FALLEN
CHAPTER 5 Ð EVERYBODY'S FOOL
Anime the Fallen Angel
******
I should get that crack on my ceiling fixed...
Omi stared at the fissure above him, tired but fully awake. Drowsily, Omi glanced about his room. From his window... Where Aya came in... To the corner of his room, recently cleaned... Where Aya found me and saved me...
With a great sigh, Omi lifted himself off the bed. It had been three days. Three days since he had attempted to commit suicide. Three days since Aya saved him.
"Three days since I actually eaten anything decent...
Slowly, Omi crawled out of his bed and into the kitchen. He managed to put together some soup and toast without aggravating his tightly bandaged arm. Omi stared at the bandage as he drank and ate the hot food. Aya had been so gentle.... why did he help me? What reason had he to? And how did he know where I lived? And what in the world was he doing here anyway!?
Aya had climbed through Omi's window the night he nearly killed himself. It only occurred to him that Aya must have meant to find him. But for what? And why through my window?
Putting his dirty dishes away, Omi cleaned and dressed himself, the only difficulty being trying to get the thick bandage through his sleeve.
"What now...?" Omi asked himself, wondering what to do.
Ten minutes later, Omi was walking down the street, going no where in particular. However, he found himself by a fountain in the park. Sitting on the rim, he watched the world go by. Couples spending the day together, children playing, young people hanging out...
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Perfect by nature
Icons of self indulgence
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A small group nearby caught his eye. Made up of six of his own male classmates, surrounding someone on a bench. Curious, Omi got up and ventured to the group.
"Ohayou, minna.
A couple of the boys turned and smiled at Omi. "Ohayou Gozaimasu, Tsukiyono!
"Ohayou, Omi.
"What's up guys?
The figure on the bench stood up and smiled down at Omi. He blushed a little. A tall voluptuous woman stood before him, smiling casually. She held out a hand.
"Hello there. My name's Manx.
"He...Hello.
Earning several jealous glares from his classmates, Omi reached out and shook hands with Manx. Finally, he dared to raise his eyes to see Manx properly. She had long bright red hair, styled. Her red suit was fine for the top of her body, but her skirt was far too high to be legal or decent. Red stilettos helped the woman with her height. Omi finally determined two things...
I can't be completely gay... and this woman looks like Yohji's last three girlfriends!
Manx smiled and dropped her hand from the light shake. Not wanting to be out of the scene, one of Omi's friends spoke up.
"Hey, Tsukiyono. What happened to your arm?
Omi subconsciously tried hiding his arm behind his back, smiling sheepishly and thinking on his feet.
"I had an accident back at my place. Cut myself by accident when I slipped on the floor.
The guys tutted at Omi, some laughing. "Since when did you get so accident-prone, Omi?!
Omi laughed slightly with them, not believing that his friends were buying the excuse. Manx simply smiled along and checked her watch.
"It's been great talking to you boys, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave.
Most of the boys looked forlorn when she said that. Saying her goodbyes, Manx turned to leave. Every single male in the park couldn't help but stare at Manx's back, in one spot in particular. Many of the partnered men were begging for forgiveness a second later. Omi blinked and turned back to face his friends.
"So who was that?
"Every guy's dream..." One of the guys sighed.
"Forget about her man. No way is she going to consider any one of us. We're too young for one.
"Yeah. So tell us again how you cut your arm, Tsukiyono.
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Just what we all need
More lies about a world that
Never was and never will be
Have you no shame don't you see me
You know you've got everybody fooled
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******
Half an hour later, Omi managed to escape his friends and walked out of the park, cradling his arm. Several signatures were present on the bandages; the guys determined to sign his arm. Omi recalled the wincing pain from several of the pen stabs. Omi paused when he was under the park entry arch. Looking up, he was surprised to see Manx in front of him, leaning against a black car. She smiled and signalled for Omi to walk over.
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Look here she comes now
Bow down and stare in wonder
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"Hey, Omi. How are you?
"Erm... fine...
Manx smiled and looked up at the sky, shielding her eyes. "It's noon... would you have lunch with me?
Omi blinked in surprise. Without thinking, he nodded, slipping into Manx's car next to her. Minutes later, Omi was sitting opposite Manx after ordering sandwiches and drinks. Manx leaned back in her seat, legs crossed, one manicured nail tapping on her table top.
"Relax. To be honest, you're making me nervous.
Omi smiled and looked up. "I'm making YOU nervous? You don't seem the type to be scared around a teenager like me...
Manx laughed. Smiling, she looked away a little coyly. "Well, most of what I do is a cover-up. I act the way I do so people think I'm brave. To be honest, I'm as scared as hell.
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Oh how we love you
No flaws when you're pretending
But now I know she
Never was and never will be
You don't know how you've betrayed me
And somehow you've got everybody fooled
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"Well, you got me fooled.
Manx smiled. "Well, I did take acting classes when I was younger. Guess they came in handy.
Their meal came and they ate. They talked about anything in particular. School, friends, family, life in general. When their ice creams arrived, Manx looked pointedly at Omi, a mischievous smile forming on her lips.
"So, Omi. Any one Ôspecial' in your life?
Omi choked a little on the ice cream wafer he was eating and looked up, a little red faced.
"Spe...special?
Manx giggled. "You know, a special someone you can't stop thinking about. I'll spill if you would.
Omi smiled and blushed, staring down at his ice cream. Gee.... personal much?!
Manx sensed Omi's embarrassment and sat a little straighter, a little embarrassed herself. She giggled nervously and spooned her ice cream. "Gomen ne. I get very personal. It's just that, like I said, I don't get on very well with people my own age. I seem to... relate more to teenagers than I do with older people.
"No. That's okay, Manx. It's not your fault." Omi looked up smiling. "But I'll take you up on that offer. You go first.
Manx looked a little taken aback but then smiled and laughed. "Okay. There's this one guy actually. Tall, slim and drop dead gorgeous. And I mean that literally.
Manx sighed and stirred the melting ice cream at the bottom of her dish. "He's got such dazzling eyes too. I thought I knew him when I met him... but he wasn't who I thought he was.
"What do you mean?
"He was cold, mean, ruthless. He took the hopes and dreams I told him about and shredded them to pieces. He took my heart and ripped it apart, vein by vein.
Omi stared at his ice cream, a little uncomfortable. "I'm... sorry...
Manx brought herself from her angry stupor and smiled sheepishly at Omi. "Gomen ne. I didn't mean to get so intense. How about you? I told mine, you say yours.
Omi looked into his ice cream puddle, thinking. Shrugging to himself, Omi decided to go for it. She didn't strike him as the type to be utterly judgemental.
"Well... there's.... a guy...
Omi dared a glance. Manx looked a little surprised, but she didn't say anything, just looked curious. "Go on. This sounds good already.
Omi smiled lightly and carried on. "I only met him properly twice. He kind of saved my life.
Manx giggled quietly like a schoolgirl but otherwise remained quiet.
"But he confuses me. I saw him again after my rescue, and he listened to me talk for a while. But then he pushed me away. He was rude and mean and so uncaring. He made out like he didn't care about me at all. But then three nights ago, he found me bleeding in my room and helped me...
Omi stopped himself suddenly, realising he could've said too much. He looked up at Manx a little scared.
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Without the mask where will you hide
Can't find yourself lost in your lie
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Manx just shook her head. "This guy sounds like he's a real jerk, playing with your heart the way he is. You should forget about him.
Omi sighed, partially relieved, partly in declination. "I wish it was that easy. Aya has this... magnetism...
Omi looked up, suddenly sensing a shift in moods within his lunch partner. Manx was gripping her napkin tightly and looked a little shocked at Omi.
"Manx?
"Did you just say... Aya?
"Hai. What's wrong?
"Dark red hair. Violet eyes. Pale and handsome looking?
"Yeah...
Manx's expression darkened. "Forget about him, Omi. He's not worth it. Not worth anything. That jerk doesn't deserve someone like you.
"What do you mean?
"I know that Aya. He was the one who ripped my heart up.
Omi stared at Manx disbelieving. "What?
Manx looked away, diverting her angry glare at the traffic. "Aya. He messed around with me too. He's cold, calculating. He knows exactly how to get under your skin. He knows how to make you go mad with lust and then he tears you down. Believe me, Omi. You don't want to be mixed up with Aya.
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I know the truth now
I know who you are
And I don't love you anymore
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Omi stared unrestrainedly. "You knew Aya? Is he really like that?
"You're in stage one right now, Omi. And I should've expected it. You see, when he was messing around with me, he was at it with someone else. A teenager in fact. A boy, no older than yourself. He did some disgusting things... I never forgave him. I never have and never will...
"But...." Omi couldn't believe what he was hearing. The same Aya?
Manx sighed, trying to calm herself. "I'm sorry if this has been a shock to you, Omi. I just couldn't bear it if this is the same Aya we're talking about, and I didn't do anything to warn you.
Omi nodded. "I understand.... Thank you for telling me. In fact.... It sounds like we are talking about the one and the same... I can't believe I fell for him.
******
"There's more you need to know about Aya, Omi...
Omi looked away from the sun and at Manx. Her red hair was brighter in the setting sunlight, her expression more solemn. Omi nodded and faced the sunset.
"There's more? From what you've told me all afternoon.... It sounds like there couldn't be more.
"I know. And I know for the past couple of hours, I've said one thing over and over again. I need you to stay away from Aya. He's truly dangerous. And I've saved his deadliest secret for last.
Omi waited, listening. Manx played with her nails, waiting.
"Aya... well you see, ever since he left my hometown, I've been searching for him.
"Why?
"Omi... I told you that when I was seeing, Aya, he was seeing another person. A teenage boy, right?
"Yeah...
"And I noticed a pattern in his dates. Always at night. Always at a certain nightclub. Never during the day. I always tried to get him to come out with me for a walk in the park during the day. But never...
Omi waited, sensing something big in where Manx was going.
"Omi... Aya.... Aya's not human.
"What?!
"Aya's a vampire.
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Never was and never will be
You don't know how you've betrayed me
And somehow you've got everybody fooled
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Omi bolted up, staring at Manx. "What!? Slow down. I don't believe this...
Manx stood up, looking deadly serious. "I mean it Omi. I was like you. I didn't believe it myself when I found out. But you have to believe me. I've been searching for Aya, because I want revenge.
Omi shook his head and turned away. "You're mad, Manx!
Omi hardly walked far when Manx shouted at Omi. "He killed my family!
That made Omi pause. For some reason, that rung clear and true with him. And why not? He did kill Tanaka...
Manx came up next to Omi, a little teary eyed. "The teenage boy he was seeing at the same time as me? That was my little brother. I found out one night when I came home. Aya had stood me up. I walked into my house, and.... and my whole family. My mother, my father. Both dead. My little brother barely clinging onto life. He was so innocent... my little Daisuke..." Manx wiped her eyes from the memories. "Before he died, Daisuke told me... he was seeing someone. That his boyfriend was the one who killed the family. I asked him who it was, to describe his boyfriend to me. We didn't know he was seeing anyone at the time, you see.... Then you know what Daisuke said? He said that his boyfriend had red hair. Was pale skinned. Violet eyes. Violet eyes, Omi. I asked Daisuke whether his boyfriend was Aya. But before he did, he died. In my arms.... Blood loss. The post mortem on my parents showed that they died from wounds to the neck and extensive blood loss. But there wasn't enough blood in our house to have come from my parents...
Manx finally collapsed into tears, sinking to her knees. Omi stared in disbelief at the heartfelt confession. Bending down, Omi placed his hand on Manx's shoulder. "Manx...? Will you be alright?
Looking up, Manx nodded slightly and wiped her eyes. "Gomen ne, Omi... I must look a sight.
"Not at all. You're beautiful.
Manx smiled gratefully and stood up, straightening her skirt. She looked at Omi intensely. "Omi... please do me a favour. Don't try to find Aya. This is my fight. I need to find him. Wipe him from the face of this Earth. Make him pay for killing my family. I don't want you involved.
"But Manx...
"You know why I waited for you outside the park today, Omi?
Omi shook his head in response.
"I waited because you remind me of him. My little brother Daisuke. He looks almost like you, but you have deeper blue eyes and brown hair. You're so much like him, I actually thought my little Daisuke was alive and having lunch with me. We used to talk about anything; the same stuff we were talking about today... He was around your age when he died. I don't want you to end up like Daisuke, Omi...
Omi nodded, feeling Manx's pain. Suddenly, Omi felt angry, staring at the bandages on his arm. So was that what Aya was doing in his room? Did he hope to finish him off the way he did Manx's family!? How could you Aya!? How could you!? You played me and my emotions like a violin! Did you save me because you couldn't stand the fact I'd finish myself off so you couldn't do it yourself!?
"Don't worry Manx... I'll keep well away from Aya.
Manx looked up at Omi, her eyes wet but thankful. "Arigatou, Omi... Arigatou...
Behind his back, Omi held up his hand. Two of his fingers were in a tightly wound cross.
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Never was and never will be
You're not real and you can't save me
Somehow now you're everybody's fool
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Anime: Well, that was great for your first job with me, Ashling!
Ashling: *beaming proudly* Thanks!
Anime: But there is one quip I have; not about you muses, but you the readers! Only one review for Chapter Four? Meep, That was very destructive to my confidence...