For @art-chiharu, Wish: Film club girls wear kimono for new year.
-- @ellery-rein
Red Silk
Red silk. It looked like blood when it was wrapped around you. The way that it swayed with your grace. That night I never said, but you looked beautiful. The way the lights of the parade danced around you. The way your hair was neatly done in a bun; how the ivory kanzashi complemented your auburn hair. How the cherry blossom prints on the silk made it vibrant.
At that night, I wondered why we weren’t close. I see you at school and call you as my friend, but after that nothing else. The ties that bind us were like veins that powered a body. That delivered blood to the brain and the heart. How E-ki was fitting to be the heart of our group. He also had the role of the brains of our club. It was foolish. He acted as if he was directing us to do something. Our lives were like a short movie. Short because it didn’t really last that long. Short because the time that we knew who it was, it was too late. The word short also reminded me of your hair. It reminded me of you temper. It reminded me of the time we had together.
It was short and sweet.
The Fox Parade seemed like a breeze. The night was beautiful and we were together because you wanted to, “Go together to get blessed.” it actually meant that you wanted to invite me as an excuse to hang out.
When you told me to wear a kimono I thought you were joking. I called it stupid, but you said it was required and it would look lovely on me. You looked down when you murmured those last words. Wishing as if I wouldn’t hear the compliment you had casually thrown. But it was enough to smile and snatch the clothing on your hands. After I got dressed you were standing outside waiting for me. You gave a little bounce and gave me a thousands of compliments that irked my blood. It was sappy, but new and it felt nice. So you went in to the bathroom stall while I stuffed my clothes in the bag that you brought. ‘I bet I look ridiculous.’ was all I could think.
When you came out, the kimono looked so red and vivid. You even did your hair in a bun. Were you trying to impress me? Or maybe you want to coax me into doing my hair like that. I insisted that I wore my hair as usual. Not wanting to put effort into this little scene that we were doing. While my kimono was emerald with animal prints that annoyed me, you had something that piqued my interest. You reminded me of a certain urban legend. The woman who had a slitted-mouth. When she deftly held her scissors to cut someone, it was amusing.
“How does it look?” I blinked in surprise. The realization made me chuckle because you innocently wanted to fish a couple of compliments from me. “You look fine. Let’s go.” I turned around and walked away— slowly just so I could hear her feet shuffle. Minutes later we’re walking side by side, looking at the stalls selling masks. Observing the people around us. This seemed like something I actually wouldn’t do, but being with you made it better.
I halted in front of a stall and you followed. “Do you want to wear a mask or paint your face?” Your eyes widened when I asked. “I'd… I’d want a mask.” before I could tell the lady selling, you jumped in. “We’d have two masks, please!” You blurted that out suddenly while giving me a smile.
When the parade started, it felt surreal walking with these people. Some had their faces painted with whites and oranges, some bought masks. And you were there beside me, bouncing from happiness and excitement.
You know? As the parade started all I could feel was the foxes—painted faces and masked— was staring at us. It made my skin crawl. Their eyes were red and blank. I wanted to run, scream or do anything just to get them away from us. I was shaking and you felt it because I felt you hand on mine. It was… warm. As we kept walking I don’t want to close my eyes. I wanted to look at you or just feel that you were there.
I don’t want to be alone.
It didn’t occur to me that the parade was finished. When we reached the shrine, we gave our prayers and stayed for a while. Watching people go from here and there. You didn’t talk. Not one bit. Maybe you knew that I didn’t say anything. Maybe I just want to hold your hand again for reassurance because all of this felt too weird.
I sighed and you stood up. You looked at the trees aligned behind us and breathed the earthy scent surrounding us.
You held out your hand and with a bright smile you said, “C-na, let’s go home.”
And my world crumbled because next thing I knew was that you were in a pool of blood. The next thing I knew was darkness. Not even pain.
I want to see your smile again. I want to see your red head again. I want to feel your warmth again. I want to say every little thing that I held back. Everything is blurry–the memories fading. All I can see is a fog surrounding me. The foxes around me again, but this time you aren’t here.
It means I can’t escape.
Note: I’m sorry if I can’t finish the fanart I planned for this. I kept erasing and throwing after I was finished because I’m an insecure binch. I hope you liked my angsty fics though. Happy Holidays! ♡ ;;v;;