One More Chance
By: Lakija X
Author's Notes This is the beginning of some great stuff. Especially if you just love romance!
If you are familiar with Akito, from Fruits Basket, it will help. Because that's the aura around the mystery person coming up in this story.
If you're not, then ignore this part! Lol -
Please Review when you are finished. Thanks! -
Mio
Chapter 2: Broken Heart
I helped Mayu up. We had to hurry if we wanted to save Itsuki. I reassured Chitose, so that she wouldn't cry. I knew his emotions were easily aroused.
"But, Mio. HICK! I don't want him to die."
"He won't die..." Again, I muttered under my breath.
We exited the house with the guidance of Chitose. She knew her house inside out.
Outside, the butterflies were flying about, trying to lure Mayu, but now that she knew the danger her Itsuki was in, she decided he was more important.
"Mayu! You and Chitose go and help Itsuki. There's a window, through the gate. I will go and look for the key. Don't let him die!"
"Mio! Look in the Old Tree. Hurry! Look near the pinwheels. I heard someone say they'd hide it there later."
"Yes, okay. Go."
I ran past the Kiryu house, and continued to the path leading to Misono hill. The Tree was a little ways after that. On my way past the stairs, I spotted a spirit in the distance. It was someone familiar. It looked like Itsuki, but with black hair. He had a slight limp. He was going very slowly.
Suddenly, his head turned towards me. It startled me a bit. He also looked surprised. His face turned red, but he smiled, his head hanging, and limped toward the Cemetery. The chill of the breeze bit at my bare arms, but I was interested in seeing who he was. I ran the rest of the way down the path, and I started to follow him, but I had to help Itsuki too.
"Wait!"
I stood there at the fork in the road. Weighing my choices.I was torn. What if I could help someone else...?
Then, I heard a voice. It was a young male voice. It sounded exactly like Itsuki, but more delicate.
"I'll be waiting for you...don't abandon the task at hand..."
I gasped. What a beautiful voice. Like a harp. It sounded so gracious, and slightly shy. As if he were unsure of his words. He... must have been referring to me. Even if he weren't, I'd take his advice.
I continued toward the Tree. Mayu would be torn too, if I didn't find that Storehouse key.
I rummaged around near the pinwheels. The pinwheels were attached very securely to the earth beneath them. For they were gifts to appease the spirits of the Remaining.I tried my best to avoid the decorations near the pinwheel altar. It would surely awaken some vengeful spirits.
I couldn't find the key! I began to panic, trying frantically to locate it. It had to be here somewhere.
"No! Where is it?"
Suddenly a ghost appeared. And with him, Mr. Kurosawa! What they said... is definitely another story. It added such realization to my mind that I was blown away!
After the dramatic scene, they left the key. So I retrieved it, and started to exit. But on my way, one of the pinwheels fell. It landed near my feet. I looked down at it. Why had it fallen? I was careful. I remembered that Itsuki had said there was a way out through the Tree. Maybe it was the wind. So I picked up the ornamental gift.
It was Itsuki's.
On it was a ribbon of cloth. It said in Japanese: Mutsuki-sama: the Sacrificed One
I quickly ran to the altar. But there was no space for this one. It didn't belong. It wasn't from this altar. It couldn't be. Besides... the rest were incapable of being removed. Perhaps it was for me to keep...
I put away the pinwheel.
Then I left.
I knew that with Mayu and Chitose with him, Itsuki would live. So I eagerly went into the village burial site.
But the boy wasn't there...
I walked quietly to the Storehouse. Chitose ran up to me.
"Itsuki's okay. The picture told a big bad story!"
I smiled. "Are you sure?"
Chitose smiled proudly. "Mayu said that I should leave them alone for a while. So I sat on the Twin Deity Statue and didn't listen."
We approached the Storehouse. Mayu walked around to us. "Oh Mio. Thank goodness."
I smiled faintly without enthusiasm. I put the octagon-patterned key into the lock.
Then we entered the cell.
Itsuki was standing there. The breath was knocked out of me. He was so beautiful to me. And I'd waited so long to be in his arms.
Then... I may as well have died.
Mayu walked silently to him, as if she hadn't seen him in years. "Itsuki?"
He looked as if he were ashamed.
"You are... still alive? So that... you may come?"
He was silent.
"I do not blame you for your demise. It was my fault! I shouldn't ha-"
Itsuki put his finger to Mayu's lips. "No... Don't say that please. It was not your fault. It was my own doing."
Mayu's eyes filled with tears. Itsuki rubbed her face comfortingly. She fell into his arms, sobbing.
"I'm so sorry!"
"Please don't be sorry."
Mayu breathed quick breaths, hiccupping. Something we both do when we are very sad. "No... I... had come to say that... I love you! So much!"
I gasped loudly.
Itsuki lowered his eyes. He held Mayu in his arms.
Chitose looked at me. She was keeping true to her word of not listening. "Guess what. I saw some pretty white butterflies! We should follow them!!!"
I didn't care! And I certainly didn't feel like following them! The worst of my dreams was becoming a reality!
And...to my greatest horror...
"Mayu... I... love you too."
My breath left my body. I backed away from them, shaking my head in disbelief.
"No..." I whispered.
"What's wrong Mio?" little Chitose said.
I did not want to talk to her now.
"No!"
I ran away from them. Past the Osaka house. Past the Tachibana house. Past the Kiryu house. I flung myself to the ground near the steps after I'd run past Misono Hill. Angry sobs escaped me. My camera fell.
Itsuki loved my sister.
He didn't love me.
He didn't love me.
Those nasty words played over and over in my head.
Then... the white butterflies' glow aroused me. They were beckoning me.
'What the heck?!' I thought. What were they doing...? Chitose said they'd be here...
"What do you want! Leave me alone!" I glared at them, and buried my head back into my arms.
"But, please Mio..."
I snapped back up, looking in all directions.
It was that boy's voice!
My tear-streaked face was no doubt blotched.
I did not want him to see me. I couldn't speak, so I just hung my head. I must have been dreaming... until...
I felt someone's fingers on my chin, raising my head.
My eyes darted upward, looking towards the source of the fingers' touch.
A beautiful boy in a glowing white kimono, with a blood red kimono underneath, was luring me toward the path to the cemetery. He was walking backwards slowly, until I was on my feet. He smiled, though I could not see his face very clearly. He was slightly hunched over, as if he were slightly weak.
The white butterflies appeared. But the boy vanished.
"Wa- HICK! Wait!"
"Don't worry Mio. I promise I will..." the voice said. It soothed me so much, that I had to hold my breath for a moment. So I could make myself believe that this was real. The butterflies fluttered about, patiently.
I picked up my camera, sniffling as I followed those beautiful creatures. I felt strange following them. It was Mayu who followed butterflies. But I was sure that these would lead me someplace better than the Hellish Abyss.
Maybe I'd get to meet my "him" when I got there.
Wait...
But...
Where was I going?
To serenity... that's where...
Author's Notes:
The next part of this story will be really good!!! You'll love it! Especially if you liked the mini romance in this part. There is PLENTY, PLENTY more where that came from!
And I will add a disclaimer at the end of the last chapter.
Please Review! Thanks for reading!
Thanks to those of you who have reviewed! -