A/N; gacktxx on deviantart did a really gorgeous fan art of this story, if anyone wants to check it out. Here's the link.
www. deviant /art /Yarning Chick-s-Ties -that- bind- 529161094
Chapter Seven: Mistakes
I'm not the only one that makes mistakes.
Just think of all the ones you've made.
-Daughtry, 'What I Meant to Say'
xxXxx
Tsuge's mother combed through Haru's hair before giving it a few more careful snips. "There we go! What do you think, Sakura?"
"I liked it better long," she answered truthfully, making the older girl laugh warmly.
"I love your honesty, sweetheart," the brunette giggled as she stood up and walked the short distance to the family bathroom. "But I've had the same haircut since I was your age. It's time for something new."
Her new haircut wasn't as outrageous as some of the other students'. It was pretty much just cropped to the ears; not quite a pixie cut, but enough of a change to satisfy her. It made her seem more of an adult than her old haircut did.
"I love it," Haru announced, stealing a hug from Tsuge's mother after leaving the bathroom. "It's perfect."
"It does make you seem different. I bet Tsuge will love it, too."
"Only one way to find out," the teenager grinned, stealing a kiss on the cheek before running down the hall and to the last door on the left. She gave a polite knock.
"Is that Haru?"
"It was last time I checked."
"Just a second. Okay, come in."
She opened the door and carefully stepped in to avoid the partially dissected stereo.
Tsuge turned away from the computer he had constructed himself, his calm black eyes on her. A grin slowly took over his face. "I really like that haircut, Haru. It suits you."
"Thanks." She carefully made her way past a few more obstacles before she was able to steal a hug.
"So… tomorrow's the big day, isn't it?" he asked softly.
Haru only nodded. "I'm terrified and excited all at the same time."
"… It's not too late to turn back, if you're having second thoughts."
"No. This needs to happen. Everyone else has had their say about me; it's about time I stood up and said something."
Tsuge smiled warmly, and squeezed her hand before releasing it. "Everything's ready?"
"I can't think of a single thing left to do."
"You still want me to…?"
"Yes. It'll add a nice touch."
"You won't forget?"
"I promise I won't. We've been practicing, after all."
"Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow."
Her heart froze. "Is Sakura coming?"
"No, she has preschool, thank heaven."
Haru managed a brave smile before stealing another hug. "They'll be finding out soon enough. Thanks for everything, Tsuge."
He gave her another grin as he returned the embrace. "You're worth it, Haru. No matter what anyone else says."
ooOoo
Haru walked out from the shower curtain she had been dressing behind and checked herself in one of the mirrors on the wall.
Her school uniform had been switched out for a set of light grey scrubs; ones that would have been perfectly normal inside a hospital. She usually wore 'concert black' whenever she played in public, so this performance was sure to stand out.
Haru took a handkerchief-wrapped parcel from her locker before stuffing her clothes in, and lovingly unwrapped the parcel while walking back to the mirror over the sinks.
Inside was one of her roses, the prettiest one she could find before school that day. Taking in the sweet scent, she gently slid it into her breast pocket and looked at herself.
The girl staring back at her looked excited, fearful, and dare she even think it?
Happy. No matter how people reacted to what she was planning, it wouldn't change the fact that she was going to force them to hear her, even if it was only this one time.
"Is that seriously your costume?" Fili sneered as she tied a few more ribbons into her hair.
"It'd be silly to try on a different outfit if it wasn't," Haru responded with a wide smile, turning around and heading out of the locker room with nothing more than a bottle full of her honey tea.
The principal himself was there to escort her to the backstage, although he did a double take when she stepped into the hallway. "Haru? What on earth are you wearing?"
"It looks like scrubs, Yami-sensei. Don't worry, it's all part of the plan," she assured him, walking away while he was still in shock.
It didn't take him long to catch up with her. "Haru, what's the plan? You're starting to scare me."
'Took you long enough.' "I told you. It's a surprise and you can trust me. Is Nashima-san here yet?"
"I gave him a front row seat."
"Perfect. Now relax, you're more nervous than I am!" she said with a giggle. 'Good thing I'm used to working around stage fright.'
He laughed as well, though a bit nervously. "I'm sorry. It's just that you've been acting strange for months."
"It's all part of the plan. It'll work," she assured him while patting his arm in a comforting gesture. 'You may have a heart attack when all's said and done, but I think you'll recover. Maybe.'
He gave her another nervous look, but they were backstage in a heartbeat. "Just stay where I can see you," he ordered before walking away to make sure that all the participants were getting organized and ready for the show.
That request made her blink in surprise. 'He's never asked me to do that before. Does he suspect what I'm up to, or is he still worried about the other students?' Haru sighed as she leaned against the wall next to the stage. 'It doesn't matter. If it will make him happy, it won't hurt anything.' She took a long sip of her tea to prepare her vocal chords.
The noise from the other side of the curtain was much softer than it had been at the basketball game. That was fine by her. At least she wouldn't need earplugs again.
"Where's your shadow?" a schoolboy in medieval clothes asked with a condescending tone.
"Right there," Haru said while pointing at her feet.
"What? No, I mean Tsuge!"
"Probably choosing a seat like all of the other students. So where's your partner?" she asked, noting the sword at his side.
"What's it to you?"
"You asked about Tsuge, it's only fair."
He huffed indignantly and stomped away, making the girl roll her eyes before drinking a bit more tea. 'Why do people stick their noses into my business but expect me to stay out of theirs? Stinking hypocrites.'
After a few minutes, the principal marched out to the stage for the usual beginning speech and introduction of the first act. That happened to be a rendition of a popular anime song, followed by a poor attempt at opera. Next up was a juggling routine, and then another half decent singer.
'Like I told Tsuge; it might as well be a singing competition. Not that I have room to talk anymore.' Her interest peaked at the fencing match while spouting Shakespearean lines, despite the fact that it somehow seemed clumsy to her. It didn't help that they were sneaking modern slang in to make the students laugh.
On the other side of the stage, a random student nudged the piano aside to make room for his tall mirror for a magic act. It could have been coincidence, but he had left it at just the right angle to see herself in it. She gave herself an encouraging smile before looking at the duel again.
Why did it strike her as clumsy? The one that had attempted to antagonize her was the fencing captain; by definition he should be amazing at this, and he was. But something still felt off about their routine.
Haru shook her head to clear it. 'Stop being so judgmental; that's everyone else's job!' Instead, she studied the wood floor of the stage like it was the only thing that existed.
… So. Many. Singers! There was an occasional actor or dancer interjected into the show, but a blatant majority of them were singers. Oh, a rock and roll band! They weren't too bad.
'Is what I'm planning the best idea? Oh well; it's too late to turn back now.'
"… and the final entry for the show is Yoshioka Haru on the piano!" the principal finally announced, clapping happily at the prospect.
The applause was little and scattered, likely from the parents that were in the audience. Gulping down the rest of her tea bottle, she set it aside for now. Haru took a deep breath for courage, and stepped out as gracefully as she could manage. If there was any time to act like a lady, it was now.
Two of the teachers wheeled the piano from the other side of the stage, and eased it into a pleasing angle as the music teacher personally set his best bench in front of the ebony and ivory keys that Haru had caressed for years.
'That's strange. I'll still see my reflection from where I'll be sitting.' She spared a single glance at the first row. Nashimi-san was leaning forward in his seat, his eyes speaking warmth and encouragement. But there was still a heavy dose of confusion, possibly from the piano.
The grey-clad teenager gave him a grateful smile before settling comfortably on the bench…
Before something shockingly cold came down on her head.
Haru screamed in surprise as the freezing wetness doused her from head to toe. She tried to shield herself, but within seconds her light grey scrubs and rose were stained a cold, dark red.
Stumbling off of the bench, she stared at her dripping hands with horror.
Blood. They had actually doused her with blood! Some students started laughing, but others were trying to shush them; likely teachers or even parents.
"What the- Hashima-san! I can see you up there; you are in so much trouble!" Principal Yami screamed up at the rafters as metallic sounds were heard, but the blood-soaked girl couldn't glance up.
Haru's breath came sharp and harsh as she slowly looked at the red-splattered piano with rage. If Hiromi had dared to do this a year ago, she would have been traumatized for life. She would have run off the stage crying, gone home, and maybe played herself to death.
But now? It only made her mad, beyond furious! Her fingers flexed as if a set of claws could emerge. In that lone second, it was almost as if they had.
"Haru, come on. You can't play like that," Principal Yami tried to coax from a few feet away, clearly reluctant to touch her.
"Watch me," she snarled while grabbing his wrist with more strength than she thought she had. 'I've poured too much into this to quit now.' She marched back to the piano with him in tow, and kicked the bench harshly to make it fall on its side and out of the way.
The last thing she felt like doing right now was sitting. Making the principal keep the microphone level to her mouth, she set one foot against the pedals underneath the keys, and forgot about the whispering students in the seats, and the other participants urging her to get off the stage.
All that existed now was the music.
As she played the dark, forbidding beginning, her mind slipped away into that second home of her imagination, entering into the private study of a young university student once the customary mist lifted like a curtain as trumpets seemed to sound triumphantly.
The young man was shaking, not just with fear, but with anger as he stood up from his fallen position to glare at the only other person in the room. One that had a multitude of scars from the fire that nearly claimed his life.
"I created you with a noble purpose,
"To free mankind from the fear of death.
"If I had known it would lead to such bloodshed,
"I would never have given you breath!" he swore in a fury.
The tall, forbidding man shook his head angrily with a barely concealed snarl.
"Has it not pierced your 'brilliant' mind
"Our actions cannot be undone?
"I will rain fear upon your kind,
"Unless you now complete what you've begun!"
The slim student tried to inch his way closer to the door, but his creation was having none of it. He stepped in front of the door, and grabbed his creator's arm to prevent escape.
"Listen carefully, Victor Frankenstein.
"I have a proposition to present to you." He then gestured to the notes covering Victor's desk.
"You have one chance to redeem your transgressions.
"You have one last experiment to do."
That got the young man's undivided attention, making him unconsciously nod his head for the creature to continue.
"Create a woman to share the strife
"Make her as vile as my darkest pain."
Victor gave him a look of complete horror.
"Grant me the joy of a kindred wife
"In return, you will never see me again," the creature commanded, although there was a plea in his tone.
His creator shook his head with a disgusted fervor.
"Never! Impossible! Preposterous!
"Your scheme is outrageous! Absurd!" He held his free hand over his forehead as he considered two of them.
"One more just as monstrous…
"I'll not inflict another horror on this world!"
The monster threw his creator onto his own bed with disgust
"What's wrong?
"What's right?
"Do you decide?
"I'm more than blood and bone!"
"I need a mate
"One made as I.
"I won't exist alone!"
Victor got up, refusing to be bullied into such an act.
"Who are you to make demands
"Who's now twice a criminal?
"My brother's blood upon your hands," he nearly choked, fighting back tears as he glanced at the brute's large digits.
"Asking me to serve your will.
"A second beast to bring new terror
"Upon the young and innocent
"I'll not willingly repeat my error
"You will not get my consent!" he asserted forcefully, even turning his back on the being he had once pinned so many hopes on. He didn't even care that such an act could lead to his own death.
But his creation wasn't about to give in, either. Swallowing some of his pride, he walked around his creator, and allowed him to see more of his terrible loneliness.
"Victor, you complete this task
"And end your family's mourning
"It's the last I'll ever ask
"The boy was just a warning." He hadn't wanted to hurt the child, but he had to show the man that he wasn't one to be trifled with. Besides, the girl he framed would make perfect material for a mate, once he dared to bring up the suggestion.
"Create another wretch as I
"A love I cannot be denied
"A soul content to live beside me
"I'll take my bride and run away
"Somewhere safe where we could stay
"Far from man and his insanity." Ah, the mere thought of a fearless companion was enough to calm him, even in this moment.
"I think it wrong, I think it sick
"A corruption of biology," Victor asserted.
"But here's your chance to make it right
"And offer an apology," he reminded the man. If nothing else, an apology was owed to him.
Victor turned to a window, where the cool night air was ready to caress his face as he considered this heinous decision.
"Can I undo the great mistake
"Erase the sorrow from my wake
"Never again to face this demon?" he asked aloud, sparing a glare at his creation. But then he thought about his sweet mother. Was there still hope for a reunion?
"And might I still attain the dream
"With now a woman as the means
"Bestowing life upon my mission?"
It was here that creator and creation seemed to join, if only in the goal of being removed from each other for good.
"Life everlasting, reanimation
"A flawless new design
"The finest woman in all creation
"And she will be-"
"Mine-" the creature asserted happily as the creator nearly threw himself at his desk to start making notes. All of them had been destroyed in the fire that was meant to destroy his creation, but it was no matter. Victor remembered everything that needed to be done. Even now, his mental notes were adjusting for the second try.
"Much softer now, a female frame
"And agile hands required
"And one who is lost may yet be reclaimed
"Reborn of heaven's fire!"
"This is your chance,
"You will atone," the monster reminded him, just to be sure he wouldn't change his mind.
"And never see me again
"Master your fate and face the unknown
"And bring this nightmare to an end!"
"This is my chance,
"I will atone," Victor agreed, his hands now writing furiously on a fresh stack of paper.
"I'll finally know peace.
"One more leap into the unknown…"
"And purge the name of FRAN-KEN-STEIN-!" they sang as one while the focus ran out of the window, and swiftly fled over a mountain and to an execution block back in Victor's home town.
While still locked inside her own imagination, Haru stepped away from the piano, and retrieved a thin noose she made the night before from her pocket. While stepping backward, she threw it over her head and held it tight against her neck like the convicted servant girl her mind had conjured up.
She may not have been playing right then, but the angry music in her head was reaching its climax.
"I am innocent! Innocent!" she and the girl screamed as one, just as the executioner pulled the lever.
The slim teenager fell through the trap door and right onto the pile of gym mats that Tsuge had been placing there during the talent show.
"Oh my freak- what has she done this time?" Tsuge demanded, running through the dusty room to pull her into his arms.
"W-What?" Haru asked in a daze, since her head had bounced against the top mat at an awkward angle. 'He's so warm right now…'
"Of all the clichéd and stupid things… wait, this isn't blood," her friend realized, smelling her soaked hair.
"How can you tell?" she asked while removing the noose from her neck and fighting back a shiver.
"The smell's off. I think its watered-down juice."
A little curious, Haru smelled her wrist. "Pomegranate… cherry… tomato... cranberry… I guess she couldn't get her hands on enough blood to pull it off," she couldn't help but giggle.
Tsuge however, was not in a laughing mood. "Give me the noose."
She swiftly tucked it back into her pocket. "No."
"Enough is enough, Haru. Give it."
"She's not worth it, Tsuge! Do you really want to give her the pleasure of getting suspended or expelled? Besides, if anyone has the right to do anything to her, it's me... What's that?" she asked before he could come up with a reply.
It was about then that a strange sound reached her ears; one that… was it possible?
Tsuge's eyes widened, making him look up at the still-open trap door. A smile finally crossed his features. "Unless I'm mistaken, it's the sound of enlightenment." Without another word, he stood up on the mats and helped her to do the same. Then he grabbed her by the waist with his warm hands and heaved her up enough to peak over the stage floor in order to see if it was true.
All the students were doing it. Those smug, self-righteous jerks that had been bent on painting her first as a victim, then a villain… were applauding her! They had done it before, but never with such enthusiasm!
Some were whistling loud, and they had risen to her feet. If not for the cheers, she would have wondered if they were just trying to deafen her with the sheer amount of noise.
A wide childish smile overtook her face as she noticed that the principal was still frozen in the same position she had forced him into, gaping at her like she was some sort of demon. Then she looked down at Tsuge. "Yep, it's enlightenment, all right."
His grin was bright as he threw her slightly upward, but that was only so that he could grab her lower legs and lift her higher.
Thanks to his help, the girl was able to crawl back onto the stage, and turned around on her knees in case he needed help. "Are you coming?"
He gave her a confused look. "But this is your bow."
She gave him a warm smile and shake of the head. "It's our bow. Get up here."
Tsuge sighed, but was able to use his basketball skills to jump high enough to reach the trap door. Haru pulled on one arm to help him out and up on stage, proudly bowing with him to the audience that was going crazy.
"Okay, that's enough; that juice is freezing," he murmured after a moment, wrapping one arm around her shoulders to guide her off the stage.
But as he did, Haru's eyes were strangely drawn back to the mirror. It had shattered, but she was the only one to notice.
"What the… what is it with breaking glass in this place?" she muttered as her friend steered her right past the other flabbergasted participants and into the hallway.
"Forget about the glass. We need to get you cleaned up. Pronto."
"I don't suppose you brought a second set of clothes?" she asked, glancing at his red-streaked clothes guiltily.
"No, but I'll live. I'm more worried about you. You look like you tried out for Carrie the Musical. Is there a musical for Carrie?" he asked out of morbid curiosity.
"I'll look it up after I get home. But I think Hiromi's ruined it for me to try it out." Another shiver wracked her body. 'Dang, but a shower sounds heavenly.'
"I'd like to ruin her for this," he snarled, his hand straying to the pocket with the stained noose.
"Stop that," she scolded, slapping his hand before he could get to it. "Don't sink to her level."
"Yoshioka-san!" a familiar voice screamed from behind, making the two casually look over their shoulders.
Principal Yami had finally broken free from his shock, storming up to the girl to grab her by the shoulders and start shaking her. "How could you? You promised that you had it under control! How could you do this to me, right in front of Nashima-san? You've turned your back on real music!"
"Stop that, you're hurting her!" Tsuge demanded, struggling against the man to make him let go of his friend.
"If you don't stay out of this, I'll expel you, boy!" Yami-san yelled, trying to fight him off while attempting to get answers out of the red-soaked teenager.
"Stop, you're hurting me!" Haru tried not to yelp, but her brain was starting to feel scrambled from how violently the principal was shaking her. Her arms were sure to get bruises again if he didn't let go!
"Get off her!" Tsuge demanded, but he couldn't quite pry the crazed man off.
A loud crash suddenly distracted all three of them. Even as they turned to look, the window closest to them shattered like someone had thrown a rock.
'Again?' Haru couldn't help but think dizzily.
While the principal was distracted with shards in his face, a pair of strong arms appeared from the back of the man, first breaking his hold on the girl and then throwing the man against the wall harshly.
"Thanks," Tsuge said thankfully, but Haru couldn't repeat the gratitude. Her mouth was agape as she slowly recognized the man that had come to her rescue even as her hands rose to soothe her scrambled brain.
"If you ever lay a hand on her again," the tall man snarled as the principal looked at him angrily. "I will break every bone in your body! Understand?!"
"Haru-chan, he didn't hurt you, did he?" a red-haired woman begged, rushing to the girl's side to check her over. "Has he done this before?" she asked, pressing a gentle hand on each of Haru's temples.
"He has, hasn't he?" the man demanded, coming closer to cup her juice-stained cheek with one hand. "Why didn't you tell us the bullying was this bad?"
Haru's mouth flapped in complete shock. It couldn't be real. This would never happen! It's never happened. Why would it now?
"Sweetheart, you're scaring us. Say something," the middle-aged woman begged worriedly as the glass crunched underneath their shoes.
Tears began escaping her eyes as two little words escaped her lips. "… Mom? Dad?"
xxXxx
The song was 'The Proposition' from Frankenstein- A New Musical. And yes, there is a musical for Carrie.