Last Edited: 24.12.o5

Written: 16.o9.o5

¤ - ×- ×- ×- × - × - × - × - ×- ×- × - ¤

Do You Still Think of Me?

PART TWO – Picking up the fragments

Chapter One

By Flipstahhz

¤ - ×- ×- ×- × - × - × - × - ×- ×- × - ¤

He was always there late in the evening. The place was like a second home to him.

His own sanctuary…

Ever since he had started the job, he decided that it was better if he'd stay back during peak hour until he'd be one of the few people in the place. It was peaceful and therapeutic being there. Shadows of the tree branches from outside flickered into the dimly lit room. He strummed the guitar. His bright searching eyes gazed the sky, painted dark blue with specks of stars sparkling on it. He didn't know how long he had been there, but it was much longer than he usually did.

Perhaps it was because he was to face everything once again. Physically, he knew he had grown…and it even sometimes scared him when he glanced in the mirror to see a beard. (Which he furiously would shave off…but clearly detested how fast the hair grew back on his chin). But…mentally…he knew he hadn't matured at all. His thoughts still remained the same. All he wanted to do was achieve in fetching a job in the music industry, which he had accomplished. He was a graduate from Tamachi University. He could have graduated at Odaiba Uni, but he wanted to get away from everything…also because the music courses in Tamachi were known to be much better than back in his hometown, Odaiba.

He thought moving to Tamachi would change him and make him stronger, but he was wrong. He had become more sensitive (even though he hated to admit it) and found himself constantly thinking of his past. There was no way he could forget it…and about her… especially now that he was invited to Mimi and Tai's engagement party. It had to be karma hitting him. He let out a withered sigh. Thinking of Mimi and Tai's engagement made him feel queasy. He knew that he would have to face her sooner or later…

How was she? Where did she live? Did she have any relationships or a special someone in her life? Was she a nurse…a florist or a fashion designer?

It would take a fool not to notice that he still thought of her. He even would ask Mimi or Tai of how she was doing in the most 'unconcerned' way as possible, just to know how she was and if she was fine and doing well. At that time, he had thought that it was her that needed to think things out…now he wasn't too sure…it had to be him as well. They both weren't ready. Then again…how could he be so certain that she liked him in the first place.

Love or lust…whatever. He hated them both.

Shaking his head at all the thoughts rushing back into his mind, he decided it was time to push them aside. As noted earlier, music was his therapy. And perhaps this therapy could clear his mind from all this obsession and lustfulness. He strummed the first chord to the song, and everything clicked from there. He was to sing her song. His mouth opened, and the words fell out in place in the sweetest melody…

"I'm sitting here

Thinking bout

How I'm gonna do without

You around, in my life, and how am I

I gon' get by

I ain't got no days

Just lonely nights

You want the truth?

Well girl I'm not alright

Feel out of place, and out of time

I think I'm gonna lose my mind

So tell me how you feel

Are you for real

Do you still think of me

Baby still ?

Do you dream of me at night

It's like a dream of you all the time

Sooo, lonely

oh let me tell you how it feels

Wish I was dreaming but its real

oh Let me tell you how it feels

I think that I will never love again"

His lyrics faded away with the music. His eyes opened after having them tightly shut the whole time he had sung the song. He jolted when he had suddenly heard someone applauding from behind him. He was stunned.

No one was supposed to be there at the late hour…

He lifted his gaze to meet one of his female students. She had long auburn hair, which was braided down to her waist, as her green emerald eyes stared intently at his direction with a pleasant smile curling on her lush pink lips. His heart leapt, the resemblance was uncanny. Well, not identically uncanny…but the traits she carried were so similar to Sora…Sora Takenouchi. It scared him. He regained his composure almost immediately. He had become immune to it. You had to…if you were a teacher…

" Grace - "

" I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Mr. I!" she apologized interrupting him abruptly as she waved her palms out expected a lecture from the adult. She made herself comfortable as she sat on one of the keyboard stools in the music room, picked up some drumsticks and twirled them in between her fingers.

He stared at her questioningly.

The seventeen year old gave a casual shrug. " I heard you singing and playing the guitar when I walked by, just then. Couldn't resist hearing your rare performances. I could tell you were singing from your heart…it wasn't forced or anything. You sounded so pure…and it was so vivid how you explained the story and essence of the song."

Mr. Ishida smiled, he'd be lying to himself if he disagreed to her comments. " Yeah…I guess I was singing from my heart…that time…"

Even though Yamato hated to have his favorites, he couldn't help but resist making Grace as an exception of being brilliant. The girl was spectacular -one of his talented students that he had ever taught. Before he even had begun teaching in Tamachi Grammar School he already knew that she had surpassed his music skills a long time ago. He felt inferior and strange teaching Grace. Grace was a vocalist and the top saxophonist and pianist in the state. He accepted that he wouldn't get further than either being a music retail owner or music teacher, but he knew for sure that Grace had potential in anything in the music industry. He was envious, but he knew she deserved it.

Grace was one of the few that took music seriously and chose 'his' subject out of love.. Whilst the other three quarters of the year eleven class just chose the subject because it was considered a 'bludge.' This challenge enticed Yamato. He thought of many ways to get his class enthusiastic and intrigued by the beauty of music. He made them all work hard by going thoroughly through all of the genres of music there were known to be. It was a success. Particularly almost every student he had taught had fallen in love with the subject he taught. Music was beautiful.

" You daydream a lot, Mr. I," she laughed brightly that it felt as if the atmosphere of nighttime had turned into broad daylight.

" I know, Grace," he said, He curiously asked her, " So why are you still at school? It's almost 8pm! When I was your age…all I wanted to do was get out of school as soon as possible!"

" Ahh," she smirked. " You see Mr I., I just finished band rehearsal for the school production."

" That's hard work, you know?"

" Yeah, had to rearrange most of the composition because it was too overdone."

" You can ask me if you need help, you know?"

" I know, Mr. I, " she nodded. " But I've completed majority of it, anyway."

She decided it was time to switch the attention back to her teacher. " So why were you playing that song?"

He chuckled at the girl's suspicion. " Just reminiscing…."

" Reminiscing?" she stared up into his cold azure eyes. " Of what? …. Ohh "

He gazed at her in wonder what she had ohhed about. " Yes?"

" I'm not an idiot, Mr. Ishida," she said simply, then began to explain her theory of her teacher's life with glints of amusement sparkling in her green eyes. " Ever since the last lesson you taught our class, you've been really not been yourself. It's like you've drifted off into a different area. But it would be understandable considering that the last lesson was…"

Yamato stared at her blankly.

She rolled her eyes then spoke sternly brimmed with nothing but confidence, " The last lesson….you taught our class about love songs. You loved someone…didn't you…Mr. I. ? Mr.-old-lead-singer-of-the-Teenage-Wolves-that-is-single-and-never-talks-about-his-love-life."

" That was the longest label someone has ever used to insult me," he mocked. " How'd you know about me being an ex lead singer?"

" The Teenage Wolves? I was in my junior years when you guys were a hit. Haha…my cousin used to be a big fan…but truthfully, I never liked your music."

" Understandable," he shrugged. " But why?"

" The lyrics you sang were twisted and made no sense whatsoever. And when you sang…no offence Mr. I….you got a good voice and all…but you sang with no heart! It was like you were a boring tedious news reporter on TV," she said with amused sincerity. " Girls just liked you because you were a all guy band that sang rock. That's the only reason!"

" That hurts!" he clutched his heart in sarcasm. Whenever he was with Grace, he felt calm and relaxed. To him, she was like a younger sister he never had. " You're really tough at criticizing music, aren't you Grace?"

" I'm just implying the truth," she said giving a broad grin and a simple shrug. " Though…I'd prefer hearing you sing the way you sang just then. Now, that's what you really call music."

" I guess so…" he replied, ripping his gaze from her as he sunk into the chair, beginning to tune the guitar as he plucked each string to hear for the correct note.

" That song…who was it dedicated to?" she whispered quietly. " She must have been really special…"

" She is," he croaked out.

" Tell me the story, Mr. I…I love stories…it's not healthy to keep everything locked up. It's good to let it all go sometimes…" she said, comforting the older man.

Time slid by as he explained the long story, and she sat there listening intently to her teacher not making a sound, not interfering. She knew that he was in love with someone… but she never knew how strong love could really take such a toll on a person.

" Then why don't you go after her…Mr. I? If you've regretted it all your life…even if there is a chance you may be rejected, which I doubt, at least you'll know what feelings she holds towards you and you won't have to continue living thinking of her all the time."

" It's not that easy, Grace."

" Life is never easy. It's like wanting to perfect a piano piece. You can never get it on the first try…you need to practice and try," she said. " Mr. I, you should try…"

" And you think I haven't?" he glared lividly, that it made her shudder. Realizing that he had been rather threatening he muttered an apology. " Thanks for the talk…I gotta go…take care Grace…"

She felt him pat her on the back as he snatched his duffle bag while carefully placing his guitar into its case. As he walked a few steps from getting out of the room, she yelled after him. " Good luck tomorrow!"

" I need it," he sighed nauseously. " I really owe you. I feel like a true idiot asking my student for love advice, I think it should be the other way around."

" Don't worry about it," she laughed. " The secret is with me!"

Grace watched him depart the room, she closed her eyes…the lyrics still were burning in her mind from the song her teacher had sung. It was absolutely stunning…

"So tell me how you feel

Are you for real

Do you still think of me

Baby still ?

Do you dream of me at night

It's like a dream of you all the time

Sooo, lonely

oh let me tell you how it feels

Wish I was dreaming but its real

oh Let me tell you how it feels

I think that I will never love again"

She had to find herself her own man that had the capacity to love her this strongly like her teacher who she looked up to...

Somehow she was certain that she had heard been told the story once before since it sounded vaguely familiar…

¤ - ×- ×- ×- × - × - × - × - ×- ×- × - ¤

Song: The Loneliness by Babyface. One of the saddest songs, and where I got the title of this story 'Do You Still Think Of Me?' from the chorus. Without credits to Babyface, this story wouldn't have taken it's place since it's built from the story of the song. Download it!