A/N: No comments about the delay. You can only apologize so much before sounding tiresome. Besides, I have no excuse this time, except for some good ol' writer's block and some sheep related business (don't ask).
In the events of this happening again (meaning life getting in the way and stuff, not writer's bock, I think I'm over that) Would you rather me posting a section of a chappy until I have a chapter finished? I mean, like, when I finish a section, I'd post it and then replace it with the complete chapter? Or just write shorter chapters? I would certainly update faster but I would be at risk of making the story too confusing for me and losing track of it. I don't know... I really hope I can work through my personal problems and start updating faster.
And go check this link for another fanart Lina made of the fic 'With love', It's just too cute!!
http://www.geocities.com/evolution2476/tsuzukiapron.jpg
Enjoy!!
A SMILE UPON MY FACE
He'd managed to dodge having to get up as much as he could. But at 4:00 p.m, the sun hit directly over his face as if saying 'Ok, boy, you had your sleep; now get up!'
If there was one thing Muraki Kazutaka did not appreciate, was the sun hitting his face. What with his naturally pale complexion and his sensitive eyes; it was pure hell. It wasn't for nothing that his room was facing west.
Fuck Feng Shui; he wasn't about to have his face burning and red as a tomato everyday for the sake of the harmony of his spirit. You have blisters on your face and try to be in balance with yourself. (*)
So he'd gotten up to find his room empty. All the memories of the previous morning were still fresh in his mind, but they felt unreal; like out of a dream. But he clearly remembered Oriya's part in them, and he didn't know what to make of it.
He paced his room back and forth like a caged animal for almost an hour, without being able to put his thoughts in order. A part of him- the one that had been with him the longest- felt so incredibly grateful with Oriya. It almost managed to warm up the space in his chest where his heart was slowly dying of hypothermia.
But there was another part of his mind that felt some sadistic pleasure on the situation. The perfect opportunity to test his friend's loyalty had arose and, though the *human* part of him was also curious about this, this part only cared about the game. He was already planning what to say and what to keep quiet so that he wouldn't actually incriminate himself, but making sure he wouldn't exonerate himself either.
Muraki inwardly groaned. Now he was really losing it. 'But it'll be fun.' A little, vicious voice uttered in his head.
What was clear after all that while spent thinking was that he needed to see Oriya, and fast. It wasn't hard to guess where he was though. Sure, they weren't going to class that day. But Oriya would go to Iado practice even with pneumonia. And though he assumed that practice had been cancelled due to the circumstances, his dark haired friend would surely find a way to do his routine anyway.
Glancing at one of the corners of the room and finding both the sword and Oriya's favoured kimono (**)- that was usually kept in a privileged spot on the hanger- missing, he knew his assumptions had been correct.
Now the urge to find his friend became stronger. He could clear up some doubts off his mind and get some priceless eye candy at the same time.
-----------------------
Tatsumi was deep in thought, yes. Not so deep in it to miss the gorgeous boy sitting by his side in the empty auditorium, though. He was trying very hard to concentrate on Konoe's speech. But grammar was the last thing on his mind.
Five hours.
A three hundred minutes spent in uncomfortable silence, staring at anything but Watari; in the cafeteria while they had lunch; in Tatsumi's room while each resorted to reading some of Tsuzuki's old mangas- Tatsumi had found one rendition of a Greek epic tale that, though not very faithful to the classics, was most interesting. And that little one that cried all the time was certainly cute. (***)
Now the silence was spent in the auditorium as they waited for Konoe and the rest of the students to arrive. At least now he had an excuse to keep quiet and look somewhere else, even if it was just that; an excuse.
Eighteen thousand seconds next to one of the most beautiful guys on the face of the earth, the causal of all his problems and most his joy, without being able to utter a word.
In short? Tatsumi was starting to lose it.
Why, you say, wasn't he breaking the silence then? After all, it was him the one who'd murdered any attempts at polite conversation.
The bottom line was that his mind kept taking him back to the infirmary. It was stupid of him to think that staying away from Tsuzuki would help him forget. And god, he'd tried hard to stay away from him *all* day.
It was even more stupid- and very, *extremely* unfair- to think Watari would prove enough of a distraction in case his first plan failed.
In the end, the only feeling merely distracting him of his concern and frustration about his boyfriend, was the guilt of having used the only other alive person in the world who mattered to him.
The truth was, he couldn't go on like that for much longer. Desperately loving someone who- even without meaning to- only caused him pain, while not being able to leave him for the other person he loved. His nerves were paying for it. It *had* to stop.
Now, if hanging out with Watari to distract himself from Tsuzuki had been unfair, forcing his problems with his boyfriend on to the blond when he *knew* Watari had some kind of feelings for him was simply cruel. So, even when he died to talk about it, even if everything told him he had to talk to someone and Watari would be the best listener, he kept quiet; unable to talk about anything else, either.
But at least, Watari didn't seem bored- amazingly enough- nor had he realised about Tatsumi's first intentions, or if he had he hadn't said a thing. He just stopped trying to talk to him but never left; staying by his side even when he surely wasn't the best of companies. No matter what his feelings were, or how they were changing; Watari was a good friend.
To him, as well as the silly parrot, it seemed. the small blond was talking to 003 in very hush tones about god knows what. Seriously, what could possibly be a topic for such long a conversation with a little bird?
He thought he heard something about buying 003 a red ribbon for her birthday, so that it would match the silk one Watari had gotten from him just a few days before. Tatsumi rolled his eyes.
"Sometimes I worry about you." The blue eyed boy muttered without even realisng he'd done it.
Two big, innocent amber eyes shot up and stared at him with such joy- for what reason, he didn't know- that caused a smile to immediately creep to his face.
"Look 003!!" the blond cheered, pointing at him and glancing at his parrot. "He talks!!"
Tatsumi blushed ever so slightly, with a sheepish expression.
"I'm sorry; I know I've been a little..."
"Funeral worthy?" Watari sang, taking the pause as a cue. His eyes were closed because he was grinning so much his cheekbones wouldn't leave space for them to be open.
Tatsumi snorted, his mood immediately perking up.
"That bad, eh?" Watari nodded cheerfully; 003 squeaked and Tatsumi could have sworn the bird had nodded too. Was the blond's lunacy contagious? "I just have a lot on my mind. Stuff, you know?"
"Let me guess. Violet eyed stuff?" the younger boy said with such gravity that it couldn't possibly be taken serious.
"How did you know?" he answered sarcastically, then huffed in frustration.
"What did the baka do now? Did he take money from your wallet again? Did he try to bribe a teacher with pie? Oh!" Watari's face changed from amusement to horror. "Tell me he didn't cook again!!"
Tatsumi sighed sadly, though smiling at his friend's ridiculous assumptions.
"It's a bit more complicated than that."
"Wanna talk about it?"
It was a simple offer; one that had certainly been uttered by millions of other people as a platitude. But coming from Watari it was a totally different story. The younger boy was offering his help, his shoulder, for him to unload a lot of baggage that would surely hurt him.
"It's just...," he begun, hesitantly. Should he? "...it's just that he always thinks everything's his fault!" his voice rose a little more than he'd meant it to, "I don't know what to do with him anymore! He's so intent on proving how he's responsible for every single calamity in the world that he doesn't realise he's fucking killing me!!" he finished with a punch at the seat in front of him, realising his face was probably red from all that repressed anger finally seeping through.
Not that he was fond of expressing so much emotion, *ever*, but you try being a teenager, your hormones going wild as well as all those funny chemicals in your brain making you moody, and then keep your cool 24/7.
His outburst didn't surprise only him, he noted. Watari was staring at him wide eyed; even 003, for crying out loud!
"Tatsumi... I..." The boy's lost expression was more than eloquent and Tatsumi felt like shit. Now Watari also felt bad and that hadn't been necessary. 'I knew I should have kept quiet,' he thought. On the outside he said.
"Look, Watari..." he ran a hand through his hair. "I...I'm sorry, I guess. I'm just at the end of my rope here."
Watari looked down seeming lost and preoccupied.
"I...I didn't know things were that bad. Tsuzuki seemed ok, I...Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No," Tatsumi said, his tone a lot more gentle. "I'm just not sure I'm the one for him, you know? I can't make him happy. I don't think we can go like this anymore. I might just..."
The blond jumped on his seat, interrupting him.
"What? You're not planning to break up with him, are you?!" Watari almost yelled, leaving Tatsumi more than a little confused.
Maybe he'd been just deluding himself, but he'd expected Watari to be happy if he and Tsuzuki were about to brake up; certainly not upset.
"Well, I don't know." he begun, unsure, "Tsuzuki wouldn't take it too well I guess, but I think it might be for the best?"
"But Tatsumi!!" Now Watari look plain distressed. "He loves you! And you...you love him!! Don't you?!"
'Ay, there's the rub, ne? You really *are* a good friend, Watari. But this time your nobility isn't justified.'
Tatsumi smiled tenderly and leaned a little closer, noticing with amusement how Watari's eyes started to dance franticly.
"Yeah, I do. And I know he cares deeply for me. But I think he stays with me because he's afraid to be alone and I stay with him because I don't want to hurt him." Seeing the startled look Watari gave him at that, gave Tatsumi a little more courage. "Besides, he's not the only one I love, you know? And I'm starting to realise that what I feel for him is not near as right as what I feel for this other person."
"You...you love someone else?"
'Was that hope in your voice, Watari-kun?' Tatsumi leaned even closer, and his voice lowered a few scales.
"Yes, I do. Very much so. Have you ever been in love, Watari?"
Watari seemed all but ready to understand the meaning of his words when, catching the two off guard, the doors flung open and a few students walked in.
------------------------
No matter how important a day is; no matter how significant a moment you feel it to be, time passes. Before you realise, that wonderful day has died; that perfect moment withered away. Same goes for the opposite, luckily enough.
So the sun was beginning to set again, and Hisoka stared through the hall's windows at the orange light curiously tainting the sky in pink. It would rain tomorrow, he realised.
Of course he'd slept through half the day. Just his luck, he thought bitterly, to spend a class-less day knocked out of your senses. But still, even having been aware of so little hours that day, it had been...he'd say educational, if all the things he'd learnt hadn't left him even more confused than before.
Not only he'd discovered to be strangely linked to an almost-complete stranger. That was truly weird and surreal on itself. But on top of that, this stranger seemed to care. Now, how fucked up was that?
He was the weirdo; the one with these strange mystic connections and empathic abilities. But Tsuzuki...Tsuzuki was just a normal boy (using the term 'normal' loosely); why on earth would he care about him??
One thing was to be overly friendly. He'd met plenty of people who promised you eternal friendship the moment they laid eyes on you. At first he even thought he was Tsuzuki's charity case. You know, how some people can just *smell* it when you're not well adjusted and decide to adopt you as a pet until you bore them?
Was that the case with Tsuzuki, though? Tsuzuki, who'd stayed by his side all day; that had found him in that pitiful state and hadn't doubted on helping him himself instead of passing the weight onto someone else, someone prepared and forced to help.
Tsuzuki, who'd stayed by his side, even after he'd been released from the infirmary; even after the nurse's ridiculous and obviously made up explanation that had helped Hisoka cover up his lie- he'd made sure to talk to that Midori-san alone. He had felt that Tsuzuki hadn't bought a word of the 'He just eat too little' line.
He could also feel that Tsuzuki was still worried about him. And though that baffled him; though he wanted to ask the older boy why he was caring for someone such as him, for once, Hisoka decided, he wasn't going to dwell on his stupid self-pity.
Another thing he could feel from the taller boy as they quietly walked towards the auditorium- it wasn't clear to him *exactly* what had happened, but apparently the principal was going to give them a brief about the police's discoveries and stuff- was the turmoil of Tsuzuki's emotions; all the pain and guilt and then more pain.
What had happened, he did not know, but after having that strange boy sit by him through almost five hours and then some, Hisoka felt the need to return the favour. How, though? He wasn't exactly an expert on carrying a normal conversation; less alone being supportive!! But he at least had to try, didn't he?
"Tsuzuki-kun..." he barely whispered.
Now, that didn't came out right. He wouldn't be surprised if Tsuzuki hadn't heard him at all!! Well, it was better than calling him baka- which had been his first option. Amazingly enough, Tsuzuki did turn around.
The wave of apprehension that hit Hisoka then was a little hard to understand, though. It felt as if Tsuzuki was expecting him to be send away without even a kind word. After all that he'd done for him? Hisoka almost felt guilty. Had he really given the impression of being an ungrateful bastard?
"Yes, Hisoka-kun?" the older boy said hesitantly.
Just the use of his full name and the honorific was enough to prove his theory. But Tsuzuki hadn't stopped calling him that annoying nickname of his even upon physical punishment. What had brought on the change?
"Tsuzuki-kun..." he started again, stopping on his tracks and waiting for Tsuzuki to do the same. "I wanted...I wanted to say... Well, you see, you've been with me all day and...even when I don't need help anymore and..."
Tsuzuki put on one of the most fake smiles Hisoka had seen in all his life and waved him off, interrupting him. The taller boy started to walk again, without looking at him.
"Oh, I see!!" he tried to laugh, but the hurt was so evident in his voice and what he was broadcasting, so strong, that Hisoka's knees were starting to wobble. "I must be annoying the hell out of you!!"
"No, wait, that's not what..." Why was he hurting this much?
"But Hisoka-kun, no matter what I can't let you walk to the auditorium alone. Not with what's happened. I hope you can forgive me?"
'Why? Why are you hurting so much?' Hisoka thought breathlessly. "Tsuzuki, that's not it. I didn't mean..."
"Oh, it's ok. I'm used to it. You don't have to spare my feelings or anything. I know I'm annoying!!" he laughed again and Hisoka wanted to scream. So much for his ability to comfort!
Forgetting that he was supposed to be nice, Hisoka ran up to him and took him by the arm a little too forcefully. Given the speed at which Tsuzuki'd been walking, the older boy almost fell backwards.
"Listen to me, *baka*!!" Hisoka hissed. "I don't give a fuck about sparing your feelings if you're annoying me- which you are, now. I just wanted to say thank you!!"
Tsuzuki blinked a few times. Not in the innocent way he'd done before when baffled. Now he truly seemed confused. He *was* confused, completely and utterly confused, and for the first time, Hisoka cursed his new found ability to completely synchronize with the other boy. 'It must be hell to be him!'
"'Soka...?" the violet eyed boy whispered, "You...you wanted to ...to...?"
"To thank you, yes." he hissed, "It's that so hard to believe?! Why, you think I'm such a prick I'd send you well on your way when you weren't useful to me anymore?!"
The older boy smiled sheepishly, staggered backwards until his back was against the wall and ran a shaking hand through his hair.
"I...I'm sorry...I thought..." he sighed and slid to the floor. Seeing him like that was enough to force some calm into Hisoka. He also sighed and walked to his side.
'How do I say this?' he wondered in frustration. The last thing he wanted was to be found out. He sat next to him, still keeping a safe distance.
"Tsuzuki? What's wrong?" That sounded good enough, right?
"I don't feel so good." the older boy muttered, looking very interested on the floor tiles, and Hisoka wasn't sure if it had been meant as an answer or if he'd said it to himself. So he waited for him to continue, and was about to give up when Tsuzuki finally did. "I just...the murder...it kinda brought back some stuff."
So, that was the guilt? He could very well feel it growing stronger just at the mention of those words. Besides, Tsuzuki sounded so tired. Whatever that boy had gone through, it made his past seem lame in comparison. At least he was sure he'd never felt so desperate and hell, no memories came to *his* mind at the mention of murder!
When it was obvious Tsuzuki wasn't planning on elaborating, he spoke.
"Is this one of those things you don't tell Tatsumi-kun?" he asked as kindly as he was able to.
That made Tsuzuki lift his head, looking almost startled for a moment and feeling...touched? At what, that he'd remembered?
"Yes, but..." Tsuzuki drew in a deep breath, "Sometimes I just wish I could tell someone, you know? I...I hate keeping secrets. But if it's what I have to do to stop my friends from hating me, then..."
Hisoka was tempted to simply touch the other boy and find out. Whatever it was, was obviously fresh enough on his mind so that a simple brush of skin would do the trick. But that would be violating his trust and, though he'd done it with any other person, he felt Tsuzuki deserved better.
"You've never told anyone?" he asked, without the need to fake sympathy. He was well aware of what it meant to keep secrets.
"The principal knows...he was a friend of my parents. But...No." just by the tone of his voice Hisoka could tell how much the secret weighed on Tsuzuki's shoulders.
"Why don't you tell me, then?" He said softly. It was a ridiculous request- specially coming from him- but maybe if his new friend shared a little, it would be more bearable?
Tsuzuki shook his head no, smiling sadly.
"Then you'd hate me even more."
Hisoka sighed.
"I don't hate you; and whatever you've done in the past to make you feel this way, you're obviously sorry for. Why would I judge you for it?" Seeing the reluctance on Tsuzuki's eyes made him think of a different approach. One that he was not too happy with, but felt right, for some reason. He cleared his throat and watched in annoyance as his hands begun to shake. "Look, Tsuzuki..." He too resorted to taking a very, *very* deep breath, "Do you believe in stuff like telepathy, paranormal perception...empathy?"
This was going to be one hell of a difficult conversation.
--------------------------
Muraki, like plenty of times before, stood in absolute silence as he watched his best friend move to some inner music, hidden behind one of the park's Sakura trees.
Of course, as he'd guessed, Oriya was using his wooden sword. He wouldn't be caught dead using that beautiful antique sword his father had given him. Not because he had anything against it, mind you- during their vacation, more than once the dark haired boy had stepped out to the garden to practice with the feel and weight of a real sword.
But if anyone found out he had a very real, very lethal weapon on school grounds, it would be the last he'd see of that fine piece of craftsmanship.
It was a dance, he realised. A violent yet gentle dance. There was something so incredibly sensuous about a sword; even that prop moved at his friend's commands in such a way that one couldn't help but feel reverence.
His friend's body moved in perfect synchrony with himself and his sword, until one could almost think they were one and the same. And while a real sword may have made anyone want to touch it; though it would stir in anyone some primitive bloodlust; it was the swordsman who held the real appeal.
For every time he caught Oriya on that ancestral ritual, clad in only that thin kimono that should have made him look less masculine and somehow managed the opposite; Muraki could see himself tracing that perfect body with his fingers.
Oh, Oriya was beautiful. Muraki had known that for the longest time; even if his heart was devoted entirely to another, he wasn't blind. But as entrancingly beautiful as he might have been, it was while he was practicing that dance that Muraki's fingers seemed to itch to treat that body with that same violent gentleness.
His dark haired friend was like his precious sword; so delicate and fine, such an eternal beauty, with his delicate outlines; but just as his sword, there was incredible danger in that shape. Those outlines were nothing but sharp edges that could easily make you lose your head.
One swift movement and whatever invisible opponent he'd been fighting was dead; as was his cover, because now Oriya could distract himself for long enough to notice he'd been watched. The ancestral swordsman was tuned to his surroundings enough to know where he was in an instant, but he was soon replaced by the young boy again, the sword replaced with the prop, as Oriya placed it nonchalantly over his shoulder with a smile.
"Hey there."
Muraki shook himself and returned the smile, taking a few steps forward.
"Hi, yourself. I knew you'd be here."
Oriya laughed wholeheartedly.
"Some Sherlock you are! Slept well? How's your head?" he asked, obviously teasing him about his state the night before. To bad he was right.
Muraki rubbed his eyes viciously.
"Killer hangover."
Oriya smirked ever so slightly and took a sit under the tree, inviting his battered friend to join him; which he did.
"You should get some orange juice. It would help you feel a little more like yourself."
"Maybe later!" Muraki laughed, "Now that I'm sitting I don't want to think about getting up."
"Ah, that's ok. I could get it for you, if you want." Oriya answered kindly.
Muraki couldn't help but look at his friend with a kind of vicious smile he knew wasn't the most pleasant of sights. Oriya, understandably, was a little taken aback.
"Always so willing to please. So expeditive." he said in a mild mocking tone.
Oriya blinked a few times, startled. Maybe he'd even realised he'd been caught?
But Muraki didn't want to antagonize his friend, did he? If Oriya was still there; still smiling and offering his help, what did it mean? The temptation to prove just how much his friend Oriya was, was simply too much for him to fight.
He wiped the sarcastic expression from his face as fast as it'd gotten there.
"I'm sorry..." Muraki kept his voice even and polite. "I just don't feel like myself today."
"I..." Oriya hesitated, then merely lowered his head. Surely he was thinking about that morning? Well, he couldn't blame him, he was doing exactly the same. "I understand."
"Hey, don't look so gloomy, I said I was sorry!" he put on a charming smile and patted his shoulder. When Oriya smiled weakly at him, he took is as a cue to push a little more. "Say, why were you practicing out here on the park? I heard classes were suspended but I didn't catch the reason."
He made sure to use a tone that didn't sound *too* convincing, but not exactly suspicious. And of course, Oriya's eyes widened so much Muraki feared they would pop out of their sockets.
"Well, you see, " the poor fifteen year old stammered, "Something kinda happened..."
'I see,' Muraki thought, amused, 'you're going to pretend you don't know that I know? I can do that too.'
So Oriya begun his tale; which Muraki noted, had been carefully edited by his friend.
~Tsuzuku~
I did took a long time in updating this, but I think it's a long chapter, so it compensates? And you have the sucky interlude thingy too!!! See? I'm good. *pouts*
To Lina, LYK, Fish1, makasarili, and whoever else who I'd been reviewing their stories periodically, I'm sorry I missed on your last few chapters. As I mentioned, life got a bit complicated, and now I don't even know what I reviewed and what I didn't. I am still reading, ok? Don't take it the wrong way.
(*) I don't know much about Feng Shui, so I probably got it all wrong; I know some part of it includes cardinal points and how you position your bed and where the door should be. But that's not the point; the point is, *this* Muraki- my Muraki- doesn't either. He's not saying that he doesn't care his room *is* wrong. He's saying that if it were, well...that he didn't care. Just because he's oriental, doesn't mean he has to be familiarized with such things.
(**) I am not sure that a man's kimono is actually called that. I used to know, but I've seem to have forgotten. If anyone sees this and knows, I'll be forever thankful if you correct my mistake.
(***) Being as I gave more than a few hints as to what the manga was, if *anyone* dares to ask which manga it is, I promise I'll go and hara-kiri myself. I am *not* that old!!! T.T (j/k, kinda)
Reviews!!! I live for them!! I'd die without them!!!
Lina: See? I took this long to update so you wouldn't feel bad? (j/k) Ok, I'm keeping count. So far one who didn't mind the het of Terazuma/Wakaba. Good. *.* And now you have not one, but two pic by you on the net. How neat is that!? I didn't like, ask you this time because you said I could because they were mine and stuff. Is that ok? *shakes in fear of having made Lina mad* Oh! And what do you think of the Tatariness of this chappy? Not so long but much more to the point, ne?
not so innocent bystander: I really need to find a nick for you, by the time I get to writing the replies of the reviews my hands aren't in shape for such long names T.T- Sorry I couldn't update more quickly. Forgive me?
Kara Angitia: If Watari (since he's half of any Tatariness, thank god) had anything to do with the way the world goes round, I think the patterns for the earth's rotation would be a little erratic and...dangerous...Don't you think? Ok, I digress...Thanks for reading this!!! You so rock!!!
Cofi: How could you think I'd kill Hajime-chan!! Oh the horror!!! I may be killing a character in the future, though...*looks around as fans from every character aim dangerously sharp objects at me* Uhm...I'm not sure I'll do it though and if I do it won't be *that* terrible. Don't worry about that character description. If you really want me to read it then you'll do it. I promise I'll read it as soon as I get it though. I'm most curious about it. I would do the research by myself, but...T.T, I'm kinda busy and stuff...Gomen! Oh, and here's two who didn't mind Terazuma/Wakaba!! Yay me!
LYK: I think demented is a proper way to describe us fangirls, don't you think? I'm still reading your story. Read the second author's note (the one at the end of the fic?) if you haven't already. What do you think of the Tatariness and Tsuzokaness of this chapter?
Mel-chan: Now I feel awful cuz you said I was a faithful updater or something down those lines, T.T. It's awful cuz I take so long to update and then there's the ear no one will like it and it will all- my effort and your wait- be in vain. A 'you're welcome' to your friend and I hope she doesn't get too bored with my fic. I hope this makes your day? *blush*
dodger-chan: You like my characters? They aren't in this chapter, but...you really like them? *feels luved*This chapter was more relationship worthy than plot worthy though. The plot should thicken on he next chappy. I hope you still like?
Vin: *dodges* Agh! Anxious reader and I've taken soooo long!! What are you going to do to me now!!? *is scared* Thanks for the review!!!
Fish1: You like my fic, you like my fic!!! *dances* Yours is just so great!!!! And you're *evil*!!! Letting us hang without any juicy scene!!! That last chappy was so damn hot I had to take a shower!!!! Thanks!!! *is hopeless*
Kyraille: No Mary Sue!!! No, no!!! I promise!! Actually, I do write stuff that aren't fanfics. If I'm not great at all the plot thing and stuff, I think I'm good at creating characters. (the result of a lonely childhood with no friends. A girl had to come up with something) But, I still read one paper about how to recognise a Mary Sue, just in case. Aome *will* have like, powers and stuff, but, that's cuz she's...uhm...I guess you've figured she's a shinigami, right? The only reason I came up with her is because Midori-san needed a partner, you see? And I thought it would be fun to add a female character to contrast with so much testosterone. But she's not perfect, doesn't have an angsty past and will not end up with *any* of the characters. Oh, and she's *not* an idealized version of myself *.* (I still like her tho...)
Three people who liked ...ok I'm shortening it up...Terakaba? Wakazuma? Uhm...*scratches head at the weirdness of it* Ok, you got the gist of it, ne? Yay!! And there's Tatariness and Muriyaness in this one. Double yay!! *realised she's yaying alone and there's a cricket in the background* You still like?
Loki's Rose: What did you think of this chappy and the Tatariness?? And I think I'm on the way of getting Tsu-chan a kitten...*-* Oh, and did I tell you how cute that drawing was? The one with the little cute blue dragon? I don't know what the little thing is but it was soooo cute!!! And you're a genius with coloured pencils!!! No, scratch that, you're just a genius!!! *hugs*
A special hug to butterflydreaming, who left me more reviews in the space of one day than anyone ever before. I'm really glad you liked my writing, since you're so good yourself. When will you post those chappies of 'Take comfort'? I can't wait! And I also adore you as a reviewer!!
Ja ne!!
In the events of this happening again (meaning life getting in the way and stuff, not writer's bock, I think I'm over that) Would you rather me posting a section of a chappy until I have a chapter finished? I mean, like, when I finish a section, I'd post it and then replace it with the complete chapter? Or just write shorter chapters? I would certainly update faster but I would be at risk of making the story too confusing for me and losing track of it. I don't know... I really hope I can work through my personal problems and start updating faster.
And go check this link for another fanart Lina made of the fic 'With love', It's just too cute!!
http://www.geocities.com/evolution2476/tsuzukiapron.jpg
Enjoy!!
A SMILE UPON MY FACE
He'd managed to dodge having to get up as much as he could. But at 4:00 p.m, the sun hit directly over his face as if saying 'Ok, boy, you had your sleep; now get up!'
If there was one thing Muraki Kazutaka did not appreciate, was the sun hitting his face. What with his naturally pale complexion and his sensitive eyes; it was pure hell. It wasn't for nothing that his room was facing west.
Fuck Feng Shui; he wasn't about to have his face burning and red as a tomato everyday for the sake of the harmony of his spirit. You have blisters on your face and try to be in balance with yourself. (*)
So he'd gotten up to find his room empty. All the memories of the previous morning were still fresh in his mind, but they felt unreal; like out of a dream. But he clearly remembered Oriya's part in them, and he didn't know what to make of it.
He paced his room back and forth like a caged animal for almost an hour, without being able to put his thoughts in order. A part of him- the one that had been with him the longest- felt so incredibly grateful with Oriya. It almost managed to warm up the space in his chest where his heart was slowly dying of hypothermia.
But there was another part of his mind that felt some sadistic pleasure on the situation. The perfect opportunity to test his friend's loyalty had arose and, though the *human* part of him was also curious about this, this part only cared about the game. He was already planning what to say and what to keep quiet so that he wouldn't actually incriminate himself, but making sure he wouldn't exonerate himself either.
Muraki inwardly groaned. Now he was really losing it. 'But it'll be fun.' A little, vicious voice uttered in his head.
What was clear after all that while spent thinking was that he needed to see Oriya, and fast. It wasn't hard to guess where he was though. Sure, they weren't going to class that day. But Oriya would go to Iado practice even with pneumonia. And though he assumed that practice had been cancelled due to the circumstances, his dark haired friend would surely find a way to do his routine anyway.
Glancing at one of the corners of the room and finding both the sword and Oriya's favoured kimono (**)- that was usually kept in a privileged spot on the hanger- missing, he knew his assumptions had been correct.
Now the urge to find his friend became stronger. He could clear up some doubts off his mind and get some priceless eye candy at the same time.
-----------------------
Tatsumi was deep in thought, yes. Not so deep in it to miss the gorgeous boy sitting by his side in the empty auditorium, though. He was trying very hard to concentrate on Konoe's speech. But grammar was the last thing on his mind.
Five hours.
A three hundred minutes spent in uncomfortable silence, staring at anything but Watari; in the cafeteria while they had lunch; in Tatsumi's room while each resorted to reading some of Tsuzuki's old mangas- Tatsumi had found one rendition of a Greek epic tale that, though not very faithful to the classics, was most interesting. And that little one that cried all the time was certainly cute. (***)
Now the silence was spent in the auditorium as they waited for Konoe and the rest of the students to arrive. At least now he had an excuse to keep quiet and look somewhere else, even if it was just that; an excuse.
Eighteen thousand seconds next to one of the most beautiful guys on the face of the earth, the causal of all his problems and most his joy, without being able to utter a word.
In short? Tatsumi was starting to lose it.
Why, you say, wasn't he breaking the silence then? After all, it was him the one who'd murdered any attempts at polite conversation.
The bottom line was that his mind kept taking him back to the infirmary. It was stupid of him to think that staying away from Tsuzuki would help him forget. And god, he'd tried hard to stay away from him *all* day.
It was even more stupid- and very, *extremely* unfair- to think Watari would prove enough of a distraction in case his first plan failed.
In the end, the only feeling merely distracting him of his concern and frustration about his boyfriend, was the guilt of having used the only other alive person in the world who mattered to him.
The truth was, he couldn't go on like that for much longer. Desperately loving someone who- even without meaning to- only caused him pain, while not being able to leave him for the other person he loved. His nerves were paying for it. It *had* to stop.
Now, if hanging out with Watari to distract himself from Tsuzuki had been unfair, forcing his problems with his boyfriend on to the blond when he *knew* Watari had some kind of feelings for him was simply cruel. So, even when he died to talk about it, even if everything told him he had to talk to someone and Watari would be the best listener, he kept quiet; unable to talk about anything else, either.
But at least, Watari didn't seem bored- amazingly enough- nor had he realised about Tatsumi's first intentions, or if he had he hadn't said a thing. He just stopped trying to talk to him but never left; staying by his side even when he surely wasn't the best of companies. No matter what his feelings were, or how they were changing; Watari was a good friend.
To him, as well as the silly parrot, it seemed. the small blond was talking to 003 in very hush tones about god knows what. Seriously, what could possibly be a topic for such long a conversation with a little bird?
He thought he heard something about buying 003 a red ribbon for her birthday, so that it would match the silk one Watari had gotten from him just a few days before. Tatsumi rolled his eyes.
"Sometimes I worry about you." The blue eyed boy muttered without even realisng he'd done it.
Two big, innocent amber eyes shot up and stared at him with such joy- for what reason, he didn't know- that caused a smile to immediately creep to his face.
"Look 003!!" the blond cheered, pointing at him and glancing at his parrot. "He talks!!"
Tatsumi blushed ever so slightly, with a sheepish expression.
"I'm sorry; I know I've been a little..."
"Funeral worthy?" Watari sang, taking the pause as a cue. His eyes were closed because he was grinning so much his cheekbones wouldn't leave space for them to be open.
Tatsumi snorted, his mood immediately perking up.
"That bad, eh?" Watari nodded cheerfully; 003 squeaked and Tatsumi could have sworn the bird had nodded too. Was the blond's lunacy contagious? "I just have a lot on my mind. Stuff, you know?"
"Let me guess. Violet eyed stuff?" the younger boy said with such gravity that it couldn't possibly be taken serious.
"How did you know?" he answered sarcastically, then huffed in frustration.
"What did the baka do now? Did he take money from your wallet again? Did he try to bribe a teacher with pie? Oh!" Watari's face changed from amusement to horror. "Tell me he didn't cook again!!"
Tatsumi sighed sadly, though smiling at his friend's ridiculous assumptions.
"It's a bit more complicated than that."
"Wanna talk about it?"
It was a simple offer; one that had certainly been uttered by millions of other people as a platitude. But coming from Watari it was a totally different story. The younger boy was offering his help, his shoulder, for him to unload a lot of baggage that would surely hurt him.
"It's just...," he begun, hesitantly. Should he? "...it's just that he always thinks everything's his fault!" his voice rose a little more than he'd meant it to, "I don't know what to do with him anymore! He's so intent on proving how he's responsible for every single calamity in the world that he doesn't realise he's fucking killing me!!" he finished with a punch at the seat in front of him, realising his face was probably red from all that repressed anger finally seeping through.
Not that he was fond of expressing so much emotion, *ever*, but you try being a teenager, your hormones going wild as well as all those funny chemicals in your brain making you moody, and then keep your cool 24/7.
His outburst didn't surprise only him, he noted. Watari was staring at him wide eyed; even 003, for crying out loud!
"Tatsumi... I..." The boy's lost expression was more than eloquent and Tatsumi felt like shit. Now Watari also felt bad and that hadn't been necessary. 'I knew I should have kept quiet,' he thought. On the outside he said.
"Look, Watari..." he ran a hand through his hair. "I...I'm sorry, I guess. I'm just at the end of my rope here."
Watari looked down seeming lost and preoccupied.
"I...I didn't know things were that bad. Tsuzuki seemed ok, I...Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No," Tatsumi said, his tone a lot more gentle. "I'm just not sure I'm the one for him, you know? I can't make him happy. I don't think we can go like this anymore. I might just..."
The blond jumped on his seat, interrupting him.
"What? You're not planning to break up with him, are you?!" Watari almost yelled, leaving Tatsumi more than a little confused.
Maybe he'd been just deluding himself, but he'd expected Watari to be happy if he and Tsuzuki were about to brake up; certainly not upset.
"Well, I don't know." he begun, unsure, "Tsuzuki wouldn't take it too well I guess, but I think it might be for the best?"
"But Tatsumi!!" Now Watari look plain distressed. "He loves you! And you...you love him!! Don't you?!"
'Ay, there's the rub, ne? You really *are* a good friend, Watari. But this time your nobility isn't justified.'
Tatsumi smiled tenderly and leaned a little closer, noticing with amusement how Watari's eyes started to dance franticly.
"Yeah, I do. And I know he cares deeply for me. But I think he stays with me because he's afraid to be alone and I stay with him because I don't want to hurt him." Seeing the startled look Watari gave him at that, gave Tatsumi a little more courage. "Besides, he's not the only one I love, you know? And I'm starting to realise that what I feel for him is not near as right as what I feel for this other person."
"You...you love someone else?"
'Was that hope in your voice, Watari-kun?' Tatsumi leaned even closer, and his voice lowered a few scales.
"Yes, I do. Very much so. Have you ever been in love, Watari?"
Watari seemed all but ready to understand the meaning of his words when, catching the two off guard, the doors flung open and a few students walked in.
------------------------
No matter how important a day is; no matter how significant a moment you feel it to be, time passes. Before you realise, that wonderful day has died; that perfect moment withered away. Same goes for the opposite, luckily enough.
So the sun was beginning to set again, and Hisoka stared through the hall's windows at the orange light curiously tainting the sky in pink. It would rain tomorrow, he realised.
Of course he'd slept through half the day. Just his luck, he thought bitterly, to spend a class-less day knocked out of your senses. But still, even having been aware of so little hours that day, it had been...he'd say educational, if all the things he'd learnt hadn't left him even more confused than before.
Not only he'd discovered to be strangely linked to an almost-complete stranger. That was truly weird and surreal on itself. But on top of that, this stranger seemed to care. Now, how fucked up was that?
He was the weirdo; the one with these strange mystic connections and empathic abilities. But Tsuzuki...Tsuzuki was just a normal boy (using the term 'normal' loosely); why on earth would he care about him??
One thing was to be overly friendly. He'd met plenty of people who promised you eternal friendship the moment they laid eyes on you. At first he even thought he was Tsuzuki's charity case. You know, how some people can just *smell* it when you're not well adjusted and decide to adopt you as a pet until you bore them?
Was that the case with Tsuzuki, though? Tsuzuki, who'd stayed by his side all day; that had found him in that pitiful state and hadn't doubted on helping him himself instead of passing the weight onto someone else, someone prepared and forced to help.
Tsuzuki, who'd stayed by his side, even after he'd been released from the infirmary; even after the nurse's ridiculous and obviously made up explanation that had helped Hisoka cover up his lie- he'd made sure to talk to that Midori-san alone. He had felt that Tsuzuki hadn't bought a word of the 'He just eat too little' line.
He could also feel that Tsuzuki was still worried about him. And though that baffled him; though he wanted to ask the older boy why he was caring for someone such as him, for once, Hisoka decided, he wasn't going to dwell on his stupid self-pity.
Another thing he could feel from the taller boy as they quietly walked towards the auditorium- it wasn't clear to him *exactly* what had happened, but apparently the principal was going to give them a brief about the police's discoveries and stuff- was the turmoil of Tsuzuki's emotions; all the pain and guilt and then more pain.
What had happened, he did not know, but after having that strange boy sit by him through almost five hours and then some, Hisoka felt the need to return the favour. How, though? He wasn't exactly an expert on carrying a normal conversation; less alone being supportive!! But he at least had to try, didn't he?
"Tsuzuki-kun..." he barely whispered.
Now, that didn't came out right. He wouldn't be surprised if Tsuzuki hadn't heard him at all!! Well, it was better than calling him baka- which had been his first option. Amazingly enough, Tsuzuki did turn around.
The wave of apprehension that hit Hisoka then was a little hard to understand, though. It felt as if Tsuzuki was expecting him to be send away without even a kind word. After all that he'd done for him? Hisoka almost felt guilty. Had he really given the impression of being an ungrateful bastard?
"Yes, Hisoka-kun?" the older boy said hesitantly.
Just the use of his full name and the honorific was enough to prove his theory. But Tsuzuki hadn't stopped calling him that annoying nickname of his even upon physical punishment. What had brought on the change?
"Tsuzuki-kun..." he started again, stopping on his tracks and waiting for Tsuzuki to do the same. "I wanted...I wanted to say... Well, you see, you've been with me all day and...even when I don't need help anymore and..."
Tsuzuki put on one of the most fake smiles Hisoka had seen in all his life and waved him off, interrupting him. The taller boy started to walk again, without looking at him.
"Oh, I see!!" he tried to laugh, but the hurt was so evident in his voice and what he was broadcasting, so strong, that Hisoka's knees were starting to wobble. "I must be annoying the hell out of you!!"
"No, wait, that's not what..." Why was he hurting this much?
"But Hisoka-kun, no matter what I can't let you walk to the auditorium alone. Not with what's happened. I hope you can forgive me?"
'Why? Why are you hurting so much?' Hisoka thought breathlessly. "Tsuzuki, that's not it. I didn't mean..."
"Oh, it's ok. I'm used to it. You don't have to spare my feelings or anything. I know I'm annoying!!" he laughed again and Hisoka wanted to scream. So much for his ability to comfort!
Forgetting that he was supposed to be nice, Hisoka ran up to him and took him by the arm a little too forcefully. Given the speed at which Tsuzuki'd been walking, the older boy almost fell backwards.
"Listen to me, *baka*!!" Hisoka hissed. "I don't give a fuck about sparing your feelings if you're annoying me- which you are, now. I just wanted to say thank you!!"
Tsuzuki blinked a few times. Not in the innocent way he'd done before when baffled. Now he truly seemed confused. He *was* confused, completely and utterly confused, and for the first time, Hisoka cursed his new found ability to completely synchronize with the other boy. 'It must be hell to be him!'
"'Soka...?" the violet eyed boy whispered, "You...you wanted to ...to...?"
"To thank you, yes." he hissed, "It's that so hard to believe?! Why, you think I'm such a prick I'd send you well on your way when you weren't useful to me anymore?!"
The older boy smiled sheepishly, staggered backwards until his back was against the wall and ran a shaking hand through his hair.
"I...I'm sorry...I thought..." he sighed and slid to the floor. Seeing him like that was enough to force some calm into Hisoka. He also sighed and walked to his side.
'How do I say this?' he wondered in frustration. The last thing he wanted was to be found out. He sat next to him, still keeping a safe distance.
"Tsuzuki? What's wrong?" That sounded good enough, right?
"I don't feel so good." the older boy muttered, looking very interested on the floor tiles, and Hisoka wasn't sure if it had been meant as an answer or if he'd said it to himself. So he waited for him to continue, and was about to give up when Tsuzuki finally did. "I just...the murder...it kinda brought back some stuff."
So, that was the guilt? He could very well feel it growing stronger just at the mention of those words. Besides, Tsuzuki sounded so tired. Whatever that boy had gone through, it made his past seem lame in comparison. At least he was sure he'd never felt so desperate and hell, no memories came to *his* mind at the mention of murder!
When it was obvious Tsuzuki wasn't planning on elaborating, he spoke.
"Is this one of those things you don't tell Tatsumi-kun?" he asked as kindly as he was able to.
That made Tsuzuki lift his head, looking almost startled for a moment and feeling...touched? At what, that he'd remembered?
"Yes, but..." Tsuzuki drew in a deep breath, "Sometimes I just wish I could tell someone, you know? I...I hate keeping secrets. But if it's what I have to do to stop my friends from hating me, then..."
Hisoka was tempted to simply touch the other boy and find out. Whatever it was, was obviously fresh enough on his mind so that a simple brush of skin would do the trick. But that would be violating his trust and, though he'd done it with any other person, he felt Tsuzuki deserved better.
"You've never told anyone?" he asked, without the need to fake sympathy. He was well aware of what it meant to keep secrets.
"The principal knows...he was a friend of my parents. But...No." just by the tone of his voice Hisoka could tell how much the secret weighed on Tsuzuki's shoulders.
"Why don't you tell me, then?" He said softly. It was a ridiculous request- specially coming from him- but maybe if his new friend shared a little, it would be more bearable?
Tsuzuki shook his head no, smiling sadly.
"Then you'd hate me even more."
Hisoka sighed.
"I don't hate you; and whatever you've done in the past to make you feel this way, you're obviously sorry for. Why would I judge you for it?" Seeing the reluctance on Tsuzuki's eyes made him think of a different approach. One that he was not too happy with, but felt right, for some reason. He cleared his throat and watched in annoyance as his hands begun to shake. "Look, Tsuzuki..." He too resorted to taking a very, *very* deep breath, "Do you believe in stuff like telepathy, paranormal perception...empathy?"
This was going to be one hell of a difficult conversation.
--------------------------
Muraki, like plenty of times before, stood in absolute silence as he watched his best friend move to some inner music, hidden behind one of the park's Sakura trees.
Of course, as he'd guessed, Oriya was using his wooden sword. He wouldn't be caught dead using that beautiful antique sword his father had given him. Not because he had anything against it, mind you- during their vacation, more than once the dark haired boy had stepped out to the garden to practice with the feel and weight of a real sword.
But if anyone found out he had a very real, very lethal weapon on school grounds, it would be the last he'd see of that fine piece of craftsmanship.
It was a dance, he realised. A violent yet gentle dance. There was something so incredibly sensuous about a sword; even that prop moved at his friend's commands in such a way that one couldn't help but feel reverence.
His friend's body moved in perfect synchrony with himself and his sword, until one could almost think they were one and the same. And while a real sword may have made anyone want to touch it; though it would stir in anyone some primitive bloodlust; it was the swordsman who held the real appeal.
For every time he caught Oriya on that ancestral ritual, clad in only that thin kimono that should have made him look less masculine and somehow managed the opposite; Muraki could see himself tracing that perfect body with his fingers.
Oh, Oriya was beautiful. Muraki had known that for the longest time; even if his heart was devoted entirely to another, he wasn't blind. But as entrancingly beautiful as he might have been, it was while he was practicing that dance that Muraki's fingers seemed to itch to treat that body with that same violent gentleness.
His dark haired friend was like his precious sword; so delicate and fine, such an eternal beauty, with his delicate outlines; but just as his sword, there was incredible danger in that shape. Those outlines were nothing but sharp edges that could easily make you lose your head.
One swift movement and whatever invisible opponent he'd been fighting was dead; as was his cover, because now Oriya could distract himself for long enough to notice he'd been watched. The ancestral swordsman was tuned to his surroundings enough to know where he was in an instant, but he was soon replaced by the young boy again, the sword replaced with the prop, as Oriya placed it nonchalantly over his shoulder with a smile.
"Hey there."
Muraki shook himself and returned the smile, taking a few steps forward.
"Hi, yourself. I knew you'd be here."
Oriya laughed wholeheartedly.
"Some Sherlock you are! Slept well? How's your head?" he asked, obviously teasing him about his state the night before. To bad he was right.
Muraki rubbed his eyes viciously.
"Killer hangover."
Oriya smirked ever so slightly and took a sit under the tree, inviting his battered friend to join him; which he did.
"You should get some orange juice. It would help you feel a little more like yourself."
"Maybe later!" Muraki laughed, "Now that I'm sitting I don't want to think about getting up."
"Ah, that's ok. I could get it for you, if you want." Oriya answered kindly.
Muraki couldn't help but look at his friend with a kind of vicious smile he knew wasn't the most pleasant of sights. Oriya, understandably, was a little taken aback.
"Always so willing to please. So expeditive." he said in a mild mocking tone.
Oriya blinked a few times, startled. Maybe he'd even realised he'd been caught?
But Muraki didn't want to antagonize his friend, did he? If Oriya was still there; still smiling and offering his help, what did it mean? The temptation to prove just how much his friend Oriya was, was simply too much for him to fight.
He wiped the sarcastic expression from his face as fast as it'd gotten there.
"I'm sorry..." Muraki kept his voice even and polite. "I just don't feel like myself today."
"I..." Oriya hesitated, then merely lowered his head. Surely he was thinking about that morning? Well, he couldn't blame him, he was doing exactly the same. "I understand."
"Hey, don't look so gloomy, I said I was sorry!" he put on a charming smile and patted his shoulder. When Oriya smiled weakly at him, he took is as a cue to push a little more. "Say, why were you practicing out here on the park? I heard classes were suspended but I didn't catch the reason."
He made sure to use a tone that didn't sound *too* convincing, but not exactly suspicious. And of course, Oriya's eyes widened so much Muraki feared they would pop out of their sockets.
"Well, you see, " the poor fifteen year old stammered, "Something kinda happened..."
'I see,' Muraki thought, amused, 'you're going to pretend you don't know that I know? I can do that too.'
So Oriya begun his tale; which Muraki noted, had been carefully edited by his friend.
~Tsuzuku~
I did took a long time in updating this, but I think it's a long chapter, so it compensates? And you have the sucky interlude thingy too!!! See? I'm good. *pouts*
To Lina, LYK, Fish1, makasarili, and whoever else who I'd been reviewing their stories periodically, I'm sorry I missed on your last few chapters. As I mentioned, life got a bit complicated, and now I don't even know what I reviewed and what I didn't. I am still reading, ok? Don't take it the wrong way.
(*) I don't know much about Feng Shui, so I probably got it all wrong; I know some part of it includes cardinal points and how you position your bed and where the door should be. But that's not the point; the point is, *this* Muraki- my Muraki- doesn't either. He's not saying that he doesn't care his room *is* wrong. He's saying that if it were, well...that he didn't care. Just because he's oriental, doesn't mean he has to be familiarized with such things.
(**) I am not sure that a man's kimono is actually called that. I used to know, but I've seem to have forgotten. If anyone sees this and knows, I'll be forever thankful if you correct my mistake.
(***) Being as I gave more than a few hints as to what the manga was, if *anyone* dares to ask which manga it is, I promise I'll go and hara-kiri myself. I am *not* that old!!! T.T (j/k, kinda)
Reviews!!! I live for them!! I'd die without them!!!
Lina: See? I took this long to update so you wouldn't feel bad? (j/k) Ok, I'm keeping count. So far one who didn't mind the het of Terazuma/Wakaba. Good. *.* And now you have not one, but two pic by you on the net. How neat is that!? I didn't like, ask you this time because you said I could because they were mine and stuff. Is that ok? *shakes in fear of having made Lina mad* Oh! And what do you think of the Tatariness of this chappy? Not so long but much more to the point, ne?
not so innocent bystander: I really need to find a nick for you, by the time I get to writing the replies of the reviews my hands aren't in shape for such long names T.T- Sorry I couldn't update more quickly. Forgive me?
Kara Angitia: If Watari (since he's half of any Tatariness, thank god) had anything to do with the way the world goes round, I think the patterns for the earth's rotation would be a little erratic and...dangerous...Don't you think? Ok, I digress...Thanks for reading this!!! You so rock!!!
Cofi: How could you think I'd kill Hajime-chan!! Oh the horror!!! I may be killing a character in the future, though...*looks around as fans from every character aim dangerously sharp objects at me* Uhm...I'm not sure I'll do it though and if I do it won't be *that* terrible. Don't worry about that character description. If you really want me to read it then you'll do it. I promise I'll read it as soon as I get it though. I'm most curious about it. I would do the research by myself, but...T.T, I'm kinda busy and stuff...Gomen! Oh, and here's two who didn't mind Terazuma/Wakaba!! Yay me!
LYK: I think demented is a proper way to describe us fangirls, don't you think? I'm still reading your story. Read the second author's note (the one at the end of the fic?) if you haven't already. What do you think of the Tatariness and Tsuzokaness of this chapter?
Mel-chan: Now I feel awful cuz you said I was a faithful updater or something down those lines, T.T. It's awful cuz I take so long to update and then there's the ear no one will like it and it will all- my effort and your wait- be in vain. A 'you're welcome' to your friend and I hope she doesn't get too bored with my fic. I hope this makes your day? *blush*
dodger-chan: You like my characters? They aren't in this chapter, but...you really like them? *feels luved*This chapter was more relationship worthy than plot worthy though. The plot should thicken on he next chappy. I hope you still like?
Vin: *dodges* Agh! Anxious reader and I've taken soooo long!! What are you going to do to me now!!? *is scared* Thanks for the review!!!
Fish1: You like my fic, you like my fic!!! *dances* Yours is just so great!!!! And you're *evil*!!! Letting us hang without any juicy scene!!! That last chappy was so damn hot I had to take a shower!!!! Thanks!!! *is hopeless*
Kyraille: No Mary Sue!!! No, no!!! I promise!! Actually, I do write stuff that aren't fanfics. If I'm not great at all the plot thing and stuff, I think I'm good at creating characters. (the result of a lonely childhood with no friends. A girl had to come up with something) But, I still read one paper about how to recognise a Mary Sue, just in case. Aome *will* have like, powers and stuff, but, that's cuz she's...uhm...I guess you've figured she's a shinigami, right? The only reason I came up with her is because Midori-san needed a partner, you see? And I thought it would be fun to add a female character to contrast with so much testosterone. But she's not perfect, doesn't have an angsty past and will not end up with *any* of the characters. Oh, and she's *not* an idealized version of myself *.* (I still like her tho...)
Three people who liked ...ok I'm shortening it up...Terakaba? Wakazuma? Uhm...*scratches head at the weirdness of it* Ok, you got the gist of it, ne? Yay!! And there's Tatariness and Muriyaness in this one. Double yay!! *realised she's yaying alone and there's a cricket in the background* You still like?
Loki's Rose: What did you think of this chappy and the Tatariness?? And I think I'm on the way of getting Tsu-chan a kitten...*-* Oh, and did I tell you how cute that drawing was? The one with the little cute blue dragon? I don't know what the little thing is but it was soooo cute!!! And you're a genius with coloured pencils!!! No, scratch that, you're just a genius!!! *hugs*
A special hug to butterflydreaming, who left me more reviews in the space of one day than anyone ever before. I'm really glad you liked my writing, since you're so good yourself. When will you post those chappies of 'Take comfort'? I can't wait! And I also adore you as a reviewer!!
Ja ne!!