Illustrations of an Overwrought Imagination

Regret

2009-05-07T04:20:39Z

Title: Regret
Word Count: 411
Note: This was written for my Haruka Minamitami/Yura Onozuka claim for Honey Hunt for 30_kisses, using the prompt, "jolt!" There are spoilers up to chapter 16.

Even though the concert was over, there was still a strong jolt of energy coursing through his body. Maybe that’s why he was blushing like a schoolgirl following Yura’s compliment. She was impressed. Nothing more, nothing less. While at first glance she looked like any of Haruka’s other crazed fangirls, Yura was different.

She was the daughter of Yuraki Shikari and Takayuki Onozuka – both talented celebrities in their own right. She had grown up around greatness all her life. So, for her to be impressed by what he had just done on-stage meant that much more to him.

For some reason, Haruka felt like he could stop holding his breath; that he could relax. Like some hidden hindrance was removed from a path he was trying to traverse. He couldn’t tell you why, but Haruka was relieved.

Maybe that’s why he was now, moments later, kneeling on the floor beside Yura, hugging her closely to his chest. He held her there, knowingly against her will, but he didn’t care. It was like, instead of holding Yura, he was holding some wild thing – his silent, heartfelt desires – knowing it would escape him the moment he let his guard down.

He breathed in deeply, trying to gain his footing – this was a new experience for him. Wanting something, but having nothing in his power to obtain it. Just another thing Q-ta had that he never would, he thought darkly. His face hidden in the brunette’s hair, Haruka smelled her shampoo, the soap she used, her perfume, whatever it was that made her Yura.

And for a split second, Haruka wished they could start over. Meet like normal people did – at a coffee shop, in school, or at a goukon. Not as celebrities, not as fellow actors, but just like any normal boy or girl would – like in the dramas he so often acted in.

But, Haruka couldn’t take back their first “official” meeting. So, he lightly pressed a kiss to her forehead, momentarily emulating his brother. He mentally added it to the list of things he was jealous of Q-ta for. Once again, it seemed he was somehow following in his brother’s footsteps. Haruka was never first, always second, when it came to anything involving Q-ta.

This time Haruka’s kiss was gentle, chaste, and innocent. Just like Yura. Just like they could have been if things had started differently.

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Note: A goukon is a group date.

The Cooper Relocation Conundrum

2009-04-21T07:08:42Z

Title: The Cooper Relocation Conundrum
Word Count: 698
Rating: Spoilers up to the season two finale. This was written for the 31_days community prompt on April 20, I'd storm heaven for you, if I knew where it was. But, since I finished it slightly after midnight, it's only posted here.

Sheldon Cooper did not feel this way often -- he was never truly confused, at least not when it came to scientific pursuits or academic research.

Yet, Penny's reaction to his announcement of his pending expedition to Antarctica -- which, by the way, was a major "step up" for his career and could possibly lead to ground-breaking discovery worthy of the Nobel Prize -- had left him completely and entirely befuddled. Sheldon inferred that, from her body language and tone of voice, that Penny was not happy to hear the news. But, she never said anything to explicitly state as such. And therein lie the conundrum -- why would she say one thing, yet, based upon his rudimentary knowledge of nonverbal communication, mean another?

But, he ignored the gnawing feeling at his psyche. If she meant to tell him something different from her congratulatory remark, she should take the most logical course of action and simply state it. So, Sheldon went on like this for weeks as he prepared himself in every way possible -- several checklists were made, RFID tags added to various items and cataloged, and a detailed itinerary created.

The night before his journey was to begin, Sheldon laid there in the darkness, trying his best to get a good night's rest, when he heard a knock on his door.

"Who is it?" he called out into the darkness, clutching his comforter in a shield-like fashion. He was certain that Leonard knew better than to interrupt him after he went to bed.

"Sweetie, it's me. I know that no one is supposed to be in your bedroom, but I really need to talk to you," Penny said, her voice muffled by the wooden door. "Can I come in?"

"Penny, I believe we discussed that your latest foray into my bedroom during my absence was not, I repeat, not a permanent easement."

He heard her sigh in the hallway. "Sheldon, honey, you're leaving town tomorrow and going halfway around the world. This may be the last time I ever step foot into your bedroom."

Sheldon's brow furrowed as he frowned at her statement. He didn't like the sound of that for some reason.

"Good point, Penny. You may enter," he finished as he sat upright in his bed.

She entered his room, hair disheveled and wearing wrinkled pajamas. Sheldon thought better of wrinkling his nose at her.

"Now what did you need to speak to me so immediately about that it couldn't wait until tomorrow, Penny?" he asked plainly.

Penny stood near his bed as her eyes went downcast, rolling her T-shirt hem between her fingertips. She took a deep breath before responding.

"Do you know where heaven is, Sheldon?"

Again, confusion rolled over Sheldon like a wave on the shoreline. His eyes locked onto his own hands.

"Well, there is no scientific basis for 'heaven' in the religious sense, Penny," he looked up momentarily, seeing her face drop. "However, if you mean the more literal heavens, as in the sky or atmosphere, it is located somewhere in between Earth and what is commonly known as 'outer space.' The Kármán line, at 100 kilometers, is also frequently regarded as the boundary between the atmosphere and outer space. Why do you ask?"

The blond took yet another deep breath. "You can't go to Antarctica, Sheldon."

"Why? What do you hope to accomplish by telling me this at this juncture, Penny?"

"Because..." Her voice trailed off into uncertainty.

"I'm sorry, Penny, but that's an insufficient response --"

The lanky theoretical physicist was soon cut off by the rapid attachment of his conversational partner's lips to his. Ever the scientist, Sheldon observed that her lips were soft and tasted of something cloylingly sweet and fruity. Her hands were soft and exploratory, her pad of her thumb rubbing across the hairline on the back of his head. But, as the kiss continued on, he found his capacity for scientific observation rapidly waning and devolving into simply enjoying the experience.

As Penny pulled away, she looked him in the eye and simply stated, "Don't you know I'd storm heaven for you, Sheldon?"

"But, Penny, I'm not going to heaven -- just Antarctica," he replied quickly, his ability for know-it-all responses in no way diminished.

Drawn to Radiance

2009-04-15T06:46:22Z

Title: Drawn to Radiance
Word Count: 255
Note: Honey Hunt Haruka x Yura fic written for the 30_kisses prompt, "news; letter."

Okay, now she was just being annoying, Haruka thought as Yura smiled sheepishly.

How could she not know how cute she was in that dress? He willed himself to not roll his eyes as she self-consciously admitted she was unsure of her outfit. That was just so like Yura – annoying and weak willed as ever. Honestly, her vacillation between confidence and uncertainty drove him nuts.

But had she done something with her hair? Her make-up looked great too – like it was sun-kissed or something like that…Someone knew what they were doing, he surmised.

Haruka turned away quickly, his face red with embarrassment. Why would he even notice something that inconsequential? And what was with that sun-kissed crap?!? He grew increasingly annoyed at the possibility of sounding like his cheesy, idiot brother because that sounded exactly like something Q-ta would say.

Maybe it was just nerves – he hadn’t been in a news conference in a long time. He brightened. That was it – nerves. He shook his head and smiled as he mistakenly labeled the silly, nervous feeling festering in his belly.

As they sat down waiting for the conference to start, Haruka did his best to nonchalantly watch Yura out of the corner of his eye. Maybe it was the lighting, but she did look radiant. He shook his head again. She most certainly did not look radiant. She looked nice, but that was it, Haruka thought with a bit of finality.

Little did he know that it was only the beginning.

Into the Night

2009-04-15T06:30:47Z

Title: Into the Night
Word Count: 336
Note: Vampire Knight fic written for the 31_days prompt, "you were born to be betrayed." Spoilers up to chapter 48.

Quite simply, he was confused. All that Zero had known, all those he had loved, had disappeared in the instant she had changed...into a monster. Like him, but worse, so much worse. She was a pureblood, an elite.

As he trudged through the forest surrounding the school, all the while carrying his twin's now-lifeless body, it occurred to Zero that his time with her was nothing more than an illusion. The memories he had shared with Yuki were like fleeting ghosts lost on the evening breeze. The images whirled through his clouded mind that was no longer his alone -- his newest companion being the Bloody Rose.

What was once a simple gun -- in fact, his preferred method of dispatching vampires -- was now a part of him. While one couldn't say the weapon-cum-consciousness "spoke" to him, Zero could feel its power, its desires coursing through him.

It wanted to avenge those that had wronged Zero. It wasn't enough to simply share his pain, his betrayal; no, the Bloody Rose had been born of this the moment it became part of Zero. Like the symbiotic relationship between parasite and host, the Bloody Rose fed off of his agony, his anger, his hate.

He made his way deeper into the forest, all the while scanning the terrain for an appropriate burial site for Ichiru. So, under the light of the full moon, Zero Kiryuu clawed at the earth, digging a grave for the brother who had not only betrayed him, but their parents, as well.

For a moment, he thought he felt the Bloody Rose weep. It was then Zero noticed the wetness streaking from his eyes. Something inside him had broken. Then again, perhaps it had always been broken, but now became simply beyond repair. He brushed away his childhood memories with Yuki, always smiling and trying to fix things for him.

"We were born to be betrayed, weren't we?" he whispered solemnly to no one in particular, his words fogging into the night air.

Bad Coffee

2009-04-06T07:14:03Z

Title: Bad Coffee
Word Count: 255
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "a good cup of coffee."

Was it really too much to expect a good cup of coffee these days? It was ground beans and hot water, not rocket science.

But, still, there was bad coffee in this world. It could be thin and watery, thick and gritty, or bitter and burnt. Very seldom would it ever be perfect. But this cup...well, it was simply detestable. It took every descriptor of crappy coffee and mixed it into a horrible, lukewarm, almost-too-bad-to-drink concoction which she presently held in her hands.

And yet, it was early on a Friday morning and she had to get going. So, stifling her gag reflex, she simply gulped it down as quickly as possible. Besides, she'd already paid for it and there was no point in complaining about bad coffee. Once she emptied the little paper cup, she crumpled it in her fist before tossing it into the nearest trash can.

Anyway, she wasn't drinking it for its taste; no, she simply needed the pick-me-up the caffeine would provide. It was time to get moving and, if this was her only recourse, she damned well wasn't going to let it slip away. She'd already learned that this morning was bad enough without her tripping over herself in weariness, trying to get to work on time.

If nothing else, she mentally noted she would never go this bodega again for coffee. Unfortunately, this being New York, bad coffee was a dime a dozen and she'd certainly have plenty of places to put on her list in no time.

Custard Towers Built by Ego

2009-04-06T06:35:49Z

Title: Custard Towers Built by Ego
Word Count: 359
Note: Written for the 31_days prompt, "trying to build a tower out of custard."

Quite honestly, Yamada should have known better than to challenge Morita. He was just crazy enough and certainly egomaniacal enough to do anything when it came to a dare, especially when money was involved. But, she was willing to bet her next commission on the fact that there was just no way he could do it. That is, unless the laws of physics and gravity simultaneously disappeared.

And so, there they were in one of the air-conditioned studios at their small art college. Morita attempted to make a tower out of custard, while Yamada dutifully watched to make sure he didn't cheat. No supports, no invisible skeletons, nothing except custard could be used. Those were their agreed-upon rules.

And just like the time when they made "bread heads" at her friend's bakery, Morita's tower looked just as it should -- strong thick base, Roman-esque columns, and topped with a turret. Quite honestly, it was almost too real. And if it wasn't made of custard, Morita may have very well won the bet that day.

The only problem was the tower's inability to stand -- Morita had done his best to keep the room cold, with a fan circulating cold air fresh from the old, dripping air conditioner in the corner. But his work of art -- if you could call the slipping, sliding pieces of custard that -- was ready to collapse under its own weight. While Morita could unmold the beautiful pieces without effort -- he had made the ceramic molds himself the week prior, intent on winning his bet against Yamada -- it was to no avail.

But, he wouldn't accept defeat, so Yamada stood there, sat there, and eventually fell asleep there, watching Morita's patience thin as he fought with his custardy foe.

By 2 a.m., it was obvious he would not win. So, Morita emptied his wallet, carefully placing the dollars next to the sleeping, blanket-wrapped Yamada. And then he grabbed himself a bowl and spoon.

Taking another heaping spoonful of his creation to his mouth, he said to no one in particular (and despite the bitter taste of defeat), "At least it tastes good."

The Keratin Coating Anomaly

2009-04-06T05:22:26Z

Title: The Keratin Coating Anomaly
Word Count: 669
Note: Written in response to renisanz's fanart, which was created in response to a plot bunny listed by fujidom here: Sheldon uses his secret skills to methodically paint her toenails.
Edit: I just made a few quick edits, per renisanz's suggestion. Enjoy!

That was it -- Penny could not take it anymore. So, she grabbed a bottle and knocked on her neighbors' door. If nothing else, Leonard would help her.

But, it was Sheldon whose voice called out to her, "Enter."

Penny scrunched her nose up, hoping that Leonard was home. She didn't think this was something Sheldon could help her with. No, scratch that, she knew she would be out of luck should his roommate be unavailable. She turned the knob, Sheldon's back to her as he stood at his whiteboard, working on yet another equation of some sort.

She tentatively asked, "Is Leonard home?"

Sheldon looked over his shoulder at her. "No. Leonard is out on a date, in his latest attempt at procreating with the opposite sex." He paused and considered her. "Is there something I can help you with, Penny?" he asked plainly.

Penny looked down at the little bottle of nail polish in her hand, clenching it in her palm momentarily. "Um, I don't think so, Sheldon. Not unless you can paint toenails..." She said the last part under her breath.

Nonetheless, the scientist had heard her. "If that is all, I can most certainly assist, Penny." Sheldon capped his dry erase pen and placed it in the pencil cup on his desk.

For a moment, Penny was so surprised at his response, she was unsure of what to say. However, she quickly found her voice, "Are you sure, Sheldon?"

"Missy was quite...insistent with me when we were teenagers, Penny, and, since my mother considered it an opportunity for 'quality time' between my fraternal twin and I, I painted her toenails every few weeks or so." He said this with no pretense, as he went to his seat on the couch. Penny couldn't help but smile when his fingers hooked the air on 'quality time.'

Sheldon patted the cushion next to him. "Now come here, Penny. I'm assuming that you've been unable to paint them yourself, what with your cast and all. And, for reasons unbeknownst to me, I understand that women like having their toenails painted."

Penny obeyed and sat at the far end of the couch. Sheldon's long arms came towards her, pulling her legs into his lap. To be honest, she was surprised at his willingness to touch her -- maybe he was just used to this kind of closeness because of Missy. For a moment, her stomach fell for reasons unknown. Penny didn't know why, but she didn't like being compared to his sister. At all.

Instead, Penny proffered the bottle of polish at him. He took it from her, his fingers brushing against hers, sending a slight shock up Penny's arm. She quickly pulled it back to her, placing her injured hand atop it in protection.

Sheldon expertly rolled the polish between his hands, explaining, "When you shake the bottle, you aerate the polish, creating pockets of air that cause bubbles on the surface of the nail after the polish is applied."

Penny's mouth went agape as he carefully took each of her toes, more because of his lack of comments on how unsanitary it was to touch someone else's feet than anything else. Quite honestly, it was no small shock to see Dr. Sheldon Cooper giving her feet a "fun fuschia" makeover.

Throughout his ministrations, she tried her best to not giggle at his touch. For some reason, she didn't think Sheldon would tolerate it and, for yet another reason, she didn't want this moment to end...There was something oddly soothing in this silent task.

Of course, Sheldon equally distributed the polish onto each nail with precise strokes. It seemed Sheldon's attention to detail and perfection bled into every part of his life -- even when applying lacquer to his neighbor's toenails.

As Penny leaned back, watching his handiwork and reveling in that secretive smile of his, she had to admit that there was more to Sheldon Cooper, Ph.D., than she thought. What other surprises could he possibly be hiding?

x-posted to renisanz's journal and my writing journal

Distance Be Damned

2009-03-20T21:49:40Z

Title: Distance Be Damned
Word Count: 168
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "distance."

With each pump of his legs and every puff of breath from his lungs, the distance between home and "somewhere else" increased. While he didn't know where he was going, he simply knew that he needed to keep his bicycle moving.

He wanted, no, he needed to get away. Away from the stress of finding a job and the supposed comfort of what he thought was home. Could one even consider that place his home? It's not where he grew up, but just somewhere close to school.

They say, "home is where the heart is." And, sure, he had friends that cared about him, but was his heart there? He let the thought sit for awhile as he crested the hill before him.

As he came to its apex, he pulled his bicycle to the side of the road and watched the sun disappear over the hills in the distance. If nothing else, Takemoto knew his heart was here, right now, in this glorious moment. Distance be damned...

Jerks

2009-03-16T16:08:50Z

Title: Jerks
Word Count: 232
Note: Written for the prompt_a_day prompt, "I thought it had ended." This is my first bit of fanfic for The Big Bang Theory and the Sheldon/Penny ship.

"I thought it had ended," Penny screeched aloud to no one in particular, slamming her apartment door behind her.

Her brow furrowed as she plopped herself on the couch, grabbing a pillow and clutching it to her chest.

"I thought we were really friends now, especially after that whole 'Moonpie' thing...Why's he still being such a...a...jerk?"

She punched the pillow, upset at her lack of creativity. Then again, all the guys she knew, save the "nerds next door," were jerks. Well, except for Sheldon -- he was a jerk extraordinaire when he wanted to be.

"Why do I always fall for jerks?" she lamented as she reclined into the cushioned softness, pillow still held close. For a brief moment, she didn't realize the gravity of her statement and quietly stared at the ceiling.

But, that didn't last long. When her brain finally caught up with her mouth, she jumped up off the couch, throwing the pillow down. Shock was written all over her face.

No way -- no freakin' way was this happening, she thought to herself. Without a moment's hesitation, she immediately picked up her cell phone and started dialing the girls. The recent turn of events called for immediate action. As she stomped to her bathroom to get ready for an evening out, she determinedly spoke aloud to no one in particular.

"I am SO not falling for Sheldon Cooper!"

Just Another Morning in the Office

2009-03-12T17:40:01Z

Title: Just Another Morning in the Office
Word Count: 98
Note: Original non-fic written for prompt 433 at prompt_a_day.

Complete silence pervades my office -- there's no sound except the my computer humming and my fingers tip-tapping across the keyboard. And, for once, it's actually soothing.

You see, there was a blaring fire alarm this morning -- before most people got into the office in fact. It pierced the air with its high-pitched squealing. So, for now, the silence is, if nothing else, tolerable.

Oh wait, the silence was just punctuated by someone in the bathroom, flushing the toilet. Paper-thin walls and my office location have once again conspired to ruin my much-beloved silence this morning...

Little Miracles

2009-03-12T17:26:54Z

Title: Little Miracles
Word Count: 161
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "miracles don't last."

"Miracles don't last," her uncle said to her. "And your art is a miracle -- each and every time you create, it's a magnificent thing to behold."

The 20-year-old scrunched her nose like a child, thinking desperately at how to address such a statement. She loved painting -- it was her therapy, her solace, her companion all those lonely years in the country with her grandmother. To her, her work was no miracle -- it simply was.

But, what if it was something more? What if it was miraculous? To her, painting was like breathing -- something she did without thinking, an automatic response to the rigors of living. It was how she distilled her worries from herself; in some ways, one could argue, it helped her stay sane in an insane environment.

But calling what Hagu did a "miracle" seemed so...ostentatious. But, it gave her something to consider. Maybe, from now on, she'd consider making "miracles" instead of just art.

Dumbfounded

2009-03-09T21:48:21Z

Title: Dumbfounded
Word Count: 198
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "seeing double."

She'd never seen the two of them standing side by side and, frankly, was dumbfounded she'd never noticed the similarities between the two young men.

Because as it stood now with the two of them there in the conference room, she was seeing double. For a moment, she sunk deeper into embarrassment as she realized that, yes, they were twins. And, in fact, identical ones at that!

But, their faces were where the similarities ended -- one was a pop idol and actor, the other a "serious" musician; one was saccharine-sweet, while the other a bit "rougher" (to say the least) around the edges. Not to mention, their outward appearances were completely different, of course.

Regardless, Yura felt plenty damned oblivious for not having noticed sooner.

Then again, it wouldn't be the first time she'd missed the 'warning signs' as it were. Several moments flashed through her head: her parents' divorce, her mother's relationship with Shin, her father's infidelity...She shook the memories off as quickly as possible, not wanting to get caught up in the pain they brought.

Even if not knowing they were twins, Yura instantly resolved to not make herself a victim of missed perception again.

When Dreams Become...

2009-03-05T23:15:22Z

Title: When Dreams Become...
Word Count: 243
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "when dreams become."

When dreams become reality, it can be a funny thing. What if your dreams are nightmares? For those consumed by fear in their non-waking hours, it's safer to keep those kinds of dreams bottled up in the subconscious where they belong.

Oddly enough, this is exactly what went through Jeannette's mind as she stood there frozen. It was so much like her nightmare three nights earlier. The woman came rushing at her, screaming and arms flailing. Whether it was a matter of her not being able to react quickly enough, or just a simple failure of her survival instinct, Jeanette couldn't help wondering momentarily if she had experienced déjà vu instead. Maybe this was meant to happen...

When this thought came to mind, Jeanette suddenly relaxed and let whatever events were meant to play out do so. If this was meant to be, who was she to try and fight fate? Of course, Jeanette wracked her brain hoping to remember how her dream all those nights ago had ended.

As the woman came closer, she was horrified to remember that she woke up screaming that night. As the woman stabbed her in that moment, Jeanette crumpled to the ground, her arms doing their best to protect her. Finally, her instincts had kicked in. Only, it was too late.

As Jeanette lay there bleeding, she faded to black, back to that dream and whatever lay there waiting in the dark recesses of her mind.

30 Kisses: Honey Hunt, Haruka/Yura, Theme 1

2009-03-04T06:30:40Z

Title: Same as it Ever Was
Fandom: Honey Hunt
Pairing: Haruka Minamitani/Yura Onozuka
Word Count: 291
Note: Written for the 30_kisses community, theme #1: "look at me." Of course, I do not own Honey Hunt and this story is for entertainment purposes only.

She was looking at the floor, blushing and thanking his brother – maybe that's what set him off. Regardless, Yura didn’t see him coming.

At that moment, he acted on pure instinct. Haruka barely noticed the words escaping from his lips. Honestly, as long as he didn’t say something cheesy like Q-ta, that's all that mattered to him.

His large hand enveloped Yura's petite forearm – of course, Haruka hadn't noticed her fragility at that point. That wouldn't come until later. Quickly, he leaned forward and pulled her to him, taking away any opportunity for her to react to his advance. His lips brushed against hers somewhat chastely. If it had been under different circumstances, Haruka might even go so far as to say it was a "sweet" kiss.

As the younger Minamitani pulled away, he gave a small smile as a deep blush spread across Yura's cheeks. It was just what he was expecting. For a moment, his eyes flicked away from the stunned high schooler and caught those of his brother, Q-ta.

The older Minamitani had seen that look before, but not since the two boys were much younger. It was the same face Haruka had always shown him since they were younger – a smug look that held a silent request, "Look over here! Look what I did!" It was just another symbol of their one-sided sibling rivalry.

As the rest of the people in the room broke out in surprised gasps or yelled at Haruka for his boldness, the elder brother did much like he did during their childhood and attempted to remedy the situation. While there was no mistaking Haruka's actions, underneath it all, Q-ta wondered what his younger brother was thinking.

Was this the same as it ever was, or something altogether different because of the girl involved?

Hatred

2009-02-27T17:31:00Z

Title: Hatred
Word Count: 220
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "hatred."

He couldn't really tell you when it started. It was an insidious feeling that started as simple jealousy, yet bloomed into something much worse. Maybe it was when they were kids, or possibly sometime more recently. It was hard to tell, simply because he couldn't remember not feeling this way.

Despite being successful in his own right, there were constant comparisons between him and his older brother. While Haruka was both an actor and a pop star, Q-ta made music that touched people's hearts. How could he compete with that?

The point is, he couldn't. So, while their parents (and seemingly the rest of Japan) praised the elder Minamitani incessantly, Haruka worked harder than ever for his fans. Whether it was starring in a new drama, or putting on a three-day show with his pop group at the Tokyo Dome, he would do whatever he could to prove himself better than Q-ta.

Because Haruka wouldn't let his hatred simply consume him, he'd harness it, use it as motivation, until he won at something, anything - even if it was just for a genuine smile from the girl he was falling for, or a single word praise from his parents. Because if that happened, maybe he could start to forgive and they could go back to just being brothers, not opponents.

Bittersweet

2009-02-26T19:37:24Z

Title: Bittersweet
Word Count: 208
Note: Written for the all_unwritten photo prompt of musical notes. I wrote this based on the character of Yura from Honey Hunt, which I do not own.

For many people, music was something to enjoy and listen to. But for Yura, it was different. It was bittersweet.

When she heard music — especially classical — it reminded her of her father and the lifetime of neglect she received from him. As a pianist and composer, he was always working towards his 'next great piece.' Like many artists, he had little time for family matters or the child tugging at his sleeve, begging for attention.

Thinking back on it, Yura really should not have been so surprised to learn of her parents' divorce. In many ways, it was a natural extension of her father's selfish creativity. That same creativity that robbed her of what other children experienced with their fathers.

But despite all this, she still loved her father and the haunting melodies he would create. Those songs would soothe her when she felt sad, act as lullabies as she fell asleep, and entertained her when she was bored. In so many ways, her father's music is what became her constant companion, as opposed to the father she constantly longed for. The music became a friend, a confidant, a source of solace.

So, while others simply listened to music, she remembered the bittersweet past they shared.

30_kisses Theme #1: Honey Hunt, Haruka x Yura

2009-02-23T05:26:00Z

Title: Look Over Here!
Word Count: 233
Note: WIP written for the 30_kisses themes list. This is theme #1, "look over here." The pairing I chose is Haruka Minamitani and Yura Onozuka from Honey Hunt by Miki Aihara.

She was looking at the floor, thanking his brother. Yura didn’t see him coming.

Haruka barely noticed the words escaping from his lips, as his large hand enveloped her petite forearm – he hadn’t noticed her fragility at that point. Quickly, he leaned forward and pulled her to him. His left arm embraced her as he kissed her lips.

As Haruka pulled away, he gave a small smile as a deep blush spread across Yura’s cheeks. For a moment, his eyes flicked away from the high schooler and caught those of his brother, Q-ta.

The older Minamitani had seen that look before, but not since the two boys were much younger. If Q-ta remembered correctly, it was the same look Haruka had always given their parents – a slight squinting of the eyes wherein the younger twin implored them to pay attention. It held a silent request, “Look over here!”

As the rest of the people in the room broke out in surprised gasps or yelled at Haruka for his boldness, the elder brother did much like he did during their childhood and attempted to remedy the situation. While there was no mistaking Haruka’s actions, underneath it all, Q-ta wondered what his younger brother was thinking.

Was this the same as it ever was, or something altogether different because of the girl involved?

Ashamed

2009-02-23T05:14:44Z

Title: Ashamed
Word Count: 69
Note: This was written for the all_unwritten prompt, "ashamed."

She loathed this feeling; it was seemingly unbearable. She gasped for air, crying to no one in particular, words bubbling incoherently from her lips. He watched her suffering in silence, saw the realization manifest.

She was finally ashamed of her love for him -- what it drove her to do, to think, to want. This time, it had to end. She couldn't continue like this; it was breaking her.

The End of Love

2009-02-19T16:38:02Z

Title: The End of Love
Word Count: 134
Note: This is in response to the all_unwritten prompt, "the end of love."

She hated this feeling -- the dread that accompanied the realization that he would never return her love. She could cry, she could pout, she could play hard to get all she liked, but he would never return the feelings she had locked away and kept hidden so long.

But, he now knew the truth. Known it for so long in fact that there was no pretending otherwise for her. It just...was. 'It' being a one-sided love she had for him that could and would never be returned, as he was sadly in love with someone else. Someone that wasn't her.

As she watched the stars through her tears once more, she decided that she would find an end to her unrequited love for him.

Because, quite honestly, she might break if she didn't.

The Deadline Approached

2008-08-08T16:13:07Z

Title: The Deadline Approached
Word Count: 95
Note: In response to the prompt_a_day prompt, "the deadline approached."

The deadline approached and, yet, she couldn't bring herself to work on the project. One could have simply said she was unmotivated, but it was so much more than that.

It was a dissatisfaction with where her life was, disillusionment with what kind of work she did, and listlessness prompted by the humid and languid summer heat. It wasn't just hard to get work done right now, in her current state of mind; it was nearly impossible.

And so, the papers stacked as her mind ran farther and farther away from the tasks at hand.

Denial

2008-08-08T16:03:06Z

Title: Denial
Word Count: 144
Note: My first Vampire Knight fanfic. This is in response to the latest developments in the series as the manga-ka is on hiatus until September. SPOILERS!

To be honest, Yuki had never looked less cute, less pretty. In fact, it was horrifying. Rido-san had left her torn to shreds.

And, even now, Zero couldn't bring himself to help her, didn't bring himself to help her. Instead, he stood aside fighting internally as Rido-san had done everything he could to destroy the heir to the house of Kuran. Thankfully, she had prevailed, but not without cost to herself.

Laying on the ground in pain, Yuki's crooked smile emerged. Her fingers picked the air, silently requesting him. She needed blood and quickly.

But, he resisted. Even though the smell of her blood lit Zero afire and he could feel his own life force pulling him towards her, he resisted. Like so many things these past few years, he resisted.

Even then, he denied that part of himself that wanted to help Yuki.

And in that instant, Yuki's mind was made. She wouldn't use her pureblood powers to make him do what she wanted. She now knew where everything with Zero stood. He had made his decision. So, instead, she called for him, for Kaname.

Of course, he came. And when he did, Zero realized that everything had changed between him and the girl he'd grown up with. And nothing would ever be the same.

Dragons & Lotuses: Chapter 5

2008-05-05T16:23:24Z

This chapter has actual plot, Azula, and Suki's real job!

Title: Dragons & Lotuses
Link: Chapter 5: Another Day
Genre: Modern AU
Pairings: Sokka/everybody, (eventual) Zuko/Katara
Description: Sokka is an undercover cop for the L.A.P.D., trying his best to infiltrate the notorious White Lotus Society yakuza. While his plans have always been to take the yakuza down, will he eventually take his artificial oaths of loyalty to heart?

She took another sip of her triple espresso as she watched a tanned young man in a black Lincoln Navigator pull up to the apartment complex across the street from her. Topaz-colored eyes peeked over a paper cup as he put the car in park and placed his cell phone at his ear. Her fingers lightly tapped the leather steering wheel of her rented car as her eyes observed him.

In moments, a familiar figure strode out of the building. “Ah, Zuko, so is this your new ‘brother’? He’s cute, in a tough, American kind of way.” Her lips pursed as she took note of his profile. As soon as Zuko got in the car, the vehicle pulled away from the curb.

“I wonder if it’s considered incest if Zuko’s his older brother?” Azula considered before laughing at the thought. She started up the car and began tailing the SUV. She had been curious as to what her brother had been up to since leaving home.

Living Someone Else's Life

2008-04-25T22:19:00Z

Title: Living Someone Else's Life
Word Count: 330
Note: Written for all_unwritten prompt, "living someone else's life."

It happened slowly, unexpectedly. One day she was just helping her grandma run errands since her car was in the shop -- taking her to the doctor's office and then stopping by the grocery store afterwards.

Then, later that week, stopping by after work every day, ostensibly to simply "check in," making sure the sweet, old lady didn't need anything. Then, all Hell broke loose in her personal life -- she had to move, she was laid off, she broke up with her boyfriend... There was no other choice but to move in with the kindhearted old woman who had taken care of her as a child. Wasn't this her opportunity to return the favor?

But, as the weeks and, soon enough, months wore on, she realized she was living someone else's life. This was NOT the life of a young twenty-something -- she should have been living and loving, not nursing and nurturing.

While she had no real problem caring for her good-natured grandmother, she silently fumed at her parents. Really, it was their responsibility wasn't it? But, they had moved years ago, leaving her with a burden that was not her own; never thinking of the future and how their decision would affect the people around them. How the wrinkled woman would be stubborn and refuse to move to the cold climes of the north; how she would do everything in her power to stay as independent as possible, even though she begrudgingly admitted that she loved having her granddaughter there.

And when the young woman picked up the phone that day, dialing the number for her parents' house, she wondered how it had come to this. How was it that she was doing the thing she'd always imagined someone else doing?

The phone rang once, twice, then three times. Finally, someone picked up.

"Hello?" a woman's voice asked -- her mother never checked the caller ID.

"Mom...I've got some bad news. Grandma died..."

Of course, silence followed.

Overcast Skies

2008-04-21T17:27:12Z

Title: Overcast Skies
Word Count: 163
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "overcast skies."

To most, overcast skies would portend of something darker and stormier on the horizon. They'd pull their cloaks tighter and furtively glance at the sky every so often, waiting for the inevitable -- and unwelcome -- downpour.

But for her, it was something wholly different. It felt like home when the skies were overcast, and reminded her of mornings when you slept in and snuggled in bed with too many blankets because you were snowed in. Days when her mother would make a big breakfast and watch them play in the snow. Those gray skies overhead brought her small pieces of happiness.

But it never lasted long. The rains were dismal sprinkles in comparison to her snow-filled memories. Short and heavy showers that only moved to clearer skies soon enough, in moments really. But, it was enough for the time being. Until she could leave this land without weather and revel in the true delights of the seasons, it would have to do.

The Street Was Quiet

2008-04-16T21:27:16Z

Title: The Street Was Quiet
Word Count: 166
Note: Written for the all_unwritten prompt, "the street was quiet."

The festival had lasted long into the wee hours of the morning with fireworks, music and merriment. A new day had dawned -- the war was over, you see, and a new leader named -- and the people would revel in it.

Unfortunately, he always rose with the sun and today was no different. There was no mistaking its magnetic pull on his body, nor ignoring the way it peeked through the shades like a curious child. Pulling himself from his bed, he dressed and decided a morning walk was in order. He discreetly left the palace grounds and made his way towards the city's center.

Of course, the streets were unnaturally quiet; many folks were still sleeping. There were several signs of the celebration the night before -- paper lanterns hung askew, red confetti still littered the pavement, and revelers slept their hangovers away outdoors.

And while many may have grimaced at the scene, he smiled. This was his country to lead. And he was glad.