Chapter 3-Misconceptions
"You aren't making much sense," Mamoru observed dryly, his dark blue gaze flicking between Kouseinou and Minako astutely.
"I...we...we met a very long time ago, in a playground once," the blonde girl smiled, relishing the memory. "Kousei-kun was all alone, and he was pretty rude when I bumped into him. I asked him to play tag with my friends and I. Afterwards, I told him he had to be nicer to make more friends. I guess he followed my advice."
Raising her eyebrows with an amused smile on her face, Makoto commented, "Kousei-kun? He hasn't ever let anyone give him a nickname. You must have been really special to him, Mina-chan."
Blushing at her recounting of the story, which was actually very similar to his opinions, the silver-haired boy shrugged. "Eh...Kasen-kun, your parents are waiting outside for you. Aren't you and Souya-kun going somewhere this weekend?" Leaping up with a curse, the blonde nodded and sped out the door with goodbyes to everyone, as well as a pat on the shoulder for Usagi. Looking after him, Kouseinou took the empty seat and remarked, "That was interesting. At least he packed this time around."
Giggling slightly, Usagi told them, "Actually, he didn't. Souya-kun did it, and he told me he packed Kasen-kun's most embarrassing clothes, but he'll have to wear them anyway."
"It's times like these that I'm glad I don't have a brother–or at least one as vindictive as Souya-kun can be," the ebony-haired one joked.
Glowering at him, Usagi murmured, "That's not nice. And he isn't vindictive; he just has an original sense of humor. Plus, he's nice and considerate–unlike some other people."
Surprised by her animosity, Mamoru kept his mouth shut and darted a glance towards Makoto and Kouseinou, who were finding other things to look at. Sighing, he settled down and did the smart thing: closed his mouth while Minako and Kouseinou attempted to become reacquainted after such a very long time...
~ * ~ * ~
"Gomen nasai...I know this Souya-kun of yours–at least, I think I do. Kouseki Yosouya, ne? Unfortunately, he's going out of town tonight with his onii-san. Demo, I'll give you a call when he gets back, okay?"
"Arigato gozaimisu, Rei-chan."
"So, Ami-chan...gomen to ask the same question so many times, demo...why do you have to quit swimming this year?" Rei asked, more than slightly perplexed.
Lowering her gaze to the floor, Ami shrugged. "I've always wanted to be a pediatrician, and once I get into college, I won't have time to do any swimming besides in my free time."
"And you're going to apply to one of the most prestigious schools in Germany, ne?"
Nodding as brilliant red color spread across her pale cheeks, the blue-haired woman answered, "Hai. I'm actually hoping to hear from them before December."
Blinking, the dark-haired girl asked, "And you're not applying to any other schools except Juuban University as your safety?"
"I know it sounds arrogant, demo...it's hard to describe. If I can't get into the school I want to get into, then I'll be satisfied with staying home." Glancing at her watch, Ami's exquisite blue eyes widened in shock at the time. "Masaka...I didn't realize it was so late. Rei-chan, arigato gozaimisu for all the time you spent talking to me. I really appreciate it."
Smiling, Rei replied, "It was no problem, Ami-chan. I guess I'll see you around school–and you'll drop by if you have time, ne?"
"Definitely. Arigato again, Rei-chan."
~ * ~ * ~
Later that week, school had started, and Ami was quite sure that she didn't relish the new stresses that senior year brought. It wasn't a year for fun and games and cutting classes, as everyone thought. Of course, there were the occasional jokers who never went to class in their last year, but they found out that colleges that had previously accepted them because of their grades would turn their backs and tell them to find another school after they saw their final grades. Shaking her head, Ami double-checked the extra bag she had brought to school with her and somehow managed to fit into her locker. Smiling when she touched the familiar, faded blue towel and her one-piece medium blue swimsuit, she felt better just looking at these items. People had all kinds of different ways to deal with stress, from punching pillows and squeezing balls filled with sand to more expensive things like therapists and masseuses. She took a cheaper and more relaxing alternative: just swimming in a pool that few people had access to. At this time of day, she would be alone and be able to think her private thoughts...dealing with her quitting competitive swimming and just life in general.
Speaking of which, swimming had basically been the entire life of Mizuno Ami. With her father as a gaijin, and her exotic looks testimony to her parentage, she had been ridiculed and avoided by everyone until she had become known to the world as one of Japan's top swimmers. Even then, most of the people she met were jealous and malicious, seeking to drive knives into her where it would hurt the most. She had no friends, she was sad to say. But it didn't really bother her that much–after all, how can you miss something you don't have?
The pool _was_ empty, as she had guessed. After changing in the locker room, she sat at the edge of the pool, running her fingers through her hair distractedly. So involved was she in her thoughts that she didn't notice the dark shadowing hovering on a little, shaded balcony far above. Diving into the pool, she laughed happily. After a few races with herself from one end of the long pool to the other, she simply closed her eyes and floated. Floated peacefully on her back without falling...and never realized that she was being watched...until she picked up a photo with neat script on the back of it, left noiselessly on her towel...
~ * ~ * ~
"Mamoru-kun, do you have a minute?"
Puzzled by the odd look on his friend's face and his formal tone, the other nodded. "Hai...what's wrong, Kasen-kun? Dajibou?"
"Dajibou," he replied shortly. "I want to talk about Usagi-chan though, not me."
He nodded slowly, having expected this from one of his friends sometime. "Look, Kasen-kun, you have to understand. I care for Usa-chan, I really do, but she's not the one."
"Shimatta, Mamoru-kun. Just shut up about this ‘one' of yours. Whoever she is, she doesn't exist, and Usagi-chan is _here_. She loves you, did you know? If you asked her to marry you, even at age eighteen, she'd accept within seconds. She'd give up everything for you–in fact, she has. She's worked so hard to excel in school, because you used to make fun of the low scores she got on tests. You teased her about her odango atama hairstyle, so she doesn't her hair differently. In fact, she gets up at five every morning so she can make herself look beautiful just for you. But you don't give a damn, do you? You never take the time to appreciate her."
"I do appreciate her. Usagi-chan is one of the nicest people I've ever met, and she's a wonderful friend. But you don't understand. There's a princess in my dreams, and she's calling for me to rescue her. Usagi-chan doesn't need me–she's built herself into a woman that thousands of men would die to have."
Glaring at him, Kasen's breath was let out in an angry hiss as he said, "Kami-sama, Mamoru-kun. Have you been listening to anything I said? She did all this for _you_. She doesn't care about anyone else in the world the way she does for you."
Frustrated, he yelled, "I just don't love her, Kasen-kun! Why can't you and she just understand that and drop the issue?"
"If that's the way you feel, Mamoru-kun, you're an even stupider baka than I thought. You can't see what's in front of your face, can you? One day you'll regret it." Running a hand through his wavy golden hair angrily, the blonde turned and walked away, leaving a stunned Mamoru behind, staring at the back of one of his best friends.
~ * ~ * ~
"Konnichiwa. I'm Aino Minako, and this is Kino Makoto," the girl smiled generously.
Shyly, Ami replied, "Konnichiwa, and hajimemashite. I'm Mizuno Ami."
Even though they knew of her fame, the other two could obviously see that she didn't like a big fuss about it. Towing her with them towards empty seats in their last period class, they began a discussion full of laughs and light, dismissing the shadows that seemed to dominate life sometimes. After class, as they walked out into the bright sunshine, Makoto asked, "Hey, Ami-chan, do you want to the Crown Arcade with us? Some friends of ours will be there..."
Appreciating the gesture, she smiled back but said, "Gomen nasai. I'd love to, demo I have a friend that's coming to pick me up. Some other time?"
"Sure." Minako watched narrowly as she meant, raising her eyebrows when Ami walked over to a dark blue car in which a navy blue-eyed boy waited, flicking back his long brown hair. "Do you think he's her boyfriend?"
"I don't know...she said he was just a friend, but she's the type to be shy about things like this. Doesn't he look a little familiar to you?" Makoto furrowed her forehead, deep in thought. Something about this stranger, everything about him, actually, seemed to hint at things in the past...a past she could not remember.
"You're right," the blonde said thoughtfully, "demo, I'm not sure what it is. We can ask Ami-chan to introduce us some other time. Come on, Mako-chan. We'll be late."
"Better late than never."
"Hai," she smiled, thinking about her abrupt return to Japan and reconciliation with her home and Kouseinou.
~ * ~ * ~
Looking up as a knock sounded on the wooden bamboo screen, the priestess frowned when someone interrupted her meditation. Getting up and straightening her robes, she opened te door to admit one Tabiki Kasen. "Oh...Kasen-kun! Konnichiwa." Rei looked away nervously. Ever since he had told her he had liked her in a more-than-friendly way, she had avoided being alone with him or talking intimately with him. Once, they had been best friends...and before that...
"Were you expecting someone? I didn't mean to disturb you."
"Iie, iie, I wasn't. Onegai, have a seat. Would you like some tea–or something?" she asked apprehensively, backing towards the door.
Raising his eyebrows in surprise, he shook his head. "Iie, arigato. I'm fine."
"So...I thought you and Souya-kun weren't going to get back until tomorrow night," Rei ventured, taking a seat opposite him.
"Oh, right...but we decided to let our parents have some time together. Besides, I wanted to talk to you."
"Um...about what?" She wasn't at all sure that she liked where the conversation was heading. In fact, she had a feeling that she _disliked_ it.
Wiping his forehead as the heat from the fire made him sweat, Kasen leaned forward and took her hands gently. "Rei-chan, remember the time I told you about how I felt?" When she nodded, he said, "Aishiteru, Rei-chan. I've been waiting forever to say it to you, demo...you never seemed to want to hear it. Why?"
Drawing her gaze away from his beautiful, azure blue eyes, the dark-haired girl sat back and withdrew her hands. Softly, she murmured, "Kasen-kun, don't you think it's too early to rush things?"
"I'm only asking if you love me. I'm in college, and next year, you will be, too. There's not that big an age difference, and I already know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"Iie! You can't say that! It's too early...and how could you possibly know that you want to spend your life with me? What if I don't want to marry? What if I don't love you?!"
Her exclamation startled them both, and her grandfather slid open the screen door. "Dajibou, Rei-chan?"
"Dajibou, ojii-san."
Winking at Kasen, he advised, "You be careful not to get yourself burnt with my firebrand of a granddaughter, Kasen-kun. She wouldn't want you to lose those good looks of yours."
In a warning tone, glowering at him, she hissed, "Ojii-san...go...away!"
"See, I told you so."
After he had left again, Rei drew in a deep breath, shaking slightly. As he reached out to her in concern, she recoiled, and he did also. "Gomen–gomen nasai, Kasen-kun. Demo, there's someone that I'm waiting for. I didn't mean to hurt you."
In shock, he asked, "Who??"
"Kaidou-san...my otou-san's partner. He was always kind to me when I was a child. I told you about him, remember?"
"Where is he now? You're still calling him Kaidou-san, and you're waiting here for him while he dances with all the politicians' beautiful wives and daughters, flirting with them. Does he even know how you feel for him?"
Eyes filling with tears, she whispered, "He gave me my first kiss...on my fifteenth birthday. Otou-san couldn't make it, and I always knew that Kaidou-san was the one who remembered the white dress and the Casablanca lilies."
Sighing, Kasen stood up and looked down at her sadly. He felt as if he was in the darkest abyss...and the pain in his chest was more than he could bear. "Gomen nasai, Rei-chan, to have bothered you. I'll leave you alone now–but remember, I'll always be waiting for you. Let me know how things turn out with you and Kaidou-san," he finished curtly, then left.
The tears overflowing, Rei didn't bother to brush them away and whispered, "Gomen nasai, Kasen-kun."
~ * ~ * ~
"Kyo-kun, I don't know what to do. After this photo..."
As she handed him the photograph, Kyosei turned it over and read the neat, flowing script: "Don't give up your dreams, Ami-chan. I told you once that you were soul-bonded to water, and I was right. Glad to see you followed my advice about expressing yourself. Until we meet again. ~Kouseki Yosouya." Looking at her, the brown-haired one exhaled deeply. "That's quite a message. Who else did you tell that you were quitting swimming?"
"Rei-chan. Remember, the miko at the shrine? I'll introduce you to her one day, when you've got the time." Smiling to a young boy and his mother as they walked along the street, Ami turned to her much-taller friend and asked, "What should I do?"
"I don't know, Ami-chan. You have to make the choice on your own. A few weeks ago, you were ready to give up professional swimming, though, for your dream. Do his words mean so much to you that you'll change your mind so readily?"
Eyes brimming with tears, she whispered, "I don't know...hai. I was never that secure about giving it up. I don't know, Kyo-kun. I just don't know."
Pulling her to him gently, he put his arms around her and held her as she cried. "It's all right, Ami-chan. You have time to decide, and all you have to do is think about it."
~ * ~ * ~
"So Mina-chan and I–Souya-kun, dajibou?" When he didn't respond, she looked ahead of them and gasped. Previously, she had been preoccupied with what they were talking about, so she hadn't noticed their company. "That's Ami-chan...and the guy we saw her with earlier."
Green eyes stormy, he looked at her, only a few inches taller. "Do you know who he is?"
"I don't know...Ami-chan said he was just a friend. He picked her up at school. At least, that's what Mako-chan and Mina-chan told me."
"He doesn't look like just a friend," Yosouya murmured.
Amazed, the dark-haired girl asked, "Did I just tell you that she's kept the memory of you teaching her how to swim for this long? And that she's been looking for you forever? You inspired her to become who she is, Souya-kun. Don't tell me you're jealous."
Biting his lip and turning down the street with a backwards glance, he muttered, "I'm not. Okay, so I am. Just because I motivated her years ago doesn't mean she can't have a boyfriend."
Stopping him, Rei looked into his eyes deeply, seeing the turmoil. Softly, she said, "You've been waiting for her this long, Souya-kun. If she didn't say he was her boyfriend, then I'm sure he's not. Why don't you just ask her? She'd love to see you again, and I told her I'd get in touch with her when you came back from your trip. I didn't know you'd be back so soon. You came to the shrine unexpectedly."
"I love her, Rei-chan."
"How can you say that? You don't even know her." She became slightly annoyed with him, amethyst eyes sending sparks into emerald.
"I've been following everything she does. I love the way she swims, how she expresses herself. From her style, I can see what she feels. She's beautiful both inside and out, and I love her spirit. That sweet, sad, mysterious smile that she always smiles. I love everything about her, Rei-chan. I just need her to love me back."
"You're nothing but a stalker who's obsessed with her then," Rei snapped, even though she could see the truth in his eyes. It made her uncomfortable, bringing up memories she had thought would never come back...
Understanding the tenseness in her words and stature, the blond-haired one put an arm around her shoulders. "Rei-chan, forget about Kaidou-san. He's never coming back, and he would have hurt you more. He's going to be married this month, isn't he?"
Turning away, she brushed aside her tears angrily. "You can tell me that you love Ami-chan, even though you haven't seen her for more than thirteen years, but I can't love Kaidou-san? You just want me to love Kasen-kun."
"Right. Because he won't hurt you the way that Kaidou-san will and always does. Don't you understand, Rei-chan? He _always_ hurts you every time he sees you."
Closing her eyes, she whispered, "Love and hate are two sides of the same coin."
Yosouya replied, "Forget that saying. It isn't true. Don't be afraid to love, Rei-chan. Just realize your feelings for him!"
Whirling around in a glorious swirl of dark black hair, she cried, "How can you tell me that I love him? You don't know what I feel for him."
"You're right, I can't and don't. Gomen nasai." They stood there awkwardly for a moment, realizing how loud their voices had been. Clearing his throat, he said, "I've got to go now, Rei-chan. Ja ne."
As she watched him leave, she suddenly ran after him and cried, "Matte, Souya-kun! Gomen...gomen nasai. Are you angry?"
Looking down at her, he shook his head. "Iie, I'm not. Demo, I do have to go. You'll think about Kaidou-san and Kasen-kun, ne? For me?"
"I guess..."
"Arigato."
He turned to go once more, and she sighed deeply. "Matte, Souya-kun. I want to ask you one last question, onegai."
"Anything."
Smiling at him, trying to conceal her terrible hope, Rei asked, "Does he really love me?"
His handsome face breaking out into a wide grin, Yosouya laughed before he answered, "Rei-chan, the world knows that he loves you. Do you realize that he hasn't looked at any girl since he met you three years ago?"
~ * ~ * ~
Jikai: The Next Meeting
The Present
Infinite Ice
