Datenshi : Fallen Angel © My Anh Nguyen
Chapter Three – Moonshine
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"In the ancient time there was a sorceress who created a crystal and combined her power together with two of her pupils' merging their powers into the gemstone. This was done so that whoever the sorceress successor was would use the prevailing force to eliminate the curse on their land."
Aya peered over Touya's shoulder reading out loud the novel he had in his hand, contemplating out loud, "Interesting…" She hit Touya on his back and sat down beside him on the bench swinging her legs. "What a beautiful day right, Nigawa-sensei?" He didn't answer her but his eyes fixed on something far away. A week had passed since that incident with Hideki and things seemed to adjust back to the norm. However Hiro was currently staying at her house and being loved by Aki and Aya. Yet still, she wanted to know more of the man beside her.
"It's going to rain soon," he abruptly said.
She gazed up at the blue sky and found it quite impossible, as well as she didn't want this lovely weather to be spoilt. "Really? That's a pity."
"Aren't you going to go inside now?" Touya closed his book and stood up flicking his white coat back.
Aya shook her head nostalgically and replied, "Nope." Her eyes remained fixated on the sapphire sky and a tranquil breeze swept by them. "Why aren't you going in?" she questioned him. Subsequently he turned his foot around and walked toward the direction of the school building. A small smile appeared on the corner of Aya's lips and she waited for the rain drops to delicately caress her face.
However, "Aya! Get out of the rain now!" Aki's enraged voice from above in the building where the school corridor was.
By the time she was already drenched from the rain and poked a tongue out at her brother. "Just a bit longer Aki."
"No! You get out of it now or I'm going down there!"
Yuuhi was beside Aki ruffling his hair and looking around embarrassed at the noise his friend was making. His eyes widen when he looked down and saw Chidori skipping toward where Aya was, laughing happily kicking the puddle of water.
"Aya! Lets dance in the rain!" Chidori pulled Aya off the bench and they started tango in the shower.
Aki shook his head and rubbed his temple. "God, I feel as though I'm her father." He mumbled to himself and then screamed down from the window, "Aya! Out of the rain. Now!"
"Okay, okay!" Both the girls started dancing toward the school building, chuckling to one another.
From the opposite block Touya watched them and when they were both under the shelter he walked away from the window.
"What were you saying before, Yuuhi?" Aki twirled around to find no one was there beside him and Yuuhi was out of sight. He looked about but his friend was no where in sight and he frowned in confusion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Aya sat herself down on one of the chairs in the library and pulled out a novel, when unexpectedly it was taken away in front of her by no other than Chidori. By the look in the cheeky girl's eyes she knew something had happened.
"What is it?" Aya asked her friend trying to take back her novel but it was hidden behind Chidori's back.
Chidori searched inside her bag and retrieved a silver paper then laid it on the table. "Look this is an invitation to Mayumi's birthday party. You should come with me!"
"Why should I?"
She thought for a while and Aya unfold the paper. Beautiful golden calligraphy was incurved on the invitation stating, "You are honorably invited to Mayumi Sengoku's 18th Birthday ball." Aya couldn't help but chuckle.
"What is this? A wedding invitation more like it, honorably invited? Woah such an honour!" Aya rolled her eyes sarcastically and put the invitation back down on the table. "This is what I hate about this dumb school. They all think they are so high and mighty. It's sickening!"
Chidori burst out in laughter and nodded her head. "The problem is. Her parents and mine are business partners so I have no way to back out. So you're coming with me to keep me company since you're the only person I can talk to!"
"What? You're like on the same level as Mayumi. You two are presumably the most popular girl in the entire school. What you mean I'm the only one you can talk to? Stop fooling me, you brat." Aya gave side glances to Chidori as she looked outside where the rain continued to pour.
Chidori also looked away outside watching the rain as they both fell silence. This was the first time for Aya to see Chidori being unusually quiet, she talks most of the time but now she held an expression on her face that Aya couldn't comprehend.
"Okay. I'll come."
Aya received a hug from Chidori and they both continued to observe the droplets of rain. It was a pleasant silence between them and Aya had an idea there were things that had been bothering Chidori. Yet she doesn't want to pressure her into telling if she's not ready, thus Aya gave Chidori a reassuring grin.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
She was furious. It had been two hours, twenty-three minutes and five seconds! She still hasn't decided what to wear to that "18th Birthday Ball". God who the hell call their birthday a ball? Trust this gay prestigious school to be like that. Why the hell was she so agitated in looking nice anyways? Aya slumped on her bed and made a loud cried. A knock was heard and she sat straight back up attempting to look composed when she's far from it.
"Come in."
"Are you ready Aya?" Aki questioned popping his head into the room and saw clothes that were flying everywhere was scattered on the floor. Aya was still in her home outfit and Aki exclaimed, "You're still not ready?"
"I got nothing to wear. Maybe I'm not going. You go then, bro."
Aki's eyes widen and he pointed to the floor. "You call this, nothing to wear? What is with women! Oh Lord!" He then continued, "Chidori just called and she's really hoping you would come. Don't disappoint her."
For a moment Aya thought to herself and felt bad if she promised to go and didn't end up showing up. "Alright."
Her brother grinned widely and before closing the door he said, "You'll look good in anything."
"Thanks bro!"
In the end Aya settled on slipping into her amethyst-coloured cocktail dress and casually did her long blonde hair up in a bun. Aki shook her head when they got into the car and drove of to their destination, wondering why she took so long to think of what to wear when what she's wearing now only took her two minutes. He would never understand women and how they work.
"Were you invited Aki?" Aya asked observing the street lights. "Oh I forgot, of course you would be invited. You and Mayumi used to date; she's still crazy about you." Aya enjoyed teasing her brother and his long past history of relationships.
"Yeah, so crazy about me that she's already dating Yuuhi," Aki laughed carelessly.
She turned her attention on Aki and questioned, "Really? But don't you guys feel awkward? Like you are dating the same girl?"
"No? Why should we? She's just some girl," Aki answered matter-of-factly.
That comment caused Aya to shake her head at the doings of her brother. "You two are such heartbreakers."
"No. All the girls we date, they know we aren't serious yet they still come. I still wonder why," Aki rebutted pursing his lips at the thought.
Aya shrugged her shoulders and coolly said, "Maybe they aren't serious too that's why? No strings attach on both parties."
"Yeah, you got a point there." Aki nodded his head and asked, "Chidori seems to be very fond in you."
"I wonder why. She is very outgoing and friendly, easily can be friends with others."
Aki turned the corner and stopped at the next traffic lights. He took a glimpsed at his sister and smiled. "Why do you like pushing people away?"
"No I don't. It's just we are really different. She's the girl everyone wants to be or want to have. Whereas I'm just… Well me."
Aki chuckled and retorted, "And what's wrong with being you?"
"Nothing."
"Well, whatever. You're my sister and I'm happy you're different from the rest. You don't conform, that's something Chidori likes in you because she doesn't like to follow orders as well."
After that statement made by Aki the rest of the ride to Mayumi's party was filled with silence, as Aya's mind started to wander off. Different huh? Very different, indeed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Once Aki and Aya reached the designated party the enormous white door welcomed them with a butler collecting the invitations. Instantly Chidori appeared from nowhere swinging her hips to Aya, in her golden dress that gracefully flow whenever she was in motion.
"Ah! Aya! I'm so glad you came!" Chidori hauled Aya into a tight embraced. "You look stunning. Come, come. I'll introduce you to Mayumi." With that Aya was pulled along through the mob and she waved to her brother, he gave her a smile and a thumb up. "I'm totally happy you are here!" Chidori smile was bright and filled with excitement, it made Aya pleased to know her presence at this party could bring such joy to Chidori.
"Mayumi!" Chidori called out and a glamorous girl with a white dressed turned around with a pleasing smile.
"Chidori. Great to see you can make it." She softly spoke and her eyes shifted to Aya. "And this is?"
"Hello. I'm Aya. Chidori brought me here."
Mayumi smiled and nodded her head. "I see. You're Aki's twin sister."
"Yeah," Aya shortly replied. Somehow Aya felt a strong feeling from Mayumi causing her to breathe unsteadily but Aya promptly dismiss it. Soon later they bid each other to go to get a drink and Aya asked Chidori, "By the end of the night her mouth must be exhausted huh?"
Chidori looked at Aya strangely and questioned, "Why?"
"Because she has to keep that smile on all night," Aya replied intimating Mayumi's delicate beam.
They both laughed out loud and attracted some attention from their surroundings. "Opps," Chidori said yet continued to chuckle. "You think I can get one dance with Aki?"
Aya raised an eyebrow and searched around for the sight of her brother. "If you can get through that line." She pointed out to the girls that were surrounding Aki and Yuuhi.
"Oh wells!" Chidori shrugged and put her flute of orange juice down.
"You know, I've been wondering." Aya began and took a sip of her soda. "Though you always say things that make it sound as if you like my brother, but you don't act the part."
"What can you say? I'm weird?" Chidori laughed. Aya peered at Chidori with suspicious in her eyes. "What? Can't I admire him from afar?" Chidori said and looked over to where Aki and Yuuhi were. "Sometimes there are things in this world where it is better of to observe from afar; because once it gets to close you'll see the cracks."
"Woah. That was the most profound thing I've ever heard you say," Aya exclaimed putting a hand over her mouth at the new discovery. Chidori playfully hit her arm and pouted. "So what cracks do you see in my brother?"
"Huh?" Chidori snapped out of her trance. "Let's stop talking so seriously, it's not my thing. Want to dance?" Aya abided and they began to stroll toward the dance floor. "May I have this honour of having your first dance?" Chidori placed out her hand and took Aya's.
"If I say no, would you let me go and find an actual man?" Aya questioned queerly.
"No."
Aya laughed and said, "I would have guessed so." The two girls chuckled and started dancing whilst enjoying the song.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the other side of the ballroom the two most eligible men enjoyed their drinks leisurely. "Didn't expect your sister to show up," Yuuhi commented giving a flute of wine to Aki.
Aki took it and nodded. "Me too. Chidori does her good. Get her out of the house more and socialize with girls her age."
The two boys observed the two girls dancing and doing embarrassing moves laughing whilst doing so. "How you and Mayumi going?" Aki questioned looking over to where Mayumi was.
"Okay. Same as everyone else," Yuuhi answered.
"Oh, I see. Well, here comes my sister," Aki noted looking in the direction of Chidori and Aya.
Aya smiled brightly at Aki and asked, "Bro! Why aren't you dancing?"
"The ladies here are boring. I see you already had your dance," Aki joked poking Aya on the ribs.
The girls chuckled nodding their head. "You seem to be popular tonight Asai-san. As usual lots of suitors," Yuuhi stated with a polite smile.
"Same goes to you, Aogiri-san." Chidori bowed and Aya felt something was going on but she just doesn't know exactly what. From the moment she stepped foot into this mansion she had a clear intuition an incident is going to occur.
What was with these two? Aya wondered and glanced at Aki who also shrugged not knowing anything.
"Hand me the moon crystal… Hand it over to me now."
Aya eyes darted around the ball room searching for the voice and the rest looked at her oddly. "What are you looking for, Aya?" Chidori questioned.
She continued to hear it, "Moon crystal. Moon crystal."
"Don't you guys hear it? Someone is saying something about a moon crystal." Aya explained blinking at the expression on their faces as though what she was saying was bizarre.
They shook their head and Aki said, "Are you alright? We didn't hear anything of that sort."
"That's strange. Maybe I drank the punch too much. I'm going to the bathroom to wash up," Aya quickly said suddenly feeling the beating of her heart quickens.
Chidori looked at Aya with worried ness in her eyes. "I'll come with you," she offered.
"No, I'm okay. It's just over there anyways. You stay here with them." Aya swiftly took off toward the direction of the restroom.
Yuuhi stared at Chidori and she glanced away. "Well, I got to get going. Catch you around."
"That was fast," Aki noted looking at Chidori's disappearing figure.
Moments later Aya was searching through the crowd for Chidori, Yuuhi and Aki but it seems as though they had split up. She observed the so-call home of Mayumi Sengoku's and on first impression it was of course with no doubt grand. But why would you need more than ten bedrooms when there were only four people in the family not including their cats? That's mere stupidity, unless they are planning to give a room each to their pet cat? Aya mentally shook her head and heaved a sigh before gulping down a glass of water. Later she saw Yuuhi in the crowd dancing with Mayumi, the birthday girl slash current girlfriend. Yuuhi could do so much better than that, Aya thought to herself but she knew it was none of her business.
Later on Yuuhi departed from Mayumi to get a drink and a bit of fresh air, he saw Aya and advanced toward her. "Hey. What are you doing standing here?"
"Resting. Don't want to get over there, too squashy." Aya glanced over to the dance floor where there were many heads bobbing up and down to the music.
Yuuhi nodded and used the table to support his stance. "Where's Chi… Asai-san?"
Aya stared at him trying not to show any sign of awkwardness of his fixing in Chidori's name. Something was really strange between the two, she made a mental note. "I don't know. Probably somewhere around here." Aya spotted Aki coming toward them and waved. "Bro!"
"Aya! Been looking around for you." Aki placed his hand on his hip and nonchalantly brushed his blonde hair back.
"Have you seen Chidori?" Aya questioned.
"No. In fact haven't seen her since you left to the bathroom," Aki replied scratching his head.
Shortly they noticed a huge crowd was forming around the main living room balcony and the three wondered what was happening. "Oh my god. Isn't that Chidori-senpai?" Aya heard it and started to rush over to see the commotion.
Everyone gawked as they saw Mayumi Sengoku holding Chidori by her shoulders and shaking the living lights out of her.
"You think you're better than me? Well think again!" Mayumi spat out and tightly held Chidori quaking her. Soon later Chidori eyes began to close yet Mayumi continued to quake her. "I saw them. I saw those photos!"
"What the hell! Put her down!" Aya yelled out and everyone eyes laid on Aya. "Let go off Chidori now. What are you doing?" Aya's face went pale at the sight of an unconscious Chidori.
Yuuhi eyes were wide open and he glared at Mayumi. "Mayumi! What you think you are doing? Let her go!" His temper raisin and his voice came out as deadly as a loaded gun.
"You both are being fooled by her! She's nothing but a manipulator!" Mayumi cried out loud still shaking the limpness Chidori. "First she tricked you Yuuhi and now she's onto using Aya to get close to Aki. Girls like her need to be killed and go to hell!"
The guests gasped in horror at what she just stated. "If she tricks me or not that's my problem. You stay out of it." Aya demanded and was getting agitated, what did Mayumi do to make Chidori fall cataleptic like that?
Aya started to go forward but Mayumi held out a knife to Chidori's neck and said, "Come any closer I'll kill her!"
"What have gotten into you?" Yuuhi yelled. "If you hurt Chidori one tiny bit, I'll make sure you never see the sunrise again!"
What relationship did Yuuhi and Chidori have? Is there a reason for him to be so hostile toward Mayumi for hurting Chidori? Was there something Aya was missing out on? Lots of questions ran through her head but she pushed them all away and only wanted to save her only friend.
Chidori began to cough and her eyes opened wearily. "Yuu…hi," she coughed repeatedly.
Aya glared at Mayumi and the moon from behind shone brightly. It changed the colour of Aya's clear crystal blue eyes to a darker purple. She felt her blood circulatory beginning to heat up and she clenched her fists tightly. Mayumi placed the knife closer to Chidori's neck and bans of sweats triggered down Aya's forehead. Her eyes focused on Mayumi and fury was engulfed in her eyes. Out of the blue the brick balcony that was supporting Mayumi exploded and she lost complete balance.
It happened too fast that Aya couldn't catch what actually occurred because the next moment she saw Yuuhi running toward Chidori pulling her hand back from falling along with Mayumi. Anon, Aya's eyes returned to their original colour and the moon went back to its dimness glow onto the earth.
"Wha-what happened?" Aya asked stammering feeling cold sweats all over her body.
Aki stared at her and responded, "I don't know." Unexpectedly Aya fainted into Aki's arms.
------------------------------------------------------
Next chapter – Forsaken Shadows
------------------------------------------------------