Subject: [KFFDISC] [Fic] A Starry Night's Deja Vu: Chapter 3 Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 04:28:08 -0700 (PDT) From: Honjou Mizu Reply-To: kffdisc@nabiki.com To: kffdisc@nabiki.com "A Starry Night's Deja Vu: Chapter 3" By Mizu_Onna Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, so don't sue me! Author's Pre-Fic Note: The insanity continues. As usual, if you want to see the HTML version, here's the link: http://www.geocities.com/unspoken_devotions/starry3.htm If not, then scroll away! ~*~*~ How Midori survived the day, she wasn't entirely sure. She had rushed through her classes with a somewhat preoccupied demeanor, irritating most of her teachers and making her lose out on a lot. Yukiko had been trying to engage her in conversation, but her normally bubbly habits were smothered by something that perhaps bothered her. Midori had figured that maybe it was because she saw Kodama and Miryoku kissing. But, she had often repeated to herself, what was her basis on being so angered and hurt? It wasn't as if she was close to Kodama or anything. As she was walking to her after school gymnastics class, she pondered it. She barely saw where she was walking, much less who she saw on the way. Yukiko, who took the class with Midori, had been so flustered with Midori's silence that she walked ahead. As she was pondering the odd situation, a slightly eerie thought surfaced in her mind… *History repeats itself.* Midori blinked. Where had that come from? She was further puzzled, so therefore she sank deeper into her stupor. Yukiko, who was luckily focused, noticed Miryoku step into the building where they had their classes. "Oi, Midori!" Yukiko piped up, tugging on her friend's sleeve. Midori glanced up from her lengthy musings. "Nani yo?" She asked, raising both eyebrows in mild perplexity. "Miryoku just went through the door!" Yukiko pointed to the glass slides, where Miryoku's fleeting form could be seen. Midori blinked. What was that girl doing there? She almost voiced out her disgust, but thought better of it as she bit her lip to keep from blurting out obscenities. Instead she rushed her pace, despite her dread in seeing the college girl perform. The adrenaline pumped and coursed through her veins. Something invisible was drawing her towards where Miryoku was, beckoning silently, ensnaring her unwittingly. Soon enough, they reached the structure and headed inside, almost rushing to the room where her classes were held. To neither one’s surprise, their teacher was introducing Miryoku. She woman was saying something about Miryoku transferring from a renowned gymnastics school, and about what an honor it was to have her there. Midori couldn't help but roll her eyes, and Yukiko caught the reluctance. "Daijoubu?" Yukiko asked. "You haven't been alright since the beginning of the day. And you seem to particularly hate _her_." She jabbed her thumb at the college senior. "What?" Midori muttered, snapping out of her reverie. "Never mind." Yukiko sighed. Upstage, the teacher was talking about Miryoku's talent. "And perhaps the only people who could contend with her would be Midori and Yukiko." The lady declared, puffing out her chest with pride. Midori and Yukiko exchanged glances. Neither had been listening, so the calling of their names was a bit unexpected. "So," the sensei said, "would Midori and Yukiko please come up here, and let's compare?" Hesitantly the pair of friends made their way to the front. Midori met Miryoku's eyes, and the older woman's gaze flickered with recognition. "Konnichiwa." Miryoku bowed to them both with a genial smile. "Glad to see you again." Her stare darted from one to the other, but Midori couldn't help but feel as if the comment was directed at her. "Okay. Exercises together!" The sensei announced. As the class launched into their routine, Midori grew more and more absorbed into the relaxation and energy consuming pastime of physical activity, therefore pushing all thoughts of Miryoku and Kodama to the back of her mind. But a glance at Miryoku sent everything rushing back. As Miryoku leapt gracefully into the air and landed on the ground with a graceful flip, a flash of light burned Midori's sight, sending her to her knees. ["Shimatta, our attacks didn't work!" A woman in her early twenties cursed as she was faced before a large opponent. Her hair was falling out of its elegant bun, and the tension was written evidently upon her face.] Midori recognized the visage. Miryoku? ["Keep trying!" The mirror image of Midori commanded. "Omasu-san, we'll win this!" She panted, crouching as to catch her breath. "Misao-chan," Miryoku-Omasu?-spoke tersely. And it was the mention of that "Misao" girl again. A longhaired lady in a ninja uniform watched them talk, looking winded just like the two of them.] Midori noticed with shock that the new girl looked like Yukiko. ["The Aoiya is under attack! We've got to do something!" "Yukiko" turned to the okashira.] "Midori-chan! Are you okay?" Midori blinked sleepily. "What the..." She flopped into Yukiko's grasp. The entire class was gathered around her, peering at her curiously. "You fainted or something." Yukiko whispered to her as she got up unsteadily. "I mean, we were all just doing our flips, and when you hit the floor you suddenly keeled over. I think we'd better take you home. You haven't been fine since this morning." "I feel fine," Midori mumbled somewhat defiantly. "Sure." Yukiko nodded skeptically as she steered her out of the tatami-lined heya. "Yukiko-chan," Midori piped up, breaking the silence that had descended as they walked home. "Hai?" Yukiko answered. Midori picked up the end of her braid and toyed with it absently. "Something weird's been happening to me." She confessed. Yukiko glanced at her in concern and paid full attention. "What is it?" The other girl inquired. Midori sighed and rubbed her neck. "I've been hallucinating." "About what?" "Well, I dreamt..." Midori paused. "It wasn't a dream exactly, more like visions. I had visions that I was calling for someone named "Aoshi-sama". And I saw you and Miryoku there, dressed like ninja, talking about not being able to beat an opponent." She frowned at her own explanations. "That sounds pathetic." She snorted. Yukiko gazed at her calculatingly. "I think you need rest, Midori. The first day is really stressful. I'm sure that after a good night's sleep you'll feel perfectly fine." Midori bit the inside of her cheek to keep from retorting scathingly. Yukiko didn't believe her! "I guess you're right." She agreed instead, wanting to keep on good terms. Finally they reached Midori's house. They bid their goodbyes and split paths, Midori wanting to take a nice hot shower to soothe her fraying nerves. She could postpone thinking until later that night. Kodama was frustrated. As soon as he arrived home, he sat down on his couch and turned on the TV, not minding that he was watching some cheesy romance. His day was awful. Spending it with Miryoku wasn't as great as he had expected it to be. Not that Miryoku was losing her charm, heaven forbid, it was just that...something else was pressing him in his subconscious. *Midori.* He told himself. *It's that Midori.* He exhaled and raked his hand through his jet-black tresses. What was it with that girl? Sure, he had stumbled across her a few times, but that was absolutely _no_ reason to become obsessed. *I'm not obsessed.* He insisted quietly, before heaving a sigh. It was haunting him. _She_ was haunting him. He shook his head and took out his laptop. He might as well return to studies. As he sat Indian seated before the computer, a scene passed his vision. ["Aoshi-sama!" A distinctly feminine voice trilled. "Misao," A man opened his cobalt blue eyes, breaking his meditation. The shoji across him slid open to admit a girl. She was carrying a tea tray in her grasp, and the contents were teetering dangerously. She settled down across him with much fuss and performed the rituals for a traditional tea ceremony.] Kodama focused back upon his surroundings. He had been staring at his laptop screen for more than five minutes, noticing that the screensaver had appeared in his wake. Who _was_ that Misao girl? And was it coincidence that she reminded him of Midori? ~*~*~ Author's Note: Chopchopchop! ~_~ There was an intentional pun in here. ^_^ “…Not that Miryoku was losing her charm, heaven forbid…” The word “Miryoku” in itself means “charm”. That’s pretty self-explanatory. ^_^ ===== "...it seemed as if we were the only people alive between the silky water and the silvery, moonlit sky." --Da Chen in "Colors of the Mountain"