A story based on...
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Hana Kimi story by: Hisaya Nakajo
Featured in: Hakusensha's Hana to Yume
This tale by: Hideki Kinomoto
Act III - "Past the Point of No Return"
The night was silent, which was something Mizuki hadn't had the time to notice before. She was usually the first to fall asleep, even when she had things to worry about. But tonight was different for her. She was in a very thoughtful mood at the days events that had just occurred. Ever since she had been found out to be a girl by the Dorm Head's and Sano, it had been one massive stress-fest for her. But for some reason, she felt that was the least of her worries. Maybe she was just nervous to be in the play. While she loved to watch them, she remained entirely uncertain if she was capable of acting in one. With a soft groan, she rolled to her side and allowed her to head slip through the curtains and dangle off the edge of the bunk bed. Slowly, she snuck her hands towards the lower beds curtains to part them a bit and see if Sano had managed to fall asleep. With back facing the curtains, there he laid. Appearing quite sound asleep. Slightly disappointed, she allowed the rest of her body to tumble out of her bunk and land softly on the ground below. However, Sano wasn't quite asleep yet, eyes peering down the wall in front of him. Listening to the sounds of Mizuki buttoning up her jacket and the click of the door as she left.
"Yuujirou...what's wrong with me?" she sighed out, her breath materializing in front of her due to the extreme cold of the night. This late at night, her favorite dog was her best therapist.
Yuujirou simply gave his sympathetic eyes, sensing something was wrong with his Mizuki. Giving a little whimper, he nuzzled at her hand till she began to the pet him again. Using both hands to rub across the top of his head then swoop behind his ears to scratch behind them softly. This was his absolute favorite of rubs, beyond his sweet spot. As Mizuki was kneeling, he had taken to resting his head between her knee's and staring in a satisfied manner up at her.
"I mean, its not that I don't want the role of Christine. I absolutely adore that I'll get to work so closely with Sano. I..." She found time to sigh again, her eyes becoming ever slightly glazed with a teary shine. "I don't even know if it's the play I'm worried about. Maybe I'm just frightened if I do too well everyone will know about me and I'll be taken from him..." That was the pebble that freed the dam. A few tender tears leaving transparent stains down her cheeks as they crawled down them.
However, this time Yuujirou wouldn't do anything. As, seemingly, he'd gotten far to caught up in the ear rubbing that he'd fallen fast asleep. Making with little doggie snores and his paws twitching as though giving chase to something in his dreams. Giving a weak smile, Mizuki removed his head from her knee's and gave him a tender push back into his dog house. Which was now adorned wall-to-wall with blankets to keep him warm. Tucking him in, she decided to simply just walk by herself.
As she walked, silvery flakes of snow began to fall. No more tears had come since she'd left Yuujirou, but they were held behind a very fragile wall. But she was not to be left alone for long. As along the sidewalk, sitting and smoking on a curb, were both Umeda and Hara. Hara having leaned back in a way to peer past Umeda and spot Mizuki.
"Why Mizuki! What in the world are doing walking out so late in this horrid weather?" His speech and face gave away the fact that he was over-whelming intoxicated.
"Mizuki...?" Softly groaned Umeda, turning his head slightly to the side so as get a look at her from his peripheral vision. Even that was enough for him to realize she'd been crying and was holding the rest back. "Sit."
Mizuki's eyes showed a bit of surprise as to how direct and commanding Dr. Umeda was being and out of fear she wasn't about to disobey. After all, he'd always been able to give her the best advice and pick-me-up's when she needed them most. Clearing the distance quickly between the two and taking a seat by Umeda attentively. Taking one more hefty drag from his cigarette, he gave the remainder a lofty flick that sent it flying to the middle of the road and into a slightly frozen puddle where it was quickly extinguished.
"So, what ailment is the source of your woe's tonight?" questioned Hara, apparently quite keen on Mizuki's moods as well. His eyebrows arched happily, his entire face seeming to glow. Whether it was the alcohol or the fact he had his hair pulled from his face with clips, he looked happier than ever. But, wait...
"Hara, are you wearing lipstick?" Slowly, her eyes looked to Dr. Umeda who was wiping residue from his lips with one hand and from his neck with the other. "M-maybe I should just be going!"
"Non-sense..." grumbled Umeda, catching Mizuki before she could think of running off. He, too, was a bit drunk. But it took a lot for him to lose his ability to concentrate. Though it apparently didn't take much for him to fall into Hara's persuasion. "Like Hara said, what's the big deal tonight?"
"Well, I..." As usual, she didn't know just how to start the conversation clearly. Giving them both an apologetic look, she noticed they were staring at her like vulture's to their prey. "It's the play...I'm afraid if I do something wrong everyone will figure me out and...and..." The waterworks were building up again. It was as she was fine with every other word of it, until she got to this one spot and it choked her up beyond imagination.
"And you're afraid they'll take you away from Sano, by sending you back to America?" Finished Dr. Umeda, giving her a single quirked brow from behind his glasses. "Perhaps you should just take this all up with Sano."
"Hokuto doesn't have a bad idea. But I mean, it would be rather silly of you. Parading around as a guy, just to say that to him. What if he turned out like Nakatsu and just go all gay for you?" Like a dunce, he grinned ear to ear. Feeling as though he made a valid point.
"He knows I'm a girl." both Mizuki and Umeda retorted at once. Only, for the case of Umeda, he said "she's" instead of "I'm". Both stared at Hara as though this was common knowledge by now.
"You! You bastard you acted all mysterious like you knew something no one else did and didn't even share with me what you knew! Hmph!" Hara turned his head from both of them and took to pouting quite profusely.
"Ignore him. Anyway, why didn't you just talk to Sano about all this?" the doctor questioned once more, seeming to very much want to know.
"Well...he looked like he was sleeping so well that I..." That sentence wouldn't quite get to be finished, at all.
"You're a moron. Sano cares enough to where you waking him in the middle of the night to talk about something that obviously is making you lose sleep and cry, will not anger him at all." Standing up, a bit wobbly at first, he pulled Mizuki up with him. "Now, back to those dorms and you talk to that man. This instant."
Mizuki simply stared at Dr. Umeda, the pouting Hara, and the shaking cold finger that pointed at the dorms belonging to Dr. Umeda. Some part of his rigid concern always made her smile. Despite his demeanor, he always had a soft spot for Mizuki and her issues and it wasn't one he was good at hiding. Smiling a bit warmly, she pivoted on her heel and ran off the way she came, disappearing into the heavily falling fog of snow. As they had been talking it had begun to snow even heavier.
"Come on Hara, it's a bit too cold out here for my taste..." yawned out Hokuto, shrugging his shoulders up and shoving his hands in his pockets to sort of bundle himself within his jacket and scarf. Though, he didn't wait for Hara to join him, assuming he'd cease his pouting and follow regardless.
It took nearly half an hour for Mizuki to make her way back to the dorms after having run into both Hara and Umeda, but she was finally back home. Shaking a bit, she hugged herself as she walked through the hallways to locate their room. Before she entered the dorm building she had to shake all the snow off of her and went to one of the public restrooms to run her frozen fingers under some warm water. Unlocking their door, she strolled in and turned around to relock the door. However, when she turned back around she ran smack into Sano who had snuck up behind her.
"Sano! You're awake? You scared me half to death..." At first she wasn't nervous, but once their eyes met her heart fluttered wildly. How could she bring any of this up to him?
"Where have you been?" his eyes wandered across her slightly moistened jacket, from the melting snow. Noticing her hands still looked red from being intensely cold. Reaching out, he took her hands into his quickly and held them up to his mouth where he began to warmly breath on them.
"I..." It was really hard for her to concentrate on the matter at hand with him holding her hands so close to his lips. "I couldn't sleep so I decided to go for a walk. Thats all!" Behind the blush that had spread across her face, she managed out half a smile.
"I would have gone with you if you'd have woken me." He could tell something was wrong. He wasn't speaking to her in an angry tone. More one that he hoped would allow her to open up to him. Softly, he placed a kiss to one of her slightly frozen fingers, then another...
"You...you...we're..." Her eyes were now staring at her fingers, watching his lips touch each finger, followed by his warm breath. This was becoming more difficult by the moment. "You were sleeping so soundly that I couldn't bring myself to wake you...after all, why should you have to suffer for me not being able to rest, right?" Gulping, she realized she had begun to ramble.
"Suffer? For all you know maybe I could have solved your problems and you wouldn't be frozen now..." He knew just what he was doing. After one particular kiss, he slipped the tip of her finger between his lips and gave it a playful nibble. Taking a step closer to her, he stared deeply into her eyes.
"Problem..." she gasped out. Her heart was about to beat out of her chest, she could barely keep herself from lunging at him and kissing him deeply. "I...never said I had a problem. I just...couldn't sleep is all..." And she would continue to refute there was a problem, as if she'd ever been able to hide anything from Sano.
"I already know what's wrong. As cute as you look hiding things from me..." He had to call her out on that fact, ending the thought short and instead grinning. His hands slid from hers and trailed her falling arms till her hips were in his grasp. Closing the distance between them, he had captivated her to the point their eyes never left each others gaze. Softly he spoke, now. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promised I would protect you, no matter what."
"Sano..." her voice was full of longing. He was telling her everything she wanted to hear and more. It didn't matter to her how he would protect her secret if how she sang gave away her gender, she was just happy to hear anything from him. It was as though her subconscious followed him like a baby duckling, mocking his soft speech. "I love you, Sano..."
Being a man more of actions than words, he wasn't about to let things go without them kissing. It wasn't a secret at all that he loved her too. It was extremely rare that they shared any moment like this, much less verbalized their emotions to each other. With one hand to her hip and another just beneath her chin, tipping her head softly so he could kiss her deeply, he soon found himself wrapped within her arms. It wasn't one of the tender, soft, momentary kisses they had shared before. Near hungry for each others affections, they kissed passionately. A meeting not only of lips, but tongues. Embracing each behind their lips with each long kiss, with each deep suckle. They both found themselves lost within one another. Both hearts beating quickly, hands seeking to force each other closer. Sano's hand left her chin and instead cradled the side of her face in his palm, his thumb trailing her jaw line and fingertips teasing a few strands of her hair. Mizuki's arms had found their way up his shoulders, a hand slipping to the back of his head and taking firm grasp of his hair. Pushing him closer into the kiss, wanting to feel his hair between her fingers.
Neither sought and end to this, but it eventually had to. Slowly, Sano pulled away, suckling at her bottom lip momentarily. Both of them opened their eyes quite slowly, as though expecting one or the other to have disappeared in the small few moments that brought the close to their kiss. Both found themselves elated they were still very much in front of one another. Resting her head on his chest, she nuzzled so blissfully. After placing a soft kiss to the top of her head he gently rested his chin atop it.
"How about we get some rest? No class tomorrow, but after dinner we have our first real meeting regarding the play." He hadn't wanted to interrupt their tender moment, but they really did need to get to bed.
"Mmhmm..." was all she managed to moan out. She was far too happy and tired at the moment to manifest coherent speech.
Guiding them both towards his bunk, Mizuki removed her shoe's and coat before snuggling up in bed with Sano. Tossing the covers over both of them and hugging close, Mizuki soon found herself lost in a world of dreams. He remained awake a bit longer, just staring at her sleeping.
"I love you, too..." he whispered to her, brushing some hair from her face before he allowed himself to fall back into the graces of sleep.
Morning came perhaps a bit too early for the two. But that didn't keep them from sleeping in a bit! They did happen to miss breakfast so that was the cause for much distress with Nakatsu. Looking across the table at the missing Sano and Mizuki, a clever gap in the seating. It was an absence which he could not tolerate! Kayashima had recently arrived and taken a seat by Nakatsu but he had yet to notice his presence.
"Pink today? Or is red? Maybe purple...you should really just choose an aura color already, its getting annoying to watch." Kayashima spoke up, taking a bite of his breakfast with his chopsticks.
"Gah! Kayashima...when did you get here?" exclaimed Nakatsu, looking left and right as though the man had just materialized out of no where.
"While you were brooding over the absence of Sano and Mizuki I took time to slip in and scare you. I'm sure they're just sleeping in since there aren't any classes today." He always had a calm way of handling and dissecting each situation, and for Kayashima, Nakatsu's situations always had a quick and easy answer.
"Pfft! I'm not worried about them." he growled back, shoving his mouth full of food. "Ok, so may be I was just a little. But you're here now, so least I'm not eating by myself..." Food was flying out of his mouth as usual, he was never a man of manners and he wouldn't lie and say he ever was.
"Sekime and Noe have been here since you got here, you weren't even alone to begin with." Interjected Kayashima.
Both Kayashima and Nakatsu looked over at Sekime and Noe, who had taken to looking at them with little rivers of tears coming out of their eyes and snot glistening from their nostrils. Both chewed on their chopsticks in a fit of nervousness that soon shook off as their expressions turned to glares at Nakatsu.
"Ignoring us like that! You should consider yourself lucky we're even still your friends!" Grumbled Sekime, his glasses shining with a daring menace and a little Noe behind him shaking his head adamantly.
"I swear, you two are the biggest babies in the world. If Nanba-sempai were here, he totally wouldn't put up with you two bringing such shame to Dorm two." interrupted Nakao, having his usual pompous air about him. Apparently he'd been there the whole time too.
"Nakao..." started Noe, giving him a little glare. "I've been reading this manga lately about this kid with a notebook that can kill just by writing peoples names in the book! But you have to have their face in your mind too. I'd totally start with you...fairy-boy."
"Go back to your little fantasy world, Noe. You know, the one thats full of no girls and no dates and life eternal in your parents basement." snarled an irritated Nakao, who had snapped his chopsticks in two from that "fairy-boy" comment.
Among the fray of anger and flying food between Nakao, Noe, and Sekime. Kayashima and Nakatsu had managed to sneak off. Deciding to both go and check up on Sano and Mizuki. Nakatsu hadn't left the food fight without getting something on him that Kayashima pointed out, so he just decided he'd eat it. Using his age old excuse of "Why waste perfectly good food!?". After a bit, they arrived outside of Sano and Mizuki's room. Nakatsu gave Kayashima a look, patiently waiting for him to read the aura's coming out of the room. Giving Nakatsu a nod, he decided to take a few steps back just incase he was wrong.
"Good morning, you two!" shouted Nakatsu, following up with several knocks. "No class doesn't mean you can sleep in the entire day, thats just lazy!"
"Guuf mlornin'..." managed Sano, as he was the one to answer the door. He had his toothbrush in his mouth, scrubbing away and didn't bother to take it out of his mouth to greet the two.
"Hey guys!" piped in Mizuki, peeking her head out from the bathroom. She had just finished brushing her teeth and had her hair pinned up to wash her face, so she looked just a bit more feminine that usual, especially via Nakatsu Vision.
Sano let both of them in and took to the bathroom to spit and rinse his toothbrush out. After he dried his mouth he turned to exit the room but met with a grinning Mizuki who made a kissy-face at him. Finding it hard not to grin at her, he looked at the doorway and noted that no one could see and they both stole a little good morning peck from each other before Sano continued back into the study.
"Be glad you guys really weren't there this morning though." Started Kayashima. "Sekime, Noe, and Nakao started a food fight over some manga or something. The whole cafeteria wound up getting caught up in it. The irony being Nakao started the argument over not wanting shame to be brought to Dorm two."
"Geeze, that Nakao..." sighed Mizuki, coming into the room fully ready for the day now in a nice little hoodie and pants combination. Looking and feeling quite relaxed.
"So, what do you guys wanna do till the play's meeting this evening? I was thinking maybe we could go catch a movie. Noe's been telling me about this anime they got in theaters right now that sounds pretty cool." Nakatsu seemed to want to change the conversation to something not involving Nakao's antics.
"Oh! I think I remember him talking to me about that too. Some half-human half-dog demon in the Japanese feudal era, right? It actually did sound pretty nifty..." added Mizuki, looking pretty excited.
"That Noe, a literal ball of knowledge when it comes to anime and manga. Would be nice of him to have that same fire towards school. Each time we get a test back his aura goes deep black." Kayashima faintly smirked, sipping at his can of chilled green tea.
"If everyone else wants to go, I don't see why not. It is a free day, after all." Sano had been busy locating his knee length pea coat out of his mess of hoodies and winter gear. Slipping it on, he began buttoning it up, watching as everyone else stood up if they weren't already.
"Think we should ask Nanba and the others to come too?" A bit absent mindedly asked, but she couldn't help but feel it rude if she didn't put it out there.
Everyone just sort of stared at Mizuki, as if maybe she was joking. Going and seeing a movie with Nanba had been a school wide joke for a long time. Apparently the last people to include him in a movie outing came back annoyed so badly they locked themselves in their rooms for a week. Nanba wasn't one to keep his opinion of movies to himself, even during the movie. Yes, he was one of those types of movie watchers. The ones who don't shut up and critique every piece of the movie as its thrown at him. It was this they had to remind Mizuki of, which left her slouching her shoulders and feeling stupid for forgetting as they all marched out of the room.
After a little stop at the soda machine, they made their leave of the school to go to the theater. Along the way they talked about all sorts of things in preparation for the meeting. They all even learned that Kayashima had decided to take the role of Buquet simply so he could enjoy sitting in on the meetings and being pulled from classes for rehearsals and such. Of course, it was Nakatsu who knew they should stop by a convenience store and get goodies.
"Seriously, never buy theater foods. That crap will eat your allowance whole! If you lose your ticket there's no going to get a new one because all your money is gone on a box of gummies or something!" he exclaimed as they entered the store.
"Wonder if this place has those little gummi things with fruit gel in them..." mumbled Mizuki, eyeing the candies with delight and wonder. "Hey Sano! They have...wait..." blankly she blinked at him, realizing something.
"Yeah...no sweets for me." He was nearly pale looking at all the candies surrounding him. The package of triple milk-chocolate dipped milk chocolate bars caught his eye the most and made him extremely nauseated thinking about chocolate dipped in even more chocolate...
After several moments in the shop, Mizuki strolled out with nothing but fruits and absolutely no candy. She really wanted to make sure she could share with Sano, who had made it a point to wait outside and sip at his bottle of water. Nakatsu had some of the strangest combinations of sweets that he only whispered to Mizuki so Sano didn't near the barfing point. Kayashima was well aware of the snacks he'd conjured up and chewed happily at his own red licorice. Though it hadn't snowed much the night prior, that which had fallen left only a happy glazing of it on grass and small frozen puddles here and there. Though there was a nasty bone-chilling breeze that made them dash into the theater hastily once they had arrived.
Once they had their tickets and were in the theater, the lay out happened like this. Sano on the outside, followed by Mizuki, Nakatsu, and Kayashima on the inside. Kayashima mentioned he never gets up during movies for the bathroom, Nakatsu claimed he wouldn't have to and just in general wanted to make sure he sat by Mizuki, and Sano and Mizuki simply sat by each other out of habit. Not long after they were arranged the movie started and jaws dropped, gasp echoed around the room, and about half an hour in Mizuki really had to pee. Apologizing, she leapt over Sano and made for the bathroom, though she reached a very odd dilemma.
"I..." her eyes bolted between the bathroom labeled "Men" and the bathroom labeled "Women". "Not a good time to have a problem like this, I really need to go!"
So she sprang at the women's room but the door opened before she got to it. A woman came out and gave her the most peculiar look, then a smile of recognition. She was a bit older a woman, but still had the beauty of someone many years younger than her. Though, that was almost expected of one from the Umeda house.
"Mizuki! So good to see you, I feel like its been ages!" exclaimed Io Nanba, still grinning ear to ear.
"Io! What are you doing at the theater?" Mizuki managed with a smile, despite the pain in her bladder. She could relax, the woman who saw her was someone quite aware of her "special situation".
"I saw Hokuto come in here and I needed to ask him a favor! However, I seem to have lost him and well...figured while I was here, why not freshen myself up?" She smiled, but her eye twitched a bit. She never had much luck in finding Hokuto, nor did she ever "ask" him for favor's. She out-right commanded them! "But dear, I wouldn't go in there. There are other ladies and well, they might freak out if you dashed in there."
"Ah! Good point. I don't mean to be rude but I really need to go in, so please excuse me Io! I hope to see you again soon and tell Rio "Hi!" for me, alright?" Smiling, they parted ways with a wave. She spun the other way and dashed in the men's room.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she rest her back against the door. Thankful that she avoided a situation back there in which the person who came out very easily could have been someone she didn't know. But here she was, the men's room. It smelled awkward and well, very man-ish. Slowly, she tip-toed towards a stall and gave it a little knock, which caused the door to slip open. So she gave it a little push to open all the way for her. And all at once she really wished she hadn't...
"W-WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING!?" she screamed, totally caught off-guard. Reeling from the door, she slammed up against the sink, arm out stretched an pointing at none other than Hokuto Umeda and Akiha Hara.
"Shh! We're...well, I was hiding from Io. Will you get off me you fucking retard!" Flailing, Dr. Umeda was jammed underneath Hara, who was straddling the good doctor.
"Aw, what a waste of a good moment! You certainly weren't complaining a second ago..." Hara had finally released his bite from the side of Umeda's neck and stumbled away from the man, readjusting his shirt which was half off at the moment.
"As I was saying!" snarled Hokuto. "I was hiding from Io and didn't even notice that the other Person-who-must-be-avoided, was following me in the shadows like some sort of fag happy espionage agent. As I hid in the stall I was suddenly pounced and..." Clearing his throat, he buttoned the collar of his jacket once more. It concealed his neck well behind its tight leather exterior. "Anyway, you don't happen to know if that woman has left, do you?"
"I...I think she's gone. I ran into her a second ago before I came in here" Mizuki was still in a flustered panic. Seeing two guys dry humping did nothing for her day. In fact, it might have scarred her for life.
"Very well. The bathroom is yours Mizuki. Hara, leave her be. Then go to hell, you bastard." Leaving in a dramatic fashion that send the long tail of his coat ruffling like a cape, he kicked the door open and disappeared.
"Don't you be so mean my little cinnamon-sugar coated muffin top! Your Hara shall come with you!" Waving goodbye to Mizuki, he pranced out of the bathroom.
Still rather dazed by the horrid scene she witnessed. She took a side step and entered the stall next to the one the two men sprang out of and finally got to take care of her business. It seemed like she'd been gone forever once she returned to the theater and found she was totally lost as to just what was going on in the movie. So the next twenty minutes of her time was consumed with Nakatsu explaining to her about some girl shooting a magic arrow of light at something and kissing the half-demon guy. It all sort of went through one ear and out the other.
Finally after a happy day of movie viewing, snacking, accidentally stumbling upon male-on-male dry humping, and skin-blistering cold, they had arrived back at the dorms. Nakatsu and Kayashima ventured off to track down Noe and rub in the fact that they saw the movie without him. Sano and Mizuki, however, had decided to take the Noe Friendly approach and go tend to Yuujirou. The evening air was quite frigid, so the walk was full of teeth-chattering and shivering. Even Sano, who never used the hood that was attached to his pea coat, had actually flipped it up to protect his ears.
"This day wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for that stupid wind!" huffed Mizuki, her voice muffled as her scarf was tied tight and covered her mouth and nose a bit. Due to having no wish for either to become frost bitten.
"Here..." Sano offered her Yuujirou's leash, which she took in a rather confused manner. While she took the leash, Sano strolled up behind her and opened his jacket, wrapping his arms around her from behind as they walked. So as to not step on the back of her feet, he had to walk with his legs out to the side a bit strangely.
"Are...are you sure we should walk like this?" She wasn't against being this close to him and it certainly was a lot warmer. The temperature suddenly didn't even seem to matter. Then again, it could have been because she was blushing so wildly.
"Would you prefer I let you freeze to death? I'd assume your parents would hate me forever if they found out I was the one who let you become Osaka's biggest icicle..." Sano wasn't much for words, but when they were close enough to where soft speaking was all the was required, he was very open with her.
"Haha!" she couldn't help but laugh at this. Being Osaka's biggest icicle. It was this kind of humor that came from him at random that made Mizuki smile very warmly. It was proof they were close enough that he wasn't afraid to show his sillier of sides to her and her alone. "I bet you're actually used to this kind of weather though. With being from Hokkaido and all."
"You could say so. Its usually a lot colder during the winter months there though, I'm just spoiled by the usual warmer climate of the Kanto region." Due to being taller than her, he had rest his chin once again atop her head, like the previous day. And much the same, each word he spoke wobbled her head.
"I'd like to spend more time in Hokkaido sometime. I really liked it there..." She replied, trying to tip her head up a bit to try and see Sano, a big smile on her face.
"We'll see what we can do about that. As for now, we should probably take Yuujirou back to his house and head for the meeting." Smiling, he noticed Yuujirou was giving him a thankful look. Apparently the poor dog was freezing and had taken to doing nothing but walking and hoping they'd get frozen before he would.
When they arrived, everyone for the most part was already assembled . Tennoji sat up on the stage with Nanba and Himejima. Various girls from Saint Blossom's sat away from the Osaka High guys, giggling and pointing at a few of the guys. Nakatsu and Kayashima had saved two seats in the audience section for Sano and Mizuki, who happily wandered over and thanked them for being so kind. Hibari had taken to the stage and took a seat by Tennoji's fiancé Kana, who had came with her just to see Tennoji. Dr. Umeda sat on stage as well looking rather pissed off as he sat by Hara, apparently he'd just found out he was to be in the play with him. Io was on stage looking happy as ever, though why she was there Mizuki had no clue. Even though Nanba wasn't in the play itself, Nakao had taken a spot like a loyal dog by his masters seat. Looking more like a lion on the hunt, he was glaring at the Saint Blossom's girls with a glare that would coagulate your blood.
"Everyone! Silence please! The first meeting of the our little play's organization shall now commence!" shouted Himejima in a whimsical way. He was obviously very happy to be organizing the little event, it literally showed all over his face. In mere moments, the room was silent. "I'm glad to see you all made it, I'd have hated to hunt you down and beat you black and blue before the first meeting." No one else thought it was funny. "Er, anyway! Ladies, if you will."
As he said this, several girls from the Saint Blossom's side walked over and handed out books to each member of the cast. It was a very thick play book. As Mizuki flipped through it quickly, she realized it was literally the entire play. They weren't going to cut a single corner, and this made her nervous. Everyone began talking amongst themselves about the book, some concerned with its length, others quite happy to just own a copy of the script.
"As you can see, I have scripted out the entirety of the play for each of you. They are unique to your part in the fact that each characters lines that are yours explain to you in great detail the emotion I wish you to portray as you sing or speak each part. This is to help you with self-coaching so you can stand in front of a mirror and act out the parts instead of us having to meet up every day and rehearse. Take for example Sano's book. The cover specifically is titled: "Phantom of the Opera - The Phantom Version." and so on." Nodding, rather happy with himself, a few people clapped at the work he did to organize the book.
"Now girls!" Interrupted Hibari, calling out those who came with her. "You are the extra's for the play, which means you all received a base copy, but your extra roles are bolded. Memorize each bolded area as you all may be inter-changing your roles as extra's throughout the play."
All of the girls exclaimed glee to their headmistress, beaming smiles at her as if she were a queen of sorts. Sekime and Noe had snuck in simply to drool over the girls of Saint Blossom's. Even if Sekime had a girlfriend, he was never one to deny the beauty of a woman. Just no touching. A policy that everyone agreed he'd get in trouble for one day.
"I do have a few confirmations to make with you all!" Clearing his throat, Himejima once more took center stage. "The roles of Madame Giry and Buquet have finally been cast! Madame Giry will be played by our very own Nanba Minami's...sweet dear mummikins!" Grinning like a snake at Nanba, who had turned bright red, the entire room bust out in laughter at this.
"Himejima's, just you wait till I tell everyone about IT." Nanba retorted in a very calm and confident manner.
"T-The part of Buquet..." Himejima continued. Seeming to try his hardest to pretend Nanba hadn't said a thing and that it had effected him none. Though, it obviously had, as he was white as a ghost. "Will be played by 2-C's Taiki Kayashima, as we had discussed might be the case. Let us thank both Io Nanba and Taiki Kayashima for stepping up for these roles! Without them the show could not go on."
The room applauded both of them, which brought both of them to stand and bow quite happy to be of service. The next ten minutes or so was Himejima telling them what he expected of everyone. Which he'd already gone over several times, so very few people listened. Mizuki's stomach had taken to growling and startled those who sat near her. Embarrassing her in the process. Since she and Sano had walked Yuujirou they hadn't gotten food before coming. After some laughter, some questions about various inconsistencies with versions of the scripts, it was time for the meeting to adjourned.
"Before we all disperse for this eve, Akiha Hara would like to make an announcement. So, if you'll all please pay him the attention this marvelous man of men deserves! Akiha Hara, the floor is yours." Bowing dramatically, he cleared the way for Hara.
"As you know, not only will I be acting in the play but I will be photographing. That also involves publicity as it's is one of our goals to reel in customers. Thats right, because this isn't just a play for the school to see. This is a charity benefit and you all are the main attraction!" Grinning, he could tell without even being an aura reader that the room had certain dropped a few degree's in temperature. "So, Ashiya Mizuki, Sano Izumi, and Nakatsu Shuichi. You three are the main characters of this tale of love and tragedy. I'll need the three of you to ready for costume and make up tomorrow afternoon for a little publicity and photo-shooting. I've already gotten permission from the school to steal you away from the day, so don't worry about your classes." Taking a bow, he returned to his seat.
As everyone left, the main players stared at each other. Nakatsu looked at Sano, who looked at Mizuki, who looked at Sano. So really, Sano was getting stared at the most as though he was the ring leader of the trio or something. He distinctly got the feeling they were relying on him for something.
"Its not like we haven't modeled for him before, lets just do what we have to..." he finally said, getting tired of both of them staring him down for answers.
That seemed to be all they needed to hear. Everyone split up for the night but those three. Mizuki and Sano needed food and even though Nakatsu had already eaten, he wanted to go with them. So after a good meal everyone decided to call it a night and venture off to their dorms till school would start bright and early in the morning.
After cleaning up and changing into her pajama's, Mizuki had snagged a pillow and taken to snuggling it while sitting on the floor and eyeing Sano. They were both oddly quiet, especially in comparison to the night that they had previously. Sano was actually sitting in his bed, curtains open so he could see Mizuki and was silently reading over his lines. That was before he realized Mizuki was staring at him.
"What's on your mind tonight?" he asked with a gentle quirk of his brow.
"Its not just a play for the school." Finally, she was able to get straight to what was bothering her. Then again, this wasn't as big a deal as other things had been. "Now I'm just nervous that tons of other people are going to have to see us! We're really going to have to do a good job. And a charity benefit? Thats like high class stuff!"
"It just makes me want to do it more, when I think about it." Started Sano, looking thoughtfully past Mizuki. "I mean, it's a charity. So it must be for a good cause right? The better we are the more money will go to charity."
"I..." for this much she'd have to be speechless. Sano was being really sweet about it all, selfless even. "You're right! We're not just acting to do justice to the play. We're acting to impress lots of people and make money for a good cause!" Now she was grinning happily and took to resting her head on the side of Sano's bed, smiling up at him.
"You really are..." There were silly things he could call her. But he just couldn't do it. She was too pure to ever be thought of as slow on the uptake. It was this purity that made her glow angelically to him. Leaning down, a few inches from her face, he finished. "...very adorable."
This time the two of them kissed in a sweet manner. The passion wasn't gone between them, it was just calmly regulated and a tender moment like that really didn't call for much more. After a bit more talking, Mizuki got up and locked the door, turned the lights off, and bid Sano a good night. Snuggling into her pillow, her mind prepared to depart for a night of sweet dreams. For tomorrow, they would be in full costume modeling once more for Hara...
Here's hoping this chapter of the fanfiction was everything it was anticipated to be! Feel free to comment and let me know my area's of weakness and strength. References to Inu-Yasha and Death Note are exclusive rights to the original creators and their stories. This is a work of fiction. No characters from Hana Kimi are mine. No rights to The Phantom of the Opera are mine. But the idea to mingle both into an art of fanfiction IS mine, mwah-haha. Thank you for your time! Hope you enjoyed!