Tadase

"...It is the east, and Juliet is the sun," I finished, staring into Fujisaki-san's eyes with a smile on my face. She stared back at me with a slight tinge of pink in her cheeks, large brown eyes glowing with embarrassment.

"All right, let's stop there," Nikaidou-sensei said, watching the two of us with a frown. "We'll pick this up tomorrow seventh period. Mercutio!"

Nagihiko stepped forward. "Yes, sir?"

"Help Romeo and Juliet, would you?"

"Yes, sir." Nagihiko nodded. When Nikaidou turned away, he sighed. "Is it just me, or is Nikaidou acting a little too serious about the performance?"

Fujisaki-san shrugged. "Well, we do only have a few weeks left until the play. I suppose he's worried." She blushed. "I'm not the best actor."

"Neither am I." I smiled sheepishly at her. "I don't understand half the words I've memorized."

"I know, right?" She laughed. "And to be honest, it's so weird trying to act all mushy. I'm just not good at that sort of thing."

"Me either," I admitted. "I guess being romantic like Romeo isn't in my character."

"Same for me," Fujisaki-san agreed. "Except, you know, Juliet instead of Romeo."

"So should we set up another practice session sometime soon?" I asked her.

"We should be good on Sunday," She answered. "I don't think we have anything planned."

"Around ten, would you say?"

"Sounds good. If I can wake up early enough."

I chuckled. "Late riser, huh?"

"I'm a night owl." She shrugged.

"Early bird gets the worm," I smiled.

"And late bird gets to sleep in," She replied.

The last bell of the day sounded, and we all stood, grabbing our bags to leave.

Amu and Rima came up to me, looking hopeful as they approached. "So, Tadase," Amu said, "Are you free this Sunday?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said apologetically. "I'm practicing with Fujisaki-san."

"Again?" Rima huffed. "When are you going to help us? We still have to get advertisements hung up in a couple places around town, and some of our scenes aren't finished."

"At least you don't have to act like you love this guy in front of about a billion people." Fujisaki-san poked me in the shoulder.

"Ouch," I said politely. She looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

"I've always wanted to be able to do that," I smiled.

Nagihiko commented, "Rima hates when I do that." He looked at Rima and purposely raised an eyebrow, grinning at her. She blushed and whacked his arm.

Stop that," She growled.

"But Rima," Nagihiko pretended to sound wounded, "I was only playing."

The two began to bicker and fight. Amu giggled and turned to Fujisaki-san and I. "See you guys later!" I watched her as she left, Nagihiko and Rima in tow.

Fujisaki-san stopped. "Oh, crap, I forgot!" She raced out the door, calling "See you later, Hotori-kun!" Over her shoulder, violet hair flying behind her.

She had called me Hotori-kun for the first time.

Something fell out of her bag and landed on the floor, skidding across the linoleum with a clicking sound. I bent to pick it up. It was a long red ribbon, with two purple plastic sakura blossoms dangling at the ends. A memory stirred, and an image of Nagihiko pretending to be Nadeshiko flashed in my mind, wearing a Guardian cape over his female uniform and a ribbon like this in his hair.

I called, "Fujisaki-san, your... hair ribbon." I trailed off. She had left.

I had to find her and return this. Maybe she'd be very worried when she realized it was missing. But where had she gone?

I raced down the hall and the stairs, trying to find her, and ran outside. "Fujisaki-san!" I called, looking around in the afternoon air. Nothing, only the chatter of other students as they left to go home.

I sighed. I'd have to return it to her tomorrow. I turned to walk back inside. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw purple flash through the trees. Curious, I stepped into the forest, walking in the direction of the flash of violet.

Peeking through the trees, I saw a cluster of girls surrounding Fujisaki-san.

"...So have you decided who you're going to be with?" The middle girl asked.

"Yes," Fujisaki said calmly. "My friends."

The girl scowled. "I hope when you say friends, you mean us."

"Well, no." Fujisaki-san inclined her head. "I don't appreciate the way you talk about others," She said pleasantly, "especially my friends. As in, Amu Hinamori, or Rima Mashiro, Yaya Yuiki... I'm sure you understand, Saaya."

Saaya took a step forward. "Those girls? You mean, the losers that backstab you? Oh, yes," She said, seeing the confused expression on Fujisaki-san's face, "They say horrible things about you. Like that you're a slut, and a bitch."

Fujisaki-san raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Because I always thought that you were the one who said things like that."

"What—I don't—" Saaya spluttered.

"I know you spread nasty things about me behind my back. I can see that you're jealous of me, too. Like how I'm friends with Tadase Hotori, or Kukai Souma. Even my brother." Fujisaki-san frowned. "I've been meeting with you and your friends in secret for weeks now, but I know you don't like me. Why do you even want to be my friend?"

Saaya growled, and got in Fujisaki-san's face. "You've made an enemy today, Fujisaki," She snarled. "You better watch your back."

Fujisaki-san smiled sadly. "I'm sorry you think of me as an enemy. But I think that I was your enemy the moment you met me, not starting today. Maybe, if you weren't intent on hurting me, we wouldn't be like this."

The girl turned her back and stomped away, her group of friends following behind her, leaving Fujisaki-san shaking her head.

"Hotori-kun, I know you're hiding behind that tree."

I jumped, and walked out from behind it, rubbing the back of my head. "I'm sorry," I said sheepishly. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

She laughed. "It's okay."

"Are you okay?" I questioned. "You looked like you handled them pretty well, but..."

"Oh, yeah." She sighed. "But I wish she didn't think of me as an enemy."

I didn't know what to say, so I nodded. Then I remembered. "Ah!" I held out the ribbon. "You dropped this."

She gasped. "I dropped it? Oh, thank goodness you picked it up." She took it from me and tied her hair up in a ponytail. "Thank you so much," She said gratefully. "I've had this since I was a baby, and if I'd lost it..."

"You're welcome." I smiled. "I'm glad I could be of such help."

She smiled back. "I can't imagine wearing my hair down," She admitted. "Not just because I always wear it up, but then I'd look just like Nagi-kun."

"And then it'd be pretty much impossible to tell you apart."

A spark flashed through her deep brown eyes. "You think so?"

I stared at her face. She really did look so much like Nagihiko. Granted, her eyelashes were just a little longer, her hair just a little thicker, her eyes just a little bigger, but other than that she looked exactly like Nagihiko. "Yeah, you guys look so much alike."

She grinned mischievously, her nose crinkling, white teeth showing. "Interesting."

"Except for your smile," I noticed. "You crinkle your nose and squint your eyes when you smile."

She giggled. "I gotta get going. See you tomorrow, Hotori-kun!"

"Bye... Fujisaki-san."

"And you're sure this will work?" Rhythm asked Ran. "I mean, if it goes wrong..."

Ran laughed. "Of course, it'll be fine! Just wait for my signal, and then release the bucket."

Su flew up to the two. "Sensei is coming! Hurry, hurry!"

Temari came rushing over a second later, panting. "The two are in place. Go!" She roared.

"Right!" Rhythm sped over the grounds, over to Greenhouse One, where Rima and Nagihiko stood, looking confused and slightly annoyed.

"Rhythm! What are we doing here, again?"

"Something very important!" the little shugo chara panted. "Let's go inside!"

Nagihiko looked at him strangely. "Why?"

"I want to pick flowers for Miki," Rhythm lied. "This is the right greenhouse, I think."

"Miki?" Rima asked incredulously. "Aren't you dating KusuKusu?"

The said guardian character popped up from Rima's bag. "Oh, it wasn't working out," KusuKusu said dismissively. "So I dumped him."

"...I don't know what to say," Nagihiko shook his head.

"So let's go!" Rhythm insisted, trying to open the door even though the doorknob was larger than he.

"All right, all right." Nagihiko opened the door and stepped inside, closing after the four entered. "Which flowers?"

"Um..." Rhythm paused and pretended to think, glancing at KusuKusu, who nodded and grabbed a rope. Unnoticed by the other two, a bucket filled with water hung above the door, connected to a rope that KusuKusu held.

"Hello? Is someone in there?" The voice of someone familiar muffled through the door. The knob turned, and the door opened...

SPLASH! The bucket fell, spilling a gallon of icy water onto Nikaidou-sensei's head.

"Argh-glub!" The now-soaking teacher wrenched to bucket off his head and gasped for air, disoriented, at the two students, who were staring in horror at their teacher.

"Fujisaki-san!" I shouted, jogging over to where she stood with Azumi, smiling at me. "Sorry I'm late," I panted.

"Don't worry," Fujisaki-san laughed. "I woke up late, actually, and only got here like a minute ago, so..." She brushed her bangs off to the side and shifted a bag in her grip.

"What's in the bag?" I asked curiously.

"Asked that twice in two days," She muttered.

"Hmm?" I tilted my head to the side.

"Nothing. These are our costumes for the play." She made a face. "Had a look at both of them. Never liked puffy things." She gave me a sympathetic look. "Hope you like them."

I blushed, remembering my chara-nari Platinum Royale. "Um... not particularly, no."

"Come now, Tadase," Kiseki scolded. "My king looks wonderful in anything," He said proudly to Azumi, who rolled her eyes.

"Well, we better get going." The two of us began walking towards the school.

"Ah, a day off and we're still going to school," Fujisaki-san sighed. "But at least it's for a good cause."

"Yeah. The play's going pretty well, don't you think?" I asked.

"Oh, sure. I mean, Rima-chan says that all that's left is advertising a little around the shops, and finishing up a couple sets." She looked at me. "And we've all got our lines memorized. Can you believe it's only been a few weeks?"

The school rose slowly into view, and I watched as it ascended the morning horizon. "I'm horrible in front of crowds, though." I looked down at my toes. "I've gotten better than I used to be, but I'm worried I'll freak out on stage and ruin the performance."

"I know. I'm bad at crowds, too. I think we'll be all right, but the whole acting thing... It's fun and all, and I try to do my best, but is it enough?"

"Of course!" Kiseki said imperiously.

"I know how you feel." We pushed through the school gates and into the campus. "But I think that if you really feel passionate about something, if you really work hard, you can still shine."

She turned to me and smiled. "That's pretty wise, Hotori-kun."

"Is it?" I shrugged my shoulders. "I suppose so," I said modestly. "Actually, Amu said that."

Fujisaki-san's brow furrowed, like she was thinking. "Hotori-kun... are you in love with Amu-chan?"

I choked, stumbling. "W-what?"

"...Well, actually, it's kind of obvious... I mean, you're always staring at her, and you get this kind of sad, wistful expression on your face when she's around..."

"Does she know?" I asked in a defeated voice.

"Well, no. I mean, I don't think so. But is it true?"

I sighed. "Yes. But it's mixed up with something that happened a long time ago, with the Easter Corporation."

"Easter?' She seemed interested. "That big company?"

" It's actually kind of a long story."

"I've got time." She looked expectantly at me as we moved past the primary-early secondary building.

'Well... I guess it all started when we were kids. Like, eleven or twelve. Your brother, Yaya, Kukai and I were in this group called the Guardians. We were pretty much a student council, except we all had guardian characters. There were five seats, the King's Chair, the Queen's Chair, the Ace's chair, the Jack's chair, and the Joker. I held the King's Chair, Nagihiko held the Queen's, Yaya was the Ace, and Kukai was the Jack. Our big job, though, at the time, was searching for the Embryo, which is a magical egg that grants wishes. And a little while after Amu transferred, she got guardian characters, or Ran, Miki, and Su."

"What about Dia?"

"She comes up later. Anyways, we had a prophecy from the first generation king, with the Humpty Lock and Dumpty Key..."

I went on to explain everything that had happened as we entered the high school, walking slowly through the halls and into the huge auditorium, moving into the back behind the scenes.

"...So then Ikuto left to find his father in Europe, and Nagihiko went off to study dance again."

"I see." She studied my expression. "Anything happen after that?"

"Well... not really. I mean, we haven't had trouble for years. Everything's kind of calmed down."

She pursed her lips. "You dated her for a little, too, didn't you?"

"How'd you know?" I looked at her sadly.

"Your expression. Says there's more to the story between you two."

I studied my toes. "I kept trying after that, hoping I still had a chance. I felt like I was really close, too. I asked her out early in the school year during ninth grade, just two years ago. It was so amazing at first, finally feeling like I'd won... But as time went on, I kept noticing how sad she seemed whenever Ikuto was mentioned, how when she got texts from him, she brightened up in a way I could never get her to do... we broke up in November."

"And have you moved on?" I felt her eyes watching me, burning a hole through the side of my head as I avoided her gaze.

"...No," I admitted. "I just can't see any other girl that way." Kiseki tutted me. Trying to change the subject, I asked, "So what about you?"

She seemed to stiffen slightly. "Once," She said shortly.

"Oh." I shut up.

She pulled an orange and black bundle of clothes. "Here."

I took it, wincing slightly. "Orange?"

She smiled slightly. "And you get pantaloons and a doublet. Lucky you."

"That's kind of embarrassing." I let out a nervous laugh. "And this is what I'm wearing for the performance?"

"In front of about a billion people," She looked like she was trying not to laugh herself.

"Wonderful," I said quietly, and she gave me a sympathetic look that wasn't really very sympathetic, turning her back and walking into the nearest dressing room.

Ten minutes later, I was fully dressed in my costume, looking at myself in the mirror in utter horror.

"Oh, dear," I whispered.

The costume manager, Saaya Yamabuki, had apparently decided that an black doublet with rusty orange embroidery would look very nice paired with white pantaloons and a puffy white undershirt complete with a strange hat that looked kind of like a feathered beret.

Feeling extremely embarrassed, I left my designated dressing room and knocked on Fujisaki-san's door. "Fujisaki-san? Are you ready?"

"Ah, hold on a second." There was a clicking noise, and she came out of the dressing room, blushing slightly.

Fujisaki-san wore a long, light purple-colored gown, with thick golden embroidery that lined the square neckline and ran down the front and back. With thin off-white sleeves that flared at her wrists and a tight corset with gold laces, she really did look like Juliet. She wore a plain silver circlet in her long hair.

"You look very nice." I felt my cheeks grow hot.

"Thanks," She cleared her throat. "And you don't look too bad yourself. No ribbons or lace, at least. Can you help me with the zipper? Azumi's not strong enough to pull it up."

"Hey!" The little chara protested. "I'm tiny. So sue me."

"Oh. Of course." She turned, and I slid the zipper up her back, moving her hair out of the way.

"Thanks," She repeated. "Shall we get started?"

"Okay." The two of us walked out onto the empty stage, which was filled with scenes, wooden backgrounds, fake parts of buildings, steps, an orchard, furnished rooms, and the famed balcony. "Let's start from where we left off."

Fujisaki-san nodded, and we drew over to the balcony, climbing up the hidden steps in the back. She paused for a second before saying, "It's just after Tybalt and Mercutio are killed, right?" I nodded. "So..." She cleared her throat, and began.

"Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day;
It was the nightingale, and not the lark;
That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear;
Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree:
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale."

"It was the lark, the herald of the morn," I replied.
No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east:
Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stand tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
I must be gone and live, or stay and die."

She shook her head. "Yon light is not day-light I know it, I:
It is some meteor that the sun exhales,
To be thee this night a torch-bearer,
And light on thy way to Mantua:
Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone."

I turned to her and placed a hand on her cheek, feeling both awkward and silly as I declared, "Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death;
I am content, so thou wilt have it so.
I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye,
'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow;
Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat
The vaulted heaven so high above our heads:
I have more care to stay than will to go:
Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.
How is't, my soul? Let's talk; it is not the day."

She feigned a gasp, and cried, "It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!
It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
Some say the lark makes sweet division;
This doth not so, for she divideth us:
Some say the lark and loathed the toad change eyes,
O, now I would the had changed voices too!
Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray,
Hunting the hence with hunt's-up to the day,
O, now be gone; more light and light it grows."

"More light and light; more dark and dark our woes!" I said dramatically.

She giggled and looked at the script. "Okay, so now the nurse comes in. She says, 'Madam!' and I reply, 'Nurse?'"

I switched parts, pretending to be the nurse. "Your lady mother is coming to your chamber: The day is broke; be wary, look about."

"Then window, let day in, and let life out." She hesitated.

"Farewell, farewell! One kiss, and I'll descend." Avoiding her gaze, I gave her a quick peck on the cheek, just barely brushing her skin with my lips, and leaned hurriedly back, blushing.

"You know, you're going to have to kiss her on the lips like you mean it when we actually do the performance," A voice said, sounding slightly amused.

The two of us jumped. "Nagi-kun!" Fujisaki-san exclaimed, glaring at her twin as he stepped forward, grinning.

"Nice dress, Nade-chan," He commented, and smirked at me. "Nice pantaloons, Tadase."

"I—I have to wear these!" I protested. "It's my costume!"

He chuckled, and then sobered. "But I am right, you know. We can't have a Romeo and Juliet that only kiss each other on the cheek. I don't like it, but that's how it goes."

"Aren't you supposed to be pruning flowers or something with Rima-chan?" Fujisaki-san demanded.

Rima came up behind him. "We're taking a break."

"Sure," Fujisaki-san said sarcastically. "A break."

"It's true!" Nagihiko protested. "We only came in here because it's so hot outside, and we were going to get a drink."

"But he's right," Rima nodded, staring a hole through me. "Romeo and Juliet has more passion. That kiss wasn't passionate."

"Ah, so you agree with me for once?" Nagihiko smiled down at Rima.

"Because you were right, for once," She shot back.

The two began bickering again. Fujisaki-san and I looked at each other and smiled.

"I'm not the only one who thinks that these two are into each other, right?" I asked.

"Hotori-kun, everyone knows these two like each other except for these two," She replied, glancing at them.

I smiled. "Rima, Nagihiko, I've finally achieved world domination."

Neither answered. Fujisaki-san giggled. " It's so hot in here. I think I'll take off all my clothes and run around naked."

Still no answer. "Oh, no, I'm being brutally murdered by your twin!" I said loudly.

"He is." Nadeshiko smiled. "I'm going to cook him up for dinner with fava beans and some nice Chianti."

"I'm pregnant with Justin Beiber's child," I said.

"Sometimes I like to stick my hands in my armpits and then smell them."

"I'm secretly Hannah Montana."

"Toothpaste is my favorite snack."

"I ate lint off the floor."

"The voices in my head are offering me candy if I let them out."

"They're not paying us any attention," I observed with a smile.

Nagihiko and Rima started and turned to look at us. "Did you guys say something?" Rima asked.

"No, no, nothing at all," Fujisaki-san held in a giggle.

"Well, I need a drink of water," Rima said, giving Nagihiko a dirty look and headed off to the fountain. Nagihiko followed her, grinning.

"And.. they're gone." Fujisaki-san shook her head. "Those two, huh?"

"And to think if all that were true, I'd be a dead, pregnant, pop-star dictator, and you'd be naked and preparing to stuff me in an oven to eat me."

"Right?" She laughed. "But they're right," She said seriously, turning pink.

" Yeah..." I looked over at her, meeting her huge brown eyes with my own burgundy ones. Her eyes really were huge...

"Nade-chan! Tadase! We're leaving!" Rima called. I jumped.

I blinked, realizing my face was an inch from Fujisaki-san's. A look of realization crossed her eyes, and she leaned back, face scarlet as she called, "See you later, you two!"

All I could think was, what the heck just happened?

There was an awkward pause as Rima and Nagihiko left. I cleared my throat. "Should we continue?"

"Oh. Right." The blush faded from her cheeks as she frowned at me. It had become extremely hot in the theatre, as she was burning a hole in the side of my head with her sharp gaze.

"Hotori-kun, can I ask you something?"

"Of course," I said warily.

"It's really important... and please don't get offended , if I'm wrong..."

My heart squeezed in m chest as the air pressed in around me. "Yes?"

"Hotori-kun... are you bisexual?"

I looked at her incredulously. "Really?" I asked weakly. I dropped my head into my hands and peeked through my fingers at her.

"Am I really that transparent?"

She looked at me with sympathetic eyes. "Does anyone know?"

"Of course not," I snapped. "Why would I tell anyone?"

"Because they need to know," She said softly.

"Hell. No." I growled.

Fujisaki-san frowned. "It's not a big deal. It's just another part of you."

"You don't understand," I said angrily. "It's a huge deal, at least to me! Don't you realize? So much of human society judges people like me, whether they realize it or not. If you could've seen yourself right there..." I pointed an accusing finger at her. "You had pity in your eyes. Like my sexuality's a handicap. Don't even try to deny it. And others?" I laughed sourly. "I've heard the comments, the cruel words about people like me. They think that I'm disgusting for liking both girls and guys. If I did come out, they'd be nice, sure, but then there are the stereotypes. People will look at me and that's all they'll see. People will look at me and think, what a pervert, because they think I hit on everything in sight. People will look at me, and they won't see who I really am. Once people find out, these stereotypes will pop into their heads. I'll be an outcast. Maybe not obviously, but I'll never have another relationship without my sexuality affecting people's opinions."

"That's not true," She said quietly. "I see you. Your friends see you, too. We don't care."

"Oh, really?" I gave a harsh laugh. "And if I tell them, what will they say? Oh, that's right. That it's no. Big. Deal."

"Because it's not!" She retorted. "Stop looking at the bad side and look at the good side! You don't have to hide anymore! So what if people judge you? At least you know who's really there for you! Like your friends!"

"If it's not a big deal, then why were you acting like I'd be offended if you'd been wrong?" She was silent. "Exactly. You know that it could've offended me if you were wrong. Doesn't that prove that being LGBT is considered offensive? Sinful? Wrong?"

"Did you expect me to know whether or not you'd be offended?"

"It doesn't matter! The point is that you thought LGBT accusations are offensive!"

She threw her hands up in frustration. "I don't get you. You've got good friends that care about you who need to know this."

"If it's not important, then why is it a big deal that I confess?"

"I—" She stopped. "Because it just is."

"No, it's important because being LGBT makes a difference, whether you care or not. It distinguishes you from others. That's why coming out is so important."

"No, it's because no one wants you to hide who you are!"

"If that were true, then there wouldn't be homophobes, now would there?"

"No, you're wrong. Homophobes are just people that can't accept different ways of life."

"Different, huh? So the normal way is to be straight?"

"No, people are just more used to it. Humans think being straight is more common, that's all. Like statistics. And there are people that are afraid of the other percentages." She glared at me. "Get it through your skull. Your friends like you whether you're straight or LGBT. I like you either way. Don't you realize that it matters because you're hiding things from people who will support you? That's why coming out is important. Be who you are and say what you feel. Those that—"

"—Mind, don't matter, and those that matter, don't mind." I said grumpily. "I get it."

"Good." Her eyes were piercing. "You realize that I'm behind you on this, right? But I'm only going to support you if you promise that at some point, you have to tell everyone else."

"Whatever." I looked away.

"Oh, no way." She grabbed me by the shoulders. "Promise me."

"Fine! Okay!" I shouted. "I'll tell them! Just... not now. I don't..."

"You need time. I understand." She released me. "Then I'll help you get the time you need."

I took in a deep, shuddering breath. "Promise?"

"Promise."