Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Chapter 02: A girl in a Yellow coat.

"When his beyblade slowed down, that's when I attacked Papa!" Kane told the story while the tall man walking next to him, hand to hand, smiled in response.

"And I won! Everyone was so happy! It was the best day Papa!" he finished, a little breathless from talking and walking at the same time, but Kane didn't care. For today was the day that his father finally gets a day off from his work due to Christmas. And that too for the entire day! No more interruptions, no more late meetings. Best of all, he would be spending most of his time with him.
Kane couldn't be any happier.

"That's great! I am so proud of you Kane san" Mr Yamashita smiled.
"Really?" Kane asked shyly.
"Yes"

His father suggested that they should visit a park. Kane didn't mind. There were plenty of beydishes there. This was indeed a fine chance to show off his skills.

They finally reached the park. People were there alright, but it wasn't crowded. If anything, it only made the place appear lively. Old couples were walking carefully on the bricked path while children played in the last night snow which still laid fresh on the ground in layers for miles. There were stalls that were selling hot tea and roasted almonds, perfuming the entire area with its enticing aroma. A little further away, there was a river, now frozen in a perfect oval shaped ice rink, where youngsters skated gracefully on its surface, twirling and spinning like ribbons unraveling from the spools.

"Kane san! Slow down" His father requested as the dark blue haired midget raced down the hills.
"Hurry up Papa!"

Despite it snowed last night, the beydishes were empty of frost. Someone must have cleaned it up. All the better.
The area at the moment was empty but that could be due to children occupied in other things.

Kane strode towards the beydish of neon green color. His father came a minute later, huffing "You are making your man old, Kane" he laughed.

The boy only grinned in response. He dug into his coat pockets for a beyblade and ripcord, setting it into launcher.
"Ready Papa!"
"Go Kane!" He whooped, raising his fist in air and settling down in a nearby bench.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Kane positioned himself. This was it. This was moment where his father will finally see his beybladying. This will be where his father would be proud of him as his son.

Counting to three, he pulled the rip-cord, yelling with gusto "LET IT RIP!"

The beyblade shot forward like a javelin, landing lightly on the surface before hurtling ahead and spinning in tight circles around the dish.
The launch was perfect!

"Papa! Papa! Did you see?!" Kane shouted excitedly.

When no answer came, he turned around only to see that no one was sitting on the bench. Kane started panicking.
He didn't have to look afar. His father was standing behind bushes and was talking to someone on the phone. By the looks of it, it seemed important.

He knew well enough not to disturb him but Kane couldn't help but feel sad and a little resentful. It was always like this. His father was always busy. He wouldn't be there to pick him up from school. He wouldn't be there to play with him or help him in doing his homework. Heck he wouldn't be there to read stories to him when it's bedtime.

"Honey, he's doing this for all of us. It's not like he has a choice" His mother kindly explained to him while combing his midnight blue hair.

But Kane wasn't asking for much. He just wanted to spend a little bit of time with his Papa from the whole day.

He sighed.
'It's like I am not even there' he thought as he trudged his way towards the beydish. The beyblade was lying there like a tossed away stone. The sight was a mocking one. Kane flung his launcher away, not caring where it landed. The object clattered nosily against the plastic, the sound ringing ominously.

The boy now sat in a bench, bringing his legs up and resting his head on knees caps. This was turning into a sour Christmas and he wants it to be over already.

It was quiet until someone spoke "Hello"

Kane quickly sniffed and rubbed his eyes to hide the evidence of crying before looking up.

Red. He saw red then yellow. Too bright.

Blinking twice, he saw it was a girl, around his age. She was wearing a sunny yellow coat with a matching hat along with tiny black boots. But that's what caught his attention.
It was her hair. It was of vivid shade of red, one he never came across. Perhaps in his set of crayons, but in hair? Never.

The girl smiled before waving the objects held in her gloved hands "You dropped this"

Kane saw what she was referring to and turned away, muttering "They aren't mine"
At this the girl raised her eyebrows "Are you sure? Because I saw you playing with them a moment ago…"

The boy shrugged and looked away, indicating subtly that he wasn't mood for talking. But the little girl had other ideas. She sat beside him, swinging her short legs back and forth whilst rotating the beyblade in her hands.

"Why were you crying?"
"I wasn't crying"
"Your nose is red"
"So is your hair"

The girl huffed, dragging her cap down to hide her fringes. The last thing she wants is to be laughed at her hair.

"My name is Salima, what's yours?"

Such a strange name, the boy thought before answering "Kane"

A laugh bubbled in air "Cane?! As in like the walking stick one?!" And continued to laugh; the sound resembling like little bells.

Kane didn't find anything funny in this "Oh yeah?! Well Salima sound a lot like Salmon! Are you a salmon?! No wait! You actually look like one!"
"I don't Crybaby!" the girl shouted, agitated.
"Wiener!"
"Jerk!"
"Loser!"

They continued to bicker like this until Kane said snidely "I can see why you are alone now. Not only you are weird looking with that hair but you are also mean!"

The moment he said it, Kane knew he had touched the girl's nerve. Salima's bottom lip trembled and her chin wobbled. She was going to start crying any moment now.

Kane became nervous. He didn't mean to do that.

Before he could say anything, the girl slipped down from the bench, shoes sinking in the snow. Keeping the beyblade and launcher on the chair, she marched away, without saying a word.

It became awfully silent after that.
Kane started swinging his legs. When he became tired, he twiddled his thumbs. He looked around. Everywhere was snow and that didn't interest him.

After a while, Kane got up from the bench as well, taking the route pocked by footprints. Just because he doesn't know the person doesn't mean he should be unkind to them. Kane wasn't t raised like that. For all he knew, his parents would throw a fit if they ever come to know that he misbehaved.

He found her. The girl was currently scooping up snow, gathering it a pile and brushing away its edges. By the looks of it, it seemed like she was trying to make a snowman.

While watching her, a truth dawned on him.

She was alone. No parents, no friends by her side. All by herself.

She didn't come to him to return his beyblade. She came…..because like him, she too was lonely. She wanted to befriend him. To have anyone to spend time with because their loved ones couldn't spare some on this blessed day.

Kane became miserable at this revelation. Closing his eyes and then opening them, he braced himself. Be it a stranger or not, but Kane would rather miss his favorite cartoon show than make anyone feel like they were a second priority. For he knows that just how much it sucks.
It makes him wonder how could someone including his father could do that? Kane always made sure that every plush toy was tucked next to him under the blankets so that they wouldn't get cold and also they weren't left out.

Hearing the soft crunch of footsteps, Salima looked up and saw the boy she encountered earlier coming towards her. She became wary instantly but the expression quickly siphoned off when the boy slipped on ice.

"KANE!"

Kane groaned in pain. So much for thinking, at least he should have paid attention before stepping on slush. The fall really hurt!

"Oww"
"Here let me help you" The girl offered her hand. Kane took it and nimbly stood up, dusting the snow from his pants and coat.
"Thanks"

What now? Should he apologize? Kane wondered. After all he was rude to her. But she made fun of his name as well. Fair is fair, right?

Salima solved his dilemma by a suggestion.
"Hm…..Do you want to build a snowman?" she asked in a melodic tune.

Kane then happened to gaze in her eyes. They were of dark purple hue and so pretty.

Fiery hair and spacey eyes, she could be pegged as a bizarre creature, but for once Kane didn't let this get to him. Because he's glad he got some company.

"Sure" He received a dazzling smile in return.

And so the kids played. They build a snowman, sticking some buttons which Salima was carrying in spare for its eyes and smile. They had a snowball fight. It was a draw.
While taking a rest, they talked about their favorite cartoons and their favorite toys. Kane was pleased to find out that Salima knew about beyblades and was quite fond of them.

"But my parents never bought it!" she lamented "They said it's a boy toy!"
"That's stupid!"
"I know!"

Then she added quietly "What wouldn't I give to beyblade…it looks pretty awesome"
Kane perked up this "Hey! I can teach you!"
"What?!"

But the boy didn't wait for an answer as he pulled the girl on her feet, practically dragging her towards the beydish.

"Kane I am not sure about this….." Salima began.
"How you will be if you don't give it a try?!" Kane answered. He reset the launcher, fixing the beyblade on the pad and then inserting the ripcord.

"Here"

Salima hesitated. Then slowly she extended her hand, fingers hovering in the air before wrapping them around the launcher.

"Go on!"
"But but….what if I destroy it?"
"You won't!"

Kane then declared "I believe in you!"

Salima's eyes widened before readying herself. Gulping, she pulled the rip-cord, staggering backwards from the impact "Ahh!"

They watched the beyblade spin in the air but it zoomed towards snow instead of landing on beydish. Salima's shoulders slumped in dismay.

Kane went to fetch it "Let's try it again!"

The next 15 minutes were like this; launching and reloading, launching and reloading until something happened.

"Did you see? Did you see?! The beyblade! It's still spinning!" Salima cried out in joy.

Kane beamed. He was happy for her. She was finally grasping it.
"See?! Told ya you can do it!"

Salima grinned "I am so happy and woah!..."

The beyblade started to zigzag swiftly, almost vanishing from view.

"Kane!" the girl yelled out, eyes darting back and forth to keep up with the beyblade
"Salima focus!"
"I am trying AHHHH!"

The girl got out in a nick of time as the beyblade skidded forward, spiraling in air in breakneck speed before hurtling towards its target.

WHIZZ! SPLAT! And then silence.

The children raced ahead and saw the scene, gasping audibly.

"Oh no! The snowman!"

The ice figurine took the hit, its parts smashed into bits and strewn across everywhere. The head was tossed up ahead while there was visible hole in the body from where the beyblade must have pierced through. The thin branches that were serving as arms were broken in tiny splinters. It wasn't neat.

But despite that, the head was still smiling with its button mouth. And that made them laugh.

Kane and Salima were on their knees, holding their stomach from laughing too much whilst telling each other the headless puns. Soon enough they resumed the snow fight.

Kane was determined to win. He was hiding behind the yew tree, molding the snow in a perfect sphere with his gloved hands. Counting to three, he jumped from his hiding place but found no one.

Where did Salima go?

He didn't have to search far. Salima was running downwards, red hair flying behind her, her yellow coat creating a deep contrast against snow before jumping in the arms of a tall man who spun her around before hugging her.
Kane watched the exchange with awe. It was so beautiful.

'She looks so happy…..i wonder would I be this happy if papa lifts me up like that?'

Kane froze at the thought. He shook his head, turning away now because the sight hurt. And also because she was leaving as well.
He will be alone, once again.

Kane went to retrieve his beyblade until he heard his name called "Kane?"
She was back "Huh?"

The girl didn't say a word as she came closer to him. Indicating silently, she asked for his hand. Kane brought it, highly puzzled now, not sure where this was going.
Salima held his palm, folding his fingers until only the forefinger and the middle one struck out. She did the same thing with her hand as well.

Then slowly she brushed her two fingers with his. Bringing them up towards her lips, she lightly kissed it before tapping them on her closed eyelid.

"There….now we will stay best friends for forever" she murmured.

Kane's eyes widened in amazement. So this was what it was all about. She was sealing a bond, their newly found friendship. He had never seen anything like it and He wasn't sure whether it works or not but it looked really really cool. And how is it supposed to work if you don't return the gesture?!
He copied the movement as well, pecking his fingers and tapping his eyelid.

Salima smiled "Till I see you again"
Kane nodded "Till I see you again"

With that, the girl left, joining her father who was standing a little distance away. Kane watched her go until she was there no more.

A moment later, he heard footsteps. Swerving around, his father emerged from behind the trees, looking fanatic, a panic-stricken expression etched across his face.

"Kane! My boy!" he let out a relieved sigh, rushing forward and hugging his son. Letting him go, he let out a stream of apologies.
"I am so sorry Kane! This was supposed to be our time and I ruined it all! I am so sorry"
"It's okay papa"
"No it's not" Mr Yamashita asserted. Cradling his son's face between his hands, he spoke "You are always waiting for me when it's lunchtime or bedtime for that matter. Despite me not able to make it, you are always there. What did I do to deserve such a great son like you?"

Kane blushed.
"Let me make it up to you. Let's pick up your mother and we will have lunch together. After that, we will go visit the fair!"
"But don't you have an office tomorrow?" Kane asked confusedly.
"Nope. At least for two weeks"
"WHAT?!"

Mr. Yamashita chuckled, picking his boy up and making their way towards the parking lot where their car was parked "My boss was calling me to inform that"
"Wow!"
"Wow indeed!"

So it wasn't a sour Christmas after all, Kane mused. His father practically got a vacation. Plus he made a new friend.

Will he ever meet her again? Or more importantly, will he remember her? Kane couldn't help but wonder.
He didn't have an answer for the first one but he was sure of this; He will never forget that red color of her hair.

The end