Hello, everyone! after dealing with real life and the other nonsense of living, panny and i have decided to bring back war of change. give a round of applause. we’ve worked through all of the information and hopefully improved coherency and cohesion; however, tell us if we missed something. eventually, we’ll announce an event to celebrate the re-opening, so look out for information on that. -RAIDNE, THE HEAD ADMIN
From the moonless night, screams of terror and fear resound, spreading across the world and infecting the masses; however, those sleepless nights occurred years ago. A new era began with the fires of war, and with no end in sight, the residents of Selene Isle trudge through life, basking in the momentary peace. Despite their prayers for continued monotony and peace, a storm brews, stirred to life by the continued presence of Rapture and Wraith. And as we set our sights on the seemingly peace laden isle, we must ask: how shall this tale end?
As the years passed, the number of true pairs increased; however, they continued to live in the shadows, catering to the whims of the mundane. Seven Moons kept watch over them all, instructing them and assisting them, but for many, the attitudes and ideals of the organization were smoldering, suffocating. With Seven Moons and the mundanes, they could not grasp the freedom, the power dangling before their eyes. In the beginning, rebellion was a dream, a fantasy, a figment—developed by the repressed and carried forward due to the nature of humanity. No one expected the call to sound, and no one expected the call to be answered. However, it happened.
Things had gone well for the once famous star. Well, he wasn't even a ex-star anymore, he still managed to send in his recordings to his label, he just didn't have as many shows anymore. The once famous idol was now enjoying a much more quiet lifestyle on the isle, and had even managed to open up the shop that he was in that day. It was nice to at least be able to carry on the music that he loved so much. While it wasn't as big and as flashy as he was used to Shiki was happy to at least have something. Nothing would ever be like it was when he was a child and he had come to accept that.
So for now he would be content with this shop and all of the music he got to listen to. Though he seriously had to consider hiring more people to help keep the place running. Whatever god was up there knew the blonde couldn't do it on his own. Without knowing the blonde's tail whipped back and force in a happy little beat as his ears flicked some. He had a cd playing in a small stereo behind the main counter as he sprayed and wiped down the glass cases that held the more valuable things like instruments and rare collections that he managed to get in stock. Everything seemed to be looking quite in order and that was just what he liked to see.
Shiki wanted everything to be perfect. After all, this store only brought in those that were truly in love with music, those and the seldom few who asked to use the restroom. Either way, Shiki wanted it to look nice so maybe those few who weren't music lovers could be persuaded to be. A small grin crossed the older male's face at the thought as his tail continued to wag back and forth in tune to the music. Before the cat even realized it he had began to dance as he wiped to his own beat of the music. Oh how silly he must of looked but it was fun..
"Mind if I join you, mister? You seem to be happy it makes people who see you are happy too."
TAGS: Shiki Hakaru || NOTES: Hahahaha OTZ I AM SO SORRY!
"Ah.... but Hae-sun..."
Argh, this is too stressful! The female knitted her eyebrows and growled over the presence of her mother. Yes, her very own mother seemed to have rubbed her wrong spot when she requested her to company her to a local shop. She said she wanted to buy something but apparently she was just wanting an evening walk with her daughter. Hae-Sun, or Haine, only figured the truth after she realized all the mother did were 'ooh' and 'aah' over the items on display in every shop. That's right! The two- mother and daughter were only window shopping which, to Hae-Sun, was a great waste of time. Min-Yung was pouting with teary eyes in her seat, which was opposite of Hae-Sun's across the round cafe table. Hae-Sun glared at her and hissed, "Don't give me that face. I told you I don't like to walk under the sun. It's hot and I feel like a melting ice cube." Honestly, was she actually her mother? She seemed to have no idea about her at all. Min-Yung straightened her sitting posture and pouted more.
"But if I tell you to spend a night with me and your father, will you do it? Or is it you prefer to spend more time with the kids than your own family?" She said and frowned in the end.
Hae-Sun looked at her, scrolled her eyes down and glanced away over other customers in the cafe. Has she been unfair to her family? She did spend time with them as they wished, but why did she feel like what her mother said was right? What exactly she was trying to achieve with Rapture anyway? Hae-Sun sighed. Her hand gently rubbed the neck of her neck that felt sore from tilting her head to the side for so long. "Mianhae. Maybe I have been away for some time now." She apologized and quietly descended herself in her own thought. She was not sure why she would act that way. Long time ago, she was so close to her parents and separated her from them seemed impossible. Min-Yung smiled weakly, knowing it was not fully her fault. She was a boundless after all.
- - - x x x - - -
Electric Beats, one the few shops she would not mind spending hours at. Her mother decided to stop by a friend's shop, which was located two shops away from Electric Beats. She found herself being swept by the hypnotic beats from the song played in the shop. The moment she opened the door, her ears beneath the beret flickered up as though something interesting was going on. Hae-Sun let out a one-sided smile and started walking deeper and deeper inside the shop. Racks of racks she passed by, but neither of them seemed to be the source of joy to her alerted ears. She raised her head slightly up and peeked over the counter where the sound seemed to have come from.
Her eye raised lightly above than the other. Someone was there. "Hmmm?"
Giggles lightly escaped from the young female. Well, Hae-Sun without her Regalia position was more or less like other ordinary Korean girls. She swung herself aside, passed by the last shelf and arrived in front of the counter. She could not stop smiling at his moves, particularly how his tail was wagging was too exotic. Seriously.
"Ehem!" She coughed with her finger and thumb curled into a fist, covering her lips as she did so.
"Mind if I join you, mister? You seem to be happy it makes people who see you are happy too." She commented, with nothing but truth in her words. Hae-Sun could be a nice girl, but she was also dangerous for her straight-forward speech. Nevertheless, the blonde guy deserved some tokens of appreciation.
The quiet sound of the door opening and closing didn't seem to catch the adult cat's attention as he continued his tiny little dance as he cleaned. Shiki didn't mind cleaning, not when people came in and appreciated the work he put into the store. Every day that someone entered the shop and looked around was a happy day indeed. The stereo kept up the hypnotic rhythm of the current song as Shiki was content to continue dancing away. Perhaps that was the beauty of his own personality, that he didn't really need others approval to be himself. He had been alone for so long he had become accustomed to being on his own and not asking for help. To this point he still hadn't been able to find the 'other' to his own name.
So when the voice of a woman seemed to catch his ears he was quite surprised to say the least. In a split moment his blonde tail stood straight up on end as he turned his head around, his blue hues glancing upon the woman before him. Oh goodness, he had missed someone coming in how rude of him. Shiki opened his mouth for a moment about to speak before the woman seemed to beat him to it. Her words surprised him, but they also make him feel warm inside. It seemed someone else had the sort of personality of him. It was a lot easier to be happy if you had people to be happy with. A soft blush formed his cheeks as a bright smile formed as well with a tilt of his head.
"Welcome miss, to Electric Beats." he said with normal greeting but this one seemed a lot more gentle than normal. She seemed to have something about her that just invited company of others. For someone like Shiki, that was a invitation enough to be eased and completely normal around her. "Of course you can, but I'm sure I can't move nearly as well as someone so beautiful." he said with the kindest of smiles. Of course the adult cat wasn't flirting or anything, he wasn't that type of person, it was just a courtesy and the cat didn't know how to tell anything but the truth. For she was very beautiful and he could tell she had a heart on her.
"I can guess you've been in store before? You seem quite comfortable with music, it seems less and less people are now in days and it breaks my heart." he said. A smile continued to form his face as he spoke though his tail seemed to pick up its little dance where it had left off. Even as he talked its swaying had began again with renewed vigor to the pulsing of the notes. "Oh, and if you wish you may call me Shiki. Mister sounds so stiff.." he said waving a hand in front of his face with a small laugh adding onto.
"May I be frank and ask the young ladies name? Its a lot easier to help you find something you will enjoy when I know what to call you." a kind smile still visible on his face Shiki set the rag and cleaner down behind the counter. It was always nice when people like this tended to visit, it gave him something to hope for. Music was so powerful and useful in the lives of others he was always overjoyed to see it. This woman seemed to have that same spirit inside her...
"I'm happen to be your ordinary singing bird, not a beautiful swan like you mentioned though."
TAGS: Shiki Hakaru || NOTES: Music experts in the house lmao
The beret she has on her head covered her pair of fox-like ears well beneath it. They flickered as they listened intensively to the man's voice as well as the faint sound of music playing in the background. The woman made a faint haw at his words, finding it rather shocking. It was hard for Hae-Sun to act normal around men. Their words were like venom, slithering inside her veins without he will that made her felt cold and sickening inside. For the sake for being courtesy, like him, the blackette chuckled and shook her head, almost like whipping away his words that sounded absurd to her.
A smile remained soft and warm on her lips. Her eyes glowed silvery blue as she watched him. "Don't say such things, sir, for not all swans can swim elegantly on water." She said figuratively. It was as if she was telling him that he should not think someone as beautiful as her could dance as good as him. Maybe she could but not always. A good dancer dances to his heart content, not because he wants some publicity or fame. In her eyes before, she saw modesty and great amount of joy flowed in every muscle inside him. It was more beautiful than any dances she has seen, even though she can't actually called it a dance. She chuckled again as she remembered how cute he was, wagging his tail particularly. She batted her long eyelashes and continued, "I'm happen to be your ordinary singing bird, not a beautiful swan like you mentioned though."
She took few steps back, turning her eyes around. The interior remained the same since the last time she walked into the shop seeking for inspirations to compose new songs for her mother's novel. She hummed a rhythm as the silvery blue iris lingered from one shelf to another, from one rack to another. She then turned her head to face front where the man and the counter were, smiling. "Of course. I'm H...." She made a pause, when her eyes averted slightly aside. It was not her intention to look away when she was about to tell him her name. She was not trying to be rude or anything. She was simply distracted by the fact she was about to pronounce her real name. She has been very careful about her real name, choosing only few she believed deserve to know it, without jeopardizing their life because of her carelessness. She muttered quietly her name, walking towards one of the counter's corner while saying, "Hae-Sun."
She looked less spirited than before. It seemed asking her name was a bit of a big issue to her. She did tell him her name, but the few seconds hesitation ruined the mood. Her fingers danced along the CDs on display, tapping one after another as if they were searching for something. "Shiki... I'll remember that name... just in case." She looked up at him and smiled with faint chuckles.
"Well, yes I am. You can say I'm born for music and so as music for me." She caught the pace from before, uttering the words out of the blue like a distraction to herself. She closed her eyes and continued speaking but from her heart. "Music is one of the ways for me to... redeem myself." It's true. Music was born when she broke up with... well, he-who-must-not-be-named, when she was on patrol and when she was alone. Music comforted her in every way, every second. Even now, she could feel a song was coming but she restrained herself from randomly singing and shock the shop owner.
Her eyes opened, revealing the fade hue of blue. She chuckled and asked him his opinion about music. "Well then Shiki. What makes music so important to you that it breaks your heart to see people are less eager about it?"
The cat was actually quite happy, even before the young lady had come into his shop things seemed to have been only more exciting for him. Having someone who just seemed to care about music was enough for the blonde. She seemed to be quite the person, and in his eyes she was beautiful. Though... it seemed the same could not be said about through her own eyes. It hurt his heart a bit that she couldn't see the beauty that he did. For beauty wasn't just about the outside of a person but on the inside as well. A soft smile formed his face at her reply to his statement.
"Ah, but that makes them the most beautiful of all. Differences make you stronger, and make you so much more than being the same as someone else. I'd rather see a swan swim differently than watch a flock of elegance." he said closing his eyes. His golden ears that lay mostly hidden under his mess of blonde locks moved forward some just thinking about it. As a matter of fact, he didn't think he had ever seen a swan dance differently than the others.. but oh what a sight it must have been. He would of given anything to see it. His blue hues slowly opened again as the woman seemed to bat her own lashes and speak once more further showing that she could not see what he seemed to.
A small laugh came from him. Not one to make fun of her, but perhaps to brake a certain boundary that he couldn't quite see surrounding the young lady in front of him. "A ordinary songbird hmm? " he said pondering for a moment as he put away the cleaning supplies he had been using. "You know... even the ordinary have the ability to do something extraordinary." he said with a gentle smile on his face. His tail had stopped its dancing and just swayed lazily back and forth. " I believe you can refer to it as ordinary miracles that happen every day." he said with a small smile as he looked back at her now.
The young woman proceeded to look around the shop. Her eyes, obviously finding places she had looked before. There was no doubt in the adult cat's mind that she had been in his store before. Only those that had knew exactly where to look. She seemed to browse for a moment before seeming to finally admit what her name was. It seemed almost...hesitant though. Shiki could feel the air shift and his own mood shift with it. Was that a melody of sadness that he could hear from her. It made his own heart beat to the pain of his own experiences while he didn't need a reason to want to help her, he wanted to very bad. Everyone deserved some kind of happiness even in its small ways. He loved the presence she had entered with but underlying was this one much like his own.
"Miss...I know its not my business... and I apologize before hand. I just want you to know.. everything can have a happy ending." he said softly. "Fate is something fickle and it is easily changed. Many believe their life is set before them in stone, but in reality fate can only be changed by those who wish it to. The right thing is never the easiest path, but it leads to joys that you can't experience otherwise. I truly believe the work to get their is best health to one's soul." he was quiet for a moment before his tail curled around his leg some. "Your soul miss... it has such a sad melody... " he said a few tears forming in his eyes.
Perhaps it was just his empathy, that allowed him to see things that others could not. Or perhaps that many just didn't look for the things that he did. With a small sniffle the cat slowly wiped at his eyes that had clouded with a connection to the woman. "Gomenasai.. I'm sorry.. I shouldn't get so worked up like this. Please forgive me." he said. Within a few minutes the cat was able to pull himself out of the sadness his heart had seemed to cling to after being hidden from it for so long. Her words however, they were not surprising to him. To pull her from redemption... the redemption that he himself felt on more than one occasion.
"Music has such great power doesn't it.." he said softly his left hand moving across his body to grab onto his right arm. If anyone knew what it could do it was him. He had changed because of music, and perhaps it was the only reason that he was here today. That sadness and feelings of being alone hurt worse than anything he could have ever felt before. At her next sentence however his own heart began to beat to the melody of such sadness that the girl knew. "Ah.. I should have suspected such a question, it is quite fair since I asked such a hard one of you. Well, let's see.. " he pondered for a moment.
"My family loved the musical arts, both my mother and father were called protege's in it. That naturally passed on to me when I was born, and all I wanted was to be with that music and a sense of family. So.. when I lost that family all I had left was the music. It was the only thing that kept me going, and probably the only reason I'm still here. Gomen for such a depressing story, but.. I guess.. I've seen what music can do to change people, and if everyone was given that chance...."
"It's true the melody within me is a sad one. Therefore I beg of you not to listen to it. You should stay happy, Shiki. At least that way I can feel happy too."
TAGS: Shiki Hakaru || NOTES: DAMN THE FEELINGS QAQ;;;
"Your soul miss... it has such a sad melody... "
This was the first time someone stated it and, sadly, the woman did not flinch to pretend she was surprised or whatnot.Her eyes simply closed as a response, almost trying to put a shield from the man's further penetration through her defense. Was her soul really made out of a sad melody? How strange. Her mother used to say she was not as grim as this when she was a small child. The little her was like a bright sun that outshine darkness from all corners, and that made others felt there was always hope. She used to be such an adore when her sister Rika was here.
.... Yes, when Rika was here, everything seemed more or like a perfect dream. She however left her without a reason, simply coward without giving Haine a chance to try for a better future for the both of them. And then... he arrived. With him, her mind and heart sang different a theme song; songs of beauty and love, that she had never sung before. The songs were perfect. They gave energy to those around her; energy to keep fighting for their loved ones no matter where they were and who they were. She believed the songs would last, so as the rest of her pack members, but sadly a song is just a song.
In this situation, particularly in this small store, she began to feel she was suffocating. Her eyes lingered along the floor of the store, unwilling to look up for the blonde's sweet face that she was able to few minutes ago. No, the conversation has not yet passed few minutes but it felt as if he has already known her for so long he could see right through her. The naked her- the fragile side of her- that she has always hid. Brave Hae-Sun remained brave as usual. She concreted her smile, even it was slowly drowning into darkness, because that was the only thing she could do. Sooner or later, her smile appeared to be a forced, and a very sad one and only to spare few seconds, the young woman immediately brought her two hands front and clamped them close to her mouth. She huffed them, pretending she was cold but instead the one was getting cold was her heart.
The conversation slowly made its turn. Rather than focusing on her, the spotlight now lightened over the man as he shared his story. Her eyes were fixed at a very low level of gaze. They lingered just around, between the floor and the counter. She felt heavy to even try and look at him again, a defensive act against the blonde man who could see pass through her. It was scary. But, in the end, the woman managed to break a line of chuckles. It was to lift up her spirit, even if there was nothing to be chuckled about.
"I see. You are one brave man, Shiki. Much more braver than I have expected. To be able to stand up against the horror of thoughts your family may have abandoned you alone in this life and against the feelings that somewhat fate may have deceived you. I guess music does change people, or give them courage at least." She said. Her eyes finally found their strength to look up at him. Finally, she could smile earnestly, but there was still a glimpse of sadness. Words utter are words from heart. While she was referring the sentences to him, she accidentally rubbed her wounded spots. It did not bleed like it used to, but the sting remained as painful as a fresh one.
"How nice if the world has more people like you, Shiki. Still, I wish there is none like you too, for a man like you, is enough to bring the world's to the corner of its own long life, or its own destruction." She stated calmly. She could feel his modest way of looking at and through things around him was with the purest intention. However, she feared for him because such ability will only drive himself into danger she could not possibly imagine. She shook her head, correcting her sentence. "No, perhaps I am wrong. You are all right, Shiki. Perhaps it was just an act to offend you, but I see it's not right. It's true the melody within me is a sad one. Therefore I beg of you not to listen to it. You should stay happy, Shiki. At least that way I can feel happy too." A calm smile lingered across her pale thin pink lips spontaneously afterwards. She nodded, feeling that was exactly what she wanted to say and smiled more.
Thank you Shiki, but unfortunately my endings are not going to be happy ones. I decided my life, Shiki, I did and because of that I accept whatever happens next. I realize that the moment I learn the beauty of life, and love. And to lose it, only promises me endings that I can never be happy with.
CLAP!
She suddenly clapped her hand and sprung herself, as if she simply snatched herself out from the swamp of emotions. Hae-Sun chuckled and tipped her bottom lip, eyeing the CD player behind him. "That song you were dancing to just now, may I know the artist?" She asked, wanting to buy the album for herself. She will keep the song, as the memento for this meeting. She liked him, and so she wanted to keep this conversation embedded in her mind through the song.
It seemed perhaps it wasn't the best idea to speak his hearts desires. Shiki, bless the poor man, didn't know when to speak and when to not. Perhaps that was another one of his flaws that he had yet to really try to fix, since it was well.. him. Shiki only spoke what he felt needed saying, even if it was hard to bare. One's heart was a fickle thing and it seemed that he could easily read the young lady's that had entered his store. He loved people, but maybe that was more of curse than a blessing. By getting close to others, he saw things that perhaps he shouldn't have seen.
Thankfully, it didn't seem like to much damage was done. His own heart's melody seemed to beat with its own hurts and pains he had experienced. While it seemed both cat's danced to the same hidden melody. Perhaps the two of them weren't so different after all, but it wasn't like he could actually say that out loud. It was a lot easier, he would be the first to admit, to hide your emotions and that empty feeling than to show the world your scars. So maybe, the adult cat needed to follow his own lesson before trying to change someone else's life. Though at the sound of chuckles his blonde ears perked up some his left one rotating somewhat to the right.
Her words...
He wasn't sure what to feel about them, but the young woman had called him brave. No, to be quite honest the blonde knew that he was a coward. He hid behind his own kind of shield that was much like the young ladies, little did they know of one another. "Oh my dear, my heart swells with your compliment, but I must attest that it isn't quite 100% true. What happened has affected me, but I do agree that music has helped me cope with who i have become today." he said with a small smile. He really didn't want to turn their conversation sour again so he quickly let out a simple laugh and a wave of his hand to obviously end the subject.
Shiki couldn't help but look her way at the next comment. Even as a adult probably much older than the young lady he wasn't quite sure what she could have meant by that. He didn't feel as if he had that much power to convert the world, but perhaps he wasn't looking at himself as she was. The same problem he had thought about her earlier. Her correction however made the adult cat tilt his head some as his tail unwrapped itself from his leg where it had been previously.
" .....miss. Perhaps I haven't been quite honest with you. For you see... my heart has already beat with that melody that you hide as well. I see that we are quite alike miss... even if we are from two different worlds. That melody of sadness, its easiest to see, when you've been the one that has been playing it as well. " he said softly. A small smile came over his face though, "But, even if our melody is sad on the inside... doesn't mean we still can't be happy. If I can brighten your day even a little bit my dear, then that has been quite the accomplishment for me." he said with a happy smile.
At the clap however the adult was startled and he jumped a little his hair and tail sticking up some. Thankfully only noticing that she seemed to be clearing the air the cat quickly calmed back down with a soft sigh. At her question though a bright flush came to his face. Perhaps he hadn't really thought about it before, but that was one of his own cd's playing in the player. "Um.. of course... perhaps you've heard of him? Shikirel Hakaru, he sort of stopped appearing live a few years back.. but he still manages to get cd's out every now and again." he said. The flush was still present as he quickly tried to hide it.
With a quick motion the cat ducked under the counter wrestling with a thing or too before popping back up with a copy of the cd still in its wrapping. "Here, you can keep it for free.. my treat. Thank you for showing me a good time..." he said with a kind smile.
TAGS: Shiki Hakaru || NOTES: o-oh, she noticed it....
No song can play the same beat and rhythm. This was not an ordinary song the two were referring. This was a song that was produced and lyrically played by the heart and emotions that insecurely dwelt along. Even if he was saying he knew and had felt the same pain and sorrow as her, she doubted the song played by his heart was equally in tone as hers. It may be slow, it may be soft but it can never be the same. How can he say he knew what she was feeling? Unless he has been in her shoes. Unless, he had experienced love and being betrayed at the same time, by the same person he had planted dreams to be together because she didn't see that much of pain in his eyes.
Betrayed and being left stoned there, on the road half-way. She could not move forward and chase the back of the man she loved for she will only taunt his life with misery due to her act of betrayal. So she made a choice to stay there, waiting- and waiting. She hoped he could come back but she realized it was a one-way road. That's life. Now, she was hanging there by the street, alone, wondering in fear. Would it be all right to continue to journey? Would it be safe? Being stranded by the roadside was not a bad thing after all, not after for almost two years or 730 days or 17,520 hours she has been there. Sweet and pain love; she learnt them both from the same man. The love became a knife that carved the man's existence in her heart, claiming it for his. If he knew how that felt, then he has the right to act as if he knew her.
Otherwise, it will be nothing but a mere talk.
Hae-Sun was not the type to take a conversation in daily life seriously. She has zero comprehension skill when it comes to herself and her past. She closed her eyes and indulged herself in the song played in the background. Her mind consolidated the words he had said to her.
"But, even if our melody is sad on the inside... doesn't mean we still can't be happy."
She muttered silently, "Still be happy, huh?" She slowly smiled. Well, he was right. She should not herself feel down and feel restricted just because of some guy. The young woman smiled more and inevitably chuckled. Happiness began to fluster within her when she realized what Shiki had done. How stupid of her to simply let emotions took control of her. He was absolutely right. She should not let herself drown to such sadness, because she was supposed to be boundless.
That's right, boundless.
"Here, you can keep it for free.. my treat. Thank you for showing me a good time..."
Immediately after the blonde thanked her, the blackette shook her head and smiled. Her Caucasian skin managed to reduce the red in colour shade on her cheeks, she was actually enjoying his accompany more now. "No, Shiki. I am the one who supposed to thank you. I wish both of us luck in life," she nodded and laughed lightly. Sweet Hae-Sun was seldom seen laughing just about anything in her life. The loss of her sister, Rika sort of ripped that happy-go-lucky attitude from her. She appeared in radiance with joy and as if the darkness has slowly drifted away, all thanks to Shiki.
"Shikirel Hakaru, huh?" She muttered the name while casually flipped the CD back and front. Her eyes read through the songs list and continued to speak, "I believe so. I happen to enjoy songs from Japan and Korea." She assumed he was a singer from Japan based on his name. Shiki...
Her blinked carelessly. Then she raised her head up and stared at him. Her thin black brows knitted lightly as she glanced back over the CD, particularly on the artist's name.
Shikirel Hakaru. Shiki.
Her eyes narrowed before she dramatically looked up at his face. The woman let out a curious haw. Something was fishy here. So, she moved front and closer to him. Lucky him, there was only the damn counter to save him for her reaching out for him. Her voice was heard in low tone, "So Shiki... when exactly you arrived here?" She asked, or began her interrogation. Her hutch spoke in confidence that this man may be the singer, something like her life as composer under an alias, Moon. His reaction, too, signified the possibility that he could be the artist.
Finally it seemed like the conversation finally made a shift to better times. It did his wounded heart good to not talk about such sad things. Everyone needed a break after all and he wanted his store to be able to do that. Such things were what music was for, to help heal the broken heart of those who turned to it. So even a small fix was better than nothing at all. He was just glad that she seemed to agree with him. They could still be happy even if their past had been sent in scrambles all that time ago. He himself was still recovering from the damage but it was slowly getting easier.
The situation seemed to massively ease now as the male offered over the cd for free. Honestly, he was just glad she accepted the gift that he presented to her. He didn't really know what he would do if she had turned it down. He wasn't the best after all when it came to trying to persuade someone after all. Shiki was more of a free spirit that let things take him where they wished, and that was just something that never would changed. Her words caused a smile to come and a small laugh of his own to follow her. It seemed almost like a farewell, but he didn't wish it to stop there.. no it just couldn't stop there.
"Only if you promise to come back and visit. This shouldn't be a farewell after all.. " he said with a grin leaning onto the counter some with his chin placed in his hand as his tail flicked back and forth. At least he seemed to be in a much better mood as they both seemed to be. At her comment about the singer a small flush managed to form on his face. "Ah I'd imagine so, though a lot of good singers are out there you know? Its hard to just love one type. Though I find japanese music quite easing. It helps me relax." he said with a slightly embarrassed chuckle. It was actually quite nice to hear that someone really did like the music he did, especially since it was his music.
At least that was until the tone of the mood changed again and the woman suddenly moved forward as shiki backpedaled. W-What was she getting at? His face heat up quickly as his hands quickly moved in front of him in a bit of a sudden fear moment. His blue hues blinked for a moment before he seemed to realize what she was getting at. Oh dear maybe he had revealed to much to the young lady. "A-Ah, such an odd question. A few years back I suppose." he said rubbing the back of his golden locks with his left hand. Oh dear oh dear...
"Maybe I should simply browse for his information. Maybe his pictures too. Sorry, mind if you wait for awhile? I have to confirm with you since you are from Japan too, like him."
"Curiouser and curiouser," she muttered under her shallow breathe as her eyes continued to observe for any sign of lying. There no sign that he was lying about him arrived in this island few years ago but something within that reaction expressed by the face made the Korean woman felt even stranger about him. He seemed restless, as if her presence began to intimidate him. How intriguing. Here she thought Shiki could be the second man who was able to stand fearlessly while dealing with her. It turned out his cool wall has begun to show some descent cracks from the female's killing glare of curiosity. Her palm has rested firmly on top of the counter while her body has leaned front towards him. With one-sided grin, she said her words one by one simply to stir the man, "Is- that- so?"
Suspicious. Curious.
Two words that began to slither in inside her about the man. Their conversation has beaten a different tone and it made Hae-Sun slightly relieved because talking about something sad and gloomy... well, who actually liked it anyway? It was bad enough her night life was too serious and too chaotic. She needed some distractions, but that doesn't means she would purposely get herself into problems. No, she disliked troubles unless they were the ones knocking her door. The conversation had taken quite a detour, from one hell of an emotional heart-to-heart conversation, to who-are-you ice breaking. Well, it was more of a one-sided to be exact. The female batted her eyelashes and spoke in a very low volume as if she was whispering a secret, "You know, there was once a guy tried to trick me into believing he's just a simple guy but did you know what I do to him?" She chuckled like a sweet girl for few seconds and stopped. Her eyes flashed a sharp glare at him. It was the same eyes that made Rapture members shudder and lowered their heads; the eyes that howled dominance and superiority.
"Oh, don't worry!" She began to speak back. She was simply stating the question to threatening him. Silvery blue eyes closed as she sprung a sweet smile to cast the eerie air she may have brought in. "I won't hurt you!" She laughed intimidatingly. With the over-doing care-free smile and laugh, she seemed like she was trying very hard to stay in control. God knows what she will do if she was wearing her mask instead. There will be no sweet talking like this, no.
She would simply pound and squeeze the answer from him with all her might and being a Fighter bearing a true name with a great and deep meaning, it won't end great.
To be part of Rapture, especially in taking over her father's seat among the Six Regalia, she has eyes that keen to interesting things and people. They observe the surrounding and everything in it. Like a camera, they snapped and saved pictures into her memories, which made her resourceful. She was going to ask specifically how many years ago has it been, because she will remember and...
A Cheshire grin appeared. Oh, why didn't she think of that?
She swiftly moved her hand into her pocket as her eyes closed. "Maybe I should simply browse for his information. Maybe his pictures too. Sorry, mind if you wait for awhile? I have to confirm with you since you are from Japan too, like him." She said spontaneously almost like she did not suspect anything at all. Her actions however greatly showed she was, but Hae-Sun; this girl was as sly as a fox.
She peek an eye over the phone after she had taken it out and intentionally showed she would flip it on and started pressing some buttons. "S...H...I...K...I...." She pressed slow and steady while spelling the name one letter at a time.
Well little Shiki hadn't expected this one, he wasn't quite prepared for a detective on his case. So at her personality change he was more curious himself than afraid. Maybe a little embarrassed but definitely not afraid. Unfortunately that word didn't really have that much effect in the blonde's life. Things like intimidation and such, tended to roll off his back, the real fear was reserved for situations he tended to get himself into after the fact. Or the situations that Grim tended to get him in, either one be the case. A golden brow lifted some at her words as she spoke one by one.
"Curious-dosu?" he cooed a little. Her lopsided grin didn't seem to have the same effect that she had probably wished it to. As shiki wasn't really one to pick up on such things as threats or hints to darker things. "Mhmm.. I don't quite remember how long its actually been. I've been told I have a memory of a goldfish when time is concerned." he said rubbing the back of his head with a small laugh. He didn't know why he was so embarrassed. Maybe that was because this woman was one of the first people that he had actually had a music related conversation with. That being said Shiki blinked at the sudden change of personality.
Was she bipolor? He wasn't quite sure but it made him even more curious about her as his tail rose up some and his ears flicked forward. That was when the threat came and just like anything else it seemed to fly right over the way to innocent cat's head. He blinked his light blue eyes as if listening to an intriguing story. "Oh? That's not nice for people to hide things.." he said. Though a small pout seemed to come when she made such a scary face. A small squeak coming from him and before he thought about it hands moved forward trying to change it to a smile. "Aiieee, such a scary face shouldn't be on you miss." he cooed before quickly pulling away realizing what he had done a small flush on his face. "Gomen, sorry about that... " he said scratching the side of his head some with a cute lopsided grin.
Shiki seemed to totally miss the threat that the woman seemed to quickly clear up which only confused him more. His head tilting to the side some and one ear twisting some before moving forward again. "Why would you hurt me?" was that a mew that he added to the end of that statement? Okay, maybe he was a bit more like a cat than he should have been. But with the moment quickly over and passed he once again returned to his completely unaware state with a big goofy grin on his face. That was when the cat blinked quickly, oh goodness he knew this wouldn't turn out well.
A small mew came from him as his ears fell some as did his tail. "You don't really have to look. Cause I'll know what you find. I just ask you don't share it with anyone else. When I really like someone I tend to tell people more information about me than I should. Shikirel was my full name back in the day. It wasn't really a stage name since I didn't think I would have to disappear from the world. People change so quickly you know, having a pair of ears and a tail, and having a name can change your life. Aiieee, anyway... please miss.. don't tell anyone my real name okay?" he said rubbing the back of his head.
There are some things you don't know until you try Your heart is closed I have so many keys in my hand Which one is the secret key to open your heart? Which side of you will it show me?
Boring. She had drawn her triumph card and, easily, the man admitted his defeat. His reactions were even more an eyesore to her. For a dominant entity like herself, to be feared was part of the excitement and to see someone flinch even one muscle over her threat was the joy of a lifetime. When Shiki did not respond to her like she wanted, the woman did glare her eyes away from him secretly. Her lips had faded the smile she thought to taunt him and had formed a frown of displease. The twenty-four years old woman, Hae-Sun sure has grown a sickening twisted personality inside her. The vain, the pride and the tactless traits in her were her best quality and were the reason she was the Regalia Vulpes. She simply disliked people who could not see her superiority. To see one did not even break a sweat at her, it made her...
FLIP!
Hae-Sun flipped close her phone. The hand that was holding and typing words on the phone was promptly elbowing another hand that has crossed over her under chest. She looked at him.
His blunt reactions were too repulsive. You see, Hae-Sun only interested in people she seemed different and extra-ordinary. While she will not offer them an opportunity to be part of the call of the retaliation of the night, she kept them classified under an exceptional group of people. This group of citizens and non-Rave people will be watched and guarded by Rapture, specifically Haine's underlings. They will not interfere with their life and will not mingle with them either. All they will do is to keep an eye on them and to ensure they are left unharmed when crisis arises. Being a lone wolf and a one-party player, Haine began moving her pieces. Her actions appeared cruel and injustice, but her intention was pure, or so people thought. No matter how tame a beast appears to be, it is still a predator and it's in its nature to haunt.
Nevertheless, personal dissatisfaction should not mix and get all tangled with her 'job'. She looked at him quietly, giving a space of time and silence after he had explained his situation. So she was right then. He IS different, after all. The thrill to break him was swiped with a new card dealt in her mind. A distraction. She huffed lightly, "What's this? Don't tell me you are expecting me to keep this a secret without a payment do you?" She sounded excessively bored as her eyes rolled and her body shifted the weight from one leg to another, impatiently. "So, you are saying you like me then?" She continued, having her body paused from moving before instantly moved her head and eyes to face him. "Is that it?" She reaffirmed his statement. Her hidden eyes flickered as they were tingling in excitement. Another part of her was that she loved to be counted on. Whether it was a secret or in a life and death situation, she liked to be relied on. It was as thought the person trusted her credibility and acknowledged her strength to do things for them, even if it was a small matter to the eyes of others. Even though the excitement began to flow and took over her body, she still deemed him as a boring special guy.
Boring, but special.
Hae-Sun made a beak with her lips pouting to the front and her eyes glanced aside. Now, she felt tired about this. Her mind mentally cast this radiator on top of his head and the scale instantly pointed at the red zone labelled 'eyesore'. Then, the scale slowly tilted to the left, moving to yellow zone labelled 'so-so'. Maybe she should threaten him to spread his identity as a Japanese artist to every soul on this island. Maybe that will make him fear of her. Or maybe...
She gasped lightly like a child, "Ah I know!" Her phone was safely held by other fingers in her palm as her index finger pointed up indicating an idea has appeared. She chuckled contently over the brilliant idea. She clamped her hands together with the gadget in between and whispered, "Pay me... with one date." She blinked few times. Her lips began to form this anime-like cat smile and nodded few times to assure this was exactly what she wanted in return.
"Just one date- since you like me, right? I want to know about you, Shiki."
Hae-Sun was not sure if she could do the same for him in return. She felt grateful that he trusted her to seal this secret off from others and she planned to. However, she wanted to pick on him even more and see the expression he has not showed her; the expression of fear. Why fear, Haine? Scars that began to diminish in her heart from wounds in the past made her felt there was no such thing as true love but only by fear she will gain security that the person will continue to follow her. Love will only make her feel betrayed, again and again. So she despised it. She wanted to be feared.
She laughed and stood up straight. Her hand broke free from the clasp and swiftly waved off the air in front of her face. She chuckled and explained she was only joking. "I'm just kidding. Don't waste your time on a plain girl like me, Shiki. And don't worry, there is no one I would tell your secret to. It's no fun to pick on you..."
When you don't even know how to react properly to it.
Sting. She could not find the joy to say it anymore. She wanted to get out now. She found what she wanted but sadly the thing she found was lack of few points of entertainment. However, perhaps she should deem him not as a source of entertainment like others. Perhaps, he was more than that. A friend, was it? She huffed. Silver eyes looked at him calmly as her lips parted to speak, "I appreciate your honesty, Shiki. However, I hope you didn't expect the same from me. Though there's one thing I can tell you." Her voice had an overjoy tone when she stated the last sentence. The female chuckled as her cheeks began to cast shade of pink color. "I compose music during my free time. My mother writes famous teenager romance novels and often feature my songs in the story. I make music under an alias named Moon."
There you have it. A secret for a secret.
That single key which will open your heart
Shiki Hakaru || THEME SONG || She is bipolar I think XDD;; sorry NOT FEELING WELL SO KINDA OFF THE MOOD EXPECTED
Shiki blinked quickly when the woman seemed to take a turn on her. The woman seemed quite quiet about the fact that he had revealed his true persona to her. Though that persona felt like it had been gone a very long time. There hadn't been many people that knew about him, but those that had either had forgotten or had kept their mouth shut about it. Such as his producer that took him from his parents all that time ago. That man felt more like a father than anyone else, the blonde however let a small pout out at the woman's words as they finally started to speak.
She wasn't going to keep his secret? Or at least it seemed she wanted something in exchange, which wasn't that bad of a deal. He was willing to do something for her. At her next comment though a bright flush appeared on his face. The adult felt tongue tied for a moment as she ensnared him in her very tricky trap. "A-Aieee.. y-yes... I do enjoy your company and quite like you." he said squirming a bit himself. He was totally embarrassed now! Shiki really needed to learn how to think before he ended up saying things that later down the road wouldn't work out well for him. Like right now when he had no idea how to respond to this woman and her words that seemed to set him on fire in just one moment.
The woman quickly seemed to have an idea however, that the artist would have never thought of. A-A date?! Oh goodness, that was one he hadn't expected and he wasn't quite sure what Grim would think about it, but it wasn't like he was doing something bad right? The cat gulped a little and slowly tilted his head. "I see, if you really want to know more about me, I don't think it would be a bad idea." he said with a small smile forming despite the flushed and bright red hues that lined his cheeks now. He had never really been asked on a date before so it was surprising for someone to ask him now.
That was when the sudden clap made the man jump a bit. It had surprised him and maybe if he had really been a cat he might have attached himself somewhere out of fright. She seemed to change her mind again though, she didn't want a date now.. no.. she had only been kidding. Oh gosh, he felt really stupid now... but at her words a frown formed his face. Hadn't they been over this already? She wasn't just some normal girl, and Shiki really did care about her. "If you don't wish to go on a date with me, I can accept that. But please don't think I wouldn't go because you think of yourself as to 'plain' for someone like me. It really should be the opposite my dear. Being here, I have become normal, and I'm not the same person I used to be, its made me really happy when you asked me to go on a date honestly..." he said scratching his head some.
Shiki eased though as she started speaking about his honesty. Shiki wasn't really used to people giving him so many compliments, maybe she wasn't good for him.. giving him a bloated head. The blonde didn't say anything though as she continued to speak other than a tilt of his head and a raised eyebrow for effort. The blonde suddenly knew exactly what she was talking about though when she said her alias. He was a music store owner, and lover of music after all. "Oh goodness, I know your music well young lady! I actually quite enjoy it. But that's not fair you know, I don't think we are quite even on secrets."
The blonde silently moved around the counter so they were no longer separated by it. "I'd be quite ecstatic.. if you would let me take you on that date to make us truly even." he said with a kind smile. "Even if you don't want to tell me much about yourself, I don't mind letting you in on the world I live in, or well.. used to." he said with a small laugh. A hand moved behind his hair again rubbing his disorganized blonde locks. This was all he could offer her... and it wasn't a bad idea.
There are some things you don't know until you try Your heart is closed I have so many keys in my hand Which one is the secret key to open your heart? Which side of you will it show me?
Boundless. adj. having no bounds; infinite or vast; unlimited.
When Haine saw the name written on her back near her hip, she was curious of the definition, or the meaning behind it. It was nothing too exaggerating or too powerful. It was plain but with various interpretations if the word was used in a sentence.
At the age of ten, she had already discovered her fate was going to be as bumpy as her father's and mother's, who were prepared to guide her to become a strong female Fighter. A resolution was made at such young age and that was to gain power for the sake of her loved one, Rika. While she thought their sisterhood was a never-ending bond, just like the name she carried on her body, Rika left her side with a note. Her life was tarnished and all she cared for was to find her back. From one piece to another, she searched, kept and put them together but the puzzle has not yet solved up until now. Questions after another arose in her mind that she was not sure who to trust anymore. Then she met Eira, who showed her the beauty of being boundless. The future the two created has no limit, like the blue sky outside the shop now.
It was beautiful but unreachable...
Hae-Sun blinked in surprise and stared at him. Wait, what did he say? She watched him went around the counter and simply got rid off the counter as the only boundary between them. She fixed her standing posture and took few steps away as an adjustment to secure the gap of privacy between them both. Eyes focused for the man's face, wondering what was he up to. To tell the truth, she was not trying to talk sweet on him to accept her half-joked invitation for a date. You know, the whole 'I'm not so special' kind of excuse to trap a guy feels sympathy and agrees to date the girl? The whole being plain thing was indeed a lie. Imagine, she had admitted she has a life as a music composer so she was definitely not an ordinary girl. If she was full of herself, she would have said both of them were better together because music has already become part of them and their soul and interest can synchronize together. Even so, she was afraid of another thing; another part of her that deemed her beyond normal and plain.
She was a Rapture- no, a Regalia; the elites of Rapture.
She has dealt with many kinds of people but honestly, he will be the first in his own league she has ever met. Not only he was too straight-forward, but also kind of blunt. Such man does actually exist, doesn't it? How do they live their life without getting themselves in problems? At least no matter how truthful and tactless Haine was, she remained to be cautious in her daily life. The thought made Hae-Sun hummed in silence. She looked at him once more and this time she looked straight at him. Why does he be so willingly open to her? Her ears lowered underneath her beret as her eyes lowered from the gaze.
"Oh Shiki..." She sounded sad and heavy. She was not sure if it was the right to do; to offer her one day of a date as she had proposed earlier. No, she was actually fine with the whole date thing because it was her idea at first. What worried her was the purpose behind the date.
"I'd be quite ecstatic if you would let me take you on that date to make us truly even."
Truly even.
She frowned lightly and bit her bottom inner lip. This should not be something she was afraid, right? Showing others the true color of her fur under the sweet mask the society made like she always does at night was something she was proud to do, right? So why she felt guilty about this? She murmured in an apologetic tone, "I have no intention to make it a serious deal, or to play with you, but..." She exhaled heavily and covered her face with her palms. She felt herself was cornered and her brain could not stop computerizing options to escape the situation. She acknowledged danger around her was beyond something she or even Rapture members could handle, especially when the danger was from the long-time archenemy, Wraith.
"... all right. In exchange for one date, let's get to know each other." She finally decided and dropped her hands back to her side. A smile decorated the Asian face after she said she agreed to. She tried not to think much about this. Ignorance is a bliss, one would say. So she would take her chance and just act normal.
Just for a day right?
Chuckles escaped from her and she continued to speak, "After all, I don't think it's nice to pull back an offer been made, right?" Hae-Sun was not ready to face any form of serious relationship, not after the two years of having her heart broken into pieces. Silvery eyes looked down over her side and she took out her phone back. Thumb flicked the phone open and she started typing six numbers, unlocking the phone and headed straight for the call log. "Here you go, Shiki. Type your number here and I'll miss call," She said, facing the phone to him in ready. The phone was a dual-sim phone, whereby one number was used to call her Rapture members while another number was for personal contacts. Thanks to her father, her phone could access and track anyone as long as she has their number. It was a lot better than the GPS system offered by the telecom companies.
There was something about the woman... something that made his worries ease away at the simplest of words that seemed to cross her lips. Maybe that was why it was so easy to compensate for how embarrassed he felt. The young artist had had a lot of people seek him out during his younger days but not in quite a while since he had seemingly disappeared from the music world. Of course he no longer did tours for the people, but he tried to get new music out as often as he could under his well designed cover of owning a rather popular music store. So the thought, even as misguided as it was, that someone would want to go with him out somewhere actually made him feel like he was someone important.
It made the blonde happier than he had been in quite a while. So, finding that maybe it had only been a ploy for something he didn't understand, made his heart drop a small beat. Shiki didn't want to think about that though, and hoped that maybe, just maybe.. this could still happen. They seemed well off together, n- not that he meant it like that. It was just a date right? Without realizing it his face started to flush again with a slight embarrassment that he would be taking this wonderful woman out on a date. She was beautiful, and he was quite happy that she had chosen him over someone she could have easily found elsewhere.
His blue orbs softened at her words as she spoke. Her hands moving to her face as if she was afraid of what was to lie ahead. Shiki wished that he could comfort her, he didn't know what she had been through, but he wanted to be there for her. If anything, he wanted to be someone that she could rely on. That was just the type of person he was. "Miss, I know... we only know a little about each other... and you probably can't trust someone you just met. " he paused for a moment trying to figure out the words. "But... I don't want to hurt you, if anything... I don't think I could... I just want to be someone that you can turn to for anything. Maybe... in the end I can turn to you too? Its always nice knowing there is someone out there that cares about you and has your back you know?" he said softly.
That was when she finally seemed to calm down and move her hands away. He smiled even more now as she seemed to accept that they were going to be going on a date. " I think that's a good plan. I'd like to kn0w more about you after all too. " he said with a kind smile on his face. Shiki actually felt his heart race in his chest as it picked up its beating. His eyes flicked to her once more as she spoke again about pulling back a offer made. "Hmm? I wouldn't mind, but I think its a good idea nonetheless. At least we both have something in common so its not completely useless right?"
His smile spread across his face to his still slightly flushed cheeks. He blinked however when she handed her phone to him. Shiki paused for a moment before taking the device and doing as she asked and entering his number into her phone. "Im free later this evening if you are.. of course I'll let you decide the best time since it is out of the blue. " he said offering her phone back. "I really am happy though... that you decided to let me at least show you a good time ..."