Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Nana is stuck
Nana has writers block so she will post up a piece of her story she finished last week.

**

Ayumi sighed quietly as the lunch bell rang. It had been a long couple of weeks; between the fight and the attack, she felt she was at her limit. It was true that the two of them had become very close, but Ayumi still felt somewhat empty. She stretched as she got out of her chair. I wonder what’s for lunch. She looked towards Junsei’s desk only to find it empty. “Hey, Hiragi-kun?”
The young boy who sat in the desk next to Junsei’s lazily looked at her, “Yeah?”
“Do you know where Junsei went?”
“Mayaki?” The boy shook his head, “She left pretty quickly after the bell rang.”
“I see.” Ayumi bent down and opened her book bag, grabbing her change pouch, “If you see her, could you tell her that I am in the cafeteria?”
The boy shrugged, “Sure, why not.”
“Thanks,” She bowed slightly and walked to the door.
“Hiroe,”
Ayumi turned around, her hand still on the handle, “Yeah?”
“You seem different lately.”
“Your point being?”
The boy shrugged, “I kinda like the new you.”
Ayumi blushed slightly, “Thank you.” She said quietly as she ducked out of the classroom. Geez, what was that for? Was he trying to embarrass me or something?
Wait a minute. Ayumi stop as she watched someone disappear up the stairs. She walked over to the staircase and looked up, all she saw were some fifth years giggling by the window. She went up the first flight of stairs and stopped at the group, “Excuse me?”
The girl with the waist long hair looked at Ayumi, “What?”
“Did a girl with red hair just come by here?”
“Yeah.”
“Which way did she go?”
The girl pointed up the second flight and to the left, “Down that way.”
Ayumi bowed, “Thank you.” She turned and went up the stairs and into the hall. The music room was on this floor, the class was to meet there after lunch. She ran down the hall and stopped outside the room. She could hear something inside, so she cracked the door and peeked in. Junsei sat on the window sill by the piano, plucking randomly at the school’s guitar. Ayumi opened the door and Junsei looked up at her, “Hey, you.” She said calmly as the breeze from the open window rustled her hair.
Ayumi entered the classroom and sat down on the piano bench, “Why did you leave so suddenly?”
“Sorry, I’ve just been thinking.” Junsei looked out the window at the sky; clouds had started to move in.
“I’ve been thinking too and…” Ayumi paused, if I don’t say it now I might never say it, “And I think you should tell everyone the truth. I’m sure that they will understand. I’ll do my best to help you. I just don’t think that keeping it a secret will do much good.”
Junsei looked at Ayumi and smiled. She then closed her eyes and begun to play the guitar. Ayumi stared blankly at Junsei. First of all, she didn’t know Junsei could play; and secondly, why was she playing. The tune had a haunting quality to it. It made Ayumi feel strange, melancholic. It had a bit of quiet sorrow to it as well, like a sense of loss. This didn’t make any sense, what does this tune have to do with what I said? As Junsei ended the tune, she let out a quiet sigh.
“Junsei?” Ayumi called to her, but again she didn’t answer. She just started to play again.
The second tune had the same haunting feeling as the first. Maybe it was the way the guitar was tuned, or maybe it was the way Junsei played. The song brought with it a feeling of quiet reminiscence, of calming memories, of maturity. Ayumi looked at Junsei’s face, she was smiling a quiet smile that seemed to match the tune. Ayumi found herself falling to the tunes haunting melody. She closed her eyes and gently swayed. It was yet another side of Junsei that Ayumi didn’t know about. A side of quiet, inner beauty that she kept to herself.
As the tune drew to a close Ayumi started to wonder if another would follow. It was a moment’s pause, but Junsei continued to play. Ayumi closed her eyes again. It was a sad melody. One that seemed to tell of a long journey, full of longing and quiet hope. All the while, it held the same haunting value as the other two. Ayumi started to think about the times she sat in her room and cried when the kids at her old school made fun of her. Of the times when her mother’s embrace made her feel safe. Was it really the song that was making her think this?
Ayumi looked at Junsei as the song’s last note faded. Her eyes were still closed and still wore the same smile. Ayumi turned when she heard whispers, a few fifth years had snuck into the classroom to listen. Ayumi wondered what they were talking about, but they quickly stop as Junsei started to play.
Rain had started to fall outside, almost as if it was trying to match the mood. The thoughts of foreign lands came to mind with this song. Large open field, cool breezes bending the tall grass. Was Junsei trying to tell a story with the songs? It sounded a bit cliché but that’s the way Junsei was.
The song was shorter than the others, so when Junsei immediately started the next one it took Ayumi a few seconds to realize it. Haunting as always, the melody made Ayumi think of the days she spent at her grandmother’s in Hokkido. The quiet, calming days without worry. Relaxing by the window, looking out at the snow covered ground. The song also had a feeling of strength to it. Not the physical kind and yet, not the emotional kind either. Ayumi looked around the classroom, more kids had arrived. Some were classmates, others were probably there just to get out of the rain. All of them sat quietly listening to Junsei play. One of the fifth year girls gently wiped her eyes. She was one of the first to arrive.
As though no one existed in the world, Junsei continued to play never opening her eyes or changing her expression. The melody was now quicker, different from the others. It made Ayumi think of the heroes in the fantasy books she’s read in the past. Of their journeys to save a world, of their love for someone. But it was a chilling tune, one that made Ayumi shiver when it hit certain parts. She watched Junsei’s hands as they glided along the strings; so precise and slightly mesmerizing. Junsei seemed to know exactly what cords to play, when to play them, and at the same time what emotion she wanted to convey.
Ayumi turned around when Izumi-sensei walked in, she was about to say something when Junsei started the next song; and like the rest who were there, she quietly took a seat and listened. Like the last song, it was a faster melody. It made Ayumi feel nostalgic for some reason. She didn’t know what the nostalgia was for, but it was there. Maybe it was the feeling of battle. The feeling of anxiety, of tension, of worry. It was hard to tell where her feelings began and Junsei’s ended.
Junsei’s expression seemed to go from a quiet calm to an inner sorrow as she started the next song. The longing for another, the feeling of loss when they no longer are near. The tears of a wife who lost her husband; of a child who lost her home. Ayumi listened to the rain as it fell outside, to the sounds of the other kids who still played in the down pour. It was a song for when she started at this school. For when she wished someone would understand her feelings. The longing for her mother.
Ayumi wiped her eyes and looked around the room. Many of the kids seemed to feel the same, some were still quietly crying to themselves. Junsei played on. This time telling of a journey, not a past journey but one that was to come. A strong sense of hope seemed to come from the song. Ayumi started to think about her future with Junsei. She knows that no matter what happens in the world she must stay by Junsei’s side. She must be there for her, to help carry the burden of the destiny Junsei’s father spoke of. A destiny Junsei didn’t even know Ayumi knew about. One that Junsei was only beginning to understand.
Ayumi opened her eyes as Junsei let out a deep sigh. She was leaning against the wall, the guitar now sat in her lap with her hands gently resting on it. The whole room was silent, no one moved, some didn’t seem to breathe. Then one of them started to clap, it was soon followed by everyone else. Junsei slowly stood up, placed the guitar back on its stand and turned to face the group. As she took a deep breath, she smiled at Ayumi. The audience’s applause ended and Junsei bowed, “I’m sorry.”
Everyone began to murmur, wondering why Junsei apologized. So when she began to speak again, everyone quickly stopped talking, “I’ve been lying to everyone. I’m actually really good at sports, English, math, calligraphy. I’ve been told it’s because I study a lot, but it’s mostly because I’m an alien. I just wanted to fit in with everyone, so I lied.” She bowed again, “I’m so sorry.”
Ayumi stood up and took Junsei’s hand, “I’ve known about Junsei for a while now. Please don’t think any less of her. She’s helped me through a lot.”
Izumi-sensei stood up, “Well, I don’t see a problem.” She smiled at Junsei, “As long as you help out some more. Maybe tutoring those who need help.”
Aisawa stood up, “Does this mean I won’t have to be class rep next year?”
Half of the room started to laugh. Ayumi looked at Junsei when she felt Junsei squeeze her hand. Junsei was laughing quietly, “Sure, why not. That is, if we are in the same class. Like hell I’m going to cover for you if you’re in a different one.”
The bell rang ending lunch, all the kids that weren’t in the class left the room and everyone else took their seats. As the two were about to take theirs Izumi-sensei stopped Junsei, “Where did you learn those songs?”
Junsei shrugged, “My dad has played some of them, the rest I just kinda, you know, improvised.”
“There’s a music recital next month, if…”
Junsei shook her head, “That wouldn’t be right for all the other children who worked hard year after year.”
“It’s your choice.”


NNM
Too True
Bad omens suck
Comments (1)