Warning:
This is an AU fanfiction (Sakura Tree x Boy).
This is an alternate ending to the original series, just for the fun of it! There are only going to be two chapters so this is going to be quite long, the same goes for the next.
Happy end.
If you're fine with it then please enjoy!
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Side M.
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It was the fourth spring he spent alone after that incident.
Of course, he had his friends by his side, and even met new ones like Kashitarou. What he meant was that he never got a lover after that. Not that Mafu had one to begin with, after all, that man was his first love.
Many had told him that there were still plenty more, just like how there were a lot of fishes in the sea for him to choose from, that it was time to let it go and find a new one. One thing they did not understand from it was that Mafu could not do it. It was not that he did not try looking for one, but it was because every time he tried to think of them as a potential lover, he thought of the spring he spent from four years ago.
When they cupped his face, petted his hair, held his hands; every time, and without failing, Soraru's face would come up into his mind. He could not. He just could not help it. He did not find interest in any of them. His heart never beat as fast as back then. Simple things like Soraru having his eyes on him or their fingers barely touching when they sit together was enough to make his heart pound hard against his chest. Those times were the times he cherished.
And then it was spring again.
The very season he could never forget about. It was short and bitter, but it was also sweet as the time they shared was intoxicating. He smiled, laughed, got mad at him, and even shed tears for him. But that was proof that they spent one of the four seasons together.
The mark was still on Mafu even after Soraru left. With how things normally do work, it should have disappeared along with the spirit but it did not. He could see it on his neck if he craned it a little to the left in the mirror every morning. Before falling asleep on his bed, even without having to see it in the mirror, he knew where the mark was and would touch it with his fingertips, remembering about Soraru.
"So up until the end, you still had no idea what the mark meant, huh?" Amatsuki asked as he brought the cup of coke to his lips, deciding to bring this topic back up again after so long. He was the only person who never tried convincing Mafu into looking for someone else to start a relationship with, and forget about Soraru along the way, which Mafu appreciated him for that. As expected from his best friend who knew about him.
It was just another day in spring, the fourth one after that special one. He went to Amatsuki's house to have a chat with him since he did not have anything else better to do. Kashitarou was there as well, lying down on the couch where Amatsuki was sitting with his head on Amatsuki's lap. He had his mask on today as well, just like always. It was hard to see his face but Mafu knew he fell asleep. It must have been great to feel a sense of security to be sleeping in front of an outsider like Mafu.
Mafu nodded at Amatsuki's question. Soraru did not tell him about it nor did he have the chance to. He only knew about the where the mark was after Kashitarou mentioned about it that day after he came home, all drenched in rain water. Amatsuki came to wrap him in a towel and turned on the heater in the living room, then he went into the kitchen to make something warm for him.
At that time, Mafu just sat on the couch and sobbed quietly. He felt pressure on the seat next to his but he did not turn to look to the side to see who it was.
"Soraru-san left, didn't he?" Kashitarou asked after a while, holding his hands together as he leaned forward, resting his arms on both his thighs.
Mafu could not say anything even if he wanted to. His voice was long gone after crying in the rain for what seemed like forever as he tried to accept reality.
Taking Mafu's silence as a 'yes', Kashitarou continued, "Remember how I said you smelled like him? And that it was because he left a mark on you? Were you aware of it?" he asked, his tone soft and gentle, as if he was talking to a child, being really careful with his words and intonation.
Mafu moved his head from the left to the right, realising that he was shaking his head as a response to Kashitarou. He felt Kashitarou's hand on his left shoulder and then a force which pulled him into Kashitarou's chest. Kashitarou was really warm, or was it Mafu who was cold, he did not know, but the warmth Kashitarou was giving him at that moment made Mafu feel like letting it out as emotions started welling up inside of him again. He felt Kashitarou's fingers on his neck, making him wince at the sudden contact with one of his sensitive areas of his body.
"It's right here," he said softly, being careful as he traced the mark on Mafu's neck, with no intention of seducing him, of course. He was just innocently trying to show him where Soraru left it on him. Mafu felt safe with Kashitarou, a different kind of sense of security he got from Soraru. Kashitarou felt like a big brother to him, just like how Amatsuki was to him. He now understood why Amatsuki fell for the man. "Do you want to know how it looks like?"
Mafu nodded.
"You know how Soraru-san's tree always bloomed the prettiest amongst the all? The mark looks exactly like that," Kashitarou smiled, still staring at the mark. "It's a cherry blossom flower, and it's beautiful,"
It was the only thing Soraru left for him.
"I tried asking Kashitarou-san to ask Soraru-san about it," taking another sip of cola, Amatsuki said. "But Kashitarou-san said that it was against a spirit's privacy! I don't get why it should be kept as a secret!"
Mafu, with his face down, staring at the cup of coffee he got from Amatsuki, opened his mouth and said, "You wouldn't want yours to be known by other people too, right?" he chuckled as he saw Amatsuki blush at his question.
"But I wanted you to at least know what it meant, Mafu-kun,"
"I know, but it's okay," Mafu nodded at him with gratitude. He knew Amatsuki was trying to help but he could not keep relying on him forever. Soraru told him to not cause too much trouble for him, and he did. For the past four years, he properly took care of his health by visiting the doctor monthly; he cooked his own meal and made sure that the nutrients in every one of them was sufficient for him; he gave his body enough rest and did not push it to its limits, unlike back then. Just like what Soraru asked him for, he did as he was told. "It's fine since he left me something,"
But the one thing that he could not do was forget about him. It was unpreventable for Mafu to wait for him. He told himself to not wait anymore, but some part in him held hope when spring came. He told him to be happy, but he could not. Not when he was not by his side. The beginning of everything was torture. He cried himself to sleep every night as he recalled about that day. He could not bring himself outside of the house because he did not have the energy to since they were all spent on crying.
And yet, he stood up. It was not that Soraru was gone, as in not dead, but he was somewhere far away. He tried thinking about it in a more positive way, which helped him a lot. 'If Soraru-san is up and running, then I should too,', 'I don't want to disappoint him,', and the one that pops up into his mind the most was, 'I want to show him the present me one day,'
Not because he wanted to tell him that he did not need him, but to show him that he held onto the not-so-official promises Soraru made with him.
Mafu pushed his chair to the back, he stood up from his seat and pulled onto his cardigan.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah, thank you for having me here today,"
"You're welcome. Come over any time, I'll buy that creampuff from that shop that sells only twenty boxes per day if you do!"
That made Mafu laugh. It was an Amatsuki thing to do. "Sure, I'll LINE you when I do," he said, pushing open the door, still putting his boots on.
When Mafu left, Kashitarou lifted his hand up to his face and removed his mask, revealing his attractive facial features to Amatsuki.
"Kashitarou-san, you were awake?" Amatsuki asked, brushing his hair to the back lovingly.
"Mafu-kun's headed back there, isn't he?" Kashitarou said, pulling Amatsuki down for a kiss, which Amatsuki obliged.
"Mm, that's where he would go at a time like this," because this was the time Mafu went to visit Soraru back then.
Kashitarou then sighed, covering his eyes with his arms. "It's today,"
"What is?"
Ignoring Amatsuki's question, he got up from the couch and pulled at Amatsuki's hand. "Let's go,"
"Where to?"
"To the park,"
Mafu stepped into the park again today. At the same time he did when he was still here. It was like a daily duty for him to fulfil even though there was no one there for him to wait for. Even so, he would walk to that one tree which he knew its position in the park very well and stand under it for an hour. People would usually look at him with questioning looks on their faces but it was spring today, and naturally, there would be people who would stand under trees to enjoy the view of the blooming cherry blossom flowers.
Just like four years ago, the tree itself was still as beautiful as ever. Even though it was not guarded by a guardian cherry blossom spirit, it outstood the others around it. Mafu smiled, touching its barks like how he does every day.
"Soraru-san, I've came to see the tree again today," he greeted, softly, not wanting other people to overhear his words. It might seem weird but the one hour he was going to spend here was always his favourite time of the day. Therefore, he did not want anyone to interrupt him when he was having a conversation with, well, a tree but they were mostly directed to Soraru.
"Here," Mafu said, reaching for something in his bag. "They were selling sakura dangos at the convenience shop today so I thought we could have it with a can of beer together just like last time," he bent down to place a can of beer; the one he usually gets for Soraru, and a box of sakura dango under the tree.
"I missed you a lot, just like every other day," Mafu did not sit down, only straightening his back and looked up at the tree. "You told me to not think about you often, but you never really left my mind since your being left me. I'm sorry I didn't manage to keep that promise. I tried, really," he laughed at himself. The corner of his lips remained raised after his laughing subsided.
"Even after so long, I'm still all over you," Mafu whispered. "... I love you,"
He felt someone hugging him from behind, strong arms circling his waist, pulling his body to himself. Mafu did not fight back and just stood there, bewildered, in disbelief. The familiar warmth; the one he missed after all this time, the strength he exerts when he hugs him, and that scent. There could be no other than that person.
Tears rolled down his cheeks, slowly dripping onto the ground. "... I missed you so much," he said to the person behind him.
"Mm... I missed you too," Mafu felt him kiss his neck, where the mark was. "Sorry for making you wait after so long,"
Mafu shook his head, reaching his right hand to the back so that he could feel that dark fluffy hair of his favourite person's. He leaned his head against his as he tangled his fingers in the latter's hair. "Didn't you have your memories erased?" even though he would like to do things couples do with him, Mafu knew that that would have to wait. He had been waiting for so long, another minute would not hurt.
"A lot happened," Mafu felt the man's lips against his cheek. "It took me a while to get things done back in the spirit world, but everything's alright now," he finished his sentence and buried his face into Mafu's neck. He told Mafu to let them be like this for a while because he apparently needed to charge up his 'Mafumafu meter'.
Mafu did not want to bring up this problem at a time like this, but he felt the need to. He needed to prepare for the worse or he was afraid that he could not handle it mentally when it actually happened. "... When are you leaving again?" he closed his eyes, his fingers were still in Soraru's hair, massaging his scalp.
Soraru lifted his head and placed a kiss on the mark again. "... Mafu..."
"It's okay, you can tell me when it is. I'm fine,"
"Did you know you furrow your brows together when you know that you're actually not going to be fine?" Soraru sighed. "I can't,"
"Why is it that you always can't tell me things?" Mafu turned his body to look at him. Everything about the man did not change. The way his hair curls, the way he stands, the way he looks at him. The only thing different thing about him was that he was not wearing that dark blue yukata that Mafu liked on him anymore and instead was wearing modern clothing; a collared shirt with a dark blue, long sleeved cardigan over it, long pants, and a pair of sneakers. It was refreshing to see him in those.
"I meant I can't go back anymore,"
Mafu only stared at him, at a loss of words.
Soraru smiled at the face Mafu was currently making. It must have looked stupid. "I'm back," he said softly, holding his face in his hands and leaned in. Mafu cupped his hands with his and accepted the kiss that he craved for. Soraru kissed him passionately, parting his mouth open, like how he did the first time they kissed, but he did not insert his tongue into his mouth this time. Mafu whimpered, begging for Soraru to do the thing that makes him feel good but all Soraru did was laugh. Mafu wrapped his arms around Soraru's neck, pulling him down slowly for another until someone came to interrupt them.
"Soraru-san!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaah, Mafu-kun!! I'm so happy for you!"
"Kashitarou-san?! Even Amatsuki-kun?! Why are you guys here?"
"Tch," Mafu heard Soraru click his tongue when the two was walking over to them. Mafu giggled and kissed Soraru on his cheek, telling him to be a good boy and be patient, only to earn a bite on his bottom lip from Soraru after that. And of course, both their friends could not witness what happened since Soraru had his back towards them.
"Soraru-san, you better take good care of Mafu-kun!" Amatsuki patted Soraru on the shoulder. "He's always really clumsy and awkward with a lot of things, so if anything were to happen to him I wouldn't hold back even if it were you, okay?"
"Stop it, Amatsuki-kun! It's embarrassing when you act like my mom," Mafu hid his flushed face in Soraru's chest.
Kashitarou stood beside Soraru. "So I'll only be able to see you here from now on?"
"Yeah," Soraru nodded, his eyes not on Kashitarou, he was too busy looking at the blushing Mafu in his arms.
"It's going to get lonely there after you're gone,"
Soraru smiled. "Send my greetings to the King for me if you're going back there,"
"Will do," Kashitarou hit him on the back. "It's getting dark. It's time to go, Amatsuki-kun! You guys should too,"
When Amatsuki and Kashitarou were ready to leave the park and once they were in a distance, Mafu glanced up at Soraru, still hanging his arms on Soraru's neck. He suddenly thought about something. "Amatsuki-kun and Kashitarou-san told me that there was a meaning to the marks left by spirits. So what does mine mean?"
"After all this while and you never tried guessing what it meant?" Soraru pouted, his hands were on Mafu's waist, pinching the extra fats on his waist in between his fingers. "Mafumafu-san, Soraru-san is disappointed in you,"
"Wha-! That's a red card! And don't pinch me!" Mafu exclaimed, puffing his cheeks, imitating a referee on a football field, handing out red cards to players who broke the rules. "Even if you acted adorable there, Mafumafu-san is not going to-"
"Going to?" tilting his head to the other side, Soraru stared at him.
"Nn.... That's unfair, Soraru-san..."
"Are you sure you don't know?" He waited for Mafu to nod before he let out his breath. "Love," Soraru said.
That was it? "Love?"
"You're really making me say all of these?" Soraru sighed out of frustration. "A love that I have lost,"
"But that's not the end to it," He lowered his head, right beside Mafu's ear, he whispered, "A lost love that I would do anything to come back for," Soraru watched as the tip of Mafu's ears reddened.
"What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure, Mafumafu-san," Soraru rested his forehead on Mafu's. "You tell me about it,"
"I hate it when you call me 'Mafumafu-san'," Mafu puckered his lips, showing his dissatisfaction but Soraru dropped a kiss on it when he did that.
"Even though you know you like it?"
"... Idiot!"
Soraru let out a low chuckle at Mafu's reaction towards everything he said.
"Soraru-san,"
"Hmm?"
Mafu stood tiptoed, and touched Soraru's lips with his, beaming a smile at him after that.
"Welcome back!"
Side M. END
A/N: This was to heal my mentality that I have injured in my previous chapter. The next would be on Soraru's perspective!