Reihn's Notes: Okay soo how was it? Is it that terrible? Does Hatoko's new image doesn't suit her? Tell me please!
Chapter Two The Encounter
Hatoko looked up at the person who took hold of her hand but she couldn't see it. The person pulled her up with difficulty but nevertheless that person saved her. When she finally reached the pavement on the bridge once again she kept her mouth shut. Hatoko don't know whether she should be happy or angry so she hadn't muttered a single word.
"Why did you want to jump off the bridge?" and for the first time Hatoko saw the face of the person who saved her. It was a girl, and not just any girl; it's Erika Lee, a popular girl known for her abilities as a great pianist.
But being in the state of despair Hatoko answered back with sarcasm. "Isn't it obvious?"
"Sorry if I hindered your wishes but I cannot let someone like you to die Hatoko Kobayashi." With this Hatoko looked at her intently. How did she know that, that was her name?
"You must be wondering on why I knew you. You see I've been scouting the city for rare talents and I once watched your show in the bar near to the amusement park. And I decided that you'll be my partner."
"Hatoko Kobayashi? Me? And Erika Lee performing together? No really, this must be some sort of a joke right?"
"I'm afraid it's not. I really want you to be my partner in my next video and album release." Hatoko stood up and took Erika's hand.
"If you say so. But why me? There are other performers out there that you can choose besides me." She asked once again as Erika gave a shy laugh.
"You're really just as modest as your friends at the bar had said." She stated as they entered the car. Things are running in Hatoko's mind once again. It's too much of a coincidence that Erika would pass by when she's just about to die and come into her life just like that almost as if fate was telling her to forget Misaki—
"Where do you live now Hatoko?" Hatoko frowned and thought about it. Ever since she and her family had a fight last week she took all her things and her account and lived in a simple apartment far from their house.
"In an apartment."
"Anou— Toko-chan—" Hatoko turned her head so quickly to hers at the name. Nobody. Ever combined her nick name and the word chan with her before.
"Can— you allow me to stay at your apartment for a while?" Hatoko suddenly gaped at her.
"What?! Why?! Aren't you rich? Why at my place?"
"Because I had a fight with my family and I don't know where to hide from them. Please." She sympathetically replied as she held both Hatoko's trembling hands.
Hatoko looked at her carefully; in every inch she's far greater than Misaki. She almost had everything, the right curves, the silky blonde hair, smooth fair skin, her beautiful emerald green eyes and her red lips that seem so irresistible. And yet, her heart did not beat the same way it does with Misaki.
"I don't know— I may get in trouble for this but— It's okay. I'll help you." With this Erika jumped at her with so much glee and pulled her head in an embrace causing her face to be buried in her chest. Erika realized this quickly so the two suddenly had two red faces. She pushed her self away a bit then took Hatoko's chin and held it up. Erika's eyes are very strange to Hatoko, they're so strange in aw way, they flicker and glimmer everytime they'd face hers. Erika smiled symbolically and whispered softly.
"You know I've always wondered what your attitude is like Toko— ever since I watched you fight in the Angelic Layer. And I was right." She leaned closer to her lips and— "You're really like that kind hearted, brave and devoted Knight I often read in story books as a child." Then she kissed her lightly on top of her lips. Normally Hatoko would put up a fight before anyone would kiss her but after hearing Misaki's cold words again and again in her head made her accept this offering. After they parted Hatoko stared at the girl.
"You mean to say, that you're a fan of Angelic Layer too?" Erika blushed slightly and nodded.
"Yes but before seeing your angel fight I thought that the game was just plain rubbish. Actually, your angel was the very fist one which I actually saw fighting on the Layer. Later I became a huge fan of yours. I'd always spot you around this city but I never had the courage to talk to you or even face you because you were really popular back then. Instead I focused on my piano lessons and soon became a celebrity myself."
"But had you ever tried playing the Layer?" Hatoko asked interestedly, slowly starting to forget Misaki and the things that had happened earlier between the two of them.
"No, I was too shy and besides my parents think that it's just a waste of time."
"Tell you what, I'll privately teach you how to play it. Would you like to Erika-san?" Hatoko said. Erika beamed at her and embraced her arm.
"Thank you— you don't know how happy that had made me Hatoko— just being next to you now is just like a dream come true—" Hatoko smiled painfully.
"On the contrary Erika— I might just know what you feel right now—" she mumbled.
"My apartment's not that grand so—" but Erika already jumped on her bed and began bouncing up and down like a kid.
"Are you kidding?! This place is great!" she exclaimed happily as she bounced one more time and finally settle down. Then suddenly she slowly began removing her red tank and revealed her bras. But Hatoko hadn't noticed right away since she was looking out the window.
"Hatoko, can you teach me how to play?" Hatoko suddenly blushed as she saw her torso.
"Erika?"
"Hatoko, let's play—" Erika neared Hatoko's lips and gently rubbed her chin.
"Let's play Angelic Layer—" she grinned at Hatoko's stupid expression on her face. Then Erika laughed till she dropped. Then she pulled on a pink blouse on her torso and laughed again.
"Ha-, Ha- Really funny Erika." Hatoko sarcastically grumbled. Then she walked to the closet and took a large box. She opened it and it revealed a layer. It was the new and improved version of the layer Oujirou gave to Misaki years ago. Then she took out Suzuka and gave it to Erika.
"Here put this headgear on and switch it here then throw it into the layer." Hatoko instructed. Erika followed and did what she was told. At first she can only make feeble attempts to move her but a few more minutes and she got the hang of it. After that session Hatoko asked Erika out for a dinner.
"You're asking me out?" Erika asked with a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Well, it's practically because, I don't have any food here and I used to eat outside for food so—" Hatoko excused.
"And on the way would you like to buy your own doll? I have a computer here so you don't have to buy one. Just the egg and the other needed materials." Erika smiled and hugged Hatoko around the neck
"Thank you so much Toko-chan!!!"
"Okay, okay. Just let me get dressed so we can—"
"No your dress is already okay the way it is Toko-chan. Besides, I think it looks great on you."
"You do?"
"Of course." Erika pulled Hatoko's hand to the door way and then she suddenly kissed Hatoko on the cheek.
"I like you a lot Toko-chan—" Erika said as she embraced Hatoko. This is the very first time she had felt comfortable with someone else besides Misaki. Misaki, she still loves her very much. And a day of loving can't erase that right away but she's willing to delete those feelings, for Misaki to have a new life.
"I think— I'm starting to like you a lot too Erika—" Erika flushed and dug her face deeper in Hatoko's chest.
"—"
"Let's go then Erika—" Erika nodded and embraced Hatoko's arm then they left.
"Hey, Misakichi. Do you have a problem or something?" Tamayo asked worriedly. Misaki had been acting strange that evening. Misaki shook her head in an obvious manner and tried to change the topic.
"Of course I don't have a problem Tamayo-chan! Oh- and how are you and Kotarou doing then? I hope he's still not much of a slow guy. Is he?" the two laughed heartily at this. Then they saw the large monitor showing a green eyed blonde playing the piano producing such wonderful sounds.
"Hey Misaki, do you know Erika Lee?"
"Yes, I've heard about her. She's very nimble with the piano. She can play almost any kind of genre with her piano. Rock even." Misaki stopped at the word 'rock'. It suddenly reminded her of Hatoko. Again. Almost everything reminds her of Hatoko.
"Me too. Actually I have her album at home. I usually listen to it while studying." Then she noticed that Misaki is wandering off to another world again so she knocked her head.
"Tell me your problem Misaki. Or else I don't have any reason to be your best friend. After all, best friends are suppose to help each other." Misaki still shook her head then her eyes widened when she saw something as they were walking. She stopped walking. Tamayo stopped too and looked ahead to find out why Misaki stopped.
"Oh- Look its Hatoko!!! Hi Hatoko!!!" Tamayo energetically pulled Misaki to Hatoko. Totally oblivious of the way Misaki is trying to pull herself away from her to get away from Hatoko. But since there were many people. They lost Hatoko.
"Hmm— oh well. It's not like we won't see her again anyway. I mean there's something like a magnet between her and us." Tamayo joyfully said.
"Uh— yeah." Misaki half-heartedly said as she gazed afar. Tamayo noticed this and asked in a serious tone.
"Had you and Hatoko had a fight recently? You're awfully too glum when it's about her." She suspected. Misaki shook her head, trying to make Tamayo believe that's there's nothing wrong going on but Tamayo, being a master of masks herself could quickly tell what Misaki is thinking about.
"Come on with me to my favorite restaurant. And you'll tell all about what happened between the two of you there." Misaki sighed with grief and Tamayo silently walked her towards that particular restaurant. But it seems that it'll take the a bit of a while before getting to that restaurant with all the people crowding the place.
"Here it is. The egg of an Angelic Doll. And here are the types of clothes and fabrics that you might want to use for its battle dress and some other cool equips too." Hatoko happily said as she handed a handful to Erika who smiled in return. After putting it in the cart Hatoko pulled her to more cool places in that shop where there are a lot of things for a player's angel. Then suddenly Hatoko saw a new ninja suit on display that she's sure will fit Suzuka and so she bought one and its equips. After paying for their stuffs they stepped outside to finally eat dinner and talk more about Angelic Layer.
"Toko-chan, you really seem to love Angelic Layer very much." Erika said in sing-song as Hatoko stared at a shop window and eyed a cool new guitar.
"Yes, very." She mumbled as she eyed a new drum set besides the guitar.
"So, Toko-chan why had you played Angelic Layer in the first place?" Hatoko stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her. As if what she had just asked is a shocking question.
"What? What do you mean? MY reason?"
"— uhhh yes—"
"— I don't recall it too much. But that doesn't matter now. Now, what I've become now is thanks to this game. And that's all that matters to me now. Come on, why did you ask such a weird question?"
"Oh— it's nothing. I just wondered that's all. I mean everyone have their reason to do something right?" They stopped in their tracks again as they faced a fountain that is now strangely unoccupied.
"Yes." Hatoko silently said as she took Erika's hand softly and looked at her warmly.
"Erika— I may not be able to love you as much as you expect me too but I'll try my best to make you happy. I promise you that"
Hatoko pulled Erika's hand and her chin to kiss her with her passionate lips. Erika's shopping bag slips off her fingers as these same fingers intertwined with Hatoko's left hand as they kiss. Hatoko pushed herself away a bit and saw the daze expression on Erika's face and eyes as they opened. Hatoko leaned down and took the bags and offered her right arm for Erika. Erika rested her head a bit on her arm and sighed.
"Toko-chan— you're such a great lover." Hatoko just smiled in reply though in her thoughts all she can still think about is Misaki, along with her sad thoughts of how she wished it was Misaki whom was holding her arm right now instead of Erika. It's not that Erika is not good enough for her but—
"How about the dinner? Where would you like to have our dinner Erika?" Hatoko asked politely as Erika smiled in reply and gently tugged the end of Hatoko's black shirt and pointed to the southeast direction.
"Don't worry I know a great place to have dinner Toko-chan. So— let's go then!" she happily exclaimed as they ran together to the restaurant.
"As I was saying Misakichi— Tell me what happened!" Misaki shrugged her shoulders and turned her face the other way.
"Here we are! At AMOR et BONHEUR!" She said as Hatoko attempted a weak smile and held her hand as they entered. Then she turned her head around the place as she entered.
Misaki—?!
Hatoko—?!
"Hey, Misaki what are you looking at? You looked like you've been struck by— HATOKO!!!" Tamayo exclaimed suddenly as she looked in the direction Misaki was staring at. At the sudden call of Hatoko's name, Erika also turned to them and stared at them, silently asking why they knew Hatoko.
"Erika— would it be alright if we sit besides my other friends?" she courteously asked Erika as she nodded and walked to them. Misaki as if suddenly thrown to an icy pond had just realized that Hatoko, is currently walking to them— And with another girl whom she had known as Erika Lee.
"Hi guys." Hatoko boredly said as Tamayo sat besides Misaki to let the other two sit on the other side of the table.
"—" Misaki didn't reply.
"SO Hatoko, tell us why you're with 'Erika Lee'." Tamayo happily asked, enjoying her place in the situation as the matchmaker and adviser.
"She's—" she paused and let Erika continue.
"She'll be my partner in the band we'll be forming. I had been searching for the perfect person to be my partner lately and— I decided that it should be Toko-chan." Tamayo's eyebrow rose a bit at the term 'Toko-chan' while Misaki tried her best to ignore this girl who had just called Hatoko in a term that suspiciously looks affectionate in a way.
"Hmm— I see— congratulations then Hatoko! I'm sure that this'll be the stepping stones for you for your plans of becoming a popular music artist!"
"Yes. I'm really happy that of all people Erika had chosen me to be with her." She said with a faked smile to fool Misaki. There are two voices arguing in her mind and heart right now. One is telling to make Misaki see that she can live without her and it was a big mistake for her to have turned her down. But the voice in her heart is telling her that she should be modest enough to let Misaki know that it's okay for her to turn her down and that she'll be happy as long as she'll be happy with her decisions.
Misaki looked at the table all the while as the three talked animatedly, forgetting that she even existed in that table. Then suddenly Erika noticed her and brought up her name in the conversation once again.
"So, what's your name?" Misaki jerked her head up at the call of her presence.
"Mi-Misaki—"
"Oh I see. So you're Toko-chan's friend right?"
"uh— Yes."
"So tell me all about Toko-chan. I think you've known her for a long while now hadn't you? I want to ask you because my dear Toko-chan won't tell much about herself since she's so timid sometimes." Hatoko blushed as Erika laid her hand on top of hers on the table. Misaki's face was expressionless while Tamayo's face is somehow mixed with 40 annoyance.
"— Hatoko— is a good friend, a reliable and loyal one. She won't turn down anyone down. And would always make up for something that she had failed to do. She's very brave and—"
"Misaki stop that foolishness right now. You know perfectly that that's not true. Tamayo-san had you already ordered some food before we came here?" she coldly stated and turned to the other in a different and friendly manner.
"Uhm Yes."
"What would you like for dinner then Erika-chan?" Hatoko suddenly said as Erika blushed.
"Uhm I'd just have a simple Côte-Rôtie for my drink and a special tranche of a poulet." Hatoko sternly looked at Misaki for a second and told the waiter what they'd be ordering.
While they were eating everyone was unusually silent even Tamayo kept her mouth shut throughout the meal. All everyone did while eating was glance around to see if anyone would actually make an attempt to break the silent atmosphere around them. When everyone finally finished the meal Tamayo started the conversation.
"Hatoko, would you join this next championship then? You know the annual Angelic Layer—" to her surprise, (she was expecting her to say no because Hatoko rarely play now adays and now with Erika Lee she'll be busier than ever), Hatoko cut through her words.
"This year— I'll certainly be playing Tamayo-san." Erika and Misaki both felt some underlying meaning beneath those words and stared at her simultaneously.
"But why? I mean— It's not that I don't want you to join. I'm just curious."
"I've got my reasons—" Erika cut in and asked.
"And what are those reasons then exactly?"
"I have some unsettled business with the champion that I need to get over with." She said with a careful choice of words that struck them all. Suddenly she placed the money on the bill plate and took Erika's hand.
"Well, I'll see you both later then." She said in a tone of an insolent little child. And off they walked out the place. It was a while before Tamayo had been able to react to what had just happened. They were both staring blankly at the now empty seats when she made an attempt to talk.
"What had gotten into Hatoko?" Misaki just kept quiet again and looked away. She turned out the window and saw Hatoko and Erika walking closely together and after some minutes disappeared amongst the crowd.
"And what was she talking about some unsettled business with the champion? Aren't you the current champion of the Layer? And what was that thing that she needs to get over with you of?" she continuously asked that made Misaki finally lose her calm and exploded into tears and slumped to Tamayo like a little girl.
"Hatoko— I pained Hatoko so much. I've wasted all the effort and love she gave me by rejecting her!!!"
"Oh my―" was all Tamayo had been able to let out as Misaki sobbed silently.
"Misaki… have you already forgotten Hatoko is like inside? She'll never do anything to hurt your feelings in anyway if she knows it'll hurt you. She's not a vengeful person and I know she can't directly aim her anger at someone she hates especially… if that someone she hates is you Misaki." She softly reminded her as Misaki stopped sobbing but tears still came out her eyes.
"And Misaki, Hatoko is the most patient and understanding person we know. She's rather kill herself than force you to do anything. She won't force you to love her because she truly loves you. And the reason why I said that she truly loves you is that she'd rather stand the pain than forcing herself that she'll ever have your heart even though she could if she forced you into it. She would always try to understand you though it pains her. Take the pain away from you if possible. I believe she always loved you and I'm pretty sure she still does until now." Then she smiled.
"Besides… knowing Hatoko's taste, she's just using Erika Lee as a cover-up for the pain and tries to fool you that she's okay and that you were no different from other women to make you feel more at ease. And this makes it easier for you to hate her so it's also easy for her to forget you because she wants you to be happy."
"How can hating her make me happier?"
"If you hate her you'll have 0 of even thinking of liking her. And she'd have 0 chances of ever having your love so she can't hope again. And with that both your lives will be all happy and dandy."
"Is that why?"
"Hatoko is a martyr at heart Misaki. But you don't have to love her back just because of all the things I've told you right now. It's your decision. I only told you these things so that you'll understand that Hatoko understands and accepts your decision even if it hurts her so much. So you should accept this too in respect of Hatoko's sacrifices for you." She lastly said and took out a hanky and gave it to her.
"Thank you Tamayo for being such a great best friend." Tamayo grinned and embraced her good old friend.
"You're welcome Misakichi. I'm sorry that words are the only things I could give you."
"No, it's more than enough for me to realize Hatoko's real intentions Tamayo-chan."
"eh?"
"Yes. I got it as I listened to your words and remembered her words a while ago."
"…"
"Still don't get it?"
"Yep, I still didn't get it." She replied with her usual grin and they both giggled.