Wars of the Rosesp

"Just ask for help if you need it."said Kate, sitting back into her chair, done with all of her social studies work. Amber turned from Kate and got back to her work, just about 1/4 of a page more to do.br

"3 minutes."Mr.Williams, the social studies teacher announced. Amber's eyes widened, as wandered over to Kate who was boredly looking up at the cieling.br

"Kate,"Amber reluctantly called over to her friend,"I.. I need help.."br

Kate grinned, and gave her the answers, Amber realizing just how easy it was, and that she could have done it herself.br

"That's the last time I do that.."said Amber quietly.

"What? Ask for help?"Kate laughed,"You should do it more often. It makes me feel important."she joked, still grinning. The two laughed, waiting for a friend of theirs to gather her things.br

"C'mon Kat!"Amber called, as Kat walked up to them and nodded.br

"Go, I'll catch up."said Kat tonelessly. As the two, soon three, walked out into the hallway, many children ran off to recess. A boy their age walked passed them with a book in his hands; He had beautiful, long, red hair, which trailed behind him as he walked outside for recess.br

"Who's that?"asked Amber.br

"That's the new kid,"Kate replied,"What's up with you today? You're usually more in tact with the real world, Amb. You asked me for help today, somethings definately wrong with you. What happened to 'I don't want help, it makes me feel stupid'?" Amber opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come out.br

"I.. um, I'm going to introduce him, he seems lonely, you know?"she smiled,"Just for recess, and if he needs a little tour, I'll see you around after school."br

"So.. you're gonna ditch us."said Kat simply.br

"Well.. in a nice way, of course.."Amber grinned,"I'm not, I wouldn't ditch you guys, I'm just going to fill him in on some things. I was the new girl two times, I know how it is to be lonely. It feels awful, and he seems really nice."br

"Fine."Kate pretended to be angry,"Go on." The three laughed, and said their farewells. Amber, after spending 5 good minutes of searching for the long haired red head, finally found him sitting by the wall, reading his book. She slowly and shyly walked over to him.br

"Good book?"she asked him a bit more quietly than she expected. He nodded looking up.br

"Yes, it is."said he,"I'm Shuichi Minamino, you?"br

"B-wha-I-I'm Amber, nice to meet you."she stumbled over her words. iI'm more nervous than he is.. that's not supposed to happen../i He smiled.br

"You too, sit down, will you?"he asked. She took a seat about 6 inches away from him.br

"Where did you move from?"she asked him. He set down his book, and hesitated before speaking, looking forward instead of the usual 'eye to eye' when you converse with someone. Amber looked in the same direction; There was a rather short, gothic looking young man standing behind the schools barrier fence.br

"A friend of yours? You can go speak to him if you'd like, I'll cover for you so you don't get caught."she told him. He turned his head to look at her, having the feeling she was joking.br

"You're.. serious?"he asked her, staring right into her eyes. She nodded.br

"I'll do it. You're new here, I'd like it if you were comfortable at this school. You know, right at home?"she smiled at him, standing up and lending him a hand. He shook his head, and stood up himself.br

"Thank you."he thanked her, still very surprised. She waved to him as he walked over to Hiei, as he did the same. Amber walked over to Mr.Williams, the teacher on duty.br

"Hey, Mr.Williams, we didn't have any homework last night, right?"Amber asked him, making him face the other direction where Shuichi was.brbr

"So."Hiei eyed her,"Who's the girl?"br

"She's helping me right now, it's against school rules to talk to people outside of the fence during school hours."said Shuichi, keeping an eye out for himself, and Hiei,"What are you here for?" Hiei smirked.br

"I sensed Spirit Energy other than yours in this area. Didn't you, Kurama?"said Hiei calling Shuichi by his demon name, nodding towards two girls playing cards, Kate and Kat, and the young girl Kurama had just finished talking to.br

"I haven't."Kurama put his hands in his pockets,"They seem normal enough to me."br

"That's just because you're new. Get used to them. They seem easy enough to get close to."he smirked,"Well, get a move on, we really have no time." Kurama nodded sadly.br

"I know.."he said, a hint of depression in his voice,"Bye." He waved, as the two walked away. The classes were already heading in, and not seeing Amber anywhere, he ran to get his book, but it wasn't there. His eyes widened.br

"Where is it.."he said to himself. Mr. Williams walked up to him, and patted him lightly with his finger on Kurama's shoulder.br

"Shuichi, I believe what you're looking for, is this?"he held up a book. Kurama's eyes grew wide, as Mr.Williams handed the book to him.br

"You're very lucky that Amber gave me this book. We put these kind of items away for good."he sighed,"Well, off to class. Hope you know you both landed yourselves a detention." Kurama looked shocked.br

"What? What did we do?"he asked as kindly as he could, despite how angry he was. Mr.Williams looked towards the fence.br

"She tried covering up for you, and you went against school rules,"Mr.Williams heartily laughed,"I didn't expect that from her. From what she tells me you're a good student too. Ah well, this is what happens when children such as yourselves reach seventh grade, I guess.." He walked off, Kurama trailing behind him. After lunch was Gym, where Kurama met up with Amber, Kate, and Kat.br

"Amber?"he asked. She turned around to greet him.br

"Yes?"she asked somewhat less cheerfully then she was before recess.br

"Sorry about the detent--"br

"SIT!"Mr.Figg, the Gym teacher called. The four immediatly sat. Kurama glanced at the three girls. None of them talked. The ones known as Kat and Kate store up at Mr.Figg, while Amber stared at the ground. Trying to sense any energy coming from her, he squinted his eyes at her, until he saw a big leg in his face, which belonged to Mr.Figg. Kurama looked up, and sheepishly smiled.br

"Hello."said Kurama nervously.br

"Something more interesting than me? I suggest you listen to instructions and get your head out of the clouds, Shuichi."glared Mr.Figg. Kurama nodded.br

"We'll play kickball outside, anyone who doesn't want to play that, can play wallball."he announced, as the children ran outside. Amber waited by the door for Kurama, while her two friends played wallball with the few who chose to.br

"Are you okay?"she asked him once he met up with her,"He can be pretty hard on people, but don't worry."br

"Thanks. I'm fine, though. I was trying to tell you before, sorry about the detention."he apologized to her sincerely. She shrugged.br

"It's my first detention, but I guess everyone's had a first. You worried about it?"br

"I have to go-- somewhere important.. after school."he told her,"I guess I'll have to be a little late." Amber nodded, as the two headed towards the wallball wall.br

"Come on, Kate, throw it!"the kids shouted, and Kate obeyed. She threw the ball as hard as she could, making the unruley kids run a while back to try and catch it. A strong wind picked up, and the once sunny skies disappeared; It began to rain. Then pour. And finally, thunder.br

"Man..,"Kate scratched her head,"I did all of this?" Kurama shook his head.br

"Something else did."he whispered to Amber and Kate. Kat walked over holding herself.br

"Damn.. it's cold.. and wet. Couldn't get much worse.."she squinted her eyes at Kurama, trying to see him through the thick fog and rain.br

"It can. It can get a lot worse."said Kurama, now in a worried tone of voice. Amber looked up at him queerly.br

"Shu...ichi?"she asked, as he quickly grabbed her and sprinted about 8 yards from their previous location. A loud roar could be heard.br

"YOU JYNXED US, KAT! THANKS A LOT!"Kate shouted at her friend. Kat shook her head.br

"If anything, it was you."She protested somewhat camly.br

"Get over here! Run!"shouted Kurama. The two girls put their hands to their ears to hear better. Amber got up to get them, but Kurama held her back.br

"THERE'S AN OCCULT BEAST BEHIND YOU!"Kurama shouted once more. Shouting had weakened the grip he had on Amber, therefore giving her the advantage. She ran out of his arms and grabbed her friends hands.br

"There's a huge ogre behind you."she told them. The two turned around slowly, to find...