Disclaimer: Hi! I do not own Digimon nor its characters. I hope you review this story so I can know what you think of it and I apologize if my grammar is not so good.
Italics--thoughts
Summary: AU fanfic. Loneliness is her one friend while living in shadows and darkness. Sayuri is a mysterious girl who deals with a curse that has haunted her family for years………….but what if someone like Kouji Minamoto gets intrigued by her? Would he be able to break her curse?
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What is fate? Maybe it's a strange power that controls everything that happens in our lives.
Many people believe that there's a story written for each one of us while others doubt that there's a force that determines our lives.
Is fate another superstition? Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps we just don't give it enough thought.
Anyways, there are people that do believe in fate and some challenge it, trying to get whatever they desire but fate is not something we can easily defy without losing something……………If you fail, you may lose something more than just your pride, you may lose even your own life……………….
Monday, one of the least favorite days for students. They have to go to school after two days of resting from a whole week of homework and study. But still, a Monday can bring big surprises, like a young boy is about discover………..
"Did you finish the essay that Mr. Kumazawa asked us to bring?" asked a brown-haired teenager to a boy beside him.
"Yes, I finished on Saturday" replied a blond boy.
Chatting and more chatting around the classroom. A certain dark-haired boy with dark blue eyes was shaking his head in disapproval while watching his classmates. He preferred silence and loneliness above all things.
"We better sit! Mr. Kumazawa is coming!" exclaimed a girl and everybody in the classroom stopped talking just before their teacher entered the classroom.
Finally, I was wondering when he was going to come and stop all this gossip thought the blue-eyed boy.
"Good morning, get in your seats" ordered a familiar voice and everyone scrambled to their desks.
"Good morning" greeted the students in chorus.
"Today, I'm introducing all of you to a new student that will be studying with us. Come in."
A girl about 15 years old came into the classroom. She had pale skin, hazel eyes and long black hair tied in a ponytail. She was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a white Chinese blouse. She also had a pair of long and narrow locks of hair falling down her cheeks.
"She's Sayuri Miyahara and she comes from Hong Kong" said Mr. Kumazawa and he heard some gasps of surprise.
"Miyahara? She's back?" whispered one girl to the girl beside her.
"Remember that she went to China or Hong Kong" whispered back a brown-haired girl.
"Miss Miyahara has just returned from Hong Kong after a few years and as you might suppose, she lives in the Miyahara Shrine" explained the professor and he coughed after hearing more whispers "I think most of you know her"
"May I take a seat?" asked the new girl politely, but her voice was like cold water running over stones.
"Sure, your seat, let me see…" replied the professor and his eyes roved over the class before settling on a back corner "Ah. The seat behind Mr. Minamoto is empty, it's the one beside the window"
"Thank you" said Sayuri and she walked to the seat that was beside the window as she ignored the whispers about her, she didn't even take a look at Kouji.
The Literature class started and Mr. Kumazawa started writing something in the blackboard. Many students were whispering while others were taking quick glances at Sayuri.
Kouji Minamoto was copying what the professor was writing on his notebook but he soon noticed that most of his fellow classmates were gazing oddly at the girl behind him.
It's strange, why is everyone so curious about that girl? thought the blue-eyed boy and he frownedI'd know what's going on if I had arrived to this school before she moved to Hong Kong
Anyways, Kouji decided to ignore all the whispers he could hear and he continued writing. What made that girl so peculiar that all his classmates were staring at her?
It wouldn't have surprised him if all the boys were staring at Sayuri Miyahara because the girl was good-looking but there were also girls staring at her.
Who was Sayuri Miyahara? The professor said that she lived in the Miyahara Shrine, a place not so far from his house.
That meant nothing good, he had liked to go there since he moved to his current house. That shrine was always empty and he visited it very often because of the peace and silence of the place. If a family had returned, there would be all kind of noises and bustle around the shrine.
Meanwhile, the new girl was staring at the notebook on her desk and she was aware of the glances that came from her classmates. Wouldn't they stop looking at her in that way? Most of them had been her classmates, just before she had to move again to Hong Kong. They probably remembered her but none of them had befriended her.
Anyways, she was used to the whispers and strange glances. Most of the people she met avoided her, so she always ended without company.
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Hours passed like minutes and the first classes ended. It was lunchtime and the students started going to the cafeteria or to the school grounds.
Kouji Minamoto took his lunch and left the classroom like he did every day. Then, he made his way to the school's rooftop. He walked and was about to start eating his sandwich when he soon spotted someone else in the same place.
Sayuri Miyahara was also there, she was watching the school grounds from the top of the school's rooftop where she got a perfect view of everything. Unexpectedly, she turned her head to Kouji.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice was as cold as when she spoke for the first time, back at the classroom.
"I'm Kouji Minamoto" replied the dark-haired boy.
"You're the boy that sits in front of me, aren't you?" said Sayuri.
"Yes" replied Kouji and he shrugged "And what are you doing here?"
"Nothing" said Sayuri and they stared at each other.
A slight breeze blew and both teenagers remained silent but they didn't stop staring at each other. Blue sapphire met hazel.
"How many times do I have to tell you to go to another place, Minamoto?" said another voice and both teenagers turned to see a man in his last fifties.
"I'm sorry, professor" was Kouji's reply and the man spotted Sayuri.
"Ah, you must be Miss Miyahara" said the man and Sayuri nodded "You're new and you probably don't know this but students aren't allowed to be in such dangerous place"
"This is not a dangerous place, professor" said Kouji clearly annoyed, Mr. Yuyama was exaggerating like he always did.
"Of course it is, Minamoto" said Mr. Yuyama and he cleared his throat "Now, why don't you show Miss Miyahara the school grounds?"
"Excuse me, but who exactly are you?" asked Sayuri, not very happy with the professor's suggestion.
"Everybody knows me as professor Yuyama and I teach Geography" replied the professor.
"Well, I have to go" said Sayuri and she made her way towards the stairs that lead to the fifth floor.
"But I told Mr. Minamoto to show you the school grounds" said the professor loudly just before the new girl started descending the stairs.
"That won't be necessary" said Sayuri icily.
"You heard her" said Kouji, feeling relieved that he wouldn't have to spend time with a stranger.
"I think you two didn't understand me" said the professor, he sounded upset "Minamoto will show you the school grounds, Miss Miyahara"
"But professor, it's lunchtime and I can do whatever I want" said Kouji, trying to sound polite.
"I said that you'll go with her" said the professor harshly and he smirked "If she's as rebellious as you, I don't doubt that you two will become good friends. Now go"
"Yes, professor" replied Kouji as he glared Mr. Yuyama.
"Get going" said the professor and he watched as Kouji and Sayuri started descending the stairs together.
The two teenagers didn't utter a single word as they descended more and more stairs. They finally arrived to the school's playground.
"So………where are we going?" asked Sayuri and she shrugged "You don't have to show me the school if you don't want to"
"I have to" said Kouji and he gritted his teeth "Mr. Yuyama will ask to the other teachers if they saw us together"
"Do you know of another calm or lonely place?" asked Sayuri.
"Yes, come with me" said Kouji and Sayuri followed him to a place surrounded by trees, it looked like a small forest.
"Nice place but many people should come here often" said Sayuri.
"Yes but………it gets quieter and lonelier the further you go" said Kouji and he took out his sandwich "Besides, it's strange to find students or teachers here, they're usually at the cafeteria or at the playground"
"Then, I'll go to take a look. I can meet you here before the bell rings" said Sayuri and she began walking to the east, leaving Kouji alone.
"Good idea" whispered the dark-haired boy as he watched Sayuri walking.
He was glad that Sayuri had suggested that, he could be alone in that place without worrying for Mr. Yamada. That Geography teacher was really annoying not to mention that he was one of the most strict teachers at school.
For him, I'm nothing but an insolent and rebellious boy. A boy that cannot be tamed and never will. There hadn't been a single student that he couldn't have tamed…… thought Kouji and he smirked ……except me
After that, he started eating his sandwich while enjoying the silence. He remembered the shrine and sighed, he'd have to look for another peaceful place. Well, at least his father and his stepmother wouldn't be at home after school, they were visiting an old friend at Matsue.
Soon, he was done with his sandwich and he wondered about the new girl. He still didn't understand why all his classmates were glancing at her oddly. She wasn't like all the girls he had met, she seemed to like loneliness too and that was pretty strange for him.
He always thought that girls were supposed to be cheerful and noisy, not to mention that they cared a lot about looks, boyfriends and make-up.
But it didn't matter, he liked the cold tone she used when she spoke to Mr. Yamada. The professor wasn't used to be ignored and Sayuri Miyahara was, in some way, disobeying and defying his orders.
Meanwhile, Sayuri was leaning slightly against a tree and she was thinking in Kouji's sapphire blue eyes. They were really fascinating, the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. But still, she didn't remember a boy with such wonderful eyes.
She then remembered that he didn't look at her oddly like all her classmates, even if she sat behind him. Maybe he moved to Shibuya after she moved to Hong Kong. That made sense.
Then, she realized that lunchtime was almost over and she walked to the same place where she left Kouji. The boy was already waiting for her.
"Can we go back to the classroom?" asked Sayuri.
"Yes" replied Kouji and they made their way back to their classroom in complete silence.
"Minamoto, I didn't know that you got a girlfriend!" mocked a voice behind them.
"What do you want, Nakajima?" said Kouji coldly after he and Sayuri turned to see a boy.
He was Taeko Nakajima, one of the most popular boys at junior school. He was good-looking because of his chestnut hair and gray eyes, that was why many girls were after him. He also had a good reputation at school because he acted like a kind and nice boy even if he liked to bully younger kids with his gang after classes. He also disliked Kouji because of their rivalry at the self-defense club and he often taunted him.
"Tell me, crazy girl……...what did your psychiatrist say?" said Taeko and many laughed.
"Crazy girl? That's how you still call me?" said Sayuri icily and she shook her head in disapproval "You need to be more creative, Nakajima"
"I almost pity you, Minamoto. I hate to admit that she's attractive" said Taeko and he laughed "But she's still a freak"
When Taeko Nakajima least expected, he received one punch on the face and one kick on his stomach. Sayuri had kicked him at the same time Kouji had punched him on the face.
"Serves you right" said Kouji and he glared Taeko "And remember to respect a girl"
"You're very slow and weak. Good luck for the next time" said Sayuri to Taeko.
"Minamoto! Miyahara!" yelled a furious voice.
"Not him" muttered Kouji when Mr. Yuyama entered the classroom.
"You'll pay for this, Minamoto" said Taeko and he smirked "And you too, Miyahara"
"Taeko, are you okay?" asked the professor.
"Yes, uncle" replied Taeko.
"I shouldn't have left this girl with you" said the professor angrily and he smirked "You two will sing at the ball"
"What?" exclaimed Kouji in disbelief.
"What ball?" asked Sayuri.
"The one that will be hold this Friday" said Mr. Yuyama.
"There's no way I'm going to sing in public" said Kouji.
"That's your punishment for hurting a student" said Mr. Yuyama and he smirked again "If you don't sing, you'll fail my subject this year"
"You can't do that" said Sayuri "The principal won't allow that"
"Of course I can" said the professor "The principal always agrees with punishments"
"Ask Nakajima why I hit him" said Sayuri defiantly and she glared the teacher "But of course, you wouldn't punish your dear nephew"
"I will not admit such an insolent student in my class" said Mr. Yuyama furiously "Leave the classroom, Miyahara"
"Fine" said Sayuri coldly and she left the classroom.
"She's even more rebellious than Minamoto, uncle" commented Taeko.
"She'll learn discipline, don't worry" said Mr. Yuyama and he turned to Kouji "Remember: you'll sing with her at the ball"
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Most of the classes had ended and the students were at their respective clubs. Kouji Minamoto was very surprised to see Sayuri in the self-defense club but she showed to be skillful after she beat Megumi Sugiyama and Keisuke Yoshioka.
"May I test Miyahara's ability with poles, sensei?" asked Taeko Nakajima after he saw Sayuri fighting against Keisuke, his best friend.
"That's a good suggestion, Nakajima" said Mr. Ikeda "Take two poles and give one to her"
"But he's experienced, sir. He could hurt her" intervened Kouji after Taeko handed Sayuri a bamboo pole.
"You're right, Minamoto" said the sensei and he frowned "But she was very skillful when she fought with Sugiyama and Yoshioka"
"So you think I'm weak, Minamoto?" said Sayuri with resentment in her voice "I'm not and I want to fight Nakajima"
"Okay. The rest of us will watch your battle in the opposite side of the room, you'll start fighting when I say" said the sensei and everybody except Taeko and Sayuri went to the opposite of the room.
"Let's see what you can do, Miyahara" said Taeko "I won't forgive you for that kick"
"Remember to show respect before fighting" said Mr. Ikeda and both adversaries bow to each other "Start!"
Suddenly, both poles crashed and Taeko suddenly bent and tried to knock Sayuri off her feet with his pole but the girl jumped and used her pole to prevent her from falling. Then, she began spinning the pole and she launched at Taeko who could barely dodge her.
"She's very fast" said Kouji while watching the battle.
"Yes" agreed Mr. Ikeda and suddenly, Sayuri knocked Taeko.
"It seems I won" said the black-haired girl.
"That was great! I didn't think that a new student could beat one of my best apprentices!" exclaimed Mr. Ikeda as he and the other students approached.
"She was just lucky! If I had known that she wasn't a rookie, I would have fought seriously and won" said Taeko after he got up.
"Maybe you're right" said Mr. Ikeda and he turned to Sayuri with a grin
"Nakajima was defeated by Miyahara! This is a great story!" exclaimed one boy.
"What? I told you, she was mere lucky! The next time I'll win, you'll see" said Taeko angrily.
"Why don't you admit that she beat you? Stop being arrogant for a while" said Kouji.
"Watch your words, Minamoto. I wouldn't like to waste my time with a pushover like you" said Taeko.
"I'm not a pushover!" growled Kouji.
"Of course you are" said Taeko and he whistled "You're afraid of me"
"You wish" said Kouji angrily and Taeko sniggered.
"I think you'll be one of my top students, Miyahara" said the teacher and he looked at the clock in the wall "Well, the class is over for today. Class dismissed"
The room was soon emptied and everybody started walking their way home after saying goodbye and taking their things.
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Kouji Minamoto walked down the street in his way home when he saw a familiar figure stumbling before him and he realized that it was Sayuri.
"Are you fine?" asked the blue-eyed boy after running towards her.
"Minamoto? Have you been following me?" asked Sayuri after recognizing him.
"No, my house is near your family's shrine" replied Kouji.
"I didn't know that" said Sayuri and she continued walking.
"You look tired" said Kouji suddenly.
"It's a headache and I must be going, the shrine is near" said Sayuri.
"I know, my house is very near" said Kouji and Sayuri leaned against a wall "You should rest and eat something, you look ill"
"I'm fine, Minamoto" said Sayuri icily and she glared him when she suddenly stumbled and Kouji caught her.
"My house is near. I can call to your house and…………." said Kouji but he was interrupted.
"My mother isn't probably there right now and I don't like pity from others" said Sayuri bitterly.
"It's not pity" said Kouji still holding her.
"Now, let me go. I don't like this kind of closeness with a stranger" said Sayuri but in the moment Kouji was going to release her, she fainted.
"Miyahara, wake up!" said Kouji and he tried to wake the girl in his arms without having success.
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"It seems that you still don't lose hope" said a sinister voice.
"And it seems that you still want to keep this curse. Why can't you forget what happened centuries ago?" said Sayuri defiantly.
She was in a place completely surrounded by darkness. Suddenly, thin strings appeared from nowhere and wrapped Sayuri tightly.
"I read your mind last night. You think that if you sleep more you can find a clue in your dreams to get rid of me" said the sinister voice.
"Stop this! Why couldn't you torment my ancestor? I don't have the fault of whatever happened to you!" yelled Sayuri and the strings tightened even more.
"I'm not that benevolent, my dear. Besides, you cannot change your fate" said the voice and Sayuri started coughing because the string around her neck was beginning to choke her.
"I will not suffer the same fate! Leave me alone!" yelled Sayuri and the voice started laughing evilly.
"I won't. There's only one way to break my curse but there's no hope for you because it's impossible" said the voice and in that moment, Sayuri vanished.
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"Where am I?" asked the black-haired girl immediately after she opened her eyes and found herself on a sofa.
"You woke up" said a familiar voice and he got closer "I was about to go to the shrine. By the way, this is my house"
"Kouji Minamoto!" exclaimed Sayuri, not being able to hide her surprise "What………….what happened?"
"You fainted in my arms and I took you here, we were lucky that my house was very near" replied Kouji.
"I………...fainted………in…………your………….arms?" asked Sayuri slowly and a pink shade appeared in her cheeks.
"Yes, you fainted just before I let you go" said Kouji as he glanced at other direction.
"Well, thank you for taking care of me but I must get going" said Sayuri and she got up.
"You're welcome but you didn't look very well" said Kouji.
"I'm fine, thank you for everything" said Sayuri.
"I'll go with you, follow me" said Kouji and he walked to a door, then, he opened it.
"No, I can go alone" said Sayuri coldly and she left the house.
"I'm still going, you can't forbid me to walk" said Kouji.
"Do as you wish" said Sayuri.
"Wait, you're forgetting your schoolbag" said Kouji and he handed Sayuri her bag.
In the moment their hands touched, Sayuri saw two images of Kouji: in one, he appeared punching Taeko Nakajima in the face and in the other, he was falling down stairs.
"Goodbye" said Sayuri hurriedly and she started walking very quickly towards the Miyahara Shrine.
Why did I have that visions? It's very strange, the last time I had visions was before my grandmother fell ill but it was last year thought the girl while Kouji was following her.
That girl is really strange, one moment she looks ill and the next one she looks fine thought Kouji and Sayuri stopped walking soon. They had arrived to the entrance of the Miyahara Shrine.
"I've finally arrived home" said Sayuri and she turned to face him "You better go home or your parents might worry"
"My father and his wife went to Matsue. Besides, I like this place" said Kouji.
"You come here often?" asked Sayuri, it was strange that a boy of her age liked to go to a shrine instead of having fun with his friends.
"Sometimes, it's a quiet place and I enjoy silence" replied Kouji and he shrugged "Besides, the sacred tree is very beautiful in spring"
"Yes, I know" agreed Sayuri and her voice softened "I used to climb that tree before I moved again to Hong Kong"
"Why did you move to Hong Kong?" asked Kouji.
"My father's dead and my mother's family lives there" replied Sayuri emotionlessly.
"I didn't know that" said Kouji quickly and he sighed "I moved to this city a few years ago"
"Sayuri! You've arrived!" exclaimed a woman.
She was Sayuri's mother, Jiang Li Miyahara. Mrs. Miyahara looked like an older Sayuri because she had the same pale skin and the same straight black hair even if her eyes were ember instead of hazel.
"Good afternoon, mother" greeted Sayuri.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Miyahara" greeted Kouji a bit startled and he bowed "I'm Kouji Minamoto"
"Good afternoon, young man. I'm Jiang Li Miyahara" replied Mrs. Miyahara with a grin after bowing.
"I'm sorry if I delayed, mother" said Sayuri without coldness in her voice.
"It's okay, I see you befriended a handsome and polite boy" said Mrs. Miyahara while smiling and Kouji blushed.
"Thanks for your compliments but I must get going" said the dark-haired teenager.
"I hope to see you soon, goodbye" said Mrs. Miyahara.
"Goodbye" said Kouji and he was about to turn round when Sayuri spoke.
"Be careful with all the stairs you see, Minamoto" warned the black-haired girl.
"Why do you say that?" asked Kouji.
"Let's say………….I have a strange feeling about that" replied Sayuri and the blue-eyed boy raised an eyebrow.
"Okay. See you tomorrow" said Kouji and he started walking his way back home.
He must think that I'm nuts like everyone elsethought Sayuri.
"Why did you tell him that, Sayuri?" asked Mrs. Miyahara.
"I had a vision when I touched his hand" replied Sayuri.
"You had a vision? What did you see?" asked Mrs. Miyahara worriedly.
"I saw him punching another boy in the face and I saw him falling down stairs" replied Sayuri.
"And you say you had that vision when you touched his hand?" asked Mrs. Miyahara and Sayuri nodded "So that means you two were holding hands?"
"Of course not. He handed me my schoolbag, that's why I touched his hand" said Sayuri emotionlessly.
"He's good-looking, why don't you try to befriend him? If you succeed, he could even become your boyfriend" said Sayuri's mom.
"I have other things to worry, I don't have time for a boyfriend" said Sayuri and she frowned.
She was worried for the vision she had. That stairs looked familiar and she had to repay Kouji Minamoto in some way………………
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Well, I hope you review and I'll explain more about the Miyahara curse in the next chapter. I've changed my style and I'll try to be descriptive………
About the punishment, well……I needed to be a bit "unrealistic" because I'm writing the second chapter.
I also want to include Kouichi in this story because I like him a lot and I want to use him as matchmaker =) I know that Kouji might act a bit OOC but I'll fix that later, see you!
P.S. They'll sing Haruka no Okurimono by AiM and Kouji Wada.
~~~Li Kasumi