Hi everyone!
Welcome to our first joint fiction! It was so much fun working with other authors and I hope you will enjoy reading it, too! The authors who will write in this collaboration fiction are: Shadow's Tears, Ren Nakamura, animearchitect, Athena Katorea Knightstar, Ahsinat crimson flames and nebhat04. Our assistant is Neko Meow )
The first chapter is written by nebhat04.
5 days in your mind
Prologue
A sparkling, subtle creature was enwrapped in the cone of a luscious calla lily. The snow white flower was a perfect shelter for the music fairy. It was spacious and comfortable for his tiny body.
He huffed and puffed, pregnant heaves leaving his minuscule lips and checked his beating heart with his trembling palms.
"That was close!" He stated the sentence as he recalled the memory of the previous predicament with the stray dogs in the park.
As soon as his breathing became steady, he stood up and placed his hands on the lace trimming of the lily. He ascertained his vast surrounding and discovered that the dogs were gone, only the gentle waft of the late autumn breeze remaining in the park.
A blushful smile graced his lips when his eyes met with an amaranth haired girl who was playing the violin.
Briskly, he jumped on the leaf of the sword sturdy flower and lay on his stomach. With his legs playing with the wind and his head swinging to the rhythm of the heartfelt melody, he glued his eyelids together and hummed the notes…
"It's splendid! The song is chirpy, yet it divulges her lament… hmmm…" He mused as he kept his head tilting from right to left.
The song had halted halfway and the girl sat on the spongy, evergreen turf. Sighs escaped from her air filled lungs and a minuscule crystal ball turned into a brook on her pretty face.
"Why… why men can't understand me?"
The fairy was sitting with crossed legs; he placed his arms on his knees. His elbows met with his legs and rested his head on his palms. He was bemused by the sight of a crying girl in front of his bare eyes. He was neither cupid nor did he have a tiny clue how could it feel to be in love or broken; but he was sure that the girl was a talented musician and her music was endued with pure feelings.
"That's it!" And with these words, he flew away…
Chapter 1: The wedding violinist
The swish of the January wind wiggled around and hardly ravaged the dust on the torrid floor. The scorching sunrise killed the air molecules and the atmosphere was very sultry. The breeze conveyed the fresh, salty scent of the ocean, making people's nose tickle as they breathed in the precious, yet suffocating air.
A young, muscari blue haired man left an air conditioned skyscraper and stepped in the Brazilian, fervent sun.
His attire didn't help him even a bit against the unbearable hotness: the black suit covered his lean body. His neck was decorated with a dark, tight tie and his hand was busy holding a blue violin case.
With a flawless, rapid movement, he ransacked his pocket and revealed a cell phone.
"I'm done…" He stated bluntly between heavy breaths.
"I'm sorry Len! The driver can't make it until 6 pm, so… I recommend you to take a taxi or public transportation." A gentle voice tingled in his ears.
He subdued his anger and remained gentlemanly with the woman on the other end of the line.
"Thanks mother." He hung up and squeezed his phone back into his pocket. "What will I do now?" He eyed the passing taxis and thought of the touristy place… after all, this was the first time he had visited this country and it would have been nice to enjoy and discover more. But he was out of the mood and somehow couldn't stand –precisely, hated – hotness!
He strolled the streets aimlessly for a while… occasionally checking the time since he still had more than an hour before the driver could pick him up…
"What to do? What to do?" He repeated the question without expecting any answer.
He glared at an opened bus… it looked really tempting for him because it had huge, colorful umbrellas on it. "Shade!" He mused and waited at the bus stop for the next ride.
He stepped on and hurried to the back of the huge vehicle and found a sole seat. He gulped many times… but it was painful on his burning, dry throat.
"I'm so thirsty…" He whispered to himself, without noticing a slim woman who was standing above him and waiting for a reply…
"Is it occupied?" She was pointing at the seat next to him. She was pretty and her smile seemed to be perfectly radiant. He remarked it in his mind and measured her clothes: short, white dress, ladybug red hair in a high ponytail, white patent leather shoes… and a silver handbag.
How long should I wait for his answer? He looks Japanese so I assume that he speaks the language… Oh geez, these shoes are killing me. I want to sit down…
He heard her words faintly but didn't feel sure enough if she said those words or if it was just his imagination. His eyes were glued to the high heels when finally he answered.
"It's not occupied." His answer was curt. Len tilted his head to the other direction and kept watching the mirage on the street.
He looks tired… how can he be on this bus with those clothes? He's sweating huge drops on his forehead…
"Excuse me… did you say something?"
What the heck was wrong with him? She, a total stranger, would never say things like that… unless she was a very direct person. He thought but still didn't look at the girl beside him.
"No! I didn't!" She protested and twiddled with her delicate fingers.
Did I say it out loud? No way… I would never say that! It's not his fault that the weather is really hot. It's not my business anyway. Hmmm… did I close the balcony door? I hope not… when I'll arrive back, the air will be fresh in the room. Oh no, where are my keys?
She combed her handbag for several minutes when finally she heaved and fished out the hoodlum keys.
There you are! It would put me in trouble if I lose my keys…
The young man now was frantic in his seat… listening to an unknown girl, how she's talking to herself was too much for his simple mind.
The hotness was one problem but dealing with a mumbling woman talking about nonsense was quite another!
"Would you mind…" This time he averted his head to her direction and faced the daunted girl.
Would I mind what? Why doesn't he finish the sentence? Did I do something wrong? And why is he looking at my lips with those… hungry sparkles in his gilded eyes?
Tsukimori Len, who always believed in logic and with much confidence, can be stated as a realist. Sentiments, feelings, abnormal paranormal phenomenon was out of question.
Due to these facts about our hero, his eyes were feasting on the crimson haired girl's lips which were NOT MOVING, yet he heard forming, annoying words from the same voice…
He glared at her like he had seen a floating ghost in the air but the girl misinterpreted his gape and screamed out the words in her mind.
What? What? He's a pervert! Pervert! He's watching my lips like they are food! Pervert! I don't even know his name! Pervert! Pervert!
She iterated the shameful word millions of times and the voice became louder and louder with each repeated 'pervert'.
But he couldn't have turned away. On the top of everything, his hands lifted up and almost skinned her lips…
"They are not moving! I can't believe this! They are supposed to move! They are supposed to move!"
He was perplexed and struggled to seek for a realistic answer. Though, it never knocked on his mind's door.
Now he wants to touch my lips! I cannot allow that! I have to admit that he is really handsome, but for God's sake I don't know him! I'm not gonna kiss an anonymous!
He kept staring at her shaking lips which were still not forming any words!
The bus drove through a line of gutters on the road and caused the vehicle to jump up a little. Not to mention that it was so sudden that the young man bounced to his right side, crashed on the girl and gifted her lips with a tactless kiss.
He sensed how his choppy skin touched her soft lips which were dandled with rich, lip balm.
The reaction from the girl was surprisingly slow but when she woke up from her stunned state, with a graceful movement, she slapped the pale cheek of the boy.
She wore googly eyes and her only intention was to leave the bus as fast as possible so she tried to stand up but her left heel was stuck between two chairs.
She wiggled her leg to free the heel from the prison but her struggle was barren of results. The stubborn heel was thunderstruck just like the man besides her.
No way! That pervert just kissed me! I want to go! I want to go! How did he dare? Pervert! Pervert! And see this… I can't even escape because my right heel is stuck! Oh God and I thought that today is my lucky day!
Unconsciously, she pressed the signal and the bus halted. Len was about to reach for her legs and give help to the heel but she couldn't have waited anymore!
I don't care! I just want to run!
She stepped out of the half stiletto and limping, exited the bus. Len was still glaring at her direction with awe and horror in his eyes. He bent down to pick up the abandoned shoe and at the next stop, left the bus.
He looked around and found the huge, white building…
"This is where I must go!"
The young man loosened his tie and unbuttoned his black coat… a soft breeze dried off some of the sweat drops from his neck.
He entered the white building and people quickly started to chirp about his arrival. Well yes, he looked hilarious with one hand holding the violin case, while the other one… was occupied with a small, white stiletto.
"I need to see a psychiatrist!" He blurted out his only wish.
The older, Latin woman at the reception desk was speechless but she understood English so she answered.
"There is a temporary Japanese doctor… but he has a patient right now." Her trembling voice left her lips without confidence.
"I'm sorry madam! It's urgent!" He was determined and yearned for a realistic answer for his previous encounter with the cherry haired young woman.
"2nd floor, 3rd door on the left. His name is Kaji Aoi!" She didn't intend to argue with the handsome foreigner who festooned his face with a stern look. But as she looked at him from toe to head, her assumption was easily influenced by the sight and thought that he was not a tourist. Rather a businessman, she corrected her theory.
He rushed through the crowded corridors and pricked up his ears too see if he could hear voices from other people but the irking silence welcomed him.
"I'm going mad…" he thought and opened Kaji Aoi's door without knocking.
He stood there, with the door open and took in the light room.
There was a coach with a maroon haired someone was lying on it. His hands were under his head while he talked nonstop, the leather chair granting the blonde doctor with comfortable working hours.
"So anytime I see that green haired trumpeter of a puppy around her, I just strengthen my fists and wish I could break something in the room!"
"But he doesn't do anything!" The doctor corrected.
"Yes he does!" The maroon head almost shouted. "He's been nagging on her since they were toddlers… how annoying!"
Len couldn't have taken anymore of the bubbling and he cleared his throat before shutting the door with audible noise.
"Doctor! I need help! I can hear voices!" He whispered but both men in the room were aware of his presence now and also his words made a kind of funny effect in them; they started laughing.
The guy on the sofa was sitting now and glued his glance on the standing, blue haired man… one hand with the violin while the other with the stiletto.
"Ah… Tsukimori…" He could have hardly pronounced the sentence without stumbling.
"Do you know each other?" The doctor turned to Len then to the other guy and both nodded at the same time.
"Sort of… Same violin class, number one rival…" The maroon haired guy stood up and scooted to the direction of the door. Meanwhile he patted Len's shoulder.
"Hey Aoi! Make sure to put him into a rubber room and let him play his violin!" He snickered and exited the room.
"Make sure you take your medication every day!" Kaji yelled after his patient but he was nowhere in sight. "Sorry for that! Dr. Kaji Aoi!" He reached the still standing Len and invited him for a manly handshake.
"Tsukimori Len…" He lifted up his hand with the stiletto in it but quickly hid it behind his back when he discovered the mistake. Why was he keeping that stupid shoe anyway? Pink tinged his cheeks.
"Len, I don't have much time but another day I'll gladly listen to your problem…" The doctor started…
"Don't call me by my given name!" He protested.
"Ah, sorry! It helps in the 'doctor patient' bond if we are more familiar with each other. You know, building the trust…" Aoi sat at his desk and arranged some stray papers on it.
"Don't come with the hanky-panky speech! I need a doctor not a sorcerer! You should take me to an MRI because I have brain malfunctioning!" Len shared his best guess with the doctor. Probably that was his problem. It was rational and acceptable. Maybe he practiced too much today and he hadn't even eaten anything. Now that he was thinking about it, he felt a 'pang' in his hollow stomach.
Aoi forced back a giggle but kept listening to his new 'patient'.
"I can't send you to an MRI without any proper reason…" The blond doctor smiled.
"I can hear voices!" Len placed the violin case on the sofa as he reported his avowal.
"Everyone can hear voices…" The doctor added and smiled again. This was his job.
"It was not hallucination! And it was not my voice! She… she was talking without moving her lips! I went mad. Anyway, what's Etou Kiriya doing here? Is he stark mad now? "
"He has problems with controlling his anger, or rather jealousy. But let's get back to your problem. Maybe she could talk from her tummy!" He snickered. This was the first time –besides Etou – that he was dealing with mentally normal people. It must have been the stress, he thought as he eyed Len's depressed expression.
"No… I doubt…" Len was confused now but didn't give up on the MRI. "Please, I just want an MRI…" He almost pleaded but forced himself back.
"I'm sorry, the most I can do for you is prescribing a weak sedative and if you still have the problem, visit me again! I'm in Arraial do Cabofor the next two months. Kind of volunteering here so give me a call if you're lost again! "
"I won't budge an inch without the MRI!" The blue haired man demanded.
Aoi sighed and handed over two papers to Len.
"Anyway, that was a very entertaining and specious tale that you told me…" He snickered repeatedly.
But Len was rendered speechless with rage. He had his reasons. First of all, the doctor didn't believe in him and treated him like he was insane. Probably, he was. And on the other hand, that bastard Etou heard him saying 'he's perceiving voices'. Why him? His number one rival in the classical music field!
"I need more practice!" He thought inside the sane part of his mind and exited the room.
Aoi eyed the leaving silhouette and thought that he must write his next article about Tsukimori Len and the lonely white stiletto… he almost decided on the title of the article when his phone rang.
"It's not like I see her every day! I don't even know her name! And I don't want to… Maybe it was a trick of my mind! Nothing special! I'm hungry, dizzy! So let's forget about it! "
Len was deep in his mind while watching the sunset from his balcony.
The weather was milder now and for no particular reason he enjoyed the view and the soft breeze on his skin. He wished to obliterate the recent past… when someone disturbed his daydreaming state.
"Len! There you are! May I ask a favor from you? "
An elegant, middle aged woman stepped out to caress her son's shoulder.
"Yes…" But his crumbling mind was still pondering on the previous topic.
"Azuma can't come tonight but the musicians are visiting us and nobody will be here unless you receive them! The wedding is in 5 days so we should hurry up!"
Without reconsidering the answer and the yearning to be alone again, he agreed.
"Of course, mother." But his eyes were in a far away land.
"I'm leaving now! Take care and make the guests comfortable, they'll be here in half an hour!" His mother's endearing smile didn't change the icy expression on Len's face.
A soft knock woke up Len from his semi sleep but when he left his room, the guests were already in the living room.
6 people were standing and staring at him.
It was nothing special for him; ignoring the fact that a screaming voice was coming from a red head!
Pervert! Pervert! I can't believe this! What the heck is he doing here! Pervert!
His eyes enshrouded in fog and for the second time today, he experienced a black-out in his brain. He gaped at the people in the room and contemplated the girl in front of him. Her peerless locks revealed the truth that she must have been the same person. Unless she had a twin sister… but the voice which was yelling at him was also the same.
Say something! Stupid pervert! You stole a kiss from me and didn't even say sorry!
"Welcome…" He said with a bowed head. Kahoko grinned but only Len was aware of her real thoughts!
Now it's my turn… great…Pervert!
"I'm Hino Kahoko! I'm the leader of the music team. She's Amou Nami, our camera woman!" She pointed at a blonde woman with deep blue eyes. "She's Mio Takato, my personal assistant " Mio had light brown locks and she festooned her lips with a graceful smile. "He's Ryotaro Tsuchiura, our very talented pianist." The green haired musician wanted to shake hands with Len, but he was still stunned with the happenings. "He's Kazuki Hihara, a cheerful trumpeter!" Another green head and he ran towards Len and playfully shook hands with him.
"Nice to meet you! I'm also Kahoko's fiancé! "
What! Idiot! He's … He's … Kazuki is…. Bah never mind!
"OK Kazuki! Calm down. And this hoodlum here is Etou Kiriya, a world famous violinist. "
Len swallowed hard. Was the mind reading was not enough? Why was he cursed with Etou too?
'And you are…?" Kahoko reminded Len that he hadn't introduced himself yet.
Please, tell me that you're not the groom! I'll get my revenge! I will make your next 5 days hell because of the kiss! If you're the groom, then you're lucky because I respect the bride more than anything! Pervert! Pig! Cheater! Poor woman who's gonna marry you! Pervert!
Probably, for the first time in his life, Tsukimori Len was barren of ideas. It was crystal clear that he was warped! His mind was blustering and longing for a little peace so he did a piece of folly.
"I… I'm the groom!" He stated with not much confidence but his lips formed the sentence without his mind's permission. His shameless sentence echoed in his ears but it was too late. He didn't even bat an eyelid and lies were leaving his lips. Since when did he become such a liar?
"Then you are Yunoki Azuma!" Nami shouted with happiness in her voice! "This is great so you can give me advice about flowers. Ah, this is my lucky day! What do you think what kind of flower would match me… the lily, some kind of orchids, roses… "
And the blonde woman kept on spouting unnecessary words and he didn't even know how to respond. His head was spinning because his attention was fixed on Amou then refocusing on Kahoko's inner mumbling and he had to think of Etou Kiriya, who knew his real identity.
But somehow with the 'world famous violinist', who could have drawn a point at the end of the problem remained silent. Only, a sneer smile was planted on his face and looked away.
Pervert pig! You betrayed your fiancée! How will you look into the mirror now? Well, I guess it doesn't matter because you are such a bad person! But… he's so good looking. And… his lips were so dry… he had a hard time with the hotness and somehow he was lost… why did I like that accidental kiss? Was it a one 'night blooming' flower, or a perennial day lily? Stop thinking of stupidity, Kahoko! You'll be the wedding violinist on his wedding!
"Enough!" Len shouted in his desperation. The vortex of thoughts and speeches were mixed and he didn't plan on elucidating the misunderstanding. He was panting hard and feeling dizzier than before.
'What a conceited jerk!" Ryoutaro stated with crossed arms.
Len's eyes were tarnished and he said something hurtful again.
"You know where the door is. We'll talk tomorrow! I'm busy now!"
He didn't wait for them to exit the house, just ran to his room and dialed an overused number.
"Azuma!" He huffed and puffed between his lines.
"What happened?" A calm voice questioned him.
"I said that I'm the groom… I had my reasons but…" He protested but actually there was no explanation of his acts.
"My…My… the almighty Tsukimori Len getting into boorish habits… but that's all right. At least we'll have fun with the musicians!" Len would have never dreamt of having Azuma's implicit obedience but he was a weasel and for sure, he'll ask back the favor in a very bad situation.
"And what about Miyaji?" His voice was low, almost whispering.
"She'll be alright. No need to worry about my fiancée!"
They hung up and Len was glaring at the white, patent leather shoe on his desk… He didn't feel penance for his lie. But it was a chaos! His mind was begging for some sleep and he thought it was the right moment to take the sedatives…
"It must be a placebo…" He mulled over the fact that this medicine was not going to help him but to make sure, he swallowed one pill.
Tsukimori Len, who always had realistic thinking and forced himself to live on the solid earth, never had a sentimental mind and refused to believe in things that he couldn't see.
He never wished for knowing or understanding a woman but maybe this was a chance!
"So she is the violinist…" He whispered the words before he stole the last glance of a solitary stiletto and he was enwrapped in deep slumber.
Thanks for reading our story! Reviews are warmly welcome since we would like to know your reaction and your opinion! Please don't be cheap with the reviews :P