Heaven Of My Heart
A/N: Hello, everyone. My name's Sky Knight and I'm a new author so I apologise if there is too many mistakes. It is my first fanfic. Hope you enjoy it :)
Disclaimer: MAI HIME DOES NOT BELONG TO ME NOR DOES THE LYRICS USED IN THIS CHAPTER.
Chapter 1: Paradise
"Mom, Duran! Catch me!" giggled Natsuki.
She was running as fast as her tiny feet let her. She could hear the panting behind her and knew Duran was chasing her. Laughing, she ran around the yard, going around the trees, the bushes. Getting tired, she turned smiling, seeing Duran jump on her, connecting with her small body and felt herself falling….
Opening her eyes, she realised she was in her bed, not as a toddler but as an adolescent; just a dream. Running her hand in her hair, she tried to breathe deep and stop the tears amassing in her eyes from falling. No matter how hard she tried, no matter what she did, it would always be a dream as reality was just too different. She still remembered it vividly even if she was still small at that time.
"Mama, where are we going?" asked small Natsuki while hugging her dog, Duran, while sitting in the backseat of the car.
"We are going to a nice place, Natsuki. We are going to stay in another city" replied Saeko Kuga
"But Mama, what about my friends?" asked the toddler
"You can make new friends in Tokyo, Natsuki" It was at that moment, a small distraction that cost Natsuki everything she had. Her mother didn't see the truck coming on the other side and when she did, it was too late. Trying to avoid the collision, she crashed right through the road barrier and the car went tumbling off the cliff into the dark waters of the se, plunging her vision into a sea of darkness.
When she woke up, all she could see was blue and red light flashing as they carried her on a stretcher to the ambulance and then she lost consciousness again.
When she woke up, she knew she was in a hospital, the white walls indicated that. A nurse came to check on her after a few minutes and was pleased to see that she was awake and went to look for her doctor. It was that horrible night when she learnt that her mother and her Duran were no more….
It was also that very night where she came to know she can't move her left arm properly….
And that nightmare never ended.
Knowing that there was no way she would be able to go back to sleep, she got up and went to take a shower. She has been living most of her life only using her right arm and she got used to it. It took some adjusting. Thank god she was right handed so it had not been a problem for her to continue school as soon she was released from the hospital. Since she was a toddler, she was put in an orphanage because her father had pretty much abandoned her after the accident. Her mother's life insurance and trust fund made sure that she would not lack anything as soon as she turned 18.
Orphanage… That was another part of her life she wasn't fond of. After her accident, she closed onto herself. She couldn't get close to anyone because she was scared of getting hurt and abandoned again as her parents and Duran did to her, in each their different ways. She didn't have any friends. Who would want to be friend with someone disabled? She couldn't climb on the climbers in the kids' playground, couldn't play ball as it was hard to catch with only one hand, couldn't play soccer for it was hard to keep her balance while running which mean that she couldn't even race or play tag. Most of the time, she would get bullied if she approached the playground so she would sit under the big tree that was in the far corner of the playground but still sometimes, when the boys would get bored playing the same games every day, they would come and beat her for fun. She couldn't even eat like a normal person, it took her twice the amount of time to finish her food and in the orphanage, the nuns would just take away her food even if she hadn't finished. At school, she would get scolded for taking too much time to write, it is still hard to write even with your predominant hand. The teachers would never wait for her to finish taking her notes and no one even lent her their notes. She had tried asking a few times but it never worked.
Exams? They never gave her extra time for exams so her grades would always be low. It was only afterwards, when she grew older that she came to know that she was supposed to be given special consideration but it was too late now. The people were mean and she didn't want to go revisit that time of the life.
Now she is in high school, she is into her last year. Fuuka High School is a prestigious academy. If you are asking how she got in when her results are average, well, she got the money from her trust fund and sometimes money can get you anywhere. She got access to her trust fund early for her education. From the start itself, she had already talked to the high school administration to make sure she gets special consideration for her assignments and exams. This time, she made sure everything is done properly, since then she is one of the best students of her class.
Some things never change though. She didn't have any friend and still got bullied. A lot of the students resent her. They say that she is one of the best students because she gets more time to finish her exams, time that she shouldn't have since her right hand is fine. Jerks… did they ever try to write with only one hand while the other was in their pocket or just idle on the table. Did they ever try to make their maths diagrams with only one hand?
Shaking the bad thoughts from her brain, she dried herself and went to get some breakfast. After her breakfast, she went to get dressed for school. A lot of people say that she dressed like a nerd. She never felt the need dress up to look beautiful simply because she was not beautiful…she is not normal, she is disabled. She preferred the "nerd clothes" because they helped her to blend in and sometimes escape bullying.
Today is a very special day. There is a music presentation after school and she had already bought a ticket for it. She didn't know the musicians though but she eavesdropped from her classmates that they were really good. She always had a fondness for music; she specially loved the piano, her mother used to play it. She always sat with her mother whenever she was playing. Her mother would teach her a few chords but now playing seems a distant dream…she couldn't play it…not with her arm paralysed like this. Hell, she takes ages to type something on her laptop; a piano is a lot more difficult.
Grabbing her bag, she locked her doors and walked to the bus stop. It was a sunny day, just perfect for a walk. She was early anyway due to waking up early because of her dream. Winter was her favourite time of the year, even if she was named 'Summer Child'. She didn't mind summer but she never got to enjoy it. She couldn't go to the beach like everybody else because she couldn't swim and the beach is always too crowded at that time of the year, she never felt as ease. She couldn't go anywhere pretty much since most people are outside during summer but winter was different. People stayed inside, the streets, covered in snow, were most of the time desert. She loved to go to the kids' playground just round the corner and sit on the swing…she never could do that in summer. Even at school, during breaks, she would go sit underneath her favourite cherry tree and there would be no one coming to disturb her or bully her as they were all inside enjoying the heaters inside the school walls.
She soon arrived in front of school gates. "Ready for a new day of hell in class, Natsuki?" she asked herself, while walking to her class.
After school
There were still a few hours before the performance would start and Natsuki was getting a bit hungry. Sitting under the cherry tree, she took out her sandwich she made and started munching. Mayo sandwich, it was one of the things that made her happy. Smiling, she continued munching her food until
SPLAT!
A snowball hit her right in the face, making her drop her sandwich in shock. Looking up, she saw Reito, vice-student council president with his friends, laughing their asses off at her expense . He was the only one she knew in the student council because he always bullied her.
"Kuga Cripple! I read on the music performance attendees list that you bought a ticket? Haha, what would a cripple like you do at a music performance? Huh, you don't understand music, you can't even hold a fork and knife at the same time let alone play an instrument. Well, it seems like before I could buy a ticket for the performance, all of it was sold out and there is absolutely no way I would miss a performance of my Shizuru!" he said growling " so hand me your ticket."
"No way! I bought it." refused Natsuki
"Boys, teach her what it is to say no to me. I got to remove her name and put mine on the attendees list so I leave it to you to get me the ticket" he said to his stooges.
"No problem Reito, we'll teach her well" snickered one guy, watching Reito walk away.
A guy grabbed her hair, forcing her onto her feet while another punched her in her stomach making her fall back down. They kicked her while she was on the ground. She couldn't defend herself but she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of hearing her cry out. Another guy emptied her bag's contents on the snow, looking for the ticket. A kick came right to her face so hard, it rattled her teeth, splitting her lip and making her bleed onto the white snow.
"I've got it boys" the searcher said, waving the ticket which was in his hand "let's go now; I want to get out of this cold." Raining a few more kicks, they left her like that and went back inside.
Coughing out some blood, Natsuki tried her best to sit up, her ribs screaming in protest due to the movements. She managed to lie against the tree, taking deep breaths to suppress her pain, the coldness of the snow seeping into her clothes. She wanted to cry yet she couldn't. It would make her feel weaker, still she couldn't stop a tear from rolling down her cheeks.
"Ara?"
Hearing the voice, she tried to scoot away until she felt a warm hand on her freezing cheek. Turning, she found herself looking into pools of red…red…not as blood, no, that wouldn't describe them…red like the reddest of roses…such beautiful eyes.
"Ara, stranger-san, are you alright? You are bleeding!" asked the velvety voice. The girl had long blonde hair, cascading over her shoulders and framing her beautiful face.
"I…I'm fine…than..k you…" Natsuki stammered, feeling out of place. No one ever asked her how she was. No one.
"It doesn't seem so to me. Let me get you to the infirmary. The nurse is here till late today due to the performance." The blonde girl helped her get up and seeing how she was wincing from pain, gave her support as they marched to the infirmary.
In the infirmary
"Well girl, nothing is broken but your ribs are bruised so I wrapped them. I would advise you not to do anything to hurt yourself again. Your split lip will heal itself, it is not serious. Here are some painkillers," said the nurse.
"Thank you" Natsuki replied.
"I'll leave you to rest then" said the nurse as she walked out.
"Ara, stranger-san, would you mind telling me how you got hurt?" asked the blonde.
Natsuki had forgotten about the blonde but it seems that she had been waiting for her; she had walked in as soon as the nurse has opened the door.
Seeing the reluctance of the wounded girl to talk about it, the blonde continued "Sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Shizuru Fujino."
"My name is Natsuki Kuga…"
"Will Kuga-san tell me how she got hurt?"
Seeing the girl really wanting to know, she complied "I was waiting for the music performance when some guys came and demanded my ticket. I didn't want to give it away so they beat me and stole it." Looking at her watch, "the performance will start in 15 minutes anyway, there is nothing you can do."
"Ara, that's where Kuga-san is wrong. Does Kuga-san still want to go to the performance in her state?" asked Shizuru.
"Yes, I would have liked that but I don't have a ticket"
"All Kuga-san has to do is come with me" extending her hand for the blunette to take it, she smiled.
No ever smiled at her like that…without knowing, her right hand lifted itself and grasped the blonde's hand.
She was in a daze. That smile has dazzled her as well as confused her. Who was this Shizuru Fujino and why was she smiling at her? Maybe she hasn't realised that she is a cripple yet. Not wanting to think too much about it, she kept walking in the corridors, her hand firmly in Shizuru's. The painkillers had helped and she was not having too much trouble walking. Soon double doors opened and she found herself in the auditorium. Shizuru led her to the front row and sat her in one of the VIP seats.
"My mother couldn't make it since she had to go abroad all of a sudden so I want you to take her place" said Shizuru "It is for the best as this way Kuga-san wouldn't have to sit in the hard plastic chairs and hurt her ribs, neh?"
Shocked, Natsuki could only look as Shizuru smiled at her and walked to the backstage. It took her a few minutes to come back to her senses. Looking around, she felt eyes boring into her back. The ticket she had purchased had been in the back in a corner, somewhere dark where people wouldn't notice her, now here she was, sitting in the first row in a VIP seat. Soon the lights were dimmed which she was thankful of as it took the attention off her and put it to the stage in front where the curtains were being raised.
One hour into the performance and she was really enjoying it. It looked like Shizuru was part of the backstage team maybe as she didn't come out again. She had forgotten all the people around her, even about Reito who surely had seen her in the front row.
"Now presenting the last piece of this music performance; It is a song written, sung and performed by our one and only student council president, Shizuru Fujino!"
Hearing Shizuru Fujino and student council president in the same sentence shocked Natsuki to her core. Eyes wide open, she saw Shizuru enter the stage dressed in a white flowing dress. She looked like an angel. Shizuru looked at Natsuki and giving her a wink, smiled as she walked and sat in front of the white grand piano. The wink was even more shocking to her. The student council president who was loved by everyone just winked at her, the cripple! Now she understood why the name Shizuru Fujino sounded familiar to her. Everybody talked about her.
"I thank you all for coming today. I would like to dedicate my song to a new friend I made today, Natsuki Kuga. It is called "Paradise" said Shizuru as she nodded to the conductor that she was ready. Behind her, a whole group of musician was ready to accompany, violins, cellos, guitars, drums and flutes as well as the choir.
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach so
She ran away in her sleep
And dreamed of
Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise, Para-para-paradise
Every time she closed her eyes
Natsuki never had a song dedicated to her. She could only look wide-eyed at Shizuru playing the piano, her slender fingers caressing the keys with so much gentleness. The music was so…so…indescribable…and the voice that sung those words to her…broke something in her..
When she was just a girl
She expected the world
But it flew away from her reach
And the bullets catch in her teeth
Life goes on, it gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear a waterfall
In the night the stormy night she'll close her eyes
In the night the stormy night away she'd fly
The music engulfed her, this song, the words…like narrating her reality…she could feel tears roll down her cheeks and she couldn't stop them. Yet, she didn't care who saw her crying. She wasn't going to walk out; she wasn't going to stop listening.
And dreams of
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Oh oh oh oh oh oh-oh-oh
She'd dream of
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
Oh oh oh oh oh oh-oh-oh-oh
Shizuru looked like glowing in front of Natsuki. Dressed gorgeously in white, her blonde golden hair scintillating like a halo on her head…like an angel…an angel from…paradise…
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
And so lying underneath those stormy skies
She'd say, "oh, ohohohoh I know the sun must set to rise"
This could be
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
This could be
Para-para-paradise
Oh oh oh oh oh oh-oh-oh
This could be
Para-para-paradise
Para-para-paradise
This could be
Para-para-paradise
Oh oh oh oh oh oh-oh-oh-oh
Finishing, a big round of applause erupted in the auditorium, walking to the front of the stage, Shizuru bowed down. She frowned upon seeing Natsuki crying. She hadn't wanted to make her cry. She decided to walk to the backstage and change her clothes to go ask her new friend why was she crying but as soon as she got into the backstage, she was assaulted by congratulations from the other musicians. By the time she reached the front rows, Natsuki was gone and the fans were congratulating her, it was a mob, there was no way she would be able to go look for Natsuki. That made her sad but she kept her mask on her face and cheered herself inside saying that she would meet Natsuki tomorrow.