A/N: Once again, I apologize for the long wait. I can promise, however, that no matter how long it takes before I have the time to update, I will make sure to update at least once a month. In addition, I have received a few messages telling me not to discontinue my fictions.
I can assure you that I will never discontinue any of my fan fiction works, unless no one is interested in reading it anymore. I think I have said before, that reviews are the source of my inspiration, and the more reviews I receive, the quicker I update (wouldn't want people to have to wait for me to update, and the more people who tell me they are waiting, the harder I try to update sooner).
Explanations for the Last Chapter:
The chapter was written in the third person POV, with /italics/ as Konoka's POV, and italics as Setsuna's POV. The chapter begins after Konoka ate breakfast, and she decides to go outside for a walk. Out in the cold, as she wraps her coat closer to herself, she suddenly remembers someone having placed a coat around her shoulders once.
Feeling a bit cheered by the memory despite not being able to remember it clearly, Konoka listens to two children sing a nursery rhyme. She suddenly feels exhilarated and runs, all the while remembering how she'd done the exact same thing once.
A memory comes to her of her childhood with Setsuna. She recalled how she made Setsuna chase after her, and remembered how they bought a snow cone afterwards, how she made Setsuna eat with her. The flashback ends, and she returns to the present to find that Setsuna is no longer there.
She trips and falls, then loses consciousness. Once again, she is brought back to her childhood, of when she had fallen into a river. As the dream plays out, she realizes the reason why Setsuna was willing to leave for training. She realizes how much Setsuna needs her, and that Setsuna believed she was only important as Konoka's protector.
Outside of her dream, a shadowed figure finds Konoka unconscious on the ground and carries her away. Konoka wakes up later to recognize the figure as Setsuna, and she embraces the her just as the girl attempts to leave. She tells Setsuna not to leave, yet Setsuna seems to fade away, telling Konoka that she is sorry, as she disappears…
Note on the Nursery Rhyme:
Ring-a-round o' roses has its origin from the days of medieval Europe, during the time of the Great Plague. Konoka's thoughts alludes to this fact, and the details in the song, which sings of how people carry a ring of roses and posies to block the smell of death and ward of evil. During that time, deaths were so common that it did not seem appalling that children are singing about it.
Thank You for Reading!
Reviews Replies for Chapter Two:
Special Thanks to-
Agent-Ayu: Thank You for your review!!! I am sorry for adding so much angst…I also thank you for your other reviews as well. I try to reply to every review I received, but maybe I accidentally missed one. I am sorry if I had missed one of yours.
xXxLiQuiD FaNtAsYxXx: Thank You for your review! I am sorry for the late update, and I hope I don't disappoint in this chapter!
Ari Matoya: Thank You for your review!! I am glad to know that my story does not seem confusing to you, and that you like the angst. I hope I don't disappoint in this chapter.
BELGIAN WAFFLE: Thank You for the review. And uhm…hehe…sorry for pulling another twist to it…I will reveal many secrets next chapter though.
The Shiny Sword: Thank You for the review!! And yes..hehe..Setsuna was there for the last part, though she disappeared.
Jisatsu: Thank You for the review!!! And for inspiring me so much, too!! You are the best!!
WingedWolf24: Thank You for the review!! I hope I don't disappoint in this chapter. I will continue to try my best to work on the angst….
Hirai Neon: Thank You for the review!! And also for being so patient. Sorry for taking so long.
Jess: Thank You for the review! And sorry for the late update. I will try to update sooner next time…
Anonymous C. : Thank You for the review! Sorry for taking so long to update. And yes, there will be lots of action/adventure. After all, Konochan can't stay still for so long without her Secchan, ne?
Disclaimer: I do not own Negima! (by Ken Akamatsu) ,nor the song Color's Hues (by Tran Tien).
Notes: Konoka's thoughts are in /thoughts/. Setsuna's thoughts are in italics.
Chapter Three: Amidst the rain, Away from the Sun
There is a wound in my heart…bleeding from the pain created by a story that I fear would be mine…Of two lovers forever close…living side by side…blocked by a wall of glass. Lives that never touch…one person always going to the right, while the other always go to the left…never seeing each other. What should happen if we never meet?…If we would spend our entire lives to search for each other…but with you always going down that elevator, as I go up…then you go up…as I go down?….What should happen if we should pass each other by, and never recognize…that you are for me…and I…am for you?
I do not know. But I will remain searching…searching for you. I shall search for you until the end of the world comes…and longer….even after that…
Yet the world still spins without me…and you will move on should my hold on you slip…and the waves will carry you away. And if your life is happy without me, in that faraway land…if you do not need to cry…as you often do on my shoulders…if you do not need me…then I will let you go. If you do not wish to find me…then let me remain forever lost…lost in my love for you.
---------------
Thunder.
Rain.
The translucent figure stood, motionless, outside the window of the darkened room. Rain poured mercilessly down, sliding against the glass like lovers' tears, as wave upon wave of wails echoed from the crying sky. The figure took no notice of the chaos, blending in amongst the storm as though a part of it all.
Lightning.
The pale form reached a quivering hand to touch the glass, wet palm caressing the surface, as lightning illuminated the room to reveal the shape of a girl sleeping feverishly in bed. The girl whimpered, tossing and turning under her bed sheets, and the lucent hands clenched into a tight fist, swiftly raising as if intended to crash through the window. But right before contact could be made, the hand's movement slowed, touching the cold glass with a soundless tap before fading into nothingness.
"Ojou-sama. I'm sorry."
The figure bowed, raising a pair of shaking hands, examining them. Turning so that the back was leaning against the window, the figure began to slide downwards, head tilted on a weary right shoulder, as if in despair.
"I'm sorry."
---------Dream Sequence 3: Longing--------
/Sometimes I think the story to our lives might have been less painful if we never met again, if you had forgotten me through those many years of hard training…if you had chosen to be hired elsewhere. But even now, if I should have the chance…I would choose to go through much greater pain…if it meant that I could see you again./
She walked across the courtyard, sheathed sword held tightly in her hands, and not noticing the awed looks that the other students gave her. She walked with grace, this new student did. She stood with dignity. Surrounding her was a mysterious aura of wisdom and power, that the students, thought intrigued, did not dare to approach.
They say she was a transfer student from a prestigious school of samurai-that even at the young age of fourteen, she had successfully graduated from that school with top marks, and was seeking to learn the basic studies of everyday students such as math, history, languages, and such.
They say she was currently waiting for the headmaster himself to arrange a class for her, and that she was the only student with her own dorm room, and one of the privileged few who could enter the restricted areas of school. The rumors around her were endless. Yet no one could justify if they were true. No one could gather their courage to speak to her, nor break the silence that surrounded her.
/I can still remember the day we met again…after nine long years of separation. Perhaps it was the length of time, or the fact that we have both grown, but we did not recognize each other right away. /
She saw a group of students gather in the center of the courtyard. The robot research club was doing a demonstration, and a crowd of students had gathered to watch. She seemed to ignore the spectacle, continuing her walk past the crowd, until an outcry reached her ears. She turned to see the students scramble, and knew immediately that some of the robots are out of control.
She paused, calmly watching the students run in every direction as the robots chased them. Suddenly, the sight of a chocolate-haired girl cornered against the concrete wall of the school building caught her eyes. The robot raised one of it's laser claws, about to shoot, and the helpless girl screamed.
In a flash, the samurai was in front of the other girl, the blade of her sword moving back to it's sheath too quick to be seen, while the robot was sliced into hundreds of tiny pieces. A hint of worry glowed in her eyes as she turned towards the other girl, as if it was her second nature to do so.
"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Her hands were gentle upon the other girl's shoulders.
The chocolate haired girl began to relax, a smile appearing on her face as she tilted her head.
"Thank You. I'm fine."
The swordswoman retracted her hands when she realized what she was doing, and a blush began to form on her face. Her eyes locked with the other girl's for a few minutes, until she closed them and turned away.
"You're not…you can't be…"
"Why do you seem worried about me?" the other girl asked.
The swordswoman frowned, and began to walk away.
"Because you look like her."
The girl's choco-eyes widened as she heard the statement, and she lifted a hand to cover her rapidly beating heart.
"Wait! Do I know you? I think I-"
The samurai shook her head, and with one mighty leap, disappeared from sight.
/Yet the warmth remains. The familiarity remains. The longing remains, as we seek each other out…not realizing what we are searching for, as we try to find each other amongst the sea of people that divide us./
The dark brownish-haired maiden chased after the other girl's retreating form, the sense of familiarity around the girl confusing her and jumbling her ideas until they all rendered useless in her mind. All, that is- except for the single thought of finding the fleeing samurai.
She came to a halt when she reached a set of double wooden doors- ones that she immediately recognized as the Headmaster's Office. With slight hesitation shown only at first, she soon hardened her eyes, as her hands grasped the cold door handles with utter confidence. A sharp pull upon the golden door handles revealed to her the contents of the room, and her eyes instantly fell upon the sight of the raven-haired samurai kneeling before the dean, sword held tightly in her hands.
Slowly the young maiden walked in the room, not caring to take notice of the shocked expressions on the headmaster's face. She knelt before the samurai, raising one hand to touch the girl's dark black hair, petting the ponytail tied on one side of the swordswoman's head. The other girl's gaze began to lift, and their eyes met, for a brief second, before the raven-haired girl closed her eyes.
Recognition echoed in both girl's eyes, mirroring each other before the samurai broke eye contact.
The raven-haired girl bowed- in one swift movement that spoke of complete betrayal; she avoided further contact, as if the windows to her soul had never been lit, and acknowledgement refused to be shown. Then she turned, about to leave.
"S-Secchan."
The samurai paused upon hearing the young girl's soft call.
"I'm sorry, Ojou-sama. I should not have mistaken you for someone else."
The samurai did not blink, did not show any signs of emotions on her stoic face as she continued her leave, closing the door softly behind her.
/There is a thin thread between knowledge and obliviousness. Between sudden recognition, and forgetfulness. When the thread breaks, the mix of emotions that result from it tend to confuse us. But after the uncertainty is settled, after understanding is echoed in our eyes, to deny is betrayal. To deny this realization is the deepest betrayal of all./
-----------End Dream Sequence Three-----------
Ceased.
The earth was still and motionless after the storm, as if holding its breath for what was to come.
Stopped.
Water hung on tree leaves, like tears threatening to fall. Down. Down. An endless circle of perpetual change- from hopefulness to hopelessness, doing its best to rise to the heavens only to fall again as melancholic rain.
Fine. End.
The shaded form ascended to a stand, taking a quick glance at the girl behind the glass before turning to face the twilight sky. The sun was rising, a majestic god of fire searing his wrath upon the clouds, sending his light minions to dance in their mystical battle that showered crimson blood upon the heavens.
----Flashback Two (The End of the Beginning)-----
A hue of blue…dotted with yellow
Setsuna flew above the treetops, her eyes narrowing against the dazzling sunlight, darting from right to left in desperate search for a kimono-clad girl.
"Ojou-sama! Ojou-sama! Answer me!!!"
She scanned the terrain below, as green-leafed trees gave way to lush lavender fields, and her heart began to hammer dangerously in her chest. Amongst the trees, despite their size, a blue and violet-patterned kimono would be easily noticeable. But amid the tall fields of lavender…
The half-demon froze in mid-flight, when a sudden sign of movement beneath caught in the corner of her eyes. She quickly descended to the ground, and began to chase after the moving form.
Blue and yellow…the color of the wild meadow we had run across once
"Ojou-sama! Konoka Ojou-sama!!!"
She caught up to the other girl, hands quickly attaching themselves to the other girl's shoulders, and turning the other girl to face her.
The princess gasped despite the gentleness of Setsuna hand. And for a moment Setsuna could feel something biting her inside, as the other girl pulled away from her touch.
She did not relent, however, and her hold on the other girl was firm as she spoke.
A hue of brown…overlapped in purple…
"Ojou-sama. Why did you run away? Why did you-"
As other girl struggled from her grip, Setsuna's hands began to loosen, and her voice broke.
"D-Did you know how worried we were?"
Setsuna released the princess, and the girl turned, surprised at the quiver in the half-demon's voice.
"Secchan?"
Setsuna watched, startled, as tears braced Konoka's eyes.
"You hate me, don't you, Secchan?"
In the color of brownish-purple…I can recognize your beautiful gentle eyes.
Slowly, as if not believing the words coming out of Konoka's mouth, Setsuna shook her head. Konoka laughed then, a tiny, bitter, and disbelieving sound.
"Yet you refuse to admit that we have ever been friends. You refuse to call me anything other than 'Ojou-sama', and you agreed immediately when grandfather told you to take me to all of those Omiais…to get rid of me as soon as possible."
Setsuna froze, as the other girl leaned towards her, one hand on her cheek.
Time was frozen, it seemed, when they made contact, and all Setsuna could think of was the warmth spreading to her heart, and the softness upon her lips. She did not know how long they had stood, lips upon lips- soul upon soul, but a jolt of power suddenly reached the half-demon. Her mind cleared, and an idea began to emerge.
Setsuna could sense the magic flowing from the other girl, and she embraced it, absorbing it into herself as her hands began to slide around Konoka's waist. Her chest began to burn, and her soul felt as if it was on fire, but she smiled as she watched the other girl's eyes drift to a mesmerized close as they continued to kiss, oblivious as to what the half-demon was doing.
Greenish shades…and lime…I suddenly feel peace within these colored hues
As they wove around Konoka's back, Setsuna could see her hands glowing behind the other girl, and she clenched them into a fist, tightly until they bled. When the glow began to echo in her eyes as well, she closed them, knowing that she had done well.
Gently, Setsuna removed her arms from the princess, her face hidden from the other girl's view.
"Go! Leave. Run away as far as you can, and I won't hold you back, won't force you to the Omiai."
Konoka stared at the half-demon, as if confused by her words.
A rough push by the other girl awoke her senses, and Konoka began to run. Away from Setsuna, away from the cruel rejection.
I see black…white…and in that lonely evening…the funeral went quickly by…
"Leave! Don't ever come back. Don't ever look for me!"
Setsuna yelled after the quickly departing princess.
Once the princess was out of eyesight, Setsuna began to slump towards the ground, her wings disappearing to be replaced by a sad smile on her face. She rose her right hand to touch her lips, a small laugh erupting from her as she bent her head.
"Konochan." She whispered, as if afraid that someone might hear.
"I'm happy, Konochan. Because I found a way to save you. I found a way to free you."
Her vision blurred, and she coughed, choking back a soft sob that had managed to find its way to her throat. She pulled her left hand towards her chest, suddenly feeling coldness seeping into her.
"I'm happy."
A straight line…cut by many circles….can anyone still remember my appearance?
She felt something run down her cheeks, and the hand that was on her lips moved to wipe it away. Then it, too, moved to embrace her chest, and she began to rock herself forward and backwards.
"But odd, isn't it? So happy that I am…for some reason…there are tears in my eyes, Konochan."
She closed her eyes, suddenly feeling tired and worn. She dropped to the ground, feeling the lavender embracing her as she lay.
"Are you mad at me, Konochan? Will you want to forget me, as I have pretended to have forgotten you?"
And in the curious night…
She lay motionless upon the ground until the sun gave way to the moon, and the nightly winds began to blow across the lavender field. Petals drifted to lay upon the half-demon like a blanket.
"Ne, Konochan? You wouldn't mind if I…leave you for a while, would you?"
She spoke, her soft voice carried by the wind, and the lavender bent forward as if in desperate attempt to listen.
A particularly friendly blossom kissed her right eye, and she opened her dull black orbs.
How should I draw the darkness around me?
"There is something that I must do. Something that only I can do for you, Konochan. And I am proud for having that honor."
She smiled at the purplish-blue flowers around her, soon losing their color to the darkness of the night. With one last glimpse, she closed her eyes, falling into a deep unconsciousness.
How can I describe those unseen petals that bloom at night…
------Flashback Two End-------
One night I remember
Remember that I am alone….
Remember that I am still here somewhere…
One night of darkest nights…a swift light flashes
One night I remember that I have no shape…no form
Remember that I am alone…that I am still here somewhere
One night I remember that I am alone…that I had existed….
One night of darkest nights…a swift light flashes
And I had suddenly vanished…
The figure rose one hand to catch the tiny beams of color that had begun to appear. Where the sunlight touched, it consumed, spreading until the figure was nothing more than a human-shaped ray of light, only to disperse as more radiance continued shimmer from the quickly emerging sun.
"Ojou-sama. Farewell."
-------
End.
A/N: Sorry for taking so long to update everyone. And sorry if I had made this chapter too angsty or emotional. I have been feeling slightly somber…and my writing was affected. Also, don't worry, there will be more events happening next time. Some of the secrets of Secchan's mysteriousness will be revealed, and Konoka is finally able to do something about the situation.
Thank You for reading! I will try my best to update sooner next time!
Also, special thanks to Ryuu, who helped me in the song's translation. And for Ryuu (again) , Dobby, and Jisatsu, for inspiring me.
Chapter Four: Yet Still Our Hearts Burn
I have lost you, too many times to count. Yet each and every time I learn from it. Each and every time I gain experience from it. I shall follow you, where ever you go. And one day, one day I shall catch up to you.