salut et quoi de neuf (hi and what's new)! i kind of took a break to begin some other fanfics sitting around in my head, and wrote this is two days (yesterday and today). feedback is greatly appreciated because i would like to know if the plot is going well. i might work on getting ch. 5 up in a few days (if i have time). merci, and enjoy Like Snow ch. 4!
disclaimer: full moon wo sagashite and their songs are not mine, but all new songs mitsuki writes are mine
"It's okay if you don't believe in anyone" you whispered
Were the two of us really alike?
And I decided then I would protect you
"Meroko…could you get me more coffee?" Takuto asked groggily, waiting outside of Mitsuki's changing room. Slowly, but surely, he was catching small winks of sleep. Today was the day of her concert, and they had kept her safe during her recording session - but they were clearly exhausted.
"Sure," Meroko said, chugging down the rest of her coffee, then flying off to get more for him. "Ugh, this was not in the job description…" she groaned as the overload of caffeine made her head pound. Unfortunately, when she reached the coffee pot, Ooshige-san was taking her sweet time preparing her coffee. "This keeps getting worse and worse…"
"Takuto? You look sick…maybe you should go home?" Mitsuki asked as she came out of the changing room, interrupting his mini-nap.
His eyes opened, and as his blurry vision cleared, he stared in amazement at her. She was dressed in a white dress - almost a bridal gown - with petite ribbons tied delicately in her cascading blond hair. Someday, when all of this was over, he wanted to see her again like that. He closed his eyes to catch one more second of rest, and then woke up, drowsily floating up from his chair.
"Takuto?" she repeated, worry for him shining in her eyes. Something had been making him and Meroko act a little strange lately, and she had no clue what it was.
"I'm good…" he answered, trying hard to remind himself that his duty was to protect her, and that falling in love with her was not possible. Recently, he had been feeling like they were meant to be together, but pushed the thought aside, worried that he would be putting her in danger.
"Takuto, here's your…coffee," Meroko handed over the warm plastic cup of coffee and slumped into a chair, completely drained of all of her energy.
"Will she be alright?" Mitsuki wondered, watching Meroko snooze peacefully.
Takuto peeked over at Meroko, and decided that she would be better off catching up on sleep than struggling to follow them. "Eh, probably," he shrugged, and went along with Mitsuki to make their way to the stage.
"Okay, Mitsuki, you've got five minutes until you're on stage. Are you ready?" Ooshige-san asked her with excitement as they waited backstage. Takuto was trying his absolute hardest to stay awake and alert, but he could feel the world slowly but surely becoming fuzzy.
"Yep, and I'm sure it will be a great show!" Mitsuki replied with her usual grin. She hoped that somehow Eichi would be watching her concert, and realize that she was singing to him. If he didn't, her trip to America was coming up soon, and she would get another chance to tell him.
"Hey," Takuto interrupted her thoughts suddenly. He was leaning against the wall and seemed like he might pass out at any moment. "Focus out there…and make sure you watch where you're going…"
"Um, yes, I will," she promised, wondering why he would make such a strange request. Then again, the high-heels she was wearing were a bit hard to keep balance on. Ooshige-san looked up in surprise, but then remembered that Mitsuki was probably talking with the Shinigami.
"Oh, Mitsuki," Ooshige-san added, pulling out a note she was given earlier. "Please don't forget to thank everyone at the studio, and be sure to say that your new CD comes out Monday."
She nodded, her attention still on Takuto, who was gradually getting sleepier. His head seemed to be drooping one centimeter every second. She walked over to him and helped him to a chair. Once again, Ooshige-san had no idea what was going on, but ignored it anyways.
"Mitsuki…" he tried to argue weakly, but she put a finger to his lips.
"Shh, you need your rest," she told him gently, and it appeared to him that everything would be fine. Too exhausted to protest, he gave in, and let the sleep take over him. "I wish I knew what was up with them…" Mitsuki said quietly while walking back over to Ooshige-san. If they are so worried about me, why won't they let me help?
"Alright, Mitsuki, you're ready?" Ooshige-san asked one more time.
"Yes…" she answered as she felt the roar of all of her fans pulsing through her.
Why can't I turn them to memories?
You're too far, too near for me to reach
The more I tell myself "I will forget"
The larger you loom in my thoughts
A common rush of energy flowed through her as she stood on stage, only her silhouette visible to the audience. She breathed deeply and felt her pulse racing. The excitement almost made her lose focus, but she remembered Takuto's words. "It's time to do this…"
As soon as Meroko opened her eyes, she knew she was in trouble. "Ah, Mitsuki!" she exclaimed in panic as she popped out of her chair. She looked back and forth, not sure of Mitsuki's location at all.
A member of the stage crew walked by and took a glance at the clock. "Guess I should catch some of Full Moon's performance during my break," he said to himself, instantly telling Meroko that she was onstage.
Knowing that she wouldn't have much time until Mitsuki was truly in danger, Meroko took off as fast as she could, sending a gust of air into the crew worker's face. There was no time to worry about why he suddenly felt a draft in the middle of a hallway with no windows. Even if Takuto was with her, it would take two Shinigami to be a hundred percent sure she would stay alive.
Mitsuki said exactly what Ooshige-san instructed her to, and the crowd couldn't wait to hear her sing. Once the mini thank-you speech was over, the background music began to play, and the familiar feeling in her heart with the hopes of Eichi hearing her music filled her heart. I know he hears me! She thought with excitement as her part of the music to sing was inching closer. The lights were shining brighter, and she took one final deep breath. She began to sing, unafraid of exposing how she felt to the world.
"I feel you in me
I don't know where, but I feel you
The cold comes over me
But you are warming my heart..."
Mitsuki smiled, feeling the energy of the crowd and how much they enjoyed her song so far. She let the pure joy of performing shine in her attitude and continued to sing.
"Why do you have
Such a strong effect on me?
How do you do it so easily?
Someday I'll be
Closer to my dreams
And then you'll see
What you have done for me…"
Everything seemed to be going fine for her performance so far, and Mitsuki decided to move around the stage as she sang. Her skin glowed with the beam of the lights, and she could tell that her fans were having an incredible time. The performance was about to be perfect.
"You have saved me
Even though I can't see you now
I feel the shadow covering me
But the light of you is still shining-"
Suddenly, something went wrong - Mitsuki didn't know what it was, but she knew that it was not good. When she moved to the side, she got her high-heeled shoe stuck in part of her dress - and now she was falling. She felt everything go dark, but for some strange reason, she didn't feel the impact of hitting the hard, cold, concert hall floor.
Why do I love you so much?
Your voice rings (inside me) so much it makes me sad
Just what it was that supported me so much
I realize it now from afar
He knew that she was going to fall. It was inevitable that she would. So carefree and blinded by the high of performing, he found it amusing how she wouldn't watch her step. This whole event was one big television show to him and he was just watching - until he saw her fall. Even though he typically didn't care, he felt the alarm in his heart, and without thinking, flew in to save her.
"Izumi?!" Meroko yelled in amazement. Although she tried as hard as she could to arrive in time, she was still too late. Instead, he saved her - or was he trying to hurt her? "Put her down, now!" she flew over to him, ready to take her by force if she had to.
"Fine, I will…" he replied calmly, gently placing Mitsuki's sixteen-year-old body back on stage. He ignored the surprised whispers of the audience, and watched her peacefully unconscious expression. What in the world? He asked himself, snapping the thought out of his head.
"What were you doing?" Meroko asked suspiciously, kneeling down to Mitsuki.
"The silly girl tripped over her own dress. Don't blame me," he answered, backing away from her. "Besides, why am I doing Takuto's job?" he riddled back in a teasing voice.
"Takuto!" Meroko looked around, worried about where he was. She wanted to search for him, but she was afraid to leave Mitsuki alone with Izumi again.
"Don't worry…" Izumi laughed, entertained by her concern showing plainly on her face. "He's asleep backstage."
Asleep? Meroko was shocked that Takuto would give in to his exhaustion. Then again, she was guilty of it as well.
"Honestly," he continued, coming closer to Meroko, "do you two even know how to do your job correctly?" he hovered about an inch away from her face, and gave her an intense look, wondering if she would see how he felt. Instead, she pushed him away, disgusted at how he was insulting her.
"Mitsuki!" Ooshige-san ran out onto the stage, unsure of what had happened. "Mitsuki?"
"Huh? She's unconscious…but shouldn't she be waking up?" Meroko leaned closer to Mitsuki to sense a heartbeat. She found a pulse, but Mitsuki seemed to be having trouble breathing. Immediately, she turned into a rabbit, so that Ooshige-san could see her. "Ooshige-san! Mitsuki's alive, but she's having trouble breathing. We need to get her to the hospital, now!"
Why do I love you so much?
It's so easy, I just can't answer
Before Mitsuki fell unconscious, she saw one person and knew she was safe. She thought it was maybe Takuto, but it wasn't.
"Just like a guardian angel
Always with me
You mean too much
For me to forget you
My angel in my heart…"
The last part of the song rang throughout her body and as she felt her eyes close, the blurry but definite image of Izumi was in her mind. Worn out and confused, she allowed herself to slip into darkness because she knew she would be safe in his arms for that moment.
"Damn it!" Takuto pounded his fist on the wall outside of Mitsuki's hospital room. "How the hell could I fall asleep?!" he was clearly ticked off, and it made matters even worse that Izumi was the one who saved her. "What does he want anyways?" still furious, he sat down, but decided to save his anger for beating up Izumi.
"No clue," Meroko sat next to him, her attitude quiet and serious. If she had gotten there sooner, they would have been fine. She opened up the Shinigami handbook and was relieved to see that Mitsuki's name was off the list. "But I don't know if we'll be this lucky next time…"
Takuto thought over her words while he let his frustration simmer in the back of his mind. He got up suddenly, startling Meroko and went into Mitsuki's room.
"Takuto, wait for me!" Meroko floated after him, not exactly surprised that he didn't warn her.
Mitsuki was sleeping tranquilly in her hospital bed, her breathing regular now. Fortunately, her throat didn't act up, and all that was left was for her to wake up.
"Takuto…" Meroko whispered in a faint voice, her attention drawn to a light snow that would probably only last a minute. "She told you to get some rest, didn't she?"
He froze, desperately searching his memory for what happened before she went on stage. The image of him being guided to the chair where he rested briefly came back to him, and he kept his eyes on the floor, ashamed. "I shouldn't have listened to her…" he slumped into the chair next to her bed. Please wake up, he wished, placing his hand softly on her's. I don't care whose fault it is - I just want to see your bright face right now…
A calm smile spread across Meroko's lips and she admired the way the snow twinkled when it caught the light. "Even if I've lost, maybe I've won…" she said to herself, her breath causing part of the window to fog up. Some days, it felt like Takuto was in love with her - others, she knew that him and Mitsuki were meant to be together. She only hoped that she would find whom she was meant to be with.
The room was serenely quiet. Still trying to catch up on missed sleep, Meroko and Takuto were snoozing peacefully in her room. Izumi snuck in, careful not to wake them up. Maybe while they were taking their naps he could get his job done. He paused by Meroko, and felt her slow breath on his fingertips as he brushed a strand of her long pink hair away from her face. I guess I do miss watching her sleep…
"Izumi?" a dazed voice asked from behind him. Mitsuki was sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes. "What happened…why are you here?" she scanned the hospital room and found Takuto and Meroko completely asleep. "Takuto-" she was about to yell, frightened about her situation, but Izumi put a hand over her mouth.
He sighed, disappointed that he couldn't continue his plan. "I'm not here for that reason. I guess you still get to live…for now." He took his hand off of her mouth when he noticed the fear disappear from her eyes.
"Why…did you save me?" she asked curiously, rethinking everything she knew about him. Last time I saw or heard of him, I learned that he wants me to die…this doesn't make sense, Mitsuki remembered.
That's right, why did I? Izumi questioned himself, trying to find a reason why he acted without thinking.
hmm...i think i'll start writing here too. this is my random babble, so feel free to skip it. anyways, i'm pleased with how this chapter turned out and i like how it fits in with the song (i actually did that on accident!). désolé if there are any typos or grammar mistakes (with school, you don't get a lot of time to write). a bientôt et au revoir (see you soon and good-bye)!