to a battle of wits!

entry

2012-04-20T02:33:55Z

typing on this blog
is like looking into the night sky
the words seem like they're from light-years away
how long has it been?

full sentences make me think of essays now
nothing in my life is interesting enough to say in proper grammar

been playing a lot of piano lately though
I think my family is getting tired of it
the same bars over and over
and still not playing them correctly

inflicted myself upon the internet
have a listen?

I should buy some cute clothes like disfigureddream so I can blog about them
or you know

get a job

but no
I plan on spending my summer permanently reclined while eating delicious things
like happy turn

if I end up posting here again
it will be a proper post with full stops

like this one.

entry

2011-12-09T23:42:32Z

Hello.

So it has been a while (:

This is more of a HI; I AM ALIVE post than a GREETINGS; CONTENT HERE post because to be honest my life is very boring and I haven't had anything notable happen to me (explaining the dearth of updates). Here is a list with bullets of completely unrelated facts:

My flatmate rocks because she is
- a huge LOTR fan so we fangirl about THE HOBBIT TRAILER OUT THIS MONTH OMH
- also in English so we gripe about essays together and cry like disgraced grown men
- very easy to live with - she even does the thing where she flips down the toilet seat because she is also not fond of faecal matter being dispersed in the lavatory
I have one exam still but I have returned home for relaxation and because if I hole up by myself with narrative theory I may misuse a time machine so that I can murder Freud
Baking is a completely destructive hobby because it makes it so all I ingest are sugars and flour and butter. And cream cheese. I have been eating cream cheese straight out of the fridge.
My dad's fancy schmancy new scale that also calculates body fat percentage and muscle mass is very offensive and I don't like its judgemental instruction manual.
This layout does not look good in Chrome which is now my browser of choice
I can't take pictures of my profile but I compensate by buying expensive headphones

I'm sorry for being a bad LJ friend who does not comment but I have been keeping up with my f-list and all - it's just that I don't comment (and that is probably worse). Please forgive me! I will try to do better in the future (: I will take this opportunity to also do this:

REVERSE FRIENDS CUT!

Since I will probably only update once every solstice or equinox or something and even then the things I will say will be tripe like this, feel free to un-friend me and such! No comment necessary (:

And as an early holiday present:

Happy holidays, reckless_rage! Hoping the Christmas card reaches you in time ♥

fanfic

2011-05-23T05:37:28Z

Title: whisper down the mobile grapevine
Chapter: 1/1 (oneshot)
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Character/Pairing: Seigaku and Fudoumine peeps
Rating: G
Summary: Hijinks with Eiji and Inui, because they are never, ever a good combination and when they get involved, everyone else suffers. But always in a funny way.
Notes: Written for happiestwhen 's help_japan bid – I'm so sorry for the wait!

09:38 – PHONE CONVERSATION

'Kikumaru, why are you not in position?'

'I thought we said we were using codenames! Over.'

'You agreed. I didn't.'

'But we're on a secret mission! We need codenames! Over.'

'I'm in position. You're in the living room of your house watching The Chocolates' latest PV.'

'Inui, do you have cameras in my living room – '

'I thought you wanted to use codenames.'

'You're not answering my question! Over.'

'Every minute you spend watching the television is a minute not spent on recon. Also, you don't need to say "Over" since we're on mobile phones and not walkie-talkies.'

'Do you or do you not have cameras in my living room?'

'...'

'Inui?'

'...'

'...White Ranger?'

---

YESTERDAY, 18:23 – SPORTS SHOP

The problem with going shopping for one thing is that you never end up getting only what you planned on getting. Eiji knows this quite well, and that is why he is standing in front of the most gorgeous tennis shoes he's ever seen in his life, even though all he had wanted to do at the sports shop was get his racquet restringed.

Eight thousand yen in't actually that expensive for tennis shoes. Not really. Plus Eiji still has some money from New Year's that he hadn't used – oh wait, no, he'd used that when Momo and Echizen had tricked him into treating them for burgers. That shorty ate like a horse! Two horses! Five horses, even!

And speak of the devil, here he is – Echizen Ryoma in the flesh, walking through the door. It doesn't look like Echizen's seen him, so Eiji opens his mouth to call out to him (and ask him whether he should buy these beautiful wonderful tennis shoes) when somebody else walks in right behind him.

' – did you follow me here? I was coming to the sports shop first, so why did you walk in too? I didn't expect to see you here, Echizen. It must be fate – '

Fate? What is he talking about? Eiji recognises him as the guy from Fudoumine, but that doesn't explain why he's acting all buddy-buddy with Echizen. Eiji had to find out more, so he stayed behind the shelf, as he was, and tried to figure out what was going on.

' – can't stop me from getting what I want this time, Echizen. I'm not giving in to you,' finished ... Ibu, that's his name, and suddenly Eiji feels like he's missing a really big piece of the puzzle, because what?

Echizen just replies with a 'hm', looking at a tube of tennis balls.

'It's funny,' Ibu continues, 'because Fuji Shusuke and my captain's sister – ' Eiji has to suppress his gasp here ' – are going on a date tomorrow too, though she told me not to tell anybody because they would "freak" – she used the word "freak", so that's why I'm using it now – so our meeting here on the same day that they're meeting must mean something. Seigaku and Fudoumine alliances. Echizen, I think we should go out – '

'Sir?'

Eiji squawks like a chicken, which alarms the shop owner even more. Apparently, staring at the other customers is considered suspicious behaviour, even though there could be a perfectly innocent explanation, like wanting to buy the tennis balls they're holding, or being interested in their tennis shoes, and Eiji tells the owner this, but he still doesn't look convinced. He does leave Eiji alone though, so he can get back to spying on Echizen and Ibu –

But they're gone.

Both of them.

Together.

He had to tell Inui.

---

10:09 – STREET COURTS, STAIRS

'Are you sure you didn't hear incorrectly, Eiji?' Oishi is concerned as usual, because – well, he's always concerned. Eiji just grins though because if there's a secret date going on it's definitely something he wants to spot. Inui's on the other end of the street court, crouching in some bushes with a pair of binoculars, but he hasn't seen anything either or he'd've called. He lets the lack of codename slide since it's Oishi, who's already too rattled by the idea of their ickle first-year dating an older man. Eiji didn't even get to tell him about Fuji and Tachibana's little sis before he went into panic mode.

'Keep your eyes on the court, Robotnik! Momo told me that Echizen was going to the street courts this morning, so he should be here any minute now with the Fudoumine guy!'

'I'm going to have to talk to Echizen about this,' Oishi says, rambling on despite Eiji's rebuke, 'and make sure Ibu is treating him properly. Echizen is so young! And from America! Things are different in America so he probably doesn't understand that dating is frowned upon in young people and they don't even know each other; how can they be going out? Why didn't he tell any of us about it? Doesn't he trust us? Is he ashamed? Does he feel he can't talk to us about – '

Eiji has to cut his best friend off though, covering Oishi's mouth with his hand, because Echizen Ryoma has arrived, with his long-haired date in tow.

Speed dial number one. 'White Ranger!' Eiji whispers. 'Targets spotted!'

'Both Echizen and Ibu?'

'Yup. They've got tennis bags with them so I guess they're going to play. That's not very romantic though – '

Meanwhile, Oishi continues: 'How many dates has Echizen already been on? Do their families know? Does Ibu's team know? Should we call them and tell them to come?'

---

10:13 – STREET COURT 2

'Why'd we have to play tennis so early?' Echizen grumbles, his feet dragging as he walks on to the court.

'I couldn't wait,' Ibu replies, eyes serious and face stern. 'It's been so long since our last match and I wanted a chance to prove myself. I still haven't forgotten the grip tape incident. Kamio tells me I should forget about it but I can't because I really wanted that grip tape. Even if I buy another roll it will not be the same, because the new roll won't be the one I wanted – '

'Let's just start then,' Echizen says, pushing his cap down. He hasn't even had time to eat breakfast, and now he's hungry, so the faster he finishes this, the faster he'll get to leave. It's a Sunday. He should be allowed to sleep in. Not that he doesn't love tennis, but he'll love tennis more when it's a respectable three o' clock in the afternoon and he's already had lunch.

'If I win, you give me the grip tape,' Ibu declares in a relatively loud voice, but then it devolves into his usual mumble. 'And if you win you can ask me to buy you something from the sports shop, but I don't plan on losing today, because I want that grip tape, so my resolve will – '

---

10:14 – STREET COURTS, STAIRS

'– says he couldn't wait and that Kamio told him to forget about Echizen but then he couldn't.' Eiji really needs to get closer, but he can't risk being found out. As it is, he's only catching half of Ibu's words. 'If Echizen wins, Ibu's going to let him do whatever he wants – '

'I can't allow this!' And Oishi stands up, full of fire and all sorts of determination which would be nice if they were playing doubles against say Hyoutei, in particular the doubles team with the guy who thinks he's better at acrobatics than Eiji, but right now it is just bad because Echizen and his possible boyfriend are looking at them and this is not good at all.

'White Ranger, retreat!' he whispers before hanging up, because even if they have to sacrifice themselves, at least Inui will be able to escape. There's no point in hiding any more, so Eiji gets up too.

'Eh? Senpai?'

And they've been spotted. Recon is a failure; now they're in full-on attack mode.

'Echizen! What do you think you're doing with him?' Oishi asks, running over to where their youngest team member is standing. 'Do you know the dangers that come with – '

' – playing tennis?' Echizen asks, all big innocent golden eyes. 'You can't run on to the court when there's a game going on, senpai.'

'But – but – ' Oishi is spluttering, and Eiji would normally try to help his best friend out but there are more important things at stake here. Since he's out here already, he might as well ask the source for more information.

'So I called Fuji earlier today,' Eiji says in as casual a tone as he can muster, 'but he didn't answer. D'you know where he is?'

Echizen blinks, before turning to Ibu. 'You said he was at the mall with your captain's sister, right?' Echizen sounds bored – maybe he's annoyed that his date's been interrupted, Eiji decides, and there's going to be more interrogation later, but Eiji's a nice guy, so he's going to let him finish their date first. (That is if Oishi allows it, of course, since Oishi looks a little bit apopletic.)

While Oishi continues in his splutteriness, Eiji mails Inui:

Fuji's at the mall with Tachibana An. Can't go with you. Over.

He sends it just as Oishi tells Echizen and Ibu not to hold hands in public.

It's time to call in the big guns.

---

10:21 – PHONE CONVERSATION

'This is Kamio Akira. Who's calling?'

'Wait, why the hell are you on the phone?'

'Who are you – wait, you're the bike thief who won't leave An-chan alone! Why are you calling me?'

'I'm not calling you; you called me!'

'Actually, I called both of you.'

'...Inui-senpai?'

'Why does somebody from your school have my phone number? I knew all of you were creeps; I just knew it!'

'Don't call me a creep, you – '

'There will be time for hysterics later. Firstly, I have some information you might like to know. Fuji Shusuke, from Seishun Gakuen – '

'I know who he is, senpai!'

'It was for the benefit of the Fudoumine student, Momoshiro. To continue, Fuji Shusuke and Tachibana An are currently on a date at the – '

'What?'

'You spoke in unison. It's interesting that both of you had the same response to that – '

'What do you mean An-chan's on a date with – '

'What do you mean Fuji-senpai's on a date with – '

'And now with identical sentence structure. This is very interesting indeed, but that's not why I called you. I would like you to help me locate them, since the mall is rather large and – hello?'

'...'

'Ah. They hung up.'

---

10:34 – STREET COURT 2

' – and you should tell your families, because if they find out the way we did they will be very shocked, and then they might fall ill; or worse, get a stroke.'

'Senpai,' Echizen says, finally getting a word in, 'we're just playing tennis. Really.'

And Oishi deflates like a balloon, only to re-inflate in a matter of seconds. 'Then, what about Fuji and Tachibana's sister? If they – '

'They're just shopping together, since apparently Fuji Shusuke has a very good eye for fashion,' Ibu mumbles, 'which everyone would know if they would just listen to me instead of always leaving before dashing off. People always leave before I finish talking, which is just very rude, especially since I have interesting things to say. They're missing out if they're not listening to me, and oh look, the egg-headed guy has left even though I'm still talking away, and Echizen doesn't look like he's listening to me any more either, so I guess I'm just talking to myself.'

Echizen rolls his eyes. 'Could we play tennis now?'

He wants to eat lunch, and he wonders why Oishi-senpai thought he would even consider dating somebody when it's too early in the day even for tennis.

---

11:42 – UNIQLO STORE

'An-chan's phone must be out of batteries,' Kamio mutters as he frantically peers between the clothes on the rack, as if Fuji might have taken Tachibana's little sister and hid her in an oversized men's jacket. 'Why is this mall so damn big?' The dynamic duo have searched through most of the first floor already, but the large UNIQLO store is proving to be a bit of a challenge.

'I bet she just doesn't want to answer calls from you,' Momo replies under his breath, glancing at the changing rooms. 'Do you think we could ask the clerk there if An-chan's inside?'

Kamio flushes a deep red. 'What? The clerk'll think we're – I don't know – why don't you just try to call Fuji?'

'Tried that already,' Momo grumbles, flipping open his mobile again. Inui had sent a message twenty minutes ago saying that he couldn't find them in the food court. 'Senpai's not answering either, but that's probably on purpose, knowing Fuji-senpai.'

'What are you saying about my little brother?' And then Momo and Kamio both turn to look at a gorgeous brunette Fuji Yumiko, flanked by another, less gorgeous Fuji (unfortunately, not the one they're looking for) and not really gorgeous; rather, very cute Eiji. The trio are staring at them, Yumiko with an unnerving smile, Yuuta with a confused frown and Eiji with a mobile camera pointed right at them.

'Ah – that's – ' Kamio, who hasn't had as much experience with the Fuji family stare as Momo, falters, but Momo just shrugs (though he does still get shivers down his spine).

'Actually, we're trying to find him, 'cause he's on a date,' Momo explains. Fuji the elder just continues smiling, while Fuji the younger snorts.

'I'm really not interested in my brother's antics,' Yuuta mutters, 'so I don't know why you dragged me along.'

'You don't enjoy my company, Yuuta?' Yumiko asks, but before Yuuta can reply, she continues, 'I'm not as lucky as Shusuke or you two, since I didn't have a date today.'

Kamio looks alarmed. 'No, that's completely wrong – '

'Kamio-kun, you're on a date with Momoshiro-kun?'

And with impeccable timing, Tachibana An enters, followed by another smiling Fuji and okay, three Fujis is definitely too many.

'No, we're not dating – '

'An-chan, why are you with that guy?'

'Not like you can talk when you're dating Momoshiro-kun! I can't believe you didn't tell me!'

'Momo is dating someone too?

'Ah! Oishi, when'd you get here?'

'I got the picture you sent me, Eiji, and I came right away!'

'First Ibu-kun and Echizen-kun, now this!'

'Wait, An-chan, what are you talking about?'

'Echizen?'

'That's not – '

A quiet cough, and they all quiet down. Yumiko looks genuinely amused now. 'I think you've misunderstood a bit. Shusuke told me he was just going on a shopping date.'

'So this is all a mix-up?' An asks, looking a bit disappointed. But then she perks up again. 'But Momoshiro-kun and Kamio-kun might still be dating?'

'We're not!'

'Excuse me.' It's the clerk who was standing by the changing rooms. 'I'm sorry, but you're disturbing the other guests, so I'm afraid I have to ask you to vacate the premises.'

11:53 – FOOD COURT

'This is all Inui's fault,' Momo grumbles. They've all gathered around one table, sitting snugly while eating the food Yumiko was kind enough to treat them to. Momo and Kamio sandwich An in, but she seems more interested in speaking to Fuji about the clothes they bought than interrupting the death glare contest Momo and Kamio are having over their burgers. Oishi's talking to Yuuta now about the dangers of dating too early, while Eiji sits next to Yumiko.

Kamio adds, 'He was the one who told us An-chan was on a date,' before realising he was agreeing with Momo which is obviously not right.

Yumiko raises an eyebrow at Eiji, who shakes his head rapidly. He really doesn't want to shoulder the blame for this one. 'Yeah, it's definitely all Inui's fault,' Eiji echoes, but not before looking around to make sure Inui's not watching from behind a table or something.

In the end though, nobody's dating anybody, and Eiji's just a little bit disappointed. Oh well; it was a nice way to spend Sunday at least. Hopefully he can cause the same amount of mayhem next weekend.

---

11:57 – STREET COURT 2

'You wanna grab lunch?'

'Sure, why not? I'm hungry now, and when I'm hungry I can't function as well, since I need food for energy and – '

'Let's go.'

'Where are we going to eat lunch? I'm not a picky eater but I still want to know before we start walking, because although sometimes I like surprises, sometimes they're unpleasant – '

'Do you like sushi?'

'Yes – '

'My teammate works at a place.'

And Echizen and Ibu start walking to Kawamura Sushi.

---

22:47 – TEZUKA RESIDENCE

It has been a long, uneventful Sunday for Seigaku's stoic captain. Fishing with his grandfather is one of his favourite pastimes, and that took up most of the day, while studying took up the evening. It is only when he retires to his room that he notices the number of new mails on his mobile, which he had kept on silent.

All of them are from Inui, except one from Fuji's sister (which he deletes right away; he remembers the last mail he got from her quite well), and even without knowing the reason for such bombardment, Tezuka is apprehensive as he checks the oldest one.

Echizen and Fuji are going on a double date with Ibu Shinji and Tachibana An from Fudoumine tomorrow.

He deletes the rest of the mails without reading them, and goes to sleep.

fanfic

2011-04-21T15:03:00Z

Title: to accompany; to go out
Chapter: 1/1 (oneshot)
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Character/Pairing: Akira/Hikaru
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Touya's first date with Shindou isn't exactly how Touya imagined it would be. Then again, in his imagination, usually the dates just included the two of them and Shindou didn't stop to talk to everybody on the street. Also, in his imagination, sometimes the date takes place in Hawaii.
Notes: Written for lacygrey 's help_japan bid - I hope you enjoy, and sorry for the wait!

Somehow, this is not exactly how Touya imagined his first date with Shindou would go. Not that he imagined it a lot – or well, to be honest, that wasn't true. It seems like there wasn't a single waking moment (or even a sleeping moment; some of those dreams had been bizarre) during which he wasn't thinking about possible ways for a date with Shindou to transpire.

Some of the possibilities that have gone through Touya's head, all of which Touya will never admit to:

1) Shindou asks him out. There are fireworks. He doesn't know why there are fireworks, but there are. Then they go out for dinner and at the end of the dinner, they go home – it doesn't matter whose home – and play a very riveting game of Go and attain the Hand of God and live happily ever after.

(Probability, according to Touya: surprisingly high, compared to the rest of the situations that he's come up with. To be fair, he usually thinks them up while playing Go, eating, drinking or trying to sleep, so the slight lack of residence in the realm of possibility should be forgiven.)

2) Shindou asks him out. They are underneath a cherry blossom tree, because he remembers once as a kid seeing a television drama where there was a girl and a boy standing outside their school with cherry blossom petals falling around them and then the girl confessed and then they kissed and, though at the time he couldn't quite understand the appeal of such scenery, he certainly does now. By some strange act of God they end up at Shuusaku's grave asking for him to bless their relationship.

(Probability: a little bit lower on the scale, since he is sure that there is no means of transport that has reached the speed of teleportation. However, Shindou is rather fixated on Shuusaku.)

3) Shindou asks him out. They go to Hawaii because Touya won plane tickets in a lottery and play Go on the beach and at the pool and in the shower and on the bed. Touya wins every time, except for when they are in the shower.

(Probability: fairly impossible. Touya's never won anything from the lotteries he sees on the streets except for two packets of tissues and a free notebook, and his luck is not likely to turn up any time soon.)

4) Shindou asks him out. They have sex.

(Probability: Touya can't think about this possibility for long enough to accurately derive the likelihood of it happening, partly because he is a little bit fuzzy on the details and partly because if he thinks any longer about it, he might spontaneously combust.)

The point is, in all the nooks and crannies of his mind's demesne, it always starts with Shindou asking Touya out, which is why Touya is completely bewildered as to how it didn't turn out that way.

He can't even remember exactly how it happened. They had been playing Go at the salon as was the norm, and words had come out of his mouth and then Shindou had looked at him, paused for a second, and then grinned from cheek to cheek. Then Shindou opened his mouth and Touya is pretty sure that Shindou had agreed to something but Touya still isn't sure exactly what either of them said. Next thing he knew it was the next day and Shindou had shown up at his doorstep, looking a little bit unsure of himself but still grinning like a madman.

Touya had followed Shindou obediently on to the train, and listened as Shindou talked about basketball. Or Japanese history, Touya isn't certain. What he is certain of is the fact that his heart had been beating like a rabbit's from them until now and this daytrip that they are undergoing with just the two of them all by themselves Shindou and Touya Akira and Hikaru is probably a date.

Touya is interrupted from his minor crisis by a young man, who shouts out, 'Oi! Shindou!' He's dressed in casual clothes – a short-sleeved shirt with a number emblazoned on it, a pair of bright white shorts and ridiculously thick trainers. 'What's up? Who's the guy?'

Shindou grins and waves, and Touya is momentarily blinded by his radiance. (Then he remembers that he's in public and he can't go around doing that sort of thing.) 'Hey, Takano!' Touya notices that they are now standing on a street basketball court, the likes of which Touya has literally never stepped foot on before.

Why are they on a basketball court?

'This is Touya Akira – I'm showing him around,' Shindou says, nodding at Touya, who can only nod numbly back. 'Touya, this is – '

Shindou says more, and then Touya bows politely and introduces himself again, all the while wondering if something hasn't gone a little bit awry. Nowhere in his multiple illusions about their first date has basketball ever been a factor.

Before he can question this further, Shindou has already tugged him away, telling Takano that no, they're not really up for a game. And then they're off, and Akira ends up in the following places:

1) A supermarket. Half of the staff seem to know Shindou by name, and the other half – the younger, teenage, female half – are openly flirting with him. They leave the place with a bulging bag of food they did not have to pay for.

2) An arcade. There are a bunch of people with hair dyed in funny colours and spiked up so that they are about an inch or five taller than they actually should be. Shindou knows all of them. One of them claps Touya on the back and calls him 'weird' in what Touya believes is a jocular tone.

3) Two ramen places. At the first, Shindou doesn't even have to make an order; when he sits down the chef says, 'The usual? And how about for your friend?' At the second, they end up not paying because apparently Shindou teaches Go to the chef's son for free. It is the most salt Touya has ever eaten in a day.

4) Another street court, where another casually-clad young man greets Shindou and asks them if they'd like to join him for a game. Touya hasn't even watched a basketball game, let alone played it, so when Shindou whisks them away again he is very glad.

5) A cab, because apparently cabbies is just another tick on the list of Everyone Who Knows Shindou Hikaru. They get a free ride to a park near Shindou's house, and before they get off the cabbie says, 'So. Touya Akira,' and Shindou says, 'Yeah,' and Touya isn't sure what to make of that exchange.

6) The park. Even the neighbourhood children know Shindou, whom they apparently call 'Hikaru-nii-chan' and Touya would be lying if he didn't think it was a little adorable.

Or a lot adorable.

It gets less adorable once the children start poking and prodding at him though.

'You lot, shouldn't you be getting back? It's getting late!' Shindou shoos the children away, and they oblige, but not before staring back at Touya with big googly eyes and giggling. Why are they giggling?

'Is this ... a normal day for you?' Touya asks, because he doesn't know. Maybe this is normal for normal people. Maybe people actually go about the city, running into people they know every five minutes. Maybe people have lives outside Go. (Okay, that last one is a given, but sometimes Touya has to remind himself of that.)

Shindou stretches his arms out behind him, yawning. 'Pretty much a normal day out, yeah. There's usually more Go involved though, actually, just I didn't think you'd really be interested in that.'

It takes Touya a couple of seconds to register what Shindou said, because when Shindou raises his arms, his shirt rides up and Touya can see just the slightest sliver of skin between the fabric of –

Wait. 'What do you mean?'

'Well, you said you wanted me to go out with you, but you didn't say where, so I assumed you meant just around town,' Shindou says. His arms come back down and Touya can't help but feel disappointed. 'There isn't much point in showing you what you see all the time, right?'

There is a pause, during which Touya says nothing but Shindou is waiting for an answer, but Touya can't think of anything to say because suddenly all he wants to do is run off like the little children.

'I thought you wanted to have a day out with me,' Shindou says hesitantly, which is all sorts of strange because Shindou is never hesitant, and it is at this point that Touya realises that maybe what Shindou agreed to yesterday when Touya had asked him something isn't what Touya thinks it was at all.

'Touya?' Shindou is looking at him with a peculiar expression that Touya does not know how to reply to, and so what he does instead is he leaves.

'Touya!'

Then Touya is running, and he doesn't know whither or why but he knows whence and from whom. He runs and he runs, and suddenly everywhere they went to makes sense. Shindou was just giving him a glimpse of the normal life that Touya doesn't have and Touya wishes that this day hadn't happened at all, because at least in his mind all of their first dates had a happy ending. He isn't sure how he's going to face Hikaru the next time they meet at the Institute, which they are bound to do. Maybe he'll move to the Kansai region and go to the Go Institute there. Or to America.

'Touya!'

What Touya didn't take into account is that Shindou is most definitely more athletic than him though, so it isn't long before Shindou catches up, grabbing a hold of Touya's shoulder and whirling him around. 'Oi, Touya!'

'Shindou – '

But before Touya can say anything else, Shindou kisses him, and it is like there are fireworks and cherry blossoms all around them, and Touya had imagined them kissing in his head but never did he think it would be like this, all colour and emotion and Shindou has his hand in Touya's hair, fingers entangled and Touya has hands too but he doesn't know where to put them, so instead they stay limply at his side but he really wants to touch Shindou's hair and pull his own fingers through Shindou's bleached fringe and they both have their eyes still open and Shindou is looking at him with those bright, fiery eyes and Touya has to pull away because he has forgotten to breathe.

Then Shindou smacks Touya in the head with his other hand.

'Idiot! Why'd you run off?' Shindou is belligerent as ever, but somehow Touya finds it terribly endearing and wants to kiss him again even though he still isn't sure what is going on or why any of this is happening. 'I went to all this trouble, showing you around to all these places because I wasn't sure where to take you and at the end of it, you run off! What was that supposed to make me think, bastard?'

'I – ' Touya doesn't know what to say, how to explain what he'd been feeling – then Shindou kisses him again and Touya stops worrying.

As far as first dates go, this one is fine, he decides; maybe on their second one they can ask for Shuusaku's blessing and go to Hawaii.

entry

2010-10-16T17:46:24Z

✩ TRICK OR TREAT? ✩

• Create a graphic (200 x 200 max size) to represent your personal "candy". It should have your username on it, but otherwise can feature whatever you want. Make it something special since it's self-representative.

• Make a post with the subject "trick or treat?". Put your "candy" somewhere in it, and be sure to repost these instructions.

• Then, go around other people's LJs and reply to them with either "trick" or "treat". If you reply with "trick", they will give you an LJ dare that you have to perform before taking their candy. If you're too wimpy for that, simply say "treat" and take their candy.

• List all your collected candies in your original "trick or treat?" post to show off your collection!

I made the DRRR!! one first (taken from the lovely pixiv candy store of ユウコ@ゆりった) but then remembered that I had saved a couple of halloween ones from hikari recipe, so now you get a choice of DRRR!! and Hikaru no Go (: (there were like five other Halloween ones from hikari recipe and wow was it hard choosing just one >_<.)

But on another note that is not nearly as festive, a public service announcement: IF YOU ARE GOING TO COME VISIT YOUR FRIEND WHO IS IN ANOTHER TIME ZONE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR TIME ACCORDINGLY.

So. Yesterday I went to anime club (which is actually surprisingly fun 'cause the majority of the people there are a lot less creepy than I had expected going in &hearts ) which normally runs from 17:30 to 22:00. I had expected to be out at, hm, about 20:00 because I was going to go with a friend to Niagara Falls on the weekend since I wanted jam and I also wanted to see him. So I'm sitting and watching Sgt. Frog at 20:00 and was like, hm, well, I'll leave when I get a call.

I got no call. I stayed at club until 22:00 at which point somebody offered to walk me home but I said, no, somebody's going to drive me.

At 22:55 (club ended late since an old club member came and brought sushi) somebody else offered to drive me back and I was like, heck, if nobody's called in more than two hours nobody's coming.

So then I get dropped off at my residence at 23:03 and guess what? My phone rings. I answer. 'Hey! It's 8:00, so where are you?' and I explain no it is not eight o' clock it is flipping eleven and then the excuse I get is 'oh shoot! Sorry! My clock's still in CST - but you know, it just hit eight PM on the west coast!'

I would have hung up at this point but I didn't mind that much - I mean if we left now then I could still get to Niagara before morning. and then he says:

'Oh wait. You're not at home this weekend, are you.'

MY FRIEND WAS THREE HOURS AWAY. IN MARKHAM.

at this point I hung up and needless to say I am not in Niagara Falls for the weekend |:

now you guys should all put up pretty Halloween graphics so I can have them in this post because it'll cheer me up from a super lame start to my weekend (:

&hearts my candy stash &hearts

fanfic

2010-03-19T02:17:27Z

Title: on a quiet spring morning
Chapter: 1/1 (oneshot)
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Character/Pairing: Hikaru, Akira
Rating: G
Summary: Hikaru shows up at Akira's home to play a game of Go, which is unusual, and Akira cannot help but notice that something is different.
Notes: First HikaGo fic that I've ever posted so constructive criticism will be very very welcomed ♥

Playing games of Go entirely at Hikaru's whim is nothing new. To be honest, most everything Akira does is somehow or another because Hikaru wants him to do it. Not that Akira is unwilling - usually what Hikaru wants Akira to do is the same thing as what Akira wants to do, since what they usually want to do is play Go. However, if Hikaru wants them to go out for ramen and Akira does not want to, the two will most probably end up going out for ramen. There are of course a few times when Akira does get his way, but it is far more familiar for the black-haired young man to succumb to Hikaru's wishes.

Today is different though. Hikaru shows up uninvited at Akira's home in the morning, instead of contacting him first via his usual "1:30 @ go salon" text. Hikaru rarely goes to Akira's home, simply because it is a little out of the way - it is far simpler for the two to meet at Go salons en route to lunch or the Go institute if one of them has a match.

Despite the irregularity of the event, Hikaru does show up, with nothing but a grin on his face and the fan in his hand. Hikaru never does bring any gifts along - no fruit, no wine, no anything. He seems to believe that he himself is a good enough present, if his general cockiness (which, now that it has become less ridiculous, is almost charming) is any evidence.

Akira says nothing - Hikaru grins more widely and answers his question.

'Just felt like playing a game today,' the young man with the bleached hair says, taking off his shoes and then walking right in as if the apartment were his own. Akira tells Hikaru this, but Hikaru just ignores him, continuing to stroll straight to the room with the goban.

(It's mysterious. Even when Akira moves the goban from one room to another, Hikaru always ends up finding it without much preamble - it is almost as if he has a goban radar built into his head.)

Instead of complaining further, Akira goes to brew hot tea for himself and grab a can of iced tea for Hikaru. As he waits, he wonders, as he always does whenever Hikaru acts even slightly out of the ordinary.

Will it be today?

Because it will be one of these strange meetings, Akira is sure, that will prompt an explanation. Even Hikaru cannot be offhand about something so important, so intrinsic to Hikaru's being -

Rather, Hikaru, of all people, cannot afford to be offhand about Sai.

When he brings out the tea, Hikaru has already pulled out the goban and the Go stones, as well as seated himself next to it. He is tapping quietly with his fan, a beat that is most definitely erratic but is nevertheless strangely cadenced. Akira sets the tea down next to them and kneels, but neither of them reaches for a drink.

Even before they start playing, Akira notices that something is different. He does not say anything about it, not when they exchange the usual courtesies, nor when Hikaru plays his first move. He does not mention the feeling that today, Hikaru seems to be positively electric, and that the sparks from him are charging the air around them with every move he makes.

He does not bring up the fact that it feels like, once again, he is the one aeons away from reaching Hikaru's level, because it does not make sense. Though Hikaru has been steadily progressing so that each game they play is a fierce battle, it is different right now. Akira feels like the one with the army that has been decimated, the general with the troops that are not retreating only because they want to fight until the end.

It feels like the second game that they played, but he says nothing, because on the goban he spots them. The discrepancies - times where Hikaru hesitated where he wouldn't normally, stones which Hikaru places in spots when usually he would place them elsewhere. Though Hikaru's Go is always, always evolving, today it is like he is playing someone else's game, and it shows, when Hikaru places his fan down and bows his head, conceding defeat.

'I have lost.' Hikaru is staring down at the board, the slightest frown on his face. 'I shouldn't have risked it.'

Risked what? Akira wants to ask - he does not know whether Hikaru is talking about a move in the game or the game itself. Instead, he offers advice, as is their custom, but Hikaru does not rise to any of Akira's comments with any outbursts, any arguments.

That in itself is unnerving.

'What, it's that late already?' Hikaru exclaims after a couple minutes, looking at the clock on the wall. He is already grinning again. 'I promised my mom I'd go home for lunch today and it'll take forever to get back on the train.' He jumps up, grabbing the unopened can of tea next to him - it has long grown warm from the heat of the room. 'I'll catch you later, Touya!' And he runs, getting to the door before Akira even has the time to stand up.

'Shindou!' he calls out, and Hikaru turns, his bleached bangs catching the light from the window.

Akira. says nothing else. Hikaru answers.

'Later.' Hikaru is looking at his running shoes as he slips them on easily. 'I promise.' And he looks up again, for a brief moment, and Akira is trapped by his gaze - so distant, in a location - or is it time? - inaccessible to everyone else but Sai.

But then Hikaru is gone, the door left open behind him, and Akira holds Hikaru's promise as his reason to go forward and close the door between them.

But only until Hikaru comes back to open the door again.

fanfic

2010-02-03T15:48:00Z

Title: A Shadow Steak Ramen of Love ♥
Chapter: 1/1 (oneshot)
Fandom: The World Ends With You
Character/Pairing: Miki Makoto (of Shadow Ramen fame), Masuoka Hisataka (or HT for short), and Sakuraba Neku (who doesn't need an introduction)
Rating: PG
Summary: Miki Makoto is accosted by HT who seems to think that Makoto's stolen all of Neku's affections. Makoto is distraught because he thinks so too.
Notes: Um, there is gay. Or well, some unrequited gay and some misunderstood gay but all in all a lot of gay. XD

Miki Makoto is a very nice young man. A little too impressionable, maybe (as proven by his short-lived but rather illustrious Mick epoch), but he always tries his best in whatever he does, be it advertising a product or manning a ramen shop.

That's actually what's gotten him into this mess, and he's regretting this trying his best business. Whoever said that everything's okay 'as long as you tried your best' is an absolute idiot.

He rather misses his Mick persona right about now. At least Mick would know what to say right now to this guy who seems to think Makoto's at fault for stealing some other guy's affections.

The sad thing is Makoto can't actually deny it because he thinks it's actually true. That's the worst part.

'Now, Mikkun,' the guy continues - his name is Masuoka, or so he's been told, 'all you have to do is back off a bit.' He's tugging on his top - Jupiter of the Monkey, Makoto thinks - and looks very composed, not at all like how Makoto is feeling.

'I'm not - like, I don't like him!' Makoto knows he's flailing, but he can't stop himself. His arms move on their own when he's frantic, and he's rather frantic now. 'He just keeps coming back but I can't actually tell him to get out since he's a customer and - '

He stops, the rest of his words stuck somewhere in his throat, because he sees him, stepping into Shadow Ramen for what has to be at least the fifth time today.

Headphone Guy, along with his skater friend.

'W-w-welcome to the Shadows! You sure look n-nice today... again.' He puts on a rather violently bright smile, which slips off his face once he sees Masuoka's murderous expression.

Headphone Guy just nods absentmindedly in acknowledgement of the comment, smiling back at Makoto (and he's always smiling, isn't he? Makoto's on to him). 'Anything new on the menu?' he asks, his voice all low and -

'So this is where you've been, hon!' Masuoka's amazingly chipper voice breaks through the quiet of the ramen shop. 'Over at Shadow Ramen? I haven't seen you in my shop lately, but I guess you've been busy...' His voice trails off, and he sends another glare Makoto's way.

Headphone Guy looks suddenly like a fish out of water. A fish that has been fished out of water into the hands of a very fishy fisherman. 'Ah. Oh. I didn't see you there.' Next to him, Skater Friend doesn't even try to hide his guffaws. 'I'll just have a Shadow Steak Ramen then.'

Skater Friend frowns. 'Dontchu mean two Shadow Steak Ramen, Phones?'

'One please,' Headphone Guy repeats, crossing his arms over his own Jupiter of the Monkey threads, though his look substantially nicer than Masuoka's.

Makoto's glad for the excuse to leave though, so he heads back into the kitchen, all the while trying his best not to listen to the conversation happening outside.

'I really haven't seen you in a while. How long has it been?

'We've got some new things in, you know. Pretty gorgeous. Can't imagine how they'd look on you.

'Don't suppose you're up for some soccer today? We're just having practice so more people would be welcome - your friend here could come too.'

And Makoto rushes back out of the kitchen with a bowl of ramen that almost spills over in his hurry - he's not sure what the rush is, but he knows he has to rush. 'Th-thank you,' he mumbles, placing it on the counter. His eyes are looking at his feet.

Masuoka is still talking though. 'You'd probably play soccer well. Got the muscles for it - very nice muscles.' Headphone Guy looks vaguely disturbed. Skater Friend is beside himself with laughter, but Masuoka pays no attention, his eyes on Headphone Guy and his -

'Masuoka-san,' Makoto interrupts in a very respectful tone, 'I'm afraid that you'll - you'll have to leave if you aren't b-buying anything.' Masuoka looks at him with something so very close to fury it's startling, but Makoto holds his ground, albeit while stuttering. Masuoka does leave the premise though, but not without not-very-surreptitiously blowing Headphone Guy a kiss. Skater Friend guffaws more.

Headphone Guy sends a very grateful glance his way and places five thousand yen on the counter - Makoto still doesn't know how he pays for the ramen since he buys it so often. 'Thanks,' says Headphone guy simply. 'Really.'

The ramen is already finished - Makoto spots a rather satisfied grin on Skater Friend's face. 'I always aim to p-p-please, sir,' Makoto replies. He notices that his hands may or may not be shaking. Maybe it's just an earthquake or something.

No, it's definitely his hands. And the rest of him too.

Headphone Guy either doesn't notice or pretends not to, only raising a hand in a wave as he steps out, Skater Friend already long gone.

'Neku.'

'Pardon, sir?' Makoto's too stunned to even stutter.

'You can just call me Neku.' And Headphone Guy - no, Neku turns around and smiles at Makoto and perhaps it's the end of the world as this is most definitely confirmation of the Headphone-Guy-is-into-Makoto theory because guys don't just go about smiling at other guys for no reason.

If it is, though, it's a rather pleasant Armageddon, and Makoto finds himself smiling back before he hears the funny whistling sound from the kitchen that means he's forgotten to turn off the stove.

Couple of the shopkeeper lines are ripped right from the game, in particular 'I aim to p-p-please, sir.' I love Makoto. He's so sad. ♥

piano

2010-01-18T01:14:45Z

I didn't notice until after I uploaded them how wonky the piano sounds D: There's this weird underlying noise which is bugging me, and whenever I play B flat, although it does sound, it's a bit ... agh. I think some tuning is also necessary u___u My poor Petrof.

entry

2009-12-19T19:50:45Z

Seriously. I am not going to be at home on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day so that there will be no little kids coming around trying to cheer me up with holiday spirit >____> I hate answering the doorbell and I hate standing and both of those are required if I have to listen to carolers.

Also, I have had it up to here with Christmas music. I can live with it at Chapters because well I'm looking at books, okay, but it's everywhere and now when I go to sleep I still have bells ringing in my ears. >|

But anyway, not the point :D

Come on, you know you want to ask me a question. 8DDD

Really ask me anything (click the link click the link!) :3 I'd like to say that I promise you interesting answers, but that would require my being more interesting first XD I could try to answer all questions with responses that don't have 'e's, or in rhyme or alliteration or haiku, but I have a feeling that would not turn out well.

ALSO. ALSO.

You people (that is, you people from the forum participating in Operation Christmas Box) who have not filled up other people's stockings yet better go do so soon (before Christmas, dearies) or there will be dire consequences. XD Not to single people out or anything~. So anyway, go! Fly forth and comment~.

event

2009-12-01T01:02:11Z

It's the end of the year, Pointless but Original Talking Forum, and that means it's almost Christmastime - a time for giving and receiving~. And so, dear forumers, rage-chan came up with an idea where we do sort of the same thing. It'd be tiring to write fics or draw pics for every single forumer that we wanted to, so instead she suggests this.

What we have here is a collection of 'Christmas boxes' - sort of like stockings~. You put little things that you want to tell people in a comment - say compliments, memories you share, Happy New Year/Merry Christmas/Happy Nondenominational Holiday, et cetera~. Keep things positive though - it's Christmastime, and we should be spreading good cheer~.

To participate, make a comment with your name in it - that will be your box/stocking and then you can start commenting on other people's threads. If you participate, you've got to write something for everyone else~. You don't need to have a livejournal account, so long as you remember to put your name in the comment.

All comments will be screened until December 25th, when all will be revealed and such n_____n

If you've any questions about this, please post here =D

And here is a list of people participating so you can make sure you haven't missed anyone~:

Kura
awin
rage-chan
Bane-dane
doro-dono
Dudly
ezyl
Meru
Kemi-chan
Gelly
Melo
Rea
sonomon
Lana
Vio

fanfic

2009-09-27T23:24:15Z

I started playing TWEWY again, mostly because the one 'level 2' for a Pig Noise in the Noise List was driving me crazy. It was like, the mar on my otherwise perfect record XD So I replayed. And then I wrote this.

Title: Welcome to Sunshine!
Chapter: 1/1 (oneshot)
Fandom: The World Ends With You
Character/Pairing: Shigemi Konno, Sunshine Shibukyu Girl!
Rating: E for Everyone =D
Summary: Shigemi Konno deliberates as the nameless guy in headphones makes his order.
Notes: I'm sorry, I like to write fanfiction about super minor characters.

---

One sentence. That's all it'd take. It's not like I don't speak all the time for work anyway, so why is it so hard for me to speak out now? It's like I've been programmed to say 'Welcome to Sunshine!' and nothing else. The smile on my face is wide, for the purpose of, as our motto goes, 'bringing sunshine to your day!', but inside I'm a complete mess.

I have a feeling that my face isn't warm just from the heat of the kitchen.

I don't even know his name, though it's not like he knows mine either. He's been coming around pretty often lately. I'd like to think that he has an ulterior motive - that he wants something besides the food - but I heard from Rikako that he's been popping by Sunshine Stationside a lot too.

She has a picture of him on her phone. I have absolutely no idea when she found time to take it without him noticing, and when she showed me I immediately rebuked her for doing something so bold.

She laughed and told me that I was just jealous.

I could tell him my name, maybe. 'I'm Shigemi Konno, here to take your order!' Would that be too peppy? Or too weird, since I've never mentioned my name before? And it's not like he'd tell me his name in return either.

It'd only take one sentence to ask him out.

But I'd just seem like a total stalker, asking him out all of a sudden. Or like, one of those crazy girls who fall in love at first sight with the first pretty stranger they meet on the street. I mean, who asks out people they meet at fast-food restaurants?

I don't even know his name.

And I hand him his fries, saying, 'Here's your order!' He takes it wordlessly, his eyes intent on the fries. He never eats right after paying. Maybe he's buying it for his girlfriend, who's probably really pretty and outgoing like Rikako. They probably go shopping together, and he ends up paying for his girlfriend's clothes even though she always protests.

He turns around to leave, so I say, 'Thanks! I'll see you soon!' Even that feels bold (did it sound a bit desperate?), and my throat feels tight - I can't say anything else. My mind's screaming. Just ask him out! Strike a conversation! Say something, anything, to keep him from stepping through the door back onto the street.

But he's gone already. Who knows when I'll see him next - if he moved away, I wouldn't even know. If he got into a freak accident, I'd never be notified - and why would I be? I'm just the girl at Sunshine Shibukyu who has a debilitating crush on this guy she doesn't even know.

'Miss?'

Another customer's come in already. I smile as widely as I can, and say cheerfully, 'Welcome to Sunshine!'

Maybe I'll ask him out next time.

---

In the alternative ending she goes after him and then can't find him in the crowd ~~what with his being in the UG~~ and is completely dejected because even when she tries things never work out for her. n____n

Should be doing research for school instead but really can't stop playing TWEWY and getting all the shopkeepers to love me 8D Why is the DS such a wonderfully portable device?

piano

2009-09-08T17:42:00Z

sheet music from here

Also, here is sheet music for Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor. XD But no video, 'cause the song is a bit boring to play and rather repetitive...which is well, the fate of video game music a lot of the time, what with having to loop. XD However, I do have a midi file with it (:

Demon of Darkness // Devil Survivor [SHEET MUSIC]

fanfic

2009-08-03T22:38:51Z

Title: ephemeral
Chapter: 1/1 (oneshot)
Fandom: Ouran High School Host Club
Character/Pairing: Hikaru-centric
Rating: E for Everyone =D
Summary: Nothing is forever - you know that now. Only fairy tales have happily ever afters. Even so, it doesn't make losing that hope feel any better.
Notes: This was written for sonomon. She's writing me Souga/Renge in return, that wonderful wonderful girl XD

ephemeral

-

When you're a child, you're told stories, whether you're a prince or a pauper, born on this side of the world or the other. They're fantastical stories - tales of heroes, princesses, witches, dragons, legends that happened once upon a time.

You're lying on your bed, your other half beside you. Your eyes - two pairs of eyes - stare up at the heavens depicted on the canopy, tasteful stars glittering in the night sky. Words of glory and wonder wash over you as you immerse yourself into the world of the chronicle you are hearing - you laugh, you cry, you smile as you watch the story unfold, waiting for the story to reach its finish.

They always end in that happily ever after that seems so ubiquitous in the world of bedtime stories nowadays, and you hold onto that concept. Happily ever after. Together forever. Endless, eternal, everlasting, perpetual.

The endings are always the same, you declare, finally realising this after years of hearing the same sort of yarns every night. Kaoru laughs.

'But that's what makes them nice,' he replies, his voice softer than yours as he stares off into a world that is guaranteed contentment. You shake your head and laugh as well, your laughter the innocent yet mischievous kind that often comes with children.

And then you grow up.

The storybooks are gathering dust on the bookshelves in the library - neither you nor Kaoru will touch them, though of course it was your decision. You don't need a nanny to tell you stories before you sleep - that's for kids. You're older now, so you don't need stupid things like princesses and knights in shining armour. You know how the world works, so what's the point in pretending?

Stories aren't all ending in happily ever after any more.

-

The door jingles as you walk in - you frown at the distastefully placed bell. At twenty-nine, you don't need a peal to announce your arrival. You are Hitachiin Hikaru, after all, heir to the Hitachiin company, and a renowned clothes designer of your own right. Your presence alone should be enough to draw all eyes to you.

And it is, of course - the stares that are on you are not the ones that people would give to some nobody who has just barged in. You smirk slightly before turning to the maître d'. A waiter is already standing next to him, ready to show you to your reserved table.

A quick glance shows you that your dining companion has already arrived.

'Hikaru!'

You can't help but grin - it has been a while. 'Tono,' you say, holding an arm out to stop him from hugging you violently in the middle of the restaurant. 'You look ridiculous.'

And he does. His suit is robin's egg blue and his tie is striped green and brown - it clashes like nothing else. You can tell just by looking who the designers were, and also that Tamaki picked his outfit out himself.

Even as Tamaki splutters indignantly (same old tono) you think inwardly that he looks amazing anyway.

Tamaki has that quality.

The first time you open the doors to the Third Music Room, one handle in your hand and one handle in Kaoru's, the image you see shocks you.

Victorian men, dressed in clothes of the most expensive material, with canes made from wood that must have been imported. The clothes befit the wearers, who all have their own sort of exquisite beauty, be it more endearing, mysterious, or striking. The young man in the middle is familiar to you but unfamiliar, in his clothes that are too tight, as all Victorian clothes are, and the thought that flashes in your mind is this:

Ridiculous.

But even as you think that you have to admire him, for daring to wear such outlandish garments in a society that is even more uptight than the one they are cosplaying.

The blond pulls out your seat for you, grinning back after his brief loss of composure. He idly chatters away and you respond back in the same manner, until he hits the question you knew he was going to ask.

'Where's Kaoru?'

You smile - or, you try to. Your lips are thin and you pause for a moment. Even though you rehearsed your answer, you still stumble.

Out, you state bluntly, with his girlfriend. Mine-chan. Tamaki's eyes seem cloudier in that moment, and then they are bright and blue again, a cheerful yet turbulent sea on a sunny day.

He's still innocent.

Tamaki goes on to talk about them. (They used to be you but you are a group no longer, not together forever.) You knew them so well, but now you are surprised by every piece of knowledge that the Suou heir bestows upon you benevolently.

Hunny-senpai has left the Haninozuka dojo for Chika to run, deciding instead to travel around the world. He has been sampling cakes from around the world and is in the process of starting his own bakery. (You did not know that your cutest senpai is halfway around the world - however, it does not shock you. They all seem so far away.)

Mori-senpai is a lawyer. He has always been interested in jurisprudence (since when?) and attended Tokyo University with his top grades. The stoic man is a well-known lawyer (yet you haven't heard of him) in the higher circles for his prudence and his sheer talent.

Tamaki you know about. It is impossible for you not to, with his face plastered everywhere. Newspapers, magazines, websites, posters. The media use any excuse to show off the blond's visage, along with the face of his rival whom you also knew so well.

Kyouya's and Tamaki's respective companies have come to a truce of a kind, now that they are both in control. (Kyouya's father had a heart attack; Tamaki's decided to return to France to be with his wife.) These two senpai-tachi are the ones you know about the best, yet all you know about them is these few fragments, these little bits of news that anybody on the street could have told you.

Once upon a time, you are best friends - no, beyond that. The Host Club is entangled with love and camaraderie and closeness. You are a family, kept together by something thicker than blood.

Tamaki stops here, his flood of words dammed by a widening of his eyes as he jumps up from the table abruptly. Hikaru's eyes follow his immediately.

How apt it is that the last member of the Host Club, the one who has not been mentioned, has chosen to make her appearance.

Everything is paused when Haruhi arrives. She is uncommon in her commonness, abnormal in her normalcy. Her mere presence stretches out the seconds and minutes that make up the fabric of time, and when Hikaru looks at her it seems as if he has always been looking.

Even in formal clothes she looks out of place. Her mannerisms are plebeian, her clothes nice but not nice. Her smile is that of a commoner's as well, one of somebody who doesn't quite understand the value of the world (in the way that the wealthy assess it).

'Tamaki-senpai!' she says cheerfully, calling across the restaurant (working-class, working-class!) 'Hikaru!' Beside her the waiter is looking flustered (or as flustered as a waiter in a high-class restaurant gets) as the patron he is supposed to be escorting makes her way towards another table to talk with other guests.

It's simply not something that is done.

'Could we pull up a chair?' Haruhi asks - the waiter who followed her now looks like he wishes that he did not. Pull up a chair indeed. But he must oblige the guest, and he murmurs politely, 'Of course, Fujioka-sama. Shall I keep your other table reserved?'

Waving her hand in a careless matter, she replies, 'No need,' and sits herself down in the chair that has already been brought over. She is smiling in that natural rookie way that has always stuck with her.

It is nice to see another person who has not changed at all.

Why are you here, Haruhi? You ask this with a kind smile back - one that is reminiscent of earlier days.

It is the last day of the semester - finally out of Ouran high school. Of course you know where you're going from now (where else?) but it is a bit sad to know that a chapter of your life is over.

But it won't be - not if you don't let it. You feel this with an ardent passion - you won't let high school slip away without a fight.

'Hikaru?' Her voice is soft, beautiful, wonderful - the same way that she looks in one of the dresses that you designed. 'Keep in touch, all right?' Haruhi smiles. 'You have my number, after all.'

You promise to do so, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. Of course I will, you say, laughing. Why wouldn't I?

'Dinner,' she replies matter-of-factly. 'Isn't that why you're here?'

Before you can continue, Tamaki decides that he is not getting enough attention and pouts. 'No hug for your father?'

Even now he still clings to that childish idea. You snort quietly, and Haruhi gives you a quick, curious glance. But she looks away. (Perhaps she doesn't like the expression on your face, so jaded, so cynical, so alien to her.)

She is still beautiful.

Haruhi sighs and rolls her eye. She says bluntly, 'I'm not your daughter.'

'But-'

'No, senpai.'

The scene is familiar and you find yourself smirking. Tamaki is of course distraught while Haruhi looks as blasé as ever.

Tono, you say, idea striking you, you're still not on Haruhi's contact list, are you? Your tone is joking, the voice of a younger you.

'Actually,' Haruhi cuts in, brown eyes blinking, 'you're not on it either right now, Hikaru.' Before you can ask why the hell not, she says, 'I got a new phone and I lost all my old contacts.'

You pause. Suddenly the room seems too small and you need some air. You stand up - somehow it seems like you are the one who has intruded in this elite group and Haruhi is the one who has unwittingly (you hope it is unwittingly) denied you entrance.

'Hikaru?' Both Tamaki and Haruhi say this at the same time, and their eyes are identical in this instant - full of sincere concern.

It hurts to look at them.

You are in your own world, separated from everyone else. There is only you and the others. There is no need for them, since you have Kaoru with you.

But then he is not there. Disappearing from your grasp, he wrenches himself out.

'I'm going to be a poet,' he says to you quietly. He isn't looking at you, as if he knows that one glance at you will shake his resolve too much. 'I haven't told Mother or Father yet, but I think Father already knows.'

He tries to grin. 'You'll be fine on your own with the Hitachiin designing company. And of course I'll stay with you.' He doesn't say for how long.

He doesn't have to. You already know by now that nothing is forever.

'Haruhi?'

And another voice joins them, an uncertain baritone that makes you think of Mori-senpai - but no. It is not calm enough.

He stands there, a man who is about your age. He has short black hair, brown eyes, average physique, frameless glasses. He's wearing designer clothes, and has a cell phone in his right hand. He is an average man.

Haruhi turns to him, all smiles. The smile is different though - not the natural rookie smile, but something more, something -

Tamaki realises it too, as he gasps. Haruhi looks back to the ex-Host Club president. 'Senpai?'

'You just looked very much like your mother.' His voice is surprised, and there is a tightness to it that you can identify with.

Haruhi smiles again and it is back to the smile you know (knew?).

'This is Yamada Daisuke. He's my husband.'

And then you sit down because you know you will fall if you do not have support.

Tamaki's next words are ones that surprise you - surprise everybody, really, as he shouts them at the top of his voice. 'Congratulations!' He is genuinely happy for them, and he stands up and walks over to them, shaking both of their hands vehemently. 'Why didn't you tell me, Haruhi? I have to give you my blessing!'

As this Yamada stares at Tamaki like he is a very strange insect he turns to Haruhi, looking at her as if to ask, 'Who is this guy?'

'This is Suou Tamaki,' she says, 'and this is Hitachiin Hikaru.' You can see the recognition on the man's face, and you get ready to scowl at him in disgust so that when he starts to fawn over you (like the plebeian he is) you won't have to waste any time.

But he doesn't. He just smiles back and says, 'It's nice to meet you,' politely and to Haruhi, 'Our reservation is waiting, dear.'

'It's our one year anniversary,' Haruhi tells you with a smile. She gets up from the seat and she walks always with Yamada (you will not refer to him as anything else) and the table is silent. The other patrons of the restaurant have already lost interest in your antics when Tamaki speaks up.

'Hikaru.' His voice is small. 'Why - why does it hurt so much? Is this how a father feels when he gives his daughter away?'

And you want so dearly to shatter his dreams. No. That is not how you feel. The reason you feel that way is because you love her and she's been taken by somebody else, and you'll never get to have her - she'll never love you in the same way that she loves that commoner who has nothing, nothing that you have, who is normal in every single way and is not like the two of you, not of the class that you are, not of the quality.

'We can't both have her, Hikaru!' Kaoru's face is angrier than you have ever seen it. 'Can't you grow up? If you're going to half-heartedly chase after Haruhi you don't deserve her in the first place!'

But you do not. You walk over to where Tamaki is standing and say with a smirk that doesn't feel right on your face, Why don't you go ask her real father and find out?

And as Tamaki squawks indignantly, his face red, you feel that at least something has gone right for today.

But only for today, because nothing is forever.

-

It's not realistic, you say with a frown, crossing your arms. Why would the prince fall for that commoner girl Cinderella anyway? It's a dumb story.

Kaoru laughs. He likes it when you get into these moods; he thinks it's funny to see you so worked up over fiction. 'Well that's why it's a fairy tale. Things like that don't happen in real life.'

Then I don't see why we're reading about it, you mutter, throwing the English book to the floor in a pique. Screw the English essay that you have to write on it. Kaoru, of course, picks it right back up again and brushes off the cover lovingly.

'Well,' he replies, trying to appease you, 'Cinderella's really different from the other girls there. She's down-to-earth, she's nice, and she likes the prince for who he is, and not for his money.'

You shake your head. Also, she wouldn't fit in. Even if she was all dressed up, she wouldn't be like the other people - too plebeian.

If I were Cinderella, you say vehemently, I never would've gone back. Why uproot your whole life for a chance at romance?

And really, things like that would never work out well in real life. Only fairy tales have happily ever afters.

'Well,' Kaoru says with another laugh, 'I'll be sure to tell Cinderella your opinion if I ever get to meet her.'

-

fin

piano

2009-07-30T17:59:45Z