"Chapter 10: The Valentine's Ball - Part One
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to KOEI TECMO, TECMO and Team NINJA. I am not Yosuke Hayashi.
A/N: Thanks to Ian (Guest), I now know about a girl with the name of Marie Rose, the new character in DOA. She's eighteen, comes from Sweden and wears gothic outfits (which is ironically banned in Sweden). She's blonde, has blue eyes and has a very cute appearance. So to answer your questions, I will add Marie Rose in :P.
So there are about two or three POV's in here. Starting with Kokoro's!
Cue music or download it for more effect.
Don't forget to R&R!:)
"I don't want to go anymore."
Akira scowls at me.
"You can't be serious, Kokoro." He says, glaring at me. I glare back.
"You rented a whole limo, you ordered a very expensive dress that almost cost all your dad's fortune, you have a date and you also have a competition to win against Ayane, and now you just give up?" He shakes his head, "I can't believe you. You made so much effort, what is the school going to think of you?" I sent him an evil look.
"Unless you haven't forgotten, I can't sing to save my life." I say, putting my hands on my hips. Akira sat up properly, looking at me sternly. Akira Yuki was like my brotherly figure. When Ayane suddenly decided to leave me alone and make new friends, while my parents were thinking of divorce, he was there. Akira had been my only support, since Helena wasn't really the most supporting sister. She was too busy throwing herself at hot guys. No wonder everyone hated her. Wait, no wonder everyone hated us. After Ayane left me, I was becoming more and more bitter. Don't get me wrong, the only reason I was so mean was because of Ayane Tenshin, whom I spent my whole childhood with. In my mind, we were going to university together, be there at each other's weddings, at the birth of our children, and grow old, bragging that we've been best friends since the beginning. Then I realised that Ayane wasn't who she pretended she was. She wasn't a true friend. And that is the cause of my hate.
"Kokoro, are you okay?" Akira snaps me back to reality. I was currently glaring at a picture of us two when we were children. We were at the amusement park, and we decided to have an ice cream fight... We were covered in ice cream and holding each other and laughing happily. That was only one of the fondest memories I have with her.
"I'm fine," I respond shortly, picking up my dress and examining it. There was about nine hours until the start of the ball. My dress was black, pink sparkles on bottom. It wasn't long, only reaching me above the knee. I badly wanted to wear it, but I couldn't face the embarrassment of seeing Ayane's smug smile while everyone laughed at me while I sang.
"Akira...I can't do this," I whimper suddenly, "the whole school is going to make fun of me. I can't sing shit, and Helena will not even lend me her voice, if you know what I mean." I know cheating was not honorable for someone from the Douglas family, but...I can't help it. Doing everything wrong has become a habit of mine since Ayane left me.
"Kokoro, why don't you just tell everyone the truth?" He asks worriedly, walking over to me and putting a hand on my shoulder. I violently jerked away.
"No! That would be even worse! People would look at me like I'm some other freak. I don't want to face that. And you know that goes against all of my principles!" I walk away. Akira might be my brother figure, but he's always trying to reason me, and I hate it. It just proves how much of a bad person I am.
"So not being honest with people is a bad thing?"
"It's not, but you know my way, Akira." I say, turning to look at him. I wish I hadn't. His look is pure hurt. I know he just wishes the best for me, but there's only one thing that could turn my decisions around.
"I have to go home. Call me if you need me." He mutters, walking to the door.
"Akira, wait."
He turns to look at me.
"Please don't be mad at me." I would hate it even more if Akira left me. He's the only true friend I have left.
He smiles, "I care too much about you to do that, kiddo." With a military wave, he leaves my room, hence leaving my house. I turn back to look at the picture of Ayane and I.
"Tell the truth, huh..." I frown, then a Cheshire cat-like grin spreads on my face. I have the idea of a little genius. Akira told me to tell them the truth, so I will tell them the truth. Still grinning, I grab a certain lighter that will make tonight a living nightmare...only not for me.
I look at myself in the mirror. From behind me, my mother keeps gushing about how beautiful I look, how much I look like an angel, but I don't answer. I don't care. It doesn't matter that my hair is up in a sophisticated bun, that I'm wearing make up or that I'm wearing a beautiful dress. Nothing really matters anymore. By a few words, I lost all of my friends. By declaring my love, I lost all of my friends. Isn't that just sorrowful?
"Hitomi, look at me." My mother turns me to her. A tear slips down my cheek. My mother is even suffering because of me.
"I know you don't talk to Kasumi and the others, but please, smile my darling. You don't have much time left, and I want you to enjoy it while you're still here in Japan. Please, tell me that you'll forgive them tonight." She says softly.
"It's not a question of me forgiving them, Mama...it's about them forgiving me. I mean, I'm the one who suddenly decided not to speak to them." I say, sitting on the bed, looking at my mask. It was white with red designs all over it.
"Hitomi," Mama wipes the tear sliding down my cheek, "they are your true friends. In all of my life, I've never seen such a friendship. You act like you're family. You shared so many moments together...you can't let one person like that let you down."
"But he was the one I fell in love with..." I whisper.
"I know, darling..." She smiles sadly, "but you know, where there's love, there's also heartbreak. Before me and your father actually had our perfect marriage, we faced many trials. But I'm not going to sadden you with this story. Today is Valentine's day, a day of love. Be happy, cupcake. It's the last ball you'll ever go to in high school." With that, she kisses my cheek and leaves the room. She's right. This is my second and last Valentine's ball. I remember the previous one. It was the best day of my life, and the day that I definitely knew that I loved Hayate...
-Flashback-
"This is so boring," I whispered to Hayate as everyone slow danced around us. I was that immature eleventh grader that everyone loved. By my side was my partner in crime, Hayate Tenshin. He had already gotten rid of his blazer, and had ditched Helena, who only wanted to dance with him. It wasn't fun, and so, Hayate decided to spend time with me. Turns out we could prank the whole of the matrics. We held a grudge against them for hating us so much. So Hayate and I had a plan for payback.
"This," he showed me a vial with a clear liquid, "is the strongest vodka in the world, and one drop of it can get you drunk," he smirked as he saw one of the matrics dip a ladle in the punch bowl and pour the contents of it in his cup, "and since all the matrics and no grade eleven drink that disgusting stuff, we'll just drop one little drop. And then, all of them would be drunk. Guess who will be in trouble for bringing alcohol to school?"
"The Matrics," I quietly giggled, making Hayate laugh with me. He then nonchalantly stood up from our corner and walked towards the punch bowls. He then dropped one drop in one, there only remained the second one. Unfortunately, a matric pushed him, making all the content of the vial fall in the other punch bowl. I gasped, and Hayate bolted away as soon as possible.
"Damn!" He growled, "this is not good."
"What happens when you pour the whole thing?" I asked, worried.
"Well...you become ultimately smashed..."
His point was proven as another matric girl dipped the ladle in the second bowl, poured it in her cup and started drinking. After one gulp, she put her hand on her head and started giggling uncontrollably. More and more Grade 12's came and drank from the bowls. Some were drunk and others were just smashed.
For some reason, I started to laugh.
Hayate turned to me, looking at me curiously.
"Why are you laughing so hard?"
"Because that probably was the prank of the year," I said between laughs, "if they knew who did it, they would recognise you as king." I continued to laugh. Hayate dramatically bowed.
"Why, I thank you, My Lady," He said, while I giggled even more, "if I am King, then you must be Queen."
"Oh, My Lord," I played along, containing my laughter, "you honor me too much." He falls into heaps of laughter, and so do I. This is just us. I love our friendship. I love him...
Wait!
What?!
"Then, My Lady," he smiles, "will you do me the honor of dancing with you?" He batted his eyelashes, while I kept laughing. Some romantic song came up, and immediately I stopped. I looked at him, smiling back.
"Okay, but to this corny song?"
"Imagine this. We're the only humans and we're dancing among some crazy zombies." He pointed to the Grade 12's, who do look like zombies. I laughed softly.
"You're weird," I looked at him strangely.
"But you still love me." He smiled, then leads me inside.
Yes, Hayate. I do love you. Just not as a friend anymore...
-End of Flashback-
"Time to go, cupcake." My father says, entering my room and snapping me out of my reverie. I wasn't going with the others anymore. Of course not. Taking my small, white purse, I also grab the music sheet from the table. There was no way that I would not sing tonight. I want to show him...that I need him as much as he needs me. A smile lights up my face. I won't lose him. I'll keep him...even as a friend.
...
Calvin Harris's Sweet Nothing is booming through the speakers as I make my way inside. Everyone is already here dancing to the awesome music. From the top stage, I can see Zack. Zack Williams is our DJ. He's a crazy guy that almost got expelled for dying his hair green. Zack was a fairly close friend to me, as we both shared love for music. I smiled as I made my way to him, he noticed me almost immediately.
"Hitomi!" He yells, "my main girl!" He nervously laughs at his girlfriend's, Niki's expression, "I-I mean second main...I love you, baby." He pecks her on the lips, receiving a smile.
"Hi, Zack. Hi, Niki." I grin.
"So you're first at the singing competition, aren't you?" Niki asks, tracing the pattern on her mask.
"Yes, I wanted to go first to get it over and done with." I smile.
"You're so brave," Niki sighs, "if I could sing, I still would not go first."
"But, baby," Zack whines, "you are brave, and I think your voice is beautiful," He grins at her in his Zack way. Niki rolls her eyes playfully and another song that I don't know comes up.
"Hey! This song means that the contest is soon! You'll beat them all, Tomi!" Zack grins at me, raising a thumbs up.
"Go get 'em!" Niki also pulls a thumbs up to me. I smile at both of them.
"Thanks so much, you two...I really appreciate it." I turn around, about to go to the other stage to give my music sheet to Brad who is playing the piano, but I freeze as soon as I lay my eyes on...him.
It's Hayate, and next to him is a very gorgeous Helena Douglas. Tears spring in my eyes as an unbearable pain soars in my chest. He lied to me...he promised he wouldn't go with her... Maybe he doesn't need me after all.
No! I can't give up hope! I think to myself. I wipe my teary eyes, careful to not smudge my make up, then calmly make my way to the stage, bumping into Helena in the process.
"Watch it!" She snaps, "this is designer!"
"Sorry," I mutter, quickly making my way away from them. I swear I can feel Hayate's eyes burn in my skull. I ignore it, however. Oh, Lord, have mercy on me. Make it so I don't bump into anyone else-
"Hitomi?" I cringe at the voice. Of all people that you could send me, it had to be her.
"Leifang..." I reply back. It's not just Leifang, however. It's Jann Lee, Ayane, Kasumi, Ryu and Eliot. Apart from Eliot, I wished that I didn't see them at all.
"Hitomi...Hitomi! Wait!" I turn back to the stage, my destination. No. I can't break down again. Not while everyone is looking. I refuse. As soon as I'm out of sight, I sigh in relief, and smile as I arrive at the side of the stage. Brad smiles at me as soon as he sees me. He's quite your unusual guy, outgoing sometimes, shy and quiet at others. He also has a huge crush on Kokoro. Brad is not bad. He's actually quite handsome, but he never cuts his hair.
"Hey, Hitomi. I was just about to announce the beginning of the competition. You're going first, so why not give me your music sheet now? Or do you have a background music?" He asks gently.
"Oh! I have background music, but here's the lyrics if you want to read...um...here." I blush as I hand it in. He reads it over and smiles.
"That's a beautiful song. You'll do great, and don't worry. I won't mess up. Let's both do our best!" He grins. I smile back, and he steps on stage as the booming music stops.
"Evening everyone!" He greets in the microphone, grabbing everyone's attention, and making everyone cheer and contestants run to the back just like me. I catch Ayane's eyes for a split-second before I turn my attention to Brad talking.
"Tonight, we will hear the beautiful voices of very talented individuals. If you feel that you want to suddenly participate, feel free to come on stage to declare your love for the one tonight!" Everyone cheers loudly again.
"Our first contestant is the beautiful and talented Hitomi Buchfink!" As soon as my name is called, silence is in the room, followed by whispers. I hear things like, "wasn't she dumped by Hayate?" "didn't she lose like, all her friends?" "ha! I bet that she's trying to get Hayate back! Poor girl!" Nervousness starts to settle in, and as I walk on stage, I still hear the whispers, but they are all dulled. I hold the microphone, my hands shaking. I give one look to Brad, and he starts playing. I open my mouth and close my eyes, taking a deep breath and...here I go...
As soon as I see Hitomi walk on stage, looking even more radiant than ever, I can feel my heart beat fast. She looks amazing...just like an angel. I remember Helena and in all honesty, I cannot even compare her to Hitomi. Helena might be the oh-so-hot cheerleader, but Hitomi is definitely the beautiful nerd. I can't believe that because of me, our friendship is ruined. Somehow, I knew that these feelings would turn into love quicker than ever. You know what they say, right? Love is just a friendship set on fire.
And right now, I want that.
These past few days, I have been over-thinking, coming to the conclusion that I did have feelings for her, but not as strong. I wish I could, however. I was not the smartest when it came to love. Sure, a hook up here and there, but love? I never thought that I could feel that for anyone...and suddenly, I think that I could fall in love with Hitomi. Definitely. She knows me better than anyone else in the world. I just wish we could be best friends again, even if I would have to watch her from afar.
I want to hit all these people whispering these horrible things about her. They don't know crap about what they're saying. This is what I hate about this school. Rumors or just made up rumors spread so quickly.
She's nervous, it's obvious. Her hands are shaking and her lips twist into a slight scowl. I smile secretly. I know her too much to not notice.
The music starts, and I think everyone is bewitched by her beautiful voice...
When your soul finds the soul it was waiting for
When someone walks into your heart through an open door
When your hand finds the hand it was meant to hold
Don't let go
Someone comes into your world
Suddenly your world has changed forever
No there's no one else's eyes
That could see into me
No one else's arms can lift
Lift me up so high
Your love lifts me out of time
And you know my heart by heart
When you're one with the one you were meant to be find
Everything falls in place, all the stars align
When you're touched by the cloud that has touched your soul
Don't let go
Someone comes into your life
It's like they've been in your life forever
No there's no one else's eyes
That could see into me
No one else's arms can lift
Lift me up so high
Your love lifts me out of time
And you know my heart by heart
So now we've found our way to find each other
So now I found my way, to you
No there's no one else's eyes
That could see into me
No there's no one else's eyes
That could see into me
No one else's arms can lift
Lift me up so high
Your love lifts me out of time
And you know my heart by heart
And you know my heart by heart
And you know my heart by heart
And you know my heart by heart
I see her face scrunch up like she's going to cry. My heart skips a beat.
There is stunned silence, then deafening cheers and applause. The crowd screams her name like they're at a concert. I smile, clapping, but stop short as I see tears run down her almost flawless face. She runs away from the stage, sobs wrecking her body.
"Hitomi!" I see Jann Lee cry. Leifang holds him back, muttering something to him, while I push past the people around me and see her open the double doors of the venue and going into the night. Ironically, I hear roaring thunder.
"Go, Hayate!" I hear Kasumi scream behind me. I turn around, startled, "she needs you! Go and fix whatever you two did!"
I then smile bitterly, "it was only me." I say, then turn back to the double doors, sprinting outside, hopefully finding Hitomi safe and sound.
A/N: as you saw this was only the first part! So this is not interesting like the next chapter!
Song sang by Hitomi: Heart By Heart by Demi Lovato. I chose this song pretty carefully I guess, because it describes their relationship now compared to before. I changed it because it was much more melancholic and sad and romantic...don't hate me!
Anyways, next chapter is going to deploy Kokoro's ploy and the fight...I have a horrible feeling about who is going to get hurt...
Also, next chapter will be sad, so be prepared!
Don't forget to R&R!:)