Tenshi no Nozomi

Contact at: tonbo (underscore) duo (at hotmail) or tenshi(underscore)no(underscore)nozomi (at hotmail)

Notes:

So I chanced at a glimpse today at how long it's been since I last updated this fic? Almost a year. ! I'm so, so, SO sorry, guys. I've really let you down, and I'm ashamed, especially considering how much I love this fic.

I'm sorry to say that I don't have the chapter ready for an update yet. I've been working pretty hard on it, but writing everything by hand–which is how I have to do these things, at least at school–makes it a lot harder to get things done with speed. Plus I trashed my first attempt at this chapter...

So. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to have the next chapter for you guys ready by April 20th (of this year! That means 2005). I hope to have it before then, but I can't say for sure, since I'm working non-stop on a long-term project. XO And in the mean time I have a teaser for chapter three for you guys. I know you'd rather have the whole thing right now, but... a little's better than none, right? Right? So. Here you go:

((( DON'T FORGET THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE BOTTOM!))))

Frailty: Chapter 3 teaser

Usagi went over past the welcoming desk to the elevators. Two employees watched her go, dressed in clean, freshly pressed clothes, tight lipped and suspicious, but they didn't say anything to stop her. She pushed the "up" button, and it lit up. She watched the dial above the elevator light up as the machine passed the floors on its descent– 5... 4... 3... There was a moment's pause on 3, where passengers either got out or in. It then resumed its descent. 2... Lobby.

A small chime sounded the elevator's arrival, and the doors slid open. A pair of women breezed out and past Usagi, smelling of thickly caked makeup and expensive perfumes and too much hair spray. They were dressed in elegant, floor length dresses, decorated with tiny glittering beads positioned into intricate designs. Their arms and necks were adorned by jewelry, glittering and beautiful and almost gaudy from the sheer quantity.

Usagi realized that she must have been gaping and closed her mouth. She tried for a nervous smile, but they simply glanced at her with sly dark eyes. Their mouths were curved into perfect dark red smirks, coldly and vaguely and maliciously amused.

Usagi flushed, but simply walked into the elevator without a word of response. She pressed the button for the seventh floor, trying too cool her burning cheeks. The doors swished gently to a close. She relaxed immediately at the contraption began its ascent, and leaned against the metal bar separating her from the glass behind her. Her humiliation faded, left behind to wither and dissipate on the first floor. Still, she knew that she didn't belong in such a high-class place.

The bell rung again and the doors separated, revealing a stretch of plush, mint green carpet and cream colored walls. They were attractive, but it reminded her of ice cream, just a little. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she'd skimped on breakfast and on diner the night before, both of which were unusual things for her to do. She walked down the hallway, practically tiptoeing in her sneakers. She passed plenty of doors, but none of them seemed to feel "right." Usagi began to doubt her instincts. What if she'd been wrong and he wasn't here?

She continued on her way, feeling more uncertain as she went along. She hesitated when she reached a fork in the road, so to speak–she could go right, left, or forward. After a moment's thought she chose the left hallway. She'd just about given up on her intuition when a particular door–though no different than any of the others–caught her eye.

She stopped in front of room 725, staring at the gold numbers. She wondered if they were real, and raised her hand to knock. She rapped her knuckle on the mahogany door and stood waiting. There was no answer.

Usagi wondered again if she'd gotten it wrong, if maybe she was just being a dork, thinking that he'd "instructed" her to come here. Maybe he hadn't existed in the first place. Maybe it had all been some wonderful dream that she just didn't want to wake up from.

No, she told herself, shaking her head as though to send her doubts flying. No, that just can't be. Usagi knocked again, harder this time. She waited two more minutes and then began to pound carelessly on the door, not caring who heard or saw her. The thought that it might have been someone else's room entirely never even crossed her mind. She kept right on pounding the door, as loud as she possibly could. The door suddenly swung open and backward with violent force. Usagi narrowly missed striking the room's occupant.

He looked grumpy and disheveled. His hair was wild and tossled from sleep, his eyes flashed with molten fury, and a limp unlit cigarette dangled from between his scowling lips. His bed sheets were gathered and wrapped around his otherwise naked body, but they only covered his thighs and the lowest portion of his abdomen. Just enough to cover anything they wouldn't show in rated R movies.

Usagi felt the blood rise in her body, heating up her face and ears and her fingers. A strange, painfully-sweet tingling ache formed in her chest and radiated down through her stomach. No shirt, no pants, obviously no underwear–Usagi wasn't sure that her imagination could handle the fact that there was only a thin layer of haphazardly bunched sheets around his waist.

... And on that note, I leave you. XD I know, I can be really mean sometimes. My brother tells me that all the time. But realize that 1) that's not the end of the scene and 2) there's more stuff coming your way soon. X3 Hope you enjoyed that little tidbit.

I'd also like to take a moment to complain about how much I hate ff's recent changes. Like their rating system and their crappy "quick editor" thing. If I wanted a freaking line, then I would have made one in the first place. If I wanted three dainty little stars and two extra spaces between scenes, then I put them there for a reason, and I don't want them messed with! I'm beginning to really hate this site. Free or not, it's just really beginning to bug me.

ALSO! One of your fellow reviewers asked me if I had a mailing list for this fic (or others). I don't currently. However, I want to know if anyone would be interested in me creating one? Please let me know either via email or review if you'd be interested in joining it.