Hey guys, Himeko here. Another month another story! Like last months Blue Exorcist fic this one will probably contain super ukes, daring rescues, and copious amounts of mind control and or manipulation. If you're into that then great! This is the story for you! If not, best click back and find something a bit nicer! With that said I hope you enjoy the first installment of Monarch, see you at Chapter 2!

"Election"

"I want shogayaki and kinpira gobo in tomorrows bento."

"You'll get what I give you and like it!"

Watanuki and Doumeki were walking home from school, engaging in their usual back and forth. It was early October and the street homaged the season with a show of black bracken and orange leaves, a dry sky of crimped clouds and a gentle cool wind.

"Don't forget the croquettes." Doumeki added.

"I'm not making you any damn croquettes, you jerk!" Watanuki fumed, flailing about doggedly and baring his teeth. Doumeki just continued walking, ignoring the entire rage-fit. He had to keep walking anyway, in order to hide a tiny smile.

"Hey! Don't walk away from me when I'm yelling at you!" Watanuki went to stomp after him but something orange flitted in front of his face. "Ah! A butterfly."

It bounced through the air and landed on a twisted piece of dead sakura which had clawed its way over a stone wall. It was absolutely beautiful. It's wings were as vibrant as flames, segmented by black lines which streaked into the most elaborate of patterns. It settled on the bracken, fanning its wings slowly.

He watched it curiously, aware that the season for butterflies was over.

It was quite large, Watanuki noticed, seeming almost imperial in size. Working in Yuuko's shop he was surrounded by butterfly themed decor, and had developed a little affinity for them himself.

He considered it for a moment.

This one is...a Monarch Butterfly!

"Oi."

Doumeki had noticed Watanuki missing and back tracked to find him. He was now standing a few feet away, looking at the young seer expectantly.

"Are you thinking about what you're going to make me for dinner?"

This incensed Watanuki once again. "No, you idiot! I was just looking at the butterfly over there and thinking how much I would love to cook dinner for it instead of you!"

"What butterfly?"

Watanuki pointed a finger towards the spot on the wall where the Monarch rested, and Doumeki followed it with his eyes.

"I don't see anything." he said flatly.

"What do you mean you don't see anything? It's right there! It's bright orange, you big oaf!" Watanuki emphasised the point by repeatedly stabbing a finger in the direction of the butterfly.

Doumeki stared for another moment, before raising his palm. He blocked sight from his normal eye, leaving clear the eye that half belonged to Watanuki.

"I can see it now," he said. "but only through your eye."

"Then that means..."

The butterfly was not of this world.

Watanuki turned back to it and when he looked straight at it a sudden spiritual pang pulsed in his head. It vibrated through his mind and resonated down his body with the same force of someone striking a bell with a hammer. It had been a pleasurable sensation, like an affectionate greeting or a naughty whisper. It caused a sudden blush to heat up his cheeks, and Watanuki hugged himself in fright feeling oddly violated.

"Ah~! W-What was that...?"

Doumeki watched him carefully, noting the colour in his face and the way he was holding himself and trembling.

"Oi." he said, wariness bleeding into his tone.

Watanuki snapped too, devolving into frantic flailing yet again. "Argh! My name is not 'Oi'! How many times do I have to tell you?!"

Doumeki sighed, "I guess you're fine then."

"Of course I'm fine! Now, I'm not making you any food unless you ask me nicely and call me 'Watanuki-Sama'!"

The two carried on towards their respective homes, having sensed no hostility from the spirit, continuing their usual lively banter.

Watanuki did glance back at the wall but by the time he did the butterfly was gone.

The next day Watanuki sat with Doumeki and Himawari having lunch in the cafeteria. Doumeki, because he knew it would aggravate Watanuki, chewed noisily on his home-made bento of shogayaki and kinpira gobo.

"Can you be any louder?" Watanuki barked. "We're sitting with a girl! Think of poor Himawari-Chan and chew properly!"

"Oh, no, it's fine Watanuki-Kun, honest." Himawari said, smiling.

"See." Doumeki said flatly.

Watanuki growled and bared his teeth, several veins popping in his head.

"I heard there's a new student joining class 2-B after lunch."

The trio overheard a group of girls giggling nearby them.

"I've heard he's really hot!" said one, making the others squeal in agreement.

"Class 2-B," Himawari said. "he'll be with us then."

"Hn." Doumeki grunted.

"I hope he is cute!" she beamed.

"You're too good for him no matter how attractive he is, Himawari-Chan..." Watanuki sobbed quietly into his own bento, completely deflated by her perpetual interest in other boys.

The class was a buzz with excited chatter after lunch as everyone speculated as to what the new student would be like. Watanuki, Doumeki and Himawari sat in a L shape, with Watanuki and Doumeki's desks side by side, and Himawari's in front of Doumeki's. There was one seat free on the other side of Watanuki, the last seat before the window, and it was everyone's bet that was the seat for the new student. Watanuki was beginning to get quite anxious of their arrival. He wasn't very good at talking to people, especially not other classmates.

Be nice. Smile. Don't be rude. Offer to help them with finding their classes.

His heart was pounding.

He wanted at least someone in this school, excluding Doumeki and Himawari of course, to think that he was normal.

"Settle down class." The teacher strode in, a young man behind him.

"We have a new student joining us. Please do your best to make him feel welcome."

"My name is Cho Kokatsu," he spoke with a deep and sonorous voice that had a nasal twang. "it's a pleasure to meet you all." It was the kind of voice that was half power, half pleasure.

Cho's appearance was also striking. He was tall with good wide shoulders and spiky black hair. There was a plain black choker around his throat. Scanning the class his fiery amber eyes, Cho settled on Watanuki when he found him, and slyly smiled.

Watanuki fidgeted uncomfortably, eventually shrinking under the prolonged stare. He dipped his head to hide his eyes when he felt his cheeks heating up with embarrassment. Cho smirked in amusement as Watanuki squirmed beneath his gaze. Doumeki warily watched the whole exchange, wondering if perhaps Cho was picking Watanuki out as a bullying target. He wouldn't put it past some of the guys from the other classes, to whom Watanuki was their favourite target of ridicule. There was something else amiss about the new student too, Doumeki noticed...something that itched at the edges of his own spiritual sensitivity.

"There's a seat free there - by the window, Cho. Take that one." The teacher said.

Cho nodded, and sat down. Glancing over at Watanuki, he smiled again and looked him up and down languidly as the teacher began the class.

"Hey." Cho said, startling Watanuki stiff.

Be nice. Smile. Don't be rude. Offer to help them with finding their classes. Watanuki reminded himself, and swallowed.

He met the new student's blazing orange eyes and offered him a gentle, welcoming smile. "Hello, I'm Watanuki Kimihiro. Anything you need please don't be afraid to ask, Kokatsu-Kun."

Cho's grin got considerably wider. "Call me Cho, please. Thank you, Watanuki. I'll be sure to do that."

Watanuki beamed.

This guy had seemed so scary at first, Watanuki thought. But he is actually kind of friendly!

He was so relieved. For the rest of the lesson whenever they happened to match glances, Watanuki would smile and Cho would grin and return it.

Though, oddly...Watanuki found that whenever he did so happen to glance at Cho...he was already looking at him.

An hour passed and the bell rang, ending the lesson. Cho stood and approached Watanuki's desk. Doumeki and Himawari did the same from the other side, Himawari looked anxious but Doumeki's expression was as unreadable as always.

"Are you coming, Watanuki-Kun? We have Math next." Himawari said.

"Ah, yes!" Watanuki pushed his chair back and stood, picking up his satchel.

"Actually," Cho interrupted, laying a hand on Watanuki's shoulder. "Watanuki said he would show me to my next class," His grip tightened. "isn't that right?"

Watanuki went quiet. His eyes became glassy and dropped to half mast, and when he finally spoke his voice was low and lethargic: "Ah, yes. That's right."

Cho smiled at Doumeki and Himawari as he led Watanuki past them and out of the classroom, never taking his hand off his shoulder the entire time.

"That was strange." Himawari said once they were alone. "You don't suppose..."

Doumeki didn't suppose anything, his mind remained level, rational, but wary. He decided to keep a close eye on this new student, and an even closer eye on the vulnerable seer.

I won't let it be like last time...

He vowed, reminded of how he hadn't been there to stop Watanuki falling from the window.

...This time I'll act before it's too late.

Cho led Watanuki around the corner and pulled him into the boys bathroom. With the next set of lessons beginning the place quickly emptied, leaving them alone amongst polished white tiles and the bright overhead lights. Cho leant against the sinks, a mirrored wall behind him, and pulled Watanuki almost flush against him.

Cho grinned and released Watanuki's wrists. This broken contact seemed to wake him up, as once he noticed their predicament, Watanuki's face went as red as a tomato and he flailed around in his usual way.

"Eh?" He exclaimed, jumping back to put some distance between them. "What-What are we doing in here?"

"I just wanted to talk to you." Cho said. "Alone."

Watanuki tried to calm his raging heart. It was pounding with fear, and confusion and anticipation.

"O-Oh, I-I see." he stammered, shrinking again under Cho's powerful gaze. "W-What about?"

"Spirits."