Disclaimer: This work is now disclaimed.
Warnings: n/a
A/N: Hrm. One-sided ShingenxRika (and perhaps possible YuukixRika?), but not much to say other than that. What Rika says near the end kind of anchors where this is set time-wise, I suppose.
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Locked in a Cage
02
(Hey You, I Love Your Soul)
Shingen waved, "Rika-san!"
As expected, she only gave him a glance to acknowledge his presence, before she turned back to talk to Kirio. Not the least bit put-off by her attitude, Shingen leaned back against the rough surface of the brick wall to wait for the pair to catch up.
It was such a beautiful day, he noted with a smile; the sort of day he would have loved to take the girl he loved out for a date. Either that or autumn, he decided, planning before there was even a reason. There was just a strange sort of beauty within the season.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" Rika's voice cut through his train of thought.
Unable to help it, Shingen beamed back at her, "It's just a really beautiful day, isn't it?"
Rika raised an eyebrow, but was not given a chance to reply as Shingen was distracted, at an instant, by a light tap on his shoulder. He turned to face the newcomer, as Kirio took a look at his wristwatch, irritation clearly stamped on his face (they didn't want to be late for school, after all).
"Yuuki!"
"Sakurai-kun," without another word, the dark-haired girl had pushed Shingen away to speak with the violinist. "What happened two nights ago? I couldn't get a hold of you."
As Yuuki shrugged and apologised, Shingen focused on the hand pressed against his shoulder; Rika had yet to pull away. He could hear his heart beating – faster than usual, he was certain – as the pair spoke of matters beyond his grasp.
Not that he cared, though. He focused on Rika, and Rika alone. Her beauty, her intellect, her determination, everything…
Yes, he loved her – more than anything in the world. And that beat the beauty of the morning any day.
