Sunday was normal. Misaki had woken early. Shouko had slept in a while longer. The apartment was yet again running in normal fashion. Misaki returned to sewing Shouko's skirt hem for Monday. Each stitch was given no attention for her mind felt much to occupied at the moment. Many thought of Kaa-san and her poor condition lead her to even more distraction. Eventually she had pricked her finger. The light flow of blood streamed off her finger onto the coffee table. Each crimson drop slowly glided off her finger. Just like her tears. She cried not because of her finger. No. She simply wasn't that naïve. It was because of the dilemma she was currently facing. Misaki always lived in her own little perfect world. No harm ever touched the surface of the little bubble that protected her. That bubble was made from love. Perhaps that love came from various people. People like Kaa-san, Shouko-san, Grandma and Grandpa, Tamayo, Koutarou, Hatoko, and even Ohjirou. Definitely Ohjirou. It was more than evident. So many people, friends, and family had given their all for her.
Only for her.
They all did it to make life easier for her. She had been a burden, and had known it. All this time she was well aware that she had been much trouble. She was so much trouble for Shouko-san, Kaa-san, and many others. But now it had seemed to have a greater impact on her emotions. It made it harder to confront her mother about her scholarship. Misaki knew she'd just cause more pain for her. Only two years ago she had met her mother. Two years in that battle which they had fully used to compensate for the lost seven. How Misaki wished to be back there again in the layer with Shuuko, fighting as though it meant nothing but fun. She had a joyful feeling every time the thought showed itself once again.
She finished mending herself. The afternoon sunlight poured on to the carpet crawling onto the mauve couches. She sang quietly to herself to set her in the mood. Each note helped to pass the time. Thoughts still settled on her mother. Perhaps I could visit her, Misaki thought. No, she couldn't; for it was Sunday, and there were no visiting hours. She simply was not in the mood to put up with the woman at the front desk. There no exceptions even for the new Champion, in the demonic woman's mind. For now Misaki was stranded.
That was until her hero had come just in the nick of time.
Ah, yes...Mihara Ohjirou, the Prince Angelic Layer. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. His predictions flawless as ever. No sooner had the doorbell rang after Misaki had given up. She answered the door to find the queerly charming boy in front of her house.
"Konichiwa Misaki-chan," he said in a normal way. Misaki had noticed a taxi in the back. Ohjirou followed her wandering eyes and said, "I'm going home from break earlier than I usually do this year."
"Eh.Honto Ni? Why?" she asked.
"It's only about school business," he said, "But that's not the main reason I was here." She looked at him and blushed. "About your dilemma yesterday. What I suggest is that you confront your Okaasan personally. It would be best if you asked her opinion." His graceful smile spread across his tan face as he handed her his I.D. card for the Angelic Layer Co. "Today the company is closed. The only way you can get in is if you swipe an ID card at the door. I must remind Ichirou-nii to make you one."
How kind Ohjirou was to give such a thing to her. Her thoughts traveled back to earlier that morning. How everyone always helped her. She definitely could not accept. She stuck out her hand with the card laying flat on it. "Ohjirou it's kind of you. Really it is. But…I can't accept. Because I…"
But before she could finish he said "Please Misaki accept it. If not for your sake then for mine." He looked as if he were almost pleading her to take it. Misaki being the kind natured girl she was could not help, but fall into Ohjirou's trap. "Well…for your sake then…I will," she said hesitating a bit. The smile returned to onto his face as he winked and said good-bye.
As soon as she closed the door she rubbed her head furiously in frustration. It's always like this! She thought. Misaki stared at the plastic card in her hands. She had it. There was no excuse why she couldn't visit her mother. But why had she felt such a nervous feeling within her. It was her mother after all. Was she avoiding her mother? No. It couldn't have been. Then her mind thought of the scholarship. She sulked even lower. How could she have forgotten. It was the reason she needed to go visit her mother in the first place. Images of her mother broken up filled her from head to toe. Now she could definitely have the courage to go.
After many hours of debating she finally decided it was time to confront her mother about it. She carried her angel case in one hand and Ohjirou's ID in the other, and off she was to the bus stop which took her to the Angelic Layer Co. She stood before the large building her heart raced and she slowly slid the card through. The door infront of her buzzed and she quickly opened it.
And once again she faced the evil lady at the front desk. Misaki slowly crept to the elevator hoping that the woman would not stop her whatsoever. As soon as she reached the button she pressed it furiously praying that it's will come soon. And it had. Kami-sama had spared her, and the doors seemed to have a white glow as they slid open. She rushed in and pressed floor 3 and close door. It had obeyed and off she was to visit her mother. Suddenly anxiety fled into her once again and as she passed each floor the feeling grew.
The door flew open and a rush of air came in. Misaki walked out casually but inside she felt as nervous as ever. As she reached door twenty-eight on floor 3 she pressed the intercom button, and shakily said, "A…Ano….is anyone there." The door suddenly burst open, and an out of breath Ichirou stood infront of her. "Misaki?? What are pant you doing pant here?"
"Icchan-san, is okaa-san here," she said.
"Yes but she's undergoing some important tests right now."
"Ano…but it's really important," this made Ichirou pause for a bit. Then an "Ohjirou" attempted smile came to his face. Despite his attempts it still was not as pleasant as Ohjirou's (a/n: laughs). He turned around and said, "Oogata. Shuuji. Unhook Shuuko."
After a few short moments they lead her near the test layer. There a smiling Shuuko sat, and benignly stared at her. Athena stood casually in the layer next to her. Misaki returned the same smile (in which she inherited) back, and got herself settled with Hikaru on the layer. Battles were always the best way of communication for them. All those missed years were compensated for just a few moments on the layer.
Their battles were always long. Much like their conversations. And so Misaki released all of her concerns.
The summer's heat raged on, and the tempurature seemed to increase with each passing day. In order to make the dog days seem less harsh and quicker, lighter clothes were worn, and trips to the ocean were planned. Some worked well. Other days could have been better. But none the less the summer rushed by like a cool breeze across a grassy field.
Soon spring's cool mists crawled along and relieved people of their warmth. (a/n: If you wondering why I put spring right after summer I'll explain why at my ending comments!)
Possibly this season was Misaki's most favorite time of the year. The Sakura Festival was on its way and a mixture of pink and white petals were
ripe. She could smell the fresh scents coming from the blossoming beauties. Many school children had detested it, since it did mean school was starting soon. And though she had to agree with the others. However, Misaki never had a place to call home. She lived in a small one room apartment with her mother and father. After her father died, her mother became sick and so she moved in with her grandparents. Her mother had left her alone with people she had never met. Not soon after she moved into Tokyo with her aunt. And now...now that she began to plant in her firm roots, she once again decided to go to a school that was far from her location right now. Misaki often laughed at herself for all her traveling, because it seemed to ease the pain. The pain that told her, "You don't fit in anywhere."
School and Angelic Layer had intervened with this voice. For once in her life she felt she was capable of doing something. She felt she was special, and not because she had won the title of champion. It was because she had soul enveloping fun with it. Not only that, but she had made friends. Misaki teared quite a few times to see the blessings she was given.
Yet the Sakura Festival called her name, and she followed it eagerly to a nearby park. There she had met with the rest of the AL Co. staff and her own circle of friends from Eriol Gakuen. Her picnic blanket and obento was carried upon her forearm. She lay it out in a humble setting before all the petals. Misaki straightened her light pink petals off her light pink kimono. Kotarou and Hatoko wore blue matching ones with red sashes. Tamayo even had her lavender one on, along with a silly grin as an accessory. She chuckled and added a, "Yo." Ichirou a black one that made his shoulders a bit broader, and his look a bit sharper. And day dreaming in the sunlight was Ohjirou, who suddenly realized her gaze at him. He offered a smile and lifted an arm covered in autumn brown material from his kimono. Shuuko opened her arm and gave a warm smile. Misaki rested her head on Shuuko's white silk kimono. It gave her such an angelic glow and it fit with her motherly expression. "Kaa-san," she muttered into the warm cloth. Her mother hugged her back and likewise said, "Hi, Misaki-chan."
Tamayo inhaled an extremely deep breath of fresh air. She mouth exclaimed, "Sakura Festival!!!" And with that the games began. After their little rest under the cherry blossoms, the sun began to set. The children left the adults themselves. They all scurried down the busy streets looking at small game stands and food stands as they passed by. Hatoko pointed in awe at the giant teddybear that hung upon the wooden post of one stand. Eagerly she pulled on Kotaro's kimono. She pleaded, "Please?" Kotaro sighed quite heavily, but picked up a bebe gun that laid of the stand. Likewise Ohjirou picked one up, as well as Tamayo. Simultaneously the three fired as Misaki watched in excitment and the young Hatoko watched in hope. Her fingers crossed tightly together and once it was over one remained standing. No to anyone's surprise Kotaro's bottle stood mockingly up. "Nani?!" he cried in rage. Tamayo's bottle was knocked clear to the side and Ohjirou's bottle was on the ground. Though out of the two siblings Hatoko seemed to be most upset. The teddybear's warm smile seemed to be out of reach now. Ohjirou was a sharp fellow and certainly did not miss this look. His index finger pointed to that very bear as he said with a warm smile of his own, "That one." The little girl's eyes widened in childhood delight as the older boy handed her the enormously stuffed animal. "Domo...," she said in quiet voice.
As the sun began to sink down beyond the vast horizon, it streaked the sky with amazing hues of orange, red, and pink. People hurried back to their picnic areas under the vast masses of pink and pure white. The children were not exception to the ever busy crowds. Meeting up with the adults the gathered on the checkered blanket and tiny folding chairs.
Misaki and Ohjirou sat seperate from their group. While the two faced east of the pole the rest faced west, thus leaving them alone. And since silence felt to awkward to function, Misaki decided to start a conversation. It was all small talk really. A simple 'how do you do?' or 'isn't it lovely?' would have suficed. The young girl licked her thin pink lips and spoke to Ohjirou as she always did.
A/N: Okay explanation of why I put spring after summer. Due to my ignorance, I had not idea school in Japan started in April till after this fic was started. And I was too lazy to edit the first two chapters. So therefore I just stuck it after summer. No big deal right?
Basically, the next chapter is their conversation, and their departure for school. I'm still debating whether or not I should actually include their arrival at their school. And I'm graduating middle school on Friday, June 18th, so after that I go on break. Hopefully I'll update more often rather then months (even years) at a time.
--Tsukiyama
Only for her.
They all did it to make life easier for her. She had been a burden, and had known it. All this time she was well aware that she had been much trouble. She was so much trouble for Shouko-san, Kaa-san, and many others. But now it had seemed to have a greater impact on her emotions. It made it harder to confront her mother about her scholarship. Misaki knew she'd just cause more pain for her. Only two years ago she had met her mother. Two years in that battle which they had fully used to compensate for the lost seven. How Misaki wished to be back there again in the layer with Shuuko, fighting as though it meant nothing but fun. She had a joyful feeling every time the thought showed itself once again.
She finished mending herself. The afternoon sunlight poured on to the carpet crawling onto the mauve couches. She sang quietly to herself to set her in the mood. Each note helped to pass the time. Thoughts still settled on her mother. Perhaps I could visit her, Misaki thought. No, she couldn't; for it was Sunday, and there were no visiting hours. She simply was not in the mood to put up with the woman at the front desk. There no exceptions even for the new Champion, in the demonic woman's mind. For now Misaki was stranded.
That was until her hero had come just in the nick of time.
Ah, yes...Mihara Ohjirou, the Prince Angelic Layer. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. His predictions flawless as ever. No sooner had the doorbell rang after Misaki had given up. She answered the door to find the queerly charming boy in front of her house.
"Konichiwa Misaki-chan," he said in a normal way. Misaki had noticed a taxi in the back. Ohjirou followed her wandering eyes and said, "I'm going home from break earlier than I usually do this year."
"Eh.Honto Ni? Why?" she asked.
"It's only about school business," he said, "But that's not the main reason I was here." She looked at him and blushed. "About your dilemma yesterday. What I suggest is that you confront your Okaasan personally. It would be best if you asked her opinion." His graceful smile spread across his tan face as he handed her his I.D. card for the Angelic Layer Co. "Today the company is closed. The only way you can get in is if you swipe an ID card at the door. I must remind Ichirou-nii to make you one."
How kind Ohjirou was to give such a thing to her. Her thoughts traveled back to earlier that morning. How everyone always helped her. She definitely could not accept. She stuck out her hand with the card laying flat on it. "Ohjirou it's kind of you. Really it is. But…I can't accept. Because I…"
But before she could finish he said "Please Misaki accept it. If not for your sake then for mine." He looked as if he were almost pleading her to take it. Misaki being the kind natured girl she was could not help, but fall into Ohjirou's trap. "Well…for your sake then…I will," she said hesitating a bit. The smile returned to onto his face as he winked and said good-bye.
As soon as she closed the door she rubbed her head furiously in frustration. It's always like this! She thought. Misaki stared at the plastic card in her hands. She had it. There was no excuse why she couldn't visit her mother. But why had she felt such a nervous feeling within her. It was her mother after all. Was she avoiding her mother? No. It couldn't have been. Then her mind thought of the scholarship. She sulked even lower. How could she have forgotten. It was the reason she needed to go visit her mother in the first place. Images of her mother broken up filled her from head to toe. Now she could definitely have the courage to go.
After many hours of debating she finally decided it was time to confront her mother about it. She carried her angel case in one hand and Ohjirou's ID in the other, and off she was to the bus stop which took her to the Angelic Layer Co. She stood before the large building her heart raced and she slowly slid the card through. The door infront of her buzzed and she quickly opened it.
And once again she faced the evil lady at the front desk. Misaki slowly crept to the elevator hoping that the woman would not stop her whatsoever. As soon as she reached the button she pressed it furiously praying that it's will come soon. And it had. Kami-sama had spared her, and the doors seemed to have a white glow as they slid open. She rushed in and pressed floor 3 and close door. It had obeyed and off she was to visit her mother. Suddenly anxiety fled into her once again and as she passed each floor the feeling grew.
The door flew open and a rush of air came in. Misaki walked out casually but inside she felt as nervous as ever. As she reached door twenty-eight on floor 3 she pressed the intercom button, and shakily said, "A…Ano….is anyone there." The door suddenly burst open, and an out of breath Ichirou stood infront of her. "Misaki?? What are pant you doing pant here?"
"Icchan-san, is okaa-san here," she said.
"Yes but she's undergoing some important tests right now."
"Ano…but it's really important," this made Ichirou pause for a bit. Then an "Ohjirou" attempted smile came to his face. Despite his attempts it still was not as pleasant as Ohjirou's (a/n: laughs). He turned around and said, "Oogata. Shuuji. Unhook Shuuko."
After a few short moments they lead her near the test layer. There a smiling Shuuko sat, and benignly stared at her. Athena stood casually in the layer next to her. Misaki returned the same smile (in which she inherited) back, and got herself settled with Hikaru on the layer. Battles were always the best way of communication for them. All those missed years were compensated for just a few moments on the layer.
Their battles were always long. Much like their conversations. And so Misaki released all of her concerns.
The summer's heat raged on, and the tempurature seemed to increase with each passing day. In order to make the dog days seem less harsh and quicker, lighter clothes were worn, and trips to the ocean were planned. Some worked well. Other days could have been better. But none the less the summer rushed by like a cool breeze across a grassy field.
Soon spring's cool mists crawled along and relieved people of their warmth. (a/n: If you wondering why I put spring right after summer I'll explain why at my ending comments!)
Possibly this season was Misaki's most favorite time of the year. The Sakura Festival was on its way and a mixture of pink and white petals were
ripe. She could smell the fresh scents coming from the blossoming beauties. Many school children had detested it, since it did mean school was starting soon. And though she had to agree with the others. However, Misaki never had a place to call home. She lived in a small one room apartment with her mother and father. After her father died, her mother became sick and so she moved in with her grandparents. Her mother had left her alone with people she had never met. Not soon after she moved into Tokyo with her aunt. And now...now that she began to plant in her firm roots, she once again decided to go to a school that was far from her location right now. Misaki often laughed at herself for all her traveling, because it seemed to ease the pain. The pain that told her, "You don't fit in anywhere."
School and Angelic Layer had intervened with this voice. For once in her life she felt she was capable of doing something. She felt she was special, and not because she had won the title of champion. It was because she had soul enveloping fun with it. Not only that, but she had made friends. Misaki teared quite a few times to see the blessings she was given.
Yet the Sakura Festival called her name, and she followed it eagerly to a nearby park. There she had met with the rest of the AL Co. staff and her own circle of friends from Eriol Gakuen. Her picnic blanket and obento was carried upon her forearm. She lay it out in a humble setting before all the petals. Misaki straightened her light pink petals off her light pink kimono. Kotarou and Hatoko wore blue matching ones with red sashes. Tamayo even had her lavender one on, along with a silly grin as an accessory. She chuckled and added a, "Yo." Ichirou a black one that made his shoulders a bit broader, and his look a bit sharper. And day dreaming in the sunlight was Ohjirou, who suddenly realized her gaze at him. He offered a smile and lifted an arm covered in autumn brown material from his kimono. Shuuko opened her arm and gave a warm smile. Misaki rested her head on Shuuko's white silk kimono. It gave her such an angelic glow and it fit with her motherly expression. "Kaa-san," she muttered into the warm cloth. Her mother hugged her back and likewise said, "Hi, Misaki-chan."
Tamayo inhaled an extremely deep breath of fresh air. She mouth exclaimed, "Sakura Festival!!!" And with that the games began. After their little rest under the cherry blossoms, the sun began to set. The children left the adults themselves. They all scurried down the busy streets looking at small game stands and food stands as they passed by. Hatoko pointed in awe at the giant teddybear that hung upon the wooden post of one stand. Eagerly she pulled on Kotaro's kimono. She pleaded, "Please?" Kotaro sighed quite heavily, but picked up a bebe gun that laid of the stand. Likewise Ohjirou picked one up, as well as Tamayo. Simultaneously the three fired as Misaki watched in excitment and the young Hatoko watched in hope. Her fingers crossed tightly together and once it was over one remained standing. No to anyone's surprise Kotaro's bottle stood mockingly up. "Nani?!" he cried in rage. Tamayo's bottle was knocked clear to the side and Ohjirou's bottle was on the ground. Though out of the two siblings Hatoko seemed to be most upset. The teddybear's warm smile seemed to be out of reach now. Ohjirou was a sharp fellow and certainly did not miss this look. His index finger pointed to that very bear as he said with a warm smile of his own, "That one." The little girl's eyes widened in childhood delight as the older boy handed her the enormously stuffed animal. "Domo...," she said in quiet voice.
As the sun began to sink down beyond the vast horizon, it streaked the sky with amazing hues of orange, red, and pink. People hurried back to their picnic areas under the vast masses of pink and pure white. The children were not exception to the ever busy crowds. Meeting up with the adults the gathered on the checkered blanket and tiny folding chairs.
Misaki and Ohjirou sat seperate from their group. While the two faced east of the pole the rest faced west, thus leaving them alone. And since silence felt to awkward to function, Misaki decided to start a conversation. It was all small talk really. A simple 'how do you do?' or 'isn't it lovely?' would have suficed. The young girl licked her thin pink lips and spoke to Ohjirou as she always did.
A/N: Okay explanation of why I put spring after summer. Due to my ignorance, I had not idea school in Japan started in April till after this fic was started. And I was too lazy to edit the first two chapters. So therefore I just stuck it after summer. No big deal right?
Basically, the next chapter is their conversation, and their departure for school. I'm still debating whether or not I should actually include their arrival at their school. And I'm graduating middle school on Friday, June 18th, so after that I go on break. Hopefully I'll update more often rather then months (even years) at a time.
--Tsukiyama