The crisp, fresh smell of the cherry blossoms invaded his nostrils. Large golden calculating eyes surveyed the area with a hint of nostalgia.
It truly had been far too long.
Noticing the remarkable similarities between the two schools, he was suddenly sent back to the sweeter memories of his most tender years.
Year was more like it.
Though the difference between the two schools was simply the size, he noted it must be logical. High school is supposed to be larger than jr. high.
Still the facilities were almost the same, structure was just the same, same settings…
Yet he couldn't help but feel an aura of black hanging around, stifling and drowning you in its wake.
Decidedly ignoring the chilling feeling in his spine he continued to walk through the school courtyard. Many whispers and stares began and just as always he casually ignored them.
Walking just the slightest bit he came across another young man, clearly his superior. The same dark aura he had recently encountered seemed to be radiating from him. A strange look in his narrowed eyes made the shiver down the spine increase. Fixing the taller boy with a glare he stood his ground, waiting for the other to speak.
A wicked snarl formed on the other young man's features, and as he opened his mouth to speak; the meager glaring match was interrupted.
"Echizen-kun!" swiftly turning, the young man named Echizen turned at hearing the tender voice he had not heard in at least three years time.
Silky honey colored hair, a gentle smile, soft eyes and a small frame appeared.
" Fuji-sempai." He said blankly.
"Saa Echizen-kun I was looking for you everywhere." It was a lie. Ryoma knew that no one was aware of his return, yet he kept his silence, trusting his sempai. "Please walk with me to class." Fuji concluded, taking him by the arm and nearly dragging him along. The other man gave a them both an ugly look before walking away as well.
They turned a secluded corner and his sempai stopped walking. He turned and stared at Ryoma eyes fully open.
" Echizen, what were you doing speaking to Hanaki-san." The deadly clam in his voice frightening.
" I wasn't speaking to him sempai, he just walked up to me." Ryoma was puzzled his sempai was acting strangely.
"Don't to talk to him Echizen, just don't." the pleading in the cerulean eyes was obvious, Ryoma could tell the request was serious.
"Why not?" he asked, he was not planning to speak to the other student anyways.
" Just listen to your sempai, Echizen." Fuji responded with authority.
Not left with any choice, Ryoma responded with an affirmative response.
The first bells chimed meaning it was 10 minutes to the beginning of class, he quickly excused himself from his sempai.
"Wait. Where are you going?" The soft brown locks billowed in the wind; cherry blossoms fluttered behind his sempai making him seem ethereal.
"To class."
"Not alone you're not."
Before he could protest, a loud guffaw was heard behind his sempai. With very loud steps, a group of young men all came out. Even more startling was the fact that they were all smoking.
And the sticks certainly did not seem like cigarettes.
Surprised to have walked in on a conversation, the apparent leader of the group looked closely at Ryoma and his sempai. Giving a devious smirk, he walked up to Fuji and nearly threw himself unto him.
" Looking as great as ever Syuusuke-kun," he said mockingly
Ryoma confusedly stared, as his sempai said absolutely nothing.
" So, trying to ditch school? That's good want to go have some fun." Ryoma suddenly felt repulsed by the obvious suggestion the punk was using, looking to his sempai he waited for a response.
" Kosio-san, please remove your arms from myself. No I am not ditching school, and as I have cleared up to you various times I am neither interested in men nor marihuana." Fuji spoke clam and clearly.
The thug named Kosio took his arms off Fuji-sempai and gave a casual shrug, " Oh well, the day you are interested you know where to find me." He told Fuji as he walked off.
When the group vanished from view Ryoma turned to his companion. "Sempai, are you alright?" he noticed that Fuji was shaking, whether it be from anger of fear Ryoma wasn't sure.
" Let's go." Fuji said softly.
Carefully walking behind his sempai Ryoma suddenly realized the amount of gang looking groups and such. He also came across obvious unorthodox relationships. His golden eyes widened. What was going on?
His sempai turned to him " Echizen-kun where is your locker?"
He handed his sempai the note containing the basic information such as his locker and his homeroom, Fuji studied it for a moment.
Now being slightly taller than his sempai, Ryoma looked over his shoulder. He finally noticed the sultry looks his sempai was receiving, and not only from females but from males as well. He glared at all the offenders in disgust.
" Follow me." His sempai seemed blissfully unaware.
Reaching the locker his Fuji began to unlock it carefully.
Finally Ryoma could not stand it any longer. " Sempai what's going on?" he knew Fuji would understand his real question.
The shorter man gave a small sigh " Echizen, were not in jr. high anymore. Thing are different. Everyone has changed, and not many for the best." Opening the locker Fuji turned to Ryoma " You just saw what people here are up to, just ignore them. Trust me it's for the best." Handing Ryoma his books, Fuji motioned for him to follow him once more.
They walked through some more halls. Once again Ryoma witnessed some things that were obviously were not permitted in normal schools. Apparently Seigaku was not one of them.
Finally Fuji stopped in front of a classroom that read 2-7.
"This is your homeroom." He said quietly.
"Thank you sempai."
" Echizen… I need you to promise something." Fuji looked completely serious.
Ryoma nodded.
" Promise me you'll never walk around in the halls by yourself, always walk with someone you know and is trust worthy. Just never, ever, walk alone in Seigaku high."
Ryoma was startled " Why?"
"Just promise me!" once again the hint of desperation was there and Ryoma found he could not refuse.
"Ok."
"Thank you. And I have one last request of you as your sempai."
"What is it?"
"Today at lunch hour you will not leave your homeroom, you will wait for me here, we need to speak about something." Just as his sempai finished his request, the bells chimed once more.
" I will." Ryoma felt a slight spark of curiosity at his sempai's words.
" You need to get to class now." Ryoma quickly noticed that people were beginning to pile into the classrooms.
Ryoma nodded and thanked his sempai once more before turning to his class.
" One more thing Echizen."
Ryoma was very startled when the slighter man gave him a brief hug. " I'm glad you're back, I'm sure we all will be."
And with that his sempai left.
Left confused Ryoma had no more choice but to enter the classroom.
He would later regret it.