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Morning brought with it a sense of unease and all Mika wanted to do was roll over and go back to sleep.

She wasn't ready to face her peers.

She wasn't ready to be their frightened prey.

"Get up! The bus will be here in ten minutes!"

But just like every morning before, the voice outside her bed room door insisted on her compliance.

Reluctantly she rolled out of bed, maybe today would be better.

Her sneakers sloshed as she clambered clumsily onto the bus. A friendly face waved to her at the back and she paused before making her way to sit beside the boy. Makoto Mitsuhara.

"Good morning," he said cheerily.

She returned the smile, though inwardly she wondered if it would be.

"Morning," she responded quietly, "it's raining again."

The boy nodded, "Yeah it's been doing that a lot lately… Is something wrong?"

He seemed genuinely concerned and she wondered briefly if she should tell him what happened last night.

"No," she said finally, leaning back in the seat, "I'm just tired."

"Oh, just wondering."

The rest of the ride was fairly quiet, and Mika watched the rain fall through the window wondering if it was a sign of what was to come.

Are you there Hiei? She hoped he was. She wanted to make him see what he was forcing her to endure.

Yes.

She started at his voice in her head. She hadn't expected him to hear her, let alone answer.

Mika bit her lip as the bus came to a stop,

"Here I'll carry that."

Mika averted her gaze to Makoto, and then hesitantly relinquished her backpack to the boy and followed him off the bus.

"Mitsuhara! You are not to carry Mika's things. She can carry them well enough herself."

Mika stepped back as the principal leveled his dangerous gaze on her. She took back her back pack just as Makoto opened his mouth.

"It's fine I can carry it," she whispered as she slipped it onto her shoulders and began to walk.

Mika kept her head down, her grip on the shoulder straps tightening as Makoto caught up to her.

"He's an ass. Here let me have that."

Mika shied away as Makoto moved to take back her bag, "I can carry it," she said more firmly.

There was no sense in Makoto getting into trouble because of her.


Mika made her way, alone, downstairs to breakfast, murmuring an apology as a group of students slammed into her on their way up. They snickered as she caught herself to keep from falling backwards over the rail.

"Watch where you're going, stupid bitch."

The breakfast line was long, and Mika hadn't had time to eat before she'd gotten on the bus.

"Get out of the way."

Someone shoved her backwards, slipping into line in front of her.

She protested meekly, "You shouldn't cut it's rude."

The girl rolled her eyes, "What are you going to do about it? Go cry in a corner?"

Mika's courage faltered, she said nothing more as several other students moved to get in front of her.

Maybe it isn't so bad, she thought as she neared the tray stacks, but no sooner had she picked up her own tray then the bell rang.

Her stomach growled, she would have to wait until lunch.


Mika scrambled to get to class, tripping on her way up the stairs.

Why do I have to be so stupid? I can't even walk without falling down.

She darted down the hallway just in time to have the classroom door slam in her face. She tried to open it, locked.

Mika slid down to the floor, leaning her head back against the door.

Are you going to cry now? Pathetic.

She bit her lip, eyebrows furrowing in irritation because she HAD been about to cry.

No. I'm just… her thoughts trailed off as she saw Shino Matari walking towards her.

Mika quickly got to her feet, happy to see the boy "Hi Shino! Are you late too?"

He shoved passed her, not saying a word.

Mika's face fell as he entered a classroom down the hall.

Of course he wouldn't notice me…

Are you finished feeling sorry for yourself?

What do you care? I think I'm entitled to feel sorry for myself, it's not like anyone else does.

Fool.

Stop calling me that! I'm not stupid!

Prove it.