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Songs: In Bloom by Nirvana
CHAPTER 15
RUKA
I sat on the Tower B's rooftop. It's almost four in the morning. I can't sleep. Aoi's appearance had brought back all those memories.
"Natsume…" his name unintentionally escaped my mouth.
"What about him?" A wave of shock jolted me as I heard another's voice. My eyes widened as I saw a girl with chestnut colored hair which hung loosely up to her mid back, wearing a white tank top and light pink terry cloth shorts with plenty bunny faces with different expressions printed on it, which reaches up to her mid thighs, revealing her long (for an Asian) flawless legs.
I can feel my heart beat faster again. Air escaping my lungs, I cannot breathe. Chills ran through my whole body, impossible to happen during mid July's summer heat. I am again nervous.
"Sakura!" I said, surprised as I snap out of my reverie. "How long have you been here?" I asked. She smiled as she answered, "Long enough to hear you whisper 'Natsume'." She laughed as she took the seat next to me.
We watched the city lights flicker from behind the 10 feet high wall made of metal net.
"Beautiful isn't it?" She asked. I looked at her as the sky breeze blew her hair.
"Beautiful." I said as I looked at her breathtaking beauty.
"Ruka-pyon?" She said as she turned her head, catching me unexpectedly, though still ignorant of the fact. "Why is it that Natsume was full of anger and sadness?" She asked.
I turned my head in her question. She was looking rather bothered. "Is that why you came here?" I asked.
"Actually, when I saw him with Yuki Aoi, I felt so intimidated. They look so… sweet. Intimate." She said sadly. For some reason, I can sense jealousy in the way she spoke those words. I too felt jealous of Natsume.
"They're long lost siblings." I said, not able to stop myself from trusting the girl. "Natsume had a tough childhood." I said. "His mother died when he was 8 and Aoi was 7. We were already friends back then. We went into this private school, that's how we met and became friends." I recalled. "Then just one morning, he was called into the office. The headmaster said his mother, the famous Kaoro Igarashi, was found dead on her bedroom's bathroom. And on her hand was a syringe. And around her was a bottle of heroin. She died of overdose." I said sadly. Everytime I remember this story, I can't help but cry for Natsume. That was only the beginning of his long journey of suffering.
I heard a soft sob from Sakura. She was crying. "Hey?" I pat her back. "I'm sorry." She said as she wiped the tears using the back of her palm. "I never knew that he had a tough time."
"That's not even half of it." I said with a sigh.
"What do you mean?" she asked, surprised.
"His father was a very talented man. He used to be in a band too. And when he retired, he became a painter. When the police found the heroin beside his mother's body, the police looked everywhere else for other drugs. They found a lot so they took his father away. They had to be passed on to his father's 'friend', Persona. The one who brought his father those drugs." I shuddered as I remembered the masked man, always wearing a long black coat.
"That's horrible." Sakura whispered.
"The masked man never treated him right. He and Aoi were so upset and he told them "Why linger on the past? Try some of these," as he handed them some ecstasy. They were only 8! They didn't know what those pills were."
"Natsume is actually-"
"He never again did it." I said immediately. He knew that it was bad. But Aoi…" I said softly. "
Anyway. On their mother's funeral, only a few relatives appeared, embarrassed that Ms. Kaoro died of drug overdose, and that the husband got caught possessing illegal drugs. Though there were many fans outside of the wake. There, trouble met Natsume and Aoi again. A girl with black hair and brown eyes entered a room, together with a twelve-year old boy with raven hair and blue eyes. A boy that resembles his father so much. You should have seen Natsume's reaction when he saw the boy." I told Sakura as she listened silently.
"He was so surprised. Especially when the woman, hand in hand with the boy, walked towards Natsume. He looked at the boy, horrified. It was like seeing his father, a younger version of his father. Like those he saw in the photo albums.
"The woman asked him: "You must be Natsume Hyuuga. I am Aneka Andou. Your mother and I used to be best friends. This your half-brother, Tsubasa Andou."
"Tsubasa?" Mikan asked, surprised. "As in T-t-tsubasa?" She stammered.
"Apparantly, four years before Natsume's father and mother had gotten married, he had an affair with Andou's mother. She said Andou was a one-night-stand child. And she never wanted Mr. Hyuuga to know for it will destroy hers and his relationship with Ms. Kaoro, so she disappeared before they notice that she's pregnant. But they were there, at the wake, to see Ms. Kaoro one last time."
"Enough…" Mikan whispered shakily. "I-I-I-" She stammered as tears flowed from her eyes.
"You don't need to-"
"How could I be so terrible to someone who had such a terrible life?" She said as she sobbed on my shoulders suddenly. My mind instinctively wrapped my arms around her.
"I now understand, why you chose to be with Natsume." She said as she pulled back and wiped her tears again. She gave a sigh, them smiled at me. I looked away as I felt myself blushing.
"Look Ruka-pyon! The sun is shining already!" She exclaimed happily as she stood on her feet.
"I think it's time for us to sleep." I said, smiling at her, for the first time. "I think so too!" she said as she led me through the forest landscape of the rooftop, to the elevator doors.
"Sakura." I whispered as we were going down the elevator.
"What is it?" She asked with a small smile on her face, looking at me.
"Don't let anyone know that I told you about Natsume's life." I said.
"I promise I wont tell a soul."
"Good." I said as I smiled at her. The elevator gave a small ting, opening its doors to our floor.
"Good mornight Ruka-pyon!" She said as she closed her unit's door.
"Good mornight too." I whispered to no one as I closed my unit's door.
MIKAN
"What?!" I exclaimed over our mid afternoon snacks table.
"My parents kept on asking about it. And they allowed me to go here in one condition, to still apply for college even if it takes me ten years to graduate." Nobara said, tears now forming in her eyes. I sighed.
"So where are you going tomorrow?" I asked. Apparently, the long time I held a grudge on them for that almost rape scene (which up to now, they don't know), she has book a flight, and it's tomorrow.
"UC Berkley." She said. "WHAT! B-b-but that's on the other coast!" I shouted. "Who's gonna be our bassist tomorrow?" I asked.
"Correction. 'Til August." Nonoko said gloomily.
"WHAT?! What do you mean 'til August?!" I exclaimed.
"Well, I also wanted to see Yale, Brown, and Harvard." She reasoned. I flopped back on my seat, trying my best to relax, calm down.
"So we need to find another bassist to sub us for two weeks." I said, calmly. "Yuri?" Nobara suggested. "You're pretty close with Digitally Manipulated right?"
"Not Yuri really." I said. "But I'll try." I said as I sighed.
"I'm sorry." Nobara said. "But Nobara, please, do apply in Columbia University." I begged. "O-okay."
"Thanks." I said as I stood up.
"Where are you going?" Anna asked, wide-eyed.
"I need to find Yuri! Ta Ta!" I said as I fleeted and headed towards the elevator.
When the elevator finally arrived on our floor, it revealed a Natsume, Ruka, and Tsubasa.
I stared at them dumbfounded. Half brothers. My mind immediately thought. They got out quietly, as if nothing happened. Like they were complete strangers. But you can sense the tension in the air.
"Mikan." Tsubasa patted me. "You just missed the elevator." I just stared at him. "Is there something wrong?" He smiled at me. I snapped out of my reverie.
"AH!" I exclaimed. Act like you don't know, my brain immediately processed.
"OH NO!" I exclaimed again.
"What's wrong with you?" he said as he laughed, tickling me on my waist.
"AH! Tsubasa!" I said as I laughed hard.
"Spacing off is not good Mikan!" He said as he tickled me harder.
"KYAAAA- I- haha- I-"
"OW!" Tsubasa immediately stopped tickling me. He held his head. "Why did you do that?" He asked Natsume furiously.
"You're too damn noisy. " He said as he slapped Tsubasa's head.
"HEY! I'M OLDER THAN YOU!" Tsubasa said.
"You two idiots, stop flirting in public, disgusting." He remarked as he turned his back on us. Ruka smiled at me.
"Hey, now, wait a minute!" I said as I ran towards him.
"What?" he said with an impassive look.
"We're not flirting!" I defensively said.
Suddenly, he grabbed my waist, pulling me closer to him. I was in a state of shock. I can feel his body heat, his warm steady breathing on my cheeks. I felt my face getting redder.
My heart beat faster against my chest. I can't breathe. The closeness is to intoxicating. For the first time in my life, something in my stomach started fluttering wildly that it makes me sick when I gazed at his face. His cold crimson eyes were examining my face quietly. His expression was impassive, as always.
"You were… strawberries." he whispered in my ears slowly, then he pushed be back to Tsubasa. "AH!" I was thankful that Tsubasa caught me.
"PERVERT! What the hell's wrong with you!" I retorted.
"You're to stupid." He said as he walked away.
"What the hell!" I exclaimed. "That's so blunt!" frustrated, I told Tsubasa. He laughed.
"Never mind him." He said as he pat my head. "Hey, since it's payday today, wanna go shopping?"
Payday?
"I don't have a salary yet." I said miserably.
"What do you mean you don't?!" He asked as his voiced raised in shock. "Of course you do! Didn't you get your ATM and bank book from Hotaru?" he said.
"When?" I asked.
"Last night!"
Oh my god. I haven't talked to Hotaru yet! And I'm still mad at her for ditching me, which almost had me raped!
"Eh, still ignoring them?" Tsubasa asked.
"Well…" I started. Now that I think of it, I haven't talked to her in two or three weeks. And it sounds pathetic. "God, I'm such an idiot." I muttered to myself. "I haven't talked to Hotaru in weeks, and then there's this bassist problem!" I complained to Tsubasa as I waited for the elevator again.
"What bassist problem?" Tsubasa asked.
"Well, that reminds me! I need to talk to Yuri, since Nobara will be taking a break for two weeks to apply for college. And we need a bassist to sub her. DO you know where she is?" I asked.
"Well, Yuri is always fully booked. She also has this other band, you know." Tsubasa explained.
"So I can't ask her?" I asked now anxious. Who will be our bassist?
"Yes." He said flatly.
"Can't I atleast give it a try?" I begged him.
"Fine. But I tell you now, she'll say no." I sighed. "Where can I find her now anyway?" I asked instead.
"Oh, their band is recording, you know in our floor. Just look at the windows there, when you see Hotaru or Yuu, it's them."
"Great! I can talk to Hotaru too!" I said positively.
"Good luck with that." Tsubasa said as he turned his back on me.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," I exclaimed as I pulled him. "Come with me!" I begged. "Then we can go shopping after I asked of my salary."
The elevator arrived with a ting and I pulled him inside.
"So, how are you and Kaname?" He asked with a smile on his face. "What do you feel about him anyway?" He asked. I thought of his question. What do I feel about Kaname?
"I don't know." I said truthfully. "You see, I'm a bit abnormal." I laughed at my words. "How would you know if you're actually, inlove?" I asked him seriously.
"Well…" He started off, but was lost in deep thought. "There're these butterflies in your stomach."
"What do you mean?" I asked confused.
"Fluttering." He further explained. "Like, making you sick. And," he emphasized, "it's hard to breathe. Makes you nervous and all.
WHAT THE HELL. LIKE. LIKE. WITH NATSUME?
"A-a-are you s-sure?" I asked. He suddenly flashed me a suspicious look.
"You're feeling something like that towards someone?" He asked with a smug expression.
"N-n-no I don't!" I exclaimed.
"In denial stage." Tsubasa said with a laugh. "I see." He said, still having that smugness. "Let me guess… Kaname?" He said with a jolly expression that I couldn't help but look away. It's not Kaname. How could I not feel like that towards Kaname? He's such a good guy.
"Oh." Tsubasa said softly, as he looked at me. "You don't like Kaname don't you?" he said with disappointment.
"I-I-I-" I sighed. "If those butterflies are your description of love…" I can't bear to go on, disappointment filling me too. "I mean, I don't have butterflies with Kaname. I'm too comfortable with him to even feel those butterflies. He's just so fun to be with!" I exclaimed in frustration. I desperately looked at Tsubasa. "Are you sure you get those butterflies when you're inlove?" I asked with a sigh.
"Hey," he said as he smiled at me. "Don't force yourself to like Kaname." He said. The elevator gave a small ting, telling us that it is already our destination. We hopped off of the elevator and walked towards the bridge.
"But don't give him too much hope." He advised. "And I'll make sure to help him on that part." He said.
"What part?" I asked, confused.
"The part where you don't see him the same way as he does." He said. "Don't worry about it too much. The sooner you tell him, the better." He explained. I sigh.
"I'm such a pain in the butt." I said miserably.
"No. Anyway, we're here." Tsubasa said as he led me into one of the studios. Rock music was heard loudly. There was a band of four. Yuri on bass, a young looking guy with dark hair on the drums, a guy with a hidden face, and a blond dude with a hint of feminine feautures on his face but has a deep voice.
We can have some more
Nature is a whore
Bruises on the fruit
Tender age in bloom
He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
when I say
He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
when I say yeah
Then this guy, who was hiding his face with his raven hair and mask, did a super amazing solo. Making his silver Fender Stratocaster wail for a very long time.
He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
when I say
He's the one
Who likes all our pretty songs
And he likes to sing along
And he likes to shoot his gun
But he knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
Knows not what it means
Knows not what it means and I say yeah
"Yuri!" Tsubasa exclaimed when the song finished, as we walked towards her. "Mikan wants to ask something from you." He said as he pushed me towards her.
"What is it?" She asked me nicely with a smile.
"Well, I- Our band's bassist is going on a leave for her college application, so I was wondering, can you be her sub? It's only two weeks!" I begged her. She sighed.
"I'm sorry." She said. "You see, these are my other band mates." She said, gesturing to the guys around her. "By the way, that's Rui Aname on vocals and shred. Hajime Yakumo on lead, and Hayate Matsudaira on drums." She said. Though, they guys really didn't give a damn and was just playing with their instruments. "Anyway," she said with an apologetic look, "I'm sorry I can't be of any help. I always have a gig with these guys. I'm sorry."
"That's alright." I said with a smile. I waved goodbye to her and headed to the other room to talk to Hotaru.
"Mikan." She greeted me without looking.
"Hotaru." I said plainly.
"I thought you're not talking to me." She said.
"I-I-" I glanced around, it was the two of us alone in the electronics booth. "I'm sorry." I said with a sigh. "The night of our first gig, I was almost…"
"Raped." She said, continuing the words I cannot say.
"How did-"
"Nogi." She said plainly. "He came marching towards me early next morning, reprimanding me on how can I leave you all alone in this unfamiliar city." She said as she faced me, looking in my eyes. I was speechless. "I was so mad at myself when I heard about it." She stopped as she heard me sob. Immediately, I ran to hug her.
"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have held a grudge!" I said, frustrated by my stupidity. "I'm so stupid! What made me think that I could trust everybody here, please don't say sorry to me Hotaru, it's my entire fault. I'm so stupid."
"I'm sorry too Mikan." She said as she hugged me. For a minute, we were just holding each other.
"Okay. Let's stop being dramatic." Hotaru said as she pushed me aside roughly. I laughed as I wiped away my tears. "Mean." I said, smiling as I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.
"Here." She said as she handed me a small rectangular book. It was my bankbook. "Your very first salary." She said with a smile. "The ATM card is inside." She added.
My lips curved upward. "THANK YOU!" I said as I ran towards her, earning a taste of her idiot gun. "One is enough. Two is too much." She said cruelly. "Now go and buy some clothes. Your such an outfit repeater." She said as she kicked me out of the booth literally. "OW!" I exclaimed.
"You alright?" Tsubasa said as he helped me up.
"I guess?" I said standing up. "Anyway, look Tsubasa!" I bragged my bankbook and ATM to him. "Just in time! That Rui guy is scary!" He said as we dashed out of the building and into the Manhattan's busy streets.
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I'm too lazy to type anything :-