"Ocarina"
by: Ellis McDohl
First entry: August 6, 2001
Last entry: October 14, 2001
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me!
Author's notes:
Hello. I'm sorry it took a while. I really seems I need music to put me in the mood. It's been a while since I touched this as you may have noticed from the date... (more than three months it seems... ^-^') Oh well... I hope this is good enough. If you'd like to flame me, go ahead but please go easy on me.
Other than that please enjoy.
Ellis McDohl
**********************************************
"Ocarina"
Chapter two: Blood-stained Moon
The huge doors were wide open but the guests had arrived and poured into the Royal Sun Hotel where the ball was being held. The grand hall was brightly lit by the beautiful crystal chandeliers, hanging from the ceiling. The music played, gaily, with people dancing, chatting and laughing along. Old friends meeting once again, old songs playing, reminisces of time that had passed by. The past not forgotten only remembered.
The ladies danced gracefully, their skirts glided, smoothly as they turned and spun. Men took the ladies' hands as gallantly as knights. Holding onto them, gently but firmly. There was a fat man standing by the buffet table, eating whatever he could get his hands on. Others laughed at him while others whispered to each other.
It was a lovely night. X, as he looked up at the glass ceiling, could see how the stars sparkled brightly. He turned and found Zero standing by the window, looking out, blankly. They both wore the same black tuxedo, each looking as elegant as they could be.
X smiled and ran his fingers through his rough, dark-brown hair, uneasily. He did his best not to embarrass everyone but seriously, he didn't know what else to do. So he stood beside his friend and said nothing.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Dr. Light and Dr. Cain chatting with some important looking people, merrily, like old schoolmates. Rush stood by, looking up, and seemingly enjoying the conversation as much as they did. They laughed a lot about it. Dr. Light turned his head and saw X, beckoning for him to join them. X only smiled and bowed his head in respect, declining the offer. Dr. Light nodded and returned to the group.
I might say something to embarrass them... He thought.
When he turned his head to the other direction, he could see Roll in a long, red, silk dress, teaching Protoman how to dance. His elder brother looked down at their feet, trying his best not to step on hers. They danced there, rather awkwardly-one, the instructor; the other, student.
The couples on the dance floor danced a smooth waltz with much grace. Their hands together, protectively, as though they would not let go. The marble floor was shiny enough for one to see their reflections. It was a good thing than no one slipped.
The band played the waltz with such ease, soothing to hear and soon X found himself humming the same tune. He knew this song very well because he heard Dr. Cain play it in his room quite often. But he had forgotten the name of this waltz. He could only remember that it had something to do with the roses.
Still observing Roll and Protoman, he gave out a short laugh to see they had bumped into another couple. Roll and Protoman apologized and much to their relief, the couple accepted it, kindly and they continued to dance. Protoman learned quick and soon, they were sweeping the dance floor with their graceful movements.
X looked up at the glass ceiling and saw the night sky, so full of stars he thought he'd get lost in them. The moon shone it's pale light, silver and beautiful-
-and selfish. X finished but he didn't know where that thought came from. He only knew it was true. He smiled up at it, thinking how beautiful it was and wished that he could own something as beautiful as that.
Zero turned to him, and opened his mouth to speak but then, saw his friend, mesmerized by the moon's pale beauty, his sapphire eyes filled with the starlight. Zero smiled at him and stopped himself from speaking, thinking, he didn't want to disturb him in his quiet times. Instead he looked at the people dancing.
The Rose Waltz... Zero thought, smiling. I never thought I'd hear it again.
Zero smiled, slightly. He didn't know why but this waltz appealed to him very much. He heard that this waltz was played first in a rose garden. It also had a love story behind it too but he only heard it from someone. He didn't remember how it went and who told him though.
The music stopped and the people clapped their hands at the pair in the center of the dance floor. It drew X's attention and they all saw it was Roll and Protoman. Roll blushed brightly, slightly embarrassed and slightly pleased at their dance and how it was received. They both walked back to X and Zero. X was still clapping his hands, smiling at them. Zero remained as he was but the cold mask was gone again.
"That was very refreshing!" Roll remarked, smiling.
"You guys were great!" X remarked, smiling. Then to Protoman. "Blues, I never knew you could dance like that."
Roll laughed. "Well, I admit, we did do an awkward start but we did a great ending." She told herself looking at her partner, smiling. "I make a good dance instructor."
Protoman and X rolled their eyes about. Zero merely looked at them. His golden hair that he had been wearing loose, slipped forward as he straightened up, after leaning against the wall for quite a while.
Roll turned to him with a broad smile on her face.
"Zero," She called, "can you dance?"
X smiled from behind her. "I think he can." He replied.
"Have you seen him?" Protoman asked, quite amused.
X shook his head. "No." He replied. "I just thought so." He added, smiling
Roll smiled, mischievously. "There's only one way to find out." She said and turned to Zero. "Shall we dance?"
Zero did not respond however. That was because he was too pre-occupied with his own thoughts to notice them. He didn't even notice Dr. Cain and Dr. Light come to join them. He had this odd feeling inside him. One that always came whenever he knew something was coming.
Actually, he had always loathed this feeling because it normally brought him ill luck. When the war started, it came. When he was about to fight Iris, it came. When Lady Aluze died it was still there.
So much ill luck, he hated it.
But what is luck anyway? Zero mused, bitterly. That is nonsense. There never was anything called luck. Everything happens for a reason.
Tough luck though! The voice in his head, mockingly replied. You still can't get rid of that feeling even if you wanted to.
Who said I wanted to, anyway? He asked, defiantly. He tossed back a lock of blond hair and he turned back, rather briskly, to the window. A small frown on his face. His companions were silenced, thinking what they said had offended them.
To get rid of this sad air, Dr. Cain reached, gently, out for Zero's long blond hair and began to braid it. Zero continued to frown as he turned back to Dr. Cain's smiling face. Zero gave out a sigh.
"Dr. Cain, please stop that." He said, gently. "You know how I hate it..."
Dr. Cain laughed. "Come now, my boy." He said. "This is a party. You should relax and enjoy."
Zero took a few steps away from them, his hair, slipping from Dr. Cain's hands so easily. Like silk. And his hair, on their own, slipped back into place. The braid disappeared quicker than making it so. Roll then wondered how he was able to maintain such a hair. She touch her own, feeling it, rough but soft, not anywhere near the crimson hunter's.
She envied that hair and hoped to ask him how to keep it nice and silky like his.
"Zero," X called, softly.
Zero turned his head, slightly to him.
"What's bothering you?" He asked, worriedly.
Zero remained as he was, silent. A part of him told him to speak of it and another part said, to keep it from them. He was confused but his face gave away nothing. He didn't want it to. He seemed to hate this.
"...It's nothing." He replied after a long silence.
"We don't buy that." X replied, frowning.
Zero turned to X, swiftly. His long blond hair, swung as he did so. Zero was frowning.
"Then stay alert." He replied, plainly.
There was silence between them. A man from behind them, one of the people Dr. Light and Dr. Cain was talking to, approached them with a broad smile on his face. He was accompanied by two young people.
"Dr. Light and Dr. Cain!" The man called, smiling. "Might I trouble you for a drink?"
The heavy air disappeared as Dr. Cain grinned broadly at the man that had approached them. This man wore an elegant black tuxedo. His dark brown hair was slightly rumpled and his green eyes held a slight amused light in it.
X knew how sensitive Zero was and no words could better describe it. He saw his friend's face set to a small frown as he looked at the older man. Apparently, he saw something the others hadn't. He didn't know what it could be though.
Then stay alert. Those words begun to hunt him. Why would he stay alert? He didn't understand why he needed to. But he would if Zero would say so.
Dr. Cain held out both his hand to the other man who took it, shaking it, eagerly. X looked at the middle-aged man, smiling. He looked like an amiable person and he didn't have any traces of malice in his eyes. He turned to look at Zero but he had continued to look out the window where the moon could be seen.
Pale under the graze of the moon... X suddenly thought, admiring his friend's features. The moonlight made gentle highlights on his face and blond hair, making it more radiant, somehow, and sad. He didn't understand why it was so but his thoughts were broken when Dr. Cain introduced the man to them.
"Everyone," He announced. "This is my good friend, Ivan Weiss. He helped me with the excavations a few years ago."
They all smiled at him, and eagerly shook hands with him. But when Ivan held out his hand to Zero, he merely ignored it. More to the fact that he was thinking about other things than listening to what they were saying.
The man standing behind Ivan frowned, took a step forward and grabbed Zero's shoulder to make him turn to them.
"Such rudeness!" The man said, angrily. "I will not tolerate this!"
Ivan clapped his hand, though X didn't know if it was because of irritation or amusement. He noticed the man was not frowning. Instead a small smile played on his lips.
"Lute, that's enough." Ivan said, smiling.
The young man, called Lute, turned to him his black hair shone as he faced the light. His smooth handsome face was now set to an angry scowl. His green eyes taking up an angry fire in them as he turned.
"But Dr. Weiss," He protested. "This person had been rude to you!" He turned back to Zero who stood only a meter from him. His face as passive as ever. It made Lute's blood boil even more. "I don't like the idea of letting him along with this..." He added, between gritted teeth.
Dr. Weiss laughed heartily. "No worries, my boy." He said.
He turned to them. "This is my boy, Lute." He announced and turned to the lady behind him. "And his twin sister, Ocarina."
The lady stepped forward, much to X's amazement. Zero saw the expression on X's face. And was amused by this. Even for just the slightest moment, Zero smiled.
The lady who stepped forward was young, about seventeen years old. Her eyes were like her brother's were sharp and green but with a gentler light and perhaps a slight sadness in them. She wore a white lovely dress. A contrast to her short hair which was black like ebony. Her thin, pink lips curved up to a small smile as she offered her white-gloved hand to shake.
She shook hands with them except for Zero who chose that moment to ignore the lady and look at X's face. What amused him the most was when his young friend shook hands with Ocarina, he took it gingerly as though it might break.
This is a development... Protoman thought, smiling, noticing what Zero had seen.
Roll laughed, slightly, understanding what Blues was thinking. There wasn't anything wrong with that. It only seemed that they were both sharing the same thoughts.
Dr. Cain laughed. "Please excuse him." Dr. Cain apologized to Weiss. "Zero's just thinking too much again." And he turned to Zero. "Zero..."
But he was gone. And none of them knew where he went.
Zero was in the balcony, looking up at the clear sky and the moon which glowed a pale copper color.
I prefer the full moon... Zero thought, suddenly.
He sighed, not knowing why he had said that. It was always the same. His mind had its way of talking. Perhaps these thoughts were more true than those words he spoke about sometimes. He didn't he lie to himself. At least not recently. Maybe if it's about pain he would lie to himself and say he'll be fine but these unspoken thoughts would not lie.
Because he knew they were true.
He looked down at his hand that now carried the ocarina. He didn't understand why he brought it along. Roll had teased him about it in the car but being as he was, even teasing didn't stop him from doing what he wanted. He took one last look at the copper crescent and turned back, holding his wine glass, half empty to go back to where he had left them. As he walked inside, a sudden thrust of weight came and almost caught him unbalanced as well as the figure who bore that weight. His glass fell and shattered as he tried to keep this figure from falling. There was another clutter he heard but did not know what.
He found himself, holding a young lady, who had just rushed in. He looked down at her, slightly surprised at this figure before him. They both straightened up.
"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry!" The lady said and looked up at him, smiling. "I was rushing out to get away from those men who wanted to dance with me!" A slight pause. "What about you? Are you running away too?" She asked, her golden eyes wide in wonderment.
Zero laughed, slightly at what she said, pushing his glasses back to his face. "No, my lady." He replied. "I'm not trying to get away from dancing. But I am running away..."
"Really?" She asked, as if she couldn't believe what he said.
The wind blew making their hair dance. Her complexion was of the palest kind. Ivory-white, left unmarred. Zero watched her, as her long, black hair danced. It struck Zero that she was wearing a black dress. Her hands were gloved white. But then something about her reminded him of Dr. Cain for some strange reason.
He just couldn't pinpoint what was though.
She walked forward and placed her dainty hands on the marble rail on top of the balustrade. She smiled up, cheerfully at the moon's copper graze. Zero remained where he was, completely forgetting the broken wine glass. It's contents spilled on the floor.
"Ooh! The moon's so nice! But I wish it was full." She exclaimed, smiling. Then she turned to him. "My older brother and I used to like to watch it from our bedroom window." She smiled, gently, slightly sad.
There was a long pause between them. "What about you?" She asked suddenly as she turned to him. "Do you watch the moon too?"
Zero smiled at her, strange because he didn't know why this lady amused her. It was just like watching over a little girl.
"Yes..." He replied, gently.
She smiled up at him. "You look a little sad..." she remarked and sighed. "But I won't ask why. Because we all have our own pasts were want to hide..." A slight pause and she bent her head down, hiding her sad, golden eyes. "Just like my brother..."
A new tune was played inside. Another waltz and vaguely, he could imagine people starting to dance to that song. The lady smiled at again, while she watched him and then she realized something.
"Say," She began. "We haven't introduced!" She said, cheerfully. "My name's Fuyutsuki Jiyuu. And you are?"
"Zero." He replied plainly.
"Nice to meet you!" She said and offered her hand to shake. He shook hands with her cordially. He nodded and then there was silence between them again. Zero frowned as he thought about Lute, Ocarina and Weiss. He didn't trust them.
There was that odd feeling in him, telling him to be careful. Especially after what he saw in the airport. He knew something was starting again...
Huh?
He stopped and realized Fuyutsuki was braiding his long, blond hair, smiling up at him. He frowned and she laughed again as he walked a step forward, making his hair, slip through her hands and back to it's place.
She was still smiling when he turned to look at her. Then a sudden thought occurred to him. He remembered the Winter Moon cake shop he and X used to go to back in Japan. The owner of the shop was also Fuyutsuki.
"Is 'Fuyutsuki' your first name or your last?" He inquired.
She laughed. "Heavens! It's my first name!" She replied. "Quite a long one too don't you think so? It sounds like my last name."
Zero frowned slightly. "Then 'Jiyuu' is your last name?" He asked a little bewildered though didn't know exactly why he was.
She nodded and begun to hum as she looked up at the stars and the copper crescent. Zero frowned once again, trying to remember what was its title because he knew it was a familiar song. Then he realized, it was the song "Mizu no Naka" "Within the Water" that was quite popular nowadays in Japan. His frown slowly disappeared as he recalled the lyrics in his mind.
"Jiyuu..." She began once again. "It means 'Freedom'... Something I wish for my brother..." She turned to him, seriously. "I have a favor to ask of you..."
Zero didn't know why this lady would ask a favor from a person she just met but he found himself listening to her, while the stars twinkled above them, now coldly, as though they didn't care for them anymore...
X tried not to stare at the Ocarina. It was obvious that her brother didn't like any of them. And it was even more obvious he hated Zero for what he did. It was just his way, he thought. Zero's always pre-occupied with his thoughts.
He wondered what Zero thought of the Lady Ocarina...
X shook his head slightly, trying to shake away his thoughts. He didn't understand why he thought about her but then he couldn't help it.
After all, He mused. She is pretty...
Then he realized, he was alone with her, standing there away from the crowd. Her brother Lute was with Dr. Light and all the others while they chatted. Lute himself didn't speak. Instead, he had that bad habit of turning to them, glancing at X with a sort of an angry, suspicious look. X would stiffen. He hated those cold glances.
And so he stood there, beside Ocarina without speaking. He wanted to get her to talk. But he didn't know how to start the conversation. He thought he was never good at conversations. He was thinking this over but Ocarina deprived him of this unfortunate business.
She started the conversation herself.
"You are Megaman X, right?" She asked, gently.
"Yes." He replied, awkwardly.
"I've heard a great deal about you." She said. "I heard you were the reploid prototype. So does that mean you're not a reploid?"
X shrugged his shoulders. "Well, they say I'm not a reploid but I consider myself one although I'm just one of the firsts..."
"I see..." Ocarina said seemingly satisfied at his answer.
There was a long silence and X found himself, still admiring Ocarina as she stood, there, smiling a little as the music continued. She seemed to feel his eyes on her and sighed.
"It's a very lively music..." She remarked, smiling, gently as she turned to him.
"Yes." He replied.
Then she clapped her hand once. "I know! Let's dance!" She said.
"W-what?!" He stammered, quite taken back by what she said.
At first glance, he thought she was quiet but now he realized, she must only be like that because they don't know each other that well. Strangely enough, this lady reminded him of Dr. Cain. He didn't know why either.
She took hold of his hand and started to drag him to the dance floor, much to his protests. She only laughed at him. The others saw her dragging X along and looked on with amused faces while Lute frowned.
Protoman saw this and realized that Lute wouldn't give his sister just to anyone. He turned to Roll who shrugged her shoulders as if reading these thoughts. Obviously, that was what she was also thinking. But then, they did understand how that felt.
Protoman thought he wouldn't let just anyone to get to Roll without finding out about whoever it was. But seriously, this was only the first time to get acquainted. They didn't think and they hoped that it wouldn't go so bad.
Dr. Light remained, smiling at them as they watched. Lute whispered something in Dr. Weiss' ear that made Protoman suddenly feel suspicious. They excused themselves and left. Protoman tried to dismiss these suspicions but could not. He turned to watch X and Ocarina.
Incidentally, when they stepped into the dance floor, it happened that the musicians played an new song. Dr. Cain saw Zero walking towards them. His face brightened up even more.
He was about to say something-
-but was not able to.
A shot was heard, the music stopped abruptly and the ladies shrieked.
"Dr. Cain!!" Zero shouted, in shock as he ran toward them.
Dr. Cain fell forward with a frozen smile on his lips, while his blood trailed behind him. Zero fell on his knees beside the injured while the people started to either panic or look at the injured man.
"Call an ambulance!" He vaguely heard someone shout.
His friends gathered about him as Zero took him in his arms. Almost unaware of the figures that watched this incident. He tried calling out his name over and over again...
But Dr. Cain didn't answer. He lay there in Zero's arms, bathing in his own blood...
**************************************************
further notes:
How was it? I hope it was good enough... I love the moon very much but I don't know why. It's very pretty... Maybe that's why I have the character "Fuyutsuki" (winter moon). Actually, she a character in another story my friends at school and I are writing. Anyway, I hope to get more ideas soon because at the present, I'm having a hard time writing. I need my mechanical pencil... *sob*
I hope you enjoyed...
Bye for now.
Ellis McDohl
by: Ellis McDohl
First entry: August 6, 2001
Last entry: October 14, 2001
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me!
Author's notes:
Hello. I'm sorry it took a while. I really seems I need music to put me in the mood. It's been a while since I touched this as you may have noticed from the date... (more than three months it seems... ^-^') Oh well... I hope this is good enough. If you'd like to flame me, go ahead but please go easy on me.
Other than that please enjoy.
Ellis McDohl
**********************************************
"Ocarina"
Chapter two: Blood-stained Moon
The huge doors were wide open but the guests had arrived and poured into the Royal Sun Hotel where the ball was being held. The grand hall was brightly lit by the beautiful crystal chandeliers, hanging from the ceiling. The music played, gaily, with people dancing, chatting and laughing along. Old friends meeting once again, old songs playing, reminisces of time that had passed by. The past not forgotten only remembered.
The ladies danced gracefully, their skirts glided, smoothly as they turned and spun. Men took the ladies' hands as gallantly as knights. Holding onto them, gently but firmly. There was a fat man standing by the buffet table, eating whatever he could get his hands on. Others laughed at him while others whispered to each other.
It was a lovely night. X, as he looked up at the glass ceiling, could see how the stars sparkled brightly. He turned and found Zero standing by the window, looking out, blankly. They both wore the same black tuxedo, each looking as elegant as they could be.
X smiled and ran his fingers through his rough, dark-brown hair, uneasily. He did his best not to embarrass everyone but seriously, he didn't know what else to do. So he stood beside his friend and said nothing.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Dr. Light and Dr. Cain chatting with some important looking people, merrily, like old schoolmates. Rush stood by, looking up, and seemingly enjoying the conversation as much as they did. They laughed a lot about it. Dr. Light turned his head and saw X, beckoning for him to join them. X only smiled and bowed his head in respect, declining the offer. Dr. Light nodded and returned to the group.
I might say something to embarrass them... He thought.
When he turned his head to the other direction, he could see Roll in a long, red, silk dress, teaching Protoman how to dance. His elder brother looked down at their feet, trying his best not to step on hers. They danced there, rather awkwardly-one, the instructor; the other, student.
The couples on the dance floor danced a smooth waltz with much grace. Their hands together, protectively, as though they would not let go. The marble floor was shiny enough for one to see their reflections. It was a good thing than no one slipped.
The band played the waltz with such ease, soothing to hear and soon X found himself humming the same tune. He knew this song very well because he heard Dr. Cain play it in his room quite often. But he had forgotten the name of this waltz. He could only remember that it had something to do with the roses.
Still observing Roll and Protoman, he gave out a short laugh to see they had bumped into another couple. Roll and Protoman apologized and much to their relief, the couple accepted it, kindly and they continued to dance. Protoman learned quick and soon, they were sweeping the dance floor with their graceful movements.
X looked up at the glass ceiling and saw the night sky, so full of stars he thought he'd get lost in them. The moon shone it's pale light, silver and beautiful-
-and selfish. X finished but he didn't know where that thought came from. He only knew it was true. He smiled up at it, thinking how beautiful it was and wished that he could own something as beautiful as that.
Zero turned to him, and opened his mouth to speak but then, saw his friend, mesmerized by the moon's pale beauty, his sapphire eyes filled with the starlight. Zero smiled at him and stopped himself from speaking, thinking, he didn't want to disturb him in his quiet times. Instead he looked at the people dancing.
The Rose Waltz... Zero thought, smiling. I never thought I'd hear it again.
Zero smiled, slightly. He didn't know why but this waltz appealed to him very much. He heard that this waltz was played first in a rose garden. It also had a love story behind it too but he only heard it from someone. He didn't remember how it went and who told him though.
The music stopped and the people clapped their hands at the pair in the center of the dance floor. It drew X's attention and they all saw it was Roll and Protoman. Roll blushed brightly, slightly embarrassed and slightly pleased at their dance and how it was received. They both walked back to X and Zero. X was still clapping his hands, smiling at them. Zero remained as he was but the cold mask was gone again.
"That was very refreshing!" Roll remarked, smiling.
"You guys were great!" X remarked, smiling. Then to Protoman. "Blues, I never knew you could dance like that."
Roll laughed. "Well, I admit, we did do an awkward start but we did a great ending." She told herself looking at her partner, smiling. "I make a good dance instructor."
Protoman and X rolled their eyes about. Zero merely looked at them. His golden hair that he had been wearing loose, slipped forward as he straightened up, after leaning against the wall for quite a while.
Roll turned to him with a broad smile on her face.
"Zero," She called, "can you dance?"
X smiled from behind her. "I think he can." He replied.
"Have you seen him?" Protoman asked, quite amused.
X shook his head. "No." He replied. "I just thought so." He added, smiling
Roll smiled, mischievously. "There's only one way to find out." She said and turned to Zero. "Shall we dance?"
Zero did not respond however. That was because he was too pre-occupied with his own thoughts to notice them. He didn't even notice Dr. Cain and Dr. Light come to join them. He had this odd feeling inside him. One that always came whenever he knew something was coming.
Actually, he had always loathed this feeling because it normally brought him ill luck. When the war started, it came. When he was about to fight Iris, it came. When Lady Aluze died it was still there.
So much ill luck, he hated it.
But what is luck anyway? Zero mused, bitterly. That is nonsense. There never was anything called luck. Everything happens for a reason.
Tough luck though! The voice in his head, mockingly replied. You still can't get rid of that feeling even if you wanted to.
Who said I wanted to, anyway? He asked, defiantly. He tossed back a lock of blond hair and he turned back, rather briskly, to the window. A small frown on his face. His companions were silenced, thinking what they said had offended them.
To get rid of this sad air, Dr. Cain reached, gently, out for Zero's long blond hair and began to braid it. Zero continued to frown as he turned back to Dr. Cain's smiling face. Zero gave out a sigh.
"Dr. Cain, please stop that." He said, gently. "You know how I hate it..."
Dr. Cain laughed. "Come now, my boy." He said. "This is a party. You should relax and enjoy."
Zero took a few steps away from them, his hair, slipping from Dr. Cain's hands so easily. Like silk. And his hair, on their own, slipped back into place. The braid disappeared quicker than making it so. Roll then wondered how he was able to maintain such a hair. She touch her own, feeling it, rough but soft, not anywhere near the crimson hunter's.
She envied that hair and hoped to ask him how to keep it nice and silky like his.
"Zero," X called, softly.
Zero turned his head, slightly to him.
"What's bothering you?" He asked, worriedly.
Zero remained as he was, silent. A part of him told him to speak of it and another part said, to keep it from them. He was confused but his face gave away nothing. He didn't want it to. He seemed to hate this.
"...It's nothing." He replied after a long silence.
"We don't buy that." X replied, frowning.
Zero turned to X, swiftly. His long blond hair, swung as he did so. Zero was frowning.
"Then stay alert." He replied, plainly.
There was silence between them. A man from behind them, one of the people Dr. Light and Dr. Cain was talking to, approached them with a broad smile on his face. He was accompanied by two young people.
"Dr. Light and Dr. Cain!" The man called, smiling. "Might I trouble you for a drink?"
The heavy air disappeared as Dr. Cain grinned broadly at the man that had approached them. This man wore an elegant black tuxedo. His dark brown hair was slightly rumpled and his green eyes held a slight amused light in it.
X knew how sensitive Zero was and no words could better describe it. He saw his friend's face set to a small frown as he looked at the older man. Apparently, he saw something the others hadn't. He didn't know what it could be though.
Then stay alert. Those words begun to hunt him. Why would he stay alert? He didn't understand why he needed to. But he would if Zero would say so.
Dr. Cain held out both his hand to the other man who took it, shaking it, eagerly. X looked at the middle-aged man, smiling. He looked like an amiable person and he didn't have any traces of malice in his eyes. He turned to look at Zero but he had continued to look out the window where the moon could be seen.
Pale under the graze of the moon... X suddenly thought, admiring his friend's features. The moonlight made gentle highlights on his face and blond hair, making it more radiant, somehow, and sad. He didn't understand why it was so but his thoughts were broken when Dr. Cain introduced the man to them.
"Everyone," He announced. "This is my good friend, Ivan Weiss. He helped me with the excavations a few years ago."
They all smiled at him, and eagerly shook hands with him. But when Ivan held out his hand to Zero, he merely ignored it. More to the fact that he was thinking about other things than listening to what they were saying.
The man standing behind Ivan frowned, took a step forward and grabbed Zero's shoulder to make him turn to them.
"Such rudeness!" The man said, angrily. "I will not tolerate this!"
Ivan clapped his hand, though X didn't know if it was because of irritation or amusement. He noticed the man was not frowning. Instead a small smile played on his lips.
"Lute, that's enough." Ivan said, smiling.
The young man, called Lute, turned to him his black hair shone as he faced the light. His smooth handsome face was now set to an angry scowl. His green eyes taking up an angry fire in them as he turned.
"But Dr. Weiss," He protested. "This person had been rude to you!" He turned back to Zero who stood only a meter from him. His face as passive as ever. It made Lute's blood boil even more. "I don't like the idea of letting him along with this..." He added, between gritted teeth.
Dr. Weiss laughed heartily. "No worries, my boy." He said.
He turned to them. "This is my boy, Lute." He announced and turned to the lady behind him. "And his twin sister, Ocarina."
The lady stepped forward, much to X's amazement. Zero saw the expression on X's face. And was amused by this. Even for just the slightest moment, Zero smiled.
The lady who stepped forward was young, about seventeen years old. Her eyes were like her brother's were sharp and green but with a gentler light and perhaps a slight sadness in them. She wore a white lovely dress. A contrast to her short hair which was black like ebony. Her thin, pink lips curved up to a small smile as she offered her white-gloved hand to shake.
She shook hands with them except for Zero who chose that moment to ignore the lady and look at X's face. What amused him the most was when his young friend shook hands with Ocarina, he took it gingerly as though it might break.
This is a development... Protoman thought, smiling, noticing what Zero had seen.
Roll laughed, slightly, understanding what Blues was thinking. There wasn't anything wrong with that. It only seemed that they were both sharing the same thoughts.
Dr. Cain laughed. "Please excuse him." Dr. Cain apologized to Weiss. "Zero's just thinking too much again." And he turned to Zero. "Zero..."
But he was gone. And none of them knew where he went.
Zero was in the balcony, looking up at the clear sky and the moon which glowed a pale copper color.
I prefer the full moon... Zero thought, suddenly.
He sighed, not knowing why he had said that. It was always the same. His mind had its way of talking. Perhaps these thoughts were more true than those words he spoke about sometimes. He didn't he lie to himself. At least not recently. Maybe if it's about pain he would lie to himself and say he'll be fine but these unspoken thoughts would not lie.
Because he knew they were true.
He looked down at his hand that now carried the ocarina. He didn't understand why he brought it along. Roll had teased him about it in the car but being as he was, even teasing didn't stop him from doing what he wanted. He took one last look at the copper crescent and turned back, holding his wine glass, half empty to go back to where he had left them. As he walked inside, a sudden thrust of weight came and almost caught him unbalanced as well as the figure who bore that weight. His glass fell and shattered as he tried to keep this figure from falling. There was another clutter he heard but did not know what.
He found himself, holding a young lady, who had just rushed in. He looked down at her, slightly surprised at this figure before him. They both straightened up.
"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry!" The lady said and looked up at him, smiling. "I was rushing out to get away from those men who wanted to dance with me!" A slight pause. "What about you? Are you running away too?" She asked, her golden eyes wide in wonderment.
Zero laughed, slightly at what she said, pushing his glasses back to his face. "No, my lady." He replied. "I'm not trying to get away from dancing. But I am running away..."
"Really?" She asked, as if she couldn't believe what he said.
The wind blew making their hair dance. Her complexion was of the palest kind. Ivory-white, left unmarred. Zero watched her, as her long, black hair danced. It struck Zero that she was wearing a black dress. Her hands were gloved white. But then something about her reminded him of Dr. Cain for some strange reason.
He just couldn't pinpoint what was though.
She walked forward and placed her dainty hands on the marble rail on top of the balustrade. She smiled up, cheerfully at the moon's copper graze. Zero remained where he was, completely forgetting the broken wine glass. It's contents spilled on the floor.
"Ooh! The moon's so nice! But I wish it was full." She exclaimed, smiling. Then she turned to him. "My older brother and I used to like to watch it from our bedroom window." She smiled, gently, slightly sad.
There was a long pause between them. "What about you?" She asked suddenly as she turned to him. "Do you watch the moon too?"
Zero smiled at her, strange because he didn't know why this lady amused her. It was just like watching over a little girl.
"Yes..." He replied, gently.
She smiled up at him. "You look a little sad..." she remarked and sighed. "But I won't ask why. Because we all have our own pasts were want to hide..." A slight pause and she bent her head down, hiding her sad, golden eyes. "Just like my brother..."
A new tune was played inside. Another waltz and vaguely, he could imagine people starting to dance to that song. The lady smiled at again, while she watched him and then she realized something.
"Say," She began. "We haven't introduced!" She said, cheerfully. "My name's Fuyutsuki Jiyuu. And you are?"
"Zero." He replied plainly.
"Nice to meet you!" She said and offered her hand to shake. He shook hands with her cordially. He nodded and then there was silence between them again. Zero frowned as he thought about Lute, Ocarina and Weiss. He didn't trust them.
There was that odd feeling in him, telling him to be careful. Especially after what he saw in the airport. He knew something was starting again...
Huh?
He stopped and realized Fuyutsuki was braiding his long, blond hair, smiling up at him. He frowned and she laughed again as he walked a step forward, making his hair, slip through her hands and back to it's place.
She was still smiling when he turned to look at her. Then a sudden thought occurred to him. He remembered the Winter Moon cake shop he and X used to go to back in Japan. The owner of the shop was also Fuyutsuki.
"Is 'Fuyutsuki' your first name or your last?" He inquired.
She laughed. "Heavens! It's my first name!" She replied. "Quite a long one too don't you think so? It sounds like my last name."
Zero frowned slightly. "Then 'Jiyuu' is your last name?" He asked a little bewildered though didn't know exactly why he was.
She nodded and begun to hum as she looked up at the stars and the copper crescent. Zero frowned once again, trying to remember what was its title because he knew it was a familiar song. Then he realized, it was the song "Mizu no Naka" "Within the Water" that was quite popular nowadays in Japan. His frown slowly disappeared as he recalled the lyrics in his mind.
"Jiyuu..." She began once again. "It means 'Freedom'... Something I wish for my brother..." She turned to him, seriously. "I have a favor to ask of you..."
Zero didn't know why this lady would ask a favor from a person she just met but he found himself listening to her, while the stars twinkled above them, now coldly, as though they didn't care for them anymore...
X tried not to stare at the Ocarina. It was obvious that her brother didn't like any of them. And it was even more obvious he hated Zero for what he did. It was just his way, he thought. Zero's always pre-occupied with his thoughts.
He wondered what Zero thought of the Lady Ocarina...
X shook his head slightly, trying to shake away his thoughts. He didn't understand why he thought about her but then he couldn't help it.
After all, He mused. She is pretty...
Then he realized, he was alone with her, standing there away from the crowd. Her brother Lute was with Dr. Light and all the others while they chatted. Lute himself didn't speak. Instead, he had that bad habit of turning to them, glancing at X with a sort of an angry, suspicious look. X would stiffen. He hated those cold glances.
And so he stood there, beside Ocarina without speaking. He wanted to get her to talk. But he didn't know how to start the conversation. He thought he was never good at conversations. He was thinking this over but Ocarina deprived him of this unfortunate business.
She started the conversation herself.
"You are Megaman X, right?" She asked, gently.
"Yes." He replied, awkwardly.
"I've heard a great deal about you." She said. "I heard you were the reploid prototype. So does that mean you're not a reploid?"
X shrugged his shoulders. "Well, they say I'm not a reploid but I consider myself one although I'm just one of the firsts..."
"I see..." Ocarina said seemingly satisfied at his answer.
There was a long silence and X found himself, still admiring Ocarina as she stood, there, smiling a little as the music continued. She seemed to feel his eyes on her and sighed.
"It's a very lively music..." She remarked, smiling, gently as she turned to him.
"Yes." He replied.
Then she clapped her hand once. "I know! Let's dance!" She said.
"W-what?!" He stammered, quite taken back by what she said.
At first glance, he thought she was quiet but now he realized, she must only be like that because they don't know each other that well. Strangely enough, this lady reminded him of Dr. Cain. He didn't know why either.
She took hold of his hand and started to drag him to the dance floor, much to his protests. She only laughed at him. The others saw her dragging X along and looked on with amused faces while Lute frowned.
Protoman saw this and realized that Lute wouldn't give his sister just to anyone. He turned to Roll who shrugged her shoulders as if reading these thoughts. Obviously, that was what she was also thinking. But then, they did understand how that felt.
Protoman thought he wouldn't let just anyone to get to Roll without finding out about whoever it was. But seriously, this was only the first time to get acquainted. They didn't think and they hoped that it wouldn't go so bad.
Dr. Light remained, smiling at them as they watched. Lute whispered something in Dr. Weiss' ear that made Protoman suddenly feel suspicious. They excused themselves and left. Protoman tried to dismiss these suspicions but could not. He turned to watch X and Ocarina.
Incidentally, when they stepped into the dance floor, it happened that the musicians played an new song. Dr. Cain saw Zero walking towards them. His face brightened up even more.
He was about to say something-
-but was not able to.
A shot was heard, the music stopped abruptly and the ladies shrieked.
"Dr. Cain!!" Zero shouted, in shock as he ran toward them.
Dr. Cain fell forward with a frozen smile on his lips, while his blood trailed behind him. Zero fell on his knees beside the injured while the people started to either panic or look at the injured man.
"Call an ambulance!" He vaguely heard someone shout.
His friends gathered about him as Zero took him in his arms. Almost unaware of the figures that watched this incident. He tried calling out his name over and over again...
But Dr. Cain didn't answer. He lay there in Zero's arms, bathing in his own blood...
**************************************************
further notes:
How was it? I hope it was good enough... I love the moon very much but I don't know why. It's very pretty... Maybe that's why I have the character "Fuyutsuki" (winter moon). Actually, she a character in another story my friends at school and I are writing. Anyway, I hope to get more ideas soon because at the present, I'm having a hard time writing. I need my mechanical pencil... *sob*
I hope you enjoyed...
Bye for now.
Ellis McDohl
