A/N: Heya! ^^ I'll try to keep this short so you can get on with reading. Anyway, this is my first story and it focuses on Shiki and Rima's relationship. Most things are the same as in the anime, apart from one major difference and that is they are not vampires and Cross Academy is just a normal school. I hope this isn't too bad and you'll like it, even just a tiny bit. Please review, I'd like to know what you think and how I'm doing. Just no super-harsh comments please! With love. Suki Yume. x
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Sweet Dreams
A small, serene smile graced the lips of a young teenage boy as he slept. His thick red-brown hair lay tousled on his pillow as he was held captivated by his dream. Images of his childhood flashed behind his closed eyelids and he heard the soft, childish voice as clearly as if it was right next to him …
"Shiki, we'll always be together, ne?"
Suddenly clear blue eyes opened and stared vacantly at the ceiling. Despite his calm outward façade, he could feel his heart clench and a new sense of confusion possessed him. He could still see the happy smile of the little girl with golden locks in his mind's eye and he could still feel her little arms around him. He was still feeling like that little innocent boy in the girl's embrace and he felt so unsure, so vulnerable. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and climbed out of bed to get ready for school. After splashing cold water on his face, he looked up at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He had grown significantly from that little boy but his trademark characteristics were still there: everything from his serious yet cool expression and his clear blue eyes to his peculiar dark red hair. He couldn't see why the managers made such a big fuss over him. For him, modelling was just a way of making money and passing time. But modelling … it was how he met Rima. He felt a familiar tug in his heart once again and bent down to splash more cold water on his face to clear his head. He ran a hand through his messy hair and went to get dressed in his academy uniform. After buttoning up his white uniform jacket, he walked out of his room; his mind elsewhere, only to bump into a girl with yellow-orange hair who was walking in a similar fashion; chewing distractedly on a stick of strawberry flavoured Pocky.
"Rima!" he exclaimed as he was brought out of his daydreams.
Indigo eyes gradually focused on him and he swore he saw some conflicting emotions flickering in her gaze before they settled on a blank, cold expression.
"… Sorry … "she mumbled before walking round him and continuing on her journey. Shiki stared at her retreating silhouette and suddenly the image of the little girl reappeared in his mind. He saw the warmth in her eyes and her genuine smile, all in such contrast to the cold look he just received. If this was anyone else, they wouldn't have noticed. But this wasn't just anyone. This was Shiki, her childhood friend, the only one she would ever open up to and the only one who had ever seen any emotion in her gaze. Growing up as models, both he and Rima had adopted the calm, indifferent approach to life. It acted as a deterrent for unwanted attention and this was especially useful when it came to annoying admirers and over-enthusiastic fans as they entered adolescence. But when they were in the presence of one another, they were like any other kids their age and their bored, expressionless façades were tossed aside for sunny smiles and joyful laughter. However, recently it seemed the silent treatment had been extended to him as well. He sighed and passed a hand over his face, as though trying to wipe away his anxiety. If only life was so simple.
He entered class and took his usual seat as he stared in the teacher's general direction, his mind far away. He found it very hard to focus on reality, especially now that he had lost the centre of his world; the one who kept him anchored and offered him support. The empty seat next to him felt so cold, so prominent, as though it was mocking him. He longed to see the familiar copper head bent over her work beside him, the long bunches hanging perfectly on each side of her face and the bangs falling over her mesmerising lilac-blue eyes. He couldn't help but glance over at the opposite side of the class, his face as expressionless as usual, but his eyes full of unanswered questions.
Rima sat staring at the blackboard but it was clear her attention was elsewhere. The teacher sighed. This was usual for the quiet reserved girl and he knew better than to try to tell her off. He would simply be met by a pair of bored eyes that would stare him down until he backed off. But recently, it seemed there was something in those eyes. They seemed … forlorn and pained. He quickly glanced at Shiki, her former counterpart and noticed that his gaze was directed also at the orange-haired girl, a similar sad expression in his eyes. Perhaps something happened between them. They had been so close before, inseparable even. But one day Rima came into his class and chose an empty seat at the opposite side of where she usually sat, clearly avoiding Shiki's questioning and imploring gaze. He sighed once again. This had nothing to do with him. His job was just to teach. But he couldn't help but feel the anxiety passing between the two, like radio waves of some sort.
Shiki did not notice his teacher's glance. His attention was focused on the girl sitting with a blank expression on her face. His eyes followed the long pin-straight hair tied up with the little ribbons and he ached to run his fingers through the silky strands. He knew how they would feel: satin soft and smooth to the touch. He used to constantly stroke her hair as she leaned against him under an umbrella in the sunlight. Her hair would appear to be made of copper as the sun reflected off the shiny locks. Then his gaze travelled to her eyes. Those eyes were such an exquisite colour … a mixture blue with little flecks of lilac. They seemed to change colour with her emotions … sometimes they were an almost clear blue that reminded Shiki of calm pools of water softly glistening in the sunlight … other times they seemed more like the evening sky: somewhere between indigo and navy with a gentle sparkle. Those eyes always held him captivated and every time he looked into them, he thought he could continue doing just that for the rest of his life. His lips twitched into a sad smile as he thought of this and just at that moment, those eyes flicked quickly towards him before resuming their previous task of staring blankly at the front of the class. Shiki could swear he saw a glimpse of the old Rima in that quick glance. It was suppressed and it was there for only a fraction of a second, but it was there nonetheless. It was something Shiki would instantly recognise. He continued to stare at those eyes, willing for them to make contact with him one more time, trying to transmit an unspoken question across the distance.
What happened, Rima?
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Plz plz plz review! ^_^ Thank yuu so muchos for taking the time to read this! Much love. x