Luna Leviosa

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It was unbelievable enough that Shizuka was being called to the stage for anything but a council report. But the only one who seemed to be have more doubts than anyone seemed to be Shizuka herself. Still, once a commitment was made (forced on her though it was) she was one to see a project to its final product.
"And now from Class 3-C, Shizuka Moriyama and Company performing Cat Jazz: Calico" announced the page. There were mixed reactions. Some of sheer disbelief. Some of amused interest. And even some of disgust.

"What the hell is this going to be about?"


"This is gonna be good"


"I can't watch..."


"Didn't see that coming"



The stage curtains scrolled back and first the audience were surpised and confused as Marx was seen on stage first, seated in front of a huge piano. He gave a knowing smile to the wide eyed audience. Brick was at a drum set twirling drum sticks. The Twins, Johnny and Kyo seated together as the brass section. The Twins held trumpets (identical of course) with grins on their faces. Johnny mumbled under his breath how he hated something heavy like a trombone, but he had no idea how to play a sax like Kyo did. Tohru stood at the other end of the stage with a tall bass by his side.
The lighting was set so that only the musicians were lit and the middle of stage remained dark. But those close enough to the stage could see a figure twiddling her fingers. It looked one last time to Marx who nodded. His lips moved but no noise came out. Though his words were understood.

'I love you'


Shizuka's eyes widened as she just remembered that he said the same to her that first night. These recollections had to be put off as Brick played the opening roll off of the song. "This is it" she thought to herself. When her light finally turned on the audience let out a gasp at her.


"HOLY CRAP!!"


"THAT'S SHIZUKA!?"


"SHE'S CUTE!!"

There was also some whistling as the music built up. Shizuka tried her best not to turn red as she twirled and stepped to the music like they rehearsed. After the initial brass passage and Marx's cue it was time for Shizuka to sing. She had the music and lyrics memorized right along with her poses.
Shizuka started singing on time, yet she was hesitant to sing at her full volume. Her stepping on stage seemed stiff and shakey. Tohru looked up and seemed to notice. The Twins did notice as well, as their turn to rest came up, they looked at her with concern. When Johnny and Kyo rested they did the same, and Johnny seemed to growl at some students who snickered at Shizuka's lack of confidence.


"You can see it...she's scared"


"I bet someone forced her into this, the poor girl...haha"


"Maybe she lost a bet or something"


Shizuka's lips almost curled into a frown.

Then she heard a voice that seemed so close it was as if he was standing right next to her.


It was Marx.


"You're freezing up love" Marx said to her. She looked to him and he was still playing the piano, he had his eyes closed with concentration but there was a knowing smile of kindness. "I'm sorry I made you do this love, but I know you can do it"
Shizuka would have said something back if she wasn't so busy singing. She would glance at him from time to time. "Remember the first time you danced with me at the club, just do it like that....don't worry about those morons say about you....

".....just do your own thing..."


Shizuka understood now. She closed her eyes and thought back to the time when she danced with the stars. This time they were on a bright stage and the stars were shining down on them.

"Such energy..." she realized that she heard something more than their music, it was a strange aura that she never noticed before. She probably never would have noticed had not Marx said anything. As their instruments played it was as if she could hear their voices, comforting her.


"Don't worry love"


"You can do it"


"Just do your best"


"We're right here"


Shizuka realized the chorus was coming up and now was not the time to be having stage fright. They were there for her and on stage or not that's the only thing that mattered. So she took up her mic with new vigor and grace and her hips swayed sensually as the chorus rung out. At first the audience seemed slightly apalled until one student clapped loudly and whistled.
"SHIZUKA YOU'RE SO CUTE~~!!" the random fan yelled waving eagerly. Shizuka noticed and seemed to take this as a cue for a cute wink. She did and the fan seemed like he was going to faint. First it was the male students that gradually started enjoying her performance, and finally some girls started cheering as well. Her skirt bounced along with her and the large ribbon that was tied on her back followed her like a tail. The Red ribbon on her hair seemed like large cat ears that flickered when she did cute tilts to her head.

"That's our Shizuka"


"Just like that dearest~"


"You're so cute~~"


She could still hear and feel them through their instruments and energy.


She wasn't alone anymore.


Shizuka understood this now as her song was nearing the climax. There was nothing in her way. After the final instrument passage there were only a few steps and Shizuka sang along with the melody of her back up. After her few last lines, and the final brass blasts, it was finshed off by a couple notes from Marx that made her trip. For those in the front, Shizuka falling revealed a little bit of the bloomers she was wearing underneath. And Shizuka laying on the floor briefly gave a few a good view of her breasts, as her cleavage squished against the floor. she quickly regained her self, sitting up with a startled


'Meow?'

The crowd erupted into applause, with some whistling from the male population of the school. Shizuka slowly got up to her feet and bowed low.


"Awesome!"


"That was great!"

"Gotta download that song!"

"Pictures!!"


Shizuka bowed low once more. She noticed that some of the teachers were red in the face, not of anger, but of semi-fondness. She gestured to her lovers behind her who bowed their heads slightly. Marx got up from his seat at the piano and trotted to her with a wide smile. To her shock (and the audience's) he kneeled to her like a knight would to a princess and offered his hand.

POP!


Suddenly a bouquet of colorful (but pastel) flowers stared back up at her. Shizuka shyly took the bouquet at the cheering of the students. When she did take the bouquet, Marx sprang up and took her in his arms.
"MM!?" Shizuka's glasses almost fell off as Marx took her lips in a passionate kiss. When the kiss broke, he hugged her so close, that the flowers were almost crushed.
"....I love you" Marx whispered to her again, as his fingers combed through her curly hair. Shizuka's eyes widened before turning glossy with tears. It was as if the auditorium and the screaming students were a blur. Shizuka nodded and curled into his chest.
"I love you too" Shizuka mewed. She tiptoed and pecked him on the lips. Marx's smile then was many things, not only one of victory and pleasure; it was a smile of pure happiness. A happiness that couldn't be expressed through words, even if it took a hundred years.
He let out a loud laugh and carried her off the stage. The bouquet of flowers dangled behind him as Shizuka tried not to drop them. The other incubi looked at each other and gave each other knowing grins before running off stage.
The students were still cheering even after the stage was empty and the teachers had to try numerous times to silence them.
"OK everyone, the judges will have a little time to choose a winner" announced the page who still seemed to be blushing for some odd reason.


Of course, not everyone was happy with the show....

A small group of girls seemed to be fuming with anger, one of them being Rika Fujikawa from Shizuka's homeroom. They were the only ones in the auditorium now who weren't cheering or talking eagerly about the event before them.
"Who does she think she is?" sneered one of Rika's followers. They were about 10 girls but 3 of them were the heads of the group.
Rika herself seemed outwardly calm but if one looked closely, her arms were folded so tightly, it looked as if her nails might stab her. The second, a girl named Nanami was the rich girl of the school who had an important father on the school board. Rumors had it that she can yank any student from school with just a word to her 'daddy'.
The third was a girl named Noriko, who was actually a lot like Shizuka herself. A brainy girl who had good grades. Unfortunately she was an easy target of peer pressure, which is perhaps the only reason that she is with Rika's group constantly. In regards to Marx, she had a mere interest with him, not one of admiration or fondness like the others, but more of a curiousity. A haunting curiousity.
"That girl thinks she's so high and mighty!"
"How dare she steal Marx away from us like that, and just because he's her student"
The girls mumbled in jealousy to each other then looked to Rika. Already it was understood that she had a plan in mind.


It was a plan to remind Shizuka of her place.


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"I can't believe I won..." Shizuka said to Marx as they walked along the hallways. She held in her hand a small trophy that was marked 'TALENT SHOW WINNER'.
"You deserve nothing less" Marx said proudly, his arm was wrapped around her. Shizuka knew that they were on their way to Luna Leviosa and this time she really was looking forward to going.
"Marx... I'm gonna go change" Shizuka said after cuddling into him a bit. He nodded and pecked her on the cheek.
"I'm gonna help the guys pack up, meet you up front OK love?"
"Sure~~" Shizuka trotted off to the Women's wardrobe. When she arrived at the changing room, she laid her trophy and bouquet aside on the couch.



Of course... she initially thought she was alone....


~~~~~~~~~~~~


"That's everything boss" Brick said after closing the van door. The instruments were carefully boxed and accounted for. "Great thing that Shizuka won eh?"
"I knew she could do it" Kyo said jovially. Many of the others were looking forward to another session with Shizuka down at Luna Leviosa.
"All that's left is Shizuka herself," said the Twins. They hopped into the van. "We'll meet you down there boss"
"Sure thing, Shizuka must be done changing right about now" Marx said turning around to the school building. "I'll take her"
Eventually the group left him alone on the grounds. Marx beamed to himself at another plan well done. Shizuka was even happier than ever and that was all that he wanted for her. Too many times has he seen her alone and by herself. He wanted always for her to be by his side, happy and satisfied. Marx was already thinking of various ways to pay back her troubles as he opened the wardrobe door.
"Hey honey, ready to-" Marx turned pale at what he saw.



"I-I-I-I-I- S-S-S-Sorry....S-s-s-s-sorry..."


The wardrobe room has been trashed beyond repair. The mirrored vanity was shattered. Drapes and even parts of the wallpaper were torn to shreds, along with Shizuka's performance dress. The Trophy lay smashed on the carpet and the bouquet has been crushed into tiny colorful flakes.
Marx could see the torn dress at the far end of the corner, shivering in a crumpled heap. Then the heap started talking.
"I-I-I'm S-s-s-s-s-s-s-sorry......P-p-p-please..." Marx ran to the dress and knelt down to it. He finally saw Shizuka who was curled into a fetal ball. When he laid a hand on her she almost screamed. "P-please!"
"Shizuka....Love...." Marx was lost for words as he finally understood the full extent of her attack. Her hair was tangled and stressed as if someone tried tearing it off and her body was covered in bruises and cuts. He let out a cry of pain and held her close to him. "Shizuka....Shizuka.." But he did not cry over her, he whispered to her as gently as he could. "It's OK Love...I'm here now..."
"Mm... It's-its m-m-m-my f-f-fault" Shizuka stammered as she clung to him. Marx sighed in further pain at seeing her stuttering even worse than before. She herself was so pale and her hands were so cold. As he cradled her, he scooped her to his chest. As he did, his eyes flashed a blood red.


He was determined that who ever did this to his beloved will pay tenfold.


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