Say "Yes!" to Chapter 3! XD
After you read this chapter, you'll sort of see where I'm heading with this story. Or you'll see my plan, same thing. It's kind of rough, I've only done a little editing and I probably haven't caught all the mistakes, but I hope it's okay.
KittyLynne: I've realized I never answered the question in the first review. Yes, I'm a fan of Gackt. More so of his more (cough) risqué pictures than of his music I think. Vanilla certainly is interesting…I have refrained from using "Cool like Plastic" in the story yet, although I just got a rather funny idea I could use later. Must write it down. XD (I also refrained from naming the drummer Kami.) It's funny; I knew the exact picture you're talking about on the t-shirt when I read the description. I can picture it in my head, lol. We can all have our fangirl moments. (goes to huggle her Tasuki pillow) Oh, and just so you know, I believe it was in Burned where just your description of Tasuki (I believe in the first chapter, when he's fully dressed and everything) made me blush harder than the first time I read a romance novel. ;) Ah, L'amour.
Note to Readers (err…Reader XD): In this chapter I briefly discuss actions between two men in relation to fanservice. If this disturbs you, ignore it, just the thoughts of Xun and what happens in his band. No, Xun isn't gay, and no, this isn't turning into yaoi. Oh, and no, none of the band members are gay. Just the way it is…
Side note: Xun means Fast, supposedly, which is why I picked it to be Tasuki's name in this, that and I liked the way it looks on the screen and how it sounds. Maybe next chapter I'll list the other possibilities that I was considering.
Other side note: I realize I've been using "seishi" in my story. Equivalent of warrior…I think. Y'know, like Suzaku Seishi is Suzaku Warrior(s)? Err, I'm not making sense am I? Anyway…also started using the suffixes –chan and –san. –chan is usually for a girl or young child. –San is what you use for someone older than you, a way of giving respect. If you want a more in-depth and more correct definition of any of these three words, go look them up on the internet, I'm bad at explaining things.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi, I haven't even met Yuu Watase yet. Hopefully she'll come to AZ again this year, as this year I can actually go, but that's just the wish of one fan. I do own Yumiko, Sakako, part of Xun (the part that doesn't count as Tasuki), and now Souji (the part that's not based on…well…you can guess when you read the chapter.)
As always, enjoy, and review. I love reviews, makes me pump out chapters faster. (thumbs up)
Edit: Caught a few errors shortly after posting. Corrected.
Chapter 3: Decision
The door to Miaka's apartment shut and her keys clunked against the kitchen counter. She, Yumiko, and Sakako had gone to dinner and, as usual, she had spent three times as much money on food as the other girls. Kind of made her embarrassed at this age, she figured she would grow out of it after she hit 20.
She lived in a one-bedroom apartment, she didn't need a roommate with the salary she made and Yui was getting married anyway. If Keisuke ever came to visit, he could always sleep on the couch. He was off doing his own thing since Yui and Tetsuya got engaged; he found it rather awkward that his best friend was marrying his little sister's best friend. He didn't mind the engagement, just thought it was rather peculiar.
Their mother had moved them to Osaka 3 years ago because her job had called for a transfer. Keisuke had stayed in Tokyo, but Miaka had gone with her mother. Taka had followed Miaka too, but still had plans to go to Tokyo University. When she had died, Miaka lived in her apartment and Keisuke came to live with her, along with Taka. Keisuke stayed for a while but felt he was encroaching too much on his sister's love life by living with her and her boyfriend. That was before Taka left for Todai. So now she lived alone.
Pressing the flashing button on her answering machine, she took her hair out of its messy braid and plopped down on the couch. Expecting the message to be from someone trying to get her to sign up for a credit card or one of the neighbors complaining about her cat again, she was pleasantly surprised when Taka's voice came through the speaker.
"Hey Miaka." He began. "Studies are going well, it looks like I'll be able to visit next weekend." His voice was monotonous and casual, like it wasn't exciting that he would get to see her. "Well, talk to you later." Click. End of messages.
Geez. Not even a "I love you Mi-chan!" She scoffed. Walking into her bedroom, she casually petted her sleeping cat and grabbed things needed for a nice long hot shower.
After said shower, she stretched out next to her cat and contemplated her surprise meeting with the Tasuki look-alike. The resemblance both in looks and personality is too uncanny, she decided. However, Tasuki hated girls, and Xun was plainly interested in them, due to his casual flirting with her. Maybe it was just a one-time thing? After all, he had been drinking. She bit her lip in thought. She hoped he was Tasuki's reincarnation. It shouldn't make a difference if he really is or not. She resulted. She grinned, happy with her decision. Now all I need to do is see him again…
Before she could figure out how to do that, her phone screeched. Miaka decided that she would pretend that she was asleep, so she wouldn't have to answer it. The only person who called this time of night was her boss, itching to yell at her for something. Surprisingly, it was Yui.
"Miiiiakkkaaaa!" Her answering machine whined from in the living room. "I hope you're sleeping instead of being out this late! Wait, if you're sleeping, then answer the phone!" Miaka chuckled, but didn't move from her bed. Yui sighed. "The florist lost our order and the band we picked was already taken for the wedding day! Miaka! I can't move the wedding date! What are we going to do?" Frazzled, she dropped the phone as sounds of a crash next came through the speaker. "Just, call me when you get a chance, okay?" She hung up.
Miaka instantly regretted not picking up the phone. Yui was her best friend and she should have been there for her. She decided she would try to solve Yui's problems and then call her back, so that Yui would be happy to hear from her. Once again, happy with her decision, she drifted off to sleep.
Maybe the florist over by the train station could do it. I think that's the one Yumi's brother works at. And for the band? Hmm, don't know anyone in a band… She fell asleep.
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He definitely was a looker. At least he hoped so, with the way people kept staring at him. Even with a hat on, people would marvel at his hair. Blarg, I should dye it. He decided. He stopped. No! Dye is bad! If I dyed my hair, I'd end up looking like my bandmates! He nodded his head in approval of his thoughts. He liked to consider himself the normal one of the group.
As being the most masculine, he got the most girls. Well, the girls that didn't like feminine guys. Those type of girls usually went after Daiki, the vocalist. Daiki definitely gave new meanings to crossdressing and fanservice. That suited Xun just fine, as long as he kept the girls' hands, as well as his hands, off of him. Daiki knew to stay away from Xun when it came to fanservice, having received a bruise once from a misplaced touch. It made Xun's face turn red to think about it, at the sheer absurdity of two straight guys touching each other for the amusement of the crowd. He decided that he would never understand it so it would be best to stop thinking about it. He was usually drunk during concerts, so visions of such things rarely stayed in his memory.
Trying to shake the thoughts of his head, he turned them to a certain auburn-haired, green-eyed beauty he had happened to meet. He was sober enough by the end of the concert to remember it. He thanked whatever deity was watching over him. He was now currently 'touring' Osaka, actually hoping run into her. He had cursed last night after he realized just how big Osaka really was, but still went ahead with his original plan of hunting her down.
Usually he hated girls. That didn't mean he liked boys. Girls just...irked him, with their giggling and the fluttering of their eyelashes. Not to mention what violence they were capable of. They were monsters under a pretty bubbly façade. His sisters had taught him at least that much. Boy was he glad to be out of the country, where they couldn't find him.
So what made this girl different? He asked himself. He didn't quite know. Somehow, he just knew that she was. That's good enough for me, he decided. Now, where to find her?
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Miaka walked happily down the sidewalk, heading towards the florist shop next to the train station. She had confirmed with Yumiko earlier that it was indeed the one where her brother worked.
When she stepped into the shop, the sheer abundance of color almost knocked her over. There were bouquets, cemetery cones, decorations, and tons of odds and ends in every color imaginable snugly fitting together. It looked like one giant arrangement. She came back from her sensory overload when a familiar voice greeted her.
"Miaka! Darling!" She was tackle-hugged by a boy with vibrant pink hair. He soon let her go and was straightening his clothing. He wasn't dressed like a girl, but not as a boy either. He could pass for either gender depending upon the eye of the beholder. He wasn't effeminate, like the vocalist of Mer de Visages, Miaka realized, but he wasn't quite masculine either. His voice sounded like he hadn't hit puberty yet, but Miaka knew he was in his early twenties. He was only a year or two older than she was. He reminded her of Nuriko, which is why she was happy when Yumiko introduced her to him. Yumi was hoping that she would leave her absent boyfriend for him. She had wanted Miaka as a sister-in-law.
"Souji-san!" Miaka grinned, clapping her hands together. "You know you're my bestest friend right?" She gave him big puppy eyes, while keeping her grin. He looked at her warily.
"Maybe…" He quirked an eyebrow. "What brings you to my humble shop?"
"Well, you see, my friend is having a wedding." She started.
"Nope. Sorry Mi-chan. We don't do weddings." He looked at her apologetically. "Sort of a company policy."
"But Souji-san!" Miaka fake whined and started tearing her eyes for effect. Souji-san was such a sucker for girls crying. Kind of reminded her of a certain orange haired seishi…
"No, takes too much preparation. Little gatherings, fine, but no big weddings." He waved his arms exasperatedly. "Not to mention picky brides and their picky white roses. No color! They never want color!" He sighed before sitting on a bench, narrowly missing an arrangement of bright orange tiger lilies.
"Well, I'm sure Yui would love some color. As long as it wasn't neon." She rubbed her chin while smiling at him. "It would give their families quite a shock, but it would be worth it. Not to mention the grooms parents' wallets are pretty deep. Not to mention it would mean the world to me."
Souji hung his head. "How far away is the wedding?" He muttered.
Miaka brightened. "Two months!" She pumped her fist up in the air and gave a victory sign.
"Alright." He relented, and looked away. Miaka tackle-hugged him as he had done her before.
"See? I told you that you were my best friend!" She grinned and pinched his cheek. He smiled back at her, the smile reaching his eyes.
"Yeah."
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After making the necessary preparations with Souji for the samples and meetings with Yui, she stepped out of the shop into the evening air. Looking back into the shop, she saw Souji waving at her and she waved back. She briefly wondered what he would look like with purple hair, instead of that vibrant pink.
Pulling out her mobile, she called Yui. Leaving a message, as Yui was probably still at work, she told her that she had found a new florist and that they would be meeting later this week. Now all that left was the band. Immediately she began running names through her head of who might be able to book a band. Her brain stopped on "Xun."
I wonder…She thought. Looking up at the stars, noting the southern constellations, she made up her mind. She was going to track Xun down. This gave her a reason to do so. She smiled and headed home, fully intending on researching where Mer de Visages' next concert was going to be.
