| Haeret Lateri Lethalis Arundo Chapter Four |
Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,
But sad mortality o'er-sways their power,
How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,
Whose action is no stronger than a flower?
O, how shall summer's honey breath hold out
Against the wreckful siege of battering days,
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong, but Time decays?
O fearful meditation! where, alack,
Shall Time's best jewel from Time's chest lie hid?
Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back?
Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?
O, none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.
Yanagi closed her eyes and listened to his voice. It was the literature club meeting, and Atshushi had an exquisite voice. The words rolled rhythmically forth, and he seemed to imbue them with meaning.
It was always a pleasure to listen to his poetry readings.
She applauded with the others, and he bowed slightly and took a seat in the empty chair next to Yanagi. She smiled at him, and he grinned back. As a green-haired girl stood up to recite the next piece, he leaned over and whispered, "You looked like you enjoyed it."
"You read so well. Shakesepeare's always a favorite of mine… I love it. 'Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea'… 'Against the wreckful siege of battering days'… 'Shall Time's best jewel from Time's chest lie hid'… 'That in black ink my love may still shine bright'… it paints such lovely mental pictures," Yanagi whispered back. As the girl's clear voice rang out to recite an original piece, she turned away and gazed dutifully to the front of the room.
Atshushi watched Yanagi silently, before refocusing his attention on the speaker.
~later~
Later, when they broke for refreshments, Atshushi sought out Yanagi to speak with her further. The subject of false loves in poetry cropped up, and soon, they were engaged in a lively debate over Shakespeare's 138th sonnet and its nuances. Yanagi's eyes flashed with enthusiasm as they bantered and discussed the finer points. Atshushi knew his subject, and made references to other sonnets, the opinions of Shakespearean scholars, and how his opinions were backed up by details about Shakespeare's life. Yanagi expertly countered his thoughts in her gentle voice, citing other sonnets, other scholars' opinions, and other biographical details. In short, the meeting went by all too quickly, and they stuck around until late into the night, talking and munching on cookies they have ferreted away when the others had left. The conversation continued into the personal, reverted back to the literary, and became personal once more. It was midnight before Yanagi thought to look at her watch, and he offered to give her a ride back to her apartment. He dropped her off, but not before he had extracted a promise to meet with her for dinner the next evening.
"You look happy," said Fuuko, eyeing Yanagi critically as she came into the apartment.
"Oh! Did I wake you?" worried Yanagi, who had done her best to be quiet.
"Oh, no, I was doing my homework," said Fuuko. "Your meeting went late today."
Yanagi smiled happily. "I had a wonderful time. There's this guy I know, Atshushi, who I've never really spoken to before… but tonight I did, and we had a fabulous time. You know, suddenly, I'm not worried about Recca-kun and Tomomi." She shrugged her jacket off and hung it in the closet. "It's perfectly possible to be very good close friends with someone of the opposite sex, and it's no big deal at all." She yawned and stretched. "I've got an eight o'clock tomorrow, though, so I'll tell you about it later."
"Sounds good," said Fuuko, hiding her own pleased smile. She watched as Yanagi pattered off to bed.
~the next evening~
"Hey, Fuuko, is Hime there?" asked Recca.
"Nope, she's out," said Fuuko, twining the phone cord between her fingers. "I'll tell her you called."
~half an hour later~
"Hey, Fuuko, is Hime there?"
"Nope, she's still out. I'll tell her you called."
~fifteen minutes later~
"Hey, Fuuko, is Hime there?"
"Nope. Still out. Do you want to leave a message?"
"Nah, I'm okay."
"I'll tell her you called."
~forty-five minutes later~
"Fuuko?"
"Sorry. Still out."
"Rats."
~half an hour later~
"Hime?"
"Nope, this is Fuuko. She's still out."
"When did she leave?"
"Umm… about six-thirty."
"It's ten now! Maybe she's in trouble!"
"Nah, she just went out to dinner, that's all."
"It doesn't take Hime five hours to eat!"
"It's only been three and a half. You've been calling for the last two."
"Um, well, still. Maybe she's in danger."
"Nah, I think she's just having a good time, that's all. I'll tell her you called."
"Okay."
~half an hour later~
"Hello?"
"Nope, still out."
"Grr… did she say where she went? Did she say who she was with?"
"No to the first one, some guy in her literature club to the second one."
Pause.
"Some guy?"
"Yeah. Some guy. Didn't catch his name."
"It's ten thirty, and Hime's out with some guy?"
"I'll tell her you called."
~forty-five minutes later~
"Fuuuuukoooooo."
"Still out."
"What can they be doing?"
"You can ask her tomorrow."
"Tell her I called."
"Okay."
~ten minutes later~
"Hi, Fuuko, I'm home."
"Recca called for you."
"Oh, I'm sorry I missed his call. I lost track of time again. Did he have anything to say?"
"No, not really. You wanna call him?"
"It's almost eleven thirty. I don't want to wake him up."
"Sounds good. Have a good time?"
"Fabulous. Fabulous time."