Geri: WELCOME TO SOUL CONNECTION :DDDDD
Amu: Isn't someone a little too happy?
Ikuto: And distracted -_-
Rohit: It's Jordan's fault -_-
Amu: But it means better writing :o
Rohit: Good point.
Ikuto: Yeah so I guess we'll let her be….
Geri: Lies D: Rohit still yells at me!
Rohit: Please excuse the mistakes, I rushed her to post the chapter.
THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO ROOMING WITH YOU. PLEASE READ THAT BEFORE READING MORE OF THIS STORY. THANK YOU :D
Chapter 1: False Images
Normal P.O.V.
It was late November, November 16th, 2013 to be exact. Like in most places by Tokyo, the Cherry Blossoms were in full bloom and every couple was out and about. Not every couple, I suppose. There was Amu and Ikuto who were still on strained terms who were at home right now still living in a hushed silence and then there was Takanari and Kanate who weren't even together yet bounded by the love that won't end. Let's take a look at them shall we?
Amu was seventeen with 1 year old Takara in her lap. She sat at one end of the couch while her fiancé, Ikuto, sat on the other. Takara was still too young to realize her parent's moods, but because of that she could still smile and be a happy child. But, she was keen enough to tell that the distance between her Mommy and Daddy was not a good thing.
"Oto-san!"
"Yes, Taka-chan?" Ikuto asked and scooted a bit closer to his daughter.
"Why aren't you sitting next to us?"
Amu and Ikuto exchanged worried glances.
"No reason, Taka-chii." Amu said, using the new nickname she had given Takara.
"Ok!" Her daughter said, shifting off of Amu's lap and pulling Ikuto by his sleeve over to Amu.
"See, Okaa-san and Oto-san are ok."
"We're a big happy family, right?" Takara asked with a big smile on her face.
"Yeah, a big happy family." Amu mused.
Ikuto shot her an angry look, but quickly composed himself as his daughter turned to look at him.
"What is this show about?" Takara inquired, pointing too the television screen.
"A family who is going through divorce."
"What's divorce?"
"When an Oto-san and Okaa-san don't stay married to each other." Ikuto said quickly.
"They don't stay married?"
"Yes, they don't stay a family." Amu replied gently.
"You won't get a divorce…" Takara looked between the two of them. "right?"
"Right." Amu mumbled.
Down in the Underworld, Mateo was still trying to recover from the cold silence Kanate had started to give him. He liked the hard-to-get types the most. He wanted nothing more than to have her lips trapped in his, to have his arms around her. As far as he knew, Takanari was as good as dead. When you're dead and in a coma, there will never be a good result. Mateo sort of found Kanate's insanity inciting and different, it was an understatement to say that he wanted her all to himself. Anne tended to Takanari just as Kanate did. The mansion was too crowded to her now that there was five people living here. Six if you counted Rohit, but he never came home.
There wasn't a change in weather down here so it was always around 78 degrees, sometimes hotter if the ruler got mad. No one dared to make him mad. In response, the Ruler stayed content until he found a reason to be mad.
"Kanate," Mateo found her alone in the library. "Please talk to me!"
She remained silent.
"Please? I won't kiss you again or anything! I swear!"
"How could you?" Her voice wasn't angry.
"What?"
"Why did you kiss me?"
"Because.." It took him a moment to think of an answer for that. "Because you stole my heart."
"What a cheesy line." Kanate remarked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It's true!" Mateo strained his brain for the right words. "Why won't you consider giving me a chance?"
"Because I already love someone!"
"I know it's Takanari, but he's in no state to love you."
"Be quiet."
"Don't deny it." He sighed. "Can't I be his substitute until he wakes up?"
"Substitute?"
"Yeah, I'll be your step in boyfriend."
"But that's only going to hurt you in the end." Kanate said cautiously.
"I wouldn't mind." He winked at her. "Hey, you never know, you might just fall for me."
"I think I might not."
"So stubborn," He groaned. "But hey, it's kinda cute."
"Kinda cute?" Kanate said, half insulted.
Mateo only laughed and put his arm around her. She didn't move his arm, in fact, she didn't hate having his arm there.
Amu's P.O.V.
"Okaa-san, Okaa-san!"
"Yes, Taka-chii?"
"Can we go see the cherry blossoms?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Can Oto-san come?"
"If he wants to."
"I want to." Ikuto said.
"Then, if you're all ready let's head over there."
"Let's walk!"
"Are you sure?"
"I'll carry her if she gets tired." Ikuto cut in.
"If you say so."
I let Takara go out the door first and stopped Ikuto once she was one foot away. He looked at me with an eye brow raised.
"Lower."
"What?" He asked confused.
"Crouch down." I say, a little annoyed.
My head barely met his chest, so he did as he was told so that we were at eye level. I got lost in his eyes for a minute. The color of them still took my breath away. He looked more confused the longer I said nothing. So, I quickly kissed his cheek and walked forward.
"Truce, ok?" I said catching up with Takara.
I could feel my cheeks blush. I missed him. I missed the Ikuto that openly showed me love. This cold treatment made me sad and out of place. Even Takara was noticing my bad move. Ikuto was walking beside me with an unreadable expression on his face. That made me worry even more.
In twenty minutes, we arrived at the park and Takara ran around amongst the trees. Her skinny, but tall body made her look more like a flowing spirit than a young child. Ikuto and I kept a keen eye on her, though, because she is only a 1 year old. Ikuto put his arm around me and I got that butterflies-in-my-stomach feeling all over again. It was probably because he hasn't done it in a long time. Or maybe it was probably because it was Ikuto doing this.
"Amu.."
I wonder if he misses me in the same way I miss him.
"Amu.."
He must, right? He still loves me..
"Amu, look up."
"Huh?" I looked towards him in confusion with my face tilted up a little bit.
Almost in an instant, I felt Ikuto's lips on mine. More than anything, I was beyond shocked. It took me a moment to register what had happened.
"Truce." He says cooly.
I smile at him and try to hide the blush that I know is mounting on my cheeks.
"Oto-san! Okaa-san!" Takara came running to us and showed us a cherry blossom. "Look what I found!"
"It's beautiful!" I say inspecting the flower.
"Just like my two girls." Ikuto teases us and puts an arm around both of us.
Mateo's P.O.V.
I walked down the hallway in thoughtful silence and found that Kanate's room door wide open. She was kneeling beside the bed, placing a wet towel on Takanari's forehead. In this light, she looked more like an angel tending to the sinners of the earth, than a young sister caring for an older brother. Sometimes it took me forever to remember Kanate is insane. I gently knocked on her door and waited for her to acknowledge me.
"Yes?" She asked patiently.
"Would you like me to close the door?" I politely.
"Yes, that would be nice."
"All right, well, make sure you get some sleep." I close the door behind me and continue to walk down the hall.
"Wait!" I hear Kanate's voice and I stop dead in my tracks. "Mateo!"
"Y-Yeah?" I reply back in a semi-loud voice.
She jogged over to me with her lolita skirt fluttering a little bit.
"I'll take you up on that offer."
"What?" I blinked a few times.
"I want you to be my temporary boyfriend."
"Really?"
"Yes, really." Kanate had a hint of a smile on her face.
"You won't regret it!" I say, giving her a bear hug. "Thank you, Kanate!"
She only smiled and let me twirl her around in my arms. I could deal with this. I could pretend that she didn't love him. I could pretend that she is mine and one alone. I could pretend that she has a genuine interest in me. What I can't pretend is that she doesn't stare longingly at him and waiting for him to wake up.
"Do you want me to be him?"
"How could that be possible?"
"I can transform to look like him." I looked away from her. "It's not hard."
"But wouldn't you want me to-"
"It'd be good for you to rant. To say all the things you can't say to him now."
"Why are you being so kind?"
"Because I like you." I say sternly, looking directly at her.
"Isn't that a bit far for just liking someone?"
"If you don't want me to,all you have to do is say the word."
"Well-"
"Seriously, it's not that complicated."
"No.."
"Ok."
"No, I mean…No I want you to transform." She said this quietly.
I looked sympathetically at her, "Ok."
In seconds, I felt my body change shape and adapt to the image I gave it. Kanate had covered her eyes since this process always produced a blinding light. I looked at my hands and patted down my body. It didn't feel like my own at all. I smiled, this means the process went smoothly. Taking Kanate's hand in mine, I waited for her to open her gasped when she saw me. She touched Takanari's duplicated cheek and had an expression of pure wonder on her face.
"This is so…unreal."
"You could say that."
Whoa. This wasn't my voice. I stood there speechless. I've never been able to do that before. Kanate didn't seem to notice since she was too busy studying every duplicated feature I had.
I cleared my throat, "So, what did you want to tell me, Kanate-chan?"
She blinked and looked confused, but it didn't take her long to figure out what I had meant.
"I…I…I wanted to say that…"
"Don't force yourself." I replied gently and gripped her shoulder.
She took a deep breath and began her rant.
"Why? Why couldn't you love me more than her?" She searched my eyes. "Why did you move on?"
The room began to shift and dissolve.
"Don't you remember the promises we made?" She held my hand up to her cheek. "Don't you remember the love we have?"
The ceiling finally disappeared and I found myself in the middle of a grassy hill, at the very peak to be exact. It was midday and the sky was as clear as can be. Kanate and I stood side by side as two little figures came racing up the hill. The two figures were smaller versions of Kanate and Takanari.
Amu's P.O.V.
It was almost nine o'clock when we arrived at home. The house was quiet and dark like it usually was at this time. Takara was sleeping in Ikuto's arms and I watched as the adorable pair headed upstairs. Times like these made me feel like we really were a happy family, but I knew this was mostly because we had a truce going on. I blew out the candles in the kitchen and turned off the lights in the doorway. Then, I turned on the outdoor lights and headed upstairs myself. I noticed right away that Ikuto was turning on the lights in the guest room. He had moved most of his clothes in there.
"Ikuto?"
"Yeah?" His tone sounded cold.
"Isn't everything ok now?"
"Between us?"
"Yeah?"
"Amu," He scanned my face for something. "We had a truce going on. That's it. The problem hasn't gone away yet."
"O-Oh…" I looked down in embarrassment. "I'm sorry for misinterpreting that."
It's funny, I felt like crying.
"Yeah…" He looked away and tried to think of something to say.
"I.."
"Uhm.."
".."
"Good night." Ikuto said quickly and shut his door.
Rushing, I ran into our (or should I say my) room. How could I be such an idiot? Of course my day isn't going to fix a problem that has been going on for about a month now. It doesn't work that way. I slowly sunk down to the floor and tried to calm myself down as I wiped away the hot tears that streamed down my face. I didn't deserve to cry. I was the one who caused this problem.
Ikuto's P.O.V.
I wanted to forgive her. I wanted to lay in bed with her. I wanted to hold her in my arms and never let go. I wanted Takara to see us as loving parents, not soon to be divorced partners. Divorced? I smirked against the pillow; we weren't even married yet. Amu Tsukiyomi. That had a beautiful ring to it. Today was going so well, it fooled her into thinking everything was ok again. Well, I couldn't blame her. I was fooled myself.
"Baka." I muttered to myself.
But how could I be sure her feelings were decided? She showed no difference towards me or Takanari. She still visited him everyday and called every hour to make everything was ok. The nurses knew her by name now and sometimes called in when Amu missed her hourly call. They even asked me if she was ok. They had asked me why she hasn't checked up on him. I almost threw the phone clear across the room.
"Baka.."
My angered welled up inside me all over again and I thought of the time I first saw those two kiss. That time when they stood by the cherry blossom trees. I laughed at myself, they kissed around this time. All those times he would walk her home to our dorm and he would kiss her good night. I didn't like to peek, but I couldn't take my eyes off them. I couldn't stop watching the way he hugged her close to him. That should've been me then. It should still be me now. I laughed at myself more, you're competing with a dead man and a guy who has a coma. NICE. I threw the pillow away from me.
"Fucking Baka!"
There was a light knock on my door, I got up to open it. Takara stood at the doorway with her bunny touching the floor as she dragged it onward with her left hand. She rubbed her eyes half-heartedly and her shirt was a size too big that it was falling off her shoulder. It was hard to say she wasn't cute. Eh hem.
"Hey, Musume-chan."
"Oto-san.." Her sleepy voice washed all my anger away.
I picked her up in my arms and waited for her to say more.
"Why were you yelling?"
"Don't worry about that." I say quietly.
"Are you mad at Okaa-san?"
"N-No.." I lifted her up in the air. "I'm not mad at her."
"Are you sure?"
I blew into her belly and earned a giggle from Takara. "I'm sure."
"Is Okaa-san mad at you?"
"No…Okaa-san isn't mad at me." I sighed and lowered her to the ground.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
I smiled, "Sure, Taka-chan."
I tucked her into the bed and laid on top of the covers.
"When are we gonna see Takanari-ojisan?"
I turned away from her, my anger was slowly returning.
"Oto-san?"
"You can go see him when Okaa-san goes to visit him." I'm surprised at how calmly I can say that.
To be honest I don't want Takanari anywhere near my daughter. My daughter. I still question if Takara is mine. She looks almost nothing like me. Almost. Her eyes were the same as mine, except they had golden flecks within them. Her slim build always allowed her to move gracefully like a dancer and her skin color was as clear and fair as her mother's. Takara's hair was Takanari's, It was a healthy blue black color.
"Good night." She yawned dreamily.
"Sweet dreams, Aishiteru."
"I love you, too." In moments I heard her breathing slow into the usual quiet breaths she made when she slept.
Mateo's P.O.V.
The memory was more than vivid. More than real to be honest. The vibrant smell of a warm April day assaulted my nose and I wondered how Kanate could possibly do all of this. I could never do it, all I could conjure was small see through creatures. However, this was all real. I don't know how else to say it. I could feel the grass between my toes and the breeze was so warm and pleasant against my face. A breeze like this was a rare find in our neck of the woods, if you get my drift.
"Takanari-niisan!" A younger voice of Kanate came yelling up the hill.
"You can't catch me!" The young Takanari taunted her.
Kanate gripped my hand tighter than usual.
"Yes, I can!" Young Takara tackled Takanari to the ground. "I got you!"
"That's cheating!" He whined.
"Nu uh!"
"Yea huh!"
"Nu uh!"
"Yea huh!"
She stuck her tongue out at him and he did the same to her.
"Blehhh!"
"Blehhhhh!"
They stared intensely at each other for a solid minute, but then broke into a laughing fit and laid down in the grass at our feet. The two of them looked so happy to be in each other's company. Takanari started to teach her about the stars and all the silly stories behind them. He taught her about the moon and the story of the zodiac animals from Fruits Basket. It was beyond me why he got into such a manga at a young age.
"I remember reading that in your comic books!"
"Manga, Kanate-chan." He groaned. "Manga."
"Why does it sound like mango?"
"Maybe the guy who named it liked mangoes?" Takanari said softly.
"Are the stars really the souls of people?"
"I like to think so."
"Then, will we be there too, one day?"
"If you're good!"
"I'm always good!"
"That's a lie!"
"Nu uh!"
"I know I'll be up there." His tone was a bit smug.
"Don't leave me behind!" Kanate cried out and went up on her elbows.
"Well…"
"Takanari-niisan!"
"I won't, I won't."
"What are you two doing?" An unwelcome voice said suddenly.
"Anne?" Kanate asked, and the memory started to fade away.
"What are you two doing? When did Takanari wake up?"
"Oh.." Kanate and I shared glances.
"I'm..I'm Mateo."
"M-Mateo?" Anne looked horrified. "H-how?"
"I don't know.."
Anne turned furious and pointed an accusing finger at Kanate, "What have you done to him?"
"What? Me?" Kanate didn't say anything else.
"Anne-"
"What have you done to Mateo?" Anne's voice rose to a shout.
"I-I didn't do anything!" She let go of my hand.
"Stay away from him!" Anne barked and was about to drag me out of the room.
Suddenly, I felt light headed and I held onto the wall for support.
"What's wrong?" the two of them asked at the same time.
"I..feel..dizzy." I said quietly.
I don't know if either of them heard me.
"Look-"
I blacked out.
Anne's P.O.V.
"Look what you've done to him!" I fell to my knees and caught him in my arms.
"I..I..I.."
"Mateo! Mateo!" I searched my mind for his other name. "Jack!"
"Who's Jack?"
"How can you not yet know who he is?" I nearly screamed at her.
"What?" She looked at me innocently.
"He's..He's.." I didn't know if telling this idiot girl was a good choice. "..my husband."
"What?"
"He doesn't know though."
"Then you really aren't.."
"Don't use that tone with me." I said sternly. "He's two people. He's a lot like Takanari."
I stroked his hair gently. How many times have I done this in my other life?
"So Jack is his other half?"
"A half Mateo has nearly destroyed."
"Who is Mateo?"
"He's everyone's worse nightmare. Not as bad as the gatekeepers I'll admit, but one hell of a force to deal with. But, he could beat any of those gatekeepers if his power was freed."
"I don't understand?"
"There used to be three gatekeepers…"
"Mateo was the third one?"
"Ding ding ding!" I said sarcastically. "We have a winner!"
"But he did a lot of bad in his lifetime. This place, this version of hell did not yet exist."
"Where's the real.."
"This is basically the top level of hell."
"What's at the bottom?"
"The most damned souls."
"What about Satan?"
"Honey, you're in the room with him."
"What?"
"Mateo."
"You're joking. I thought Satan had horns and looked like a horrible demon."
"Demons come in many shapes and sizes."
"Just like people."
"Yes."
"But why doesn't everyone obey him?"
"No one knows."
"What?"
"His soul was thought to be destroyed by God. What no one actually knew was that God spared him and let his soul be released. To live."
"But how come you know?"
"I'm his wife. I'm his faithful partner." I sighed at the memory with a flinch. "I was there when God gave his mercy."
"You've met God?"
"He's not all he's cracked up to be." I smirked. "He's pretty normal."
"You're joking."
"In one life, we all got along." I looked away from her. "This is a story for another time."
"Then who's Jack."
"Ask me again tomorrow." I sighed and buttoned up Mateo's vest. "I'll tell you his story. Jack's, anyway."
"What about yours?"
"That's a secret that will burn with me in this place."
"…"
"I sense a darkness in you. A darkness that is a match for mine." I laughed. "No wonder his spirit is drawn to yours."
"Why doesn't he become drawn to you?"
"I have a feeling he never loved me or my darkness." I gave her a sad smile. "I didn't have enough of either maybe."
"So we're both fighting for their attention."
"Yes."
"Is this Mateo's face?" Kanate asked. "Or is it Jack's?"
"This is Jack's face." I stroked his cheek. "…and Mateo's curse."
"Curse?"
"When I tell you their story, you will understand."
"You sound so old…I mean wise."
"That's what eons of decades of living does to you."
"Eons?"
"I've seen a lot of things. I've seen the world change."
"You've seen the dinosaurs? The civil war?"
"Much more than that." I looked off into the distance. "Much much more than that."
"Help me bring him to his room."
"Yes, ma'am."
Geri: Well how was that for a first chapter?
Amu: That's a lot drama you're creating -v-
Ikuto: It keeps them reading, baka.
Rohit: Is Mateo my brother too?
Amu: Who knows?
Geri: I don't know.
Ikuto: How can you not know? You're the author!
Geri: *evil laugh* I haven't decided yet.
Review and share please