Title: Appreciating Things of Beauty [Chapter One
Author:Endless-Kaoru
Pairing:None yet.
Rating:Overall: PG-13. This Chapter: G.
Disclaimer: I don't own Wallflower characters. None. Not even a single one.
Warnings:None.
Summary: The boys are given a new project: Turn Shuiro Aya into a lady, in order to receive free access to the family beach-front stables. Well... she can't be as un-lady-like as Sunako-chan, can she?

Appreciating Things of Beauty
Chapter One: Things of Beauty

Kyohei pressed the speakerphone button on the receiver, "Yes, go ahead, landlady."

"I'm sorry for not calling earlier, but my friend has sent her daughter to live there with you. I told her about the great job you did with Sunako-chan, and she wants Aya-chan to be a lady! Oh, if you make Aya-chan into a lady, her parents will give you free access to the family stables and beach!" the landlady laughed, and spoke briefly to someone else before returning to them, "Well, I have to go now, but Shuiro Aya-chan is expected to get there this afternoon! Good-bye!"

The line went dead, and the four boys stared at each other.

After a lull, Yuki cheerfully announced, "I've never ridden a horse before! And maybe if there's another girl around, Sunako-chan won't have to work so hard!"

There was a moment of discussion, and they grudgingly came to the decision that maybe this 'Aya' wouldn't be as scary as Sunako.

And then the doorbell rang.

They paused in confusion, and Ranmaru said thoughtfully, "I thought she was due this evening…?"

The doorbell rang again, and all four of them headed for the door, shadowed by Sunako. Through the window, they spotted an androgynous girl with auburn hair flowing down her back. She wore a loose t-shirt that hid her figure and baggy black jeans. Nothing extremely unusual about her yet.

"No way that's her!" Yuki proclaimed.

Ranmaru shrugged and opened the door. With a warm smile that would make most girls blush and stutter, he asked, "Hello. May I help you?"

She glanced up with unaffected amber eyes, "I'm Shuiro Aya. Is this the right place?" She didn't blush. She didn't giggle. She didn't even bat an eyelash.

The lack of response intrigued him, "Yes, the landlady told us you were coming. Please, come in. I'm Morii Ranmaru."

Aya entered, and brief introductions followed. Aya glanced about warily, looking vaguely uncomfortable.

Finally, Ranmaru smiled, moving closer to take her luggage, "Here, let me carry your things to your room, Aya-chan."

"Aya. Just Aya. And I'll carry my own stuff." She replied shortly, shifting her bags out of his reach. As almost an afterthought, she added a small bow and murmured, "Th-Thanks anyway, Morii-san."

He chuckled, "Ranmaru. Just Ranmaru"

Uncertain, she just nodded dumbly and followed him to her room. Passing Yukinojo, she paused to glance at his earring before lightly flicking it and grinning, "Heh. Cute."

It was storming later that evening. Sunako was in her room, Aya was taking a shower, and the four boys were in the living room. Yuki glanced out the window worriedly as thunder crashed, "I hope this doesn't keep up all night…"

At that moment, Aya came in wearing black boxers and a faded and torn green tank top that stuck to her skin. She stalked past the boys and went straight to the window, pausing to towel dry her hair. Staring wistfully at the storm, she announced, "Isn't this just the coolest storm ever? I miss the barn loft most at times like these…"

Ranmaru had barely registered her presence, buried in his book; Takenaga only glanced up, and Kyohei echoed "Barn loft..?"

"How is it cool? Rain is so cold, and storms are scary!" Yuki protested.

Aya glanced over her shoulder at him, "…You're scared…?"

The boy nodded, and she stared out the window again, sighing to herself, "It's sad… to fear things of beauty…"

"What?" he straightened, staring at her. The other three took a sudden interest in the conversation.

"Things of beauty… like flowers, and animals, and people." She turned to face him again, leaning on the windowsill to study his confused expression.

"What… are you talking about…?" he finally asked.

She was quiet, seemingly composing herself, before pacing forward and kneeling on the floor in front of his chair, between his feet. Her hand reached out to flick his earring again, and thoughtfully ran her thumb over his cheekbone. He blushed faintly, but didn't move.

Finally, she spoke, "Rain brings water, and water brings life. Life both brings and receives oxygen, and oxygen is a third of H2O – water. Rain." She paused, before continuing, "Rain is a necessary prelude to all things beautiful. Even if the weather is a twisting, raging storm now… it is eventually more beautiful than it was before. Chaos brings peace." She lazily crossed her arms and smiled.

Yuki was moved to tears, and went to hug her.

In a fluid, graceful motion, she stood and backed out of his reach. In a not-so-fluid, ungraceful motion, she tripped over Takenaga's chair and toppled backward. He caught her somewhat awkwardly, startled at the sudden appearance of the girl in his lap, "Are you okay?"

She blinked at him a moment, mute.

"Hey, Aya-chan… are you okay?" he shifted to help her stand.

Takenaga's hand gripped her arm, and she suddenly jerked away, bolting to the spot on the opposite side of Yuki, where she covered her face and cowered, "I-I'm sorry…! I--"

Kyohei reached over to her, hesitated, and withdrew his hand, "Hey, it's all right. It was an accident… You're not crying, are you? Come on… what's wrong?"

She held herself, looking up slowly, ashamed, "Y-You just… startled me. You look… like someone I knew…" she turned to the floor sharply.

"…Someone… you don't like?" Yuki guessed, hesitantly.

She stiffened and bared her teeth, making a noise that sounded surprisingly like a growl, "I hate him! I wish he'd just get out of my head and go away and die!"

"O-Oh?" Takenaga laughed nervously, wondering if he'd always get this reaction out of her.

"Why? Did he… cheat on you…?" Ranmaru asked from the other side of the room.

Aya's head whipped up to stare at him blankly, then seemed to regain her closed-off composure, "No. It's none of your business. I'm going to bed." She stood jerkily and left the room, hesitated at the door, and bid them goodnight.

A/N: Well? What do you think? If I get any kind of positive response, I'll post the next few chapters.