All the characters belong to Toei, apart from the random and pointless Aoi whom I invented but about whom I don't give a toss. Spirit Dreams Inside belongs to L'Arc~en~Ciel. It was the theme for the Japanese version of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Inside. I'm also vaguely contemplating a Daiken based around the whole song. And, yes, the original lyrics are in English. ^.~
You can download an MP3 of it from: http:// members. tripod. com / zentraediac/ mp3s/ Spiritdrims.zip. I've messed up the spacing so FF.net doesn't eat it. Take out all the spaces.
And it is another short chapter from me. Sorry about that. I have two essays due in the next two weeks, and don't have any more time to write 'fic. Sadly, it's short chapters or no chapters at all at the moment. I know which I'd prefer. ^.~
Anyway, time to reply to your comments:
Kara: Now how can Takeru and Hikari be worse than their brothers?
::grins:: Notice how they were sitting together in episode 1 of the show and were separated by episode 13. I guess their endless talking and laughing must have had something to do with it.
Daisuke? Red streaks? O.o Sorry, but I am still wondering: what's with those Japanese and their hair-dying styles?
I'd been admiring some pictures of Koyasu Takehito, and he had red streaks in his hair, and I thought it looked cute. . . . ::looks sheepish:: Besides, Dai would dye his hair, if you'll excuse the horrible pun.
Blue Eyes Toon Dragon: Takeru's not asking Hikari? That's a harsh blow for her... please reveal who Takeru wants to ask next chapter!
It'll be revealed next chapter, I promise. And, if you thought that was evil, wait until you see who it is . . . . Kekekekeke.
Alan: Weird ass formatting. I think it's an FF.Net thing, because you're not the only one affected and the earlier chapters are still fine.
Yeah, it is. If you look at my website, you'll see my original HTML has normal line-spacing, but FF.net screws it up in the upload.
Cracker: I can't see the link to the translation on your 3rd note on the bottom O.o
Blah. FF.net ate it. I'll put it here with random spacing: http:// got taito . cjb . net. Just take out all the spaces, and it'll work.
Jamie-kun: However, a few things to point out. It's "Axises" not "axes".
::grins evilly:: I still maintain you Americans can't speak English. Or Latin. In the parts of the world where we do, the plural of 'axis' is 'axes' (said: ax-eees).
Silver Shadow: So since this is in japan, wouldn't it be call football?
It's called 'sokka' in Japan, as I learnt from watching Adventure 02. Actually, what's weird is that we call it 'soccer' in South Africa as well. ^.~
If I haven't mentioned you, it doesn't mean that I haven't read and loved your review. Honestly, thank you all so much for taking your time to read and review my story, such as it is. I do appreciate it more than I could ever say. Arigatou gozaimasu. ^.^
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DANCING LESSONS
PART TWO: 'I DON'T LOVE YOU'
"I wake from a nightmare now.
In the day it haunts me.
It slowly tears me apart
with dreams of a distant love.
I'm a wandering satellite.
Somewhere in the wasteland
I see you -"
Switching off the tape, Takeru made a face, "I was off on that note, wasn't I?"
"Only if you want it to sound like the actual song," Daisuke grinned at him.
Music was their last class of the day, and their teacher had broken them up into pairs and sent them out into the school's gardens to prepare duets. He had a feeling that it was because she could not handle their class' off-key singing at the end of a long, hot day. She had never been quite the same after Yamato had graduated.
He sighed, "So, explain to me again why I get to sing the verses and you only come in on the choruses."
"Because you're the brother of a famous singer and I'm just the brother of his psycho groupie," he told him, stretching across him to rewind the tape a little, "Pick it up from where you were." (1)
"Yes, Motomiya-sensei," Takeru rolled his eyes, as Daisuke pressed play and Hyde's smooth voice rose above the electronic beat of the music once again. He drummed on his legs with his fingers, his head swaying from side to side, trying to catch the rhythm:
"Somewhere in the wasteland
I see you smiling at me,
A vision out of my dreams.
Will everything change?
Take the pain away.
Lead me with your light . . ."
"And you were only badly off on that whole verse," Daisuke turned off the tape again and glanced over at his friend, "What's up? Even I know you don't suck as much as this."
"Nothing," Takeru looked at his hands folded in his lap, "I'm just not in the mood, I guess."
Daisuke sighed, guessing what the trouble was. It could only be what happened at lunchtime. For the millionth time that hour, he wished he had kept his big, fat mouth shut.
He had just been so sure that Takeru had been going to ask Hikari to the dance.
After all, everyone knew that they were going to get together someday. Takeru would finally get the guts to tell Hikari that he loved her, or she would get fed up with waiting and let him know exactly how she felt about him. And they'd become a couple and make everyone sick with how cute they were together.
Mimi had even started a pool on it. If they got together in three weeks time, he'd be a rich man.
"Go talk to Hikari already. She and Aoi are sitting beneath the big tree around the side."
"Um, do you think that's a good idea, Daisuke-kun?" Takeru asked hesitantly, "I mean..."
"Idiot! Of course it's a good idea!" he told him, "Unless you want Utada-sensei to fail us, because you gotta know how much she expects of you."
Takeru winced. Their music-teacher pushed him much harder than the rest of the class, signing him up for extra lessons, insisting he tried out for school musicals, asking him to give solos at all the concerts. She refused to accept that he didn't have any interest in becoming a singer like his brother; that he would rather be on the basketball court than on the stage. Daisuke sometimes had the feeling that, ever since Yamato had graduated, she had been counting off the days until she had his younger brother in her class.
"So, go talk to Hikari," Daisuke repeated, "I'll practise the chorus while you're gone."
"Okay," Takeru got to his feet, dusting his trousers clean and readjusting his shirt, "And remember that it's everything from 'Heading for the sun', not just the 'Spirit dreams inside' bits . . . ."
"Yeah, yeah," he waved his hand dismissively, "Just go kiss and make up with Hikari-chan already."
Frowning, "Kiss and make up?"
Daisuke grinned sheepishly at him, "Sorry. Bad choice of words. You know what I meant."
Shaking his head, Takeru walked away from him towards the path that led around the side of the school. Daisuke cleared his throat, then turned on the tape again:
"Heading for the sun.
Leave the sadness behind.
Crossing oceans dry. . . ."
****
"Hey, Hikari, Takeru-kun's coming your way," Aoi hissed, turning off the tape of music to which they were listening in preparation for their duet.
Hikari looked up from her photocopied lyrics, and felt her heart thud painfully in her chest when she saw him. He was so beautiful, like a fairytale prince who captured the hearts of all who saw him. In the midday light, his bare head shone golden, and his eyes were the pure, transparent blue at the heart of a flame. He moved with a long-limbed, loose grace that was still not quite ease or confidence.
She knew she should have felt lucky to have him as a best friend, but she didn't. She wanted to run her hands through his messy hair; press her lips against his ones; see the radiance of his smile and know it was entirely for her. She wanted him to love her as much as she loved him, but he had made it perfectly clear that he didn't. He only saw her as his best friend; as little Yagami Hikari whom he had known since they both had been eight years old. She blinked back the tears that rose to her eyes at the thought. There was no point crying about something that she could not change.
"Aoi-san. Hikari," he dipped his head to them, "I'm sorry to disturb you."
"No problem," Aoi said brightly, "I need to get a drink of water, anyway. I can't sing another note until I do."
Leaping to her feet and straightening her skirt, she glanced over her shoulder to wink significantly at Hikari. She smiled faintly back at her, although it felt like the other girl had slid something sharp and brilliant into her heart. All of her friends believed that Takeru was in love with her. They were forever finding hidden significance in everything he said or did around her. If he lent her a pencil, sat next to at lunch or grinned at her after making a basket in a match, they took it as proof of his undying affections. She had laughed at them, calling them ridiculous, wanting to believe them all the same.
There was an uncomfortable silence between them, while they both waited for Aoi to go into the school.
"Hey, Hikari."
"Takeru-kun," she greeted him, and continued before he had a chance to say anything, "I can guess why you're here. I just want you to know . . . I meant what I said to you at lunch about not expecting you to take me to the dance. I really didn't think we were going together or anything."
"Are you sure?" he asked, "I mean, we . . . we can go together, if you want . . . ."
"I'm sure," she tried to keep her voice light, but it sounded fake to her own ears, "You should go with the girl you like, not with me. Anything else would be stupid."
"Okay, but . . ." Takeru exhaled, awkwardly shifting position, "But . . . I just want to know one thing, before . . . before I can forget this happened. Do you . . . do you have any feelings for me, Hikari?"
Everything seemed to still to silence within Hikari, as she looked up at her best friend. For three years, she had been waiting for the day when Takaishi Takeru would ask her that question. Lying in her bed at night, she had planned elaborate speeches in which she had declared her love for him, in which she had told him about the thousand small and subtle ways in which he had changed her. Now, she couldn't remember a single word of them. She only knew that what she said next would be some of the most important words she had ever spoken.
If she said 'yes,' Takeru would find some way to love her. He would set aside all his own hopes and dreams, convincing himself that it was better to give them up rather than to hurt her. In time, it might even work out for the best. He might grow to love her for real, and forget that there had ever been another girl he had wanted.
If she said 'no,' she might never have another chance with him. Takeru was not a person who loved lightly. When he gave his heart to someone, she knew he would not take it back soon. And there wasn't a girl in the school who wouldn't leap at the chance to go to the dance with him.
Yet oddly, for the first time all day, her pathway was clear. She knew what she had to do.
She lifted her eyes to meet his and held them steady, "No, Takeru, I don't. Not those sort of feelings, anyway. You're my closest friend, but I don't love you."
The expression on Takeru's face was unreadable. A veil seemed to have dropped down behind his beautiful eyes, concealing all emotion from her. Slowly, however, he nodded, "Good. Good. Because I feel the same way. And I'm glad . . . I'm really glad we were able to work this out, before things got any weirder between us."
"Uh huh," it cost her an effort, but she managed to smile up at him, "So am I, Takeru-kun."
****
TO BE CONTINUED
****
(1) Actually, I really love Kiuchi Reiko's voice. She sounds so . . . Daisuke when she sings, and "Goggle Boy" is just a great song in general. And everyone should know how I feel about Yamamoto Taisuke's voice by now, considering I seem to mention it in every 'fic I write. Seriously, I'm considering selling all my wordly goods just so I can go to Tokyo and see him perform at the 'We Love Digimon Music' concert. All my other favourite Digimon seiyuu are performing in it too - Kamiya Hiroshi, Takeuchi Junko, Kazama Yuuto . . . . It's enough to make a girl try and break the law and ask for money for her fanfiction. O.o
