Most days are easier than others. They breeze by carefree with no worries.
Then comes the rough, get-out-of-my-face, terrible kind of days. The days where anything that could go wrong will go wrong.
And, sitting here in this god forsaken desk, Ara counted this as one of those crappy days. Her mother is pissed off at her, her father finally decided to call her before school only to yell at her and make her cry, her friend, Yuko, was in the principal's office once again, and now, as if she needed anymore, the ever evil math teacher had just called her out for not doing her homework. The class now stared at her while the teacher stood in front of her, hand on her hip and ruler in hand. You learned to fear that ruler and the hand wielding it but today, Ara just didn't care. Instead, she leaned back; arms folded across her chest and stared up at her calmly.
"Do you have an excuse now? Let's hear it."
"I don't have one. I just didn't care enough to do it."
The ruler bobbed angrily in the teacher's eager hand, ready to strike at a moments notice. Her knuckles tightened and clenched like her teeth but everyone knew that as much as she'd like to swing at her, there were too many students present. Too many witnesses. So, she bit her tongue and pointed the ruler to the door.
"Office. Now."
"About time,"
Ara muttered, grabbing her backpack as she rose and walked to the door.
Out in the hall, Ara let out a low sigh and swung her back pack over her shoulders, slowing her pace. Hell of a day. Couldn't get much worst than —
Bam.
Books flew as papers fanned out around the two crumpled bodies.
"Dammit!!" The two people shouted in unison.
Ara looked up to see that unmistakable orange hair in her face and she pushed him away.
"Watch where you're going, Kyo!"
Kyo paused at her push and growled as he shoved back.
"You're the one who ran into me!"
"Oh, yeah right!"
Another shove. A shove back.
Now it was on. They broke out in a full-on shove fight right there on the hallway floor, yelling insults at one another until Yuko appeared walking out the office down the hall and rushed over.
Being ever Yuko, She grabbed both of their ears and lifted them off the ground.
"I thought I told you two never to play alone."
"Shut up, ya witch and let me go!" Kyo shouted trying to get away.
Ara didn't even fight it. She knew Yuko's iron grip well. She, instead, glared at Kyo darkly. If looks could kill…
"Okay, okay."
Yuko released them, brushing the imaginary dust off her hands as she took her place beside Ara to pick up her books and such.
Kyo rubbed his ear tenderly and began cleaning up too.
"So," Yuko spoke calmly and conversationally.
"How are you two today?"
Ara turned the glare on her friend, Kyo being her back up and returned to her work.
"Sucky," the two replied as if they had planned it, which they didn't causing them to look at each other in confusion a moment until Kyo stood up properly.
"I'm done. See ya."
And vanished as quickly as he appeared.
"Gah! I can't stand him!" Ara snapped, slumping into the pile of papers.
Yuko ignored her and stared after him.
"I think he's kind of hot. Don't you?"
"Shut up and help me."
"It's true. I think you should take him for a spin."
Yuko was always like this. A walking, talking pervert in her own right. People often asked why she was friends with her being that they are complete opposites. She always said simply that they weren't. Yuko was out spoken, sure, but Ara could be that way to if she had felt like it. Besides, opposites make the best of friends regardless.
"He's not a car, Yuko."
"Wish he was." She winked at her as she picked up the last of the homework and stood.
"So, out of class already?"
"Got kicked out."
"Oh, nice one. Didn't do the homework again?"
"Yep. I wonder why." Ara rolled her eyes and walked to the cafeteria with Yuko on her heel.
"Explain-y."
"It's nothing."
"Sure and I'm supreme overload of the underworld."
"I never knew Satan was your type."
"Arrrraa!" Yuko whined as they took their seats in the far corner of the room.
"Seriously, what's up?"
"Fine, fine." She surrendered.
"My dad… Father called."
"Bastard."
She had to smirk. "On a house phone, no less!"
"Asshole! No decency to call you on his cell? Might as well write you a letter! Go on."
"He just called to remind me how he wished I never existed and how I'm a failure to him and he's shamed I'm alive. Oh, and to invite me to his retirement party. There will be cake."
"Mm. Cake. But, Seriously? He's an ass. I can have him taken care of. I have family who knows someone who has a cousin that knows someone inside the Yakuza. Just give me the word."
"I don't know the word and if I did, I wouldn't say it anyways. He's not worth it."
"The word is papaya. But, moving on…" Yuko smiled in a way that usually meant it was something perverted about a boy.
"I really think you and Kyo would be hot together. That whole family is smokin'. I mean, look!"
She pointed down the room at the table where Hatsuharu, Momiji, and Yuki sat with Rin. The smokin' Sohma table, as Yuko had put it. They sat together there all the time. Rin had just transferred to be with Haru. The whole school knew it. They were perfect. Momiji was young but that didn't affect his absolute cuteness and then there was Yuki. Prince Charming himself. Yuko often joked that Yuki's innocence was an act and he was a closet perv but Ara didn't see it. She wasn't attracted to him or anything but Yuki had spoken to her somewhat in the past and she could see he was an all-around sweet guy.
"Lookie, Lookie. Eye candy on the way!" Yuko cheered.
Kyo entered the large room, his papers and books gone and he strolled to the table, making absolutely sure he didn't go near Yuki at all.
"What do you think is up with that?"
"What that they hate each other?"
"Shut up, they don't hate each other. They just fight a lot. I wonder what about."
"They fight over which one gets to have you, you sexy beast!" And with that, Yuko grabbed her waist and rocked her back and forth as she fought in protest until they both fell from their chairs in a fit of laughter only to have the whole room stare.
Ara hurriedly stood and blushed a crimson red as she stood her chair up right and sat quickly, tucking her face in her arms. Yuki took her time to stare back at the table behind us, making a show of lifting her chair back.
"What? Got a problem?" She asked as she sat down and returned her attention back to the Sohma table.
"Look, you have his attention!"
"Shut. Up. Yuko." She growled through clenched teeth.
The bell rang then and Ara unclenched herself.
Saved by the bell.
"Time to go home now. Come on, Yuko!"
"W-Wait! There's still one more class."
"Not today. We're leaving. Now."
Yuko grinned. "Rebel Ara. That's hot."
She ignored her and flew to the door, leaving the building quickly before someone saw her. She made it to the park when she realized Yuko wasn't with her.
She quickly grabbed up her phone and flipped it open to see a text for her.
"Sorry, girl. Teach caught me. Have fun. Find me a hunk! Loves, Yuko"
Ara snapped the phone closed angrily. Yuko was her ride now she was trapped at the park with no where to go. She stamped her foot in frustration when she heard someone behind her.
"What climbed up your ass?"
She turned to see Kyo staring at her, eyebrow raised confusedly. He was breathing heavily and sweating.
"Nothing. What are you doing?"
"Running. What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
He blinked. "You do a lot of that."
"Do not!"
"Sure. Whatever. So you have no where to go?"
Ara glanced at her phone then forced it in her pocket.
"Not anymore, I don't."
"That sucks."
Ara stared at him in silence making him fidget.
"What?"
"Why are you all… conversational all of a sudden?"
"I was just being nice. You looked pissed. I'll leave you alone now. Geez."
Ara sighed and rubbed her face in her hands.
"I'm sorry I don't mean to be mean. It's just… Augh! This day just blows!!"
Kyo stood still, his face suddenly softer than usual as he glanced over his shoulder calmly.
"I'm done with my run. Let's go eat. You look hungry."
Ara glanced up at him confused.
"W-what?"
"Are you hungry or not?"
"Uh, yeah, Yes. I am… but I don't have any money…"
Kyo grabbed her shoulder and pulled her for a second to get her walking.
"Don't worry about that."
Ara stood stiff at the gates where the sidewalk ended. The Sohma house loomed over her, casting its darkening shadow over her twig-like body. She stared in shock as Kyo walked ahead to the door, opening it for her.
"Do you need help to walk as well?"
"No! Shut up… I just… Is it okay for me to be here?"
"Yes, now come on. Oh, and watch out for my uncle."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
Inside, the house was simple but definitely not quiet. As the two entered, a rupture of giggles echoed from down the hall. The sound seemed to be coming from a child but as they walked into the room, two middle aged men and Haru clammed up and Ara saw the laughter had come from the odd man who had his head on the table. His body still shaking. The other man, who's hair cast over his one eye, looked annoyed enough to kill but calmed down as they noticed their guests. Haru looked up and nodded.
"Kyo. Ara, nice surprise."
"Hey..." She replied meekly and the other man glanced up with a wicked gleam in his eye and in a second he was at her side.
"My, my. A school girl. Hello and welcome. May I ask? Do you like dogs?"
POW.
Ara looked to see Kyo's hand smacked onto his forehead, pushing him back forcefully.
"Ara, my uncle."
"Shugura aah yur serbus," He mumbled through Kyo's hand.
"Uh…"
"You know Haru. And this is Hatori. He's family as well as our doctor."
"Pleasure, I'm sure." Hatori replied politely as Ara bowed deeply.
"Hello."
"Guys, this is Ara. She goes to our school."
Shigure managed to squirm out of Kyo's grip and shake her hand.
"Ara, how pretty. Does it mean anything?"
"Er, I don't think so…?"
It was at that moment that the door opened and closed and Yuki entered the room and took in the scene with confusion. He, instead, locked his attention on Ara.
"A pleasant surprise. How are you, Ara-chan?"
Ara blushed and looked down.
"I'm okay. Uh, Kyo brought me over to, uh, eat. Hope you don't mind."
"No, not at all--"
Shigure released her hand and stood back as if in shock.
"Kyo? On a date? My word, you move fast!"
"Why you…"
And the fight was on as Kyo chased his uncle through out the house, shouting obscenities the entire time.
Yuki and the others sat down as if it was normal while Ara panicked slightly. On their fourth time around the house, she threw herself in between them, grabbing Kyo.
"Please. Stop!" She gasped, wrapping her arms around his chest.
Then it happened. The unavoidable. The one thing they all tried to avoid.
The tensed in the room was heightened, thickening the air around them as Ara crashed to the floor holding in her arms an orange, pissed off cat.
She stared blankly a moment, holding the sat out at arms length.
"Er… Uh, Kyo… Uh, this… not… can't be… Um."
No sense. No sense. What could I possibly say?! She snapped in her head.
The flash of hands appeared all around her as Shigure snatched the cat, Yuki lifted her up from her spot on the floor and Hatori pulled her to another room.
"Kyo… He… Cat."
"No, Ara. You grabbed the cat by accident. It jumped at you, remember?"
Yuki purred in a calming, hypnotizing voice but she shook her head, clearing her thoughts.
"No. No! Kyo turned into a cat! A little… fuzzy… cat! I know it. I'm not stupid."
Yuki dropped his eyes and looked at Hatori. He shook his head slowly and moved to have Ara sit on the couch but Kyo appeared in the doorway, tugging on his shirt as grabbed his hand.
"What are you going to do?!"
"You know what I'm going to do."
"She'll be okay after it, right?" He breathed, waiting for an answer while Ara shook her head, lost in all this.
"Do what? What are you going to do? You're not going to kill me, right? Oh god."
Haru chuckled from his small corner.
"That's absurd. It's too much work. Maybe if we had time to plan it…." Haru murmured, laughing still.
Hatori sat on the table in front of her and calmly stared at her and she was drawn to his eyes despite the chaos around her.
"Stay still, okay? I won't hurt you. I promise."
"What will happen?"
"Nothing. This is just a dream."
"No… A dream? No, it's not! It's not a--"
Gone. They dimmed and melted into vast darkness around her and with a jolt she awoke. Ara sat up quickly, falling to the ground when she realized she was in the park. She rubbed her back having been lying on the bench before her waking.
What? How? Where? What happened? Nothing seemed to make sense. Digging in her thoughts, Ara remembered leaving school without Yuko and then…. Then….
Something tugged at the jagged edges of her thoughts. It bit and stung like something important but she couldn't trace what she had lost.
Sitting still, she rested her head in her hands to focus…. To think…
Something was there, lost under the surface… a… a…
"Cat?" Ara blurted out loud, lost even more.
"A cat…?"
"You want me to buy you a kitty, Ara?"
A voice inquired right next to her, making her squeak in surprise until Yuko backed away a step.
"Yuko, you scared me!" She breathed, standing up now.
"You scared me. Talking about cats and what not. You okay? Why didn't you leave?"
"Huh?"
Yuko gestured behind her at the school where students flooded out hurriedly.
"School's already out."
"O-oh…" Ara muttered, lost still as she walked beside Yuko to her car.
"Yuko, I just had the weirdest dream, or whatever you'd call it?"
"Do tell."
Ara explained her waking up and the weird lost of memory and the strange pull of some cat.
"Maybe you dreamed of cats."
"No. That's weird."
"I dreamt of goldfish before. I had to find Nemo."
"You're also the one who dreamt of Hello Kitty being this great assassin whose arch enemy was Spongebob."
"Hey! Don't question my logic… Or I'll get Hello Kitty on you…"
Ara leaned her head on the window of the car.
"I'm serious. Something is weird about it… Like something isn't right."
"You'll figure it out. You are the smart one."
Yuko replied reassuringly.
