*Setsuna here, I think I failed to mention also that all the titles of chapters to this story also are bits and pieces from the song Lion. Now we are getting into Teto and Ruko interaction.
I'd like to go ahead and thank everyone who has read and reviewed thus far. I developed a few fans, which I'm grateful for. A special thanks goes to the Ruko that is letting me know they enjoy this story and your friends, too, and looky, I'm finally updating... :-)
Lion
Teto Kasane and Ruko Yokune
by: Setsuna Revolution
Chapter 2: Alluring Water
Her new house was simplistic, a trait that she had been told attracted less unwanted attention. As rather famous singers, the group had their share of fans, admirers, and the occasional paparazzi with blinding cameras waiting outside the house. Though the numbers decreased drastically after big sister Meiko's last scary outburst, they still came in small droves to see the residents of said house.
This, thankfully, was not one of those nights. Teto was very grateful for this; she had heard the crazy stories her brother told of times when he had visited and nearly "lost his life," as he exaggerated. She was sure she would have no problems with taking care of the rabid fans, but she was simply too tired and it was late. Not terribly late, for the sun had just gone down, but it was still late enough for someone who was supposed to be home three hours ago with groceries.
She didn't realize how long she had spent talking with the enticing girl, with the beautiful voice. It wasn't until the groceries became long forgotten, her poor bread long since dried and inedible, that she hesitantly took her leave.
xXxXxXxXx
The house was eerily quiet upon her entrance. She decided against calling out to tell someone she was home; not sure herself how many people she was willing to meet in one day; and as hushed and peaceful as it was, at least someone had the decency to turn on a few lights for her arrival.
After disposing of the heavy paper bags, mostly full of now soiled items that deserved to be refrigerated long before, the girl sought out her room. No easy task it was, and the strangest part: she was sure sure could hear moaning. She thought about how it would really suck if the new house was haunted.
Thankfully in the comfort of her bare room, the sounds faded away completely and she found herself peaceful and relaxed. She had made up her bed to her liking and deposited herself heavily upon the plush and welcoming surface. Dozing off would not be hard in the now quiet house, the only sounds that could be heard were the random noises of the house and nocturnal creatures to lull her into a dream-like state.
Sleep sounded like a wonderful idea to Teto, but one dilemma still wracked her brain, keeping her wide-awake. She really wanted to see Ruko again. After spending a only a few hours talking with the strange, but fascinating girl, Teto found herself not anticipating leaving the rundown station.
She knew she shouldn't have started a conversation with her. Her brother had warned her about talking to strangers, not that she really listened to him anyway. To the young Teto, it was like taking a sip of alluring water, once she had tasted it, she couldn't be satisfied with just one delicious drop.
xXxXxXxXx
The lives seeking redemption were drawn to one another.
Truth be told, the constant connection of eye contact made Ruko very nervous. She wanted to break it, if not for her uneasy feeling, but to at least say a proper hello. She blinked twice, pulling the courage to do so from deep within her, and at last broke contact with the shorter girl's piercing crimson eyes.
"H-hi," Ruko said, in almost a whisper, her voice coming out roughly, still slightly hoarse from her song. She shook her head, breaking their eye contact at long last. She mentally berated herself, that hadn't come out very well.
Teto, as if it were her first time hearing a human's voice, finally snapped back to attention, but didn't respond. Teto suspiciously eyed the full paper bags in her hands, as if they were the problem. Now that their eyes no longer were connected, she felt plain awkward, like she just got caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing.
Ruko, still fazed by the unusualness of the situation, knelt down and began to collect the loose coins, her share of the winnings for the day, scattered at her feet. The consistent clinking of metal gave her a brief sense of relaxation.
"Sorry...," she heard, her attention snapping back to the other girl. The younger girl was doing her best to explain herself. Her words were pronounced rapidly and her hands worked twice as fast to keep up, as if they could help Ruko understand better. "I-I didn't mean to stare, r-really. It's just that your voice is...well, it's beautiful."
They both became flustered. Teto mentally chastised herself; she couldn't believe how stupid she sounded, or why she was even talking to a complete stranger in the first place. Ruko's two-toned eyes stayed focused on a spot near the ground at the other girl's feet.
"Anyway," Teto said after a few minutes of silence, "I just thought that you should know that you were great and since you're not one for conversation, I think I'll be leaving." She turned to walk away, giving the girl a final, apologizing glance. "Goodbye then."
"Wait!" Ruko said almost immediately. Teto, very much surprised, turned to the girl. She stood only a few feet away now with a pleading look on her face, and she held something very familiar in her hands. Upon closer inspection, Teto noticed that it was the bread she had wrapped up. It had fallen out of the bag when she tried to explain herself.
"Here, you dropped this," Ruko smiled, as she held out the bread to Teto. Teto reciprocated the smile as she reached out to grab the wrapped object. As if on cue, a low rumbling noise could be heard coming from the vicinity of Ruko's stomach, causing the tall girl to become increasingly more embarrassed.
"Would you like some?" Teto asked with a slight chuckle. Ruko, thoroughly embarrassed, retreated to the stony pillar that she recently found comfortable. She planted herself down on the ground, pulling her dirty cloak tighter against her body, as if to protect herself. She kept her head down, her expression filled eyes covered by a thick blanket of disheveled, raven locks.
Teto watched the form fall back. After setting all but one of the pesky groceries aside, she silently followed the girl. She propped herself against the cool stone wall beside the handsome singer. She set out at her task of dividing the bread into halves, hers being purposely smaller. After handing the larger half to the raven-haired girl, she felt it a proper time for introductions.
"My name is Teto, by the way," the girl said between nibbles, "Kasane Teto, what's yours?"
Ruko watched the girl take another bite of bread before turning to her, and once again she blushed when their eyes carefully met. She opened her mouth to speak, but lost her speech when the crimson-haired girl gave her a smile that she swore knocked the breath out of her. She stuttered out a few syllables and sounds while Teto gave her an odd look.
"Ruko," she simply stated, after swallowing her anxiety. "I'm Ruko."
xXxXxXxXx
Teto grinned in remembrance of her eventful day. After they introduced themselves, they spent time eating and talking about the origins of Ruko's song, the weather, Teto's brother, to the fact of both of them moving into town. It actually wasn't until Ruko mentioned that it was getting late and her housemates would begin to worry, that Teto finally took her leave.
Sure, most of groceries were unusable and now spoiled, but that didn't stop her from having the feeling that she just accomplished something far greater than a few rotting fruits.
She cuddled into the warm and soft blankets and pillows covering her bed. The night was only getting colder and she couldn't help but wonder if Ruko was keeping warm where she was. Her grin drew wider at the thought of Ruko lying under the sea of stars, quietly humming herself into a peaceful sleep. Teto wasn't sure why, but she knew that first thing, when she woke up, she wanted to go see the fascinating girl again.
She was almost asleep when what sounded oddly similar to something breaking, something like glass or some other fragile object, followed immediately by a string of profanities, were heard behind her closed door. Teto ignored the noise, burying her face into her pillows further.
Still unsure of the whereabouts of her new house, haunted or not, she finally dosed off. Maybe this town wouldn't be so bad after all. She just had to take Ted's advice and give it a chance. Tomorrow was a new day; one she looked forward to with renewed expectations and the prescience of a new friend.
A/N: Sorry for the wait again. These small moments of writer's block tend to last longer than I hope. On another note: Happy late birthday, Teto!
Mentions here: Of course Teto loves French bread, it is her character item. Also, can't you just imagine Meiko being that scary big sis who frightens everyone, but is still loving and the best big sis ever. Well enjoy, there is a whole lot more coming.
The moaning and the glass shattering may have seemed out of place to anyone who hasn't read Love, Lust and Music Notes, yet. For those of you that have, this chapter of Lion concludes that day-the same one where Miku and Rin share quality time and Haku and Neru...well you know.
During the next chapters, numerous references will be made that hint at this night so if you want to know what happened afterwards to the other characters, it's coming, but do keep in mind this story is about Teto and Ruko, not the others, but they all will play important parts and have little moments. Keep with me, till next time...