Set The Star Aglow
Chapter 1: The voice of Kisa
Hi, everybody! This is story I started back in my freshmen year of highschool…so long ago I know :X I started it and never completed it. But I'm determined to finish it! If this story is vaguely familiar to anyone, I had it posted at some point, but I decided to repost it with some improved dialogue and such. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I no own Fruits basket or the church hymns sung in the story. The only thing that belongs me is Ave, who is my character.
She closed her amber eyes, letting the melody of the music take her away from her own world. Away from the cold December, away from the excitement of the upcoming Christmas, and the slight linger of November.
She placed her soft hands over her heart as music took a passionate turn, her body swaying slightly to the dramatic rhythm.
Her mouth curved into an innocent, happy smile as she opened her mouth to sing the Latin lyrics. Her distinctive soft, and yet powerful voice bounced and danced off the church walls, leaving her fellow choir mates speechless.
She raised her head high, caught in the passion of the music, ignoring every tiny whisper and thought inside her mind…just concentrating on the steady flow of her voice, and the way she swayed her body gently from side to side.
Raising her arms high to the heavens, she joyfully sang the lyrics to the beautiful song louder than ever before.
Star of Bethlehem, Star up high,
Miracle of the Midnight sky,
Let your luminous life of Heaven better our hearts and make us fly.
Star of happiness, star of wonder, You see everything from afar.
You who've lived through endless ages view with love the age of man.
Oh light,
Oh holy light,
Oh light divine,
Shine down you're love for us all
At the end of the hymn, Kisa opened her eyes and smiled as she slowly returned to her own world, leaving her safe haven for the time being. But she would be back. She always came back.
Kisa's world revolved around music; it was one of her favorite things in the world. Without music, Kisa knew her world would become dark, gray, gloomy… and lonely.
When Kisa was very young, her mother died instantly in a brutal car accident, and in grief, her father committed suicide shortly after the funeral. Orphaned and alone, Kisa was sent to her aunt and uncle. Though they were very kind, they could not take all of her pain away.
So Kisa slowly stopped talking. She felt like she didn't need to talk anymore. Without her parents, she felt guilty carrying on with her own life; what kind of daughter would she be if she did such a thing?
But then… her uncle and aunt took her to a Catholic church, a place Kisa had never been to before. Shortly after arriving, Kisa was immediately entranced to the graceful, harmonic church music.
With the gentle strings, the almighty strength of the organ, and the graceful choir vocals, Kisa listened intently, and felt herself slowly being healed. All of her pain, sorrow, anger, and frustration melted into nothing, like snow on the first day of spring. The hole in her heart left by her parent's death was replaced with a joyful warmth deep inside of her fragile heart. It was as if these negative feelings never existed at all.
After the mass, Kisa walked in her usual silence, then suddenly tugged on the hem of her aunt's shirt.
Surprised, her aunt had turned around, with an obvious expression of confusion on her face.
Sighing, Kisa suddenly whispered, "Auntie…. I want to sing."
It was the first time she had spoken in two months.
And ever since, Kisa had been singing for the church's children's choir, and realized she had a true talent, and love, for singing. That she had something to live for. It was one of the only things that caused total euphoria within her soul; it allowed her to escape and the past runs away, like paint running down a canvas.
"Well done, Well done!" the choir teacher, Ms. Difalco, applauded her students, smiling in great pride at her talented choir. "You've all done very well once again."
Now, the choir was preparing for the upcoming Christmas Eve mass, which would be a very big deal. Ms. Difalco gathered her best singers from the children's choir, and was teaching them the mass songs.
The students bowed politely in response, signifying they were honored to receive her praise.
"Practice is now over," announced as she waved her hand to indicate dismissal. " So please go now, and have a safe trip home."
The giggly group of children started to exit the choir box, and started to head for the church pews to gather their things.
Kisa grinned and left the box to join her friends, and congratulate them.
"Ave-chan!" Kisa tapped her best friend on the back to capture the girl's attention.
Ave turned around, and her bright blue eyes sparkled at the sight of her best friend. Ave was the first person Kisa had met when she joined the choir, and they instantly connected, and became friends.
However, they couldn't be any more different.
While Kisa was polite and shy, Ave was rather abrasive, very outgoing and wasn't a doormat, which Kisa was guilty of. Ave also had a great love for singing, though she was a bit jealous of Kisa's talent. However, she always hid her jealousy well with a cocky smile.
She had straight black hair the reached her shoulders, and luminous blue eyes that never seemed to rest, always burning with passion and restlessness.
"Kisa-chan!" Ave greeted her friend with her signature smile. "You did great tonight!" She praised as she packed her sheet music into her brown leather bag.
Kisa smiled in her usual modest manner as she put on her brown leather jacket over her white, skin tight turtle neck sweater. "Thank you Ave-chan…You did wonderful as well."
Ave sighed in frustration as she snapped her bag shut loudly. "Yeah right. Compared to you I sounded like crap," she huffed, turning away from her best friend swiftly. For a brief moment, she not only looked frustrated, but rather angry. Kisa peered at her with concern and confusion.
"Ave-chan…? What did you mean by…"
"Forget it Kisa-chan," Ave snapped at her quickly to interrupt her. "Its nothing…. really." She flashed Kisa an uncharacteristic cheerful smile, obviously fake.
Kisa recoiled in surprise, but decided to keep quiet after that. Something was bothering Ave, and she knew that it was better not to dig any deeper into her problems.
"Do you want to walk home together, Ave-chan?" Kisa asked innocently, pretending to be oblivious to her friend's outburst. She wrapped her wool multi-colored scarf tightly around her neck. It was her favorite article of clothing.
Ave shook her head, causing her black pigtails to bop her nose gently. "No thanks, Kisa-chan. I have something to do before I go home."
Kisa quickly covered her disappointment with an understanding smile. "That's ok, Ave-chan. I'll see you at practice on Friday then."
After saying their quick goodbyes, Kisa left the church, shivering terribly at the cold, wet, weather. The chill bit her across the nose, as if to hiss at her, her presence outside unwelcome.
She wrapped her tiny arms around herself, trying desperately to shield herself from the harsh cold. Winters weren't usually this wet. They were usually pleasant, with gentle and delicate snowflakes swaying softly from the heavens. Now there wasn't any snow, just cold, slushy mud puddles that made Kisa's toes freeze, even though they were covered.
Kisa hated this type of weather, even though winter was favorite season. But she knew wishing it all away wasn't going to do anything at all.
I suppose I should start walking home… Kisa thought, teeth chattering slightly, pulling her jacket as close to her face as possible.
With great difficulty, Kisa lifted her numb right foot, and started her long, tedious walk home.
Little did she know as she left, a boy about Kisa's age, watched her through the church window, a mop and bucket in his gloved hands.
Hahaha, wow editing this chapter was fun. Sheesh. I used way too many commas when they weren't needed. And in case you were wondering, the hymn Kisa sings is from Chrno Crusade. I was so creative. –sarcasm- Anyway, hoped yall liked it! Review pleaseee! Anons welcome.