Author's Note: Yeeesss, The Shadowed Artist is back in black!... pauses for a moment, then slaps self. What am I thinking?! That long break must have gotten to me... but I mustn't stop now, cuz the next few chapters are as sweet as pumpkin pie! (I hope)
To the Reviewers:
Jeffery Mewtamer- You really think so? That makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Sorry for the month long delays... so many things at once...
Midori726- Nuuuu! Don't go insane, it isn't good for you! (sometimes...). Thank you so much... Shpeal? (sweet word!)
YukiShinoya444- Baaya is a very scary nanny but she does her job well. YadaxShiori is quite interesting as well, it's just you wouldn't have as much to work off of (less episodes). Maybe I will take the challenge someday! (but not for a while). I was also confused at first on whether or not Yada liked her back, but I eventually found some very solid pieces of subtle evidence (more fodder for my story actually...). Hmmm, you said that first comment like you have a LOT of people that bug you about your liking for FujioxHazuki. Don't take crap from them, it's your fave and you stick with it!
Hazuki-Masaru- You'll just have to see now won't you? wink, wink These next chapters I hope will be satisfying, because I did a WHOLE lot of thought revision on them. When will the next chapter of your story be coming out?
OjamajofanXD- Thank you! I think I'm going to cry... all these nice comments sniffle. And I am in love with metaphors, they are littered everywhere in how I write.
ShiroNekoNeko- Thanks for the review! HazukixYada has been so much fun for me to write!
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A soft moan vibrated beneath the layered blankets and the owner shifted. Squeaky tweets clanged around in his ears and even though his ears were already uncomfortably clogged, Masaru still couldn't relax with any noise hanging over his head.
"Stupid birds..." The quiet boy mumbled as he forced himself to look into the sunlight. It was so strong, even for a perfectly bright and cheerful day. Why was it so blinding?
Yada shielded his eyes and peered out the tall glass pane. Grass, birds in the trees, that damned sun, and a glowing bush... a glowing bush?! Totally disregarding his own health, Yada dragged himself out of bed and pressed his palms against the window, homing in on the odd shrubbery.
A flash of brown poked through the leaves for a split second, accompanied by a pointed hat. It paused for a moment before diving back into the underbrush. The light had scared away the annoying birds, but Yada had something new to worry about.
A thief? Classmate maybe... weird... He raised an eyebrow and stared at it warily as he settled himself back into bed.
I wish.
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"That was close... too close." Masaru had almost seen her in her witch form! What a precarious situation that would have turned out to be...
Exhaling in relief, Hazuki stealthily sidled up to the nearest tree and transformed back into her regular form. Ready for what was to come, Hazuki strapped on a look of fierce determination and peeked around the tree to see if the coast was clear. The streets appeared to be empty, so assured of her safety, Hazuki began crutch-walking her way to entrance of the Yada residence.
Hazuki took this moment to examine her surroundings. Her eyes wandered aimlessly until she found the real entrance. Unfortunately, she had transported inside the gate.
"I suppose I'll just have to lie and say the gate was open." The witch frowned at the thought of lying again, but from her delicate situation, that kind of conduct was deemed necessary.
Crutches, feet. Crutches, feet. Hazuki was already starting to feel worn but she pressed on up the stairs. Preparing a proper greeting, the brunette pushed the doorbell and gulped, praying that her lies would fool whomever was home. Just the thought was already racking her mind with guilt.
A half-minute passed before the door opened to reveal a young, ebony-haired woman. Confused at how this small girl with crutches could have possibly gotten through the gate, she narrowed her eyes in suspicion before realizing just who she was.
"Fujiwara-san, what brings you here?"
Hazuki sucked in a breath quietly before replying, "Well.. I heard that Masaru-kun was sick.. a-and since I'm still not allowed to go to school yet.. I asked my parents if I could visit for a little while... if that's all right with you, Yada-san!"
Yada's mother pursed her lips and bent down to make sure Fujiwara was stable on her crutches. Her parents just lether leave to go visit an obscure classmate when she hadn't even fully recovered yet?! The young step-mother was at war with herself. On one hand, Hazuki's story was rather difficult to believe, but it wasn't like she knew the ojo-sama's parents very well anyway.
If Fujiwara-san was eager enough to come and her parents gave their consent... then I guess It's alright.. but...
"Well... I don't know..."
Hazuki was desperate by this time. She was the one responsible for Masaru's condition and she had already come all this way to make up for it! If Yada's mother didn't believe her excuse, then her plan would shatter like glass, her dignity with it. The brunette's eyes groveled at the older woman, silently pleading for her to accept.
Though the step-mothers rational side kept telling her that Fujiwara shouldn't be here, the deep look of sadness on the sixth-grader's face kept persuading her to think otherwise.
"Masaru, I'm so proud of you! My little hero," the black-haired woman praised of her son as she set a bowl ramen on the night stand. She beamed at the sick boy, but when he didn't return the gesture, the step-mother started to become a bit concerned.
"What's wrong honey?"
He remained silent and continued to stare blankly out the bedside window. His eyes were cold and entranced, like that of someone who had recently passed away from this world. A tingling shiver passed through her shoulders.
"Masa-"
"Mom, what's a star?"
The young woman paused at his interruption, not really understanding the extreme seriousness that burned beneath his green eyes. Stars were the astronomic lights that twinkled in the sky at night, right? Everyone knew that...
"Their balls of gas in the universe that we can only see at night. You know that Masaru..." Her son... was he feeling alright? Maybe that cold was getting to his head...
"Oh."
Mrs. Yada was sure her heart had stopped beating when she couldn't comprehend the flash of morbid sadness that had plagued her son's expression. Even if it was only for a second.
"Err... alright Fujiwara-san, come on inside. I'll make some tea."
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"Thirty... six... Momo-chaaan!" Doremi whined to her friend, receiving yet another extremely dismal grade on her latest math quiz.
The American didn't reply, as she was busy scribbling something down in her notebook, taking a glance at Yada's empty chair every other sentence.
"Momo-chaaan... what do I dooooo!" Doremi face-planted onto the desk, muffled whimpers of 'slashed allowance' and 'unluckiest pretty girl in the world' being absorbed hopelessly into the cheap wood. Well... ONE person heard them.
"Failed again Dojimi? I didn't think it was possible for someone to be so dumb AND clumsy at the same time, but seeing you every day, I guess we're all used to it," Kotake taunted, casually leaning an elbow on her desk.
The pink ojamajo didn't answer, glaring viciously at Tetsuya from behind her arms. He returned the favor with a wide, teasing grin. However, his squinting eyes slid sideways to rest on an overly excited Momoko. Man, are Americans superhuman or something... her arms gonna fall off if she keeps writing at that rate...
"Asuka-san, why the heck are you writing so fast? English class hasn't even started yet."
Doremi paused in her glare of death to lean sideways and peer over Momoko's shoulder. The only thing she saw on the crinkled paper were oodles of jumbled scribbles, even including several crudely drawn pictures of a ponytailed girl with enormous glasses and a boy with lines for eyes. Some sort of hallway was skidding down the middle, crooked arrows pointing to random things. Doremi's jaw dropped.
"Uuhh... Momo-chan? What.. are... you doing?" The blondes buzzing hand halted with abrupt jerk. The impact was so sudden, the pencil flew out of her hand and stabbed Kotake in the eye, causing him to yelp in pain and slap a hand over the injury.
"Ah! Ooo... Kotake-kun I'm so sorry, are you okay?!" Momoko snapped out of her scheming state, arms stretching towards him apologetically.
The soccer player hissed and gritted his teeth as the penetrated iris started to water, sizzling from the salty liquid. She really got him good...
"Kotake, are you alright?" Doremi's cherry-lilted voice registered in his ears. But, unfortunately for Kotake, who knew the soft foreign hand that curled over his wouldn't register quite so well.
"Let me see." Kotake became rigid as Doremi gently pulled his hand away and leaned forward to get a closer look. His heart accelerated and he remained frozen while her face screwed up in concentration at the injury.
Did she have to be so close?! He swallowed a lump of growing saliva and blinked. Tha-thump, tha-thump... It felt like she was taking an eternity!.. Just sitting there... studying him with that concerned twinkle in her eye... so cute...
THA-THUMP, THA-THUMP! Kotake was positive his chest was about to burst before the pink-haired girl rocked backwards, smiling at him cheerfully.
"I think it'll be fine if you just wash it out with some water." She rolled around this concept a few times, tapping her cheek. "Unless erasers cause infections... or there's a such thing as eye splinters..." She stared at the ceiling, curiously contemplating these new possibilities.
Pounding heart still recovering, Kotake couldn't bring himself to insult her stupid ideas so he instead attempted to find a way to hide the crimson color that had started to bloom upon his cheeks. His free hand shot up into the air.
Seki-sensei (luckily) had been completely oblivious to the events unfolding in the back of the classroom until now. "Yes Kotake-kun?"
"C-could I go to the b-bathroom?" he quickly sputtered. Sheesh, one little touch and he had already been reduced to a blubbering idiot! He was becoming like... errr... how should he say it... Onpu's more dedicated fanboys.
"Go ahead. Just make sure-" Kotake zipped out the door at mach five before the teacher could finish her sentence. The class stared at the open door awkwardly, before shrugging it off as nothing.
"-you.. come back."
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"You must be chilly Fujiwara-san. Why don't you go take a seat on the sofa?" Mrs. Yada directed as she ushered the girl inside.
Hazuki was anxious to visit Masaru right away, but she felt that it would be rude to deny his mother's hospitable offer, though her spine stiffened at the woman's increasingly firm push on her back.
"Yes a little." Hazuki maneuvered away from the strange touch and settled herself onto the green leather sofa. "You have a very lovely house," she commented with a polite smile.
The step-mom's forearm flinched before it lowered back down. "Thank you..." She said monotonously before disappearing into the kitchen. Hazuki managed to pick out a hint of Masaru in her tone of voice and shifted closer to her crutches in response.
... Could something have happened? She's so withdrawn.. her head up in the clouds. Masaru-kun doesn't have something serious like pneumonia, does he?!
Looking both ways like she was casually crossing the street, the orange witch grabbed her crutches and quietly stood up. Having visited maybe a few times when she was in kindergarden, Hazuki racked her brain for what Yada's room looked like until finally the image of an ivy green door shoved to the front.
"I hope he didn't repaint..." She spoke to herself right as her gaze landed on the exact same picture, except it was the real thing. Clutching her only current possession over her heart, she heard the distinct clank of a tea kettle on a boiler and deducted with relief that his mother was busy with her own matters.
The paranoid ojamajo reached for the doorknob and turned it in slow motion.
What do I tell him? What...
It clicked.
"Masaru-kun?"
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Splash. Kotake whipped back his wet bangs, letting the cool water douse the fire raging on his cheeks. He closed his eyes and sighed as the pounding reverberation died down in his chest as well.
His blinds opened to lock stares with a teasing navy haired soccer-player. While his boyish face usually embodied that of a carefree young man with a smile engraved on his lips, right now they were childishly agape in a tiny semi-circle. The gears in his head were cranking for once.
God, what happened back there? I've never lost my cool like that before. Never.
He yanked down his lower lid and hunched over the sink to get a better look at where Asuka had poked him.
"It's all red."
Like her ginormous odango. Though not quite as cute.
A tear bubbled up from exposure and he blinked and leaned back again, shaking his head.
Doremi... so clumsy and stupid...
"Sweet and funny.. beautiful..." he breathed into the stale air, running a hand through his hair.
"An average guy like me could never compare. Never."
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"I wonder why Kotake rushed out so fast. Your pencil wasn't that pointy, was it?" Doremi said to Momoko, arms folded over the desk.
"Either that or he had to go really, really, badly." Momoko bent over to retrieve her pencil and turned back to her current 'project'.
"What is that your drawing anyway? Sorry to burst your bubble Momo-chan, but it won't win you any art contests."
"Oh, just a little floor plan I'm making."
"Making for what?"
"You'll see. It's a.. surprise for everyone," the blonde explained with a universal gesture to the whole room.
Doremi's eyes widened in excitement. "Really?! Are you gonna throw a party or something?"
"... yeah.. something like that."
"Is it for Hazuki-chan?"
"Sort of..."
"This is so cool!!" The clumsy witch exclaimed, not even bothering to look for the real meaning beneath Momoko's words.
Seki-sensei tore her eyes away from the desk, automatically zoning in on the owner of the outburst. "Harukaze, quiet! I'd rather you keep your personal matters for OUTSIDE school," she reprimanded, causing Doremi to shrink down into her seat in fear.
"Yes ma'am.." she squeaked.
Not quite satisfied with her own description, Momoko glanced at her rudimentary drawing once and over to her cowering friend. She sighed with a hint of hesitation before leaning closer so they wouldn't be heard again.
"Um.. Doremi-chan.. do you want to know what I'm really planning?"
The pink ojamajo gave her a tiny nod, afraid that the teacher might yell at her again.
"Really planning? Is it bad?"
"Far from it." She huddled closer like one does when they have a juicy secret to gush about. "Well-"
Whoosh! The door burst open with a violent clack, cutting off Momoko's discloser of her master plan.
"HANA-CHAN MISSED DOREMI AND MOMO!!!!" A blonde girl with pigtails screamed, bumbling toward the two girls in question. Consequently, the surprises were only beginning.
"Oh my god!"
"Hana-chan!!"
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"Waaaahhh!!" Yada squawked, instinctively hugging the sheets to his body. His face grew even more pallid then it already was and he breathed out shakily when he laid his eyes upon the last person he expected to see.
"Fujiwara, what are you doing here?!" He instantly felt shamefaced at how unfriendly that had sounded, and immediately tried to correct himself. "I mean.. um.. so suddenly..." His tongue wrapped into a tight knot which seemed to become tighter with every word he managed to spout out.
Hazuki giggled shyly. "Yeah.. I thought I should drop by for a visit.. since your sick and all.." Aware she sounded utterly idiotic, Fujiwara changed the subject without speaking by swinging over to the desk and pulling out the wheeled chair. Practically dropping her crutches in an unwanted 'Doremi moment', she settled for leaning them against the wall and primly ensconcing herself onto the seat.
How? Like magic... The quiet boy didn't ask questions, but could only stare. Stare at the illusion that was somehow reality; a reality he wasn't sure he was ready to believe.
"Fujiwara your ankle.. are you sure it's okay? Because I didn't expect.." Masaru was rambling, unusual since he wasn't one to waste words. His true feelings about her miraculous appearance were so difficult to say... that he could only stall to keep on thinking. Thinking back.
He was babbling. And Masaru-kun always knows what to say. But I suppose that's only my take on him. He really did understand how she felt and was her greatest source of advice in tough times.
Yada's skin resembled that of a spectral nightmare, but she wheeled closer instead of shrinking back in fear, as she would with any real ghost. His chatter had dissipated as he laid back against the propped pillows almost like that of a still portrait. Hazuki tenderly looked him over with her hand raised. He was silent with his lips pressed into a pensive line and a solemn, almost longing gaze that trained on her ominously. It reminded her of something... someone else and her heart lurched with sadness. Mrs. Yada.
"Masaru-kun?" she said, breaking the silence,"Is something.. wrong with your mother? She seemed a little distant when I talked to her." Taking things slowly seemed like the best thing to do; her true target was the green-eyed boy.
"Mom?" he repeated, his mouth running dry. She had been acting perfectly normal last he checked... did Fujiwara know something he wasn't aware of? She must suspicious at the very least. But since when were Fujiwara's suspicions ever directed at someone she didn't understand very well? Then.. that meant...
"Fujiwara I'm sorry, but..." He curled and stretched back out and pulled up the covers with a slight nervousness, "are you talking about me?" He pounded strait to the point.
Nailed already. The spotlight shined upon the bespectacled girl and she swallowed down her probing lead-ins. Masaru-kun really did know every nook and cranny of her tactics, right down to her worry-wart nature. It really was one of her more annoying traits. She never really spoke out about her feelings.. it was just so difficult. Her thoughts and feelings were a trivial matter that others shouldn't be bothered with.. as long as their happy...
As long he is happy in my presence.
"Because if your worried about me.. I-I'm fine.. perfectly fine." He confirmed falsely when he saw the brunette go into a discouraged silence.
There he goes again, failing to speak his mind! We're so similar like that.. but someone has to make the first leap sooner or later.
"You say so Masaru-kun.. but then why do you sound so dead on the inside? Why?.." She said with a crooked smile. The box sandwiched between her skirt and palm gave a small pop as she clutched her thigh.
It was strange how deep his conversations with Fujiwara always turned out. The connection was so strong, nothing they ever did had completely severed it. And for some reason... this he could never figure out... he wasn't afraid to tell her anything. That's right, the lone wolf had a number one confident.
He sniffled and scrunched up his nose. There where so many things to tell her, to ask her.
She'll understand.
"Does our class hate me?"
"Mmmmh?!" Hazuki's head snapped up in surprise. "Why would you think that?!"
He shot her an incredulous look. "How else would you know I was sick? You've obviously been at home ever since the field trip, so who other then your friends would tell you?" Yada diverted his focus away from her to the card she had set on his desk. Hazuki followed the invisible trail to her gift as well.
"Masaru-kun..."
"Your popular and nice to everyone, so its to be expected that they would visit in your absence," he explained with a icy edge. "I'm not important." He finished bluntly.
Fujiwara's breath froze halfway through its exit. This day was just chock-full of surprises wasn't it?
Lonely? But Masaru-kun.. the Masaru-kun I know never cared about what others thought of him. But maybe that's an illusion I never bothered to look past.. maybe I don't understand him.
Maybe I'm not worthy.
Hazuki wasn't sure how to answer his cruel self-opinion. There must have been something he did that would prove the classes appreciation... Masaru deserved it for the world!
It clicked.
"Yada-kun he's a very sensitive boy."
"Don't say things like that!! Masaru-kun its truly amazing, how many things you've done for us!" The brunette spouted with energetic pride. Yada leaned back into the window in reaction to her sudden change of personality.
Both hand's folded into fists, and Hazuki's eyes alit with a determined gleam. "Remember the time Miyamoto-kun was running for president against Tamaki? She offered free homework, cookies, and even less school days, but you were one of the few who didn't fall for it! You knew that Miyamoto-kun was tired of being number two and deserved to be president because he cared about the class! He doesn't hate you at all, I mean.. how could he?"
Her descriptions were only coming back to his mind in fuzzy bits and pieces. That was the third grade... "H-how can you remember that.. it was so long ago.." He mumbled in denial.
It was all so simple! The examples just kept coming. "And not too long ago, when Miyamae-kun was building an airplane, you helped all the boys... and us.. protect his secret! And you were so brave, tackling the vice principal so he could take off! It was his dream and you played a part in fulfilling it!" She continued in excitement, her expression growing more radiant with every ranting word.
Fujiwara was so excited.. and how could she recall all these things he hadn't even thought of? The events and emotions flooded into his being with the warmth of a summer stream. Fujiwara knew so much about him!.. Doki-Doki..
Her face is kinda.. blinding. Fujiwara's only human.. so how is she glowing so brightly? I don't understand...
The witch gasped, out of breath and sighed as she remembered one last thing, "Shiori-chan.. she thinks very highly of you. You visited her in the hospital.. kept her company... I think.. I think that in itself merits you a title above that of a hero." Hazuki's eyes dimmed as she ducked down to watch her twiddling thumbs.
"A-and.." she stumbled, willing herself to finish, "I could never hate you Masaru-kun... you did save me after all.." her lips half-whispered.
My secret dream. The one I never told him.
Doki-Doki. Yada tilted forward as his pale face tingled and flushed darker and darker, till he was just past the point of pale rose. His stormy mind cleared and dissipated and the true isolation became apparent.
I missed Fujiwara bad... more then anyone else...
"You watch me. All the time," he concluded.
"Well.. your important to me. O-one of my best friends." Hazuki looked up and beamed at the green-haired boy.
A friend...
Fujiwara was so sweet to him. She knew his emotions like the back of her hand.
Beautiful...
"Hn." And with that he beamed right back at her with mirror image accuracy. Masaru's flesh bloomed, lighting with color and health as he sneezed with good-humor.
"Ah! Are you okay?" The brunette reached out with her left hand, though she was immediately reassured by a second smile. Her right limb rested numbly back on the box and a pinprick stung her, reminding the witch that it was still in her possession.
She glanced down at the precious gift tenderly. It had been meant for her... special for her.. but it didn't feel right to keep it. He heart was repeatedly telling her...
... he deserves it more then I ever will.
"Masaru-kun?" The boy nodded and his smile shrank, face paling to a dirty pink. "This is rightfully yours." She held out her arm, the box appraised on her palm like it was a pedestal.
"What?.." He gently plucked it from her fingers but didn't open it, instead letting it rest in his cupped hands.
Weirdly enough, Hazuki couldn't find any more words to say. She drew her arm back almost unwillingly and caught a glance of the ticking clock. It read 7:00...
"7 o'clock!!! Mother will be worried sick!" She yelped, snatching her crutches with almost ungodly speed. The ojamajo vaulted out of her chair and winced at her injury's awkward angle, three-legged racing to the door. But as she was about to vanish through the other side, she looked over her shoulder.
"Sayonara Masaru-kun."
And then she was gone.
Like magic...
Masaru lingered on the door for a moment in dumbfounded surprise, before turning back to examine Fujiwara's gift. Sliding his large hand to the lid-top, he carefully lifted it off.
A.. necklace? It has wings... the orange star...
He lifted it out by the charm without thought and held apart the strings over his head. It dropped, melding to his chest as one.
Beautiful...
Masaru suddenly felt extremely tired as if he hadn't slept in days. His eye-lids drooped and his shoulders sagged, yet... there were too many mysteries to solve. So.. he sang the only song he knew.. a lullaby.
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder... who.. you are..."
Masaru snuggled under the covers. Complete silence had finally been granted.
Mrs. Yada smiled at her sleeping son as she flicked the light switch, a cup of steaming tea warm in her hand.