Author's note – So, I suck at prolonged romantic scenes, so this chapter may have spontaneous bursts of suckage, so be prepared. Writing an entire chapter about their date wasn't really planned, but it turned out was needed for the plot.
Tikigod784 – Once at full strength. If it was once a lifetime, he couldn't have found his limit, could he?
TzuiAssassian – Well, probably it will end, but Lee and Zazie might have more of their story to tell me ; ). You never know, I might get some crazy inspiration for a sequel.
Daughter of ether – Huzzah! I got you to feel emotion about a fictional character! Let there be dancing in the streets and benevolent riots which will be violently put down by the uneducated masses!
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Zazie thrashed about in the grips of a great nightmare. Small whimpering sounds were coming from her throat. No, this was no nightmare. It was to tame for that.
This was a phantasmagoria of horror and suffering.
All of a sudden, someone shook her violently. She opened her eyes, and immediately regretted doing so, as the sun seared into them with a vengeance. After she had gotten used to it somewhat, she peered out cautiously.
"L-Lee?" Lee broke out into a grin of relief.
"Yeah, it's me. What was wrong? You were thrashing and turning about. Was it a nightmare?" Zazie nodded slowly, still wiping tears off her face. Wordlessly she grabbed Lee and buried her face in his chest.
"Lee held her tenderly. Then biting his lip, he asked the question he really would rather not.
"Listen, Zazie. Do you remember any of it?" Zazie shook her head, still trembling like a leaf.
"No. I only know that it's always the same nightmare I've always had." Lee grimaced.
"Always had? For how long?"
"I don't know, maybe since I was six or so." Lee looked at her sadly, and held her even tighter.
Damn. He's been here longer than I thought.
Lee forced himself to cheer up. This was the day for Zazie, about Zazie, and to cheer up Zazie. There was no room for dark thoughts when one had to cheer another up.
"Hey, Zazie, cheer up! After all, today we're spending the entire afternoon together, remember?" Zazie looked up at him and nodded, smiling a little.
"Good. So get dressed, wipe away those tears, and meet me by the world tree at 1. Ok?" Zazie nodded again. Leaning up, she kissed Lee on the cheek, whispering,
"Thanks, Lee." Lee grinned.
"Anytime, beautiful."
Later on…
Lee sat by the world tree, frowning. He had combed almost every inch of the festival grounds during the morning, but there was neither hide nor hair of anything that could possibly help him discover who was behind all this.
Granted, he didn't have the time to search everywhere, but there just wasn't a signature of dark power, other than the world tree, within a ten-mile radius. He just couldn't understand it.
Sighing, he leaned against the tree.
Well, I might as well just wait for Zazie. It's close to one, and there's not a lot I can do when I have no idea where to start.
He didn't have long to wait. About ten minutes later, five minutes before one, Zazie rounded the corner and walked towards the world tree. Lee got up and gave her a quick hug, and then offered her his arm.
"Shall we?"
Zazie's POV
After Lee left, she immediately took a cold shower. She still had the remnants of a headache, but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. It was as though yesterday's headache was a pounding scream of rage, but today's was a silent, brooding shadow.
Banishing the dark whispers from her mind, she went to her closet, wanting to choose a cute outfit for her date with Lee.
…Before she remembered that she was hopeless at such things. She didn't even choose her own outfit for the dance. Mana had helped with that.
In the end, she settled for a knee-length white skirt, a white tank top, a black short sleeved zipper jacket, and the aquamarine necklace Lee had gotten her for Valentine's day. (This was the hardest part of the chapter. I swear. I honestly just suck at knowing what looks good or not.)
Brushing her hair in a hurry, she walked out of the room to get to her date. She paused by the door, and took one of Mana's white purses and slung it over one shoulder, just for effect, and then rushed out.
She arrived at the World tree about five minutes before one, but Lee was already there, wearing what he always did. He got up when he saw her and gave her a quick hug, then offered her his arm.
"Shall we?" Zazie giggled and slipped his arm through his.
"Of course." And off they went.
Lee turned to Zazie as they walked.
"So, where do you want to go first." Zazie put a finger to her lower lip in concentration.
"Hmmm… how about the games section?" Lee grinned. "Your wish is my command."
Once they got there, Zazie gasped in amazement at all the huge, fancy prizes. She had never been there before, well at least not only to have fun.
Lee grinned to see her so happy, her head on a swivel looking at all the prizes. He finally saw her eye catch on one, a gigantic overstuffed teddy bear. He nudged her, saying, "So, how about I win that bear for you?" Zazie looked at him, eyes shining.
"Oh, Lee, would you?" Lee grinned.
"Of course."
They walked over to the booth. It was like a shooting gallery, except the targets had pictures of their prizes on them and were moving around at high speed. Lee paid a dollar for three tries, and picked up his pellet gun. He examined it for a second, turning it over in his hand, and then took aim.
Inhale… Exhale.
DING!"We have a winner!" The shopkeeper yelled. He took down the big bear and gave it to Lee, who handed it to Zazie. Zazie smiled widely and thanked him. Lee grinned.
"Anything else?" Zazie looked around, and pointed to another object.
"That one!"
"OK"
Soon after, they left the games section, Zazie with an armload of toys of all shapes and sizes. Lee was laughing.
"I don't think we left any prizes for the others, do you?" Zazie giggled.
"Nope, I don't think so." They wandered on, eventually ending up in the entertainment section. Lee pointed out something.
"Look, they're doing some sort of play over there, want to watch?" Zazie nodded.
"Sure." They filed into a row near the back and took their seats. It was an adventure comedy play, using both improvisation and film noire type dialogue to elicit the best audience reaction. All in all, it was quite enjoyable.
Or at least Lee thought so, because when they neared the end, they asked for a hero from the audience, and Zazie was singled out. Despite her protestations, she was pulled up onto the stage and given a plastic sword.
A guy in a dragon costume lunged at her, "Ha ha, you shall never defeat me- oomph!" Zazie was so surprised and flustered, she just whacked away at him with her plastic sword until everyone, especially Lee, was bawling with laughter at the sight of the dragon scrambling off on all fours to escape the menace that was Zazie.
When they finally let Zazie off, she frowned at Lee, but he was laughing so hard she couldn't help but get caught up in it.
Later on…
Zazie and Lee were back at the world tree plaza again, with greatly reduced funding and huge smiles plastered on to both of their faces. Lee was still giggling over the fiasco at the play.
Zazie, for her own part, was sighing at their almost kiss while they were riding the love tunnel (which she nearly had to drag Lee on). It was so close, but her headache choose right then to make an encore, rendering her attempt useless.
Sighing again, she glanced at her watch. She snapped up straight.
"Oh, man, it's almost time for me to get ready!" She started stuffing items into her purse, and got up to go. Lee caught her wrist.
"Go? What do you mean?" Zazie sighed.
"My club performs tonight, and I have to get ready. Say," she said, "Do you want to come and watch me perform?" Lee smiled.
"Of course! I didn't know you were in a club, though. What's it called? And where is it?" Zazie glanced at her watch.
"No time for that now, just find Mana, she'll take you there when it's time. Promise you'll be there?" Lee nodded.
"Promise." Zazie smiled, and ran off.
Later on… again…
Lee found Mana and the others near the dorms. "Hey, Mana, I need you to take me to Zazie's club, I want to watch her perform." Mana smiled.
"Sure, Lee." Negi and the others decided they wanted to come to. They walked along, chatting merrily at how their festivals were. Lee glanced off to the side and noticed the sun setting. A thought struck him.
"Hey, Mana, what is the club Zazie's in?" Mana half turned to him, looking surprised.
"You don't know? I mean, come on, you are her boyfriend." Lee shook his head.
"Sorry. But anyway, what is it called." Mana turned back around.
"The Nightmare Circus."
Lee stopped cold. His face paled. Negi stopped too.
"Lee, you look like you've seen a ghost. What's wrong?" Lee swallowed a few times, and then called back up to Mana in a hoarse voice.
"What did you say it was called?" Mana turned completely around this time, concerned.
"The Nightmare circus, why?" Lee swallowed, or at least tried.
"We are in a lot of trouble." Everyone looked at him, confused. He turned on his heel and walked back towards the dorms.
"Come with me."
Zazie's POV…
Zazie was swinging around on her trapeze, making complicated stunts of balance and control look easy, but at the same time, she was scanning the audience, searching for Lee.
Where is he…
Eventually, she bit her lip and turned away from the audience. Later on, she sat in a dark corner of the tent, huddled up, sobbing.
He broke his promise. He never came.
He never came.
Why would he? A new voice said. Startled, she looked around.
"W-who's there?"
No one's there. It's just you, and me. I'm your mind, you see. Now, I'll tell you why your precious Lee didn't come. He doesn't care about you.
"That's not true!"
Oh? Then why did he not come? If he really cared, he would have shown up.
Zazie broke down, weeping.
There, there child, it'll be all right. Just go to sleep, and I'll help you. It'll all be all right, now.
Zazie's sobs grew softer, until finally she gave in and fell asleep. Almost immediately, though, she got up again, and opened her eyes.
They glowed red.
Finally…
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If anyone felt the spine tingle of sudden realization of something really important, you HAVE to tell me, because if I gave it away too early I'll be sad : (.