| Breeze by Iris shadow1@cyberway.com.sg Rated G Konnichi wa minna ! Iris-chan here. Wow. It's been a really long time since I've posted anything. Gomen. I know I should be writing the 4th chapter of Here and Now, but I've been having a mental block on that story. Anyway, I've been really busy with school. And this week is Common Test week ! And I KNOW that I failed my Maths test. Sigh. Any way, I decided to post this story. It's a bit strange though. I'm not sure yet if how it's going to develop. Just read on first and see what you think. I don't feel like explaining myself or the whole plot out right now. More later in the author's notes below. ( ^ _ ^ ) _______________________________________________________________________ Kaze : Aki no Kaeru Breeze : Changes of Autumn ______________________________________________________________________ I want to become a bird and soar through the skies Aiming towards my hopes in the far distance If I look down I see myself there, so small I wonder if we're just living for nothing... If I can gaze at everything this way Nothing can hurt me and I won't be afraid of tomorrow I want to ride the wind, flying towards my dreams in the distance To put on the wings of courage I want to become a bird, continuing to hold this commanding heart To never lose to the reality of every day Like a beast trying to choose a steep road If I can scent out the right one, I will not fall But as for human beings... it seems we can only get ourselves lost We don't possess the strength to battle loneliness I want to ride the wind, surely heading towards my dreams in the distance To devote myself to courageous visions Even more than beasts, I too can still walk the steep roads Without losing my undefeatable heart If this tiny me is able to find something Nothing can hurt me and I won't be afraid of tomorrow ' Breeze ' By Megumi Hayashibara Slayers Try Opening Theme _______________________________________________________________________ Usagi was dreaming. She knew she was dreaming, and that in itself was peculiar enough, but what was even stranger was the fact that she knew it wasn't just any ordinary dream. Something ... someone was calling her, _needing_, _wanting_ her with a desperate longing that frightened her. Some remote, alien part deep within her mind responded to the call with equal passion, seething with frustration and impatience, urgently insisting, _demanding_ that her body start to move towards the call ... and more specifically, the _person_ who was making the call, even while the normal, everyday part of her was busy staring around her and being afraid. Mist. Mist everywhere, a pearly grey vapor that snaked and twisted sinuously across her vision, curling and billowing around her slender body like smoke, gripping her soft flesh with cold, insubstantial fingers. She suddenly realized that she was wearing a white nightgown ... no, a dress. A ball-gown, to be specific. A long, flowing dress made from some gauzy, gossamer-like material that shimmered, a pale, opalescent white in the dim light and clung to the gentle curves of her willowy body, flaring out from her slim waist into a full, billowy skirt. It was ... beautiful. A ... a princess dress. But it did nothing to protect her against the severe chill of the frost which bit painfully through the filmy white cloth. " E..en....dy...mion... " her lips quivered as they struggled unwillingly to form the unfamiliar word, whispering as if terrified to shatter the fragile reality of the dream. The faint sound echoed weakly into the murky blackness and became devoured by the tomb-like silence. Even the rapid thudding of her heart seemed muted, as if all sound was being smothered, stifled by the mantle of darkness. Eyes. There was something out there, watching her. Dark shapes that writhed grotesquely in the blackness; by the goosebumps that rose in patches on her skin, Serena could tell that whoever it was, its intentions were _not_ friendly. Her body stiffened instinctively, limbs freezing like those of a deer mesmerized by the gleaming car head-lights rushing towards it. Somehow, she sensed that it was _not_ the one who was calling her. This was something other; a strange, foreign entity, who had invaded her dream. And it was hostile. And curiously female. She could _feel_ it. Pulsing waves of pure, undiluted hatred that she had never felt before in all fourteen years of her life, emanated from those eyes, and engulfed her, threatening to drown her in its sheer overwhelming intensity and volume, sending chills down her spine that even the biting cold could not. A soft, animal-like whimper escaped from her lips, her arms coming up involuntarily to wrap around her willwy body as if to protect herself against the thing. The normal, ordinary fouteen-year-old Tsukino Usagi part of her was cowering in fright, cringing and urging her leaden legs to move, to do _anything_ , anything that would just ... just ... get her away. The other part, that strange, alien part of her, was cool and calm, athough Usagi could tell that it was just as afraid. But it commanded her to stand still, to face the thing. Not that Usagi could have done anything else. She was rooted to the spot, her knees suddenly as weak as jelly, her body swaying slightly as she strived to keep her calm, her sanity. But then the next moment something happened that banished all other thoughts. Something ... someone was coming through the mist. _______________________________________________________________________ Light. It flooded in pools on the wooden planks, and spilled like golden-warm honey over a small girl with hair that was the exact same color. It caressed her face gently, as if she was some glass statue too fragile to touch roughly, warming the soft planes of her sculpted cheekbones, highlighting each silken strand of gleaming blond hair that spread in two lustrous streamers of glossy gold on the coarse white linen surface of the futon she was sprawled across. Two blue orbs glittering like sapphire jewels fixed their hard gaze on the petite figure bathed in sunlight, softening as they lingered tenderly over her round, pixiesh face with its tiny button nose and perfect bow mouth. Loose tendrils of wispy golden hair that had escaped from her ponytails curled against the delicate contours of her face, and he struggled against the almost irresistible impulse to brush the silken threads back from her soft, creamy skin. She was asleep, one small hand still loosely clutching a pencil within long, slim fingers, the other lying lightly on her flat midriff. The late afternoon breeze flipped the pages of the thick textbook next to her carelessly, making a rhythmic flapping sound that seemed to be in harmonic tune with the dry rustling of the green oak leaves, the soft chirping of insects, and the distant murmur of the sea ... Her rosy pink lips were slightly parted as her mouth hung open childishly. Dusky-hued lids hid her eyes, long, dark lashes fluttering as she breathed, chest rising and falling softly as she drowsed in sweet slumber. In sleep she was still as she rarely was when awake - a pain-stakingly crafted, perfectly carved marble statue bronzed with golden light, sleeping within an eternal dream, waiting only for her prince to wake her up with a kiss ... His mind reflexively recoiled away from such thoughts, auto- matically moving away to safer areas. He wondered if she was dreaming. Something girlishly innocent, no doubt. Rabbits and sunlight and the sticky rice cakes that she had munched on for lunch ... The breeze was warm and soft. _______________________________________________________________________ ' Who are you ? ' the question flashed through her mind. The other part of her supplied the answer immediately, as if in an instinctive response. " My prince. " The words were in her brain before she could even wonder who said them. The banks of mist receded, and she saw a glimmering firefly light in the distance. Her startled eyes caught the dark, arresting silhouette of a boy ... no, a young man. Tall and lean, he was a whole head taller than her, lithe and smoothly muscled like some large black cat. Dark walls loomed mysteriously over him in the shadowy background, and she could barely make out a seemingly endless flight of stairs before her. He stood above her, at the base of some enormous building ... a .. palace ... which towered intimidatingly before her, tall, delicate spires of white marble spiraling into the soaring heights of the black, starless sky. He moved with fleet panther-like grace, even though his step was quick, his stride hurried, and his long cape swirled dramatically behind him as he lunged hastily down the marble steps ... " Where are you ? Where are you ? " His voice startled her, sending new shivers down her spine. But this time, the chills were not of fright. More of ... anticipation ... His voice ... it was so ... so _desperate, so swollen with distress and agitation, filled with so much seething emotion. He called again, this time with even more hopeless despair in his voice than before. And that strange, foreign part of her, from which the normal Usagi was somehow separate and yet the same, answered. " My love. " The words flew from her mouth before she could take them back. But even as she drew in a sharp breath, he turned and saw her. And stopped short. " Serenity. " he whispered hoarsely. And the sound of that word ... a name ? ... which was so strange and yet so familiar, made the hair at the base of her neck tingle. But it wasn't the word that made her start. It had been ... it had been the _way_ he had said it. She had never heard anyone say anything with the same dark relief and wonder, the same possessive longing, the same euphoric joy all combined into one single word. As if that name in itself meant everything in the world to him. It made her ears go hot, as if she wasn't meant to hear someone speak like that. Her pounding heart skipped a beat as she peered into the gloomy darkness and mist for him. His face was obscured by shadows, yet somehow, Usagi could tell that he was staring at her. Staring at her as if she was the most important, most precious thing in the universe to him, and he had been searching hopelessly for her for an eternity until he'd almost abandoned all hope and given up. She was too astonished to move as he suddenly erupted from stillness, like a statue suddenly come to life. In a few long steps he was in front of her, his hands closing on her thin shoulders possessively with an iron grip that was at once both gentle and overpoweringly intimate. Usagi was dizzy with confusion, her head swirling in dazed, delicious bewilderment. There was something about his touch that seemed overwhelmingly familiar and safe. She shrank back from his touch in alarm at first, faint shudders moving down her spine, but then a feeling of peace and security, of _belonging_ washed over her like a gentle wave of warmth, soothing her frayed nerves. He wrapped his strong arms around her, burying his head into the golden curtain of her hair, hoarsely repeating the same word over and over again. Her suddenly flushed cheek was pressed against the hard, smooth surface of armour, the cool smell of steel and inexplicable fragrance of roses mingling incongrously in her nostrils. Even through the armour she could somehow sense the rapid thumping of his heart-beat, and his breath was ragged with relief as he held her close within a tight embrace. Her blood burned with the overwhelming urge to see his face, and slowly she tilted her head up curiously. " Anata wa .. dare ? " she whispered. But like the stroke of midnight on Cinderella's ball, the question shattered the dream reality into a million glittering shards of glass. Grey banks of fog rolled in again, quick and silent, muffling her voice, wrapping everything within a pearly cocoon of intangible smoke. The warm, solid body that was pressed against hers suddenly seemed unreal and immaterial, as if it were made of the mist itself. And then ... he was gone. Her hands held only empty air. And she was alone. Suddenly, there flared a fluorescent white glow in the distance, and her arms automatically came up to shield her eyes from the incandescent glare as the scintillatingly brilliant light grew, blinding her vision with white ... Gradually, the blazing beacon melted away ... And then she was falling .... tumbling helplessly as she plummeted weightlessly towards the dark, unknown depths of a bottomless abyss ... sinking like a stone ... plunging ... into ... ... Light ... _______________________________________________________________________ Azure eyes that mirrored the color of the morning sky flew open instantly, silver-blue irises flaring painfully as they adjusted reluctantly to the brightness of the dappled sunlight that filtered through the emerald green leaves to caress her bare arms and legs. A fuzzy golden haze seemed to cloud over her vision, the hot sunshine coating everything in a burnished sheen of gold, and she pulled herself up on her elbows lazily. There was someone before her. A little smile played on her lips as she stared dreamily at the tall, strong build of the striking figure that knelt on one bent knee before her. He was crouched at the opening of the tree-house, directly in the path of the rays that streamed in from behind him, and his face was half-lit and half-shadowed, the sunlight creating a yellow halo around his onyx-dark hair. Her mind briefly mused that he seemed awfully familiar, then quickly shrugged the thought off, content to just gaze at him, afraid that if she spoke, the spell would be broken. Her prince leaned closer, shifting slightly, and the golden light caught the aquiline planes of his face for one brief instant. He was beautiful. He was an angel. He was ... Chiba Mamoru. Oh. The realization was like a bucket of icy-cold water dumped over her consciousness. Her eyes widened in startlement, and she awoke fully as reality swiftly sank into her sluggish mind, shaking off the lingering shreds of dreams that clung to her memory persistently. Dark indigo blue eyes gazed down at her mockingly, a mischievous twinkle of amusement glinting in their midnight blue depths as a corner of his chiseled lips tweaked upwards in that quirky smile she was so familiar with. " What's the matter, sleeping beauty ? Were you waiting for your prince to wake you up with a kiss ? " His voice was as deep and rich as mahogany, but its tone was teasing, taunting her, his words scathing her like a drop of hot water scalding a hissing cat. _______________________________________________________________________ He saw a red sheen of anger creep across her translucent skin. He remembered that pink flush from the old days. It actually made her look even prettier, if that was possible. The color brought out the golden highlights in her blond hair, which was now disheveled messily in two loose ponytails. Her eyes sparkled with indignant energy, flashing sky-blue fire as steam evaporated from her ears in both fury and embarrassment. For which he was grateful for. Mamoru grinned impudently in that maddening way which he knew irritated her to no end. He settled in more comfortably at the edge of the opening, leaning against the wooden wall, swinging one long, denim- encased leg to dangle off from the treehouse. Behind him, he could hear Usagi splutter with incoherent fury and his lips curled in a content grin as he closed his eyes and listened to her ranting, letting the sunlight fall on his lids. The tension slowly seeped out from his shoulders as his body relaxed from the tautness it had been drawn to. He had been startled when she had suddenly murmured something in her sleep. And then she'd awoken so suddenly. He had become even more boggled when she had just simply stared at him, almost groggy from sleep, that strange, undecipherable look in her eyes glazed a glassy, almost transparent blue. Usually they were chips of hard china when she glared at him for teasing her, a bright jewel blue shining almost aquamarine in the light like lapis lazuli when she bestowed a bright smile at someone. Just now though, when she had looked at him, they had seemed to soften, the color fading, lightening to the palest possible shade of purest crystalline blue, like the faintest streak of silvery-blue that colored the sky just before sunrise. Fascinated, his breath had caught in his throat, and he had leaned in closer, to inspect the little flecks of silver swimming in the sky blue of her eyes. Until she had snapped out of that trance. And Mamoru couldn't quite decide whether that strange feeling in his chest had been relief or disappointment ... It was as if some spell that held them both in thrall had been broken. She transformed back into Odango Atama again, the girl next door who was like a ... a little sister to him. She was cute, maybe even pretty, but she wasn't beautiful. Nah. Logic and common sense persuaded him that it had been just one of those inexplicable-unexplainable-don't- think-anymore-about-this sort of things. Now, if only he could convince his racing nerves of that fact ... His lips twitched in amusement as he heard the loud " Hhhrrru- mmppphhh " of exasperation when she realized that he wasn't paying her any attention, and the deliberate stomping of her feet as she gathered her stationery haphazardly off the futon and flounced to the other side of the treehouse, flinging herself heavily with a muffled thump onto a soft pile of cushions. His ears picked up the sound of pages being flipped decisively and he concluded that she was attempting to get back to the studying she had been doing before she'd fallen asleep. Even with his eyes closed, he could picture that adorable pout of hers in his mind's eye as she muttered loudly about certain conceited boys-next-door who had nothing to do except to vex nice, cute blonde girls who were _doomed_ to do tons of stupid holiday homework that would probably be of absolutely _no_ practical use in real life anyway and .... The slits of his eyes opened just a fraction as he peeked out furtively from the corner of his eye. Her small frame was buried within a pile of beanie cushions, tacky plush toys and manga. If anything, Mamoru's grin widened even more at the sight of Usagi's " corner " in the tree-house. The old oak tree reached its limbs above the surrounding walls in search of sunlight ; the upper branches dancing in the cool afternoon breezes. The small wooden tree-house, nestled snugly within the gnarled main branches, smacked of schizophrenia. One side was immaculately, flawlessly neat, with thick books stacked alphabetically within a small, polished wood cabinet that had taken him an hour of strenuous huffing and puffing to get up the tree. A small clock-radio rested on the dark cherry wood of the cabinet, besides a tiny, carefully trimmed Bonsai bush. The only other indications of personality were a beautifully carved pink marble chess set and a colorful bowl with a scented candle in it that could be refilled. Mamoru recalled how Usagi had wrinkled her nose in disapproval at the books in the cabinet. " Topics in Bio-chemistry, " she read, the dubious expression contorting her delicate features displaying her emotions more than a muttered " yick " of distaste would have. What she didn't know, however, was that, buried behind the first row of textbooks, was a collection of haiku poetry that would have made her blush all sorts of interesting colors if he ever read them to her ... excluding the fact that she actually _understood_ the haikus of course .... Usagi's " corner " couldn't have been more different if it had been deliberate. It looked as if a volcano had erupted under a mountain of plump, colorful cushions, plush toys of all shapes and sizes as well as gaudy knick-knacks of all kinds. There were two milk crates piled next to his wooden cabinet meant to contain her manga, but most of the books were now scattered over the thick white futon mattress. Fragrant potpourri scented her corner, and the walls were practically plastered with gigantic posters of whatever idol singers that were in vogue then, and colorful, glossy photographs of her and her friends. The simple austerity of one side made a stark contrast to the youthful, girlish exuberance of the other. His thoughts wandered from their survey of his surroundings back to focus on the girl herself, and he mused for a moment how she always managed to get his thoughts off on some kind of tangent. One small hand propped up her head, the other deftly twirling a blue pen as she frowned in puzzled concentration over the complicated questions in her Mathematics textbook. A pert nose scrunched up in frustration before she suddenly sighed heavily, blowing her blond bangs up in a puff of mock-aggravation, then leaning back against the wall, randomly grabbing a stuffed toy from her side before hugging a large Ranma-doll to her chin, apparently deciding to finally give up on ever deciphering the equations. Her beautiful blue eyes seemed to be lost in thought as she contemplated something pensively. There was something so innocent about her, it made his heart split wide open. Warmth seemed to flow right out of her, making Mamoru feel comfortable and safe. He couldn't think of anywhere else in the world that he wanted to be at this very moment. Mamoru smiled with rare contentment, feeling the tingle of the sunlight on his skin, and he turned his head to stare out at the blue, blue sky through the green crown of rustling oak leaves. He took a deep breath of the warm air, which smelled of wild-grasses and the salty tang of the sea. To the right, he could see the sun slowly settling into the white-tipped peaks of the nearby moutains in a blaze of golden light, reddish rays flooding across the top of the valley, illuminating the treetops like a crown of moss-green jewels. On the left he could make out the blurred shimmer of light dancing on the turquiose-blue waters of the sighing sea. Today was be the second-last day of the summer holidays. Within fourty-eight hours the first day of the autumn term in Moto Azabu High School would begin. Summer had once stretched out in front of Mamoru a month ago, hot and gold and resplendent in all its rich glory. Time seemed to have slipped past him so quickly ... like gravelly golden sand through his fingers ... Now it would be autumn soon .. They would have to leave Yumi Oba-san's home ... leave Furikawa tomorow ... and return back to Tokyo ... It had been a fun vacation .. if perhaps a little too eventful ... The sky seemed bluer today, an endless expanse of bright, unending color that stretched over the horizon. They reminded him ... of a certain pair of blue eyes ... A fierce yet gentle emotion suddenly surged in his chest - a strong, simple wish that things wouldn't change, would always remain the same as now ... Mamoru had never been one for changes. He preferred being rooted to the ground, surrounding himself with familiarity and stability. He wondered if that was a side effect of being an orphan when he was young. He had a family now. A warm, caring family who never treated him as if he was just an adopted child ... a few close friends ... and his princess ... He wished that time would just freeze still ... forever ... capturing this one instant of time which was uncomplicated and simple and familiar ... At this particular moment where he felt at peace with himself. And the world. He tried to analyze the feelings he was currently experiencing, but it seemed to be made up of too many things ... Sunlight ... summer ending ... blue sky ... tuneful bird song ... And a girl who seemed to be composed from of all of those things and more... The breeze carressed his cheek lovingly. _______________________________________________________________________ Normally Usagi did not bother analyzing her dreams. That was because she usually dreamt simple, ordinary dreams; emerald-bright meadows dotted with fresh, fragrant wildflowers, where adorable white rabbits hopped around, or bright, colorful candy lands where she gorged herself fat on treacly sweet confections ... sometimes they were dreams of her current crush who would whisper sweet nothings to her and tell her that she was the most beautiful girl in the world. Occasionally, she would have morbidly funny nightmares about her bad school grades, her teachers and parents rebuking her ... but _never_, _never_ anything as strange as _this_ dream. Even now she struggled to remember the phantom-like wisps of the dream that was fading away in incorporeal vagueness ... Baka Mamoru. Her eyes narrowed as she glared daggers at the figure before her who was staring out at the sky, innocently unaware of her venomous gaze. How dare he tease her ? And to think that she'd put up with him for ten years. Ten whole years. Woah. It seemed like such a long time, and yet it had happened in a flash. Ten years with that infuriating boy who always teased her, bullying her when she was young, mocking her about her weird hairstyle, calling her embarrasing names like Odango Atama, making mean comments about her childish ways, her lack of grace and eye-to-hand-to-foot co-ordination, her bad grades .... ahem .... Usagi had the grace to blush as she recited the litany of faults in her mind. And yet ... and yet ... A tiny little smile unconsciously curled her rosy lips as she oh-so-discreetly peeked at him from the corner of her eye, travelling slowly down the lean, classically sculpted profile whose sharp planes were now softened by the golden glow of the sun in the distance. The old, stretched white t-shirt he wore flapped loosely in the cool breeze and his eyes were closed, dark bangs tumbling messily over his forehead, lulled almost into a half-sleep by the low, liquid crooning of the birds. He was a contradiction. A complete paradox. And a terrible teaser who always managed to aggravate her. Tempermental. Broody, with frequent bouts of mood swings. When he was in one of his dark moods, he would bite the head off anyone who tried to disturb him. He plagued her constantly, nettling her about her various faults. And yet he would never allow any other person badmouth her, as if he was the only one who had the right to. He had stood with her through the years, a strange, complicated yet assuring constant through her life. In her mind's eye, she pictured him as a rock. A strong, safe, dependable rock that could be cold and hard at times, but that was warm and steady and comfortable after being heated by the sun's rays ... The image made her giggle. The silvery peal of laughter made him look up, startled, and Usagi laughed even harder at quzzical puzzlement written on his face. Her laughter faded away after a moment, strangled into a warm, lethargic sort of silence that she felt strangely comfortable with. Blue eyes met each other, and similiar smiles crept onto their faces, each unaware of the golden picture they both painted. _______________________________________________________________________ Suddenly a harsh, icy swirl of wind swept through the tree- house, whipping Usagi's golden hair into a frenzy, causing their abruptly chilled skin to break out in patches of goosebumps. Masses of slate-grey clouds swallowed the sun for a moment, and dark shadows leapt into existence from the gloom. Suddenly, the tree branches seemed to hover over the pair like gallow posts. A tiny shiver danced down Usagi's spine, an ominous feeling clutching at her stomach, and blue gazes slid away from each other, jolted harshly from that pleasant moment of light. Hugging the soft toy more tightly to her chest, she felt the lazy warmth dissipate into an awkward ice that she was helpless to recapture. Equally sombre, Mamoru jerked his gaze away, feeling strangely ... well, spooked. It seemed almost as if some veil of darkness was conspiring to keep him seperate and alone, jealous of that moment of warm, casual intimacy between him and her, a child of light. His lips curved down in a frown at the sheer silliness of that ridiculous thought. The breeze was cold now. For a minute, all was silent, and only the low, mournful tune of the wind could be heard whistling in their ears. Even the sweet crooning of the birds and the shrill chirping of cicidas seemed to be muted into silence. All of a sudden, a young, annoyingly familiar boyish voice pierced the strained silence ringingly, shattering the uncomfortable tension with a loud, childish chant : " MAMORU AND USAGI SITTING IN A TREE ! K-I-S-S-I-N-G ! " " NNAAA....NAAANNNNIIII ??!!!! " Usagi screeched in shock, face reddening until it resembled an overipe tomato, her girlish voice spluttering in embarrassment. The searing heat burning his own cheeks informed Mamoru that he was probably suffering from similiar exposure to nuclear-radiation as well. Usagi leapt up in an eruption of cushions and stuffed dolls, ready to pound the crap out of her brother. Unfortunately, she forgot the fact that her stationery was scattered over the floor. Inevitably, one small foot stumbled over a stray pencil and the petite blonde was sent cartwheeling with a small shriek over ... into a pair of strong arms. _______________________________________________________________________ Mamoru grunted in mock-pain from the slight weight in his arms, looking down at her from beneath the tumble of dark hair shadowing his eyes. Startled azure eyes smiled into his own gratefully, and strangely he felt something stir in his chest, the way the wind stirred the emerald leaves of the oak tree. She was so small ... barely reaching his chin ; so warm, as if he had captured a ray of golden sunlight in his arms, so ... soft ... her hair like honey-gold silk spilling over his arms ... He had the curious sensation that catching her could be a habit that he wouldn't mind getting used to ... Her face was only mere inches from his ... " Daijoubu ka ? " he asked, voice unusually gentle and husky. Her golden head bobbed up and down enthusiastically in an affirmative nod, and she looked up at him appreciatively, her small smile lighting up her face with a glow that even sunlight could not produce ... " Arigatou, Mamoru-chan, " she replied sweetly. Instinctively he could feel himself leaning in closer as if guided by invisible hands ... " FIRST COMES KISSING, THEN COMES MARRIAGE, AND THEN BAKA USAGI WILL BE WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH A BABY CARRIAGE !! " The jeering, high-pitched voice of a young boy below the tree- house continued singing the silly song, breaking that strange, dreamy mood, jerking both Mamoru and Usagi from their slight trance. Quickly, as if in an immediate reaction, Usagi pulled away from his embrace. Instantly, Mamoru's body protested the loss of warmth, and his arms relucantly released their hold on her. Somehow .. he almost felt ... peeved at Shingo ... " SSSHHIINNNNGGGGOOOO !!! JUST WAIT TILL I GET YOU !! " Mamoru hastily stepped back, clamping his hands on his ears before he became deaf from the sheer volume of her seething battle-yell. Growling savagely in anger, Usagi scrambled clumsily down the rungs of the swinging rope ladder, nearly entangling herself in the process. Steam evaporated off her head like a whistling kettle as she chased a short, laughing ten-year-old boy with a thick thatch of sandy brown hair and freckles lightly smattered over his nose and cheeks, across the yard. The young boy's dark blue-green eyes danced in playful mirth as he mockingly poked an insulting tongue out at his fuming Onee-chan in her vain pursuit, always keeping one teasing step in front of her. Watching the comical scene play out beneath him like a sitcom show, Mamoru burst out laughing. Suddenly he felt as light and carefree as a seagull cavorting on a ocean breeze. Somehow, he could still feel the lingering warmth of a small, soft body pressed against his, the silky smoothness of spun gold brushing his skin and the sweet scent of lavender and jasmine ... Maybe ... Maybe some changes were for the better ... " COME BACK HERE YOU LITTLE RUNT !! I'M GONNA SKIN YO - AAARR RGGGHHHH !! I'LL GET YOU FOR THAT !!!!! " Sweatdrop. And maybe some things never changed after all. The breeze continued singing into the azure sky, its wistful song of autumn change threading a golden melody through their hearts. _________________________________________________________________________ Author's Notes : So minna, what did you think ? This is perhaps the longest story that I've written yet. It's not really a proper story, as in a lot of stuff are let unexplained, and the ending and opening were both left open to lots of possibilities. The ' breeze ' actually symbolises a lot of what Mamoru feels. I especially love the song " Breeze " . It's a Slayers song, but I thought it fit this story pretty well. Megumi Hayashibara is the seiyuu for Lina Inverse and boy is she good. Sugoi ! The inspiration for this story all started with a scene of Mamoru watching Usagi while she was asleep. I felt that this story was actually like describing the scenes in an episode of some anime series. Anyway, I wonder what you thought of it. I've decided to leave it as a stand-alone. But if you liked it, I'm thinking of writing a prequel or sequel to this story. Mamoru and Usagi are childhood friends in this alternate reality. But who's Yubi Oba-san ? Where _is_ Furikawa anyway ? And why do Mamoru and Usagi have a TREEHOUSE together ? Strange ne ? These are issues I might just deal with in the prequel or sequel. If you prefer that I do the prequel, I'd be writing about the summer that Mamoru and Usagi spend at Furikawa. The sequel should be about their autumn days in Tokyo. Either way, the seasons have a lot to do with the plot, and hopefully it will come full circle if I ever finish the series. But everything, of course, depends on my mood and your opinions. My e-mail box is rather empty these days and I'd like to hear some criticism. ( ^ _ ^ ) So tell me what you thought of the story. Sorry if it was rather slow-moving and boring, but I did put in some heart and effort into this piece, and I sincerely hope that you enjoyed it. Arigato minna. Thanks to all those people who e-mailed me on " Here and Now. " But I've always been the type who start stories but don't know how to end them. Gomen. The holidays are coming, so I hope I will have some inspiration to write more. Remember to write, minna ! Ja ne ! Goodbye but not forever. Iris |