Badges Of Honor

By: SeraphAnaesthesia

Chapter Four: The Semi-Perfect Salvation- Le Crashe Course

Authoress' Note: Here you go, ladies and gentlemen! This is not the end, but may I add, Part One in the Grand Finale of 'Badges of Honor.' I have worked really hard to create such a story for all of the loyal readers, and this is one of the chapters that I am most proud to present to all of you. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Oh, and you better like this song and review and tell me what you think.

'God,' she thought, 'why is this happening to me? I always have such weird dreams.' Hitomi attempted to act like she couldn't hear the beautiful music and words floating around her as she dreamed, her brain playing tricks on her as she concentrated hard on the rhythm and the way her body was moving to the music. She closed her eyes as she swirled around a room she had never seen before, in a house she had never lived in, listening to a beat that rummaged and ransacked her soul. She shot up out of bed.

"I've got it!"

Shooting up from the warm and comfy atmosphere of her room, her own room, she threw off the PJs that she wore and rummaged through the white wicker dresser to quickly find something decent to wear to school. Tossing on a pair of worn blue jeans with rips and tears at the knees, she quickly grabbed a yellow T-shirt the words, "Social Butterfly" embroidered on them and brushed her hair. Hitomi grabbed two yellow shimmery bobby pins and pushed her hair back, running down the stairs.

The young girl grabbed her backpack and a lone poptart, and stopped when she remembered the worn green song notebook she had always kept in the one place where it could never be found. Under the kitchen sink. (xDDDDD) Grabbing it with swift speed, she ran to the bus stop and took a deep breath. Hitomi sat Indian style on the bench near the sign, waiting for Van and Dilandau to get there for her to talk to. While she was waiting, Hitomi grabbed a pen from her pocket and flipped open her notebook. She was determined that her dream had been a vision.

Gasping lightly when she realized that the entire first verse had already been written, she noticed a slight whistle and scuffle of converses coming down the street, two different tenor voices conversing slightly. Hitomi smiled to herself, and waved at them when they waved back. She capped her pen when they reached her and Dilandau curiously poked her notebook. "What's that?" Hitomi blinked up at him, hugging the notebook close to her chest and muttering a low concord of, "My song notebook…" To her surprise, Dilandau replied with great enthusiasm.

"Awesome! Are you in a band? I've been playing electric guitar for about seven years!" His crimson eyes were full of amusement as Van gave Hitomi a peculiar look, telling her to tell Dilly about the band, and about Allen leaving. She nodded at Dilandau's question, but stuck her tongue out at Van. He just grinned back at her.

"Yeah, I'm lead singer for a band at the school called Paranoia. Most of the kids in our school either refer to us as the awesome 'band geeks' or just the 'Noids. Short for Paranoids. We're pretty good but our lead elec. Guitarist just moved away…You wouldn't be interested in playing with us, wouldja?" Hitomi smiled expectantly as Dilandau nodded his head furiously. "Heck yeah!" The bus came to a screeching shot as the kids got on.

Throughout the day Hitomi continued to pencil in the lyrics that seemed to rush by inside her aching head, and grinned so wearily by the end of 5th period that all of her friends were worrying about her falling over from happiness. Her green eyes seemed to glaze over every time anyone mentioned notes or music or songs. Hitomi's head was spinning and drowning in the delightful melodies of freedom, or victory. Success. 'Twas finished! Before her, Hitomi held the greatest, most punk-rockish, most amazing song that she had ever decided to grace The 'Noids with. She was already full aware that her band mates would adore her for it and she could almost feel her skin soaking up the vintage glory.

Even though the young girl was definitely not known for her punctuality, she surprisingly made it to band practice precisely 15 minutes and 23 seconds earlier than usual. But, then again, she had been terribly excited to rave and rant about "Semi-Perfect Salvation." Hitomi was loving the blissful feeling of knowing her song was going to be a smash hit. Silently, she clapped her hands together and said, "Thank you. Thank you, God, for this wonderful piece of heavenly Hell!" Grinning, she gave a loud cackle as she entered the band room, not noticing the odd stares she was receiving from everyone. Blinking, she glared at her watch, noting that Dilandau would be there for a try-out in a few minutes.

As if right on que, the silver-haired adorable guy with crimson eyes almost fell over panting as he lugged the heavy elec. Guitar case behind him as he sighed. Hitomi laughed, and Millerna walked over. "And who might THIS be, Hitomi?" She wiggled her eyebrows as Dryden (OMFG, I am the biggest fan of Dryden! I don't know why, but I love the guy.. He's awesome. DryDry-chan!) hopped down from his perch at the drums. Celena acted disgusted and went back to filing her nails. Dilly blinked lightly at Millerna and Hitomi blushed.

"This is Dilandau, a new friend of mine. He's here for an audition to take Allen's place. 'Been playin' the electric guitar for seven years. Think we can give him a shot, you guys?" Hitomi raised her hands giggling slightly to her band members as they all voiced in a yes. Hitomi clambered up on the stage to the microphone and walked over to a small table backed up against the wall. Ruffling through a few sheets of paper, she growled before finding what she was looking for. "Wahla!" Walking over to Dilandau, she handed him a short guitar solo lick of music.

Dilandau nodded in understanding of the situation, taking out his electric blue guitar with silver flames around the edges. He plugged it into a spare amp, setting up the music on a sparse grey stand. Taking it off with a loud boom, large wails of beautiful D major scales and hooks and slurs and everything came pounding off of the walls. He hissed lightly, swaying his leaned body in tuned to the music he was playing. Finishing it off, Dilandau let out a loud laugh at the surprised faces of Celena, Millerna, and Dryden. Hitomi didn't look amazed, just impressed. And intensely smug.

So, her new-found lead electric guitarist was a success, a hit, a beautiful triumph. Score- Hitomi: 3,697 ½ Planet Earth: 0

Heh, okay…So maybe getting a big ego wasn't exactly the best plan to spend time on. Hitomi kept grinning though, even when her sworn enemy Yukari walked in. They had been best friends in grade school, but grew apart when Yukari started doing drugs and sleeping around. The mini skirt and flabby tube top didn't exactly suit her very well. Neither did the fact that she was walking be Van. Hitomi's Van. But then again, the young raven-haired man didn't look too pleased about having the red-head clinging to him like a life line.

She growled anyway, and Hitomi began passing out the music for the lyrics she had written earlier. Hitomi silently thanked God for letting the copy machine stay open over fifth period. "You guys think you can give this a shot? What about you, Dilandau? Care to take a hand?"

Dilandau nodded furiously, already acquainted with everyone in the band as he took position by his amp. Dryden swirled into action by the drums, and Celena took her place at the keyboard. Millerna got in stance behind Hitomi, who was lushly hogging a microphone to herself. Hitomi had this obsession, addiction, that Millerna called MicrophoneSyndrome. She felt helplessly addicted to a stage, and a crowd, and an applause. Grinning, Hitomi had no doubt that the band would play her music perfectly, even the first time through. Starting up the music as she watched Van and Yukari sit in the front row, lyrics riveted off her lips.

"I was not following you home

You're delusional and all alone

Waiting for someone to pick up the phone

Even though you know that they won't."

Her emerald eyes held laughter in them when the entire band acted as if the wonderful sound coming out of their instruments wasn't being played by them, but by a professional. And nobody could miss that look of surprise on Van's eager face when he realized this song was going to be a bit different from all of the other crazy songs that Hitomi had spent time writing in that spiffy green notebook of hers.

"You're a tree-hugger, the type of guy

Who couldn't wipe his eyes and tell a lie

Hang your head and let out a loud sigh

Oh well, at least you tried, right?"

Hitomi let out a loud bark of laughter when Yukari wrinkled her nose in disgust as if asking, "What kind of crap are we listening to?" Hitomi knew they sounded awesome, and that Yukari was only jealous of her great school, life, friends, crush, home, and band. She knew that she wanted what Hitomi had. The Semi-Perfect Salvation. Hitomi continued the song, holding onto the melody like a lifeline. Convinced that it was only confidence and never ever arrogance, Hitomi took the task upon herself of smirking and strutting a pose, her form-fitting T-shirt contrasting with baggy jeans. And finally, the next verse came.

"Your wings have broken in two

I'm trying so hard to help you

C'mon now, don't forget the glue

Blue just doesn't look good on you."

Hitomi smirked, remembering a sudden flashback that she hardly even remembered. It only stopped her for a brief second.

- He pulled off his shirt to climb into the sleeping bag across from her, a slow smile on his face and a small sigh on his full lips. Hitomi cocked her head at him questioningly, running her hands along his back while a brief gasp escaped his lips. Van looked back at her while Hitomi traced the thin black and inky lines across his back. The curls at the end, and the feathers falling down.

"Van, why do you have wings on your back? Is there something you plan on flying away from?" Hitomi smiled willingly to offer support to his usually quiet answers.

"Maybe."- That was it! Hitomi suddenly understood it all. That was what she had dreamed of! The beautiful music was her own voice, and feathers were around her everywhere. The room was the one from the flashback… Hitomi smiled, continuing the lyrics as she finally understood her own purpose for living. This was it. The chorus.

"You cannot be in love with someone's shadow

You hide behind the wings of an angel

Cover up your face and pretend to not exist

Your web of conspiracy becomes tangled

I love you for not just who you are

But for what I honestly know you can be

You're crying more tears just to fill the jar

I fear this time you may have gone too far

We are only a Semi-Perfect Salvation

The blood, sweats and tears of our foundation

We need you to undo this translation

These wings are your new transformation (creation)

The Semi-Perfect Badges of Honor (only semi-perfect)

I am proud of your true colors (steadfast colors)."

"Yes, these wings are your Badges of Honor…"

A/N: READ AND REVIEW! And I'll love you forever.