I'm so happy, though, I found the full version to Denwa Shite Iwachan from Adventures of the Mini-Goddess. It's such a sweet little song. I watched part of the series with a friend, and he'd sing along to that song laughs so it got stuck in my head. That and songs from Galaxy Angel, which I have yet to see. Go me and my web searching skillz. cough Anyway, I have an idea for a title page to this fic in my head, so hopefully I'll get around to drawing it. I've actually had two different ideas, but this was more original.
To all the people who were reading gelatinoussugar's fanfic "Sleepover", it's going to be moved to the R section in a few days or so. Just passing the word along. I've been reading it. Without further ado, please enjoy the next chappie. Sorry it's so shortish.
Chapter Eight - Friction
"Shirogane! What are you doing here!" she demanded, bristling after she had recovered.
"It's nice to see you again, too. Momomiya Ichigo. But, you're not a college student..."
"Ofcourse I'm not! Masaya invited me to come with him," she said indignantly. So much for a happy reunion. I eased out of her way so she could pour herself a glass of punch. My brain had gone blank and I had no idea what to say to her. She took a sip of the liquid then stared up at me, "What are you doing here, though?"
"I was invited by one of my students," I answered, my voice returning to me.
"Students! Don't tell me you're a teacher at Tokyo U!" she gawked.
"Yeah. I started a few days ago."
Ichigo brushed a strand of hair out of her face, "I feel really sorry for your class, you know?"
"Why? Professor Shirogane is a really good teacher. If it wasn't for him, I never would have figured out how DNA really works," came the voice of the student who had invited me, a grin spread across his face, "Thanks for coming. Is she your girlfriend or something?"
"No, I'm just a... um... friend..." she answered for me, face reddening in annoyance, "He isn't exactly my type." Stab.
"Oh, I see, sorry about that!" he laughed and waved as he retreated towards a group of his friends.
"Maybe you are a decent teacher, then," she admitted with a shrug, "Then again... how much did you pay him to say that?"
I frowned, "I didn't pay him to say anything. I do have my dignity..."
Ichigo gave a little shrug, "I guess you're still living in the cafe, playing with your computers and bossing the other girls around, right?"
My patience level fell considerably, I had to fight to keep my composure and not yell, "No. I mean, yes, I still live at the cafe, but we closed. After you left the rest of the girls disbanded. Keiichiro's off in Egypt and all; he probably won't be back anytime soon."
"D-d-disbanded? You mean, there's no longer a...?"
"When there's no longer a need to fight..." my voice trailed off.
Ichigo was silent for a long time, before finally asking, "But you still see them all the time, right?" She waved her hand lightly as if it was no big deal.
"No."
"No!" she blinked slowly.
"I met Lettuce again through a job, then she tracked down Pudding... Mint's living in Kyoto somewhere and Zakuro's off shooting a movie," I explained.
"And I was in London... And Keiichiro..." she slowly came to understand everything, "It's really over."
I gave a slight nod, replying gravely, "So it would seem."
"I actually kind of miss working at the cafe with everyone... at times it was fun, and even though it took away from my free time, it wasn't that bad protecting the Earth... Not really." I had never seen Ichigo so serious and thoughtful before, it was actually kind of shocking.
"Ofcourse... if you weren't such a jerk all the time, maybe I would be missing it more right now," she added, cutting a glare in my direction.
"Oh well, too late now," I said with a fake sigh.
"Geez! You! Wait... job?"
"Yeah..." Boy she's slow as ever.
"You mean Lettuce is a teacher also?" Ichigo was not getting it at all.
"No! Through a different job," I grumbled.
"What kind of job would that be? I really can't imagine you working at all..." she traced the side of her head with her finger, "Ichigo Vision. Let's see... I'm trying really hard... and I'm seeing you... in an office doing something boring like paperwork."
"No. It was an outdoor job," I offered.
"Oh! You drove a garbage truck around? I can see you crashing into a mailbox... and there goes a cat..."
"No!" I was quickly becoming exhausted.
"...you became the mascot for the local soccer team?"
"Give up, baka..." I growled.
"But now I'm curious, Shirogane! What sort of job would you possibly be willing to do?" she frowned a bit in frustration.
"None of your business..." I insisted, flicking her squarely in the middle of the forehead. Her head jerked back as I did so and her cheeks turned an angry crimson. She looked about ready to dig her heel into my shin, but she didn't.
"I really hate you! But... tell me!" she whined as she clenched her free hand into a fist.
"Make me," I shot back.
Ichigo bit her lower lip, her face turning into a smirk (which didn't suit her at all) as she swung her leg forward and stomped her heel down right on my big toe.
"Ow!" I yelled, wincing. This brought back memories... such lovely memories of her mangling my foot at the party several years back. I had had to soak my foot in epsom salts for a week after the incident.
Ichigo looked a bit regretful, but pointed out the obvious, "You told me to make you."
"Yeah, I know..." I squeaked.
"Then what kind of job was it?"
Recovering, I looked off in another direction, "The pool. I was a lifeguard for the summer."
"A lifeguard?" The red head took her time processing this information, like a really early computer model, "I sooo cannot see you as a lifeguard."
"Oh well."
"Lettuce on the other hand... I think a job like that would be really good for her, you know?"
"I think so as well," I admitted.
A slight smile graced Ichigo's face. Thinking back on it now, that was probably one of the few times I had actually agreed with her on any subject, but I knew that smile was meant for her friend.
"So, you've been doing pretty well, huh?" she figured, her spirits perking up again.
"I guess... you still haven't told me what you've been doing..."
"Better than ever, I'd say! Masaya got accepted into Tokyo U, so we came back here for the semester. It was kind of a pain transferring back into highschool here, though. Then again, it doesn't really much matter... Masaya's getting his own appartment next week. And-"
"Ichigo..." I interrupted.
"Huh?" she stopped her ranting, blinking.
"I asked about you, not Aoyama-kun..."
"I was talking about me," insisted Ichigo, "After all, you asked. So, anyway, my guidance counselor is giving me a hard time because I haven't decided what I want to do."
"Guidance counselors are always like that," I said, "There are so many students, that unless you make yourself known, the counselors won't really be able to help you. They just suggest the path that sounds the best to them in general. They want you to have a determined area of study, sure, but it isn't necessary. I'm sure you'll figure out what it is you want to do with your life someday."
"I already know that. I just don't know what to major in!"
"That's what I meant..."
Ichigo continued without hearing, "I want to be a bride, and wear a beautiful wedding dress as I walk down the church aisle towards the man I love! I want to get married for real this time! And have a kid, maybe two or three, and a honeymoon in Paris, and kiss him goodbye as he goes off to work every day 'Bye-bye, my love, have a good day' and bake sweets and cuddle by the fireoncolddays and getmarriedagain every anniversary and grow old together ohandIforgot about the-"
I cleared my throat. Girls are so weird...
Another blush crept across her face, "Ah! Not that it's any of your business! Quit staring at me like that, Shirogane!"
"'Scuse me..." I grumbled, resting my hands on my hips and looking off at something else.
"Well... what about you?" she questioned, "What's the self-proclaimed genius planning to do with his future?"
I turned my head so that I could see her out of the corner of my eye. Sighing, I shifted and crossed my arms.
"Well, nothing like what my life is right now, that's for sure."
"How so?" she prodded.
"Hrmmm... I suppose I'd like to live out the rest of my life somewhere other than a flashy pink cafe, with the people I care about close by. I guess I wouldn't mind getting married, but I can't really imagine such a thing."
"Neither can I..."
"We agree, then." A lie. I could remember dreaming of a marriage ceremony once before. Only once. I had stood at the front of a church, decorated with white and pink flowers. As family and friends stood to announce the arrival of my bride, the same sweet face I was watching now had smiled back at me from under that wedding veil.
She was silent, then added, "You'll be a scientist for the rest of your life?"
"I suppose..." my voice trailed off as I made a motion with my hand, "Lifeguarding is not exactly my idea of a dream job, but teaching does fit into the whole scientist thing..."
"Not surprising."
"Ichigo. Can I ask you something?" I finally managed.
"Hmn?" she had taken another sip of punch, but sat the glass down now and gave me her attention.
"Well, you see..." I paused, suddenly doubting whether or not should actually spill these words, "I..."
"Ichigo!" came a new voice, though it was one I had heard plenty of times before.
"Eh? Masaya!" she announced, immediately brightening and putting on her biggest smile.
The dark-haired boy offered a brief nod in my direction before turning back to Ichigo, "Would you like to dance?"
"Sure!" she chirped.
I watched as the two ventured off into the middle of the crowd. A very loud song had begun blaring through the speakers, with a distinct beat to it. Rap. Hiphop. Something like that. The mob seemed to be moving in unison. The girls positioned in front of their dates, rocking from side to side, knees bent. As I mentioned before, this was not a type of dancing that appealed to the eye. Catching glimpses of the once-was catgirl in that sea, leaning back against her boyfriend, left an empty and sickened feeling inside of me. She was happy. It was then that I realized I'd never be able to tell her the truth, not that she would care anyway. Gosh, Ryou, you saw her again! You had plenty of time to tell her... but you didn't! Just forget it. Isn't seeing her one more time enough? Just let it go. Let her go. Just let her be happy.
I travelled silently, unnoticed, towards the exit. I guessed I wouldn't be missed by anyone.
-
The walk home was spent contemplating everything. Everything. Even things that had nothing to do with me. My brain would not be quieted, no matter how hard I tried. I felt weary, but the noise inside my head kept me awake, though not necessarily alert to the world around me. It had begun raining gently, but even the cascade of drops did nothing to wash away my memories.
Obviously not paying attention, I took a step into the road before the light had changed, and I was met with the ear-splitting protest of a truck's horn and the raspy cursings of its driver. As it sped past (luckily I had gotten out of the way), water from the edge of the street splashed up onto my shoes and jeans. The coldness finally managed to sink into me. Not all of it was from the rain, part of it was from being alone. I needed someone to talk to. I needed a shoulder to cry on, or even just two generous ears to listen to me. These feelings were ones I had always tried to ignore, but it seemed like the weight of my very existance was coming crashing down on top of me, burying my purpose for being. I had neglected to bring along my cellphone, which was stupid on my part.
I turned down a side street and took a seat on the curb. I should have gone home, but I didn't. Not yet. I curled my arms around my legs and shivered. Everything looked like a black and white silent film. The only noise was the buzz of the rain as it filtered through gutters and down from the rooftops of the city.
"I guess these feelings have taken some sort of toll on me... Darn it. Wallowing in self-pity like a little girl. What's wrong with you?" I scolded. I was certain I looked awful and was drenched to the bone, literally.
"You just don't want to be alone. You're scared of being alone. It never bugged you before, but now that the project's over and everyone has gone their seperate ways, you're afraid. Because the truth is, they're the people you cared about, and the people who were your friends. And you want to hold on to that, and keep them close to you, so the same thing won't happen to them as did..." My voice was only a whisper, but it still cracked. "And you selfishly want those feelings to be mutual." I rose violently and struck the brick wall with my hand. It soon grew numb and the spot where my knuckle had hit turned dark. I cursed silently. The dampness seemed to be sucking the strength out of me. I hadn't realized, but I was really tired.
"You should call Lettuce when you get back..." I counseled myself, stretching in attempts to return to my normal and more confident state. Didn't help much. Lettuce was the type of person who understood all sorts of people. I can still remember when she first showed up at Cafe Mew Mew with a group of girls who were real snobs. She had associated with them because she wanted to help them. Pudding on the other hand, had raised money by performing in the park to support her family. Although Pudding could be fun at times, she could also be annoying, and if I talked to her, she'd just ask a million questions.
Another noise rose above the sound of the rain. I turned my head slightly in order to determine the source of it, but it didn't come again. I didn't really care what it was at the moment. Getting a mug of hot chocolate and making that call seemed like a much better idea to me. I began sloshing back towards the cafe, when I finally heard the sound again. It was a pitiful little cry, sounding much like a small child. Why? If it hadn't sounded so helpless and desperate, I could have easily walked away, but if it was a someone in need of help, how could I refuse them? It wasn't ethical, and it wasn't something that I was going to do.
Retracing my steps carefully, I wove my way through a darkened, cluttered alley. Where is it? Where? My eyes scanned the shadows, finally adjusting a bit so that I could make out shapes.
It came again, this time a meer squeak.
"Where are you?" I asked, though my voice was muted by the precipitation, "Hey. I'm trying to find you... tell me where you are so I can help... please."
An aluminum can toppled off the edge of a trash can and bounced off the ground with a clatter. Jumping about two feet it the air, I quickly averted my attention to the source of the commotion. It came staggering towards me. If it had been possible, I would have said it looked like it had consumed too much alcohol. Stumbling, it plopped onto the ground, eyes closed and let out another squeak.
"So there you are. I didn't think I was going to find you."
Knelting down beside it, I reached out a hand to collect the waterlogged form in my arms. A soft murmur escaped its lips as it fell silent. Life sure is ironic sometimes.
"We both look like something the dog dragged in, huh?" I muttered, wrapping my jacket around it. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of this rain. I promise."
sidenote: If you've read anything about "Kokoro", you'll recognize a lot of these elements. The lack of spaces shows that she's talking really fast.
You might notice this line is a play of the lyrics to "This Love" by Maroon 5
A/N: Chapter Nine, "Caught Without an Umbrella". We're halfway! I dunno whether to be happy or sad. O.o I've had the ideas for this next chapter for a while now. I was gonna use it in Kokoro Roleplay, but it wouldn't really fit, so it's going here. I'm still trying to decide how to approach this chapter, though... hrm...
Oh yeah, the ending of this fanfic is going to be like a bonus chapter, so anyone who can come up with things people could do at a birthday party, TELL ME, and I might add them to the story. I want the last installment to be light and happy and funny. Thanks!