Disclaimer: I do not own any of there songs! They belong to the artist in which I list! I do not own the characters either! The Yu-Gi-Oh! characters belong to their designer and company.
She was walking on air. No, she wasn't even walking, she was flying... floating... An angel at her heels, guiding her and lifting her as she twirled effortlessly across the sky, the stage... The music itself fit her movements. Every crescendo emphasized, every breath legato in a unique way...
'She's amazing...'
I never tired of watching the old concerts in which my mother, Aiko, danced. She was a ballerina dancer, a skillful one at that. Yet, at her prime, fate cut her short...
I would never near dance as her, no matter how much I tried, it would never happen. The spins, leaps, and sheer radiance of the dance movements were beyond my reach. I would never obtain it... I would never feel how it is to dance as she once did... So be it...
'He's not in class today...' Only recently I wondered when I started noticing Seto Kaiba, then I noted what he was doing nearly every time I glanced over at him. The table with his "lab group" was a member short, but they seemed to suffice without him. They were silent and seemed to be working diligently. Was that why Seto was in their group?
Why wasn't Seto at school today?
"Ah! Haru!" I snapped my attention back to my lab group, they stared at the table where a broken test tube lay scattered in pieces. No injury was there, but they still seemed shocked. Why?
"Sensei," I called out, she came to the table with a rag. "Oh dear, are you alright? You have to be careful. This equipment is fragile." She continued to clean up the mess as my group started to remove some chemicals to start the experiment over again.
"Oh dear, Haru, it appears we have no more glass test tubes, go down to the storage unit down the hall and retrieve a box for me, please." She handed me to key and gave me a polite smile.
Without complaint I complied, exiting out the doors without another word. Not a sound was heard in the hallways. No talking of students or shuffling of papers. It was a different world behind the sliding door. I walked through the silence in the halls to the storage room. It was located a the far end of the hall to the left of my direction. On the way I passed my home room class.
It was normal for someone to disconnect with the world to think, right? It was normal to try and understand something, someone, so much that you forget about other thing... Seto Kaiba...
'You confuse me...'
Opening the storage room, I easily located the test tubes before closing the door, making sure to lock it after.
The hallways were still silent, even my shoes didn't make a sound. The glass reflected off the florescent lights of the hallways, mirroring in my glasses.
If they broke, while still in my arms, they would cut me. I would have capillary blood wounds all over them... It wouldn't kill me... But they were so easy to break.
'That night...' Kaiba couldn't have recognized me, it was out of their spheres. At school: Haru, a girl that he may or may not know. During work: one of Ishoshi's daughter. To the world: Utaru Emi.
'He couldn't know...'
I closed my eyes, continuing my course to the lab room, why was he sill on my mind? Didn't I have better think about? I could be thinking about that new song that needed to be written, revised, and edited. I could be mentally reviewing for my history test. I could be thinking about so many other things; yet, I come up with the subject, why I'm thinking about a guy!
'Why...?'
"Ah!" I came crashing into something solid, full force. What was in the middle of the hallway? Why was I walking with my eyes closed? Either way, I was falling. I tensed up for the impact.
I felt a hand on my back, pulling me up, so my bottom would hit the ground first, ad not my back. I must have walked into someone. I clutched the box of glass tighter, it was wedged between me and the person, very closely. It could cut up both of us, if they broke.
The force of falling went straight through me, allowing my glasses to fall off and a single test tube to escape. It was a hard fall, yet I was sitting on the floor in a sitting position, the box of glass still pressed into me. I finally looked up.
Even kneeling, he was tall, formidable. His hand still pressed against my back, allowing me to remain upward. He was on his knees, over my legs. The box of glass also pressed into his torso.
'Seto Kaiba...'
His expression was nothing less of annoyed, but his eyes... They were something. A deep, ocean blue hue with more to them than just a feature. Something was behind them, locked up, chained. Something was very familiar about them. Like... I knew them before... once...
I was shocked for mere moments, until a dull pain in my hand was brought to my attention. Looking down, my gaze focused on my left hand, that was over some broken glass. My glasses... A ways away, a test tube was, unscathed and unharmed.
Seto sat up, off his knees and onto his feet. His gaze was no longer on me.
"Danm it, watch where you're going Ishoshi..." his voice almost flattered at the sight of me removing my hand from the floor, with thin shards of glass imbedded in the palm. My hand was shaking slightly, but it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Blood began to flow down the sides of my arm at a snail's pace, down my wrist. Letting the force of gravity fights it's viscosity in thin drizzles.
The light hit the glass shards in my palm, giving it a shine. It almost looked pretty...
I looked up at Kaiba, blinking a few times before standing up, shifting the box of unharmed glass to my right side, resting on my hip. There was no harm done, but how long had he been staring? What was he going to say next?
He turned away, his gaze oddly softer. "Get that looked at."
Well, that wasn't predictable. "Uhmm..." My eyes landed on the box of unharmed test tubes, "...I need to get these back to the lab."
His expression was less than pleased before he caught movement down the hall. It was a boy from our class. Most likely on his way to the restroom.
"Oi!" Kaiba commanded him over, pointing at the box of tubes. The boy looked like a deer caught in headlights. Kaiba never really talked to anyone, let along called anyone over to him. "Take this back to class."
The boy, Kuroki, ran over to the box, picking it up. He momentarily eyed the glass shards before Kaiba himself. The mere stance of the CEO sent the Kuroki back down the hall with the box.
'I suppose that takes care of it...'
Without another ward, I started to walk to the lower level where the nurses office is.
The nurse was able to remove all the shards and I had a bandage around my hand before the third bell. It was in the mirror across the wall that I noticed the absence of my glasses. I no longer had them to hide behind for the remainder of school day. But that wasn't what annoyed me the most, it was the fact that I couldn't remember where I was those eyes before... Sure, they were Kaiba's... But there was something else too them.
I had a feeling that I couldn't know until it was time...
Sliding open the door to class, I bowed respectively to the teacher before muttering my apologies for disrupting the class. I made my way to my seat on the other end of the room. I made it a purpose not to glance at the boy next to me.
I have to say, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done...
Especially when I felt his eyes on my frame a handful of times...
After the last class of the day finished, I snuck out of class, successfully ditching cleaning the class room. I really didn't feel like staying round school much longer, especially without a barrier from the other students. I didn't like being vulnerable, but I thought about how today was the first day of ending ceremony practices and dragged myself down to the choir room.
When I entered high school, I really didn't feel a need to join any clubs or sports. The whole purpose of them was to meet friends or take up free time. However, I didn't have much free time as it was and I thought the friends would only take up more time. But my homeroom teacher became concerned and in order for her questions to stop, I became the choir's pianist.
I thought there wouldn't be much risk in it, because I wouldn't be singing. And, it was still music, which I loved. The only problem was the teacher...
Changing my shoes once more, I opened the music room door. I wasn't surprised to see the room empty, with the exception of the instruments that adorned every corner of the room. The music program held quite a large variety of instruments; from violins to cellos, snare drums to tympani, clarinets to tenor saxophones, and tubas to baritones. However, last week they were forced to sell a marimba, due to a few budget cuts in after school activities. A string base was left in the middle of the room from the orchestra, I folded up the chair that it was leaning against and put both items back in the corner.
I scanned the room, almost seeing it in a new light. I could play all these instruments, not to the best of their ability, but well. However, the majority of the instruments in the room were ill quality, with old and mismatching parts. But, as far as I was concerned, I only had an eye for one, the piano that sat at the far end of the room.
I sat atop the brown piano bench, in front of the ivory keys. New, just last year, for this school, that is. A new coat of liquor made every surface reflective and shine. But the brass music stand, where books and music sheets were constantly scattered, was dinged to the point of no repair. New, but still old. It almost made me laugh.
I pressed a "C", before a "C" sharp. It had been tuned since last time. I took out a book, deciding to pass the wait by catching up on my reading.
Not ten minutes later, I had a seventeen year old monkey jumping on my back, disrupting my reading.
"Haru! I haven't seen you in foreevvveeeeerrrrrr...! "
I kept quiet, finishing my last paragraph before turning to Kitsuru, the "monkey."
"Hello, Kitsuru. And it's only been a week," I shoved my book back in my book bag. Another figure opened the door, a friend.
"Hey, Shiho. I thought you were supposed to be watching the rascal," I gave a small smirk. She moved to slam the door behind her, but it was only a sliding door, so it didn't do much effect.
"She was the one to run ahead and knock down a sophomore, leaving me to apologize for her rude behavior." She was only pretending to be angry, but in truth, it was just her life as Kitsuru's "protector."
Kitsuru just grinned, "Well, sorry Shiho. But don't tell me you weren't excited to see Haru again."
She shook her head, swaying her long, dark hair from side to side. "We saw her last week, it's not like she's been gone for a month."
Shiho's comment failed to change Kitsuru's mood, she acted like such a kid; it was hard to say she was a senior, upper classman.
I could easily say that Kitsuru and Shiho are my best friends from school, meeting them mid way through freshman year through choir. I suppose, joining choir wasn't such a bad thing.
"Neh, Haru-Chan... Why haven't you been eating lunch with us lately? You may be in a different homeroom this year, but that's no reason you can't eat with us anymore," Kitsuru's contact green eyes stared at me. But before I can answer she let out a gasp.
"Oh my! You got contacts! You don't have glasses anymore!" Kitsuru started bouncing around the room, brown hair bobbing.
"Shiho, I still don't understand how handle this every day," yet, I mean no negativity by it. Kitsuru was just... always on a sugar high.
"It's both a gift and a curse," Shiho muttered under her breath before fetching the monkey, to ensure her safety, as well as other's.
"No, Kitsuru. I just broke them in a small accident today."
Shiho nodded, "I suppose that explains your bandage." She was referring to my hand. I further his it in the sleeve of my uniform. "Are you able to play with that?" I merely nodded.
Shiho is one of the most composed people I've ever known, only once have I seen her in a different state. I suppose that's why she appointed herself Kitsuru's guardian. Especially with how easily the little "monkey" could get into trouble.
I refer to Kitsuru as a monkey for the sole reason of how she acts. She is also rather petite, standing a full head shorted than me and a good head and shoulder shorter than Shiho.
By now, some other students began to arrive, chatting away to their friends. Soon after, Mr. Yamagami arrived with new sheet music in hand.
"Sit down everyone, take your seats," I returned to the piano while Shiho and Kitsuru took out chairs and arced themselves around the conductor stand, in which the piano sat upon. "Now, I apologize again for being out last week, but that is now behind us. We will now start on our piece for the closing ceremony. There will be two pieces for all grade levels, one for only seniors, and a special piece for select seniors. I have selected the first song for everybody: Tegami (Letter) by Angela Aki," he announced.
I eyed the sopranos, a group of girls, become jittery at the news. Even I was relieved that Mr. Yamagami didn't choose something far out of the current music circle.
"Now, calm down please," he handed a thin stack of papers to a boy on his right, instructing him to pass them out to each section. "Here are your music sheets along with one CD with each groups vocals. After we listen to the song once, even though I presume everyone has heard it before, everyone will split into sectionals."
He walked over behind the piano, inserting his own disk into the machine. Within seconds piano chords were heard.
'Angela Aki...'
She was very talented and even knew English well. I thought back to when I had seen her at a party the year before, she had a very calming presence about her that made everything alright. It would be interesting playing her music.
The opening tune felt sorrow, it was about our fifteen year old self to someone, asking for help. And then another speaker, replying to the answer, saying things may get rough, but happiness will come in the future.
A typical song... with everything turning out okay in the end.
"Hai, okay. Now, split into groups and please start rehearsing. Our first ensemble with everyone will be the day after tomorrow," Mr. Yamagami clapped his hands together with a smile.
"Oh, before I forget. I will be taking nominations for a solo position for the beginning and end on this song. I will be needing two people, preferably a boy and girl, but anyone will be fine." He waved his hand in the air as if it was nothing. Yet, either he was ignoring or was really oblivious of the wide eyes that bore into his tall figure.
"Sensei, we haven't had anyone sing solo before, why this production?"
"Oh," he peered at the girl brave enough to question, "I figure this production should be special as we are saying goodbye to our seniors."
Immediately after, three girls raced up to Mr. Yamagami, nominating themselves, of course. I turned away from the group in front of me, looking down at my sheet music. It was simple enough...
Sensei soon shooed the other girls away to begin working in their groups. He came up to me, that smile of his never leaving.
"Hello, Haru-chan, how is the music looking?"
I glanced up at him, eyeing his growing beard, former goatee. It wasn't like he was too old for one, as he was turning thirty in January, but he never really kept it up. He also had issues with violating personal space boundaries, which I found nothing less than an annoyance.
"With some practice, it shouldn't be too difficult to execute," I replied, turning around in the piano and rearranging the loose music sheets.
"That's a bit disappointing, I was hoping it would be a challenge for you to play, but next time, I suppose." I nodded, continuing to rearrange the music sheets. It was a mess thanks to the choir class.
"Is your hand alright?" I pulled up my left sleeve to hide my bandaged palm, further, "It's nothing to bad."
He nodded, seeming to acknowledge the fact that I wished to drop the subject.
"You know, Haru, I was wondering if you would be interested in the solo slot." I raised my brow, he was careful with his words.
"Sensei, why? I don't even sing." That was a lie... Plain, flat out lie...
He shook his head, "I've seen you sing when helping the tenors stay in time. I'd like to hear it sometime. Why don't you audition for the solo, there's nothing to loose."
'Yes, there is...'
"... I'll think about it, Sensei," I sighed, it would be the only way to get him off my case. Mr. Yamagami nodded, "Next rehearsal I'll hand out the solo music; but I highly suggest that you at least try to audition. You've been in this program for just around four years and I feel you need to experience a different form of music. You never know, you may be good."
My shoulders slumped, "I'll think about it, Sensei."
Without another word I turned to the piano, began to sight play the piece. It was not to tempo, nor smooth the first time, but it was just to accelerate the music process. Mr. Yamagami left my side, finally, to assist with the sopranos.
'He always pushes too hard for things.'
Incoherently, Kaiba cursed to himself as he reentered school building, briskly making his way down the halls with no regard to his inappropriate shoes. He had to return to this 'hell hole,' after school to retrieve a CD containing a program that he had been previously working on during his lunch period.
Just his luck...
Without much trouble he was able to obtain the disk from his desk and ten minutes after entering the school, he was descending the stairs to the exit. All the while cursing to himself for wasting time.
It wasn't until Seto reached the first level, and stopped cursing, that he realized slow, lulling music echoed down the halls. The rhythm was different, and coherently complex; yet, a overlying, simply accent lay over it.
Seto noticed a door ajar with a thin stream on light trailing out, the source of the music. He became curious, and made his way down the hall. He peered through the door's window and silently watched.
He felt his breathing slow with the music's beat.
"Well, we'll be seeing you Haru," Shiho waved with Kitsuku in tow.
I waved back from my position at the piano. "See you tomorrow."
"Remember, to meet us at lunch!" Kitsu ku shouted, half way out the door.
"I look forward to it," I said, but it wasn't likely that she heard me. I gazed around the room, studying every wall; it felt empty once more, despite how much it was filled with.
Checking the time, I still had fifteen minutes to waste until Levi would be here from picking up Hanashi at her school. I sighed, opening the piano cover again.
I stared at the bright, shining keys for a moment before pressing a G natural. I felt the cord within the piano vibrate and echo through the room.
I pressed another note, this time a C at a lower octave. Before I could stop myself, a rhythm became evident. It was one of those times that I would make up rhythms and test to see if I liked them or not.
My soul felt lighter than before. My head moved to the slow rhythm's heartbeat. I liked it...
It was a high, but a different kind. I felt more at ease, relaxed, open to the instrument. I loved playing string instruments. I felt connected with my fingers dancing on the black and white keys; it was one of the only kinds of dancing I could do well.
I ended on a G chord, and felt the note's vibration once more. I opened my eyes, which I hadn't realized I'd closed, only see someone's shadow at the ajar door.
I squinted my eyes, clearing the image, only for them to pop wider.
'Seto Kaiba...?'
I wondered how long he had been standing at the door, watching, listening... My hands rested on the keys still, my middle finger still pressed the G chord and my foot still rested on the piano's pedal.
Those blue eyes were the clearest image of his entire form, they shone like a lantern in a dark forest; guiding the way... I felt my heart beat quicken as we hadn't stopped the staring contest. I felt the urge to speak, yet couldn't brink my mouth to comply.
I wondered what he thought of the piece. I wondered if he liked it... I wondered what he was thinking now...
My heart nearly stopped as my cell phone went off. I quickly turned away from his eyes, to the device vibrating on the top of the piano. I quickly opened my phone before turning to the entrance of the door, but found no one. He had left...
Why did I feel my heart sink?
I took a breath, calming myself, before looking at the message on my phone. Fifteen minutes have long since passed and it was nearly twenty minutes since I had last looked at my phone. Levi and Hanashi were already outside. How long was I playing and how long had I been having a staring contest with him?
I left the question unanswered, packing up my school supplies before standing. I turned the lights off before leaving the empty room.
Thank you for reading. I am very sorry for mot updating this in a while, but on the bright side: It's SUMMER! I am now officially out of school and have two days of free time each week. During that time, I am going to try and update more; however, I am still quite busy. Thank you very much for reading, and special thank you to xXWinterSonataXx, the only person to review my last series. This one is for you!
I'd enjoy reading any reviews/ comments, if I receive any...
-Sin