Hidden Rhythm

Chapter 1: Guardians?

Ever had a hidden identity? I have, or I do to be precise. Not exactly what you're thinking though. I'm not one of those two personalities' people who can't show their true self. No, mines different. My real name is Rizume Kokoro but I'm more commonly known as Riz. And no it's not one of those cheesy nick-names it's what they actually call me. Why? Because people who know me don't know me as Rizume the sweet and sporty little girl that I am but as Riz the shy yet sport fanatic boy. Yes, I pretend to be a boy. Not that I want to but I have to. Why you ask? Well my family has been going for many generations and we are a very proud family. No we are not rich but we all do well in sports. However we are better known for our sporty boys. I'm the first girl to be born after hundreds of generations and that's not something to be proud of. My farther won't even talk to me unless I'm Riz. My mother is more understanding but she still prefers me as Riz to keep the family pride going. You must be thinking "how has no one noticed that you're a girl?". Well I'm not at the age where I've developed much yet and I have to deepen my voice when I talk, not super deep but just boyish deep. Unfortunately this doesn't always work, in fact every school I have been too so far someone has figured out who I really am, so we move house and I get placed into a new school. I'm currently going to a school called Seiyo Elementary. I've only been going for four days now but I'm already hoping I don't move. It's a nice school is Seiyo, I feel like I'm protected and can enjoy myself. Not sure why, I just feel like I'm being watched over in a good way that is. First day writing in this diary and I hope I can write about some interesting stuff. Bye xxx

I closed my purple patterned diary and slipped it under my pillows before grabbing my bag and walking downstairs.

"Good morning mum"

"Morning Riz, I've got your lunch here"

I walked over to the table and received my lunch from my mum. I then grabbed a slice of jam on toast before saying my farewells and walking out the door. I passed my farther in the front garden.

"Morning dad"

"Morning son, have a nice day at school and enjoy practice"

"Yes dad, goodbye"

I walked to school and met up with my friends from soccer and basketball practice. We chatted a bit about tonight's practice before heading into the main hall.

"Hey, why are we going to the hall?"

"We have assembly's on Fridays, this is your first one right?"

"Yea."

"They're pretty boring, the guardians just say some announcements and then we get on with the day."

"Guardians?"

"Geez Riz you've been her about a week now and you still don't know about the guardians, go ask Chiko she knows loads about them"

They all then carried on towards the hall as I walked over to Chiko. The only reason I know Chiko was because she was in my class, sat next to me and was without a doubt the chattiest girl in the school. I sometimes wished I could be like that, not much point in thinking about it though. I'm hoping that by the time I start developing my parents will have to let me be myself, but I don't think it will be that easy.

"Hey Chiko, can you tell me about the guardians?"

"Omg Riz you don't know about the guardians?! Well you came to the right girl! The guardians are special students who have the responsibility to our privacy and protection. They look after us and keep our darkest secrets from being spread. There are usually four but currently we have five. Jack: Nagihiko, Ace: Yaya, Queen: Rima, King: Tadase-kun and Joker: Amu!"

"Wow, wow, wow calm down. I think I know more than enough, thanks Chiko."

"Hehe no problem Riz-kun!"

I walked off to join my friends in the hall. Luckily they had saved me a seat. After about five minutes the assembly had started. All the guardians had come out and began talking to us. I looked closer and saw that I had seen some of them around school. I had been wondering why they had those funny little capes on, now I knew. One stood out to me. A boy with long purple hair cascading down his shoulders and standing proudly in front of everyone. There was something about him that appealed to me. That's when I noticed something. Sitting on his shoulder was something small. I was too far back to see what it was but I got that feeling that I was the only one who could see it. I decided not to mention it because of this.

The rest of the day was pretty boring. My friends just chatted about sport all day. Just once I wish I could talk about something girly and not just sports… As the bell rang we headed off to get changed for basketball practice. This was my first time at practice so I was pretty nervous. I already knew that they had cubicles which were a major life saver. We swiftly got changed and rushed onto the pitch. Our coach was already waiting and we all lined up. He set us into teams and got us ready for the match.

"Ok captain for team one is… New kid! What's your name son?!"

"Ehhh, oh Riz sir"

"Riz your captain!"

"Oh come on…gimme a break…" I whispered so he couldn't hear

"Ok team two your captain is… Nagihiko!"

"Yes sir!"

I looked to the side to see that guardian boy with purple hair. So he was the Jack; Nagihiko. I couldn't see the little thing on his shoulder anymore, maybe I was imagining it?

We started the game and everything seemed fine. I was trying to figure out the other teams' tactics and they seemed to be relying on Nagihiko. I couldn't blame them, he was an amazing player, he looked as if he thought everything over in his head twice before doing it and he was always right. However the second half was different. He seemed a lot more confident and not thinking what he was doing. It was more of a "do it and hope it works" kinda thinking but it was still working. There came a point when everyone on my team had given up and couldn't be bothered. I had faced this once before. The only thing I knew would work was showing them that it's not impossible to beat this dude. So that's what I did, I charged towards him and tried to steal the ball. Something felt different when I was doing this though. I then heard a voice in my head.

"Go on Riz! Beat him!"

A blue neck scarf then appeared around me and I felt some kind of force powering me up. Like I was invincible! I popped up in front of him with a smirk on my face and tricked him into practically giving the ball away! I then rushed passed the rest and scored! Finally the whistle blew ending the match. We still lost but the team seemed impressed with me. They all came up and congratulated me after getting changed and before going home. I walked up to the front gate to find Nagihiko waiting at the gate. He saw me and smiled.

"Hey, you where awesome today"

"Huh, oh um thanks"

"What was your name again?"

"Oh its Rizu-" I was about to say Rizume accidently but quickly picked it up.

"R-Riz I mean"

"Well it's nice meeting you Riz, I'm Nagihiko"

"I know, you're a guardian right?"

"Yea, kinda hard for someone not to know…"

He seemed a little confused; he was staring at me strangely, as if he was looking for something.

"Um I need to get going…"

"Oh sorry, see you tomorrow Riz"

"Bye…"

I left the school with that goodbye.