title: mystic lily xx
anime series: full moon wo sagashite xx
disclaimer: Tanemura-sensei holds all rights for full moon wo sagashite characters
status: continued 2 xx
thank you reviewers so far! im so very happy to know that people noticed the story even though it seemed to have a very dodgy summary and weak first chapter… and so, we dive into the real story
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Three years ago…
'Minami, this will be your new partner. Take care of her, do you understand? Her name is Yui Meroko. Yui-san, meet Kotobana Minami, your senior.'
'Pleased to meet you. I am Meroko,'
Minami's eyes lingered on Meroko's pink locks that rippled beneath her shoulders in soft waves. They're so delicate, she thought jealously. Her short, frisky blonde hair never lay flat – it always stuck up in all directions, giving her a tousled and hurried look. Minami folded her arms, looking Meroko up and down with empty, deep black eyes. Big chest, thin waist, tall, slender. Minami sighed dolefully to herself.
'Pleased to meet you. Kotobana Minami desu,'
Minami was a hard person to understand. Her introvert personality and indignant independence set her aside from others; she was frequently alone, lost in thought, wandering blindly around the market. Rumours were that her human life was so stark that she was permanently scarred by those 'forgotten' memories.
You don't understand.
Meroko was not comfortable with Minami. Both girls were stubborn and quarrelled often, disagreeing on everything that came up between them in discussion. Although they constantly asked the chief to allow them to change to a different pair, they were still forced to be Suika Wari.
'Sometimes, our differences will bring us closer.'
Minami stormed out of the room, gliding furiously through the clouds, her ears roaring with the wind. It was a chilly night, and she was wearing her usual uniform – a light white robe wrapped casually around her, bound by a single rope of gold. She had left her shoes in the room, forgetting them as she had left the room so suddenly. Now she wished she hadn't. The cold rush of wind whipped her, leaving stinging bangs.
Hours later, still fuming, she returned to the dormitory in which they lived in when they were not issued with jobs. Teeth chattering and goosebumps prickling all over, she glided into the room. Meroko was lying on her bed reading Ribon; she had already showered and changed into her pyjamas. She looked up as she heard the familiar gargle of melting solid as Minami passed through the wall.
'Minami-san!'
Meroko got up, abandoning her magazine, worried and shocked at the sight of her partner. Her usual lightweight robe was now sagging with dirty water, her hair stuck sleekly to her head, and her face was pale and taunt with cold. Instead of the usual glare she received from her, Meroko was taken-aback by the expressionless yet pleading eyes, accompanied with a red cold nose and tinged blue lips. Minami landed heavily on the floor, dampening the carpet where her numb feet landed. Her body was frozen; she couldn't move anything properly, since she had only flown around in one position in deep thought.
'Minami-san… are you okay? Come here,'
Meroko couldn't bear to see Minami as a frozen corpse. She had just read a chapter in the Ribon magazine – a horror story about the frozen ghost of the lake that rose each night and possessed the closest living creature.
However, Minami couldn't hear her. Minami's vision was filled with a worried, caring girl who now offered her warm hand of welcome and comfort to her, after they had just fought in the chief's office. No, that can't be it, she thought bitterly, we had just fought. This is probably some act to somehow get back to me after all I said back there…
And so, on two different grounds of personalities and arguments, they met at a compromise. Minami managed to take a step forward; however, it was enough for Meroko to understand that Minami 'accepted' her. Meroko conjured a hot water bottle and tucked Minami into her blankets. Placing the pink bunny hot water bottle underneath her feet, Meroko also wrapped a pair of her fluffy pink socks around them.
She's so cold…
She's so warm…
Meroko warmed her some creamy chicken soup, serving it with another of her bunny-conjured spoons. By the time Meroko was satisfied with what she had done, Minami was feeling warmer and more pampered than she had ever felt in her life. She felt relieved, yet confused about why Meroko was treating her so well.
Why…
Meroko turned curiously to Minami, drawn by her constant gaze. In actual fact, Minami was watching her, lost in thought, noting her tired poise and aura of deep exhaustion that hung round her as she shuffled around trying to find something that would warm Minami up. Minami suddenly felt a pang of emotion in her heart, and she flinched as she realised what it was.
No one had ever been kind to her before…
'Ano, Minami-san? Is everything okay?'
Minami's ears were deaf to her present state. Her eyes were blurred in a mysterious gauze of memories, flashbacks of her human life when she had been suffering depression and physical abuse; but since she was now a full Shinigami, it was not a threat to remember her past-life. However, despite this, tears began rolling drearily down Minami's cheeks, and she shuddered to keep them in.
'Minami-san! What's wrong!'
Rushing to her side, Meroko peered worriedly into Minami's face, which was still shining with tears. Meroko hesitated, then pulled her into a warm embrace – hoping that Minami would share her grief with her, since Meroko could not stand anyone who was crying or in pain. It was Meroko's caring personality that changed so much –
Since then, Minami learned to accept Meroko and her loving heart. She also learned to share and co-operate with everyone, but most of all – she learnt to laugh. She understood happiness and continued to spread her cheerful smile even when they were separated from each other.
'We had fun, Minami!'
'Yes… I will never forget you, Meroko! And what you have taught me over the past years… please continue to spread your wonderful charm to your new partner!'
'I will!'
It was during this time in which Meroko constantly kept in contact with Minami that Rio Izumi became Meroko's partner. Chatting on and on, Meroko failed to notice something that would have otherwise been obvious to her if she had paid more attention to Minami; they had both fallen for Izumi, with those deep, thoughtful eyes and gangly build. However, Minami was filled with a jealousy beyond anything – memories of the times before her happiness had blossomed returned to her, and she remembered her first impression of Meroko.
Big chest, thin waist, tall, slender.
The ideal girl for any guy.
Meroko, oblivious to her former partner's feelings, continued to rave on about her current partner; about his curious aura, his husky voice, his cheeky smile. Before she had time to recollect, Minami had returned to the Chief's office and demanded that they separate dormitory rooms.
And after that, Minami and Meroko lost contact.
Izumi, on the sidelines, had already sensed that Meroko and Minami had an uncomfortable friendship, and confronted Minami about this. Minami was shocked to see her crush propose the offer.
'H-hai…'
That night, Izumi broke up the group in which he was in with Meroko. And the only one Meroko had left was…there was no-one… Minami had long-ago forgotten her…
Meroko returned to Izumi the same night, to see Izumi with Minami. However, they were not in any peculiar situation – they were simply hovering together behind the tower-clock. Despite this, Minami and Meroko were both shocked to see each other – especially in the presence of the one they both wanted. The best of friendships was being tested at its climax – however, with discrepancies, they rarely saw each other again. Assigned with different partners, they parted ways - and it was then that they both realised the only one they could believe in was themself.
The one thing that Izumi wished to teach them both.
Human emotions are not stable. Do not give in to them…
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well most of that was babble… however, you will find that it comes back into the context later on