Small note & Disclaimer:
Mild cussing will be in the story, you have been warned.
Konnichiwa = Japanese word meaning 'hello'
The Three Lights do not belong to me; they belong to the wonderful Naoko Takeuchi, creator of Sailor Moon. Yuuhi, Suzumi, Aya, Ceres, Chidori, Shuro, Tooya, etc., do not belong to me either. They belong to the goddess we know and love named Watase Yuu. However - Miranda, Colin, Lindsey, and Sean DO belong to me. Please do not use them unless you ask my permission first. Thank you. Now on to the story...
Yes, I know the title sucks. I have yet to come up with a good enough name.If I rename it, I'll let you know.
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Yuuhi Aogiri walked down a crowded Miami street one freakishly hot Friday afternoon looking for a decent place to eat. Several girls with cinnamon tans clad in barely-there bikinis brushed past him giggling. The sight barely ever fazed him anymore like it used to two years ago when he first moved here. This was Miami for heaven's sake where the temperature can reach well above a hundred degrees. What do you expect people to wear? Heavy jackets and fuzzy mittens? Shit. That'd be one hell of a funny sight. He cursed the fact that it was summertime. Miami was not a great place to be when the tourists started to pour in like ravenous hungry bears that haven't eaten in months. Traffic was hell hence the reason he was walking. Finally he reached his destination, a bar and grill called Peli-Ken's, and sighed in relief as he opened the door and was greeted by a blast of ice-cold air. Thank God for air conditioning.
"Yuuhi!!!" A feminine voice squealed. The body that the voice belonged to grabbed Yuuhi in a tight hug, "What brings you here?"
Yuuhi looked down slightly to see Miranda grinning at him and smiled back at her, "Hey Randa Panda. Apparently my stomach is revolting and needs some of Ken's famous charbroiled shrimp to calm it down."
She winked at him, "Comin' right up Yuuhi darlin'. Sit right here. I'll be right back, m'kay!" He did as told and sat down at the nearest table. The comfy leather material on the booth sank with a hiss as he sat. The raven-haired emerald-eyed bundle of energy that was Miranda was one of the first friends Yuuhi made when he first moved here. She reminded him a lot of Chidori because of her vivacious attitude and contagious smile. Miranda was the only one that he felt he could really confide in and she always made him laugh when he was down. He didn't know what he would have done without her those times when memories of home flooded in. Home. Was that really what Tokyo was? The place where no one wanted him? His mother abandoned him as a boy and his father hated him and spat on his every accomplishment. The only light of hope he had ever had existed in Aya Mikage but she could never return his feelings. She would rather run to the arms of the man who had tried to kill her countless times before. The very man Yuuhi fought hard to protect her from. His heart shattered, he had decided to leave it all behind and move away planning on never looking back. Start over with a new life in a new place. The smell of cooked seafood snapped him out of his thoughts as Miranda came back carrying his plate of food, sitting the platter in front of him and sliding into the seat facing him.
"You don't mind if I sit here for a while do ya?" She asked, "I'm on my break."
"Of course not, Randa." Yuuhi answered after biting into a shrimp, "I'd like your company anyway. Ya'll must be pretty busy now that summer's picked up again."
"Boy are we _ever_!" Miranda exclaimed, sliding a shoe off and rubbing her heel, "My poor feet don't get a break at all."
Yuuhi laughed, "It's much easier to be a cook than a waitress, that's for sure."
"That reminds me, Kenny has been buggin' me to get you to come work for him." she replied, "He's heard how great of a cook you are and from a very good source. Me!"
Yuuhi shook his head, "Miranda I'd rather not."
"Come on!" She pouted, "You're a wonderful cook! I know you wanna open up your own restaurant one day. This'll be good practice."
"I've changed my mind."
Miranda's eyes bugged out of her head, "Are you crazy? It's always been your dream! You told me so."
He shrugged, "Time has a way of changing things."
Miranda grabbed his hand that was in midair holding a forkful of food, "Yuuhi Aogiri you will not give up on a dream or my name isn't Miranda Francisco Marie Lopez!"
"As far as I'm concerned it's Randa Panda." Yuuhi teased.
"Don't try to get out of it mister." Miranda said, shaking a finger at him, "You will, I repeat, _will_ become that world famous chef that you so yearn to be."
Yuuhi smiled wistfully, "It's nice to know someone believes in me."
"I always will, you know that." Miranda replied softly, she then looked down at her watch and groaned, "Damn, my times up. I swear our breaks don't last as long as they used to."
"You know who you sound like?" Yuuhi commented, "That lazy ass Colin."
Miranda stuck out her tongue, "Aw, c'mon I'm not _that_ much of a bum."
"Has he even bothered to get a new job yet?"
"Haven't heard," Miranda answered, her eyes brightened suddenly, "But you can ask him tonight."
"Why? What's going on?" Yuuhi asked, interested.
Miranda staged a gasp; "You mean you forgot?"
Yuuhi looked at her confused, "Forgot what?"
"Lindsey's party!" Miranda exclaimed, "Boy, she would totally freak if she found out that you forgot."
Yuuhi groaned, "Crap. Today is her birthday isn't it?"
Miranda nodded, "Uh-huh. You know how she is about birthdays. Throw her a good party and she'll love you forever. Throw her a bad one and--"
"The world as we know it will end." Yuuhi finished for her. It was Sean's turn this year to throw her a birthday bash.
"And heaven knows we don't want _that_ to happen." Miranda said after she slid out of the booth, "See you tonight Yuuhi!"
"Later Randa." Yuuhi said. He finished the rest of his meal and headed out, intending on buying Lindsey a gift. She was one of the hardest people to shop for and he didn't have very much time to find her something.
Three hours, thirty stores, and twenty dollars later, he finally found it. The perfect present: the latest Three Lights compact disc. It had just come out in stores that day and Yuuhi knew exactly how much she was obsessed with the three brothers. So much so that she calls herself Lindsey Kou, which is the last name of the Three Lights: Taiki, Yaten, and Seiya. Kou is a Japanese word meaning 'light' so Yuuhi always called her Lindsey Light much to the petite blonde's annoyance. Boy, her party this year will be a blast, much better than the last two Yuuhi was a part of. Why? She was turning twenty-one this year. That was the legal drinking age in America. Yuuhi had another year before he was "legal" in American terms but in Japan he would have been able to drink alcoholic beverages for four years now. It was one of the drawbacks of coming to America. There was going to be tons of alcohol at the party. Yuuhi couldn't wait 'til it started.
He reached his apartment satisfied with his find and started to get ready for Lindsey's birthday party. He showered and dressed in a wife-beater tank that clung to his skin and showed off his abs, a yellow Hawaiian style shirt with prints of large blue flowers and palm trees all over it left unbuttoned, and a pair of baggy dark blue jeans. Miranda always joked around and called them his parachute pants. Five minutes later he grabbed his car keys and was out the door and on his way to Lindsey's. Damn he loved his car. It was a year two thousand model metallic green Suburban with anti-lock brakes, tinted windows, leather seats, a compact disc player, and a sunroof. The latest Destiny's Child hit single was playing on the radio so he turned up the volume to a deafening level, bobbing his head and tapping the steering wheel in pace to the music. He would never admit it to anyone but he thought they were hot. Ten minutes later Yuuhi pulled the Suburban into a crushed shell driveway that led to Lindsey's place and parked. He wasn't even inside the house yet and he could already hear the music throbbing from the party inside. The entire two-story house vibrated from it.
A very hyped up Sean, who was Lindsey's long time boyfriend, greeted him at the door, "Yuuhi! Buddy! What's up? Scoped out any hot ladies lately? Ya know the Babe Season has come around again." He was referring to the summer.
Yuuhi high-fived him, "Naw, bro. I gave up on women a while back."
Sean raised an eyebrow, Ya ain't turnin' soft on me now are ya?"
"Soft? Hell no!" Yuuhi replied, "I ain't no man lover."
"Good to hear." Sean stated as the two of them made their way into the crowded house. Yuuhi scanned the room for Lindsey but he didn't have to search long because suddenly there was a high-pitched southern accented squeal and Yuuhi soon found Lindsey attached to Sean's back, her legs wrapped around his waist. Sean was so surprised by the onslaught that he nearly toppled over with her on him.
"Damn, baby, you really gotta stop doing that. My back's gonna give out on me one of these days." Sean commented to Lindsey.
Lindsey giggled, "But you're such a good horsey sweetie pie." She then gave him a quick peck on the neck before noticing Yuuhi.
"Jeez Lindsey, it's not even midnight and you've already downed a few haven't you?" Yuuhi asked smirking.
"Tonight is the night to celebrate! I am _finally_ legal! Yeah, of course I've already opened a few beers."
Sean scrunched up his nose, "Your breath tells the tale. You need a mint."
Playfully she breathed in his face, "Like the smell or do ya want the real thing?"
"You know I don't drink that crap. I'd rather go out for a Strawberry Daiquiri than settle for some stale beer."
Yuuhi held out the wrapped compact disc to Lindsey, "This is for you. You had better not have it already because it took me three friggin' hours to find you something."
"Aw, that was sweet Yuuhi," Lindsey ravenously tore into the pretty wrapping paper and shrieked, "Oh m'god! I thought there weren't any more copies left! Thank you sooooooooooo much!"
Sean sweatdropped, "She made me drive her all over the damn city early this morning from record store to record store looking for a place where they weren't sold out already. Where'd you find it?"
"Encore." Yuuhi answered, "It was the last copy too. I'm glad you like it Miss Lindsey Light."
"It's Kou, Yuuhi, K-O-U." Lindsey retorted lightly.
Yuuhi chuckled, "Whatever."
"I am gonna put this in the CD Player right now!" Lindsey exclaimed, jumping off of Sean and hurrying off to the sound system with the Three Lights compact disc in her right hand and a beer in the other.
"What a way to scare off the guests," came a teasing voice nearby. Yuuhi turned his head to see Colin leaning against the wall, still wearing the hat he acquired from his last job at a burger joint. He wore it backwards, mind you.
Yuuhi laughed, "I know what you mean. Boy bands...bleck. I personally don't see what girls like so much about them."
"They ain't nuthin' but little pussys." Colin said.
"Women don't care if they're talented, they just care how _cute_ they look." Sean replied, placing an extra-added grossed-out emphasis on the word 'cute', "They can be the worst singers in the world, and don't dare tell Lindsey I said this but they are, but the girls won't be concerned with that at all."
Suddenly there was a shrill sound as if something was rewinding and then, to Sean's horror, the three men heard a recording of his comment about how the Three Lights were awful singers. Miranda stood behind him with a smug grin on her face holding a tiny voice recorder.
"Oh how Lindsey would _love_ to hear this." Miranda taunted Sean.
"You wouldn't dare." Sean whimpered.
"I would." Miranda laughed.
"I swear you've had it in for me ever since I put that crab on your beach towel months ago." Sean commented neutrally.
"Damn, I woulda loved to be there that day to see that." Colin replied, "Miranda in a bikini dancing around like a moron holding her toe."
Yuuhi snickered, "It was great man."
"Don't remind me," Miranda said crossly as suddenly the pains from that creature's claw on her big toe resurfaced, she tapped on her chin as if she was thinking, "Now, what to make you do for me in order for the evidence to be destroyed."
"Zilch," Sean lunged forward to grab it but Miranda held it out of his reach, sticking her tongue out at him.
All of a sudden, the sound of the Three Lights was heard and Lindsey came bounding back to the group. Miranda stuck the voice recorder in her pocket and eyed Sean, "One of these days, Sean, one of these days."
"One of these days what?" Lindsey asked confused.
"Nothing." Sean replied, "Whadaya say we dance some babe?"
"Gladly!" as Sean and Lindsey edged their way through the crowd of people that were already dancing, someone would occasionally yell 'Happy Birthday Lindsey!' or 'Great party!' over the music.
Yuuhi made his way to the kitchen to grab a drink. The table was overflowing with snack foods but he ignored it and went to the refrigerator. Opening it up he found that it was full of nothing but alcohol, "Damn, that's a butt-load of drinks," he commented to no one in particular, snagging himself a Corona. Searching through his pockets he found that he had left his bottle opener at the apartment. He turned to a girl sitting on the counter near him "Got something to open this with?"
Not saying anything, she nodded and took the Corona from him banging it up against the sharp corner of the counter, which freed the top from the bottle. The top hit the floor with not so much as a jingle. She smiled and handed it back to him. It was then that Yuuhi noticed that she looked oddly familiar. Purple hair...brown eyes...naw it couldn't be...Ceres? Ah, hell, what was he thinking? Ceres wouldn't be the only girl in the world with that color eyes and hair. Besides, she was in whatever world the Tennyo lived in along with Chidori and Shuro. God, he missed those two. He'd never get to hear Shuro sing again or listen to Chidori's wacky jokes. 'Stop it, Yuuhi. Right now.' he commanded himself, 'That's long gone. Buried. Shit, it's time to get plastered and forget it all.' "Thanks."
"No problem." Came the girl's response. Yuuhi walked back into the throng of partiers allowing himself to relax and enjoy the company of his friends and others. The Three Lights compact disc had long since faded out and the high-energy club mix tracks of the Venga Boys replaced it.
:::Meanwhile at Yuuhi's place the answering machine came on:::
^Konnichiwa, you've reached Yuuhi Aogiri. I'm not here right now, go figure.
^Why else is this damned machine on. Leave a message after the very annoying beep.
^BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
^I told you it was annoying.../beep/
"Yuuhi...hi. This is Suzumi. It isn't too late over there is it? Gomen nasai if it is...I...well, I just called to pass along some news...Tooya passed away today. I know that Aya would really appreciate it if you came to the funeral...please call me back when you get this message. Thanks..." /click/
:::Back at Lindsey's:::
Hours later the party had calmed down a bit and Yuuhi was chilling on the back deck that overlooked the ocean. Lindsey was extremely lucky to own beachfront property. Filthy rich too...this kind of land costs a fortune. He'd do anything to own property like this instead of living in that hellhole of an apartment. The salty breeze blew his hair around as he watched the reflection of the retreating moon in the water as it shimmered with the movement of the waves. He looked up to the sky just in time to see a shooting star flash by.
Sighing, he decided it was about time to head home. He didn't want to overstay his welcome. So, with that he headed out, saying his goodbyes to everyone and climbing into his Suburban. Upon reaching his apartment, Yuuhi didn't bother to turn on the lights and just stripped down to his boxers, intending on heading straight to bed. When he stumbled into his bedroom and sat down on the cool bed about to lie down, he noticed that the light was blinking on the answering machine sitting on the bedside table. Sighing, he turning on the lamp and wondered who could have left him a message. Reaching over to it, he pushed the 'play' button and listened for the message.
"Yuuhi, hi. This is Suzumi..." he paled as he listened to the rest of it. No way. The son of a bitch died. Of course, it wasn't expected that he'd live much longer after giving up the hagoromo to Ceres so she would finally find peace and the ceaseless killing in the Mikage family would come to an end, but now? Why did the son of a bitch have to leave now? To say Yuuhi was ticked was an understatement. The jerk passed on leaving poor Aya and a child that would never know what her father was like. 'Calm down,' Yuuhi told himself, 'He didn't want to die. It's the friggin' deity's fault. Those damn deities in the spirit world. They take people away at the worst times.' Sure, a part of Yuuhi was thrilled that his old rival was now dead, but he knew how much Aya loved him. Yuuhi cared a lot for Aya, even if her feelings toward him were that of a sister's love for a brother and he hated to see her upset. So many people she cared deeply about were taken away from her. First her father and her brother Aki were killed, then Chidori and Shuro. Now Tooya. The only "family" Aya had now was Suzumi and himself. Yuuhi felt a twinge of guilt suddenly. He had promised to protect her forever, no matter what the cost, and here he was cowering in America while she was going through another big loss in her life.
"I have to be there for her." Yuuhi announced to himself, "I have to go back to Japan." It would be hard going back, he knew. But...he had to. He had a promise to make up for. But, he didn't want to go alone. 'Such a coward,' he scolded himself. Nevertheless, it would help him to have someone else with him and he knew just the person. Miranda.
Without acknowledging the fact that it was now three in the morning, he picked up the phone and hastily dialed her number.
A very sleepy, and now ill, Miranda answered, "Yeah? What do you want?"
"Randa, it's me, Yuuhi." He winced, expecting her to scream at him for waking her up.
"Yuuhi, do you realize what time it is?" she asked gruffly.
"Um...it's suppertime in Japan."
"Don't be a smart ass." Miranda replied somewhat dryly, "What is it? Why'd you call so late?"
"I...called to ask if you'd do me a favor." Yuuhi replied.
"At three in the morning?" She asked.
"No, uh...tomorrow or Sunday."
"Today is already Saturday Yuuhi." Miranda sighed.
"Well, then, today or tomorrow."
"Why ask me a favor now? Why can't it wait until tomorrow?"
"Today _is_ tomorrow." He shot back jokingly.
"Please just wait until later, okay?"
"I...I can't. It's kind of urgent. I was wondering if you would go to Japan with me."
"To _where_?!?!" She screeched, wide-awake now.
"Japan." He said weakly, his ears now ringing from Miranda's sudden outburst.
Miranda let out a string of profanities in Spanish, "Are you out of your _mind_?! Okay, how much did you drink tonight?"
"I'm not drunk, Randa." Yuuhi assured her.
"Alright then, what happened?" Miranda asked, "Why are you suddenly wanting to go back? I thought you hated it there."
"I do...but you remember me telling you about Aya right?"
Miranda started to nod and then realized they were talking on the phone, "Yeah. That's the girl that, like, totally trampled over your heart, right?"
Yuuhi sighed, "Yeah, her. Well, you see, Tooya died today...erg, yesterday. I feel like it's my obligation to go to the funeral but I don't want to go alone. Would you go with me?"
"I don't know Yuuhi...this is kind of a short notice."
"Please?" he begged, "I know. I didn't find this out until a few minutes ago myself. My sister-in-law, Suzumi, left me a message on the answering machine about it."
The line was silent for a minute as Miranda pondered going, then she spoke up again, "Let me think about it, okay? I have to figure out what do about work if I go and then there's the problem about getting someone to feed Mr. Snookums." Mr. Snookums was her pet cat, a purebred Maine Coon.
"Please say yes." Yuuhi pleaded, "You don't know how much I would appreciate it if you went with me. It would make the trip so much better. I'm a wimp. Yes, you can say it. I can't face the past alone. I need you there with me, please?"
Miranda laughed softly, "Call me tomorrow and I'll give you an answer."
Yuuhi smirked, "It _is_ tomorrow already Randa, so whadaya say?"
"I say call me back around lunchtime, okay?"
Yuuhi gave in, "Alright. And don't you dare put that phone off the hook! I expect to reach you at exactly twelve o'clock." The two friends said their goodbyes and hung up. Yuuhi promptly called Suzumi back and got all of the information as to when and where the funeral was and he said he'd be there. Totally wired, he laid in bed staring at the ceiling until he couldn't stand it anymore and got up and sat in the den watching television until daybreak.
Continued in the next chapter...
Well, there you have it folks, my first ever attempt at an Ayashi no Ceres ficcie. I _love_ feedback *pleading look* Pretty please with a cherry on top leave a review! I like to know what people think of my stories. Feedback is music to an author's ears. Should I continue on with this story or not?
Mild cussing will be in the story, you have been warned.
Konnichiwa = Japanese word meaning 'hello'
The Three Lights do not belong to me; they belong to the wonderful Naoko Takeuchi, creator of Sailor Moon. Yuuhi, Suzumi, Aya, Ceres, Chidori, Shuro, Tooya, etc., do not belong to me either. They belong to the goddess we know and love named Watase Yuu. However - Miranda, Colin, Lindsey, and Sean DO belong to me. Please do not use them unless you ask my permission first. Thank you. Now on to the story...
Yes, I know the title sucks. I have yet to come up with a good enough name.If I rename it, I'll let you know.
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Yuuhi Aogiri walked down a crowded Miami street one freakishly hot Friday afternoon looking for a decent place to eat. Several girls with cinnamon tans clad in barely-there bikinis brushed past him giggling. The sight barely ever fazed him anymore like it used to two years ago when he first moved here. This was Miami for heaven's sake where the temperature can reach well above a hundred degrees. What do you expect people to wear? Heavy jackets and fuzzy mittens? Shit. That'd be one hell of a funny sight. He cursed the fact that it was summertime. Miami was not a great place to be when the tourists started to pour in like ravenous hungry bears that haven't eaten in months. Traffic was hell hence the reason he was walking. Finally he reached his destination, a bar and grill called Peli-Ken's, and sighed in relief as he opened the door and was greeted by a blast of ice-cold air. Thank God for air conditioning.
"Yuuhi!!!" A feminine voice squealed. The body that the voice belonged to grabbed Yuuhi in a tight hug, "What brings you here?"
Yuuhi looked down slightly to see Miranda grinning at him and smiled back at her, "Hey Randa Panda. Apparently my stomach is revolting and needs some of Ken's famous charbroiled shrimp to calm it down."
She winked at him, "Comin' right up Yuuhi darlin'. Sit right here. I'll be right back, m'kay!" He did as told and sat down at the nearest table. The comfy leather material on the booth sank with a hiss as he sat. The raven-haired emerald-eyed bundle of energy that was Miranda was one of the first friends Yuuhi made when he first moved here. She reminded him a lot of Chidori because of her vivacious attitude and contagious smile. Miranda was the only one that he felt he could really confide in and she always made him laugh when he was down. He didn't know what he would have done without her those times when memories of home flooded in. Home. Was that really what Tokyo was? The place where no one wanted him? His mother abandoned him as a boy and his father hated him and spat on his every accomplishment. The only light of hope he had ever had existed in Aya Mikage but she could never return his feelings. She would rather run to the arms of the man who had tried to kill her countless times before. The very man Yuuhi fought hard to protect her from. His heart shattered, he had decided to leave it all behind and move away planning on never looking back. Start over with a new life in a new place. The smell of cooked seafood snapped him out of his thoughts as Miranda came back carrying his plate of food, sitting the platter in front of him and sliding into the seat facing him.
"You don't mind if I sit here for a while do ya?" She asked, "I'm on my break."
"Of course not, Randa." Yuuhi answered after biting into a shrimp, "I'd like your company anyway. Ya'll must be pretty busy now that summer's picked up again."
"Boy are we _ever_!" Miranda exclaimed, sliding a shoe off and rubbing her heel, "My poor feet don't get a break at all."
Yuuhi laughed, "It's much easier to be a cook than a waitress, that's for sure."
"That reminds me, Kenny has been buggin' me to get you to come work for him." she replied, "He's heard how great of a cook you are and from a very good source. Me!"
Yuuhi shook his head, "Miranda I'd rather not."
"Come on!" She pouted, "You're a wonderful cook! I know you wanna open up your own restaurant one day. This'll be good practice."
"I've changed my mind."
Miranda's eyes bugged out of her head, "Are you crazy? It's always been your dream! You told me so."
He shrugged, "Time has a way of changing things."
Miranda grabbed his hand that was in midair holding a forkful of food, "Yuuhi Aogiri you will not give up on a dream or my name isn't Miranda Francisco Marie Lopez!"
"As far as I'm concerned it's Randa Panda." Yuuhi teased.
"Don't try to get out of it mister." Miranda said, shaking a finger at him, "You will, I repeat, _will_ become that world famous chef that you so yearn to be."
Yuuhi smiled wistfully, "It's nice to know someone believes in me."
"I always will, you know that." Miranda replied softly, she then looked down at her watch and groaned, "Damn, my times up. I swear our breaks don't last as long as they used to."
"You know who you sound like?" Yuuhi commented, "That lazy ass Colin."
Miranda stuck out her tongue, "Aw, c'mon I'm not _that_ much of a bum."
"Has he even bothered to get a new job yet?"
"Haven't heard," Miranda answered, her eyes brightened suddenly, "But you can ask him tonight."
"Why? What's going on?" Yuuhi asked, interested.
Miranda staged a gasp; "You mean you forgot?"
Yuuhi looked at her confused, "Forgot what?"
"Lindsey's party!" Miranda exclaimed, "Boy, she would totally freak if she found out that you forgot."
Yuuhi groaned, "Crap. Today is her birthday isn't it?"
Miranda nodded, "Uh-huh. You know how she is about birthdays. Throw her a good party and she'll love you forever. Throw her a bad one and--"
"The world as we know it will end." Yuuhi finished for her. It was Sean's turn this year to throw her a birthday bash.
"And heaven knows we don't want _that_ to happen." Miranda said after she slid out of the booth, "See you tonight Yuuhi!"
"Later Randa." Yuuhi said. He finished the rest of his meal and headed out, intending on buying Lindsey a gift. She was one of the hardest people to shop for and he didn't have very much time to find her something.
Three hours, thirty stores, and twenty dollars later, he finally found it. The perfect present: the latest Three Lights compact disc. It had just come out in stores that day and Yuuhi knew exactly how much she was obsessed with the three brothers. So much so that she calls herself Lindsey Kou, which is the last name of the Three Lights: Taiki, Yaten, and Seiya. Kou is a Japanese word meaning 'light' so Yuuhi always called her Lindsey Light much to the petite blonde's annoyance. Boy, her party this year will be a blast, much better than the last two Yuuhi was a part of. Why? She was turning twenty-one this year. That was the legal drinking age in America. Yuuhi had another year before he was "legal" in American terms but in Japan he would have been able to drink alcoholic beverages for four years now. It was one of the drawbacks of coming to America. There was going to be tons of alcohol at the party. Yuuhi couldn't wait 'til it started.
He reached his apartment satisfied with his find and started to get ready for Lindsey's birthday party. He showered and dressed in a wife-beater tank that clung to his skin and showed off his abs, a yellow Hawaiian style shirt with prints of large blue flowers and palm trees all over it left unbuttoned, and a pair of baggy dark blue jeans. Miranda always joked around and called them his parachute pants. Five minutes later he grabbed his car keys and was out the door and on his way to Lindsey's. Damn he loved his car. It was a year two thousand model metallic green Suburban with anti-lock brakes, tinted windows, leather seats, a compact disc player, and a sunroof. The latest Destiny's Child hit single was playing on the radio so he turned up the volume to a deafening level, bobbing his head and tapping the steering wheel in pace to the music. He would never admit it to anyone but he thought they were hot. Ten minutes later Yuuhi pulled the Suburban into a crushed shell driveway that led to Lindsey's place and parked. He wasn't even inside the house yet and he could already hear the music throbbing from the party inside. The entire two-story house vibrated from it.
A very hyped up Sean, who was Lindsey's long time boyfriend, greeted him at the door, "Yuuhi! Buddy! What's up? Scoped out any hot ladies lately? Ya know the Babe Season has come around again." He was referring to the summer.
Yuuhi high-fived him, "Naw, bro. I gave up on women a while back."
Sean raised an eyebrow, Ya ain't turnin' soft on me now are ya?"
"Soft? Hell no!" Yuuhi replied, "I ain't no man lover."
"Good to hear." Sean stated as the two of them made their way into the crowded house. Yuuhi scanned the room for Lindsey but he didn't have to search long because suddenly there was a high-pitched southern accented squeal and Yuuhi soon found Lindsey attached to Sean's back, her legs wrapped around his waist. Sean was so surprised by the onslaught that he nearly toppled over with her on him.
"Damn, baby, you really gotta stop doing that. My back's gonna give out on me one of these days." Sean commented to Lindsey.
Lindsey giggled, "But you're such a good horsey sweetie pie." She then gave him a quick peck on the neck before noticing Yuuhi.
"Jeez Lindsey, it's not even midnight and you've already downed a few haven't you?" Yuuhi asked smirking.
"Tonight is the night to celebrate! I am _finally_ legal! Yeah, of course I've already opened a few beers."
Sean scrunched up his nose, "Your breath tells the tale. You need a mint."
Playfully she breathed in his face, "Like the smell or do ya want the real thing?"
"You know I don't drink that crap. I'd rather go out for a Strawberry Daiquiri than settle for some stale beer."
Yuuhi held out the wrapped compact disc to Lindsey, "This is for you. You had better not have it already because it took me three friggin' hours to find you something."
"Aw, that was sweet Yuuhi," Lindsey ravenously tore into the pretty wrapping paper and shrieked, "Oh m'god! I thought there weren't any more copies left! Thank you sooooooooooo much!"
Sean sweatdropped, "She made me drive her all over the damn city early this morning from record store to record store looking for a place where they weren't sold out already. Where'd you find it?"
"Encore." Yuuhi answered, "It was the last copy too. I'm glad you like it Miss Lindsey Light."
"It's Kou, Yuuhi, K-O-U." Lindsey retorted lightly.
Yuuhi chuckled, "Whatever."
"I am gonna put this in the CD Player right now!" Lindsey exclaimed, jumping off of Sean and hurrying off to the sound system with the Three Lights compact disc in her right hand and a beer in the other.
"What a way to scare off the guests," came a teasing voice nearby. Yuuhi turned his head to see Colin leaning against the wall, still wearing the hat he acquired from his last job at a burger joint. He wore it backwards, mind you.
Yuuhi laughed, "I know what you mean. Boy bands...bleck. I personally don't see what girls like so much about them."
"They ain't nuthin' but little pussys." Colin said.
"Women don't care if they're talented, they just care how _cute_ they look." Sean replied, placing an extra-added grossed-out emphasis on the word 'cute', "They can be the worst singers in the world, and don't dare tell Lindsey I said this but they are, but the girls won't be concerned with that at all."
Suddenly there was a shrill sound as if something was rewinding and then, to Sean's horror, the three men heard a recording of his comment about how the Three Lights were awful singers. Miranda stood behind him with a smug grin on her face holding a tiny voice recorder.
"Oh how Lindsey would _love_ to hear this." Miranda taunted Sean.
"You wouldn't dare." Sean whimpered.
"I would." Miranda laughed.
"I swear you've had it in for me ever since I put that crab on your beach towel months ago." Sean commented neutrally.
"Damn, I woulda loved to be there that day to see that." Colin replied, "Miranda in a bikini dancing around like a moron holding her toe."
Yuuhi snickered, "It was great man."
"Don't remind me," Miranda said crossly as suddenly the pains from that creature's claw on her big toe resurfaced, she tapped on her chin as if she was thinking, "Now, what to make you do for me in order for the evidence to be destroyed."
"Zilch," Sean lunged forward to grab it but Miranda held it out of his reach, sticking her tongue out at him.
All of a sudden, the sound of the Three Lights was heard and Lindsey came bounding back to the group. Miranda stuck the voice recorder in her pocket and eyed Sean, "One of these days, Sean, one of these days."
"One of these days what?" Lindsey asked confused.
"Nothing." Sean replied, "Whadaya say we dance some babe?"
"Gladly!" as Sean and Lindsey edged their way through the crowd of people that were already dancing, someone would occasionally yell 'Happy Birthday Lindsey!' or 'Great party!' over the music.
Yuuhi made his way to the kitchen to grab a drink. The table was overflowing with snack foods but he ignored it and went to the refrigerator. Opening it up he found that it was full of nothing but alcohol, "Damn, that's a butt-load of drinks," he commented to no one in particular, snagging himself a Corona. Searching through his pockets he found that he had left his bottle opener at the apartment. He turned to a girl sitting on the counter near him "Got something to open this with?"
Not saying anything, she nodded and took the Corona from him banging it up against the sharp corner of the counter, which freed the top from the bottle. The top hit the floor with not so much as a jingle. She smiled and handed it back to him. It was then that Yuuhi noticed that she looked oddly familiar. Purple hair...brown eyes...naw it couldn't be...Ceres? Ah, hell, what was he thinking? Ceres wouldn't be the only girl in the world with that color eyes and hair. Besides, she was in whatever world the Tennyo lived in along with Chidori and Shuro. God, he missed those two. He'd never get to hear Shuro sing again or listen to Chidori's wacky jokes. 'Stop it, Yuuhi. Right now.' he commanded himself, 'That's long gone. Buried. Shit, it's time to get plastered and forget it all.' "Thanks."
"No problem." Came the girl's response. Yuuhi walked back into the throng of partiers allowing himself to relax and enjoy the company of his friends and others. The Three Lights compact disc had long since faded out and the high-energy club mix tracks of the Venga Boys replaced it.
:::Meanwhile at Yuuhi's place the answering machine came on:::
^Konnichiwa, you've reached Yuuhi Aogiri. I'm not here right now, go figure.
^Why else is this damned machine on. Leave a message after the very annoying beep.
^BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
^I told you it was annoying.../beep/
"Yuuhi...hi. This is Suzumi. It isn't too late over there is it? Gomen nasai if it is...I...well, I just called to pass along some news...Tooya passed away today. I know that Aya would really appreciate it if you came to the funeral...please call me back when you get this message. Thanks..." /click/
:::Back at Lindsey's:::
Hours later the party had calmed down a bit and Yuuhi was chilling on the back deck that overlooked the ocean. Lindsey was extremely lucky to own beachfront property. Filthy rich too...this kind of land costs a fortune. He'd do anything to own property like this instead of living in that hellhole of an apartment. The salty breeze blew his hair around as he watched the reflection of the retreating moon in the water as it shimmered with the movement of the waves. He looked up to the sky just in time to see a shooting star flash by.
Sighing, he decided it was about time to head home. He didn't want to overstay his welcome. So, with that he headed out, saying his goodbyes to everyone and climbing into his Suburban. Upon reaching his apartment, Yuuhi didn't bother to turn on the lights and just stripped down to his boxers, intending on heading straight to bed. When he stumbled into his bedroom and sat down on the cool bed about to lie down, he noticed that the light was blinking on the answering machine sitting on the bedside table. Sighing, he turning on the lamp and wondered who could have left him a message. Reaching over to it, he pushed the 'play' button and listened for the message.
"Yuuhi, hi. This is Suzumi..." he paled as he listened to the rest of it. No way. The son of a bitch died. Of course, it wasn't expected that he'd live much longer after giving up the hagoromo to Ceres so she would finally find peace and the ceaseless killing in the Mikage family would come to an end, but now? Why did the son of a bitch have to leave now? To say Yuuhi was ticked was an understatement. The jerk passed on leaving poor Aya and a child that would never know what her father was like. 'Calm down,' Yuuhi told himself, 'He didn't want to die. It's the friggin' deity's fault. Those damn deities in the spirit world. They take people away at the worst times.' Sure, a part of Yuuhi was thrilled that his old rival was now dead, but he knew how much Aya loved him. Yuuhi cared a lot for Aya, even if her feelings toward him were that of a sister's love for a brother and he hated to see her upset. So many people she cared deeply about were taken away from her. First her father and her brother Aki were killed, then Chidori and Shuro. Now Tooya. The only "family" Aya had now was Suzumi and himself. Yuuhi felt a twinge of guilt suddenly. He had promised to protect her forever, no matter what the cost, and here he was cowering in America while she was going through another big loss in her life.
"I have to be there for her." Yuuhi announced to himself, "I have to go back to Japan." It would be hard going back, he knew. But...he had to. He had a promise to make up for. But, he didn't want to go alone. 'Such a coward,' he scolded himself. Nevertheless, it would help him to have someone else with him and he knew just the person. Miranda.
Without acknowledging the fact that it was now three in the morning, he picked up the phone and hastily dialed her number.
A very sleepy, and now ill, Miranda answered, "Yeah? What do you want?"
"Randa, it's me, Yuuhi." He winced, expecting her to scream at him for waking her up.
"Yuuhi, do you realize what time it is?" she asked gruffly.
"Um...it's suppertime in Japan."
"Don't be a smart ass." Miranda replied somewhat dryly, "What is it? Why'd you call so late?"
"I...called to ask if you'd do me a favor." Yuuhi replied.
"At three in the morning?" She asked.
"No, uh...tomorrow or Sunday."
"Today is already Saturday Yuuhi." Miranda sighed.
"Well, then, today or tomorrow."
"Why ask me a favor now? Why can't it wait until tomorrow?"
"Today _is_ tomorrow." He shot back jokingly.
"Please just wait until later, okay?"
"I...I can't. It's kind of urgent. I was wondering if you would go to Japan with me."
"To _where_?!?!" She screeched, wide-awake now.
"Japan." He said weakly, his ears now ringing from Miranda's sudden outburst.
Miranda let out a string of profanities in Spanish, "Are you out of your _mind_?! Okay, how much did you drink tonight?"
"I'm not drunk, Randa." Yuuhi assured her.
"Alright then, what happened?" Miranda asked, "Why are you suddenly wanting to go back? I thought you hated it there."
"I do...but you remember me telling you about Aya right?"
Miranda started to nod and then realized they were talking on the phone, "Yeah. That's the girl that, like, totally trampled over your heart, right?"
Yuuhi sighed, "Yeah, her. Well, you see, Tooya died today...erg, yesterday. I feel like it's my obligation to go to the funeral but I don't want to go alone. Would you go with me?"
"I don't know Yuuhi...this is kind of a short notice."
"Please?" he begged, "I know. I didn't find this out until a few minutes ago myself. My sister-in-law, Suzumi, left me a message on the answering machine about it."
The line was silent for a minute as Miranda pondered going, then she spoke up again, "Let me think about it, okay? I have to figure out what do about work if I go and then there's the problem about getting someone to feed Mr. Snookums." Mr. Snookums was her pet cat, a purebred Maine Coon.
"Please say yes." Yuuhi pleaded, "You don't know how much I would appreciate it if you went with me. It would make the trip so much better. I'm a wimp. Yes, you can say it. I can't face the past alone. I need you there with me, please?"
Miranda laughed softly, "Call me tomorrow and I'll give you an answer."
Yuuhi smirked, "It _is_ tomorrow already Randa, so whadaya say?"
"I say call me back around lunchtime, okay?"
Yuuhi gave in, "Alright. And don't you dare put that phone off the hook! I expect to reach you at exactly twelve o'clock." The two friends said their goodbyes and hung up. Yuuhi promptly called Suzumi back and got all of the information as to when and where the funeral was and he said he'd be there. Totally wired, he laid in bed staring at the ceiling until he couldn't stand it anymore and got up and sat in the den watching television until daybreak.
Continued in the next chapter...
Well, there you have it folks, my first ever attempt at an Ayashi no Ceres ficcie. I _love_ feedback *pleading look* Pretty please with a cherry on top leave a review! I like to know what people think of my stories. Feedback is music to an author's ears. Should I continue on with this story or not?