"Fine Line"
"I just have to get back on the right road to progress."
Chapter 14: Progress
~***~
I was feeling much better, since Ootori, who had a time slot at the café as well, offered me a very delicious cup of chocolate mocha that he made himself. The drink had perked me up instantly.
I had changed back into the clothes I was wearing before the race- Shiraishi was so kind to have gotten them for me and left it there at the café for when I woke up. I should probably thank him later….and also ask for confirmation on Rinko's words.
In all honesty, I would rather take a break, after that vigorous race, which completely left me sore, even though it has only been like 2 hours or so since its end. That just shows how unfit I am. I still can't believe I actually won though…
My mouth turned down into a small frown, when I thought about my…prize paper….in my pocket. I suppose it is a good prize….for any other girls that is. Not so good for me though…I don't even enjoy social gatherings….ironically enough, I'm at one right now.
But my heart still fluttered around in my chest as I trailed after Marui. I might dislike things that has to do with many people gathering together, but at least we're going to something which I absolutely love now.
Art.
Perhaps you can say art was the cause I was such a turtle? Or perhaps not. I don't know how many countless times I have been told by my parents that I needed to get out of my room more, rather than sitting in front of the desk, the canvas, or the computer with my art programs on.
But I just love it. I could recreate anything I ever wished, redesign the whole world into my own fashion. A place where I can escape to, whenever the real world put me down.
I hummed blissfully, noticing a slight jump in my footsteps now.
"You're happy."
"Hm?" I tilted my head to the side at Marui.
"You're humming….and skipping. Signs of definite happiness." To emphasize his point, he waved his index finger around, as if trying to draw a sun and a flower in the air.
I stopped humming, and my perky footsteps stopped. "I…guess so." Retarded must be how I looked when I was doing that…
"Well, you look better when you're happier." Marui said absent-mindedly, eyes rolling upwards in thought.
"Eh?" A small blush painted my cheeks.
"You always, always, aaalways have this frown on your face, and you're always so...scared of people somehow!" The man fumed at me, eyes narrowing into a small glare. "Remember back during your birthday? You gave me the cold shoulder!"
I bristled. "I did not!"
"You so did."
"I didn't! I just…didn't feel like talking!" I countered lamely.
"Exactly my point!" He flailed his arm around.
"Hmph." I ignored him, and threw my head to the side, not wanting to look at him anymore.
"You can't fool a genius like me~" Pop.
The nerve of this man…Wait till I cause us to lose on purpose at the art contest!!
~***~
We're at the art contest venue now. It was being held in this really large hall, which they usually use for balls.
My heart was fluttering, and I was absolutely filled with joy. Because I should be finally able to get to do something I love! It should be worth all the pain I came here for!
But note the 'was' and 'should'.
"How….is this….a….art contest?" My words came out in sharp, and low breaths; I sounded like a bear pierced by an arrow.
Pop. "I dunnoe…I just signed up for it cause it sounded like fun in the pamphlet they handed to us back at the club." Marui spoke from beside me.
"Who…arranged this event?" I'm going to kill whoever arranged it- or at least try….since I doubt my measly hands could do anything against even a kitten.
"Hmm…if I remember correctly, it should be someone from Club Sacred…" He trailed off as he tried to remember who.
I blanched. It can't possibly be Shiraishi, or Kajimoto, or Kenya?!
Marui suddenly looked up, and his eyes widened in realization. "Ah! There he is!" He pointed off to the distance, where a man was talking to a few ladies joining the contest.
He had soft brown hair and a really pleasant smile on his face…
"Fuji Syuusuke!" Marui waved him down. "Over here!"
I stiffened and stared at Marui in horror. How could he call the guy I was just loathing over?! It's going to be so awkwa-
"Ah! H-hello…" I stammered. My eyes! He's just too beautiful to look at!!
Fuji smiled at me, and bowed, before kissing my hand as usual of hosts. "Pleased to meet you, Ishimaru-san. I heard about you from Shiraishi and Kajimoto."
Wow…am I that popular at Club Sacred? That's new…Usually I just flit from everyone's memories the very next day…or hour at worst….
I sighed internally. It was hard. Too hard to dislike this Fuji Syuusuke person, because he was just so sweet; ever smiling, and ever graceful.
Which is why I did not understand how such an event could have been conjured from him mind!!
Why, oh why, cant there just be one event that is normal and that I can enjoy?
Fuji's head perked up, and he nodded to someone off in the distance that I couldn't pick out. He faced me and Marui again, with that never fading smile. "It seems the contest will begin soon. I hope you two will enjoy participating in it~" He gave a quick bow and made his way off to wherever he had to go.
Marui threw his hands up into the air, and I just could not understand where he got his energy. I was completely drained.
"Yea! We're going to win this like the Empedocles!! Especially with you on the team!!" He gave me a soft slap to my back.
"Ow…" I rubbed the spot where he hit me, although it wasn't really hard. He was starting to act more like a buddy towards me than a female-buttering-gracious host.
Fuji's voice lulled through the speakers located around the room, and it was so song sweet and angelic, that I momentarily forgot about the soon to ensue contest.
"Saa~ as you all already know about the contest rules and regulations, there isn't much else for me to say. You have 1 hour and 15 minutes to come up with your piece. You may begin~"
Marui's arms instantly shot out and grabbed our supplies. In the corner of my eye, I could see Jirou and Rinko already beginning their 'masterpiece.' "What should we do, you think?" Marui asked me, and I found it much too cheerful at the moment. I just could not lift my spirits. Why is it that I'm always in such a bad mood anyway? And why is it that even if I know it, I cant seem to pull myself out of the moody pit?
But I didn't want to ruin anyone's fun, nor Marui's.
"Umm…Well, we have some really bright colors here…how about we make one of a pair of geese's?" I suggested, suddenly feeling stupid for making it when he stared at me blankly.
"Geese?"
"Yea…we can put like some circle framing around, since a circle continues on forever, and geese pairs are believed by the Chinese to represent a wonderful couple…and circle also represents your name…and then we can have maybe some red strings looping around—" I suddenly got nervous with his stare, and started rambling non-stop. I felt even sillier after making that statement about his name but I couldn't go back on what I said so I kept rambling.
Amused laughter came from him and my ramblings were cut short. "Okay, okay! Geese's. I don't need a whole thesis on it!"
I broke out a smile on my face, although they were twitching slightly.
But anyways---
How are we supposed to make a whole picture from colored rice?!!
~***~
Hmph.
My nonexistent pride was wounded. We didn't win. Another pair did.
We didn't even come in second.
Marui seemed to notice my foul mood (fouler would be more precise), and gave me an amused smile. "Hey…cheer up! We did win the Empedocles!"
"We lost the art contest….I lost an art contest…" My voice was hollow, mechanically, and I stared off into the space in front of him. I'm akin to a mechanical zombie.
My nonexistent pride in my skills….dashed.
Oh wait….I never did have skills.
"Oi, oi. If you're starting to doubt yourself, don't! Because you do have the skills!" Marui jumped in front of me, and shook me by the shoulder.
"But we lost…."
"I thought you didn't like contests?!"
"But it was an art contest…."
"It was a weird art contest."
"But we lost…."
"It's not everyday you make pictures out of rice! You specialize in canvas and paint!"
I stopped moving and sighed, looking up at his ever cheerful face. Maybe I'm overreacting…
Then it occurred to me how….different, he seemed now. When I first met him, he was this charming host which just sends my mind flying and my heart racing (like how all the others do to me too…), which results in me crawling back into my shell to recuperate, to hide…from…
I don't know what I'm hiding from.
I'm just so…afraid I'd make a fool of myself, and people will hate me….
If I'm apathetic to them, they won't hate me, right? They'd just ignore me, but they won't hate me. And I won't be a fool.
But…these guys…Akutagawa, Atobe, Niou, Kajimoto….Shiraishi…..Marui….they were…
I gulped. They were hosts.
Men specialized in these things: making women and girls… feel special, wanted.
Even I realize that, no matter how dim I am when it comes to socializing.
I allowed a small grin appear on my face. "Thank you…Marui-san."
But it's just so hard to see them as one, after all this- short as it may be.
They felt almost like they were my friends.
"You're welcomed. That's what's friends are for!" That so often and frequently occurring smile of his flashed onto his face, but it never gets old and it feels new every time.
My breath caught in my throat as he released me, and continued forward. But he stopped and turned around when he noticed I wasn't following.
"You coming?"
For the first time ever, he didn't need to drag me anywhere, and I didn't have a heavy feeling in my heart as I trailed after his back.
~***~
"Haaa? Hime-sama Douchu?" I asked incredulously to no one in particular, as I glanced through the timetable Marui had handed me. Seems like the hosts actually held a few copies of the timetable and map in their pockets in case someone –like me for example- didn't have one and got lost. Why didn't he give it to me earlier anyway?!
He blew a bubble, popping it before taking a sip of his strawberry shake. How can he mix bubblegum and milkshakes like that?! ….then again, this is Marui, who managed to mix gum and wine….
"I don't have a kimono though…" I muttered off to the side. I'm too poor to get one. I could had anytime drew money out from my bank account but I'm not going to waste my future funds for something so trivial….and I wasn't going to ask mum and dad for one either; they're too busy to bother with something like that- so I had never got one. Although usually every girl in Japan would have a kimono, no matter how cheap it is. I just never saw the use in me having one, since I avoided social gatherings and stuffs most of the time. And my mum didn't hand any down to me either….
Marui raised an eyebrow and looked at me strangely. "You don't have one?"
I shook my head no.
"Weird. I never met a girl who never had one before."
"You have now…"
Finishing off the drink he got from one of the various lavishly decorated stands, he threw it into a garbage can nearby. I noticed for sometime now, that many girls and women- sometimes they were in groups- had a host or two bringing them about, or following them to whatever they wanted to do.
I was wondering if it was part of their agenda for the festival, to accompany the guests. Sneaking a peek at Marui, I wondered the same thing about him. It's strange, for someone, a male especially, to hang around me so much. I was usually like some anti-male spray. My heart felt strangely heavy, when I thought that Marui may just be around me right now because its part of his duties. Then again, I won't be surprised if he was. I wasn't much of an entertainment for him to actually stick around willingly. Most would prefer to be around Aya, Asuka or Rinko….and Yura even.
And that's what confused me even more.
I was so used to people choosing my friends over me now, that usually I just don't care.
But I just felt so, so sad, thinking Marui was just with me cause of his duty….
I jolted out of my thoughts, when Marui waved a hand in front of my face. "Hey, anyone in there?" He asked jokingly.
"H-huh?"
"You were just staring at me like that, it was so creepy!" He imitated my blank and serious look which I didn't realize I was doing. "I thought I had something on my face!"
"S-sorry…"
Marui paused for a moment, before throwing me a small smile, although a small bit of frustration shone through his eyes. "You don't have to keep apologizing, you know. There's nothing for you to be sorry for."
"Sor-"
"Gah!" He plugged a finger into his ears. "Stop! Don't say it!"
"So-"
"Ugh!" He feigned pain.
I bit my lip, to keep myself from saying the word he so dreaded. And my shoulders shook with silent laughter.
The supposedly in pain man peeked an eye open at me, then saw that I wasn't going to say that word. He straightened and fanned himself, exaggerating relief. "Phew. For a moment there, I thought I was going to have to choke on my gum."
"S-"
"Don't say it!"
I bit down on my finger this time. Marui sighed, and his shoulders and head drooped down.
He suddenly narrowed his eyes at me, and I panicked. Did I accidentally say the word without realizing it?
"Let's go get you a kimono!"
"Eh? Where are you going to get a kimono here?" There isn't any stands which sells kimonos….right? I would faint if there were…
"The people running the Himesama Douchu should have some in stock. They usually have backups in case guests forget theirs. But they also run out of fast. So we should go get one for you early, before they're all gone! You wouldn't want to sit out of it would you?" He grinned.
"Actually, I don't mind if I sat ou-H-hey!!" I was pulled forward by my arm. He didn't let me finish again. Sheesh. And I thought Aya and Asuka was bad.
As we arrived to wherever the event runners were (I wasn't paying attention…the palace grounds distracted me), a thought occurred to me. "Um…Marui-san?"
"Yea?" He glanced over his shoulders.
"What exactly is the Himesama Douchu like?" I asked, and he smirked.
"I don't know~" He sang.
I frowned."Yes, you do!"
"Of course I do! I'm a genius!"
"You're contradicting yourself!"
He stopped suddenly in his tracks, and I nearly ran into his back.
He smiled down at me. "Why don't you wait till tonight to find out?"
And that was the only option I had.
Hime-sama Douchu. Well, you all know what hime and sama is, but douchu means voyage =]
Ehhhh! School begins tomorrow!! NoOOOOooooO!!!!! There might be a shortage of updates then D: Maybe not in the first week of school though, since homework will be light….hopefully. Sniff.
And I'm feeling inspired to write another Marui story…all because of that stupid yet delicious manga I read.
Hmph.
But a Sasori story spoiled me too. (Anyone saw how much ALIKE Sasori and Marui are? XwX the only other love of my life other than Marui is Sasori~!)
So now I'm stuck, on whether I should make it a Marui based or Sasori based….but I have so much Marui stories now….but Sasori is hard to write….hmm maybe I should make it both? Kufufufu~
Thanks for reviewing again guys!! I love you all who do!! …And those who read too of course, but I don't know who you are so-!! ....yea.
Juunin- XD The action will probably die down for a bit, but don't think Kumiko's life will be that easy, especially since I'm her God!! Things will be back to haunt her…xD
Elusivemelody- haha you should study for exams! XD Or you'll feel guilty everytime you see something about Marui! Well, I was trying to surprise people with the Shiraishi bit, so I guess I did my job XD
LadyLadington- *eyes wagging finger* Well, you wont say that anymore if I release a new hot steamy Marui story because of that manga!! It was shoujo though…hm…I never liked Shoujo but the plot was sorta interesting so I picked it up lol And then I got addicted to the amazingly hot-looking character inside so….*doomed to addiction* I have sinned! I read shoujo!! DX And whether its too early for jealousy from Marui….maybe~ But that kiss will not just sit back you know! It'll be back to haunt her…at some point later on in her life~ Cause I'm evil to her x_X
SapphireBreeze16- LOL neither xD sorry I made the art contest bit so short! But I didn't want to bore you guys with long paragraphs of how she captured the lighting etc etc X_X
PhoenixRage92- lool got you off about Shiraishi then xD This delicious manga….has made me broke my code of honor!!! So I hate it. But the male character in there was so-so-so hot x_x And hence, I got distracted. But now, I'm inspired by it to write a Marui story, or a Sasori story, or maybe both, because of it XD Yep, school starts tomorrow D: sniiifff. I only got a 2 month summer T_T