PATIENCE


By: rin hatake

(Its 2121 And a new war rages on the Great Russian War troops ran low as the war raged on and more men were getting drafted every second. although it might be the future no one has cars except the army and only a general and lieutenant may acquire these means of transportation.)
Mika walked home naive of what news she was going to get when she arrived. Her tail held in her hands to keep warm as the cool fall wind blew past her soft, cat ears. She opened the door to her small yet cozy house and immediately realized something wasn't right. She ran around the house looking for him until she saw him sitting on the couch with a stern look on his face.
"Haru!" she ran over to him and hugged him tightly. She didn't let go hoping he was going to hug her back like always but he didn't.
"What's wrong?" she said looking up at him still holding on.
He sighed as he pulled her off of him. "I've been drafted"
Those words hit her like a brick. She sat on the couch as she tried to contemplate what she had just heard. "I..i don't understand w…why were you drafted" she asked as she stared at the floor.
"I have no job at the moment and they needed more troops for the war. I got the letter earlier today." He handed her the letter and sat down next to her.
As she read the letter tears started to fall down her face.
"so if you don't go you'll be arrested?" she asked as she folded the letter and looked at him.
"yes...i have to go for at least a year if not more." He replied in a saddened tone.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she fell into haru's arms. He petted her head as a few tears slipped down his face as well. That night was just the beginning.

      Time flew by and soon it had been a month and haru was standing at the door in a camouflage military uniform, his hat held under his arm with mika holding on to him like she always did. He bent over and lightly kissed mika on the lips and walked away.
Mika stood there and watched as the one she loved get in the jeep and drive away with a slim chance of returning home. She stood there until the ringing of the phone brought her back to reality.
"hello" she answered
"mika Jamie got drafted." She heard the girl on the other line say
"Sasha I..."
"why don't you come over here and hang out with me I know haru got drafted too…you don't have to be alone." Sasha interrupted
Mika smiled a weak yet reassuring smile "sure I'll be over soon" she replied as she hung up
She walked outside into the cold chilling air. The wind made her feel so uncomfortable she wanted haru to be with her so much. She got to Sashas and all they did was watch tv and nothing more.
she got home and went straight to bed without even bothering to turn off the lights or anything.
She woke up to the sun shining in her eyes. "was it all just a dream." she wondered as she got up. She walked down stairs. The house was quiet and she was the only one there. "I guess not." She said as she grabbed a muffin and walked over to the couch. She sighed and turned on the TV, which was on the news. "the war still rages on in Russia as more troops are sent to aid the troops in need." The newscaster said with a picture of an American flag behind him. she turned off the TV she didn't want to hear anymore about the war it made her too sad. She decided she was bored of being stuck inside moping around so she decided to go for a walk. That didn't help at all, everywhere she went there were support our troops and army other army signs and bumper stickers. Everything reminded her of haru she hoped he was doing okay
     

"Go check out that side private" a general commanded
"yes sir" haru replied as he slowly snuck through the bushes making sure there were no enemies around. "clear sir"
"lets move" the general commanded as haru's division started to move
'mika please don't worry...i will return.' Haru said in his head as they walked through the brush
Soon it was nighttime and haru's division set up camp for the night.
"Jamie, are you worried about what's going to happen?" haru said to Jamie, who was also in his division, while poking the fire.
"I little but I'm pretty sure we'll be okay" Jamie replied with an unsettling smile
Haru could tell Jamie didn't want to be there as much as he didn't want to be there. for the rest of the night Jamie and haru didn't speak to anyone the rest of the night. Haru just wrote a letter to mika telling her how he was doing. Jamie lay in his bed hoping that he would get through this fast enough and be able to see Sasha again.

     
      Mika walked outside in her pajamas and walked over to the mailbox.
"Junk…junk….junk…junk…" she said as she moved some letters to the back of the pile then her eyes widened "aa…a letter from haru!!" she smiled and ran back into the house and immediately opened the letter

            Dear mika,
It's been rough here we've wandered so many miles I have had a hard time keeping track of what day or month it is. I finally realized it had been 2 months. Jamie is in my division so we have a little fun when we can. We haven't run into the enemy yet and it would be very lucky if we never did but I know that won't happen. I hope you're doing well. I miss you and hope to be coming home to you soon.
Love, haru
P.S. only 10 more months until I see you


She smiled folded up the note and set it on the counter.
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Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months until half a year was up. Mika was back to her normal self (kinda) as she walked through town. The sun was out and she was happy as a person with a boyfriend off to war could be. She couldn't wait for his next letter it was always happy news. she bought her groceries and rushed back home hoping the mail came.  She ran to the mailbox and as she predicted the mail had come, but there was no letter from haru. She started to worry
'what if he's dead' she thought to herself as She started to fret 'maybe I should go over to Sasha's she's always good and comforting me' she walked over to her house but as she got closer she saw a jeep pull up in front of Sasha's house. Two men got out, they were wearing the type of uniform haru wore when he left except they were carrying an American flag folded up in their arms. She guessed what was going to happen and she was right. they walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. In a matter of seconds Sasha opened the door. All mika cools see was the two men hand her the flag and walk away. She cupped her hands over her face and fell to her knees. Mika stood there, eyes widened even though she knew what the news was. She knew that Sasha probably didn't want any company and she wasn't the best at comforting people either. She walked back home walked inside and sat on her couch hoping haru didn't hold the same fate. In a matter of seconds after sitting down the phone rang.
"hello"

"hey mika"

"haru? Oh my god haru! Are you okay"

"I'm fine" he responded in a stern troubled tone "but Jamie he's…"

"Dead…I know"

"How did you know?"

"I went over to Sasha's today when she got the news"

"oh…well we are coming back for his funeral so I'll see you in a couple of days"

"y…you're coming home?"

"Ya but only for a week or two then were going back"

"R-right…o-of course"

"I love you"

"I love you too" she said then hung up

She sighed a sigh of relief but still felt bad for Sasha. Only knowing that she was never going to see her love again.


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3 days later mika woke up to her doorbell ringing. She jumped out of bed and ran to the door. She opened the door and there was haru standing in front of her as if he never left. She threw her arms around him and kissed him on the lips.
"I missed you" she said without releasing him from her grasp.
"I missed you too" he said after he returned the kiss.
They walked inside and immediately mika started making haru something to eat.
"it must have been hard for you" mika said as she grabbed some bread from the fridge
"huh?" he asked in a daze
"Jamie's death…I mean Sasha may know he is dead and all…but you saw it…you saw how it happened…it must have been horrible" she said as she sat down next to him waiting for the toast. She looked at him noticed just a bit of blood on his right cheek and licked it off.
He smiled a small smile but only for a second.
"yeah…in the military you're not supposed to show your feelings so there was nothing I could do if I had shown my feelings and tried to save him I would've put my whole division in danger especially myself." He told her as he stared at the floor. She put her head on his shoulder and a tear fell down her cheek. He then started to scratch her ears as a sign of reassurance (though there was nothing reassuring about it)
In about an hour haru was asleep on the couch with mika asleep on top of him his hand still connected to her ear.

When mika woke up haru was already off the couch.
"Was it all just a dream" she thought to herself as she sat up. She was about to go back to sleep when she heard someone upstairs and in a matter of seconds haru came down the stairs. he was all dressed and clean and ready for the day. He looked over at mika and smiled.
"you sleep a lot you know that" he said with a chuckle

she looked at him with a smile as she pulled her sleeve back over her shoulder.

"I'm going over to Sasha's...I have to give her something." He said as he grabbed a bag off the counter.

"wait I wanna go with you…" she said as she ran upstairs

In a matter of minutes she ran back downstairs in a light blue dress with her tail sticking out from under it. They walked out the door and down the street to Sasha's house without saying a word the whole way. Mika wanted to talk to haru but he looked so serious and sad she didn't want to bother him.

When they got to Sasha's house mika rang the bell and Sasha immediately opened the door. Her eyes were still red from crying earlier.

"hey Sasha" mika said in a cheery way to make Sasha feel better

"oh hi…why are you here?" she asked in-between sniffs

"what can't a girl come over and comfort her friend" she said trying as hard as she could to cheer up her Sasha " actually haru has something for you" she told her as her tone got serious

"oh…well…come on in." she said motioning to them

She shut the door and walked over to the couch.

"so what is it you wanted to give me" she asked haru immediately

"well the last time I talked to Jamie he was writing you a letter and told me he had a surprise for you. When he died I found the letter and a box in his pack. I wanted to give them to you personally." He said as he handed her an envelope and an unwrapped box.

She opened the letter first and read it.



                        Dear Sasha,

                                We've all been doing well. Haru is sitting next to me writing a letter to mika like always. We bumped into the enemy a few times but we all made it out okay some of the division is wounded but I think they'll be alright. We made it pretty far in our mission we are almost past all militia and getting towards the front infantry. I know we'll win we've gotten so far it wouldn't be right to back down now. All I know is that I miss you and hoping I'll be home soon. I know it's only been 5 and a half months but it feels so quick. I know I will be with you soon you just gotta hang in there and not worry. Every day I think of what will happen when I return. I wonder if it will be different or if everything will be the same. But I've finally decided it will be different and here is why (open the box)



She opened the box to find a ring with a pink diamond center stuck in the side of the box was a tiny piece of paper. It said "Sasha will you marry me". She put her hand over her mouth and looked back at the letter.



      When I return we will get married and I will take you to Europe because I know you've always wanted to go. I love you and I will return. Wait for me.

                                        Love Jamie

Tears splashed onto the letter smudging the ink. Sasha sobbed her hand still covering her mouth in shock. mika put her arm around Sasha as she laid her head on Mika's shoulder.



Later that night mika sat on the couch cuddled with haru watching TV.

"Haru" mika soon said, he looked down at her.

"I feel bad leaving Sasha all alone can she stay here" she looked up at him with big eyes

He smirked "okay I'll go get her." he got up grabbed his coat and walked out the door

"I'll be back in a little…you wait here I don't want you to get wet" he said before he closed the door

It only took mika a couple minutes to realize she wanted to go as well. She jumped up and ran out the door into the rain in matter of seconds.



Haru rang the doorbell but no one answered. He knew she was home so he let himself in.

"Sasha?!!?" he yelled into the house…no reply

He walked around the house opening doors yelling her name until he found her in her room with a knife at her throat and tears streaming down her cheeks. He ran over and grabbed the knife from her hand making her stumble over and fall on the floor.

"what do you think you're doing" he barked at her

"I can't take it…I miss him so much" she sobbed still on the floor

"your stronger than this" he told her while grabbing her face and pulling it towards him "look at me..do you really think suicide is what he would've wanted…don't do this to yourself..It may be hard to cope with it…it was hard for me as well I'm still coping…But that doesn't mean I'm going to give up. Live your life for you and for him, mika and I are here for you…here come on" he held out his hand to help here onto her feet. She grabbed his hand and stood up.

"come on your staying with us" she said as he walked over to the door. When he turned around mika was standing in the doorway soaking wet crying.

"mika what are doing here" haru asked wiping the tears from her face "did you walk all the way here"

"I came here because I wanted to be there for Sasha" she stuttered "but…for some reason I can't stop crying"

Haru hugged her and her eyes widened and then softened. The hug she craved for so long she finally got, it made her so happy.

He got in the car with Mika and Sasha and drove home. When they walked inside he immediately went and grabbed a towel and some sheets. He put the towel on the side table and made Sasha a bed. He grabbed the towel and walked over to mika and started to dry off her head. He didn't say a word the whole time while drying her off and mika just sat there worried that she made him angry by disobeying him. he pulled off the towel and set it down on the counter.

"We should all go to bed it's late, and the funeral is tomorrow" he said as he started to walk up the stairs.

"Umm…Sasha do you want anything." mika asked trying to stall herself from going upstairs

"No I'm okay" Sasha said as she closed her eyes

"Mika are you coming" she heard haru yell from upstairs.

"Uhh…yes" she said as she turned off the last light and went upstairs



As the bright sun glimmered off the snow at the graveyard mika Sasha haru and the rest of haru's division stood around the casket while a 21-gun salute fired behind them. Mika looked around at the sadness emitting off of everyone. She looked over at haru, who had to stand with his division and salute the lowering of the coffin; he looked back at her with a serious but sad look. When the ceremony was over haru mika and Sasha stayed there even after everyone left.

"I think we should go its getting dark." mika said to Sasha as she stared at the grave of her dead boyfriend.

"Yeah" she replied without taking her eyes off the grave.

After that time flew by extremely fast and soon haru was to going back to Russia. Mika stood at the door and kissed him goodbye for the second time as she cried in his arms. As he walked away she pray that he did not hold the same fate as Jamie. She walked back inside and went back to bed.

haru's plane soon landed in Russia and he got off at the familiar area he had been when he was with Jamie. Sadness started to show as he thought of how tough the rest of the year would be without him. He walked over to the camp where his division was and sat down. It was already midnight there so he sat by the fire thought about mika. He though about how things were going to be so different when he returned nothing was going to be the same, it already felt different too he had no one to talk to for 5 months now it was going to be tough all he wanted to do was get it over with.

"men we're heading out." Haru woke up to his commanding officer's voice yelling through each tent.

Soon everyone was following the commander as they walked through the forest. Haru still could not stop thinking about mika and how she was doing.



  Mika sat on the couch next to Sasha a huge bowl of ice cream right next to her with a random show on television. She would most likely be getting her mail right now in hopes of a letter from Haru problem is she's asleep. She laid there, a blanket up to her nose with Sasha next to her. They both were fast asleep on the couch at 3 pm only because of what happened the past week.
Mika soon rubbed her eyes as she woke up. She got up off the couch and went to get a snack after realizing what was in her bowl was no longer ice cream but soup. She grabbed a carrot and sat back down next to the sleeping Persian cat. She grabbed the remote and changed the TV channels until she found something she liked. She pulled the blanket up to her chest laid back down and watched TV.

"when did you wake up" Sasha asked as she sat up and rubbed her eye

"only about a couple minutes ago" mika replied without taking her eyes off the screen

For the rest of the day they ate slept and watched TV

Almost five months have past and the yearly agreement was almost up. The troops had gotten past the front infantry and were heading into the main fight. Haru only had one more objective until he was done. He had to deliver a letter to the general telling him the real war had just begun and that they had broken through front infantry. When he arrived back in the U.S he immediately ran over to the headquarters and delivered the letter. The general immediately thank him and relieved haru of his duties. As haru walked back to his house, a spy for the Russian embassy thinking that haru was still with the military attacked haru first shooting him (which he dodged) then stabbing him in the shoulder with a switch blade.

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Mika not knowing haru was returning was asleep next to Sasha on the couch with the blanket, clenched in her hands, lying on her chest. Haru stumbled through the door of his house clenching his shoulder and leaving a trail of blood all the way upstairs. When he got to his room he fell to the floor from lightheadedness. Mika heard the thump from upstairs and immediately woke up she got up from the couch and walked over to the stairs where she saw the trail of blood and bloody footprints. She immedialty knew it was haru, from the footprints and of course the smell of his body. She ran up the stairs leaving Sasha to her sleeping. As she got to haru's door she noticed it wasn't all the way closed she peered through just incase. There was haru sitting on the floor with a knife in his shoulder. He grabbed the knife and pulled it out of his arm. The pain immediately ran through him like a bolt of lightning. He grabbed his shoulder right a mika opened the door.
"haru?' she said as he turned around and looked at her. "oh my god haru your hurt"

"it's…….it's nothing…..really…..i-I'm fine" he said through the pain and short

She ran over to him and moved his hand. The wound was deeper than she thought. Blood was trickling down his as he tried to move it.
"You’re losing a lot of blood. I'll go get some bandages." She ran out of the room and in a couple of minutes she came back with a towel bandages and a bowl of hot water. Haru looked even worse than he did when she left. She quickly cleaned his wound as best she could and wrapped his shoulder. She moved him over to his bed and covered him with a blanket. She turned around to grab the moist towel and when she turned back around he was already asleep. She smiled and placed the towel on his forehead and left the room. As she walked downstairs she noticed Sasha was awake.
 “What’s going on?” Sasha asked as she yawned
“haru’s back” she smiled sadly as she walked to the kitchen to get more hot water
“why are you sad” Sasha asked
“he’s hurt…badly”
“oh…is he going to be okay”
“I hope so..he’s sleeping right now and he has a high fever.” She said as she squeezed out the towel
Mika walked back upstairs with a fresh towel and placed it on haru’s forehead. She touched his cheek it was still a little warm his fever was rising though she had to make sure he got better.
Haru opened his eyes just a bit to see mika sleeping next to his bed on the floor. He tried to get up but the shooting pain in his right shoulder stopped him. He winced at the pain as he lay back down. He stared at the ceiling wondering what was going to happen now that his term was up.
“haru your finally awake” he looked over only tad to see mika coming towards him with her arms open. She pounced on top of him and hugged him without letting go.
Haru winced as more pain ran through his shoulder. But it was the good kind of pain the kind he didn’t mind when it happened.
“how long was I sleeping” he asked when she let go.
“3 days, do you feel any better.” She smiled at him
“ya a little” he replied as he kissed her
they went downstairs since haru hadn’t had anything to eat in three days.
“where’s Sasha” he asked when he noticed she was gone
“she decided to go back home. She realized she hadn’t been home for a while so she left” mika said as she got out the bread and meat and started making haru a sandwich.
“is she going to be okay alone” haru asked concerned
“oh she’s not alone I bought her a dog.” She smiled at haru and he smiled back. “here” she said as she handed him the sandwich. She sat down next to him and snuggled with him as they watched TV.
 “haru?’
“yea”
“you’ll never leave me right”
“never”