"Did you hear?" Tala Valkov leaned back in his chair, latching his fingers behind his head and leaning back into his chair.
"Hear what?" Only one boy out of the four deigned to answer. Johnny McGregor lifted an eyebrow, glancing at the redhead.
"The new girl." Tala grinned at the ceiling. "She's coming tomorrow."
"Trust you, Valkov." Kai muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tala protested.
"Figure it out for yourself." Bryan grunted, throwing a book languidly at the blue-eyed boy. Tala ducked, still grinning.
"Fine, fine. It's not my fault I'm a girl-magnet though."
"And you do nothing about it either." Kai said, glaring at Tala. "Get a life, Valkov."
"Get a girl Kai." Tala retaliated.
"I'd rather not." The boy replied dryly.
"Why not?" The redhead demanded.
"Because they're a waste of time and money, that's why." Kai snapped. "So just shut it now, Valkov."
Tala subsided into a harmless silence, seeing that his friend's temper was already beginning to fray. This new girl… the Russian's bright blue eyes glittered, dreaming about some gorgeous blonde with blue eyes and soft skin…
Outside in the gathering dusk, a girl who was most definitely not a blonde-haired, blue-eyed bimbo approached the school's main doors and entered the lobby. She went up to the reception desk and spoke to the secretary, who immediately nodded and escorted her into the Principal's office. The elderly man glanced at the girl over the rims of his round glasses, light blue eyes twinkling.
"Welcome to Furiyoku High, Chris."
Deep crimson eyes smiled into his.
"Thanks Mr Dickenson. It's good to be here at last."
"How was the journey?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "Long and boring."
Mr Dickenson laughed. "Wonderful. No doubt you'd want to rest? Your room is at the end of the school, over-looking the grounds. I thought you'd like that. And there's a cherry tree outside the window."
"Thank you."
To the casual observer, one would have thought the man's remark to be matter-of-fact, and the girl's to be casual. However, if the said observer looked closer, they would have noticed the caring smile on the principal's face and the soft, grateful gleam in the girl's crimson eyes.
Chris climbed the stairs to her room, after collecting her key from the receptionist. Slowly, she unlocked the door. It was spacious and roomy, the carpet a deep red, the walls cream. The window was open, gauzy curtains fluttering in the gentle night breeze. The girl crossed to the window, gazing out at the silent world. The sky was serene and dark, studded with a million bright stars, and a silver moon was shedding its glow down on the peaceful world - and in particular, on a certain cherry blossom tree, pink petals floating in the air. The girl smiled. Sakura. It was the name of her mother. She had always harboured a particular love for the flower, especially since…
The girl sighed and closed the window. It was late. She needed her strength for this new beginning.