Part 7

When I woke up with Yuki nuzzled into my chest, it was a pleasant feeling. To wake up with the love of your life, clinging to you, in his most innocent state, is a blessing. His eyelashes fluttered for a moment, a breath sucking through his lips as he moved closer to me, small fingers brushing against my bare back and pulling us closer.

I allowed my eyes to shut for a moment, breathing in Yuki's sweet, fresh smell, but I couldn't live in bliss for too long.

I nuzzled my nose in his hair and kissed his forehead. "Yuki..."

"Nnnh... Natsuki..." Yuki mumbled, tightening his grip on me. My heart melted at how adorable he was, tucking his head into my neck, wanting to close all distance between us. I felt the same, but sadly, time said otherwise.

"Yuki, we have to get up..." I whispered, stroking his hair gently and playing with the vibrant red strands. They were so soft...

"... don't wanna..." he grumbled, but I ruffled his hair and sat up. His arms clung to me but then fell away limply, and he shivered. I smiled at him as he opened his eyes slowly, blinking them. Those beautiful silver eyes focused on me and he smiled, his eyes falling shut again before he sat up as well. I grabbed my glasses from the nightstand and set them on my face, seeing everything more clearly now. Yuki yawned and stretched, then turned to me groggily. I smiled a little at him, but I could feel my heart sinking.

Yuki seemed to notice, and a small frown set on his face. He was silent, and then he scooted closer, resting his head on my shoulder. I sighed, letting him cuddle me for a moment before he announced he was taking a shower. I nodded, letting him go. I didn't need a shower until I got back from driving Yuki to the airport.

The airport...

I swallowed the lump in my throat and got out of bed, throwing on a t-shirt and shorts before going into the kitchen and whipping up some fast pancakes. By the time they were warm, Yuki came out of the bathroom, wearing a blue striped shirt that covered his hands. He looked precious as he ate the pancakes, sending smiles my way every few moments and kicking his feet like a little kid.

I would have enjoyed it more if he didn't have to leave today. If I stopped thinking about it, I would have laughed with him. But I only could manage the smallest of smiles, my heart throbbing in pain because I would have to let him go again.

His flight left at 1:45 p.m. It was time to go already, I realized as Yuki was packing his clothes and gathering his things. Of course he was excited to go home, vacations had to end at some point, but I could tell that the shade of his eyes was darker and heavy. Those normally bright, cloud-like silver eyes were heavy like iron.

I tossed his bags in the car and started the engine, and before Yuki got in the car, I grabbed his wrist. He turned to look at me, and I pulled him close, pressing our bodies together tight.

"Natsuki...?"

The chirps of birds surrounded the trees around us, dandelion seeds drifting about the air, a warm breeze rustling the leaves. As if the world wanted to serenade our love...

"I love you, Yuki," I murmured into his hair, "Please don't ever forget that..."

"I love you, too," he responded, and I felt his hands cling to the back of my shirt. I pulled back to kiss him, feeling the softness of his lips and the gentle, cool feeling of his tongue one last time before we had to split our separate ways. When we pulled apart, his eyes shimmered in tears, and I kissed his cheeks.

"It's okay, Yuki," I whispered as a hot tear rolled down his cheek, right where my lips were. I wiped them away with the knuckle of my finger. "You'll come back for me, right?"

"O-of course, stupid," He retorted with a small smile, and I grinned, pulling him close again, letting him cry into my shoulder. His hot tears that spilled on my shirt made my heart shatter, but at the same time I was glad, glad that he cared so much for me. I smiled as tears watered in my eyes, too- I wasn't the only one who loved him this much.

I didn't cry, though. We got in the car and started the drive. I turned off the music, so we just listened to the engine, our hands intertwined.

It was a very silent 5 hours, but it went by too fast.

When the car stopped in front of the airport and I got out of the car, every step felt like stone. I opened the trunk and pulled out his bags, setting them on the sidewalk to the airport doors. I closed the trunk and turned to Yuki for the first time in a few hours. I wasn't able to look at him in the face since we left the cabin, but now, our eyes locked, and it was like all the busy sounds of cars and people faded away. I stepped closer, not caring about everyone else and placed my hand on his cheek, brushing over it with my thumb, feeling his dried tears.

I leaned forward and kissed him, briefly on the lips, just long enough for two or three heartbeats. When I pulled away, his eyes were closed, and he didn't open them for a moment. I stared at him, and when his eyes opened again, I spoke.

"I love you, Yuki." The words made my stomach drop, my jaw heavy like steel. I didn't want to let him go...

Yuki stared at me, his eyes searching mine, and he smiled, a small smile- but it was so truthful. I could tell from his eyes. He was sad, just as sad as I was, but when he responded, "I love you, too, Natsuki..." he was happy. I felt my heart warm a little bit, for just that moment, and I managed to smile back.

The connection broke. Yuki turned away, fingers wrapping tightly around the handle of his bag, and he disappeared in the crowd, his red hair swallowed up by shades of gray.

My body moved on its own, back into the truck. It mechanically drove me back, it turned up the music, and I may have been singing, I may have been thinking that Yuki was still in the seat next to me. His smell still stuck to my nose- that sweet smell of ocean breeze mixed with a gentle sugary cinnamon...

But when I got home and dropped my keys on the counter, a cord snapped inside of me.

I heard my breath hitch before I fell to my knees, and I began sobbing into my hands, the tears gushing out of me like someone kicked me so hard in the stomach that I lost the ability to breath.

"Y-Yuki... Yuki!" I screamed out, hearing my voice echo in the room, and I let it all out. Disgusting, strangled wails, sobs, cries, heart-wrenching whimpers. And when it was all over, I staggered up onto my feet, gripping the couch for support, hanging my head in defeat.

Despite my sniffling, I realized how quiet it was inside.

For comfort, I went out onto the dock of the lake, my feet numb and automatic, my hands limp, my heart searing with pain. I sat down on the edge, running my hands through my hair and wiping away the tears.

The tears that escaped dropped into the lake, sending ripples in the water, disarranging my reflection. I blinked down at myself, sniffing pathetically. I wanted to see that bright red hair next to me, I wanted to feel his hand in mine...

I ended up sitting out there for hours, softly crying and staring at the lake, watching the sun sink, on the other side of the earth, where Yuki was...

... and I was right.

My phone buzzed on the deck next to me, and I jerked out of my trance, that familiar anticipation making my heart skip in my chest as I noticed Yuki's name on the screen. Before, this is what I'd wait for. Now, I waited for him to come back...

... nevertheless, I answered, trying not to sound like I was crying for 2 hours.

"Hello, dear," I said into the phone, and I heard a small laugh, that laugh Yuki makes when he smiles.

"I'm back in Enoshima," he responded. "I just thought I'd let you know I landed safely." I smiled a bit, his voice soothing me, even if he wasn't here, it counted as something...

"Good," I murmured, wanting to nuzzle his hair. "It's... it's really lonely here without you." I heard a small silence on the other end before Yuki spoke.

"I promise," he said. And I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Promise what?"

"That I will be there with you again soon," Yuki continued. "I will live there with you, Natsuki... you are my home."

Ah... that's right. He didn't say he was home when I picked up. He called it 'Enoshima'... he's always called Enoshima his home.

"Yuki..."

"I love you, Natsuki," He whispered. "I really love you. Please, wait for me. I will be by your side every day, soon. I promise." A smile broke across my face, and I felt another tear roll down my cheek, except, it wasn't a tear of loss...

... it was a tear of love. Joy, happiness, relief.

"I'll wait for you forever, Yuki..."

I heard a small laugh, signaling his genuine smile before he said goodbye. I set down the phone, gazing up at the stars. The moon shone at me, and I managed a smile.

"I love you, Yuki," I whispered to the lake and the sky, the stars and moon. "I always, always will."

A/N: And we are finished!

Wow. I just wanted to thank everyone who read this story, really. I wasn't really trying too hard to make this, it was a result of boredom and inspiration from my cabin home. I kinda rushed this last chapter but at least I made it super cheesy.

I mentioned a Part 2 with Yuki's POV, coming to visit in the wintertime and I probably will follow through with it :] So keep an eye out for that someday if you want to see what they do for the next week together (with more sex because clearly they were pent up while they were separated ;p).

It's been almost a year since Tsuritama aired ;A; so precious. A great show. Hey, if you want a gay fish thing, watch Kono Danshi Ningyo Hiroimashita - it's an OVA about a boy named Shima who gets saved by a Merman named Isaki. The animation is seriously breathtaking and it made me cry for how short it is. It's amazing and I may be writing a fanfic about them so yes! It'd be amazing if more yaoi-loving Tsuritama fans watched that OVA because it is just outstanding, it is a masterpiece x3 And if you like it, go search for Robatica*Robotics, the same animator made that- it's a 10 minute animation and it's about two robots who want to know about love. I'm suggesting it because the main character is a blondie named Haru and the other character is a black-haired glasses guy named Natsu. Get it? Haru, Natsuki? It's so weird owo But it's also bittersweet, very sad but beautiful.

Anyways enough of my rambling! Thanks for the love and support everyone.