Unlock My Heart, My Queen
Chapter Five
Rima's New Character Part 2
Ikuto sigh as he relaxed on a bench at that park where he usually is. He look up at the darkening evening sky where the stars are slowly starting to show their beauty to the world, but even their elegant charm could not put his mind in ease.
He's tired.
Mentally tired.
For hours he tried to get rid of Rima out of his head, but to no prevail. If he tried to think about something else, his thoughts somehow goes back to thinking about the blonde neko. He tried to take a nap, but he ended up dreaming about Rima and he then woke up, drenched in sweat thanks to some unwanted images. He was sure he was not getting any good night sleep anytime soon.
He cursed the impediment of the instincts of a mate and for even being one. For once, he was glad that Yoru was not there with him when Yuki delivered the shocking news because how much of a blabber mouth Yoru is (1), but now he wish Yoru was here and not somewhere else. He has a lot of question about the mating instincts between cat-like people like Rima and himself. He wants answer, but he certainly does not want Yoru to know, but he knew Yoru will find out sooner or later.
"Maybe I should ask that new cat-chara." He wondered. "She does seem to know a lot about this."
He thought it would be best to ask Yuki and decided it would the be best choice for now. He just hope Yoru does not find out and blab about it. Only God will know how the Guardians will react when they find out about this and there is no doubt that Easter will do something about this.
"Ikuto!"
The said teen turned to his own cat-chara. He was probably been looking for him since he was taking deep breaths and how wobbly he was floating. Ikuto did left him when he was sleeping right before he went to see Rima.
"What did you found about the queen and her new chara-Nya?" He asked after catching his breathe.
Ikuto just look at him, as much he wanted to trust him, he really does not want to tell him. There were times when Yoru nearly slip up some secrets. He was definitely not asking him or is he telling him. So instead of answering him, he flicked his nose and Yoru was sent backwards.
Yoru manage to get control and straightened up. "What was that for-Nya!?" He screamed out in anger, but dropped it when he noticed his owner was about to play.
"Maybe this will clear my head." Ikuto thought, he placed his chin on the rest of his violin and started to fiddle. Playing his violin has always help keep his head clear because it keeps his head occupied from everything and always put his mind at peace. Luckily it did the work, his mind was now finally away from her.
Meanwhile, in an area somewhere else in the park.
Speaking of the ex-queen, she was currently taking a break. She sat on a bench while her charas were floating around in the park where she secretly wanted to go to for some time.
She was always prohibited from leaving the house or leaving school without her parents' consent, she never went out to the outside without the rules her parents forced on her. She never realized how much she really wanted this, just going out without giving a care and enjoy this sneaking out. The crisp evening night air were so chilling yet it felt so relaxing to feel.
The stars were especially beautiful in the evening night sky. Ever since her attempted kidnapping, she saw them less and less, the reason why because her parents forbade her from going out at night. Even if she stood outside on her balcony, she was so to be inside the house at all times with no exceptions. The only time she could see them is through her window, but she only saw few compared to seeing them in the open night sky. Just seeing this much of them just add more reasons to be free and more reason to sneak out at night.
"Rima?" Kusukusu pulled her out of her thoughts, but she did not mind one bit.
"Yes?" She asked with a smile. Kusukusu returned the smile, seeing that carefree smile on her owner's face just showed how much Rima was not in pain.
"Yuki wants you to open the dried sardines." Kusukusu told her as she pointed towards to Yuki who was having some trouble opening the bag of niboshi.
Rima giggled as she took the bag. "Let me help me you with that, Yuki."
"Arigato, Rima-chan." Yuki thanked as she enjoyed the salty, fish taste of the dried infant sardines. After finishing a couple of sardines, she turned back to her owner. "How does it feel?"
Rima knew what she means. "I feel so... well... free."
Yuki just smiled. Kusukusu just relax, also enjoying the quiet night, even a wild comedian like her cherishes some quiet time. Most of the time she worries about her owner's state of mind, but right now. She can feel that Rima is feeling happy and at peace without worry and that makes the clown chara to feel untroubled by her owner. She was actually having fun, the thrill of sneaking out and trying not to get caught filled her with excitement.
For a while, the three were quiet, not wanting to break the clarity of the calm night time. However the quiet ambience was broken by Rima.
"Yuki?" She has something in her mind which she is reluctant to talk about, seeing that they are completely alone, it might be the good time.
"Hmmai, Rmima?" Yuki asked with her mouth full of her favorite fish while Kusukusu giggled at how funny her little sister sounded. Despite answering to her owner, Yuki did not turn to her owner since her focus was more on the fish snack.
When Yuki did not get a response at the first seconds, she turned and noticed that Rima has a blush emerging on her face, Kusukusu also noticed.
"About this uh... mate thing between Tsukiyomi-kun and me... is there something I should know about?" Rima asked nervously, feeling her face heat up a little.
That actually caught her two charas off guard, she was so not comfortable about this life partnership with Ikuto when it was first mentioned and now she's asking about it.
Swallowing the sardine in her mouth, Yuki answered, "Uh... are you sure you want to know right now-nya?" She asked slowly, sensing that the conversation might ruin this night out.
"Well I should know since I don't want to be in that situation again... or something worse." Rima asked nervously as her blush got deeper.
Yuki knew she was talking about that unexpected hug. Putting on a smile, she continued.
"About that, what were you feeling before he embraced you-Nya?"
Rima blinked at that question in confusion, but answered anyway "I was feeling... sad." She admitted.
That surprised Kusukusu, but Yuki doesn't seem surprise at all, in fact by the look on her face, she already knew.
Yuki gestured her to continue, "And why were you sad." She knows the answer, but she wanted Rima to figure it out.
Rima look down at her lap. "Because... when Tsukiyomi-Kun asked me why I did not have my Royal Cape, it made me think about my... friends and I felt sad for leaving them."
"It was okay to feel sad, Rima-Nya. You took a big step and not everyone is ready for changes in their life." Yuki comforted her, making Rima feel a little better, although this confused Kusukusu.
"Wait, what's that got to do with Tsukiyomi-Kun and Rima?"
Yuki just smiled and look directly at Rima, "He did not just hug you for affection, he also did it out of comfort."
"You mean...he knew I was feeling sad?" Rima asked, a little confused by this, so did Kusukusu.
"Instinctively-Nya," She clarified. "because of the bond between you two, he knew you were feeling sad-Nya."
"He and I have a bond? When did that happen?" Rima asked, feeling a little weird out. "In fact, how is that he and I are even mates?"
"Technically you two are not mates yet-Nya." Yuki told her.
Rima got more confused, so did Kusukusu. "They're not?" The two comedy-lovers were having trouble catching up.
The white cat chara continued, "Here's how the mating instincts work with cat-people like you and Tsukiyomi-Kun. First...well you already know about how Tsukiyomi-Kun claimed Rima as his mate-Nya."
She received a deadpan look from Rima, how could she forget? It all happened hours ago and it has been in her head ever since.
"Once he smelled your scent, he unknowingly started the bond between you two-Nya." Yuki then raised both her paws up. "But before you freak out, let me tell you this, the bond is weak and incomplete."
"Incomplete?"
"Yes-Nya, you see the mating instinct between cats are almost like two inseparable couples, both partners are to be happy and in love with each other-Nya. Although unlike normal people, the two partners will form a mental bond between each other-Nya, so depending how strong the bond is, they can feel and hear each other's feelings and thoughts-Nya."
"They can hear one another's mind?!" Kusukusu exclaimed in amazement.
Yuki nodded and she continued. "Now the bond between you two, like I said before, is incomplete, but Ikuto can still instinctively understand your feelings, but since your bond is very weak because you have mixed feelings about being mates, he can barely sense your feelings at all right now and you can't sense his-Nya."
Rima started to catch on. "I see, so if we are not happy with each other then... does that mean the bond would break?" She deducted.
"Yes, but if the two partners are happy with each other, then their bond will continue to grow and become strong-Nya to a point it cannot break." Yuki's smile then started to show some unease. "Do you want me to continue-Nya? Because it will get more... intimate-Nya."
Rima's blush deepen, she closed her eyes to hide her embarrassment.
"I don't think so," She told her, "beside...there's no way I'll be seeing him soon."
"He does always go to Amu-Chan" Rima thought, but for some reason that irked her.
Yuki thought this was the best time to show her owner her sly side.
Putting on a mischievous smile, she said, "Ahhh, but I thought the two of you would be a cute couple."
Rima's eyes widen and her blush again deepen. "Yuki!" She exclaimed. She may not see it, but Rima can tell she, herself, was blushing brightly because she can feel her entire face heating up to a high degree, and it is cold out.
Her cat chara shrugged, "What? I was only saying what was true." Kusukusu just giggled loudly at this.
Rima crossed her arms and put on an annoyed look, "Hmph!"
Yuki dropped the act and went back to being serious. "Like I told you before, you should at least give him a chance, Rima-Nya."
Her owner was still upset at her, but Rima still listened. As much as she hates to admit it, she actually wants to see Tsukiyomi Ikuto again; she doesn't know why, but she believes it's because of the one thing they can relate to, they want to be free their pain, and wanting to express her feelings with someone who experience the same sadness. After thinking about him, she became interested in him, not in a romantic way (in her thoughts), but more in curiosity. The only information she was told about him is that he works for Easter, he stole something irreplaceable from Tadase, and that he is the older brother of the famous singer, Hoshina Utau, which she hardly believes at first when she compared the photos of Ikuto and Utau that were shown to her by the Guardians. Other than the eyes, she saw no resemblance.
But for some reason, she feels that there were more to about Tsukiyomi Ikuto and she wants to find out. She wonders if it's because of her cat instincts or just out of curiosity, but she blushes when she thought that the metal bond between her and Ikuto could be the cause. Does this mean the bond is growing between them? Despite that they barely know each other and after what happened in their last encounter.
After not responding to her cat chara, Rima finally answered. "Well what are the chances of us meeting again?" She knew it was a lame excuse.
[Ikuto's violin song from episode 12]
Before Yuki could even answer, as if on cue, the trio started to hear something beautiful. The sound they hear was distant, but they are able to hear its glorious sound. The melody sounded it can bring happiness to everyone, but it also felt so sad and lonely. The music brought the three into tears, Rima felt her heartstrings being pulled as she continued to listen. Enjoying the night out was one thing, but listening to this music, she felt that she had just died and have gone off to haven. The elegant music brought warmth inside them, it even brought more life into the quiet, empty park.
The music was so alluring that Rima unknowingly started moving. After carefully listening to where the source of the elegant sound is coming from, Rima ran towards it, with her charas following close by.
"This music is so... kawaii!" Kusukusu commented with admiration to who ever was making this wonderful sound.
"Agreed-Nya." Yuki said simply and quietly because she wanted to listen this wonderful music without disrupting it with their chattering.
While the two were listening to the sound that has brought warmth and a plethora of emotions that can not be explained in words to their heart and soul, Rima was experiencing a different feeling inside her; and as she got closer to the source, the more she wanted to be there, but for a different reason.
"What is this feeling?" She questioned this force she is feeling, for some other reason, she wanted to see source of this music and it is not just to hear it at a closer distance.
Back to Ikuto
The lone, high school teen continued to play his violin, continuing the marvelous sound he makes by just doing simple-looking strokes with his bow against the strings of the old musical instrument. As he continued, his only audience, Yoru, continued to float around while listening to his owner's song while also contemplating his thoughts that has been bothering him for the past half hour.
So far he believed his owner is keeping something secret, he knows this for a fact because for as long he has known his owner, Ikuto would never turn to him to keep a secret, especially with something that can cause trouble when it gets out. Even if it is to prevent disastrous events, Yoru hates being kept out of the loop.
"Just what is it that he isn't telling me-Nya?"
He tried thinking up reasons why, but that only added fuel to his ever-growing curiosity and he could not get any ideas. With good reasons, he believed that Ikuto's secretive behavior has something to do with that cat chara and her owner, that Guardian of the Queen's chair.
"Looks like I have to go and talk to them myself-Nya." He thought with a look of determination, but he then involunteerly gave a big yawn. "Maybe I'll go to them tomorrow-Nya."
"HE CAN PLAY THE VIOLIN?!"
It seems that he did not have to start tomorrow, in fact by the looks of it, he does not need to do some investigating at all. Together, both the chara and the owner were pulled out of their deep thoughts and Ikuto immediately stopped playing when he heard that loud scream. Turning his head to the source, he saw that one person, who is the cause of his fatigued state, the one person he did not want to see so soon.
Moments Earlier
When they finally got to the source, Rima Mashiro and her charas could not believed their eyes or even their ears; standing up there on the center of the park, basking in the moonlight which went well with his dark colors especially with his midnight blue hair, was none other than Tsukiyomi Ikuto. The ex-queen started blushing once she realized who was playing this wonderful sound.
"Sugoi," Rima admired with a blush, yet again, emerging on her face. She was not only admiring his music, she was also, unknowingly, admiringly his face, but not because of his good looks, but because he looks sad.
She put her hands over her heart. "He wears that sorrowful face, yet play this glorious music with a passionate heart."
She wanted to voice out her words, but she did not have the courage to stop his playing. Wanting to listen to this as much as she could, she closed her eyes as she let his music bathe her mind into inner peace. As she listened, she reflected her life and asked herself this "When was I ever this relaxed?"
When her parents used smile and laughed at her jokes? She felt happy at those memories, but never like this.
When Amu comforted her after she accidently chara change in front of her class? That was the best day she ever had ever since she transferred to that school and joining the Guardians, but that feeling does not even comprehend to what she is currently feeling.
After trying to find an answer and come up with nothing, she just let herself forget about that question and continue to enjoy the heart warming music, but sad music.
Unfortunately for her though, Kusukusu whose mind did not had the mental capacity to keep in her words in her daze state, screamed.
"HE CAN PLAY THE VIOLIN?!"
Both Rima and Yuki gave Kusukusu, who shrugged and gave a sheep smile, a quick glare for ruining the moment before they turned to the stunned high school teen. Midnight blue eyes meet golden ones, both parties did not know what to say. Ikuto started to feel comprehensive, he definitely did not like what was happening.
Lowering his violin and bow, he said in a imposing voice "What are you doing here?"