Okaaaayyy…I was very late, and I am aware of that. Hey, I'm a busy person! If you want to know why I was late read my reasons at the start of my latest chapter for my other story, Kasumi the Miko-sama. I'm much too drained to write everything all over again. All I can say is sorry, and thank you again for all your reviews! A note on some of them. When you say 'please update' or 'please review', I take it that you like this story and that is why you are pressing for me to continue. But if you do want me to continue, please take some time to write exactly why, or the things you liked/hated about my story. I really like meaningful and long reviews best, though I do value the short ones just as much. Anyway I'm writing more slowly since I have school, now….pooh.
Oh, and I am sort of kind of doing a love triangle…Yui, Tetsuya and Suboshi, maybe?
Thanks for the last names! ^-^
~ BK0011
P.S. Hey! Otaku Pitcher, I don't have year round school, but I do take some summer classes, which is why I'm always busy. My school started a week ago. ^-^
SOASBE Part III.
Blue. Sapphire blue. Twinkling. Brightly.
What the...? Nakago's earring. It was floating in front of her. Yui Hongou, who hadn't had such clear dreams since forever, was currently having a very vivid one. She knew it was a dream, somehow. For one thing, she was in control. She always had control in her dreams. It sometimes annoyed her. She never killed anyone or lied or did any nasty stuff in her dreams. It was like there would be consequences in real life is she did something wrong in dreamland. Real life was more of a dream, actually. The Book had been real. It wasn't a dream. In some ways, her fantasies were more real than reality. Funny. At least this wasn't a nightmare. It wasn't much, really. She was lying in a pool of pure white water. In front of her, glowing furiously, was her only keepsake, only remembrance of the book of the four Gods. She reached out a clammy hand, trying to grasp the radiant object. It seemed like a force was pushing her away, but she persisted, straining herself, stretching as far and as hard as she could. I have to touch that earring, I must! A dainty finger finally happened to make contact with the precious gem. And all at once a stabbing, burning sensation burst within her.
"Ahh!" Yui drew back. No…no…no. We won't let you use the earring for your own purposes. The voice was strong and loud. Unfamiliar as well. It rang in her ears, banged into her skull. Yui wondered if it could read her mind. My own purposes? That's right. You have been selfish enough. We won't. We can't. You may never know the secret of the sapphire blue earring. That would be twisting fate. Ruining everything. Ah. So it could. Cautious. Her finger started stinging again. She sucked the flesh hurriedly – still a stinging shock-white at the tip, while the rest had gone red and scorching. I don't want to use the earring. I only want to wear it. So I'll never make the same mistakes I did before. Mistakes? Yui bowed her head. Stupid mistakes. People had died because of them. Because of her. Foolish. Fate was wrong to choose you as a Miko. MMmm. Yui. It knew her name. Of course. Some all-powerful being was trying to say something to her, by way of dream express. That didn't make a good lot of sense. Forget it. Forget everything. Forget about the book, about everything that troubles you now. Forget about Nakago and hurting and lies.
And forget about…
The voice stopped. Yui knew who it was, anyhow. She didn't need to hear. I'm not going to forget. No.
You have to. Or else everything will go all wrong. Don't think of yourself, for once. People will be pushed apart because of you.
But I can't…I can't! You must.
***
"Miss Hongou! Please explain this theory to Miss Rumiko. It seems she was –ahem- extensively using her imagination during class."
Yui stood up by instinct, her teacher's voice doing wonders to jerk her out of her own daydreams. "Ah – of course, sir. The theory is all about…" The words couldn't come out of her mouth. Do I even know the words? She racked through her numerous memorized equations, trying to find the right one. How could she possibly not have covered this lesson? She always did. Even if it meant only one and a half hours of worried sleep. Her mouth closed, then opened again. She tried to answer, but just ended up looking like a human goldfish. Mr. Kazuki, her Science teacher, raised his eyebrows expectantly. "Yui? Are you all right? I can ask someone else to answer, if you can't." Yui forced her biggest teacher's pet grin. "Oh, sir, don't give me that look. Of course I can answer. Why, it's really very simple." I can't ever admit to being wrong. She babbled on as long as could, making up as little as possible as she went along. "You see, Mr. Einstein was always a very clever man. His theories were always found complicated, however – this one is actually very simple." A bit of a murmur rose among her classmates. "I see your point, Miss Hongou. Simple as it is – do you mind actually explaining it to us?" "Of course, sir. Sure thing. I was just…warming up to the topic." She gave another sugary smile than opened her mouth.
She was just about ready to fib when the door opened and the school's vice principal sauntered in, with long, confident strides. Miss Eleanor Sakuya was feared all over the school – perhaps it was the sharp way she spoke in English to you whenever you were caught littering (her mother was pure American) or the way she babbled in broken Japanese when you happened to make her particularly angry. Even the toughest student's lost their cool under her cold green glare. Even teachers. Mr. Kazuki smiled meekly at her, as she took center stage and began to speak. "Class. There is to be a new student." A few students whispered in excitement. She rapped her knuckles sharply on the blackboard. "I repeat. New student. Shun Takada shall be arriving during lunchtime and—" A fresh bout of murmuring arose, and the worldly woman knitted her eyebrows and rapped some more. Silence. "—his twin brother Kotou will be in the next section. I expect you all to be well behaved, and perhaps one of you could be his…'study buddy'." Yui was still standing with her mouth open, but she quickly closed it and sat down. No way was she going to tour her former servant around the school and help him with his notes. Uh-uh. Not down her league. "Miss Hongou!" Fate was always choosing her. She got up wearily.
"Yes, Miss Sakuya?" "How about you? You have always been the perfect little student. Perhaps you could give Mr. Takada some pointers on making the grade. And…" the vice principal gave a pointed smile. "…you will get an extra grade for all your help." Yui bit her lip. She did want that grade of course. And turning down Ms. Sakuya's offer was very, very risky. But. Was it worth facing the number one person she did not want to see? And then that voice. Forget about…Still. She was going to listen to advice from someone in a dream. What harm could it do anyway? Ruining everything. Yui fought the urge to clap her hands over her ears. People would find her seriously weird. But that voice…how it bothered her! "Well? Take it or leave it, Miss Genius?" The raw sense of humor that the vice principal had seemed to affect Yui somehow. "Sure, Miss Sakuya. Lunchtime. Right. I'll show him how this wonderful school works." "Good." She gave a brisk nod to Mr. Kazuki. "I'll be expecting high grades from him." She marched rigidly out of the classroom, but at the last minute, poked her head back in and faced Yui. "Oh, and Miss Hongou. Try to smile a bit. Your complexion is wavering greatly."
All the blonde could manage was a very plastic smile.
***
"Oh! So you're my sheepdog. I guess we met yesterday, but we weren't really off to a good start. Let's start over."
Yui grimaced at his apologetic tone. She was very smooth right now – not a crinkle in sight. From her straight blonde hair to shiny, flat-heeled shoes, and stiffly ironed uniform, she looked very sophisticated and calm. But inside she was crumpling. Those eyes…I never thought I'd live to see them burn into mine once more. His skinny hand was stuck out, gesturing for her to shake. Which she did, though very crisply. "Sheepdog? Oh, yes, I guess you could say that. I'm your guide, Yui Hongou." "Shun Takada." "I know." "Umm…" "Save the introductions for another time. I'm in a bit of a hurry." There was quiet for a while, and Shun kicked at the floor a bit. "Hey, I'm sorry about yesterday. At any rate, I won't ever do it again. Your parents gave me and my bro a good talking to." He gave a smirk. "Lecturers, aren't they?" Yui's face remained stony. If I can't be friendly to him, I'll just act like stone. Then he'll get annoyed with me and won't have anything to do with me, and I'll be able to forget him. "I don't like to think of them in that aspect. Now, if you please, I'll show you your classroom and afterwards you can put your things in the locker." She flipped her hair a bit, then began walking away, Shun doing his best to trail after her.
Ouch. Must've hit a nerve. What a touchy chick. His solid-black bag banged against his leg as it sloped off his elbow. The numerous keychains he had accumulated over the years all jingled loudly from the metal keyring which was secured to his zipper. His new school uniform was a bit fitting, and a little stuffy, which he greatly detested. They marched through the stern school halls, Yui at a hurried pace and him trying to walk in step with her. "Miss Hongou?" "Yui, please. No questions right now. I still have to eat my lunch – I haven't the whole world to tour new students around." Shun stopped quickly, not pressing further. He couldn't help feeling a little sorrowful then. Miss Yui was so mean. Pretty, yes. But kind, no. She seemed very sweet the day before, until she mentioned school. Afterwards she had turned into this cold, unfeeling thing. Pity.
"Here we are." She stood before the classroom imperiously. "Take a look inside, won't you. Then to the lockers, and finally the cafeteria. You can have lunch with me, but I warn you, I'm not too keen on mealtime conversations." She didn't seem the type, anyway. That suited him fine. He could have lunch with Kotou, no bother. A quick peek around the plain old white classroom told him nothing was special. "I suppose Miss Sakuya will have you seated next to me. It's a blank desk anyway. Go on then, it's the one there right at the front, left table. Right." Yui was chattering nonstop. She isn't as nice as I thought. Shun could have kicked himself for actually thinking this girl was likable. All of the worried feelings he had felt awhile ago disappeared, leaving a poor kind of blatant attraction left. Girls with pretty faces are always ones to stay away from. Gotta remember that. He came out of the classroom and stared at Yui, who arched her eyebrows expectantly. He shrugged. "Ordinary." "Hm." They began to walk again, a little down the hallway. There were the lockers. Metal ones, each with a different lock. "Number 827. Your key." She dangled it in front of him, and he took it, opened his locker and stuffed his bag inside.
"We go to the cafeteria next. Any objections?"
"Um. Well…" "Yes? Is something wrong?" "…No. It's nothing." "Then lets go."
She stalked away, and Shun scurried after her. For a moment there, her tone softened…'Yes? Is something wrong?' …she sounded almost concerned.
And for a moment there, I thought I saw something familiar about that face, that voice…nahhh.
Yui's expressionless face ached from looking so mad. Her mouth was a great big frown, and her eyes were fierce and demanding. Why do I have to do this? The more I try to be mean to him, to shunt him away, the more I crack. Get a grip, Yui. A tight one. Shun is NOT Suboshi. Perhaps it's just major coincidence. That must be it. She nibbled on her lip, as a cold, familiar feeling swept through her. Great. I'm not going to cry now. But if I did…he won't be upset about it. He'll comfort me. He'd be nice about it, worried and understanding. He, he, he. I'd better stop thinking about somebody who's long gone. I've got Tetsuya already. I'm mixing everything up.
I'm Ruining Everything.
***
"Yui-sama?" Her pale, red face snapped up. "Suboshi! You're supposed to knock before you enter." "I did. You didn't answer."
The Seiryuu no Miko rose, expensive silk robe glimmering exquisitely. The robe Nakago gave her. "Still. That doesn't give you the right to enter." "I'm sorry." "I guess it's all right. Come in." He shuffled in nervously, looking a little tense. Yui put on her best 'regal' look. "Yes? Is something wrong?" "Yui-sama…I saw…you and Nakago. Awhile ago. He and you were…" He broke off, looking the other way. Yui was trying hard to keep her cool. "Oh, so now you have the privilege of spying on your general and your maiden?" Her face flushed red. Her eyes were bright. Yui's face was crumpling. Her legs were giving way. Suboshi started apologizing. "I'm sorry. I did it by accident. I just wanted to check up on you. Soi said you weren't feeling to good, and I…I got worried. Forgive me, please." She tossed back her head. "For what? For making me feel bad?" Her voice sounded wobbly. She turned around rubbed at her wet eyes. "Lady Yui? Are you…crying?" How dare he! How dare he ask that! She shook back her hair. "No." Not very confident, but he must have gotten the message. The room was still. 'He's gone,' Yui thought. But then she was being hugged from behind. "Look, okay. I'm really, truly sorry." She struggled for a bit. "Let go!" But he wouldn't. And she eventually gave in. It was no use, anyway.
And then she cracked. She turned, sobbing onto his rumpled clothes. And he wasn't upset about it. He comforted her. He was nice about it. Worried and understanding.
He, he, he.
***
You'll never know
How much I hurt
Or how much to me
You are worth
You'll never know
How I always feel upset
Don't try to make me sadder
I'm the saddest I can get.
You'll never know
How much I loose my breath
Whenever you hold me
And crush me to your breast.
You'll never know
How very sweet you are.
You'll never know.
That you're my shining star.
NOTES:
- My sister said Yui lived in a house, so I will now make up a reason for her living in an apartment…she moved! Hehehe….
- Sorry if I wrote badly. I'm really very tired – I'm just pressing myself to update.
- Maybe I'm starting to shape something already…do you see anything forming? I hope it's not too predictable.