Disclaimer: I don't own Cyborg 009, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Nocturne
Chapter 2: Intermezzo
Author's Note:
IMPORTANT!!! If you would like to nominate and participate in the 2003-2004 Cyborg 009 Fanfiction Awards, please e-mail me! I will send you a copy of the rules and an invitation to the Yahoo!Group where voting will take place. This is extremely important! Okay, back to the original note:
Sorry to everyone for not updating for so long, but I've really been out of it, if you know what I mean. I haven't been writing Cyborg 009 fics because I just don't have the inspiration to do so. Instead, I've been channeling all my artistic energy towards Rurouni Kenshin, which has been working just fine. The four fics (two one-shots, one long continuing one, one ficlet collection) I have there are doing pretty good.
Still, I owe this chapter to you guys. Scarily enough, I almost forgot the plot I had for this. Thank God I wrote it down in a notebook! I hope to update more soon, and thanks to everyone for your support!
Françoise smiled gently at the young man in front of her as they chatted softly. Over two cups of decaf coffee and the urging of their two friends next to them, she felt as if she knew quite a lot about Joe Shimamura.
"So I moved from Tokyo and decided that if I wanted to make something of myself, maybe get a medical degree and help sick kids, I would have to go to America. And here I am." Joe looked to her, finishing his history of how he got to be.
She nodded, then raised the cup in a shy gesture, her eyes lowered as she had been taught back in France—etiquette lessons fresh in her mind. "Mr. Shimamura... I mean, Joe," she quickly corrected herself.
Joe's eyes crinkled at the corners as he turned and smiled at her, even though he had just told her of a past that seemed devastating to her. "Yeah?"
"When you talk about your past... You seem so used to it. Even though... your guardian died in that fire accident..." Françoise bit her lip nervously. She should not have steered the conversation into this direction.
Joe nodded solemnly, completely forgetting Great Britain and his girlfriend was sitting next to him. He could only see Françoise, with her sweet smile and tentative glances. "You know when they said, 'Time heals all wounds?'" She nodded quickly and ushered him to continue. "When the Father first died... I was so horrified. Did you know—"
GB smacked his arm, and Joe quickly took notice of him. What was he about to say?! He had only known this girl for... a few hours, and he was already spilling secrets he had not told anyone but his very closet friends.
"Well, never mind... It's that, after a while, your heart does heal... and... eventually, you grow to except it." Joe said the words slowly, softly, with GB's words in mind. 'She also came because her brother died in a plane crash, and she doesn't want to remember...' He gulped, hoping that he hadn't brought the memories to flood back.
She seemed to be taking it well, though she did hurriedly look out the window, as if she was trying to hide her expression. "I... I guess so."
Sophie's face folded into a frown. She hated seeing her friend so sad, and though she knew it wasn't all his fault, she was a bit angry at Joe for making her remember her brother. Sophie quickly patted Françoise's back in a comforting way. "Don't worry, Françoise! I know that soon, you'll be as used to the states as we are!"
Great Britain took that as his cue to start rushing in the comic relief. "Yeah! I mean, Joe is from Japan, Sophie and I are both from England, and you're from France. We're all foreigners here! But... Hey, with a little time, a few bottles of alcohol, and a good soap, you'll feel right at home in the states!"
Françoise laughed, a watery sounding giggle. "I guess that would work, GB!"
GB looked to the sky. "Of course it would, my dear!"
Somehow, their next activity, quickly thought up by GB ("Come on, now, chaps. It's a beautiful day—and I've got all the time in the world to spend with my lovely Sophie and her gorgeous friend. Oh, and Joe, too."), was simple enough: a walk around a new park that had just opened.
"I hope it's not too crowded," Sophie mused. "Every single time I go around parks, I seem to be running into families and kids. And it always reminds me that I don't have any family members around here."
Great Britain grinned and latched on to her arm. "Well, we could always get started, m'dear."
As Françoise laughed cheerfully and Sophie blushed and glared, Joe realized that it was the first time he heard her laugh without a tint of sadness. For some reason he was disappointed that he wasn't the one to make her do it.
The two couples neared the park, Françoise felt the barest brushes of fear. The forest, while friendly looking enough from the outside, promised dark and damp trees, marshy ground, and hanging Spanish Moss. However, she ignored the thought, pushing it away from her mind, and looked once again to Joe.
Joe's expression was one of part thoughtfulness and part wonder. "There isn't anything like that back in Japan," he said out loud.
GB chortled. "You've got that right." He glanced at the party of three behind him. "Come on, now! This is the one day of the week that we aren't sinking our heads into whatever we're learning. Let's enjoy nature at its fullest!"
The four entered the dimly lighted forest, the ground squelching unpleasantly under their feet. Unlike Françoise, who was still having doubts, the other three were happily commenting about how there weren't many places like that anymore.
Light conversation sprinkled around as they tramped through the path made for them and studied the trees and birdcalls.
It wasn't until they'd walked nearly an hour that Sophie excused herself for the ladies' room. GB followed her, mumbling about being hungry.
"Hey, why don't you guys go ahead? We'll meet up with you real soon, and even if we don't get food, we can still get a couple bottles of water or something at a vending machine," Great Britain suggested.
Joe looked quickly to Françoise for permission, almost like a small boy asking if he could have a cookie. She nodded quickly and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Let's go, then," she said briskly as Sophie and GB disappeared from view. Joe followed, then moved next to her.
They had been making small talk for about ten minutes when Joe suddenly interrupted their stride and looked ahead. "Do you see that?" he asked, his eyes narrowed, trying to focus what was ahead.
Françoise looked ahead to where Joe was staring at. Yes... She could see something up there. It looked like a person who was flitting about a clearing.
Without thinking, she grabbed his hand. "Let's go see what there is."
He made a noise of agreement and nodded his head. Their feet now moving faster, they closed in on the figure.
It was indeed a person, a young woman, with hair that looked almost like Françoise's golden mane, save for the fact that it was up in a loose bun. She seemed to be dancing ballet, her right leg balanced perfectly as her left leg lifted behind her and made a 90 degree angle.
Just as Françoise was about to comment on her excellent dancing skills, the girl turned around just slightly, so she could see her face.
And without another movement... She disappeared, evaporating into the air.
Joe's eyes widened. "What the—"
Françoise didn't seem to be surprised at all. Instead, there was desperation clawing at her insides. She looked to him with fearful eyes.
"Joe, that girl looked just like me."
Okay, finally this chapter is done is out. I hope it was okay, since my Cyborg 009 skills are a little rusty. All the same, if you liked it, please give me a nice review. It would make another chapter roll out, and me very happy. Ciao!
Responses to Reviews:
GoldAngel2: I'm sorry for the disappointing updates. My lack of interest in Cyborg 009 has finally been caught back—thanks to the contest and all the messages at the Yahoo!Group. I'm hoping that this update isn't as late as to making you forget the story and all... sigh But at least I'm back, I've got inspiration for the next chapter, and I'm ready to get you guys all rallied up!
LivEviL: Glad you like it so far! Sorry for the late update, but here is a new one!
M-X: I'm glad you like this story! I've spent so little time writing lately that I felt almost rusty when I came up to the computer and started typing! Yep, Joe is in college, and I'm still trying to figure out if I want him in a real college, or one from my imagination, but that isn't too important right now. You mentioned something about Francoise's past... But are the memories really hers? evil laugh
Rachridgeback: I'm sorry for the late update, and you've been so nice about reviewing! Please, take this chapter as a sign of my deepest apology, and I'm so glad you have 10 stories! Sorry for not checking them out earlier, but I will now!
Lil Rose Angel: Wonderful author? I think you're kidding me! I'm just an ordinary writer who likes to spin yarns and confuse people. laughs Yes, the flashback ended when the italics did, and it's not a deathfic. It's okay, you aren't blaming me for everything, and I hope we can talk soon! (PS: Where are you? We're all looking for you right now!)
SoraKoi: Don't worry, I have a fic that I haven't updated for over five months. Yes, read it and scream in terror! It's an original story, of course, but I'm still bugged by it. sigh Oh well! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
TFRiD Queen: Yep, college life. I decided to make it college and not high school because A) high school life is overdone, B) kids are usually abroad when they go to college, and C) so there won't be any parents screaming around. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Fluff hunters: Hello, Anne and Karen! I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story so far, and I hope the stuff later on isn't a disappointment! Here's the newest chapter!
Puppkid: I'm glad you enjoyed their meeting! Here is more 003/009 interaction! Sorry for the late update!
Hotguyluver: I'm glad you enjoy the story, and sorry it's kind of confusing. The beginning and the later chapters don't really connect til... well, later! Most people don't know, either, so don't worry about it. takes roses Thank you, and hi to your aunt, too!
Sweet Dark Angel 009: I was wondering where you went, and of course I remember you! I doubt my writing has gotten any better, but thanks for the compliment, anyway. Thanks for your new e-mail (I have some good news for you concerning a certain Cyborg 009 Fanfiction Awards), and I hope you can remember your password. I'm sorry I haven't updated Oyabun but (secret!) I'm thinking about taking it back up again when a break rolls by. Good luck to you, and hope to talk to you soon!