(GS3) Field: Destroyed Shopping District

[Hope]

Black or white?

Isabella thought of it as she waited for Haruka-kun to return.

"..."

[Jello]

Haruka had made two cups of coffee. One was milk and coffee half-and-half, for himself, the other was a frappe for Hana. The barista promised to cover half of his shift so he could talk to Hana for a bit. Some things were going to be said between the two, whether or not it ended well would depend on how Hana felt. Haruka had made his decision. He would never hurt anybody again, and if that meant disappearing or just not getting involved with people, or having to double-agent his way through life, he would. But he refused to wholeheartedly hurt somebody ever again. Not if he could avoid it.

Walking out, he sat at the table where Hana was seated. She seemed patient enough, meaning she either hadn't been here for very long, or just really wanted to talk. Haruka didn't know what to anticipate, so he set the coffee's down and took a moment to calm himself and gather his thoughts.

"Hana, I'm glad you came by." He bit his lip, kind of trying to distinguish was he wanted to say, and what actually needed to be said. This took another several moments.

"Look, uhm, what we're doing here... What are we doing, Hana? What, hmm, what am I to you?" Hopefully an easy question that would decide a lot of things.

[Hope]

Hana took a sip of the frappe. What are they doing? Something that she can't stop, something too far that it shouldn't be done. It was a double-edged sword, fulfilling desires that have been festering within her for so long in exchange for throwing away the one whom she had been saving herself for, the partner whom she decided to fulfill those desires with. Haruka-kun answered her feelings, keeping her going on and on. Her sister had crossed her mind when it came to him, eventually, Yukino played no role in the equation. That is, until now. To Hana, she didn't matter, but to Haruka-kun, she did.

Black or White?

"Swallow the guilt and obtain your desires." Her mind kept running this across her, almost like a broken record. Its how she fulfilled her dream after all, just follow what she wants, just keep going. Who was he? Well, he satisfies her daily desire to feel loved in all sorts of ways, to have fun in all sorts of ways. He related to her in the current moment moreso than anyone, even Mi-hime.

Black or White?

"To me right now you're someone I need... For the past year I've been faking my smile for a crowd with my desires welling up within me, just waiting to be fulfilled..."

Is this love? Is this Black or White?

"I feel that my dream is here, I'm an idol, but there's something I've been missing... Honestly I think its you... Its nothing about how you look at all, I can get anyone if I wanted if I think about it, but somehow its you...That I..."

When Mi-hime had become sick, Hana had become lost. Her plans of preforming as a duo with her lover were ruined entirely, her desire to show her off to the world, gone. Being teased for the past year about love as Isabella had thrown her mind into a twist. She has someone but her idol career didnt acknowledge it. She worked for someone, but it had no effect on the majority of her idol life. With Haruka-kun, the world can see then, everyone, and gives her what she wants and needs.

Black or White?

[Jello]

Haruka nearly slammed his fists down on the table. There was the clear division between the wants and the needs. Haruka wasn't at all a clear picture of the equation. She wanted him simply to feel loved. To feel the emotions she had saved herself for Miyuki. Hana was clearly driven by the need to have her emotions catered to, and that's exactly what Haruka did, blindly. Whilst believing he was fulfilling his goal of consoling the girl, and also finding himself driven by her looks, Haruka had led himself down some sort of pathological road of self-destruction.

He stared at her, eyes turning red with tears. He tightened his jaw in an infernal rage. He was ready to leave. He had his answer. She could have anyone she wanted as long as they'd love her and forgive her and do what she wanted. If they gave into her temptations. By this was a complete turn from what Haruka needed... He only wanted Hana, because he needed her. She was the only one left to tun too. Everyone else showed their backs in Haruka's time of need and treatment. But when the year of grief finally came to a real end, Hana allowed herself to be the answer he had been searching for.

"I'm glad you're glad." Haruka read the text, standing up from his seat. He never even touched his coffee.

"This isn't right. We both know that. I've made my decision... even if Yukino hadn't come back today, this wouldn't be right. I want to make everybody happy and that's a really foolish dream. What happened these past days was fun, I won't lie. I enjoyed most of the time, if not, all of it. You made me happy, Hana. And I hope I made you happy too..." He straightened his tie, turning to the counter, giving Hana a profile view of Haruka. The side with the burn showing.

"Alas, reality awaits us. Not this... twisted place we made for each other. It isn't healthy." Haruka pulled on a pair of thin butler gloves, one black, one white. His entire outfit had become a checker design at this point. Save for the red marks across his neck and cheek.

[Hope]

Black-

Her Pr<3ism deck disappeared, within her bag a light glowed and all their voices were gone forever. Miyuki's avatar, Pr<3ism-Image Vert vanished along the partner which once represented Hana, Labrador. No longer would she have to see Miyuki's card, and no longer would she have to act the part of her partner. She was liberated from all this with her choice. Black, a dark pitch black, and with it came a new power. Her deck was replaced with cards that paired with Reit, all wearing the color which was her decision. A dark love mixed wjth a lust, a need answered by instant gratification and covered up by swallowed guilt and cognative dissonance. It didn't matter that it was wrong, that was in the long run. In the now, they've made their own sanctuary, and she wasn't willing to let that go for another round of of a rinse-repeat routine involving coming home to Miyuki, working, worrying, returning home, working, leaving, returning home, working....  Her desires were to be fulfilled now. Selfish? Selflessness resulted in relationships like Yukino, suffering like with Miyuki, and for her to only get what she want after losing an arm and leg for it. She wanted to become a winner in this world.

The Eye of Temptation had become her avatar.

She stood up and grabbed Haruka's hand, the one wearing the black glove and she held it to her chest. She looked at him with her eyes for a moment. She wasn't going to cry, she didn't want to make him worry. Hana just smiled.

"Who cares?... Its bad I know, but we are happy... You can't make everyone happy... But you know you make me happy and I want to make you happy. The world is cruel, we'll be struck by sadness no matter what. So why can't we just take things for ourselves... And worry about only making each other happy? I want and need, its not right and it isn't healthy, but it sure as hell is better than having no one to turn to and having to deal with things by yourself. I'm here and I won't go. I'll give you what you anything."

[RosaliaIzanami]

Rosalia walked into the shopping district directly from Hoshiko High, still in uniform and with her bag in front of her. Her counterpart in his male uniform, Seifer was by her side as he continued asking about school. Which, to her, seemed like the same question over and over again. "Mhm. The school is nice, the teachers are easy to understand. It's still the start of the year so the actual class material isn't too bad... I haven't made too many friends yet, but it's not like I've made enemies... I think..." As they walked, the redhead tapped her chin, looking up at the sky more so than for their target destination (an instrument shop). She was trying to take Sky's words from the park to heart; think of everyone as a friend, and maybe they'll come to think of her as a friend too. "So how's your classes? Are all your friends in the same class with you? I can't seem to find anyone like Neo and them that I've met already.."

[Cipher Izanagi]

Listening to what the female said, he nodded slightly before she asked him her set of questions. "If I share classes with anyone, I just don't really notice. They're mostly just boring anyway. The classes I mean. The teachers are all dull, and it's always so quiet... Makes me just wanna put my head down and go to sleep. Not that I do of course." he answered, trotting alongside the female, the top button of his student shirt was unbuttoned just to have a bit of air circulating. He was getting a bit hot just walking around the streets. He hoped the weather cooled down some soon. In any case as they continued to walk, Seifer pointed out what looked like a music shop, though it seemed mostly like a hole in the wall one rather than a full blown store. Maybe they'd have what she needed though?

[Jello]

His palm was suddenly pressed against Hana, burning up. Not her chest, but his hand. In fact all of Haruka was nearly ablaze from the inside out. All he could feel was his nerves burning up... it was a familiar sensation. Haruka needed courage. He needed to tell her no. Because every time Haruka gave into what Hana wanted she would only keep coming back and weighing the burden. He felt like Atlas, holding the world on his shoulders, and all he could do was live with it. There didn't seem to be an escape to the spell Hana was essentially trying to cast on Haruka. He pressed his hand further onto her heart. Closing his eyes, he breathed in.

"Hana, I refuse to be what you want me to be. There are only so many things you can promise. But no amount of money or fame will bring back the things I lost a year and some ago." Haruka faced the idol, not looking away anymore, he was done giving in when his back was against the wall. He barks.

He bites.

"How can you expect me to forgive what you're doing right now, forgive myself even, for what we've done? How do you think they woukd feel? Miyuki, your love, Yukino, your sister- ...." Haruka went silent. His words had fallen on deaf ears. Everything he had set out to accomplish this afternoon was falling short.

Haruka. There is nothing left to say here. He grit his teeth, pulling his hand away from Hana, gently. He allowed it to rest at his side.

He's right. Nothing left to say.

All the flame in his chest unleashed as he breathed out one last time, walking out of the store and into the autumn afternoon. No amount of cool could keep him down. But now that he thinks about it, the burning sensation in his pocket seemed to be bothering him. He reached down and felt something, a thin piece of something. He started walking away, away from the shop. He needed to be alone after that episode.

[RosaliaIzanami]

Rosalia giggled quietly, wondering if one day Seifer would actually fall asleep in class. It would probably be funny to see, but she didn't want him to get into trouble. He was probably one of those guys that just stared out the window all day, since he didn't seem like the type to doodle when bored. Noticing the shop, the female made her way inside and glanced around. As soon as she entered the shop, a different sort of air surrounded her. An atmosphere of experience seemed mostly likely, her fingers brushing across different pieces with a gentle touch. Eventually her eyes found what looked to be the right spot for stringed instruments, but it wasn't a full blown music store so the selection of actual instruments for sale was slim to none. It did have some care items though, like spare strings, cleaner and polish, and bows. In the end, however, she led the way out of the store without buying anything. "If you want, we can keep looking for a bigger store, but we don't have to. I can probably get my old violin from home and get the extra stuff here if need be."

[Cipher Izanagi]

Seifer quietly watched the female as she went about her business in the store. He'd never been one to try and make music but he knew she liked to. Plus, she seemed happy enough. He was glad for that. However when she lead him out of the store he tilted his head at her. "You're sure?" he asked, walking at her side and looking around. "I honestly don't mind. We'd have to find you instrument stuff anyway right? I'm not sure what all your courses are going to look like until you graduate... So maybe you should get the violin?" Seifer shrugged a bit still walking with her. "I don't mind still looking around. I told you we'd do what you wanted to do. So, let's do that."

[RosaliaIzanami]

Rosalia made a face when Seifer wouldn't choose something to do. She did scratch the back of her head though, wondering about her violin. "Well, this store is good for replacement and cleaning stuff.. But they didn't have any actual violins that I liked. 'Sides, a new violin could cost a bit.. Anywhere from 12,000 to 70,000 yen ($100-600 USD) and I wouldn't want to have you pay for it, if I could find one I really liked anyways.. I know you may be wealthier than I am, but still.." And yet the female started to walk again down the streets of the shopping district in search for another, hopefully bigger, music store.

[Cipher Izanagi]

The male poked the red head's arm as they walked shrugging. "So what? Consider it a late birthday gift. Ok?" was how he replied before pointing out another, slightly larger music store. Still a hole in the wall, but it was decently sized, definitely bigger than the previous store, so he lead her over to it. "I haven't done much for you since we got here, so consider it a treat ok? You had to put up with my crap, and me bringing around strangers, so let me do this for you yeah?"

[RosaliaIzanami]

Rosalia frowned, but knew Seifer wasn't going to let it go. She rubbed her arm where she was poked, then followed the male's direction to the second music store. "And to think I was the difficult one.." she mumbled under her breath, but couldn't help a glance over her shoulder at the brunette. In the end, she was still happy they had met, and despite everything different now in her life because of him, she wouldn't have it any other way.

Inside the store, they definitely had a larger selection of instruments. Most importantly, the violin, which was considered more common than say a larger stringed instrument such as the enormous cello, or a double bass. Actually, she found two that she liked, and had asked a store clerk to allow her to test them. She only played a few notes, standard scales going up and down on the first one before moving to the second, to which she played on a bit longer. It didn't take nearly as long as she thought to get used to playing again, muscle memory in her fingers playing the instrument for her. After a few scales, she played a simple tune, even shutting her eyes as she enjoyed the feel of the instrument in her grasp. Of course she didn't play long, and she decided on the second one for a better feel, though noticed it was on the higher end of the price range. "Are you suuuuuure you want to get me this?..." she asked, looking between the price tag and her companion.

[Cipher Izanagi]

Seifer quietly continued to watch Rosalia as she tested instruments. It was something he wouldn't ever be able to understand. He just wasn't talented like that, and it was something that he always held her in high regards for. He respected her, and while she could be difficult, shy, or hyper... He was glad they'd met. He was glad that his friends seemed to like her, and that she seemed to like them, even if they teased the brunette and red head about how their relationship actually was. And somewhere deep down he felt something... Warm. But the idea of it all confused him so he sort of just shrugged it off for now. He'd probably come back to that later. "Yeah I'm sure. But you have to take extra special care of it, ok?" he made her promise, looking over the price tag and shrugging. It was a large bit of money, but it didn't matter as much to him. He just wanted to see her happy.

[Cece Lockhart]

"Alright here it is! The cardshop Tsubasa wrote for me to go! Now to find the cards I need!" Noel was excited she found the shop and entered it to see it filled with a variety of games. From board games to card games, it basically had everything, especially Vanguard. There were fight tables every where.

Wow! I never been to one of these before! This is so cool! She thought to herself since her deck originally came in the mail via online ordering. Noel looked long and hard in the shelves that were filled with Royal Paladin units. After a good search through them all, she finally got all the necessary replacement cards for her deck.

"I know school is important and one of the reasons for me being here but my deck means a lot more right now..." Noel said to herself as she walked out the store with her brand new deck, the Sanctuary of Light