SONG/S FEATURED:
Myself by Changin' My Life (from the anime Full Moon wo Sagashite)
Turn the Music Up
Written by: Aminatsu032
-xx-
Then it suddenly hit me—"Does Ruka have a copy?"
Natsume must've been surprised with my sudden reaction. "Yes, it's with me. He asked me to keep it—"
My face lightened up. Right then, I knew what to do. This last composition…I'll do my best to make it better for them.
"Thank you, Natsume!" I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and skipped out of his apartment.
Yes. Finally, finally I'll be able to make Hotaru happy.
-xx-
VERSE ELEVEN:
I heard repeated ringing and ringing as I drummed my fingers impatiently in the table.
"What?" a bored tone answered.
"Natsume? Are you free today? I'm coming over—"
"I'm not," he followed immediately. "We have recording to do at one."
I frowned. "When will you be coming back?" I insisted.
"Hn. What do you want anyway?" he asked, his voice still monotonous.
"We need to plan for a set up—"
"No!" his voice suddenly aroused.
I groaned. "Please, Natsume...please, please, please, please—"
"Forget it!"
"Oh, come on!" I said, rolling my eyes. "Do you want Ruka to be sad?"
"That's out of it," he said shifting to his annoyed tone.
"Please, Natsume," I repeated. "I'll do anything!"
Natsume paused for a while, seeming to think about my condition. "Fine."
My face brightened up. "Yes!" I went back to one of my previous questions. "So when will you be coming back?"
"Five to six, I guess—"
"Cool!" I interrupted. "I'll be coming over!" I ended the call, before he could further object. This feeling of victory was heaven!
I breathed for a while and dialed Anna's number this time.
"Hello, Mikan?" she asked, worried.
"Ah...yes, Anna. It's me," I said.
"What happened last time?" she asked, straight to the point.
"Um...well..."
"Hotaru wouldn't talk to us about it," Anna informed.
I fell silent. Forget the victory—it was still overcome by depression.
"Mikan?" Anna said in her mild, usual tone.
"Ah...yes. Um...do we have any projects to do?" I asked, changing the topic.
"I don't think so. Hotaru hasn't said anything about them."
"Ah, alright then. Goodbye," then I hang up.
I glanced at the clock. Why can't it just skip to six already?
-xx-
I rang the doorbell once when Natsume opened the door. He looked kind of tired, and I couldn't help but be guilty.
"Hey," I said.
Natsume just nodded and led me in.
He sat down comfortably in his black couch. "So what's the plan?"
I smiled—at least he remembered the actual reason I was here.
"You said you had the copy of Ruka's composition, right?" I asked.
"Yeah," he reached under his table and pulled out a brown manila envelope. He gave it to me. "Here."
I took the envelope and opened it. Inside was a music sheet, on top was the title in bold letters. MYSELF, it said. It was a music sheet, handwritten legibly into the paper. I read the lyrics with a sad face.
"The message is quite grieve," I said to myself out loud.
I looked at him. "Can you play this? On your guitar?"
"Guitar?" he echoed in a mocking tone. "It's better played on violin."
My expression twisted. "You can play violin?"
Natsume shrugged and walked to his room. My gaze followed him.
When he came back, he was carrying a black case. He laid it on the table and opened it carefully.
I lifted the dark-brown violin inside. "This looks expensive."
"Was my mother's," he said in a low voice.
"Wow," I breathed feeling every curve of the wooden treasure.
He took the violin from my hands and got the stick that was left on the case. "Shall I start?"
I nodded, stunned, and held the sheet for him.
He played as if he memorized every stroke and every sound. I shouldn't be surprised—this was Natsume we were talking about.
When he was done, I found it hard to compose myself and rearrange the plans on my mind. He looked at me, waiting.
"Um…" I started, "all we have to do after class tomorrow is to set Ruka and Hotaru up on the rooftop. I made a few arrangements with the principal and the science, tea and art club a while ago, so it'll be alright."
Natsume just nodded as he placed his violin in place.
I bit my lip. I knew he was just forced into this. "Hey," I called.
"What?" he said, without looking up.
"You do understand why I'm doing this, right?" I clarified.
Natsume rolled his eyes. "I guess so."
I cleared the bump on my throat. It was never hard for me to apologize to anyone but this raven-haired boy in front of me.
"Sorry I had to drag you into this," I said in a murmur.
"Well you did say you'd do anything, didn't you?" he said in his usual tone.
My eyes widened in fury. "So that was it, huh? You agreed because of that condition!" I boomed. I was angry, and I didn't know why. Forgive me for being so stupid to actually have thought that Natsume would care.
"What date is it tomorrow?" I asked randomly, deliberately changing the topic. It surprised me how the words came out from being stuck in my gritting teeth.
"November 21st," he answered flatly.
By that time, I've already calmed myself down. This was definitely no time to argue with him or think of stupid things un-related to the topic. Moments after, I decided we get down to business. We planned everything thoroughly while using our time wisely. I was just praying to God that this would work.
-xx-
Last period was physics, and gladly, the teacher called Hotaru before she went out of the room. I quickly slipped a note in between Hotaru's books and glided out of the room.
'Hotaru, I need to talk to you ASAP. Please be at the rooftop right after you read this letter. – Mikan,' the note said.
When I opened the heavy rooftop door, it was Natsume who I saw first. His eyes were closed, his hair blown by the gentle wind. I was about to conclude he was sleeping when his crimson pools opened at the sound of my footsteps.
I looked around, avoiding his stare. The clubs did good.
In the middle of the place was an elegant round table for two (and of course tea), courtesy of the Tea Club. I had the Science Club bring up flowers just for the occasion, while the Art Club designed the whole place. I was just counting at Hotaru and Ruka's full cooperation to make this work.
"Did you tell Ruka?" I asked him, breaking the unbearable silence between is.
"I did," he simply answered.
I glanced at what he was holding, it was the stick of his violin.
"Don't worry," he told me, noticing my look, "I've memorized the piece."
My eyebrows furrowed. "You memorized that overnight?"'
Natsume shrugged; his usual gesture when I asked him these kind of questions.
I hope I don't get shocked when I find out he had photographic memory.
I heard the knob twist behind me as I let out a silent gasp. Before I could make my run, Natsume has already dragged me into the bush I asked the Science Club to assemble nearby.
I watched Hotaru walk quietly to the table, but she didn't sit. She scanned the place and her eyes suddenly narrowed at our direction.
A strong hand quickly covered my mouth before I could shriek in surprise. Dang it, I could smell Natsume's pheromone scent again!
Moments after, the door creaked again, revealing Ruka in a surprised expression. I held the warm hand on my mouth tightly as I watched every detail of the scene.
Both had been frozen in their spots, like statues, as the wind blew some strands of their hair. Ruka looked away after some time and began to turn around. I had been so absorbed at the moment I forgot to signal Natsume to play the song already. Seeing he didn't play it, must've meant he forgot, too.
Ruka was already preparing to close the door behind him. If Natsume wasn't holding me tight, I would've jumped out of the bush and yelled at him for being such a coward.
Suddenly, I heard a powerful voice, and was surprised to see Hotaru singing.
Doushite doushite suki nan darou
Konna ni namida afureteru
By the tune I recognized, and the familiar lyrics, I could swear it was Myself, she sang.
I was as shocked as Ruka was. He immediately turned around to look at Hotaru wide-eyed when she started singing.
Only Natsume must've been able to think clearly because he let me go and started playing behind me.
Ano koro ha ushinau mono ga oosukite nani mo utaenakatta
Sukoshi hanareta basho soko ga watashi no ibasho datta
Kimi no hitomi no oku ni ano hi samishisa wo mitsuketa
Futari niteru no kana?furu
Kitsukeba itsu mo tonari ni ite kureta
Natsume's playing matched Hotaru's singing perfectly. I felt pretty inferior looking at the two.
I glanced at Ruka who now seemed to have calmed down. It wasn't shown on his face clearly, but I could see his smile in his blue-gray eyes.
Doushite konna ni suki nan darou
Kimi no koe kanshii hodo hibiiteru yo
Ima made nani ga sasae datta ka
Tooku hanarete wakatta yo
A low voice started singing with Hotaru quietly. Ruka's lips were pulled into a small smile while he muttered the melody.
Nakinagara sagashi tsuduketa maigo no kodomo no you ni
Kedo soko ni ha eien nante aru wake nakute
"dare ni mo shinjinakereba iin da yo" tsubuyaita ne
Futari niteru no kana?furu
Ano toki kimi wo mamoru to kimeta no ni
Doushite omoide ni dekinain darou
Toosugite chikasugite todokanai yo
"wasureyou" tte omoeba omou hodo
Kimi ga ookiku natteku yo
Doushite konna ni suki nan darou
Kimi no koe kanshii hodo hibiiteru yo
Ima made nani ga sasae datta ka
Tooku hanarete wakatta yo
Doushite konna ni suki nan darou
Kantan sugite kotae ni naranai
When the song eneded, they were both back in silence once again.
"Ruka," Hotaru said in a quiet voice.
Ruka jumped slightly, as he heard his name said by the girl in front of him.
Hotaru took small steps forward, but stopped hearing Ruka's name said by other boys nearby.
I clenched my fists. What bad timing!
Ruka looked behind then back to Hotaru. They stared at eachother for a while, as if saying their silent goodbyes. Ruka finally stepped out and closed the door gently.
After some time, Hotaru sighed and looked at our direction again.
"Mikan," she said my name this time.
I flinched, innocent of her would-be reaction.
"Y-yes," I said in a small voice.
I heard Hotaru chuckle silently. "Stupid."
I bit my lower lip and jumped from the bush immediately to hug Hotaru.
"I'm sorry—I'm so, so sorry!" I blurted out, my voice breaking.
Hotaru hugged me back lightly. "I guess you're forgiven."
I pulled away, looking at her face, examining if she was serious. "Really?"
Hotaru nodded, with the slightest smile on her face.
I smiled back, when I noticed Natsume already walking to the door.
"Go on," he said, noticing me. "I don't want to spoil your moment."
Then, he looked at Hotaru; Hotaru was looking at him, too. This idea of silent goodbyes was disturbing.
At that, Natsume went out of the roof top, shutting the door quietly.
I looked at hotaru again, after staring at the door.
"Sorry," I said again.
"Apology accepted," she said emotionlessly, going back to her original self. "Thank you," she finally said after a pause.
I grinned. "You're welcome."
-xx-
"Nonoko…" I said, attention drifting off my work. "What rhymes with 'me'?"
Nonoko's blue eyes looked at me. "Um…funny? See?"
I nodded. "Thank you," I said, drifting to my work.
Today we were at Anna's house, composing and preparing for our next album. Of course, since Cross had already recorded their latest single, we might as well record our own.
"Mikan," Hotaru called my name in a calm manner.
"Hm?" I said, not taking my eyes off my work.
"You do know what tomorrow is, right?" she asked.
I tilted my head as I looked at her. "What happens tomorrow?"
"What?!" Anna said, alarmed. "Natsume's birthday is on the twenty-seventh!"
My eyes widened. "His birthday is tomorrow?!"
Hotaru rolled her eyes and lent me her black flip-phone. I took it immediately and dialed the number I've already memorized.
"Hello?"
"Natsume!"
"What the heck—could you stop shouting?" he said, raising his voice.
I ignored him. "You didn't tell me your birthday was tomorrow!"
"You didn't ask," he said flatly.
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore him this time. "What do you want as a gift?"
Natsume paused for a while. "Nothing," he finally said.
"Oh, come on! There must be something!"
Natsume paused again, as if thinking. While waiting, I thought of some things in my mind; teddy bear, necklace...boxers - nah! I doubt he'll like any of those.
"Are you free tomorrow?" he finally asked.
"Well yeah, I guess—"
He didn't let me finish. "I'll pick you up at seven."
Before I could object, he had already hung up. It took me a while to realize what he's been telling me. A date?!
-VERSE ELEVEN/END-
Author's blabbers—
Guys, I need a beta. Seriously. I've been so hopeless these days. GOD, HELP ME.
PS – Suggest a song; Natsume to Mikan.
LOVE YOU. :))
Twilight. :D