Disclaimer: Not the creator of Vocaloid, not the person who made this particular English rendition, don't sue.
Chapter 4
The church bells tolled loudly, the chorus of their song echoing within the narrow space of their tower, the sound in consequence resounding louder in the small square garden and the empty halls that surrounded it. Birds flew, startled from their perches, creating a living cloud of darkness that blackened the blue sky and shadowed the ground below them.
Within this small, serene garden stood Mikuo, sighing heavily as he idly watched the birds above him find new grounds to perch and rest in. Several days had passed since he had last seen Akaiko, and he grew to miss her terribly. Ever since his rejection of her feelings, she had almost literally disappeared from the face of the earth, eluding him for all those days he had searched persistently for her. In the end, he had given up, pathetically convincing himself that she would reappear again when she was ready to, when she came to terms with the pining love he had left in her gentle heart. If he had only been more attentive this might have never happened.
He may have never lost such a precious friend.
In this self-lothing and self-pity, a gentle rustling drew his attention, the realization that he was no longer alone startling him. To his far right was a man, a ghost of a sad smile curving gentle lips. His pale, oval face and the fiery red hair that so handsomely framed that face seemed to bask in an etherial glow, ensnaring the unsuspecting male in that alluring beauty the other softly radiated. His lean figure was tall and slim, clothed in clothing in hues of grays and browns that did nothing to dim the handsomeness of his features. Soft garnet eyes boldly peering from long red bangs met his emerald ones, entrapping them in a spell silently spoken by the strange, almost dangerous charm the other so possessed, quietly asking him to look at the other and only the other.
Mikuo felt his heart flutter, cheeks warming as a pale pink dusted them, his emerald eyes widening as he fell, fell hard, forgetting anything and everything save the handsome, beautiful man who stood before him, looking upon him with a hidden sadness he so yearned to heal.
In that small moment of time when their eyes came to meet, Mikuo felt the world for a moment still, and in that pocket of unmoving time he was drowning, drowning in those endless pools of crimson, those eyes so like sparkling ruby gems that reflected all like flawless mirrors. So beautiful... Had he lost himself in their depths, he could have cared little if he never found his way out of them.
A sudden yearning anchored itself into his once captured heart, sweeping him off his feet and into the grasp of the stranger before him. And as he saw the other approach, Mikuo felt his mouth go dry, his heart thunder in his chest, the blood in his veins pound loudly, his world fading and narrowing to only himself and the man who had now stolen his formerly enamored heart.
"Hello," came the greeting, the deep, velvet voice that had uttered it sending pleasurable shivers down his spine, the smile that formed on the handsome stranger's lips creating pesky little butterflies in his stomach.
"H-hello," Mikuo stuttered nervously, finding it hard to speak when his throat was dry and the space that separated them both became smaller and smaller, weak against that smile directed towards him.
"What's a beautiful thing like you doing here alone?" asked the other, almost in gentle teasing, leaning slightly in.
"O-oh...I...I'm just enjoying the garden."
Wasn't I here for something? the green haired man asked himself, finding it hard to think when less than a yard of space separated them.
"By yourself? What a shame!"
Cheeks burning bright red, Mikuo looked away, finding the attention he received both flattering and disconcerting. The fact he couldn't get his bearings around this gorgeous man helped his situation little. "N-not a shame a-at all, really..." he murmured softly.
The stranger, as if in thought, paused for a moment before asking: "Would you care to join me for a stroll? I'd be honored to take a bit of your time."
Mikuo's breath caught in his throat, his eyes once again meeting with crimson orbs as he looked up in his surprise. Once they met, he couldn't help the answer that both willingly and unwillingly tumbled from his trembling lips. "Yes..." came the breathy whisper, his new desire flaring at the beaming smile sent his way at the positive response.
"Then, come," the stranger said as he straightened, pulling away much to the smaller man's disappointment. His hand was outstretched and waiting patiently for him, and timidly it was accepted, a small jolt of electricity flowing through his body once their hands touched. How Mikuo wished his own gloved hand was unclothed, wishing suddenly to feel the other's skin against his, even in an innocent touch such as this.
The wedding! Your wedding!
Your bride!
"I'm Akaito," the other said, taking hold of Mikuo's small hand with an almost tender touch.
"I'm Mikuo," the newly enamored man shyly replied, gracing Akaito with a shy and dazzling smile that the other, without his knowledge, deeply reveled in.
Wedding? What wedding?
What bride?
Why did that matter?
"What a lovely name."
A/N: Please review! Constructive criticism and your general thoughts would be very much appreciated.