It was early, about 8:45 in the morning, when you arrived at Kishijoten shrine, a beautiful historical spot. It like a enchanting world after entering through the karamon (gate) doors, come into a area surrounded with not just a garden on the outside but on the inside too. It was normal opened to the public but because of the event coming it wasn't. You came here to wait for Professor Yama, Riku and Yuna. It was another walk through again with the venue, which was mostly set up it seemed. You noticed the moment you entered the white party tents begin assembled, the manger of the hotel was there overseeing everything, while multitasking with other things. She held her walkie-talkie like it was glued to her hand. Decorations of harmonious colors where being placed overhead, areas marked where the work would be displayed, tables set out as well. The place was closed off from the public until the whole thing was over. Which your stomach couldn't wait for it to be.
Your third time coming here and it still fluttered with butterflies, matching your racing heart. So many...many talents would be presenting their work for this...event. Those on professional levels and much more, those who've had years of experience and some just naturally born would be here...your fingers wouldn't stop fidgeting. Just imagine all their work...all of their wonderful and crisp work. Not a single thing wrong with it. Work that could and would make one feel as if they where themselves. Transport them to far away...to a place of escape.
To make a single drop of rain look mesmerizing. A simple wheat field feel like a romantic setting. A simple bird's nest feel like a nature documentary. Just thinking about it, sweep you away. You nearly bumped into one of the workers. If someone hadn't grabbed you by the shoulder and yanked you back just in time.
That was close, sighing. Smile thanking them. "Thank you."
"I heart Australia?" Riku's gravelly voice spoke. Looking overhead find him there holding two things of coffee or tea, his lazy hazel eyes reading the navy blue words on your white shirt. Quizzingly. Rubbing his chin. "When did you go there? Because, I'm pretty sure every class you've been to." His eyes squint a little more trying to understand. Moving some of his long dark purple hair behind his ears. To get a better look.
Making you a bit uncomfortable from his stare. You fold your arms over your chest, something that didn't seem to work. You quickly realized and stop. Move from under him with heated cheeks.
His eyes follow you, arching a brow. Points a finger. "Well?" He asked. Still on the shirt. "Where did you get it from? It seems new, because every outfit you have on I can tell is a bit old."
Did it really matter? Turn a shoulder to him, that didn't stop him nor did he get the hint. He kept on it, handing you one of the drinks. "Thanks.."you take it taking a sip. It was tea. Thank goodness.
"So, about the shirt?" He kept going looking at the lid of his drink. "Where did you get it from? Was it a gift?" Your cheeks rose in color, as the two of you walked, and he kept talking. "It has to be a gift, it's too fresh. Though the question is what kind of gift?"
You didn't answer, filling your mouth with the tea, that kind of burned your tongue. He noticed. "You should blow first. You know that?" He informs you, switches back to the shirt. Deducing the whole thing. "It's not a friendly gift, because if it was, then the shirt wouldn't be the right size. Also, it would have a 'Heart' on it. A red heart, it would have been something like a cute kola or something. If the shirt fits you right, that means they know your measurements. Only family is pretty good at knowing that."
He pauses for a moment taking a sip of his drink, looking up for a moment at the morning sky. His eyes watch the birds fly over. "It's a intimate gift. No doubt."
You nearly spit up your tea out. He pats your back a few times with his heavy hands. "W-What?" you manage to say. Trying to catch your breath. "It's just a shirt!"
His eyes slide to you and squint a bit. "I know it's a shirt. I'm not blind. It's a matter on what kind of shirt. That's what the real mystery is," he stops, you do too. Sighing. "what kind of shirt. It's clear its from someone who clearly..." he hums the rest in his mind.
What was he thinking? God, what was he thinking now?! Your mind flipped all over the place, wanting to know what it was. While at the same time wishing he would drop it. Or...for something else.
Why did it have to Riku that showed up after you? Honestly, you'd prefer it was just yourself for the first hour. Shifting where you stood he seem not to notice, still focused on the shirt. You cast your eyes after rolling them at the large pond. Turn around hearing rapid feet approaching, speeding over. Your heart jolted, you knew who that was! You had to get ready before they...
"Mi Cheries!"
Like a bull mixed with a linebacker, they charge over full throttle and tackle themselves on you, with nothing but a blur of lime green could be seen from them. Riku stepped back just in time, managing to swipe your tea before it was taken down with you.
In their constricting hug and under their facial nuzzling, you had no choice but to endure, while Riku just stood back watching it. Not at all offering any sort of help, as Yuna cooed to you. Laughing brightly, a complete contrast to his outer appearance. Clad in nothing but black from head to toe, spiked collar, with boots to match. Leather jacket, pierced lip, painted nails, and ears, near pale skin complexion, dark lips sticks...and eye shadow. All was complete opposite of him, even his light green hair, though he did have dark green eyes that reminded you of shadows in the woods.
He screamed...Goth! But sung like a canary.
"Oh!" He kept squeezing you, stroking your hair like a pet. Gushing. "Mi Cheri! You look so cute today!"
If his arm wasn't around your throat then you'd be able to say something or at least breath! Instead began clawing at his arm. He didn't noticed and kept gushing over you, stopping for a moment to greet Riku.
With a fluttery wave and wink. "Well! Good morning, sunshine!"
Riku gives a nod, the only reaction from him really. "You look well, today Yuna. Your lipstick is it new?"
"Oh! You noticed!" He said flattered, turning away rather teasingly. "Why, such a gentleman, to notice such small details. On moi! Yes," he grins wide pointing to his lips. "I just bought this recently, it's call Death's Beauty. It's all the rage really. Well, not here but, my Aunt Tessie was at our family's chateau in Germany, it's actually a time to go. Any way, she happened to stumble upon it while shopping and decided to buy it."
"Really?" Riku takes another sip. "That was kind of her, how did it cost?"
Did they not see your lack of air?
Yuna gives it a thought. "Well, she said they do use natural charcoal to give its color and exotic oils for the shine...I would say..."he begins counting the numbers to himself. "168763.50. Not that expensive really. Considering it came in a diamond crested case." he giggles.
Earning monotone hum from Riku. "So, a sale?" Yuna nods. "Well, guess saving money anyway is saving. I'm surprised you're here this early. Considering how much you love your beauty sleep."
"Oh! You!" Yuna flushes giddily behind his hand. Fanning it lightly to Riku. "Stop it, you're making me blush. Yes, I know I came early than normal, something today told me to. I'm not sure why," he shrugs, returning to patting your head. "but I just wanted too. And I'm glad because I get to be with my two favorite cherries!"
Riku nods, his eyes finally drop to you. Thank goodness. "By the way, May has new shirt. That she love Australia, I think someone gave it to her as a gift."
"Hm?" Yuna's eyes wide a bit before looking down at you, his eyes go right pass you to your shirt and read it. While releasing you. Your lungs take in that sweet air, a mistake on your part, began hacking up Yuna's cologne. "Breathe, breathe." He tells you patting you lightly on the back, still going over the shirt. A smutty smile curled on his dark lips. Rising in eyes and knotted on his brow. "Well, well, what a thoughtful gift indeed. It's truly sweet."
He lifts his eyes to yours and moves closer, his smile never left. "W-What?" you asked under his dark assumption. That purred.
"This wouldn't happen to be from..."Yuna's voice lowers. "What's his name...oh, Rin? Hmm?"
Your face became tomato red. Before you could turn away from his stare, but his hand was faster than you action and grabs it turning it back to face him. Shutting your eyes didn't do anything, feeling Yuna move closer his breath brushed against your heated face.
Only redden it more, along with his words. "It is isn't? You're little 'Down Under'." He winks, suggestively. Something you wished your mind didn't read into, cause he saw your face turn redder than a brick. Throws his head back laughing. Slapping you on the back. "OMG! Your face is red! Hahaha!" He wipes the tears in the corner of his eyes.
"So, it was a intimate gesture." Riku concludes, coming over. "It all comes together, the heart on the shirt. And those extra snacks you've been eating. All those sweets, that's not in your normal diet and that plushie you have on your coffee table. It's cute by the way."
With Yuna's laughing and Riku's mile long observation, you wished to be somewhere else...now.
RING! RING!
Your phone went off, you nearly missed it over Yuna's laughter. If it didn't vibrate, reaching into your bag take it out. Hear the distinctive ring tone, knew right away who it was, step away to answer it.
A couple of feet away. From those...two.
Answer.
"Yeah?" Plug your other ear from the noise of the two behind you. Step further away to hear them more. "Well, um..."you think about it for a moment. You had this to do still, looking around the venue. Watch a small lotus float by, listening to them. Sigh. "I'm not sure. I've got..."holding the words back, you hadn't said anything to them. They didn't know.
"I was thinking of going with a-" Yuno in the back, laughing.
Grumbling sharply under your breath move further away. "Oh, that was no one. Anyway, I suppose I can. I've just got wrap something up and well...I'll just see you. If anything comes up I'll let you know. Alright, bye."
Hang up.
"Who was that?" Riku asked appearing behind you suddenly, you nearly jumped out your skin. If not for Yuna's hold on your shoulder keeping you down. "Where are you going?"
How did he even hear...your mind puzzled. "Oh! I beat it's her little boyfriend." Yuna teases. "He's finally here and they're going to meet up and he's come to profess is love and they'll both experience a really Down Under." Chuckling like a school girl behind his hand.
"No. It wasn't him and for the record," your eyes narrow flatly with your dismissive words. "he isn't my boyfriend. We're just friends. We've been friends since grade school. Also, it wasn't him. It was another friend. Who needs me, so I promised to meet up with them. If I can."
Riku and Yuna look at each other. Both of them arch an brow, then turn back to you. "You know we have a walk through." Riku reminds you. "Professor Yama is going to be here soon. I don't think he's going to want us to-"
"I know. I'm going to go after this, if I have time. Of course." you cut him off. "This comes first, my friend can wait for a bit."
Yuna leans in a bit with a tight pondering look in his eyes. Tapping his chin. "Do any of your friends know about this?" He asked. "The way you talk and from your small conversation it sounds like a no."
"T-That's not true." you avoid his eyes. Looking to the side.
"Yes it is." Riku said, now drinking your tea. "They don't know. Why?"
Sighing long and hard, this wasn't the time to get into your..."I just haven't told them, they've got their own things to worry about right now. Besides, they don't need to know about this. I can't look to that right now, I've got to keep my mind fresh. New. This is important-"
"But, them being here, isn't that important?" Yuna counters. A bit confused. "I mean after the pictures you have of them, which are beautiful by the way. I absolutely love way joy and bliss is capture. You can feel it radiate off them. So much care and warmth," his voice tears up along with his eyes. "it makes me think...of..."His smiled dropped for a moment.
Your shoulders sink just a bit. "Yeah, well..."your voice trails off.
Riku adds. "I'm surprised you didn't use one those pictures instead. Especially the one with your sister, that was love in its purest form. She reminded me of a fresh new day." Yuna nods agreeing. "Even the one of you two, years ago. When you were kids."
You knew which one he was talking about, your heart fell harder. Did they have to bring this up? What you choose was fine...it was sure to be...
Seeing the small lines of frustration on you, Yuna rest a hand on Ruki to stop and changes topics. "You know Professor Yama is calling our spot The Muses. It's rather flattering, don't you think?" He told you and Riku. "A muse, hmm, I can see it. Kind of. By the way May, Riku and I where going over what we'll be wearing. Have you gotten your outfit? I hoping we could all match, but then again that would be so bland. I hope you wear something really, really.."
You knew where he was going with this, and hold up for him to stop. He just laughs, throwing an around shoulders and Riku, pulling you both in. Being the tallest, made it easy. Pulls you both in to his cheeks, a huge cheeky smile spread across his face.
"I'm so thrilled being able to do this, with you two!" he nearly squeals. Moving his hand to pinch cheeks. "I can't believe Bryan Yuri is going go to be here, oh! I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it. We're going to great-"
Riku interjects. "Even if there will others who vast skills than us and have pieces that can transport others to a world beyond the mind?"
Yuna's smile never fell. "Yep! We might be novices! But we're master novices! To be in a event as special as this, it means we're just as good! If not better! After this is all over! We're totally going to take a trip on my family's private yacht!" The thrust a hand in the air. "You know something..."giving a thought. "We should be called the Three Musketeers instead."
"What?" Riku frowns a bit.
"Yeah, there's three of us. It makes perfect sense!"
In his mind it did, rolling your eyes smile to yourself. These two..."Alright!" A commanding clap turns the three heads, finding Professor Yama. "Come on you three, we've got things to do and go over. Let's go."
" 'Kay!" Yuna shouts back, letting you and Riku go, at least by the cheeks. Slips an arm with each of you and walks over to the professor. Greeting him brightly.
The run through took longer than you thought but also expected. Taking your phone look at the time and the sun. You missed a call from Gou. Quite a few times, one from Rei and Nagisa. There was a strange text from Rin that read: Surprise! Surprise! over and over again. Which you didn't know why. So, you didn't think much of it. Moving on see blown up texts from Asahi. He even called, leaving message. There was one from Ikyua, he left a message.
That one you listened to. He was inviting you to come to Maron for a get together, if you had the time. Asahi you could hear in the back shouting and calling you: Mrs. Shiina. Making you groan, though you did laugh hearing Hiyori in the back correcting him by saying Mrs. Kirishima instead. Just to get a rise from Asahi. Which it did work. Ikuya tells you to ignore that and ends with hoping you'll be able to make it.
Ending the message, continue going through everything else you missed. There was the same message from Rin, again. This time it had a picture attached to it, he was wearing a black baseball cap and black shirt. It look like he was standing in an...airport? Maybe. Or it could somewhere else. Going through, you find a voicemail from Momo, from Aiichiro's phone.
You listen to it, to pull your ear away as Momo's voice blares on the other end. That you couldn't make out what he was saying or Aiichiro. Leave it alone, Momo ruined it. The last one you found was from Mako, telling you about with Haru and something of a race.
With all the messages and texts looked at, you again check the time. There was really no way you'd be able to meet them now, it was rather late, taking out your phone you send them a text.
From his pocket Sosuke's phone vibrates, he takes it out seeing the text from May. Opens it. His eyes skim it. A bit disheartened, but knew there was nothing he could do and puts his phone back away. He had a feeling this would happen, it was good thing he didn't stay there for too long. If he wasn't able to meet you today then maybe...he takes out his phone and sends you a message. In seconds he got a response.
Slipping your phone back into your bag, bid Riku and Yuna bye, head off to the train station. Reading the map, pick the correct train and broad. Finding a seat take it, just as you did, back at your place some was at your door knocking. Over and over again.
Calling for you. They heard nothing, they knock again, when another person's door opens. A neighbor from across the hall, a elderly woman. Behind her thick glasses she finds a young man with semi-long maroon hair, covered by a black baseball cap. Wearing a black t-shirt and pants. Carrying a bag.
Adjusting her glasses she addresses him. "Excuse me, young man, can I help you?"
He turns to her. "Oh, um," he rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. "sorry I didn't meant to disturb you, but," the thumbs back to the door. "this is May O'Neil's place, right?"
"Yes," she nods. To the young man's relief he smiles showing shark-like teeth. That quickly dropped after what she said. "but she's not here right now. She's been gone since this morning."
"Oh." He said to the side. "Do you know when she'll be back?"
The woman shook her head. "I'm sorry young man, but, I'm not sure. May's either in for hours or she's gone for hours. Poor girl, she's under so much pressure, I hope she went to the doctor's for her wrist. Are you one of her friends participating in the exhibit?"
What? They where surprised to hear that, answer the women's question. "Um, no. I'm not."
"Oh, well, then I'm not sure what to tell you. You can try again to tomorrow." She tells him.
"Yeah, um, thank you." He thanks her and leaves, though glances back at the door for a moment. Before walking down.
You step off the train reaching your stop, leave the station make your way to where you needed to go. The sun was almost done setting. So you picked up the pace, thank goodness you chose to wear tennis shoes this time, though wearing a jean skirt wasn't the best idea. Running down the street, make a quick and sharp left. Just a few more blocks and you'd make it. Nearly there, feel your phone vibrate, knowing who it was, you were almost there.
Just up ahead, enter the grounds, race right across. Reaching the aquatic area on campus. You weren't going to be late, racing up the stairs to the stands, come bursting in, spot Mako.
Get ready to call to him, when you noticed the deepen shock on his face, that and the other person. A girl with short and a very familiar red hair color covering her gasping mouth. She had the same look at Mako, but a much deeper level. You saw her body visibly shaking. Walking over, your heart clenched feeling the heaviness of the atmosphere. Walk to Mako's side, follow his eyes in the direction he was looking, gasp yourself at the sight before you...
"Haru..."