A flame within their hearts
Chapter 1- Meet my friends!
The whole time we were walking to school I was too embarrassed to speak to Yuki. I also could have sworn I heard the Prince Yuki Fan Club girls.
"Okay, start talking! What was that about, Samantha?! Why were you walking to school with Prince Yuki? Details and they better be good!" The fan girls question me.
"I-it was a coincidence," I say, utterly disturbed by the fan club girls.
"Well for your sake, I hope that's all it was," One girl says. "Every girl in class 1-D knows Yuki is the best looking boy in school," The girl in the middle says dreamily. "And he's intelligent," The girl to my left says. "And great at sports," The last girl says. They then look straight at me, "And for your info, we are the Prince Yuki Fan Club; we've got first dibs, sister; so you better steer clear!"
"Hey," A deep and angry voice that I recognize as Joseph walks up to the girls.
"WHAT?!" The three fan club girls yell.
"She said it was a coincidence, now get lost, before those big noses of yours get bruised," He says not quitting to get them to leave.
"AH!" They scream, falling to the ground. "Now hold it! Just because you're a muscular guy doesn't mean you scare us with your street thug talk!"
"One more word out of you three and you'll be sorry," My friend Jeniffer says. The fan club girls scream and run off down the hall.
"Thanks, I didn't think they would ever leave," I say grateful to my friends.
"Sam, were those catty little girls bothering you?" Joseph asks me. "Jeniffer, give them a break; they're gone," Joseph tells her.
"You know, the truth is I was so nervous walking with Yuki this morning. I couldn't talk to him…no…I couldn't look at him," I say, the truth finally coming out.
"I sense something different about that boy," Jeniffer says speaking her mind.
"Here we go again, Jeniffer and her superstitions," Joseph says.
"Strange? How?" I ask.
"I don't know, he's different," Jeniffer replies.
"Well I admit he does seem to have an air of mystery around him," Joseph admits. "And, there are some weird stories floating around too," He says. "I hear one of those fan club girls tried asking him out once, but he just pushed her away. Even I mean that literally, right in the hall. Then he left on the floor and ran off." Joseph completes.
"Like I said, strange," Jeniffer adds.
"Mmmm… let's talk about something else?" I say, wanting to change the subject.
"So, how's that job of yours going?" Joseph asks me.
"Oh…good I guess, why?" I tell him.
"I don't know, you've been putting in a lot of hours lately, a lot more than usual," Joseph tells me.
"Yeah…sure," I tell him.
"You're having troubles saving up for tuition aren't you?" Joseph asks me, completely catching me off guard.
"No, it's just...well yeah," I say.
"That's odd, I didn't think tuition here was that expensive," Jeniffer comments. "And I don't remember you having to work this hard before, unless something else has changed," She says.
"No, everything is the same…" I begin.
"So what is it?" Joseph asks. "You in some kind of trouble? You owe somebody? Your stepfather's giving you enough to eat, right? He isn't taking your money again, is he?" He asks.
"No…" I say, remembering every time I would have to give him my own money for his poker games.
"I know…I worry too much, but seriously if you need to rough someone up, give me the word, got it?" Joseph asks.
"Okay," I say, happy to have my friends with me. 'Joseph is going to kill me when he finds out' I think 'But how can I tell my two best friends, I live in a tent'
-Flashback-
'I can still remember how hard it was on my mother when my father (Hades) left. She had to work so hard to make ends meet, though she never seemed to mind. It's hard to believe someone so smart and so strong could be taken away by an accident. After it happened I had to stay with my stepfather who took no care for me and I ran away. That's when I had an idea, if I could somehow live on my own for a while everyone could be happy.
-Flashback End-
Later in the day, I bump into Yuki at the lockers. "Oh, hello Yuki," I say, embarrassed.
"It seems we're making a habit of bumping into each other," Yuki replies.
He then asks if we could walk with each other home, I agree so we walk home together.
"It was very nice meeting your cousin this morning. He was quite hilarious," I say. "And those little Zodiac figurines he made were amazing," I ramble on.
"Ah…yes. But I over heard you saying how you are the year of the rat," He says. "And you also have an influential brother who wishes there was a year of the cat."
"Well, it was a thought he had when he was young," I say.
"Cats…useless creatures," Yuki says.
"Excuse me?" I say, confused.
"Tell me, Miss Kingsmon. How familiar would you say you are with the history of the Chinese Zodiac?" Yuki asks me.
"I know the stories my mother told me," I reply.
"Did you know that it was nothing more than a simple calendar, a mathematical system to mark the passage of time? Only later did people begin to use it for other things like astrology and fortune telling," He replies.
"Oh, then the stories with the animals isn't true then," I say.
"No, I'm not really sure when the animals first came to represent the years, but I don't believe they were there in the beginning. What I do know is that no time in the history of the Zodiac, has the cat ever been included," He says. "So you see, the cat has been shunned by society for thousands of years. But as the story is told, it still yearns to be accepted. Like I say, truly foolish." He replies.
"Sounds like you really do not like cats," I say.
He then turns to me with a smile playing on his lips. He grabs a leaf and puts it in front of my face. "I noticed it this morning, you're starting to look pale," He says. "You should really take better care of yourself," He says. "Perhaps, we'll bump into each other again tomorrow," He says, walking off.
Yuki POV
'I must admit' I think. 'She does inspire something different inside me; I mean, it's not everyday a girl my age (who is not cursed by the Zodiac) has striking black hair, crimson red eyes, and olive white skin,' I think, then remembering her smile. 'Oh, and her beautiful smile; it's stunning,' I smile like I've never smiled before. 'Maybe I'll meet her again,' I think walking home.
Samantha POV
'Wow, he really is mysterious,' I think. I say walking to my job.
'But I will pretend I did not hear that pale remark, I cannot afford to let anything bring me down; I've got too much to do, besides my mother probably had it much, much harder than I do, ' I think.
That's when my stepbrother, Nico walks in. "Hey, Sam! Are you going to let this trash sit here all night?" He asks me. "I hope not, because I want to help!" He says.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry! Nico, grab a bag and follow me!" I say.
"That's the Sam I know! Alright lead away!" He says grabbing a trash bag.
We run into the hall with the bags in our hands. We then work at all the cleaning jobs around the hotel. 'Like our mother said, never give up no matter whatever life throws your way,' I think.
When our jobs are done; Nico and I walk out, say our goodbyes and farewells, and we walk in opposite directions.
Yuki POV
"If we keep eating out like this all the time, I'm going to have to buy a bigger robe," Shigure says as we walk home from a restaurant.
"Well then, why don't you do the cooking then?" I say.
"Why, every time I make dinner, you complain," Shigure says.
"Pickled radish and curry is not dinner, it's disgusting," I say, remembering when I actually attempted to eat that. "I think one complaint is more or less justified," I say.
"You know, Yuki; you got a good head on your shoulders but I don't think your cut out for housework. Let's get a housekeeper?" Shigure asks me.
"No…" I begin, but something catches my eye. "Huh…Miss Kingsmon?" I say, seeing her walk to a tent.
Samantha POV
"I'm back," I say not talking to anyone in particular. 'It's late but I can't sleep yet, I still have a paper to write,' I think. 'I know! I'll go for a walk to get my mind off things!' I say, lifting the flaps of my tent.
Yuki POV
Samantha lifts the flap to her tent and stares me in the eye. 'Oh my…' I think, completely surprised. Right next to me, Shigure begins to laugh at Samantha like a maniac.
"Shigure," I say "Don't you think you're being a little rude?" I say, Samantha looking totally embarrassed.
