Chapter 4

She walked around the sunny street as she looked for her next place to play her music and most places she went too were already full up with other musicians. Esmeralda had spent the majority of her morning looking for a place to work for the day and if it were possible she would have loved to work full time as an entertainer but every where she went to no one would hire her, only for the day they would say and it confused her as to why.

As she walked around she couldn't help but smell the sweet cinnamon scent in the air and when she got closer to it she saw an unattended cart with cinnamon buns. She approached it carefully, looked around and snagged one when no one was looking and went on her way.

Her roaring stomach was demanding for the sweet bun to be devoured and she wasted no time as she ate it happily, feeling the cinnamon flavor swirl around her tongue as she ate it and calmed down her hunger. She then set her sights to a nearby park where many families gathered to for a picnic or to play with their children, just have a good time with the family.

She looked at them with a smile but at the same time with envy and it killed her to feel that way but she did anyway, she would rather not think about it. She set her case down, undid the latches and pulled out her violin and began to let her music flow through the air, after all this was where a lot of people would play their music here for a bit of money or just to entertain, Esmeralda did it for both.

A small child approached her and watched her play, and then another, then their parents stood behind them watching Esmeralda play. Her melody was energetic and cheerful, which was why people were starting to approach her with curiosity to see how well she played. Soon after, the children began to clap their hands in rhythm to create a beat for her music and Esmeralda smiled at them, even more so when their parents joined in.

Unknown to her however, were a pair of eyes watching her from a distance.

Even though it was just a handful of people watching her play, it was enough to make her feel happy even though she would love to have a lot more watching her and making them feel good with her music.

Shortly after her song came to an end, the families all clapped at her as she offered a small bow and some people placed their pocket change inside her violin case, some even threw in bigger bills like five dollars which was usually a lot to her whenever she was here, not most people give that much.

As she stuffed the money in her pocket, she couldn't help but hear another pair of hands clapping and when she turned around she saw, "Shizuma?" she stood up.

"Good morning Esmeralda." She stood tall, with her silver hair cascading down her back as she looked at her.

The more Esmeralda looked at her, the more beautiful she looked every time.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was actually coming here when I saw you playing." She smiled at her.

"Didn't really expect to see you here," Esmeralda returned, "But I'm glad I did."

"Same here."

"Did you know there's a forest near the city?"

"Dude what! Really?" She looked at her.

"Yeah I didn't even know it did, and I was thinking… maybe we could go see it together."

Esmeralda thought for a moment, "Con mucho gusto," she said in her native tongue and smiled at her, "So long as we're back early-ish cause I need to find work for the night."

"Have you not asked if you could get hired full time?"

"Nah they don't want me. I'm lucky they hire me for day, that's more then enough."

"Hmm," Shizuma crossed her arms, "That really sucks dude."

"Ooh look at you, finally using the big words," she giggled, "Try not to pick up my thing Shi-zu-ma, you're too much of a proper lady to do that."

Shizuma laughed, "I can be cool if I wanted too."

"I seriously doubt it, you would have to travel a hundred miles so someone wouldn't know who you are."

Shizuma smirked, "You didn't even know who I was."

Esmeralda's expression cracked, "Point being! That you can't be cool!"

"Oh I don't know, back in my school I was the coolest person there." She raised an eyebrow at Esmeralda.

"Dude whatever!" she began to walk away, hearing Shizuma's laugh behind her, She looked back at her, "So are we going to the forest or not!" she glared at her, Shizuma's laughter finally dying down.

"Of course we are, come on. Let's find a cab to take us near it."

"Alrighty then." The two walked up to the side walk and called over a taxi where it began to take them to where they wanted to go.

After being dropped off, they hiked along the path for about twenty minutes till they finally made it to the forest and entered it. They walked through the dense wilderness and took it all in, Esmeralda had never even seen this forest during her time living in the city, she wasn't even aware this forest was close to it.

"Damn, this place is so amazing!" Esmeralda looked at the small birds flying through the air, she even saw a squirrel running on a tree branch, and the way the sun was shining through the leaves was majestic, it was like walking through an enchanted forest to her.

"I agree." Shizuma walked alongside her, though being in this forest reminded her of the forest back at Astraea Hill… but then it brought on a painful memory.

Esmeralda kept on walking, unaware that Shizuma had stopped following her, Esmeralda was distracted as she knelt down and looked at the flowers growing in one of the spots.

"Shizuma, have you ever seen flowers like these?" she looked closer, "I'm not even sure I've ever seen these before, they have a nice color." She turned to look at Shizuma, seeing her walking back, "Shizuma?" she stood up and went to go catch up with her.

"Hey you okay?" she finally caught up with her and what she saw next, confused her. She saw tears coming down Shizuma's eyes, "Whoa whoa, dude you okay?" she stopped her, "What's wrong?" This was shocking to her, she'd never once seen Shizuma cry during the time she's been with her and she was convinced that nothing could bring her to this state because in Esmeralda's eyes, she was perfect.

"… I'm fine." She quickly wiped the tears away but her eyes betrayed her as more fell down and had hoped Esmeralda would never see this.

"Okay one, don't lie to me I can see you're not and two, lay it on me, what's wrong." She held her hand, something she wasn't even aware she did.

Shizuma was quiet.

"Hey come on," she insisted, "Don't stay quiet Shizuma, tell me. what's wrong, maybe I can help you." She knelt down in front of her.

"… It's just…"

"Yeah?" Esmeralda placed her hands on Shizuma's knees as she waited for her to say the rest.

"It just reminds me of another time… with Nagisa." Shizuma said, "I remember how we met in a place like this."

"Yeah I remember you told me about her."

"It hurts Esmeralda, it hurts what she did to me… to us." Shizuma looked up at her.

Esmeralda only gazed away, "Well… shit…"

Shizuma looked at her.

"Look I'm not one to be saying any kind of crap but if you want my honest truth, then just say 'fuck it'."

"What? You don't understand, she's not someone I can let go that easily, she was important to me."

"Oh I get that, but truth is she may have forgotten about you. I don't think this Nagisa is worth your tears anymore, but I get it, it hurts but you have to just have to move on. If you keep letting her anchor you down like this, how are you ever going to find someone that loves you?"

Shizuma stayed silent once more, letting her words sink in.

"Dude seriously, she doesn't deserve you okay, for you to shed so many tears on some bitch that broke your heart—"

"Don't! Don't ever call her that!" Shizuma's voice rose.

Esmeralda was startled by her response, she wasn't too surprised by it either, "Okay fine, but like I was saying she isn't worth this pain. I can see it, your eyes say it all Shizuma and she's not worth it, and instead find yourself someone that really… loves you." She said softly, "Because that's what you deserve, someone to love you and cherish every moment she spends with you, that would always be there."

Shizuma smirked behind her tears, "Like you?"

It took a while to sink in, as Esmeralda's face when red, "Ah well, I mean I wasn't exactly saying me but you know, well um… shut up! we're talking about you!" Though deep down it was true.

Shizuma giggled, "I'm kidding."

"Oh sure you are." She turned back to look at her, "But I do mean it, just let go Shizuma. You deserve better than her, I mean look at you, you are Shizuma, the most beautiful looking woman and really cool but not really." The two shared a laugh, "So come on, you have no reason to feel this way." She wiped the tears of Shizuma's face and helped her to her feet.

"Now come on, we haven't even got to explore this forest yet."

The two resumed their little adventure as they explored the forest, and as Shizuma looked at her she was glad to be with her, she actually did help make her feel better and maybe… just maybe actually move on from the pain that was in her heart, left shattered by Nagisa.

They crossed over several rocks and they even walked on a log to another part of the forest and it was truly breath taking for them.

"Look at this place, it's wonderful." Shizuma looked around.

"Oh you bet it is Shi-zu-ma."

The more Esmeralda sounded her name out, the cuter it was getting for her and she loved it and as she looked back at her this time, something was different, when the two locked eyes Shizuma began to feel something… something different and it confused her, what was she feeling for her.

"Hey Shizuma! Race you to the top!" She took off in record time.

"Hey not fair! Cheater!" Shizuma chased after her.

She ran behind Esmeralda and thanks to all the sports training she did back at Astraea she was able to close the distance between the two and was nearly there.

When Esmeralda noticed that Shizuma was getting close, she decided to pick it up too and thus leaving Shizuma surprised at how much faster she was, unbeknownst to her that Esmeralda would out run the police almost all the time.

They made it to the top of the hill as Esmeralda held her knees and panted while Shizuma finally got closer to her and caught her breath.

She looked at her, "I win!" she cheered.

"Only because you cheated."

Esmeralda gasped, "Hell no sweetheart, I beat you fair and square."

"You did not."

She placed her hands at her side, "I did too."

"Did not."

She laughed, "Oh I see, you are a very poor loser Shi-zu-ma."

"That's not true."

"Yes you are, just admit it, you hate losing."

"I'll give you something to lose!" As Shizuma took a step she lost her footing on a rock hidden by the grass and was beginning to lose her balance.

"Shizuma!" Esmeralda grabbed her hand but was not prepared for the weight she would have to hold and thus the two went toppling down a hill.

They rolled and tumbled on the way down, it almost felt like years as they rolled down and it almost seemed like it was in slow motion.

Then Esmeralda finally landed on her back, she kept her eyes closed as she tried to gain her bearings, feeling dizzy after having rolled around.

Shizuma landed seconds later and opened her eyes, she found herself on top of Esmeralda as her silver hair rained down and just like that, her dizziness went away and her heart was beginning to beat faster once she realized she was on top of her and for some reason her natural instinct kicked in as she looked at her.

"That was awesome! Never thought that would actually happen." Esmeralda opened her eyes as only to come face to face with Shizuma, staring right into her golden orbs, it was now that she noticed the tint of green within them, "Shizuma?"

"Yeah."

Silence.

Esmeralda moved her hands, she found one her hands on Shizuma's waist while her other was pinned by Shizuma's hand who was actually unaware she was doing so.

Shizuma began to lower herself, her head closing the distance and Esmeralda closed her eyes as she waited for what was going to happen.

Shizuma's lips were mere centimeters from locking with Esmeralda's soft, glistening lips and just when she thought they would kiss.

Shizuma's phone began to ring, snapping the two back into reality and the two moved away from each other once they realized what was going on, a red hue on both their faces.

"Um… are you going to answer that?" She asked.

She reached for her phone, and pressed the button, -"Hey Miyuki."-

Esmeralda traced her own lips, wanting to have felt that sensation that was about to happen and for a while she was confused as to why, was she falling in love with her? Surely someone like Shizuma would never fall in love with someone like Esmeralda… right?

-"No you're not interrupting me, why?"- Though deep down Shizuma was annoyed with Miyuki for having called at this precise moment. It was like she knew what she was doing and called her, just like she used to do when she was flirting with a pretty girl and she was sure that Miyuki was nowhere to be found but then there she was telling her to knock it off, -"Sure I'll be home soon, I'll call you soon Miyuki."- She hung up.

"What was that about?"

"Oh just a friend calling to check up on me."

"Ah okay."

"You okay?"

"Yeah totally fine," Esmeralda looked up, "So I guess we have to head back right, it's gonna be dark soon and like I hell I want to be caught in the dark in this place."

Shizuma looked up as well, "Yeah true, let's go." The two picked themselves up and walked right back to where they were and hoped they could spot a taxi to take them back home.

An hour of traveling back home, Shizuma followed Esmeralda into her apartment and the two sat down on the floor as she really had no place for the two to sit other then the couch but it was missing its cushions and the other she had to throw out as it completely ripped.

"So today was great." She began.

"Yeah it was, never knew how fast you can run."

"I know, I mean I totally beat you fair and square." She smirked.

"Oh don't you start that again."

"Oh and what are you gonna do about it Shi-zu-ma?" she leaned in closer, her ever confident smirk all over her face.

"I wouldn't want to make you feel embarrassed or anything at losing."

"Dude yeah right!" The two laughed and for a moment there was silence but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence but rather a silence of the two enjoying being near each other, they were comfortable just by being near one another

"So Shizuma."

"Yes?"

"You want to talk about it?"

"About what?" Shizuma looked at her with a confused look.

Esmeralda moved her gaze to look into Shizuma's mesmerizing eyes, "About Nagisa," she said then quickly lifted her hand up, "I know this is a shitty subject for you, hell I don't know her but after what I saw I know she haunts you and if you keep it bottled up like that, it'll make you go nuts. So talk to me, you really need to let this all out and—" Esmeralda held her hands, "You're not leaving here till you do."

Shizuma looked at Esmeralda's hands holding her own, she smiled softly, "It's a long story."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Are you sure you want to hear it?" she asked.

"Anything for you." She knelt in front of her and eagerly waited for her to begin, "Just don't get all sappy with me dude." She chuckled, "I'm kidding."

Shizuma gripped Esmeralda's hands tighter as she looked up and began to tell her everything, something she wouldn't even do with Miyuki but she did, to her, she felt like she could trust her and Esmeralda would never betray that trust, she just felt it.

The rest of the night Shizuma told Esmeralda her story, every little detail, every thing they did together and why it pained her so much and Esmeralda listened to it all. She offered her caring support whenever Shizuma felt herself losing it and thanks to her she was able to keep it together as she talked about it.

Shizuma was lucky to have a friend like her and she wouldn't have it any other way.