Author's note: A different character takes the spotlight in this chapter. Of course, this is still an Oz and Gil fic, but this character is important for future events. I think the title gives away who it is. Manami Nightray: I can't make poor Gil sad by making him lose! I love him too much. Deko-gasu: You thought correctly. Gil is too nice. Plus I figured that I might as well make this a "fair" fight. Any important behind the scenes moments will be uploaded as a separate story. If I have time, I may upload them both at the same time as the story goes along. Thanks to you both for reviewing! My usual goal still stands of 2-3 reviews per chapter if at all possible.
Disclaimer: If I owned this, I would find a way to bring back my favorite characters. However, I don't own it or anything else (except Mirella). Pandora Hearts belongs to Jun Mochizuki and Shooting Star (the song at the end) is by Owl City.
Warning: An insightful Oz (differs from chapter 33) due to his age (more information at the end)
Chapter 10: Dimly-lit Star
Oz's POV
Now that the amusement park gig was over, we all agreed to take a short vacation for a few days to do as we pleased. Well, everyone in the band and the bodyguard group anyway. Reim, unfortunately, had to spend his break canceling or moving performances during this week. He didn't seem to mind though and even admitted that he was used to this kind of thing, so I made no further comments.
While Break, Elliot, and Leo were left to their own devices, I took the time to go on a trip to the beach near the city of Leberou with Alice, Gil, Vincent, and Echo courtesy of Uncle Oscar. Since things were still a bit awkward between Alice, Gil, and I, I stayed in a single room while everyone else were in pairs. We made sure not to bring up the subject, but it was easy to notice the electric currents being passed back and forth between Alice and Gil and the glare being shot at me from Vincent. It's to be expected since I'm leaving his brother hanging. As a result, Uncle Oscar decided to break out the booze to ease the tension causing havoc to break out. Thankfully, I don't get drunk and there was one person that was actually sober because they chose not to drink anything.
"It's so hot..." Alice complained as she started to strip.
"Alice, please don't! Not again!" I protested in a panic.
"Stay away from Oz, stupid rabbit!" Gil shouted angrily while swaying.
"What did you say to me, seaweed head?" Alice shot back at the wall.
"Stop bullying my brother!" Vincent commanded as he clung onto Gil's arm and pulled him close.
I sighed and turned my attention towards Echo who was sitting alone with her full cup of wine in her hands. She watched the drunken banter expressionlessly while constantly placing the rim of her glass by her lips and then placing it back down again. Thinking that getting some air would be good for us, I convinced her to go wander the town with me for a bit since everyone else had fallen asleep after using up so much energy. Silently, she agreed, so I took her hand and pulled her out of the room.
Bright city lights flashed like stars from afar as we took a stroll towards it. As we drew closer, joyous music and gentle laughter filled the air to reveal a festival of some kind. The buildings were decorated with blue lanterns and people walked around with feathers of the same hue. It all felt so warm and welcoming.
"What is this festival for?" I wondered aloud.
"The blue angel, Saint Bridget. She had fallen in love with a human, so everyone covers themselves in blue feathers to hide the angel's wings while she comes to earth," an unfamiliar female voice replied.
I turned to face the owner of the voice only to find Nova casually purchasing souvenirs without the presence of her friend, Mirella. It wasn't strange to see them separated, but I was surprised to be hearing her voice for the first time. When I asked her if Mirella was here, putting my confusion as to why she never speaks aside, she shook her head and simply handed me an envelope while informing me that Mirella was taking care of some business she needed to finish and gave Echo a dress that a shopkeeper tried to get her to wear to no avail. Not too long afterwards, she took her leave and Echo had left briefly to change, so I used this chance to release the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Who knows what kind of public humiliation that girl could be planning...
"Oz-sama, Echo wants to go closer to see that," Echo requested upon her return.
My eyes followed her gaze that was focused on the fireworks up ahead. She excitedly pulled me along as we went closer for a better look before we stood and watched the show in awe. Feeling pleased, I asked her if she was happy which she answered with silence. Her hand flew to her chest and clutched at it as she murmured a quiet "yes".
"Thank you, Oz-sama..."
"Since the festival seems to be ending, why don't we participate in that?"
What am I doing?
I pointed at the area in the middle of the square where people were having a great time dancing the night away. Like a gentleman would, I properly asked her if she'd like to dance with me prior to taking her hand and pulling her into my pace. With ease, we stepped in tune with the music until we had merged into the crowd of dancers. Echo was a little uneasy since she didn't know how to dance, but I made sure to make her feel more comfortable with it. I've noticed that she hasn't been smiling lately, though she doesn't do it much anyway, so I wanted to see if I could lift her spirits somehow by doing this. Is this betraying them? Gil and Alice?
Close your tired eyes, relax and then
Count from 1 to 10 and open them
All these heavy thoughts will try to weigh you down
But not this time
Way up in the air, you're finally free
And you can stay up there right next to me
All this gravity will try to pull you down
But not this time
She flashed a tiny smile while averting my gaze as her form of thanks. In turn, I sang along with the original singer as we moved along with the flow. I'm sorry, but for tonight, I will forget.
"When the sun goes down and the lights burn out
Then it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So shine no matter where you are
Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light
'Cause it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So shine no matter where you are tonight."
Woah-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh
"Brighter than a shooting star
Shine no matter where you are tonight."
Gaze into my eyes when the fire starts
And fan the flames so hot it melts our hearts
Oh, the pouring rain will try to put it out
But not this time
"Let your colors burn and brightly burst
Into a million sparks that all disperse
And illuminate a world that'll try to bring you down
But not this time."
When the sun goes down and the lights burn out
Then it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So shine no matter where you are
Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light
'Cause it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So shine no matter where you are tonight.
Out of the blue, Echo suddenly insisted that we leave, as if spooked by something, before she took a quick moment to buy a pack of water bottles to bring back with us. During this time, I took a moment to catch my breath when suddenly a cloaked woman with an eerily familiar voice appeared in front of me to praised us on how well we did on the dance floor. With a mysterious grin, she gave me a feather hair pin to give to a girl before flitting away in a rush. When Echo came back with the water, I fastened the pin onto her hair as a souvenir causing her to blush heavily.
"Oz-sama, do you know what this pin means?" she questioned carefully.
"No. Not at all," I lied.
I want you to be happy. That's all. But I can't do anything more than this. I know that, to you, I am something more, but to me you are an important friend. And there is someone else in your heart, isn't there?
She turned so that her back faced me and started to walk back to the place we were staying at with a sense of embarrassment. It was not yet midnight and it was also summer break, so I attempted to convince Echo to head to the beach with me. She was a bit reluctant about it, but eventually she ended up giving in.
The waves crashed gently onto the shore as we took a stroll upon the warm sand. Upon finding a good place to sit, I kicked off my shoes and socks while she did the same before we both took a seat near the tide but not fully in the water. She stared down at her feet with melancholic eyes and then brought her hand up to her face.
"Zwei...was there," she whispered slowly.
"Echo-chan..."
She didn't correct me even though she disliked being called that. Based on that, it was easy to tell that she was unhappy. Kindly, I removed her hand from her face and told her the words that always reassured her at times like this.
"Echo-chan, you're a person too. You are special in your own way. You don't need to worry about being overshadowed by your sister when you have you're own charm."
She brought her legs close to her chest and hugged them.
"That's none of your concern..." she mumbled under her breath.
"That doesn't mean it doesn't matter," I replied sincerely. "Echo-chan, trust me."
Trying not to show me her face, she fell back on me so that her head was over my shoulder while I embraced her like a friend would. She didn't cry though. Instead, she murmured something almost too inaudible to hear.
"She was smiling..."
"Then you should smile too. You have that right."
She did not smile or cry. With steady hands, she simply clutched onto my shirt and breathed in and out while the waves overlapped over our feet.
I could feel nothing for her other than friendship, so I was okay with this. Being this close to her was safe. I just hope that this will be the end of this fruitless hope.
From my peripheral vision, I could see a faint twinkle in the distance. Echo noticed this too, so she quickly dragged me back to where everyone else was.
Much to my surprise, Gil had somehow woken up, wandered into my room, and then fell asleep again on the bed. As punishment, I placed a toy cat I found on the floor on Gil's head before deciding to lie down beside him. Spending time with Echo helped me realize something. No one can make my head spin like Gil. There was something that Gil had that was different than everyone else. The warmth he emitted wasn't the same as the warmth Alice and Echo gave off. I craved it. I needed it. My heart was loudly in my chest as I watched Gil mutter honest apologies to me. Fortune teller-san, the person you spoke of was Gil isn't it? My most precious person.
It's funny. I've known this all along, felt my heart go crazy though I refused to acknowledge it, yet I'm only doing something now. I laughed weakly. What a fool I am.
Tomorrow. I will tell him tomorrow.
Well this sounds...iffy at best. I was trying to make Oz more insightful since he's technically older in this fic than in the actual manga, so instead of being ignorant, he actually has a general idea as to what it means to give the feather hairpin to a girl. Though it seems like it, Echo is not placed at the same level as Alice in terms of friendship (this may be clearer in the next few chapters), but Oz does genuinely care about them both (that and I do ship Oz and Echo together so I wanted to make it seem less like he was just treating him like another girl). Zwei has a real appearance in the next chapter along with a surprise and something shocking, so stay tuned!