so. This was one particular territory she didn't want to venture into. Then there was Aya, the only other person so far who didn't seem to be quite where they wanted with their career. It was a comforting fact to take in knowing that she could follow her up and not be the sole individual without a degree. As she flashed the ring on her hand and explained the story behind it Kumiko found herself shifting uncomfortably, the logic behind holding onto something like that not adding up. Were she in the same situation she would have gone far out of her way to destroy it out of spite. Suspicions arising that there may be more to this story, she pushed her theories to the back of her mind as Umeko began her tale.


 


"You do strike me as the type of person who would be good with kids," Kumiko said, idly tapping her foot as she recalled the days gone by of her training. She had a real knack for getting people to really push themselves, even when they didn't particularly want to or cared. "I'm sure you'll land it next time. Even if you were only at fifty percent you could always beat us in...well, pretty much everything. Looking on the bright side at least the competition will see you pass them rather than some afterimage." Shooting Umeko a confident smirk as she joked at her competition's expense, she placed her free hand into her jacket's front pocket as she debated exactly how to explain. This was the moment she had been dreading in particular, but a worst case scenario could be avoided if she were cautious enough.


 


"After my family and I-" she paused for a short moment as she began speaking, lightly shaking her head as if to physically throw off the hesitation she felt. "After we moved we ended up in a much smaller town. Honestly, I hated it. Nothing to do. No excitement! I actually ended up drawing a lot just to keep from going crazy with boredom. I don't mean to boast, but I think I'm pretty good. I'd like to follow through with that and design for a living. As to what exactly that would be, well...that is going to be a secret for now."


 


Tapping her foot faster she looked over the group, attempting to discern their thoughts from their reactions. With an almost rehearsed sigh, she shrugged her shoulders and continued speaking. "The 'starving artist' cliché isn't one I want to fall into though. So I've been working random things here and there until I'm discovered. Right now I'm a secretary for a brewery. Not something I saw myself doing as a kid, but here I am. At the very least I get some neat entertainment when a new hire decides to sample our product."
 
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Noburo waited for kumiko to start his barrage of comments. The first few where distracted towards Makoto. "If you thought Fumikawa was bad you should have seen some of the proffessers I had to deal with. I still can't think of the ettruscans without wanting to shoot my self in the foot." he shudder as the memories of the reports he had to write came back to him. "Also wuick qustion. Are you into men or women? Either one of fine I am just curious."


Noburo then turned his commentary to Umeko." those poor girls who have no choice but to get stuck with you as a teacher. I can see their suffering faces now, just begging for a break from the hellish training and overly happy teacher." He chuckled as he pictured the image in his head. "Either way it's a shame you couldn't make it into the Olympics. I could have floated to my students that I knew an Olympic runner but Oh well."


When his commentary shifted towards Kumiko he tried to hold back a laugh. "Bar maid" was all he could say before he couldn't hold back his laugh. He could picture the image of kumiko dressed in an old fashion Italian serving girls outfit. He fell onto his back still laughing. "The thought of you being nice to a customer is priceless. Next thing I'm going to here is that Seto stopped being lazy and Kai became a player."
 
Makoto chuckled at Noboru''s words. "Maybe but you should see some of the chefs I trained under, they were as much an a holes as you were. Worse even if that was even possible. You were good practice for those aholes." She said with a tone more affectionate that the derogatory nature of the words might have suggested. "What I am into? Like the new me nod do you?"She said teasingly fluttering his eyelashes and gave him a flirty smile before  chuckling. " To be on it I am not quite sure, never really had a chance to get into that sort of thing. With work and all my chances and all, it is a day difficult. "She began, a slight sadness in her tone. "In any case, I find my eyes wonder to both male and female though I have found I am more interested in the latter."


She that turned her attention Kumiko for a moment, her troubles giving Makoto no small amount of satisfaction though she did detect the attempt at gaining sympathy and frowned."eh,  you got to start low, was washing plates for over year before getting the opportunity to make salads." She said in tone which hinted at admonishment at Kumiko's complaint.
 
Kai was surprised that his plan worked and everybody was actually coming together and sharing stories. He listened intently to each story throwing in little comments here and there. When Kumiko said she worked at a brewery, it struck a nerve with Kai. He blamed alcohol for his mother's death and for the hell he had to endure for years at the hands of his father, "how could you work at a place that sells poison to people?" He said a little to angry.
 
Noburo managed to sit laughing and he stay up ehipeing a test from his eye. "Well you definitely have more guys then I do Mako. I just have to deal with a bunch of children, being a chef sounds l a nightmare to me." He simply nodded as mako talks about his sexuality. Noburo was a jerk but he knew that some subjects weren't the best to make fun of. A small smile appeared on his lips as he enjoyed himself but that smile quickly left him with Kai's next statement. His old habbit of jumping to Kumiko's defence kicked in and he spoke with out thinking. "You're still as stupid as ever Kai. Alchoal isn't poison it's medicine. Like every medicine it can be harmful if used to much and just like any other medicine only the weak willed fall into the trap of using to much."
 
Mad was an understatement of what Kai was feeling right now after Noburo's comment about him being stupid. "Don't call me stupid, and No Alcohol is not medicine it is poison and I've seen first hand the pain that Alcohol causes. It took my family away from me!"
 
Seto was still laying there, listening to Makoto, Nuburo, Kumiko and Aya and what has happened in their lives since the day they left. While they were speaking, he couldn't help but think about what he was going to say, would he start with reveling he's exactly where he wants to be in life? Or how about talking about his job, or the wonders of living alone with a grateful lack of disrupted naps. Seto regained his breath, and stood up slowly, careful not to get light headed. As soon as his legs were stretched all the way, he reached his hands behind his back and cracked it. Not too long after, he had a sigh of relief as the pop in his back helped him relax a little before he gained a painful headache. wincing in pain, "Jesus guys, you're giving me a headache, cool it will you?" Realizing his the pain in his head struck a nerve, he recomposed himself.
 
Noburo chose to ignore Seto's complaints as he continued talking"What happened to your family is unfortanute. I don't know all the details, nor will I pretend to, but the simple fact is you fell victim to people's weak wills." Noburo's voice was calm in contrast to kai's anger. He didn't raise his voice, nor did he allow any emotion to carry through his neutral expression. "Drank in moderation alcohal calms the nerves and helps with pain both physical and mental. Its when iresponsible people drink to much that problems arise." 


@Tydguy75
 
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Umeko had enough. This wasn't the day for this. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.  "ENOUGH. Noburo You are being an insensitive jerk. Just stop."  she shouted it wasn't right to tell someone the people they lost were weak.  It hurt her even.  "Kai,  it's also not like Kumiko is doing her job to hurt people.  It makes her bills. So don't take her current job as a personal insult. You can be insulted by this jerk."  She had to say something. She didn't know the details but no mater how losing someone was painful more so when you had no control to stop it.  
 
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"At least I don't have to resort to locking kids in a room to get someone to listen to me! Also, I happen to be a very nice individual you ass!" Kumiko shouted, Noburo quickly managing to get back under her nerves once again. The playful taunting from earlier had given way to their normal animosity. Glaring daggers at the history teacher, the others began to share their thoughts and issues with what she had just stated. Makoto had attempted to lecture her about having to start low and climb your way up in life, and while it was true for most people she couldn't help but think it could have been different if not for her father's incident. Then Kai began, a hint of guilt in her heart for having mentioned her profession in front of him. It made perfect sense that he would be uncomfortable after his mother's passing. She hadn't even considered this, though hiding it for his sake may have been a bit silly.


 


"Um, that's-" she spoke only to be interrupted by Nobuo now doing a complete one-eighty and defending her. Gritting her teeth as she listened to the argument unfold Umeko ultimately ended up silencing them if only temporarily, speaking firmly enough to break the conflict. "Thanks for that," Kumiko spoke softly, already feeling regret at having met up with the others. Perhaps she was being unrealistic to expect that they'd all get along after so much time apart, but even so she had been hoping for a much more pleasant experience than this. Awkwardly raising a hand to rub the back of her head she turned her attention toward Kai, a faint, forced smile on her lips. "If it's any consolation I spend most of my day listening to customers yell about how their deliveries were wrong. So they aren't exactly good at their jobs."


 


In her flimsy attempt to calm him down, she let her arm fall to her side and looked over the group once more. Quite a few had already gone forward but others still have yet to take their turn. Seto was expected. She had to admit that she was impressed he managed to go so far without collapsing onto the floor snoring. Kai was too upset, going now would just cause more drama. That left only one other person.


 


"Hey!" Kumiko called out, idly waving in the direction of her newfound nemesis. "What about you? What have you been up to, Emiko?" With this question a tone of disdain momentarily took over her voice, causing her to clear her throat in an attempt to deflect any attention from it. She wasn't particularly interested in hearing her story but she was well aware that most of the others thought quite highly of her. Why wouldn't they? Perhaps the others would have enough time to cool off after she spoke.


 

 
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Noburo's face stayed emotionless but in the inside he was a mix of emotions. Regret, Anger, Joy,and fear. For eight years he had held onto those emotions and Now they had clouded his judgement. Noburo knew he shouldn't say anything more but he couldn't keep his mouth from moveing."Did you really expect anything better from me? Has eight years really clouded your vision of me so much that you can't even remember how far I go? Besides Blameing inatimit objects on someone's death is just stupid. If a lamp is used to kill someone are all lamps weapons? No they are not. Its the person who used the weapon who used the lamp to cause harm that is at fault. You can feel pain and you can feel sorrow but placing the blame on anything besides the truth is nothing more than the grand delusions of a senseless child who refuses to grow up." 


All of Noburo's mental confusion and fristrsation had been poorer into the one statement. He knew when He came here that not everyone would be the same. They wouldn't all get along like they use to. Noburo's own logic had changed and he had hoped he could hold bsck but it seemed he couldn't have. Noburo had got to see most of his old friends and that was enough for him. If they didn't want to have anything to do with him after today that was their choice and he wouldn't hold it against them.
 
Noburo had brought a stir of rage. She turned to him and got much to close to hands clawed and shaking."It's not about the object. If you have never seen someone you love waste away. Nothing you can do about it. It hurts you. It leaves a wound. It doesn't heal. Then the only thing that helps it ripped away from you. So it scars you makes hate things. You look for anything to blame. If Kai lost someone to alcohol abuse. Guess what he isn't going to be fond of it."She was crying and it hurt. She did not expect everyone to be the same. Speak of losing someone made her think of her father. Sure it had cancer and it wasn't alcohol that had caused him to waste away.


"No I did not think we'd all be the same. I had dreamed. I missed you all so much. And If you still want to take things this far with out thinking about hurting your friends. "She was crumbed more sad and distraught than angry now. Always happy go lucky Umeko was a crying mess. Her eyes had fallen from Noburo to the floor. Her hands clenched into fist resting on the floor. She had held strong, but she couldn't anymore. She had more to say, but she could not get any words past the sobs and tears on her face.
 
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Surprise lit up Noburo's eyes as Umeko reacted with such force. However he refused to show any emotion and the surprise went away. Despite his best efforts Noburo's voice was softer and a hint of regret hung around his words. "Can you really call us all friends? Even after all this time without contact with each other?" It was a question Noburo had been asking himself for years.  After all this time so many things have gone unsaid, so many emotions pent up, so many doubts. Noburo took off his glasses and folded them. He slid them into he breast pocket of his shirt. It was time to play the villain a little more. It would either bring the group together united against their common enemy, or it could tear them apart.


"What is a friend. What does it mean to be a friend? Are friends their for you when you need them the most? Is a friend someone you can always count on to have your back whenever you need them? So can anyo of us truly count on each other to be their for one another if we need them? Can I count on Kai to save me if I am in trouble even after everything I have just done? What f someone still holds a grudge against me? Can I trust them to still have my back?" Noburo was fully prepared to take a beating. Back in middle school he had faced the wraith of bullies more then once and it had taught him speaking his mind might result in pain but it was necessary. "As much as I hate to admit it I have so many regrets, so many things I wanted  to say before I left, and so many emotions left unsettled. Those days of fun are over and gone. Lost n the sea of time known as history. Right now we are simply playing house and trying to clutch on to our old memories. So tell me Umeko? Do you consider the Noburo here and now as your friend? Not the one in the past who would make quick remark here and their but the one sitting in front of you. What about the rest of you? Do you truly want to be friends with the Noburo Haromotto who has single handily ruined the day that you where looking forward to for eight years?
 
There was a moment of silence before Makoto began to laugh hardily, seeing straight through Noburos words. "It is amazing isn't it. Despite how much we change we are still the same as we were as teens. Noburo and Umeko once again is the same pickering old married couple and it took them only what 10-1t minutes since we got togather. The topics are more serious and adult that is true but it still boils down to the asshole with the heart of gold doing what he does best and Umeko not letting hum get away with it." She said her tone was at odds  with the room mood, dripping with affection, nostalgia and levity. "Ruin the day, Nobu? Would be the day we were looking forward if you didn't otherwise." Her tone changed than to a more serious and firmpy. "  Still you must no this isn't an issue of friendship. Her father died from addiction and calling him weak or her stupid being sad about it is a bit too dickish even for you, friends or not. You know better than that. If you don't I am surprise you are a teacher. Bite that bullet, swallow the damn pride of yours and apologise so we can get on with this party. I put too much work on those nigiri to let them go to waste."
 
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X  EMIKO NANASE X


Emiko sat quietly and attentively as her friends shared their experiences away from [and in Seto's case, in] Chigasaki since they all parted ways. It was almost comical how eight years didn't change that much. The banter started easily enough, as did the fluid conversation - the only thing throwing her off was how different everyone looked. Emiko had never really felt an attraction for any of her friends in their youth, having gone after partners well beyond her league and completely out of reach but... their personalities, them just being in her life, was more than she could have gained from an inexperienced and not very long lasting romantic fling in their childhood. Maybe time apart was what made each persons face draw her in, eager to know more... so she doesn't interrupt as they all delve into their current situations.


Of all people to address her for her own story, it was Kumiko. She doesn't miss how the seemingly artistic and edgy woman's voice adopted an almost accusatory tone. Was this her way of trapping her? To get her to admit how badly she messed up? It... wasn't fair. Emiko opens her mouth, about to respond and find a way around how she unwittingly ruined Kumiko's life when an argument erupted.


"Hey, knock it off. This is supposed to be a reunion." She butts in after Makoto attempts to defuse the situation.


Shuffling closer to Umeko, she finds her strength in one person that may as well be her sister and lies through her teeth: "Things have been great on my end. Fancy job, big city - I'm attempting to delve more into the journalist area rather than sitting in a news room reporting the same old depressing crap every day." She plasters on the best fake smile she can, keeping her eyes hidden from Umeko - she could read her like an open book. "I've never been happier."


hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhLOCATION  TREEHOUSE   COMPANY  EVERYONE?   OOC  Sorry for being gone for so long! ;A; hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
 
"Dammit Mako you just had to ruin my plan! Or maybe Mako saved it? No my plan was perfect! Name one plan that we have made that actually worked. Shut up!" Noburo's mind was in a full frontal argument. However his brain did agree on a couple of things. "First off don't go spreading rumors about me. I do not have a heart of gold. Second off we do not bicker like a married couple. Thirdly I just made her cry and you are just sitting their laughing. Finally I don't see any need to apol-" His voice was cut off by Emiko telling him to knock it off. He grumbled the last of the sentence but otherwise he shut his mouth.
 

 


Ren had been trying decide for the last month now if she should go the reunion. Part of her really didn't give damn but the other part of her really did miss them. Those were happy times for her even if things at home weren't so good. Ren had become a singer and she is quite famous now actually. She even has a stage name, she now goes by the name Aurora. Actually she hates people calling her by her real name. No one really knows why but she it really does irritate her. So finally one morning she decided she would go. So she packed up and headed off. While traveling there she wondered if she would recognize any of them. She probably would if there weren't any drastic changes. Speaking of changes she  had changed a lot her self and not just in personality she really did look completely different then she did when she was 13. She knew they would recognize her as Aurora but she was pretty sure they had no idea that Aurora was actually Ren.


Finally the day had arrived to meet up at the treehouse. Ren arrived late after everyone else. She didn't want to be the first one she wanted to sort of make a surprising entrance. So she headed towards the treehouse she looked up and saw the latter and heard voices coming from there. Not that she would ever show it or admit it but she was very nervous. She slowly climbed up the stairs and went inside. The moment she did everyone turned to look at her some seem to be either confused or in shock. She smiled, "Hi there!" 


@ailurophile 


@CocoForRealz 


@Tydguy75 


 @shatteredxfrost 


@Masia 


 @ThatGuyWithSouvlaki 


@Isacoolbow 


 @Ammy
 
Noburo turned his head to look at the entrance as he heard someone come up the latter. Guessing that it was Ren he was just about to say something when she stepped inside. However he stopped before he could talk and his brain short circuted. The mental image of young Ren and the woman who stood in the entrance did not match at all minus the eye and hair color. She was much taller now and a lot more attractive. Noburo slid his glasses back on his face to make sure he wasn't dreaming. It didn't look like he was dreaming and he greeted her with a wave of his hand. "Yo".


@animegirl20
 
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Umeko back off and back to Emiko's side. She wanted everyone to at least be civil and this break down was something she wished she had avoided. She looked over at Kai. "My dad died from cancer not to long after you left, it's not the same. But I understand the slow loss uncontrollable loss of someone. I actual don't know or don't remember who you lost. That make me a terrible former friend I know, but I'm sorry for your loss. " She gave him a little bow of her head and turned to Emiko as she spoke.


She already knew, Emiko had never told her, but she knew the words weren't really the whole truth. She would ask about it later in private away from everyone. She remained close to her dear friend almost touching shoulders with her. She wanted run. Not away, but a few laps and she'd be full of adrenaline and back to her energetic shelf. She was forcing a smile. And gave Makoto a nod in thanks.


She gave a kind of glare to Noburo now. She had been teased once before about bickering with him like a married couple. She narrowed her eyes further it was kind of comical. She could never see it. She just wanted him to be happy with his friends, but he was never good at controlling his mouth. She was always there trying to tell him he was being a jerk. She sighed and let her face relax. No sense lingering on it. There was another voice in the room. The woman was very pretty, and by hair color Umeko could only guess the figure was Ren, but how. She was so much different. Umeko was really just a taller version of her younger self. 


@Tydguy75 @ThatGuyWithSouvlaki @shatteredxfrost @animegirl20
 
Makoto chuckled seeing the confusion in Noburo's face and seeing him try to fight back only to be interrupted by Emiko butting in. There was something so satisfactory about Noburo being knocked off he couldnt place. He was also glad the argument has pretty much ended for now and happy reunion can continue. When Ren entered he waived at her not saying another word and listened out to where the conversation might lead.
 
Kai was able to co.email down slightly, he never knew that Umeko lost her father after he left. It made him feel terrible for not knowing that his friend had lost someone too. He was glad everyone was defending him in the argument because honestly Noburo was way over the line. When somebody else came into the tree house he didn't recognize her. How does she know about the tree house... who cares she's really hot, Kai thought to himself taking in the new girls figure.
 

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