navy = flashback
red = vision
Ohtori was an academy of many things: outstanding academics, a beautiful campus, spacious dorms, a top ranking Student Council....
But above all things, Ohtori was a school of idol worshippers.
Yes that's right, idol worshippers. You see, as extraordinary as Ohtori's students were, there were always the select few that stood out and shined amongst the masses... hence the worship.
Take the two girls standing outside the fencing hall for example. Both watched in complete and utter awe as the Fencing Team Captain, Luna Arisugawa and talented underclassman, Rezo Karou duelled one another, clashing and withdrawing in an intricate dance of skill.
Not that either of these girls understood the complicated art of fencing. They just liked to watch. Why?
Because it's so cool!!
However both knew enough to be shocked when the 'friendly' match ended - Rezo's foil bending against Luna's chest. They made a hasty retreat, lest Luna throws a temper tantrum.
Quite the opposite really.
Luna stepped back, pulling off the heavy mask of her uniform. The act lifted her lavender bangs upward, giving a momentary view of her pretty face. "You finally beat me." She smiled as warmly as her persona would allow. "You've gotten better."
Sighing, Rezo too removed his mask. "No I haven't. I still haven't perfected it."
"You don't get it, do you? It's the lack of perfection that makes you strong, it's called talent. Perfect or planned attacks are too easy to dismantle anyway"
He looked at his captain shyly as she continued. "Most days your attacks are a tad timid, but today... there seems to be an extra fierceness about you." Her tone became amused and teasing. "Is it because of the owner of the test you were grading?"
Wow, Rezo could do an amazing imitation of a cherry! "Wh-what are you talking about, sempai?" he asked, studying the very interestingg floor.
"Whatever," she said briskly. She spun on her heel and quickly left the room, her demeanor once again short and cold. "Neither your sword nor your magic skills are for battle anyway."
Not for battle anyway... Try as he might, he couldn't get Luna's word's out of his mind. What was she trying to say? Of course, all of these thoughts ceased to matter upon the arrival of his destination. His thoughts were devoured by the carnivorous butterflies that had escaped his stomach. Kinda look like Lina...
Inside the greenhouse and thankfully unaware of famished butterflies, Sylphiel tended to her roses. She allowed her fingers to lovingly trace the soft petals of a pure white rose as the other cupped one with a faint blue tint. Lovely, but they seemed to be thirsty... now where did she put that watering can?
"Um, here you go." She turned to see Rezo, holding the golden container- already filled to the brim with water.
"Arigatou." She accepted the offering from his nervous hands.
Rezo inhaled deeply, trying to lose himself in the sweet aroma of so many flowers in such a close proximity. He wasn't sure what it was, but there was something special about this small place - overstuffed with roses, greenery and sun. It was a place where everything was always right, a place of refuge. He smiled gently at the small, black haired girl, silently thanking her for creating such a place. After a moment, the corners of her lips curled and she returned his smile, happy he enjoyed her garden.
And then...
"Shabranigdo!!" A lil crab-like mini demon thing with a neck tie and earring rode in on a little skateboard. What else were you expecting?
"DAMMIT SHABBY-CHAN, GET YOUR FREAKY BUTT BACK HERE!!" Ahh, the other nonromantic. Lina stomped in after the mini demon king, intent of murder written on her face. However, that look dropped as she noticed Sylphiel, Rezo, their proximity, and the tension in the air. "Am I interrupting anything?" she asked, a sly smirk spreading over her features.
"Er..." Rezo preformed that wonderful cherry imitation and Sylphiel smiled at her Victor.
Shabby-chan appraised the situation and 'shaa-ed' suspiciously.
In the inside, Rezo was jumping up and down, a hoppin' and a hollerin', dancing about and topping it all off with a happy little skip. All at the realization that Sylphiel was playing piano for him. On the outside however, he was calmly leaning against the grand piano with Lina as they listened to Sylphiel play, Shabby-chan perched upon his master's shoulder.
The Sunlit Garden filled the air, gently caressing it, soothing it. Sylphiel closed her glassy green eyes, enchanted by the melody born from her fingertips. Even Lina and Shabby-chan maintained a respectful silence.
"It's the feeling I've been looking for," Rezo murmured, closing his one eye.
"This?" Lina shook herself out of her revery and glanced at the younger (but still far taller) boy. "Is this the song she played the other night?"
Rezo nodded in the affirmative. "It's called 'The Sunlit Garden'. My sister and I wrote it about a garden we used to play in when we were little."
"Wait a sec!" Well, that got her attention. "This is a famous song, right? You mean that you helped write it??!"
"Yep." His grin grew and his entire face beamed with pride. "When we were little, we had a small piano. It was our very favorite toy, we'd play on that thing for hours. We even had adults from all over come to watch."
"Adults..." Lina mused, murmuring the word as if it were foreign. "So the two of you were brother/sister prodigies, ne?"
"...For a while. But then..." He hesitated, his breath drawn.
"But then?" Lina prodded. Hell, she was curious.
"I-I ruined it!! I completely destroyed the greatest happiness I ever had!!" he cried.
"H-hey!!" she stammered, reeling from his unexpected outburst. Sylphiel remained silent during the ordeal, continuing with her music.
"There was this concert, and I was so excited. I told her all about it, because she was so good, you know? But she told me that she didn't want' to, because she would be too scared to preform in front of all of those strangers. Her music was so beautiful, I thought I had to make her share it with others. I convinced her to go through with it, saying that I'd be right there with her like we always were. And the next day..."
"Rezo-chan!! Be careful!!" The little girl
watched her big brother climb
the tree with growing trepidation. It always made her nervous when he
scaled to such heights. "Rezo-chaaan!"
He waved down to his imouto. She seemed so small down there... "Daijobu!!"
he called, reassuring her. "I'll come down now, ok?" Chibi Rezo shifted
his weight, lowering his right foot in an attempt to find an available
branch.
"KYAA!!" His foot startled a nest, and the bird rushed upwards, flying past
his ear. This scared him enough to lose his grip and fall back, the ground
rushing to meet him with a sickening thump.
He could hear his sister's panicked voice before his world was rushed
away... "Rezo-chan!!"
"And when I woke up - "
"What's wrong with Rezo-chan?!" a fearful young voice cried tearfully.
Imouto-chan?
"He'll be alright dear," soothed a fatherly voice.
Oto-san? Voices all around him... as he regain consciousness, he could
hear their voices, but...
Where were they? Why couldn't he see them?!
Why was everything black?!?!?!!
"Don't worry, I think we can save his sight," assured a third voice Rezo
recognized as his doctor. "He has an unprecedented Magic Capacity. I'm
sure we can give him sight using the new Astral Arts."
Sight? He hurt his eyes during the fall...
"Thank you doctor," breathed his father. "Well, since he's going to be
alright we have to get going, the concert is going to start soon."
"But - "
"You'll just have to do it without your brother."
"ANIKIIIII!!!!!"
"What happened then?" Lina asked, truly concerned. Sylphiel had stopped playing at some point during his story and was now staring out the window with Shabby-chan.
"They began the healing process, and I could 'see' again. However when my father came home I found out that my sister ran off stage and hid. I found her the next day, huddled in a corner, crying and shaking. She never played the piano again," he finished sadly.
He turned to Lina, one eye open, one forever shut. "Something happened that day." He pointed to his sealed eye. "I saw her crying with this eye. I closed it forever, to keep the pain forever within myself. It's my punishment."
"..." Lina awkwardly placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to lend him some comfort. Sighing, Rezo took a seat at the now vacant instrument.
"It wasn't until she stopped playing that I realized how much I loved my sister's playing. I've tried and tried, but I can't match it or surpass it." He hit a key, experimenting. "But now that I've heard Sylphiel-san play.. The Sunlit Garden no less... well, I think that it's there in her music!"
"What do you mean by 'it'?"
He again pressed the key. "I think I've finally found my shining thing!!"
"Wait a sec!!" She leaned in till they were nearly nose to nose, a suspicious look on her face. "You mean that you're in love with her, Rez?"
"Guh!! *_*" Rezo froze, his body going rigid as his mind tried to process the new information. So, going on automatic pilot, he went with instinct- meaning The Sunlit Garden soon filled the room once more.
"Watcha gonna do, Sylph?" Lina asked, grinning as she leaned against the piano.
Sylphiel tore her eyes away from the amusement that was the pendulum clock and looked at her Victor adoringly. "Do?"
"About the dashing young suitor in your life."
"But I'm your Bride, Lina-sama," she chirped cheerily.
"Will you stop that?! I do NOT accept this crap about you being my 'Bride'! It's pretty damn sick to make a girl someone's Bride because of a stupid Duel. You shouldn't want that either, you know!"
"Whatever you say, Lina-sama."
"AAARGH!!"
As Lina fumed, Rezo's gaze traveled downward, his face burning from shame."
"If it cannot break from its shell, the chick will die without ever being born. We are the chick. The world is our egg. If we do not smash the world's shell, we will die without truly being born. Smash the world's shell!"
"For the Revolution of the World!" Three voices finished together. Student Council is now in session.
"So, why exactly are we here?" Luna strolled onto the balcony, ahead of the other two. Seeing that there was no furniture save a lone garden chair hosting a perfect apple, she scowled. "We haven't received a letter from End of the World."
"That's true." Zelgadiss followed closely behind, assuming a confident pose. "We gather and act as the letters dictate. However, Council Member Rezo Karou has an urgent motion to be brought forth."
The young man nervously clicked his stopwatch, scared to go against the two older members. "Hai, an urgent motion. I propose the following - the dissolution of the Student Council!"
Zel frowned and Luna sharply drew in her breath. "Have you lost your mind?" the President inquired.
"Look, all I'm saying is that these Duels to posses the Rose Bride are ludicrous. I can't morally stand by a system that deprives Sylphiel Himemiya of her personal freedom."
"Love changes a person," Luna huffed. "So it was Himemiya's paper you were correcting."
"Well, who even says that we'll ever acquire this 'great power'? And even if we do, no matter how miraculous it is, isn't it just going to smash something important?"
Zel gazed at the younger boy cooly. "Smash the world's shell."
"For the revolution of the world," Luna stated matter of factly, taking a lady like bite of sliced apple.
Rezo sighed as he trudged down the hall, thinking of yesterday's events. It hadn't gone nearly as well as he had hoped... But he was going to stand by his new cause. In order to truly free Sylphiel, the council had to be disarmed.
But he had no clue how to go about it.
If it was for her freedom, however, he'd find a way. Freeing Sylphiel, that's what was important.
He paused in front of the music hall's doors, swearing to press the issue at today's meeting.
The door flung open and someone SLAMMED into him, knocking his papers to the ground and sending him stuttering backwards.
"Oww," murmured the young girl had bumped him, cradling her head in her hand. Her orange/gold eyes fluttered open. "Rezo!" She smiled at him, her eyes becoming friendly.
Rezo glared at the girl, saying nothing. She was very pretty, with short black hair and odd colored eyes. Her hair was a bit mussed and her uniform was dishevelled, but he paid no heed, instead he tried to walk past her, into the room. SHe bounced to the side, blocking his way. "You're being rude," she gently reprimanded.
"Get out of my way," he stated gruffly. He had no time for her damn games, Sylphiel was coming soon.
She sighed, as if resigned to his attitude. "You dropped your music book," she reminded. He glared as he knelt to gather his papers and she tried to pull the skirt of her uniform back to a decent level. "So, you gonna try to get me to play again?"
"I have no more hopes for you and music," he declared snidely, standing with his folders. "Why are you here if you don't plan on playing the piano?"
She graced him with a sly smirk. "I can come here if I want to." Her eyes danced with something he couldn't quite identify... amusement? She finished fixing her previously undone tie and walked off, calling to him over her shoulder. "The music room isn't just for playing the piano, you know."
He shook his head as she walked off. I don't understand her. He turned to enter the room -
And froze.
"Good morning," Zel greeted, a smile rivalling a satisfied cat on his lips. His indigo hair was as mussed as his sister's had been and his uniform jacket was undone, revealing the smooth, perfect skin and muscles of his chest and abs.
Rezo just gawked, betrayal on his face. Zel and his sister - they, they.....
The Student Council President smirked at his confusion. "Your twin sister is a lot like you." He leered jokingly at the younger boy. "But I think you're cuter."
Rezo felt sick. How dare Zel... how dare she... Tears of frustration began pooling in his eye.
Zel continued his monologue - tough love as it were, keeping the young in their place. "Unless you fight for the precious things you desire, people will take them away from you, Rezo."
"Good morning." Rezo spun around and there, his vision of everything perfect and good, stood Sylphiel, cradling her music sheets. She smiled sweetly at the two.
Zel buttoned up his jacket and took his leave. He paused beside Rezo, whispering in the youth's ear. "Even if the Council were disbanded, you couldn't have her."
Rezo recoiled from his proximity and Zel laughed. He sauntered out the door, shutting it quietly behind him, leaving a confused musician and slightly bemused Bride in his wake.
Much later, Rezo sighed in contentment as the slow, languid notes filled the room. Sylphiel's playing was narcotic, it even helped him forget his earlier 'encounter' with Zel.
"So.. how did you learn to play?" he asked in an attempt to start a conversation. She never really talked that much, she was too shy.
"You know, I'm not really sure. I was so young I can't remember."
"I'll bet you were cuter than an angle as a little girl at the piano," he mused. His mind conjured an image of Chibi Sylphiel at a small piano and he grinned. "You know, I used to think that my sister looked just like an angle." His voice became sadder, lost in memory. "Back in the garden..."
Sylphiel said northing, concentrating on the music.
"Well, you like the piano, don't you?" he tried again.
"Hai," she agreed softly.
"Could... could you play again for me sometime?"
"If Lina-sama says I can."
"Is tomorrow afternoon good for you?"
"I have to check with Lina-sama."
He looked at her, perplexed. "Do you have to get her permission on EVERYTHING?"
"Well of course, I am the Rose Bride," she stated matter of factly. Yeesh, what part of Rose Bride didn't these moro - er, people understand?
Rezo leaned closer, his eyes dancing a teasing tempo. "And if 'Lina-sama' told you to give up the piano, would you?"
Pale hands paused over equally pale ivory keys, the room falling silent for the first time. She turned to the youngest Council member, an acceptive smile on her hollow face. "Of course."
"Eh?!" He recoiled back at her unexpected answer.
Unless you're willing to fight for the
precious things you desire, people
will take them away from you, Rezo." Zelgadiss sat in a chair by an open
window, the wind flapping his jacket about his exposed chest.
He smirked and slid over to a bed of pink silk, an unseen woman's hand's
roaming and caressing his alabaster skin. "Even if the council were
disarmed you couldn't have the Rose Bride."
"No!" He shot up. "I won't have it!" He took Sylphiel's hands and held them to his heart. "I swear that I'll protect your beautiful song, Sylphiel-san."
Empty green eyes shut and impossibly perfect lips curled into an innocent smile. Or was that a smirk? Or perhaps a pitied-look. "Domo arigatou!"
"OHOHOHO!! Are you sure it's wise to partake in such reckless acts, Lina?"
"Ewoo, Naga," Lina greeted her busty friend around her midday snack.
"Honestly, you have a test to get ready for and you're pigging out!! How hopeless you are, OHOHOHO!!"
Lina glared at the taller girl. The fact that she was seated at her desk didn't help matters. "Well with the tutor I've had, I'll do fine."
"Oh, and who might that be?" Naga asked with a superior smirk.
"Ahh!! It's him!!" cried a high voice.
"He's not in this class!" squealed another.
Rezo strolled into the room, the sea of girls (Tm) parting in his wake. He stopped in front of a certain red head's desk, the rest of the females (Oh alright, and a few males) huffing in frustration. Well, all except the SILs who screamed 'KAWAII'!!
"Hiya Rez. If you're looking for Sylph, I think she's in the greenhouse."
"No, I've come to see you today."
The SILs now passed out from excitement.
"Oh, I can do it now." She held up a sheet of paper, proof to all you naysayers, that she had in fact mastered the complicated hell that is cotangents and its brethren.
O.O "You mean, HE is your tutor?!" Naga demanded.
":P"
Rezo pulled a perfect blue rose from his pocket as the two girls talked. He held it to Lina's face. "In the Arena, after school."
Lina's eyes narrowed, the only person in the room who understood the meaning of the gesture. "Rez?"
"I'll be waiting."
Ahh!! Sunset, sunset!! Shadow Play Club practice time, Shadow Play Club practice time!! As always, team captains Ako and Bko lead the warm up.
A: Ahoy! To the open seas! Waves arms proudly, dressed in full shadow scally wag gear I am the world's most beautiful, most powerful pirate!! The world's treasures are MINE!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA
B: (seated, rowing the small boat) Oh, but Captain-sama!! Why oh why do you continue to plunder and rob?!
A: Eh? confused
B: Tell me, oh tell me, Captain-sama. Why is it that with all your treasure, you still don't have what you want?
A: What I really want?
B: What you really really want!
A: What I really want is...
As A-ko ponders her existence, Chibi B-ko is desperately trying to fix a very large hole in their row boat. This only succeeds in Chibi B taking a ride on a waterspout.
B: Uh, Captain-sama? We seem to have sprung a leak.
A: No way!! Not until I can gain what I - blarb blurb blurb.
The wind blew dramatically, ruffling the hair of the two challengers, two of only three people on the nearly featureless platform. Lina stood on one side, glancing up at the castle before glaring back at Rezo. SHe was in her full 'princely' attire, Ruby shoulder guards, white tassels, talismen. She stood in a regal manner, appraising him. "This is what it all comes down to?" she asked sadly. Rezo was the only friend she had made on the council. (Zel didn't count!!)
"I have to get that music back! To do that, I need the Bride, no matter what." Sylphiel gently placed a blue rose in his breast pocket.
"I think the piano suites you better," she half joked, trying to avoid the fight even as her Bride placed a white rose in the pocket over her heart.
From her perch on the watch tower where the bells were held, Luna nodded through her opera glasses. "I agree."
However, then hidden plea fell upon deaf ears. Sighing, Rezo closed his open eye, shutting off the continuous flow of magic that allowed him to see. Lina stepped back at the backwash of Magics. He's used that much magic to use one eye? Then what is he capably of?
Rezo flexed his 'Self' experimenting. It wasn't often he went about with his full power. It always took him a second to adjust. Through his unusually strong link to the Astral Plane, he could easily 'see' his opponent. Blindness would be of no handicap to him. "I'll make the Rose Bride mine," he raised his rapier in a respectful salute. "Even if I have to hurt you!"
"Rose of the Noble castle," Sylphiel cradled a small ball of light to her chest. "Power of Chaos that sleeps within me," she extended both arms and enchanted winds blew her long skirts. "Heed thyne master and harken unto us..."
Using one arm, Lina easily caught Sylphiel as she gracefully fell back. She grasped the hilt of the elaborate sword with her ringed hand, freeing the blade from the Bride's heart. "The Power to bring the World Revolution!"
The white metal gleamed and the bells tolled. A new Duel begins.
Theater.
"You like the piano, don't you?"
"Hai."
An extraordinary mind.
Creative development.
Rezo felt his determination solidify at the memory. I swear I'll make you mine. He raised his sword to a readied position, tagging Lina's Astral Presence.
Theater.
What the hell does he think he can do if he can't see? Lina thought angrily. Tired of waiting, she lashed at him, hoping for a quick end. "Fireball!" The talismen glowed and the hellish fire raced towards the sightless youth. Knock him over, take the rose. Simple.
Rezo waited until the hot flames were a mere two feet away before responding. "Aqua Create!" The rush of cold vs. hot created a thick wall of steam, rendering Lina as blind as her opponent should have been.
Where'd he go?! she thought, panicked.
"Gaav Flare!"
An extraordinary person.
Idealized reality.
"Gya!" Lina flipped backwards through the air, narrowly avoiding the demonic energy. How can he just toss spells around like that?! She was worried, her talismen expanded her powers, but he was going au natural. How far did his Reserves go?!
"Hikari O!" She discarded the metal blade for one of pure light. Better safe than sorry.
An operating table, a wrecked ship...
There! Rezo lunged forward at the Presence his mind identified as Lina.
A pure play - the Spira Mirabillis.
Startled, Lina shot around, her sword thankfully blocking Rezo's rapier. Again, she couldn't help but to be shocked at his accuracy. How...
Astral Sight!! she realized, glancing at his sealed eyes. Lina fumed. How dare he lead her to believe that he was at a disadvantage!! He'd pay.
Whirlpool.
Spiral.
Snarling, she leaned back and forced her arms upwards, toward to the floating castle. Rezo stumbled at bit at her change of balance. Not missing a beat, she sprung from her toes, ramming into the youth's chest with her shoulder. She watch him wheeze in pain. But I'm not through with you! "Burst Rondo!"
Endlessly changing, the Spira Mirabillis.
Not bad he appraised, reeling from her onslaught. "Ray Wing!" He flew away from her destructive attack. I can see how Zangulus lost to her twice.
Ahh, Scipio's dream.
He switched his sword to the other hand as soon as he landed, casting Flare Arrows with a deadly accuracy. In his mind, he could see that garden of so long ago. He wasn't going to lose!
"EEK!!" Lina darted about, trying to avoid the many lances of magic. Unfortunately, there were too many, one cut through at her arm and the other on her side, both singing the fabric of her uniform. He's good, she thought grimly, holding her sore arm.
Theater.
"Well done, Inverse-san," he congratulated with real respect.
"Thanks so much," she retorted dryly.
Illusory actions.
Immortal actions.
"Demo.." he tensed, poised to attack. "I'm going to have the Bride's piano playing."
Theater.
"Baka! You are such an idiot!!" she cried angrily, never losing her stance.
"Why is that?"
Illusory people.
Immortal structure.
"This isn't how to get her to play for you, you dolt!" She rushed towards him in that speed she was so well known for, muttering something about men as she did so.
Ammonite.
Alchemy.
Sacred Beetle.
Laughing silently, Rezo easily parried her attacks. Sword of Light or no, he was far above her level with a sword.
"Dil Brand!" He cried, trying to unbalance her.
Spira Mirabillis.
Reborn to live again -
"Levitation!" She floated out of harm's way, a bit sluggishly for her tastes. She was really pushing her Magic reserves, talismen or no. Out of the corner of her scarlet eyes, she saw the glint of metal catching light and arching up, up.....
Panicking, Lina arched back in midair, trying to protect her rose. She screamed as the biting metal slashed through her leg, blood streaming down the length of the limb. "Th-that hurt you know," she muttered, touching down a few feet away, casting a Healing spell on the cut.
"Gomen, Lina-san," Rezo murmured. He was truly sorry, he didn't want to hurt her, but he had to free Sylphiel! Just a little more and he could end this senseless fighting for good.
Spira Mirabillis.
He took the small break in fighting to 'glance' at the Astral Presence that was Sylphiel. The Sylphiel of the physical world stood to the side, hands clasped in front of her, watching with an emotionless expression.
I can feel it...
Ah, the miraculous spiral.
She really wants to be free!
My, my, my, my...
I'll protect your beautiful song, Sylphiel-san!
My, my, my, my...
"Oh, come on!" Lina cried, angry at the standstill. That last spell had drained her magic capabilities, but she wasn't through with him!! She charged the purple haired youth for the final time, the Hikari no Ken raised high in the air.
...neverending theater,
"Hyaa!!" Rezo too rushed forward, sword raised- intent on sealing his victory in the form of a shower of white petals.
with geometry its stage.
Their swords reached out in the same moment, the same movement.
A standstill of wills.
"I won't lose this!" he swore aloud. "She's counting on me to save her!"
Life and the mystery of death.
But on that day, an unheard of act occurred.
An impossible act.
For she had no will of her own.
Right?
"That's the way, Lina-sama, get him!!" Sylphiel cheered, one hand on her cheek, the other arm pumping vigorously up and down in the air.
Everything passing away.
Nani? Rezo's head turned in the direction of the voice, his concentration broken.
Death and Rebirth.
Death and Rebirth.
Death and Rebirth.
And such distractions would cost him dearly. Lina sped forward, lashing out with a blade of pure light.
Death and Rebirth.
Death and Rebirth.
Death and Rebirth.
Rezo startled forward from the impact. In his shock, he slammed his remaining Reserves into the confines of the Vision spell, if only to confirm the impossible.
Both eyes, one the purest blue, the other sickly yellow and monstrously cat-slit, watched in pure horror as pale blue rose petals waltzed down to the Arena floor.
Death and Rebirth.
Death and Rebirth.
In his mind, the perfect vision of a garden shattered as the bells tolled Lina the Victor. He fell to his knees in defeat, tears clouding up his sight. But he just wanted to free her, his cause was just, right? It was noble.. right?
"I take it you're satisfied now," Lina hissed, walking away.
"Why can't I find someone to be my shining thing... somebody..." he whispered to himself, betrayed by the turn of events.
"Good try," Sylphiel condoled quietly, walking over to his prone form. Her lavender skirts rustled like lapping waves as she knelt beside him. She placed a cool hand on his shoulder, the silk cuff tickling his sweaty face. She smiled sweetly. "I'd love to study with you again."
It was all he could do to stare at her, monstrous eye and all.
Sighing, a young girl leaned against the large black piano, irritated by her friend's horrific rendering of the Sunlit Garden. "Did you really used to play? Even I'm better than you, Eris."
"Well, I played when I was little, but I never really liked it that much."
"So why'd you play?"
"Because I got a love letter saying how much this boy loved my piano playing," she reminisced, smiling. "But he misunderstood something, I only played with my older brother. I never had any talent, but my brother could always follow my sloppy playing somehow. I guess because he's a genius everyone thought I could play well..."
"Your brother is really cool."
Eris shut the lid over the piano keys. "If you say so."
"Lina-san!"
Lina glanced up from her conversation with Naga, blinking.
Rezo stood proudly in the hall, friendly determination etched on his beautiful face. "I was careless yesterday, but next time I'm not going to lose!" That said, he spun on his heels and strolled down the hall, whistling happily.
Lina continued to do the anime blink-blink ((182!! er, sorry)) as Naga eyed her suspiciously. But as he walked away, her eyes softened into fondness and her grin spoke of humor. "What a mess."