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 Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 10:05 pm
Po ran all the way to Canti's house, hoping to catch up with her on the way. He landed, out of breath on her front porch, and banged on the door.
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:11 am
When the door opened, it was Mitsuru who stood there. But from the blare of ear splitting rock music elsewhere in the house, it was clear that Cantique was, in fact, home.
Rather than being angry, Mitsuru just looked at him, placidly, opening the door and motioning him in, gently.
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Sammie the Cricket Slayer
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:50 am
"Please, I need to see Canti..I didnt mean to upset her...I just dont understand why she couldnt tell Ophelia the truth about the painting."
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 8:37 am
He nodded and motioned the younger boy in, closing the door behind him, looking solemn.
"Ther'es something you have to understand about Cantique."
He nodded to the couch, indicating him to sit down, just as Ophelia came flying down the stairs.
"She won't come out! She won't even answer me or open the door, and-"
She saw Po and her eyes narrowed. She snapped, coldly,
"Thsi is YOUR fault. You made her lie about that painting just to please you an now look where it's gotten her!"
Mitsuru didn't say anything, still, just leaning back and listening.
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Sammie the Cricket Slayer
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:35 am
Po eyed Ophelia before answering. "Its not a lie. She painted the picture...if you didnt make her feel so inferior, you would know that."
Po turned to Suru. "You know her best...she's afraid to let Ophelia find out...but she is an artist. An incredibly talented one."
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:43 am
"Give me a break," Ophelia snapped, coldy, rolling her eyes and sittign on the arm of the couch and crossing her legs.
Suru watched Po, one eyebrow lifted and nodded, slowly, a shade of a smile on his face.
"He''s right, you know? She does paint. She doesn''t know that I know, because she loves keeping her secret so muh. It makes her feel special. She''s the middle kid, so she always gelt a little estranged."
Ophelia just stared in disbelife.
Upstairs, the music stopped. Suru looked up at the ceiling and nodded to Po, lightly, his voice a little sad.
"Go see her. Make it okay. I can''t do it anymore."
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Sammie the Cricket Slayer
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:49 am
Po smiled slightly at Suru, glad they understood each other. "I'll make it all right...I have to. She just doesnt see how incredibly special she is."
He climbed the stairs quickly, anxious to straighten things out again. Knocking on her door, he called out to her softly. "Canti? May I come in please? I didnt mean to hurt you."
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:55 am
There wasn't anyresponse fronm inside, just a loud shuffling, thumping noise, like someone digging through piles of somethign or other. The sounds went on for a moment before there was another, louder thump, and Canti's voice.
"Ouch! Gods be damned!"
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Sammie the Cricket Slayer
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:59 am
At the sound of her voice Po pushed the door open, pulling her into his arms.
"Canti? are you ok? Are you hurt?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:01 am
Cantique had been sitting in the floor, rifling around under her bed. On her bed and on the floor around her were stacks of sketchbooks. It was easy to see how one of the stacks had gotten too tall and toppled, hiting her in the head. She blinked up at him, eyes red from crying.
"Po?! What are you doing here? I thought . . ."
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Sammie the Cricket Slayer
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:08 am
"You thought what? I love you Canti..I'm sorry you didnt want your sister to know about your painting. But I'm so proud of the gift you made me...and so proud of the gift you have. You shouldnt hide it away. Having your sister know about it doesnt make it less special. It doesnt make you less special."
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:13 am
She laid her head on his chest and sighed, softly, shivering.
"It's just, I never had anythign that was just mine. When I was smart, it didn't matter because Mitsuru is already smart. When I got interested in someting, it didn't matte,r because Ophelia had alredy been there and done it. And now my painting . . . it's mine. When no one knew about it, no one could take it from me."
She looked up at him, about to cry again.
"It's jsut . . . you don't know what it's like, having really awesome, talented brothers and sister, and then you being the odd one out."
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Sammie the Cricket Slayer
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:22 am
"You think I dont? Akki has always been...special, because she's the only girl. Jak is...well...you've met him. I have my music..but what else? No matter how good I get at it, Jak will always be better. You have something nobody can take away, because nobody will ever be able to do exactly what you do. Your art makes you unique, not the fact that no one knows about it."
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:28 am
She looked up at him and smiled softly, sniffling a little.
"I'm lucky, too, you know. I'm lucky to have you."
She looked down over her shoulder and picked up a book off the bed, holding it out to him. It was a book full of sketches, some thinished, some half-finished, some scratched out beyond recognition, of himself, Akkhina, and a few, very recent, of Jakkin.
"I go so fast when I draw so they fill up sort of fast. And I've always been afrid to throw my mistakes away, or Ophelia and Mitsuru would see them, so I've always kept everything."
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Sammie the Cricket Slayer
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:37 am
He lifted her chin up, wiping the tears from her eyes gently.
"You really should show your sister...she might surprise you. When I came in downstairs she was furious with me...called me a liar. Suru wont be as shocked as you might think though, your brother knows more than he lets on."
He flipped thoughtfully through the pages, then caught her eye.
"These are really good Canti...show your sister. You have a right to be proud of what you do, and I'm sure she would be too. I love Jak and Akki, and I would never begrudge them recognition for their talents. Your sister loves you, give her a chance."
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