A Yankee and a Singer
Chapter 2:
Mitsuki
The sun beckoned on another wonderful day on Imperial Academy's hallowed grounds. A lively air was pervading, as the local academy marching band played to serenade the students heading to class a light hymn, entitled "Mori no Otomotachi." For the band, it was a recent addition to their repertoire, and was their arrangement of a song from a film soundtrack.
As an extra incentive to focus on her academic work, Mitsuki's grandmother Fuzuki approved her granddaughter's part-time disposition as a maid apprentice. She would be paid 1500 yen an hour for her work in maintaining the cleanliness of the Academy grounds. It wasn't that hard to do, since this was nothing compared to working as a vocalist for Seed Records. Now THAT was hard work.
A number of people, including Mitsuki's friends Riko and Tsukasa, knew this well. Every day she and a few of her friends would check on Mitsuki to see how things are with working as a maid. It was the same old, same old. They also knew she was a singer at one point in her life, and so sometimes she would sing bits of pieces from a few of her works just to serenade her friends and lay them low.
This time, though, something had to give. "Excuse me," said a rather dignified, yet liberally reserved girl with medium purple hair and affirmative eyes that glared down like arrows, "you are in our path. Can you move, please?" They did so, heading back to class. For a silver to protect a copper…that took commitment. She did. She knew Mitsuki well, as much as Mitsuki knew her well. Even if it was just for a few weeks.
"Usio!" exclaimed Mitsuki, startled at her friend's appearance.
"Good morning, Mitsuki. You have a leaf on your head." As Mitsuki took her leaf from her head, she dropped something. "You dropped your broom."
"You're one to be bold, Usio," Mitsuki said, picking up her broom.
"Don't worry about. Remember, if I have you, that is enough for me, Mitsuki."
Embracing Usio, Mitsuki said, "Usio, I love you!"
"Of course." If only she could say the same thing with Madoka, but for her, she was touring with Nachi of Oz on a nationwide tour. She had forgotten about those two. So, the best way to remember Madoka was to treat Usio as if she was Madoka. Mitsuki still adored Madoka's beauty, determination, and boundless spirit.
At last, the only person to be of a gold ranking, the Student Council president, the Emperor, the Koutei arrived. And much to her astonishment (well, she knew this already), it was Takuto. Takuto Kira. A former singer who returned to the top…as a different person. Everyone bowed down to the Koutei, even Mitsuki, who did not approve of this motive. She couldn't refuse though, lest she has points taken away from her record.
"Takuto," Mitsuki whispered to him faintly as he went up the stairs to her office, "are you aware that Mitsuki has always been in love with you?"
Usio comforted her at the first period started. "There's no point in having you fall in love with Koutei. He's busy doing his own daily affairs for the Student Council. Even people like me have to go through different formalities to see him in person. To top that off…"
"What?"
"…it is rumored that Koutei already has a girlfriend."
"What? NO WAY!" exclaimed Mitsuki.
"Hey," said the instructor. "You over there, be quiet!"
"Crap," Mitsuki thought to herself. "I'm going to have points taken away…" Turning to Usio, she said, "It's a lie! IF that were a case, Koutei's tie would be a ribbon by now."
"But who keeps such old traditions?" Usio shot back.
Mitsuki was stunned. "Usio, you're mean. Do you hate Takuto?"
"I despise men of every persuasion. You may be hurt, but if you get close to someone like Koutei, you'll see a huge difference from what you really see him as."
In her head, Mitsuki disagreed. She knew Takuto, back when she was 12, and he was just a shinigami. He would be so nice to her, even say those words of magic, "I love you." They even kissed, countless times. Since that last Full Moon concert, she had no idea where Takuto went, until now. He didn't know it, but here they were again, in the same high school, Imperial Academy, the finest academy for aristocrats and those who want to succeed in their lives with the same dignity and respect that should be bestowed on every good-hearted citizen of the free world.
Those were the days. As Mitsuki listened to the regular notes from her English class, visions of Takuto as a shinigami pervaded her mind. Eichi was nowhere to be seen. It never registered in her head, not even as the slightest of blips. It was all about Takuto, the Koutei, the former lead singer of a band called Route L, in which her late father was a member of the band, as well as her doctor and co-producer, Keiichi Wakaouji. Whenever she needed a guiding light, Takuto was there. If Mitsuki was free of cancer, and Takuto was not a shinigami, but a human being, of the same flesh and blood that she was, then it would be easy for the both of them to be married already.
All that lust went away when Mitsuki transferred to the Imperial Academy in her 1st senior high year. She did meet Takuto, and she was surprised that he was still alive, but he never spoke to him. He never even smiled. And it really hurt her, like a heart turned into pulp by a bullwhip. She lost the strength to even communicate her feelings for Takuto, but they were still waiting, waiting for Mitsuki to take them like candles to light her way back to him.
She continued to commiserate on her loss of hope when a loud thud came down. Mitsuki looked, and it was…a snake. And they poured down. Thousands of snakes. The Gedou, a super-secret student organization who were against the current regime, has entered. Before the Koutei could make his speech, he was escorted back to his office. Mitsuki knew this rule: morning meeting are the only time she could see Takuto now. It used to be so easy back then, but that was then; this is now.
The guard, Strahl Tachimiya II, saw something rather intriguing. "Mitsuki-san, are you okay?"
No. Jumping onto her desks, Mitsuki prepared herself for an opportunity to save her class from further humiliation. "Heheheh, I may only know how to sing, but I know how to get rid of trash like you." Her eyes flashed, "Ultimate…Ja No Michi Wa HEAVY!" A kick, and a third of the snaked were eliminated. Whacking every snake out of the room, Mitsuki yelled, "It was me who became famous in Shibuya City as Full Moon! I bet you bastards don't know I can whap snakes like I can whap Jonathan! Hahahahahaha! Bring it on! Hahahahahahaah!"
"Flawless movements," Strahl said. "Amazing." For some unknown reason, Usio was not surprised. The only thing she was surprised was the fact that she could take care of the snakes in less than 5 minutes. Even more unusual, the crowd didn't know who the heck Jonathan was.
Strahl read a report he received the next day as Mitsuki did some sweeping. "Kouyama Mitsuki suffered from throat cancer at the age of 12 and couldn't sing. 10 months after her 12th birthday, they performed a successful surgery, and she has continued to succeed moderately in the classroom. When the snakes arrived, though, the class saw a part of her that no one ever saw: the ability to fight. Testimony from J-san, a student from the same class: 'Sometimes, her eyes were like a falcon's.' And this was posted on the Academy's Homepage, and no one would talk to you?"
Mitsuki, crying over her breach of character, said "Yes." She turned to Usio. "But I did something good, didn't I? Taking care of the snakes and all! Come on, I did it for the sake of the class!"
"Mitsuki," explained Usio, "Everyone in this school leads a sheltered life. Chances are it's harder for them to see the good in what you do. It's not your fault, Mitsuki. Leave it at that." She ripped the report and threw it into the trash, only to be glomped afterward by a relieved Mitsuki.
"Usio, I love you!"
"Of course." Strahl would report this on his daily journal, "Indecent article written."
Takuto saw the situation, and looked at the scene with a stoic expression. A guy with blonde spikes and a headband said, "What happened, Koutei?" He saw the two conversing. "Ah, isn't that the girl who eliminated the snakes yesterday?"
"She used to suffer from cancer, and could sing," Takuto said. "She's now a mai0d apprentice."
"You like her?"
"No. Quit it. I hate her."
"I see. Wait a minute! Who is this person?" he said, turning to Takuto. "Where are uou going? The meeting's going to start in a few minutes."
"I forgot something in the student council room. Can you wait a minute, Maguri?" He did, and their usual business would take place. Still, as Mitsuki paced back to class, she pondered about her breach of character. Why is it that she would be strong and eliminate an army of cold-blooded snakes without much difficulty when all she knew how to do was sing and be superior in the classroom. Why was that?
As she saw her friends Riko and Tsukasa head over to class, a small something crashed into her head. "What is this?" Mitsuki said. It has weird ears, and looked a like a Chinese dim sum dumpling. It hissed at her. She started to fret. "What is this thing? It's all weird and all!" Weirder than Jonathan. One thing was for sure; it wasn't a pig, or a bunny, or a cat, or even a dog. It was something different.
"Sorry, he's my pet," a girl with ribbons said, running towards the scene. "This is my mini-lamb, Okorimakuri-kun."
"Sha" went the little object of interest. Mitsuki knew who this person was.
"Hey, you are Ichinomiya Maora-san, the brains of the Student Council!"
"You're Kouyama Mitsuki-san, age 15, a former singer who debuted in high school. You also went by the name 'Full Moon'!"
Mitsuki thought to herself, "How does she know me as 'Full Moon'?"
"I have all your CDs," she said, handing Mitsuki her collection, "Myself, Smile, Eternal Snow (my favorite), Angel, Love Chronicle, Missing Piece, New Future…" Mitsuki's jaw dropped at Maora's collection. She was a Full Moon diehard. "Well, this is interesting. Could you do me a favor?"
"Huh?"
Maora told the entire story in Mitsuki's ear in 2 minutes flat. Not a second more. At that point, the black-haired girl exploded.
"Ehhhh? Takuto was kidnapped?"
"Yes," Maora said, crying, "can you save him for us? Please? We'll give you points!" She had only began to say this when Mitsuki had hightailed for the Aerial Garden. Maora was surprised Mitsuki knew where the place was, and that she didn't need Yuubinya the postman to show her the way.
The bushes were very rough, but that was the only was Mitsuki could find Takuto. It was the only way. Letting her hair down, she took her tie, and made a ribbon on her hair. It was long enough so why not? "You gotta have courage, Mitsuki!" she said to herself. "You gotta bring it!"
Takuto was reading a book when he heard a whisper. "Takuto! Takuto! Over here!" He looked, and he could see Mitsuki glaring. "I can see you…" With a grunt of disgust, he walked away. Mitsuki came out of the bushes to meet up with him.
"Takuto…Takuto! Do you know who I am?" Mitsuki said. "It's me, Mitsuki Kouyama! Remember?"
"Mitsuki Kouyama?" he said. "I don't know that person."
She was shocked as he walked on. How could this guy, who had helped her for so long become a popular singer as a shinigami and now returned as a human, not know who she was? Was it a freak of nature? Was it fate? Was he just kidding? Of course the look on his face meant otherwise, but still…it was impossible for Takuto to not know who Mitsuki was. "I came to rescue you, Takuto! Let's run away into the sunset together!"
"No, there wasn't a kidnapping. You're noisy. Leave, please."
For a second, Mitsuki conceded. "Hai. Yes, Master." And then reality hit her. "You mean, this was all fake. Meaning…you acted out your own story?"
Takuto snuck another dirty look. "That's right. Got a problem with that?"
Defensive mode. Mitsuki backwheeled. "No, I don't have a problem with that. But why…why in the world would you act out your own story? Why?"
"I wanted some time to be alone." As Takuto walked away, Mitsuki recollected that Takuto was in a rough position. He was the koutei, the class president. He had no time for the past, he couldn't take a break from the burden he was already carrying. Even worse, he did not remember his days when he was helping Mitsuki achieve her dreams of being a singer, as "Full Moon," a star that only came once in a lifetime, at least in terms of perseverance and dedication. Takuto forgot all that, and Mitsuki could only watch as the glories of days gone by were all in vain like trains.
But she would never give up. She would do her best to make him remember the happier times he had when he was a Shinigami, and eventually Mitsuki's lover. She swore never to remember Eichi again. Mitsuki decided it was time for one last attempt. "Wait, Takuto!" He turned to her. "Please, I want you to love me! Don't you remember when you helped me become a singer? You helped me realize my dream! That's why…!" She was at a loss for words. "That's why…you shouldn't be like that. The reason I'm in love with you, and always will be in love with you…was because you were in love with me." Takuto suffered a bit of a headache, and Mitsuki ran over to comfort him. Suddenly, but slowly, he began to remember. She then said, "Always. I always…I always wanted you to be with me."
She was interrupted in a second by a group of young students. "Ah! Here's the Koutei!" said one. They then turned to Mitsuki. "Hey Kouyama! It was you, wasn't it?" Mitsuki was cornered and at a loss for words yet again.
Takuto let out a sigh of exasperation. "She rescued me from the ruffians. You are all mistaken. She's capable now, and she almost killed the lot of them with a single blow…and then she sang to them, and they left in peace. She was an idol. And she can sing very well."
"She's an idol? Wow!" the crowd said in amazement. "Maybe she was…Full Moon?"
Mitsuki gulped. "I have no idea," Takuto said. Maora went over, as well as Maguri. They had been searching for the two of them.
"How is everything, Koutei?" Maguri said.
"I'm okay. Award 300 points to Kouyama-kun." The crowd was relieved, but Maora made her next move.
"Wait a minute, Koutei! Let me introduce her to all of you! This is Mitsuki Kouyama, a.k.a. Full Moon. She has decided to be Koutei's bodyguard and wi0ll take care of the general affairs of the Student Council!"
Mitsuki was shocked. "Eh?"
"What are you talking about, you dolt?" he said to Maora. "Even if she's an idol, I refuse."
"I made a promise to her, Maguri," Maora shot back. "If she rescued Koutei, she would be a part of the Student Council. Isn't that right, Mitsuki-chan?" she asked, turning to the blushing brunette with the tie.
"Y…Yeah, that's right," she said. She then thought to herself. "I will do whatever I can to protect Takuto. This is my chance!"
"I said no way in hell," said Maguri. "She may be a popular singer in her first life (and a damn good one too), but she's still a copper, and it would be too problematic! Sorry, I cannot, and will not, trust anyone who rescues Koutei only for points! You got it?"
That's wouldn't bring Mitsuki down, though. "Noooo! It wasn't for the points! It was because I love Takuto a lot! That's why I can risk my life! I will protect Takuto no matter what, even to my death. And that's a promise!" She said it, her fist in her other hand.
Takuto had to side with Maguri on this. "Rejected."
"I knew this was gonna happen," Mitsuki said.
Maguri affirmed it. "Heh, I told you so."
Maora then said with disgust, "But we only have three members for the student council! Approve it! Koutei, you have the power, use it!"
A tall man with a lab coat and glasses. "This should be fine, shouldn't it?"
Takuto looked at the figure… "Senri-sensei?"
"By having a copper," he said, "it will expand your horizons quite nicely. So it should be okay!"
"You're Senri-sensei?" asked Mitsuki, pointing to him.
"Yes, I am the health teacher, and I just adore cute little girls!"
"Oh, you wanna see some cute girls, right?" asked Maora, about to make her move.
"Shut up, Maora," Maguri shot back in panic. "Quiet!"
A pause, and Takuto said, "All right, I will approve her into the student council." Maora celebrated, while Maguri shrunk in defeat.
"Thank you very much, Takuto," replied Mitsuki, showing her gratitude.
"Don't get me wrong. I only accepted you because it would be out of line if the Student Council didn't keep its promises."
"Doesn't matter," Mitsuki thought. "Now I'm with you." She was with Takuto again. And that was all she needed.
"Well congratulations," Usio said over the phone to Mitsuki later that night, who was taking a long, refreshing bath.
"It's awesome, thank you," she replied. "I want him to smile once again, like he did when he was a shinigami."
"Shinigami? What are you talking about?"
"Long story. I'll tell you tomorrow." Mitsuki hung up the phone, and enjoyed her moment of glory. She would now be with Takuto. For once, it seems that Takuto remembered a bit what he did back then. But Usio decided that now she had to make her move. It would be a huge gamble to take.
The next day, Mitsuki arrived at Imperial, with a bit of a yawn, and a peaceful glint in her eyes. She was at peace with herself, still overjoyed with her and Takuto being together. If they could get at least one opportunity to kiss and perhaps make love to each other... She wasn't really getting ahead of herself because she visioned the two of them dreaming together, in the same room, with no one to bother them. Not even fate itself.
But at the same time, a more immediate need had to be satisfied-getting to class. The bell would ring in 5 minutes, and, well, she had to hightail it. Something distracted her, though.
"I want you to love me, Takuto," Maguri said, grabbing of his arm.
"Let me go!" he said.
"Never," he said. "Takuto…"
"What the…mmmmph!"
Their lips locked together.
Mitsuki felt like she was hit by the biggest bolt of lightning ever known to man. Maguri…and…Takuto…were kissing? She was on her knees, distraught at what had just happened. One tear, two, three, and a river fell like a waterfall on her face. The two boys turned around to her in shock.
"Takuto…baka…you couldn't be…in love with…men?"
End Chapter 2