A/N: Hey Everyone! I'm finally getting up off my lazy butt and updating! Um… okay, maybe I haven't been really lazy, per se… since I've been practicing skating 4-6 hours six days a week during the summer, plus SAT practice, Link Crew (a program where upperclassmen welcome in new freshmen and get them accustomed to high school) stuff including training and freshmen orientation, and then competitions and summer work that I put off. Then of course came school and the first full week of school, I think I had 30 hours of homework. This week has been lighter, but then I got sick. I've felt just a little lazy since I hadn't bothered to even TRY to get this out. Oh well, I edited it, if that's any comfort (well, it is to me). I haven't made any actual progress in the way of writing the story. I'm feeling really guilty now, but I promise this story will be finished (boy, that sounds familiar…)
Anyways, what I want to say is that I appreciate all reviews. I prefer the kind that criticize, as in constructive criticism. I swear I'll get up the next chapter when time allows, but I'll have to see with my homework load. I started a few stories as minor projects to see if I can get my creative juices going. So far, it's been unsuccessful, but I'll get my rear in gear sooner or later.
Dedications: I dedicate this chapter to all the people who reviewed. I have to say, you reviewers don't get enough credit. You really inspire when inspiration is most needed. Thanks for all your time and thought and support for my work and all these other struggling fanfic writers here on FF.N or MM.org.
Disclaimer: Still here, still don't own it, and nothing is going to change. I'm broke too…
Other notes: This chapter is a little cheesy… I have to admit. But it kind of is important to the plot. More fluff, tiny bits of angst, a tiny bit of action. Sorry, no poetry this time.
Friends Forever
Chapter 3: White Chrysanthemum
A month had passed since the day Mamoru, the child of sunlight, met Nagi, the child of moonlight. Though the child of sunlight didn't seem to have changed, the moonlight child changed drastically. He became happier around Mamoru, and slowly opened up to him. But there was still a secret that he couldn't tell Mamoru about him.
Mamoru didn't seem to notice however. Nagi thought maybe it was better that way.
Mamoru still waited to go to the park with the same amount of enthusiasm as the times before. He never imagined how much more fun the park was if you had a friend to enjoy it with. Sa-chan was nice, but still it wasn't the same as having a kid to play with.
But today was different. Mamoru looked glumly outside from his classroom window seat. It was raining that day. A light rain, but it was still rain that would keep him from going to the park unless it stopped before school let out.
Mamoru silently hoped that would happen.
He started to worry about Nagi. When Nagi told Mamoru that he was homeless, Mamoru didn't think much of it until afterwards. During rainy days like this, Nagi wouldn't have a roof to stay under, probably seeking refuge underneath an overhang or something. Mamoru wouldn't know. He only saw him in the park, but after that time, Nagi kept it a secret.
But Nagi wasn't the strongest of kids… he could get sick or even worse…
Mamoru's prayer for the rain to stop became more fervent.
Maybe that day Mamoru's smile of sunshine caused the sun to emerge from its previous hiding spot, but the sun came out about an hour before school let out.
He would be going back to the park after all.
Today, Sachiko had a doctor's appointment, so Mamoru was instructed to come straight home after school. But a half an hour in the park wouldn't hurt him… He could just say that he had to stay after school for some chores. (1)
The usual skip in Mamoru's walk became more gleeful as the park came nearer and nearer in sight. He was a little sorry that he couldn't stay with Nagi today, but he knew that his mother would be worried about him, especially when he wasn't with Sachiko.
Mamoru didn't think too much of it as he skipped to the park looking for Nagi. As he walked along, he jumped in random puddles around him. The water made his shoes and legs wet from the splashing, but he didn't care.
Nagi wasn't anywhere to be seen as usual when Mamoru entered the park. As the perfect sky blue eyes scanned the park for perfect midnight blue ones, Mamoru made observations of the playground.
The wet sand implied that no one was going to build sandcastles.
The wet equipment it wasn't safe to play on it.
Puddles everywhere and mud in the grass meant that it wasn't safe to run.
There wasn't much for him to do at the park anyways on a day like this. But at least Nagi's company for a little while would make it more fun.
He continued to jump in puddles as he searched.
When he found a giant puddle, he jumped as high as he could and landed with a gigantic splash that got even his shorts wet.
What Mamoru didn't know was that he also got someone else wet.
And this someone else wasn't happy about getting wet.
"Hey you!" he shouted at Mamoru.
Mamoru turned around to see who was yelling at him. He turned around, with an innocent look and said, "Me?"
In front of him stood a boy at least six years older than him. He looked on the strong side. By the look of his clothes, they were pretty expensive and by the vibrant colors, they were rather new. And he looked really, really angry at Mamoru for getting them wet.
"Yes you! What's the big idea of splashing puddles?"
"I'm sorry, sir!" Mamoru responded automatically.
"You're sorry, huh? Well, thanks to you, brat, my brand new clothes are all wet. And all you have to say is that you're sorry?" the guy yelled at him.
"I truly, truly am sorry! I didn't mean to get your clothes wet!" Mamoru said honestly.
"You didn't mean to? You should have thought of that BEFORE you jumped in the puddle, brat!" the boy's rage grew.
"But sir, I wish I could help you, but I don't know what to do. I'm sorry!" Mamoru cried, getting frustrated.
"You want to help? Just shut up!" the older boy yelled.
"But… but… I want to help you! It's my fault that you're wet, and I want to make it up to you!" Mamoru pleaded.
Instead of helping, the plea made the events take a disastrous turn.
"I told you to shut up, kid!" Just then the older boy grabbed Mamoru by the collar of his shirt, lifting Mamoru off the ground, so that he was eye level with the other boy. "When I said to shut up, I meant it. Leave me alone!"
Tears filled perfect sky blue eyes, and the sunshine left Mamoru's face. For some reason, this made the other boy smile. "Crying for your mommy, right now? You should have thought of this before you opened your big mouth! Heck, you should have thought of it before you jumped in that god forsaken puddle!"
"I'm so sorry," Mamoru choked out meekly. Tears started to slip down his cheeks.
But every tear added to the elder's anger. "And now you have the audacity to cry? What a spoiled brat you are!"
"I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry," Mamoru cried meekly.
"I don't think you mean," the older boy. "You say it so many times. You really can't mean it."
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," Mamoru continued.
"Ha! That proves it! You don't really mean it!" then the elder's amber eyes narrowed at him. "I'm going to make you mean it! You're going to be really sorry when I'm threw with you!"
Mamoru flinched a little by the other's words. He couldn't seem to see that he truly meant it. And now, he waited for the pain.
In slow motion, the older boys arm raised to strike Mamoru as a punishment for his stupidity. Mamoru shutted his eyes tight. It would strike any moment. He wished to himself that he went straight home. *Help! Somebody!* he prayed silently. *Somebody stop him!*
He waited.
And waited
But the blow never came.
Instead, he saw the older boy's shocked expression as his arm was frozen in mid punch. Mamoru wondered to himself why the boy hadn't struck him yet.
But then behind him, stood Nagi. Out in the open, which was very uncharacteristic of him.
And his eyes were glowing red.
"Put my friend down," Nagi threatened in a quiet manner, "or YOU'LL be sorry."
Looking as if he were torn by the fact that the kid was really little and scrawny, and the fact that he seemed to be connected to the reason why his hand couldn't move, the older boy said nothing and did nothing.
"I said to let go of him!" Nagi said evenly, almost scarily.
"What are you going to do to me?" the oldest boy said mockingly.
"You don't want to know," Nagi said, his eyes still glowing unnaturally.
The bully started to chuckle when he suddenly stopped the laughter and dropped Mamoru. And then, the next second, with a cry from Nagi, the older boy was thrown against the wall.
The oldest boy, though not seriously injured, was really shaken by the impact. He got up and then fell down again. When he got up again to start running away, he pointed his finger at Nagi and cried, "I know who you are! You're that freak kid! The one with the psychic powers!"
Nagi started to walk towards the bully. His eyes kept flickering from midnight blue to red.
"Get away from me, you freak!" the oldest said clearly frightened.
"Then leave," Nagi replied calmly. "Before I do something that would truly hurt you."
The older boy made a small cry and quickly ran away. With that taken care of, Nagi turned to Mamoru and collapsed. Mamoru was torn between what he should do. He was a little afraid of the mysterious thing that Nagi did.
No wonder Nagi was afraid that Mamoru would reject him…
But to be honest, Mamoru was a little timid. He wasn't sure what to think.
And then he made a decision.
He walked toward Nagi and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He saw that Nagi was trying to look away from him with tears streaming down his face.
Nagi looked up at Mamoru with a longing in his eyes. "I'm a freak. A total, total freak. And you must hate me."
Mamoru paused. "Nagi, I don't hate you."
Nagi flung Mamoru's hand violently. "Yes you do!" he screamed with all the emotion he could muster. "Everyone does! All because of this stupid power. I hate it!"
Mamoru took a deep breath and tried again. "I don't hate. I can't hate you. If I did, how could we be friends forever?"
Nagi's midnight eyes widened as the meaning of the words hit him. He looked up at Mamoru.
With a soft smile that reflected the sun rays from a sunrise, Mamoru explained, "I've always wanted for psychic powers to exist. One kid in my class called it telekinesis, moving things with your head. But, now that I've seen it, I'm a little afraid. I'm honestly afraid."
Mamoru paused carefully, watching every one of Nagi's reaction as he continued. "But… but I believe in Nagi. I believe in you. I trust you because I know that you're my friend. I liked you when you told me you didn't have a home. This isn't any different. Being friends forever will come with bad things. But I'll take the bad things with the good. You helped me with your powers. It is not all bad. When I make a promise, I keep them. Always."
Nagi didn't know what to say. But Mamoru's words seemed to comforted more than anything. Maybe… Maybe…
Maybe he could believe in Mamoru.
Like how Mamoru believed in him.
No matter how bad things were, he could always trust him.
And he smiled a smile that not only reflected moon light, but also peace and trust.
To be continued…
(1)- In Japan's schools, they have little or no janitorial services. The school and everything is cleaned by the students. So, that's why the schools are always so clean and no trash is left, because that would mean that either the litterer would have to come back and clean up or one of his classmates would.
Again, review. As I said before, it does cause me to finish. When you review, please leave your email address and I'll email you when I update next.
Pichachu