Disclaimer: The characters of Aoshi, Misao and Sou aren't mine, while everyone else in this fic is. Mwahahaha!
Author's note: I decided to get another update in fair time, to make up for the HUGE gap last time- still feeling bad about that, sorry.
I quite like this chapter- not an ego thing, just liked it for some reason.
It seems everyone hates Maree. *scrunches nose up thoughtfully* I like her, but then, I know the part she has to play, whereas you see her as an evil witch who'll try to seduce Aoshi from Misao's side… *considers this* I can see your point.
But I'm still not telling what'll happen! *wink* Wait and see, but I do wish Maree wasn't so hated. Btw, 'Maree' is pronounced the same way as 'Marie', but the name 'Marie' isn't a fave with me, so I spelt it differently. And it's a mystery as to why I put in this pointless bit of info.
Btw, new rating is cos of a little bit of language. I should have put it at this rating from the start, really, considering the story, but… I dunno, I guess I procrastinated. Sorry if I've caused inconvenience/trouble for anyone.
Well, anyway- enjoy!
Ice and ChaosTenth
The photography room was quiet and warm at that hour of the day. Students of the last class had long since gone, and the teacher disappeared to their office or perhaps home. The sun was yet a few hours away from setting, but the late afternoon beams poured through the wide windows to warm the still air within the large room.
Misao's dark hair glimmered slightly in the bright sunlight as she turned her head to look from one picture to another. Her bright blue eyes were deep and thoughtful.
Her fingers traced a line on one photograph that curved round and dipped, and swept lightly off the side. After a moment of thought, she picked up a paintbrush from a pot nearby and, dipping the brush into a small pallet, retraced the line across the photograph, leaving a trail of blue colour as her hand moved. She washed the paintbrush carefully and dipped it into another place on the pallet, and moved it to give the blue line a silver twin.
As she waited for it to dry, she began to think about how she wanted to decorate the next page in her book.
A small sound behind her alerted her to another presence.
She turned, black plait swinging, to see a woman with dark hair and bright eyes stood by the door, watching her with a slight, gentle smile. Her photography teacher.
"I'm glad you came at last- that you took my offer," she said. She had a voice that reminded Misao of walks and picnics in meadows, out with her family as a child in the summer.
"I like it better when everyone else has gone," said Misao, turning back to the desk.
"What is the latest project, then? Anything I can look at?"
"If you want. It's just another photograph, one I took… a while ago."
The woman moved forward to stand beside Misao, and looked down at the picture.
It was a near-nighttime shot, mostly in shades of blue, from deep to pale.
The profile of a young man, his head leant down, hair falling forwards slightly, stood out in the foreground against a backdrop of a partly starry sky. The moon was only visible as a slip of silver in one corner, while one side was greyed and paler with the promise of dawn. The line of something, probably a car window frame, crossed one corner of the picture.
A blue and silver painted line curled round from the back of the man's head, dipping to his neck and then coiling to caress his cheek, right up to the space just beneath his closed eyelashes, before falling away from him and down away to the bottom of the picture, away from the night sky's stars.
"I like it."
Misao just nodded. Her teacher couldn't possibly understand what the picture really meant to her, but it was kind of nice to have it seen and appreciated by someone else anyway.
"This blue and silver line- is this you?"
Misao looked across at the woman beside her, blue eyes wider than usual. "What makes you say that?"
The woman leant over slightly to trace the air above the line with a finger. "It surrounds this man, like a comforting touch, trailing the vulnerable parts of his face, yet never really making contact with him. Is this how you feel about him?"
Misao turned away again, looking down at the picture. Her teacher loved reading into the photos she saw, and Misao couldn't help it: she felt that way herself most of the time.
She remembered when she'd taken this photo: that first night, that seemed so long ago now, when she'd woken up in the small hours of the following day, as dawn had started to grey the skies. She'd had her camera in her pocket, as she almost always did, and something made her want a picture of that young man. Just one picture: she had no others. He didn't even know she'd taken that one.
"In a way," she answered finally.
"The silver makes me think he is a cold person, as does the pale light on his face. The blue is the warmer part that represents you. Right?"
Misao nodded.
They stood there a while longer, both looking down at the picture.
"Well, I have work to mark and dinner to get home to. I'll see you tomorrow in class."
The teacher turned and quietly left the classroom.
Misao went on looking at the photograph, and wondering how a month could have passed so quickly.
Aoshi sat looking at the small piece of paper.
It had been there for two weeks now. Just sitting there, looking small and innocent on his bedside table.
On it was written a number and a message. The message said, 'You don't need a reason.' The number was Misao's.
He knew it was hers. He just knew. When he'd found it in his trench coat pocket, he'd suddenly remembered the moment they'd said goodbye. She'd been in the car a while, and he'd waited for her. She must have written the note then. When she'd hugged him, it had been a strange, slight hug at first- as she'd put the note in his pocket- and then she'd reached round to hug him close to her properly.
Even now, Aoshi found himself shaking his head over it.
His first instinct had been to throw the note away.
No. Why lie to himself? His first instinct had been to call the number.
A moment after that, he'd decided it was best to throw it away.
And after another moment, he'd realised he wouldn't. He couldn't throw it away.
So here he was, two weeks later, a month since he'd said goodbye to Misao, sat staring at the only link to her he had left: still sitting on the fence, unable to dial the number, unwilling to throw the note away.
I'm such an idiot. I've never been this indecisive about anything. It's ridiculous.
"Are you coming?"
Maree's head appeared round his door, and Aoshi's reverie was brought to an end.
He rose, nodding, and picked up his coat from where he'd left it slung across the bed, next to where he'd been sitting. Maree pushed the door wide and went ahead into the living area, where Aoshi could already see the group gathered, ready to go.
He swung his coat around his shoulders and stepped out to join them.
"Took your time, Shinomori!" Matt greeted him.
Aoshi just looked at him, the way he always looked at everyone. Except Misao… Ugh, stop it!
Matt slung an arm around Aoshi's shoulders with a grin. "Icy-faced bastard as ever, I see!" he said cheerfully.
Aoshi just shook his head with a near-smile. Typical Matt.
The blond-haired young man used his hold on Aoshi to start steering him to the door.
"Come on then everyone!" he cried over his shoulder, as Aoshi shrugged Matt's arm away and walked forward to the door.
"Sure, let me just-" Ven said as he reached for his keys.
Maree was already waiting quietly by the door. Ethan was stood near her, arms folded and his usual dark look on his face.
"Where's Kieran?"
"Here!"
His voice was muffled by a mouthful of food as he emerged from the kitchen holding a packet of crisps and a chocolate bar in one hand, a beer in the other.
Maree just shook her head.
Aoshi actually felt like laughing as Ven strode over and plucked the beer bottle from his friend's grip, saying, "For crying out loud, Kieran! Will you stop eating everything in my house? We're going to a bar for the evening and you drink beer now?"
"Why not?" asked Kieran, gesturing widely with an innocently puzzled look. "Something to drink on the way, you know?"
Matt helped himself to Kieran's crisps despite very vocal objections from the robbed party in question, Ethan did his 'dark and mysterious' act and appeared in the shadows outside ahead of the rest, Maree just kept shaking her head, and gradually the whole group made it out the door.
Ven locked the door behind them, and Maree said, "Finally," in a voice too quiet for most to hear. Aoshi glanced at her as she clambered onto the back of Ven's bike. She was already pulling her hair to the back of her neck, out of the way, and putting a helmet on. The visor came down with a snap.
Ven pulled his own helmet on, and swung himself lightly onto his motorbike. Maree griped his sides, just enough so that she wouldn't fall off, and they sped away out of the drive amidst the roar of the engine and red lights.
"Looks like we'll find them there, then," observed Matt, clambering into his car.
Ethan and Aoshi found their way to the backseat, and they pulled away.
Destination: the Cartoon.
As the group made their way from the car park to the front of the building, Aoshi could already hear the throbbing of a heavy rock beat emanating from the double doors.
The bouncer stood by the doors with his arms crossed, and nodded slightly to Ven as they walked in. Aoshi looked over at Maree, but her head was turned the other way, and all he could see was her bound-up hair, which she'd twined together with thin red strips of cloth that stood out brightly from her darker hair, while bringing out her auburn highlights.
Matt was already in full swing from the moment the entered the building, smirking handsomely at the room and whispering in one girl's ear on his way to the crowd near the stage. The girl followed him soon after, and Aoshi caught a glimpse of them dancing together a minute later.
Ven had been caught by a couple of girls who seemed determined to drag him to the dance floor, but he stood stoically where he was, and fobbed them off as smoothly and politely as only Ven could in such a situation.
Aoshi noticed that Kieran had already found his way to the bar, and was talking to a couple of other men there over drinks.
He looked around. He'd never been to the Cartoon before, but as the local rock club, it served as a regular hangout spot for Ven's group. The group had been there once before since Aoshi had started living with Ven and Maree, but he himself had pulled out, preferring an evening in for himself.
Now that he was feeling a little more sociable, it was actually just the kind of place Aoshi had always liked to go, back where he'd used to live.
The club wasn't huge, but big enough to accommodate the bar, seating area, small stage and dance floor come mosh pit. It was pretty dark in the corners, but the stage and the area near it was lit with flashing white lights, reflecting off the smoke in the air and highlighting the crazily rhythmic movements of the crowd in flickering silhouettes. The music was loud and fast, filling the close air and vibrating in Aoshi's lungs.
It was a good tune: the band was probably a local one, but they seemed comfortable on stage, the lead singer strumming energetically on his guitar while singing into the mic, the bassist, a girl, nodding her head in time to her music, and the drummer behind bashing out an amazing beat with flying hands.
Aoshi moved further into the club, nearer to the crowd in front of the stage, but after noting where everyone else in his group was, he realised Maree had vanished.
The momentary concern faded as the music drew him closer to the stage, and he found himself starting to move in time with it, nodding his head slightly and timing his steps to the infectiously heavy beat.
As he got further forwards, further into the crowd, he noticed there was a slight parting in the mass of moving bodies, and that the people around the gap were not dancing so much as watching.
Curious, Aoshi drew closer, and as he reached the fringes of the gap in the crowd, his eyes widened slightly and his lips parted to draw a quick breath from the hot air.
Maree was in the midst of the parting in the crowd, dancing by herself. Her slim, compact body moved with natural rhythm, in time with the music, her dark hair dancing a swirling counterpart to the movements of her body. Her eyes were closed, Aoshi noticed, as if she were lost in her own world of music and movement, and her body seemed to move of its own accord.
The dance was filled with intense energy, flowing with hard, pushing movements that seemed to repel the crowd's push, beat back even the heat and smoke in the air. It was almost frightening to watch the crazed intensity of the girl's movement, the near-desperation in the tensed yet smoothly moving muscles of her body. Aoshi watched with his brows subconsciously drawn together, a half-frown on his face.
Maree's hips began to sway a little more slowly, her whole body relaxing as the music slowed to an instrumental part, and, as if mimicking the guitar's sound, Maree's hands moved up from her hips, one finger running lazily over her body as her arms went higher, and the guitar's notes reached higher with her. As her arms stretched high over her, she turned her head in a near-flicking motion to either side, sending her plaits flying and red strips of fabric flashing in the sporadic white lights from the stage.
Aoshi was transfixed, yet some part of him was uneasy. Somehow, he felt that Maree's dance said more about her than anything she'd ever spoken to him about, or anything else he'd ever seen her do. He wondered what the dance was really saying, what Maree was trying to communicate through her movement.
The darkness seemed to surround and engulf the girl, echoing the dark clothes she wore, but the lights picked out her every turn and sway, highlighting the swirling silhouettes of her hair braids and wide black sleeves.
As the song slammed to a finish, everyone shouted their appreciation to the stage, and Maree's dance slammed to a stop with it, before she ran one hand across her cheek and neck, damp with sweat, apparently to push her hair away from her face, and she ducked away into the crowd, out of Aoshi's sight.
"Good dancer, isn't she?" came a voice by Aoshi's shoulder.
Ven spoke just loud enough for Aoshi to hear him over the noise of the crowd. Aoshi turned to him questioningly.
"She dances because it helps her forget about stuff," he added.
Aoshi's brows lifted slightly. Maree wants to forget?
Ven suddenly slapped him on the back. "Don't worry about it, though. And don't ask her about it. You'll only piss her off if you do that."
Aoshi nodded mutely. Why was Ven telling her if Maree wouldn't want him to know?
Ven was suddenly dragged away by three clamouring girls, all dressed seductively and smiling hopefully, none realising that they wouldn't be getting anywhere with Ven that night.
Aoshi just shook his head, and found his way through the hot, crowded darkness to the bar. Maybe Kieran had the right idea: a drink certainly sounded good just then.
The dark, misty crowds swallowed Aoshi as the band started up once more.
Author's note: Hope you liked it- I know the plot seems to have slowed a little- or maybe it's just me? I guess I've got all the future stuff in my head, so it seems a little slower to me now… rest assured there is much to come! *grin*
Oh, feedback! I have questions for you! Any requests as to what side-storylines you want explored more? I really don't mind- I have a few in mind, but I'm very open to suggestions. Things like particular characters you want explored, you know? Rest assured, things like Misao's dad, and her teacher, are things that will be looked into. Other stuff is open to public opinion! ^_^
I also want to know how you feel about a very slight and very modest lemony flavour to later events. I was planning to from the start, but I realised none of you know, so I don't want to upset anyone or anything. Let me know, kay?
Well, I'll be back as soon as I get the next chapter done. ^_^
Notes to reviewers:
Thank you to len (I like a relaxed Aoshi- it kinda makes his frostiness less apparent. ^_^), nekonomiko (Have faith! Everyone seems to think Maree is going to nick Aoshi… *hangs head* There are many forms of relationship between guys and girls… That's all I'll say), bee (*hand at back of head and sheepish grin* Sorry to worry you… I had lots of things going on, and no time or mood for this fic… It's one of those 'must be in the right frame of mind' ones… Well, it's better now! ^_^ Glad you're happy too!), EK (I will do my best!), Lady E (warm and cozy was the aim… ^_^ Nice to have a bit of relaxation once in a while in a story, ne?), Cat H (Yeh, I was mean with that- in the first draft, they were both at the beach, but didn't see each other. Would that have been meaner? Is meaner a word? So many questions… ^_^), Dark Phoenix (*shields Maree* Aw, she's not that bad! Wait and see! I know she seems to be a wannabe goth temptress of evil now… *giggle* Cheers for taking the time to review as you went, btw! Much appreciated!), koala4u (It's funny you mentioned that line, cos it's my fave line in that chapter! ^_^ And I loved your sum-up of Aoshi- yummy hunk of emotional turmoil… Couldn't have put it better myself! ^_^ Thanks for the compliments… *bashful* I'm glad you like it. It feels a little off to me at the mo, but I'm trying. It does still feel on track, all the same… Ah, who knows? Next chapter soon hopefully!), FlameSolo (Thank you very much ^_^ Glad you like it *laugh*), sophomoric genius (The guy in the tree wasn't really meant to be anyone in particular, but I might do something with him, given the unexpected interest in him. ^_^ Sorry for the late update- it was bad, I'm sorry. I'll do better! I know how it feels to have to wait ages for the next bit of story), lebleuphenix (Yes, I wanted to put some kind of mirror between Misao and Maree… *grin* All part of my 'Big Plan'. ^_^ Aoshi will recover now- journey is fully over and all…) and Kitten Kisses (Thanks! A/M fluff… I don't know how close that is yet. But I can see in my head the way events are going, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait and see!).
Thank you all! Please leave your thoughts, I'd appreciate it, especially regarding my question- I'd like to know what you want.
