Duvet is preformed by BOA and is the opening theme to Serial Experiment Lain. This story takes place in modern times and deals with the concept of reincarnation and second chances to try something new. Enjoy!
And you don't seem to understand...
The wind was strong. The leaves were blowing across the paved street. A young girl was leaving an apartment building. To quote the talented author of Slaughterhouse Five - 'so it goes'.
She exited the glass doors and stepped onto the city's concrete path, walking with the masses. Brilliant red hair flamed about in the air, framing a pretty face and scarlet eyes. She walked on, hands in jacket.
So it continues.
Honestly, she just needed fresh air (what little there was to be had in the city). That's why she walked.
And why she left her ring on the table.
She just needed air.
A shame, you seemed an honest man
The problem with her fiancée was... well, she wasn't really sure. She loved him, no doubt. His kindness, along with his fine blond hair and perfect blue eyes made him more than merely attractive. They had great fun together, got along beautifully. THey were made for each other...
Once. At some point in time.
Of course, she didn't know just what she meant by that either. It seemed that daily her love became more and more like deja vu. A fond memory love on a path she had walked several times - now far too downtrodden to be of any interest. She couldn't help but entertain the notion that the two of them had been lovers in several lifetimes, and now she was growing tired of it.
But that was silly, ridiculous even.
But without her engagement ring she just felt so, so light. Maybe she'd turn into vapor and just float away...
And all those things you hold so dear-
Will turn to whisper in your ear
The wind was strong. The leaves were whistling through baring trees. In a different section of the same city, a young man was leaving his girlfriend's townhouse. So it goes once more.
He carefully shut the solid oak door in its snug frame, gracefully turning to walk down the steps and onto the sidewalk below. He walked the opposite way of the crowds, his jacket tails flapping in the wind. Soft hair made azure waves about an angle's face, partially hiding cobalt eyes. On he walked, hands in jacket.
And so it shall continue.
Honestly, he just needed fresh air. He needed the wind to clear his head- to give him time to consider the most important question he'd ever ask in his life. That's why he walked.
And why the black velvet box, ring and all, was still weighing down his pocket.
He just needed air.
And you know they say I'm going to
Hurt you
Having made it to the part, she watched the pigeons scarf up the crumbs they were thrown. She tossed her sandwich wrapper into the trash, smiling in wry humor - had she been hungry, the birds wouldn't have gotten that much.
Continuing down and through the park, she considered another problem she'd noticed - Why all of his friends and family received her so cautiously. They were all wary, as if she were some cruel demon in disguise, waiting for him to offer his precious, trusting heart so that she might dance upon it and leave it a wounded, broken thing.
She'd never do that!
She loved him.
But you know that means too much
And you don't even feel that bad
Still... Reddish eyes peeked from under a shielding hand as she tried to view the top of a skyscraper. The whole thing is so suffocating. Doesn't he notice? It's as if we're marionettes repeating the same lines over and over and over and...
She suddenly felt choked, as if she'd falter in defeat at any moment. But to what? To who? To what conniving, unknown force? She needed out...
For air! Just air. Not...
I am folding
I am fading
I have lost it all
But think long enough and the truth will come, no matter how horrible. She was breaking away, their bond to one another was fading...
Oh God, she lamented, shutting her eyes to the world. Somehow she just knew - she couldn't stay like this. She would hurt him after all.
And she felt nothing for it. Grief, remorse, shame, each as meaningless as the words they truly were.
The lack of emotion was a far greater blow than any feeling could have been.
And so it ends.
And you don't seem the lying kind...
A shame that I can read your mind
Not wanting to go home just yet, the boy walked pass the bus station, a walk was in desperate order. He needed to think on how to rid himself of this burden - the weight of bent gold and diamond. He should give her the ring, problem solved.
No it's not. He wasn't quite sure what the problem was... well, that's not true, he knew exactly what the problem was, but it just seemed so tiny, so insignificant in the face of their love.
Yes, love. He loved his gentle girlfriend with all his heart. She was as kind as she was beautiful, ebony hair, a bright smile, and sky blue eyes that shone just for him. Eyes that hid from him.
Yes, that was it, he could see it in her eyes. Somewhere, in her heart of hearts, she kept a secret, a thought, a dread away from him. Oh, how he hated that! He wished she, the woman he often fancied would be his wife, to share all of herself with him. To unfold completely, so he could know her pain, her joy, so that he could open up and do the same for her. She seemed to have as hard of a time understanding that as he did explaining it.
Heh, perhaps they had been together so long she was preparing herself to let go.
But isn't that just silly?
And you don't want me to
Hurt you
Is that it? he pondered, never pausing in his brisk walk. Is she scared that I'll get too close and eventually take her love and indifferently toss it to the side, like a heartless block of stone?
He wouldn't, couldn't do that!
Never that...
He loved her! He was going to propose -
Someday.
But you know that means too much
And you don't even feel that bad
But when you got down to it, it was true. She didn't really trust him. Filled with an ill-placed rage, he contemplated hurling the damn ring into traffic. That would cut it all, he'd be free...
And wouldn't he be doing what his girlfriend was scared of?
Preparing in a change of roles..
Preparing to change.
I am folding
I am fading
I am drowning -
Help me to breath
She rested her head on the cool brick of a street wall. Somewhere, the invitation of crepes invaded her senses, but was ignored. She had opened the door to realization, there was no shutting it now.
But where do things go from here?
Glancing about, she realized that she had walked quite a ways. It would be just as easy to catch a bus home. With her free, light hands pocketed, she headed to the station, considering what to tell her fiancée.
I am hurting
I have lost it all
I am losing -
Help me to breath
He stopped away from the crowd, holding his face in one hand. He groaned in helpless frustration- he had no way of knowing that the groundwork for this very day had been set up so many thousands of years ago.
It was all she expected to be hurt, so it was all he could really do, he rationalized. He couldn't live with someone who wasn't open with him, who didn't inspire him to be open up himself.
And so it ends.
I am folding
I am fading
I am drowning
Help me to breath
Still lost in thought, she was far too busy to pay attention as she turned the corner, making a fateful mistake -
She knocked heads with a young man (who was as lost in as much thought as she.)
Crying out, she grabbed her sore head, obviously embarrassed. It just didn't help that the fellow she had run into was very handsome. "Sorry bout that..." she squinted her eyes to read the name stitched on his shirt. "Bob."
"...That's just a name that comes with the shirt."
"Oh," she said, blushing. 'Can't make a bigger fool of myself, can I?'
"My name is Zelgadiss."
What a perfectly beautiful name... "I'm Lina," she offered, somewhat shyly.
I am hurting
I have lost it all
I am losing -
Help me to breath
His breath rushed out of his lithe form as a small figure slammed into him, crashing her head with his own. He immediately grabbed his head and glared at the flustered girl -
Who, for some reason or another, struck him as the most beautiful creature he had seen.
"Sorry.. Bob."
He couldn't help but feel silly. Perhaps the shirt hadn't been the greatest of purchases. "...That's just a name that comes with the shirt."
"Oh."
"My name is Zelgadiss," he quickly supplied, almost stumbling over his cumbersome name.
"I'm Lina."
Simple and.. alluring. He could only hope that he hadn't made to big of an ass out of himself.
I am folding
Lina squirmed, uncomfortable with the situation she had caused. From the way he was looking at her, he already thought she was a klutzy fool. This was most defiantly not a problem she needed on top of everything else.
Still...
It was something new.
I am fading
"Um, I'm sorry, again," she laughed, placing one hand behind her head.
"It's alright. I should have paid more attention myself."
I am drowning
That was all very kind, but Lina knew well enough that she had ran into him so she was the only one at fault. For some reason, this man's presence made her more aware of her light hand. It was too light... like it would lift hr up into the sky and carry her away from the beautiful stranger....
She really should go.
Help me to breath
Nodding in apology for the umpteenth time, she moved to walk past, still berating herself for her carelessness.
But she could not go on.
A strong, but gentle hand held her arm, keeping her where she was. Steadying her. Lina looked at Zelgadiss in confused wonder.
I am hurting
His heart grew wings and soared when he realized that she wasn't scared for his brashness. Lina just stood there, watching him with an expectant awe. Expectant...
She was as curious and expectant as he, but now that he had her attention, what was he going to say?
Good question.
I have lost it all
He spoke not, nor did she. Words would have been meaningless to this awaiting silence, had they not been words of importance.
"Lina-san, please don't worry about it," he started quietly, unsure. He didn't want her to walk away feeling bad... yeah, that was it.
"That's very kind, Zelgadiss-san."
I am losing
Zelgadiss became all too aware of the burden in his pocket. If he didn't say what he meant to ask, perhaps it would take root, leaving him right there until he sorted out his thoughts. But perhaps she could take away some of the weight... But what did he mean by getting her attention again?
He knew, even if he didn't realize.
Perhaps he'd have a lifetime to figure it out - the greatest of art begins with a drop of paint, a chip of marble, a speck of pastel....
Help me to breath
"Can I buy you a cup of coffee?"
And so it begins anew.
Erg, Lina was more OOC than I'd like, but what can you do? (mutters sides taking the time to write them in character)