Disclaimer: I do not own the song from Final Fantasy X-2, 1000 words.
One Thousand Words
Though a thousand words
Have never been spoken
They’ll fly to you
Crossing over the time and distance holding you
Suspended on silver wings
<[]>
“I’ll be leaving now. Are you sure you want to stay here for a bit longer?”
The short girl turned around in her seat, smiling at the teacher as he stood in the doorway.
“Hai, sensei. Please don’t worry. I won’t be here for much longer.” She answered, nodding her head. Her sensei hesitated for a moment, before shrugging and letting the girl do as she pleased. He slid the door shut behind him, leaving her alone in the music room.
A small smile tugged at her lips, as she seated herself in front of the grand piano.
<[]>
Pok.
Pok.
Pok.
“Niou! Stop goofing off! Run 10 laps!” Sanada ordered, his stern eyes following the trickster. Niou sighed, saluting his vice-captain.
“Hai, hai.” He answered, breaking off into a slow jog. Suddenly, everyone in the tennis courts heard a soft melody playing, and turned their attention up to the window that was opened on the first floor. Many of the regulars and members of the club gravitated towards it, entranced by the beautiful melody. Sanada followed them, purely out of curiosity.
<[]>
“And a thousand words, one thousand confessions, will cradle you, making all of the pain you feel seem far away. They’ll hold you forever~”
The melody stopped suddenly, and the tennis players blinked in confusion. Someone behind the piano began fussing with papers, and they could hear the scratching of a pencil and mutters.
Sanada decided this was cutting into practice time, and would not be tolerated.
“Excuse me.” His voice boomed inside the music room. There was a slight echo, which made it sound much louder than it was supposed to be. The girl behind the piano jolted, and everyone could see papers fly and a pencil hit her on the head.
“Itai~” she groaned. A slim hand reached upwards to rub the aching spot, and she peeked her head out to see who had spoken. Her eyes blinked in surprise as she saw a bunch of tennis uniforms outside the window. “Ano…can I help you?” She asked, standing up to get a better look.
Her hair was short and brown, falling a little below her chin. There was a clip of some sort pushing aside her semi-long bangs to the right, and you could clearly see her large, purple eyes. She was pale, petite, and short.
“Yes. Your music is disturbing our practice.” Sanada said. She blinked in surprise, looking at all the club members surrounding him. Bringing her hand up to her mouth, she bowed.
“Oh, gomen nasai.” She apologized. “I’ll close the window. Will that help?” She asked. Sanada nodded in satisfaction.
“Yes, that will be fine. Thank you for your cooperation.” He said, before ordering all the members to run 20 laps because they slacked off. Sanada stood by the window as the club members jogged off. The girl made her way to the window, her head nodding slightly.
“Sorry about that.” She said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. “Its just really hot today, and I wanted the air in the music room to circulate. I didn’t think it would affect your practice. I’m really sorry.” She apologized again, bowing. Sanada shook his head.
“Its fine. They’re idiots for getting distracted in the first place.” He told her, even though he was curious about the music himself. She laughed, holding her hands behind her as she balanced on the back of her heels.
“Well I don’t blame them.” She giggled. “Everyone tells me my music is ‘hypnotic’. I really don’t believe them, but what can you do?” She asked, and Sanada blinked impassively. She suddenly lost her balance, falling back and hitting the floor with a ‘thud’. Sanada leaned over the window, looking down at her to see a flash of white beneath her uniform skirt. He blushed slightly, but it vanished as soon as he had it.
“Daijoubu ka?” He asked her as she sat up. The girl giggled, nodding and sticking her tongue out.
“Daijoubu desu.” She replied. “People also say that I’m incredibly clumsy. And I agree with them 100 percent on that!” She laughed, getting up and sticking her hand out in the customary way of shaking hands. “My name is . I used to live in North America, but my family moved to Japan a couple months ago. Yoroshiku!” Sanada took her hand with a short nod.
“Sanada Genichirou. I’m vice-captain of the tennis club.” He replied. tilted her head to the side, blinking innocently.
“Tennis? Wow! You must work really hard. I could never play a sport. I’m too clumsy.” She babbled, grinning. “So I set my sights on music! Everyone keeps complimenting me on my skills, so I just decided to take it up!” Sanada nodded.
“I see. Do you like composing your own music?” He asked her, gesturing to the scattered papers on the floor. blinked, before laughing and running over to gather them up. When she did, she placed them on the piano and walked back to Sanada.
“It helps pass the time.” She said nonchalantly. “And people seem to really like what I play, so I try my best.” shifted from foot-to-foot, always smiling. “Its really no big deal. There are tons of people who are better than me. I’m just content with excelling at this one thing.”
There was a shout from a regular of the tennis team, and Sanada turned back to nod at the person. He bowed to .
“Please excuse me. I have to get back to practice.” He said, and nodded. She stopped him before he turned to head back though, and her eyes held hope, and a bit of embarrassment.
“Won’t you come back? Maybe to talk some more?” She asked him, and Sanada blinked in surprise. blushed hotly. “Well, you’re a great listener, and you haven’t gotten annoyed at me yet… right? I just want someone to talk to. Please?” Sanada nodded, and she smiled brightly at him. “Arigatou!”
“Betsuni.” He said, before walking off to the tennis courts.
<[]>
“The doctors say I’ll be able to get out as soon as I do the operation. Unfortunately, it has a low chance of success.” Yukimura said, sitting in his hospital bed, as Sanada loomed close. His face was stoic and neutral. He seemed to be okay, but Yukimura knew better. “Sanada? Is everything alright?” He asked. Sanada nodded.
“Of course. Why do you ask?” The blue-haired captain tilted his head.
“You seem… distracted. Did something happen?” Sanada blinked, looking to the wall to reply and say it was nothing, when Niou cut in with a bright smile dancing on his face.
“Sanada-fukubuchou has a girlfriend~”, he sang. His fukubuchou sent him a stern glare, but Niou ignored it. Yukimura seemed to be very interested, and he was more scared of his buchou than his fukubuchou. “Her name is , and she plays the piano!”
Yukimura blinked in surprise, looking to Sanada.
“Sou ka…”
<[]>
“Sanada-san~!”
The vice-captain turned, his tennis bag slung over his shoulder, watching run up towards him. Her school bag was clutched to her chest as she slowed to a stop beside him, ever smiling.
“Ne, ne Sanada-san,” began, her purple eyes looking up to him. “Do you need to go anywhere today?” He shook his head.
“Not that I can think of off the top of my head. Why?” He asked her. smiled brightly, practically bursting with excitement.
“Would you like to go get some ice cream?” She asked him. Sanada blinked.
“Ice cream? I’ve… never really tried it before.” He muttered. ’s eyes shot wide open, and she gaped at him. Her school bag fell to the floor with a ‘thud’.
“‘Never tried it before’?” She exclaimed. Scooping up her bag, and grabbing his hand, dragged him off to the direction of the park. “That’s crazy talk! Everyone’s tried ice cream before! Everyone loves ice cream!” Sanada blinked in surprise.
He allowed her to drag him to the park, heading straight for the ice cream vendor near the sides. There was a sign out front that listed all the different ice creams there were. She stopped in front of the sign, smiling at him and gesturing to all the differently colored ice cream flavors.
“Choose one!” She said. “My favorite is the red bean, but you seem kind of stiff and traditional, so I would recommend the green tea!” Sanada blinked, nodding his head slowly.
“Sure…” He agreed. With a wider smile on her face than before, walked up to the cashier and asked for two ice cream cones, one red bean and one green tea. She was about to pay for it, when a hand stopped her. “Wait. Allow me.” He said, and before she was able to get a word in, Sanada had already handed the cash to the worker.
They were given their ice creams, and made their way to a bench not far from the ice cream stall.
“You didn’t have to pay for mine.” She told him, staring at her red bean with a soft blush. Sanada shook his head.
“Its common courtesy for a man to pay for a woman.” He said, and she blushed deeper.
“W-whatever you say.” She murmured, and he took that as the end of the conversation. Sanada looked at his green ice cream strangely, before taking a lick. And then another, and another, and another. looked at him with curious eyes. “Well?” She asked. He smiled slightly.
“Its good.” He told her, and she whooped with joy.
They sat in silence, eating their ice cream until every last bit was gone and only cone crumbs were left. Sanada turned to her, tossing the napkin he had in the garbage with amazing accuracy.
“-san… may I ask you a question?” She smiled brightly at him.
“You already did, but go ahead.” giggled. Sanada smirked a bit, nodding.
“Could I possibly… listen to you play? Not now, but some day in the future?” He asked. blinked in slight surprise.
“You… want to hear me play a song?” She asked. He nodded, and she smiled. “Of course! I’m working on a song right now, and once I finish it, I’ll let you hear it.” She said, and he nodded.
“Of course. Thank you.” laughed, shaking her head at him.
“No… thank you.”
<[]>
“Concert?”
’s mother nodded excitedly.
“Yes! They’ve asked you to perform there! Isn’t that exciting?”
shifted uncomfortably on her feet.
“But… doesn’t that mean we have to go all the way back to America?”
Her mother waved it off, tittering around the kitchen with a bright smile on her face.
“Oh fiddlesticks! A few airline tickets won’t even come close to all the money we’re being offered! And just think, -chan! You’ll get to see your friends again! I’ve already ordered the tickets, and we’ll be leaving in a week. Okay?”
stood there in shock, her eyes tearing up as she bit her lip to keep from sniffling. Her mother’s face turned soft, and she hugged her daughter.
“Oh -chan. Don’t worry! We’ll be back in no time! They only want us there for a year. That isn’t much! Before you know it, you’ll be back here in Japan. Cheer up, okay?”
The young girl nodded to her parent, shaking away her tears and giving a small smile up to her mother.
“Hai.”
<[]>
“Ah! The year-end exams are so close! I’m going to fail!”
Sanada sighed inwardly, trying to ignore his teammate, Marui Bunta. Instead, he concentrated on his lunch while reading a book beside him. The exams were a week away, so he needed to make sure he was completely prepared. Yanagi Renji was more than prepared, but he was studying too.
A girl came running around the corner, looking in all directions anxiously. The tennis regulars looked at her strangely, and she suddenly spotted Sanada. Brightening, she ran up to him, bowing.
“Sanada-san, ne?” She asked, looking hopeful. Sanada nodded.
“Hai. Can I help you?” He replied. She bowed.
“I’m Sabaku Ayaka, -chan’s best friend.” Sanada’s eyebrow raised in surprise. Her best friend? Then what did she want with the vice-captain of the tennis club? “-chan’s been spending a lot of time with you, and I was just wondering if you knew where she was?” Ayaka’s voice sounded hopeful, and Sanada narrowed his eyes.
“-san? I’m sorry, but I haven’t seen her all day.” He commented. Ayaka’s face only grew more anxious.
“Well, do you know where she might be?” Sanada crossed his arms, looking at her with a stern face.
“Aren’t you her best friend? Shouldn’t you know?” Ayaka pursed her lips, looking down with a saddened expression.
“-chan… ever since we entered junior high, she hasn’t been talking to me as much. Its like… its like she closed herself up. -chan doesn’t tell me anything, she doesn’t come to me for advice, nothing. So… when she started spending time with you, I thought her shell might’ve broken open a little bit.”
Ayaka sighed, scuffing the toe of her shoe against the dirt floor.
“I can see you don’t know where she is. Well… thank you anyways. I’m sorry for taking up all your time.”
The fellow third year bowed, before turning and running away. Renji looked to his vice-caption, tilting his head.
“Sanada-fukubuchou?” He asked. The bell for the end of lunch rang, and Sanada packed his lunch and stood up.
“Let’s go. We have class.”
<[]>
“Sei-kun!”
Yukimura smiled slightly, watching his friend peek through the doorway with a bright smile dancing on her face. She skipped over to his bedside, presenting him with a small box. He raised a brow, taking it gingerly and resting it on his lap.
“Konnichiwa, -chan. What’s this?” He asked her. smiled, gesturing to the box.
“Open it and find out!” She encouraged. He nodded, taking the top flap off and reaching inside to bring out a sketchpad, a pencil, and a box of pencil crayons. blinked innocently.
“I know you like art, so here’s something to do while you’re sitting here bored!” Yukimura smiled at the beaming , and set the gifts on the night table beside the hospital bed.
“Arigatou, -chan. You are too kind. Now, was there something you wanted to talk about?” blinked, her eyes widening. Yukimura laughed slightly. He reached out, patting her on the head and ruffling her hair. “You didn’t think I knew something was wrong? -chan, you know you can never fool me. Never.” He gestured to the chair beside his bed. “Now sit, and tell me what’s bothering you.”
sighed, plopping down in the seat.
<[]>
For the past three days, Sanada began to notice the lack of a certain , and wondered just where she was. He talked to her teacher, and found out she had been absent for the past few days. It made him worry, so he went to the only person he could.
“Sabaku Ayaka, ne?”
The girl turned around, blinking shockingly as she looked up at her towering schoolmate. Her various friends began to whisper and gush excitedly, wondering why the handsome vice-captain was talking to their friend.
“Ah… hai. Can I help you?” Ayaka asked. Sanada nodded.
“I would like to speak to you in private, if I may?” He glanced at the other girls, and they all pushed Ayaka forward, giggling like mad. Ayaka blushed, slapping their hands away.
“Of course.” She said, following him a ways off. “Is this about -chan?” Ayaka asked. Sanada nodded.
“She hasn’t been here the past few days, as you’ve noticed,” there was a nod to confirm that. “So I was wondering if you could give me her home address.” Ayaka’s eyes shot open, and her mouth dropped.
“Y-you… want to go visit -chan?” She asked. Sanada nodded, fighting to keep a blush down. Gulping, Ayaka fished out a piece of paper, writing something down on it and handing it to him with pursed lips. “H-here. If you find anything out, please let me know.” The two bowed to each other, before parting ways.
Sanada could faintly hear squeals and giggles as Ayaka made her way back to her other friends.
<[]>
Sanada approached the average-sized house, raising a brow and stepping on the porch to ring the doorbell. He waited for a bit, before the door unlocked and opened. A middle-aged woman had answered the door, and she blinked curiously at him.
“Hai?” She asked. Sanada bowed.
“Excuse me for interrupting. My name is Sanada Genichirou, and I’m here to see -san.” The woman brightened, nodding and gesturing him inside with a giggle. “I see. Well -chan is in her piano room. Follow me.”
She approached a rather thick door, and placed her hand to twist the doorknob. Before that, however, she turned to him and placed a finger to her mouth as if to say ‘be very quiet’, before opening the door. Sanada soon began to hear a melody playing, the music flowing steadily even as he stepped inside, right behind the other woman.
The melody ended suddenly, without a conclusion, and that was when the woman began to speak.
“-chan~! Someone is here to see you!” She said brightly. turned in her seat, smiling.
“Aya-chan?”
Her eyes widened considerably as she saw Sanada standing there, nodding his head to her.
“-san.” He greeted. stood from her seat, walking towards him.
“S-Sanada-san! What are you doing here?” Sanada took a step forward.
“You weren’t at school for three days. I was… wondering if something happened.” It was at this time that ’s mother decided to leave, closing the door quietly behind her. turned around, shifting nervously on her feet.
“A-ah. Sou ka. Well, I’m fine. I’m not sick or anything.” She answered. Sanada took another step forward.
“Then what is it? Are you skipping school? Maybe avoiding me?” She turned around suddenly, shaking her head.
“Chigaimasu!” He blinked at her loud exclamation, and she covered her mouth in embarrassment. “I… I’m not skipping, and definitely not avoiding you!” Sanada narrowed his eyes.
“Then what is it?” looked down at the ground.
“I… can’t say.” She murmured. Sanada sighed inwardly, and walked up to her. She stiffened when he put a hand on her shoulder.
“-san… if you’re in any kind of trouble…” Her head shook negatively.
“I’m fine Sanada-san. I just… have some things to take care of. That’s all. I’ll be back at school tomorrow. I promise.” Sanada’s shoulders relaxed, and he nodded, taking a step back.
“Very well then. I will… see you tomorrow.”
He saw her nod, and turned to leave.
“Sanada-san?”
The vice-captain turned back to look at . She was smiling slightly, with a faint blush on her cheeks.
“Arigatou.”
His cheeks tinted pink.
“I don’t know what you’re thanking me for but… Betsuni.”
<[]>
“-chan!”
The other girl laughed as her best friend tackled her into a hug
“Ohayou, Aya-chan.” She greeted, letting go of the other girl. “Sorry I haven’t been around lately. I had some things to take care of.” Ayaka shook her head, waving it off as she smiled brightly at her best friend.
“I’m just so glad you’re back! I thought something bad had happened to you!” She said. ’s eyes drooped down slightly, and she smiled sadly at her friend. Ayaka felt dread creep into her body. “There isn’t anything wrong… right?” remained silent. “Right?” She asked a little more urgently.
turned her back to her friend, tucking her hands behind her back as she looked off to the side. This wasn’t going to be easy to break to her best friend, and she suspected a bit of denial at first. But to not tell her would be betraying her trust, and would regret doing that all her life.
She turned back, taking Ayaka’s hand with a comforting smile.
“Ayaka-chan… I need to talk to you.”
There was something seriously wrong, Ayaka thought.
Because had never called her anything except Aya-chan before.
<[]>
“Well, I must be going now Yukimura-buchou. Gomen.”
The blue-haired patient smiled at his vice-captain, shaking his head.
“Of course, Sanada-fukubuchou.” Yukimura replied. The black-haired teen turned to head for the door, but was stopped by his captain’s voice. “Chotto matte, Sanada-fukubuchou.” Yukimura reached for something on the night table beside him, and presented it to Sanada. It was a clean, crisp envelope with his name in kanji at the front. “This is for you.”
Blinking, Sanada reached out and took it from Yukimura. There was no indication of who wrote it, and Sanada looked up to his captain in question.
Yukimura merely smiled.
<[]>
Sanada knocked on the door of the music room, holding the note from the envelope in his hand. When he first read it, the contents had shocked him so. And he was unbelieving of the only day he had left with her. Sanada promised to make it work, and make it so amazing she would never forget. Ever.
He waited for a few seconds, before announcing he was going in and slid the door open to step inside.
Sitting, facing him, was at the piano, smiling as she watched him blink in slight surprise.
“-san?”
She nodded her head in greeting.
“Sanada-san.” She said softly, and then gestured to the chair situated beside the piano. Sanada took his seat, and noticed he could see her fingers resting lightly on the keys of the piano as she turned around to play. There were a few seconds of silence, before her fingers began to move smoothly and steadily across the keys, a beautiful melody striking the room and filling Sanada’s ears.
“I know that you're hiding things, using gentle words to shelter me. Your words were like a dream, but dreams could never fool me. Not that easily.”
She smiled softly at him, looking from the corners of her eyes. Sanada allowed a small smile to drift across his face, closing his eyes and listening closely to the lyrics of the song.
“I acted so distant then, didn't say goodbye before you left. But I was listening. You'll fight your battles far from me, far too easily.”
smiled, watching Sanada as his face lit up slightly. As she played, her fingers gliding across the keys of the grand piano, she couldn’t help but agree with all the people who had commented on her talent. Her music really was hypnotic.
“’Save your tears cause I'll come back’, I could hear that you whispered as you walked through that door. But still I swore to hide the pain when I turn back the pages. Shouting might have been the answer. What if I'd cried my eyes out and begged you not to depart? But now I'm not afraid to say what's in my heart.”
Sanada’s eyebrows furrowed as he paid close attention to the lyrics. It was almost like she thought he was leaving her. Or… was it the other way around?
“Though a thousand words have never been spoken. They'll fly to you, crossing over the time and distance holding you. Suspended on silver wings.”
allowed her voice to ascend higher and higher, pouring her heart and soul into the song. This was her last chance before she had to move to America for another year. By that time, he’d have probably forgotten about her. was determined to make sure that when she came back, he would remember.
“And a thousand words, one thousand confessions, will cradle you, making all of the pain you feel seem far away. They'll hold you forever.”
Sanada blinked in astonishment as he saw a single tear slide down her pale face, eyes still closed. It made its way down to her chin, were it finally dripped and landed on one of the keys. Sanada felt the need to reach out and brush the trail of her tear away, but it would break her concentration.
“The dream isn't over yet, though I often say I can't forget. I still relive that day; "You've been there with me all the way", I still hear you say.”
Memories flashed through ’s mind, looking back since the first time she met Sanada two months ago, and all the things she made him try. The one that stood out prominently was the ice cream, as it was the first thing she made him do. She could still feel the warmth of her blush on her cheeks as he paid for her ice cream.
“‘Wait for me I'll write you letters’, I could see how you stood with your eyes to the floor. But still I swore to hide the doubt when I turn back the pages. Anger might have been the answer. What if I'd hung my head and said that I couldn't wait. But now I'm strong enough to know it's not too late.”
The envelope with the letter stood out in Sanada’s mind, and he remembered her rather messy kanji. It made his smile a bit more, and he had an urge to read more of her letters.
“’Cause a thousand words, call out through the ages, they'll fly to you, even though we can't see I know they're reaching you. Suspended on silver wings.”
promised herself she would play this song when she went to America, and she hoped to Kami-sama that it would reach Sanada again all the way back here in Japan. It had to.
“Oh a thousand words, one thousand embraces, will cradle you making all of your weary days seem far away. They'll hold you forever.”
Sanada let his shoulders relax, and the music seemed to brighten up and seem louder. He was always uptight and stoic during the day, so a chance to relax seemed like a tiny bit of heaven. Just like her.
“Oh a thousand words, have never been spoken, they'll fly to you; they'll carry you home and back into my arms. Suspended on silver wings oh… And a thousand words, call out through the ages, they'll cradle you, turning all of the lonely years to only days. They'll hold you forever…”
The melody soon came to a close, and sighed in contentment. Giving her everything for that one performance had never felt so good. Maybe it was because Sanada had wrapped her in his arms, delivering a soft, sweet kiss to her plush lips. Maybe it was how his warmth had woken her body from its trance. Maybe even how they had fallen backwards and onto the floor, laughing like there was no tomorrow.
Just maybe.
<[Owari]>
©Snowflake