Hey Guys! I know the last chapter may have had a lot of OOC moments, but I'm hoping I'll nail it in this
chapter. I haven't had much time to write lately- I've been so busy with everything else! Sorry for the
incredibly long wait between chapters. While I've been writing, I've felt like the story's dragging too
much- not enough action and too much character insight. At the same time, I sometimes feel like it's
necessary, since the situation is so delicate and complex, and I'm trying to keep everyone true to themselves.
I've also been stuck in a writer's block of sorts, so it's taken me a while to come up with just
the right thing. Well, thanks again for reading, etc. Keep sending comments- I love to get them, and they
really motivate me to write more. ^_^ Enjoy!
Magic and Other Nonsense:
Chapter 4
Her head throbbed with each aching step she took. Her bag hung like a fifty pound weight over her
shoulder. Nanaka shuffled down the walkway to the school's entrance, a hand pressed to her forehead in an
attempt to relieve the pain. There had been little time to prepare for school so her hair was still wet
from her shower and her uniform was rumpled from the previous night. She still felt as though the events
of the last several hours had all been a dream. The frustration she felt when she was so rudely awakened
by her alarm clock had only helped in confusing her further. She still couldn't understand why Aburatsubo
had taken such an interest in her all of a sudden, why she seemed to matter so much to him when he had
hardly spoken two words to her in the last few weeks. She had never been oblivious to the obsessive
attention he lavished on Takeo. She refused to let herself believe that he had given up on him and
decided to focus on her.
Getting out of bed had been hell this morning. Not only had every limb and joint suffered thoroughly,
the dream she was pulled out of had been so intense, so real and enticing that she had never wanted to
wake up again. Not to mention the fact that she had to get up especially early to open up the club room
and help set things up before school. Of course, one of the most irritating things about the dream had
been the fact that the situation mirrored what would happen today anyway. If she hadn't been so tired and
sore, Nanaka would have blushed at the memory.
She truly missed walking to school with Sae. Even if Nanaka didn't want to talk about what had
happened, she loved Sae's cheerful naivete. It almost never failed to cheer her up. Besides, she would
rather not have to focus on herself at the moment, anyway. Nanaka also remembered that Aburatsubo would be
there early, too. Her first thought was that he may just ignore her and prove that she dreamed up all
that had happened since yesterday's club meeting. If it turned out that she hadn't hallucinated the whole
thing, he would probably take one look at her and insist that she return home. One thing was for sure- she
certainly wasn't imagining the pain she was suffering at present. She was sure that she looked the way
she felt. She hoped Aburatsubo hadn't told the others about what had happened. Nanaka would refuse to let
her aches and pains keep her from doing what she needed to do. As long as she had her medicine with her,
she would be able to last the day. With these thoughts, Nanaka started down the corridor to the Club Room.
She almost wished she wouldn't run into Aburatsubo as she walked to the room, but knew it was most likely
unavoidable. She saw the door ahead shadowed by the lockers and reached in her bag to pull out her key.
When she was a few feet from the door she realized that the room had been opened and the lights were already
on.
At a quick glance, she identified the person within. Aburatsubo stood with his back to her, his vividly-
colored hair catching the light of the poorly lit, cramped room. Nanaka was immediately assaulted by the
butterflies in her stomach, frantically searching for a course of action. She quickly decided to take a
look around the room, make sure everything was in order, and make her escape before she was noticed.
Aburatsubo still stood with his back to her. She assumed he hadn't detected her presence in the room yet.
She didn't have the energy or confidence to approach him at the moment. She quickly turned on her heel,
making as little noise as possible and started towards the door. She never made it. Nanaka's heart leapt
in her throat when she felt a hand close on her wrist, tugging her back into the room suddenly. She gasped
at the abrupt movement, and fought back a blush when she realized how similar this was to the dream she had
experienced last night. She stood facing Aburatsubo, her head down, but acutely aware of his close proximity
to her and the way he had moved his grip down from her wrist to her hand. Nanaka almost feared the expression
she would find on his face, but gathered her courage and looked up at him. She was greeted with his
characteristic indifferent look, and when he spoke, the voice was somewhat cold and practical, with an edge
of irritation.
"What are you doing here, Nanaka-san? You should be home, resting," he asked in a voice edged with frustration.
Thrown off a bit by the way Aburatsubo had addressed her- less formal than before, she hesitated, then chuckled
a little nervously, responding in a light-hearted tone.
"Look, Ab, Ayanojou-kun. I'm fine- don't worry about me. The doctor said everything was okay; I just got knocked
around a bit. I have medicine, anyway. I shouldn't miss school just because of a little headache." Nanaka tried to
smile reassuringly, but it came out more as a grimace. He sent her back a flat, unamused look, his eyes narrowed
and mouth set in a grim line. It never ceased to amaze her how effortlessly he managed to keep his dispassionate
expression; eyelids always half-lowered. Nanaka knew how the "Aya Club" loved to refer to them as "bedroom eyes"
which emitted unwavering sexual appeal. Of course, this effect was not entirely lost on Nanaka.
One interested look from him was enough to make any of his admirers swoon. He was truly a master of underplaying any
extreme emotional and psychological situation, his eyes never losing their dreamy, indifferent, controlled look,
except for in rare cases (many involving Takeo or his scary mother). Nanaka blinked out of her random fascinated
admiration, and returned to Earth.
"Well, you certainly don't look like you feel much better than you did last night. After all that happened
yesterday, you shouldn't be here, whether you think you feel well or not." "If you're worried about missing school,
I could have Sae bring your work to you at home, or I could bring it to you myself." He looked down at her with a
no-nonsense expression on his face. Nanaka's stubbornness shone through in an instant.
"Really, I feel fine. I have medicine in case I need it. I won't to miss school and important responsibilities
when there's nothing wrong with me. There's no need to worry. You know, I hate being fussed over..."
"I know, you can take care of yourself." Aburatsubo smiled and shook his head, and Nanaka flushed again with anger
and embarrassment. She opened her mouth to retort, but he started to speak again.
"Just look how well have you been taking care of yourself lately," he continued with a cynical smirk on his face.
"I really think you should be home resting, and I'm sure Sae, Takeo, and Akane would agree." He had a point. Nanaka
sighed defeatedly, then looked up at him again.
"Okay, how about this: I'll go home for the day, if you agree not to tell the others about anything that
happened." Aburatsubo immediately frowned and looked back at her with a suspicious glint in his eyes.
"Why shouldn't I tell them?" "Sawanagouchi-kun is your closest friend, right?" "Besides, the whole thing seemed
like a magic-related incident, so it would be important to the rest of the club as well." Nanaka sighed exasperatedly
as she noticed the students crowding in the halls to gather before class began. Some of the girls who were part
of Aburatsubo's "fan club" were pointing at them and wearing disgusted, angry expressions as they watched the
intimate exchange.
"Look, I'll explain later, Ayanojou-san." "School's starting in a few minutes. You need to get to homeroom."
Nanaka moved away slightly, but was startled again when the grip on her hand tightened, and his fingers laced through
her own. Too flustered to move further, she continued to face Aburatsubo, blushing deeply and avoiding his gaze.
"You promise me you'll rest," he questioned, lowering his head to send her a searching, concerned look. Nanaka,
still blushing, met his eyes and nodded. His emerald stare suddenly glinted with mischief as he continued.
"Well, I better not see you in school later, or I'll tell everyone else all about what happened after last night's
meeting." Nanaka snapped out of her romantic daze.
"That's blackmail," she exclaimed defensively. Aburatsubo smirked devilishly, his eyes retaining their characteristic
"bored" expression.
"Exactly, Nanaka-san" he replied in an amused tone. He squeezed her hand and spoke gently.
"Well, feel better. I'll catch you later. Ja!" Aburatsubo released Nanaka's hand and turned towards the door.
She followed and walked out ahead of him into the hall, ignoring the furious expressions and exclamations of Aburatsubo's
fan club as she headed towards her locker. Aburatsubo shut the door to the club room and was immediately assaulted by
his adoring fans before he had stepped two feet outside the door.
*****************************************************************************************************************************
Aburatsubo let out the breath he had been holding. The voices of those girls and their choruses of "Aya-chan"
still rang through his head. Those girls possessed all the typical, most irritating qualities that had ever been
present in all the females he had ever known. Their adoring, superficial smiles and shallow conversations never ceased
to frustrate him. He knew he wouldn't stand against them because he felt it a waste of time and energy.
They always expected so much of him to begin with. To those girls, Aburatsubo was the perfect model, practically a
god, a man who could do anything and be anything he wanted; overcome any obstacle and act cool without even trying.
He hated feeling as though he were supposed to live up to their standards. They were so much like his mother that it was
infuriating.
Forgetting their annoying questions and ridiculous accusations, he turned his thoughts again to Nanaka. She
had looked so pale and weak earlier. It was clear from the way she cradled her head in her hands that she had been
in pain. Her eyes had been watery and slightly bloodshot, her movements shaky. He could tell she had been trying to
keep her self in control despite her condition. Her hand had felt so small in his grasp, so cold and
clammy, that he had been sure she was running a fever. He hadn't given a second thought to his fan club's looks of
outrage- he was used to such behavior from them. He hadn't intended for his actions toward Nanaka to be romantic in
nature. He had tried to act in friendship while attempting to express his deep concern for her. However, despite himself,
he had been taken with the soft, flustered look on Nanaka's face as she had reacted to their closeness. She had
smelled so nice, so natural, as if that clean, sweet, fresh scent had always been a part of her. Again, she proved
how different she was from all the girls he knew without even trying, from something as insignificant as her scent.
'She's so different from Takeo,' he mused, smirking at the thought. He let out a sigh as he continued
to make his way to class.
Aburatsubo had felt so worried about her after all that had happened. He wasn't used to being so protective
of a girl. One of the first times he had felt this way had been during the Magic Club's final battle with the Bell.
After Nanaka had so selflessly expressed her love for him, something had changed between them; a mutual understanding
and unspecified potential in their relationship that compelled him to protect her during the fight. The whole feeling
was so completely new and different that it confused him, yet awakened something in himself that he had never touched
upon before. It almost made him feel whole. Aburatsubo knew that Takeo was first in his heart, and he still loved
and wanted him more than anything else, but he felt that the whole thing was so hopeless. He was in the same place as
Nanaka and knew how she felt more than anyone. In a way, focusing on her allowed him to forget about Takeo, to do
something new and interesting so that he didn't feel as lost and depressed as he had been. He recalled the fiery way
she responded to him, as he had seen her respond to Sae so many times, the gentle, becoming way she would blush
when she was around him distracted him from Takeo because she amused and endeared him so. He shook his head in
exasperation, trying to clear his head of such conflicted thoughts. He decided he had to be going crazy, because why
else would he be so bothered by all of this? This wasn't like him at all. Suddenly, Aburatsubo spotted his homeroom
door and made it just in time for the bell to ring. He already couldn't wait to see Takeo at lunch, assuming that Sae
wasn't there to be the annoying pest that she always was. Pushed to the back of his mind, he sincerely hoped that
Nanaka would keep from being her stubborn self and take his advice.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Nanaka had firmly decided to stay in school for as long as she could, despite Aburatsubo's "request."
She knew she just had to take her chances and hope she wouldn't be spotted before the Magic Club meeting. If it
came to that, she hoped she could still convince him not to tell Sae and the others. She had known yesterday that she
had tests in three subjects and couldn't afford to miss them. She groaned in frustration when she realized that she
hadn't finished any of her homework for her classes. The homeroom door was just up ahead. She already dreaded
the rest of the day.
Aburatsubo never failed to confuse her every time she saw him. Her earlier interaction with him
left her feeling dreamy and hopeful because he had been so concerned for her. Yet, her anger and irritation remained
because of the fact that he was still in love with Takeo (she knew better than to assume he'd forgotten him), and had
the nerve to watch over her as though she were a child. She was puzzled enough to begin with, because of his sudden
focus on her. She was no closer to figuring him out. All these conflicting emotions were worsening her headache, so
she pushed them to the back of her mind and concentrated on the rest of the day, running in the door just as her
sensei called her name.
She took her seat and looked over to see Sae gazing at her with a concerned, inquiring expression. Nanaka knew
she would have to face Sae. She kicked herself inwardly for forgetting that she would have to explain herself to her
best friend some way. She momentarily ignored the rest of the class, trying desperately to finish her homework during
the last few announcements of homeroom. She hurriedly scooped up her books as the bell rang, and rushed to the door in
an effort to escape Sae for now, knowing she'd try to catch up any way. As if on cue, she heard her friend's voice
call out to her from behind.
"Nanaka- chan!" Nanaka moved to dodge the rushing students and stood at the side of the hall, defeatedly
waiting for Sae to come over. Sae was breathing heavily, her large eyes innocent and baffled. Her expression was
one of hurt and frantic concern as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Nanaka-chan, what happened yesterday?" "I tried to reach you after the meeting last night, I couldn't get
through, and today we weren't walking to school, and I've been so worried about you!" She paused momentarily for an
intake of air, and continued.
"And, why didn't you tell me that you and Aburatsubo-sempai were a couple?" Nanaka's eyes widened at that, and
she looked as though she were about to explode. "Everyone's been talking about it since this morning!" "You know I'm
your best friend, and you can tell me anything, so when did this happen, and what's been wrong lately?" Letting her
temper cool, Nanaka held her head in her hands while listening, a dull expression on her face.
"I mean, what have I been doing wrong?" "I feel like I'm losing you!" Sae's lip started quivering, her eyes threatening
to burst into tears; her face crumpled as she lowered her head. Before the sobs began, Nanaka interrupted, rolling
her eyes.
"Whoa, whoa.. calm down Sae." She patted her on the back and chose her words carefully, trying desperately to
keep her patience. "Of course we're still friends," she began, gritting her teeth to catch herself from shouting. "I've
just been busier than usual lately." Nanaka forced a bright smile on her face as she looked at Sae, ignoring her
sharp headache and the familiar urge to yell at her rambling best friend. Sae immediately relaxed and wiped her eyes,
smiling back at her best friend. "So, you're not mad at me?"
"No, of course not!" "Why would I be mad at you?!" Nanaka massaged her temple with her hand and decided to continue.
Sae timidly regarded her friend, recognizing her attempts to keep her impatience at bay and wondering whether she should
respond.
"Now, Sae-," Nanaka began, flashing a dangerous smile, "where did you hear that Aburatsubo-sempai and I were dating, and
what possessed you to believe it?!" Sae backed away slightly under Nanaka's sharp gaze and meekly responded.
"Well, Takakura-sempai and I were discussing the club meeting before homeroom, and when we heard Matsura-sempai
and her friends talking about the way you and Aburatsubo-sempai were acting before homeroom, I thought you had finally
decided to go out with him. I mean, I've known all along that he's in love with you, and you guys make such a great
couple, I just want to see you happy, and I know......." Nanaka closed her eyes and sighed, waiting as calmly as
possible for Sae to finish her stream of babbling. With a hopeless sigh, Nanaka tiredly replied.
"Sae, I think you know me better than that. Trust me, if Aburatsubo-sempai and I were dating, you would be the
first to know. I know you mean well, but sometimes I wonder if you ever listen to me. I mean, haven't I been telling
you all along that he isn't interested in me? Nothing has changed- I've accepted that."
"But Nanaka, you know that isn't true," Sae determinedly exclaimed while Nanaka sent her a flat look, arms
crossed defensively. "It may not seem like it, but Aburatsubo-sempai really does care about you- he's always looking
after you, and asking about you when you're not around. I know he cares about you at least as much as I do, and
he and I aren't the only ones who've been worried about you. Takeo-kun, and even Akane-san have been worried about
you, too. We've all noticed how you've changed. We're all your friends. I just wish that you would at least tell
me what's wrong." Sae concluded her speech sadly, having not faltered once. She made perfect sense, amazingly enough.
She looked at Nanaka beseechingly, silently begging her best friend to let her help.
Nanaka uncrossed her arms defeatedly, her face relaxed as she pulled her best friend into a hug. "Oh, Sae, I
know things haven't been the same for a while, and it's not your fault. You'll always be my best friend. I'm
sorry I've neglected you lately. Tell you what- I promise we'll get together this week, and we can get all caught up."
Nanaka smiled gently at Sae, who returned the smile gratefully while wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"Thank you so much, Nanaka- I can't wait! I've missed you so much, I just want to help,.." Nanaka nodded her
head impatiently while Sae continued, and looked at her watch , suddenly realizing the time. "Well, Sae," she
interrupted, "we've already missed homeroom, and we have to get to our next class, and I have to stop by the bathroom
before we go." Sae nodded as Nanaka turned towards the bathroom and the bell rang, signalling the end of homeroom
and students hurriedly rushed out the doors. Sae and Nanaka were in many of the same classes, so they went through
their schedule together throughout the day. It was only recently, in the last month or so, that Sae had been
spending more time with Takeo, so they didn't go to class together as frequently.
It was while Nanaka started walking towards the bathroom that she realized how much worse her headache was.
Overwhelmed by vertigo, followed by pounding waves of pain, she tripped slightly, nearly falling over. Sae came up
behind her quickly, confused and concerned for her.
"Nanaka, are you alright?" She looked down at Nanaka, who was holding a hand to her forehead, breathing deeply
in an attempt to control the disorientation. "You don't look so good, Nanaka-chan. You look really pale- I've been
noticing it since earlier. Maybe you should go ho.."
"No, Sae," Nanaka interrupted suddenly, "I'm feeling fine. I just didn't get much sleep last night, and I'm
a little tired. I'm feeling better already, so don't worry. We better hurry or we'll be late to class." Nanaka
straightened herself up and walked to the bathroom door again hurriedly, maneuvering through the rushing crowd of
students. "Wait for me- I'll be out in a minute," she told Sae by the door.
Nanaka made her way into the bathroom, pressing her hand to her forehead while simultaneously reaching into
her backpack to find some headache medicine. She passed by a few of the stalls, singlemindedly focusing on finding
her medicine, desperate to relieve the throbbing ache behind her temples. Just as her fingers made contact with the
Advil bottle, she was knocked completely off her feet, taken completely unawares by the force of something abruptly
slamming into her left side. She made no sound of surprise or hurt, having been taken off guard and
nearly knocked senseless from the shock. She almost blacked out from the pain, the impact irritating her already
present aches from the previous evening. She stayed on the ground, doubled over and clutching her side, afraid to
move for fear of further pain. She slowly returned to reality. From her spot on the floor, Nanaka was faintly aware
of the sound of footsteps directly above her head. She turned her head up to focus on the source of the sound.
Her eyes followed a pair of designer black shoes which paused in front of her momentarily, then turning to walk
casually towards the bathroom sinks. The shoes stopped again in front of the sinks. She heard the water running
from the faucet, followed by a light, carefree feminine voice.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you there," the voice stated in an subtle, insincere manner. Nanaka, grimacing,
pulled herself into a crouching position, clutching her side protectively. Seething with anger, her side throbbing,
she glared up at the owner of the voice. Speak of the devil. There stood Matsura Ami, the infamous new leader of the
"Aya-sama" fan club, the very person Sae had mentioned as the culprit for spreading certain rumors this morning. Ami
stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her long, luxurious brunette locks framing her face as she concentrated intently
on reapplying her dark red lipstick to perfection. Nanaka glared up at her, the depths of her rage pointedly
ignored by the fashionable upperclassman.
Nanaka remembered how Ami had first arrived at her school, a transfer student from America whom no female classmate
could parallel and no male student could ever catch. She was talented at everything. She had instantly taken a liking
to Aburatsubo. She was constantly plotting ways to make him hers. She had the
support of the entire Aburatsubo fan club, since none of its members could compare to her, and all feared her prowess.
Of course, the boys of the school couldn't see the flaws beyond her perfect, sweet and coquettish exterior. Normally,
Nanaka would choose not to get mixed up in any of Ami's plots, but it seemed this time it was unavoidable. Nanaka
lifted herself up to her full height, still holding her side protectively while Ami finished powdering her face.
"You don't have to pretend, you know. I already know why you did it, so you can drop the innocent act,"
Nanaka spoke icily. Not expecting a respose, Nanaka turned to go into one of the bathroom stalls. Instead, she
was once again taken by surprise. To add insult to injury, this time, by the sharp impact of a hand hitting
the right side of her face. Only momentarily stunned, Nanaka turned around to face Ami, a hand holding her cheek
while she faced her opponent. More angry than hurt, Nanaka opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off by Ami's
speech.
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner," she stated indignantly, haughtly expression fixed on her face
while her hand rested fashionably on her hip. "If you dare to threaten me by stealing my Aya-chan from me, you'll
get what's coming to you. I warn you, you better stay away from Aya-chan, or suffer the consequences. Believe me,
you'll regret it." At this point, despite her pain, Nanaka was ready to lunge at Ami and ruin that perfect face
and hair, but before she even had a chance to retaliate verbally, the bathroom door opened and another Aya fan club
member called for Ami. Nanaka recognized her as the former fan club president, Mikote Michiko.
"Well, I've wasted enough time on you. You have been officially warned. Next time, I won't be so nice."
With that, Ami turned around and swiftly walked out the door, the clicking of her designer shoes and the slam of the
door trailing behind her. Nanaka quickly pulled herself together, despite wanting to scream in frustration. She
went to the bathroom in record time, only briefly noting that there was a slight scratch on the middle of the redness
of her cheek. Her side was already developing a pretty bad bruise. She heard someone enter the bathroom, then, Sae's
frantic voice.
"Nanaka, Nanaka," she said between gasps, "what happened?" "Matsura-sempai told me to tell you that
you better be careful, because if you don't stay away from Aburatsubo-sempai, she'll do a lot worse. Nanaka-chan, are
you alright? What did she do to you? Hey, we better hurry, the bell's gonna ring!" Sae's worried voice finally
trailed off as Nanaka came out of the stall, sighing wearily. Sae looked at her in alarm.
"Nanaka, there's a big red mark on your cheek- did she hit you? I mean, you were already looking bad today, I mean,
you didn't look bad, you just didn't look well, anyway, you look even worse now, not that you look bad, I don't know what
I'm trying to say, but maybe you should go home." Sae finished with an uncertain look on her face. Nanaka finished washing
her hands in the sink and turned to look at Sae.
"Sae, I can't go home. We have tests this week. I can't miss any class. You know that!"
"But, Nanaka, you've never really missed that much class before. You can afford to miss. Besides, that mark
looks really bad. Did she really hit you?"
"Never mind that. We have to get to class." Nanaka turned to open the door, her side and head still throbbing from
the recent attack. Sae wouldn't let her leave just yet.
"Nanaka, I'll take you to the Nurse. We'll figure out some way to get you home. You might have to wait until lunch time,
but at least you can rest. I mean, at lunch, I'll talk to the rest of the Magic Club. I'm sure I can get Aburatsubo-sempai
to help me walk you home, at least." At the mention of Aburatsubo's name, Nanaka groaned. Now he would know for sure that she
hadn't gone home when he asked her to. He would probably tell the Club about everything that's happened. She shook her head
and frowned, angered by her own carelessness, but the pain won out in the end. She sighed as Sae walked up to her, urging her
to go to the Nurse with her again. Nanaka wearily agreed.
"Okay, Sae, let's go. I figured you wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed, anyway." The two friends made their way
down the hall to the Nurse, a concerned Sae supporting Nanaka's bruised shoulders as she took each shaky step.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, the end of Chap. 4! Seems like it took me long enough, right! Over the last few months that I've neglected this story
(life took over T_T), I've managed to be able to watch the rest of the MTT series. I realize a lot of this story may not make
sense, and there may be much OOC. Since watching the end, I've tried desperately to edit some of the earlier chapters and
continue writing as true to the series as possible. Thank you all for being so patient with me, and I apologize to all who
feel the story isn't going in the right direction, or feel it's gotten worse since the beginning. I hope you will all
continue to review and criticize, as I continue to revise what I've already written. I'm sorry, also, that you've all had
to wait so long for this chapter and the ones following. Unfortunately, since my last chapter, I've been overwhelmed by
college, writer's block, and life in general. Thank you again for your patience and cooperation- I know from experience as a
fanfic reader how difficult it can be to wait for the next chapter for so long, when a story has really captured your
attention. Anyway, thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and will continue to enjoy the next. (By the by,
I plan on including more interaction with other characters- esp. Akane, and I'm hoping the action and progression of the A/N
thing will pick up again ^_^)
chapter. I haven't had much time to write lately- I've been so busy with everything else! Sorry for the
incredibly long wait between chapters. While I've been writing, I've felt like the story's dragging too
much- not enough action and too much character insight. At the same time, I sometimes feel like it's
necessary, since the situation is so delicate and complex, and I'm trying to keep everyone true to themselves.
I've also been stuck in a writer's block of sorts, so it's taken me a while to come up with just
the right thing. Well, thanks again for reading, etc. Keep sending comments- I love to get them, and they
really motivate me to write more. ^_^ Enjoy!
Magic and Other Nonsense:
Chapter 4
Her head throbbed with each aching step she took. Her bag hung like a fifty pound weight over her
shoulder. Nanaka shuffled down the walkway to the school's entrance, a hand pressed to her forehead in an
attempt to relieve the pain. There had been little time to prepare for school so her hair was still wet
from her shower and her uniform was rumpled from the previous night. She still felt as though the events
of the last several hours had all been a dream. The frustration she felt when she was so rudely awakened
by her alarm clock had only helped in confusing her further. She still couldn't understand why Aburatsubo
had taken such an interest in her all of a sudden, why she seemed to matter so much to him when he had
hardly spoken two words to her in the last few weeks. She had never been oblivious to the obsessive
attention he lavished on Takeo. She refused to let herself believe that he had given up on him and
decided to focus on her.
Getting out of bed had been hell this morning. Not only had every limb and joint suffered thoroughly,
the dream she was pulled out of had been so intense, so real and enticing that she had never wanted to
wake up again. Not to mention the fact that she had to get up especially early to open up the club room
and help set things up before school. Of course, one of the most irritating things about the dream had
been the fact that the situation mirrored what would happen today anyway. If she hadn't been so tired and
sore, Nanaka would have blushed at the memory.
She truly missed walking to school with Sae. Even if Nanaka didn't want to talk about what had
happened, she loved Sae's cheerful naivete. It almost never failed to cheer her up. Besides, she would
rather not have to focus on herself at the moment, anyway. Nanaka also remembered that Aburatsubo would be
there early, too. Her first thought was that he may just ignore her and prove that she dreamed up all
that had happened since yesterday's club meeting. If it turned out that she hadn't hallucinated the whole
thing, he would probably take one look at her and insist that she return home. One thing was for sure- she
certainly wasn't imagining the pain she was suffering at present. She was sure that she looked the way
she felt. She hoped Aburatsubo hadn't told the others about what had happened. Nanaka would refuse to let
her aches and pains keep her from doing what she needed to do. As long as she had her medicine with her,
she would be able to last the day. With these thoughts, Nanaka started down the corridor to the Club Room.
She almost wished she wouldn't run into Aburatsubo as she walked to the room, but knew it was most likely
unavoidable. She saw the door ahead shadowed by the lockers and reached in her bag to pull out her key.
When she was a few feet from the door she realized that the room had been opened and the lights were already
on.
At a quick glance, she identified the person within. Aburatsubo stood with his back to her, his vividly-
colored hair catching the light of the poorly lit, cramped room. Nanaka was immediately assaulted by the
butterflies in her stomach, frantically searching for a course of action. She quickly decided to take a
look around the room, make sure everything was in order, and make her escape before she was noticed.
Aburatsubo still stood with his back to her. She assumed he hadn't detected her presence in the room yet.
She didn't have the energy or confidence to approach him at the moment. She quickly turned on her heel,
making as little noise as possible and started towards the door. She never made it. Nanaka's heart leapt
in her throat when she felt a hand close on her wrist, tugging her back into the room suddenly. She gasped
at the abrupt movement, and fought back a blush when she realized how similar this was to the dream she had
experienced last night. She stood facing Aburatsubo, her head down, but acutely aware of his close proximity
to her and the way he had moved his grip down from her wrist to her hand. Nanaka almost feared the expression
she would find on his face, but gathered her courage and looked up at him. She was greeted with his
characteristic indifferent look, and when he spoke, the voice was somewhat cold and practical, with an edge
of irritation.
"What are you doing here, Nanaka-san? You should be home, resting," he asked in a voice edged with frustration.
Thrown off a bit by the way Aburatsubo had addressed her- less formal than before, she hesitated, then chuckled
a little nervously, responding in a light-hearted tone.
"Look, Ab, Ayanojou-kun. I'm fine- don't worry about me. The doctor said everything was okay; I just got knocked
around a bit. I have medicine, anyway. I shouldn't miss school just because of a little headache." Nanaka tried to
smile reassuringly, but it came out more as a grimace. He sent her back a flat, unamused look, his eyes narrowed
and mouth set in a grim line. It never ceased to amaze her how effortlessly he managed to keep his dispassionate
expression; eyelids always half-lowered. Nanaka knew how the "Aya Club" loved to refer to them as "bedroom eyes"
which emitted unwavering sexual appeal. Of course, this effect was not entirely lost on Nanaka.
One interested look from him was enough to make any of his admirers swoon. He was truly a master of underplaying any
extreme emotional and psychological situation, his eyes never losing their dreamy, indifferent, controlled look,
except for in rare cases (many involving Takeo or his scary mother). Nanaka blinked out of her random fascinated
admiration, and returned to Earth.
"Well, you certainly don't look like you feel much better than you did last night. After all that happened
yesterday, you shouldn't be here, whether you think you feel well or not." "If you're worried about missing school,
I could have Sae bring your work to you at home, or I could bring it to you myself." He looked down at her with a
no-nonsense expression on his face. Nanaka's stubbornness shone through in an instant.
"Really, I feel fine. I have medicine in case I need it. I won't to miss school and important responsibilities
when there's nothing wrong with me. There's no need to worry. You know, I hate being fussed over..."
"I know, you can take care of yourself." Aburatsubo smiled and shook his head, and Nanaka flushed again with anger
and embarrassment. She opened her mouth to retort, but he started to speak again.
"Just look how well have you been taking care of yourself lately," he continued with a cynical smirk on his face.
"I really think you should be home resting, and I'm sure Sae, Takeo, and Akane would agree." He had a point. Nanaka
sighed defeatedly, then looked up at him again.
"Okay, how about this: I'll go home for the day, if you agree not to tell the others about anything that
happened." Aburatsubo immediately frowned and looked back at her with a suspicious glint in his eyes.
"Why shouldn't I tell them?" "Sawanagouchi-kun is your closest friend, right?" "Besides, the whole thing seemed
like a magic-related incident, so it would be important to the rest of the club as well." Nanaka sighed exasperatedly
as she noticed the students crowding in the halls to gather before class began. Some of the girls who were part
of Aburatsubo's "fan club" were pointing at them and wearing disgusted, angry expressions as they watched the
intimate exchange.
"Look, I'll explain later, Ayanojou-san." "School's starting in a few minutes. You need to get to homeroom."
Nanaka moved away slightly, but was startled again when the grip on her hand tightened, and his fingers laced through
her own. Too flustered to move further, she continued to face Aburatsubo, blushing deeply and avoiding his gaze.
"You promise me you'll rest," he questioned, lowering his head to send her a searching, concerned look. Nanaka,
still blushing, met his eyes and nodded. His emerald stare suddenly glinted with mischief as he continued.
"Well, I better not see you in school later, or I'll tell everyone else all about what happened after last night's
meeting." Nanaka snapped out of her romantic daze.
"That's blackmail," she exclaimed defensively. Aburatsubo smirked devilishly, his eyes retaining their characteristic
"bored" expression.
"Exactly, Nanaka-san" he replied in an amused tone. He squeezed her hand and spoke gently.
"Well, feel better. I'll catch you later. Ja!" Aburatsubo released Nanaka's hand and turned towards the door.
She followed and walked out ahead of him into the hall, ignoring the furious expressions and exclamations of Aburatsubo's
fan club as she headed towards her locker. Aburatsubo shut the door to the club room and was immediately assaulted by
his adoring fans before he had stepped two feet outside the door.
*****************************************************************************************************************************
Aburatsubo let out the breath he had been holding. The voices of those girls and their choruses of "Aya-chan"
still rang through his head. Those girls possessed all the typical, most irritating qualities that had ever been
present in all the females he had ever known. Their adoring, superficial smiles and shallow conversations never ceased
to frustrate him. He knew he wouldn't stand against them because he felt it a waste of time and energy.
They always expected so much of him to begin with. To those girls, Aburatsubo was the perfect model, practically a
god, a man who could do anything and be anything he wanted; overcome any obstacle and act cool without even trying.
He hated feeling as though he were supposed to live up to their standards. They were so much like his mother that it was
infuriating.
Forgetting their annoying questions and ridiculous accusations, he turned his thoughts again to Nanaka. She
had looked so pale and weak earlier. It was clear from the way she cradled her head in her hands that she had been
in pain. Her eyes had been watery and slightly bloodshot, her movements shaky. He could tell she had been trying to
keep her self in control despite her condition. Her hand had felt so small in his grasp, so cold and
clammy, that he had been sure she was running a fever. He hadn't given a second thought to his fan club's looks of
outrage- he was used to such behavior from them. He hadn't intended for his actions toward Nanaka to be romantic in
nature. He had tried to act in friendship while attempting to express his deep concern for her. However, despite himself,
he had been taken with the soft, flustered look on Nanaka's face as she had reacted to their closeness. She had
smelled so nice, so natural, as if that clean, sweet, fresh scent had always been a part of her. Again, she proved
how different she was from all the girls he knew without even trying, from something as insignificant as her scent.
'She's so different from Takeo,' he mused, smirking at the thought. He let out a sigh as he continued
to make his way to class.
Aburatsubo had felt so worried about her after all that had happened. He wasn't used to being so protective
of a girl. One of the first times he had felt this way had been during the Magic Club's final battle with the Bell.
After Nanaka had so selflessly expressed her love for him, something had changed between them; a mutual understanding
and unspecified potential in their relationship that compelled him to protect her during the fight. The whole feeling
was so completely new and different that it confused him, yet awakened something in himself that he had never touched
upon before. It almost made him feel whole. Aburatsubo knew that Takeo was first in his heart, and he still loved
and wanted him more than anything else, but he felt that the whole thing was so hopeless. He was in the same place as
Nanaka and knew how she felt more than anyone. In a way, focusing on her allowed him to forget about Takeo, to do
something new and interesting so that he didn't feel as lost and depressed as he had been. He recalled the fiery way
she responded to him, as he had seen her respond to Sae so many times, the gentle, becoming way she would blush
when she was around him distracted him from Takeo because she amused and endeared him so. He shook his head in
exasperation, trying to clear his head of such conflicted thoughts. He decided he had to be going crazy, because why
else would he be so bothered by all of this? This wasn't like him at all. Suddenly, Aburatsubo spotted his homeroom
door and made it just in time for the bell to ring. He already couldn't wait to see Takeo at lunch, assuming that Sae
wasn't there to be the annoying pest that she always was. Pushed to the back of his mind, he sincerely hoped that
Nanaka would keep from being her stubborn self and take his advice.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Nanaka had firmly decided to stay in school for as long as she could, despite Aburatsubo's "request."
She knew she just had to take her chances and hope she wouldn't be spotted before the Magic Club meeting. If it
came to that, she hoped she could still convince him not to tell Sae and the others. She had known yesterday that she
had tests in three subjects and couldn't afford to miss them. She groaned in frustration when she realized that she
hadn't finished any of her homework for her classes. The homeroom door was just up ahead. She already dreaded
the rest of the day.
Aburatsubo never failed to confuse her every time she saw him. Her earlier interaction with him
left her feeling dreamy and hopeful because he had been so concerned for her. Yet, her anger and irritation remained
because of the fact that he was still in love with Takeo (she knew better than to assume he'd forgotten him), and had
the nerve to watch over her as though she were a child. She was puzzled enough to begin with, because of his sudden
focus on her. She was no closer to figuring him out. All these conflicting emotions were worsening her headache, so
she pushed them to the back of her mind and concentrated on the rest of the day, running in the door just as her
sensei called her name.
She took her seat and looked over to see Sae gazing at her with a concerned, inquiring expression. Nanaka knew
she would have to face Sae. She kicked herself inwardly for forgetting that she would have to explain herself to her
best friend some way. She momentarily ignored the rest of the class, trying desperately to finish her homework during
the last few announcements of homeroom. She hurriedly scooped up her books as the bell rang, and rushed to the door in
an effort to escape Sae for now, knowing she'd try to catch up any way. As if on cue, she heard her friend's voice
call out to her from behind.
"Nanaka- chan!" Nanaka moved to dodge the rushing students and stood at the side of the hall, defeatedly
waiting for Sae to come over. Sae was breathing heavily, her large eyes innocent and baffled. Her expression was
one of hurt and frantic concern as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Nanaka-chan, what happened yesterday?" "I tried to reach you after the meeting last night, I couldn't get
through, and today we weren't walking to school, and I've been so worried about you!" She paused momentarily for an
intake of air, and continued.
"And, why didn't you tell me that you and Aburatsubo-sempai were a couple?" Nanaka's eyes widened at that, and
she looked as though she were about to explode. "Everyone's been talking about it since this morning!" "You know I'm
your best friend, and you can tell me anything, so when did this happen, and what's been wrong lately?" Letting her
temper cool, Nanaka held her head in her hands while listening, a dull expression on her face.
"I mean, what have I been doing wrong?" "I feel like I'm losing you!" Sae's lip started quivering, her eyes threatening
to burst into tears; her face crumpled as she lowered her head. Before the sobs began, Nanaka interrupted, rolling
her eyes.
"Whoa, whoa.. calm down Sae." She patted her on the back and chose her words carefully, trying desperately to
keep her patience. "Of course we're still friends," she began, gritting her teeth to catch herself from shouting. "I've
just been busier than usual lately." Nanaka forced a bright smile on her face as she looked at Sae, ignoring her
sharp headache and the familiar urge to yell at her rambling best friend. Sae immediately relaxed and wiped her eyes,
smiling back at her best friend. "So, you're not mad at me?"
"No, of course not!" "Why would I be mad at you?!" Nanaka massaged her temple with her hand and decided to continue.
Sae timidly regarded her friend, recognizing her attempts to keep her impatience at bay and wondering whether she should
respond.
"Now, Sae-," Nanaka began, flashing a dangerous smile, "where did you hear that Aburatsubo-sempai and I were dating, and
what possessed you to believe it?!" Sae backed away slightly under Nanaka's sharp gaze and meekly responded.
"Well, Takakura-sempai and I were discussing the club meeting before homeroom, and when we heard Matsura-sempai
and her friends talking about the way you and Aburatsubo-sempai were acting before homeroom, I thought you had finally
decided to go out with him. I mean, I've known all along that he's in love with you, and you guys make such a great
couple, I just want to see you happy, and I know......." Nanaka closed her eyes and sighed, waiting as calmly as
possible for Sae to finish her stream of babbling. With a hopeless sigh, Nanaka tiredly replied.
"Sae, I think you know me better than that. Trust me, if Aburatsubo-sempai and I were dating, you would be the
first to know. I know you mean well, but sometimes I wonder if you ever listen to me. I mean, haven't I been telling
you all along that he isn't interested in me? Nothing has changed- I've accepted that."
"But Nanaka, you know that isn't true," Sae determinedly exclaimed while Nanaka sent her a flat look, arms
crossed defensively. "It may not seem like it, but Aburatsubo-sempai really does care about you- he's always looking
after you, and asking about you when you're not around. I know he cares about you at least as much as I do, and
he and I aren't the only ones who've been worried about you. Takeo-kun, and even Akane-san have been worried about
you, too. We've all noticed how you've changed. We're all your friends. I just wish that you would at least tell
me what's wrong." Sae concluded her speech sadly, having not faltered once. She made perfect sense, amazingly enough.
She looked at Nanaka beseechingly, silently begging her best friend to let her help.
Nanaka uncrossed her arms defeatedly, her face relaxed as she pulled her best friend into a hug. "Oh, Sae, I
know things haven't been the same for a while, and it's not your fault. You'll always be my best friend. I'm
sorry I've neglected you lately. Tell you what- I promise we'll get together this week, and we can get all caught up."
Nanaka smiled gently at Sae, who returned the smile gratefully while wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"Thank you so much, Nanaka- I can't wait! I've missed you so much, I just want to help,.." Nanaka nodded her
head impatiently while Sae continued, and looked at her watch , suddenly realizing the time. "Well, Sae," she
interrupted, "we've already missed homeroom, and we have to get to our next class, and I have to stop by the bathroom
before we go." Sae nodded as Nanaka turned towards the bathroom and the bell rang, signalling the end of homeroom
and students hurriedly rushed out the doors. Sae and Nanaka were in many of the same classes, so they went through
their schedule together throughout the day. It was only recently, in the last month or so, that Sae had been
spending more time with Takeo, so they didn't go to class together as frequently.
It was while Nanaka started walking towards the bathroom that she realized how much worse her headache was.
Overwhelmed by vertigo, followed by pounding waves of pain, she tripped slightly, nearly falling over. Sae came up
behind her quickly, confused and concerned for her.
"Nanaka, are you alright?" She looked down at Nanaka, who was holding a hand to her forehead, breathing deeply
in an attempt to control the disorientation. "You don't look so good, Nanaka-chan. You look really pale- I've been
noticing it since earlier. Maybe you should go ho.."
"No, Sae," Nanaka interrupted suddenly, "I'm feeling fine. I just didn't get much sleep last night, and I'm
a little tired. I'm feeling better already, so don't worry. We better hurry or we'll be late to class." Nanaka
straightened herself up and walked to the bathroom door again hurriedly, maneuvering through the rushing crowd of
students. "Wait for me- I'll be out in a minute," she told Sae by the door.
Nanaka made her way into the bathroom, pressing her hand to her forehead while simultaneously reaching into
her backpack to find some headache medicine. She passed by a few of the stalls, singlemindedly focusing on finding
her medicine, desperate to relieve the throbbing ache behind her temples. Just as her fingers made contact with the
Advil bottle, she was knocked completely off her feet, taken completely unawares by the force of something abruptly
slamming into her left side. She made no sound of surprise or hurt, having been taken off guard and
nearly knocked senseless from the shock. She almost blacked out from the pain, the impact irritating her already
present aches from the previous evening. She stayed on the ground, doubled over and clutching her side, afraid to
move for fear of further pain. She slowly returned to reality. From her spot on the floor, Nanaka was faintly aware
of the sound of footsteps directly above her head. She turned her head up to focus on the source of the sound.
Her eyes followed a pair of designer black shoes which paused in front of her momentarily, then turning to walk
casually towards the bathroom sinks. The shoes stopped again in front of the sinks. She heard the water running
from the faucet, followed by a light, carefree feminine voice.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you there," the voice stated in an subtle, insincere manner. Nanaka, grimacing,
pulled herself into a crouching position, clutching her side protectively. Seething with anger, her side throbbing,
she glared up at the owner of the voice. Speak of the devil. There stood Matsura Ami, the infamous new leader of the
"Aya-sama" fan club, the very person Sae had mentioned as the culprit for spreading certain rumors this morning. Ami
stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her long, luxurious brunette locks framing her face as she concentrated intently
on reapplying her dark red lipstick to perfection. Nanaka glared up at her, the depths of her rage pointedly
ignored by the fashionable upperclassman.
Nanaka remembered how Ami had first arrived at her school, a transfer student from America whom no female classmate
could parallel and no male student could ever catch. She was talented at everything. She had instantly taken a liking
to Aburatsubo. She was constantly plotting ways to make him hers. She had the
support of the entire Aburatsubo fan club, since none of its members could compare to her, and all feared her prowess.
Of course, the boys of the school couldn't see the flaws beyond her perfect, sweet and coquettish exterior. Normally,
Nanaka would choose not to get mixed up in any of Ami's plots, but it seemed this time it was unavoidable. Nanaka
lifted herself up to her full height, still holding her side protectively while Ami finished powdering her face.
"You don't have to pretend, you know. I already know why you did it, so you can drop the innocent act,"
Nanaka spoke icily. Not expecting a respose, Nanaka turned to go into one of the bathroom stalls. Instead, she
was once again taken by surprise. To add insult to injury, this time, by the sharp impact of a hand hitting
the right side of her face. Only momentarily stunned, Nanaka turned around to face Ami, a hand holding her cheek
while she faced her opponent. More angry than hurt, Nanaka opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off by Ami's
speech.
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner," she stated indignantly, haughtly expression fixed on her face
while her hand rested fashionably on her hip. "If you dare to threaten me by stealing my Aya-chan from me, you'll
get what's coming to you. I warn you, you better stay away from Aya-chan, or suffer the consequences. Believe me,
you'll regret it." At this point, despite her pain, Nanaka was ready to lunge at Ami and ruin that perfect face
and hair, but before she even had a chance to retaliate verbally, the bathroom door opened and another Aya fan club
member called for Ami. Nanaka recognized her as the former fan club president, Mikote Michiko.
"Well, I've wasted enough time on you. You have been officially warned. Next time, I won't be so nice."
With that, Ami turned around and swiftly walked out the door, the clicking of her designer shoes and the slam of the
door trailing behind her. Nanaka quickly pulled herself together, despite wanting to scream in frustration. She
went to the bathroom in record time, only briefly noting that there was a slight scratch on the middle of the redness
of her cheek. Her side was already developing a pretty bad bruise. She heard someone enter the bathroom, then, Sae's
frantic voice.
"Nanaka, Nanaka," she said between gasps, "what happened?" "Matsura-sempai told me to tell you that
you better be careful, because if you don't stay away from Aburatsubo-sempai, she'll do a lot worse. Nanaka-chan, are
you alright? What did she do to you? Hey, we better hurry, the bell's gonna ring!" Sae's worried voice finally
trailed off as Nanaka came out of the stall, sighing wearily. Sae looked at her in alarm.
"Nanaka, there's a big red mark on your cheek- did she hit you? I mean, you were already looking bad today, I mean,
you didn't look bad, you just didn't look well, anyway, you look even worse now, not that you look bad, I don't know what
I'm trying to say, but maybe you should go home." Sae finished with an uncertain look on her face. Nanaka finished washing
her hands in the sink and turned to look at Sae.
"Sae, I can't go home. We have tests this week. I can't miss any class. You know that!"
"But, Nanaka, you've never really missed that much class before. You can afford to miss. Besides, that mark
looks really bad. Did she really hit you?"
"Never mind that. We have to get to class." Nanaka turned to open the door, her side and head still throbbing from
the recent attack. Sae wouldn't let her leave just yet.
"Nanaka, I'll take you to the Nurse. We'll figure out some way to get you home. You might have to wait until lunch time,
but at least you can rest. I mean, at lunch, I'll talk to the rest of the Magic Club. I'm sure I can get Aburatsubo-sempai
to help me walk you home, at least." At the mention of Aburatsubo's name, Nanaka groaned. Now he would know for sure that she
hadn't gone home when he asked her to. He would probably tell the Club about everything that's happened. She shook her head
and frowned, angered by her own carelessness, but the pain won out in the end. She sighed as Sae walked up to her, urging her
to go to the Nurse with her again. Nanaka wearily agreed.
"Okay, Sae, let's go. I figured you wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed, anyway." The two friends made their way
down the hall to the Nurse, a concerned Sae supporting Nanaka's bruised shoulders as she took each shaky step.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, the end of Chap. 4! Seems like it took me long enough, right! Over the last few months that I've neglected this story
(life took over T_T), I've managed to be able to watch the rest of the MTT series. I realize a lot of this story may not make
sense, and there may be much OOC. Since watching the end, I've tried desperately to edit some of the earlier chapters and
continue writing as true to the series as possible. Thank you all for being so patient with me, and I apologize to all who
feel the story isn't going in the right direction, or feel it's gotten worse since the beginning. I hope you will all
continue to review and criticize, as I continue to revise what I've already written. I'm sorry, also, that you've all had
to wait so long for this chapter and the ones following. Unfortunately, since my last chapter, I've been overwhelmed by
college, writer's block, and life in general. Thank you again for your patience and cooperation- I know from experience as a
fanfic reader how difficult it can be to wait for the next chapter for so long, when a story has really captured your
attention. Anyway, thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and will continue to enjoy the next. (By the by,
I plan on including more interaction with other characters- esp. Akane, and I'm hoping the action and progression of the A/N
thing will pick up again ^_^)
