SWEET SUGAR ANGEL
CHAPTER 2: Lost & Found...Then LOST Again.
"You have to come out of it somehow..."
"It's been two years..."
Vanilla had the twins, Haux and Saule, drag Pierre from the manor, where he keeps himself when he isn't wandering, trying o find the one he lost.
"Teacher Robin gave me tickets to a concert in the Gravada Hall. We will meet him there. He says it's a variety concert. The new famous band from Europe, Salvation, will play revival pop and rock , and many more as an introduction of their group in Japan. So he says it will be a fresh experience. You must try to be entertained, Pierre." Vanilla tried to talk to him about the show they're going to. But the guy has this vacant look on his face. His condition didn't improve in the two years that Chocolat disappeared without a trace.
Rock 'n' Robin was waiting for them at the entrance when they came. "Okay. Let's come in. What's with you guys? You're terribly late. The show already started." He said with a grin. He threw a glance at Pierre before ushering the group in. You guys are in for a surprise.
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When they entered the hall, a tall boy with blond hair and blue eyes is singing a sensual ballad backed up by his band mates. When they seated themselves comfortably, they noticed the emblem of the band that is flashing on the wide screen monitor. It's white on a black background. A heart with a queen's crown and a pair of ragged wings. It's the Queen of Hearts.
The dim lights faded into darkness. The blond murmured a thank you before introducing the next number. "The only girl in our group, Sophie..."
The lights are still turned off as a girl's sweet voice filed the hall...
Saigo no kisu wa taba kono flavor ga shita
Niga kutte settsu na iikaori...
Ashitano ima goro ni wa
Anatawa doko ni...
The dimmed lights revealed only a shadow standing in the middle of the stage. But her soulful voice went out to them...
That voice...It has so much in it...Such emotions...She makes me remember...My memories of Chocolat...Oh. Gods! How I miss her...
The song relaxed him, it made him feel tender, peaceful...He closed his eyes and listened intently. He listened with all his heart, remembering...
You are always gonna be my love
Itsuka dare katou matta koi ni ochitemo...
When the girl Sophie reached the chorus, he knew the lights must have turned on and all, but he didn't open his eyes. He's gonna enjoy his moment of peace. It's the first time he actually felt the peace in his heart after what happened...After...
"NANDA?" Haux muttered.
Pierre looked at those by his right. Robin is enjoying the music. While Cinnamon is taking a 'cat' nap. How did she come here? Vanilla whose by his left grabbed his arm. She's trembling. When he looked at them, Vanilla and the twins were standing tense. They looked very surprised. He riveted his eyes to the stage where they were gaping at.
His knees became suddenly weak. His muscles seem to turn fluid. He slumped back to his seat. His eyes blurred, tears are threatening to blind him. He blinked furiously, trying to clear his mind.
There on the stage, skittishly holding a furry microphone, singing with her eyes closed, is Chocolat. She could have looked different, but the identity is unmistakable. She looked much more beautiful...
She's wearing a black and maroon Gothic dress that matched the Old English roses on her hair. Her skin was paler than how they remembered. It made her hair look brighter. Her emerald eyes stood out completely from her fair skin. She got this blue diamond marking on her forehead. She must have also grown taller and her wavy hair is now very long, reaching her ankles for that matter. She isn't wearing her heart necklace. Instead, a silver heart rested on her bosom, it has a clear diamond heart embedded in it, glinting and flashing as she swayed in beat with the music.
Even her movements are different. She seems almost floating, she danced with the grace of a butterfly. Very different from the Raggedy Girl that was Chocolat.
But I cannot be wrong. I know that she's Chocolat, she's back! At last...
You are always gonna be the one
Mada kanashii Love Song...Yeah...
Now and forever...with you...
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The music faded and excited clapping ensued. When the applause of the audience quieted down, a spot light hit the girl.
"Thank you very much. That's one of my favorites by Utada, it's entitled First Love. Now the boys are gonna sing you nice jiving song called Driver's High... Aishiteru people! Keep it up!" After that the girl did a stage bow. Pierre's group were surprised when orange and pink hearts started to fly from the audience, glittering to be collected by Sophie's brooch. "Arigatou!!"
The girl waved at the crowd before disappearing backstage. The boys did a couple more numbers. Sophie reappeared wearing a different dress, this time, a lacy goth set. She sang "Ichirin no Hana" and "Rolling Star" with the red haired guy, Crimson. "Thank you guys! These songs are dedicated to Fumiko Matsumoto and her friends from FANAsumaru. Everybody, thank you for supporting Salvation!!"
People started to stream out of the hall while a recorded original of "Happy People" played in the background.
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Vanilla and the rest of the group are still dazed when they got out. They strolled to the garden behind the building to get some quiet.
"Can you believe that?" Saule exclaimed.
"Teacher Robin, do you know about this?"
"Yes, little Vanilla, I do, but just recently."
"Is that really Chocolat?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
Pierre was about to speak when someone bumped him head-on. A familiar voice spoke, "Oh! I'm so sorry, uhm, excuse me." She hid behind Robin's trench coat.
"Hallo there!" The two boys from the band approached them. "Did you see a girl get past here?" The boy with red hair and eyes said.
"You mean Miss Sophie?" Robin said. The girl behind him turned into chibi mode, "No, please."
"Yes. She ran away again, isn't that right Azure?"
"Hn. Crimson, you don't have to explain anything ton these people." The guy got pale blue hair and so are his eyes.
"In that case, no. We didn't see her." Pierre answered sternly. He's annoyed at the blue guy's attitude. Pierre and the young man matched heights. They eyed each other for some awkward moments. "So then, we'll leave you." Azure walked off, motioning Crimson. The guy thanked them then obeyed the other.
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"Whew. That was close." Sophie smiled at them. "Thanks for that everyone." She's wearing a white and light yellow doll dress. Her hair is kept with a light yellow ribbon.
"And why did you hide from them?" Robin asked, beaming at the girl." She fidgeted a little and decided to answer him.
"I just wanna get away from them for a while. I never get to be by myself, it's sometimes getting to my nerves. I think I need to relax."
"Oh..." Everyone replied her smile.
"I haven't introduced myself. I'm Maria Sophia De la Lune. I ahh..." She lost her breath when Pierre suddenly grabbed her to his chest, hugging her very tight. "Why?" she asked quietly.
"Chocolat, I missed you. I thought I'd never gonna see you..." Oh. He looks cute when he smiles like that...But...
"I'm sorry. You must have mistaken. I do not know you. For that fact, I haven't even met any of you before. And my name is not Choco... Whatever that is." She pushed herself away from him.
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The five people around her looks very confused. "Oh, did I say something wrong?"
"No!" Vanilla assured her. "Uhm, do you always wear that kind of dresses?"
"Oh this?!" Sophie brightened considerably. "I'm comfortable with them and yes, as a matter of fact I do." She said while doing a slow pirouette.
When she faced them again, they're smiling at her. She gave Pierre a nervous glance. He's not showing any emotion, yet his eyes are very sad. Please... don't look at me like that...
"There you are Princess." They saw the two boys they met earlier walk to them.
"You worried us sick, Princess Sophie."
"Do you understand how late it is?"
Sophie suddenly turned tender and frail. "But Azure, the sun was just setting and besides, I met these new friends. They're very kind and..."
"We have to go home, now." He said as he ushered Sophie into the car. "You should have told us that she's just hiding." He glared at Pierre and the others. Crimson apologized for his brother's behavior. "He's my twin. Sometimes he's like that. He's just overprotective of the Princess. Thank you for taking care of her when we're away."
The car began to drive away. It's window slid open and the singer called unto them. "Thank you! I had a nice time. I'm gonna meet you guys again someday. And right Mister! I hope you'll find the one you're looking for! Sayonara!"
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They were at Pierre's manor in the human world drinking tea.
"So that's not Chocolat?" Haux said sipping his drink.
"Impossible! You saw her. She has the same voice, only gentler and more melodious." Saule reasoned.
"That's Chocolat." Robin declared.
"But how come she forgot? Or is she acting?" Vanilla said. She could barely do justice on her tea.
"I don't know either. Ask Cinnamon here." Cinnamon, in her cat form, stretched before jumping unto Pierre's lap, waking him from his restless nap.
They all perked to listen and even Pierre is watching the black cat.
"Chocolat died two years ago with her heart broken into shards."
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Okie...
Done with number two...
Wish me luck with the next ones...
Black Sakura: Dark Princess of the Forgotten Petal
Dark Petal Emo Lolita
