As a child, I had always known where I belonged.
My voice.
It wasn't your typical cosy, warm cottage surrounded by sun-speckled forests - it was a haven for me. When I was lost, my voice would bring me home. When I was sad, my voice would light up my world. When I was lonely, I was alone with my voice. Some say I was introverted.
I wasn't.
Quite the opposite.
I just never knew how to speak my feelings. No matter how hard the world seemed, I was always happy inside. My mother had been the living embodiment of happiness for me; and now she was my voice. Everyone's voice.

I knew there were other people out there exactly like me. Weak from pain and loss. Strong with song and spirit. I needed to find them. We all needed each other, I just know it. The cobble path was slightly warm underneath me, as a small cloud drifted over the sun, casting a gentle shadow over my world. I lifted the microphone to my mouth, the cable wound around one of my wrists. There were many of us here, but none of them were like me. Distant piano echoed around me, while the soft melodies of a flute filled my ears.

They were all beautiful, but they weren't me. They weren't us. I set down my speaker, and flicked it upwards. People kept walking past. No wonder. I hadn't even begun. But I knew, when I did, they would listen. They would all listen, and they would all understand. And as soon as my mouth closed, and the speaker's recording faded, the black walls of reality would fall over their faces again. It was definite. But I existed to push away those walls, even for only a few minutes. Today, I would gift the people of Magnolia with 4 minutes and 21 seconds of uncaged freedom.

It was their choice to listen or not, but I was here, singing out the words for myself, and for them. This was my world, and it could be theirs' too, if they listened. If they stopped, just for a moment, breathed, and listened. For me it was life-changing, knowing they were waiting for my to sing out the ending notes. For them, I was no-one - a shadow who had the courage to step out and sing for strangers. A simple busker searching for a quick few dollars, or some money to rebuild their life, bit by bit. I flicked on the microphone, pressing the red button in, before it came out again. Reaching down, I pressed the familiar play button, exhaling softly. Time to be the girl in the street again. The one who's name no-one knows, but still know of.

I pushed a few strands of my blonde hair out of my eyes, and stood up. The music began. I smiled - I could practically picture Levy playing the piano, her slender fingers dancing rhythmically over the white and black keys. I lifted the microphone to my mouth, and closed my chestnut eyes. The starting keys moved around me, before Levy's piano decreased in volume.

"Shadows settle on the place that you left,
Our minds are troubled by the emptiness,
Destroy the middle,
It's a waste of time,
From the perfect start,
To the finish line,"

My voice rang out through Magnolia, and everything seemed brighter for me. No one was noticing yet, but I was here for them, pouring out my heart and soul for them all to see, the sorrow, the joy, the friendship, the love. I had opened myself to the world - all they had to do was turn their heads and watch me.
Watch me.
All of you.

"Well I've lost it all I'm just a silhouette,
A lifeless face that you'll soon forget,
My eyes are damp from the words you left,"

One jewel,

"Ringing in my head,
When you broke my chest,"

One jewel,

"Ringing in my head,
When you broke my chest,"

One jewel,

If none of these people ever know how I act towards others, then at least let them hear just one line.

"And if you're in love, then you are the lucky one,
'Cause most of us are bitter over someone,"

Notice me, notice me, notice me.

"Setting fire to our insides for fun,"

A flash of red caught my eye, before moving past me again, like every other person.

"To distract our hearts from ever missing them,"

My eyes darted downwards, mid-note, and my brown orbs widened. 10,000 jewels?

The red shade stood in front of me, and I slowly cast my gaze up, notes pouring out my lips.

"But I'm forever missing~"

"That's the first payment," a steely voice interrupted, as Levy's piano began to decrescendo.
"There will be more,"
I raised my head to look up, and was met with a calm, dark brown gaze, strands of red hair falling over them. The woman reached out and grasped my thin wrist with an iron grip.
"You'll get more jewels, if you come with me right now. Congratulations, by the way. You have a lovely voice."

And my life began to change - for better, or for worse.
But most likely the latter.

A/N: This is my first fanfiction (ever) 3: Sorry for any grammar mistakes, OOC moments or anything else that may occur #~# I'm trying my best~ I hope everyone who reads Once Again enjoys it, and thank you for reading!

- Tune-chan