Hello. Kruger, Natsuki Kruger is suffering from sudden-loss-of-inspiration syndrome. Sucker Punch (title subject to change) just popped into my mind one day and wouldn't leave until I wrote it down. It'll hopefully be a multi-chapter story, but I'm just bouncing it off you readers out there.

Disclaimer: I have very few possessions. Mai Hime is not one of them.

Sucker punch (n.) – A blow made without warning, allowing no time for preparation or defense on the part of the recipient. Painful as hell, and not something you'd want to experience.

Fuuka Academy. One of the most prestigious high schools in Japan, it is the top choice of Japan's elite families to send their children for schooling. Although Fuuka Academy was historically a place where the next generation of Japan's wealthiest could get to know one another, a few years ago, one of the fantastically rich benefactors of the school became bored enough to anonymously start a scholarship foundation for those "poor, poverty-stricken" students whose families did not have important business/political connections, rake in six-figure salaries, or both.

One of the afore-mentioned "poor, poverty-stricken" students is a young girl, seventeen years old, with short navy blue hair that looks like it was styled by a blind man, and intense green eyes hidden behind a pair of thick-rimmed glasses. Pretty enough, to be sure, but it's hard to tell behind the thick bangs, glasses, and light spattering of acne (poor kid, puberty's been hard on her). Combined with her excellent academic record—essential for the Mysterious Bored Rich Man's Scholarship Fund—and her lack of money, luck, friends, social skills, et cetera et cetera, this kid is easy prey for fantastically rich, extremely bored teenagers. Called the residential nerd of Fuuka Academy (which is actually one of the nicer nicknames her peers have for her), Natsuki Kuga, in short, despises high school.

One of the fantastically rich, extremely bored teenagers at Fuuka Academy is another young girl, seventeen years old, with luscious blonde hair and beautiful crimson eyes. Drop-dead gorgeous with a body to die for, her name is Shiori Fujino, the eldest daughter of the Fujino family, whose members have both political connections and six-figure salaries. Alas, if only her personality was as fair as her face. Shiori Fujino is undoubtedly the most beautiful girl at Fuuka Academy, not to mention that she has a really attractive accent. Such beauty and family connections are undeniable assets: whenever Shiori abuses her Student Council President privileges, the administration always looks the other way. She has everyone wrapped around her little finger, including one hapless Natsuki Kuga. Every snide comment that drops from Shiori's mouth is considered a pearl, or a diamond, or an emerald—you get the point—by our naïve Natsuki.

As Natsuki will soon learn, being a sucker for a pretty face is a surefire way of getting sucker punched in the gut.

"Shiori! You look amazing in this picture!"

Natsuki, who had been studiously observing her shoes as she walked, immediately looked up at the sound of her (not so) secret love's title.

There, at the end of the hallway, stood Venus incarnate, otherwise known as Shiori Fujino, surrounded by a huge group of her fangirls. One of them was showing Shiori a fashion magazine.

Shiori haughtily sniffed and turned the page. "Oh, that disgusting picture? I much prefer this one."

Amidst the awed gasps, no one heard the residential nerd of Fuuka creep closer to the edge of the crowd and peek over one fangirl's shoulder to look at the magazine.

Natsuki's eyes widened behind her glasses. That was one fine picture of Shiori in a sinfully short dress!

"Yes, it was an exclusive photo-shoot done for Vogue Hommes Japan," Shiori's voice rose above the awed murmurs. "I didn't think I was pretty enough for it, but the editor—a good friend of Papa's—insisted that I had to do one, saying that it would be a waste if I didn't. How could I say no to that?"

"Shiori, you're too modest! Don't ever doubt your beauty!"

Natsuki winced as the girls around her screamed their agreement. She cringed even more when the fangirl whose shoulder she'd been looking over noticed her presence. "What the—hey, it's Nerd-suki. What the hell are you doing here? Don't you have anything better to do than just stalking Shiori?"

Everyone's heads immediately swiveled to stare at Natsuki with hostile eyes. Natsuki gulped.

"What a dorky haircut."

"Shouldn't you be selling birdfeed or whatever it is you poor people do?"

Natsuki inwardly winced, but years of taunts had hardened her exterior to the point where she did nothing but gaze back neutrally.

The navy-haired girl was confused when the angry mutters suddenly quieted. She remained wary until she saw what had shut the fangirls up: Shiori Fujino herself was making her way through the crowd towards Natsuki. Shiori easily maneuvered through the crowd and looked down at the shorter girl with a curious expression on her face.

Natsuki was nearly hyperventilating. Shiori Fujino was looking at her! Her, the pariah of Fuuka Academy!

"Natsuki Kuga, right?"

Natsuki could only nod. Her heart nearly stopped when Shiori smirked at her. "You don't talk much, do you?"

Natsuki shrugged. One of the fangirls hissed, "Why can't you answer properly, you moron?"

Shiori ignored her followers. "Well, Nat-su-ki, would you like to hang out with me?"

Natsuki's jaw dropped. The fangirls gasped, some of them bursting into tears.

"What?"

"Did I stutter?" Shiori's eyes narrowed.

"Ah—no, I'm just surprised, that's all—" Natsuki stammered.

"I'll take that as a yes. Let's go." Shiori grabbed the shocked Natsuki's wrist and pulled her away from the silent crowd.

"Where are we going?" Natsuki tried to match the pace of the other girl's longer legs.

"Shopping. We're going to replace your sad excuse for a shirt."

One hour later, a bewildered Natsuki stood outside an expensive clothing store, waiting for Shiori to come out. The blonde came out holding a small shopping bag and thrust it into Natsuki's hands. "Here. Don't bother paying me back; I doubt you can afford it. Do me a favor and wear it tomorrow?" Shiori fluttered her eyelashes at Natsuki.

"Uh, sure—"

"Great! See you later." Shiori waved and walked to the curb, where a limousine was waiting. Natsuki blinked. She could have sworn it wasn't there before.

The limousine roared off, leaving Natsuki in a cloud of dust. She looked through the bag in her hands and pulled out a shirt. It was a simple white shirt with a red-and-white target on the front. Natsuki shrugged. Rich people had weird tastes.

Shiori's cell phone rang. She flipped it open impatiently. "What?"

A deep voice replied, "I heard something interesting through the grapevine. Hanging out with the Nerd Turd? I didn't know you liked them short and ugly, Shiori."

"Shut up, Reito, I'm not interested in Kuga," Shiori said dismissively. "We're going to play a little game with the nerd. You up for it?"

"Oh yeah." Reito broke into evil laughter, prompting Shiori to join in.

Natsuki fidgeted uncomfortably as she walked through the halls. She was wearing the shirt Shiori bought her, but the Student Council president was nowhere to be seen. Everyone was laughing and whispering when she passed by, but that was nothing new.

"Hey, Nerd-suki!"

Natsuki whirled around. A tall, handsome boy smirked at her. Behind him was a small group of kids—the entire Student Council, sans Shiori.

"What do you want, Kanzaki?" Natsuki's voice trembled.

Reito tsked. "Is that any way to speak to your vice president? Maybe this'll teach you some proper respect, Kuga." He revealed a water balloon he had been holding and hurled it at Natsuki. It exploded in a burst of paint, close to the bull's-eye. Natsuki gasped in shock.

The crowded hallway burst into cheers and applause. Reito smirked. "Aw, I missed the bull's-eye. Anybody else want to try?"

Paint-filled water balloons magically materialized in everyone's hands. Natsuki yelped as she was peppered with the rubber bombs. "Stop! Shiori gave me this shirt!"

Her answer was a chorus of snide laughs and three paint-bombs to her chest.

Natsuki turned and ran. She burst through one of the side doors and ducked as another paint-bomb whizzed over her head. Natsuki leaped over several hedges and ended up in the school's garden, looking around for her tormentors before bending over and panting from the sudden exercise.

"How's it going, Nerd-suki? Having fun yet?"

Natsuki's head shot up. Reito smirked at her, idly tossing and catching a paint-bomb in his hand.

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Natsuki's voice was defiant.

Reito's smirk widened. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, it was Shiori's idea."

The crunch of gravel alerted Natsuki to another presence. She looked to the side to see Shiori approach with a sickeningly sweet smile on her face. Shiori wiggled her fingers at Natsuki. "Hey Nerd-suki, I'm glad you wore the shirt. It makes this game so much more fun!"

Natsuki stared at her in disbelief. "Wha—?"

"Come on, Kuga, you don't actually believe that I wanted to hang out with you? As if." Shiori scoffed. "We're the hunters and you're the deer. Any last words?"

"You're a two-faced bitch."

"And I declare Kuga hunting season…open." Shiori threw a paint-bomb at Natsuki's face. It impacted with a resounding splat, covering her entire face with orange paint.

Saeko Kuga looked up from the classified section of the newspaper she was reading at the sound of the door opening and slamming shut. Natsuki Kuga trudged into the kitchen, covered head-to-toe in paint.

Saeko eyed her daughter. "What happened to you?"

Natsuki opened the refrigerator and shut it in disgust when she saw its bare shelves. "The assholes at school, is what happened. They have a new name for me."

"What is it?"

"Nerd-suki."

Saeko frowned. "That's not very clever. I could probably come up with a better name—"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Natsuki growled. She plopped down in the rickety chair across from Saeko.

Saeko looked sheepish. "I'm sorry, but you know I don't understand how you feel. I was popular in high school!"

"You were only popular because you slept with everyone," Natsuki pointed out.

Saeko scowled. "You should thank me for that—it's how you were conceived. The boy that was your father freaked out and gave me money for an abortion, but I used that money to support you and me."

Natsuki looked away bitterly. "Sometimes I wish you had the abortion."

Saeko's amber eyes softened. "You're my little girl, Natsuki. I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world."

"Yeah, well, you're getting soft in your old age." Natsuki kept her face turned away so Saeko wouldn't see her wet eyes.

"Old? I'm only thirty-four, thank you very much."

"Sure, Mom. Did you find a job yet?"

"Not yet." Saeko sighed. "Pity your poor mother, Natsuki. I always try so hard to support your schooling, and yet the gods still decide to shit on my luck."

"Support my schooling? Fuuka Academy gives me a full scholarship," Natsuki reminded.

"Well, I have to send you to university, don't I?" Saeko said brusquely. "And about those kids who torture you, Natsuki, don't worry about them…I've learned through experience that karma is a bitch, and she'll get those kids good. You just concern yourself with your studies and get a high-paying job so that your poor mother can finally retire."

"Thank you for your infinite wisdom, sensei." Natsuki mock-bowed.

"Use it well, young grasshopper," Saeko teased back.

Natsuki studied her mother. She was lucky to have Saeko Kuga as a mother; not many seventeen year olds would keep an unplanned pregnancy. Even fewer would work in random jobs while simultaneously raising a baby. Natsuki's future looked pretty good, since Saeko had always insisted that Natsuki invest in her studies. She intended to take her mother's advice: concentrate on getting into university and ignore the assholes at her school. There was only one year left, anyways.

Natsuki sighed. She only wished that she could get back at Shiori Fujino, but that would be nearly impossible.

Five years later

"Natsuki! Wake up!"

"Wah!" Natsuki woke up with a shout as someone pushed her out of bed. "Mai! What the hell!"

Natsuki's redheaded roommate looked down at her with unrepentant eyes. "You're going to be late for your new job!"

Natsuki glanced at the clock. "Shit! I have to get there in thirty minutes!"

"You shouldn't have stayed up so late last night," Mai Tokiha chided as Natsuki hopped around like a madman, trying to put on her pants and shirt at the same time.

"Who are you, my mother?" Natsuki grumbled.

"I might as well be!" Mai scowled. "Damn it, don't you know the importance of a good first impression?"

"It's not going to be a first impression," Natsuki shot back. "Fuuka Academy is my old high school. They're the ones who offered me a job as a teaching assistant in the science department. Besides, it's only until I make enough money for medical school."

"Right, doctor." Mai rolled her eyes and thrust a paper bag at her. "Here's your lunch. I only made it for you since it's your first day, so don't get used to it."

"You're the best, Mai!" Natsuki waved and rushed out the door.

Mai rolled her eyes. "Idiot."

-000-000-

The students of Fuuka Academy gaped as a motorcycle sped into the parking lot with a mighty roar. The rider dismounted gracefully and took off her helmet, shaking her hair loose. A few students staggered at the sight, while others were simply love-struck.

Time had been very, very good to Natsuki Kuga. No longer the short nerd with a bad haircut and acne, Natsuki had grown a few inches taller and filled out in just the right places. The choppy bangs had been replaced by long, luscious dark blue hair, and glasses no longer hid her stunning emerald eyes. In short, Natsuki Kuga was now considered to be ridiculously hot. Girls and boys alike had thrown themselves at the former social outcast during her time at university. Although Natsuki was quite an attractive young woman, she was mostly unaware of her effect on others. It wasn't until Mai pointed out to Natsuki that both girls and boys became stupid around the biker chick did Natsuki realize that she had the potential to be quite the skilled heartbreaker, although she didn't really take advantage of that fact…yet.

Natsuki ignored the drool that dripped down some of the students' chins and strode past them into the building. A woman looked up at Natsuki's entrance. "Can I help you?"

Natsuki grinned at the woman, making her blush. "Is Director Sakomizu around?"

"Natsuki Kuga!" A voice boomed behind her. "One of the best students I ever had!"

Natsuki turned and smiled at a huge man with an afro. "Mr. Sakomizu, it's been a while."

"Too true, too true," Natsuki's former teacher boomed. "I was delighted to see that you decided to come back, if only for a short time! Come, I'll show you the new science laboratories!"

Natsuki shrugged and followed the boisterous man. He led her to a new building she had never seen before. "This is new."

"These are the new biology labs, where you'll be working," Sakomizu informed her cheerfully. "It's called the Fujino Science Center."

Natsuki froze. "Fujino?"

"Yes, the Fujino family donated the money for this building. Their eldest daughter was in your class, if I remember correctly."

"Unfortunately," Natsuki muttered.

Sakomizu missed Natsuki's comment. "Actually, the youngest Fujino daughter comes here. She's the Student Council president, just like her older sister was. Those Fujinos really are ambitious, aren't they?" Sakomizu laughed.

The cogs in Natsuki's mind turned furiously. Was this, perhaps, a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the vengeance she so craved against Shiori Fujino?

Sakomizu stopped at a door. "Oh, Dr. Sagisawa has started class. You might as well start now, Natsuki." He threw open the door, startling everyone in the classroom. "Listen up, everyone! This is the new teaching assistant, Natsuki Kuga!" He dragged Natsuki into the room.

Natsuki straightened up nervously as the hungry eyes of hormonal teenagers zoomed in on her. Youko Sagisawa quirked an eyebrow. "Hello, Ms. Kuga. Would anyone like to familiarize Ms. Kuga with the class?"

Nearly everyone's hands shot up. Sakomizu chuckled. "They love you already, Natsuki. Good luck!" He gave her a thumbs up and left.

Youko sighed. "The students are showing the most enthusiasm I've ever seen from them in class. How about our Student Council president, then?"

"Certainly, Dr. Sagisawa."

Natsuki froze at hearing the hauntingly familiar accent. She slowly turned her head, only to experience the strongest feeling of déjà vu in the history of mankind.

Shiori Fujino's doppelganger was standing up and looking at Natsuki. The only reason that Natsuki could tell it was not Shiori was that this girl had darker, honey-brown tresses instead of blonde.

"I am Shizuru Fujino, Student Council president. This is the third-year biology class; I hope you find your time here enjoyable."

A tiny devil popped up on Natsuki's shoulder and hissed in her ear, "This is the perfect time for revenge!" Natsuki tried to ignore the little bugger, but the small devil-Natsuki insisted, "Seduce the kid, ruin the Fujino family name, and in turn, ruin Shiori's life. Karma's a bitch, and so are you."

Natsuki smirked. She had never tried to seduce anyone before, but how hard could it be? "Thank you, Shizuru. I'm sure it'll be a pleasure to work with you…all." Shizuru Fujino blushed. Oh yeah, this was definitely going to be easy.

I like Oreos. You know what's better than Oreos? Reviews! (Nudge nudge wink wink)