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 VI - The Hunter and the Hunted.
It was just what he had hoped for, though a bit melodramatic by anyone's standards. No less, within the bushes sat Kagurazaka with a grin spread whimsically across his face. He didn't care just what Sano injured during his jump, he just knew he was injured. That Shin's "performance" was taking its toll on his nemesis. Delighted, he turned back towards the scene. Sano was trudging off to change and Mizuki and Nakatsu eyed him sympathetically before leaving, looking nearly as disheartened as Sano himself. Freeing himself from the tangle of shrubbery, he reached up and plucked a few stray leaves from his hair. With one duty down, it was time to work on his second and final task to ensure this weeks competition was all too easy.
"Hope you remember just what I said little Shin. Because act two is about to begin!" His words ended with a soft cackle to himself, that progressed into a cough. That cough in turn brought birth to a sneeze. "Took him long enough to injure himself! Now I have a I cold..." Sniffling, he finally decided to make his way off of Osaka High's campus. Everything he needed here was complete.
His leave wouldn't go entirely without being noticed. Shin had been almost certain that Kagurazaka would spy on his brothers practice this morning. Once he'd freed himself from cuddling a pillow, he eyed the hotel provided alarm clock for what seemed several moments. After freaking out from being certain he was going to be too late to catch Kagurazaka, he finally threw on some jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and a coat he wore simply because it was just like his brothers. A knee length black pea coat. Then he was off, the door slamming heavily on his way out. Though several seconds later it burst back open as he ran back in with a sneer, smacking his mouth at a taste he didn't like. He'd forgotten to brush his teeth. First thing in the morning, that is always a must. But more importantly, he forgot his shoes!
With teeth brushed and shoes on their proper feet, he had made his way to just where he was now. Eyeing Kagurazaka, deciding just when would be the proper time to stop following him and actually confront him. A biting breeze lavished the right side of his face with a torrent of cold air, causing him to wince his right eye, feeling it dry up a bit. Strands of his unkept hair danced about in the breeze. Each step that grew closer to Kagurazaka brought a quicker pace to his breathing. The cold air conflicted with the warmth and moisture of his breath, causing small clouds to leave his mouth. Suddenly, Kagurazaka stopped.
"You ever gonna catch up, or do you like laying in the background like that?" Asked Kagurazaka, not even turning around to look to Shin. His tone was arrogant, though nothing was new about that.
"..." Sighing, Shin warded off the tingle of embarrassment that prodded at his insides and finally took several larger steps to close the distance between the two. Crossing his arms over his chest, he tried to give a look of utter dominance of the situation. A difficult task standing by someone that looked like a giant compared to him. Having to tilt his head up to even talk to Kagurazaka, to make eye contact. A fierce determination imbedded within. "Was the outcome what you'd hoped for?" His voice was nearly as icy as the wind was today.
"Hah, don't act like you weren't striving for the same thing." Shin's tone hadn't gone overlooked. Kagurazaka wore an expression that said a bit more than his words. He had simply approached Shin with the idea of keeping Sano out of the high jump. Feeling Shin would be protecting his older brother if he did, whether he believed it or not. That was what he told the poor kid. They had begun to walk again, though not in the direction he wanted to go.
"Correction, Kagurazaka. We were striving for the same thing." Shin hadn't sought this to be a long drawn out conversation with his partner in crime. There was reason to his showing up, to seeking him out. "I have a different agenda now, so don't get in my way. Sano is out of the competition, you've got what you wanted. You and I will compete and you will lose." He'd come to a halt, Kagurazaka following suit and giving the smaller Sano an estranged expression. "Leave Sano and Mizuki alone." Pivoting on his heel, he turned about the opposite direction, the tail of the pea coat ruffling loudly in the momentum of the pivot.
"So little Shin does have a heart. Did the guilt really get to you that bad? So bad that you..." A smirk played at his lips and a laugh hung in his throat, trying desperately to free itself. "...think you can possibly defeat me in the competition." The laugh was loose now, head shaking side to side in a manner full of disbelief. "Alright, man. Have it your way! And here I thought it was just your bro that was gay. Sounds like a family epidemic!" Laughing hard at his own jokes, he turned away. Glad he could return to walking in the direction of his true destination. Saint Blossom's all girls academy.
"If only you knew what I suspect..." Shin whispered in retort. Not playing in to Kagurazaka's taunting, he kept walking without shooting a single glance over his shoulder.
Once back to the fence of the practice field, he stared at the high jump beam. The padding beneath it. The pole that still remained against the mat from his brothers failed jump and subsequent injury. Staring, he could only guess just how Sano landed. Maybe the falling pole injured a vertebrae, or perhaps it was due to the mental strain lately. Maybe he twist something, strained, pushed himself too hard when he felt he couldn't do it. Regardless what it might have been, Shin felt a bit of guilt in everything that had gone on. But he had something he needed to do now. Right hand clenched into a fist, he had a look on his face you'd only expect from Nakatsu.
"Mizuki, I will determine if you're truly a girl! I refuse to leave until I get some evidence..." Realizing he might have been a little loud, he glanced in a shifty way to both sides. Seeing that no one had actually heard him, he began whistling a tune, both hands shoved in a pocket, a little march to his step as he strolled off.
School was a bit difficult for Mizuki to focus on. She kept shooting Sano glances that made him turn quickly to look at her, knowing someone was eyeing him. As he would turn to look to her, however, she quickly would turn her attention to some other part of the class. Even during lunch Sano had to deal with it, but not from just Mizuki. It was like the whole cafeteria was in on it. He would look down to take a bite of food, stop where he was feeling eyes bearing down at him, and when he'd look up not a soul would dare make eye contact with him. He had expressed a desire to not speak about the injury this morning, but that hadn't kept everyone from curiously eyeing him. Nor had anyone seemed to add up that he was going to be missing the competition at this rate. Not only would the play not be there to take his mind off this worry, but he had no way of getting out of it. Everyone would just eye him until he got better. The creepy chill of being stared at hit him again. This time, he looked up quickly and met eye to eye with Nanba Minami, who had sat down in front of him at some point in his moment of deep thought.
"Hey there, Sano...rest of the table!" Giving a little wave with his left hand, everyone just gave him a blank stare. With the natural exception of Senri Nakao, who had the look of a love struck maiden gnawing at his spoon. "So..." he began, everyone suddenly knowing just where was going to direct is conversation piece. It wasn't fear they showed now, so much as interest that maybe Sano would talk about things to the dorm head. "I hear you had a little bit of an accident this morning, Sano. How you holding up?" A few shoulders slouched, it wasn't the question they wanted him to ask.
Sano continued to chew his food, staring at Nanba for a second, then turning to look to everyone at he table. A few of them did the usual thing, looking the other direction or down at their plates to poke at some food. Minus Nakatsu, he poked at an empty plate. A fact, once he realized, that made him quite sad to not see food on the plate. Sighing a bit, Sano finally set his utensil's down and turned his gaze back upon Nanba, the only one being reasonable about it all. Even Mizuki was in the crowd line up of eye aversions.
"Just a little sore, thats all. Did Dr. Umeda send you to tell me something?" His tone was expected and avoided the true weight of the question. He tried to look more relaxed than his back allowed him to be. To express this he had rolled his sleeves up today and decided to not wear his class coat, but apparently physical evidence of relaxation wasn't even. Everyone needed words.
"Actually, he did! It's half the reason I came here, the other half to make sure you're doing good and all." Nanba smiled a bit, he had a very knowledgeable expression. Standing up, he slid his hand over the class jacket he seemed to always wear, running his fingers down the buttons to make sure the right ones were fastened. "Dr. Umeda says not to worry about coming today, since you've already been checked by one of the doctors from the Main Office. Just jump in tomorrow morning. Message delivered, I give you a clean bill of health. So, later ladies and..." It was like someone punched him in the stomach, eyes wandering apologetically to Mizuki. "...gentlemen! I'm off to do dorm head duties and this is me stopping talking." Arms stiffly to his side, he marched off in embarrassed stomps.
"A clean bill of Health! Thats our Sano." Mizuki chimed in out of no where. The table had been quiet nearly the whole lunch break. It was as if she was trying to snap everyone out of it by shouting out what Nanba had said. Before she could turn around to smile happily to Sano, he had placed a hand atop her head and gave it a little pet. Here eyes studied his soft smile, for some reason feeling it was fragile. Despite the frailty of it, she was glad to finally see some emotion on his face other than pain.
Everyone calmed down their staring after Nanba got word around to stop it. Sano was appreciative, whether he voiced it or not. Now he was the one to do his fair share of glancing and looking away. Though, he focused this on Mizuki. A part of him wanted to explain to her the reason this wasn't sitting well with him. But another part of him didn't want to mention it. It wasn't like she didn't know about the competition, however, she had yet to the draw the lines. Much as anyone else. The last half of the school day went much faster than the first half. Like every other day at Osaka High, the ending was the same. Everyone snuggled warm in their dorms, the outside ever chilly. Most were studying or just doing homework in general. Much was the same case in the dorm of Sano and Mizuki.
Mizuki chewed at the end of her mechanical pencil, staring over a few calculus review questions before she drilled her mind with the bulk of the Thursday's exam, which covered trigonometry. It had been hours of work so far and the numbers had began to look more and more like ancient hieroglyphics. Slowly, a hand had found its away to the side of her head, her fingers tangling within her hair and giving a tender tug. The next moment her pencil flew from her hand and both hands gripped at her hair, an outburst flinging from her lungs.
"I just can't take it anymore! Another second of anything math related and I'm going to lose my mind!" huffing, she glanced to each side to find a silently waiting Sano to cling to. Her first reaction was to panic, but slowly her mind dusted off some of the rust and remembered somewhere in her calculus review, she had heard Sano say something about Yuujirou. That was probably where he went, though for the life of her she couldn't recall how long ago that was. Math had a way of making her feel retarded and oblivious to all else. "Mm, I think I'll go join him, I need a little break."
Before she left, she realized she needed to change. She hadn't expected to need to go out tonight, having decided much earlier that tonight would just be dedicated to her studies. There wasn't any way she could just let Sano sit out there and brood as he often did and no doubt with all that had happened lately thats just what he was doing. Reaching behind her, she tugged at the back of her short sleeve shirt, pulling it up from the back and over her head. The ruffling sound of cloth in her ears masked a tender squeak that came from the door, which was now braced open and a single eye peered in, looking for someone or something. The lone visible eye spotted the now very shirtless Mizuki who stood their oblivious to prying eyes. Surprise shown within the eye of Shin, who was the peeping tom outside of the door. He had requested to visit his brother at the Main Office and was even told the room number. It was also expressed that it not be leaked out as he sought to "surprise" Sano with his appearance. He lucked out that Sano hadn't been there, but simply seeing Mizuki's unclothed back didn't prove much to him.
In her relaxation, and Sano's obvious knowledge of her gender, she had opted to not wear the vest that usual kept her feminine form hidden. That considered, she wasn't exactly wearing a bra either. Eyes darted about the floor trying to find the sweater she'd tossed on the floor earlier today, catching a glimpse of it behind her and over her shoulder. Shin, on the other side of the door still, held up a box of juice, taking a long heavy drink. Once his mouth was full of juice, he felt it tempt to spray from his mouth and his face coated in a deep red. She was turning around. To his mind and eyes, it was all in slow motion. Wider and wider still his eyes grew till he stared dead on at undeniable proof of Mizuki's gender. Trying to swallow hard, he found himself choking on his juice and warm liquid dripped from his nose. Dropping the nearly empty juice box, he held the back of his hand to his nose. Pulling his hand away, he studied the deep red that painted it and sprang up to dash off. In his haste, he slammed the door quickly.
Mizuki had the sweater half on when the tender thud of something dropping outside her door made her hurry to force the sweater on and conceal herself. As she pulled her head through the top of the sweater, the door slammed and terror found itself tickling her insides. Someone had been there and someone had seen her changing. Grabbing her jacket, she tossed it on quickly and rushed to the door. Looking down each side of the hallway, she saw no one around. Whoever it was had ran away from the scene of the crime. In the panic she didn't even look down, instead she kicked the juice box aside in her dash to leave the dorms. She would have to bring this issue up to Sano so that maybe they could find out who it was. A part of her had wondered if maybe it was Sano and he was simply shocked to walked in on her changing.
"Why wasn't the door locked..." she grumbled to herself, ending the thought with a sigh. "This isn't good, but I can't worry Sano with more stuff. He has way too much on his mind..." All thoughts she could have kept to herself, but in the rush of the moment she merely mumbled it all.
Footsteps echoed down the hall, Shin could hear them even from within the bathroom. Eyes darted to the doorway, paranoid that someone might come in on him fostering his blood-soaked nose. Dabbing at it, he stared at himself in the mirror, realizing his nose wasn't the only thing sharing a peculiar color. The complexion of his cheeks was very near rouge. Embarrassment was a pretty soft term to describe how he felt. A subtle blow at his ego told him what he'd done was perverted, but he had to attain the truth somehow. Closing his eyes, he passed a clean piece of toilet paper under his calming nose, sighing in the process.
"Boobies..." he muttered to himself. And like that, the mental image was there and embarrassment grew anew. Even more so upon hearing a stall door squeak open rather slowly and out came a familiar face, that didn't eye him in a familiar way.
"Don't be sad! Its easy to miss the glory of a woman's breasticles in an all boys school." Sekime wore a look of absolute justice, placing an arm across Shin's shoulder and pumping at the air with the other. His glasses offered a twinkle as though a star in the sky. "I share your intrigue! Your desire! We should go together and seek out the bountiful gift that is a woman's chest! The world shall shake at its very foundations as Sekime and...!" He stopped, staring at the guy he was initiating into the League of Perversion and frowned. "You don't look familiar...are you a transfer?"
"I'm..." Shin couldn't complete his sentence. The absolute dumbstruck expression on his face was proof his brain had just turned to something resembling tapioca pudding. "I'm just a visitor..." Shin knew who it was, but was left near speechless at the fact Sekime didn't recognize him. Though maybe he was still speechless regarding the breast rant that he'd just been spoon fed.
"Ah ha, ha..." Discomfort flushed his face, a wave of embarrassment caused the acid in his stomach to rise to this throat. Slipping his arm from around Shin, he scuttled towards the door in a manner resembling a crab. "Have a wonderful visit! Osaka High is the...perfect school for...Bye!"
"Alright, just try to forget what you heard. Try to relax yourself and most of all..." his teeth began to grit, eyes closed and wincing as he mustered the courage to say what he was about to, tissue ready to cork his nose once more. "Forget about boobies!" No blood came. But a sigh of relief did!
Once all was cleaned up, he made for the door and peaked outside. Looking from one end of the hallway to the other. No one was around that he could see, so he felt now was the perfect time to make for the exit and return to his hotel. Buttoning his coat back up, he pulled his green scarf from a pocket and wrapped it around his neck, trying to conceal his face a bit more. Now the bathroom was empty, not a soul within. The clamor of his footsteps were replaced with what sounded like a small herd of buffalo. Kayashima, Dr. Umeda, and Himejima came sprinting around the far corner, dashing towards the bathroom. Himejima came to a halt first by the doorway, his bunny slippers offering a resonating squeak to note his halt. Umeda glanced downward at the slippers, then back up to Himejima who appeared calm and natural, as if bunny slippers were what all the world wore when they were pajama clad. Umeda was still in his usual clothing, now glancing behind him and motioning quickly with his hand.
"Hara you chicken shit! Hurry it up." he growled, eyeing Hara who stood all the way on the opposite end of the hallway, shaking his head vigorously.
"If that Phantom's using the bathroom as a trap for the A.P.S. I want to be the last one to go!" His voice was whiny, as expected of him in a situation that required courage.
"When did we decide on a name for the organization?!" Himejima's voice nearly mocked Hara's for pure whine. As he stamped his foot, a squeak rang from his slipper. "You guys had better not have had a secret meeting without me!" His hair was even up in a little bun so that he wouldn't risk hanging himself in his sleep somehow.
"No, you were there. I figure you just weren't listening." Kayashima sighed softly, hoping that his senses weren't wrong, but sighing even more at the actions of the three he brought with him. "I distinctly recall telling you it stands for the "Anti-Phantom Society". Now will you get over here Hara, I know I sensed his aura nearby and this is the area of its greatest pulse."
Hara finally decided to join, but not before slipping in his mad dash to get to the others on a box of juice. Himejima ignored the going-on's and looked skyward as the thought hard about the meeting Kayashima spoke of. The ensuing racket caused a few people to peak their heads out from their dorms. In which case Dr. Umeda flexed his authority and told them all to mind their own business, with a few more explicatively deleted words. Hara finally made it to the group and assumed the position of nuzzling Umeda, sniffling because he'd smacked his head on the ground upon falling. After several moments of everyone shutting everyone else up and nothing really getting done, the four of them were ready.
"On the count of three I'll barge in the door. At the point Himejima will jump in after me. Both Hara and Umeda, you guys wait outside to catch him incase he gets past us." Studying each of their faces, he got to Hara and felt a glare slip across his face. "With an aura that pink you won't be stopping anyone. Focus, sir." Yet somehow, he still managed to insult and be polite all at once.
"I will, damn it! Just hurry up and get going before I get cold feet again!" roared Hara, finally caving into Umeda's desire to stop touching him and instead he stood ready to tackle someone.
"One...two..." Everyone was glancing to each other with profound intrigue. Their single purpose for existing as a motley crew was to stop the Phantom, and tonight just might be it. "THREE!" shouted Kayashima, rounding the corner of the doorway.
Himejima, squeaky bunny slippers and all, charged in after him. Both Hara and Umeda stood on either side of the door, waiting for anyone to emerge so they could stop them in their tracks. There was a loud racket in the bathroom, the sounds of stall doors flying open and slipper squeaks. Then there was silence. Hara glanced to Umeda, who continued to stare straight ahead. Then a slight sifting sound, like someone had fallen into a plastic bag or something. Squeak, squeak, squeak. Hara's back arched as though he were a cat ready to pounce. The thought danced through both of their heads that the Phantom might have beaten the two up and stole Himejima's slippers as a disguising comfort. As the door opened they didn't even hesitate, leaping at the first figure to come out.
"You bastards! Get off me, I demand it!" Himejima's voice, sarcastic as royalty, came yelping from beneath the pile of men. An arm of no association to Hara or Umeda twitched and flailed about, soon balled into a fist and taking shots at the first form it could find. His fist landed sharply into Umeda's left cheek, then clearing across and cracking Hara heavily in the kidney. Hara screamed like an injured toddler and conceded to roll out of the pretzel like the baby he was. Umeda retorted with an elbow to Himejima's back before he stood up and rubbed at his cheek. "First you tackle me, then you elbow me! Some instructor you are to look up to. You vicious fag!"
Both men stood up and gave each other a cross expression. Kayashima came out once the war was over and helped Hara up, wearing a slightly defeated expression. Hara dusted himself off and rubbed at his smacked kidney area as though something had ruptured. Something about smacking his head and being punched in the kidney within a five minute time span didn't seem to sit well with him. Umeda and Himejima just took to not looking at each other. But everyone came to order once Kayashima spoke up.
"No Phantom in there. Empty stalls, all toilets flushed. But one sink had been used recently. The only evidence of someone having been in there was a sea of blood-soaked tissue's." Shrugging, he crossed his arms over his chest and walked past the group, marching in the direction of his room.
"So, thats it then...?" muttered Himejima, glancing between everyone, then to the retreating Kayashima with a shocked expression. The truth was, he felt the whole ordeal was rather anti-climatic, and that truth hung on his expression.
"No body, so no one was murdered. The blood was probably from someone's nose..." midway down the hall, he bent over and picked up the juice box, glancing towards the door it was adjacent to. The room that belonged to Sano and Mizuki. The drink wasn't anything either of them would have gone for. "Apparently it was the Phantom though and he's got a sweet tooth."
The others gathered around Kayashima, all studying the juice box. Hara claimed he was the brains behind finding the evidence, pointing to the knot on his head to prove he'd been the one to stumble across it. Pun intended. Though he was quick to shut up after Umeda punched him in the knot and tied him with a cloth gag that he just happened to have. Though one by one they gazed at the doorway to Mizuki and Sano's room.
"Cwoud the bwood wewong to Mithuki 'n Shano!?" Hara could barely mutter with the gag in his mouth, but everyone understood what he said.
"By the Gods, he's killed Mizuki and Sano! While drinking juice! He's the worst kind of evil!" The words sprang from Himejima with little thought, but he remained oblivious to the glares he was getting from the rest of the group.
"And you're the worst kind of stupid." Growled Umeda, leaning forward from the group and knocking on the door. There was no answer, so he gave the door knob a little tug and found it was unlocked. The room was empty, with the exception of some clothing on the floor and study books. "No one's here. I bet they went to take care of Yuujirou."
"They aren't even aware the Phantom was near." Kayashima's tone was heavy with thought, trying to be deductive. Stroking his hairless chin, he lost himself in thought for so long that the pause in speaking caused everyone to lean in. Until Umeda slammed the doorway shut, which even managed to pull Kayashima out of his thinking. "We'll assume they are and talk to them tomorrow to see if they noticed anything unusual. Wouldn't want to alarm them for no reason at all."
"Well thank the maker, least I can go back to bed now." Roared Himejima, looking like the whole thing just interupted a slue of plans he had for himself. "How can I get any beauty sleep with Phantom's running amok!?"
The four of them agreed to wait and question both Mizuki and Sano till the morning, each of them heading different ways. With the exclusion of Hara, who as always was tailing right behind Umeda. Little did Shin, Kayashima, Himejima, Hara, or Umeda know. But had even a second of their lives happened sooner, the A.S.P. and the Phantom would have had a chance encounter. As they say, ignorance is bliss.
While everything else was going on back in the dorm's. Sano was subject to the bliss of ignorance as well, as he had simply been sitting with Yuujirou, staring up at the cloudless sky. The cold air ruffled at his hair, which calmed him. There was barely any noise, just quiet enough for him to get lost in his thoughts. Yuujirou's head laid across him and in his lap, peacefully dozing. With a hand behind him, Sano braced himself up from falling back. The other hand resting atop the dogs head and rubbing at his ears. The only purpose he had for coming out was to try to forget everything else, to clear his mind. Between the Phantom existing, the Phantom's words, and now his back injury, everything had just been amassing on his shoulders. Weighing him down and out of the Heavens. He was sure it was all this weight that kept him from jumping properly and simply wished it all away. Wished it away to every star in the sky and the moon which set it aglow with ease and promise. In fact, he was so far in his bubble of relaxation, he hadn't even heard Mizuki walk up. Nor heard her sit down beside him. The only way he knew anyone else was around was the feeling of her head against his shoulder, which turned his head sharply.
"Ah, hey Mizuki." He still managed to smile, caving in to stress was never one of his strong points. Even when he did, he tried not to show it. "Finished all your studying?"
"Pff, hardly!" She groaned, shifting a bit to look him straight in the eyes. He definitely looked more composed than he had in a while, that realization made her smile thankfully up at him. "One more second of math and one more second with out you and I was certain I'd go insane..." Even sitting, she managed to find a way to cling her arms around him, nuzzling herself into the crook of his neck and smiling down at the resting Yuujirou.
"I'll never stumble far from you, I'd have come back soon enough." His words were thoughtful, even in tone. Bowing his head a bit, he kissed the top of her head then moved his head back so his chin rested there instead. "But I completely understand where you're coming from with the math issue." A warm chuckle softly vibrated in his chest.
"Mmm..." Mizuki wasn't able to think of much else to say. The warmth of him close, the sound of his chuckle resonating from his chest into her ear, along with the beating of his heart. She now saw why, despite the cold, this is where he came to think.
"Mizuki?"
"Yes, Sano?" she replied, eyes closed as she caved into the comfort of the situation.
"I was thinking maybe tomorrow we could go do something. You know, just you and me." Speaking softly, he looked to the moon with that expression of deep thought, since her face was buried from his.
"Like...an actual, you know, "date"?" Her eyes were open now, but she kept her face hidden due to embarrassment.
"Well, yeah. Its not often you and I get time to do anything away from everyone else. And with the play on hold and me unable to practice." Slowly, his eyes trailed from the moon back down to earth, to the top of Mizuki's head. "I mean, if you don't want to we don't have to. It was just an idea."
"No!" she chimed, pulling herself from his chest to look up at him. Her gaze became pleading, as though she felt she said something wrong. "I really like the idea and I want to. Just not used to it all, I guess." A shy smile riddled her lips, one Sano found himself easily mimicking.
"Good then. I was thinking we could go to the Aquarium downtown. I hear they just opened a ton more exhibits. I just really like the thought of the ocean." Nodding softly to himself, he eyed her to see her reception of the idea.
"Ah! I love Aquarium's." Leaning up a bit, she kissed his cheek, giving him a suspicious eyeing and a tender smirk. "And to think you said you were terrible at thinking up places for us to go."
"I am. I just got lucky this time and happened to chose a place you also like." Glancing aside, he tried to smile back at her. "I won't always have such amazing ideas. So keep on your toe's."
"I will." She mumbled, finding herself hiding back against him. The guilt of her odd draw towards that Phantom had been slipping away. As she began to realize just how much she really did love Sano, each day it seemed more and more. "I'm sorry about your back..."
"Don't be." A brow quirked. She hadn't brought up anything about the injury all day. Mostly, he wanted to forget it to. The less he thought about it, the less annoyed he was at not getting to compete. A fact no one else had drawn yet. With cheeks a soft pink from the cold he let loose a small sigh that clouded from his mouth, carrying on a breeze. "Ready to head to bed?"
"No, lets just stay here like this for a little bit longer. Please?" Her head shook against his chest, which doubled as a nuzzle. She didn't offer him a pleading glance up. Her tone enough was all that was needed for him to agree. Eventually the two would stumble off to bed. But for now, they were quite happy.
Morning came and at the breakfast table Kayashima stared them down, to see if maybe he wouldn't have to ask them any questions. If maybe they would give away some sort of emotion that his aura reading could see through. But they showed nothing, only immense happiness radiated from the two. Without question Sano had a bit more coming from him, what with the injury and all it made sense to Kayashima. From breakfast everyone split up but Sano informed the group he was off to Dr. Umeda's for his first check up and stretch. Parting with the others, Sano made his way towards the doctor's office feeling the visit was completely unnecessary. Least so close to the injury's occurrence. Before he entered he gave a little knock on the door, hearing Umeda grumble something that sounded like a greeting.
"Ah, Sano. I had almost forgotten you would be coming in for therapy sessions." Tipping his coffee cup up, he drained out the last bit of the cream colored substance, licking the sugar from his lips. Rising to his feet he motioned towards a small bed to the side. "Take off your jacket and lay on your stomach if you could."
"Right." Sano replied, trying to fight off another sigh.
Setting his bag in a chair off to the side, he removed his class jacket and without a drop of hesitation laid flat out on his stomach. The bed was soft and thanks to staying outside late with Mizuki, he was more than welcoming the comfort of a bed. On top of all that, it reduced the strain on is back. After a few moments he felt the back of his shirt being untucked and shot a quick glance behind him, brow quirked.
"Relax, would you. I have to actually feel the strain in your back, so chill out." Slipping Sano's shirt up a bit, he ran his fingertips up and down his spine, applying various pressures. "Let me know when you feel pain, if you do."
It all hurt to varying degree's. Eventually with enough pressure applied, you could hurt something that wasn't hurt on someone. After several moments it just started feeling good though, like a massage. That was, until Umeda got to his lower back and applied pressure to the left side near the spinal column. By reflex he twitched a bit, making a very loud sound of sucking in air through his teeth. The pain subsided as Umeda moved his hand away quickly, nodding sagely at Sano's back.
"Very tender, still. I house doubts stretching will help it right now." Sighing a bit, he ventured over to a small cooler and pulled out an ice pack. Walking over to Sano, he placed it against his back and plopped himself right back into his chair, eyeing him. "Just lay there, its probably still swollen a bit. I'll be giving you a heating pad to place behind you while you sleep, as well. Our first priority should be loosening it back up." Pushing the curtain out of the way, he tugged a cigarette from behind his ear, lit it, and puffed the smoke out the window. "Sound good?"
"Yeah, just whatever has to be done." His tone was full of defeat. Umeda wouldn't let that bit go unnoticed.
"Upset that you aren't going to get to compete this weekend?" Another puff of smoke flooded out the window from Umeda's parted lips.
"Not really..." It was the first time anyone had brought up, let alone drew any conclusion. How he said his words wouldn't have convinced anyone. Let alone the fact he never allowed himself to make eye contact, trying to portray no weakness.
"Its alright to be upset if you are. Not that you'd ever tell anyone, even Mizuki." Taking one last drag, he set the cigarette on the side of his ash tray, puffing the smoke out the window. "Who hasn't drawn the conclusion and you don't feel like mentioning it to her. You know, its never good to bottle."
"I thought this was therapy?" grumbled Sano, not entirely interested in the topic choice.
"Dear boy, this is therapy. Well, at least a form of it." Umeda couldn't help but laugh at Sano, he reminded him of someone else when he was sarcastic. A someone he quietly wished Sano didn't remind him of.
"Physical therapy, you know what I mean." Yawning, he winced a bit as the pressure the doctor had placed on his back made things ache a bit more again. Though the ice was helping to an extent.
"I get the hint, kid. I won't pry anymore." Standing up, Umeda grabbed a heating pad from the top shelf of an open closet near the back of the room. Setting it beside Sano, he placed a cloth over the top of the ice pack. "Stand up and hold that thing there, I'm going to place some gauze around your mid-section to hold it in place. It'll take awhile for the ice to melt. Just bring me back the pack in the morning, make sure to take it off before you sleep." As he wound the gauze around Sano, he gave him one more question. "Anything odd happen last night?"
"Odd?" Sano thought for a second and realized, that for a change, last night was very peaceful. Nothing came to mind so he started off with shaking his head, realizing shortly after that Umeda wouldn't catch that. "No, just took care of Yuujirou and slept. Thats all. Why do you ask?" Umeda's curiosity only made him curious in return.
"No reason." He was done wrapping up Sano and was tucking his shirt back in, carefully. "Use the heating pad at night, take some Advil for aches and pains, and get your ass back to class."
Catching the bottle of Advil, Sano gathered his stuff and the heating pad and left wordlessly from the doctor's office. The walk to class was odd feeling, mostly because of that ice pack on his back. But he was still curious as to why last nights activities had stirred up the interest of Dr. Umeda. That, and for some reason, he felt the urge to call home and check up on his dad and Shin. He'd save that till another time though, for now he had to get to class.
Posters dotted the hallways up and down. Tear sheets dangled from the posters, little applications for a very recently organized club. A hallway full of eccentric young ladies expressing earnest desires to join and at the center of the group was their leader, Hanayashiki Hibari. Between her cherry red lips was a metal whistle. With a deep inhale, she readied to blow it and gather everyone's attention. The tone that came from the whistle wasn't sharp and annoying, but subtle, yet still somehow grabbing everyone's attention.
"Now, now ladies. There are plenty of applications for everyone!" A sophisticated tone masked the excitement even she had at this latest club venture. To her side stood Amagasaki Kana, looking shy as always and being very timid. "Kana, did you inform the Aquarium that we'd be holding our first meeting there?"
"Yes, ma'am." replied Kana, smiling softly. Her tone was upbeat as well, for she too seemed to enjoy everything that was going on. Very much despite her timid demeanor. "The Phantom Fanclub will have everything we need and the Aquarium is more than happy to accommodate any Saint Blossom's students, even for our extracurricular activities." Offering a bow after she spoke, she looked to Hibari.
"Excellent to hear, Kana. Another job well done for you." With a blow of her whistle again, the gaggle of geese that were seeking to praise the glory of this mysterious, and to them somehow sexy Phantom, came to silence. "Our first meeting will be today, so do pass it along. We will be meeting at the Aquarium downtown to establish this club as official and get a head count of founding members. Cake and tea will be provided!" Giving a very girlie clap, she motioned for Kana to follow and wandered from the flock.
"Hibari, might I ask you something?" Kana began, once they were far enough away from the other girls that she could hear herself talk, let alone decipher a single thought in her mind.
"Why of course, my dear Kana. What's on your mind?" They kept marching down the hall, towards Hibari's office while she genuinely listened, as much as her attitude allowed her that is.
"Why organize a fanclub regarding The Phantom of the Phantom of the Opera? The way you spoke of him upon your return from rehearsal's that night, it sounded as if he was terrifying..." Kana eyed the floor as they walked, for some reason she only ever pictured the phantom as a beast, or some monster disguised as a man.
"Oh, Kana. Human's fear what they cannot understand! At first, yes. There very much was fear." She found the ability to stop, despite the sheer momentum her swaying hips offered. "Fear that I had fallen in love!" Hands clasped together, it was as if a bouquet of roses instantly sprouted and framed her face. Eyes glimmered with an unknown something, staring to her what appeared to be the smiling face of the Phantom. But to Kana, was simply the ceiling.
"L-Love, my lady?" Kana was dumbfounded as to just how fear could transition into love.
"He was delightfully refined in his manners and so very mysterious, what with the mask and everything. And his hair! I absolutely adored his hair..." Sighing a huge sigh that heaved her entire chest, she returned back to a steady march. "Through the help of a kind sir, I was able to acquire pictures of the Phantom in so many ravishing poses. It was then I was certain..." Tears choked up her voice as she walked on.
"That you knew you had to grace us with his excellence?" She said it, though she was uncertain if she shared Hibari's exact sentiments regarding this Phantom. All she knew is that the Phantom was a threat to her dear friend Mizuki and the very talented Sano.
"Sometimes Kana, its as if you can read my mind. But this time..." With a shove she flung her chamber doors open, the closing doors nearly trapping Kana who slipped through narrowly. "This time you've read my heart!"
The girls simply shared smiles with one another, Hibari taking her seat at her desk and turning the chair around to look out the large window behind the very desk. A look of delight was across her face, but in her hand she held a book. In the book she was on a page labeled "People to Thank!". There were maybe five people at best on the list, but one name stood out: Kagurazaka Makoto. Slowly, she closed the book and giggled tenderly to herself, the sun resting high. In a few hours time, they would meet for the first organized meeting of The Phantom Fanclub.
The remainder of the school day breezed by for Mizuki and Sano, for they knew just where they were going after school let out. They had let no one know where they were off to, but the fact was they looked like they were being too secretive, which aroused suspicion for Kayashima. So, he took it upon himself to see what this big secret was. Once the two had locked themselves away to their dorm, he strolled up to the door and placed his ear upon center of it, hearing mumbles. Followed by more mumbles. Then came the jackpot. The two were headed to the Aquarium. Leaping into action, Kayashima forced Himejima away from looking at himself in the mirror and gathered Hara and Umeda. Those two were easy to find as Hara was begging Umeda to go on a date with him. The fact that they were headed to the Aquarium seemed to justify in Hara's mind as a date, which made him all smiles.
On the way back to Mizuki and Sano's they were stopped by Nakatsu who looked rather forlorn and explained to the group that the both of them had left and said they'd be back later, expressing no wish for him to go with them. Kayashima, as always, managed to calm down his best friend Nakatsu and suggest that he take out his anger on a nice helping or two of food. The mention of food kicked started Nakatsu so quick that he didn't even ask if anyone wanted to join him. Which was fine for the A.P.S., they had work to take care of.
Finally at the Aquarium, both Mizuki and Sano stopped at the entrance. Eyeing the fact that everything was a nice shiney glass. On the left and rights of the entrance were the largest TV's they'd seen in a while, showing all sorts of aquatic life swimming about and people talking about how exciting the scene's were. Even one guy rambled about a shark attack. While Mizuki was completely distracted by even just the main entrance, Sano felt the need to glance to a shrubbery about fifty feet away. Almost feeling like he was being stared at, or rather, they were being stared at.
"Well, how about be go in. I bet money the inside if even more amazing." Sano patted Mizuki on the back and started to guide her inside the doors, trying to ignore the shaking shrubbery. Which now had a hand sticking out of it, shooing away a small dog.
"Oh! Y-Yeah, its just such a pretty place already, I kind of got caught up!" Laughing in embarrassment at herself, she allowed Sano to move her along, hearing a dog yapping but trying to ignore it.
Himejima was growling at the dog, shooing it away all at the same time. But still the beast of burden wouldn't move an inch. The other three were trying to get him to just leave the dog alone, for fear their cover would be blown. Thankfully for them, Mizuki and Sano went into the Aquarium about the same time the dog decided to pee on Himejima.
"You ungrateful urchin! I, Oscar M. Himejima, shall not let the canine breed live down the decision to openly war with me!" There wasn't a need for his rambling's, the dog had finished his task and walked away unperturbed by Himejima's threats and warnings.
"You're too loud. I'm going to have to ask that you stay outside, you dumb fuck." Dr. Umeda was blunt as usual, and always ready to pick a fight with Himejima. Almost as much as he was fine with picking a fight with Nakatsu, though maybe more.
"Guys, shut up! Look..." Kayashima pointed at another guy that leapt from a bush, glancing left and right before he entered the Aquarium moments after Sano and Mizuki had disappeared behind the doors. "That aura, thats that bastardly Phantom!"
Looking back at the three, he saw nothing helpful. Umeda was pulling at Himejima's hair. Himejima was trying to strangle the life out of Dr. Umeda, and Hara was tickling Himejima to try and get him to let go of Dr. Umeda. He couldn't believe it. Kayashima had been the only one to notice the Phantom's presence and hadn't even gotten to see just who it was. A top that, his other six eyes were too busy fighting with each other. Though if you counted the fact that Umeda wore glasses, the other eight eyes.
"You're all too loud. I'm going to have to ask that you stay outside...dumb fuck's."
"Gasp! Kayashima, don't leave me to these wolves! I'm too pretty to be beaten up." Himejima whined, watching Kayashima walk off quickly towards the Aquarium.
"Did Kayashima just cuss!?" cackled Hara, still trying to tickle Himejima into letting go of Umeda, now resorting to biting at the side of his arms too.
"He..." gasped Umeda, trying to wiggle free of Himejima's grasp. "Was mocking me."
Shin glanced about to make sure he wasn't seen by either Sano or Mizuki, once he was inside. It was a chance happening that he strolled upon them, staring like deer in headlights at the entrance to the Aquarium. He carried a bag with him on his back that stored the entire Phantom costume. Why he still paraded around with that thing he didn't quite know, but it would come in handy. Ever since he'd found out Mizuki was really a girl, he hadn't felt strange about the emotions that came to mind with he thought about her. It was undeniable she had some allure to the Phantom, and that would work to his advantage. He had to find out just why she cared so much for Sano, least thats what he kept telling himself. But now wasn't the time for thinking too hard, now as the time for changing! Little did Shin know, but he had been spotted. Not by anyone he'd felt the need to worry about, nor did he notice at all. Fortunately for him, he managed to duck away into a restroom to change before Kayashima entered and found him.
Looking over the entrance area within, Kayashima tried diligently to pick out the Phantom's aura in the crowd, but there was just too much going on. Too many people to focus on just one. He'd have to retire to just finding Sano and Mizuki, even if he had to interrupt their day, he felt it better they know the Phantom was nearby than to remain oblivious. Among the garbled sounds of people talking was the sounds of many girls, giggling wildly and a woman's voice that rang all too familiar. Maybe by some stroke of luck, those two had heard her voice too.
Cheeks puffed out, Mizuki stared a puffer fish, mimicking its puffing as best she could without over straining herself. Turning to look to Sano, she hadn't yet realized all her focusing made her eyes cross as well. Sano's eyes opened wide and a very warm laugh flew from him, his head shaking.
"You...you really should stop that..." The words were hard to wrestle out when he was laughing, but he tried no less. "Your eyes crossed up and everything. I think I'd laugh myself to death if I had to see it again..."
"Oh, har-har! I'm Sano the Funny, look at me!" Mizuki scrutinized him in as amusing manner as she could before giving him a little play punch to the stomach and once more making the puffer fish face at him for good measure.
"Mizuki?" chimed in a voice that sounded timid and familiar, somewhat surprised. "Mizuki!" Then recognition hit her, Kana dashed towards Mizuki and Sano, smiling warmly.
"Ah, Kana!" Mizuki turned from Sano, smiling just as warm. Sano stepped from behind and stood beside her instead, bowing towards Kana respectfully. "At the Aquarium and still in your school uniform, for what ever reason?"
"We're having a meeting, actually. I'm, well..." She was leery to speak of the subject to both of them, but there really was no dodging it. "Hibari organized a Phantom Fanclub for that mysterious Phantom that is haunting your guys rehearsals."
"Oh..." both Sano and Mizuki said this in unison, their shoulders slouching and no longer looking all too interested.
"I'm sorry guys, she isn't trying to seem cold. She's just really interested, in a romantic sense, in the Phantom. It has nothing to do with it attacking you guys." Gulping, she stared down at the floor in a very shy manner. "How has Tennoji been, by the way?"
Before Mizuki could dream to answer, there was more going on than clearly there should have been. A rustling cape billowed past her, a masked face. Pupils dilated at the image. Sano's didn't, he instead glared. They both had clearly seen the image of the Phantom dart past them. Kana looked surprised and gasped. Trailing after the Phantom was well over a hundred screaming, flailing, giggling girls. But he didn't give up! Rounding back again towards Kana, Sano, and Mizuki.
"Fear not, my dear Christine!" His voice was out of breath and he didn't stop, he simply kept running. All three of them looked at him baffled. Once he'd fled a good bit, he rounded back for a third time. "Through temptation I come only for you!" Even more out of breath, and still he had to keep running. Again, he returned. "The fool with you, but a shadow of my true mass!" Off again. This was getting old, not only to the three of them but even to the Phantom. "For in your dreams I shall..." pant, gasp, and more pant. "I shall return!"
It wasn't his most elegant of speeches, and things hadn't gone at all as planned. How was he to know the Phantom Fanclub was there and to him, when had such a fanclub amassed? Hibari was leading the chase, shouting words of desperate praise, wishing the Phantom to stop, rambling about being his Christine beneath silken sheets. It was embarrassing for everyone to have to witness, minus the other girls that sought the same.
"Away with you, flock! I seek not several, but only one. My true Christine!"
Kicking his way out the doors, he dashed as quickly as he could. Kayashima stared at him as he ran past, seeing that the Phantom was being chased by all the beauty of Saint Blossom's. A grin spread across his face, it was just the kind of justice the Phantom deserved for trying to sneak up on the two of them. Turning to look to Mizuki and Sano, he gave them a little wave. Though they waved back, they stared at him perplexed. Shrugging to them, he turned away and marched back out of the Aquarium entry way and met up with the rest of the A.P.S.. They had finally decided to play nice, following Kayashima presumably back to the dorms.
Later that night, they all met up to finally discuss things. By they, that meant the members of the A.P.S., Sano and Mizuki. Nakatsu just so happened to join as he'd met up with Sano and Mizuki at the door upon their return and really wanted to hang out. His face wore a sort of dejected puppy expression that they couldn't allow to shoo off.
"So, you guys just took it upon yourself to form this alliance?!" Nakatsu looked amazed, dazzled even. Standing up from the table in the center of the room, he placed his hands to his side and assumed a heroic look. "Then count Super Nakatsu R.E. in! That Phantom is going down!"
"Shuichi, who said we needed more members? Namely, who said we wanted you at all?" Umeda grumbled. He'd assumed a stance by the window and was smoking, making sure none of it spilled out in the room.
"I think its alright for Nakatsu to join." Added Kayashima, looking from Umeda to Nakatsu. "Just remember you have soccer practice so you may not always get to join in on all the meetings. I'll still fill you in on everything each night."
"Don't you guys think this is just a little too much?" Sano stood from the table as well, staring at each of them. Sighing, he patted Mizuki on the head and made for the door. "I'm going to go call my father. Stalkers Anonymous, you all can continue your meeting..." The room was plunged into silence once he'd left.
"Sano didn't sound too happy." Hara let the words roll out within a sigh, leaning back against the bed as he sat on the floor.
"Hard to blame him. I mean, have you guys been watching us all week so far?" Mizuki was beginning to share Sano's sentiments regarding their little organization.
"We only wanted the best for you guys and though he succeeded in nothing today, the Phantom did return." Kayashima took a long drink of his water, eyeing Mizuki curiously to see how she would digest the words. "Surely it all adds up to you as well."
"I want you guys to stop watching us." She focused on her own reflection within her cup of water, wishing so very much it was a peach soda. At the same time, she wished everyone would just forget about the Phantom. Maybe if everyone ignored him, he'd just go away. "Do what you want to find the Phantom, but don't make Sano feel uncomfortable anymore."
"Thats plenty." Umeda caught Kayashima before he could begin to speak. Flicking his cigarette out the window, he turned and looked to everyone, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "It invades their privacy. We'll simply investigate the Phantom. You two just make sure to notify us about any strange happenings."
The room grew quiet again. The strange distant awkwardness that the whole Phantom situation seemed to bring between all of them began to envelop. Nakatsu wasn't good at following uniform with this kind of silence so he spoke up. Soon, the room was full of laughter and stories. Talking of friends. The A.P.S. would simply have to go about their investigation some other way.
Meanwhile, Sano had finally built up the courage to dial in the number to his house. It was late, he knew, but if he didn't call right now he was certain he wouldn't call for at least another week. It took several rings but soon his step-mother answered, giving the phone instead to his father. He let him know about the injury and that he wouldn't get to compete to the best of his knowledge, this coming weekend. They spoke, a little distant as always, but it was obvious they were happy to hear from each other. Though his fathers voice held a worry that Sano couldn't help but inquire.
"He isn't back yet?" Worry and surprise hit Sano as well, suddenly understanding his fathers distant tone.
"No. He said he was going off for a photography class trip, but that's been over a week ago. The other students have returned..." Sano's father sighed before he continued. "Worrying about him never helps, I'd have ulcers if I did. Just let me know if you see him, won't you?"
"Yeah, of course father. I'll keep an eye out for him." Sano tried not to lose himself in thought just yet, after all he was still on the phone with his father. "You guys try to take care of yourself, Shin will come back eventually. Even if I have to bring him there kicking and screaming."
"I know you will, Izumi." For once, his father laughed in a way that didn't sound forced.
"Goodnight, Father. I'll call again soon." His father expressed a goodnight wish to him as well before they both hung up. Both men sighing at the phone after they'd finished.
Sano began to walk back to the dorm, but stopped after a few steps. His brain had begun to shuffle through several different things. Things that didn't make sense. That didn't add up naturally. Things about the Phantom, Shin's disappearance, words the Phantom shared with him. There were too many things to think about all at once. And he definitely didn't want to blame his brother for something as silly as this Phantom. Just why would anyone take such strange measures to do things. No, not right now. He wouldn't allow himself to dwell on those thoughts. But the question would remain to him, as to just where his dear brother was and if he needed to put the two issues together for one solution he sought not to dream of...
Know its been a while! But, here's hoping this chapter of the fanfiction was everything it was anticipated to be! Feel free to Read and Review and let me know my area's of weakness and strength. Thanks for surviving my filler chapter, leading up to this one. 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!