Hazy Shade of Winter - 1
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This takes place about a month after the prologue. I don't think I'll be able to make your deadline after all… I was away for 5 days. I know it's not that good, but…
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Time, time, time…
See what's become of me…
While I looked around
For more possibilities
I was so hard to please…
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[Hikari]
Even now, as I stand with a smile on my face, I could only wonder how it would be if I weren't myself, if I were seeing myself through the views of other people. It's hard for me to do that, to put myself in that kind of situation.
There's no one else that I can be, or anyone else that can actually be me. So I wonder if it is actually physically possible, for us to be soul mates, if we really don't fit together at all.
Am I the light of your life?
[/Hikari]
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[Taichi]
Haze.
Haze surrounds me. I can't stop it, rather welcome it. The feeling of floating on air. There's no other way for me to survive. Even now, it thins, and I feel lonely and miserable again.
I pushed myself too hard.
What I need is a little pick-me-up.
No. I can't.
Yes. You will.
"I will."
[/Taichi]
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"Hello! I'm sorry to inconvenience you with this thing, but I am rather busy, and it speaks for itself. You know what to do after the tone. I'll listen."
*Beep*
"Hey, I know it's been a long time. I just wanted to ask you something that I think is important. I'll call you back later."
*Click*
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Their hands touched again, meeting in the now empty popcorn bowl, instinctually their faces met, each of them beaming. "I guess that means the movie's over." He said, shrugging. His blonde hair fell into his face a moment, shielding the blue of his eyes, and with a quick movement of his wrist flicked it back where it was originally. She smiled, watching him, and then realized that the tape that they were watching had turned off, and that it probably had been off for a while without them noticing.
"Yes, what did you think of it?" She asked as she got up to turn off the television. He shrugged. "Well, to be honest…" He paused, glancing at the cover of the tape, an old Godzilla movie. His eyes lit up. "I was too distracted…"
She burst out laughing. "Were you now? Though I must admit, you never were far from my eyes…"
Now it was his turn to laugh. "So much for that."
"Wait here," She said after a moment, then smirked. "Sorry…"
He was laughing too. "It's hard to forget sometimes, isn't it."
"I guess…" she slid off the couch. "Trust me, this will make you feel a lot better."
He kept his eyes on her as she walked out of the room. 'Lovely figure,' he thought as he examined her curves from his viewpoint. 'But an even better personality. That's what matters most. God, I'm so lucky…' his eyes then turned to his bandaged up leg, 'or…maybe not.'
When she returned to him he laid back on the couch, eyes closed. Her hand ran through his hair, her fingers gentle. She dipped the cloth into the warm water and bathed his forehead gently.
"Now that, feels good." He said.
"As good as this?" she replaced the cloth, tilted his head back and planted a kiss on his lips.
"No," he said, when she had pulled away, opening one eye and smiling, loving when her soft, tantalizing lips were upon his own, feeling like a million bucks despite his predicament. "Not as good as that."
"Oh, you're so easy to please." Mimi laughed. He shrugged, but his eyes were sparkling. Then he frowned.
"You should be getting home. It is late." He said reluctantly, looking at the clock.
"I suppose," She said softly. "I'll clean up though."
"Oh no, you don't have to do that." He protested. She winked. "I want to."
With that, she got up and took the plates into the kitchen.
'What a gal,' he thought, as he heard the water running. She was washing the dishes. 'She doesn't deserve this. I'm practically a cripple for crying out loud! We had plans made! She doesn't seem to mind it, but I do, because her vacation is ruined.'
The telephone rang. She poked her head out the kitchen area, a confused look on her face.
Yamato arched an eyebrow. "Let's not get that."
She shrugged, and disappeared, but quickly returned, drying her hands.
The machine clicked on:
"Ishida residence. Leave a message."
"You know, you ought to change that." Mimi commented. Matt laughed. "Lame, I know." he shrugged.
*Beep*
"Hey Ishida. That's you, Matt. Meet me tomorrow, at The Hangout. We have some…things to talk about."
*Click*
The two of them stared at each other; eyebrow's raised. "I thought that you stopped talking to him?"
"So did I." Matt said slowly. "The guy's higher than a kite. How the hell does he expect me to get around with this?" he pointed to his leg. Mimi sighed. "Oh well. So, you going?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"This is Tai we're talking about." Mimi said, rolling her eyes. "Of course you don't."
"Right," His eyes sparkled. "Whatever. See you tomorrow."
He drew her onto his lap a moment for another kiss, cupping one of his hands to her silky cheek, letting it rest a moment, then moved it down to her shoulders. After 5 minutes, they grudgingly pulled apart slowly, their eyes still locked.
"Good night, Matt." She said, and she was gone.
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The world was painted in white. And the weather forecasts insisted that there would be no snow.
"It's beautiful, isn't It." she said, looking out. She was such a perfectionist.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine, leave me alone." I snapped. Wait, no. What am I saying.
It's the only way to feel good again.
"No, wait…"
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The 'Hangout' was the name of the 'diner' which members of the motorbike would often frequent, if not reside there. It was one of Taichi Kamiya's favorite places. The rugged, tavern look, neon signs, glass windows which were green, next to it, the alleyway, on the other side, the garage. He worked there, which is how he joined up with the 'gangs'.
He was a leader, and the others followers. They all loved him.
Or at least, he believed them to be. But no one really said anything bad about him. They were mostly afraid to.
The bell jingled at the door, signaling that another person or group had arrived. He turned.
Matt.
Tai's thin lips curved into a smile. "So. He shows at last."
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Hikari moved some of her bangs aside and went towards Takeru, to assist him in helping Matt in, since he could barely use his leg, and wasn't balancing himself well.
"Tai," He says, somewhat coldly. Yet this was how they usually greeted each other. He was the cool one, trying to remain calm, outwardly, though inwardly was a different story. Tai always seemed calm inside and out, except when his anger had him brimming with fire, and it was obvious that he wasn't. "So, why do you want to see me?"
"Don't you want to sit down first? You haven't been here in so long, I figured you've forgotten the decor."
Matt rolled his eyes. Nothing had really changed; the faces and people were the same. Not that he supposed there would be any difference. He had passed a few of them training outside.
They take seats in the back, and as soon as they are situated, Miyako went up to them, her purple hair swinging about her shoulders and her light brown eyes shining momentarily behind the glass. "Shall there be any drinks?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. "Oh hello Ice- I mean, Matt. How goes it?"
Kari turned to Miyako, grinning. "You go back to your routine. I'll take care of the menu."
"Serving isn't my job anyway." She replied dryly, and the two of them bustled off. Miyako was considered as one of the Hangout's best entertainers for even at a younger she had striven to be flamboyant, and yet had a good head for numbers. She rarely ever prided in herself, but she had much intellect, and put it to good use, striving to be a comic, finding no hope in the other opportunities laid out for her.
Matt looked to Takeru, who was hovering over him, with a worried look on his face. "Why don't you go talk to the guys." Matt said, glancing about. Takeru was still a member, but only so he could be near Kari.
"You'll know where to find me." Takeru replied after a moment, and soon he left as well. Finally alone, the two men faced each other. For years they had striven to remain close friends, but considering the many times they tended to clash everything was spoken with a cool edge and some reserve. On Matt's side especially, for Tai was still mostly his old prankster self.
"I don't know how to come out and say this," Tai said, smirking, "but I just wanted you to know that I have a reservation for two at a respectable ski lodge."
"And?" Prodded Matt, drumming his fingers absently.
"Well, I checked around, and turns out no one is available…no one, except, well Mimi."
Matt smirked as well, but felt a stab of pain. 'That dirty rotten-'. "And you've called me here to ask my permission, right? I don't own her, Tai. She could do what she wants. So why didn't you ask her yourself?"
Playing the same old games again.
"I did."
Matt took a sharp intake of breath. "When?"
"I called her twice last night. Before I called you, and shortly after I called you. She turned me down."
Relief flooded over Matt. "And what do you want me for?"
"Well, I was hoping you could convince her." he grinned.
"You're higher than a kite, Kamiya. You just never change," Matt narrowed his eyes. "You've never given a damn about anyone else's opinions, why should you now?"
Tai shrugged. "I'm asking as a favor. I don't want to go alone, and I would really like it if she came along. After all, what does she do nowadays? She's slaving over you every minute."
"No thanks to you." Matt snapped. 'But he does have a point.'
'Shut up!'
Tai pushed some of his hair out of his face as it had fallen; he had such a mass of brown hair.
"Well, please pass along the message for me."
'As if I would in a million years,' he thought sullenly.
'Well, at least he said 'please'.'
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He sees her falling to the floor, clasping her hand to her cheek, a bruise now visible, her eyes are wide open, was it shock, visible. Yelling. Getting up. Grabbing a bag that was on the table and running out. Footsteps after her.
She was running. Running. Gasping for air. She didn't see it. She tripped, was falling, falling, tumbled down, hit the ground in pain she cries out and gets back up. Running towards something. 'Don't get on!' he thinks rapidly, but he is not there, he can't stop her and it's too late, she's falling. Lost.
Matt opens his eyes. His heart is pounding in his ears. He is in his apartment, lying in his bed with the radio on.
"I must have dozed off…" he said aloud suddenly, hearing his voice, but it didn't feel as if he was speaking. But then why was he having these visions
This was going to happen if he didn't stop it.
Next time it wouldn't be a dream.
"Stop!" he yells out. Of course he had been dreaming. They must have put something in his drink at The Hangout.
'Stupid Kamiya, putting me on the spot like that.' He thinks. He wanted to take Mimi on vacation with him. A stinking ski trip for crying out loud.
'I'm sorry I ruined our winter,' he had said to her. And she smiled back at him then. 'There's always next year. I'm not sorry. I still have you.'
Next year.
Perhaps it would be better if she went. At least get some enjoyment in.
No. She would be with him. He felt a cold chill run through his body. And he will be here alone.
'I want her to enjoy herself.'
'But I don't want to stay alone,'
He found himself breaking into a cold sweat. 'Geez Louise, I have no right to be deciding things for her!'
There was a knock on the door. He looked up to see his brother stick in his head, the golden hair mysteriously styled in a way similar to his own, the sapphire eyes searching. "Matt?"
"Yes, TK?" he asked, smiling a little as he said this. Takeru had long dumped that nickname, and Matt was probably the only person who still called him that.
"Mimi's here. Should I tell her to come in?"
'Oh shoot. How do I tell her?'
"Uh, sure." He said, and forced himself to smile. With a final worried glance, the blonde head disappeared and in a moment honey colored tendrils appeared, and then the face, and the body. Matt tapped a place next to him as an invitation for her to sit down, which she did. Her hands met his, and he caressed hers softly. "So…tell me what happened."
"Are you sure you want to hear this?" he joked.
'I want to take her in my arms and not let go.'
"Matt, I have to tell you something. Tai called me last night… I turned him down. Was that what he wanted to speak to you about?"
He nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "About that..."
She shakes her head. "No Matt. I want to stay here with you."
"Mimi..."
"Besides, we're going to the park, remember? Skating today. I want you to watch me."
'I want you to watch me,' he thought. 'I want to watch you.'
Watch you watch me.
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The blustery winter was all around. In the air snowflakes dangled like crystals as they fell lightly, and soon drifted away, leaving the world a frozen wonder of white. The two friends walked slowly, taking in the beauty, holding on to their pairs of skates as they headed to the main attraction of the park - the frozen arena.
Kari smiled, thinking. She and Yolei were like sisters. When one jumped, the other followed. They were in the throes of one of Miyako's favorite subjects.
"Oh yes, even I had a crush on him too way back when," Miyako was saying, half-feigned, after teasing her about their old 'crushes' that they had long ago. "But Kari, you already have several men at your beck and call. Does 'tall blonde and handsome Takeru' ring any bells?"
"Oh you!" She scolded, laughing.
Everyone knew that Kari loved Takeru. It was a running joke at the hangout. Those two couldn't be separated.
Can't be. Won't be.
"Not to mention Davis is still hung up on you." Miyako continued, but upon saying this her face flushed crimson and she looked away.
"Oh come now, you two are doing a fine job of it together," Kari laughed. "I'm not going to say a perfect match, but close enough."
Yolei rolled her eyes at this, but yet she felt a sense of concern steal over her. "Speaking of perfect matches…"
"What?" Kari laughed. "Don't you think you get enough of the scoop being we live in the same apartment?"
"If I recall, the last time you reported to me was yesterday. We haven't talked about anything deeper, though. Such as," Her voice took a mysterious turn, "Have you any doubts?"
Kari was used to her antics, but this one took her by surprise. "Hey, that's not fair!" She joked. "Besides, let's get going. We need to get the practice in."
"I guess." Miyako replied.
"What's wrong?" Kari asked, noticing a change in her attitude. Miyako shrugged. "Davis wants to stay late and train today, so he won't be coming to watch. But I suppose that's okay, since he only watches you."
She shifted uncomfortably. "Well, anyway we should be getting to practice."
The rest of the walk was made in silence.
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Hobbling slowly he clings to her elbow with one hand as they walk together slowly down the snow-covered lane. She smiles and he talks.
"You are going to be one of the most dazzling skaters out there." He says, with a knowing smile. Her figure, her sequined dress. Soft tempting lips, roses in the cheekbones. He could never stop getting carried away when he described her, it was the easiest thing in the world for him, and he never could seem to stop, there was so much there.
She laughed, her amber eyes dancing. "Ha! That's a laugh. But having you watch me would make me feel better. Whatever would I do without you, Matt?"
'You'd be able to enjoy yourself for one.'
'But she is enjoying herself. Look how happy she is.'
'No! I have to make it up to her.'
"Matt?" She asked, a concerned tone in her voice. He shook his head, and his voices disappeared.
"Sorry." He replied. "Lost myself there."
"Mmmm." Was her response, she re-wrapped her silk cream scarf around her neck. They sat down on a bench; she lifted the box with her skates and pulled off her white leather boots. "Ooh my feet are cold." She commented, quickly slipping one skate on.
"Need help?" He couldn't resist asking. She smiled. "Only if you're willing."
He smiled as he sat back afterwards, her slim figure gliding out onto the frozen water, do a couple of triple axles and skate off towards Hikari and Miyako.
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Hikari seemed to be wrapped in her own world. Whenever she was on the ice she felt free, this was her perfect place, and no harm could come to her here. Miyako was less steady on her feet; she fell when they tried to show her a jump but did it with good sport.
Shaking her head after the third time she fell she shrugged. "Maybe I should give up figure skating and follow in Sora's footsteps and play ice-hockey instead."
This was met with a bout of good-natured laughter, for that's what she did best, make people laugh. Or so she thought, at any rate. She didn't seem bothered anymore that Daisuke hadn't come to watch, and the fact that both Matt and Takeru were there was more of an added bonus.
Takeru was indeed sitting with his brother and they were talking, their eyes on their respective 'girls', and cheering on Miyako.
Eventually she did get the jump right, and was met with thunderous applause. She grinned; her ears turned bright scarlet.
"We knew you had it in you all alone." Mimi smiled. Miyako shrugged. "Well like I said, I'm no real talent on my feet. I suppose I couldn't do it again even if I tried."
"Oh you!" Hikari laughed, and then waved towards Takeru, who had come out onto the ice. Miyako grinned, and said, "I'm going over to watch the hockey games now. You two have fun!"
Hikari shook her head, with a smile as Miyako glided off, and placed her gloved hands into Takeru's warm ones. Mimi also left, saying that she thought Matt was quite alone and she ought to fix that.
"Well, he's certainly enjoyed the show." Takeru laughed, winking, and soon he and Kari whisked off in the other direction and glided to music that only the two of them could hear, could share, and the wind was chilled briefly with specks of ice, small crystals began to fall again.
Angels on ice, they were called.
Mimi glided back to the bench. "Well that was a workout."
"You were fabulous." Matt said, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek after she sat down and began to remove her skates.
"Why thank you." She blushed. "You oughtn't to say things like that. Hikari's really the better skater."
"I didn't notice." Matt shrugged; ducking a playful punch Mimi threw in his direction. "But I did make a decision. Mimi… I know this may seem strange, but I want you to go on the ski trip."
"No, Matt!"
"Do it for me. Tai may be scum sometimes, but just this once... He ruined my vacation, he's going to make it up by not ruining yours."
He took her hands into his.
"Matt,"
He had an almost pleading look in his eyes. "The more we miss each other, the more we'll need each other. Our bonds will only be so much greater because of that. I can't have you here all the time when you should be doing things."
"You really want me to go," she sighed, staring into his warm blue oceans that were his eyes. "I don't want to, but if you want me to…I'll" her words broke off. "Really Matt, come on!"
"Do it for me. I swear I will make it up to you somehow."
His hand reaches out and touched one of the golden tendrils. Soft.
"I love you."
Silence passes between them. Finally she speaks again, softly, as her eyes brim with tears. "I'll go, because you asked me to. And if you change your mind, then I will be glad."
'Have I made a mistake?'
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[Takeru]
When I look into Kari's eyes I see
My life, my hope everything that I know was meant to be
And I know that we were meant for each other because we need each other
I love how she describes us,
'We're perfect', she says as I am holding her close. I knew we were meant to be, I knew it for a long time, we both knew
Destiny it was foretold. Hope and light.
The light of my life shines bright.
[/Takeru]
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[It is about two weeks afterwards, and Tai is picking up Mimi to go to the airport]
Mimi is sitting with Matt and Takeru outside their apartment building. She thought it best to wait there, with him, in case he changed his mind. It was only a ski trip after all. But he was so damn insistent about it, which was the only thing that bothered her.
Takeru takes her bags and goes to put them in the car so she could get in another goodbye with Matt.
"A week isn't forever." Matt said, watching at Mimi stood up slowly. She sighed. "I was only hoping that you would change your mind."
"He ruined my vacation, I'm not letting him ruin yours. I love you, and you know that. Sometimes we have to bear the hurts. Maybe…" his voice drew off. "Maybe, after you get back, we can think about getting me to walk again."
"Maybe." She cupped her hand to his cheek and they kissed.
"Hey!" Tai called. Two minutes later Mimi pulled away from Matt. "Goodbye," she said, in a half-whisper. "I'll miss you."
'He better take good care of her,'
'What the hell is wrong with you anyway?'
"Please, for me. Have a good time."
Tai extended his arm to help her in, but she pulled away. "I can get in myself, thank you." She said, curtly.
Five minutes later the taxi pulled off. Takeru walked back to Matt. "It'll be okay."
"Yeah." Matt replied sullenly, watching as the snowflakes began to fall again. Swirling in the wind.
'I'll miss you…'
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