Chapter 1

The buzzing of the alarm clock brought Hitomi to full consciousness. As she swatted at the annoying thing she wondered if it was even a bother to go to school at all. With the noise successfully stopped Hitomi glanced fully around at her room and decided the best thing would be to stay in bed on this wonderful sunny day. Its not that school really matters anyway she thought as the covers crawled up over her head.

Hitomi Kanzaki and her family lived in a very small community called the Gaea. It was tiny because the leaders of the small society decided long ago that the Gaea was only for the best of families. It was a small town within itself, some its members could go for years without leaving the front gates. There were strict rules against those living on the "inside" and those on the "outside." To even invite a visitor to their homes the members were forced to get a special permission from the group off town officials. There was a school "inside" but it was decided Hitomi would join the public school outside the gates.

At first Hitomi didn't mind, she wanted to make friends who were on the "outside" but children of the Gaea were not always that lucky. Almost everyone at Hitomi's high school knew about the small district she lived in. They saw her only as stuck up and never dealt with her.

Again starting out Hitomi didn't care about the whispers behind her back, knowing once everyone got to know her, they would see how wrong they were. But that never happened. The popular girls would play small tricks and pranks on the poor girl, then slowly after a while the small tricks and pranks grew larger until the entire school was against the stuck up girl named Hitomi.

"Hitomi! You're going to be late again!" Her mother called from the bottom of the stairs. Hitomi groaned, it looked like her mother wasn't going to let her skip today. "If you don't go any faster then you'll be late in picking up that Schezar boy." Hitomi groaned again, remembering Folken coming to their house a couple weeks back telling her to take the new kid to school. Sighing for the third time she recalled what Folken had said.

"Just show the kid around, Dornkirk has decided for him to go to an outside school. All you need to do is babysit for a while." The light in Folken's eyes worried Hitomi, but he was one of the highest ranked lower officials, and the Kanzaki family had other reasons for listening to him.

Thanking whoever was watching over her for belessing her with short hair, Hitomi raced to the bathroom with her school uniform in tow.

Less than twenty minutes later, a record for Hitomi, the girl was downstairs and running out the door.

"Hi mom, thanks mom, bye mom." She said as she ran past grabbing a piece of toast. She slammed the door behind her not noticing the figure just about to knock on the other side.

Allen Schezar was, as one of his ex-girlfriends put it, like a ripple on the water. No one could pin him down, his charm and grace allowing any girl to forget they wanted anything more out of him than a "good time." He thought the same way about all girls, they were simple, easy to manipulate, and always wanted him. He considered himself not a prideful person, years and years of seperation had taught him that. So when this girl ran into him on the steps of her house he was prepared to get the only thing he wanted, a good time.

"You seem to have come out at the precisly right moment," He said at the person lying across his lap. (When she ran into him they both fell over, he broke her fall) "Are you hurt?" He said tring to gently push her off him, at the same time helping her up.

"Nah, but I'm goning to be late if I don't hurry. What do you want, by the way?" Allen had never felt anyone stare him down so hard before. Her green eyes never left his blue ones, as she surveyed the being in front of her.

"Well I believe, according to your attire, I am looking for you." He bowed graciously taking her hand and kissing it.

"You're Allen Schezar?" Her voice went deadpan. Alan was afraid his reputation had finally caught up with him, some of those exes's he aquired could be pretty nasty.

He glanced up at her face and like her voice; it too had gone completely deadpan. Her mouth was hanging slightly open, and her eyes were glassy.

"Miss…are you quite alright?" She seemed to not notice his question because she was to busy screaming in her head.

I'm going to kill him, I've threatened him before, but this time I'm really going to kill him! Oh Folken you're going to get it big time. As the girl plotted a nervous Allen watched her every move.

"I don't know much about this school, but is it bad to be late on your first day?" Allen decided no more time was going to be wasted with this girl.

"What!" She grabbed his wrist and looked at the watch (she left hers upstairs). "Awe CRAP!" She started to run again not letting go of Allen's wrist.

As they ran she shouted back directions about the school building to him.

"The first floor has all of the science and math classes, and the cafeteria is on that level as well. You can eat outside or bring your own lunch, but we can't leave the scool grounds. The second floor has the theatre, language, and literature classes. The third floor has the larger part of the library and the art classes. The library starts on the second floor, but like I said, the larger half is above it. I know it can get confusing but trust me. Oh and when we get there don't say where you live, and don't associate with me." Allen was taken aback at this last statement. He had never come across a girl who told him to stay away from her. Perhaps she didn't see me clearly when she ran into me this morning he thought, yes that's it, she didn't see me and that's why she wants to stay away from me!

Allen was just about to try and get the girl ahead of him to turn around when she abrubtly dropped his arm and stepped a few paces away from him. Allen looked up and there they were, at the high school. Allen had no time to marvel at this girl's odd behavior. Most of the time when girls acted odd around him, it was only because of his stunning good looks, or his stellar personality, but this girl never seemed to notice him. He glanced back at her when he started to make his way to the main gate, she had on the same face she wore when she found out his name.

Whatever, he thought, its not like she really matters…Although I would love to know why she has no interest in me. Allen still kept telling himself Hitomi's standoffish behavior was because she really wanted his attention. What was it? Reverse psychology? Whatever, he thought for the second time.

By this time he had reached the main entry way only to find the doors locked.

"It's the first day of break." Hitomi said, her voice completely deadpan, but her face had somewhat changed. Her cheeks were slightly pale and her very noticable green eyes were dimmed. "I was stuck at the main house; you'll learn you can lose days there." Allen had a hard time believing a high-school student of any age (he's a year older than her) could forget something as important as a few days off. "I guess I'll have to go back…" she seemed to pale even more at the idea; and against his better judgment, Allen found himself speaking.

"Why don't you show me around town instead." She shrugged and started at him; waiting for him to lead the way I really must figure this girl out! Allen's mind called.

After a while of standing there they decided to go to an open market. Both Hitomi and Allen were pleasantly surprised with themselves. They were having a good time. Hitomi had never experienced someone like Allen for company. Someone who looked at her and listed to what she had to say. A person who didn't make fun of her, and she could realize knowing they didn't have some plotting scheme against her.

Allen, on the other hand, started to see himself enjoying the role of helping this girl along. She was in such a tight shell when she agreed to come to the market. But now, no w she was starting to open up to him little by little. He saw the fragile small girl who had been pushed down and pushed down, never being allowed to grow. Allen was astonished to find himself thinking about protecting this girl, in whatever way he could.

Whether by fate or by some illustrious person both realized, at about the same time, they were going to be very close. Allen felt a tight fear grip him, would she see the true me? And would she still stay by my side? Hitomi just prayed that come the end of the break and the first day back Allen would still be willing to be her friend and not turn on her.

After a while they grew tired of the market and found a small café to eat in.

"So who exactly are you?" Hitomi questioned. When she got a confused look from her companion she clarified. "You treat me like I'm this princess," she indicated to the chair he had pulled out for her. "You're this real gentleman, I just want to know, who are you?" Allen started to laugh, he knew a great many women who wouldn't put himself and gentleman in the same sentence unless it also contained the words no-good.

"I can assure you I am no gentleman; you must not have met very decent guys in your life." Hitomi smiled weakly.

"No, I haven't." She looked nervous after she said it, but then calmed. Allen wondered for a brief moment why she would be uneasy by saying she hadn't met any decent men.

"So what do you do for fun?" Allen was surprised, he had never taken such an interest in other girls before.

"I like to…" Hitomi was so embarrassed by her lack of social activities that she spoke so softly Allen couldn't hear her at all.

"I'm sorry?"

"I like to cook, but I don't ever have the time for it. I like to read as well, but again I don't have the time."

"Why?"

"Well, when I'm not at school, or doing homework, I'm summoned to the main house." Alan glanced up at her. "Well you live there now, so I don't see any harm in telling you. For boys at Gaea it isn't that hard. But girls had it much worse. The boys are given some decision about their lives, but girls are simply told what to do. It also doesn't help that Dornkirk has chosen me as his current favorite. He enjoys reigning over people," she said before Allen could ask. "Dornkirk loves to feel power, why do you think that place is so exclusive? Dornkirk knows he can control our lives totally, so that's why my mom is proud when I get summoned to his chambers no matter what he does to me." As she finished Alan felt a chill, oh mother what have you gotten us into?

"But can't you just fight back?"

"Dornkirk has his methods, you'll see the first time you get your summons. Just don't let yourself get caught hanging around the main house. If Dornkirk sees you and likes you, your life is over." She went silent, but seconds later she saw something out the window. Whatever caught her attention she quickly took action. "You're related to me and your mother forced you to take me out today." She whispered, but before Allen could ask she disappeared.

Seconds later Allen was surprised by three girls. Now, these girls were only average looking, but they, like everyone else at Hitomi's school, entertained the belief they were better than that Kanzaki girl. To say Allen was pleasantly surprised was a vast over statement. Allen liked the thought there were still girls out in the world who did a double take on his looks. As much as he hated it, Hitomi, in their few short hours, had been able to chip away at his confidence in himself. There was another thing he didn't like, that was the look on the three girls faces. Allen could have called them pretty if they didn't wear smugness like makeup.

"Can I help you?" He was not below being rude to a girl, even if they were going to be tough with him.

"Hey, you new in town?" the girl in the middle had to be the leader. She couldn't bring herself to look in his eyes, but she was able to hide her blush better than the other two.

"What makes you so sure?"

"You're in your uniform, and you were hanging out with that witch Hitomi Kanzaki." Her two followers looked around the café and the leader's eyes flashed. "Take my advice, handsome, stay away from that girl. She'll stab you in the back at the first moment she can." The girl to her left made a stabbing motion, but the girl to the right still kept guard until…

Hitomi, thinking it was safe to come out, inwardly groaned as she saw three of the most popular girls from her school still talking to Allen. All she could do was to keep her head held high and keep walking.

As the three caught sight of Hitomi they all exchanged an evil look. The first two rammed their shoulders into Hitomi's chest, and the third grabbed Allen's water and spilled it all over her.

The three cackled and left Hitomi slumped back in her chair and all Allen could do was watch her. She started to take a cloth napkin and dry off the front of her blouse.

"Did you tell them what I told you?" She asked between passes with her napkin.

"What? Oh, uh, no I really didn't say anything." Allen had been too engrossed with what she was doing to pay attention to what she was saying, she stopped to glare at him.

"You may have thought it was stupid but I'm an outcast, you get seen with me, and any hope of becoming anything on the social level is gone." From the way her eyes gleamed Allen knew she was telling the truth.

"But why don't you stand up to them? You know, fight back?" Hitomi chuckled.

"You sounded just like he did." She said so softly only her napkin heard. "You've never had a bully before, so you wouldn't know what it means. It is easier to tell a person 'fight back' than it is to stand by their side and fight with them." Hitomi knew she was sharing too much to this stranger, who she only met a few hours ago. Out of nowhere Hitomi grabbed Allen's wrist for the second time with the same purpose.

"I've gotta go." She stood and threw some money down on the table. They may still be out there but I'll have to risk it, Dornkirk will be angry when he finds out I had today off and didn't come to him. (Allen was completely forgotten).

The girls Hitomi had been worried about were in fact waiting for the her outside the café.

"Think you were better than the handsome guy with you?" The first taunted.

"Yukuri-san of course she thinks she is better, didn't you see her pay for her part of the bill?" The second chimed. Their leader Minkoto said nothing but landed a punch to Hitomi's back.

Of course Hitomi went down, she had been bullied for all of her life. She knew it was better to go down at the first punch, they got it over more quickly if you did that. Surprisingly the beating only lasted three hits, not including Minkoto's first punch. Each girl got a kick in before a figure, who was hidden across the alley way could no longer stand it.

"Stop it!" The three heard this and ran.