"A Phoenix's Character:
Chapter One;
A Stressing Goal"

It was just another day at Seiyo Academy as the students filed in. Certain students stood up above all others, and these children were the Guardians.

King's Chair: Tadase Hotori. Queen's Chair: Nadeahiko Fujisaki. Jack's Chair: Kukai Souma. Ace's Chair: Yuiki Yaya. And the Joker's Chair: Amu Hinamori.

These five were all talking amongst themselves about Easter, and how to deal with them. Of course, Amu still had other things to worry about, like her and the X-eggs. Oh yes, the life of the Guardian never fails to bring drama; too bad they didn't know what was yet to come.

Nadeshiko and Amu entered their homeroom, and sat down next to each other. They were quite happy with what was going on, seeing as how everything was slowing down, at the time.

"Good morning class!" The whole class froze, and were silenced, before turning their heads to see who was at the door. The principal had entered the room, standing in front of the blackboard. The students had returned to their seats, and sat quietly. "Thank you! As you know, each class within the school, for this year, and next, is taking on a course related to the cultures of a different country. I am pleased to announce that this homeroom has the country, Russia, and a young mind from there with a high academic achievement and not to mention, a grand expert, has offered in order to teach the class for Unimagi Sensei, and will also be teaching the other academic courses." He explained the class began to mutter.

"Sounds like fun!" Nadeshiko whispered to Amu.

"Yeah, if ya like atomic bombs and war!" She commented.

The principal cleared his throat. "Without further delay, please help me welcome Kai Hiwatari!" He concluded. The class began to clap as said person walked into the door.

They didn't get what they expected. The man was a teenager about fourteen years old by first glance. His well toned body was paled by his skin. He was a very stern character who looked like he wouldn't be one for fun. The hair on the back of his head was a smooth navy blue that somewhat trailed down his neck, while in the front the hair sprouted upward in a silver hue. The eyes beneath the gray bangs were a fiery red that held a neutral, yet very serious expression. Upon his face, two blue triangles were on each cheek, and stood out quite well. The teen was wearing a dark purple tank top with a night blue quarter length jacket, black, flared pants held up by a red belt, along with dark blue sneakers, a similar shade for his fingerless gloves, and a white scarf firmly around his neck.

The class stared at the teenager, then at the principal, hoping he was joking. "Now, I know he doesn't seem like a lot, but he is the smartest in all of Russia; he's even stunned his own teachers. I expect you all to treat him with the up most respect, and to learn as much as you can from him." He turned to Kai, who looked back out of the corner of his eye. "If there are any problems with the class, feel free to call." He told him. Kai nodded once, and he left.

When the door closed, Kai had grabbed the a piece of chalk, and began to write his name on the board in Japanese, before turning around, and facing them with his hands behind his back. "Well, as you might have guessed, Russia's culture is by far different from yours. I am here only to teach, so let's make some rules!" He started as he reached the chalk to the board again, beginning to write. "Rule One: Unless spoken to, or called upon, there is no talking! I want to be able to go through the class without distraction, and if we get through everything, I'll allow you to stretch and talk at the ending moments, just as long as your work is done." He said, looking back at them over his shoulder.

A kid in the back raised his hand. "Um...Hiwatari-sama?" He questioned. Kai turned his full body around, looking at him. "If we have to use the bathroom or get a drink, do the same rules apply for regular class?" He asked.

Kai let out a sigh of annoyance. "Yes..." He stated. The boy put his hand down. "As I was saying, just as long as your work is done. Which brings us to Rule Two: Whatever isn't done in class is homework. You'll be getting a lot of notes, and I can personally guarantee at least four sheets of work per class, unless I decide to hand out a packet. Then the work will come from some of its pages." He said as he wrote it on the board. "And finally, Rule Three: Disrespect is unacceptable! I can only tolerate so much, so disrespect during class isn't going to be as easily handled. Each student has a set of strikes. One strike gets you a warning, two gets you a scolding and possible detention, and three gets your butt sent down to the principal's office along with a phone call to your parents." He concluded. "Got it?" He questioned, leering at the fifth graders in front of him.

They were all stiff at the look. "Hai, Sensei!" They said to him.

Kai smirked. "Then, how about we start simple?" He questioned, gathering some papers as wide as two index cards. Kai had went in front of each column, counted the number of kids in it, then passed out a number of papers equal to the kids in each. "When you get a sheet of paper, take out a writing utensil and write your name on it!" He told them. They did as told, folded the card, and put it up on their desks so he could see. Kai scanned the names, trying his best to memorize the face with the name. "I see the Queen's and Joker's chair are here in the class!" He proclaimed. Of course this brought everyone to stare at Nadeshiko and Amu who were sitting next to each other.

After scanning the rest of the names, he spoke again. "Well, it's time to get started; take out a notebook and a pen or pencil!" He ordered. They did as said. "We'll begin with Russia's geography." He started. "Russia has plenty of forests towards its northern regions." He stated, pulling down a map from its scrolled position above the blackboard. "Who can tell me one impact from these forests?" He questioned. The class was already muttering of boredom, and the only person who raised their hand was Nadeshiko. "Yes, Fujisaki-san?" He asked, pointing at her.

She cleared her throat. "Well, it does cause a lot of natural protection." She stated.

Kai nodded at this. "Very good!" He said to her, using the other side of the blackboard, and writing down what she said. "What else?" He questioned.

Nadeshiko had showed Amu a note that read of two other uses, and with this information, raised her hand. Kai pointed at her. "Wouldn't it also cause plenty of building supplies and fuel for fire?" She questioned.

Kai nodded. "Correct again!" He said dully, writing it on the board. "There's two more, and I'm leaving it to the guys to figure out!" He said. The guys groaned at the statement. "Large, thick forests that spread out for miles on end, meant for building supplies, fuel for fire, natural protection, and two more things." He stated, looking down at them.

One of the guys hesitantly raised his hand, which earned him a point from Kai. "Hunting for food, and fur for trading?" He questioned.

Kai smirked. "Was it really that hard to figure out?" He asked. They stared at him, confused, while he, once again, wrote the answers on the board. "Yes! Plenty of wild life, meaning plenty of furs, and meat." He stated.

- Later at Lunch

All fifth graders were off at lunch, meaning Tadase was able to sit with his two other guardian friends. "How was class?" He questioned them. "We got someone from France! He started with their greatest cuisine, plenty disturbing for my taste, but the rest I could barely tell because of his accent." He stated with chuckles. The three put down their brought lunches. "Who'd you get?" He asked.

Nadeshiko giggled, seeing as how he'd probably never believe it, but Amu spoke up. "His name is Kai Hiwatari! He's a teenager that's only fourteen, at most. He's a rather dull one, too, so he isn't really much fun. But, according to the principal who came in with him, he claimed that he's the smartest kid in Russia. He really stands out, so you might see him in an office, in the hall-"

"Or at the table, right behind you?" He questioned, pointing behind Amu. They both turned around, and stared. Right there, Kai was sitting, simply eating some reheated soup that came out of a brown bag. The only other things he had was a bottle of water and an apple.

They both rapidly turned back around. "What's he doing here?" Amu questioned with a shutter.

"I don't know! I thought he'd be in the teacher's lounge." Nadeshiko told her.

Tadase's eyes softened. "He is only fourteen! Perhaps the principal thought it was best for him to sit with the kids at lunch instead of a bunch of teachers, believing that he'd feel out of place if he sat with a bunch of adults." He theorized.

Nadeshiko glanced at him through the corner of her eye. "Maybe, but why is he sitting by himself?" She questioned.

Amu, and Tadase both stared at him. "He's...kinda like me!" Amu started. They stared at her. "He's a bit of a lone wolf character, so I guess it'd make sense for him to want to sit by himself. Besides, he is new, so why would he sit with anybody?" She explained, taking another glance at her new teacher.

The other two gave him a sympathetic look, until Tadase spoke up. "Maybe we should go accompany Hiwatari-senpai. After all, he is new, and it'd be rude to just leave him unless he asked for it." He suggested. Nadeshiko and Amu looked at each other for a few seconds, nodded, then got up with Tadase, and heading over to the other table.

Kai was eating slowly, simply trying to ignore the voices around him, ones in which included the people who had just started making up rumors. He had begun making mental notes of the faces, and decided that each one were to be talked to if they ever end up in his class. "Hiwatari-senpai?" A soft voice questioned.

Kai looked away from the group of kids, and up at the blond haired, red-violet eyed, bright skinned King's Chairmen that was Tadase Hotori. Kai gave him a neutral expression. "Can I help you, Hotori-nii?" He asked him with just the same enthusiasm his expression held.

Everyone was staring at the three, shocked that they were even talking to him. "Well, we were wondering if we could sit with you; no one deserves to be by themselves." Tadase told him kindly, a smile on his face.

Kai's dull eyes remained just that as a light shrug came from him. "You can if you want, I'm not stopping you!" He said to them. The three guardians took their seats in front of him.

Everyone was muttering several things like what they were doing, or how he could poison them, but they sat still, silently eating. Tadase, just finishing another bite of his sushi, spoke up. "Hiwatari-senpai." He began, hoping Kai would pay attention. Once he received it, he spoke again. "Monsuir Nahme had said that a lot of the Westernization towards Russia was brought upon the Catholic Church in Rome. Is this true?" He questioned.

Kai looked surprised by his statement, but shook his head. "Russia was Westernized by Peter the Great, who traveled to Germany to learn of their ways, and Germany was a Protestant nation. At the time, Russia was part of the Orthadox Church, so when Peter the Great returned, he brought the ways of absolutism with him, along with plenty knowledge and people regarding science, math, and medicine. He even broke free of the Patriarch, and took over the Russian Orthadox Church. The Catholics in Rome had nothing to do with it, more or less, they had a lot of influence King Louis XIV, one of whom hated protestants, and killed many of them, and lost France a lot of money, and they needed to recover it; he helped start the French Revolution." He explained.

Tadase stared at him, slightly shocked. "Oh! Well, that does make more sense, arigato!" He said. Kai had only nodded at him.

- Outside During Gym Class

People were still talking about Kai like there was no tomorrow. Things were getting out of hand, though. They were supposed to be playing soccer, and barely anybody was participating, much to the coach's annoyance.

"Still, the guy's a creep! He treated the king like a lowly peasant, not to mention how much of a book worm he is. I think he may be up to kill someone with the way he looks at people!" One of the girls commented.

The coach finally had enough, and blew the whistle, signaling everyone to file in, and begin to walk inside. "The freak! Why can't he act his own age?" One of the boys said.

The coach halted once more, about to yell, until he noticed just who it was they were talking about was in the hallway to the right. Amu and Nadeshiko both were staring at him. His neutral expression wasn't there, nor was it serious or annoyed; it was sadness.

Kai glared at the students who immediately stopped muttering when they noticed. "What is it then?" He asked. They all seemed confused. "How do you expect I act my own age when you haven't even reached it?" He questioned. They were all silent, a look of regret taking hold of their features. Kai was at a loss of words for he couldn't even cope to the situation for the first time in his life.

The principal was walking up behind him, and had heard the whole commotion. He was glaring done at them in shame. "When I said treat him with respect, did you know I wasn't kidding?" He questioned. Now the whole class didn't dare say a word. "I have only met three students who have tried, and they were as kind to accompany him at lunch earlier, but the rest of you should be ashamed." Before he could continue, Kai had already turned around and walked off as calmly as he could make himself. The man growled. "Everyone in the fifth grade besides Hotori Tadase, Hinamori Amu, and Fujisaki Nadeshiko, are to write a 300 or more word essay as an apology to Hiwatari Sensei, and is to explain in as much detail as possible why what they did was wrong." He demanded.

The class groaned as they walked back. Amu had a lot on her mind, and it was a matter of time before-

"What's wrong, Amu-chan?" Amu looked down to see Ran, Miki, and Sue out of their eggs, and giving her a look of sympathy and confusion.

She let out a sigh. "It's just our new teacher, Kai-tei. I think I'm just a little worried about him." She said quietly.

"How come?" Ran questioned.

Miki turned towards her. "Well, he is about fourteen, teaching a fifth grade homeroom, and is supposed to be the smartest boy in Russia." She pointed out. "Maybe saying he needed to act his age made him feel bad and Kai-san began to think it over, feeling pretty hurt about it." She guessed.

"You're probably right!" Amu commented sadly, her head lowering.

"We should help him feel better!" Sue suggested with a bright smile.

Amu stared, slightly bewildered. "Yeah, but how are we supposed to do that?" Amu questioned staring down at her clover-pinned guardian.

"We'll make him something that'll put a smile on his face!" She simply answered.

The three near Sue simply sweat dropped. "This should be good!" Amu muttered, envisioning catastrophe.

- With Kai: His POV

I really didn't like the idea of everybody talking about me like this, but I've tolerated it for so long, I didn't even like the fact people knew what I was. Yes I was the smartest kid throughout my whole time in school, and moving up to my senior year in high school was so much better, but they were right! I wasn't acting my age, and though normally I'm proud of that, in truth, I just wanted to be different.

Yeah, I always wanted to be one of those guys who could always get along with practically everybody, that laughed at stupid jokes, enjoyed competition, and my most important standard, make brotherly bonds with others.

I was always so envious at the others that they could, yet they still called me their friend. I was nothing like them besides the game we played; that was the only thing that made us friends. I always thought if I was more like Ray, Max, Tyson even, I may be able to know what it's like to actually be the one thing I never acted as; a kid.

Teenager though I may be, most are still children at heart. I know that this is the time of maturing, but I matured way too quickly for one to comprehend to. If I could know what it was like to act my own age, I would, but there was always something holding me back from it. It didn't matter, because I could never draw myself to it.

I began my walk home. I only gave the students notes, and some homework, so thankfully, I had nothing to do, and the next lesson was already set. I went through the streets, ignoring the remarks people made as I passed, feeling warmth rise to my cheeks as my sadness grew.

I entered the boring apartment building, and went into the elevator. When I reached the tenth floor, I continued through the tan carpeted hallway. When I reached door 1078, I entered my key card, and entered the room. I passed the bathroom and through the dining, not feeling hungry for any dinner seeing as how it was passed six.

I entered the bedroom. The carpeting was still tan, and the walls were white. There was a large bed with a black comforter, white sheets, and white pillows on it to my right, with two night stands. One had an alarm clock and lamp, the other had a book and lamp. The book was mine: 'Guide to a Phoenix's Character.' It seemed interesting, but a lot of the stuff seemed like garbage.

To my left was the dresser, and in the corner, next to the windows was the wardrobe that had the TV in it. Yeah, pretty boring, pretty clean, but that was me.

I lied down on the bed with a thud. I wasn't hungry for anything, I didn't feel like taking a shower, I just felt like turning to dust. I had shut my eyes, still wondering what I'd be like if I were different...

i try my hardest! i hope you've enjoyed.