Well, here it is, folks. Another chapter up. I think I'll have to update just every week because it takes a while to write and type these things!
Ah, reviewers, light of my life!
Tomb Robbress- Erm...-tremble-Don't hurt me! If you do, you'll never see happy Tala!-wail- I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it had to be done!
Glimmern-glitas- I actually got the name Nikita from watching the Olympics. It was the name of this Russian gymnast guy. Thanks for reviewing! I accept your good luck: )
Torri-Chiobie- Thanks! Erm...I'm not sure it's possible for Aya to beat up Nikita...but I'll try! Thanks for reviewing!
ariotlatio- Seriously! That's total child abuse. -nod nod- Yeah, not everyone says it, but it sounds cool! Are you French? I'm not sure yet about the pairing. It was originally Tala/Aya, but I got a new idea in my head...Don't worry, I'll probably do Tala/Aya at the end.
Go stick your head in a toilet-Thanks! I shall seriously consider your suggestion : )
K'onix- This time, I know it's a compliment! (I think) Thanks for reviewing!
cry of the wolf- He's mine too! Except now, I'm wavering between him and Brooklyn. Stupid Brooklyn! Thanks for reviewing! Don't worry, I won't stop until it's done!
Hippochick- Hey! I've missed your name! Really? Well, thanks! I'm still not sure...but thanks anyway! And you'll have to wait for the answer! Okay, okay, he does get his memory back...I still unsure on the pairing ground, although I'm leaning heavily towards one side...
brat-always-day-and-night- Hahaha! Yeah, he'll probably beat up his dad...oops! Gave something away! -shifty eyes-
Apple Senorita- Hey, I'd almost forgotten about you! -stern- Don't let that happen again! Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
Well, enjoy!
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Aya stared helplessly at the shivering young man. She didn't know what to do. The boy was completely unaware of her presence.
" The phone!" She'd call Kai! He'd probably know what to do! She leapt up and ran over to the phone. She picked up the receiver and held it up to her ear, punching in the numbers. Nothing. She couldn't hear the familiar beeps. She furrowed her brow, pulling the receiver away from her ear and looking at it. Nothing appeared to be wrong…oh! She felt something beneath her foot. Looking down, she saw the torn phone cord. So much for that. She looked around for another phone. Ah – ha! A silver cellphone lay at the foot of the stairs. Aya walked over quickly and picked it up, dialling Kai's number. She waited anxiously for him to pick up, watching Yuri worriedly.
" Hello."
Aya felt so relieved to hear Kai's brusque tone. " Hi, it's me, Aya – " She was cut off by Kai's voice continuing to speak.
" – we're not here at the moment, so please leave a message."
Aya pressed the END button in frustration; whom could she call now? She chewed her bottom lip as she looked around. Suddenly, a little leather book caught her eye. It was emblazoned with silver italics that spelt 'address book.' She snatched it up and flipped through it, seeing the white pages covered with neat black writing. A familiar name jumped out at her. Bryan Krysnetsov.
She quickly dialled the burly Russian youth's number and tapped her foot, hoping this would work. After a few agonizingly long minutes, it picked up. Aya's heart skipped a beat.
" Zdravstuveete." A gruff voice answered.
" Um, hi. Is Bryan there?" Aya asked nervously, her eyes darting to Yuri.
" Speaking. Who's this?" Bryan questioned, his voice seeming very cold and forbidding to Aya.
" It's Aya, you know, from school." When Bryan didn't respond, she decided just to plunge into her story. " Look, could you please just come over to Yuri's house, now? It's urgent!"
Silence. Aya bit her already raw lip. " Please!"
Perhaps it was her half-hysterical tone that convinced him, but Bryan agreed and hastily hung up.
Aya had nothing to do now but wait. She went over and kneeled by Yuri, to check on him. He was no longer shaking so badly, and his whisperings had stopped. However, his brow was knitted in extreme concentration. Sweat shone on his face, and his eyes were still tightly closed. He was very tense, and it appeared as if he were fighting some tremendous mental battle. Sometimes he would twitch uncontrollably. Aya watched the blood on his back spread with growing discomfort. She really hoped Bryan would get here soon.
The minutes passed by slowly, and in silence. Finally, she heard a loud hammering on the front doors. She jumped up and ran to the unlocked doors, pulling them open. Bryan was there, clad in a large black coat. He nodded in greeting and swept past her. His impassive face took it all in; from the bloodstained sword on the floor to the suffering boy. He crossed the room in a few, striding steps, and picked up the smaller boy. Aya followed Bryan as he climbed the many stairs. They turned at the head of the stairs to Yuri's room. Aya quickly ran in and drew back both the thick velvet outer curtains and the translucent gossamer ones beneath, allowing Bryan to gently place Yuri on the bed. The red-haired boy seemed to have completely calmed down, but was still unresponsive.
Aya watched worriedly as Bryan grabbed a tissue and wiped Yuri's face. After he'd done that, he turned to Aya.
" I think you should leave." He stated, looking down at Aya, using his height quite effectively.
" Uh…okay…" Aya stuttered, a bit taken aback. She stopped trying to meet Bryan's pale, slanted eyes, there being a crick in the back of her neck from looking up.
" I can take care of him from now. I'll let you know how he's doing." Bryan rested a heavy hand on her shoulder, traces of a comforting smile on his face.
Aya smiled shyly, ducking her head. " Okay. Thanks!" She then turned to leave, but not without one last glance at Yuri. She bit her lip again, wincing; she's forgotten its state of rawness. Her eyes lingered over Yuri's prone form, her heart aching inexplicably.
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Aya slipped into Aira's classroom early, not wanting to talk to anyone. Especially Brooklyn.
She sighed, pulling out her pencil and a sheet of blank paper. Tucking the strands of hair that had escaped from her loose bun behind her ears, she idly sketched a vague shape. She licked her lips, and a fruity flavour filled her mouth, along with a stinging sensation on her lip. She put down her pencil and reached into the deep pocket on the side of her dark pants, pulling out a little tube. She carefully reapplied the lip balm and smacked her lips. Pushing up the sleeves of her baggy grey sweater, she dropped the tube back into her pocket.
Aya re-settled herself in her chair and gave her full attention to her piece of paper. She sketched for a while, and then surveyed her work. It was a light drawing of a sad-looking little girl. She absently drew in a few more lines for the girl's hair, propping her chin up with her other hand.
" Bit sad, eh?" Aya looked up at the voice, seeing Aira examining her picture.
" Yeah…" Aya smiled quietly, looking back down.
" You're really early today." Aira commented, calmly twisting a strand of his hair, which was gathered in a high ponytail.
" Yeah. I didn't want to stay outside." Aya tucked back another lock of hair.
She heard Aira sigh a bit and sit down across from her.
" Are you okay?" Aira's eyes held the gaze of her own, their silver colour so much like hers.
" Yeah." Aya shrugged, breaking the stare.
She could feel Aira carefully studying her face in silence.
" You know, when I was younger, I didn't have a very good home life." Aira commented, looking away, out the far window. The faint sunlight touched his delicate features, warming his pale skin. It also highlighted his almost iridescent hair, sparkles of gold dancing in his eyes. He looked very much like an angel, Aya thought.
" My mother died when I was born. My father never got over it. He started to drink. Quite a lot, in fact." Aira laughed bitterly. " He…beat us. My brothers and me. Especially me and my second-oldest brother, Kireshii. He left my oldest brother, Keishii, pretty much alone after a few months. Kei soon adopted his habits. When my father died there was still no respite from the pain. Kei made sure of that. I was lucky; he mostly picked on Kirei. Thought he looked too girly." Aira absently touched his own rather feminine face, lightly tracing his high cheekbones. " We escaped him when we left for university. But sometimes…Kei drops by for a visit." He rubbed his wrist. Aya looked down and saw a couple of thin scars there, white against the already pale colour of his skin.
" Oh…" Aya trailed off, unsure of what to say. What did you say to something like that? When someone bares their soul to you like that, 'I'm sorry' hardly seems adequate.
" I'm really sorry." Aya resisted the urge to hit herself. Looks like she said it anyway. " My – my friend has a similar problem…I don't know what to do."
" If something like that is happening you have to report it!" Aira clasped Aya's hands in his own, his eyes no longer blank and far-off.
" I – I can't. He's very powerful…and he might hurt my friend even more!" Aya cried, tears coming to her eyes.
Aya felt Aira gently wipe her tears away with his thumb. " Aya. I won't push you. I'm just saying that this would be the best thing to do. I never reported my father or Kei, though. I couldn't do it. They were my blood."
Aya nodded, sniffing.
Suddenly, the door opened and the rest of the class filed in.
Aira stood up and patted the top of Aya's head before turning to his class. " Sit down. Today I have a special guest for you."
The class obediently came in and sat down, Mariah, Emily, and Brooklyn joining Aya. Aya looked around for Yuri, but neither he nor Bryan or Kai were there.
Aira set them to drawing portraits. Aya was paired with Brooklyn.
" Are you alright?" Brooklyn asked, noting Aya's messy hair, her dull clothes, and her slightly red eyes.
" Yeah…uh…Brooklyn? About last night – " Aya was cut off by Brooklyn placing a finger against her lips.
" Shhh. Let's not brood on that, hmm? I apologize." He smiled crookedly.
" You apologize? No! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have – " Aya was once again interrupted.
" Nuh-uh. Now, smile pretty for me." Brooklyn winked, wagging his forefinger.
Aya smiled a bit, trying to smoothen her messy hair. She sat still as Brooklyn sketched her.
Finally, Brooklyn nodded, letting her know that he was done. Aya began to draw Brooklyn in turn.
After a few minutes there was a knock on the door. Aira got up, and after he had answered the door, he turned back to the class and clapped his hands. " Okay, my guest is here! Please put down your pencils and pay attention." He opened the door and backed up to allow the person to enter.
A delicately beautiful young woman walked into the room. She was taller than Aira, and was clad in tight black flared pants and a lavender silk blouse. Her long, curly, pale pink hair cascaded down her back and her spiky bangs, much like Aira's, fell into her warm golden eyes. Aya noticed several of the boys straighten in their seats.
" Class, please welcome my older brother, Kireshii." Aira introduced.
Half the class almost fell out of their chairs. Brother? Their eyes snapped back to the newcomer. Nope, she – or he – still looked like a girl. But Aya did notice the considerable…flatness of her/his chest.
" Hi! I know what you're thinking. I get it a lot. I mean, what, me? A man?" Kireshii laughed, using his slim, long-fingered hands to accentuate his speech. " Anyway, I'm here to talk to you about art in fashion."
" Kirei is the understudy of a very famous designer. I think you may have heard of the company. Versace, anyone?" Aira smiled in satisfaction at the looks on his students' faces. " See? I leech off my sibling's fame."
" You're pretty famous yourself! Remember your three art pieces in the Louvre?" Kirei raised his eyebrows, enjoying the classes' further surprise.
Aya exchanged glances with Mariah and Emily. She never knew her teacher was so talented
" Anyway, first of all, I'll like to talk to you about how music affects fashion…" Kirei began, waving his fingers, which were decorated with gold rings.
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" That was amazing!" Mariah exclaimed as they left Aira's class.
" I know! Kirei knows a lot!" Emily agreed. She was rarely this excited about art, preferring science or technology.
" Did you have any idea that Aira was so famous?" Brooklyn asked, joining the girls. " And Kirei! Wow! He's a guy?"
Emily and Mariah laughed, punching Brooklyn lightly. They then waved and left for their next class.
Brooklyn followed Aya as she took a detour to her locker. " Aya, if you're not busy, I was wondering if we could try…" He stopped when Aya sighed.
" I'm sorry. I don't want to…date until I have something worked out. I really like you, but…" She trailed off.
" Okay. I understand. Don't worry." Brooklyn put up a hand, smiling.
" Really? Thanks. I appreciate it." Brooklyn's heart warmed as Aya gave a genuine smile, the first one that day.
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Aya was about to head home when she caught sight of familiar, flaming hair. Her heart skipped a beat and she quickly made her way through the crowd towards the hair. She soon found herself next to a rather different Yuri. His hair had been gathered in a messy ponytail and he wore a faded, overlarge t-shirt and faded, baggy jeans. The t-shirt exposed his pale arms, which Aya noticed were too thin and shook slightly as he pulled books out of his locker. His face was tired and weary, but it somehow gave him the effect of looking younger.
" Yuri." Aya spoke meekly, lightly tugging on his sleeve. He turned, at first not seeming to register whom she was. Then his expression cleared and an uncertain look formed.
" Hi." Aya blushed, looking down.
" Aya…" Yuri seemed unsure of what to do. His eyes, Aya saw, were rather faded like the rest of him. They were no longer a sharp, icy turquoise, but more like a pale, soft azure.
" Hey Yuri." Aya smiled shyly. " Are you okay?"
" Uh…yeah. I'm a lot better. Thanks, by the way. Bryan told me what happened. I'm sorry you had to see that." Yuri scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
" No! Don't apologize! It wasn't your fault! It was his!" Aya said fiercely, although still keeping her voice low.
" He's my father." Yuri said quietly.
" Oh! I'm sorry!" Aya flushed. " I didn't mean – "
" No, it's alright." Yuri put up a hand. " I feel nothing for him." The way Yuri said that with such calmness sent shivers up Aya's spine.
" Well...okay…um…" Aya fidgeted uncomfortably. There never used to be a barrier between her and Yuri. Yuri seemed to be thinking the same thoughts as he glanced subtly at his watch.
" Look, about Brooklyn – " Yuri burst out, causing Aya to look up in surprise. " I just – uh – it's just – " He couldn't find the right words to sat what he wanted. How was he supposed to tell her he never wanted her to see Brooklyn again, to never kiss him again?
" There isn't anything between me and Brooklyn. I think. I mean, we like each other, but right now…I don't know, a relationship doesn't seem right. And the kiss…I don't know what happened, exactly." Aya babbled. Yuri listened for a bit, before placing a finger to her lips. Aya instantly shut up, her face colouring even more at the touch.
" I understand. It's just…I really like you, Aya." Here Yuri took in a sharp breath, as if he'd planned to say something else but decided not to. He looked down, studying his feet as a slight redness tinged his cheeks. A strand of hair fell into his face and he nervously tucked it back into his roughly made ponytail.
Aya blinked in surprise, looking at Yuri. She supposed she should've expected this. After all, there had been so many hints. She wasn't really sure what to think, so her attention diverted to his hair. It was really different. No longer in its winged style, it had been pulled back. Not very neatly, either. The top wasn't smooth at all, and the gathered hair stuck out at uneven lengths at the back. It looked strangely good on him, however, Aya thought. " Your hair is different."
Yuri looked up and blinked in confusion. Aya mentally whacked herself. That had been an extremely stupid thing to say, especially after Yuri's confession.
" Er…thanks." Yuri furrowed his brow slightly as his hands nervously smoothened back more escaped strands of hair.
" Look, I really like you, too." Aya admitted, stepping a bit closer to Yuri. He smiled shyly and lightly placed a hand on her arm.
" Yuri…" Aya began, but stopped. In Yuri's expression, something seemed to break and he pulled her into an embrace. Aya's eyes were wide with surprise as he held her tightly. He tilted her chin up and captured her lips with his own, needing to be in contact with her as much as possible. He ran his hands through her hair, loosening the bun and allowing the silvery strands to fall down. He kissed her hard, desperately, inhaling her scent of strawberries and citrus. Silent tears slipped down his face, tears of joy, relief and despair.
Aya kissed back just as forcefully, the heat of Yuri's body seeming to engulf her. Yuri wasn't the same as Brooklyn. Brooklyn had smelled warm and sweet, while Yuri's scent was one of mint, snow, and cold wind.
The two held each other tightly, oblivious to the swarm of people that flooded past them.
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