Disclaimer: I do not own the song or the Weiß Kreuz Glühen characters. Akane, Mari, Nici and Crissy are mine though. ^_^ Have fun.
Song: Evanescence - Imaginary
Imaginary
…paper flowers…
Rain poured down, hitting with fervor at the window, trying to wash away the blood that seemed to stain it. But the blood wouldn't wash away; it just oozed down the inside of the glass, seemingly to taunt the rain that couldn't wash it away.
i linger in the doorway
of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name
let me stay
where the wind will whisper to me
where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story
Earlier…
"Akane…" Omi shook her shoulder gently to wake her up.
"Mmm…" she rolled stiffly over to look at him, "What…time is it?"
He chuckled slightly, "Time for you to get up and go to school…if I recall, you have a math test today."
"AAAIIEEE!!!!" She sat up suddenly and quickly regretted it. "Iiiittaiii!!!" She rubbed her head.
Omi backed away, rubbing his head as well. "Get ready for school. Schuldig has breakfast on the table. I'll get your books from the dinning room." He turned and walked out leaving her to prepare.
She looked down at the bandages on her wrists and closed her eyes tightly for a moment. Finally she rose and walked over to the mirror. "A..a..ano…" She reached out fingers to touch it…the glass was smooth under her touch…her reflection was that of a ghost.
Slowly she pulled her hand back and to her neck. The gauze was still wrapped around, and it made her wonder what Omi had told the others about last night.
Something in the back of her head told her to leave the bandages for today. Reaching down, she pulled open a drawer and shuffled around in it till she found a turtleneck buried in the back. She pulled it out and shook it to remove the wrinkles. She put it on then put the rest of her school uniform on over it.
Picking up the brush off her dresser, she looked back at the almost non-existent reflection. With a sigh, she brushed her hair out. She debated putting it up into a ponytail but thought better of it. Finally she set down the brush and went to pick up her cross necklace that her mother had been fighting her about wearing so long ago.
The silver metal, normally to soft and cool to the touch, seemed to glare angrily at her. The metal seemed to scorch as she attempted to pick it up, causing her to quickly drop it back to the dresser. A small tear welled in her eye; then a question flooded her mind, 'What will Nici and Mari think if I'm not wearing it? They know I always wear it…'
Her thoughts were disrupted when there was a knock on the door, "Akane, are you ready yet? Its getting late…"
She glanced at the door then back at her necklace, "Just a minute!" She quickly, yet carefully, picked the necklace up by the black leather cord and stuffed it in her skirt pocket. She then walked over and opened the door to see Omi standing there with her book bag.
"If you hurry, you can still grab some breakfast before school." He smiled and handed her the bag.
"Ok…" Her eyes betrayed the nervousness she felt.
He patted her reassuringly on the shoulder, but said nothing concerning what he knew she was nervous about. "I need to finish getting ready for work, then I'll drop you off at school…"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nici and Mari sat under the big tree studying for the math exam as they waited for Akane to arrive…or the school bell to ring, whichever came first. Nici looked up from the book, "I'm worried about her, Mari…it's not right…she shouldn't be living with a bunch of men like that…by herself…"
Mari glanced up, a bit annoyed at Nici changing the subject from studying, "Hai…I know…that's why I think she should get her own apartment…"
"Oh … look… there she is!" Nici reached up and waved as Omi's car pulled into the school drive way and stopped long enough to let Akane out. "Akane!!! Over here!!!" Akane hefted her book bag onto her shoulder, waved as Omi pulled off then waved at Nici and Mari as she walked over to them. "Ew…what is she wearing? A turtleneck at this time of year?"
"Hmm…" Mari narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Hey guys... studying for the test?" Akane plopped her book bag down and sat beside them.
"Yeah…" Nici looked down at the book then looked back at Akane, "What's with the turtleneck? It's almost
summer!"
"Nici!" Mari scolded.
Akane blinked and glanced down at her covered wrists. "It's…ok…" She looked up to see them looking at her worriedly.
"Akane…what…happened? Something obviously is wrong. Did one of those men attack you?" Mari's voice dripped with concern.
"Iie…iie…" she bit her lip and looked down again, then slowly pushed back a sleeve to show the gauze. Carefully she peeled back the guaze.
Nici's eyes widened, "Akane! What happened? You drop something in the kitchen?"
Mari promptly poked Nici in the ribs for her blatant display of 'blondeness'. She looked back at Akane, her eyes questioning, "You…tried…to…" Her voice seemed choked just by the thought.
Akane nodded, "Hai…" she looked down and covered her wrists again, "Omi-kun stopped me…"
Before more could be said though, the bell rang and they went to class.
in my field of paper flowers
and candy clouds of lullaby
i lie inside myself for hours
and watch my purple sky fly over me
Despite many protests, Akane went with Nici and Mari after school to the ice cream shoppe a few blocks away. The two friends thought perhaps ice cream would cheer up their obviously depressed friend.
"I'd like a double scoop of Moose Tracks in a sugar cone please!" Nici enthusiastically told the attendant.
Mari and Akane giggled at her, "What do you want Akane?" Mari asked questioningly.
"Umm…" she eyed the list of flavors, "Can I have a scoop of strawberry in a sugar cone?"
Mari blinked at her, startled that she didn't want Moose Tracks or Mint Chocolate Chip. "Um…sure…" She ordered what Akane wanted then ordered herself a scoop of Moose Tracks as well.
The girls got their ice cream and walked down the sidewalk towards the park. Nici looked up at her… "Akane…where is your cross?"
Akane blinked, "I knew I forgot something!" She laughed, "I was a bit…rushed this morning…"
The two nodded at her, understanding how she wouldn't be feeling well after last night.
After the ice cream was finished, the girls parted ways, each headed towards their own homes.
Akane walked in to hear Ken yelling. She dropped off her book bag and peeked around the corner to see who he was yelling at. It was Crawford. Nagi and Youji were standing off to the side, watching the argument. Akane sighed, it was a usual occurrence actually. Ken arguing with the plans that Crawford came up with. Of course, she never knew what exactly they were talking about.
Ken stopped yelling and all four looked at her. She blinked and looked up at Schuldig who was behind her. "Umm…hi…"
Ken huffed lightly and stalked off to his room, slamming the door. Youji shook his head and turned around, sliding down into the couch and turning on the television. Crawford pushed up his glasses and walked off to his office, Nagi close on his heels. "How was school?" Schuldig asked her.
"Fine…I think I actually passed the math test…" She fidgeted slightly, rubbing at one of her wrists.
Schuldig nodded and eyed the motion. "How are you feeling?" Why did you do it?
She blinked at him then turned and climbed up on a stool at the breakfast bar. "I'm fine…" …being…like this…is hard to handle…
With a nod, he walked around to the other side of the breakfast bar and pour two glasses of milk, handing one to her, then pulled out the cookie jar and set it between them. I'll help you if you want…
She sipped the milk and pulled out a cookie, dunking it in the milk then munching on it. Do I have much of a choice?
Schuldig frowned as he lost hold of his cookie and it fell to the bottom of the glass. Well…yes…you could do it on your own and risk loosing what is left of your sanity. He looked back up at her with more seriousness in his eyes than she had ever seen before.
Alright…but later. She finished her cookies and milk, then hopped down, picking up her school bag. "I'm going to go work on my homework now…"
Schuldig nodded to her, Youji just waved a hand as he was paying attention to the news reports on television.
don't say i'm
out of touch
with this rampant chaos - your reality
i know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge
the nightmare i built my own world to escape
The phone rang at
ten that night and Akane had to scramble for it, as
no one else was in the house.
"Akane?" Mari's voice questioned.
"Hi Mari…" Akane shifted back into her chair.
"Where are the others?"
"Gone…like normal." She eyed the chemistry homework in front of her.
"Ah…I wonder where they go at night."
"Probably clubbing or something."
Mari giggled slightly, "Probably…but what about Omi-kun? Isn't he normally home at night?"
"Hai…but apparently there was an emergency meeting at his work, so he had to stay late." She wrote down something with her pencil, then erased it.
"Akane…" Mari's voice trembled slightly.
Akane blinked, just now hearing the oddness in her voice. "What's wrong Mari? Are you ok?"
"C..can I come over?"
"Sure…are you ok? What's wrong…?" Akane shut the book and walked out to the living room.
"I..I'll tell you when I get there…" The phone clicked off suddenly.
Akane blinked and glanced down at the phone. With a frown she turned it off and walked to the door, waiting for Mari. A few minutes later Mari knocked and Akane opened the door, her eyes immediately widened, quickly shutting the door behind Mari. "Wh..what happened?"
Blood was splattered all over the raven haired girl, her clothes torn. "Akane!!!" Mari clung to her friend.
She winced slightly at the smell of the blood, but wrapped her arms around her friend, holding her close. "Shh…it's ok…it's ok…you're safe." She rocked her friend. After a few minutes Mari seemed to have calmed down. "Why don't we get you a clean change of clothes…ok?"
Mari nodded and the two got up. Akane directed Mari to the bathroom then walked to her own room, grabbing some clothes she thought would fit her friend. With a light knock on the bathroom door, she passed in the change of clothes.
Akane went up to the kitchen and put some water on to boil. A few minutes later Mari walked up, visibly shaken, but looking a good bit better out of the blood stained clothing. She smiled gently at her friend then poured the boiling water into some mugs and handed one to her, "Green tea…it will help you relax."
Mari nodded and accepted the mug. They sat down at the couch and turned on the television, turning it on to some old romantic movie and sat in silence.
in my field of paper flowers
and candy clouds of lullaby
i lie inside myself for hours
and watch my purple sky fly over me
Several hours past and the movie ended. Akane looked at her friend. "You can sleep in my room tonight if you want Mari."
Mari smiled, "I really appreciate it, Akane…"
The front door opened, "Sounds like the guys are home…" Akane looked over, slightly shocked by their state. They, like Mari, came in with blood drenched on them. She heard them grumbling. "Come on…let's…"
Aya looked over at Akane and Mari, his eyes narrowed, pulling his katana. "Get away from her now!"
Immediately the others turned and pulled out weapons. Akane blinked, confused and looked back at Mari. "What's…going on??"
Mari whimpered softly and slid behind Akane. "Don't…let them…hurt me…Akane…"
Akane blinked at her friend then looked back at the others who were advancing on them. "Akane…" Ken spoke slowly, "Step…away from her, slowly…"
"Wh...what? Why? What's going on?" Akane began to understand now why Mari had been so panicked.
Crawford pointed his gun at Mari, "Thought you could get away, eh?"
Mari squeaked lightly, then her eyes flickered dark red and she quickly put a choke hold on Akane. "You'll have to kill her to get to me."
Akane's eyes widened and she gripped at Mari's arm, trying to pull her off, "M..mari…what…are you doing?"
Mari wasn't paying attention to Akane as she used her 'friend' for a shield from the others. "You…hunters…won't take me…"
Realization set over Akane's features...she was living with vampire hunters. Panic increased and she squirmed, fighting the hold Mari had on her. "Lemme go…" The grip seemed to tighten around her neck and she gasped for air. In desperation, she started clawing and kicking, not paying attention to the men who were attempting to surround the two girls. She was barely paying attention to the fact that Mari was dragging her towards the balcony window.
"Akane!" Omi had just arrived home as well and he saw what was going on.
Omi's scream was enough to distract Mari as Akane wrenched herself away from the other. Akane scrambled away and behind the men. Omi pulled her to him and covered her eyes as the others went in for the attack.
While Akane couldn't see, she could hear the fight. The sound of flesh being torn, grunts of pain then finally a shriek filled the room…one that she knew could have only come from Mari. "MARI!!!!" Akane wrenched herself from Omi and looked on in horror as Mari died. Tears welled in her eyes, her knees going weak as she collapsed to the floor. "MARI!!!!"
swallowed up in the sound of my screaming
cannot cease for the fear of silent nights
oh how i long for the deep sleep dreaming
the goddess of imaginary light
04/30/03 - By: Akari Kanzaki
Chapters
Hello
Life...
Imaginary
Taking Over Me
Whisper
Mistakes of the Past