Chapter 4: Great Brief Moments
"Cera!" Leena shouted as she woke up. She was all sweaty and nervous, then she started crying again. As if Leena could reach her friend, she said to Cera, "#&%$!!! How the #&%$ did we get involved in this??? What am I going to do without you, Cera?" Shee hugged her knees; she said to herself, "Why do I have to be like this? Why can't I be like Cera? Strong, optimistic, wild, independent; While I am being so weak, stupid, dependent…" She wiped her tears dry and paused for a long while to think. Then she realized that it was night already. "Oh my gosh, I skipped lunch and dinner! I haven't eaten since dinner yesterday!!!" Her stomach was complaining already. Badly. She was even getting this certain scent between average and smelly. So, Leena went out of her room and tried to see where the dining room was. She thought, "Dang, this place is bigger than I thought!" At first, she ended up in some dark place where there was a gold statue of a phoenix or something. "Wow. I guess this is Suzaku.", Leena whispered to herself as she saw the bird figure. Then, she ended up in Tamahome's room. The window was open. It was very windy, causing the curtains to fly. Leena got kind of spooked out as he saw the curtains form a human-like shape, like Tamahome's form, although she hasn't seen him yet. She immediately closed the door to his room and looked for the dining room again. Finally, she arrived at her destination, and guess what? Miaka was still there. From dinner. And it was already eight twenty-five in the evening. "What an appetite this girl have!", Leena thought.
Miaka looked up and saw Leena. She smiled at her and said while her mouth was full, "Mmm-eena! Mome.. ulp… eatith me!!! There's shhtill mmplenty of food! Yummm!!!" Leena laughed at her and joined her at the table. One of the palace servants brought more food and a plate for Leena. As soon as she saw the beautiful spread on the table, she started eating as bad as Miaka. After an hour, both of them gave up and laughed their asses out together. "Oooooh, I'm so full!", Miaka exclaimed! Leena told her the same thing, then held her stomach in pain and laughter. As she got tired, Leena remembered something. "Ms. Miaka? I hope you don't mind if I ask you something." "Surely, what do you want?" "I was kind of wondering, because I passed by his room a while ago…" It was like Miaka had this intuition on who this guy is, so she gloomly asked in reply, "Whose room?" Leena kind of knew that this would destroy the mood, but she continued, "Tamahome's. I just wanted to ask how much you miss him? Are you going to wait for him? Because Mr. Emperor is…" Leena stopped talking when she saw Miaka spacing out and crying so much. It was like she got affected with Miaka's emotions that her eyes started watering as well. "I'm sorry," she said while placing a hand on Miaka's shoulder. Miaka held Leena's hand and squeezed it tightly. Surprisingly, she answered Leena's question no matter how she knows it would hurt her, "Leena, you know what, after two days before he left, no one even dared to ask me about him. But the truth is, I find this gesture of yours better than the treatment they've been giving me. I've always wanted to share what I feel, so this big load I have will finally get lighter. The thing is, you don't know how much I miss Tamahome: how every night, I'm dreaming he's beside me; how everything I see, I'm able to relate it to him; I want him here with me, sharing our love." Heavy tears fell from Miaka's eyes and Leena cried along with her. She hugged her tightly and said, "You know, I feel the same way." Miaka looked up, surprised, didn't know if Leena feels the same way as her for Tamahome. She felt bad thinking about it. And Leena never met him before either. So, Miaka thought it must be a guy he left in the other world. She asked her, "I'm sorry. I know it must've been hard for you to leave your boyfriend behind." Leena was still crying as she said, "If I had one, I would definitely feel the same way as you!" Then she broke into a laugh. Miaka laughed with her as well. It was really weird how Leena manages to make everyone feel better: Nuriko, Miaka. She must be really destined to be in the book.
Miaka and Leena wiped away their tears. "Thank You.", Miaka told Leena with a big smile. Leena replied, "It's no problem. But… can I ask you a favor?" "Surely, what do you need?" "Can you tell me where I can take a bath? I am really itching for one." Miaka chuckled and agreed to go with her. She showed Leena the tub, the towel, the toiletries, and she told her that she's going to wait for her outside with some clothes to wear. Leena removed her clothes and dipped her foot in the water. "Ahhhh, warm." She dipped in completely and washed herself. She thought, "Nothing but a nice refreshing bath." She shampooed her hair and soaped her whole body. She inhaled the steam coming out from the bath, closed her eyes and relaxed for a while. Then, she rinsed herself and went out the tub, grabbed a towel and dried herself. Leena was wrapping the towel around her slender body when she heard someone knock at the door. "Leena?", Miaka called. Leena smiled at shouted, "Come in, Ms. Miaka. I'm done." Miaka went inside the bathroom with some clothes hanging by her arms. "Here," she said "you can use these first. I'm sure you'll find them comfortable. I'll be leaving now. If you still need anything, just tell me or anyone else here in the palace." As she slipped through the door, Leena expressed her thanks to Miaka and they smiled at each other. She picked up the clothes Miaka left on the chair next to her. She looked at the ancient-looking Chinese clothing and saw that it was made of silk in a color slightly darker than maroon and phoenix prints were seen across the surface of the cloth. Gold lined the color, the sleeves, and the hem of the skirt. She started to feel the softness of the silk with her cheeks. Leena also saw a pair of small Chinese-style schoes with the same color combination as that of the dress. She decided to wear the dress at once. She looked at herself in the mirror, with her hair down because it was still wet and kind of thought that she looked good in it. But she wanted to tie her hair at once as soon as her hair begins to dry.
Leena swung the door open to the corridor. She picked up her dirty clothes first and placed them on her arm. Without looking at where she's going, she turned to her left and collided with someone! The garments on her arms flew and fell to the floor… and so did she. She stood up at once and started picking up the things on the floor while saying, "I am so sorry! I didn't see you coming." And it was such a coincidence that the other party said the same thing and helped Leena pick up the clothes. Their hands touched. She looked up and got caught up in a long, melting stare--- with the Emperor. Hotohori kept on blinking, thinking if the girl he's facing right now is the same as the messy-looking visitor they welcomed just yesterday. Leena was surprised and kind of jerked backward. She bowed down on her hips and said, "I'm very sorry, Mr. Emperor. It was my fault." Hotohori, on the other hand, was not paying attention. He was still staring at her, even though he can't see her face. He recognized that her hair wasn't pulled up in a pony. He thought, "I never realized she's this pretty when you get up close on her." But he snapped out of it as Leena looked at him and raised her eyebrow. "Oh, it's okay. No harm done," Hotohori said. She flashed him a shy smile and gestured to him that she will be going to her room now. She briskly walked down the hall and went inside her room. Hotohori observed from her back the curve of her waist, the shine and beauty of her hair, the sway of her hips when she's walking. Then, he found out he was holding something in his hand: Leena's scrunchie. He smiled as he went to his room.
On the other hand, Leena was lying flat on the bed. Her face was actually red. She thought, "Did I see something? No. I did not see the emperor look at me like that." Or didn't she? But really, Leena was melting inside. "I'm not falling. I'm just… flattered, that's all." She sighed and closed her eyes for a while. When she opened her eyes, it landed on her backpack. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that." She stood up and grabbed her backpack. She opened it and saw many stuff: her jogging pants, a shirt, a couple of notebooks, some barettes and hair clips, and a picture of her and Cera. Leena had tears rolling down her cheeks again. She called her name, "Cera. I miss you." She lied down, closed her eyes, and brought the picture near to her chest as if she was imagining of hugging Cera. And to her surpise, someone called her name! "Leena!!" It was Cera's voice. Leena sat up with eyes wide-opened and tears streaking from her eyes. "CERA!!"
So, how was it? R/R pls :)
"Cera!" Leena shouted as she woke up. She was all sweaty and nervous, then she started crying again. As if Leena could reach her friend, she said to Cera, "#&%$!!! How the #&%$ did we get involved in this??? What am I going to do without you, Cera?" Shee hugged her knees; she said to herself, "Why do I have to be like this? Why can't I be like Cera? Strong, optimistic, wild, independent; While I am being so weak, stupid, dependent…" She wiped her tears dry and paused for a long while to think. Then she realized that it was night already. "Oh my gosh, I skipped lunch and dinner! I haven't eaten since dinner yesterday!!!" Her stomach was complaining already. Badly. She was even getting this certain scent between average and smelly. So, Leena went out of her room and tried to see where the dining room was. She thought, "Dang, this place is bigger than I thought!" At first, she ended up in some dark place where there was a gold statue of a phoenix or something. "Wow. I guess this is Suzaku.", Leena whispered to herself as she saw the bird figure. Then, she ended up in Tamahome's room. The window was open. It was very windy, causing the curtains to fly. Leena got kind of spooked out as he saw the curtains form a human-like shape, like Tamahome's form, although she hasn't seen him yet. She immediately closed the door to his room and looked for the dining room again. Finally, she arrived at her destination, and guess what? Miaka was still there. From dinner. And it was already eight twenty-five in the evening. "What an appetite this girl have!", Leena thought.
Miaka looked up and saw Leena. She smiled at her and said while her mouth was full, "Mmm-eena! Mome.. ulp… eatith me!!! There's shhtill mmplenty of food! Yummm!!!" Leena laughed at her and joined her at the table. One of the palace servants brought more food and a plate for Leena. As soon as she saw the beautiful spread on the table, she started eating as bad as Miaka. After an hour, both of them gave up and laughed their asses out together. "Oooooh, I'm so full!", Miaka exclaimed! Leena told her the same thing, then held her stomach in pain and laughter. As she got tired, Leena remembered something. "Ms. Miaka? I hope you don't mind if I ask you something." "Surely, what do you want?" "I was kind of wondering, because I passed by his room a while ago…" It was like Miaka had this intuition on who this guy is, so she gloomly asked in reply, "Whose room?" Leena kind of knew that this would destroy the mood, but she continued, "Tamahome's. I just wanted to ask how much you miss him? Are you going to wait for him? Because Mr. Emperor is…" Leena stopped talking when she saw Miaka spacing out and crying so much. It was like she got affected with Miaka's emotions that her eyes started watering as well. "I'm sorry," she said while placing a hand on Miaka's shoulder. Miaka held Leena's hand and squeezed it tightly. Surprisingly, she answered Leena's question no matter how she knows it would hurt her, "Leena, you know what, after two days before he left, no one even dared to ask me about him. But the truth is, I find this gesture of yours better than the treatment they've been giving me. I've always wanted to share what I feel, so this big load I have will finally get lighter. The thing is, you don't know how much I miss Tamahome: how every night, I'm dreaming he's beside me; how everything I see, I'm able to relate it to him; I want him here with me, sharing our love." Heavy tears fell from Miaka's eyes and Leena cried along with her. She hugged her tightly and said, "You know, I feel the same way." Miaka looked up, surprised, didn't know if Leena feels the same way as her for Tamahome. She felt bad thinking about it. And Leena never met him before either. So, Miaka thought it must be a guy he left in the other world. She asked her, "I'm sorry. I know it must've been hard for you to leave your boyfriend behind." Leena was still crying as she said, "If I had one, I would definitely feel the same way as you!" Then she broke into a laugh. Miaka laughed with her as well. It was really weird how Leena manages to make everyone feel better: Nuriko, Miaka. She must be really destined to be in the book.
Miaka and Leena wiped away their tears. "Thank You.", Miaka told Leena with a big smile. Leena replied, "It's no problem. But… can I ask you a favor?" "Surely, what do you need?" "Can you tell me where I can take a bath? I am really itching for one." Miaka chuckled and agreed to go with her. She showed Leena the tub, the towel, the toiletries, and she told her that she's going to wait for her outside with some clothes to wear. Leena removed her clothes and dipped her foot in the water. "Ahhhh, warm." She dipped in completely and washed herself. She thought, "Nothing but a nice refreshing bath." She shampooed her hair and soaped her whole body. She inhaled the steam coming out from the bath, closed her eyes and relaxed for a while. Then, she rinsed herself and went out the tub, grabbed a towel and dried herself. Leena was wrapping the towel around her slender body when she heard someone knock at the door. "Leena?", Miaka called. Leena smiled at shouted, "Come in, Ms. Miaka. I'm done." Miaka went inside the bathroom with some clothes hanging by her arms. "Here," she said "you can use these first. I'm sure you'll find them comfortable. I'll be leaving now. If you still need anything, just tell me or anyone else here in the palace." As she slipped through the door, Leena expressed her thanks to Miaka and they smiled at each other. She picked up the clothes Miaka left on the chair next to her. She looked at the ancient-looking Chinese clothing and saw that it was made of silk in a color slightly darker than maroon and phoenix prints were seen across the surface of the cloth. Gold lined the color, the sleeves, and the hem of the skirt. She started to feel the softness of the silk with her cheeks. Leena also saw a pair of small Chinese-style schoes with the same color combination as that of the dress. She decided to wear the dress at once. She looked at herself in the mirror, with her hair down because it was still wet and kind of thought that she looked good in it. But she wanted to tie her hair at once as soon as her hair begins to dry.
Leena swung the door open to the corridor. She picked up her dirty clothes first and placed them on her arm. Without looking at where she's going, she turned to her left and collided with someone! The garments on her arms flew and fell to the floor… and so did she. She stood up at once and started picking up the things on the floor while saying, "I am so sorry! I didn't see you coming." And it was such a coincidence that the other party said the same thing and helped Leena pick up the clothes. Their hands touched. She looked up and got caught up in a long, melting stare--- with the Emperor. Hotohori kept on blinking, thinking if the girl he's facing right now is the same as the messy-looking visitor they welcomed just yesterday. Leena was surprised and kind of jerked backward. She bowed down on her hips and said, "I'm very sorry, Mr. Emperor. It was my fault." Hotohori, on the other hand, was not paying attention. He was still staring at her, even though he can't see her face. He recognized that her hair wasn't pulled up in a pony. He thought, "I never realized she's this pretty when you get up close on her." But he snapped out of it as Leena looked at him and raised her eyebrow. "Oh, it's okay. No harm done," Hotohori said. She flashed him a shy smile and gestured to him that she will be going to her room now. She briskly walked down the hall and went inside her room. Hotohori observed from her back the curve of her waist, the shine and beauty of her hair, the sway of her hips when she's walking. Then, he found out he was holding something in his hand: Leena's scrunchie. He smiled as he went to his room.
On the other hand, Leena was lying flat on the bed. Her face was actually red. She thought, "Did I see something? No. I did not see the emperor look at me like that." Or didn't she? But really, Leena was melting inside. "I'm not falling. I'm just… flattered, that's all." She sighed and closed her eyes for a while. When she opened her eyes, it landed on her backpack. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that." She stood up and grabbed her backpack. She opened it and saw many stuff: her jogging pants, a shirt, a couple of notebooks, some barettes and hair clips, and a picture of her and Cera. Leena had tears rolling down her cheeks again. She called her name, "Cera. I miss you." She lied down, closed her eyes, and brought the picture near to her chest as if she was imagining of hugging Cera. And to her surpise, someone called her name! "Leena!!" It was Cera's voice. Leena sat up with eyes wide-opened and tears streaking from her eyes. "CERA!!"
So, how was it? R/R pls :)