A Meeting and A Dream.

A K.N.M. Fan fiction.

I do not own Kannazuki no Miko, this story belongs to me however. Please respect the ideas of myself, and others. Thank you.

NOTE: Nothing special to say, except thank you for reading.

Chapter 4: Stay the Night, Fight Your Fate.

To say that Himeko was in a state of absolute bliss would have been like saying ice cream is cold or broken glass is dangerous. The understatement of a lifetime could hardly describe the sound she was hearing emanating from the glossy black grand piano as the young woman's hands danced as if they were involved in a miniature ballet over the keys. The dark haired musician was lit by a single spotlight in front of the audience, a large audience, and yet Himeko felt as though the playing was aimed at her specifically. The sounds danced in here ears and seemed to draw her in as if they were searching for her and tried to draw her towards the woman on stage once they found her.

When the song came to a close, the young woman stood an bowed to a huge round of applause from the huge amount of people gathered in the auditorium. Gracefully she walked forward in her dark blue dress which reached to the ground and took a microphone in her hands. Politely she cleared her throat quietly into the microphone and bowed gratefully to the crowd before straitening again.

"Thank you very much for gathering here today," Chikane said as she smiled to the crowed, "I'm glad to meet all of you. I have just one more song to play, but before that happens there is a subject I would like to address first. It has been brought to my attention that a young woman who rode with me this morning," Himeko could see the dark haired woman glance at her for a second and her heart leapt, "Normally this would be no problem, but it seems that whoever started the rumor has included me in it as well. I would like everyone here to remember this, who I give rides to has nothing to do with my personal life. I would also like whoever did this to apologize to the young woman in question after class for making false accusations. With that out of the way please enjoy the next song, it will be the last one for the day and it will also be my first time attempting to sing in front of a live audience. Please allow me to treat you all to this melody."

Her speech being over with, Chikane sat at her piano and after a deep calming breath she placed her hands on the ivory keys of the piano and struck the first note. It resonated for a while through the crowed before the woman hit the second note, slightly higher, and waited as the sound reverberated the same way. Then she began to sing as the song picked up pace to from a coherent piece in everyones ears.

I meet you beneath the cherry tree,

In a cloud of falling blossoms you stand.

Such a lovely sight for me to behold,

as you gaze into the distant sky.

I would give my life for your happiness,

I would give my heart for just a little of-

What you show me today.

You are such a lovely sight to behold,

as you gaze into the distant sky.

And at that moment I love everything about you,

for you are what I have been searching for.

You are such a lovely sight to behold,

as you gaze into the distant sky,

surrounded by red roses,

I share my love.

Chikane ended the song with one last prolonged low note and the crowed burst out of their seats, drowning out any chance the young woman may have had to make a follow-up speech. Blue eyes gazed out at the crowed as she felt pure joy, especially as they met joyful amethyst eyes. She only hoped that Himeko had interpreted the true meaning of the words from the young woman that was the target of her affection. It was a major hint she was putting out to the blond young woman, one that she would only relate with if she knew of the dreams which Chikane had of her. Dreams of secret meetings in rose bushes, the two of them ate lunch and shared their worries with each other.

Himeko had received the message loud and clear, though she was still afraid of actually following through with it. She knew the status of the Himemiya princess at the very least and that was enough for her to tread carefully around her. The blond stood to lose far less from such a relationship than Chikane ever would, and that alone made her worry. Assuming the interview later was one that they would be alone for she would talk to the dark haired girl about her fears. Something in the back of Himeko's mind worried her though, like how Chikane had known her favorite area to rest was under a rose bush encased cherry tree in the courtyard behind her school building.

People were starting to file out of their seats and chatting with one another as they walked awkwardly into the isle in order to exit the theater. As Himeko joined them she felt Makoto tap her on the shoulder and the girl motioned for the blond to follow her as they exited. When they got outside the theater, the two of them headed for a private area off to the side and Makoto looked around to make sure nobody would overhear them.

"So how did it go?"

Himeko blinked, then realized that the brown haired girl was asking about the meeting with the teacher, "He said he would only punish me lightly, only because he thought I would be bullied by those girls if he didn't."

"I see," Makoto looked down at the ground, "I'm sorry, Himeko, I never thought that what I said would cause you trouble like that."

"Makoto," the blond softly trailed off before shaking her head, "No, it wasn't your fault, I put myself in that situation. For all I know they could have just seen me getting out of the car with her," Himeko knew this was not how it happened but tried to spare her friend the pain.

"I know that's not what happened," So much for trying to cheer her up, "She asked you about it right before she accused you."

"That may be true," The blond acknowledged, "But I know you did not have that kind of intention, we are friends. That girl acted on her own, sometimes... sometimes this stuff happens. Please don't blame yourself, it makes me feel bad."

Makoto smiled slightly at that, "Okay, thank you Himeko."

With their conversation finished, Makoto walked off towards the back stage area to wait for her chance to do the interview. They had taken pictures during the show, but they also needed a few after the show. Himeko was about to follow when she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see a stern faced girl, the one who had accused her earlier, standing in front of her. For a second the blond thought the girl was going to confront her about the speech Chikane had made earlier. However, the stern expression changed to a slight smile.

"Hey, sorry about earlier," The girl remarked, "It's not that I dislike you. I want to make that clear, I think we could be friends in fact, I was just worried about the mid-term and took out my frustration on you. I'm sorry about that."

Himeko blinked but hesitantly nodded, "Thank you, I'm sorry if I got you in any trouble because of that. It's true that I didn't know who she was though."

"Relax, I believe you," The girl said, "I have to be going now. You should get going soon if you want to make the interview."

Himeko nodded, but waited a few minutes before following after the girl just to make sure nothing was going to happen. The apology seemed genuine enough but Himeko had been bullied enough to know that caution was the better part of valor in this case. It was not a surprise to her that when she arrived later, everyone else had already left the room. Himeko just hoped that this did not include the musician she had to interview, for more reasons than just her photography project. Hesitantly the girl knocked on the door and turned the door knob to enter. What she found on the other side made her just about feint in embarrassment. Chikane stood dressed only in thigh high socks, and her bra and underwear. She seemed just as shocked as Himeko. The blond excused herself with a deep blush and exited immediately, she could feel her heart racing as she stood with her back against the door. For a second, Himeko questioned whether she was actually a pervert, that had been so sexy that she almost lost control of herself.

"You can come in now," She heard Chikane from the other side of the door and entered once more.

Himeko was almost disappointed by the fact that the girl was fully dressed but shook the thought from her head, "I'm sorry about that, if I had shown up earlier that would never have happened."

Chikane sat down in a chair and looked at Himeko coolly, an expression that the blond was not use to in the least from the girl, "If you had arrived earlier I wouldn't have worried that you abandoned me."

Himeko froze at that, her heart leapt into her throat and she barely managed to choke out her next words, "I, um, ah, you see, there was this thing with a girl..."

Chikane raised an eyebrow, "A girl, huh? Just what kind of thing was it."

The blond felt her grip tighten on the camera, her knuckles whitening, "It was nothing, I just talked about the incident earlier. That's it."

Chikane looked away, "I wonder."

This was not right, Himeko could feel herself loosing her grip on reality, "I really didn't betray you."

"Betray me?" Chikane looked at the girl again, "Am I accusing you of such a thing?"

"It seemed like it," Himeko said quietly.

Chikane stood and walked towards the young woman, "Should something give me a reason to think you betrayed me?"

Himeko shook her head, "Of course not, I mean, I don't even know how I really feel about you. I don't know how you feel about me."

"Perhaps I should make it clear then," Chikane walked forward a little more and placed her hands on the girls shoulders.

Himeko blushed, "Um, Chikane-chan?"

The dark hair woman smiled, she absolutely loved when Himeko called her that, "Yes."

"That song, the last one," Himeko turned an even deeper shade of red, "I could be wrong, I probably am, but it seemed like you were singing it too me directly."

Chikane could hold it no longer, it felt as if she had been holding back for so long, "I was singing to you," The young woman embraced Himeko, even though she told herself she would not force the relationship.

"Chikane... chan."

"I'm sorry, Himeko, I may be moving too fast but I can hold back no longer," Chikane held the girl tighter, "I will understand if you don't want to see me again. I just couldn't hold back."

Himeko closed her eyes and returned the embrace, "In a way I understand how you feel," Himeko said softly, enjoying the feeling of the other woman, "I have been holding back for one person, saving myself, and finally I have found the person I've been searching for. I feel like I want to cry from happiness."

Chikane whispered softly in her ear, "It's alright, my dear Himeko, let it out. I will support you no matter what happens. I'm here for you as long as you wish me to be here."

Himeko did as she was told and let her tears flow, "I'm glad, I never want you to leave me, I don't think I could take it if you did."

"If that is what you wish then that is how it shall be," Chikane responded.

It took a while for Himeko to calm herself enough to stop crying but she never let go of Chikane while the two of them were together. Even as they sat down, the dark haired girl preferred to have the blond sit on her lap so that they could be as close as possible. It was so comfortable that Himeko very nearly fell asleep until she was brought back to the conscious world by a light kiss on her neck.

"I understand how you feel," Chikane remarked with humor evident in her voice, "But you still have a task to accomplish here, and then there's school and your job. We can catch up later, but I would feel bad for interfering in your life when you're obviously trying hard to succeed."

Himeko stirred and looked over her shoulder into the blue eyes of her love, "I'm worried."

"Worried people don't fall asleep on the laps of others," Chikane said with a low chuckle.

The blond blushed but continued, "What if... what if everyone else finds out about this? Won't it hurt you, I mean not everyone can accept our... relationship."

"Should I care?" Chikane became serious, "People don't plan who they fall in love with, even if other people judge me it won't hurt me because I'm not ashamed of who I am. If the public view dictated my actions I would have quit being a musician long ago."

"But-" Himeko was interrupted by a slim finger on her lips.

"Hush, you have an interview to worry about," Chikane remarked, "As I've said, we'll talk more about us later tonight."

Himeko agreed and the two of them turned to the business of their interview for the next half hour, never leaving the others side. Too quickly the interview was finished and Himeko took her photos before she hesitantly excused herself, not really wanting to leave but knowing she had to. As she exited the room and closed the door softly behind her she saw a familiar teal haired figure standing in front of her with a look that was even more grim than usual. His arms were folded in his robes in front of him and his eyes bore into the blond haired girl.

"Kurusugawa-san," The man spoke in a commanding voice, "I certainly hope you know what you're doing. In any case the two of you are to visit my temple this weekend, I have many important things to discuss with the two of you."

Himeko blanched slightly, "I, um, I'm not sure what you mean."

"Just come to the temple," Oogami Kazuki remarked, "There will be one other person there also, this concerns all three of you. And don't worry about school, I have talked to your teacher and the head master to get you the next week off."

"I understand," The girl said finally, "I'll be there, as long as Chikane-chan is there also."

Kazuki raised an eyebrow at the honorific but said nothing, "Very well."

Himeko watched the man gracefully depart before heading to her next class, it was not far away and the schedule had moved to right to accommodate the concert. The blond walked to her next class, the rest of the day passing as it normally did. The whole time she was in school and at her job she could not help but think about the meeting with Chikane. It had gone as she expected, well better than she had expected actually. There were many things the young woman had told her that allowed Himeko to see the more personal side of her dark haired princess. Chikane was born into a wealthy, loving, family that smothered her to the point that she wanted to rebel. The blond sighed internally, it would have been nice if she was born into the same kind of life. It would have been nice if she had just had a father who had treated her as more than a servant. Even better if she could have escaped the pain when she made a mistake. Oh well, this was hardly about her life as it was, Himeko had left that past behind her and decided to start new. Right now the new start involved getting to know enough about Chikane that she could submit a nice report and have a chance of passing her class. What she had received from the interview was more than she expected. The girl knew how to answer questions without giving too much away and this helped Himeko greatly in writing without getting too intimate. She was so caught up thinking about the interview that she did not notice that she was humming happily the whole time she was at work. Her voice caused Makoto to stare at her in confusion but she kept her thoughts to herself.

As Himeko went on her break, she took out her cell phone and dialed Chikane's number, "Hello," The voice on the other side of the phone answered.

"Um, Chikane-chan?"

The voice seemed happy when she heard Himeko speak, "Oh, hi, I'm glad you called. I was actually wondering if you would like to spend the night at my apartment."

The blond felt her heart soar as she heard the words, "I would like that. Very much."

Chikane smiled on the other end of her phone, "Good, I'll have my driver pick you up when you get off work then. What time do you wish him to arrive."

Himeko thought for a second, "I get off around seven but it takes me a while to change, so probably around seven thirty. It's the Lucky Shot picture studio."

"Alright, my driver will be there, he knows the area well so you don't have to worry about directions," Chikane said as she lowered her voice for the next part, "And Himeko..."

"Yes."

"I miss you," Chikane said.

Himeko smiled, "I miss you also, Chikane-chan."

-------------------------(Layven!)--------------------------------------

Well, this chapter is finally finished, hope you enjoy it. It will replace my intermission, which will be placed under the same name as the chapter but separate from the main story. I realized after I wrote it that while it was a breath of fresh air it had no place being part of this story. It's not even related to it. Thank you for the continued support, the next chapter is on it's way, though it probably won't be as fast as the previous ones. Hopefully it won't be too much of a wait.