[fanfic] Night of the Hunter - Uruha x Aoi - 07/??
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Title : Night of the Hunter
Chapter : 07/??
Author : kei_kyuuketsuki
Fandom : the GazettE, Rose Noire, KanonxKanon (more to come)
Pairings : UruhaXAoi, KouyouXAoi, TakashimaXAoi (confused? *chuckled*)
Theme Song : all 30 Seconds to Mars songs from their “This is War” album
Rating : R
Genre : AU, fantasy, action, romance
Warning : there are TWO URUHAs here, complex situation, ambiguities, figurative words, bad English
Disclaimer : I don’t own the boys. They belong to themselves. The bands belong to their company. I adapted the main idea of the story from CLAMP’s CARD CAPTOR SAKURA. I only fitted the main idea of the story with new settings and - of course - new characters. That’s all.
Summary : those powers have ‘minds’. ‘They’ can think. They rebelled. They wanted to be free, yet they need humans to be their host. Not all the people able to bear such a power. Several of those people turned mad and became a menace to the world. That is what Aoi had to deal with. As some kind of guardian, Kouyou and Takashima are there to help Aoi whenever the boy needs them… or was it the contrary?
Comment : I’m very sorry for the long update! > < ..Long comment at the end of the note. Happy reading!
Chapter 00 // Chapter 01 // Chapter 02 // Chapter 03 // Chapter 04 // Chapter 05 // Chapter 06
07. Seal
I fell silent when I saw her. That afternoon, Kanon sat in the café with her sombre face. She pouted - that precisely made her cheeks looked chubbier. I looked at her in bit confusion. It was an unusual thing to see her with troubled face like this. I was getting used to her cheerful attitude. I’ve said this before, right? Kanon was different from Jill who more into the serious one.
I thought that Kouyou and Takashima are also aware of Kanon’s changing behaviour today. As always, Kouyou didn’t say anything. Takashima was the only one who voiced out his concerns. “Mm… want to play chess?” he offered. Unexpectedly, Kanon just shook her head to answer Takashima’s offer. It was really unusual for Kanon to refused Takashima’s challenge in chess. It’s the girl’s favourite thing anyway. Even when the other days Takashima would cry for too much defeat, if the girl was in her top form, Kanon would still persuade Takashima for another round.
Kanon then just folded both of her hands. Her face really looked annoyed that moment.
I sighed. “You want the usual tea?” I offered. This time, she nodded. Just when I about to left their table, I could see the girl casted down her eyes. She extended both of her hands and put them on her lap. Her right fingers were touching her left fingers tips. I thought that she did that absentmindedly.
She looked… depressed?
*
Luckily, there’re not many visitors today. After putting Kanon’s favourite tea on the table, right in front of her, I joined them and sat beside Kouyou, on his right. Reita and Jill didn’t come that day. I guessed Reita was still sleeping. Him and his bat lifestyle. While Jill was still in her campus.
“Was there something bothering you, Kanon?” I asked. “At your school?”
Kanon looked outside the café’s window. “You guys still remember about the person who stole my queen pawn?
“The one who bullied you, Dear?” Takashima asked. Kanon nodded. “What did he do to you this time, Dear? Hey, he didn’t steal anything again, did he?”
“Should I say that I was relieved because he didn’t do that this time, or should I say it was so unlucky for me because he did another weirder thing?” Kanon asked with an annoyed tone detected in her voice. Kouyou, Takashima and me looked into each other before we looked back at Kanon. While I waited for the girl to continue her words, Kouyou and Takashima didn’t say anything at all. I thought that I wasn’t the only one who wanted Kanon to finish her explanation. “Actually, I kind of relieved because he didn’t touch any of my pawns. I don’t know… it seems that he already understands that my chess is really important for me…”
“S-so..?” I asked.
“He challenged me to play chess.”
“EH!?” Takashima and I were really surprised. I mean, after what he did to Kanon, now the boy challenged her?
“It’s Kanon,” Kanon said suddenly.
“Y-yes, Dear. We already know your nam-”
“Not mine,” Kanon cut Takashima’s words. “It’s his…”
“He..?” I asked, confused.
“It’s such a resent, isn’t it?” Kanon said. I detected a bitter tone in her voice. “We bear the same name.”
“Oh!” Takashima said. “So, that’s the person’s name? The one who bullied you? His name is… Kanon… too?” Takashima asked.
Kanon nodded. “Kanon Sano to be exact…”
“But I must admit that he got the nerve,” I said. “I didn’t expect that a junior like him dare to challenge his senior like this…”
“Junior?” Kanon asked as she looked at me. She looked confuse.
“Eh? H-he’s your junior, right? I mean, when I found your queen pawn in one of the second year classes-”
“Oh! No, no…” Kanon said. “No, he’s in the same grade with me. We’re both third year. We just don’t share the same class. That’s all. The queen pawn was in the second year class because he threw it there after all classes were over and the class was empty.”
“Oh dear…” Takashima said in a low voice. “Why did he have to do that extent?”
“I don’t know,” Kanon said. “I didn’t even expect he could be so childish. That is IF he still has the grudge against me for the chess tournament…” Kanon then looked to the tea cup in front of her. She was just looking into it without touching it. “But… there’s something weird when he challenged me.”
“What was that?” I asked.
“He… he said, he wanted another match, because he wanted to make sure about my winning…”
“Why must he do that?” Takashima asked.
“He said, if I can beat him in the next game, he will acknowledge my capacity…”
“Why he should wait until two games to acknowledge someone’s capacity?” I asked. “I guess the tournament itself was already more than enough to acknowledge anybody’s capacity in chess game. About the process that happened before, and the effort that will be done next, those are another thing, right?” I said. Silence. I looked at the three people around me who looked back at me. “W-what..?”
“Oh, my Darliiiiing!” Takashima yelled as he hugged me; too tight. “Did you hear your own words, Darling!? It was sooo coooool!” Takashima squealed with his - too - cheerful voice.
“Heeey! Let me gooo!” I yelled back at him as I pushed Takashima’s head will all of my might.
“When the game will be held?” asked Kouyou who finally spoke.
“Tomorrow night.”
“Night?” Takashima asked.
“Yes. Here.”
“Here?” I asked. “You mean… in this café?”
Kanon nodded. “I don’t want him feels he can intimidate me if I agree to have the game at school. I don’t want him to feel superior. That’s why I suggested this place. I guess, with your guys’ presence here, he won’t have the guts to do anything stupid.”
Takashima patted Kanon’s head. “We will support you, Dear…”
That bad feeling slowly emerged in my head. “Kanon…”
“Yes?” the girl answered.
“Can you… just… turn his challenge down?” There. I didn’t even expect that I would ask such a thing.
“W-why?” Kanon asked.
“Mm… I don’t know…” I answered nervously. “When I heard you said that the game will be held at night, didn’t you find it weird? Why didn’t he take the time right after all your classes are over? At school? I mean, when the other clubs are still having their own activity at school, while you got your friends still at school at the moment, and you don’t have to set specific time aside just… mm… just for the game, right? Moreover, whoever win in the game, what will you get from it? Acknowledgment, OK. What else?”
“You’re not betting at anything, right?” Kouyou asked.
“No! Of course not!” Kanon said annoyed. “Why would I do that? Just to face someone who love to cause resentment like Kano-uuugh! What should I mention my own name!?” Kanon said as she ruffled her own hair. She exhaled a long breath. “I won’t bet at ANYTHING, not even the least precious thing I had in my storeroom to face him.”
“But Darling-” Takashima directed his gaze at me. “I think it’s alright. This is the place where they’ll have their game, right? We can supervise that boy easily.”
I looked at Takashima and Kouyou alternately. “I’m sorry for being way too paranoid. Maybe these Arcana things were already got too deep into me.”
“What do you mean, Aoi-san?” Kouyou asked as he returned my gaze with his sharp one.
“Before you guys got here, I spoke with Ruki-san about several of the Tarots. He knew few things about the cards. And…” I stopped my words awhile. “It’s the Hierophant…” I said slowly. “That’s the card after The Emperor, right?” Right after I said those things, I could see that Kouyou and Takashima were surprised by it.
“Dear, that boy, does he active in some organization stuff in your school?” Takashima asked as he looked at Kanon.
“Yes! How did you know?” Kanon asked. “He’s the leader of chess club. He’s part of the Student Councils too. He’s a Prefect in his class. He boasted all of those things very much. And the thing that annoyed me the most was why so many people glorifying him too much? They should have seen how annoying he could be!” Kanon said as she folded both of her hands. “Annoying rich boy…” Kanon grumbled.
“Rich..?” Takashima repeated.
“What’s wrong, Takashima?” I asked. “Sounds like someone got possessed by The Hierophant?”
“No, we can’t say that yet. Those won’t be enough,” Kouyou said. “You said that he will acknowledge your capability?”
“Y… e… s..?” Kanon answered. From her tone, she sounded doubt. But I guess, she was just like me who felt a little weird with Kouyou’s question, and what would Kouyou said after that.
“Whereas he looked like he held the grudge of his defeat so much to the extent he had to steal your precious item?” Kouyou asked again.
“Y… es..?” Kanon still had the doubt tone in her voice. “What do you have in mind about that?”
Kouyou looked at Takashima for split second before he returned his gaze back to Kanon. Watching them like they understand one thing even without talking about it, I was pretty sure that they were starting to be aware about my anxiety earlier. And maybe, just, maybe, they’re guessing the same thing.
Kanon Sano got possessed by The Hierophant.
“At what time will you be here tomorrow?” Kouyou asked.
“Right after school, I’ll come here right away. I forbade him to come here with me. Duh! I don’t want to be near him!” Kanon said angrily. “But I already gave him this place’s address and a simple map from school to this place.”
Takashima put his left elbow on the table. “You’re very kind, Dear…” Takashima said as he used the hand to support his chin and smiled.
“Hey! I… I just don’t want to take any responsibility for making him get lost tomorrow!” Kanon yelled. “Or whatever!”
Was this just my own imagination, or Kanon was blushed just a moment ago?
“Oh, it’s not as busy as yesterday, is it?” Suddenly Ruki popped up from behind me, I didn’t know he could do that.
“Ruki-saaan!” Kanon called cheerfully. Hearing that cheerful voice, I felt a little relieved because the girl - at last - could get out from her gloomy state. “Hi, there, Koron!” Kanon called the tiny dog beside Ruki’s feet.
“Hey, Kanon-chan!” Ruki answered. Beside Ruki, Koror barked, answering Kanon’s call. “How’s your day at school?” With the question, suddenly, Kanon got back into her gloomy state again. “Uh-oh… I think I asked the wrong question.”
“Owner-san,” Kouyou called. “Tomorrow, I think, you should close this café earlier.”
“EH!?” I was surprised by Kouyou’s words. Kanon and Ruki were surprised too. Yeah, even after I realized what I will approximately face tomorrow, I still didn’t expect about Kouyou’s sudden warning.
“Why was that?” Ruki asked.
“And I guess, it will be better if tomorrow we’re ready about some evacuation if we don’t want to lose this place, our beloved home…” Takashima said. Ah, Takashima’s words reminding me to our conversation about turning this place into some kind of headquarters or home.
Yeah. I don’t want anything destroy this café.
But, why must Takashima have to say that? When Kanon got possessed by The High Priestess, she didn’t make any damage. She did made labyrinths here and there, and confusing puzzles…
Wait a minute… puzzles?
“R-Ruki-san…” I called.
“Yes?”
“When we talk about this… Hierophant… you said that the card is also commonly known as ‘The High Priest…’ and… it’s a counterpart to The High Priestess…”
“You what!?” Kanon said surprised.
“Indeed…” Kouyou answerd. “I didn’t expect you know such thing, Owner-san…” Kouyou said as he looked at Ruki.
“Just few things,” Ruki said. “I just love about many designs of Tarot cards. Sometimes I read books about it. That’s all.” Ruki shrugged. “So, what’s this all about? What you’ve been talking about before I came? The Hierophant appearance probability?”
“Correct, Dear Owner,” Takashima said. “Oh, I just love to be surrounded by great people like you,” Takashima said dreamily.
“So, The Hierophant. If he’s the counterpart to The High Priestess, then… is he intelligent?” I asked.
“He IS indeed intelligent,” Kouyou answered. “Well, if I can conclude that The Hierophant possessed that-Kanon-Sano-boy, then I guess, that’s why he can be a well-matched rival for Kanon-san, can’t he?”
“And cause so much resentment to Kanon-Dear…” Takashima continued as he smiled to Kanon. I bet if he didn’t wear his sun-glasses at the moment, I don’t know why, I just could see him winked.
“And… what about that, Aoi-san?” Kouyou asked when he looked back at me.
“This… this is the worst possibility…” I said before I gulped. “The worst possibility, if Kanon Sano did get possessed be The Hierophant, will I have to face another labyrinths and puzzles again?”
“No, Darling…” Takashima answered. “The Hierophant really IS intelligent. But he’s far more radical than you’ve ever imagined. That’s why I suggest the idea of evacuation. It’s for preventing any harm to this… our beloved home…” Takashima repeated.
“Ra… di… cal..?” I asked, disbelievingly. Yeah, of course I didn’t believe Takashima’s words. Or, I didn’t want to believe it, to be exact. I won’t know what kind of encounter is tomorrow, if that boy really got possessed by The Hierophant.
“Yes. And, that’s why…” Kouyou then stick his hand to his red coat’s pocket. He took something out from it and put it on the table, right in front of me.
“B… bracelet..?” I cringed a bit when I saw the shape.
“Seal,” Kouyou corrected.
“Darling, do you remember when Kouyou couldn’t be here for he got an errand? That was the same day when The Emperor appeared?” Takashima asked. I nodded slowly. “He was making this.” Takashima pointed the bracelet.
Kouyou took the bracelet again and he held my left hand. “N-no! Wait a minute..!” I said in panic as I pulled my hand from Kouyou’s grip. “W-what will happen to me if I wear that bracelet!?”
“Kouyou-honey, I think it will be better if we explain the whole things first. I guess it’s not fair for Darling here if we ask him to wear the seal without him knowing anything,” Takashima said.
Kouyou sighed. “Aoi-san, I’ve already told you this that I want Aoi-san to stop making yourself as the host to the Arcana Power. You know that, don’t you?”
“Th-then, with that thing, you… you want to seal me? It’s that it..? Is that some kind of shield so that I can’t use any Arcana Power at all? Is it?” I asked, annoyed. I clucked. “Kouyou, I can’t believe you. We’ve talked about this, right!?”
“Will you listen to me first, Aoi-san!?” Kouyou raised his voice. I clucked again. But I silenced myself to let Kouyou talk. “Correct, this thing is indeed to seal you. Correct, that this thing is indeed made for some kind of shield to you. But I made this not to make you incapable to use any more Arcana Power,” Kouyou explained.
I was surprised. “Eh..? Th-then? What was that thing for..?”
“To seal the Arcana Power so they won’t synchronize with any motivation you have in your mind. To make some kind of shield, so that when you’re not in your best condition, the Arcana Power won’t take the chance to possess you to dominate and take control inside you.”
I fell silent. I was surprised when Ruki suddenly patted my shoulder. “It’s not a bad thing, isn’t it, Aoi? Likewise, it’s for your own safety.”
“But… isn’t it… our number now is increasing, right? I mean, there are Reita, Kanon, Jill and Ruki-san now… we can-”
“And out there, there are still eighteen more of those Arcana Powers. And we still can’t detect where each of their position,” Kouyou said. “Four against eighteen. Can you still call it equal?”
“Add it with the three of us, Kouyou,” I argued. I looked directly to his eyes. “I know it’s still not enough. But, from the previous encounters, I guess Arcana Power won’t appear simultaneously. We can collect them all one by one. I’m pretty sure, there will be time when we’re getting stronger than the remaining Arcana Power.”
“You won’t say that if you face Death!”
“Joker!” Takashima yelled. I was surprised, for after this long, Takashima called Kouyou with the name again.
The call itself was enough to made Kouyou stopped his own words. Kouyou then stood from his chair and walked to the café’s front door.
Not again. “Kouyou!” I called as I followed him stood from my own seat.
“Not now, Darling,” Takashima said as he stood from his chair also to blocked my way. Takashima held both of my shoulder and pushed me back to my chair.
“B-but-”
“If I hear another argument, I’ll kiss you right away.”
I knew how absurd was that threat if I must compare it with the situation I faced right now. But Takashima’s voice tone didn’t make me - and Ruki and Kanon - laughed. In the end, I sat back on my chair.
Takashima looked so satisfied when he saw me didn’t argue him anymore. “Hhh… if only Kouyou-honey could be more relaxed. This thing didn’t have to get more difficult,” Takashima said as he took the seat where Kouyou sat earlier. He sat beside me now. “Darling, please, I beg you, realize it. This is not an easy case. I think you won’t forget the moment when all of us almost got burned when we faced The Magician as your first encounter back there.
“You could get locked inside Kanon-Dear’s school if you failed in answering JUST one of The High Priestess’ questions. And we could even get killed if we took the wrong act when we faced The Empress. And you didn’t even know how we all felt when we saw like the earth swallowed you when we faced The Emperor.
“This is not an easy thing, Darling. Anyone’s life is in threat whenever we face these Arcana Powers, and THAT is including yours. In this case, when you use the Arcana Power to yourself, the risk you’ll face is increasing for you have to deal more than one Arcana Power; the one is in front of you, and the others are inside you,” Takashima explained wordy. “Oh, says who you won’t face the Arcana Powers that already turned back into cards, Darling? No. They LOVE host. Host makes them freer using their power than when they’re inside cards.” Takashima patted my shoulder. “That’s why this seal needed.”
I looked at the bracelet. I fell silent for few moments. Then, I took the bracelet and stood from my chair. As I expected, Takashima stopped me again, “Where are you going, Darling?” he asked.
“Look for Kouyou. ‘Cause he’s the one who wanted to help me wore the bracelet.” I trotted to the café’s front door, and exited the café.
I stopped in front of the café for awhile to search Kouyou. There were a lot of pedestrian that blocked my view. I looked at my right and left side to look for the possibility I could catch Kouyou’s figure without walking way too far to the wrong way.
When I looked to my right side once again, when the crowd were getting a little vacant, I caught Kouyou’s figure sitting on a bench far to the park, near the road. Both of his elbows are on each of his knees. He hung his head down; making me couldn’t see his face.
I sighed. Then I walked slowly toward his position. Just as I was within his range, as I was already thas close to him, I bet he knew that I was there, near him. Without saying anything, I sat beside him - at his right - on the bench. “Kouyou…” I finally called him.
Kouyou sighed before he started to talk. “You should understand, Aoi-san. We just don’t want you-eh?” Kouyou stopped his blabbering when he saw me showed the bracelet to him. “Y… you don’t want to wear it?” he asked sadly.
“No,” I said as I looked into his eyes. “I can’t wear it. It’s hard to lock the knot with one hand…”
I waited. Kouyou was looking at me for several minutes. I don’t know, I didn’t count it. All I know was, just right before he snatched the bracelet from my hand, I think…
I saw him smile…
Kouyou smiled…
I let him fit the bracelet on my left hand. The bracelet; the shape still made me cringed. But I still had to wear it, I guess. It’s for my own safety, right?
“There…” Kouyou said as he rubbed the bracelet that’s on my left hand now. I didn’t know whether he meant it or not when I felt the tip of his finger touched my hand.
It felt warm…
I smiled. I looked at him. When I was about to say thank you, I caught another figure. It’s far from Kouyou’s and my position. The figure didn’t recognize him. But I did.
I did…
It’s…
Kai…
____....++++****++++….____
A/N: THERE! I’ll wrap it like this. So, how do you think about this chapter? Will The Hierophant really appear next?
About the bracelet, I was thinking about Aoi's bracelet when I wrote this:
And about Kanon Sano, it's AN Cafe's Kanon! XD ..maybe some of you know about AN Cafe's Kanon and Kanon Wakeshima project? It's KanonxKanon. I just found it cute to see them together. o(///w///)o
And..um..what else..ugh..I didn't really recheck this chapter..*cough*I was way too excited that I'm able to post this at last*cough* ..so, if you have any question, feel free to ask! (>w<)d
Special for v_meilie : at last! I can post this here! At LiveJournal! Very sorry for the long wait. *whispering* internet could be so incooperative when I'm out of quota..T^T
LOL ..thank you for all your comments all of this moment, and again, sorry for the long wait! (PS: did this chapter explain anything about the mess? XD *flee*)
For all of you! There you go! As usual, your critics and comments are SO MUCH LUV! ~♥ thank you very much! :-*
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Title : Night of the Hunter
Chapter : 07/??
Author : kei_kyuuketsuki
Fandom : the GazettE, Rose Noire, KanonxKanon (more to come)
Pairings : UruhaXAoi, KouyouXAoi, TakashimaXAoi (confused? *chuckled*)
Theme Song : all 30 Seconds to Mars songs from their “This is War” album
Rating : R
Genre : AU, fantasy, action, romance
Warning : there are TWO URUHAs here, complex situation, ambiguities, figurative words, bad English
Disclaimer : I don’t own the boys. They belong to themselves. The bands belong to their company. I adapted the main idea of the story from CLAMP’s CARD CAPTOR SAKURA. I only fitted the main idea of the story with new settings and - of course - new characters. That’s all.
Summary : those powers have ‘minds’. ‘They’ can think. They rebelled. They wanted to be free, yet they need humans to be their host. Not all the people able to bear such a power. Several of those people turned mad and became a menace to the world. That is what Aoi had to deal with. As some kind of guardian, Kouyou and Takashima are there to help Aoi whenever the boy needs them… or was it the contrary?
Comment : I’m very sorry for the long update! > < ..Long comment at the end of the note. Happy reading!
Chapter 00 // Chapter 01 // Chapter 02 // Chapter 03 // Chapter 04 // Chapter 05 // Chapter 06
07. Seal
I fell silent when I saw her. That afternoon, Kanon sat in the café with her sombre face. She pouted - that precisely made her cheeks looked chubbier. I looked at her in bit confusion. It was an unusual thing to see her with troubled face like this. I was getting used to her cheerful attitude. I’ve said this before, right? Kanon was different from Jill who more into the serious one.
I thought that Kouyou and Takashima are also aware of Kanon’s changing behaviour today. As always, Kouyou didn’t say anything. Takashima was the only one who voiced out his concerns. “Mm… want to play chess?” he offered. Unexpectedly, Kanon just shook her head to answer Takashima’s offer. It was really unusual for Kanon to refused Takashima’s challenge in chess. It’s the girl’s favourite thing anyway. Even when the other days Takashima would cry for too much defeat, if the girl was in her top form, Kanon would still persuade Takashima for another round.
Kanon then just folded both of her hands. Her face really looked annoyed that moment.
I sighed. “You want the usual tea?” I offered. This time, she nodded. Just when I about to left their table, I could see the girl casted down her eyes. She extended both of her hands and put them on her lap. Her right fingers were touching her left fingers tips. I thought that she did that absentmindedly.
She looked… depressed?
*
Luckily, there’re not many visitors today. After putting Kanon’s favourite tea on the table, right in front of her, I joined them and sat beside Kouyou, on his right. Reita and Jill didn’t come that day. I guessed Reita was still sleeping. Him and his bat lifestyle. While Jill was still in her campus.
“Was there something bothering you, Kanon?” I asked. “At your school?”
Kanon looked outside the café’s window. “You guys still remember about the person who stole my queen pawn?
“The one who bullied you, Dear?” Takashima asked. Kanon nodded. “What did he do to you this time, Dear? Hey, he didn’t steal anything again, did he?”
“Should I say that I was relieved because he didn’t do that this time, or should I say it was so unlucky for me because he did another weirder thing?” Kanon asked with an annoyed tone detected in her voice. Kouyou, Takashima and me looked into each other before we looked back at Kanon. While I waited for the girl to continue her words, Kouyou and Takashima didn’t say anything at all. I thought that I wasn’t the only one who wanted Kanon to finish her explanation. “Actually, I kind of relieved because he didn’t touch any of my pawns. I don’t know… it seems that he already understands that my chess is really important for me…”
“S-so..?” I asked.
“He challenged me to play chess.”
“EH!?” Takashima and I were really surprised. I mean, after what he did to Kanon, now the boy challenged her?
“It’s Kanon,” Kanon said suddenly.
“Y-yes, Dear. We already know your nam-”
“Not mine,” Kanon cut Takashima’s words. “It’s his…”
“He..?” I asked, confused.
“It’s such a resent, isn’t it?” Kanon said. I detected a bitter tone in her voice. “We bear the same name.”
“Oh!” Takashima said. “So, that’s the person’s name? The one who bullied you? His name is… Kanon… too?” Takashima asked.
Kanon nodded. “Kanon Sano to be exact…”
“But I must admit that he got the nerve,” I said. “I didn’t expect that a junior like him dare to challenge his senior like this…”
“Junior?” Kanon asked as she looked at me. She looked confuse.
“Eh? H-he’s your junior, right? I mean, when I found your queen pawn in one of the second year classes-”
“Oh! No, no…” Kanon said. “No, he’s in the same grade with me. We’re both third year. We just don’t share the same class. That’s all. The queen pawn was in the second year class because he threw it there after all classes were over and the class was empty.”
“Oh dear…” Takashima said in a low voice. “Why did he have to do that extent?”
“I don’t know,” Kanon said. “I didn’t even expect he could be so childish. That is IF he still has the grudge against me for the chess tournament…” Kanon then looked to the tea cup in front of her. She was just looking into it without touching it. “But… there’s something weird when he challenged me.”
“What was that?” I asked.
“He… he said, he wanted another match, because he wanted to make sure about my winning…”
“Why must he do that?” Takashima asked.
“He said, if I can beat him in the next game, he will acknowledge my capacity…”
“Why he should wait until two games to acknowledge someone’s capacity?” I asked. “I guess the tournament itself was already more than enough to acknowledge anybody’s capacity in chess game. About the process that happened before, and the effort that will be done next, those are another thing, right?” I said. Silence. I looked at the three people around me who looked back at me. “W-what..?”
“Oh, my Darliiiiing!” Takashima yelled as he hugged me; too tight. “Did you hear your own words, Darling!? It was sooo coooool!” Takashima squealed with his - too - cheerful voice.
“Heeey! Let me gooo!” I yelled back at him as I pushed Takashima’s head will all of my might.
“When the game will be held?” asked Kouyou who finally spoke.
“Tomorrow night.”
“Night?” Takashima asked.
“Yes. Here.”
“Here?” I asked. “You mean… in this café?”
Kanon nodded. “I don’t want him feels he can intimidate me if I agree to have the game at school. I don’t want him to feel superior. That’s why I suggested this place. I guess, with your guys’ presence here, he won’t have the guts to do anything stupid.”
Takashima patted Kanon’s head. “We will support you, Dear…”
That bad feeling slowly emerged in my head. “Kanon…”
“Yes?” the girl answered.
“Can you… just… turn his challenge down?” There. I didn’t even expect that I would ask such a thing.
“W-why?” Kanon asked.
“Mm… I don’t know…” I answered nervously. “When I heard you said that the game will be held at night, didn’t you find it weird? Why didn’t he take the time right after all your classes are over? At school? I mean, when the other clubs are still having their own activity at school, while you got your friends still at school at the moment, and you don’t have to set specific time aside just… mm… just for the game, right? Moreover, whoever win in the game, what will you get from it? Acknowledgment, OK. What else?”
“You’re not betting at anything, right?” Kouyou asked.
“No! Of course not!” Kanon said annoyed. “Why would I do that? Just to face someone who love to cause resentment like Kano-uuugh! What should I mention my own name!?” Kanon said as she ruffled her own hair. She exhaled a long breath. “I won’t bet at ANYTHING, not even the least precious thing I had in my storeroom to face him.”
“But Darling-” Takashima directed his gaze at me. “I think it’s alright. This is the place where they’ll have their game, right? We can supervise that boy easily.”
I looked at Takashima and Kouyou alternately. “I’m sorry for being way too paranoid. Maybe these Arcana things were already got too deep into me.”
“What do you mean, Aoi-san?” Kouyou asked as he returned my gaze with his sharp one.
“Before you guys got here, I spoke with Ruki-san about several of the Tarots. He knew few things about the cards. And…” I stopped my words awhile. “It’s the Hierophant…” I said slowly. “That’s the card after The Emperor, right?” Right after I said those things, I could see that Kouyou and Takashima were surprised by it.
“Dear, that boy, does he active in some organization stuff in your school?” Takashima asked as he looked at Kanon.
“Yes! How did you know?” Kanon asked. “He’s the leader of chess club. He’s part of the Student Councils too. He’s a Prefect in his class. He boasted all of those things very much. And the thing that annoyed me the most was why so many people glorifying him too much? They should have seen how annoying he could be!” Kanon said as she folded both of her hands. “Annoying rich boy…” Kanon grumbled.
“Rich..?” Takashima repeated.
“What’s wrong, Takashima?” I asked. “Sounds like someone got possessed by The Hierophant?”
“No, we can’t say that yet. Those won’t be enough,” Kouyou said. “You said that he will acknowledge your capability?”
“Y… e… s..?” Kanon answered. From her tone, she sounded doubt. But I guess, she was just like me who felt a little weird with Kouyou’s question, and what would Kouyou said after that.
“Whereas he looked like he held the grudge of his defeat so much to the extent he had to steal your precious item?” Kouyou asked again.
“Y… es..?” Kanon still had the doubt tone in her voice. “What do you have in mind about that?”
Kouyou looked at Takashima for split second before he returned his gaze back to Kanon. Watching them like they understand one thing even without talking about it, I was pretty sure that they were starting to be aware about my anxiety earlier. And maybe, just, maybe, they’re guessing the same thing.
Kanon Sano got possessed by The Hierophant.
“At what time will you be here tomorrow?” Kouyou asked.
“Right after school, I’ll come here right away. I forbade him to come here with me. Duh! I don’t want to be near him!” Kanon said angrily. “But I already gave him this place’s address and a simple map from school to this place.”
Takashima put his left elbow on the table. “You’re very kind, Dear…” Takashima said as he used the hand to support his chin and smiled.
“Hey! I… I just don’t want to take any responsibility for making him get lost tomorrow!” Kanon yelled. “Or whatever!”
Was this just my own imagination, or Kanon was blushed just a moment ago?
“Oh, it’s not as busy as yesterday, is it?” Suddenly Ruki popped up from behind me, I didn’t know he could do that.
“Ruki-saaan!” Kanon called cheerfully. Hearing that cheerful voice, I felt a little relieved because the girl - at last - could get out from her gloomy state. “Hi, there, Koron!” Kanon called the tiny dog beside Ruki’s feet.
“Hey, Kanon-chan!” Ruki answered. Beside Ruki, Koror barked, answering Kanon’s call. “How’s your day at school?” With the question, suddenly, Kanon got back into her gloomy state again. “Uh-oh… I think I asked the wrong question.”
“Owner-san,” Kouyou called. “Tomorrow, I think, you should close this café earlier.”
“EH!?” I was surprised by Kouyou’s words. Kanon and Ruki were surprised too. Yeah, even after I realized what I will approximately face tomorrow, I still didn’t expect about Kouyou’s sudden warning.
“Why was that?” Ruki asked.
“And I guess, it will be better if tomorrow we’re ready about some evacuation if we don’t want to lose this place, our beloved home…” Takashima said. Ah, Takashima’s words reminding me to our conversation about turning this place into some kind of headquarters or home.
Yeah. I don’t want anything destroy this café.
But, why must Takashima have to say that? When Kanon got possessed by The High Priestess, she didn’t make any damage. She did made labyrinths here and there, and confusing puzzles…
Wait a minute… puzzles?
“R-Ruki-san…” I called.
“Yes?”
“When we talk about this… Hierophant… you said that the card is also commonly known as ‘The High Priest…’ and… it’s a counterpart to The High Priestess…”
“You what!?” Kanon said surprised.
“Indeed…” Kouyou answerd. “I didn’t expect you know such thing, Owner-san…” Kouyou said as he looked at Ruki.
“Just few things,” Ruki said. “I just love about many designs of Tarot cards. Sometimes I read books about it. That’s all.” Ruki shrugged. “So, what’s this all about? What you’ve been talking about before I came? The Hierophant appearance probability?”
“Correct, Dear Owner,” Takashima said. “Oh, I just love to be surrounded by great people like you,” Takashima said dreamily.
“So, The Hierophant. If he’s the counterpart to The High Priestess, then… is he intelligent?” I asked.
“He IS indeed intelligent,” Kouyou answered. “Well, if I can conclude that The Hierophant possessed that-Kanon-Sano-boy, then I guess, that’s why he can be a well-matched rival for Kanon-san, can’t he?”
“And cause so much resentment to Kanon-Dear…” Takashima continued as he smiled to Kanon. I bet if he didn’t wear his sun-glasses at the moment, I don’t know why, I just could see him winked.
“And… what about that, Aoi-san?” Kouyou asked when he looked back at me.
“This… this is the worst possibility…” I said before I gulped. “The worst possibility, if Kanon Sano did get possessed be The Hierophant, will I have to face another labyrinths and puzzles again?”
“No, Darling…” Takashima answered. “The Hierophant really IS intelligent. But he’s far more radical than you’ve ever imagined. That’s why I suggest the idea of evacuation. It’s for preventing any harm to this… our beloved home…” Takashima repeated.
“Ra… di… cal..?” I asked, disbelievingly. Yeah, of course I didn’t believe Takashima’s words. Or, I didn’t want to believe it, to be exact. I won’t know what kind of encounter is tomorrow, if that boy really got possessed by The Hierophant.
“Yes. And, that’s why…” Kouyou then stick his hand to his red coat’s pocket. He took something out from it and put it on the table, right in front of me.
“B… bracelet..?” I cringed a bit when I saw the shape.
“Seal,” Kouyou corrected.
“Darling, do you remember when Kouyou couldn’t be here for he got an errand? That was the same day when The Emperor appeared?” Takashima asked. I nodded slowly. “He was making this.” Takashima pointed the bracelet.
Kouyou took the bracelet again and he held my left hand. “N-no! Wait a minute..!” I said in panic as I pulled my hand from Kouyou’s grip. “W-what will happen to me if I wear that bracelet!?”
“Kouyou-honey, I think it will be better if we explain the whole things first. I guess it’s not fair for Darling here if we ask him to wear the seal without him knowing anything,” Takashima said.
Kouyou sighed. “Aoi-san, I’ve already told you this that I want Aoi-san to stop making yourself as the host to the Arcana Power. You know that, don’t you?”
“Th-then, with that thing, you… you want to seal me? It’s that it..? Is that some kind of shield so that I can’t use any Arcana Power at all? Is it?” I asked, annoyed. I clucked. “Kouyou, I can’t believe you. We’ve talked about this, right!?”
“Will you listen to me first, Aoi-san!?” Kouyou raised his voice. I clucked again. But I silenced myself to let Kouyou talk. “Correct, this thing is indeed to seal you. Correct, that this thing is indeed made for some kind of shield to you. But I made this not to make you incapable to use any more Arcana Power,” Kouyou explained.
I was surprised. “Eh..? Th-then? What was that thing for..?”
“To seal the Arcana Power so they won’t synchronize with any motivation you have in your mind. To make some kind of shield, so that when you’re not in your best condition, the Arcana Power won’t take the chance to possess you to dominate and take control inside you.”
I fell silent. I was surprised when Ruki suddenly patted my shoulder. “It’s not a bad thing, isn’t it, Aoi? Likewise, it’s for your own safety.”
“But… isn’t it… our number now is increasing, right? I mean, there are Reita, Kanon, Jill and Ruki-san now… we can-”
“And out there, there are still eighteen more of those Arcana Powers. And we still can’t detect where each of their position,” Kouyou said. “Four against eighteen. Can you still call it equal?”
“Add it with the three of us, Kouyou,” I argued. I looked directly to his eyes. “I know it’s still not enough. But, from the previous encounters, I guess Arcana Power won’t appear simultaneously. We can collect them all one by one. I’m pretty sure, there will be time when we’re getting stronger than the remaining Arcana Power.”
“You won’t say that if you face Death!”
“Joker!” Takashima yelled. I was surprised, for after this long, Takashima called Kouyou with the name again.
The call itself was enough to made Kouyou stopped his own words. Kouyou then stood from his chair and walked to the café’s front door.
Not again. “Kouyou!” I called as I followed him stood from my own seat.
“Not now, Darling,” Takashima said as he stood from his chair also to blocked my way. Takashima held both of my shoulder and pushed me back to my chair.
“B-but-”
“If I hear another argument, I’ll kiss you right away.”
I knew how absurd was that threat if I must compare it with the situation I faced right now. But Takashima’s voice tone didn’t make me - and Ruki and Kanon - laughed. In the end, I sat back on my chair.
Takashima looked so satisfied when he saw me didn’t argue him anymore. “Hhh… if only Kouyou-honey could be more relaxed. This thing didn’t have to get more difficult,” Takashima said as he took the seat where Kouyou sat earlier. He sat beside me now. “Darling, please, I beg you, realize it. This is not an easy case. I think you won’t forget the moment when all of us almost got burned when we faced The Magician as your first encounter back there.
“You could get locked inside Kanon-Dear’s school if you failed in answering JUST one of The High Priestess’ questions. And we could even get killed if we took the wrong act when we faced The Empress. And you didn’t even know how we all felt when we saw like the earth swallowed you when we faced The Emperor.
“This is not an easy thing, Darling. Anyone’s life is in threat whenever we face these Arcana Powers, and THAT is including yours. In this case, when you use the Arcana Power to yourself, the risk you’ll face is increasing for you have to deal more than one Arcana Power; the one is in front of you, and the others are inside you,” Takashima explained wordy. “Oh, says who you won’t face the Arcana Powers that already turned back into cards, Darling? No. They LOVE host. Host makes them freer using their power than when they’re inside cards.” Takashima patted my shoulder. “That’s why this seal needed.”
I looked at the bracelet. I fell silent for few moments. Then, I took the bracelet and stood from my chair. As I expected, Takashima stopped me again, “Where are you going, Darling?” he asked.
“Look for Kouyou. ‘Cause he’s the one who wanted to help me wore the bracelet.” I trotted to the café’s front door, and exited the café.
I stopped in front of the café for awhile to search Kouyou. There were a lot of pedestrian that blocked my view. I looked at my right and left side to look for the possibility I could catch Kouyou’s figure without walking way too far to the wrong way.
When I looked to my right side once again, when the crowd were getting a little vacant, I caught Kouyou’s figure sitting on a bench far to the park, near the road. Both of his elbows are on each of his knees. He hung his head down; making me couldn’t see his face.
I sighed. Then I walked slowly toward his position. Just as I was within his range, as I was already thas close to him, I bet he knew that I was there, near him. Without saying anything, I sat beside him - at his right - on the bench. “Kouyou…” I finally called him.
Kouyou sighed before he started to talk. “You should understand, Aoi-san. We just don’t want you-eh?” Kouyou stopped his blabbering when he saw me showed the bracelet to him. “Y… you don’t want to wear it?” he asked sadly.
“No,” I said as I looked into his eyes. “I can’t wear it. It’s hard to lock the knot with one hand…”
I waited. Kouyou was looking at me for several minutes. I don’t know, I didn’t count it. All I know was, just right before he snatched the bracelet from my hand, I think…
I saw him smile…
Kouyou smiled…
I let him fit the bracelet on my left hand. The bracelet; the shape still made me cringed. But I still had to wear it, I guess. It’s for my own safety, right?
“There…” Kouyou said as he rubbed the bracelet that’s on my left hand now. I didn’t know whether he meant it or not when I felt the tip of his finger touched my hand.
It felt warm…
I smiled. I looked at him. When I was about to say thank you, I caught another figure. It’s far from Kouyou’s and my position. The figure didn’t recognize him. But I did.
I did…
It’s…
Kai…
____....++++****++++….____
A/N: THERE! I’ll wrap it like this. So, how do you think about this chapter? Will The Hierophant really appear next?
About the bracelet, I was thinking about Aoi's bracelet when I wrote this:
And about Kanon Sano, it's AN Cafe's Kanon! XD ..maybe some of you know about AN Cafe's Kanon and Kanon Wakeshima project? It's KanonxKanon. I just found it cute to see them together. o(///w///)o
And..um..what else..ugh..I didn't really recheck this chapter..*cough*I was way too excited that I'm able to post this at last*cough* ..so, if you have any question, feel free to ask! (>w<)d
Special for v_meilie : at last! I can post this here! At LiveJournal! Very sorry for the long wait. *whispering* internet could be so incooperative when I'm out of quota..T^T
LOL ..thank you for all your comments all of this moment, and again, sorry for the long wait! (PS: did this chapter explain anything about the mess? XD *flee*)
For all of you! There you go! As usual, your critics and comments are SO MUCH LUV! ~♥ thank you very much! :-*