By the light of one still candle, Aiki stood and began his turn.
"We do lie beneath the grass
In the moonlight, In the shade
Of the yew tree. They that pass
Hear us not. We are afraid
They would envy our delight,
In our graves by glow-worm night."
In the darkness, three bodies leaned closer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aiki did not mind the dark. Even when he was a child, he had never been afraid to wake up alone in the middle of the night. The darkness gave a sense of....reassurance. It was just there, and in the dark there was no time. Nothing changed in darkness. Everything was still and calm. So, he enjoyed it when they had council meetings at night. Ohtori was a magical place by moonlight.
As he strolled down the path he saw another figure coming towards him. He nodded cordially to Akio Ohtori because, after all, the man was chairman of the school.
"Good evening, Chairman." He slowed he pace a bit
Akio stopped and stood for a moment, as if studying Aiki. He smiled a bit to himself and said,
"Why so pale and wan fond lover?
Prithee, why so pale?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
Looking ill prevail?
Prithee why so pale?" He chuckled to himself and looked at Aiki intently. "So then, 'fond lover' does she still refute you? Is your Syuura Mirakoto still so cold?"
Aiki immediately grew wary. This man was dangerous if he knew that he loved her. Even SHE didn't know. "How- how the HELL do you know that? It's impossible. I haven't told anyone."
Akio's smile grew wider and Aiki was reminded of the Cheshire cat from Alice and wonderland. "Oh, but Aiki, I know the secrets that you tell yourself when you are lying in bed and thinking of her. I know everything your mind desires when you see her, I know the dirty confessions that you tell to the night sky. But how will you know what dear Syuura thinks until you ask her? I suppose you will never tell her? Oh, but she already knows. I have been having a delicious....chat, with out dear President."
Aiki stood shocked and silent. With the moonlight shining upon his pale face, he could have been a marble figure.
Akio's smile grew mocking.
"Why so dull and mute young sinner?
Prithee why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
Saying nothing do't?
Prithee why so mute?" At this he threw back his head and laughed loudly. "I could not resist, you need a better command of poetry my friend. Nothing to say? Ah well. I must go. By the by, your innocent, pure, lovely Syuura, might not be so innocent now. I hope you don't mind."
With that parting shot, he left. Aiki stood, still as a statue, in the night. His whole world had crumbled around him in a few minutes. After standing for a time, he set his mouth in a straight line, and grimly walked toward the Council Lounge.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A pale hand reached out of the dark and touched his gently. His face in shadow, he turned to look at her. She gave a small nod as if to absolve him of what he had done. He knelt and softly murmured in her ear,
"Thou joy of my life
First love of my youth
Thou safest of pleasures
And fullest of truth,
Come hither and hover
On every part
Thou life of my sense
And joy of my heart."
He rested his forehead against hers and they stayed that was for a moment. He stood and turned from her and, with a faltering voice, continued to pour out his story to the darkness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He quietly entered the Council Lounge and stood, in the room lit only by the fire, looking at the one who held his heart. Syuura Mirakoto lay asleep upon the black loveseat, her pale face glowing in the firelight, a fair contrast to her dark bed. He walked over to where she slept and stood watching her bitterly. He had thought her perfect, pure, noble, and above all earthly things. This was why he had never told her of his heart. He had never thought she would do -that- with anyone ('except maybe me...' his broken heart cried out to him) let alone Akio Ohtori. The very thought made him want to kill the man. He bent as if he were about to kiss her, but hesitated, and with a look of great anger, slowly straightened. He shook her awake, less gently than he would have usually, and sat down on a chair nearby.
She woke quickly, with no sleepiness or dreams lingering in her eyes. He noticed for the first time how troubled she looked. He looked at her with scorn and said butally,
"I passed the chairman on the way here. He said that you and he had been, chatting for a while."
She laughed, a worried unhappy sound and said, "Talking. Yes you could call it that I suppose."
"So it's true!" He made a strangled noise in his throat, halfway between a sob and a cry of rage. "You.... slept with Ohtori! Why did you? Why Syuura? Don't you know I would have given you the world? Had I the Power to Grant the World Revolution, I would have given it to YOU. But, you betrayed me. Farewell, Miss Mirakoto." He spat out the name bitterly, "I hereby resign from my place as Vice-President of Ohtori's student council." He saw her expression go from anger, to shock, and finally to great pain. Knowing that this was only remorse at being found out, he turned and started to leave.
Broken sobs sounded behind him. A tear-filled voice came after. "Wait! Wait! AIKI! Please stop! It isn't true! I swear on my life it isn't true! AIKI!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the darkness, one sat with her head bowed. A tear caught the candle light as it slipped down her face and off her chin. The other two sat silent and still. Listening to what was said and remembering.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He stopped at the door and stood silent, hearing her sobs. At the sound, his shoulders started to tremble and his whole frame shook as he stood crying at the edge of the room. He turned and his face was covered with tears.
"You swear? On your life? You never slept with Ohtori? You, you are still as I had thought? My love?"
She looked at him in silence for a time. Finally she answered. Her face was drawn and she looked as if she were in great pain.
"How could you even think such a thing Aiki? Of me? You say you love me, and yet you would believe Akio Ohtori over me. Did you honestly think that I would do such a thing when I know what I know about him? How could you Aiki?"
Shame welled up in his breast as he heard her words. Of course the man had been lying. How could he have ever thought that she would do such a thing?
"I beg forgiveness, Syuura. My jealousy overcame my reason. I should never have doubted you, my lady. The thought of you with another man... was too much to bear. I should have told you before. I love you. I could not endure it when he said he had taken you. I am sorrier than I can say." With that he knelt at her feet and humbly bent his head.
"Stand up Aiki." Her voice was warmer now and her tone forgiving. "All is forgotten. And know this. I accept your love, and return it fully. I love you as much as you love me, Aiki. But I will put nothing before the Revolution of the World. I have sworn to avoid men until I have reached my goal. I am a maiden of the Revolution, my dear, but I offer you companionship and my love, even though you cannot have my body."
"Syuura, your companionship is all I want, and your love more than I could ever hope to dream of. I am yours, my dear lady, to do with as you wish." He grabbed her hand and kissed it tenderly. She laughed and pulled him to his feet.
"I thought I told you to stand, Aiki. I like it better when you are taller than me, love."
In the firelight they leaned closer and lips met lips as they kissed in the twilight of the room. They then sat together on the loveseat in silent companionship until the others should arrive. In front of them, four dark glasses of wine were waiting to be drunk.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A soft sigh filled the darkness as he finished his story. He turned and knelt at her feet as if to ask for forgiveness one more time. She lay her hand on his head and smiled softly at him. His took, her hand and kissed it, then rose to sit beside her. They were silent, and waited.
Out of the dark the next speaker rose.
"Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked anything." She sighed and turned to look at another shadow in the hall. Smiling slightly as if dizzy from her love, she too began her tale.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
here are the poems: 'Dirge from Death's Jest Book', Thomas Lovell Beddoes - 'Song', Sir John Suckling - Unnamed, Sidney Godolphin - 'Love', George Herbert
this story seems to be writing itself in my head. It was stewing around my brain all weekend. Please review. Any suggestions or criticisms are welcome and knowing my story is being read helps me to write. I am working on drawings for all of the characters. If you want me to send them to you, email me at belle-utena@utena.zzn.com or tell me in your review (so far I only have Minoru) BYE!
"We do lie beneath the grass
In the moonlight, In the shade
Of the yew tree. They that pass
Hear us not. We are afraid
They would envy our delight,
In our graves by glow-worm night."
In the darkness, three bodies leaned closer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aiki did not mind the dark. Even when he was a child, he had never been afraid to wake up alone in the middle of the night. The darkness gave a sense of....reassurance. It was just there, and in the dark there was no time. Nothing changed in darkness. Everything was still and calm. So, he enjoyed it when they had council meetings at night. Ohtori was a magical place by moonlight.
As he strolled down the path he saw another figure coming towards him. He nodded cordially to Akio Ohtori because, after all, the man was chairman of the school.
"Good evening, Chairman." He slowed he pace a bit
Akio stopped and stood for a moment, as if studying Aiki. He smiled a bit to himself and said,
"Why so pale and wan fond lover?
Prithee, why so pale?
Will, when looking well can't move her,
Looking ill prevail?
Prithee why so pale?" He chuckled to himself and looked at Aiki intently. "So then, 'fond lover' does she still refute you? Is your Syuura Mirakoto still so cold?"
Aiki immediately grew wary. This man was dangerous if he knew that he loved her. Even SHE didn't know. "How- how the HELL do you know that? It's impossible. I haven't told anyone."
Akio's smile grew wider and Aiki was reminded of the Cheshire cat from Alice and wonderland. "Oh, but Aiki, I know the secrets that you tell yourself when you are lying in bed and thinking of her. I know everything your mind desires when you see her, I know the dirty confessions that you tell to the night sky. But how will you know what dear Syuura thinks until you ask her? I suppose you will never tell her? Oh, but she already knows. I have been having a delicious....chat, with out dear President."
Aiki stood shocked and silent. With the moonlight shining upon his pale face, he could have been a marble figure.
Akio's smile grew mocking.
"Why so dull and mute young sinner?
Prithee why so mute?
Will, when speaking well can't win her,
Saying nothing do't?
Prithee why so mute?" At this he threw back his head and laughed loudly. "I could not resist, you need a better command of poetry my friend. Nothing to say? Ah well. I must go. By the by, your innocent, pure, lovely Syuura, might not be so innocent now. I hope you don't mind."
With that parting shot, he left. Aiki stood, still as a statue, in the night. His whole world had crumbled around him in a few minutes. After standing for a time, he set his mouth in a straight line, and grimly walked toward the Council Lounge.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A pale hand reached out of the dark and touched his gently. His face in shadow, he turned to look at her. She gave a small nod as if to absolve him of what he had done. He knelt and softly murmured in her ear,
"Thou joy of my life
First love of my youth
Thou safest of pleasures
And fullest of truth,
Come hither and hover
On every part
Thou life of my sense
And joy of my heart."
He rested his forehead against hers and they stayed that was for a moment. He stood and turned from her and, with a faltering voice, continued to pour out his story to the darkness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He quietly entered the Council Lounge and stood, in the room lit only by the fire, looking at the one who held his heart. Syuura Mirakoto lay asleep upon the black loveseat, her pale face glowing in the firelight, a fair contrast to her dark bed. He walked over to where she slept and stood watching her bitterly. He had thought her perfect, pure, noble, and above all earthly things. This was why he had never told her of his heart. He had never thought she would do -that- with anyone ('except maybe me...' his broken heart cried out to him) let alone Akio Ohtori. The very thought made him want to kill the man. He bent as if he were about to kiss her, but hesitated, and with a look of great anger, slowly straightened. He shook her awake, less gently than he would have usually, and sat down on a chair nearby.
She woke quickly, with no sleepiness or dreams lingering in her eyes. He noticed for the first time how troubled she looked. He looked at her with scorn and said butally,
"I passed the chairman on the way here. He said that you and he had been, chatting for a while."
She laughed, a worried unhappy sound and said, "Talking. Yes you could call it that I suppose."
"So it's true!" He made a strangled noise in his throat, halfway between a sob and a cry of rage. "You.... slept with Ohtori! Why did you? Why Syuura? Don't you know I would have given you the world? Had I the Power to Grant the World Revolution, I would have given it to YOU. But, you betrayed me. Farewell, Miss Mirakoto." He spat out the name bitterly, "I hereby resign from my place as Vice-President of Ohtori's student council." He saw her expression go from anger, to shock, and finally to great pain. Knowing that this was only remorse at being found out, he turned and started to leave.
Broken sobs sounded behind him. A tear-filled voice came after. "Wait! Wait! AIKI! Please stop! It isn't true! I swear on my life it isn't true! AIKI!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In the darkness, one sat with her head bowed. A tear caught the candle light as it slipped down her face and off her chin. The other two sat silent and still. Listening to what was said and remembering.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He stopped at the door and stood silent, hearing her sobs. At the sound, his shoulders started to tremble and his whole frame shook as he stood crying at the edge of the room. He turned and his face was covered with tears.
"You swear? On your life? You never slept with Ohtori? You, you are still as I had thought? My love?"
She looked at him in silence for a time. Finally she answered. Her face was drawn and she looked as if she were in great pain.
"How could you even think such a thing Aiki? Of me? You say you love me, and yet you would believe Akio Ohtori over me. Did you honestly think that I would do such a thing when I know what I know about him? How could you Aiki?"
Shame welled up in his breast as he heard her words. Of course the man had been lying. How could he have ever thought that she would do such a thing?
"I beg forgiveness, Syuura. My jealousy overcame my reason. I should never have doubted you, my lady. The thought of you with another man... was too much to bear. I should have told you before. I love you. I could not endure it when he said he had taken you. I am sorrier than I can say." With that he knelt at her feet and humbly bent his head.
"Stand up Aiki." Her voice was warmer now and her tone forgiving. "All is forgotten. And know this. I accept your love, and return it fully. I love you as much as you love me, Aiki. But I will put nothing before the Revolution of the World. I have sworn to avoid men until I have reached my goal. I am a maiden of the Revolution, my dear, but I offer you companionship and my love, even though you cannot have my body."
"Syuura, your companionship is all I want, and your love more than I could ever hope to dream of. I am yours, my dear lady, to do with as you wish." He grabbed her hand and kissed it tenderly. She laughed and pulled him to his feet.
"I thought I told you to stand, Aiki. I like it better when you are taller than me, love."
In the firelight they leaned closer and lips met lips as they kissed in the twilight of the room. They then sat together on the loveseat in silent companionship until the others should arrive. In front of them, four dark glasses of wine were waiting to be drunk.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A soft sigh filled the darkness as he finished his story. He turned and knelt at her feet as if to ask for forgiveness one more time. She lay her hand on his head and smiled softly at him. His took, her hand and kissed it, then rose to sit beside her. They were silent, and waited.
Out of the dark the next speaker rose.
"Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lacked anything." She sighed and turned to look at another shadow in the hall. Smiling slightly as if dizzy from her love, she too began her tale.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
here are the poems: 'Dirge from Death's Jest Book', Thomas Lovell Beddoes - 'Song', Sir John Suckling - Unnamed, Sidney Godolphin - 'Love', George Herbert
this story seems to be writing itself in my head. It was stewing around my brain all weekend. Please review. Any suggestions or criticisms are welcome and knowing my story is being read helps me to write. I am working on drawings for all of the characters. If you want me to send them to you, email me at belle-utena@utena.zzn.com or tell me in your review (so far I only have Minoru) BYE!