Cloud gazing... (Suzune and open)

[Xiang Lien]

Alone is good, many people are bad.

Those words echoed through her head. Many peoples mean getting hurt. Alone mean safe and peaceful.

The warm air gently caressed her skin. The blue sky was covered with white cotton clouds accompanied by the sun that gives out light to the whole earth. Xiang was walking through the so called Freedom Space. She heard the place was beautiful and mostly of course peaceful. The only reason she came here is to find peace. Only that and nothing else.

After a long walk, her attention was caught by a big tree and slowly she approaches it. Upon reaching there, she placed her right hand against the thick tree trunk. It was hard, rough and she could see the tree slightly peeling. Despite the tree’s condition, she climbed up. One branch at one time. At last, she reaches the top and her amethyst wildly peered into the large sky, looking at the clouds as they pass by. The day was beautiful; no blacks cloud could be seen. But she didn’t mind if it was raining though. The sound of the dropping rain and the smell, it was all breathtaking. She envied those cotton fluffy white entities, moving freely on their free will. “So peaceful and free….” Xiang could only mutter seeing it moves following the southern wind breeze. Free from all the cruelty of the world, that was the only wish she truly desired.

[Suzune Himagawa]

This was only for the best

The girl was gasping for air. It's getting hard to breathe. Yes, the girl just escaped from the Infirmary once again. It was not unusual at all, escaping like that. She's been doing it all the time, making the personnel run for her. Well, who would want to stay in that place for a long time?

Suzune was wearing a light blue parka covering her checkered turtleneck top, a simple pair of jeans and red colored sneakers. She was wearing such heavy clothes for such a warm day. One thing's for sure, it smelled like antiseptics.

The blue-haired girl brought a pencil, paintbrush, and paint placed in a case and a canvas with her. That's what she always brings when she goes out. Her room in the infirmary used to be full of her paintings, but some of the personnel threw it away. It’s such a waste.

She found herself in front of a certain tree. She didn't notice that a person was sitting on top. Her eyes stared at the vast blue sky and sat down.

[Xiang Lien]

She closes her eyes for a moment, enjoying the wind breeze caressing her paled face. Her long blonde hair flow tenderly following the rhythm. She never wants it to stop. It was refreshing and to her, enjoyable. But something bound to happen. She shot open her eyes, when she felt a presence is getting near. Looking down to the earth, she saw a girl running while panting for air. Silently she prayed to God for the girl to run to another direction but it seems her prayer is not answered. Examining the newcomer, she tilted down her head. The girl was wearing such heavy clothes for such a hot season. Looking down to her own clothes, she stared it for a while. It was simple, yet trendy at the same time. Wearing a white sundress that reach to her knee and a pair of white sandals was the perfect clothes for a hot day.

She bit her lips when she saw the girl sat down. She clutches the tree branch nervously. She must get out from there before the girl notice her. Pure concentration and silence was the method. But how will she do it without her noticing? She inhaled and exhaled the air slowly, as she tried to stand up. Stretching out her hand, she slowly climbed down. Something occurs unexpectedly, the branch she was standing broke. Oh no, she was going to fall! ”Kyaaa….” She screams. But her alice activates fast. Before she could fall down, the whole tree freeze and the icy branch grew long and it manages to catch her. So much for keeping quiet.

[Suzune Himagawa]

As she turned to get the paint and paintbrush from the case, she felt something odd. For some reason, she found the back part of her clothing stuck on the tree and it was cold for some reason, it was cold. Well, she shouldn't have felt that way since she was wearing such heavy clothing and the day is warm as well.

”Kyaaa….”

Such an unusual sound for a lovely place, why would there be someone screaming in the time like this?

The girl looked at the direction of the tree. She was amazed to see that the tree was frozen solid. As the girl looked up to see what happened, she saw a long frozen branch, longer than any other, with a girl on it. It was an unusual sight. Maybe something happened to her, that's why that tree just froze. The effect of her alice maybe?

"Are you okay?"

She took the parka off, letting it stay on the tree. Then Suzune stood up and asked the girl who was on the branch. She made her voice loud enough for the blonde girl to hear.

[Xiang Lien]

“Ittaii…” She moaned painfully while rubbing her head. Her hips felt sore from the falling. "Are you okay?" She cringe hearing the soft voice. The girl noticed her. How couldn’t she? She was screaming her lungs out when she was falling. Slowly, she turns head towards the girl. This is what she fear the most, meeting people. Her once dry face was now wet in tears, she had disturbed the girl’s peace. Even though, her body felt quite sore, she forces herself to climb down the frozen tree. Once her foot touches the ground, she stood in front of the girl and apologized rapidly.


“Gomenasai, gomenasai, gomenasai, gomenasai!”She spoke, every words followed by a bow. Hoping the girl would not hurt her because of her disturbance.

[Suzune Himagawa]

Still, Suzune continued to stare at the girl who seem to be in pain. Looking at her doesn't necessarily help her at all but it made her think of an idea on what to paint. Painting only the vast blue sky is indeed plain but for some reason, it looks simply marvelous.

Since the girl couldn't help the blonde in any way because she can't even climb the tree, she sat down on her parka where she has left on the tree then she proceeded painting. Not the blue sky but a lonely snow scenery. For some reason, she couldn't explain why she painted it.

The sky is completely clear and it's warm..

She closed her eyes and quietly tried to hear the sound of nature. The birds were chirping happily, the warm wind caressed her cheeks, and she could hear the people laughing.

“Gomenasai, gomenasai, gomenasai, gomenasai!”

"h-huh?" The girl opened her eyes and noticed that the blonde girl who was once on the frozen tree branch was already in front of her. Now, she was the one saying sorry to her. Suzune noticed something on her face, Tears? Why are there tears on her eyes? Maybe because of the sudden fall she experienced.

Suzune went to her and took out a white hankerchief from her pocket. She gently wiped the tears from the girl's face. Then she smiled at her.

"Don't worry, it's nothing"

[Xiang Lien]

Tears. One by one, the crystal liquid slides down through her wet porcelain cheeks. Her blonde bang shadowed her flooded amethyst eyes as her head still tilting down, fearing of looking up. Every drop founds its way to the solid ground. She felt pity for herself. Always cried and never tried to defend herself, in other words she was a weakling. ‘Only the strong one survives in a battle, the weak ones will die’. Once, she read a quote in a library book and manages to insert it in her memory. She felt a huge similarity of her in the quote. Everyone was a strong warrior while she was the weak one. She can be killed anytime in the battle of her life. Nothing is good being weak. The only chance of surviving is 35% over 100. Pity isn’t it? Very pity indeed. Like a prisoner, waiting for the day they will be sentenced to death. Sometime you wish you were never born into the cruel world, where you suffered and got hurt every time.

A soft touch caressed her wet cheeks, wiping it with a piece of soft material. Looking up, revealing a pair of cerulean eyes. Her eyes were soft and you can see the light of kindness shining through it. A sweet smile played on her pink lips. Never in her life, she met someone was kind enough to wipe her tears except for Popo and her deceased parent. "Don't worry, it's nothing" Her voice was melodic to her ears. The feeling of fear slowly slipped out from her body. The girl was friendly and by the looks of it, she was not one of the bullies. But to be safe, Xiang muttered a few words.

“You’re not mad because of my disturbance?”