Chapter 4: A Fresh Start

“Ugh… this is gonna be tougher than I thought.”

With Adora giving him the silent treatment for the rest of the day, that was all Ashura could think to himself; he was bored, insanely bored. People didn’t even realize that Adora was the same person that performed for them during lunch due to the complete personality shift she is from Ashura. It irked him to no end on how much she felt like she needed to put herself down.

Hearing the final bell ring, Adora swiftly filled her bag and left the campus. Stepping outside, she walked a bit before reaching her family’s carriage, which loaded her in and took her home. Ashura took a seat across from Adora, leaning on the window with a bored expression. All the while, Adora simply hugged her schoolbag tightly, not daring to look at the ghost in the carriage.

Reaching the family mansion, the door opened for the girl as an older gentleman greeted her. The family’s main butler did a respectful bow as he held a hand out for the ruby-eyed girl to take. She took it shakily, yet calmed herself once the kind old man gently brought her down.

“Welcome home, milady,” The elderly butler greeted warmly. “It pleases me to see you back home safe and sound.”

“Mm.” Adora muttered, keeping her head down as she walked into the house once more. The old man simply took a step back and let her pass. It seems like this was a common occurrence in her household. A pink haired maid was by her room door, waiting for the girl patiently as she held it open.

“Welcome home, Miss Adora. Would you like me to take care of your belongings?”

“Hello Miss Felicia. And no thank you, I-I’d like to be left alone, please.” The handmaid did a small curtsy before letting the girl in. Listening for Felicia’s retreating footsteps, Adora sighed and began to settle in for the day.

Taking off her blazer, she sat down at her desk and began working on homework for the day. The rockstar looked on silently for about a half hour, with the meek girl refusing to meet his eyes. Eventually, his patience wore thin; he grit his teeth in frustration before shouting at the top of his lungs.

“ARRRGGGHHH!!! STOP BEING SO DAMN QUIET!!!” The spectral rockstar screamed, making Adora nearly jump out of her skin. “I thought that maybe I’d be the adult for once and let you come talk to me when you’ve calmed down. But nope! You decided that being a sulky lil’ brat is the best course of action. Screw that noise! We’re gonna talk whether you like it or not!”

“But I don’t want to talk,” Adora murmured, her voice still quavering. “Like I told you, I didn’t ask for your help…”

“AND I DIDN’T ASK TO BE PUT IN THIS FUCKING BODY!” Ashura snapped violently, shocking the other girl. He was heaving in anger, slamming a spectral fist into the wall next to him. Ashura’s eyes widened in a mix of horror and disgust, watching his hand harmlessly faze through the wall. “You think you got it bad, that you didn’t ask for me. I didn’t ask to die in front of my fans. I didn’t ask to be ripped away from my world. And I certainly didn’t ask to be stuck here with you.”

Ashura practically growled out the last part; his sapphire eyes glaring directly into the ruby eyes before him. Adora’s eyes welled up hard as she bit her lip and stared into her lap. Tears fell from her face as she began to cry, too ashamed to look Ashura in the eye.

“I-I… ah…”

“What?! You have nothing left to say to me now? Is that it?!” Ashura’s voice grew louder, his anger reaching a boiling point. “ANSWER ME!”

“I-I-I’m s-so s-s-sorry!” Adora cried, heart heavy with emotions. “I-hic! I sh-shouldn’t ha-have said those m-mean things! I-I had n-nuh-no idea th-that y-yuh-you felt that wuh-way!” Ashura’s anger immediately subsided, taken aback by the weeping girl. His expression softened as he hovered over the teenager, the poor girl still sobbing horribly into her hands. He went too far; she was still just a kid…

“Grr… oh, goddammit. I feel like a total douchebag now…” Ashura muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. “Listen, Adora? I… I’m sorry too, okay? I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that, it wasn’t cool. I got too heated in the moment, and I took it out the only way I knew how. I shouldn’t be mad at you, not in the slightest. I guess it all just kinda… hit at once, I guess?” The rockstar let out a heavy sigh, meandering towards the bed and taking a seat. Adora watched as the usually proud sapphire eyes seemed almost dim, as if lost in thought. Gulping down a few tears, she looked back to her copy.

“I-I still sh-shouldn’t have pushed you away… You just wanted to go back to how your life was, and I was going to make you ignore that.” Her eyes, redder than normal, still stared back at the blue ones before her. “But that’s not fair. I-I shouldn’t make you ignore who you are because I don’t have the courage to follow who I am…” Ashura’s eyes widened at this, raising his head to look back at the teen.

“Are you sure about this, Adora?” The bluenette closed her eyes, thinking long and hard. She took a deep breath and reopened them, tears finally drying away. Only a small, burning flame of resolve sparked underneath those orbs.

“I am certain. All my life, I just ran away from my dream. I kept telling myself I couldn’t, that it’s impossible. But at the cafeteria, I got to see it clear as day; I saw people who wanted to hear me.” The memory of her first real success rang true in her mind, as a warm smile crept across Adora’s face. “I want us to get off on a better start. I want us to work together, to show the world our music. And so…” She held out a hand to the ghost of the rockstar, inviting her double to take it.

“My name is Adora Rockett, would you please tell me yours?”

“My name is Ashura Moore, the Greatest Rockstar on Earth.” A sharp-tooth grin smeared across the rockstar’s face as he accepted the hand. “Let’s Rock this New World, Partner.”

x-x-x-x-x

“Ahh~ That feels nice~!” Ashura moaned, his form soaking in the bath. Somehow, the apparition was able to enjoy the water as if he was actually in it.“Gotta say, as big and fancy as the tubs in Vegas got, they don’t compare to this. This magic stuff really is the best!”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself at least,” Adora mumbled, keeping most of her body submerged in the rather large spring her family uses for a bath. “But could you please show some modesty? Ghost or not, that’s still my body you have…”

“Hm?” Looking down and noticing his bare chest, Ashura shrugged. “Eh, whatever. Not like anyone can see me. ‘Cept you, of course.” Adora rolled her eyes as Ashura poked a spectral finger onto her nose, the rockstar in her visage smiling playfully. The girl then raised an eyebrow as she watched Ashura continue to relish in the spring, a blissful expression on his face.

“How… exactly are you able to feel any of this?”

“I feel what you feel, I guess. Physically of course. Still got my own emotions, right here.” Ashura tapped a thumb to his temple. “Don’t think that’s gonna go away any time soon.”

“I see. Umm, sorry if this is a strange question to ask, but,” Adora stared at the tomboyish spirit before her. “You were a man before reincarnating in my body, right?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you feel uncomfortable in mine? It must feel strange, no longer being who you once were.”

“Hmm…” Ashura got into a thinking position, wondering how to word himself. Clapping a fist into his hand, he perked up. “Nope. Guy, gal, whatever. I’m still me at the end of it, so it doesn’t bother me that bad. Sure, waking up suddenly and your dick bein’ gone is weird and all, but I’ll just have to get used to it.”

“I-I see… Just don’t do anything weird with my body, please.”

“Yeah, yeah, I gotcha.” Ashura flippantly waved her off, before getting up from the water. Adora squeaked out a yelp as she saw her own naked body stand up with her hands on her hips. “You gettin’ out or what? You’re gonna prune out if you stay in there any longer.”

“I-uh-er-ah-” The poor teenager was thrown into a stuttering, blushing mess. How could this guy be so brazen at all times? And in her form as well! A recluse girl like her couldn’t handle such an immodest person like Ashura. The spectre sighed before diving into her body, pushing out the nervous wreck and wrapping a towel around her body.

“Man, you seize up at every little thing, huh?” Ashura sighed, drying off her hair. “Don’t you see your body in a mirror? What’s so different now?”

“B-Because I don’t pose up like a man, showing off my modesty like you did!” The meek girl cried. “I-It’s improper! U-uncouth! Immoral!”

“Yeesh, you complain too much. Fine then, Lesson One!” She held up a finger in front of Adora’s face, causing the other girl to pause momentarily.

“Lesson One?”

“Yep! Your step-by-step guide on becoming a Rockstar, made by yours truly. Starting with Lesson One: Stop Thinking, Start Doing!” Seeing the ruby-eyed girl’s head tilt in confusion, Ashura elaborated. “You keep thinking too much in that little head of yours! Thinkin’ about how others will see you, how you come across, ‘bout how you’re not good enough. Screw that noise! When you feel like you’re about to overthink something, just stop. Stop thinking about it, and start doing it instead!”

“But what if I-”

“No ‘buts’! We’re done with this self-doubting crap. From now on, you’re gonna hold that little head up high and put yourself out there! Got that?”

“Uhh…”

“I’m hearing that brain of yours working! Stop it, just say Yes or No!”

“Y-Yes!”

“Good! Tomorrow’s a new day, so let’s get a good night’s sleep!” Dressing herself, Ashura walked out the bathroom fresh and ready for the morrow. The pink-haired maid from earlier was waiting by the outside of the door, coming face-to-face with the tomboy.

“Have you finished your preparations, my lady?”

“Yeah, I’m all good. Headed off to bed, tell Dad I said good night too.”

“Yes, I shal-” Felicia stopped mid-bow. Dad? Lady Adora never addresses the Master with such a frivolous term. She has always been a respectful child. “Are you well, Lady Adora?”

“Hm? Yeah? Why wouldn’t I?”

“You appear to be behaving… differently. You didn’t pick up any bad habits from school, did you?”

“Nah, you worry too much, Pinkie. I just got a good feelin’ about tomorrow is all.”

“...I understand. I shall leave you to it then, milady.” The maid did a curtsy, letting the young lady pass. However, a single question still lingered in her mind as she called back out to the bluenette. “Forgive my rudeness, my lady, but I wish to know: Who were you talking to earlier?” Ashura waved her off absentmindedly, opening the room door as she gave her reply.

“No one, really. I just needed to give myself a pep talk, that’s all.”