Reset
By: Seravy
A/N: Gokigenyou-good day
She felt her before she even saw her. A glimpse of her hair, the sway of her presence was more than enough to ignite that burning nostalgia she had felt time and time again. Her mind blurred into an angelic vision of pain as she reached out and embraced the longing that begged from the buried recesses of her heart.
This was the warmth she had been searching for, the perfect fit in her arms, the gentle light her body instinctively knew and craved.
"…Are you hurt?"
And just like that, the spell was broken.
Himeko immediately retracted her arms, her cheeks that tried to recall that warm softness were now overwhelmed by burning embarrassment; She had just embraced a stranger in the middle of nowhere.
"I-I… umm….ah….I--"
She thought she had outgrown this habit but the fiddling of her toes that showed through her sandals was telling her otherwise.
How was she to explain her actions or the loud thumping within her chest?
But she didn't need to say anything as a gentle brush fluttered just below the corner of her left eye, wiping away a stray tear that she didn't know was there.
"Tears are not fitting for such a sunny day."
The crisp cool texture of that voice laced around her like an old lullaby. It was then that she had the courage to look up, watching a pale finger that had just touched her rise to those pink curving lips. Her stuttering had stopped but that was because of the breathlessness within her chest as the faint drop of her tear was kissed.
The changing signal of the traffic light clicked its erratic beat. People took their last hurried steps while her senses can only respond to the small gentle smile directed only to her.
"Gokigenyou."
She didn't know that it was a parting gift as it swayed away, a quick brush by her side. Her eyes burned again, the salty squeezing of her throat unbearable. She can't let it end, not when she had waited for so long. Himeko turned, chasing the familiar figure with her blurring eyes that was fading further and further---
"And that is why you were an HOUR late…"
Her friend was never known for punctuality but an hour was inexcusable. With a finger tapping incessantly on the plastic table, she listened, her forehead scrunched in annoyance. To further emphasize her irritable mood, Mako shot a sharp look across the table and the effect was immediate.
"I'm so sorry Mako-chan! I'll make it up to you! I promise!" pleaded the blonde girl. Her hands were clasp together in a tight prayer.
Mako sighed, taking another bite from her triple extravaganza banana sundae (with extra chocolate and strawberry syrup). Worrying while sitting in an ice cream shop after two hours of intense track training with nothing to eat since the morning is not a good combination. In the past hour, she had managed to try and finish all five of the menu's decedent specials, each deliciously tempting in their own colossal way. Not to mention the impeding impact this would have on her figure later on despite her already rigorous training. Nevertheless, Mako was glad to see her high school roommate, whom she had not seen in months.
"So… then what happened?" inquired Mako, deciding to end her assault. Payback shall come later during dinner.
Himeko lifted a finger to her chin, thinking back to incident.
"Well…everybody started honking and yelling---"
"No no no, I meant that person. What happened?"
Mako immediately regretted asking as Himeko's shoulders slumped, a dim sadness traversing the soft contours of the girl's still childish features.
"Gone… I looked everywhere but…"
At the last word, her voice cracked, holding the necklace around her neck and the regret that longed to pour from her eyes. That glittering shine in those violet orbs infected Mako as well, concern washing over her protective nature. Her friend had gotten a lot stronger over the past few years, no longer the dependent and fragile girl she had met six years ago but it pained her to see this change over nothing but an imaginary dream. "Don't worry!" encouraged Mako with a wink, "You'll meet that person again! It's a small world after all."
Himeko embraced those words and took the safe haven it had always offered. She managed a smile, unable to imagine life without her closest friend.
The two soon parted the ice cream shop after Mako finished her fifth sundae to the shop manager's astonishment and they proceeded to the busy streets of Tokyo as originally planned. Even though they haven't seen each other in months, not once did awkward silence, often found in departed friendships, find its place. Stories of their new lives in university and reminiscent tales of their high school days filled every second without delay. And while their mouths and tongues did their rigorous work-out, the girls' hands and feet were laboured with intensive browsing from one boutique to the next, handling all sorts of items, from bags to pots, socks to manga.
Although one may think it odd that a pair of young teenagers had gotten away from all that temptation with just a manga and a pair of shorts, unknown to these vultures of advertisement, they were saved by tight student budgeting. Himeko, as promised, treated them both to a quick dinner at the food court of the mall before resuming their escapade of "shopping till you drop".
"It's been so long!"
Mako stretched her arms over her head, feeling the pleasant aching in her muscles. With all this walking, the ice cream guilt was finally settling its grudge.
Himeko nodded with a smile, holding Reiko-sensei's newest work, "Bremen's heartaches", close to her chest. She was determined not to peek at it until she returned home with a snug surrounding to thoroughly savour the experience.
The two girls, through their chatter, rounded a corner and entered a CD shop as requested by Mako. Apparently, there was this CD she had been hunting for the last week, sold out at every store she had visited so far.
The door chimed as they entered and Mako immediately dashed to the counter for her desired item while Himeko simply stood, every limb and breath frozen with rigidity.
There she was; on the wall behind the counter, all the other handsome faces around her incomparable, head tilted slightly back in graceful concentration. In a deep night one piece dress, her fingers danced on white keys as light as her skin, the moment frozen forever.
Her eyes were closed though. If only she could pry them open and finally see what they looked like… how she would look like when they meet.
"Himeko?"
Only a soft murmur left those breathless lips. If only she could touch them.
"It's her…" whispered Himeko.
"What?"
The recognition brought about a bang of vertigo in her chest, igniting the unknown yet solid feelings in her. Himeko grabbed onto her friend, unable to contain the surge of longing rushing through her soul.
"It's her! Mako-chan, it's her! It's really her! This was the person I met on the street!"
Mako, shakened by Himeko's outburst and iron grip, took a glance at the same poster she saw her friend staring at just moments ago and her brows dipped with query.
"Are you sure?"
"I just know it! It's her!" defended Himeko, passionately. That girl may have been wearing a pair of sunglasses but still, she was certain. Even if she was a single star in the midnight sky, Himeko knew she'd still be able to recognize her amongst the million.
"See that pendant! She had the same one on! And the hair, the face… everything!"
And instead of delivering a random hug, Himeko found herself on the receiving end as Mako attacked her with one of her infamous bear hugs, its tightness more intense than she last remembered it.
"You lucky girl!! I'm so jealous!" squealed Mako in total abandon, "Indirect hug!!!!"
With her mouth open with inquiry, Himeko stood with incomprehension as her friend cuddled her from all possible angles, feeling the curious stares they were getting from other visiting customers.
"Was it like this? Or this? Give me the details! Better yet, give me your clothes! They must still have Miya-sama's scent!!"
"Are you alright, Mako-chan?"
Mako paused her string of outburst and glanced at the blonde girl in her arms with curiosity.
"You do realize who she is, right?"
Himeko smiled a sheepish grin in response, confirming Mako's suspicions. As much as Mako didn't want to admit it, her friend did live up to the blonde stereotype quite well at times.
"I always knew you were clueless but this is Miya-sama we're talking about!"
Another confused shake of the head, prompted Mako into a full explanation, her recent obsession taking over.
"Fushio Miya. Concert pianist since the age of 16 and have already performed with some really big names and orchestras around the world. Her debut CD came out last week and hit the charts like nothing had ever before! Not to mention that she is talented and just absolutely GORGEOUS!!" ranted Mako all in one breathe.
"And since when did you listen to classical music?" asked Himeko, overwhelmed by Mako's enthusiasm.
"If it's Miya-sama, I'd listen to death metal."
Chapter 1 END
I couldn't help it. Compulsive writing. Chikane is the HAWT. I didn't want to use a new name so I stuck with Miya. But she gets to be Chikane again later on. And next chapter… Juri from Shoujo Kakumei Utena makes her appearance as with Otoha-san.