Chance Meeting II

Sayuri took a deep breath, fidgeting with her fingers. She didn't know how to explain. Sora fixed his ebony eyes on her, his expression unreadable. She seemed interested in the ridges of her fingertips all of a sudden.

Sayuri: Well... Emi... Emi is a kind soul. She also loves flowers. I-I see her around them a lot. I have a feeling.. she's not very self confident is she?

Sora: Maybe you're right.
Sayuri: And Rikka, I don't think she likes me.

Sora chuckled again softly, shaking his head. Rikka was a complicated creature--like a wild cat. One he used to be able to tame. That's what drew him towards her before.

Sora: Rikka... she's special.

Sayuri: ...she is. She's very fierce. Like a free spirit, but also elegant at the same time. She seems to hate humans very much though... i wonder why...?

Sora: ... she'll tell you when the time is right.

Sayuri: Heh..oh and Takumi...

Sayuri thought for a while.

Sayuri: Takumi.. he's like a shadow isn't he? No wonder everyone calls him 'Kage' (Shadow). He's so silent, mysterious and just pops up once in a while.

Sora: We're all mysterious and different.

Sayuri: yes you are.. but you're... you're not like them...
Sora: What do you mean?

Sayuri: You're the Prince of the school, head of the student council. You're very strong, very commanding and a great leader.

Sora: Must be great huh? To have all this power.

Sayuri: ... must be so lonely.

Sora: Huh?

Sora started, eyes suddenly darted to her face, which was lifted up gazing at the blinding sunlight and expanse of blue. She smiled softly.

Sayuri: It must be tough.. having so many expectations. People who demand so much of you. You have to keep everything in order and all. You must feel so contrained. It must be so hard.

Sora: It's not.
Sayuri: You know, I think that sometimes you should tell the truth about how you feel. Everyone would help you. It'd make it easier and all that pressure and constrained feelings would lessen.

Sora's eyes widened. No one had ever said that to him. No one besides Takumi ever spoke about the demands, expectations that comes with being a leader. Everyone else naturally thought that he was okay with everything. He opened his mouth to say something but...
What could he say? This woman--this human woman had rendered him unable to speak. For the first time, ever he felt... relieved. Relieved that someone finally understood all that pressure. Sayuri felt the gap between them grow smaller, and as she sat there smiling, for the first time, he looked at her with warm eyes.

Sora: You know, you're a strange girl.

Asuka: I think so too.

Sora and Sayuri jumped to their feet and swirled around as a very annoyed-looking Asuka stood there with her arms folded. Sora mentally cursed himself. How could he have been so distracted with his surroundings? Sayuri felt Sora tense up and close himself up again in those icy walls of his. She smiled sadly. Just when she felt that things were going great...

Asuka: So. Care to explain what's going on?

Sora: I don't know, you tell me.

Sayuri shivered. Sora's eyes were cold once again.