Among The Rooftops

[Xena]

ooc: Private.

The Elementary Building.

It was night now, the atmosphere chilling to an extreme, causing the people of the academy to retreat to their sanctuaries. Except for a few guards and the occasional disobedient child slipping out to wander the streets, very few were out tonight in Alice Academy.

But among the flat rooftops of the said building sat a rather peculiar girl, clad in a black dress with a gold trim and black suede platform shoes. She sat on the cold stone rooftops and wore very little to protect herself from the night air. This female is no other than the vice-president. To be referred to in a much shorter term, me.

Despite the frigid chills of this time, I looked up at the stars, a contented smile on my face, my bare arms and legs ignoring the cold air. In my arms I cradled a guitar, settled gently on my lap, the item something a friend of mine gave me. I finally figured out, bit by bit, how to play the song I requested him to play. I've also learned the basic chords in guitar playing.

I've taken care of this musical instrument. I've treasured it since it was something I saw as a gift for hardwork. It was the first item that was given to me ever since the mark of a new year, although it wasn't intended to be a gift in the first place. You see, I saw this young man playing a guitar. We conversed casually for a bit, I asked him to play for me, he 'asked' me to sing, and after that, he gave it to me. 'Take it,' he said.

I was in an odd daze today. I walked around aimlessly, accomplishing my chores like a zombie. It was until night fell that I finally managed to snap out of it, as if waking up from a surreal dream. I closed my eyes, before I let my left hand on the neck and rest my right arm on the body's side, my fingers pressing together to substitute for a pick.

I breathed in and strummed a random chord.

"Ohh," I sang out in a tune. Strum another chord that will remain unnamed. "Ohh, yeah." I looked down on the guitar. I really didn't know what I was doing, so I stopped trying to guess the next lyric to this coming song. I sighed again, before raising my head in the air and closing my tired eyes. "Hmm, yeah," I let myself continue absentmindedly, opening my eyes slightly to the sight of the sparkling stars in the velvet sky.

[x A m r i t a . . .]

And if he thought dying was such a big deal, he was wrong. This time, he was insane. Obviously craving to make music, and not insanity. Though the freedom of movement around his left wrist was restricted by a firm bandage newly placed around. Having an old smell of alcohol from a weird ointment.

He cursed under his breath before his cat purred around his calf. She obviously wanted attention. And if he could, he would pick her up and cuddle her. He only eyed him through the corner of his eyes. Looking down on the cat.

She seemed to have understood him. If she didn't, she wouldn't have jumped on the bed and then climb up to sit at his right shoulder. Almost as if she knew his left wasn't suitable.

Either way, that didn't solve the problem.

The problem was the strings. He could strum them, but not exactly do anything apart from that. And it roughly took ten minuets just to place on his jacket, because he couldn't control his limited-movement wrist properly.

It was almost like a sulking moment for Kuro.

He stood up, with his cat balancing, curled up with her head peering forward as if she was percieving something. Even though she's not percieving anything. He walked outside of the room and shut the door behind him.

--

The raven-haired climbed up the stairs of the very dark corridors of the elementary school building. Opening the door to the rooftop, his eyes almost immediately scanned around. There sat his aquintance-- what's-her-name, he forgot.

And what would he say to her when she ask about his wrist? He couldn't really make anything up, even though it was a stupid story he planned never to tell to anyone.

[Hana]

I was sleeping deeply, dreamlessly, one slim bare arm outflung -- until I unintentionally knocked my alarm clock down to the ground when I shifted my position to the side and sent an arm on the air -- then, that happened. I stirred, moaned faintly, dropped into sleep again. I don't want to be awake, but a part of me wanted to. I yawned elaborately, stretched my slim arms high above my head; then, with a desperate effort, flung back the bed-clothes, swung my legs over the side of the bed and slipped my toes into the shabby slippers that lay on the floor.

Afterwards, I was all astir and was converting my night attire to the odd, purple outfit I wear frequently. I couldn't make an enquiry if I was still tired or not. Well, I guess I still was. I yawned again disinterestedly and ventured out. As what most people do, I walked around lazily -- until I arrived on the rooftop of the Elementary School Building. Now, this is refreshing, indeed.

At least I couldn't smell the acrid odor of some mucked trashes, retched meals or drinks that spills in the depths of the corridor. I, of course, sat on the rooftop and saw one girl and one boy here -- or maybe I was just blind because of my feeling of sleepiness. I only stared at the sky that didn't equally match my skin tone. I swung my feet back and forth, the air beneath me was cool despite the sandals protecting my feet. I can just feel it.

The roof and the night weather's company just negated the discomfort I felt earlier. And I didn't convulse one bit. I feel so relaxed.

[Xena]

"Ah."

I settled my upper torso unto the rooftop, flopping myself down a bit harder than I normally intended. I grimaced slightly, before gripping the guitar tighter. Wouldn't want it to fall now, would we? I was in heaven; all things beautiful are directly in front of me, just within my reach. I stretched an open-palmed hand in to the air facing the night sky, flexing my fingers for exaggeration.

My sky addiction is coming back.

I recalled Yukino and the topic on the other side of the sky. And me wanting to fly. I sighed loudly, before letting my hand drop limply to my side against the rooftop, hitting painfully. Jeezu. I think it fell asleep, but whatever. It's not like pain lasts forever now, does it? No. Those who let themselves be victim to this fake, 'everlasting pain' are merely stupid.

Yes. Idiotic fools.

I heard the familiar add of sound made by hinges. The door leading to this whole, other world I'm currently residing in isn't a fan of silence. I disappointedly sighed before lifting myself up, turning my head and my body slightly as I gazed at the one who opened the door. My eyes weren't easily acquainted with the dark, giving me a somewhat dim vision with no lights around, only the company of the twinkling stars.

I squinted at the newcomer, seeing the shape of a cat with an incredibly tall stature.

Uh-huh. My eyesight must be worse than I thought, or there was a giant cat that pawed open a door. I squinted again, before finally seeing familiar, facial features. Kurosagi Tatsuya, the one who gave me his guitar. "Hey," I greeted, uncertain for some reason. I figured it must be because I originally thought of the figure as an enormous cat, and seeing it was a friend made me do a rough U turn.

And little miss Muffet sat on the edge of the said rooftop, swinging her legs in the chilly air, staring at the night sky as I did earlier. I threw another look at Kurosagi, inviting him to come closer. I couldn't see him too well. I fixed my pose and positioned my fingers before beginning to strum. F, then C, afterwards D, before B, and continuing on.

Your Guardian Angel in his presence again.
Talk about déjà vu.

[x A m r i t a . . .]

It was getting hard to find someone where no one else is around. The only place that ever existed that lets him be by himself was back at the old boarding house at Kanazawa. Even so, his very limited moment of peace were soon broken by knocks from the other side.

He cleared his throat, having his right hand clenched into a light first as he cleared his throat. He came forth, letting the wind close the door behind him. The cat dug her nails on his jacket, just a matter of balancing. She was forgiven, it never did reach his skin covered flesh.

".... Hey.." He replied.

His right hand spontaneously slipped into his jeans' pocket. Hiding away the cast, with the help of his jacket, it was quite easy. His right hand was still beside him, not even bothering to slip it inside his pockets too.

Gray eyes hidden with a lightly tinted orange shades scanned the girl. There it was-- his guitar. One of the most valuable item in his collection, yet he gave it away as if it was a mere five yen. It wasn't though. He thought he could trust the girl. Besides, she even ate his lunch before.

If that reason wasn't enough: he's met her a few times. She's the vice president.

"You're taking care of it well..."

[Hana]

Alright, then. My brain is getting mussed up now. My eyebrows shot up, almost touching my hairline as my lips twitched. The male person I just spotted right now -- he's from the Infirmary. I had to make my eyes comically wide, so the word "blind" won't be my new description. My gaze stalked off to the deep confines of the Academy before me -- aside from the sky. The male's voice erupted me from my musings.

'.... Hey.. you're taking care of it well...'

"..."

Before I began to say something, I realized that the statement was directed to the girl just a few yards away from me. But if it was directed to me, I wouldn't understand that, but I would surely embrace myself in the commencing conversation. Anyway, it's their conference, not mine. Unless if they invite me to them, it's still fine for me.

Besides, it's even better than just being drunkards; the people that pounds on the lacquered wooden table in an attempt to intoxicate themselves even further. Yeah.

OOC: Blocked to hell.

[Xena]

'.... Hey..'

I grinned sheepishly at his lack of words, stopping my strumming of the song's intro. Ech, this is the new way of mine on how I react to single-worded or voiceless responses; either give a puzzled expression or become a bit awkward. I turned my head to his general direction, before raising an eyebrow upon seeing the young man's action of pocketing his hand, but didn't question him...for the moment. I didn't see anything odd with this, although if we run out of topics to talk about tonight, I might as well bring it up. Then again, I wasn't out here to socialize, was I?

I don't think I had 'planned' to socialize tonight.
Might as well go with what might happen.

I felt the slight pressure of Kurosagi's gaze through his shades as I twisted my head along with my gaze to the nightly view, slightly strumming but not realizing I was doing so. 'You're taking care of it well...' I threw the Discipline Watcher a glance, understanding immediately that he was referring to the guitar in my hands. I grinned again, looking at the instrument, happy he'd think that. A bit proud as well, but I'm not about to boast right now. I plucked the first and sixth open strings at the same time, beginning the tab of the song I played with his guitar while it was still in his possession.

And before he threw a snowball at me.

I felt a bit bad about the other girl, who deserved as much attention from talking, but I wasn't oh so sure she was the friendly type or the cold-shoulder type. I grimaced inwardly, managing to continue the correct sounds from the guitar, before taking a deep breath.

"So uh...you two know each other?"

I didn't know where that came from; maybe the look on the blonde's face made a swipe at my senses, making me recall feelings of familiarity. I stopped playing, noticing that I didn't want to finish any song tonight anyway, simply stopping and continuing in another part of the music I'm recreating.

[x A m r i t a . . .]

The wind blew stronger up where they were than when he was down on ground or inside the building, although the building always had some sort of chill in it. Then again, it was always colder inside than it is outside. Unless they had the heater on, of course.

That guitar the girl was holding-- it wasn't just some old Fender acoustic guitar. It was probably the first or second guitar he had in his early guitaring life. It explained why it looked old and used, although the strings and stringboard metals still looked new. Mostly because he took the tips from the music store to use a steel wool to cleanse it.

And boy, was he glad to see it in perfect condition. She seemed to be attached to it too. If not, she wouldn't be bringing it outside, no? He was like that too. Right now, even though he couldn't play, he was still kept sane by the vice president unintentionally.

Her sudden question struck about the other girl with them. Or was it a girl? He couldn't really see.

"Not at all." He replied simply.

Not even realising or noticing that she was with him when he had his wrist been wrapped around some tan colored firm band. He took steps forward, reducing the distance between himself and miss vice pres. Now beside her, he turned around from facing the views, resting his back on the railing, his right foot's sole on the wall.

The cat jumped down from his shoulder to the railing, then to the concrete 'ground'. She curled in the space between Kurosagi's leg and Xena. The raven haired boy's right arm manouevered back, leaning on the railing.

[Hana]

The silence broke into pieces by the boy and the girl's determined voices -- which also lasted in a short lapse period of time. I wasn't even flabbergasted one bit that the boy didn't remember me. Why would I? We're not friends yet. And to tell you the truth, I wasn't chinning my ears in between their conversation. Their voices are just too loud for me to hear.

I'd just rather sit here than just doing something on my davenport. I need relaxation -- at least for a while. I grappled a moment to savor the remnants of the air. I doused my head down, trying to think of anything rather than just leaving my brain blank. My brain puckered up an idea to stay here all night. Even sleeping here is a pretty good idea to me.

[Xena]

"Not at all."

I cast a glance at the boy, then to the blonde female, before nodding thoughtfully, "I see." I was mildly disappointed, seeing that the night's party wouldn't be composed of three people, but also the slight trouble for introductions. My fingers twitched, reminding me of how I hated making a new start, yet I couldn't recall or see the reason why. My shallow impatience with the matter wasn't questioned that far and there isn't any reason to pursue the matter further.

I continued on with the music I was making while I heard the discipline watcher walking closer, the ground acquainted below my figure giving me a feel of his steps. His sauntering stopped beside me, making me look up, expecting words to emerge from his mouth, or for him to withdraw his hand that he kept pocketed in his jeans. A small squeak of surprise came from my mouth as the animal on his shoulder leaped to the railing where the boy was leaning against, before landing to the solid rooftop.

The feline, I admit, unnerved me slightly, as I lacked experience dealing with animals, yet I continued to play, my eyes focused on the neck of the guitar, my gaze able to take in my fingers and the cat. It curled on the ground, and for a moment a thought that it was asleep flashed in my mind, though I ignored this bit and didn’t do anything about it.

I stole a glance at the blonde, wondering why she hasn’t spoken up, to comment about the night or something ‘friendly’. But now, I think she’s the go-away-and-leave-me-alone type of girl. With what seemed to be background music, I blame the guitar, I thought of how awkward this situation is. My intention was to relax, not to stress about this. I sighed inwardly – groaned, more likely – at the quiet atmosphere, getting increasingly annoyed.

“How was your day?”

My voice acted purely on sociable impulse, the question so nonchalant and smooth I thought the words hadn’t escaped my lips. I shifted my gaze to Kurosagi first, before the blonde girl, pondering slightly if she’d leap at this chance to reply. The informal query applied to them both, though I seriously hope they won’t talk at the same time. I looked back at the male Tatsuya expectantly, my fingers gliding over the strings and pressing them, while the other set plucked.

[x A m r i t a . . .]

From the sounds of it, she'd gotten better than what he'd heard before at the tatami matted dojo. Where he'd given up the posession of his very first guitar that he had ever owned in his whole life. He closed both of his eyes and cocked his head towards the sky. The breeze was cool, light and nice.

It almost felt like he could just.. fall... over the railings and fly without wings. And he doesn't want to think any further than that. He doesn't want to think of blood on gore. Never did he want to, in the first place. His breaths are inaudible to anyone but him, emitting deep and long intakes and slow outtakes.

He was as calm as usual, displaying the same mischevious face that showed no smile nor frown. Conserved and sincere, as if his emotions had never betrayed him. His gray orbs were shut by personal blinds, just listening to the airy light music. Although it was never as good as his, he still liked it.

How was his day?

Bad. But his inner emotions never betrayed him. Just like a boy-- he hid it well. Not very well, but it was still better than the rest who acts all sad and bothered, but they don't want to share it either. Only making their so called friends worried. Some friend he is.

"Alright," he replied casually. "You?" Still, having his head cocked towards the sky and eyelids covering the orbs.