My passion lets my heart beat wildly
Riding along these surging feelings.
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Araburu kodou gekijou ni makase
Sakamaku kimochi nosete
"How dare he!"
A door slammed in the quiet apartment, quickly followed by the stamping of feet and the lights flicking on. Heels clicked violently on the tatami mats as a young girl stormed her way to her futon, grabbing a pillow and burying her face into it, trying to stiffle the sobs coming from her throat.
It had been such a bad day, all she had wanted was to go and talk with him, find a way to soothe her nerves. He always had that effect on her. Able to cool her wrath as easily as she could cool his. But when flame met flame, things had exploded into an unstoppable inferno.
The only sounds she heard was the quiet tic, tic of the clock on the wall and her own muffled hiccups as she tried to steady her breathing. Lifting her head, she pushed her snow white hair out of her face and rubbed her eyes, staring bitterly at the ground.
Why had things gotten like this? Why had she said such stupid, hurtful things to him? She knew how he was. Anything dealing with his violent past was taboo, especially when used negativly. Granted, he had used some of her own in retaliation, which made the knife cut even deeper on both of them.
Her heart clenched as she thought of the last expression that had been on his face. Rage, frustration, but also the pain. She had crossed a line she swore she'd never cross, and now she feared she had lost the one person who understood her more clearly than any other.
A pale hand drifted up to her neck, where the turquoise choker she had fashioned herself held a single, pure white pearl. She touched it's smooth surface, feeling the tears well up in her eyes and threaten to spill. Her sea-blue eyes closed tightly, wishing she could take back everything that had happened. She was so stupid...
How dare he? More like how dare I... Her thoughts turned sour towards herself, knowing she'd been the one to fan the flames. Her selfishness had gotten her in trouble once again. Letting out a shaky breath, she laid down on her futon, staring at the ceiling with despair.
How am I going to ever be able to face him again?
"Yukino-chan!"
Blinking, I looked back to where my classmate was running up to me. Smiling falsely, I stopped and waited while she caught up.
"Sheesh you walk so fast. Why aren't you in any athletic clubs again?" The other girl pushed her dark brown locks out of her way, grinning foolishly. Her name was Hanami, if I recalled correctly. Seemed sweet enough, but I knew better by now.
"Because I have no interest in any clubs. I have to study for the upcoming exams this year, I want to ace them all." I started to walk forward again, discreetly trying to put distance between me and the girl, hoping she'd get the hint.
She didn't. Hanami kept walking with me and chatting, trying to engage me somehow. "But studying all the time is boring! I mean, do you even date? I know that a few guys have their eyes on you. You're so pretty, how can they not look."
My smile tightened a bit. This was quickly getting tiresome. "If they were really interested in getting to know me, they'd have already started talking to me by now. It's already two months into the year."
Hanami reguarded me carefully, as if judging. Turning away from the brown orbs of my classmate, I turned my own ocean colored eyes straight ahead, having a specific goal in mind. If only I could get rid of my tag along.
"But there must be someone you like! Even something other than school."
I stopped walking, turning and looking back at Hanami with a cool expression on my face. "Why are you here? I know you're not really interested in getting to know me. If you think I'll open up and trust a stranger, you're wrong."
Hanami paused, looking stunned. Then her face twisted into a fierce frown before turning around. "Fine, be that way. You're as cold as everyone says you are, you know? No wonder no one wants to be around you." Spitting the words over her shoulder, she marched off, back stiff and arms swinging.
I sighed in relief before turning around and walking once more, a slight frown on my face. I hated when the people at school tried to send others to find out things about me to use to torture me. It was ridiculous how often they did it as well, though they were finally starting to run out of moles to send my way.
Perhaps I should explain. My name is Yukino, Manabe Yukino. I'm a first year in high school, and as you could probably tell, not the most popular. Many people looked at my slightly tan skin, white hair and blue eyes and shy away almost immediatly. And those that didn't usually wound up making excuses to not hang out with me anymore. I hadn't had a true friend since grade school, and I was perfectly fine with this.
I'd never had a boyfriend either, but that was fine too. I had studies to do, no time for love. Or at least that was the front I put up.
I hated being alone, but everyone I'd ever met only seemed interested on the outside. 'Oh, you're so pretty!' Direct lie there, most people feard my looks. 'You're so smart and athletic looking!' Nothing about my personality or any other talents I had, not that I let them see them after one year...
Shaking my head to clear the bad memories away, I ran my hand through my shoulder-length white hair, silently wishing it would grow longer. Despite it's color, which was actually natural, I liked it a lot. Bouncy and flowy, instead of pin-straight and course, I counted myself lucky in the hair department.
School had just let out for the day, thankfully, and I was taking my afternoon walk to the sea. I lived in a city by the coast, which I fully took advantage of every chance I got. It was only a twenty minute walk from my school as well, so that was where I usually wound up after a difficult day. Already I could see the sun shining on the surface from where I was, and I stepped up the pace.
If there was one guilty pleasure I indulged in often, it was watching the sun set over the ocean. Each being so different from the last, the colors that were painted across the sky in different patterns...there was nothing like it to me. it gave me a sense of peace that lasted for at least a little while in my lonely world.
I hopped over the guard rail that lined the beach, my green school skirt fluttering dangerously in the wind. It was long enough to hide everything, thankfully, so I paid it no mind and walked towards the pile of rocks that was my usual sitting place to watch the sun go down.
Only...something seemed off this time. The rocks looked different to me, which threw me. Frowning as I got close, I started to hop on them and take a closer look. From the look of it, something big had distrubed them, like an earthquake. But there hadn't been any lately, and my suspicions deepened when I saw that they seemed to head off past where I normally stopped. Curiosity filled my mind, but caution as well.
Should I follow? Or should I stay where I knew I was?
Oh, why not. I shrugged and hopped down, quickly making my way towards the haphazard line of rocks so that I could get a closer look.
"Are you serious?" I blurted out, huffing from how far I'd had to go out of my way.
In total, it wasn't too long of a walk from where I usually stayed, but the sand was still wet from the earlier tide, and my shoes had long since been put into my pack to stay clean, so I was having to trek it barefoot through the terrain, encountering many hidden things. Usually of the sharp persuasion, to my frustration.
I reached down and pinched off the slice of shell that had managed to prick me this time, putting it to the side before continuing on. I could see a rather large rock formation down the way, and I'd long since passed the hustle and bustle of the city limits, so the only sounds were the waves and the sea birds calling to each other. I found myself relaxing some despite my frustration, letting the warm breeze from the sea wrap around me. Perhaps it was worth the extra effort to walk this far, if it would relax me more than my other place...
When I finally reached the large pile of rocks, I was surprised to see that it had made a mound of sorts, and judging from the way the wind was moving through the cracks, there was a nice sized cavern in there. I paused and looked around, hoping to see some kind of hole big enough for me to crawl through.
Ah, there was one on the side, facing the setting sun. Grinning, I hurried towards it, hoping to see what would be inside of this new little cave.
Only, when I looked in, it wasn't so little.
I peered into the darkness, astonished at how the outside belied what lay within. The entrance itself was enough for someone of my small size (only five-three, much to my embaressment) to squeeze through, but then it widened out impossibly after a few feet, the ground at a slope leading deeper into the ground.
"What in the world..." I found myself muttering. I bit my lower lip, wondering what I should do next. It was getting dark now, with little to no light peering through the cracks from the outside. I didn't have any sort of flashlight on me either, despite my constant mental notes to myself.
The wind picked up slightly, blowing into the cave like it was urging me to go. I hesitated, not sure of what lay within there, and honestly I was scared to find out. But if I didn't go now, what other chance would I have?
I took a deep breath and I slipped inside the cave feet first.
"OW!"
I let out a cry as I landed slightly wrong, one of my ankles protesting the strain fromt he sudden weight put on it. Grimacing, I reached down to rub it before testing for a sprain. Thankfully there was none, just a bit of pain from a sudden stop. Brushing off my bottom of the bit of debris that had clung to my skirt, I looked back up at the hole where I'd dropped in from. It wasn't too high from the ground, but climbing it would be a challenge later on in the dark. Too late now, I thought.
I turned and looked deeper in the cave, setting my school bag down near the entrance so it wouldn't get trashed as I went farther in. I felt my way forward, though I really had no need. The inside of this cave was impressive, and it kept going down, down into the ground, underneath the beach and I suspected underneath part of the earth beyond. I was wondering how such a place could have gone this long without being discovered, but then I realized that it wasn't getting darker the farther I went in.
Blinking, I took a second look. Sure enough, a little bit of light, like that reflected from a pool, was dancing on the walls and ceiling of the cave. I watched it for a few seconds before going in deeper, curiosity in full force.
The farther I got, the brighter it got, which made no sense at all. This deep in the cave, at least a hundred feet or so, it should have been pitch black with no sun shining in. Instead the soft blue lights danced like an aurora on the walls, entrancing me whenever I took a glance at them. My bare feet made no sound as I trekked on, becoming more sure of my footing when I saw nothing that would trip me up.
The walls started to close in on themselves some, forcing me to squeeze through a place or two to keep going. For once I was actually glad of my thin and short stature, as I navigated my way deeper and deeper. I held my breath as the light got very bright, and I swore I saw little particles, much like what danced in the sea currents, dancing in the light.
It looked like I'd have to squeeze through one last pinch and I'd be there. It looked a lot tighter than the others I'd had to go through, but I sucked in my guy and forced my way in, coming out with a slight 'pop' noise as I stumbled forward, landing on all fours.
"Oww..." I grumbled, rubbing my knees where they had hit the hard rock below me. Sighing, I looked up...and couldn't breathe.
The space in front of me wasn't that large, but the air I breathed was fresh, nothing like the deep air of a cave should be. I tasted a tinge of salt as well, which was only slightly strange to me. Little particles danced within the air, seeming to move in tandem with the light that was being emitted.
My eyes looked around the cavern, a little disappointed to find the cave walls bare of any markings. Then my ocean orbs fell on what lay in the center of the room, the source of the light.
A round pool of salt water, with little waves rippling on the surface despite there being no breeze. It was large enough to fit maybe two people in comfortably, with them being on opposite edges. The light was coming from within it, and I crawled forward on my hands and knees, peering over the edge to see where the light was coming from. Maybe this was someone's idea of a prank?
I found no trace of artificial light, however, only seeing the pool going down, deeper than I could see even with the light coming from it. In fact, it didn't seem like there was anything lighting the water at all. Entranced by the ripples, I slowly reached my hand down and dipped my fingers into the water, shocked to find how warm it was.
I pulled my hand back and sat at the edge of the pool, staring down into it with a soft expression on my face. I'd always been entranced by the sight of waves and ripples on the surface of water, and this tiny pool drew my attention like nothing before, even the sea.
It felt like it was inviting me, drawing me in, but not to take a dip. No, it felt like it wanted me to open myself to it, to tell it my greatest secrets so it could guard them, and to tell it my troubles so it could soothe me. I let my eyes flutter shut, leaning over the edge of it slightly to soak in the rays of light that came from within it. Almost unbidden, my mouth opened, and I began to talk.
"I'm Yukino. Manabe Yukino. I'm a first year in high school, seventeen years old. I'm a Cancer in astrology, and I hate being alone." I opened my eyes, suddenly feeling a tad awkward. The pool kept rippling, the slight sound of splashing seeming to urge me to continue. Feeling a little silly, I kept talking.
"I hate how people at school are so shallow." I frowned, remembering how Hanabi had been pestering me earlier. "They're only interested in each other's image, and gods forbid that their image slips. Then it's suddenly a scandal, and they never live it down. I can't stand how people are like that now."
I blinked, pausing for a second. I thought I saw something move right underneath the ripples. And...did the pool seem just a bit less shallow? I thought I could see the bottom.
My eyes are just adjusting, I told myself, and continued to talk.
"People are always asking me, why do you act so cold? Why don't you have friends or a boyfriend? Don't you trust anyone?" I snorted, shaking my head. "Why trust people when they'll just betray you in the end? One way or another it always happens, especially to me."
The pool rippled again, and I saw another flash of movement. But for some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to care, gladly spilling my guts for the pool to hear as the waves lapped at the sides, encouraging me. I'd held it in me for too long, I figured.
"No one cares to know what anyone's really like anymore. They only see what's on the outside. Most look at me and say 'she's been touched by death.' All because of my hair color! I like my white hair, it's one of the only things I do like about myself. And those who do actually try to get me to talk are only out for my notes most of the time." I paused, grinning some. "They're not getting them though, they have to pass school on their own."
A large shadow suddenly passed right under the surface of the water, but it was gone in an instant. And was the pool's bottom even closer? I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, though I was starting to get suspicious...
"Why are humans like this?" I wondered out loud, sighing. Leaning back and looking at the dancing specks, I murmured. "I just don't get it...what's the point in trusting people? They're only out for themselves in the end."
Shaking my head, I looked back down at the pool, only to widen my eyes and jump back, a slight scream escaping my throat. The hairs on the back of my neck raised up and my body froze, my eyes locked on what I saw in the pool.
The bottom was closer, I could see it clearly now. But not only that, the surface had stilled, no movement marring the mirror-like surface. But that wasn't what alarmed me.
No, it was the image of a young man who was peering through, as if trying to see me on the other side.
Wh-what the hell?! My mind locked down on that thought, my eyes trained on that face. He turned his gaze and golden eyes met blue. He blinked, and a scowl appeared on his face. Frightened, I took a quick step back. What was going on?!
Suddenly, his face disappeared from the surface. I blinked, then looked frantically for him, wondering if my mind was making things up. A few seconds later, I wished it had.
The surface of the water suddenly glowed, a bright white light causing me to take a few more steps back and cover my eyes, crying out in shock. I felt the ground tremble ever so slightly, and heard a loud splash coming from the water in the pool, as if something had just dove right into it. Something very large.
The light faded, and I cautiously opened my eyes some to peer out, only to snap them open. My jaw dropped in astonishment, hanging as I stared at the sight in front of me.
The young man was there, standing in the air above the pool. His arms were crossed, his golden eyes leveled at me with a slight scowl on his face. More details about him came to me, as I noted his blue hair pulled back and spiked, with three white streaks on the left side. A golden circlet was holding it out of his eyes minus a bang on his right side, partially covering that eye, while the rest of his hair was in a ponytail that flowed behind him, fading to white near the end.
His clothes were strange as well, with the right side of his body mostly bare, while his left side had a gold and black sash. A strange armor adorned his left shoulder as well, a blue tassle hanging from where it tied it all together. His lower half had a thin blue fur fashioned around his waist, with what looked like samurai style armor dyed blue and silver, his belt buckle made of gold. He was very well toned, his muscles proof that he worked them regularly.
My entire being felt very small in the presence of this person, despite the fact that he seemed only marginally taller than I was, maybe an inch or so. I couldn't help but note that he was also very, very handsome, exceeding any normal human standards. I trembled slightly, the ice in his gaze directed at me.
Narrowing his eyes, he stepped forward onto the rocks at the edge of the pool, no longer hovering above the water. Was this person a...god? Or had my mind finally lost it?
And then he spoke, breaking my reverie with his deep voice in a growl.
"Who the hell are you?"