Circumstances Unknown
Case 6: Melodies of My Heart
[Author's note:] Cherry: This chapter is devoted to Kazuma's past, and is written on his point of view! Enjoy!
"Oy, Kazuma!"
My name is Kazuma Ikeda; I just finished my third year of middle school. I turned around to see my buddy running up to me. "Ahoy, Taka!"
"Now that you're going to run the school again next year, what are your plans for the band?" Taka asked as he walked beside me, his self proclaimed idol.
I beamed at my friend, and replied. "We're gonna go all the way!" My plans for my punk rock career, was just about to come true; I had a performance for a major records company.
I just carried on the conversation until something made me suddenly stop in my tracks. There was a girl standing across the road, with long brown hair. I had seen her around school, but never actually talked to her. The wind fluttered her hair and skirt, along with all the flyers she was carrying. The brightly colored sheets of paper flew across the sky and one landed at my feet.
"Oh no! Come back!" The girl ran after the escaping advertisements. "Stop! My boss will be very angry, please stop flying away!" She watched the blots of lime green fly out of sight, carried by the wind. Then she dropped to her knees, disappointed and out of breath.
I walked across the street and offered her my hand, along with the flyer that I picked up. She looked up at me with teary eyes. Damn, was she hot!
"Thank you." She said with a sweet voice, as she stood up and dried her eyes. I scrambled in my pocket and found a napkin, which I gave to her.
"Hi, my name's Ikeda Kazuma." I told her while gawking, and completely unnoticed of Taka's presence. I think I started to drool, but I don't remember.
"My name's Takoshi Kanna, nice to meet you!" She just giggled which sounded like an angel, and continued. "My boss is going to kill me! He told me I had to bring a whole crowd of customers tonight for his special karaoke dinner. Now I won't even get one!"
She looked down at her feet worried, which made her look even cuter. I thought for a moment, and something became clear. I could help her! "I umm, I can help you Ms. Takoshi!"
All of a sudden, her spirits brightened, and she got really close to my face. "You can call me Kanna, but please continue!"
"Kanna," I swallowed a couple of times and cleared my throat. "Well, I'm in a band, and we hope to become famous one day. We already have a bunch of fans, and my buddy Taka there can send a message to all of them. If it's not too much trouble, maybe we can play tonight at the restaurant to get more customers!"
Kanna just gazed at me and remained silent, until she exploded with joy and pranced on me. I felt my face burn up with her chest rubbing against my face, while she jumped up and down. They're kinda soft... No! Shut up you pervert!
"Thank you, thank you!!!"
"No problem!" I watched her smile, and then walk away skipping and humming. I summoned my slave at once, and asked Taka to post the message as soon as possible.
The night arrived not quite quickly enough, as I waited anxiously backstage to see her again. It was almost show time as I heard the announcer and screaming fans.
"HEEERE'S YING-YANG!!!"
The curtains opened on us, as I dashed onstage with my guitar and fans reaching out to shake my hand. The music pounded in my head and I struck my chords, searching for Kanna around the room with my eyes. Then I finally found her! She was standing in the back of the room, staring up at me and smiling. She looked like a goddess, with her sleek dark hair and emerald green eyes.
I think I'm in love.
"Just don't walk away,
Listen to what I have to say.
Don't tell me you're gone,
Just listen to my song.
I don't want us to be apart,
These are the melodies of my heart."
After my song, the fans screamed and shouted for me. "KAZUMA!" I scuttled through the crowds and finally reached Kanna. She patted my shoulder and thanked me again for doing this for her.
During her break, we sat backstage to talk. Even though she was on a break, she had a constant need to serve me drinks. We couldn't figure out a way to break the ice, and then I saw her blushing, which made me blush even more.
"Oh, I-I'll get you some more soda." She stuttered as she reached for my cup. Not wanting to make it seem like she was my servant, I grabbed my cup, but missed and I ended up tipping the glass, spilling my drink. I'm such a damn idiot!
We both reached for the fallen glass, and our hands brushed against each other. The cup fell to the ground, shattering and spilling the rest of the drink...
We became a couple after that humid summer.
*****
I opened my eyes to see another pair of emerald green eyes. Except this time, they did not belong to her... They belonged to my new petite sister, Tsubasa. "What do you want, kiddo?"
She shot me an evil glare for calling her 'kiddo' and started poking my stomach. "I'm hungry!"
I sighed and got out of bed. Ten more days until mom and 'dad' comes back. Dad... That word still sends me shivers every time I hear it. My real father died a couple of years ago, and since last month, my mother remarried and we moved in with Tsubasa and her father. Toshiharu-san was a great guy; he treats my mother with love and respect and is a wonderful father to Tsubasa. I guess in time, I can eventually accept him as a father, but most importantly a friend.
My real father had always disapproved of my music career. That's why I had to become successful, to show him I can make something out of myself. And I did... At least I think so. Am I really happy though? My mom sure is happy, and I should be too. We have a big house, a new family and I have a cute little sister. But why do I still feel so empty...
"What's for dinner?" Tsubasa tackled me with a squid expression on her face. Ahhh! Demon girl!
I sighed again and pushed her off of me. "I guess we'll go out for dinner tonight."
I'm just not in the mood to do anything today. I guess Tsubasa noticed too, considering she kept on looking up at me as we were walking to a fast food restaurant.
I saw a person across the street staring at me, just like the first time I met her. I took a closer look at the dark haired girl smiling at me, with bright emerald green eyes...
It was her.
She waved at me, still smiling that sweet angelic smile of hers. I managed to raise a hand and I waved slightly at the girl I haven't seen for a long time. Then I took Tsubasa's hand and continued walking down the street, not looking back at the girl I left behind.
*****
"Kanna!"
I ran down the busy street and up to my girlfriend, who turned around and smiled like usual. With her usual sugary sweet voice, she greeted me. "Morning, Kazuma."
"It feels weird going back to school, doesn't it?" I asked as I took her hand in mine.
"Yeah, but at least this is our last year before we go off to high school." We skipped across the street, headed towards the new year of headaches and homework. "Any idea where you want to go to high school, Kazuma?"
I glanced at her, and thought about it. Where DID I want to go next year? With my grades, I'm lucky enough to even pass junior high... "I never thought about it. Oh well, guess wherever my test score sends me."
Kanna looked up at me, and answered. "I want to get into Hokuei High," She stopped for a moment and then continued. "But wherever you end up, I want to stay close with you."
I just grinned back and put my arm around her shoulder. As we edged towards the brick building, I sighed and entered another year of hell. Hope this year would be better, with Kanna by my side.
This last year of middle school went by a little too fast, as the finals slowly crawled closer. My performance with the music company was also around the corner, waiting and haunting me.
I was in an unusual bad mood these past few weeks, guess it's because my mom met someone new. Kanna noticed too, because she tried to avoid me as much as possible. What's wrong with me...I'm not the type to care about this kind of stuff, but I do. My mom's new boyfriend is a fat macho bastard who pretends to care for my mom, but I see right through his thin mask. I hope my mom notices before he can do any harm, and if he does I swear I'll-
"Hey, buddy!" That bastard called for me. I shot him a glare that made him back up. He put up his hands in mock surrender and teased. "Okay, okay. I thought only girls go through PMS, but I guess you're an exception." I watched as he scurried behind my mom, and grabbed her from behind. He leaned over her shoulder and asked, "What are you cooking, my sweet?"
My mom just giggled and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Just inches away from her ears, the bastard whispered, "I love a woman who cooks for me." He then twisted her around and pulled her hip towards his, from there, he put that slimy, dirty mouth on my mom. Completely swallowing her face whole, I stood and watched from the corner, thinking to myself. That son-of- a-bitch...
During the next week, I heard my mom sobbing in her room every night. I knew it... that bastard broke her heart, just like I thought he would. If I ever see that man again, I will give him a piece of my mind, and my fist. I will hit him so hard, he's gonna wish he never pissed me off.
To cool off, I called Kanna and joined her downtown. She ran up to me in a pretty little dress that made all my anger and fear melt away like ice. "Sorry, I'm late!" She apologized, panting from running so hard.
I just gave her a smile and rested my arm on her shoulder. I'm so tired... All I want is to rest my head and feel Kanna's warmth and security within my grasp.
But my comfort and security was shortly interrupted as I saw that same bastard that broke my mom's heart... with some twenty year old tramp. There was no way that they were possibly related, with the tramp hanging all over him and practically drooling on him. I saw red. That no good son-of-a- bitch!! H-He was betraying my mom this whole time! How could he do something like this to my mother! The red grew brighter and brighter, and my anger grew hotter and hotter.
I released my grip on Kanna, and I charged as fast as I could towards that bastard, tackling him with all my might. He stumbled on the ground, I didn't care at all that people watched intently from the side of the road, gathering around. I pranced on top of him, with my fist raised in the air and my other hand jerking the collar of his shirt. I smashed his jaw as fiercely as I possibly could, his head making contact with the ground and the sound of bones cracking shook the cold, hard concrete. Blood shot out from his busted lip and splattered over the grayish cement sidewalk.
My fist throbbing painfully as I raised it again, ready to strike. But something made me snap back into reality and stop me before it made contact again. I saw Kanna's expression on her face as she stood in front of me, her hands cupped her mouth, but her eyes said all that it needed. Her eyes had tears built up on it, in a mixture of shock and fear, her gaze just fixed upon me, unable to blink or move. Soft sobbing noises could be heard from her mouth, stabbing my heart harder than anything else ever could. She had fear in her eyes, fear of me... Afraid of the wild uncontrollable beast I had just become. I hated that look... I hated myself.
I looked down at the petrified man underneath me, his lip busted and the side of his head bleeding from where it hit the ground. He was shaking violently as he gazed at me, with the same expression Kanna had. I couldn't stand it anymore! I jumped up from the man, swung around and ran as hard as I could down the street, never looking back. That night I made a decision... a decision that would protect Kanna from me... from the wild animal that I might become again.
I said goodbye.
*****
I couldn't get Kanna out of my mind; just what is she doing here? Tsubasa kept looking at me worriedly, but I just smiled at her and acted like nothing was bothering me.
My reaction satisfied her as she smiled back and returned to sipping her smoothie. You can't help but to love and adore Tsubasa... She's so innocent and ignorant of her surroundings, kinda makes you jealous.
I never thought I would ever be able to fall in love again... But that was before I met Tsubasa...
*****
That was the last time I saw her, before the finals revealed it upon us and sheltered our whole existence for a week. I liked being kept busy, so I could avoid her as much as possible. I made a pretty decent grade that sent me off to some average high school, for average students... because that's what I am, just an average person.
The performance for the records company was scheduled and our concert went off without a hitch. But something was missing from my songs... my heart. My heart was forgotten, along with the girl I had left behind...
"Just don't walk away,
Listen to what I have to say.
Don't tell me you're gone,
Just listen to my song.
I don't want us to be apart,
These are the melodies of my heart."
[Fin]
To be continued...Case 7: Deception [Next]
[Author's Note:] Cherry: This chapter was all about Kazuma's past, hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! Next chapter will be devoted to Asaba and Maho! Yay!! It's about time we got some character development for them! Have you noticed that my chapters get longer by each one...? Crap! I promised that I would have shorter chapters...Oh well. This chapter didn't have a parody, because it was better off just left alone... Don't you think?
Case 6: Melodies of My Heart
[Author's note:] Cherry: This chapter is devoted to Kazuma's past, and is written on his point of view! Enjoy!
"Oy, Kazuma!"
My name is Kazuma Ikeda; I just finished my third year of middle school. I turned around to see my buddy running up to me. "Ahoy, Taka!"
"Now that you're going to run the school again next year, what are your plans for the band?" Taka asked as he walked beside me, his self proclaimed idol.
I beamed at my friend, and replied. "We're gonna go all the way!" My plans for my punk rock career, was just about to come true; I had a performance for a major records company.
I just carried on the conversation until something made me suddenly stop in my tracks. There was a girl standing across the road, with long brown hair. I had seen her around school, but never actually talked to her. The wind fluttered her hair and skirt, along with all the flyers she was carrying. The brightly colored sheets of paper flew across the sky and one landed at my feet.
"Oh no! Come back!" The girl ran after the escaping advertisements. "Stop! My boss will be very angry, please stop flying away!" She watched the blots of lime green fly out of sight, carried by the wind. Then she dropped to her knees, disappointed and out of breath.
I walked across the street and offered her my hand, along with the flyer that I picked up. She looked up at me with teary eyes. Damn, was she hot!
"Thank you." She said with a sweet voice, as she stood up and dried her eyes. I scrambled in my pocket and found a napkin, which I gave to her.
"Hi, my name's Ikeda Kazuma." I told her while gawking, and completely unnoticed of Taka's presence. I think I started to drool, but I don't remember.
"My name's Takoshi Kanna, nice to meet you!" She just giggled which sounded like an angel, and continued. "My boss is going to kill me! He told me I had to bring a whole crowd of customers tonight for his special karaoke dinner. Now I won't even get one!"
She looked down at her feet worried, which made her look even cuter. I thought for a moment, and something became clear. I could help her! "I umm, I can help you Ms. Takoshi!"
All of a sudden, her spirits brightened, and she got really close to my face. "You can call me Kanna, but please continue!"
"Kanna," I swallowed a couple of times and cleared my throat. "Well, I'm in a band, and we hope to become famous one day. We already have a bunch of fans, and my buddy Taka there can send a message to all of them. If it's not too much trouble, maybe we can play tonight at the restaurant to get more customers!"
Kanna just gazed at me and remained silent, until she exploded with joy and pranced on me. I felt my face burn up with her chest rubbing against my face, while she jumped up and down. They're kinda soft... No! Shut up you pervert!
"Thank you, thank you!!!"
"No problem!" I watched her smile, and then walk away skipping and humming. I summoned my slave at once, and asked Taka to post the message as soon as possible.
The night arrived not quite quickly enough, as I waited anxiously backstage to see her again. It was almost show time as I heard the announcer and screaming fans.
"HEEERE'S YING-YANG!!!"
The curtains opened on us, as I dashed onstage with my guitar and fans reaching out to shake my hand. The music pounded in my head and I struck my chords, searching for Kanna around the room with my eyes. Then I finally found her! She was standing in the back of the room, staring up at me and smiling. She looked like a goddess, with her sleek dark hair and emerald green eyes.
I think I'm in love.
"Just don't walk away,
Listen to what I have to say.
Don't tell me you're gone,
Just listen to my song.
I don't want us to be apart,
These are the melodies of my heart."
After my song, the fans screamed and shouted for me. "KAZUMA!" I scuttled through the crowds and finally reached Kanna. She patted my shoulder and thanked me again for doing this for her.
During her break, we sat backstage to talk. Even though she was on a break, she had a constant need to serve me drinks. We couldn't figure out a way to break the ice, and then I saw her blushing, which made me blush even more.
"Oh, I-I'll get you some more soda." She stuttered as she reached for my cup. Not wanting to make it seem like she was my servant, I grabbed my cup, but missed and I ended up tipping the glass, spilling my drink. I'm such a damn idiot!
We both reached for the fallen glass, and our hands brushed against each other. The cup fell to the ground, shattering and spilling the rest of the drink...
We became a couple after that humid summer.
*****
I opened my eyes to see another pair of emerald green eyes. Except this time, they did not belong to her... They belonged to my new petite sister, Tsubasa. "What do you want, kiddo?"
She shot me an evil glare for calling her 'kiddo' and started poking my stomach. "I'm hungry!"
I sighed and got out of bed. Ten more days until mom and 'dad' comes back. Dad... That word still sends me shivers every time I hear it. My real father died a couple of years ago, and since last month, my mother remarried and we moved in with Tsubasa and her father. Toshiharu-san was a great guy; he treats my mother with love and respect and is a wonderful father to Tsubasa. I guess in time, I can eventually accept him as a father, but most importantly a friend.
My real father had always disapproved of my music career. That's why I had to become successful, to show him I can make something out of myself. And I did... At least I think so. Am I really happy though? My mom sure is happy, and I should be too. We have a big house, a new family and I have a cute little sister. But why do I still feel so empty...
"What's for dinner?" Tsubasa tackled me with a squid expression on her face. Ahhh! Demon girl!
I sighed again and pushed her off of me. "I guess we'll go out for dinner tonight."
I'm just not in the mood to do anything today. I guess Tsubasa noticed too, considering she kept on looking up at me as we were walking to a fast food restaurant.
I saw a person across the street staring at me, just like the first time I met her. I took a closer look at the dark haired girl smiling at me, with bright emerald green eyes...
It was her.
She waved at me, still smiling that sweet angelic smile of hers. I managed to raise a hand and I waved slightly at the girl I haven't seen for a long time. Then I took Tsubasa's hand and continued walking down the street, not looking back at the girl I left behind.
*****
"Kanna!"
I ran down the busy street and up to my girlfriend, who turned around and smiled like usual. With her usual sugary sweet voice, she greeted me. "Morning, Kazuma."
"It feels weird going back to school, doesn't it?" I asked as I took her hand in mine.
"Yeah, but at least this is our last year before we go off to high school." We skipped across the street, headed towards the new year of headaches and homework. "Any idea where you want to go to high school, Kazuma?"
I glanced at her, and thought about it. Where DID I want to go next year? With my grades, I'm lucky enough to even pass junior high... "I never thought about it. Oh well, guess wherever my test score sends me."
Kanna looked up at me, and answered. "I want to get into Hokuei High," She stopped for a moment and then continued. "But wherever you end up, I want to stay close with you."
I just grinned back and put my arm around her shoulder. As we edged towards the brick building, I sighed and entered another year of hell. Hope this year would be better, with Kanna by my side.
This last year of middle school went by a little too fast, as the finals slowly crawled closer. My performance with the music company was also around the corner, waiting and haunting me.
I was in an unusual bad mood these past few weeks, guess it's because my mom met someone new. Kanna noticed too, because she tried to avoid me as much as possible. What's wrong with me...I'm not the type to care about this kind of stuff, but I do. My mom's new boyfriend is a fat macho bastard who pretends to care for my mom, but I see right through his thin mask. I hope my mom notices before he can do any harm, and if he does I swear I'll-
"Hey, buddy!" That bastard called for me. I shot him a glare that made him back up. He put up his hands in mock surrender and teased. "Okay, okay. I thought only girls go through PMS, but I guess you're an exception." I watched as he scurried behind my mom, and grabbed her from behind. He leaned over her shoulder and asked, "What are you cooking, my sweet?"
My mom just giggled and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Just inches away from her ears, the bastard whispered, "I love a woman who cooks for me." He then twisted her around and pulled her hip towards his, from there, he put that slimy, dirty mouth on my mom. Completely swallowing her face whole, I stood and watched from the corner, thinking to myself. That son-of- a-bitch...
During the next week, I heard my mom sobbing in her room every night. I knew it... that bastard broke her heart, just like I thought he would. If I ever see that man again, I will give him a piece of my mind, and my fist. I will hit him so hard, he's gonna wish he never pissed me off.
To cool off, I called Kanna and joined her downtown. She ran up to me in a pretty little dress that made all my anger and fear melt away like ice. "Sorry, I'm late!" She apologized, panting from running so hard.
I just gave her a smile and rested my arm on her shoulder. I'm so tired... All I want is to rest my head and feel Kanna's warmth and security within my grasp.
But my comfort and security was shortly interrupted as I saw that same bastard that broke my mom's heart... with some twenty year old tramp. There was no way that they were possibly related, with the tramp hanging all over him and practically drooling on him. I saw red. That no good son-of-a- bitch!! H-He was betraying my mom this whole time! How could he do something like this to my mother! The red grew brighter and brighter, and my anger grew hotter and hotter.
I released my grip on Kanna, and I charged as fast as I could towards that bastard, tackling him with all my might. He stumbled on the ground, I didn't care at all that people watched intently from the side of the road, gathering around. I pranced on top of him, with my fist raised in the air and my other hand jerking the collar of his shirt. I smashed his jaw as fiercely as I possibly could, his head making contact with the ground and the sound of bones cracking shook the cold, hard concrete. Blood shot out from his busted lip and splattered over the grayish cement sidewalk.
My fist throbbing painfully as I raised it again, ready to strike. But something made me snap back into reality and stop me before it made contact again. I saw Kanna's expression on her face as she stood in front of me, her hands cupped her mouth, but her eyes said all that it needed. Her eyes had tears built up on it, in a mixture of shock and fear, her gaze just fixed upon me, unable to blink or move. Soft sobbing noises could be heard from her mouth, stabbing my heart harder than anything else ever could. She had fear in her eyes, fear of me... Afraid of the wild uncontrollable beast I had just become. I hated that look... I hated myself.
I looked down at the petrified man underneath me, his lip busted and the side of his head bleeding from where it hit the ground. He was shaking violently as he gazed at me, with the same expression Kanna had. I couldn't stand it anymore! I jumped up from the man, swung around and ran as hard as I could down the street, never looking back. That night I made a decision... a decision that would protect Kanna from me... from the wild animal that I might become again.
I said goodbye.
*****
I couldn't get Kanna out of my mind; just what is she doing here? Tsubasa kept looking at me worriedly, but I just smiled at her and acted like nothing was bothering me.
My reaction satisfied her as she smiled back and returned to sipping her smoothie. You can't help but to love and adore Tsubasa... She's so innocent and ignorant of her surroundings, kinda makes you jealous.
I never thought I would ever be able to fall in love again... But that was before I met Tsubasa...
*****
That was the last time I saw her, before the finals revealed it upon us and sheltered our whole existence for a week. I liked being kept busy, so I could avoid her as much as possible. I made a pretty decent grade that sent me off to some average high school, for average students... because that's what I am, just an average person.
The performance for the records company was scheduled and our concert went off without a hitch. But something was missing from my songs... my heart. My heart was forgotten, along with the girl I had left behind...
"Just don't walk away,
Listen to what I have to say.
Don't tell me you're gone,
Just listen to my song.
I don't want us to be apart,
These are the melodies of my heart."
[Fin]
To be continued...Case 7: Deception [Next]
[Author's Note:] Cherry: This chapter was all about Kazuma's past, hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! Next chapter will be devoted to Asaba and Maho! Yay!! It's about time we got some character development for them! Have you noticed that my chapters get longer by each one...? Crap! I promised that I would have shorter chapters...Oh well. This chapter didn't have a parody, because it was better off just left alone... Don't you think?