Vandread Fanfic - Slayer of God Duology Part 2: Together Forever
Chapter 4 - Love In The Moonlight
Rating - G / Romance / Sci-Fi
I close my eyes
Wanna stay with you all time forever
So spread your wings and fly with me
Dancin' In My Dreams- J. Storm
Raymond and Gasco were playing cards over 'some' drinks. Gasco show her cards on the table and so did Raymond. She widened her eyes at his cards.
"Eh?"
"Ah, sorry. I win again."
Gasco got agitated. Now, she had lost twelve times in a row.
"Hey, I did this for a living back home, you know?"
"Ah, sorry. I happen to have a lot of luck with cards."
Gasco sighed.
"You really are a 'dangerous' person."
"If you want to think that way..."
"Hey, you're Gung-ho's long time friend, right? What do you think of him?"
"Gung...ho?"
"Oh, that's a nickname I gave him. I think you know the reason."
Raymond grinned.
"Yes, he is indeed reckless. However, there's always a reason behind it. Sometimes he has selfish reasons and at other times he did it for others."
"Ah, yes. I've already seen it."
"Twenty years ago, we used to have a managing director-artist relationship."
Gasco raised an eyebrow.
"Managing director? Of what?"
"A music recording company. And his band, Project Zero was our most successful artist."
"I know. I've seen it before. Rick gave a disc on one of their performance to us."
"Ah, when I saw them performed for the first time, I knew there is something special about them and especially the guitarist, Rick. The way he strummed his guitar is unlike others. And with the sweet voice of Sara, the main vocalist, the two of them should be more than enough to sweep all the awards across the world. But they got even better with the inclusion of Spyke, the bassist and his brother, Zach as their drummer."
Raymond was about to continue when he saw Gasco staring at him, without blinking.
"Ah, sorry. I usually talk this much when it comes to Project Zero."
"No, it's okay. It's kind of interesting."
"How about another round of cards instead?"
"Heh. This time I'll beat you for sure."
Rick was walking along the corridor after his meeting with Magno. He then saw Barnette standing alone, waiting for him.
"Hey Barnette, what are you doing here? Where's your lover, Jura?"
"In her room. Where's Meia?"
"She's in her room and I'm taking a walk. To relieve the tension, you know?"
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"Sure. About what?"
"About him. Erick."
Rick raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't heard someone mentioned that name for years. What about him?"
"Is he...is he still around?"
Rick shook his head.
"I'm sorry. He doesn't exist any longer. He assimilated himself with me."
Barnette stepped backwards in disbelief.
"He...he's gone..?"
"Afraid so. What do you want with him anyway?"
"I...I just want to talk with him. But why...why did he do it?"
"Being the dark side of me, he knew he can't have two things he wanted most; love and friendship. Thus, he decided to disappear so that no one will cry over him."
Upon hearing those words, she started to cry. Rick stared at her in surprise, never thought that a woman once hated men so much would cry over his alter ego's disappearance.
"Hey, why do you cry? Don't tell me you like him."
"It's true. I like...no, I love him. And I'm too late to tell him."
Those words struck him hard. He didn't know what he must do.
(What should I do? Erick, this girl likes you. What should I do?)
"Barnette, listen to me. I'm sure Erick already knows your feelings for him. So please, stop crying okay?"
"I...I'm sorry for bothering you..."
With that, she turned and ran away, trying to stop the tears. Rick stood there, still in shock over what just happened.
(What should I do..?)
Barnette ran as fast as she could, to stop the tears. But she failed to do so. She finally stopped outside her room, catching her breath.
(I...what am I doing? No. Even if I tell Erick that I love him, what next? He and Rick are one and the same. Forget it. We'll never meet again. Yeah, just...forget him...)
Suddenly, the door opened and a female hand pulled her in. Barnette smiled.
(Yeah. Just forget him. I still can be with Jura.)
Rick was strumming his guitar in the park and at the same time thinking about what just happened between him and Barnette.
(World is full of surprises. But what should I do? I can't bring back Erick unless I use that 'method'. Who knows what will happen to both of us if I use it?)
"Rick?"
"Um?"
Rick looked up and saw Meia walking towards him.
"Hi. I thought you're already asleep."
"I'm looking for Axel. It's way past his bedtime."
"Well, I think he's hiding here somewhere. I can feel it."
Moments later, Anton entered the park.
"Master Xero, have you seen Miss Aya, Axel and Kahlua?"
"Hm? You're playing hide and seek?"
"Ah yes, chief Meia."
Rick grinned.
"So that's it eh?"
Then, came in Ezra, searching for her daughter.
"Karu-chan! Where are you?"
"Relax, Ezra. They are all here. They just don't want to come out."
"But..."
"Relax. They can't hide all the time can't they?"
Soon, most of the crew came. Raymond and Gasco, who is already half drunk were the last to enter the park. Rick let out a sigh.
"Duh. This place is getting crowded."
"Hey, Gung-ho. Long time no see."
"Ah, big sis. Looks like you already met Raymond."
"He beat me thirty times in a row. Plus, he almost single handedly finished all the wine at the bar and still stays sober."
"Hey Rick. Thought that we should come here and relax but man..."
Jura pulled Barnette to a spot near Rick.
"Hey, this is a good spot. Come here Barnette."
"Okay, okay."
"Hey kid. Where have you been?"
Hibiki paused, searching for answers.
"Uhh..."
"Why don't you tell him what we did?"
"Hey Dita! Stop it! Don't embarrass me."
Rick laughed.
"Hahaha. I think I know what happened between you two."
"Aargh! Shut up!"
Then, Raymond shouted at Rick.
"Hey Rick! How about a song?"
"Hey, I'm not in the mood."
"Aw, come on. SING! SING! SING!"
With that, everyone in the park chanted.
"SING! SING! SING!"
"Darn. Okay, okay. I give up. Just one song. That's it."
Rick strummed his guitar and started to sing...
Deep inside, eyes overflowing with tears, the blue moon falls to pieces...Without a sound, the brilliant world vanishes in darkness
Running around in the dark during the countdown
Now, a new time will arrive
Broken black wings glimmer beautifully
As they soar in the light of the moon
Now, the crimson kiss has founds its way into my heart,
And will soon flow into my dream...
The silent sky disappears into the wavering melody
Now, put everything into prayers
I'll keep on walking forever,
Looking for the rest of my hidden dreams...
Broken black wings glimmer beautifully
As they soar in the light of the moon
Now, the crimson kiss has founds its way into my heart,
And will soon flow into my dream...
Eden (translated) by To Destination from Yami no Matsuei Opening Theme
Rick let out a sigh of relief."Phew. There. Satisfied?"
Raymond was the first to react.
"That's a nice one, Rick!"
This is soon followed by applause from the others. Bart gave a shout.
"Way to go, Rick!"
"Great performance!"
Suddenly, Aya, Axel and Kahlua came out from their hiding place among the bushes.
"Anton! Why don't you find us?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Aya. I was distracted."
Aya looked at her father. He simply grinned.
"Yeah, I know."
Kahlua ran at her mother.
"Mom!"
"Karu-chan! Where have you been? I'm looking all over for you."
"We were playing hide and seek. I, Ax-chan and Aya onee-san hide but Anton onii-chan didn't come looking for us."
Anton shrugged and said,
"I'm really sorry, Karu-chan."
Kahlua smiled.
"It's okay. We can play next time."
Rick looked at Axel and grinned.
"Your mother was looking for you."
Axel mumbled something and walked up to Meia.
"Axel, its way past your bedtime."
Axel gave a nod.
"I know, mom. I'm sorry."
Meia picked up her son.
"There. You're going to bed, young man. Goodnight everyone. Goodnight Rick."
"Ah...Goodnight Meia."
Meia and Axel left the park. Everyone turned to Rick. He blinked for a few times.
"Guys, what's that look for?"
"Dad! You should go with her!"
Dita voiced her opinion.
"She's right. You should go with her."
"But..."
Then everyone drove him out of the park. Rick sighed in resignation.
"Okay, okay. Sheez. I can't believe you guys."
"Gung-ho, go for it!"
"Go get her, tiger."
"Oh, shut up, Raymond."
Rick walked away, still protesting about the whole thing. Aya smiled in satisfaction. Dita held Hibiki even tighter. Raymond held Gasco by her shoulder, trying not to let her collapse. Bart sighed by himself. BC watched him and grinned. Parfet returned to the engine room along with
Duero and Pyoro while Anton took out a cigarette and lights it up. Ezra carried Kahlua to her room.
Paiway, who was silent all along, wrote something on her trusty notebook and said,
"Pai check!"
Rick was on his way to Meia's room. He's almost there when he heard a sweet voice, singing.
(Meia? She's...singing?)
Rick leaned against the wall and strummed his guitar, trying to match the song she was singing with the sound of his guitar.
Meia was singing a lullaby for Axel when she heard the sound of the guitar from the outside. Axel, who was trying to sleep, opened his eyes.
"Mom? Is that my father?"
Meia smiled and touched her son's face gently.
"Yes, Axel. Why you didn't talk to him?"
"I'm sorry. I just can't do it. I just can't..."
"It's okay. You just need some time. That's all. Okay, now go to sleep while I sing your favorite song."
"Yeah. Good night, mom."
Axel pulled up his blanket and closed his eyes. Then with the sound of the guitar, Meia started to sing...
hora tsuki no hikari abita hito wa kitto sunao ni nareru
kiita kotoga aru no
somukenai yasashisa hikari ga watashi wo tsutsumu yo
doko ka haruka he
kodomo no koroto subete chigatte kita ne
otona no shikumi shittara tameikitsuita
sekaijuu no koe kie
nani ka kakushi teru hontou no koto motometai no ni
tsuki no hikari konnya wa kono hoshi wo tsutsundeite
subete no hito tachi wo
somukenai unmei omoi kondeiru dakedayoto
douka utatte
kanashimi wo tsukuru no ga umaku natte ne
yorokobi wo sagasenai warui kuse da yo
sekaijuu no koe ima
tooku nagareteru pyua na hi ni modori na saito
tsuki no hikari abita hito wa kitto sunao ni nareru
kiita kotoga aru no
somukenai yasashisa hikari ga watashi wo tsutsumu yo
doko ka haruka he
sekaijuu no koe ima
tooku nagareteru pyua na hi ni modori na saito
tsuki no hikari konnya wa kono hoshi wo tsutsundeite
subete no hito tachi wo
somukenai unmei omoi kondeiru dakedayoto
Moon Light Lullaby (Meia image song) by Orikasa Fumiko from the album Vandread: Girls Serenade
Axel already asleep by the time she finished the song. She smiled and kissed his forehead."Good night, Axel. Have sweet dreams."
Rick was waiting outside the room when Meia stepped out of the room.
"He's asleep?"
Meia gave a nod.
"Yes. Thanks for that."
"Nah. No problem."
"Why are you here?"
"Uhh...well, you see..."
She placed her index finger on his lips. She then wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight.
"It's okay. I'm just glad that you're here."
"Meia..."
"Rick. Do you...do you want to be with me tonight?"
Rick smiled and kissed her head.
"Of course I want to. I promised you, didn't I?"
Meia looked up at him, with tears flowing on her cheeks.
"Rick. I love you."
Using his fingers, Rick wiped the tears away from her eyes.
"I love you too. So please don't cry, okay?"
He then kissed her on the lips. Meia felt it. The love and warmth she's been longing all these years.
(Rick...)
Hold me tight I'll love you all the night
Help me please to take away my sorrow
Me and you it's like a paradise
Show me the light
You're Gonna Be by Starlet from the album Initial D Battlestage
