Paradoxical Composition
By: irish d' salmon luver
Author's Ramble: I would never bother with the detail of this so-called Chanoyu thing. I want to write a fanfic, not the definition and description of a tea ceremony.
Disclaimer: Hey, I don't even have the Bakugan toys! How am I supposed to have the Bakugan Battle Brawlers?!
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Chapter 03: Of Tea Ceremony and Elegance
It began with an invitation.
"Chanoyu? What the heck is that?" asked the ever-so-curious Julie.
"Chanoyu, or chadō, is a Japanese tea ceremony. It's a very traditional culture of our country, and it's quite prestigious. You can say a woman considered elegant if she could perform the ceremony perfectly," explained Runo like it was a matter of fact. The Brawlers had just gotten an invitation of Chanoyu from Shun. His grandpa was very bored, and decided it would be the best opportunity to teach some manner to those teens.
Julie stared at her blue haired friend with her greatest interest.
"Why does tea-making need a ceremony?"
Runo sighed. Sometimes people could be so ignorant.
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"Do we have to wear kimono? OMG, it's so exciting!!" exclaimed Julie. Runo's mother lent some of her old kimono to Julie and Alice because it was impossible for them to borrow Runo, given the fact she was the smallest girl of the group. Julie chose the pink one (of course), Alice picked a green kimono and Runo decided to wear her white kimono.
"Actually, nowadays we don't have to wear kimono. You can wear something formal. But I want to see you girls wear one, tee-hee," Runo's mother smiled cheerfully. Runo's father was already waiting with camera in his hand.
"Remember, we have to keep our composure. Talk as necessary, move elegantly, and no whimpering," Runo glared at Julie, "There will be no seat, we have to kneel down. If you're clueless of what to do, just watch me. I've come to Chanoyu before, so I know the rules. Questions?"
"How long is Chanoyu?" asked Alice.
"It depends. Maybe it lasts for one hour or so."
A look of horror appeared on Julie's face.
"You mean… we have to kneel down for, like, one hour??"
Runo nodded. "Well, it might be hard for you, Julie. You can't even sit down properly for half an hour." Alice slapped Runo's hand lightly, "That's harsh, Runo. Sure Julie can manage herself, right Julie?"
Alice looked at her other friend, only to find the silver haired girl already turned into stone with mortified look plastered on her face.
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The Brawlers arrived at Shun's place. The ninja boy had expected them and greeted them, but a look of surprise still managed to escape from his eyes as he saw Julie came too. He didn't miss her horrified expression. He had guessed she had been told the rules of Chanoyu, and concluded that she might back off. That's why he surprised to see her here, but amused to see the horror on her face.
'Let's see how long she can stand it,' he thought, 'she may lack of elegance, but she sure is full of guts.'
XXX
"I'm gonna die."
It was only fifteen minutes since the ceremony started, but for poor Julie, it seemed like one century in hell. She couldn't feel her feet, the kimono sucked her breath away, and the silence… she could bear her feet, she could bear the killer kimono, but she couldn't bear the silence! How was she supposed to stay quiet along the ceremony?!
The tension built so much, she couldn't hold it any longer, and she fainted. Just fainted.
XXX
"You suck, you know that?"
Julie glared at Shun. It seemed when she fainted, Shun was the one to carry her to guest bedroom. The others might be continuing the so-called Chanoyu. She was a bit pissed to see that her friends prioritized the deadly ceremony before her, and the only person to be with her didn't worry about her condition at all. He insulted her instead.
"Oh, shut up, Shun. I don't need you to worsen my condition too," she pouted.
"Why did you come along in the first place? You know elegance and patient aren't your strong points."
"I'll make you take everything you've said."
And it was postponed with an oath.
XXX
A month later, Shun received a Chanoyu invitation. He wouldn't be too surprise if it was an anonymous invitation from his grandpa's friend or so, but since he was invited by someone he always knew wouldn't capable to, he couldn't just ignore this invitation.
At the back of the envelope said, Julie Makimoto.
XXX
Despite of his reluctance, he still went to -that- event. He had to admit, he was curious of how that clumsy Julie served the tea. No, even to imagine her kneeled down still for half an hour in that deadly kimono seemed like a miraculous scene. For him, elegance was not something a Julie Makimoto would ever have.
So it stunned him to saw her walked gloriously to greet him, wrapped in a pastel blue kimono, like the color of the sky. She bowed slightly to him, gestured him to follow her to the tea room. He watched her preparing the tea equipments, her fingers move delicately around the bowl and the brush, her face looked so calm… It seemed as if she was entirely transformed into someone else.
It stressed him so much he couldn't even breathe and he… collapsed. Just collapsed.
XXX
"Julie, maybe you should stop."
"Stop what?"
What?
"Don't act fool. Stop teasing him like this!"
"He started it, he asked for it."
What is that noise?
"Poor Shun, he's just getting toyed by this over drama-llama queen."
"I told you, he asked for it!"
Urgg… that ear-splitting shriek…
"Umm… guys… Shun's not waking up…"
"You're responsible for this, Julie."
"What should I do? Do you guys expect me to wake him up with a kiss? He's not a prince worthy for my princess-free-from-all-curses kiss, you know."
She's…
"Noisy."
XXX
"What?"
He was taking a rest in the guest room when the troublemaker girl came and sat beside him. She brought along a bowl of tea with her. He could see the restless and nervous glance from her, and it irritated him more than usual.
"What."
"The others forced me to apologize to you," she blurted. Shun took a notice of her flushed cheeks, her lowered gaze, her pouted lips… enough evidences to say she was irritated and didn't really mean her words.
"Don't say sorry if you don't meant it."
"No, I meant it. I just don't like people forcing me to do something."
'Go figure,' thought Shun.
Julie sighed heavily, "Who would ever think an acting class for a month could bring such impact for you."
This picked the interest of Shun.
"Wait… all of this time… you've been acting?" asked him.
To his dismay, her expression brightened.
"Yup! You can't tell if I was acting right? I always knew the blood of acting rush through my veins!"
"You took acting class just so that you could awe me with your Chanoyu skill?"
"Uh-huh."
"That's…"
"Brilliant, huh?"
"Idiot."
"Why you—" Julie just wanted to blast her anger, but then suddenly quieted down, and let the air hung up for a while. After she calmed down, she offered the boy the bowl of tea she brought along before.
"Let just say I'm really sorry to make you upset for seeing me with such a drastic change. Please accept this tea I made earlier. You had already collapse, before you even tried it."
Shun eyed the girl for a while, obviously doubted her offering. But seeing her blushing cheeks and slightly trembling hands, he thought it would be rude even for him to reject her (probably) good intention. So he took a hold of the bowl from her hands, noting her ever delicate fingers brushed against his as he did this, and he didn't like the feel.
It was… bizarre.
Shun shrugged that feeling away and concentrated on the bowl of tea she had prepared for him. Julie stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to fully accept it and drink it. He idled for a while, learning her composure once again, and decided it wouldn't hurt to say these words:
"You finally learnt a bit of elegance, it seems."
The sight of the rose tinted cheeks on her bronzed skin was unforgettable. Shun nodded to himself, as if trying to convince himself that it would be safe to think that way. He let out a tiny smile as he took the bowl fully in his hands. He brought the bowl to his lips and sipped the tea, only to spurt out the contents and collapse again.
"I told you already, Shun, I took an acting class, not Chanoyu, so I can't guarantee how it tastes like."
It ended up with a fainted young boy.
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A/R: Another chapter is done! Now what theme should I do next…