To My Sunflower

They drove towards a belt of trees that had a clear view of the highway. An army truck zoomed past them at the time Shuu had indicated.

Eiji moved the car out onto the road to follow. 

His mind reeled through his time with Hinata. The summer festival they had shared. Writing his letter on a bed of sunflowers.

His thoughts wandered over his time as a soldier. Sharing a bunk with Yuri rather than taking a hammock. Stepping onto volatile sand littered with shrapnel and corpses. Hearing gun blasts as the cries of men filled the air with their hopes and honor.  Kei's face. Too much was lost to war. It was time to reclaim somethings back.  No matter what happened to him. He will not let Hinata suffer another day.

He returned his focus to the back of the truck he followed.

The wind swept the truck's back canopy flap momentarily to one side, allowing a fleeting glimpse of the truck's cargo.  His eyes widen with surprise and hope at what he had spied.

He pressed his foot down on the accelerator peddle. The stench of burning gasoline wafted about their noses as he sped past the army truck.

Shuu let out a curse, but saw the set expression on the Eiji's face. Of course. It was the only way.

Eiji overtook the front of the truck to give them a clear distance between them. He sharply turned the wheel. The car skidded about on an angle. He slammed his foot on the brake to make it abruptly stop and create a road barricade.

The truck instinctively screeched to a halt. Stirring a cloud of dirt around the tires.

Eiji fiddled around the glove box for the handgun he had remembered Tyne leaving in there. He got out of the car with it. Boldly stomped his way towards the truck's window, and fired at it to make it shatter.

The truck driver and passenger cowered behind their arms from the shattering glass. When they stared out to the road they saw Eiji's gun aimed for them. 

"OUT!" Eiji shouted his order.

The driver and passenger soldier hesitated a moment, before they carefully stepped out to face him on the road.

"Ittōhei Takaki, Eiji!" Eiji shouted out his name and former Imperial Navy rank to the men. "THE WAR IS OVER. RELEASE THESE PEOPLE!"

He c.o.c.ked his gun. Facing the men bravely with his determination to shoot if they didn't obey his orders.

The soldiers regarded him for a while, before they nodded with understanding and went to the back of the truck. A short while later, the soldiers returned to stand before Eiji.

"Get in your truck and go." Eiji issued his final order. His gun still raised with unwavering stillness.

The soldiers obeyed. The truck kicked up a cloud of dirt as it reversed and drove away from him.

Eiji's heart raced with hope as he returned the handgun to safety and lowered it.

"Takaki!" Shuu called out to Eiji. His finger was pointed to the crowd of civilians wandering towards them.

They recognized Mimaki's locals. 

Tears streamed down Eiji's cheeks when he saw the one person he had longed for all this time. 

"Eiji-san." Hinata cried with hope. "Oh, please, let it be you!" 

Eiji lips quivered uncontrollably. He faced him with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Tadaima." He managed to say.

Hinata raced for Eiji with all his might.

A bitter scent of shion was overpowered by a lasting sweetness of sunflowers. The scent flowed around them as they fiercely embraced each other with kisses. 

"Okari." Hinata's voice quivered through his tears when he pulled away for air. He was reluctant to be free from Eiji's arms.

Eiji's heart raced with all the love he felt in the world when he saw the yellow ribbon tied in Hinata's hair. His fingers tenderly played with the knots to untie it.

"My beautiful, sweet, Sunflower. I'm home."

The ribbon sailed on a mellow breeze as Eiji and Hinata lost themselves within their timeless kiss.