Chapter 11! I'm really excited about where this story is going, because I'm starting to think of some major twists with Ikuto and Shiuta- NO ONE WILL SEE IT COMING. Maybe. It's still in the works. Anyways, enjoy and review, as always!
I was staring out of the window of my house, watching car after car move past my eyes. I held a steaming mug of chamomile tea in my hands, the white clay mug soothing and blank. My hair was in a long ponytail, and my bangs were pinned back in the middle of my head. I was wearing sweatpants and a high-necked zip-up jacket. I sighed, air rushing from my between my lips and blowing the steam from the surface of my tea. This is all I had been doing since my song recording yesterday. Sitting in my high backed velvet chair, drinking tea and watching cars. I hadn't eaten in almost sixteen hours- Not since Ikuto had bought me some ramen on our way back from Easter.
He seemed to have cought on to my distressed mood. I don't think he knew exactly what to make of it. He didn't say much on the way back, his hands in his pockets, and I remember that I felt his gaze on my face. My mind had been occupied elsewhere, focussed completely on retaining the images I had seen while I was singing.
I inhaled deeply, the scent of my tea having a calming affect. It was snowing again outside, and the cars were becoming spotted with white. All was quiet in the house, and I stood to turn on my electric fire. Akira bobbed into the room, and hovered down to touch the tips of her toes on the kitchen counter top. She eyed me strangely, sensing my lost feeling. "Shiuta, what's wrong?" I didn't answer her for a while, and after I turned on my fire place, I moved back to the kitchen, absentmindedly putting more milk into my tea. "Do you know... That is to say, have you been with me all of my life?" I asked quietly, stiring the hot liquid with a long silver spoon. She nodded, still looking at me with a slightly suspicious look. "What... Was I like?" She smiled.
"You were strong, vibrant, and confident. Even after your father cracked. You never let him get to you, and you pulled through. You stayed constantly bright in that dark house. Your sister was too weak to stay strong, but you, Shiuta... You perserveared." I shifted my eyes in her direction. Why was she lying to me? My newly-recovered memories could possibly be lies... Could they? What was she up to?
"Are you sure?" I asked, staring blankly into my milky tea.
"Positive,"
"Then why do I feel like you're lying?" I retorted, staring down the miniature girl. She flinched, and glared right back at me.
"I would never! We are one, Shiuta! Why would I lie to myself?"
"I've been asking myself the same question," I whispered, picking up my tea and walking to my leather couch, sitting down with my legs criss-crossed under me. I snatched the remote from the coffee table, hitting the power button and turning on the DVD player. One of our home movies was still playing. A gorgeous blond woman was standing by a river, her arms clasped behind her back. At the sound of a man's voice calling 'Maria-chan' she turned around, smiling widely. She knelt down. "Akira-chan, come to me!" she laughed, extending her arms as a small blond girl, almost identical to Maria, ran into her arms. They giggled, and I entered the picture, wading quietly in the river behind the other two girls. My fiery hair stood out against the greenery to my rear, and I looked up, waving at the camera.
As my mother and Akira cuddled together on the river bank, I froze in the water, completely disconnected from the family portrait that was unraveling before me. I sighed, and trudged onward farther down the river.
I hit pause, and burried my face in my hands. My memories, which I had once thought to be so flawless and faithful to the past, were so jumbled and confusing. For once in my life, I was unsure about what had really gone on in my life prior to now, and I couldn't be sure what was real, and what was lies. I decided to go out, so I wandered down the hall to my room and opened my closet, picking out some dark-wash skinny jeans, black pumps and a grey velvet, high collared jacket, the golden buttons shining. I wore a simple tank top underneath it, and I slipped on my shoes, picking out a feathery, white scarf and tucking it into my jacket collar. I stepped into the cold outdoors, Akira hovering right above my shoulder. The snow flurry had ceased, and all was calm.
I continued to walk down the sidewalk, deciding to turn at the interesction and explore the park. The trees were covered in ice, and I mentally slapped myself for dressing so lightly. My heels were clicking sharply against the frozen ground, and the quiet breeze carried a voice to my ears. I faintly recognized it, somewhere in the back of my mind. The voice drew nearer, and I could now make out what they were saying.
"Geez, Ikuto, you are such a jerk!" A sly laugh almost drowned out the girl's words.
"You know you like it," replied a deeper voice. My heart stopped, and so did my feet. A mental war broke out in my head. Should I continue walking forward, or turn around here? Either way, they would no doubt catch up to me eventually. So I would see them whether or not I turned around right now. But I was more than relucatant for the awkward meeting that was sure to follow my meeting them. I took a breath, and stepped forward, one foot after the other. I had to concentrate hard.
At last they came into view, that stupid pink-haired skank and that stupid indigo-haired player. I huffed angrily, my hands stuffed in my pockets, balled into fists. I could feel Akira quiver slightly in annoyance. Before they could look up and see me, a large group of X Eggs made their way in between us. Slightly startled, I stopped walking again. Ikuto and the other girl's attention turned, also, to the eggs that were chanting "Hopeless... Hopeless..." The girl then spotted me. Amu, I think Ikuto had said her name was. That stupid bitch.
"X Eggs!" she cried, and I noticed not one but three charas above her shoulders. Oh, special. I said to myself sarcastically. "Miki, Character Change!" the blue one nodded, and she transformed into a rediculous costume consisting of a giant blue hat, blue and white striped tights and a really ruffly shirt. Give me a break. "Akira," I said simply, and she tapped me on the shoulder, transforming me for a second time. As soon as I came out of the transformation, I started to shiver. Damn, it was fucking freezing out here.
"Shiuta?" Ikuto called over to me, finally noticing me. I frowned. "Shut up," He glared. "Oh, excuse me." he said, folding his arms. He looked pissed at my attitude. The Amu-girl glared at me. "Back off, I'll be taking these X Eggs and purifying them." I shook my head. "No, I don't think so." I replied, folding my arms. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm a lot stronger than you are," Amu growled, balling her hands into fists. "What's your aim, huh?" she yelled, and I was getting worried that her obnoxious banter would startle away the X Eggs. "Do you just like pain? Are you even with Easter?"
"She is," said Ikuto, putting his hands in his pocket. He was out of his normal black clothes, and was dressed in a simple grey hoodie and jeans. He looked so... I shook my head before my thoughts could travel to his gorgeousness. "Don't you understand what these eggs are?" Amu yelled at me. Was she 'trying to get through to me'? Save me from the dark? How hopelessly naive. "Of course I do." I replied, dropping my arms to my sides. "These are broken dreams. Dead hopes. Shattered futures. So what?" Amu looked close to tears. Of anger or just stupidity, I couldn't be sure. "Of course you're too young to understand exactly how the real world works. But I would have thought that you had at least grasped the idea," She continued to glare at me as I stepped forward.
"Dreams don't come true. Get that into your thick skull and make it stay there. Being hopful is pointless." She'd heard enough. She lunged for me, a giant paintbrush in her hands. She swung it across her body, and I could only assume it was supposed to be her attack. "Ooo, I'm so scared." I smirked, opening my hand, a giant axe landing softly in my palm. The red blade shinging and sharp, the opposite end heavy and blunt. I let it drop to the ground, the sidewalk cracking.
"AXE IMAPLEMENT!" I yelled, heaving my weapon from the ground and swinging it into the air, not only blocking her weak attack, but sending a spear of air straight into her stomache, knocking the wind out of her and sending her flying back. "Hey, Shiuta-" Ikuto began, but I ignored him. "Don't speak to me," I spat. He had just been messing with me the whole time. He knew who I really was, didn't he? He was just punishing me for the way I had treated him in our past. This was all a game to him, wasn't it?
"Iron Maiden!" I cried, putting my fingers together and spreading my arms apart. A giant metal box appeared where the X Eggs were, and I brought my palms together, closing the box abrutply. Amu gasped. "The X Eggs!" she was tearing up, and Ikuto looked distraut. "Shiuta, stop this, right now!" he yelled angrily, and a bright light surrounded him as he Character Transformed with Yoru. I growled deep in my throat. "What are you doing Ikuto?" He frowned, stepping towards me, looking me in the eyes from around my Iron Maiden. "You know what I'm doing," he said in his deep voice, and Amu sat on the ground behind him. I felt like I might throw up. "Are you really going to attack me, Ikuto?" I scoffed, laughing manically.
Ikuto lunged, his razor sharp claws aimed straight at me. I didn't know what was happening. Why was he doing this? What was going on? My eyes went wide as he drew nearer. I bent over backwards just in time, and he narrowly missed my chest. I brought my leg up, kneeing him in the gut, earing a moan of pain from Ikuto. I smirked. "You actually thought I would let you?" I laughed scathingly, kicking him again and sending him into the air. A giant blue paw erupted from his hand, and it lashed out at me. This time I couldn't avoid it, and I was swatted back onto concrete, my head cracking against the walkway. I hissed in pain, tears springing up in the corners of my eyes.
"I don't want to do this, Shiuta," he said, walking towards me. I pushed myself up halfway, the lower half of my body twisted in a sort of odd way. My hair was spread out over the ground, and I stared down at the ground. I was grinding my teeth together. Fuck Ikuto. Fuck Amu. Fuck Easter. I tried to push myself up again, but I couldn't move. Ikuto reached down, and grabbed me by my neck, forcing me up against a tree. "You're out of control," he said coldly, tightening his grip. I let out a hiss of pain. "Oh, am I?" I croaked, barely able to form words. He looked down too late, a switchblade already in my hands and centimeters from his shoulder. I stabbed, and ripped through flesh and muscle. Ikuto cried out, dropping me to the ground.
"That was a rotten move, Shiuta," he winced, covering his wound as Amu ran towards him. "And you're a traitor," I hissed, throwing the switchblade onto the sidewalk, and casually turning my back on them.
I hadn't bothered to undo my character change, and I sat on a bench at the opposite end of the park. I was beyond freezing, but I didn't care. Maybe I would just let the frost take me, here and now. My lips were stiff and probably blue, and goosebumps covered my skin. I suddenly felt a soft, warm cloth cover my shoulders. I jumped, the sudden contact surprising me. My reaction earned a soft laugh from behind me. I didn't turn around, but a few moments later jeans came into view, and I peered upward. A brown-haired boy, ears pierced and hair adorably messy, stood in my line of vision, a small smile on his face.
"Hey," he said, sitting next to me. He looked to be my age, a couple months give or take. I simply stared at him. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?" he asked, his arms stretched out over the back of the bench. "And in that get up..." he joked, taking in my character change outfit, the bottom of my dress being tantalizingly short. I almost blushed. "I could ask you the same question," I replied, drawing the jacket he had given me around my shoulders. He laughed again. It sounded kind and genuinely happy. Not like the sarcastic and teasing laughs of Ikuto. Ikuto...
"Well, I'm dressed for the weather. You, on the other hand," his eyes once again raked over my body, studying me. I squirmed under his gaze. "You're definitely not dressed for snow." I shrugged. "My bad," I replied, looking into the distance. "Most definitely," he laughed, looking off in the same direction. "Can I ask why you're out here, though?" I didn't answer him, and he sighed. "Well, at least let me walk you home." I gave him a look. "Why?" he looked at me as though I were stupid. "I can't just let a pretty girl like you walk by herself in the cold. I'd feel like a total dick." I let out a small, dissmissive laugh. "I can take care of myself-" "And props to you for that, but you can't even dress properly for the weather, so I think I'll walk you home anyways."
We stood, and I slipped his jacket over my arms. It was still warm. I pushed some of my hair behind my ear, and I bit my lip. This boy... He was just so charming. "So where do you live?" he asked, his hands in his pockets. "Not far, just past the intersection." I replied, and we continued walking, standing strangely close for two people who had just met. We finally reached my house, and I stepped up to my door, starting to take off his jacket. But he waved his hands. "You keep it, I'll just get it back later." "But-" I began to protest, but he cut me off with a finger to my lips. "Give me your number and we'll call it even." he said, holding out a pen. I briefly considerd the proposal. What could it hurt? I sighed, taking the pen and his hand in mine. It was so warm...
I finished writing my number, and returned his pen. He laughed again, putting a hand on my head. He was really tall for someone my age. "You take care of yourself. And next time I see you, try and wear something that fits the climate, okay?" It was my turn to laugh, and I smiled. "I'll do my best." I replied, and I unlocked my door, taking one last look at the boy before shutting my door. Or, I almost shut it. It was stopped by his hand. "What's your name?" he asked, his body halfway in my house. "...Shiuta." It kind of seemed pointless to stick with my fake name, now. And besides, he would probably never call, anyways. No harm, no foul. "Cool. I'm Kukai, by the way." he said, smiling down at me.
He stepped back from my doorway, waving as he walked down my steps. "See ya, Shiuta," he called over his shoulder. I promptly closed the door, pressing my back against it and sliding down to the floor, my face burried in Kukai's jacket. What on earth was happening to me?