Disclaimer: Nupe. Not
mah charries.
A/N: Blah. No
chit-chat today, just read. X.x;
Love Letters
Chapter 4: Reading
your heart
His back shot upwards, bringing Izumi
Koushiro to a seated position on his bed.
"Well...?"
Astonished, saddened and joyous all
at once, Sora did not know if she should take hold of Koushiro and comfort his
whims or dance about his room elated. His question was what had surprised her,
and upset her, but the mere fact he was asking the question would bring her
pleasure. Sure, often when the chosen had grouped together, Koushiro's thoughts
would be of Mimi in America, his interjections revealed this. But none had been
awfully concerned about it; Mimi and him had been close, and it wasn't abnormal
for someone to miss the person they loved.
But Koushiro was someone who lacked
an extreme amount of self-esteem, often requiring having an object over which he
could occupy his mind on. This object had been his computer for many years,
until just recently when Mimi had replaced its fulfillments. She had always
been there for him, merely a phone call or a walk away. But now, now it was as
if Koushiro had lost his identity. He could not call on Mimi when he was upset,
and it was as if his childhood attachment to his computer was a miniscule
fantasy that needed yet another replacement. Sora's assumptions were expressed
quite easily in her mind; yes, her redheaded friend was one who necessitated an
obsession, Mimi being his latest.
"To an extent, yes."
Her
words, it was clearly visible almost immediately after she had spoken them, it
being as if she had shot Koushiro with one blow to the heart. His aspirations crumbled,
his back caving in. His wall had fallen and found himself resting, once again
completely on his bed.
_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_
"Everyone,
I would like you to meet Mimi Tachikawa, the new girl from Japan."
Mimi's
introduction to Michael's lunch table was nothing but a formal affair. In
minutes, she had shaken every occupants hand, and had her name repeated to her
several times. She barely had time to absorb all of which surrounded her before
she was seated, and by that time, nearly everyone had finished their lunch and
several conversations automatically began springing up.
"Mimi?"
Her name spoken, her head of short pink hair turned in direction of the one
Michael had identified as Stacy. Hair bleached a shimmering blonde, the young
girl detained a soft beauty all her own. Her only downfall existing in the
glasses that rested atop her face, providing her cheeks a look of unbalance.
But she was beautiful, nonetheless, but not radiant as Mimi was.
Once
sure she had the girl's attention, the blonde continued with her question,
"What kind of friends did you have back in Japan?"
Talk
about tough questions. How was it that Mimi was to describe her mishmash of
chosen children that were her closest friends? They had such an array of likes
and dislikes, styles and attitudes, that she couldn't put her finger on just
one label to give them that the Americans she sat with would understand. Not
that she enjoyed labels, she hated them, but it was what the question had asked
for, and if that was the answer she wished for, Mimi was unable to provide her
with one.
"A
variety, I guess." A soft shade of pink arose to the girl's cheeks; embarrassed
about not having had the words to describe the people she missed so much. But
it was the easiest description she was capable of providing them with, and
well, it kind of fit.
"A
variety?" A mocking eyebrow of beige was raised on Stacy's pale face, her shock
and amusement apparent in the majority of her features. "Care to describe?"
By
now seven pairs of eyes rested intently on this new girl from across seas,
awaiting their chance at assessment, and Mimi could feel their impatience and
curiosity of such state. She had often enjoyed being the center of attention,
even loathing when she was forgotten or shoved behind the shadows of others.
But this, this judgmental feeling was awkward, one she did not enjoy. Perhaps
being the core of concentration was not continuously a good thing. Under any
other circumstance, she would have run from this situation, this problem of unfriendly
welcoming, but today, Tachikawa Mimi felt bold. Strawberry lips perked upwards
in a smile, obtaining strength in that which was about to receive a verdict;
just remembering her friend's back home would give her strength, as long as she
did not recall the love which was presently dealing her sorrow.
"Want
me to start with the chicks or the dudes?" Crossing her arms across her chest,
she was smiling quite smugly, knowing she could and would accept Stacy's
challenge of nonsense. She had come to America knowing of the freedoms it
offered, and was eagerly grasping hold of them a new outlook coming from a once
apprehensive young girl; this distance thing would not diminish her strength,
but only provide her with a new one.
But
all heroines have their weaknesses.
_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_
Sora wasn't
known to have a temper, it typically it did not accompany her. But Koushiro, he
was doing nothing but being a mulish daft; could he not see the pain he was
inflicting upon himself?
Returning
to battle, her strides directed her towards the computer that was once
Koushiro's haven. Taking a rather loud seat in his chair, her eyes staring
sternly towards the computer's monitor. Her hands instantaneously activated the
computer system up and running. She would not stray from her conclusion and
perhaps last opportunity to break through to Koushiro, and they lay on the very
thing that he was persistent to avoid.
Koushiro
stifled a laugh, finding Sora's persistence amusing. In his mind, this was yet
another attempt of hers to him to just sit up and type words to Mimi. Yeah,
ri-ight. Words just didn't come like that, and besides, why would she want to
hear from him, anyway?
"You really
don't expect me to e-mail her after all I put her through, do you?"
Only glancing
at him fleetingly as a response to his arrogance, oculars of garnet returned to
meet the glare of the screen. Fingers clicking madly, as she would open up
Koushiro's mailbox, which hadn't been open for sometime. Clicking on the eldest
dated of the letters, the usually withdrawn and constantly calm keeper of love
began earnestly reading all of the several messages left by none other than his
princess in pink.
"Dear
Koushiro, I couldn't help but think of you today as Kerri and I passed a
certain store today in the local mall. Of course technology will always remind
me of you, Kou-Chan, but PineApple laptops are cluttered in the stores over
here…" Sora's voice read
aloud the words of Tachikawa Mimi, the young girl who's heart was breaking
across seas, continually informing Sora of her dwindling hope and rising worry
for Izumi Koushiro, whom neglected to respond, let alone even read her e-mails.
He even ignored her phone messages. She had come to Sora as her final optimism,
her last resort. Someone who was in reach of him physically, someone whom she
knew could address the situation calmly.
But that
idea hadn't worked.
Well, if he
was too lazy to do it himself, Takenouchi Sora would read that which he as
avoiding for him and to him, compelling his "problem" out in the open.
But it's
never easy to force-feed a baby.
_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_-*-_
Briskly
whipping threw the descriptions of the first of six of her chosen friends; she
appeared rather secure in attitude to her departure, unhurt by the stinging
emotions of yearning for their company. Her façade was aided greatly, for there
was each time, someone at the table who could easily relate to each one; at
least a single aspect of each was found in an individual at the crowded table.
But Mimi had yet to arrive at her hindrance, her kryptonite, as some would call
it.
Izumi
Koushiro.
At any
other time in her life, Mimi would have found nothing but happiness when
speaking of Koushiro, and for the most part, that joy even now remained. But
currently, there also existed an amount of worry, a large amount of pain and
concern that overwhelmed her, as well as the feature of a breaking heart, and a
shattering confidence.
"Last, but
not least, Koushiro Izumi…" She began, nonetheless, to explain to her companions
of her boyfriend, her love. Perhaps he hadn't written in a lengthy quantity of
time, perhaps she had said something, perhaps he was hurting more than she. But
she had no way of gaining this knowledge, not a single chance in expressing
this love she still felt. But he knew he would not want her life to be ruined
because of it, so her face of happiness continued, clinging on to a hope that
they would understand and enjoy the story of her once-in-a-lifetime.
To her
surprise, there wasn't the sound of an oppressing laugh, no hint of someone
finding humor in her voice. Not even their eyes showed amusement, what she saw
in their swirling orbs of clarity was that of envy. A longing to experience a
love like she had, but a wish not to feel the heart-wrenching anguish that had
subsided with her departure, even sympathizing with the mysterious end to
Koushiro's writings.
The lunch
bell would soon ring, and the children departed shortly, going their separate
ways to class, but amongst them it was clear: Mimi Tachikawa was not how she
appeared. Her heart was far more pure than they had imagined, her attitude of
consideration amazed them. Tomorrow they would greet he with open arms,
allowing her to integrate into America, into a world where she could finally
belong.
A/N: That bite real bad.
._.; And I lack motivation now too. X.x; Anyway, I might be putting this story
on hold, since there is a Kouimi contest started and I really want to enter it.
^^ And, plus, I'm lacking reviews. x.x; So 'git on 'yer hands and knees and beg
me to continue…x.x; J/k. Anyway, I'm going to finish it; I never begin a story
and don't, so keep your eyes posted. And I was wondering if you guys would
prefer me to post each chapter separately and as I get new ones to place them
all under this name..? Like next time you'd look for LL: Chapter Five Title? I dunno'…I'm
just trying to see what's more convenient for you guys! Inform me. So…watch for
the next chapter! n.n;