#gacktia

Lately, such opportunities were scarce, as the shadow himself was scarce around the academy. Tonight he stood against the dormitory walls, his stylish shirt open by a few buttons to expose just the right amount of chest. His eyes were gazing up at the moon above, thinking of everything and nothing all at once. He was consumed until he heard someone approaching, and his eyes turned to fall upon someone who looked… unfamiliar.

It was wonder Nicolette was ever at her dorm. There wasn’t much to do there when she was there and her roommate always seemed to m.i.a. so she was rarely ever there. Most of her time was spent either at the academy for classes or out exploring and enjoying the nightlife of the city. Though to be more specific partying at the clubs and drinking.

Standing in the empty dorm room Jieun's arms hung limply at her side as her eyes once again scanned the room for a note, a message in a bottle, some small sign left behind by her former friend with the reason as to why she wasn't around. It had been some time since she had seen the angel she had come to cherish as one of her closest friends in the academy and perhaps in some small part of her heart she had smothered away the feelings that had moved beyond friendship though she had never been able to fully admit them.

Upon coming to check up on the girl, to make sure she was okay and to hopefully catch up on things Jieun had wandered to her dorm and after knocking for several minute she'd let herself inside. What she had never expected was to find the room void of all things Taeyeon had kept for herself. Gone were the pictures of their motley trio, gone were the angels bibles, books and figurative chastity belts. Gone was any trace that she had ever existed save for the memories that were winding through Jieun's mind like an old fashioned movie reel.

She was gone. Just like they all did Taeyeon had disappeared without a word as if the moments they had spent together meant nothing to her. In the past months, years, Jieun had seen many of the ones she considered friends come and go, but she couldn't remember feeling a pain quite like the one threatening to strangle her at this moment. She could hear the blood pounding in her ears, feel the heat of anger boiling beneath her skin threatening to burn everything in hero path. Her chest felt as if someone had taken their dullest knife and was slowly inserting it through her heart. She had to get out of here. She wasn't sure why nor was she sure how she ended up at the training area but what she did know was that she had to release the anger she was feeling somehow.

First came the target practice with arrow after arrow being fired until her target was full of holes and her fingers beneath her gloves were bloody and numb from the string. Then came the daggers which she flung at the same target until it was barely recognizable. She could feel the wrist that had been in a plaster cast until recently throbbing in pain as she over worked the muscles but she didn't care, the pain was good, it gave her something else to focus upon and there was plenty of it. Pain in her wrist, pain in the ankle that was still tightly wound in a bandage, pain from the bruised ribs that had made contact with the car when she had been hit but still nothing muted the pain she felt from her best friend leaving. Anger still held tight in her chest as she began running through sword maneuvers and techniques and it was then that she heard the amused chuckle from the shadows of the room and out emerged quite a familiar face.

"Oh it's you." It was a far cry from her usual polite and sweet demeanor when it came to the shadow. A hand scrubbed across her face shoving sweat and hair from her skin as she turned her back to the other. "Did you need the room? I can leave. Just wanted to get some practice in before the day was over." The annoyance in her tone was evident, the discomfort showing in the rigidness of her shoulders. She wasn't in the mood for company so why did he have to show up?

She didn't have to look upon his face to know it was painted with concern and then came the question she was dreading and whirling around to face him she mustered a smile that was more snarl than cheer before she spoke.

"I'm fine. Just trying to practice, in silence so either you leave or you can grab a sword and put your technique where your mouth is!"

Gackt blinked, thoroughly surprised by the sudden visit as much as he was by the gift. “Where do your sources come from, I wonder?” He let out a deep melodic laugh as his many-ringed fingers reached out to lift a cup from the basket, inspecting the design curiously. “Normally I might refuse such a thoughtful gift, however I believe it would be best if we shared the wine over dinner, would you not agree?”

@gackt-ia​

Seline realized the first day she opened her shop that not many people would stop by it and it was either that these folks around were not interested in antiques nor astrology, or she was doing a horrible job promoting her shop-- which she figured it was the later. The day she arrived she talked about the place with a few students and staff members, but that was it.

So, there she was, holding a bunch of flyers to toss into every living being that would pass by-- student, teacher, staff, just anyone, and she also figured it was better to give them off on the academy grounds. It happen to be more active than the village apparently, at least by daylight. 

“Lady Midnight is now opened-- offering all of you a great variety of beautiful antiques!

                             Also opened for Tarot reading sessions.& exchange offers are acceptable!”

Several people took hold of the small paper she was giving them, including this man that seemed so-- mysterious. His aura honestly caught her attention as delicate hands offered a flyer to him too. “Lady Midnight is now opened at Vighulir--” She said in a gentle tone, though added something she has not told the others-- not because it was a secret, in fact it was quite obvious, but because for some reason she wanted to keep the conversation alive. “I’m Seline, the owner.” 

As far as the moon sprite knew, not many Japanese people celebrated Christmas. Rather than being a religious celebration, it was similar to Valentine’s Day where couples spent a romantic evening together and exchanged presents. Shou remembered receiving many gifts from his customers the previous year (most of them were sweets or homemade food) and not giving anything in return. But this year was going to be different! 

He worked really hard on creating a festive Christmas sweater, using what knowledge he gained from his fashion and sewing class. And of course he had to make two of them so that he and Gaku-nii could match! Making two of the same sweater took him days which explained why he was knocking on the shadow’s door days after the winter holiday already passed. Once the door swung open, he held the oddly wrapped box towards Gackt and shouted, “Meri Kurisumasu, Gaku-nii!” 

gackt-ia

“What a coincidence.” The shadow mumbled, raising a cup of tea to his lips and taking a long sip.  “I am afraid that I have to decline. I am currently celebrating my own birthday.” The shadow gestured with his free hand to the little stash of neatly-stacked mochi. 

Shou was thrilled to know that a Festival of Flowers was occurring at the academy and there was going to be a dance festival tonight. Festivals back home meant that he was allowed to wear one of his yukatas! It was a good thing he packed a few of them along with several obi and two pairs of geta. He chose to wear a dark blue yukata with a white crescent moon sewn behind the neck and a silver striped obi to wrap around his body. The moon sprite was so excited that it took him longer than expected to leave his dormitory because he kept messing up his obi and misplacing the other geta.

The sun had two hours ago and twinkling stars surrounded the moon in the night sky. He was about to set out towards the sounds of music and voices when he had an idea. Gaku-nii and I should go together! Gackt was the first person he met at the academy and he was kind enough to show Shou how to get to the main building’s roof in order to see Luna. Plus they were both Japanese and they could wear yukatas together! He saw that the closest dormitories were Aer and Terra, but Terra was bigger which meant there was a higher chance of Gackt living there.

The moon sprite had a bounce in his step as he entered the brown and green colored building. His plan was simple; to knock on each door and hope that Gackt would be behind it. No one answered the doors on the first floor, but that didn’t kill Shou’s spirit. He went to the second floor and knocked on all the doors, people either not answering or they revealed themselves not to be Gackt. By the time he was finished with the third floor, his hands were red from knocking and there was only one more floor left for him to check. Maybe he’ll come out if I call for him? My hand hurts anyways.