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Nikholas "elf" F. Toledo proj25@yahoo.com
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We all know that CLAMP are the ones responsible for MKR.
And just so that you'd all know, I write purely for my own self-
preservation. I need an outlet and this just happens to be it.
Otherwise, I'll go bonkers.
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Through the Looking Glass
Chapter 4
Round Trip Ticket
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Fuu opened a book and took out the borrower's card. Her intelligent
leaf-green eyes narrowed in scrutiny as she stared at the last name on
the list.
"This one, too?"
She looked at the four books on the table and stared at the
borrower's cards in her hands. The same name appeared on all of them.
Choosing randomly from her selection, she came up with a thick book
with the word 'Java' printed in bold black letters on its glossy cover.
She had it checked out at the front desk and was about to leave the
library when she suddenly remembered something...
"Excuse me."
The librarian glanced up from the computer monitor to look
inquiringly at Fuu. "Yes?"
"Can you please look this title up for me?"
"Sure." The librarian punched in a series of keys. A few seconds
later she copied the information on paper and handed it to Fuu. "It's a
pretty old book, and it's kept at the back room. I've written down the
shelf number so you shouldn't have any problem finding it. Just be
careful with using the ladder."
Fuu frowned, not sure if she heard her right. "Ladder?"
"Yup. Left side, fifth row from the entrance, top shelf, far
right."
"Thank you," she said, not knowing if she really meant it as she
headed for the backroom.
A few minutes later...
Fuu whimpered as she bargained for a hold on the wooden ledge of
the shelf. She was standing on tiptoe against the fifth ledge.
The ladder lay uselessly on the floor - beside it was a hardbound
copy of Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'.
Her grip started to slip, which led her to wonder if she was bound
to break anything. A look at the ground, so far away, only served to
confirm her worst fears.
"Hello? Anybody in here?" a disembodied voice called out.
"Help! I'm over here!" she cried out, relief mingling with
embarrassment at sounding like a pitiful maiden in distress.
She heard footsteps, then silence - a silence that was soon
followed by a sudden burst of laughter. She felt her cheeks go red, not
sure if it was from embarrassment or anger.
"Sorry 'bout that," the voice apologized, obviously having a hard
time controlling its mirth. "But do you mind telling me how you managed
to get yourself stuck up there?"
"It's a long story." Fuu continued, "Would you help me down?
Please?"
"Sure. Let go."
"W-what?!" she cried in disbelief, craning her head to see the
lunatic who issued the insane command.
"C'mon, lady, you gotta trust me on this," he urged, "I'll catch
you."
Fuu racked her brain for a safer way than what he had in mind. "I
know! Why don't you just prop the ladder against the bookshelves and I'll
just take it from there?"
"Sorry, but I think it's broken."
"Y-you can't be serious!"
"Look, do you want to get down or not?" he asked, with a tinge of
exasperation in his voice.
"Of course I do."
"Then let go! On the count of three - One... two..."
Fuu clenched her eyes shut and let go.
He caught her in his arms, staggering backwards from the impact and
landing squarely on his butt.
"Ooowww!"
Fuu blinked and stared at him owlishly.
He managed a pained grin, "Hi."
"Hello." She realized that she was staring at him and quickly opted
to stare at the knot of his tie instead.
"You okay?" he asked, seemingly fascinated by the blush that was
tinting her cheeks.
"Uh-huh," she nodded, pushing her glasses up her nose. "You?"
"Great, couldn't be better." His grin got wider and he could not
resist adding, "It's not everyday that I get a cute girl falling all over
me."
Fuu quickly scrambled off his lap. He picked up the book she
dropped and offered a hand to help her up.
She made a great show of dusting her skirts, trying to buy some
time before she could summon the courage to speak to him again.
"Here."
She looked up to see him holding out the book to her.
"Thank you, Mr.-?"
"The name's Ferio," he said, brushing her formalities aside. "It's
a good thing the librarian asked me to check up on you. She was getting
pretty worried-" He sent a meaningful glance at the broken ladder. "-and
for a good reason, I might add."
Fuu's back stiffened at his condescending tone. "It was an
accident. I slipped."
His brow furrowed at her cold response. "Look here, lady. You could
start by thanking me, you know? Instead of biting my head off!"
"I just did," she unerringly pointed out, "only you were too busy
insinuating that I'm a klutz to have heard it."
"I did no such thing," he stated, only to break into another smile.
"Now, I do believe you owe me an apology as well. For now, I would accept
your thanks for saving your beautiful neck. But I would like to hear you
apologize to me over a cup of tea..."
"Apologize over - what?!" Fuu's eyebrows drew together in mild
disbelief.
"Tea," he supplied, turning to leave. "At the Akashokudo, after
class."
It took Fuu an astounding amount of willpower to keep her jaws from
going slack. The fact that he was actually leaving in the middle of an
argument finally managed to break through her momentary torpor.
"But - wait! I haven't-"
"See you there!" the guy off-handedly threw over his shoulder as he
left the room.
"- even said yes," Fuu finished lamely, experiencing a sense of
d�j� vu as she watched him walk away.
* * *
"Well, what is it this time, Miss Ryuzaki?" he asked with a
calculated air of boredom. It was the first time she ended up in the
principal's office; it made him wonder just how serious her offense was
this time around.
"I wasn't sent here by any of my teachers, if that's what you're
thinking," she argued defensively.
"Very well, then." He took a deep breath and rephrased his
question. "What can I do for you, Miss Ryuzaki?"
He was trying very hard not to notice how wonderful she looked when
she was flustered. Tried not to be fascinated by the way she tucked her
hair behind her delicate ear. Tried not to be frustrated by the fact that
her blue eyes seemed to be quite taken with her surroundings - the walls,
the floor, the potted plants, the bookshelves, the windows, the scene
outside the windows - just about everything.
Everything, that is, except him.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked, genuinely concerned, getting
up from his chair and going around the desk to stand in front of her. He
leaned down, bringing his eyes at level with hers. "What is it, Umi?"
She fidgeted in her seat before answering, "I was wondering if
you'd like to watch the concert with me instead."
He straightened up and walked past her towards the picture window.
Crossing his arms over his chest, he turned slightly away from her and
made it look as if he was watching the scenery outside.
"That's impossible. I cannot honor that request," he replied
tightly.
"Why?"
He stared at her reflection. For the first time in his life, he was
at a complete lost for words. There was so much emotion he could read in
those sea-blue eyes of hers. Feelings that he was not prepared to face up
to, let alone return.
"Do I need to point out the fact, that you, Miss Ryuzaki, are a
student of this school?" he asked, steeling himself for he was about to
do next. "Do you realize that you would be placing our professional
relationship, as student and principal, in a compromising position by
asking me out on this so-called 'date'?"
Umi started, "I never thought-"
"How typical of you," he icily intoned. "Next time, Miss Ryuzaki, I
suggest that you think about your actions very carefully. Otherwise,
you're just wasting both our time."
He watched her stricken expression turn cold as his barb struck
home. Her hands clenched at her sides as she slowly stood up and glared
at his reflection from the glass window. He could see she was trembling,
but her voice was surprisingly calm when she spoke.
"I'm sorry I wasted your time." With indignant grace, she turned
and swept out of the room.
He heard the door slammed shut behind him and winced. Only when he
could no longer hear the angry hurried footfalls along the corridor did
he allow himself to release a weary sigh.
The phone rang.
He gazed blankly at the phone as if unable to comprehend what he
was supposed to do with it. It was only until the incessant ringing began
to grate on his nerves did he start to reach for the handle.
Unfortunately, the machine beat him to it...
< "Clef, look, son, I know that you're rather upset with me
and your mother for what you learned last Sunday. I hope you
understand that I had your best interest at heart when I made
that decision ten years ago..." >
"Thank you, father, for doing such a wonderful job of running MY
life for me!" he sarcastically bit back at the droning voice as he paced
across the carpet.
< "... I waited this long to tell you because I wanted to
make sure that you're mature enough to handle the situation.
Surely, you do realize that a betrothal saves you from
falling for the wrong girl..." >
Clef depressed the 'stop' button and stared morosely at the now-
silent answering machine.
"Damn," he whispered bitterly, "and I just had to go and fall for
her."
* * *
She sat beneath the sakura tree and opened her journal. There,
tucked between her last entry and a blank page, was a small slip of paper
torn from a notebook. She read the note for the third time:
'Meet me at the Akashokudo, 6 PM, after class.'
It was a brief note, so brief that she wondered if it actually
deserved the amount of pondering she had been giving it for the past
fifteen minutes.
"Hmmm... I wonder when he decided to hang around the
Akashokudo...," she peered at the note and crinkled her nose, "... or
exactly when his handwriting started to get so sloppy."
Suddenly, a shadow loomed before her, forcing her to lift her
thoughts from the paper.
"Here, Hikaru. I'm giving these to you."
Hikaru started guiltily and closed her journal with a snap. "Giving
me, what?" she asked, blinking at what Umi had in her hand. "I can't take
those!" she exclaimed, not so much as surprised by her friend's
generosity than by what was being offered.
"Of course you can," Umi insisted smilingly, taking Hikaru's hand
and slapping the tickets down on her open palm. "Here. See, that wasn't
so bad, was it?"
"Ah, Umi," Hikaru eyed her warily, thinking that she looked much
too happy for someone who was giving up a most coveted prize. "You've
been dying to watch this concert for weeks. Why this sudden turnabout?"
Hikaru watched Umi closely as she sat down beside her. She seemed
so melancholy all of a sudden. It was a quite odd, considering she was
practically brimming with joy the entire week. Now, she looked so
desolate that Hikaru could not help but worry.
"Hey, you okay, Umi?" she asked softly.
Umi forced a smile for Hikaru's benefit. "Yeah, I'm okay." She
shrugged, "I just won't be going to Fumiya Fuji's concert this Saturday."
Hikaru gasped, "But what about your date with Ascot-sempai?!"
"What about it?" Umi returned flippantly. "It's not as if I've
asked him out already, Hikaru."
"Does Fuu know about this?"
"N-no," Umi had a hard time meeting her eyes. "Actually, I'd rather
that she doesn't hear about it until after the concert."
"Why?" Hikaru frowned and skeptically pointed out. "These are Fuu's
tickets that you're giving to me, after all."
"But she gave them to me," Umi pointed out, "so, technically
they're mine." She shrugged. "Anyway, about the tickets. I wasn't kidding
when I said that I wanted you to have them."
"Maybe you should tell Fuu, anyway." Hikaru glanced at her watch.
"She's bound to return from the library any time soon."
"I don't think I can wait up for her." Umi got up and extended a
hand to help Hikaru up. "We'll be having guests coming over for dinner,"
She explained as they made their way toward the main building. "Mother
told me to come home early tonight."
A black Mercedes entered the school gates and rounded the main
driveway before stopping right in front of them. A uniformed chauffeur
got out and opened the backseat door.
Umi slid in and settled on the luxurious leather seat. She looked
inquiringly at Hikaru. "Well?"
Hikaru worried her bottom lip for a moment before finally giving
in. "Okay, fine. I'll keep the tickets."
Umi smiled. "Thanks, Hikaru."
* * *
The view outside a classroom window is most endearing to someone
who is bored out of his wits and is sitting on the other side of the wall
- the other side being the inside of a classroom, of course.
However, the scene outside failed to endear itself to anyone inside
the room. This was due to the fact that most of the students were too
busy either staring blankly, silently cursing, or diligently answering
the questions printed on their exam papers.
Except for one...
Zazu mentally sighed as he watched Hikaru wave goodbye to a black
Mercedes that just pulled out of the school gate. She stood there long
after the car had turned at a street corner and vanished from sight.
His eyes followed her as she made her way to the adjacent building.
He wondered who was in the car, was it a friend of hers? If so, was it a
girl... or a guy?
The latter thought was not exactly a very inspiring one.
Zazu shifted impatiently in his chair and tried to push that
thought in the backseat of his mind. He had been staring out the window
for the past half-hour, waiting for the given exam time to elapse.
Glancing around the room, he saw Lantis turn his answer sheet
facedown and settle comfortably in his seat. Two seconds later, he was
snoring softly. Geo, Zazu noted the pencils with their broken lead
scattered on his friend's desk, was on his fourth <SNAP!>, make that
fifth pencil.
Zazu was about to make a mental note on getting the big buffoon a
mechanical lead pencil for Christmas when the bell rang.
"That's it, people. Papers to the front," the proctor intoned.
Zazu had gathered his things and was already on his feet even
before the instruction was finished.
"So, Zazu," Geo called out as he passed by, "you gonna ace this
exam as well?"
Zazu made his way to the front, chucked his paper onto the
teacher's table and went straight out of the room without a word to
either of his two friends.
Geo, wearing a dark frown, turned to Lantis. "You know what? I'm
starting to think that you're contagious."
* * *
"Well, 'bout time you finally got here."
Ferio inwardly winced at Ascot's berating tone. He held the book
out in front of his friend's face, as if shielding himself from the
forthcoming lecture.
"I had to pass by the library, see." The book had the word 'Java'
printed in bold black letters on its glossy cover.
Ascot eyed the book suspiciously, "And here I thought you weren't
doing Zazu any more favors."
"So, what's one last trip to the library before vacation?"
"As if you're the kind to miss a place like that," Ascot
sarcastically pointed out.
"There you are!" a decidedly cheery feminine voice called out.
Fortunately for Ferio, Caldina chose that exact moment to bump into
them. If there was one more thing that needed to be added to Caldina
sensei's innumerable 'assets', it would have to be her excellent sense of
timing.
"I was looking for you two handsome guys at the dormitory," she
stated charmingly, giving Ascot an airy kiss on the cheek.
"And no doubt made a grand spectacle of yourself while you were
there," Ascot muttered under his breath.
"Hello, Caldina-sensei."
Caldina acknowledged Ferio's greeting with a wink before berating
her stepbrother, "I heard that!"
Ferio could only watch the two stepsiblings argue with a wry sense
of amusement.
"Can you believe this guy?!" she asked, pointing her thumb at
Ascot's irked expression. "I'm the one who gets to expend the most
effort, and all he ever does is complain."
"If you'd give me one good reason not to, then maybe I'd stop!"
Ascot fumed as he stomped-off ahead of them, mumbling something about his
reputation going up in flames.
"Ah, if only he knew the truth...," Ferio shook his head and shot
Caldina a conspiratorial look, "... then he'd have a hell of a lot more
to complain about."
Caldina grinned, "What do you mean?"
"Well, apparently the betting pool is currently raking it in. Last
I heard, it's two against three on the odds that Ascot will choose you
over that blue-haired girl," Ferio supplied.
"Really?" Caldina coyly asked, then pointed at the girl who was
running towards Ascot. "So, mind telling me where she comes in?"
"Ascot-sempai, wait!"
"Hikaru?" Ascot stopped in his tracks and actually smiled. "Hey,
haven't seen you for quite a while."
"Exams," she said, knowing that one word would likely explain
everything. Then, without preamble, she asked, "You doing anything this
Saturday night? 'Coz, you see, I have two tickets for this concert and-"
Ascot's eyes almost bugged out of his head. "Ah, Hikaru... you're
not, by any chance... trying to, you know-"
Hikaru's brows knitted in puzzlement as she watched him stutter and
make these weird waving gestures with his hands. "Know what, Ascot-
sempai?"
He looked around, carefully making sure none of her brothers was
within a five-mile radius from where they were standing, before
continuing. "Asking me out on a date?" he whispered.
"A date?" Hikaru repeated in mild confusion.
_Oh no! Ascot, you idiot! How could you ask her that? Don't you see
how embarrassing it would be for her to admit it!_
Hikaru blushed.
_What have I've done? I've ruined a perfectly good friendship by
making her fall for me!_
"Ascot-sempai, I think you got it all wrong..."
_Eagle will have me booted out of the basketball varsity team!
Then, when her other brother, Lantis, hears about this - he's going
to..._
"I'm not asking you out on a date."
Her words finally penetrated his mind.
Ascot blinked. He wisely kept his mouth shut and waited for his
brain to digest what she just said.
"You're not?" he finally asked, frowning down at her.
Hikaru shook her head and carefully said, "No."
"Oh."
She smiled, took his limp hand, and placed the tickets in his
grasp. "But, then, you might know a certain blue-haired girl who could be
interested in watching it with you."
"She is? I mean-" He shook his head to put his thoughts in
perspective, "-you sure?"
Hikaru nodded and smiled encouragingly. "Her number is at the back.
Maybe you should call and ask HER out."
* * *
The Akashokudo, just three blocks away from Ryudo High School, is a
rather popular hangout among the students. Inside, the main dining hall
is littered with lacquered round tables and ladder-back chairs. The
walls, of course, are done in red - hence the name Akashokudo. Here, the
clientele can expect great food, good service and juicy gossip.
Hikaru propped the menu before her and half-heartedly scanned the
ice cream flavors listed under 'Desserts'.
"Hmmm... I wonder if their new green-tea flavored ice cream is
worth trying," she mused aloud, running her index finger down the list.
"Strawberry Delight. But I just had that with Fuu and Umi last week."
With a sigh, she scanned the upper part of the list. "A Banana Split is
no fun when you don't have anyone to share it with," she mumbled,
remembering how she and Eagle would argue on who got the chocolate scoop
after she had finished the strawberry and he the vanilla. "Or maybe I
should just play safe and stick to chocolate?"
"So, you think chocolate is safe," a deep voice rumbled from behind
the cardboard menu. "Well, you'd better think again."
Hikaru slowly lowered the menu and found herself staring at a pair
of laughing chocolate-brown eyes.
"Hi there, pretty lady." He leaned closer and waggled his eyebrows
at her. "Want some company?"
"Geo-sempai!" Hikaru's face turned a becoming shade of pink. It has
been three years since she had known him and she still could not get over
his teasing her.
"Know what, 'karu?" Geo's grin widened. "That blush of yours goes
well with your hair."
Hikaru burst out giggling, "Anyone ever told you that you couldn't
flirt worth to save your life?"
Geo shrugged noncommittally. "Oh, I get by," he drawled, casting a
sideways glance at two nearby tables occupied by giggling high school
girls who were waving at him and vying for his attention. "Say, mind if I
sit here, with you?"
"No, not at all," she answered guilelessly.
He took the seat across hers and glanced dismissively at the menu.
"The good stuff ain't listed on the menu. Besides, I'm the only one
around here who gets to order it."
"Order what?"
Geo signaled the waiter before turning back to answer her question.
"The ultimate-mega-deluxe-super-duper chocolate ice cream concoction."
"What?"
* * *
"That double-crossing, cradle-snatching, smooth-talking low-life!"
He growled under his breath. "Trying to warn me off Lantis and Eagle's
sister when the truth was that HE had his eyes on her all along!"
He peered behind the leaves of a huge potted plant, watching his
not-so-dear-friend-turned-traitor flirting with Hikaru. It was so unfair!
Geo can choose anyone from his groupies, why the hell did he have to go
for HER! Besides, she's TOO young for him!
The plan was so ingeniously simple. All it involved was a note.
That was all he needed to bring her to him. His plan was going oh-so-
well, and just when he was about to make his entrance - Geo had to come
along and beat him to it!!!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. The angrier he
got, the more depressed he felt. The more depressed he felt, the more he
thought about it. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. The
angrier he got...
He shook his head and suddenly burst out, "NO! I refuse to concede!
I, Zazu Torque, will not be beaten so easily! Bwahahahaha!"
This, of course, got him a fair share of attention from the nearby
patrons, some of which were looking at him as if he had just lost his
marbles.
"What?! Never seen anybody talking to a plant before?!"
* * *
Ferio drummed his fingers against the thick book near his elbow and
tried very hard not to seem too uncomfortable sitting alone at his table.
He also tried very hard not to overhear the conversation going on at the
next table, which, apparently, was about him.
"Maybe, he's got a date..."
"That's his fifth cup of tea..."
"... been sitting there for over an hour."
"Really? An hour?"
"An hour and a half, at least."
"Bet he got stood up..."
"Poor guy."
"Won't be long now before he switches to sake."
Hell, Ferio thought to himself, maybe she decided no to show up
after all. He looked down at his watch and fidgeted in his seat. Another
fifteen minutes, he told himself. Another fifteen minutes - then he's out
of here. But first, another cup of-
"Why did you take my book?"
"You're here!" His face broke into a welcoming smile. He got up so
fast, his chair noisily scraped against the floor. "I was beginning to
think you weren't going to show up."
Fuu sidestepped and placed the table between them. "I never planned
to show up at all," she stated, and nodded at the book - it had the word
'Java' printed in bold black letters on its glossy cover. "It was only
when I realized that the book-"
"Wait a sec." Ferio held up his hand to stop her. "You mean to tell
me," he said, tapping his fingers against the cover, "that if it wasn't
for this book, you wouldn't be here."
She delicately pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose with
her index finger before answering. "Well, yes."
"Is that so?" Ferio crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a
leveled look. "Then I'm not sorry I took it."
Fuu's brows drew together in a frown. This caused her glasses to
slide down her nose, which, in turn, prompted her to push them back up
again.
"You actually believed that I would agree to this little blackmail
of yours?" she asked, clutching her borrowed copy of 'Canterbury Tales'
closer to her chest.
"Well, it got you here, didn't it?" he smugly pointed out.
Ferio watched her slide her glasses up her nose once again and
glared at him. He was starting to believe that the gesture was some sort
of a defense mechanism. He was having a hard time keeping his lips from
twitching into a smile.
Then, without another word, she turned around and walked out on him
- suddenly, he did not feel like smiling at all.
"What the- hey, wait!" He scrambled around the table and started
after her. "I saw it sitting on top of the shelf on my way out of the
back room. I assumed someone must have left it there. I didn't know it
was you who borrowed the book, okay?"
"And you couldn't be bothered to check with the Library's front
desk?" Fuu countered without even braking stride.
"I did - that's where I learned that the book was lent to you!" he
shouted as he wove his way through the crowded restaurant. "I figured,
since I'll be seeing you after class, why not I hand it over to you
personally," he continued, keeping his eyes on Fuu's retreating back.
She stopped.
"Why won't you just leave me alone?" she asked in exasperation.
"Why won't you listen to my expla- Whoa!" He ducked just in time to
avoid a tray that was being balanced by a waiter.
Fuu shook her head and turned to leave - only to gasp out in
surprise when he whispered near her ear:
"Why won't you give me a chance?"
She felt him standing close behind her.
Turning around, she found herself staring into those familiar amber
eyes...
... memories of a darkened music hall...
... sunset's fading light streaming through the windows...
... ebony and ivory keys...
... an echo of the final strains of a sonata...
Ferio watched as recognition dawned in her beautiful leaf-green
eyes. She looked down and he followed her gaze to their linked hands. He
then realized that he unwittingly grabbed her hand to keep her from
leaving.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" He started to let go of her hand
only to have her fingers curl around his.
Then she shyly whispered:
"You promised me tea."
* * *
The waiter finally arrived and placed their order on the table with
a flourish. The dessert was served in a crystal bowl, affording Hikaru a
view of its entire composition:
A chocolate brownie, about a half-inch thick, served as the base.
This is followed by three layers of chocolate variants, starting from the
bottom-up: dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. The entire
thing was topped with chocolate fudge and a healthy sprinkling of
chocolate bits. Squiggles of chocolate syrup served as the final touch.
Hikaru could only stare at the monstrous chocolate nightmare
sitting on their table as Geo handed her a spoon.
"Dig in, 'karu. Don't worry, this one's on me."
"Huh?" She turned a blank look on him.
"I don't suppose that you're on a diet," he incredulously asked,
eyeing her boyishly slim figure. "Are you?"
Hikaru was too distracted to blush this time around. "N-no."
"Great! Then you won't have any qualms about indulging your sweet
tooth."
Hikaru managed to pry her eyes off the chocolate monstrosity just
in time to see a somewhat unnatural grin spread across Geo's face. He was
totally mesmerized by the sweet vision of loveliness before him.
"So, ah, Geo-sempai-" She pointed at the bowl of ice cream with her
spoon. "- what exactly is this thing called?"
He picked up his spoon and, in a reverent voice, he answered:
"Genocide by Chocolate."
* * *
"I know I still have one in here," Ascot mumbled as he searched his
wallet for a phonecard. "Aha! Here it is!" he cheered, waving the piece
of plastic in the air.
He approached one of the green pay phones that lined the wall and
took a deep meditative breath. "Here we go..."
It took him three tries before he managed to slip the card into the
slot.
< Balance: �10 >
He winced. "Better make this a short one."
He dialed the number written on the back of the ticket that Hikaru
gave him. Then he listened to the ringing at the other end of the line.
Waiting.
Sweating.
A tremulous voice answered on the fourth ring. "Hello?"
"Ah, U-Umi Ryuzaki, please."
A choked sob, a slight clearing of throat, then - "Who is this?"
"It's Ascot." He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Umi, are
you alright?"
"I'm fine. What can I do for you?"
"Well, you see..." Ascot paused to breathe - he could actually feel
the cold beads of sweat rolling down his back. "... I was wondering, i-if
you'd like to go with me to a c-concert this Saturday?"
Silence.
He turned and glanced at the clock hanging above the reception desk
of the lobby at far side of the room. He could have sworn he heard each
tick as the minute hand moved across the clock's face.
"I-I can't, sorry."
"Umi, I-"
The line went dead.
His grip tightened on the receiver as he looked up at the small
digital screen.
< Balance: � 0 >
* * *
"Ah-um, hi there."
Hikaru turned to see a boy about her age standing by the table. He
was wearing a Ryudo High School uniform. His dark brown hair was
thoroughly mussed, as if he was in the habit of running his fingers
through it.
"Hello," she warily returned.
"I'm Zazu, Zazu Torque. I saw you talking with Geo a while ago and
I was wondering-"
Hikaru suddenly perked up when she finally recognized him. "You're
that genius friend of Geo's, right?"
Zazu nodded.
Hikaru smiled and offered him a seat. "Please, sit down, Zazu-
sempai. Geo just went off to make a phone call to check if Lantis is at
the dorm. He'll be right-" Suddenly, she stopped talking and lightly
smacked her forehead. "Oh, I'm so silly! I haven't even introduced myself
yet.
"Hajimemashite, I am Hikaru Shido, A third year junior high student
of Ryudo High School. Dozo yoroshiku, onegaishimasu." She ended her
formal introduction with a deep bow.
He nervously smiled at her. "I- uhm, nice to meet you. I happened
to be a classmate of your brother, Lantis, as well."
"Is he with you?"
"No."
"Oh." Hikaru looked absolutely crestfallen.
"But I did saw him on my way here."
"Really?!" Hikaru's spirits soared once again. "Then he's finally
coming by to pick me up!"
"Weeell - hmmmm..." Zazu scratched his chin before answering, "No."
"What?"
"He's sorry he couldn't walk home with you. He said he had to go
buy something downtown." Zazu pointed at his nose and grinned. "He asked
me to walk you home instead."
* * *
Geo came back to find a deserted table and a note propped against
the empty ice cream bowl.
Geo-sempai,
Thank you very much for the ice cream and the company.
I'm sorry for not waiting for you to return and say
goodbye. We're in a bit of a hurry. If you happen to see my
brother, please give him this note and tell him I left
already.
P.S.
Don't worry, Zazu-sempai offered to walk me home.
Hikaru
* * *
Lantis looked around the room one last time to check if he left
anything important. His duffel bag, sitting on the floor beside the bed,
was already packed. He was going home for the summer.
Outside, he could hear his fellow dormers saying their goodbyes and
wishing each other an enjoyable summer. Inside his room, he was all alone
without anyone to say goodbye to.
He took a post-it pad from his bedside drawer and wrote his
roommate a short note:
Geo,
Just left for home.
Lantis
Then as an afterthought, he grudgingly added:
P.S.
Have a nice summer.
Lantis stuck the post-it on Geo's nightlamp, where his roommate was
sure to see it. He picked up his bag just as the door opened to admit a
disgruntled-looking Geo into the room.
"What the heck are YOU still doing here?!"
Lantis merely raised an eyebrow at his friend's outburst and
blandly remarked, "I never thought you'd be this eager to see me leave."
Geo sat on the edge of his bed with a puzzled look on his face. "I
called the desk, but they said you weren't around."
"Guess I was asleep when they paged me."
Geo face-faulted. The whole Japanese National Coast Guard could
march through their room in the middle of the night and Lantis would
probably sleep through THAT one as well.
"Here." Geo tossed the folded note to Lantis and waited for his
reaction.
"I didn't write this," Lantis stated with a frown.
Geo glanced at the post-it stuck on his nightlamp, then back at the
paper that Lantis held in his hand. "I know." Geo nodded at the paper.
"You're handwriting is just slightly better than his. But that's not all
- check the back."
He did. His frown grew even darker after reading Hikaru's note.
"She was waiting for you to show up. Not to worry, I kept her
company the whole time. I even treated her to the best chocolate ice
cream in town." Geo reminiscingly smiled. "Man, wish I had a sister like
yours. She's really great to be with."
Lantis looked at him for the longest time before muttering, "I'm
sure she is."
Geo frowned at his friend's insipid tone. "I didn't mind baby-
sitting your kid sister, Lantis."
"Then how did she end up with Zazu?"
Geo guiltily replied, "I left her alone for a moment so that I
could call you."
_This is getting me nowhere,_ Lantis thought to himself. "Where is
she now?" he asked aloud.
_With Zazu,_ Geo thought to himself. "On her way home, I suppose,"
he answered.
* * *
Ascot walked into a deserted room.
It's a good thing, he told himself, that Ferio isn't around.
He closed the door and fell spread-eagle unto the bed. Staring up
the ceiling, he began to recount everything that happened to him that
afternoon. It started with Hikaru giving him the tickets and ended with
the short phone conversation he had with Umi - where she turned him down
when he asked her out on a date.
Having your heart broken was not exactly the best way to start the
summer.
Ascot turned his head when he heard a light tapping on the door. It
cracked open and Geo's face peered inside the room.
"Zazu came back yet?" he asked.
Ascot lazily sat up, looked around the room and answered, "Nope."
"I see." Geo stepped into the room without being invited and parked
himself on one of the padded chairs. He looked closely at the younger
man's defeated slouch and instantly knew that all was not well in Ascot's
world.
"Got girl problems, don'tcha?"
"Me?" Ascot smirked. "Get real."
Geo's only answer was to give him a level stare.
"Okay, fine!" Ascot threw his hands up in exasperation and started
pacing around the carpet. "But what would you know about these things?"
he asked, pointing a finger at Geo. "Basketball heartthrobs like you get
to be chased by girls every time. For crying out loud, YOU have your OWN
FAN CLUB!!!"
"True. But were not here to talk about me. We were talking about
you." Geo leaned forward in his chair and started again. "So, ever tried
asking her out?"
"I did."
Geo started to reconsider if he should proceed with his pep talk.
From the way Ascot said it, it was quite easy to assume that the girl
turned him down flat-out cold.
"I see," he muttered apologetically. "That bad, huh?"
"Aaaargh! I AM SO PATHETIC!!!" Ascot cried out.
"Ah-uhm, n-not really," Geo offered.
But Ascot ignored him just the same. He started knocking his head
against the wall, muttering to himself what a sublime idiot he turned out
to be. "... atashi no baka... baka... baka..."
Geo face-faulted. He was finding it harder to refute Ascot's
statement. Most especially when he was banging his head against the wall
like a demented woodpecker.
"A-Ascot, I think I'd better be going now..."
Geo was about to leave when Ascot suddenly shouted, "WAIT!" He
reached inside his shirt pocket and came up with two tickets in his
grasp. "SEMPAI! I would appreciate it if you take these when you leave."
The tickets swiftly vanished from his grasp.
"Sure. Thanks, Ascot, g'night."
The door closed with a muffled click.
Geo patted his shirt pocket, where the tickets were safely kept,
and started down the hallway. He always believed that one man's
misfortune could turn out to be another man's treasure. He knew himself
to be a good friend. Still, a pair of Fumiya Fuji concert tickets was not
something even a good friend could turn down.
* * *
The first Saturday of summer vacation found Fuu standing in front
of a greenhouse. She stepped inside and was immediately greeted by a
scene of vivid colors and intermingling floral scent. She headed for the
far end of the structure where a small gazebo stood. At the center was a
pebble-washed table flanked by two marble slab benches.
She placed the heavy basket on the table and glanced about for her
sister, "Oneechan?"
"Fuu, is that you?"
"Yes. And I brought lunch." Fuu opened the basket to peer inside.
"It seemed like Kuu packed enough food for four people."
"Good." Emi emerged from behind a nearby rack of potted ferns. "My
new helper certainly build up an appetite lugging around sacks of
fertilizer all morning."
"You've got a new helper?" Fuu repeated as something clicked in
place. "A new GUY helper?" she asked, trailing behind her sister to the
wash area.
Emi nodded as she scrubbed her hands clean. "Why, yes. Even with
you and Kuu helping around the flower shop this summer, I still need
someone to do most of the strenuous work here in the greenhouse. He'll be
doing the deliveries as well."
"But the scooter is broken," Fuu commented.
Emi seemed not to have heard her. She was too busy relishing the
cold water against her face and neck. "Ohh, that feels so good!"
Fuu handed her a towel and asked, "Oneechan, what about the
scooter?"
"Oh, that. Well, he said he asked a friend of his to come by and
fix it this afternoon."
"Miss Emi, I've finished stacking the fertilizers."
Fuu immediately turned around at the familiar voice. She craned her
neck to see beyond the tall hedges that hid the speaker from view.
"I'm planning to hop by the fast food down the street and get some
eats. Would you like me to get something for you as well?" the voice
asked.
"No, don't bother." Emi shook her head, "My sister just arrived
with our lunch. There's more than enough here to go around. I really must
insist that you eat with us."
The footsteps sounded closer this time. Fuu held her breath and
waited with mixed feelings for him to come around the bend and...
"Eagle?" Fuu's brow knotted in puzzlement. "You're Emi's new
helper?"
Fuu was so certain that she heard HIS voice. It was pretty hard for
her to hide her disappointment when she saw Hikaru's brother instead.
"Huh? Me? I don't think so." Eagle shook his head and looked at her
in amused bewilderment. "I just arrived. The flower shop was closed, so I
decided to come around at the back of the greenhouse."
"What brings you here?" Emi asked.
"I was just passing by the area and decided to come over and check
if Kuu's around."
"She's at home," Fuu supplied, still mulling over her embarrassing
mistake.
Fuu left Emi and Eagle to talk and decided to busy herself by
preparing lunch. She took out a cloth from the picnic basket to spread
over the pebble-washed table where they usually eat their meals. With a
flick of her wrists, she unfurled the tablecloth.
And, as it settled, she found herself staring into a pair amber
eyes which no doubt mirrored her surprise.
"Fuu."
"Ferio."
The two of them stared at each other, each waiting for the other to
speak.
Eagle took the opportunity to noisily clear his throat, putting an
abrupt end to their impromptu staring contest.
"What are you doing here?" Fuu and Ferio asked each other
simultaneously.
"I usually bring my sister's lunch during the weekends," Fuu
explained, nodding towards Emi.
"And I'll be working here part-time for the summer," Ferio
explained as well.
They avoided each other's eyes and blushed at the same time.
"So, you're already acquainted with each other. That's good," Emi
commented, smiling a knowing smile. "And since we've no need for
introductions, I suggest we eat."
* * *
The wind rustled softly through the trees. A single blossom fell,
sending ripples that broke across the mirror surface of the pond.
The swing creaked softly as the girl hummed an off-keyed melody to
herself. Pushing her feet harder against the ground, she soared even
higher...
"Hey-!" she started, annoyed at being pulled back in mid-flight.
"Don't swing too high, the bough might break-"
"- and I might fall," Hikaru finished for him.
"You could hurt yourself," Lantis said.
Hikaru simply looked away and kept her silence.
Lantis sighed and began to push at the seat. He allowed himself the
simple pleasure of drawing her close each time the pendulum of the swing
brought her back to him. It gave him the opportunity to breathe in the
summery scent of her hair.
"What you did last night to Zazu-sempai was wrong."
"I never laid a finger to hurt him."
"But he was your friend and you told him to keep away from me."
"What does friendship have to do with it?"
"Lantis," Hikaru looked up and studied his impassive facade, "I'm
almost sixteen. Don't you think I'm old enough to handle these things and
decide for myself?" she quietly asked.
Lantis knelt down and looked straight into her carnelian eyes. He
realized it was a big mistake the moment he felt something inside him
move and catch in his chest. Hikaru grew up to be a lovely young woman,
and he could not help but notice.
"Hikaru..." His hand tightened on the thick rope, unable to
continue, for he had totally forgotten what he was going to say.
"What brotherly advice would you be offering this time?" she asked.
Lantis wanted to laugh at the irony of it all. He was feeling
anything but brotherly at the moment. Still, he forced himself to say the
things he knew she needed to hear from him.
"I trust you to make the right decisions. There will be times when
you'd feel like kicking me for being overprotective-"
"Like last night," Hikaru cut in.
Lantis sighed, "Yes, like last night." He tucked a wayward curl
behind her ear before continuing, "I acted that way because I'm very much
concerned about you, as well. Sorry if I embarrassed you, Hikaru."
She looked at him for a long time before she finally reached out
and embraced him.
"Thank you, Lantis," she whispered, "I know that you do care for
me, even if you don't show it that often."
_Of course I care. Hell, I care a lot - maybe, even too much._
Lantis painfully swallowed past the lump in his throat. "That's what big
brothers are for."
Hikaru smiled at him and got off the swing. "I'm going back in, you
comin'?"
Lantis sat down on the swing. He stretched his long legs before him
and pushed against the ground, setting the swing in motion.
"I'll catch up later. I think I'll stay here for a while. It's not
very often that I have this swing all to myself."
* * *
Geo and Ferio were sitting on the floor of the gazebo. Geo was
tinkering with the inner workings of the scooter's motor while Ferio was
busy changing the tires.
"Hand me a flat-head screwdriver, will you."
"Sure." Ferio looked around the clutter of tools, "Where is it?"
"It's somewhere in that toolbox."
He found the screwdriver and was about to hand it over when Geo
asked, "So, what's the story between you and Fuu?"
Ferio almost dropped the screwdriver. "N-nothing!"
"I happened to see you running after her, literally, at the
Akashokudo last night. And you call that nothing?"
"Okay, I admit, I find her appealing. But that's all."
Geo shook his head and tapped his temple. "It's no use lying, I
have eyes, you know." He had never seen anyone so utterly besotted and
yet so blind about his own feelings.
"So? It's none of your business, anyway." Ferio tried to act
nonchalant about it. But inside, he was bothered by Geo's observation.
_Hell, am I really THAT transparent?_
"Look, I'm not usually this generous-" Geo reached inside his
wallet and took out two tickets. "The concert's tonight. Maybe you should
ask her out," he said, placing the tickets face down on the bench.
"B-but, I can't-!" Ferio was cut-off in mid-protest as the lady in
question arrived balancing two tall glasses of juice and a platter of
rice cakes on a tray.
"Geo-sempai, why don't you and Ferio take a break for a while?"
Ferio was just about to get up when Geo placed a restraining hand
on his shoulder, pinning him in place. "Think about it," he whispered,
"If you chicken out on this one, I just might consider taking her out
myself." Geo winked at him before he jumped to his feet and strode over
to Fuu.
Ferio silently fumed and glared at Geo's back. He tried to convince
himself that he did not feel the least bit threatened by Geo's challenge,
nor was he going to be railroaded into asking Fuu out on a date.
"Allow me," Geo gallantly offered, taking the tray from her. "These
rice cakes look delicious! It helps to know that they were made by a
lovely young woman such as yourself."
And, most of all, Ferio tried to convince himself that he was not
the least bit jealous of Geo - although that part would definitely take a
lot of work, especially when he could see that Fuu was blushing at Geo's
latest compliment.
"Actually, they were made by my sister, Kuu."
"Really?" Geo placed the tray on the bench. He took off his work-
gloves, wiped his hands on his towel, reached out for a rice cake and
cheerfully bit into it.
"Man, this is SO GOOD!!!" It took him 10 seconds flat to finish off
the whole thing after the first bite.
"I'll go wash my hands," Ferio said. Unlike Geo, he wasn't wearing
any work gloves and his hands were greasy from working with the tires.
Fuu bent down and sat beside Ferio. "Seriously, at the rate he's
going, I doubt if there would be any food left when you return."
Ferio face-faulted. Geo was stuffing his face like there was no
tomorrow. "You're right," he whispered back. "If so, then how am I-?"
"Here," Fuu reached for a rice cake and shyly held it up to his
mouth. "Why don't you take a bite."
"I-ah, what I meant is that... I don't really want to impose on..."
<grrrooooowwwwrrr>
Fuu's eyes widened at the sound that came from Ferio's stomach.
"Guess, I don't have much of a choice now, do I?" he mumbled,
smiling sheepishly at her.
She laughed. He thought her laughter sounded like the wind playing
with chimes.
Ferio leaned forward and took a bite. He chewed, then swallowed,
before commenting, "It's delicious."
"Glad you liked it. But I think you've got a grain of rice
somewhere over here." Fuu pointed at her own cheek to indicate where.
"Where? Here?" Ferio reached up to wipe his face, leaving a streak
of grease on his jaw.
"No, there."
"Here?" Another greasy line got drawn on his chin.
"No," Fuu finally reached out and brushed the rice grain off his
cheek. "Here."
They both fell silent as each savored the other's nearness.
She could not think beyond the warm sensation of his skin beneath
her fingers.
He could not think beyond the distinct scent of windflowers that
was uniquely hers.
"Fuu."
"Yes?"
"Yesterday was the first time we've seen each other face to face."
_And yet, we've known each other for almost a semester before
that,_ Fuu thought with a secret smile. "I know."
She felt his fingers brush softly against her bare shoulder.
Ferio swallowed hard as his hand closed upon the papery white
surface.
"Are you going to be busy tonight?" he asked.
"Not really."
Ferio smiled into her eyes as he showed her the tickets in his
hands. "If that's the case then, would you like to watch this concert
with me, tonight?"
"Are you asking me out on a date?" she skeptically asked.
"Yes," he replied with quiet confidence.
Fuu leaned back and watched his endearingly grubby face from behind
her wire-rimmed glasses. Ferio unconsciously held his breath as he waited
for her answer.
Then she serenely smiled, laid a gentle hand on his arm, and said,
"I'd be glad to watch the concert with you, Ferio."
- end of chapter 4 -
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