Authoress' Notes: [hides from all the weapons being thrown at her] NOOO! Don't kill me yet! [runs around in circles in panic] I'm so sorry for not being able to update for… like, forever! MWAHAHAHAH! But still, here I am now, ne? Walang pasok ngayon dahil sa hanging habagat! LALALALAH! Heheheh. Oh well… you know, I like this fic so I'm going to finish it, swear! I'm kinda stuck in Unexpected Carriage though… but I hope I'll get some inspiration for it soon! I'm terribly sorry for the lack of updates and all… so so sorry! I hope you guys still like my good-for-nothing fics… anyway, thanks for everything!
DISCLAIMER: Nope. Don't own them. Plot was based from a story a friend told me, just a little revised by me. Thankies!
Stuffed Toy
By psychedelicaya
Another year had passed.
Worries were forgotten and memories were remembered.
Whether painful or happy.
It was still a memory, after all.
"Nina, come over here!" A voice exclaimed from the other room, her voice excited and elated. Running from her space at the bathroom, the birthday girl could do nothing but to comply to her best friend's request, although she was still fixing her hair. There was a silly grin on Ayu's face. "C'mon, I want to see this gown on you!"
"Mou, Ayu-chan!" Nina exclaimed, the slightest blush tinted on her cheeks. "The party is not until tonight!"
Ayu giggled. "I know, Nina-chan. It's just that I'm really happy for you today!" It was obvious, actually. She was extremely giddy—which was not exactly normal for the popular 'cool and calm girl' of Seijou University. "Your debut party! Finally!"
A soft smile crept up her lips. "Yeah… finally, ne?" Nina murmured, almost relieved that she had lived this long. But then again, she was the type of person who cherished every year—no, everyday—as if it were her last. Her eyes suddenly trailed down the elegant green gown she was going to wear tonight. Her head spun around slightly, the whole scenario dawning unto her again. She was eighteen already; practically an adult. Time flew so fast sometimes… but it still couldn't change so much in people. "Ah!" Coffee eyes were at its widest. "I'm still worried I didn't get to send out all the invitations though…"
…Still the typical clumsy and carefree Nina.
As arranging a random flower bouquet that was settled on the table, Ayu opened her mouth to reply; but just as she was about to say something, though, another voice cut hers off.
"Don't worry about that." A clear tone suddenly said from the doorway, sounding smug and arrogant. "If you were worried that you forgot about me, I'd come without an invite anyway…"
Both girls thought that the voice was astoundingly familiar, yet at the same time very much new.
Nina was the first to turn around; her spin seeming like a slow motion action as her hair moved along with her, scattering in different directions. The first thing she saw were the most unforgettable emerald eyes—the only thing she thought that had a better green shade than her dress. His eyes. "Yuta!!!"
His knock-out smirk was still so ever the same—handsome but conceited. He winked and gave a small wave. "Yo, Nina."
If she couldn't help it, she would've cried right then and there. "You're back!" She exclaimed, as running and jumping onto him, enveloping him in a friendly hug. "We missed you a lot!"
'I missed you…'
His eyes seemed to widen a little, as if in surprise; but then his look softened as he hugged back. "Yeah. Same here."
'I missed you too.'
Ayu grinned slightly at both of them, a swelling happiness growing in her chest. "Welcome back, Yuta-kun." She greeted, as approaching him and shaking his hand casually when he and Nina let go of each other. Then, with a hopeful voice, "So are you here to stay now?"
He put a finger on his mouth and winked again. "That's my little secret for now." He then put his hands in his pockets and teased, "Why? You missed me that much?"
Sweatrop and a glare. "You haven't changed, Yuta-kun."
"Speak for yourself, Ayu."
He smiled again at her, in that usual laid-back manner of his, and she found this comforting. He was always a good old friend.
Nina looked happier than she had been in days. Her smile was stuck to her face, or so it seemed. And so, trying to start a conversation, "Ne, ne, Yuta… how was America?"
He shrugged nonchalantly, closing his eyes indifferently, as if he was bored. "Nothing special. I liked it better here."
"That's because Nina is here." Ayu whispered softly, almost like a knowing murmur to herself. She looked away innocently as Yuta sent daggers flying through her.
The birthday celebrant's head snapped up at hearing her name. "Did you say something, Ayu-chan?"
A shake of the head. "Ah, it was nothing, Nina!"
"…Oh."
…And Yuta continued to glare.
In order to catch up with lost time, the three friends decided to go around the city first before preparing for the big celebration. Yuta was simply amazed at how much had changed since his last visit, and kind of glad that some things stayed the same.
…Like his relationship with Nina, of course.
"Ah, that looks wonderful on you, Nina!" Ayu complimented as her best friend started fitting out some dresses just for fun. There was a bright smile on her face as she watched Nina twirl around happily with the garments on.
"You really think so, Ayu-chan?" Nin assured, laughing as she modeled in front of the mirror. Then, unexpectedly, "Ne, Yuta, what do you think?"
The boy had been nonchalantly minding his own business until her voice called out to him. As loudly finishing his juice, he smirked behind the straw and raised a criticizing eyebrow. "It's no good." He said plainly, as suddenly aiming for the nearest trash bin and shooting the tetra pack there.
"Mou, hidoi, Yuta!" Nina complained as giving a pout and sticking out her tongue at him. She stomped back into the dressing room and was about to change back to her normal clothes, until,
"Oy, Nina!"
Yuta's familiar voice spoke again. She whipped her head around, only to find another dress flying towards her. She reacted quickly, catching it in mid-air before it hit the ground.
He was wearing that stupid smile of his again. "Try that one." He suggested, the smug smirk on his face not disappearing. He ran a hand through his hair before resting both casually in his pockets, acting and looking all cool. Ayu and Nina stared at him. "Hey, what are those looks for?!"
Nina held the dress up, a questioning look on her face. "You want me to try this one? You?"
There was a slight pink on Yuta's cheeks, and he felt almost embarrassed. Note: almost. "Yeah, you got a problem with that?"
Although her stare at him held pure disbelief, she was still able to smile and nod. Then, as skipping to the nearest dressing room, "If you say so!"
Ayu stared as Nina closed the door to change once more. For a few seconds, she was dumbfounded—and even a little confused as to what just happened. Automatically, to get some answers, she turned to Yuta. "You wanted her to wear that?"
A shrug as a reply. "Yeah, so what?"
"Yuta-kun…" Ayu moved closer towards him and gave an accusing gaze. "That wasn't… indecent, was it?"
Another blush spread out his cheeks. "'Course not!"
At first, Ayu sighed in relief; but when she saw Yuta's expression, she couldn't help but laugh. "Why are you so red, Yuta-kun?" She teased, nudging him with her shoulder.
"Ow! Hey, don't say you have nothing to do with this! Honestly, Ayu… I would never make Nina wear something…--"
His words were slowly cut off when the doors of the dressing room opened, and tentatively, the birthday girl came out wearing the chosen dress.
"--indecent..."Ayu smiled immediately. "Nina, that looks even better on you!"
"Honto ni?" There was a soft smile on Nina's face as she twirled around again, a little more excitedly this time. The dress was styled like something that came from the Greek era, like what the Roman gods and goddesses were often painted wearing. It was only longer though, with a length that reached Nina's heels and almost scraped the floor. There was a long scarf that was held by the hands but at the same time wrapped around the body. To describe it simply, since I'm no fashion designer and I'm definitely no good with clothes, it was… elegant. "Maybe I should just wear this dress instead tonight…"
"That's a nice idea," Ayu agreed, nodding her head softly. "I'm sure your date wouldn't mind." She cast Yuta an offhanded glance. "Ne, Yuta-kun?"
Emerald eyes went wide. "Eh? What do you mean, date?" He asked in disbelief, jumping back a little. 'I swear this chick has flipped! What the heck is Ayu thinking?!' And for the third time today, his cheeks heated up and so he mumbled, "I thought Tsujiai would do that or something…"
Even the birthday celebrant herself was surprised. "I thought it was Tsujiai-kun at first too…" There was an almost melancholy look in her face as she spoke about the other boy.
Ayu set her hazel gaze on the floor. "Nina… I received this earlier this afternoon." She walked towards her best friend, holding out a small package. "I think that… he's not coming."
"Oh…"
Yuta stared, his heart wrenching as he saw the look of utmost sadness in Nina's face. He watched as she slowly took the package, staring at it longingly for a moment before deciding to open it.
'She still loves him…'
The thought itself killed him a thousand times before, but now that he had seen proof by the depressed look on her face, he knew this time, surely, he was dead.
"Tsujiai-kun says he won't be able to make it," Nina whispered softly, clutching a small letter in her hands. 'He never makes it anymore.' Her eyes reflected sadness for a moment, but it was covered up with a quick yet forced smile. "He sent me this, though." Her hands held up something that shined against the light, glistening in perfect beauty. It was a gold necklace, with a heart as a pendant. The golden heart itself had a bright emerald gem shining in the middle, giving off a radiance of warmth.
"Wow, Nina!" Ayu exclaimed, clasping her hands together in elation. "Kirei!"
Auburn eyes gazed at the necklace, shining a little bit. "Aa…" Finally, a small smile spread across Nina's face. "It's pretty... it would look good on the other dress though…" There was a moment of contemplation, and she gazed at the dress she was wearing now, the one Yuta chose for her. "Maybe I should wear that one instead again…?"
The moment she said that, it was then when Ayu started to feel apprehensive. "Maybe, Nina; but…" She sighed, unable to continue her sentence. '…but Yuta would feel defeated again.' There was a pitiful look in her eyes as she chose to stare at the floor rather than at the face of her best friend. Deciding to look behind her, to ask the aforementioned boy's opinion, she then turned around, already starting to speak, "Yuta-kun, what do you…"
Her voice trailed off as she noticed her voice reached only the empty atmosphere.
"Yuta-kun?"
Authoress' Notes: HAHAHAH! I love cliffhangers. Heheheh. Now, where could Yuta have gone? And where the heck is this story heading to? Something I don't know too, so I'm as clueless as everyone else. Mweheh! Just kidding! And so this is the third to the last chapter of this story! (Or maybe second to the last, depends on how long the next one is.) I shall thank you greatly and give you my love for reading this up 'til now. [hugs you] Thankies! Take care everyone, okay? Jesus loves you!
Blabbering section… you don't have to read this 'cause I'm just typing for the sake of typing: WAAAAAAAAH! Has anyone watched Chrno Crusade? I'm completely in love with it right now… I cried TWICE because of the ending… (I watched it twice over, cried twice… lolz.) It's a really nice anime, although the manga is better. Heheheh. Speaking of manga… CRESCENT MOON! I need to see Mitsuru… weeeeee! Go Mitsuru! And I haveta get the next volume of Tsubasa… yeah, Tsubasa! Hmmm… I need to go to Katipunan… baha ba 'don? Hmmm… Heheh! Oh yeah! Do you guys know also about DNAngel? It's also a great anime! (although once more, the manga is better… I only have volume 3 though…) :P DARK MOUSY is cool! YES! He is waaay cool. But of course, Satoshi is cooler! MWAHAHAH! (Kyoy says Dark and Daisuke is hers… so… can I have Satoshi?) Heheheh. OH no. Here comes my sickness. I'm blabbering again. Mweheheh… and oh yea! Did any of you notice? FLLAY from Gundam Seed is DEAD! Yes, she died. [jumps around] I'm sorry for being so mean, but… she did so many things to Kira and Sai… so so sorry though… and oh yeah! 32 days before the release of SHADOW HEARTS 2: COVENANT! YESSSSSSSSS….
…ooookay. I better shut up before I get worse. Take care! Babushkie!