Secret Guardian

-chapter six-


A/N: Just so you guys know, there's a bunch of lyrics in this chapter, and they're all ones that I wrote. So...yeah. Be nice.

Also, Kira from HEAVENS is here! Yay!

Ai fans, don't worry; he'll be back next chapter. :)


I was more than a little nervous to share Yamato's and my song with the class at the end of the week. I tend to get stage fright, but that wasn't the whole problem. The main part of the problem was that Yamato flat-out refused to share the lyrics he wrote with me before we performed it for the class, no matter how much I whined or otherwise annoyed him. (What can I say? The guy is just so much fun to annoy.)

As it was, when Hyuga-sensei smirked and called us up to perform, I could feel my fingers trembling as I took out my electric guitar and hooked it up to the amp. There was a bit of whispering at that, because most people had used the piano or acoustic guitar for their songs, but I was the first one to go to the trouble of hooking up an electric guitar. There was a very specific sound I'd been going for, though. It complimented the accompaniment I had written for Yamato, as well as his voice. At least he had sung in front of me, even if he hadn't given any hint as to his lyrics. I shared a glance with Yamato as I slung the guitar strap over my shoulder, standing up straight. His brow furrowed, almost as if to ask if I was okay to start. I gave a small nod and he took out his lyrics and held them in front of him, signaling me to start. I took a deep breath and felt myself relax, placing my fingers in the correct position before I began moving them quickly, picking out the complicated riff I had written for the opening. It carried the melody and harmony until it came to Yamato's cue to sing.

I was glad I had practiced as much as I had, or I would have fumbled at the power in Yamato's voice when he came in, and the overwhelmingly personal feeling the lyrics had.

I am rolling, rolling, rolling down, unwinding
I am caught between the truth and lies I'm finding
And I'm hearing the echo of my heart's repeating thrum

I am rolling, rolling, rolling down, becoming
Someone I don't recognize, becoming something
That I once thought I'd never want to be in all my years

I began playing around the melody, wrapping it with the sound of the guitar as my fingers flew. The reverb on the electric guitar resonated with the smooth tenor of Yamato's voice, accentuating the gritty edge that he was forcing into it. I could feel myself grinning uncontrollably as I played. The song sounded even better than I had expected it to.

Reaching up and up, I clutch at what my
Soul has secretly longed for
Searching through and through this life I find
The very presence I adore

Search me, I am so worn down
Find me worthy to be found
Fix me, I am so in need of what you have to offer me

Yamato repeated the chorus twice before he quieted, matching the simpler picking of the guitar at this point.

I am rolling, rolling, rolling forth, becoming
Something better than I ever could hope for...

We both held the last note, our eyes meeting as we cut them off. I grinned at Yamato, and he smirked in return as if to say, Yeah, we're awesome. The class burst into applause, and we both bowed before I hastily unhooked my guitar and set it and my amp away at the back of the room. As I sat down, I caught Hyuga-sensei smirking at Yamato, though I could see a gleam of pride in his eyes.

"Good job, you two," he said. "I'll expect something even better next time."

That was the last of his praise, as he quickly launched into the lesson for the day. I could see from my seat, though, that Yamato had a small, genuine smile on his face. I could feel my own lips turn upwards at the sight.

It might be a little self-centered of me to think, but I helped that little moment between the two brothers happen. The thought made me feel warm inside.


I sat at the piano in one of the music rooms, staring at the keys. It had been a while since I composed for piano, because I was more comfortable with the guitar, seeing as it was the instrument I learned first and was most familiar with. The piano, though...it had such a gentle sound, but at the same time could be very bright. It was very versatile. I could see why a lot of people favored the piano for making compositions. Taking a deep breath, I began playing in E minor, before switching to E major after a few bars. The notes that came out were wistful and longing. I could feel lyrics bubbling up inside of me, and I sang them softly as I played, switching back and forth between minor and major as I went.

I go to say your name but it's stuck to my tongue
The grief weighs heavy in my mouth
But I will carry on with your memory in my mind
Though your image fades
I still think about those days

La, la... la, la, la... la, la...

Though I lay my weary bones on the ground
The will to carry on a whisper that is long since faded
I know that I will think of you and the strength that you once had
And though your image fades
It leads me on my way

La, la... la, la, la... la, la...

Your memory, the thing that tethers me here
Oh
Your memory, both causes and dries these tears
Oh
Your memory, of suffering and stalwart faith
Oh
Your memory, convincing me to stay

La, la... la, la, la... la, la...

I hummed a bit as I trailed off, my fingers lingering on the keys even after I had stopped playing. I would have to write that down as soon as I got back to my room; of course, I forgot to bring my blank music sheets with me when I came here after supper...

"Shinako Mura. Did you write that?"

I jumped, clapping a hand over my heart. Standing next to the piano was one of my classmates. I recognized him as being one of the keeners that sat near the front of the class, Sumeragi something-or-other... Kira, I think? He was from an old, well-to-do family. He didn't really talk much, though. I hadn't seen him hanging out with any of our classmates. A fellow loner, I thought. I frowned.

"Don't scare me like that, Sumeragi-san," I said. "But to answer your question, yes it is. I didn't realize anyone was here, or I wouldn't have been singing..." I averted my eyes, looking back at the piano keys rather than my yellow-eyed classmate. I gave a huff of laughter. "There's a reason I'm not in the idol course."

"It was nice."

I looked back at him, eyebrows raised. "Oh?"

He nodded.

I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly uncomfortable with his quiet stare. I grabbed my bag of snacks that I had been intending to take back to my dorm room before I got distracted with the desire to make music, standing up from the piano bench and heading for the door.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Sumeragi-san. See you in class, I guess," I said with a wave.

"Wait."

I paused, my hand on the doorknob. I raised an eyebrow at him, waving a hand for him to go on.

"Be my partner next time."

I didn't have to ask what he meant by "next time". He meant the next assignment we had. I frowned.

"I hate to disappoint you, Sumeragi-san, but I don't write songs for people I don't know."

Kira walked towards me, only stopping when he was barely a foot from me. I had to tilt my head back to look him in the eye, seeing as he was about four inches taller than me. Damn tall people. (I'm not short or anything, I'm five-foot-seven, but I don't like when people are taller than me. It's annoying, okay?)

"Then let's be friends."

He stuck his hand out to me. I stared at it for a moment. Maybe if I stare long enough without speaking, he'll get unnerved, too? The seconds ticked by, but Kira showed no sign that he was getting uncomfortable, or that he was going to take his hand back anytime soon. Finally, I sighed.

"Argh! Fine," I said, grabbing his hand and shaking it quickly before dropping it. I said quickly in a monotone voice, "Nice to meet you Sumeragi-san, my name is Shinako Mura, but you can call me Shinako. In return I'm going to call you Kira-kun and no, you don't have any say in it." I turned around and all but ripped the music room door open. "There! From now on you'll be sitting with me at lunch, and no, you don't have any say in that, either!" I waved without turning back around and all but ran back to my dorm room.

Ugh. My classmates are weird.


"Ha-ha! I have created a beautiful piece of art using nothing but salad!"

"What the hell is that supposed to be? A mutated fish?" Yamato scoffed.

I gasped, offended. Nobody scoffs at my art! I promptly took one of the pieces of tomato and catapulted it at him with my fork, causing him to splutter indignantly.

"Have at thee, critic!" I said. "Why are you even sitting here if you're just going to mock me, anyway?"

Yamato huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Hell if I know. It's just weird now that you're not following me around everywhere, okay!?"

I stared at him for a moment before grinning.

"Aww, Yama-chan! You missed me, didn't you?"

He started to splutter again, but this time his face was noticeably red. Aha! Bull's-eye! Yamato likes to pretend he's a cool lone wolf, but he's really quite the tsundere.

"N-never mind that!" he said, trying to change the subject. "What is that stick-in-the-mud doing here?" He pointed accusingly at Kira, who was sitting beside me, calmly sipping his tea. Kira met Yamato's glare with a blank stare of his own.

I shrugged.

"Well, seeing as he said he wants to partner with me for our next song-writing project, I told him he has to sit with me at lunch." I rolled my eyes. "You, on the other hand..." I made a shooing motion.

"AH! What the hell!? I thought we were going to be partners from here on out, you traitor!"

"Who's the traitor!? I never agreed to anything of the sort!"

"I thought it was implied with how well we worked together!"

"Nuh-uh! Learn to use your words, Yama-chan!"

There was a loud clink as Kira set down his teacup on the saucer. We both looked at him, and he glared at us, exuding a dark aura.

"Noisy."

Yamato glared at Kira again, but I just sank down in my seat. I hadn't even realized I'd stood up to lean across the table to yell at Yamato. He'd done the same, though. He huffed and sat down as well. I sighed.

"Ahh, Kira-kun. Yama-chan is so mean to me, make him be nice."

"Wait, you call him -kun and I'm still -chan!?"

"Hush your mouth, Yama-chan. You're giving Kira-kun a headache."

Kira nodded, reaching over and patting me on the head. I froze.

"Be nice," Kira said to Yamato. He paused. "...Yama-chan."

I burst out laughing, trying to forget the hand on my head. I could hear Yamato gnashing his teeth together from across the table, glaring murderously at Kira.

I could tell my school life would be very lively, with these two around.