Thread: For Your Smile ((Velvet Stars + Ecchi Kunoichi))

Kaori's gaze flicked away from the ripples on the lake's surface, not because she decided to, but because her foot skidded over a pebble. With her focus on things besides walking, it nearly made her trip as it was, she stumbled visibly before catching herself. Whoops! When she glanced over at Haruka, she saw her friend watching her. There was an expression on her face that Kaori had been seeing directed at herself more and more often. I've really been worrying you a lot, Haru...I'm sorry, but... For a second, maybe, a hint of sadness showed in her eyes, but she was smiling by the time she straightened up from the near-fall. What? Oh, no, I'm fine! She laughed at her mistake, adding, I think you're right, I need to quit staying up so late. Next thing you know I'll wake up in the middle of falling down the stairs or something! Still smiling, she went back to the conversation they were having before she almost fell over her own feet. What do you mean, you're bad at karaoke? I think you do about as good as me. Yuuka's the one that makes us all sound like wailing kittens, but she's in choral, so that's different. But if you really don't want to do that, we could have pizza at that skating place again. That was fun, right? As she spoke, the tingle along her spine spiked in intensity and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. They were close enough to the lake for her to vaguely see a dark object moving inside of it, as if there were a large fish swimming about far below the surface. Hey, Haru! she blurted out, I'm kinda thirsty, let's stop over there and get something to drink? She pointed towards where a number of lights illuminated a small building there were bathrooms over there, as well as a pair of vending machines. With a smile, she grabbed her friend's hand and pulled her in that direction. Mere seconds after they reached the machines, she glanced over her shoulder again, only to freeze in place as she saw it. It looked like a young girl with dark hair of an uncertain color the soaking wet strands lay on either side of a pale yet attractive face. Her body was cloaked in a long dress, most of it hidden due to the figure's position in the water. This would have been a strange sight to nearly anyone, but for Kaori, it was something more. I can't wait...if anyone else shows up, it'll be dangerous! Umm...I'm gonna go to the bathroom, be right back! She was already running before she finished saying so. The moment she was out of sight, though, she changed direction, dashing behind the building instead. Shortly after she disappeared from view, a strange sound filled the air in the park, dispelling the silence. It was a song...but not from the little birds in the trees. This song sounded like one from a human's throat, rising and falling in a wordless melody. The source was the figure standing within the lake, its pose and expression as melancholy as the music itself. Despite the lack of lyrics, the message was clear the stranger's heart overflowed with the pain of loneliness and longing, the sort that could only be dispelled by companionship. All it would take is for someone to come to the water's edge...