Standard disclaimers apply.
Part 2-Visions of a Dream
A Revised version of Part 2
--------------------------------
I
woke up dreaming of him again. We were running happily in an open field.
Well,
… actually it was just me.
He
followed me quietly behind as I chased away the butterflies.
And
behind my back he smiled. I didn't see it, but I knew he smiled. Yes, I'm sure
he smiled.
Only
Kami-sama knows how I yearned to see that smile, just once, even. For a moment
his smile COULD have been mine. If only… But I know that as soon as I turn
around, it will disappear. It's something he keeps to himself…. I wonder how I
knew all this.
He's
been plaguing my dreams every night, now. Fourteen weeks already. Endlessly. He
keeps me restless in the daytime too, and I find myself thinking of him, the
man in my dreams, constantly.
Who is he? How dare he
intrude and dwell in my thoughts so frequently!
"Natsumi-chan?
Daijoubu ka? Perhaps you should rest awhile," an elderly voice spoke. "No, don't
worry about the class, I can take care of that," she added, chuckling heartily.
"But
Haru-san, it's only an hour away before class dismissal. And you know how the
kids always, … behave… when it's almost time," Misao reasoned.
"I'm
old but that doesn't mean I can't handle them, Natsumi-chan. I've been here all
my life. Who do you think had been teaching here before you? Now, go along, get
some rest," Haru-san spoke, gently squeezing Misao's slim hand reassuringly
before letting go.
"Hai,
arigatou, Haru-san," Misao politely bowed before making her way to her room,
knowing that arguing with her was pointless.
Is this really her? The very
same kinouchi I'd found, wandering in the woods on the third day of summer,
almost four months ago? …The broken spirited girl all caked in mud? All messy
in thoughts? So miserable, so cold?… But she is one good girl; that I can tell.
So generous with her heart and so easy to love… And she deserves to be out of gloom… Perhaps the release from her
past was a good thing. She'll be happier with me, Haru thought as she watched
Misao's retreating back exiting the hall.
***
Back
in her room, she sat herself by the window overlooking the garden. Lilies. A
tiny bushel of white lilies grew beside the koi pond. Somehow she found the
sight familiar, comforting her.
---
"Here's a lily for you, my
angel, Misao."
"Wai!!! It's white!
Kireii!!! Ano, … Hannya-kun, why is the lily white, ne?" a young girl, about five,
asked.
"Because, Misao, it's pure
and beautiful and sweet, just like you!"
"Is that why you always get
lilies for me, Hannya-kun, ne, ne? Or is it because you just like lilies LOTS
but you're plain SCARED of the others finding out? Don't worry, I won't tell," the little tot winked
playfully at the masked man, promising conspiracy.
His
strong muscular arms were inked with black and red tattoo stripes. His mask, ghoulish.
To any ordinary person, he indeed looked intimidating, scary even, but to this
particular little girl, he was a friend, her good friend, and he was very
gentle with her too.
Brows
creased showing her engaged in active thinking. "I know! I'll swear! Ahem…I," she audaciously decided to lift her
right hand and cheekily continued, "Makimachi
Misao, PROMISE to swear NEVER to tell Hannya-kun's secret to my friends,
Hyottoko-kun, Beshimi-kun, Shikijo-kun…"
"Alright, alright, I'll tell
you," he
shrugged, sighing defeatedly as he finally gave in, "Just remember to keep this a secret, okay?" The excited blue-eyed girl vigorously
bobbed her head up and down causing her long raven braid to ridiculously crest
and fall.
"I love lilies 'cos they
kinda smell good and they are as white as the pure snow...," he softly began, "Misao… do you remember how it's like
when it snows?" he asked the little girl thoughtfully.
"Uh huh... kirei
na!"
she replied enthusiastically, failing to recognize his bitterness.
"Sometimes when I'm tired of this life, I
close my eyes and they ...they remind me of you... they remind me of a lot of
things, of beauty, innocence and peace..." his voice reached barely a
whisper.
She
knew that tone. You only use it when you're sad. She uses it a lot herself. But
Hannya-kun uses it only when he's really upset.
"Etto... Hannya-kun,
what's eee.. ee nooo s… that ... whatever you called it?" she finally broke the
mounting silence. Trust the little one to channel relief.
"Aa... innocence? Let's
just say, its something I can see in you but sadly, it's something I no longer
have or can ever possess again..."
"Is it good or is it
bad?" his
curious companion frowned upon his answer, thinking of the time she had hit
Jiya on his head.
He
chuckled softly, shaking his head mildly, "It's
a good thing, Misao."
At
this, the little one beamed. "Ne,
Hannya-kun, … I think I like lilies too! Uh huh! Daisuki yo!! Because they're
white and smell good and they remind me of you! Ne?" The big man could only
return her a puzzled look.
She
sighed audibly before explaining, "They're
white just like your mask, ne, and also because you like them too! BUT…"
she offered, " you don't smell as nice,
though!" she wrinkled her nose in mock disgust and with that, she sprinted
off towards a tall approaching figure-
"Oi! Misao-chan where are
you going?"
"To tell Aoshi-sama of
course!"
she replied giggling, "I didn't swear not
to tell him!" As she turned her head to look back, she mischievously poked
her tongue out at him, leaving him standing by himself, dumbfounded.
---
"Hannya,"
Misao uttered, her heart leaping as she found a glimmer of recognition in that
name. In a rush, surreptitiously, old memories flooded back in fleeting
flashes.
"Hyottoko,"
her mind envisioned an extremely large-bellied fire breather who was always the
first to be caught in a hide-and-seek game for he reeked strongly of alcohol.
"Beshimi,"
she remembered being scolded by the scrawny man when being caught playing with
some of his colorful but deadly concoctions before.
"Shikijo,"
her eyes shut tight as she remembered the green, scarred-filled yet gentle face
whose smile never wavered and whose strong shoulders she had mounted on, on the
numerous adventures they shared together back then.
"How
could I forget them? … But I remember now," she whispered softly to herself.
Without realizing, tears trickled down her porcelain cheeks slowly, gathering
at her pointed chin before falling in big blobs on her purple kimono.
Stealthily,
a figure in the shadows that had been observing her quietly left, unnoticed.
----------
[Sorry about the weak start,
guys. …I know, I kinda made Aoshi sound a 'lil demented here… but then again,
who knows what ever goes on in that icicle pop head of his, eh? Well, more to
come soon… I'll promise to write better. So let me know what u guys think, k? Also,
Thanks for taking the time to read. ^_^ ]