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Les Symphonies: La Symphonie Encore

by Nigihayami Haruko ::: 18.Mar.2004

One step, two step, three step

Looking up at the stars in the sky

~

A lone figure was perched on the large rock, his dark shirt juxtaposing the luminous sky as though daring its colours to bleed into him. Hands clasped over his drawn knees, the man rested his angular chin on them while staring pensively into the horizon. It seemed so near, yet so far away, as though he only needed to reach out a palm for it to rest within his grasp, still he knew it was wishful thinking. And dreams, like the horizon, always remained far and away.

--"Do you know what I love about the sound of the wind?"

She held on tightly to his hand, her braid occasionally whipping him as she turned her head from side to side, but he didn't mind, not at all. Her boundless enthusiasm for life drew him to her though he knew that one day was all they had. One day

"What?"

He couldn't help but indulge in her, for all the smiles that she bestowed upon him, he would circle the world twice over to return them to her

"They tell me secrets. Secrets that they would only share with me."--

~

Not thinking too much

It must be me who's misheard

misread

or mislead everything

~

Her feet dug into the soft sand as her slippers hung precariously yet firmly in her fingers. The salty air blowing through her locks, she kept another hand holding her bangs back. Smiling to the horizon, she was tempted to shout a greeting to it, surely something so pretty could be lonely some days too!

Today was a wonderful day for the emerald-eyed pixie who knew not what pain was, or rather, refused to acknowledge it and allow it to cripple her. Today, she was going to appreciate what -today- was for, and that is to enjoy life!

Humming softly to herself, she started a slow jog along the coastal lines of the shore as though cheering the horizon on, one day, just you wait, she would surely beat it!

~

All this while, the only thing I've

Wanted was your company

~

The waves crashed to shore in a rhythmic beating as old as time. When did they start this musical of theirs? Right after the Big Bang? Or did something happen to make the large expanse of water body before him gyrate the way it did? Perhaps a meteor? Perhaps an earthquake... Or perhaps, the Moon was always there, the way the Sun had always shone and will always continue to shine upon this Earth. But still, nothing lasted forever, did it?

The man mused as he stretched his lanky body down on the rock. Contemplating to himself, he rested his head on his arms which were folded behind him, shutting his eyes he willed all other thoughts out save the sound of the crashing waves that enveloped his entire being

--"Ne, Oniichan, do you want to know one of the secrets?"

"Are you sure you can tell?" He raised his eyebrow at her, in such a comical fashion that he knew she would giggle, a sound he could never tire of despite hearing it the whole day already. And she most definitely did not disappoint him

"Yes, they said that I can tell the person I love, and I love Oniichan!"--

Just hearing those words would make his day, until today, he could hear them.

~

Unknowingly, you've already left

Unknowingly, I've been following this rhythm

Only now do I know that it's another Autumn

Only now do I know that it's time to live again

~

Slowly, she picked up her pace, practically sprinting to the site. She could see it in the horizon. Its sight looming up in her peripheral vision as she stopped to admire the formidable formation created entirely by Mother Nature herself. Never has she felt so small, so minute despite the fact that she was -nearly- a fully grown woman. Then again, she *was* a pretty dimunitive sized person for her age and gender. She always blamed that on her pint-sized father, but her slim mother had some hand in her petite frame as well. Her eyes darkened at the thought of her parents as memories flooded her mind

Staring up at the greyish-green structure in front of her, she pursed her lips, remembering what her father used to say about it everytime they brought her there

"Grey-green, just like your eyes, the most beautiful shade of love."

She whispered the words to herself, testing them on her tongue as they rolled around her mouth, sinking straight into her soul. Those words were spoken by her father, the man who brought her up to be all that she could be, the man who taught her that it was never the strength of the body, but of the heart that matter, the man who gave her everything, and then some more.

Taking a deep breath, she breathed in the tangy sea air and squealed to herself, reminding herself of her promises

"Otousan! I'm ba~ack!"

'I promise to be strong.'

~

You insisted that I leave

But how could I forsake this?

~

"... Like your eyes, the most beautiful shade of love..."

He jerked up into a sitting position, craning his head to look for the source of that voice which broke the peace. Who was that? He would really like to meet such an optimistic believer

--"Do you know what dreams are? Do you? They are like the little clouds in the sky!"

The little girl pulled him to his feet, dancing around as he found his mouth inadvertently tugging into a grin

"How so?"

"They float around, waiting for you to recognize their shape, and when you do, you can do anything!"--

"OTOUSAN! I'M BA~ACK!"

Then again, he might decide to pass

~

Flowers fill the sky

And you're the reason for it's fragrance

~

Putting her slippers back on, she trudged to the bottom of the familiar rocks. This was her favourite haunt as a child, and she had utmost confidence in herself that even in the middle of dusk, when all the light has escaped the land, she could find herself at 'their spot'. Years of climbing and finding the perfect bumps and curves would not fail her now

Hiking her shirt sleeves, the woman-child proceeded to scale the formation as she had done so over the years

A firm grip on the rough surface, a foot perching on the ledge, she soon found herself more than half way up. Stopping for a breath, she wiped the sheen of sweat on her forehead in surprise. It's been three years, but still, how could she break a sweat?! Grimacing at the palm of her hand which bore the tell tale perspiration, she puerilely stuck a tongue out at it

"I am -so- still in shape! I'll show you!"

With those words, all signs of teasing and good humour left her visage as grim determination laced her features, bearing into her limbs.

'I promise never to lose sight of my dreams.'

~

I'm afraid

that my tears would fall

~

Shifting himself, he stood up, brushing himself off. She was climbing up the rocks if the grunts and occasional mutterings were any indication. Walking slowly towards the edge of the 'precipice', he stood gazing down at the vision that was climbing up slowly to where he was.

She was dimunitive, though 'petite' would have been a nicer word to use, but he was never one to speak his thoughts out anway, so whatever words he wanted to use, be it politically correct or not, was really no one else's business. Back on track, he found his vision curiously following her every move. From the time she started her ascent, to the time she stopped, sticking her tongue out at her own palm and pumping her arms in a determined action to tell herself that she would not be beaten. Her spirit was admirable for sure

Seeing her slowly make her way up, he found his thoughts drifting away to a sprite whose memory was awoken in the depths of his mind. Hasn't he met her before? Shaking his head of his thoughts, he proceeded to wait for her to arrive, things were surely looking up now

--"The wind told me that even if Oniichan and I part, we'll always find each other!" She whispered into his ear, afraid that like all her other words, the wind would carry it away, away from this wonderful Oniichan, away from everything that she held dear

Turning to her in astonishment, he smiled gently down at her

"Yes, one day, when Oniichan and I can't remember today anymore, when we've forgotten, when we've lost... something, we'll find each other again, ne? Ne?"

He merely nodded his head, agape at the boundless wisdom she seem to hold within that tiny frame of hers. Even in his early teens, he never thought of such things

"Surely, I'll always find Oniichan."--

~

Neither stubborn nor escaping

with no one holding us back

We can happily leave

~

The higher she reached, the more her thoughts drifted away. All she could see in the immediate distance was the grey-green, coarse texture of the rocks. She could barely feel them as she scaled the formation, all thoughts turning to the first time she arrived, to the first time she laid her eyes on the formidable creation of nature that was to be her second home

The day was very much like today had been, clear, endless blue...

"Like Mama's eyes." She softly whispered in the recesses of her mind as a flash of sapphire appeared before her mind's eye. If she closed her eyes, she could still see the laughing, sparkling orbs smiling at her.

Tightening her grip on the rocks, she remembered that day, many years ago, where her father left her down below, afraid to bring her up lest she hurt herself. She had pouted, complaining that he was treating her like the little princess that she actually was. Despite her protests, he merely laughed it off and told her that one day, she would be old enough to reach the summit. But being two and so small, her impatience drove her to tears that day.

Still, she ate her oatmeal everyday, forcing herself to grow stronger and wiser so that her father may bring her to the place where he proposed to her mother.

"A fairytale..."

She was not a fan of fairytales or myths, believing that they were merely there for the moral that they taught, and not truths that they revealed, but really, her parents love story was an unforgettable and moving story. A story of how two people, in the midst of the turbulent crowd of people and fate between them, had found each other. They beat the odds that they faced and forged a new beginning together. Despite love failing them before, they refused to allow love to dishearten them. Like they always say, 'you can lose faith in the people in the world, in the horrible happenings to everybody... to you, but don't ever lose hope in love'

And she never did

'I promise to always believe in love.'

~

A long time ago there was someone who loved you

but then the wind slowly blew

widening the distance between you

~

She was struggling, he could tell. Despite the fact that it wasn't too hard to scale, personally, it only took him ten minutes to reach the top, still, he was amazed that it took her such a short time to reach the final lag, where she was, within that span of time. She must be pretty fit and strong. He wanted to move down, to put his hand out and pull her up, but he knew how she might mistake him for an assailant. Dressed in his dark clothings the way that he was, anyone could take him for an assasin.

Still, he was surprised at his turn of thoughts. Help her?

Maybe

--Grinning in the face of her determination, he tugged at her braid

"And how do you know that you can find me?"

She merely smiled

"Because I made a promise."

"What's promise?"

"It's a secret!"--

~

I'm falling from the precipice of love

too far with no way of climbing out

too fast with no way of reaching tomorrow

~

Darkness loomed in front of her as she gazed up into a blob of black

A blob?

Curiously she stared at the figure which slowly sharpened from its original blurry edges to the silhouette of the man that was standing before her.. and what's that? An outstretched hand?

Staring at it, she shifted her gaze between his shadowed face, hidden by the rays of sunlight that came from behind him, to his hand. It took her a few minutes to register his intent, in between which he fidgeted a great deal. Was he that unused to the idea of helping people?

Feeling the tremor in his hand as she took it, she believed so. It was obviously not from her weight, for she knew, and was getting more aware of the fact, that he was bigger than her. And as he hauled her to her feet from the half crouched position that she assumed earlier, she was all the more concious of the obvious disparity of their sizes... he was large!

~

Without you

I'm in such agony

~

"Ah... thank you."

She spoke up with such gratitude and geniune gratefulness that he couldn't help but smile back at her, unaware of his own actions. It has been such a long time since he has practiced using his facial muscles that it was most definitely a new experience for him. Still, witnessing the pure, unadultered joy on her face from his lame attempt, he couldn't help but widen that grin a little more

"You're welcome."

Neither spoke much, owing to the fact that they don't quite know each other, and also to the fact that she had long since scampered off to the other corner of the rock, bending down and peering carefully and closely to the surface of the rock, as though searching for something

Raising an eyebrow in the face of her actions, he merely followed silently behind her, waiting to see what she was going to do next.

--"So you'd tell the wind's secrets to me but not your own?"

He tried to pull his face, but it was to no avail, not when she was gazing at him with such adoration and affection

"Hai!"--

~

Without you, my soul lost control

The dark clouds descended

...Blowing me away

~

She meticulously smoothed her hand over the surface of the rocks, as though trying to find some trap door of some kind. Moving on all fours, she resembled an animal scrounging for food, really. But that did not stop her from searching

"What are you looking for?"

His voice broke out behind her, as she could hear his footsteps nearing her, his looming shadow blocking the sunlight momentarily. Curiousity laced his tone as he crouched to her level, trying to discern whether she took after a weasel or a raccoon more. A weasel, he nodded to himself

"Some carvings."

She had expected him to be contented with her words and leave after hearing them, but was pleasantly surprised when he remained in his position and started looking as well

Her mouth agape, she merely stared at him as he went on all fours to find what she was looking for

Concentrating on his search, he did not see the wide smile she flashed in his direction before lowering her gaze to continue her own search.

~

You call me a child

never explaining my actions

I think that you're the child

always needed explanations

~

"Forget it."

He could hear the resignation in her voice as she slowed her previously frantic and active search

"The clouds are gathering, soon, it would be overcast."

Her explanation was sound, but he could hear the vast amount of disappointment mixed with her logical reasoning. She did not want to stop

"But doesn't that mean that dreams are abound?"

He could not stop the words that spilt from his mouth. With her, it seemed as though he found that little girl once more. They shared the same bright eyes, though their hair length and stature do not match. Still, he could not help but compare them together in his mind

"Excuse me?"

Shaking his head, he apologized

"I'm sorry, just something that I heard before... it's... it's stupid, really-"

But she cut him off with her next sentence

"Dreams are like clouds aren't they... Oniichan?"

She smiled up at him, tentatively and shyly, afraid that she has made a mistake. Plopping herself down, she sat down, leaning slightly backwards with her palm outstretched on the ground supporting her own weight

"Ahh. They float around, waiting for you to recognize them..."

"And when you do, you can do anything!" She finished off with a little giggle, the same sound he had missed so much, even without realising it. Launching herself into his arms, she enveloped him in a bear hug, pushing him off balance as he fell backwards lying flat on the ground.

~

Don't worry about me

I'll get along fine

~

The two of them lay on the rock, side by side, watching the dark clouds gathering as the wind picked up. Turning to her, he could not resist the grin that tugged at his lips

"So, what is the wind telling you this time?"

"That I will find what I'm looking for, as long as I look in the right places."

Moving herself up, she turned toward him and rested her weight on her elbow, gazing down into his stormy eyes

"How do you know that you can trust it?"

He smirked, recognizing the look in her eyes

"It has never led me wrong." Tilting her head to one side, in the action that he so loved, she continued. "Hasn't it led me here, to meet you again?"

Turning serious, he regarded her, taking in the small pointed nose, the bangs that were always unruly and wild since childhood, the eyes that never failed to amaze and bear right into him

"And how did you find me?"

Shaking her head, she refused to answer

"You'll have to try harder to convince me to spill my secret!"

Pushing himself off the rocky ground, he used his free hand to pull her towards him as his lips captured her in an embrace that spoke of tenderness and great need, of affection coupled with desire. Pulling back from her glazed look and soft pants, he gazed at her through half-lidded eyes

"Convinced?"

As she was opened her mouth, she stopped half way, her eyes snapping at attention. Scrambling up to an upright position, she crawled to the position behind him

"Oniichan! Look!"

~

...quietly hearing you tease

seeing you sleep

until I turn old and grey...

~

He turned, bringing his gaze down to the carvings on the ground

"Wha-?"

She laughed and cried at the same time, repeating the same phrase over and over again

"I've found it, I've found it..."

Squinting his eyes at the words that were obviously put there by a hand of man, he tried to make them out, though the years of the elements' punishment and torture have eroded them quite a bit. Looking up at the estatic girl, he merely quirked his eyebrow. Getting the message, she made her way toward him as she recounted to him the tale of love

"My father wrote this. He... wrote this when he first met my mother, although they parted soon after. But he came back every year to see this until one day, they met once more. Then, they fell in love, months later, he proposed to her by this site. They would return all the time, but not anymore. I wanted to come back, to see evidence... of their love."

Pulling her onto his lap, he read the words out loud:

"Lovers live, and lovers die, but love lives on forever."

Turning to her, he enveloped her in his embrace while he kissed her soundly

"Your father was a wise man... Misao."

~

Back to back, make a wish

and if the stars afar can hear

it would surely come true

~

"Hm." She merely murmured, contented in his embrace. "Do you know?"

He turned to her, questions clouding his sky-blue eyes.

"Do you know how I can find you again?"

Shaking his head in dissent, he merely waited for her reply

"I made promises and believed in them."

She simply stated

"Because we have a chord tying us together, because we love each other, because we will find each other again."

Pulling him towards her, she rested her head in the nook of his neck, enjoying the warmth from him

"...And the wind never lies, Aoshi."

~

Lovers live

And lovers die

But love lives on forever