Disclaimer: Kamichama Karin is property of Koge-Donbo, the publishers etc. etc.

Warnings: Alternate Universe (AU), possible Out of Character (OOC)-ness, general insanity, crack-type pairings, and badly written romance (in later chapters).

A/N: For now, I'll just blame a conversation at the Kamichama Karin lj community for this particular plot-bunny (about character pairings). Fairly easy to follow and no, I don't really know how boarding schools really work (I go to one that's day and boarding, so… yes). I won't mention all the pairings for the sake of scaring readers/making them guess what couple will be next. On the assumption that you haven't run away screaming from the warnings given… I salute you as you read on.

Collision

Chapter 01

"Hi, I'm your new dorm mate, Hanazono Karin, nice to meet you… No, maybe not, uhm…" she shook her head in irritation, "Maybe not the bowing; that's so formal now. But then again… a handshake right off might seem too informal… but… but… argh!"

It was, perhaps by chance or fate itself, that no one else was currently in the vicinity, as Karin made a half-hearted attempt to tear at her hair. As she performed something similar to a Dance of Rage™, her foot struck one of the suitcases on the floor. Without another thought, she yelped at the jolt of pain that followed and instantly made a grab for it.

This resulted in tragedy, as Karin lost her balance and toppled to the tiled floor. Whimpering at the pain that shot through her entire left side, the fourteen-year-old pushed herself up into a sitting position.

Great! My first day here and I'm already making a fool of myself! She ranted in her mind, tears collecting in her eyes. This was supposed to be a new start! Not like this! No, wait! No one saw, so I still—

The sound of the door before her opening caused a near heart-attack in Karin, the shock hitting her already highly-strung nerves. She struggled to stand up as fast as she could, only to fall back down from the pain. As she all but saw doom in the near future, Karin almost missed the hand before her.

She glanced up to meet the face of her new dorm mate. The girl smiled, dark hair curtaining her pale face.

"I thought I heard someone out here."

Flustered, Karin accepted the help and, once up, fidgeted awkwardly on the spot. First impressions were important, her aunt had once told her – after a rather long rant about her failing grades – and they shouldn't be wasted.

Well, it was her first impression with this girl; oh hell, she was going to screw up…

"Hi, I'm Hanazono Karin! Nice to meet you!" the words flew out of her mouth and she bowed, long before her mind realised what she had just done. When it had, however, her mind went into overdrive – Oh no oh no oh no! I totally did that, didn't I?! She probably thinks I'm a weirdo and… - and almost missed the girl's reply.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kujyou Himeka." Then she bowed.

Silence. It seemed to stretch out into eternity as Karin stared; no, there had been no sarcasm in the girl's – Himeka's, she reminded herself sharply – voice and she definitely seemed sincere. And she was so pretty and gentle-looking, not someone who would mock or tease or hurt even the smallest creature on the planet.

Okay, okay, Karin. Wait, wait. Breathe in, out. BREATHE GIRL, BREATHE! It's okay; no mocking, no glares, nothing yet, no wait, I look weird right now, right? Right?! Ah! No!

With great effort, Karin pushed her worries out of the way and managed a smile in Himeka's direction. "So, uh… I guess we're dorm mates now, Kujyou-san…"

"Yes," Himeka stepped back to allow Karin access into their room, still smiling, "but you can just call me Himeka."

As she tugged at her suitcase to ease it inside, the brunette managed to glance up for a moment, the smile looking a little less plastic; "Really? Then you can call me Karin!"

"Okay! Here, I'll help."

"Ah, no, I'm fine--"

"It'll be quicker this way--"

"B-but… alright, if you really insist…"

Five minutes later found the door closed, the suitcase on the spare bed and Karin with it, as she stared at the ceiling. Himeka took a seat next to the still-nervous girl, her intentions clear on relieving the stress.

"You know, Karin-chan, the campus here is really nice, and so are the teachers and students. We have so many extracurricular activities it's impossible to not find one you'll enjoy. I'm a part of the Nature's Club and we look at all types of animals and bugs and it's always fun to get into discussions with the other members! We've also got cooking, or the computer club, and there are also the sports; we have so many and--" She stopped mid-sentence and clapped her hands over her mouth, "I-I'm sorry!"

Karin, who had been listening silently – attentively for each and every detail – sat up and smiled. "What are you talking about? It sounds like so much fun!" the smile faded as she continued, "It's just that… well, this school is much larger than my last one, and this is my first time boarding and away from family, so… eheh… sorry if I'm not much fun to be around."

"I know how that feels. Starting here, I mean," without hesitation, Himeka took Karin's hand and squeezed it, "but it's a really nice place and, besides getting lost occasionally, it's a lot of fun. You'll make so many friends here."

Although the knot in her stomach remained, it had lessened enough to allow Karin to appreciate the company (and not just thank whatever god up there for not giving her some scary, serious-looking girl as a dorm mate). "So… Himeka-chan, what's it like to be he--…"

The rest of the question was lost as the door burst open behind them and people tumbled in. Karin leaned over to get a closer look – she suspected they were people, but it was sort of hard to tell with the black, red and yellow that seemed to be there. The intruders – two, she concluded – seemed to trade insults with the other; how or why, she had absolutely no clue.

"—ga, that's the last time I--"

"Just because you can't take it like a man--"

"Like you're one to talk--!"

All Karin knew, then and there, was that there were strangers in the room: loud strangers, at that, and most definitely male if their voices were anything to go by. And that freaked her out.

"Perverts!" she all but shrieked and made a grab for something, anything, to get them out. Himeka calmly took a hold of Karin's arm – the one which currently held a desk-lamp – and caught her attention.

"It's okay," she reassured her, although the brunette felt anything but that, "once they calm down, I'll introduce you to--"

"Why are you two fighting in Himeka-san's room?" another male's voice filtered from down the hall, sounding somewhat aggravated, "Didn't you promise not to fight because a new student was coming?"

It wasn't long before another male stormed in and went to work to pry the two apart from the floor. There was a moment of struggling and then the arguing seemed to stop abruptly. Silence fell in the room.

Himeka seemed far too cheerful with what had just happened, Karin noted, before her attention was drawn to the people who had just entered their room. Without any warning or permission, she added silently, still flustered.

The tallest of the three – he has such pretty eyes… but they're different colours… - smiled as soon as he knew she had caught his eye. From the somewhat-awkward position of holding back the black-haired boy, he still managed some form of grace in a half-bow.

"Sorry for the intrusion. Allow me to introduce myself--…"