"This is it Raku, my brother, this is finally the last time," Mana recited her speech excitingly. "This will be the school we'll finally stay at for the rest of our years!"
"I'm not so sure Mana," Raku said bluntly. "You know our Father's job is not really that stable, we might have to move again without warning at all."
"Mou, Raku! Why did you have to say that," Mana pouted. "He promised us this would be the last time."
"He said it might be," Raku corrected her. "Come on, we have to go and register." Mana reluctantly followed he elder brother into their new school.
"Here you go and welcome to Sekyou Academy of Arts," Miss Tanake smiled at the new students handing them their schedules. "Manaru Shirata, you are in Class 1-D. Rakusowa Shirata, you are in Class 2-A. It's mid-morning already, so I'll inform all of your afternoon senseis that you won't be in class until after lunch."
"Thank you Miss Tanake," Raku said politely bowing. "I apologize for coming in so late."
Miss Tanake smile sweetly. "Oh do not worry; I understand you have had it rough with the move."
Raku sighed as he turned to leave. Mana thanked the receptionist; retrieving her own schedule and leaving with her brother. "Ah come on Raku, we get to skip half a day of school!" Mana said enthusiastically.
Raku said nothing as he glared at his sister. "I told you to not wonder around the school and what did you do: wonder. We got lost the whole morning trying to find the front office; that was very annoying, Mana."
Mana laughed. "But this school is very big Raku, I couldn't help but get lost easily," she admitted jokingly. Mana ran, twirling as she stopped in front of the school's statue fountain. "Look at this Raku, it's wonderful."
"Yeah sure," her brother replied nonchalantly as he held a far off gaze.
Suddenly Mana's stomach growled and she blushed sheepishly. "Heh I guess I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat in the cafeteria, Raku." She beckoned her brother latching onto his arm to follow.
"Why would the cafeteria be open when the students are still in class?" Raku asked skeptically. Not a moment later did the school's bell ring and students were coming out of classrooms. Raku looked at watch and schedule gravely, and stared at his sister's smug face. He frowned and started walking away. Laughing softly to herself, she followed after her brother.
"Wow their food here is great Raku! Not like our old school where all they served were leftovers," Mana proclaimed while eating the bento box the cafeteria provided.
"Yeah sure," Raku said in a daze. Chin propped up on his wrist; Raku stared into the distant land. His own food was left untouched.
Mana looked at her elder brother and let out a sigh. "Raku please, will you stop moping for once."
Raku frowned and turned to stare at his sister. "What gave you the idea I was moping?"
"I'm your sister, I could tell. Here I'll go buy us a drink, be right back." Mana got up and left the table. Raku resumed his previous daze to a distant place.
Two cans of orange sodas popped out of the machine and Mana picked them up. She stared down at them gloomily. 'Raku why can't you let of.' She thought to herself. 'You always were able to, but why not this time?'
Lost in thoughts, Mana's gaze wondered to the school's orchard of Krysires full in bloom. 'Krysires their so pure,' Mana thought thinking back to Raku when she spotted a person in one of the trees.
"What is that guy thinks he's doing?!" Mana said aloud, alarmed. "He could get himself really hurt!" Hugging the soda cans, she ran as fast as she could to try and help the person out. Mana saw that the person wore the school's authorized school uniform. "Hey are you crazy!" Mana shouted to the person. "What do you think you're doing high up in that tree? Get down before you hurt yourself." The student turned around to look at Mana. She was mesmerized as piercing icy violet eyes stared into her, clashing with his midnight blue hair. Mana's voice was taken from her.
Silently, the boy jumped down and landed in front of Mana. He stood up straight showing his height over Mana's. In his hands was small kitten and looking closely at it, she saw that it was trembling in fear and its hind leg was smeared with blood.
"It's hurt," the boy spoke snapping Mana out of her reverie. "Here, take care of it." Without waiting, the boy placed the small kitten into Mana's unsteady arms and walked away.
Mana blinked a few times having no idea what just happened. 'That boy,' Mana thought. 'I didn't even get his name!' Her head slumped down as she walked back to where her brother was waiting for her.
"What's in your arms Mana?" Raku asked watching his sister carefully place the kitten onto the table.
"It's a small kitten and its leg is injured also," Mana explained.
"Where did you get it from?" Raku questioned further.
"A boy gave it to me. He had rescued this little one from a Krysires tree and handed it to me," Mana nearly poked fun at her brother after seeing his solemn, surprised reaction and then trying to hide it.
"Here let me take a look at her," Raku said taking the kitten from Mana and looking at its wound.
"How do you know it's a girl Raku?" Mana asked teasingly.
Raku glared at his sister not saying anything. He went through his bag and took out a roll of bandages. Diligently, Raku cleaned the kitten's wound and protected it with a small wrap of bandages. "There you go," he said with a quirk smile. Raku turned to see his sister smiling at him. "What?"
"Oh nothing," she said taking a sip of her soda. The bell then rang ending lunch period and students were returning to their classes.
"Well let's go," Raku said grabbing his bag. He gave the kitten back to Mana but it wouldn't let go of his arm. He tried to dislodge it but the kitten sank it pint-sized claws into his shirt. "It hurts! Hey you, let go."
"I think it wants to stay with you," Mana interpreted. "Well take care of it Raku. Meet up with you later."
"Wait Mana," Raku called out desperately. "What am I suppose to do with you now? I don't think kittens are allowed to be brought to class." Raku stared at the fragile little thing as it stared back wit large innocent eyes. Heaving a sigh, Raku began walking to his class after lunch. "You're dead when I find you Mana," he mumbled irritated as the small kitten decided to sleep in his arms.
"Class, please welcome a new student who's joining us today," the teacher spoke writing a name on the board. "His name is Rakusowa Shirata."
"Hearing his name, Raku slid the door opened and walked in. He could already feel everyone's eyes on him or actually the little kitten on his head. It let out a little meow as the student's attention was focused to it. Raku sighed as he tried to take the kitten off his head again.
While he was looking for his class, the kitten took the chance to climb onto his head even with its bad leg. Before Raku realized it was there, the kitten entwined its claws into his hair. "You've really been causing me too much problem," Raku told the kitten. It cooed in Raku's arms oblivious of his mischievous self. "Rakusowa Shirata, age 15, nice to meet you all," Raku recited his welcome speech once again and then looked at the teacher.
"Ah yes," Mr. Kerugma said hastily snapping out of his own amusement. "Mr. Shirata there's an empty seat in front of Kaoru. Mr. Kuita, please raise your hand. If you ask questions you could ask him also."
Raku walked toward the back of the class as he saw the one with his hand up engrossed in a book of art. Without greetings or anything between the two, Raku sat down in his seat turning his attention to the teacher.
Mr. Kerugma stood upfront not knowing what to do, as he just returned back to his lesson. Rakusowa was a student he might have to deal with later.
After awhile, the teacher's lesson began to bore Raku. He instead found more interest in staring out the window. His thoughts began to drift into the past and were lost for awhile until a shriek brought him back. Raku stared around and found the kitten was missing. 'Now where has that little rascal run off to?' He thought.
"Hey mister! Will you remove your little fur ball away from Kaoru-sama!"
"Huh?" Raku said obliviously as he saw he was surrounded by a group of girls around him. They surprised him by crowding around like bees. "What are you—?"
A girl screamed and Raku's ears nearly bled. "Kaoru-sama you mustn't let that fur ball lick you like that!"
Raku turned around in his seat to see the little kitten licking the person's face behind him. The guy had the most piercing icy violet eyes that radiated coldest and seem to be able to freeze a person's soul.
"Uh," Raku scoffed as the little kitten tried to climb onto the guy's midnight blue hair. "Hey what are you doing?" Raku asked the rascal trying to retrieve the kitten.
The girls shrieked again as the kitten held fast on the cold boy's hair. "Kaoru-sama's hair is being ruined!" Raku ears rang painfully as he flinched from the girls' volume.
Raku scoffed again getting really annoyed with the girls' shrieking and wailing. He had a sister who some-times were like them, but she wasn't as irritating pesky as these girls.
"Girls return your seats now!" Mr. Kerugma said strictly. "Mr. Kuita and Mr. Shirata, please resolve your problem outside my classroom since you two seem to not be able to pay attention anyway." He pointed a finger to the door telling the two to go right then. Silently the two boys got up and headed out the door. Mr. Kerugma let out a sigh not knowing what to do now with two slackers in his class.
Once outside, Kaoru gently untangled the small kitten from his hair and handed it back to the taller boy. Looking at the kitten, he was sure that it was the one he rescued from the dog. "Where did you get this kitten?" Kaoru couldn't help asking the dark violet hair boy in front of him. He scratched the kitten's ears as it burrowed further into the depths of Raku's arms.
"Huh well a boy gave it to my sister and she dumped the little rascal on me. It's been nothing but trouble," Raku explained heaving a long sigh.
The two returned to their seats again, Raku having the kitten in his arms. He let it sit atop of his desk when the bell rang for passing period. Raku stared at the clock dully as he got up to leave.
The rest of the day felt very boring for Raku. His senseis were boring also and near the end, he had actually fallen asleep in class. He only woke up when the kitten had caused trouble again. "I don't know how the rest of your senseis let you keep that fur ball with you the whole day, but I won't have any of that in my class!" the sensei kept on ranting but Raku didn't pay attention at all. His sensei let him off on a warning and never brings the kitten back to school again. Raku didn't really care about things like that anymore. It was erased from his brain as Raku went looking for his sister.
"Raku!" Mana shouted spotting her brother across the courtyard. She ran to meet up with him when she bumped into somebody. "Oh I'm sorry," she apologized.
"What happened Kaoru?" voice filled nectar was heard from behind the tall boy Mana hit. When the person showed her face, Mana could not help but stare. A beautiful young lady with sparkling golden hair and shining golden eyes stepped out. She couldn't even help gasp when she saw the person she bumped into was the boy from this morning. His piercing eyes softened when he looked at the beautiful girl.
"Oh I'm sorry again for bumping into you," Mana apologized bowing slightly. "I'm in a rush to meet my brother. Excuse me."
"What a polite girl," Kaire observed smiling.
"Are you okay Kaire?" Kaoru asked holding onto her shoulder and hand.
Kaire chuckled softly. "No need for such worries Kaoru. Hurry or we'll be late for practice." Kaoru looked at her skeptically as he walked with her to skate practice.
"What happened to you Mana?" Raku asked when his sister stepped in front of him out of breath.
"I'm fine," Mana answered her face still flushed; though she looked really excited. "I saw him again Raku!"
"Who are you talking about?"
"The one who gave me the kitten!" Mana informed hastily. "He's so handsome beautiful, oh I wish I could get to know him, Raku. His eyes, they looked so mystified with that strange shade color. Oh but that girl was with him, maybe they are going out. She looked; no she must be an angel."
"Strange shade?" Raku repeated the words quizzically. His mind drifted to that person, but could it be him? "Hey Mana, did the guy have dark blue hair and just a little under my height?"
"Come to think of it, yeah. Why, do you know him Raku?!"
"Hmm I think he was the one in my class."
"Oh Raku you must introduce us!" Mana pleaded.
'Wha-what! How could I when I barely know the guy?" Raku asked when Mana began to use her old routine to get him to do anything.
"Excuse me but I couldn't help myself overhear you two talking about Kaoru Kuita." The siblings turned to see a sandy haired older boy who was a little taller than Raku. "Pardon if I am intruding," he said politely. "But it seems you two are new here and have no idea who the Twin Legends are."
"Twin Legends?" the two said together blinking in confusion.
The elder boy laughed softly. "Let me start over and introduce myself, my name is Tsegi Sadiwa." He outstretched his right hand.
"I'm Rakusowa Shirata and this is my sister Manaru. It's nice to meet you also," Raku introduced them shaking Sadiwa's outstretched hand.
"Well nice to become acquaintances with you two, Shirata-san, Manaru-chan."
"Oh you can just call me Mana," she said shaking Sadiwa's hand also. "So Sadiwa-san why did you call those two Twin Legends. Are they going out?"
"Oh you mistaken Mana-chan," Sadiwa chuckled. "They are absolutely not going out. How could they when they are biological twins."
Mana gasped at the news and Raku just leaned against a tree for support, holding onto the kitten sleeping safely in the crevice of his folded arms.
"I would've never believed that they were twins," Mana said. "Their appearance is not the same at all."
"That is true," Sadiwa agreed. "But I can assure you that they are twins. Though it is kind of strange to how a pair of twins could have such different appearance and personality also."
Raku stared at Sadiwa when Mana was the one who asked, "What do you mean by that Sadiwa-san?"
"Well Kuita-kun has a very cold demeanor and could be a pain of an antisocial. While on the other hand, Kaire-chan is very sweet and loves talking to people. Though a sickness also sets her apart from her healthy brother. It has been with her since birth and with it made Sadiwa-kun very protective of his sister.
"It sounds like they care for each other a lot," Mana said empathizing with them. She knew how it was with her own brother and herself. "So that girl I saw with him is stricken with an illness within her? But she seemed quite healthy with out brief little encounter. What kind of illness does she have?"
Sadiwa's face changed into sadness. "It's a disease that could strike her at any moment, especially if she is under stress or overexert herself. It makes her tire easily. Kaoru's an athlete and Kaire is the calmness that keeps him calm. Well that my theory anyway."
Sadiwa laughed rubbing the back of his neck. He saw his comments caught the siblings' solemn attention. "My, my I guess I got carried away with myself." He admitted sheepishly. "Anyway I must be going now. It was great to have a chat with you two even though I did most of the talking. Heh."
"Where are you going Sadiwa-san?" Mana asked curious.
"Oh I am the president of the skate club here and it would be bad if the president is there late on the very first meeting."
"Really? Do you guys skate on pavement freestyle or do you guys have ramps? I love skating ramps!"
Her words made Sadiwa laugh. "I'm sorry Mana-chan but we don't have that at this school." Mana looked at Sadiwa confused. "If you would like, you could follow me and I'll show you what I meant."
"Sure coming Raku?" Mana asked her brother innocently.
He in turn glared at her. "Do you think I have a choice in this?" he asked grimly. "I can't let my younger sister wonder alone and besides you're the one with the house key. This means I can't go home without you anyway. And worst of all you dumped this little kitten on me."
"That's why I have the house key," Mana said triumphantly. She went over to scratch the kitten's ear. "Besides I think the little guy really likes you." The kitten meow loudly responding to her touch and comment.
Still reluctant, Raku followed behind his sister to wherever they were going. Soon they reached a pair of double doors and Sadiwa held the keys in his hands.
"You see," Sadiwa began to explain. "We don't skate with wheels or ramps." He opened the door wide for them to see what's inside. "We…