DD: TADAA! 'Rhythm's new chap! Hope you guys enjoy, and since doesn't allow authors to reply to reviewers, all replies will be on my profile's page! Sorry for the grammar, but it's 12:00 pm here and I'm falling asleep...
Rhythm
By Dancing Doll
I always try to take the best out of things, but sometimes it's just too hard to do so, especially after learning a hard lesson through pain. And to think everything was going on so smoothly...
Fouetté: Deer Caught in The Headlights
I smiled as I watched Hiei leaving with Botan, after the few words we exchanged. I was happy, too...Happy to see him more open, accepting happiness.
Turning, I let my eyes roam at the scenery below. Everything looked so peaceful, but that kind of bright peace that, instead of making us lethargic, warms our bodies from inside out and gives us the need to laugh loudly.
I smiled, sighing. Maybe I should go after Kurama and see what he's doing...Botan and Hiei I prefer to leave alone, Keiko's drawing Yusuke and Hinageshi and Kuwabara...Well, I'd feel somewhat neglected.
Turning around a hallway, I bumped right into someone's chest. "Sorry!" I gasped, looking up. My eyes instantly filled with happiness.
"Hey." Kurama smiled.
"Hi!" I smiled brightly. Blinking, Kurama ran a hand through my hair.
"Where were you going?"
"I was looking for you, actually." I told him, blushing a very light pink. Kurama nodded.
"Good. I want to talk to you."
"Okay." I complied. Something is out of place here...He took my hand, but this time his hold on it was loose and cold. I frowned, "Kurama, is something wrong?"
"Not at all..." He said, mumbling something afterwards. My frown deepened as he guided me through endless hallways and stairs, until we finally reached the destination he wanted.
The tower.
He opened the door, waiting for me to go in before him. I did so, and for a moment, I could almost touch Maya's anger, so strongly it was felt inside here.
The room was messy. Pieces of furniture were covered by yellowed sheets and at every step I took, my feet rose a cloud of dust, making the particles shine in the sunlight that came from the round window, the stained glass showing a rose in full bloom.
I looked at Kurama, who was apparently studying the effects the colored glass had on the light, making it change colors. After taking a deep breath, he turned to me.
"Yukina..."
"Yes?"
He paused, noticing something behind me.
r.h.y.t.h.m
My eyes fell on the ballerina outfit behind Yukina, and suddenly things started to relate.
The upper part, made of black satin, had aqua patterns embroidered on it, making delicate and complicated turns. It opened to a black romantic tutu made of many layers of some gauzy fabric. Here and there, spread on the whole outfit, were small imitations of diamonds that shone brightly.
Inwardly, images flashed through my mind...
Kurama's Flashback
"Isn't it beautiful, Kurama?"
Kurama smiled at the brown-haired girl by his side, marveling at how her almond-shaped eyes filled with marvel at the sight of anything that reminded her utmost passion that was ballet.
"Yes."
"Mou, you didn't even look at it!" Maya pouted, crossing her arms before her chest. Kurama chuckled at her behavior, hugging her from behind and smelling her scent. Honey and orchids.
"I thought we were talking about you."
Maya blushed, smiling up at him. "You're such a seducer..."
"Am I?" He replied absent-mindedly, drawing lazy patterns with his fingers on her pale hands and kissing her neck.
She released a breathy sigh, "Yes...". He stopped his ministrations, studying the outfit before him.
"Who wore it?"
"Claire." Maya answered, "On a ballet her husband composed specially for her."
"What was it about?"
"About a woman who fell in love with this one guy..." Maya explained, "But he was already committed to another, and she didn't know if he liked her or not. So she did a lot of things, y'know, destroyed his relationship with the other lady, spied on him..."
"Sounds desperate." He commented, raising an eyebrow. Maya smiled sadly.
"She was in love, poor woman...Anyway, they got together. Later on, he finds out all the things she did, all the lies she told...He breaks, because he always thought of her as pure. Then, he leaves her and she kills herself after realizing the mistakes she made."
"Very dramatic."
"It's a beautiful ballet..." Maya sighed, "I've seen it once, but people say that it's so passionate only one who has felt what the main character has is able to play the role well. That, or the ballerina had to be Claire, since the ballet had such a sentimental value for her."
Kurama studied Maya. "Do you really think it's worth going through all that just to dance?"
Maya looked at him, smiling. "Try to understand. It's just like you and music." She sighed, "I'd sacrifice nearly everything for dancing this ballet like Claire did. Besides, when you go through something similar, it's easier to play a part." Then, her face brightened and she turned fully to him. "But, tell me! What are you singing at the end of the year presentation?"
"Ah, Genkai-sensei suggested this one song...I think I'm gonna do it."
"Which song?"
"I can't recall the name...It's more known for its lyrics..." Kurama frowned, trying to remember the name. "I just know it has something to do with betrayal, and that it's a really strong song."
"Oh." Maya blinked, "Have you ever felt betrayed, Kurama?"
"Not really." Kurama shrugged. Maya smiled.
"That's good."
Ends Flashback
"Kurama?"
My attention snapped back to Yukina, who was looking at me worriedly. The outfit's tiara, made of black pearls and diamonds, seemed to crown her head.
"Yukina." I said, deciding to take the harsh way. "Do you know the story of that outfit's ballet?"
Yukina glanced at her back, studying the outfit. "No, I don't."
"To shorten it, it's about a woman who fell in love for a man. She goes to great lengths, some of them not very dignified, in order to get him to return her feelings. The story is very romantic, but in my opinion..." I paused, examining her, "She didn't respect him. She spied on him, and didn't even tell him the truth afterwards."
r.h.y.t.h.m
I suddenly felt very cold.
"Yukina, can you relate to anything of this ballet?"
"I don't understand." I said, sounding nearly defensive. Kurama's face was under such a mix of colors coming from the window the effect was stunning. His hard look seemed to freeze anything on its way. Including me.
"Can you connect with anything that happens on the ballet?"
"I got your question." I said, louder. It hurt he was treating me like this, but a strong feeling of dread grew on me as alarms went off in my head. "I don't understand why are you asking me that."
"Because I think it was you and the others in the air-vent, spying on us."
If he had slapped me, I would have looked less shocked.
My hands trembled and my shoulders tensed. I was well aware my eyes must have widened severely as my mouth set on an opening-closing motion, like a fish. Kurama smirked, clearly reading my body language.
"And here I was, thinking you were different..."
Then, he just turned and left, leaving dust flying around the room. I fell to my knees, knowing that not only I had broken his heart, but that many others would shatter as well.
And it's my entire fault.
r.h.y.t.h.m
"Oh, hey, Kurama."
My eyes came up to meet Yusuke's face. I felt my jaw set on a tight line as I pondered how to do this. Sighing, I shook my head.
"Yusuke, could you please get Hiei and Kuwabara."
"Eh?" He blinked. Shrugging, he nodded. "Sure."
I thanked him quietly, getting inside Hiei and mine dorm. Sitting down on my bed, I waited for them to come. About five minutes later, Yusuke came back with Hiei and Kuwabara.
"Oi! Kurama! I was in a date with my dear red poppy!"
I didn't comment Kuwabara's statement, too busy I was staring holes in the floor. I could feel Hiei's eyes on my back. He always was the sharpest of the three.
"Kuwabara's right, Kurama. What's with you and this angst cloud above your head, man?" Yusuke asked, scratching the back of his head.
"I have something to tell you." I finally said, looking up at them. Yusuke and Kuwabara seemed curious, but I couldn't read Hiei's expression fully. "And I will tell you, hurt as it may, because I'd be betraying you otherwise."
"Kurama?" Yusuke frowned, apparently getting worried.
"Yukina and the others...It was them in the air-vent."
This time all faces showed the same emotions. Shock, confusion and finally hurt. It wasn't the fact that they had seen us naked, far from that...But that was the time we shared our deepest secrets, feelings, wants...They had crossed the line of our privacy, sneaking up like that.
And we four are very protective of our privacy.
r.h.y.t.h.m
"Hinageshi..."
My eyes widened. This was probably the first time he had said my name! I was about to congratulate him for finally quitting with the 'Red Poppy' thing, when I noticed something odd.
"Yes?" I asked Kuwabara, turning fully to him. He smiled, but I didn't miss how his lower lip trembled.
"Hinageshi...Why did you do it?"
"Did what? Kuwabara, are you okay?" I asked, walking closer to him. Looking up, I froze. Are those tears! "Why are you crying!"
"Hina-chan...I know. I know about the air-vent."
I gasped, eyes wide. "K-Kuwabara, I...". I couldn't speak! How had he found out! "How did you... ?"
"Kurama interrogated Yukina, and found out the truth. She didn't tell you guys were involved, but we..." He chuckled bitterly, "Well, he figured it out."
"I'm really-"
"Hina-chan...Just tell me one thing: Was it worth it?" Kuwabara whispered. I paled. "Did it help you?"
"I...I was scared. I didn't know what to think. I was afraid and I wanted to know what did you feel for me and-"
"What I felt!" Kuwabara repeated, "You could have asked me!"
"It's not that easy, all right!" I shouted, "Some people have troubles doing these kind of things!"
Kuwabara paused. "Please, Hina-chan...Answer my question: Did it help you?"
Should I lie?
I looked at Kuwabara's face. That tear-stained, questioning face.
No. Even if for the last time, I'll be honest.
"Yes."
Kuwabara nodded, drying his tears with the back of his hand. "Okay, then...Shall we continue our date?"
My eyes widened as I felt like my heart had stopped. "W-what! But...You should be mad!"
"I'm not." Kuwabara smiled, and this time without trembles. "I was just scared that you'd reject me after knowing how I really felt."
"R-Reject you?" I stuttered.
"Yeah...You see, I can forgive you because I love you, and since you know that and haven't run away, it's because you must love me, too. Even if only a tiny little bit..."
I paused, studying his face. Did I love him?
I remembered all the times he gave me flowers or some dessert he stole from the kitchens...The poems he wrote for me (1,500,000, all starting with 'Roses are red/Violets are blue'), when he opened way for me in the packed hallways...
I sighed. Yeah, guess I fell for the stupid oaf. That's why it hurts.
"I'm sorry, Kuwabara..."
Hurts to see his broken face, hoping ending.
"I...Don't."
Oh, dear, you'll be heart-broken, now. But in the future, you'll meet someone who's worth those tears you shed and your forgiveness. Someone who won't get in air-vents and spy on you. Someone who's worth your love.
"Goodbye, Kuwabara-san."
I wish that someone was I...But it isn't. How could it be so?
r.h.y.t.h.m
"Hiei!" I waved, calling out for him. Blinking, I waited in confusion as he stopped at CAA's front door before coming towards me.
I smiled, turning my vision back to the lake. Oh, maybe it'll be today! I don't know why, but I feel like I'm very close to get him to say 'I love-
"You disgust me."
"What!" I gasped, turning around to face him.
I wish I hadn't.
I have never seen such a look of fury. It was icy and flaming at the same time, seeming to rip my soul apart.
"H-Hiei?"
"Had fun, Botan? Felt any rush of adrenaline?"
"What are you talking about?" I asked, taking a step back. Suddenly, his face was mere inches of mine, his arms at each side of my head as my back rested flat against some tree.
"No escape routes, now, right? Unlike that day in the air-vent..."
Oh...
Oh, my...
"H-Hiei...Let me-"
"Explain!" He shouted, punching the spot right next to my head. "Explain how you fooled me! Is that it!"
"N-No! I-"
"You're a filthy liar, that's what you are!" He yelled, "To think I was naïve enough to-" He growled, and for a moment I felt he was going to strike me. Hiei was livid with rage.
"I hope you're happy, woman..." He snarled, "You just made the worst mistake of your life. I'll teach you to pick your next idiots more carefully."
He left, leaving me shaking. For the first time, I had seen Hiei's real fury. Falling to my knees, I started to sob uncontrollably. Thoughts started to run wild on my head, as I imagined what Hiei could possibly do...
Then, I felt an arm fall around my shoulders as someone offered me a handkerchief. Looking up in alarm, I gasped in embarrassment. "K-Koenma-sama!"
Koenma Reino, head of the Drama Club, studied me worriedly. "Botan, are you okay? What happened?"
Feeling renewed tears, I smiled brokenly. "I made a terrible mistake."
r.h.y.t.h.m
I wonder for how long I've been hiding...
I wonder from what I'm hiding.
I guess it's from my weakness, which doesn't make any sense. Weakness comes from inside, and there's no way I can get rid of her now. I'll have to harden myself again.
Betrayed by the two persons I trusted the most. I can bring myself to forgive Yukina. She's my sister and we have been through a lot together, and I have done some hurtful things to her as well. This doesn't mean, however, that I'm helping her with Kurama. He's, as corny as it sounds, my best friend.
But Botan! To think I let the walls I carefully put around my heart, after my mother's death, crumble so easily at the sight of amethyst eyes.
It's wrong, y'know...Eyes aren't the gateway to the soul. I can tell, because when I looked into hers, all I saw was purity, tenderness...All fake.
Those smiles...How long did she practice them? With what purpose? I never even talked to her! She couldn't have any possible grudges against me to hit me like that!
I feel like such an idiot...Fooled by a ball of giggles, letting my defense down, indulged into her sweet words and light caress...
I'll never, ever forgive her.
This time it won't take long to rebuild those walls. This lesson was harder than I ever imagined it would be. I will never mock heart-broken people again. I understand now...The pain of being fooled by the person you trust the most.
And, as I'm neither a nice person nor a chauvinist, that woman will pay. Most dearly.
r.h.y.t.h.m
I sobbed, my forehead resting against the dusty floor. I had been there all afternoon, crying over what I had done. At some point, I got so exhausted I laid down in the floor. By now, my clothes were grayer than any other color.
Again, I lost the one I love.
But never had it hurt so much.
"How stupid...To think things would work out."
"I'd go for pathetic."
I closed my eyes. Anyone but her...
"What do you want?" I whispered. I heard Maya sigh, and walk over to me. Then, I saw an old sheet being laid on the floor and she lowered herself on it.
How odd...
"I thought you were stronger than that." She commented. I felt something stir inside me.
"What? What are you doing?"
Her profile was unreadable. "I'm not doing anything. I'm just surprised it worked so well. I thought it would backfire, that he wouldn't believe in me..."
"Things would be better for me." I frowned at her. Maya turned to me.
"Would they? You would never tell him the truth, then?"
"Oh, you're someone to talk about telling the truth!"
"Am I?" She raised an eyebrow, "Tell me, Yukina, what do you know about me and Kurama?"
I paused. Nothing, really.
"I'll share one thing, then." She smiled. Not a poisonous smirk, no...A simple smile. "I'm very passionate about my dancing, and for all else that the people I love do. However, this makes me get carried away sometimes."
Then, she got up, leaving me very confused. "If you ever have the chance, ask Kurama which song did he sing on last year's presentation. Perhaps then you'll understand." I frowned in confusion as she walked to the doors and adding, without turning. "Your nose's running, y'know."
Evil witch.
r.h.y.t.h.m
I stared at Yukina's reflection on the dancing room's mirror. A week had passed, and I had to say things had gone exactly like I had predicted. Those girls had broken, and the guys...Well, they looked like pure ice now.
"So, girls, you have to start working on your End of The Year Presentation. For those new, it's the last presentation and your only test, art-wise. You'll have from this month, March, to December to make or train a choreography."
My eyes fell in our teacher as she went on and on. Finally, she got to the point I had been waiting. "Let me give you girls an advice. Dance an existing ballet. Making choreographies is hard and tiring. Better get tired with training than making, in case you're wondering. So, if you allow me, I can give you acts of ballets according to your strengths."
At the all girls' nods, the teacher drawled on, giving away acts. Finally, she got to my name. "Ah! Maya! What about you dance Alphonse Dubois's work for his wife Claire? You could dance the Grand Finale of 'Malicious Psyche'! Besides, your cousin Karasu could be your pair!"
"Maybe not, teacher." I said, smiling. Theresa frowned at me, surprised.
"Why not!"
"I think Yukina would make a better protagonist. She would show the agony of Claire's character when she sees her lover leaving way better than me."
"Oh..." Theresa sighed, "So, Yukina, do you want it?"
Yukina stared at me. "Yes."
r.h.y.t.h.m
"My, oh my!
My dear red poppy died!
She's dead but I can't forget
Her eyes!"
"Hey! You with the drums! Shut the Hell up!"
I sent the blond boy the 'Look-of-Fury-of-The-Great-Kazuma-Kuwabara'.
"If you wanna play those cheesy songs, play it inside your dorm and not in the hallway! Some people don't give a damn about the dead poppy!"
How dare he-!
"WOOOOOOOH!" I shouted in rage, grabbing that poor excuse of a man by the collar. His eyes widened as he noticed my famous 'Fist-of-Unwavering-Justice' coming towards his face...
"Shit!"
...And stopping one inch before hitting his nose.
"I shall not abuse the weak." I said, "I, Kazuma Kuwabara, understand that the whole world weeps today with the end of mine and Red Poppy's romance..."
"Eh?" He blinked, "Uh...Yeah! Yeah! Sure!"
"Go, citizen. And never again speak like that of the Red Poppy."
"S-Sure."
I watched as he left. Oh, what a day...Closing my eyes, I sighed. Why did she reject me? Moreover, why did she lie? Because I know she was lying! Nothing even Red Poppy can hide the red threads of Love when they appear!
I know I should be hurt by her actions. After all, the bathroom was the bathroom! And even if for some the girls' deed didn't seem like enough reason for such a violent reaction (I heard some pretty nasty stuff about Hiei and Botan), I can understand.
You see, all four of us have met and befriended inside bathrooms, so 'The Bathroom' is somewhat of a group thing. It's where we share our secrets with our best buddies! I mean, really...!
Besides, even if the girls are (or were) close to us, we couldn't just go up to the girls and comment about how we were attracted to them. Talk about subtleness...
Huh...
Even if I'm not that subtle...
Anyway, we didn't say anything really embarrassing, but still.
Sighing, I looked at the gardens extending below. Funny, that orange hair rings a bell in my head.
Oh, no!
It's Hinageshi! And why is she heading for CAA's lake? Had she gotten so depressed after she lied that she now wants to end her life!
"I cannot allow that!" I shouted to no one in particularly, running as fast as my 'Legs-Moved-By-Love' could carry me.
'Hinageshi! Red poppy! Don't!'
There she was, still heading for the lake. I have to stop her! Attract her attention!
"HINAGESHI-SAMA!"
Time seemed to slow...Hinageshi turned, her face scrunching up at the sight of me running towards her...Then it happened. My foot tripped over a rock, and my body went flying towards my delicate Red Poppy, trapping her under my weight.
'Kuwff! Canf breath!" She shouted (or at least tried to), hitting the top of my head.
"S-Sorry!" I gasped, getting off of her. "Sacred red poppy, what were you doing!"
"Picking up this!" She frowned, showing me a notebook. "I forgot it here."
"Oh." I said, looking down. Hinageshi sighed.
"What were you thinking?"
"I..." Sighing, I told her. Instead of being angry (my red poppy, for some reason, always does so after any proof of my love), she just looked really bad.
"Listen, Kuwabara-"
"No, please!" I pleaded, "This time, listen to me! I noticed Yukina lost weight and has bags under her eyes. I overheard Keiko's teachers commenting about how bad she's been going in class lately and Botan looks like she's being threatened, and I know by whom!" I took a deep breath, "Yusuke went back to his Punk Philosophy 'Hit & Steal', and Kurama looks like he's a zombie! Don't you see!"
Hinageshi looked down. "See what?"
"That we are the only ones who can fix things up! I'm the only one that doesn't blames you guys, and I know you lied back then!"
"What!"
"Back then, when you said you didn't love me!" I pleaded, taking her hands between mine. "Please, Hinageshi! For us and our friends!"
"I..." She gaped, "I can't..."
Frowning, I stared at her. "You can't help your friends?"
"It's not that!" She hurried to say, "I can't be with you!"
I sighed dejectedly. "You don't have to...Just help me."
Hinageshi stared at me with those green eyes of her, making me feel like pudding. Then, with a sigh, she nodded. "I will." With that, she stood up and left.
Only then I let my confident smirk appear. "And now, as Hinageshi and me act on 'Cupid I' plan, I shall seduce her and win her trust!"
C'mon, with a brain like mine behind this, what can go wrong?
To be continued...
Next Chapter: The training starts. New students arrive at CAA and new persons are introduced to a very gloomy group of people. But in order to succeed in the world outside CAA, they'll have to overcome sadness. This time, the Presentation will be much different, for sure.
DD: Again, sorry for the delay. As I said, less humor unless you count Kuwabara. This fic still has some chapters to go, and more about Maya and Kurama shall be revealed. Also, how the guys came to befriend inside bathrooms.
Btw, just in case you're wondering about Maya's sudden change of behavior, it will be explained in the story, but it's also because she started to grow on me as I matured and realized that, yes, Kura-chan isn't real and there's nothing wrong with alternating pairings. In fact, I think I will write a fic staring him and Maya.
Anyway, review!