Chapter 72 - ♥ Yellow Ribbon ♥

Hinata kept silent company as Rika drove the dirt roads up a mountain side. His attention caught the fleeting sight of yellow flowers along the road side. He felt the faded yellow ribbon tied to his hair.  A promise he had made with Eiji surfaced to his mind. 

It was made during summer the year before.

They had settled into their new home in Mimaki about the time the local shrine was holding a summer festival.

A lot of families had gathered to celebrate and enjoy a treasured moment before their men left for war. 

A lasting scent of morning glory was carried on warm winds, which gently stirred through a milling crowd of young children tugging their mothers kimono's for treats, or running around carefree between elegant women in bright floral kimono's, charming men in manly yukata's or dressed in their uniforms ready for war.

Swaying high in the warm night air were strings of festive coloured lanterns. Running rows along many box stalls.

The lanterns formed a procession towards the steps of the main worship area where offerings were given. 

Hinata and Eiji had given their offerings together and placed their ema with Okamisama. 

The mood was light, pleasant and comfortable as they strolled through the crowds to see each stall that were either selling food, trinkets or fun with side-show games. 

It was sweetened with children's laughter or young love being treasured or discovered with fervent gestures, hand holding or cuddles.

Hinata experienced euphoria as he strolled side-by-side with Eiji in matching blue yukata's, with the clacking of their geta's making the same rhythm along the pavement.

They had played some of the games, shared yakisoba on a step beneath the waxing moonlight, and scooped for goldfish. A skill Eiji mastered. 

Hinata carried his bag of orange goldfish with care to make sure it would stay alive. The bag had been sealed with a bright yellow ribbon for that extra touch.

"Hina-chan. Come." Eiji had said when he led Hinata away from the main activity.

They had wandered out of the shrine grounds and entered the sunflower meadows that ran into the fields of their backyard.  

"Where we're going?" Hinata frowned, concerned they were going to lose their way amongst the tall stalks that concealed their presence from the moonlight. 

Eiji held Hinata's hand tighter as they continued their trek closer towards their home.

He led them up a path to a discreet clearing in the woods, where the moon beamed brightly over a rock crop that they could sit on.

They sat on the rocks, snuggling close to each other.

The sky was clear and high above the trees with the warm breeze playing through their hair. 

Hinata frowned when he realized that his own hair had grown almost past his shoulders. 

"Oh dear. I need a cut." He examined his long tufts. 

"Your hair is beautiful. I like it long." Eiji dreamily ran his fingers through Hinata's hair. Drawing him into a tender kiss. 

Hinata swooned and eased into Eiji's embrace. If only this moment could last forever. They both knew that tomorrow was another day close to when Eiji had to return to war.

Hinata didn't understand why. Eiji had finished his term with the navy, and with honours. Why re-enlist? 

"Why do you have to go back to war?" Hinata whispered to Eiji's chest.

"We need the money. Japan needs soldiers." Eiji's voice was deep and heavy against Hinata's ears.

"Please don't go Eiji-san. You don't have to." 

Hinata lifted his face to met Eiji's eyes. 

"My Hinata. My beautiful Hina-chan." Eiji answered. He gave the rest of his answer with kisses. 

Their kisses deepened into a moment of intense passion as they made love beneath the moonlight. Absorbing each other's heat and energy to move as one. The winds' warmth had stroked and enveloped their naked skin like the soft touch of a down blanket. 

Something had plopped the ground.

Hinata had panicked when he felt his feet wet and saw that the bag of goldfish had fallen to the ground. It had smashed open. The poor fish was exposed to air and struggling to breathe.

"Oh no! Eiji-san! We have to do something."

Hinata hastily redressed and searched the area for water. They were too far inland and away from a brook or stream. The water had rapidly absorbed into the soild. The fish's frantic flapping had slowed. It became still. 

Hinata dropped on all fours over the small creature. Tears fell from his eyes, dropping on the orange scales of the fish's lifeless body.  He let out his tears with hope that his water could revive it. It wasn't moving. Its colour was already fading.

A horrible feeling came upon Hinata's heart. A fear that Eiji might not be able to return from war. 

"Don't go Eiji-san. I beg you." Hinata's voice quivered. 

Eiji sighed. He calmly redressed and helped Hinata sit back down on the rock.

"I'll bury it. We'll say a pray to Okamisama for its safe journey to the underworld." 

He picked up a stick, dug a hole and buried the tiny fish that was well and truly on its path to the after life. 

They said a heartfelt pray to their god for the fish's safe journey to a happier place. 

Eiji bent down and picked up the yellow ribbon that had been lying haphazardly near the broken bag. He didn't know what he could say that could reassure Hinata of his safe return. His last return was more luck than surviving by skill. 

"Eiji-san. WIll you make me a promise that you'll come home?" Hinata whispered.

Eiji stared at the ribbon with a determined heart. No matter what. He had to return to Hinata. What was the point of fighting the war if he couldn't return home to the one he loved?

He resumed his spot next to Hinata with the ribbon laid out across his lap. Hinata rested his head to his shoulder. A moment of silent thought came between them. 

"I know. Let this ribbon be my promise to you." Eiji said. 

He cleaned and dried the ribbon on his yukata then had Hinata sit up. 

"Wrap this ribbon in your hair every day." He said as he tenderly gathered Hinata's silk strands in his hands and tied the ribbon to his hair.  "When I return to you, I'll untie it from your hair. Then you'll know that I am home."

Tears welled in Hinata's eyes as he felt Eiji's touch from the ribbon within his hair.

"I'll take that promise." He sealed the promise with a kiss. 

With their promises set beneath the moonlight, they made their way back to their home.

Eiji held Hinata all night, repeatedly binding his promise to the ribbon.