Hey guys, do you know what day is today? Today is 'Take on Colour's first birthday. It has already been one year since I started this fic.
Yesterday was Bangla New Year's Day. So 'Shuvo Pohela Baishakh, or Happy Bangla new year.
I am so so sorry to say that I will be taking a break from fanfiction world for a long time again. I just can't concentrate in my studies because the stories are always spinning in my head. But don't be disheartened. I will continue TOC. And that's a promise.
Allie, in this is chapter, things are a little fastened up. And Amu's problems are to be kept a secret to others till the end of the series.
FairyLetters, hope you like Amuhiko mentioned in this chappy.
It was still Wednesday. The sky had an orange hue that was slowly becoming darker indicating the start of nightfall. The air of Seiyo city was buzzing with life even as the city was being consumed by the darkness of the evening. And why wouldn't it? It was the start of summer and summer means new beginning. Summer means to get rid of past grief and to step toward a bright future. Summer is there to give you fierceness to get rid of all negative emotions and search for the bright light at the end of the dark tunnel.
But in one room of Seiyo hospital, there was deadly silent. This particular room didn't have summer's fierceness. In room 425, even though there were two occupants there, it felt like as if there was no form of life.
Mrs Fuzisaki was lying in a white bed. Nagihiko like every other day came to visit his comatose mother. He was sitting at the foot of the bed. Normally he couldn't stand to be in this room for more than one hour. Because he would feel suffocated. It felt as if his mother wanted him gone from anywhere near her. But lately, the amount of time he has been staying in this deadly silent room increased.
Nagihiko checked his cell phone. Five more minutes and it would be three hours since he came here. The long haired boy gave a long sigh. He looked at the fragile form of his mother. He couldn't even say weather she looked peaceful or in pain to be stuck between the door of life and death.
The reason Nagihiko has been spending much time with his unresponding mother was that he felt...he wouldn't be able to see her for long. That she would be going away soon. Nagihiko bit his lips to stop the whimpering. Against his will, a trail of liquid flowed down from his eyes blurring his vision a little.
Nagihiko roughly wiped off his tears with his uniform sleeve. If anyone saw the deadly Snake of Seiyo to cry like this, they would get the biggest shock of their life.
Nagihiko got up from his position by the foot of his mother's bed. Even though guilt was consuming him, he still took his mother's skeletal hand in his own.
"O..kaa san," he softly breathed. "If she was still here, she could have taken better care of you." Nagihiko let go of the unmoving woman's hand and straightened himself.
"I should have taken her place," he mumbled. "If she was here instead of me," Nagihiko took out a pink flower with five petals from his blazer pocket.
This was the flower he got from the bouquet tossing. Normally he would have trodden anything that came from the annoying Radiant Queen. But the flower he got, it held a deeper meaning for him. The flower reminded him of someone very important and close to him. Someone whose absence made him the poisonous cobra. It was a flower that represents the epitome of pure feminine beauty.
"Okaa san, you wouldn't have to suffer." He put the flower at the bedside table. It seemed like the nurse had taken the vase to clean or something. With that Nagihiko left the room and the hospital.
The clock read seven thirty. Everyone in Hinamori household was having their dinner. There was tense silence in the dining table. The head of the house decided to break the suffocating silent atmosphere.
"So," Tsumugu began. "How was your day, A...Amu...chan?"
Amu immediately raised her head and looked at the man before her. Her eyes showed only surprise. The man who never talked to her unless necessary was now asking her about her day. She wasn't dreaming, was she? Because this seemed impossible.
"Ha?" Amu couldn't stop herself from making the sound.
Tsumugu gave his wife a nod. "Amu chan," Midori started. "How was your day?" She asked...lovingly. "You seemed happy today."
The Hinamori couples got another phone call from Hatoba Touka earlier that evening.
"There's not much time, Hinamori san," Touka's voice was stern. "One year will be over before you can even blink. So I suggest you change your behaviour toward Amu chan now. No matter how disobedient a child is, parents cannot but love them unconditiinally. Amu chan has already promised herself to make wonderful memories in this short time span. I think happy memories with her parents and family will be like final touch of her artwork. That's why...that's why I will tell you again," Touka paused to take a breath. "Don't distant away from Amu chan. Show her how warm family love can be."
After the call, Tsumugu and Midori promised themselves that they would change their behavior toward their elder daughter from this very day.
"Amu chan?" Both her parents asked her at the same time seeing that she wasn't responding.
"I..," Amu's voice was soft. But in the silent household everyone heard it clearly. She had her bangs covering her eyes. "I..had a lot of fun today," she looked up at the two adults. A smile was adorning her lips.
Both the adults were taken aback. Amu, their elder daughter, the one they treated badly was finally talking and smiling to them. They expected her to stay silent or to get up and leave. But...but she..
"Today was very enjoyable. A lot of things happened. A lot of people acted nice toward me. But you know," Amu paused and locked her eyes with her parents. Her eyes were glistening. "This evening is the best. Because I...I feel like I...belong in a family now." The pinkette looked at her food to avoid looking at her parents after saying that.
The Hinamori couples were grateful for that. Because Midori's eyes were already filled with tears waiting to cascade down her cheeks. Though Tsumugu kept a neutral expression, he felt the same as his wife.
"Sorry, Amu chan," Midori chocked out. "We are...we are so sorry. We couldn't be good parents for you."
"What are you saying?" Amu asked softly looking to the side. She wanted to scream. She wanted to ask why they were so oblivious to this fact for the last fifteen years. Did they have any idea how much they pained her? Did they know that they threw her at the brink of death? But...but..what can she say now? Even though she would probably deny when Yuki asks her, but she...really wanted to be loved by her family. And today she was in a fairly good mood. She didn't feel like making a snide remark.
"We are so sorry," her mother continued. "We promise..we promise that...we will be proper parents for you. Please, Amu chan...give us another chance."
"Amu chan," her father's voice seemed to crack as well. "We.."
"Otou san," Amu cut off the head the house. "Didn't you...want to know how my day went?" She asked with another smile.
"Ye..yes," his father breathed out.
"Today we played dress up," Amu said cheerfully. But her voice wasn't unwavering either. "It was kind of embarrassing too. But it was more fun than embarrassing. And the play, it was so messed up yet it created a wonderful dreamlike environment. I kind of wished someone would record it."
"Say, Amu chan," her father asked. "What..did you dress up as?" He seemed to hesitate in his every sentence careful so his words wouldn't hurt his fragile elder daughter.
Amu giggled. "I dressed as a bride," she replied. "I might not get the chance to wear an actual wedding dress but...today's experience..it kind of filled that part. I also got the chance to throw the bouquet."
Midori not being able to take it anymore began to sob loudly.
"Okaa san?" Amu asked concerned.
"Amu chan," her father said while trying to console his wife. "I am sure today was tiring for you. Why don't you rest now?"
Amu nodded. As she had already finished her dinner, she directly went to her room upstairs. Closing the door, the pinkette slid down to the floor.
"I wish I never had you." (Midori) (Flashback)
"Such a disgrace to the family." (Tsumugu) (Flashback)
"Okaa san, otou san," Amu whispered to no one. "Weren't you the ones who said that?"
"If this was too much for you, why couldn't you just die?" (Midori) (Flashback)
"I was always unwanted to you two, wasn't I?" Tears were flowing down her cheeks.
"Why couldn't you erase your existence and free us from taking care of you?" (Midori) (Flashback)
"But...now..today," the Radiant Queen sobbed. "Today is the happiest day in my life," she managed to choke out. "I am grateful...even if it's pity, I will think it as love and...be content."
Amu wiped away her tears and composed herself. "If even they are desperate now," she mumbled to herself. "That means it must be pretty bad." She stood up and went to her balcony. The light summer air hit her face blowing her sakura colored hair a little. The Radiant Queen looked at the waning moon. "There's not much time."
(Did any of you notice that I didn't mention Ami at all? Ha, you didn't, did you? Well, I wanted to mention but I couldn't find the plot. And I haven't even made her character other than mentioning her once in a chapter. But I wish she would appear in future chapters.)
Yaya was in her leaving room, slouched down on her couch. Again she was flipping through the channels. It was half past eight and she had already taken her dinner. Earlier she got a call from her parents saying that they had arrived at their hotel safely and wanted to know if everything was good on her side.
Yaya reassured them that she was fine. Normally the brunette girl would have given them a curt answer and hung up. But tonight was different. Tonight she didn't rudely hung up. Tonight she actually talked to her family nicely.
Yaya was actually eager to know if her parents and little brother were safe and sound. And when her mother assured her that they were, Yaya let out a sigh of relief. Today she could feel her mother's anxiety and worry for her. Somehow, Yaya felt warm in her heart.
Yaya abruptly sat up straight on the couch. Today she was happy to talk to her mother. This was weird. Her mother mentioned Tsubasa's name at least thrice. Whenever her parents would bring up that runt's name in the conversation, Yaya would become upset and she would just up and leave. But tonight she didn't throw a tantrum. Now that's a start.
"Crazy things are happening today," Yaya said out loud and again slouched down. "The populars acting out of character, we being forced to dress up by two lunatics, talking to okaa san politely...today were full of surprises." Yaya let out a sigh. "Today was actually.."
Her phone vibrated. She got a message from her ballet teacher. It was about tomorrow's practice being cancelled. After reading the text, Yaya went to the gallery in her cell phone. She rummaged through the photos that were taken that morning.
There was a group photo of all eleven of them. There were many more of Yaya with other populars individually. Without Yaya noticing, her lips formed a smile. "Today was actually a lot of fun."
Odette came across a photo of her and a certain pink haired popular. Both of them seemed so full of life in the photo. Even though the swan princess was in black and the queen was in white, the photo seemed so colorful only because of their smiles. What caught Yaya's eyes was that both of the girls seemed so happy and close in this particular photo. It looked as if they were best friends.
"I just had to sacrifice everything to reach up to my parent's expectation, to establish an idol for my little sister." (Amu) (Flashback)
The pinkette had this thing in common with the swan princess. Does she feel the same way as the brunette girl? They say people become close when their circumstances are similar. Does that mean Yaya can...
Yaya closed her phone and closed her eyes as well. Seiyo's Odette, Yuiki Yaya, it seems like she has already fallen in Radiant Queen's trap. Yaya opened her eyes. She put her phone on the side table beside a orange marigold. Her eyes lingered on the flower that fell on her head during the bouquet tossing a little longer.
The brunette girl picked up the marigold and muted the television. The orange color, it was so vibrant. "Hinamori Amu," her voice echoed in the empty house. "You are a dangerous person if I am already heading toward your trap."
Then she closed her eyes and brought the marigold close to her nose and took in the flower's fragrance. "But I don't particularly mind," she softly said with a tiny smile adorning her lips. "It feels warm to be surrounded by colors. If this is just a glimpse of your colorful canvas, I wish to see your whole art world."
It was Thursday morning. Everyone in Seiyo city seemed full of energy. The adults were rushing to their respective workplaces. The kids having their summer vacation were enjoying themselves by playing in the park or visiting their friends or neighbors' house.
But the teens seemed to be enjoying themselves the most. As they were also having vacation, they were having fun going out with their friends. Girls seemed to go on a girls' day out in the shopping mall or something. Boys were also having fun in their own way. The couples seemed to be the ones enjoying the most as they were going on dates with their crushes or lovers.
Everyone was having fun except for a certain chestnut haired sophomore. That's right. Souma Kukai, Heracles of Seiyo was bored out of his mind. Currently he was in a supermarket. The supermarket where he worked as a part timer. Normally there would be five or six co workers working alongside him. But on this fine summer day, most of them were off duty. Only Kukai and two males were on duty.
Kukai was the cashier since the cashier was on vacation. It was quite hectic one hour ago as the shop was filled with a lot of customers. But now there were very little of them looking for the daily goods they needed to buy.
"Ow man" the soccer captain whined. "Today is so boring." Like other teens, Kukai couldn't hang out with his friends. His friends mostly consisted of his teammates from the school's soccer club. And most of them were out of town. The rest of them were busying themselves in dates with their respective girlfriends.
Though Kukai was known as the playboy in school, he felt bored in going to dates. Seriously how can people have fun in dates when all they do is just eat ice creams and walk and talk nonsense? Although Heracles had gone to a lot of dates, he couldn't understand.
"Excuse me," a middle aged woman called Kukai as she made her way to the counter. "I would like to buy this." She handed the teen a bottle of sunflower oil. Kukai's eyes lingered on the picture of the flower on the bottle for a moment.
Kukai took the bottle and packed it. After giving the woman the changes, she left the store gaily.
Kukai let out a sigh. A sunflower. That reminded him of yesterday. The previous day was a hectic one. The populars being forced to cosplay..."It was a lot of fun," Kukai said out loud though none seemed to hear him as others were far away.
Another person entered the supermarket though Kukai didn't seem to care. The person, a brunette girl went to the frozen goods section. After picking up some boxes of ice-cream and some breads and cup noodles from other section, she went to the cashier.
Kukai shot his head up when he heard a small gasp. There standing before him was none other than Odette.
A few seconds passed by. "You are buying your own groceries?" Kukai asked as if that was the most unexpected thing.
"What? You think I am not capable of buying the things I need?" Yaya asked back rudely.
"No," Kukai didn't seem to snap like he was supposed to. He was the hot headed popular after all. So he kind of gets offended very easily.
"Well, I am not a useless doll like the popsicle," Yaya said crossing her arms over her chest. "The ice cube does nothing by herself. She always makes her slaves do things for her. I am telling you, if she keeps being a useless doll, she will be fat very soon. She already looks like a ball. It won't be long before she becomes a soccer ball."
"But you are the one buying a lot of ice creams," Kukai wanted to say but kept his mouth shut. After all the more the customers buy the better.
"You know what?" Yaya's question brought Heracles out of his thoughts.
"What?"
"You are the soccer captain. I think you should try playing with the blonde ball after ice cube really turns into a soccer ball," Yaya said with an exciting glint in her eyes.
"Ha?" It took two seconds for Kukai to process what the girl said. Then he busted out laughing. Three more seconds later, Yaya joined him as well.
"Your orders?" Kukai asked politely after his laughter died down.
"Baka. You aren't a waiter," Yaya replied after she too stopped laughing. Her lips were stretched into a tiny smile. She handed the things she wanted to buy to Kukai. "Who would have thought that Seiyo's Heracles would work in a supermarket?"
"Having a part time job isn't degrading," the chestnut haired boy replied. "When you would grow up and want to get a job, they would ask if you had any kind of working experience."
"You talk like an old man," the swan princess remarked.
"And you are acting nice today," Kukai said back. "You aren't acting like a complete bitch. And you even laughed. If you be like this way all the time, you would look cuter."
Yaya took the change and the plastic bag handed to her and 'hmph'ed. Of course she liked it when she was called cute or pretty. But this was another popular. "Are you hitting on me?" Odette asked coldly.
"Nah," replied Heracles. "Just being friendly."
"Oh my," Yaya fake gasped. "The cave man being friendly? Has the world come to an end?"
Kukai didn't reply. Yaya kind of felt a little bad. If he was only being friendly, she shouldn't have been so cold.
A few minutes later, the same brunette girl again came to the cashier with a cone ice-cream.
Kukai looked at the girl dumbfounded. He again took the money from her and gave her the changes. "If you eat that mu.."
"This is for you," Yaya said cutting him off and placed the ice-cream in the counter.
"What?" Kukai was confused.
"For being nice," Yaya replied looking to the side and avoiding eye contact. "And for complimenting me."
Kukai smiled. "Thanks," he said taking off the ice cream wrapper.
After a few seconds Yaya turned toward the exit. "Welcome. But don't expect the same kind of treatment again." And with that she left the store.
Kukai licked the frozen sweet. His lips were still curved upwards. His eyes landed on the sunflower oil bottles that were kept neatly in a shelf. His eyes stayed on the picture of the bright yellow flower.
"This isn't half bad," Kukai thought. "The small rays of sunshine, it feels warm. It urges me to go out wild and reach for the sun. What more can you show me, Radiant Queen?"
Tadase was with his father in another family friend reunion. The last time he came, only the adults of Tsukiyomi family were present. Their children weren't there. It seemed like Ikuto and Utau still didn't accept Aruto.
But today was different. Tadase didn't expect to see Ikuto present in today's meeting. But the Black Cat of Seiyo High was there. Although Utau was absent. They were sitting outside a restaurant. There were some tables and chairs set up there. They ordered some drinks and were reminiscing about their pasts.
The adults were talking about their high school lives, about the times Aruto still could remember. Souko and Yui were informing Aruto of what has happened afterwards. They were filling him in what he had missed. Though they were leaving out the sad parts.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Tadase saw Ikuto get up and leave. Tadase gulped his orange juice quickly and followed the blue haired teen. The three adults were busy in their story telling and didn't seem to notice.
"Why are you following me?" Ikuto asked coldly and glanced back slightly. Tadase didn't reply. What could he say? That he just felt like it? "Whatever," Ikuto muttered and kept going on.
They crossed the street and went inside a music store. Ikuto went straight to a person at a corner. It was a girl or woman wearing a big hat that covered her hair completely and sunglasses to hide her identity.
"Your disguise sucks, Utau," Ikuto commented.
"Utau?" Tadase repeated surprised. He couldn't even tell and Ikuto knew right away. Utau took off her hat and sunglasses.
"Shut up," Utau shouted getting unwanted attention from few customers. "It's only because you have seen me like this before." Then her eyes landed on Tadase and she glared at the blonde boy. "Why is he here?" She asked her brother.
Ikuto just shrugged. "Who knows? But why are you here?" He asked back his sister.
"What do you mean?" Utau avoided eye contact with her brother.
"I mean why were you hiding in this store and spying on us?" Ikuto said nonchalantly. "I saw you across the street."
"I had nothing better to do," Utau too shrugged. "My practice today got cancelled and I was bored out of my mind."
"So you decided to spy on us?" Ikuto more like stated. "You could have join our lovely family reunion." Sarcasm was evident on his speech.
"Oh, please," Utau snorted. "Like you were enjoying yourself very much."
"Ano," Tadase began. Both siblings' eyes were on him. Utau was still glaring at him. "Aruto san...Aruto san seemed quite desperate to win the both of you back. Shouldn't you give him a...chance?" He asked hesistantly.
"What am I saying?" Tadase thought looking at the ground. "Why did I suddenly say that? These two hate me. And this is a sensitive subject for them. Why couldn't I keep quite?"
Then the ruby eyed boy looked up. The blue haired teen was avoiding looking at him. On the other hand, the singer was glaring at him intensely. Tadase again looked down.
"But...but Aruto san, he doen't remember anything. Yet..he wishes to get his children back. Doesn't he deserve another chance? I thought if Aruto san was back, then maybe...maybe we could go back to..." Tadase's thoughts were interrupted by a rueful laughter. (The italics were thoughts, just reminding you)
"An outsider shouldn't interfere in our family business," Utau replied coldly after she stopped laughing. By now the customers in the music store were looking at the three of them.
"Utau," Ikuto warned.
"So why are you here, Prince Charming?" Utau's volume rose up. She used Tadase's nick name with venom. "To curse us because we ruined your family? Because our family broke apart, we tried with all our might to ruin your happy life, that's what you want to say?"
"Utau," Ikuto shouted. Then he grabbed his sister's wrist. "You are creating a scene. Let's go somewhere else." When the siblings were at the door Ikuto slightly turned back. "You too, Tadase."
It took two seconds for the blonde boy to realize that Ikuto just told him to follow. Tadase immediately left the store and did what his senpai has told him.
"Wait a second; did he just call me...Tadase?" Seiyo's prince thought.
The three of them arrived at an alleyway. Ikuto let go of Utau's wrist and the girl immediately crossed her arms with a scowl. They stayed in silence for a few moments.
Tadase was thinking of saying something to break the silence but the other boy bit him to it. "You know," Seiyo's Black Cat began. "If you want to scream at us, go ahead. We won't mind."
"What?" Tadase blurted out. He couldn't understand what they were saying. "Why?"
"Like Utau said," Ikuto said looking at the sky. "We are the one who tore apart your family. First that man leaving us and us turning to your door formed a cleft between your parents. Now even that man's return is widening the gap," Ikuto looked back at Tadase. His blue orbs were unwavering. "You must really hate us."
"I don't hate y...you," Tadase quickly replied but trailed at the end.
"We heard you mother went away," Utau suddenly said. Tadase looked at her. She was looking at the road avoiding looking at him. "We aren't oblivious to the fact that it has something to do with our cursed family."
Utau looked at the ruby eyed boy. Her eyes were cold and stern. "If we had never met, our lives would have been better. At least, the Hotoris would have led a much comfortable life."
With that, both the siblings left. Tadase stood shocked in the alleyway. "What just happened?" His mind asked. "They were...they were blaming themselves. But they weren't...at fault."
Yesterday when they were having photo session after embarrassing themselves in the horrid play, Ikuto and Utau remarked that Tadase was still childish with the way he was blushing while holding the bride's hand. They made fun of him but not in a bad kind of way. They weren't insulting him like the populars normally would. In fact he felt they acted more like the past days when there wasn't such hostility among them.
Tadase looked at the sky. It was clear of clouds. But their lives, they were clouded with misunderstandings. "Okaa san was being unreasonable," the prince muttered to himself. "You two...you two were just young kids that time. How can it be your fault?"
Tadase looked down. His eyes were being covered by his bangs. "I...I am the one at fault," realization hit him. "I took okaa san's side and blamed them."
When Souko and her kids were kicked out of the Hotori household, there was already a chasm forming between Yui and Mizune, Tadase's father and mother. Mizune would say that the Tsukiyomis were nothing but despicable human beings bringing nothing but misfortune everywhere they go. She told her son to stay away from them.
That time Tadase was young too. Although the Tsukiyomi siblings were just a year older than him. Tadase believed his mother. Without even trying to define who was at fault, Tadase listened to his mother and stayed away from the siblings.
Now that he thought about it, even after being kicked away Ikuto tried to talk to the blonde boy. The bluenette acted like nothing sort of bad happened between them. Like everything was fine. But Tadase pushed him away. Not only that, he blamed them for his family's misfortune, for the cleft widening between his parents.
Ikuto stopped trying after a week. As both of them got into middle school, the situation became worse. Ikuto got the tittle Black Cat. Utau became the queen at that time as well. Tadase had his position as Prince from elementary school. They hated each other like the populars were supposed to.
That time, Tadase came to realize whose fault it really was. He couldn't even fathom what the siblings had gone through at a young age. But without realizing their situation, he had blamed them. He had repeatedly hurt them. Even after he saw the truth, he never reached out to them.
By then Ikuto and Utau acted like they never knew Tadase in their whole life. That saddened the prince. But still he was a jerk. Because he acted the same way. And they...they were apologizing now?
"I am the one at fault," Tadase mumbled. His voice seemed broken. "You are making me feel guiltier. I am the one who should apologize. I just want...I just want.." He looked up at the cloudless sky again. "To go back to the good old days."
"Are you sure you want to delete this photo? Yes? No?"
Rima was in her room all Thursday morning. She had nothing better to do. So she was sitting in her bed checking her cell phone and...deleting the photos taken the previous day. She had already deleted a good number of them. Right now the photo that was showing was the group photo of eleven.
Rima hesitated a little. Although she would never say out loud, she had a little fun yesterday. And right now she was bored out of her mind.
Even though she was in high school now, her parents wouldn't let her go anywhere by herself. So in weekends or free days, Rima would be scooped up in her room and would be doing nothing.
"I wish," Rima mumbled and laid on her bed. "For once things would change. For once...I want to.." She closed her eyes. "Be happy."
Friday came quickly. It was nine thirty. Amu was having breakfast in the dining table with her whole family. Like the day before yesterday, Ami was silent. In contrast, her parents were asking her many things. It seemed like they were very eager to catch up on what they had missed in their daughter's life.
Amu was in her uniform since special class starts at ten. It has become a routine that Tsumugu would drop his daughter at school and pick her up as well. But the parents still weren't fond of the fact that Amu has to go to summer classes.
"I will be leaving now," Amu said while putting on her shoes.
"Amu chan," her mother called. The pinkette stood up and turned back to face the woman.
"Amu chan," this time her father called from her side. "You mother and I think...that you shouldn't go to summer classes."
"Why?" Amu asked softly although she had a fairly good idea.
"You health, Amu chan," her mother replied. "Your health won't support it. Don't overwork yourself. Don't strain yourself."
"You know, if you want," her father said. "I will speak with the head master to get you out of it. If that doesn't work, I will change your school."
"No," Amu suddenly shouted. "Please, don't," she stated softly. "I was happy to be in summer classes with them." She now had tears in her eyes. "Please, the small bits of happiness, the tiny sparks of pleasure I feel, don't take them away from me."
The Hinamori couples were speechless. They didn't know what to say. Moreover, they could refuse their elder daughter's request as her eyes were tearing up.
"I might not get the chance later, to play around or to have fun goofing around," Amu managed to choke out. "But...I wish...for the time I have to be cherished. Please, don't deprive me of this. It was my decision."
Midori and Tsumugu looked at each other. After coming to a silent agreement, they nodded to each other.
"Alright," Midori said. "If that's what you want, how can we say no?" She smiled. "But make sure you have a lot of fun. Make sure you don't let any barriers hinder you. And also...keep some time for us as well. Enjoy yourself to the fullest."
"Hai," Amu too smiled.
"But don't strain yourself, Amu chan," her father said. "I don't want my sparrow to get hurt."
Amu was shocked. Sparrow? How long has it been since she heard her father say that? It felt like eternity. Her eyes were again glassy with tears.
"I...left my cell phone in my room," the pinkette said quickly. "I will be right back." She took of her shoes and went to the stairs. It hasn't been more than three or four sets of stairs she crossed when all of a sudden she felt her legs stopped responding her.
"Wha..?"
Room 213 looked the same way as it did in Wednesday. And that meant the students' seats were piled up in the corners. Again the teachers came earlier than the students. As the populars came in through the door, the first thing they did was glaring at the teachers.
Seats being piled up in the corners and the two laziest teachers being early didn't sit right with any of the populars. They thought again they would be forced to do something embarrassing that would be a big blow to their ego. Nikaidou quickly waved his hands in defense to show that they wouldn't be doing something like the previous day.
It was already ten fifteen. Most of the populars were already present except for a certain Snake and a pink haired queen. Odette seemed to look at the door every so often. And she seemed to be standing far from Heracles. Kukai of course noticed but kept a neutral expression.
"So what do you want us to do today?" Utau asked bored.
Nikaidou's phone began ringing and he excused himself out of the class. As Yuu left the room, Nagihiko entered with a bored expression. Seiyo's Snake who was known for his creepy smile always marring his lips suddenly stopped smiling since the beginning of summer. Now he would have a solemn or bored or a glaring expression etched on his face.
"So nice of you to join us, Fujisaki san," Yukari stated.
"You seem to be very fond of this particular sentence," Yaya remarked.
"Shut up, Yuiki," Yukari shouted. "And where is that Hinamori? She seemed to have made being late a habit."
"I am sure Amu san isn't late on purpose," Kairi defended. "She might be on her way as we speak."
"Aren't students supposed to learn from teachers?" Kukai spoke up. "And you two have set a perfect example of being late at the beginning of this whole session."
"Sorry everyone," Nikaidou said as he entered the classroom. "It seems Hinamori san won't be coming today. Her father called. Hinamori san is sick today."
Kairi was saddened. He was looking forward to every class day because he gets the chance to be with the Radiant Queen. "I will pay her a visit later," he thought.
Odette seemed a little disheartened. And so was Heracles. Ice Queen was neutral along with Thorn Queen and Black Cat. Prince Charming seemed a little shocked but he kept glancing at Black Cat and Thorn Queen. Whereas those two were avoiding eye contact with him completely.
As for Nagihiko, he was engulfed in his own thoughts. But when he heard about Amu not coming, his eyes flickered with an emotion for a second. "Hold on," Nagi thought. His eyes widened the slightest bit. "Did I just...worry?"
Flash back of yesterday
Nagihiko was also doing his part time job like Heracles. But unlike the soccer captain, the basket ball captain worked part time in a clothing store in Seiyo's biggest mall.
It was already twelve pm. But the shop was empty of any breathing creatures except for the violet haired male. The other worker hastily left three hours ago she got a call from her family. So Nagihiko was alone now in a store filled with teen age girls' clothes. The weirdest part was that this store is normally filled with so many customers. But today even though the mall was over crowded for some reason, no one came here.
Nagihiko sighed. This day was so boring. If he knew this would happen, he would have stayed at home and catch up to the sleep he missed last night. Last night after he came back from the hospital, he couldn't sleep. All night he stayed awoke and...remembered the time when she was still there, with him and mother.
Suddenly a flash of pink caught his eyes. He looked at the closed glass door. There were some girls passing the entrance of the room Nagihiko was in. Two of them seemed to have brownish red hair. Nagihiko squinted his eyes. They seemed familiar to him. He can assume that they are from his school.
The girls stopped at the entrance. But they didn't enter. And they didn't seem to notice who was inside. Another girl who must have walked forward returned to their side. And it was none other than the Radiant Queen. In Nagihiko's eyes, the pink haired devil. The pinkette seemed to look inside and noticed him.
Nagihiko quickly averted his eyes. Then he scowled at himself. Why did he avert his gaze? It wasn't like he was staring at her. Well, maybe in a way he was. But.. "Whatever," he thought.
When Nagi looked again, the girls were gone. Nagihiko sighed. The Radiant Queen seemed to be keeping her word. She said she would enjoy her high school life. And she seemed to be doing the exact thing.
It hasn't been one week since their summer vacation started. But Nagihiko could see the candle light everywhere he went. Like when he would go to the hospital, he would see the crazy queen in the park near the hospital playing with kids who wouldn't be more than five years old. Sometimes she would be singing to them, other time she would be playing ken-pa with them.
And of course, it seemed like she comes to the shopping mall every day. Though she never entered his store and one time when she did it was after his shift. So the long haired male didn't have to face her.
Nagihiko yawned. She was true to her word that she would have fun like crazy. But what about her other promise? Didn't she promise them she would color their lives? So far nothing has changed. If anything, Nagihiko's life got even more messed up. Did she lie? Did she deceive them? Her promises...were they empty?
Nagihiko's eyes widened when he realized what he had just thought. He was worried that the sparkle queen wouldn't keep her words. He...he actually wanted her to fulfill her promise?
"No, that can't be it," Nagi thought frantically. "How can I fall for her trap so easily? If I believe her, I would only get hurt. Showing me a bit of hope and then smashing it...that's what she is planning. Right?"
"I want to cut off all of your regrets and nightmares of the past, so that you will be able to enjoy your life again. You will be able to smile for real." (Amu) (Flashback)
Nagihiko slammed his hands on the counter. "No, I don't want to see the light. I am used to the darkness. Seeing the light would only make it worse. I will be scared of the darkness again. The tiny rays of hope she shows me...it isn't enough to light the dark tunnel. No, if it's anything, it only shows how terrifying dark can really be."
(These are thoughts -_-)
Suddenly the door cracked a little. Nagihiko turned his head to the intruder. And there at the entrance was standing the centre of Nagi's misery, Hinamori Amu.
"Sorry to intrude," the girl said softly and closed the door lightly. She then made her way to the counter as Nagi was sitting behind it.
"Speak of the devil and she might appear," the boy muttered. "Why are you here?" He asked the pinkette coldly.
In return, the said girl only giggled. "That's a funny thing to ask. I mean what does a girl do in a girls' clothing store?"
Nagihiko grumbled and looked away.
A few moments passed in awkward silence. "You know, that's not the reason why I am here," Amu said. When Nagi looked at her again, she continued. "I was actually hiding from Saaya and Rikka. They were forcing me to buy swim suits. And since there is a ninety percent chance they won't look for me here, I think this is a good hiding place."
The Snake again was silent. It was bad enough that the candle light was in his thoughts and irritating him, but now she was in front of him in person.
"You are too quite," Amu commented after some time. "Seiyo's Snake was known for his sweet words and smile," she stated though the word 'sweet' meant 'harsh and pinchy' in this case. "What happened to that?"
Again she was greeted with silence. And the male before her wasn't even looking at her. This made her annoyed. Then she tried for a different tactic.
"I see you liked my flower," the queen said with a smirk as there was a seventy percent chance that it was true.
Nagihiko suddenly looked up at the pinkette with a slightly shocked expression.
"So, I was right," Amu cheered. "I just only assumed you kept it. But your face tells it all."
Nagihiko now glared at the pinkette. And he cursed himself for not masking his emotions. He was very good at hiding his emotions before, wasn't he? What happened now? Now a days, his emotions are leaking out from his barrier.
"When I left the class, I only saw a daisy flower in the trash bin. I actually saw Mashiro san dumping it the moment she got it," Amu said in a slightly remorseful tone. "And I saw Hoshina senpai trotting the rose she got."
Then she smiled at the glaring boy. "But you know, I didn't find any other flowers in the trash bin or being thrown away. So I think...that the others...accepted their flowers. You did the same, didn't you?"
Nagihiko again averted his gaze. There was no way he was going to let her have the satisfaction of knowing that he actually took the flower. And why the hell weren't any customers coming? Darn it.
Amu having enough of the boy's silence bent forward. She took the boy's face in her hands and turned him to face her. "It's rude to look away when someone is talking to you," she pouted.
Nagihiko was shocked to say the least. This girl, the craziest queen of Seiyo high, she actually touched him just so he would face her? She was crossing way over the border.
"Don't touch me," he said venomously and slapped her hands away. "You are crossing your line. The outcome won't be pleasant."
Amu straightened herself and smiled. "That's better. I though you have gone mute."
Nagihko only glared at her. This girl was beyond crazy.
"So," Amu began enthusiastically. "What flower did you get? I didn't notice who got what. But if you like yours, I will give you some more." She smiled innocently.
Nagi looked at her. His expression again mirrored that of a shocked person's. But he still kept his mouth shut.
"Again with the silent treatment?" Amu sighed. "You know, I was actually looking forward to the play where you and I were to interact. Hey, how about we do that part now?" Silence. "You are really stubborn."
"You are the one who's stubborn," Nagihiko said. "I told you to stay away from me. Why are so obstinate? Why wouldn't you leave me alone?" His voice was demanding but it wasn't cold.
"Because you, Fujisaki san are afraid of being alone," Amu replied pointing a finger at the long haired boy.
"Don't talk nonsense," Nagihiko growled. This girl was trying his patience.
"But I am not," the pinkette turned her back to the boy and leaned against the counter. "You...you are the same as the past me. Trying to hide yourself under a strong cover when you are actually vulnerable in the inside. A scared child hoping for someone to comfort him."
"Don't enforce your imagination on others," his volume was raised.
"But I felt that way," Amu turned back to look at him. "And I know you do too. You have the same look as the past me. And besides, I think...your mother wouldn't be fond of her son being anti social and lonely. I am sure she would want you to go out and have fun."
"Don't talk about my mother," Nagihiko nearly shouted. "You don't even know her."
"But I heard from the nurses that she was a wonderful lady," Amu replied calmly looking at the ground. "Even if she is in a coma, she can feel her loved one's distress. They say no matter how far you are from your loved ones; you would always have a strong bond with them. You can feel when they are upset or depressed. You find yourself smiling when they are happy."
Amu then looked eyes with Nagihiko. "I may not know your mother in person, but I can feel how she feels right now a little. After all, I was once in her condition." She said the last part barely above a whisper.
"Oh, look at the time," Amu said changing the subject not giving the boy before her time to process what she thought. "I must be going."
As she was about to leave, she turned back to look at the boy. "And Fujisaki san, one more thing," she gave the purple head somewhat of a smirk. "The sign says the shop is closed. Sorry for intruding." She left after that.
"What?" Nagihiko found himself looking at the sign dumbfounded. He made sure the sign said 'Open' when he entered. The other worker must have flipped it accidently when she was leaving.
(Flashback end :p)
Back to the present
"Alright," Yukari gained everyone's attention. All of them were standing. "Today we are going to do something that will probably bore you." She said nonchalantly. The teens seemed to let out a breath of relief. This female teacher's way of fun and exciting was not to their liking. So if she said it was boring, then it is safe to assume that it isn't dangerous.
"For that reason, you have to pair up," Nikaidou butted in. "Normally; we agreed that Kairi kun wouldn't participate. But since Hinamori san is absent today, Kairi kun would join you."
"We are letting you guys decide the pairing," Yukari stated.
Everyone was silent for a few moments. Have the teachers really let them pick? That was unexpected. But they despise each other. Letting them choose among each other was way harder than the teachers choosing for them.
"Um.." Tadase began nervously. "I..want to be paired up with...Tsukiyomi senpai," he trailed off at the end.
Everyone noticed that he called the Black Cat senpai and not his title. Kukai wanted to make a snide remark but he forgot that he was standing near a red headed demon and the red head stepped on his foot with her heels quite harshly.
"But I don't want to go with the princess," Ikuto complained intentionally calling the prince the opposite gender.
"Then you should have picked your pair before you were picked," Yukari said sternly. "We will listen to whoever said first. Tsukiyomi san will be paired up with Hotori san."
"What?" Kukai shouted. "You didn't say that?"
"I said it now, haven't I?" Yukari asked back. "Next pair?"
Ikuto scowled clearly not liking this. Utau looked at him and then at a green haired boy. "I will go with the president since he seems harmless," said the blonde diva.
"Okay, Hoshina san and Kairi kun is a team," Yuu said cheerily.
Odette looked at the remaing three figures. "No way in hell am I going to be paired up with the Snake," she said and moved to stand beside Kukai.
"So Yuiki san and Souma san is group three and Fujisaki san and Mashiro san is group four," Yukari stated.
"Why do I have to be stuck with the reptile?" Rima scoffed.
In return Nagihiko didn't even glance at her as if she didn't exist or she simply wasn't worth glancing at.
"Because we gave you a chance and you ruined it," Yukari replied. "Let's go to the library. We will give you each a sheet and you are to fill it with...civilized answers."
Everyone had a quizzical expression.
"Alright," Nikaidou chipped in. "Let's go."
Finally done. Hope you liked it. I am so sorry but I won't write for a year because in a few days I will be promoted to 12th grade and this is the hell time of a student's life.
I am bad at writing romance. But I tried my best to write little interactions between Amu and all the males. My wonderful readers are complaining that there's less Amuto and Kukamu and my bestie is saying I am dropping out Amuhiko. On the other hand, I think I am forgetting Tadamu and Kairimu . It is sooo hard to write romance.
Please review. Also, what do you think which flower Nagihiko get? And Kukai's flower? Review to make Hime sama happy.
Ja ne.