Akaya sat in the waiting lounge, anxious to get on the plane. Sure, it was hard for him, leaving Japan and every one of his friends...but he had to do it, to escape from the past. No, he wouldnt be able to start a new life here....some things were just too haunting to forget. He then remembered the brief conversation he had with Akane 4 days ago....

[flashback]

Akane : .....you're leaving?
Akaya : .....so you heard as well
Akane : well....sure...everyone heard...
Akaya : .......
Akane : mind if i ask.....why..
Akaya : to forget everything....everything that has happened....to start anew, you know?
Akane : but...it's just the same.....
Akaya : same as what?
Akane : same as running away !!! you're just running away from everything that you dont want to deal with !!
Akaya : ...i have to do this
Akane : no !!! you have a choice...you can stay here and deal with everything that has happened..but instead you're just escaping it all...like a coward! i thought you were braver than that....
Akaya : what do YOU know??? how do YOU know what it's like to be abused and put in danger like that? how do you know what is feels like...
Akane : i know the Akaya i fell in love with wasnt like this !
Akaya : well maybe it's because the Akaya you loved isnt me....at least not anymore

[/flashback]

he didnt mean it...he really didnt. deep down inside he regretted it...but he didnt want her to hurt for him. he thought that if he just made her hate him...then it would be alright. She wouldnt feel sad about him leaving and she can just continue on with her life in peace. 'It's for the best,' he thought...over and over again to convince himself.....

"Akaya......"

He looked up and, to his surprise, there she was. He could never leave her just like that....

"You came......"
"Well...you didnt think i would let you leave without saying goodbye would you?"
"You didnt think that i would leave without saying goodbye, did you?"
"Well...judging by the look of things it says that you were pretty set on doing just that..."

Akaya : I'm sorry.......
Akane : For what?
Akaya : For what i said the other day....i really didnt mean it
Akane : It's o.....

Before she got to finish her sentence, Akaya stood up and hugged her...and it wasnt one of those friend-hugs either....this one just has so much depth and meaning in it.

"I love you," he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. Akane stood stunned, as tears started trickling down her face. She leaned more into Akaya, partially for support.

"Promise to come back to visit?" she managed to whisper in between sobs. "I dont know....England and Japan are pretty far away....." he said.

"Flight 303 to Manchester, now boarding"

"Promise you wont forget me...." she said
"I promise......" and he slowly let go, picked up his belongings and headed for the gate. He didnt look back, because he knew if he did, he would immediately run back to her. Tears ran down his face, and he just let them fall. Suddenly, his phone rang

"I thought guys dont cry easily? xD" read a message on his phone
"Only manly ones......" he sent back and turned off his cellphone as instructed.