The Music of Your Heart [Rin]

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

"I've got the address on the phone's gps. I'll be there in a few minutes!"

She's coming, the sudden realization that Rin was almost arriving at the previously agreed location popped into Ryuu's mind as soon as he read Rin's response to his own text message. And, with that realization, came many other thoughts.

Was my message weird? Maybe she felt like I was pressuring her or implying she was late... Maybe she thought I was saying she wasn't capable of finding it on her own... Oh no, that wasn't the point, I should clear that up.

Overthinking the whole situation, his fingers shakenly pressed the smartphone's screen in order to write yet another message

Of course! How could I forget the GPS thing? I'm sorry! Take your time, it's still early!

Yeah yeah, this is good... Isn't it? he asked himself while staring at what he had just written.

He was about to press send when, all of the sudden, a very familiar soft voice made it self heard very close to him. Rin must have had been walking in a really graceful manner... that or Ryuu was, in fact, so nervous that he became oblivious to his surroundings. He was quick to put the cellphone on his pocket... but also visibly clumsy. A different kind of Ryuu from what Rinkusu normally saw.

Yeah, yeah... - he laughed nervously, rying to get back to his normal self - Maybe I really am spending to much time with Yoru, he joked back at the girl.

He got his back of the fence and, side by side with Rin, started looking at the "Entry Prohibited" sign along with Rinkusu. From his tone, it seemed like he had gotten himself back together.

Yeah, I've come here so many times that I forget that it's kind of an illegal thing... - he pondered in silence for a little bit before looking at his 1-A classmate with a little smile - I swear that it will be worth though.

He would then go up to the fence and lift up the fence. It was cut in order to make a kind of passage and it was clear that it had been used many times. Once on the inside he held it up in a way that would make it easy for RIn to easily go through.

It was a small path from that fence to the main entrace of the theatre. The builiding was tiny, old and damaged: cracks in the walls, moss everywhere, grass growing under the cemented floor. It was like a small jungle right in the middle of the city. Rinkusu probably was finding the whole scenario even weirder at that point, but Ryuusei made sure too move with confidence and like he knew exactly where they were headed - which he knew.

They would go in throught the main door - the only one in the building besides the back one, which could only be accesed throught the stage.

You ready? he asked right before opening the doors.

As Rin would quickly see, the main door led directly to the auditorium: no entrance, no hallway - just rows and rows of chairs with a stage in front of them. Contrary to the outside, it seemed rather clean. Well, the best that Ryuusei himself could do at least. He usually didn't mind the mess of everything but, after Rin accepted his invite, he made sure to dedicate some days to remove the bigger pieces of dust and mold present in that area. The stage was clenaed and being naturally iluminated by the sun, consequence of a hole in the ceiling. There, Rin would surely notice two things: a classic piano and, not that far away from it, a microphone in a microphone stand (which was mainly a prop since, of course, there was no electricity). It was rather obvious that, at least the microphone, had been put there recently.

What do you think, ready to perform? he smiled once again at her, curious to see what her reaction would be and what she would ask.

Surprises were fun. Actually, that might've been the first that Ryuu had ever done.

Notes: Surprise!!
Words: 698.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

Before they entered the auditorium, while they were walking towards the main entrance, Rin posed a interesting yet personal question to Ryuusei.

"I'm curious, why do you like coming here, Ryuu-kun?"

He wouldn't respond to that if it was asked by any other person. He wouldn't be able to expose that side of him, his hiiden and fragile self. But to Rin... At that point, he could just expose his true side and in a way that wasn't even intentional: with her he was so at ease that, subconsciously, it just felt natural to be one hundred percent honest. Because of that, he was quick to respond. Quick and completly truthful,

My sister and I used to play here before the... - there was a slight pause, the instinct of one hesitanting to talk about something that usually never left his mouth in the form of words - ... well, before the accident. Those were happy times, so when I want to be happy I come here. That's why I like this place.

Rin's quite nodding as a response was good enough. Looking at her face, she seemed to appreciate Ryuu's efforts to open up more.

Once inside, Rin walking and letting her fingers run through the chairs was like seeing a little girl wander into a new world. Ryuusei almost felt bad to break such state with his words, but he still chose to talk. Rinkusu's response indicated that she wasn't expecting such a proposal. On some other day, if they were surrounded by their classmates or some other context, Ryuu would probably just accept that Rin wasn't completly confortable with the situation and walk off, telling her that they could do it on another day.

However, Ryuu was determined since earlier in the day. It had been in a dream, but talking to Yaso days earlier had given a new perspective into things... And, for the first time in a long time, he was willing to accept the unknown - even if that "unknown" was the innocent and playful version of him that he desperately buried every single day.

--

If you do it with a big smile... - Yaso put a big smile on herself -... I'm sure that everything is going to go just fine!

--

I'm sure you are, besides...

It was his voice, but it was... cold? Like a little fire was, slowly but surely, melting the ice... at least in regards to Rin. He approached Rin and grabbed her hand. He was careful to touch her softly, since he didn't want to scare her. While interlocking fingers, he kept walking in the direction of the stage at a quicker pace. While doing so, he looked back at her with a big smile, speaking before turning his head again.

... it will be fun!

Walking up the stage, he left Rin in front of the microphone while he went in the direction of the piano, which wasn't that far off. Sitting down, he looked again at Rinkusu, making sure everything was okay.

Sing whatever you want, I'll follow you.

Ryuu shell was clearly breaking. Would Rin's start to break aswell?

Notes: Writing this happy teen boy side of Ryuu is super fun!
Words: 526.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

He didn't say a single word for awhile. Sitting on the piano, looking at Rin with a smile on his face and hands softly laying upon the piano keys, Igarashi Ryuusei allowed the silence to speak for itself. He wanted the girl to feel at ease; for her to know that she didn't had to worry about what to sing bcause, whatever she chose, Ryuu would follow. Those words and intentions from the boy were in regards to music, but they could very well also be related to how Ryuusei was starting to feel for the girl. He couldn't pinpoint the exact moment of when it started but, since meeting her, a sensation that he could follow Rinkusu to the end of the world, of wanting to be by her side and support her - even if he didn't fully believe himself to be capable of such thing - started to grow in a fast manner. It was the first time he had ever felt such things in his heart. It was weird, confusing, sometimes ven painfully. But, despite all that, it felt good. Unbelievably good. For someone like Ryuu, whose latest years had been filled with solitude and darkness, Rin was like a light that shone brightly through the clouds. He didn't know what to do about this, but if he was to do what Yaso told him in his dream, Ryuu had to follow his heart - and his heart had already made a decision.

When Rin's soft voice began being heard, Ryuusei started to freestyle on the piano.

"Hello, how are you?"

Despite being far from being the greatest pianist in the world or in Japan... or even in Tokyo, everyone always told Ryuusei the same thing ever since he started to play: "Your ears are musically gifted, make use of them". When he was little he didn't fully understood what such thing meant, but he could make sense of it now. Listening to Rin's tone of voice, the words that she sang, her rhythm and breathing, Ryuusei was quick to adapt himself and make a decision on what type of melody would fit best. The lyrics were inherently sad, but such sadness was hidden in the way that Rinkusu spoke them. Yes, that was what was special about the song - the disparity between what was being said and how it was being said.

Let's keep my word then, he thought, referencing how he had told Rin just a few moments ago that he would follow her.

And so he did. The melody that he freestyled on the piano was a jazzy one, almost upbeat. The piano must follow the singer and so it was Ryuu's job to support Rin and give her song the meaning she wanted. Some transitions were sloppy, specially because it was the first Ryuu was hearing the song. Some keys also felt out of place since he had to antecipate what notes Rin was going to hit next. But, overall, it sounded good... at least he hoped. But one thing was certain: it took some natural talent to do what Ryuusei had just done. If he wanted to and put the time into it he could really become an amazing pianist.

When it was finished, the silence reigned once again. Letting the piano breath, Ryuusei lifted his hands and, still sitting, turned to the position where Rinkusu was standing. Rin was visibly moved by her own song, to the point where tears began slipping down her cheeks. Seeing this, Ryuusei got up and, slowly, walked towards the 1-A Class President. In front of her, with his right one, he softly wiped one the tears running down her face.

He thought that  there wasn't anything right he could say at that moment and he wasn't particularly good with words. Rin had just told alot through her music, to the point where even her body wasn't ready for it. So, smiling, he expressed, in a different way, what he said before about following Rin's music and support her.

I'm here for you, okay?

Notes: ---
Words: 680.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

He let out a slight smile as Rinkusu offered her own help back to him. It was the first time somebody said such thing to him. Help. Support. Those were such strange concepts to the brown haired sixteen year old. He would be the first to try and be there for those who he trusted - even if, before Yuuei, Rin and Yoru, there wasn't anybody like that. But nobody had ever got concerned about him. He was always there, but he was always invisible. And when he could be seen it was in order to be hurt.

"You should be the one in the hospital"
"You did that to her"
"Coward"
"Weak"
"Susanoo"
"Die"

Ah yes. It had been a long time since he heard those words, but they still echoed inside his heart. How was Ryuu kidding? Those were the words that shape the person he was today. The worst thing was that, part of him, really believed all of that. Maybe I really should be the one in a coma. Maybe I really am a coward. Maybe I really should be... dead. Why was he pretending to be happy and outgoing when that wasn't the true him? In fact, who was the true Ryuu?

He was still in front of the girl when she expressed to understand why Ryuu liked the Q-Zone and gratitude for having been invited there.

You're welcome, he said.

After that, he turned back, to sit at the edge of the stage. His legs were dangling in the air as he looked up to the whole in the ceiling, the sun shining of his face and making his eyes seem like they were made of gold.

She asked me to call for help - he made a slight pause - She screamed for me to run and find someone while she was getting attacked and I didn't even move, I just stood there and watched her almost die... The day before we had come here to look at the night sky - he lifted his arm up in the direction of the hole in the ceiling, reaching at the sky, at the sun - I asked her if she thought I could ever reach the stars. You know what she said? "Of course you can, just make sure to grab one for me once you're up there"

He closed his hand slowly, as he if was trying to grab something that wasn't there. Then, at the same speed, he started to lower his arm once again. He was still looking up, his left hand grabbing something on his chest. It was usualy hidden to his clothes, but he always had that necklace on - a  small and round silver pendant with a photo of both him and Yaso inside. A single tear began falling from one of his eyes as he kept talking.

I know it's much to ask even if you offered to do it, but if there's a 1% chance of her waking up then you're the only one I trust to do it.

The stars were nice, but at that point all that Ryuu wanted was being able to touch the sun one more time - and Rin was the only one he felt confortable enough to share that with.

Notes: Ryuu showing emotions, what kind of sorcery is this?!
Words: 550.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

                                          Theme: Ryuusei

Silence. Only silence when he finished talking. It was... it was the first time that he let out those feelings. Regret, sorrow, pain, anger. A vortex of emotions that tangled Ryuusei's heart into one giant catastrophe - a catastrophe that he kept hidden only for him to see. Why would anyone care? he often thought. The boy had everything: money, a loving family, a nice home, food on the table everyday... a future. So why? Why did he feel so alone, so destroyed from the inside? Why was the future so hard to grasp?

It was a good kind of silence. Only then did the young boy notice that Rinkusu had also sat down besides him. Then, after some seconds and after having listen to everything Ryuu had said, the black haired girl spoke to him. The more she spoke, the more Ryuu's mind resisted... but, at the same time, the walls that kept Ryuu's heart from being seen began crumbling.

"...and you have changed from that day, Ryuu-kun. You're no longer that scared little boy."

I didn't, I'm still the same...

"But this time, you acted. Ryuu-kun, you became the difference that freed me from that horrible place. All because you refused to make the same mistake again."

I-I... I didn't... That... That was all you, I-I did nothing...

"The current you would've saved your sister... The future you can save so many more from going through the pain you experienced."

The current me? The future me...? No, I wouldn't... Would I?

"Bring her those stars."

Ryuusei looked at Rinkusu. It was instantely, a quick motion of a somewhat disbelief... no - of a sudden realization. It was like had stopped at that exact moment when his eyes met hers. He could see everything more clearly now. His heartbeat His breathing. The sun shining onto his head. The cold air circulating the room. The birds singing outside. The rats running and hiding behind the stage. All the videogames he played.

His father training. His mother cooking. The population of Tokyo walking around Shibuya. Him and Yoru cleaning the pool. Rinkusu bumping into him on the street. His young self running around and chasing Yaso. The mist surrounding the future that he wanted to grasp so hard began disappearing. Behind it, the stars shone brightly. Yes, bringing her the stars - bringing the stars to all of them. That was a good dream to have.

On the outside what was once a single tear became waterfalls pouring down from both of Ryuu's eyes. Without thinking, he  just hugged Rin and cried into her fragile shoulder. Sobbing, almost yelling, he was so... vulnerable. He didn't even knew why he was reacting like that, he just was.

And, between all those tears, one could also hear something else if paying attention: the walls that protected Ryuu were falling and his heart was exposed. But so was his dream - his future.

Notes: ---
Words: 488.
Tags: Rin Kurama