Uriko

Today is probably going to be one of the most boring and dreadful days of the year. It's the start of a new school day. It's going to be so much fun!

I don't think so! Normally, teens my age would be excited to go to school to see their friends the first thing in the morning. Not, unfortunately, me. I'd rather have a little lie in. Sometimes I'd stay in bed waaaayyy past noon and won't come down until it's time for lunch. Unless mom's cooking one of my all time favourite meals: kamaboko in a sweet sauce or Kauai shrimp. I could eat a dozen of those and still have room for more. My sister Alice doesn't fancy meat though. She's made a vow to go vegan after one time, we were watching a nature program and we saw this poor antelope get ripped to shreds by a huge lioness. Ever since then, Alice has refrained from eating any meat which she now calls 'pieces of dead flesh'. "Being a vegetarian is actually a lot healthier than most people think. You could try it sometime." She'd always say to me. I'd just tease back at her and make references to her rabbit beast form and she would blush and snap "That's not the point." To which I'd want to know, what is?

Actually, you're probably wondering who this girl is getting carried away and going on about her life like it's what normal people do. I don't really feel like describing in long paragraphs about myself so, I'll make a list instead. I like making lists!

Name: Nonomura Uriko

Age: 17 (more like in 5 months!)

Hobbies: Practicing kenpo and spending time with my mom

Favourite food: Kamaboko

Favourite colors: White, blue and pink

Favourite cartoons: Sailor Moon, Doraemon and Shin-chan!

Favourite season: Spring

Anyway, today is the first day of school as it usually is for any student at the beginning of the year. Racing down the corridor, I try to find my class in a rush as I'm already late. As I'm walking towards my homeroom, (which I finally found at last) our very old and strict headmistress Mrs Sakura stops me and says "Running late again, I presume Ms Nonomura. I'll have you know that skipping or running in the corridors is forbidden even with the excuse of being late to your respective class." Oh God! It's only been the first day of school and she's already on the warpath. Why can't these old bags get a life? I thought sakura blossoms were supposed to be pretty, but Mrs Sakura isn't pretty, she is old and ugly and smells like lavender bath salts. You see, THIS is the reason why the first days of school are always the worst. I voiced my distaste for it on the phone to Kenji a few nights ago though I think he actually likes school. It wouldn't be surprising as he usually does well in his studies and pretty much works himself up every time there's an exam coming. He thinks that studying till the crack of dawn is going to help him get to a good college and then to uni and then a good job where he can make enough money to one day pay back what Yugo has done for him all these years. It's a bit silly if you ask me, but that is what he wants to do and I'd support him all the way.

"So you think school's a drag?" asked Kenji on one end of the line

"Well duh. 6 hours there just to listen a bunch of old hags blather on about nothing" I answered on the other end

"They're not blathering on about nothing. That information is essential for you if you want a bright future."

"I wish I didn't have to keep studying. I still have one more year to go and I'll finally be free. Oh! I wonder what I should be. Maybe a vet or a kindergarten teacher. Yeah! I like the idea of taking care of cute little animals or kids."

"I hope you are able to make the right decision. You wouldn't want a job like Nagi's. Having to run around, chasing criminals and bringing them in all day."

"Hmmmm...I guess not."

Nagi has been working as a policewoman for the past year now. She goes around hunting bad guys with a cool looking gun and all. She doesn't just hunt criminals, she also has to do daily police-like things like keeping people safe, helping a cat down from a tree and loads of other stuff. Unlike most of my friends, I didn't meet Nagi until Kenji introduced her to me. I guess being the VP of the W.O.C, Kenji knew a lot of people and Nagi happened to be one of them. At first, I thought she was one of those moody types of people but once you get to know her, she's really fun to hang out with. I got to know about her more one day when both of us were left in the meeting room of the W.O.C building as Alice had to sort out some documents and didn't want me interfering so she left me in there while Nagi was waiting for Yugo as she needed to report an important incident that she witnessed. I was sitting there next to her and started to feel bored because I didn't really know her that well and she also didn't seem to want to be bothered. My colorful set of felt tips were in my schoolbag and I had some paper too so I started to do a doodle of Nagi, looking very cool with black shades on and long, long legs that went on forever and ended in a pair of leather boots. I added highlights in her hair and gave her a skull tattoo with a Celtic design all over it. Next to her, I drew myself in cat form, with a thin looking tail and a small stature. As I was finishing my drawing, Nagi had leaned over to take a look and nearly scared me to death.

"Cool drawing. So you have a cat as your beast form?" she said.

She was actually interested! "Um well..." I said

"You know, the world is getting boring and dull nowadays, not to mention unsafe with the violence and all. Looking at your drawing kind of made me smile a little, you know. You look cute in there."

Ever since then, she wanted know what I thought about the relationship between humans and zoanthropes and everyday life. She seemed so mature I thought she was just pulling my leg the whole time and would tell me one day that she was planning it all along and leave me at that. She did no such thing and as time went by, I found I was quite enjoying our conversations every week we met at the building. (Alice decided to work a little late each Saturday and Nagi was already an active member of the W.O.C) I started telling her about my life and I even trusted her enough to tell her about that certain incident that happened eight years ago with Tylon. She listened to every word and never scoffed or laughed at anything I said. I had made my mind up that I wanted her to be my friend and invited her one day to come over for tea. Mom had prepared a lot of food and at first when she came, mom didn't think much of her but when we sat at the table and begun discussing stuff, she started on about her views in society and about her life. She told us about a cousin she has that could play the piano with his feet. "No kidding!" she said. Everything she said was funny and interesting and we were all in stitches by the time it was dark. When she left, mom turned to me and said "I guess you've got another friend to add to your list." I have loads of friends but usually, when mom agrees, that means she's warmed up and truly trusts them by then. Nagi's been a good friend since then and I usually go out with her around town when she's not working or when I'm not at school or drowning in homework.

As I'm thinking about all this, I had reached my classroom and taken a step in. Everyone turned to look in my direction and I just stupidly stood there, wondering what they were staring at. It was then that a thought struck me: I was the last one to get to class! "Ms Nonomura it has been the start of the school year and you're already late. I dread to think what would happen to your grades if you continue to go on like this. Now, hurry up and take a seat. Class is about to begin." Mr Yamamoto looked at me with his beady little eyes as I nervously glanced around to try to find Kenji. I spotted him sitting at the front as he turned around to wave at me. Plopping down next to him, I whispered "What lesson are we having now?" "Maths" he replied. UGH. I should have known. He gave me a reassuring smile and I could not wait till break to be able to talk to him. The rest of the lesson went on with a drag, what with Mr Yamamoto going on about equations and angles and such. I couldn't pay attention and decided not to, since I didn't really know anything that he was saying. Kenji, however, scribbled note upon note and frequently raised his hand whenever a question was asked.

After maths, we had history. We were paired up for an assignment that was going to be graded. I finally had some time to talk to Kenji but he told me that he had something exciting he wanted to tell me. I didn't really trust him as his idea of 'exciting' is usually watching paint dry or reading some thick, fat poetry book. By then, our history teacher told us to BE QUIET so I couldn't ask him about it. It was so boring not being able to do anything else, so I tore out a page from my note book and started to draw myself. I didn't like just drawing an ordinary portrait of my face so I added some flowers growing on my head with their little entrails creeping all over my hair and down, down my face. I wanted to look peaceful so I drew myself with my eyes closed, blocking everything else from the outside and being in my own special world without having to put up with school and the endless ramblings of a teacher. Of course, I'd still want Kenji to be with me. He is my friend. We could be in our own worlds together, flying high up in the sky. Yugo and Alice would be able to see us from below and they'd look like tiny little ants from up above. I looked at Kenji and wished more than anything we could stay best friends. I have this secret worry that one day, Kenji will go away to another place and forget me. I pondered over it all throughout the holidays. If he left, I wouldn't have anyone to talk to. At least, not one of our kind. Even though a lot of my other friends weren't zoanthropes they were still really nice but I guess I felt that I had a stronger bond with him. I'm worrying myself too much over this! Kenji isn't going to go anywhere. He had his family and friends, not to mention school! I silently scolded myself for thinking such things and proceeded to finish my drawing. About halfway through, the pen I was using ran out of ink. I scribbled something on the side and only a little ink had scathed the paper. I gave up and kept the drawing in my bag and sat there quietly minding my own business. I looked forward to hearing what Kenji wanted to tell me as I sat there and spent the rest of history class daydreaming and guessing what his exciting news was.