Arigato for reviews... This came faster than i've expected, but since its up, so... here it is! Pls continue reviewing, arigato!!!!
Chapter 4: Glass Shatters of Memories
"You know." Lyserg began as he and Yoh made their way to the headmaster's room. "I am still thinking about the drawing we saw yesterday."
"What's so important about it? It's only a drawing and we now know Horohoro can draw. Though I must say that drawing was very pretty…"
"Yoh!" Lyserg exclaimed as he stopped on his tracks and held Yoh's shoulders to prevent him from moving. "I know that drawing meant something very dear to him; I also think you knew about that picture, and just pretended that you actually saw something unfamiliar. You know I was observing you; that's why you pretended to be so excited and let us see that page!" Taking a deep breath when his friend remained voiceless and gave no response, he continued. "I know something happened before I came to this school. I mean, although I do not know what that particular incident was; I am not stupid. You call Usui 'Horohoro', but I don't think you two were even close enough for you to call him by his nickname. Then you were grabbing his collar in the classroom… I mean… we're best friends; please tell me what's wrong…"
"Nothing is wrong, Lyserg. I told you before, Horohoro and I were kindergarten mates, and therefore it's particularly normal for me to call him by his nickname. Nevertheless, we began drifting apart because our interests were different and our perception of things is also not similar. We are still friends, we are just not close. I know you are very nice and love friends, Lyserg, but you cannot force everyone to be close to him just because of your selfishness." Yoh replied, voice quivering a little while pushing Lyserg away and continued walking.
"Yoh, please listen to me. I see sadness in him all the time, even under that exterior that he was faking. Every time he tried to be cold; icy, untouchable and invincible, in his eyes, I see him suffer. I want to help him; to be his friend; to share his troubles; but I also know you and him had some sort of history and because of that you two are not close anymore; I couldn't try to befriend him without being seen as 'betraying' you in some way…"
Yoh stopped now, Lyserg's voice behind him. Lyserg could not see Yoh's face, but he felt the teen in front of him stiffening.
"Then you can go and join him. Join him and leave me alone. He always gets the favours anyways. Everyone just loves him." Yoh muttered after what seemed like eternity. Lyserg was sure Yoh was actually weighing between 'finishing the act' and 'telling the truth' and had opted for the latter. Not that it scared him anyway.
"Yoh, do you understand? I only want you two to be best friends again. Can't you just push away whatever enmity you two had?" Lyserg asked desperately. "You two are deliberately suffocating your friendship!"
"I believe that is none of your business."
"Yoh! Weren't you worried when he appeared like that in blood yesterday? You noticed him before I did and from your tone, I know you are concerned of him. Why would you just not admit that deep down, you still want to be friends with him again?"
"Why must I even try to be his god damn friend again? He own me too many; and I still have to give him favours all the time! What does he think he is; that ungrateful brat? It was just so unfortunate that I have to know him!" Yoh turned back to face Lyserg; eyes welling up in tears. "He took too much from me, Lyserg; why must I still try to rekindle whatever friendship ties we had? He deserves NOTHING and everyone still thinks he deserves something! What about me? Do I not deserve something too? Must I give in to him all the god damn time?!" Kneeling to the ground; Lyserg saw that Yoh's eyes were looking down as the tears continued dripping, the headphone wearing boy clenching his fists tight.
"Yoh…" Lyserg murmured as he ran to Yoh and knelt in front of him. "I saw not only his agony; I also saw your pains and anguish too, despite the cheery and jolly smiles you give me incessantly; I really did. You deserve a lot of things, you understand? I am your friend; please trust me, all right?"
With that, Lyserg hesitantly placed his arms around Yoh and let their cheeks touch. Yoh closed his eyes; the pain floating out as he laid his head on Lyserg's shoulder; relaxing a little; in spite of the sobbing that was happening in the empty alley, Lyserg heard Yoh whispering some words.
"Thank you…"
Ren glanced up; feeling beautiful snow landing upon his face. This marvel of nature really was rare…
So this is snow…
After coming out from the headmaster's room, he had seen some mist building by the window, blurring the view of the outside. Somewhat curious, he pushed the window pane and wind stung his eyes. When he opened his eyes however; the sight was different; it was perpetually breathtaking. The skies had turned white and it looked heavenly, standing proud amongst the nature; as if guarding them. Trees and the ground covered by snow really were magical; melding together to create a scene one can only see through postcards and pictures. He really had not thought he can see this authenticity for himself, hearing about it only through his mother's words. Though his rational mind told him to go straight back to class; he decided against it. After all, he had done some weird things since coming to school…
He stretched out a hand to catch a flake and brought it closer to scrutinize it. The patterns really are symmetrical; equally halved by eight exact sides in a hexagonal shape. This shape was really perfect… It was near transparent; he can see his hand right through it. More and more snow are reaching to the ground now, Ren could see white patches forming amongst the black that was his shoes. He watched silently as he felted his socks absorb the moisture and seep to the skin of his feet. Before long, he sensed the rest of the raining drops covering his body. Dwelling in the white that was winter and putting his hands into his pockets for warmth; he let his now relaxing mind drift…
Flashback
One day before…
"Bocchama! Are you all right?" the concerned visage of Bason popped into the infirmary where Ren was resting. "The school's principal just called me! I heard you fainted! Are you all right? Should I get a doctor here to look at your wounds? Were you hurt badly, Bocchama…"
"Bason, I am just fine. A bruised rib will do no harm to me." Ren muttered. "The nurse has mended me well; my ribs don't hurt now. Why are you even here? You should be at home…"
"Well, I was worried about you… Anyway; I saw two teens coming out from the infirmary just now. Were they your friends?"
"You know I don't make friends."
"You should." Bason pondered as he sat beside Ren. "I believe they're sincere."
"I believe they're freaks." Ren replied matter-of-factly. His butler laughed a little; Ren raised his eyebrow.
"I believe you can oblige with them as your friends. Come on, we are not in China now, please consider. I believe you'll like being friends with them." Bason said gently, patting Ren's head. Ren frowned.
"You really should be home. Leaving the house unattended like this is perilous."
"You are really rushing me, eh? All right, Bocchama, I'll obey your orders. Then I'm going home now. You want to leave now as well?"
"Yoh is helping me to take my bag; I think I'll be back after school."
"See? I told you they are good boys. Then I'll cook you your favourite dish today as celebration for first day at school! Meanwhile, please try to be nice with them; all right?" Bason advised, face light up in hope. Ren gave a sigh; his butler really knows his weaknesses…
"I'll try."
Present time
Ren can't help but force a smile although now the snow seemingly; Bason was right at times. Yoh and Lyserg really are good friends.
Magic really happens at winters…
A girl stood hidden by the pine trees that were the forest reserve near Daidouji High School; her skirt and hair remaining untouched by the wind brought by the snow; she was quietly observing a teenaged Chinese boy standing in the middle of the snow in the school grounds. She grinned a little, seeing the boy smiling at a particular pleasant memory. Looking up, she saw Horohoro's visage from the classroom; peering at the same snowfall and beamed wider, seeing that said teen was not in his gloomy mood.
You and I are really similar, Tao Ren, you know that? I hope you can help Horohoro and yourself in the process. May the season bring miracles...
With that, she skipped gaily back into the forest; footsteps lighter as she gradually disappeared.
"Who?" Ren exclaimed; feeling eyes on himself. Ren tried to focus to the dark forest in front him; sensing the feeling emitting from there. He squinted his eyes but saw nothing; except maybe a twinkle of light. He blinked a little.
Not only are the students weird; even the surrounding's weird…
Ren decided to go back inside for class, in an effort to stop the goose bumps from rising.
Lyserg Diethel was always different than others in many ways; besides having green colour for his hair, he also looked more feminine than any boys his age and misunderstandings that he was a girl or a transsexual had actually happened rather frequently although he does not wear skirts or tie ponytails. He was not only different physically; he was also dissimilar mentally. He matured earlier than peers his age; being able to adapt to surroundings very quickly and has a very keen sense of observation; a trait he tried to keep under wraps as frequently as possible. However, it was not in these only aspects that he was unusual.
He can also make contact with the spiritual world.
When he was a little kid, he could already sense spirits and their presence; although he cannot see them. Incidentally, his parents also met because his father was an exorcist and his mother, a professor studying on paranormal activities. Their interest in this field had brushed off on Lyserg himself; he often had piqued curiousity towards these unnatural incidents and had a large library in his house focused only on this subject. In fact, the reason he came to Tokyo from England was also because his mother was taking a PhD in paranormal happenings and scientific investigation of the spiritual in one of the universities in Japan. It was about six months ago; in these six months; Lyserg had come to a conclusion and a realization (besides brushing up on his smattering of Japanese he learnt from various kinds of Japanese television series that he had watched back in England) that, Usui Horokeu and Asakura Yoh both were very interesting specimens.
He knew the moment he met them; when Yoh had so happily invited him to be his table partner.
A strong gloomy wave was clouding them. Upon surveillance; he also realized that Yoh and Horohoro carry masks. One masquerade to face the world; and the real one within that was stuck in depression and despair. Nevertheless, he had often wanted to tell them one protruding truth.
Their masks are actually useless.
He can see them in pain very well; struggling among seas of troubles and trying to stay floated without being dragged inside and sink.
However, it did not mean that he had the chance to help since Horohoro and Yoh avoid each other at every possible way.
Upon attending this school also, he had often felted a disturbing presence. The dead spirit of a girl was hounding him a lot (she was the wave looming over Yoh and Horohoro in the beginning, since Lyserg cannot see spirits or mood changes, she only wanted him to notice them); apparently she knew he was the son of an exorcist and therefore had some powers of his own and was able to communicate with spirits. He later learnt that she refuses to reincarnate because she cannot let Horohoro and Yoh go and had endured miseries in silence while witnessing them from afar; unable to give clues and points that she wanted them to stop all the guilt-building. Lyserg knew spirits with unfinished business were most sympathetic of all, and he decided to lend a hand, since they had made fast friends and somehow had trusted each other immediately. They struck a deal; the girl will go and reincarnate while Lyserg will take over whatever is needed to help these two teens become their normal selves one day.
Nevertheless, he came to a stumble block, a dead end; that must prolong the girl's suffering and his desperation to help her departure from the mortal world.
While Yoh had accepted him as a friend with ease; Horohoro was not exactly a social animal. He was cold to Lyserg (and everyone else for the matter), although Lyserg tried to be his friend. Yoh was also reluctant of to talk to Horohoro. Hence, he made the girl waited until the day when he will get assistance from someone else who can save Horohoro for her.
His light of hope came the day of the new student's arrival.
Tao Ren was from China; a faraway place like Lyserg, and had landed in Tokyo for a reason known only to himself. Lyserg had sensed tenseness emitting from the teen the moment Ren stepped into class; however, it was interpreted with a smirk. He knew Ren wanted to feel at ease; to adapt; but only made an impression that he was arrogant.
He was another person carrying a facade. Lyserg noticed that he was lonely, like Horohoro and Yoh, and somehow, fate had decided to drop a dice of backing by making Ren sit next to Horohoro and then engaging them in a brawl. Of course, he had his doubts, but it was cleared when he learnt that Horohoro kissed Ren.
He was ideal.
Lyserg; I am convinced now, you really have good eyesight of choosing people! Please do your best, don't let my leaving be my last regret, you understand?
Lyserg felted the girl's voice ringing in his ears as it gradually dissipated and hugged Yoh closer.
I will do my best, don't worry.
"You've awoken."
Horohoro slightly frowned; his eyes shot open immediately to see the white plaster ceiling. Eyes slightly pained by the contrast of colours happening in his head, Horohoro sat up to stare straight into the serious faces of Nemu and Satsu. He frowned deeper and looked at himself. "How did I end up here?"
"You fainted in your class. I, Kaige Satsu, defender of your honour, saw you in your state and carried you here. You worried me and all the other fans of the fan club! Usui-kun, you really should take good care of your health! I can cook chicken stock if you like…"
"Satsu, keep quiet." Nemu hissed. Satsu bit her lip and stopped talking. Horohoro turned to Nemu and raised an eyebrow. The bespectacled girl coughed respectably and scribbled something on her notebook; an object Horohoro have not noticed was there before. "As you know, you fainted in class today. Satsu was passing by on patrol when she saw you in your pathetic state, got worried immediately and rushed you here."
"Therefore that explains all the screeching and screaming I've heard." Horohoro murmured sluggishly. Satsu blushed and covered her cheek somewhat bashfully, giggling as if Horohoro's words were rare honey, somewhat dancing around in happiness. Nemu shot her a look, and Satsu looked down, stopping her crazed fan-girl stupor. Satisfied with the quiet (and scary) environment, she turned back to Horohoro.
"We have prevented the fans from intruding, so you can rest in peace."
"Well, I suppose I should say thank you, is it?"
"You have no choice." Nemu replied matter-of-factly. "You own me."
"People like to talk about owning and all is it?" Horohoro spat, letting his legs fall off the bed, not looking at Nemu at all, but rather at the infirmary door. "You are president of my fan club, you know, and yet you don't speak like one."
"You are even lucky I create a club for you." Nemu replied as spitefully, not looking at Horohoro at her left, instead staring at the window. "All your fans are out of control."
"You can't blame the fact that I'm hot." Horohoro stated; as Satsu looked him with entranced eyes again. Nemu rolled her eyes and stood up to the door.
"They scare my poor sis. It's a shame that she would like you of all people." Nemu muttered before leaving. "Satsu, let's leave now, or you will disturb Horohoro sleeping."
"All right! Usui-kun, I'll guard your door to prevent any intruders, I promise!" Satsu grinned, before blushing again and ran clumsily to the door (you cannot run gently when you do not have a small body, no?) behind Nemu. Horohoro sighed a little at the closed door and sat down to the floor, hands holding his head.
Why are you still so nice to me?
Gomenasai, I really wanted to put Anna in this chapter... but then I found out that I just cant because I need to put Lyserg first, and so... Anyway, things said, please R&R. Arigato...
