Musica tossed and turned. Why has it been so hard to sleep lately? He wondered angrily. It's bad enough when I do get to sleep, I have freaky dreams! Sighing, Musica threw off the covers. Such a hot night...
He impatiently leapt out of bed and looked out of the tower window. Their shared home had a small tower with one room on top of the winding staircase – Musica had bagged it.
It overlooked the garden; Musica could see the flowers planted and tended by Licia, the hydrangeas. Musica scowled. Will anything not remind of that girl? Everywhere he looked, he seemed to see something Licia liked or had grown or had made. It annoyed him, and that strange sensation rose in the back of his mind again.
I'm going nuts! He growled mentally. Eh? Who's that?
Someone with a pointy head was pacing the garden. Shiba. What's the old man doing up so late, wondered Musica. Quietly, he slipped out of his room to join Shiba downstairs. He crept past the other bedrooms.
As silently, he let himself out into the garden through the back door in the kitchen. He strode nonchalantly into the garden. "Hello, old man," he said smoothly. Heh...look at him jump! Shiba was startled, and he jerked violently around.
"Oh, it's you, young man!" he said sighing in relief. "You gave me quite a shock there!" Musica sat down on the marble bench, grinning.
"I noticed. What are you doing up so late, old man??" Musica asked coolly, blowing on his fingernails. Feeling his pockets, he found a packet of cigarettes in it, and a lighter. "Heh." He stuck a cigarette into his mouth and lit it. I'll feel much better after this smoke. He frowned at Shiba. "It's not safe to be up alone these days."
Shiba scowled at Musica, shaking a finger at him violently. "You want to watch your tone young man! You need to respect your elders, like Haru does! And you shouldn't be smoking either!" Shiba's face grew dark with disapproval.
"It calms me," muttered Musica staring at the ground.
"What cares could a young man like you possibly have, what big burden that you would need to calm yourself?" Shiba asked, sounding indignant. Musica simply looked at him. "Oh. I see. Boy, just because you fight with someone doesn't mean you have to kill yourself. And besides, you know you can put it right anytime." Shiba's voice was much kinder now.
"What are you talking about?" Musica tossed his head scornfully. "I'm not upset over my fight with Licia! I'm still upset about Melodia's death!" Upset over Licia? Is this old man mad? He puffed harder on the cigarette.
Shiba laughed. Musica felt his face flush with anger. "What's so bloody funny?" he demanded roughly. Shiba stopped laughing and stared gravely at Musica.
"You have a lot to learn, boy," he said solemnly.
Musica felt irritated. "I've seen my entire family killed! Two of my loves lying cold and dead! My teacher...my only companion! Am I still a boy after all of that, old man?" He was almost shouting now. "Am I? I may not be fifty years old, but I'm not some stupid little boy any more!"
Musica stood up angrily. This old man isn't right! I'm not upset because of Licia! Goddamn her! I'll never forgive her! Leaving a thoughtful Shiba behind, he strode back to his room.
So lonely, little boy.
"Elie!" Haru shouted up down the stairs. A sleepy, tousle-haired Elie came yawning out of the kitchen.
"What's the matter, Haru?" she slurred. "I'm making breakfast; don't be so impatient!" Haru grinned, and energetically leapt onto the banisters to slide down on them. He held a bunch of red roses out in one hand, and pushed them under Elie's nose.
"Happy Valentine's Day!" he said cheerfully to her.
Elie's half-closed eyes widened in surprise, and she smiled. "Oh! Thank you Haru!" Then she blinked. "Are they...roses??"
Haru laughed happily. "Yes! They are roses! Do you like them?"
Elie nodded fervently. "I love them! But..." she blushed a little –"I love you more!" Leaning over she gave Haru a tiny kiss. They weren't really given to public affection, and Haru and Elie were still coming to terms with their new relationship.
Licia grinned on at them from the the top of the stairs, and coughed slightly. Elie immediately pulled back, trying to look as if nothing had happened. Licia rolled her eyes at Elie. "Good morning, lovebirds..." she teased them. Haru didn't bat an eyelid, but Elie went red.
Cattleya came up, laughing as well. "You two should go out for a romantic dinner tonight!" she teased gently. "Shuda and I are!"
Haru sneezed. "Shuda??? Shuda??? Cattleya! That's dangerous! What if Shuda kidnapped you? What if he killed you when no one was looking? How you could like him? Didn't I tell you how I fought him once? Cattleya, it's suicidal-!"
All three girl burst out laughing again. Haru's suspicions were based on nothing more than pure dislike, and it was funny to see him so overprotective of his older sister.
"It's not funny," he muttered sourly.
"Haru! Shuda is lovely, and he wouldn't do anything to harm me. That's like saying you're going to stab Elie!" Haru choked wildly, his head spinning round to face Elie's. "Lovers will never hurt each other!"
"Oh yeah? Look at Licia and Musica!" Haru murmured under his breath. Unfortunately it wasn't low enough, and Licia heard. It earned him a full fisted punch. Licia's face was flushed and her eyes glinted. "Ow..."
"Don't ever say that Haru! I hate him, and he hates me!" she said sharply, in a voice unlike hers.
Cattleya hurriedly pushed on. "So it's agreed? We're all going on romantic Valentine's Day dinners tonight: Haru and Elie, me and Shuda...who will you go with, Licia?"
Licia glared at Haru before answering. "I'm going to stay home and do the dishes," she joked. "Actually, I'm not going with anywhere." She quailed slightly under three pitying stares. "It's ok, you guys! I don't want to go anywhere! I have a new murder mystery to read...nothing funner than that!" She grinned at them cheerfully.
"My sisters' taken up matchmaking, haven't you?" Haru rolled his eyes at her. Cattleya gave him a mock scowl.
"Maybe, but I'm also working on therapy for Elie! She'll need it, being married to you!" Cattleya was also much happier after coming to the big house, and being with so many people. Before, she realized, she had always been rather pensive and quiet. With high spirits around her, and full, bright days ahead, she was quickly shedding her grave mantle and turning into someone cheery.
Elie was smiling a far away smile as Haru and Cattleya bickered. That was changed about Elie too. Being married had given her new responsibilities and while it had not taken away her childishness, it had given her a new layer of maturity that blossomed out randomly at times.
Haru hadn't changed much; he was still the spiky haired boy who tried to change his destiny, although he wasn't such a fighter now. He had other things to think about, and the Rave Master didn't constantly carry around his Ten Commandments sword nowadays, and he didn't need it either.
Now, Remi had joined the little crowd at the foot of the stairs. She too had stopped being a meek little mouse, and was each day much bolder and brighter. She had completely lost all her 'uppity-ness', the commanding tone she had acquired during her reign as queen of Rabarrier and the differentiation.
Solacido, however, had not stopped protecting his little sister one bit, and he guarded her fiercly against even a slight danger.
"I'm going to ask Muscia," Remi said softly into the din. No amount of noise would have stopped those words being heard, however. Four pairs of shocked and disbelieving eyes gazed at her.
Licia firmly shut her mouth, refusing to acknowledge the mention of her enemy. Haru clapped her on the back and told her to go for it. Cattleya smiled beneficially upon Remi.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll agree," Elie said casually. "Go ask him!"
Remi blushed prettily, and nodded. "I will; when he wakes up."
"Now, that just leaves Solacido and Licia. And Shiba," Cattleya added as an afterthought. A grin quirked Licia's lips to think of Shiba on a date.
"And Griff, and Plue!" added Licia. "Maybe I'll go with Plue!"
"Why don't you ask him? He's somewhere around here," said Haru twisting around to catch sight of Plue.
"Master Plue is all withered. He fell into the hot water tub again." It was Griff's voice. "As for myself, I already have a date tonight with one of my kind." The speech was delivered matter-of-factly, and precisely.
Griff didn't seem to realize that everyone was gaping at him. "With...with...one of y-your kind??" Haru murmured faintly. "What exactly are you?" Griff had floated away, to attend to Plue, and he didn't hear.
"Now, that only leave Licia, Solacido and Shiba. You can't go with Shiba, obviously..." Cattleya began again.
"Aw, sis'!" Haru groaned.
Licia groaned too. "Oh, come off it, Cattleya! I'm not budging and that's it!! I don't know about Solacido so you ask him! No! Don't start off again! I'm going to get some teaaaa..." Licia sang the last part over Cattleya's protesting voice. Singing, she ran into the empty kitchen.
Phewf....safe at last. She leaned against the kitchen door. I don't want to play puppet with my heart...
Musica watched the proceedings at the bottom of the stairs with some amusement. They really were funny when they got together. So Remi's going to ask me? He thought. I guess I'll accept!
Cattleya was serious about this matchmaking business. He watched as Licia practically ran into kitchen after insisting for the hundredth time that she was not going anywhere tonight. Well, I'll be having fun while she's home all alone!
He certainly wasn't going to break his pride and ask Licia. She'd just refuse anyway, so why do I have to bother?
"As if I want to go with her anyway. Who would?" sneered Musica, returning to his room. Suddenly, the day didn't look pleasant ahead of him at all. "I think I'll go back to sleep..."
Cattleya smothered a sigh as Licia made what she thought was a successful escape. If only you knew it, Licia, I am trying to help you! Cattleya chided Licia mentally. "You're lonely and you know it! This would cheer you up and you're denying it!" Cattleya muttered under her breath.
Sneaking a peek upstairs, she saw Musica turning around. It was all perfectly timed, if she thought so herself. She had wanted Musica to hear everything. "Perfect..." Cattleya said absently.
"What's perfect??" Remi asked, leaning forward.
Cattleya masked a startled expression on her face. You should be more careful with your plans! You may as well announce it to the whole world! Cattleya gave herself a mental shake. "Haru and Elie...they're the perfect couple. Don't you think?" Cattleya replied smiling sweetly.
"Yes! They are," smiled Remi. Then, in a low tone, not meant to be heard, she murmured: "If only Musica and I could be like that..."
Cattleya frowned. Remi wasn't in my calculations at all! She sighed wearily. Things will just have to go their own way, I suppose. If fate means to bring Licia and Musica together, it will. It should.