"You look beautiful!" That eerily, cheerful beautician practically sang out as she spun my swivel chair around. She leaned her head next to mines and smiled at me in the mirror "Like a rose!"

Heh. Funny.

I gave the money to the cashier and walked out of the salon, feeling unsure of my new hair-do. I stared at my reflection on the window and focused on my hair. It's not long anymore, just as Yusei suggested it to be. Now it reaches just above my shoulders while my bangs part in two and hangs on the side of my cheeks, sort of like that girl from Code Geass.

I can't hide my face anymore, what a sacrifice. I wish I should've told her to not style my bangs like this. Dammit Yusei. This better be worth it. I sighed to myself and walked quickly down the sidewalk. I have to get home before my mom notice. I didn't ask Sayer to drop me off. I couldn't anyways. Since that fight earlier, I have detention for a month and my dad grounded me for two months. Sucks to be me.

I passed by happy couples walking in and out of an ice cream parlor, holding hands with their love ones. Why can't I find happiness like that? Not much people my age talked to me back in Japan. And my parents find their jobs more interesting than me. I don't know why though. I clenched my hand onto my right arm, the one that has my wretched marks. I guess I'm just plain blah.

"That's not the reason why!" I heard someone say deep in the alley I walked by. She sounds really distressed.

"Then what is your reason?" Another one said. I couldn't help but listen to their conversation.

I hid behind some trash cans and watched them. What I saw was a girl about my age with large circular glasses and long black hair standing in front of the other girl; her face in a frightened stare. The other girl has short bronze hair, blunt fringe, and a wicked sneer on her face. Both of them must go to the same school I go because they're both wearing the New Domino High uniform.

"Well?" The girl with bronze hair continued "What's the reason why you can't do my homework?" She pretty much screamed right over the one with the glasses. She's acting like a total b-

"Can't I take a break? !" The glasses one remarked, interrupting my thoughts. She quickly backed away from her and held her suitcase in a cowardly manner "I mean- well- y-y-you see, Steph, we just got back from school. And..."

"So?"

"B-but...!"

The bronze haired girl, 'Steph' I think, shoved her suitcase into the glasses one "I have plans today, so I need you to do it."

"But I have to work on my report for the New Domino's Daily Newspaper!"

Steph sulked and crossed her arms "Look, if you want to keep hanging out with Mina and me you have to listen to our commands." She made a full turn "Besides, I have to work at the cafe' today." I ducked the second she walked away and glimpsed at the glasses girl when the close was clear.

I watched her as she gripped onto the suitcases and waddled her way towards the sidewalk, taking big stomps "Darn you to!"

She then fell back when she slipped on a rock. She slipped on a freakin' rock. A rock. Seriously. She landed on her back and her glasses flew off. The two suitcases smashed into the trash cans revealing my hiding spot, surprising both of us.

"Who's there?" She asked as she sat up. She squinted her arsenic grey eyes straight at me "I see something pink."

I handed her her glasses and leaned in next to her when she tried to get up. She blinked a couple of times and stared at me "I'm terribly sorry about that!" She gathered the suitcases in a hurry and got up to leave. I expected her to run, but she fell again. Jeez.

I helped her up and tossed her the two suitcases "Here."

"T-thank you." She bowed down to greet me politely "I-I'm Carly."

"Akiza." I said in return. She stood up straight and started squinting here eyes at me again.

"So..." Carly's eyebrows lowered "why were you hiding behind those trash bins?"

Uh-oh. What the heck am I supposed to say? "Um, I-"

"Wait a minute!" she pulled out a magnifying glass and examined my facial features "I've seen you before!"

I looked back at that crazy person's face "Uh..." What the heck is that magnifying glass for? I am officially freaked out now.

"But," Carly stuffed the magnifying glass back in her pocket "wasn't your hair longer?"

I nodded my head and ran my hair through my hand, feeling self-conscience "It was."

"WHY!" She sounded like somebody just died. "WHY DID YOU? IT WAS REALLY PRETTY!" Is it not pretty now?

I looked away and shrugged "This guy," It sounded really freaky when I said that "he mentioned that I should-"

"Did he say it was ugly?"

An awkward trail of silence appeared when she said that. "He...suggested it...so I thought..."

"Oh..." She finally got out of my hair and let out a creepy smile. "Trying to fulfill his fantasies then, huh?" Carly is totally missing the point.

"NO WAY!" That's when an alarm went off inside my head "It's just-" I actually don't know why.

"Sure." She gave me another creepy wink "Next thing you'll know, you'll be carrying his baby in your arms." I gave her one last glare and faced the other direction. "Wait!" She pulled me back by my arm "I'm guessing by the looks of it that we go to the same school?"

"...yep." I said, feeling reluctant.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow!"

"...sure."

She smiled and ran the other direction "I'd hang out with you more, but I have to go." She extended her arm and waved, almost hitting a pack of people on her way. Almost. "Bye Akiza!"

I shook off that thought about the 'fulfilling his fantasies' part. How could she even say that? She seems like a weird person. I wonder if she'll start to follow me like a puppy. I sighed heavily to myself and walked down the sidewalk. Now I have two people to worry about.

I hadn't notice, but I came across a 'Checkers' fast-food restaurant. Maybe I could stop by for some fries...

But, what made me stop walking was when I saw Yusei. He's sitting at one of those tables outside of the restaurant with three other guys. One of the guys is leaning on his chair with his feet on the table. He has medium length, silver colored hair and a black head band around his forehead. The other guy has spiky orange hair that sticks up and some strange yellow colored marks on his face. And the last guy has messy blonde hair and violet eyes. The only thing he's doing is sitting there drinking some tea while the others have a conversation. I suppose this place is where they hang-out after school.

Dammit. This path is the only way to get home. Well, the only path that I know. I'm just following the road that Sayer took me earlier when he dropped me off at school. I can't walk past Yusei. I don't want him to see me like this. I don't want to deal with him or his friends.

Maybe he won't recognize me. I mean, the beautician did change my hair dramatically short. I held my breath and speed walked past them, looking straight at the ground so I won't make any eye contact.

I felt something smash onto my face that forced me to gasp out. I looked up to see what I bumped into. I came face-to-face with another guy about my age. He has reddish-brownish hair that points up with a huge orange streak in the middle while the sides hangs down and lime green eyes. He's wearing the male's uniform for the same school I go to.

I panicked at his stunning looks and backed up. He smirked at my reaction "My fault babe. It took me a while to realize that I ran right into his chest. He didn't have to call me 'babe'. What a ladies man.

I was unaware that Yusei walked up behind me to stand up for me. Or, at least I think he was standing up for me. "What are you doing here?" He asked as I turned to face him. He wasn't asking me, he was asking that other guy.

Without even thinking, I shoved past that ladies man, managed to say "S-sorry" and started to run away from them as fast as I can. I don't know why I dd that though. Maybe because it was what he said. Or, maybe because Yusei was there and saw me.

+['['[~]']']+

It's day two of this school year and already it's hell. I hate waking up early in the morning when the sun shines at my eyes. I just can't wait until summer comes...in ten months. Anyway, as I was walking towards my locker (which just so happens to be right next to the window so the sun can shine through whenever it wants) I stopped midway because of the blonde girl I fought yesterday. I forgot her locker is next to mines. I didn't want to mess with her again. I can hear her irritating voice from here. I hand't realized it but she has a really thick French accent.

What made it worse is that Yusei is right there in front of my locker talking to her. What's his connection with her?

When they were gone I finally got a chance to put my ten-million ton suitcase in my locker. "Hey Rose." Yusei suddenly said, popping out of nowhere. He gave me a soft smile "Your hair, it's short."

"Y-yeah" I said, glad he didn't mention the time when I ran from him.

"But, you could've just put it in a ponytail."

I raised an eyebrow "What do you mean?"

"For fighting" he explained "Your hair was too long and it could get in the way."

What the heck. He told me to cut my hair just so it won't bother me when fighting! "Wha...?"

"That's why I suggested you to do so. But, you didn't have to go out and do what I said."

If only he told me that sooner. Dammit Yusei! "I got my hair cut for you! And you tell me this now? !" I screamed as I let out my killer face.

But Yusei wasn't intimidated, he was amused by my anger. "You cut your hair, just for me?"

My heart stopped. I gave him a worried look, thinking that he got the wrong idea. "T-that's not what I meant!"

"Then, why did you?" Crap, even I don't know why I listened to him.

Yusei nodded at my speechlessness and ran his fingers through my hair, like he really wants to know how it feels. Indignant, I clenched my fists and gave him a deadly glare. The area around me turned into red-hot flames. "Yusei Fudo..."

"You remembered my name." He replied to my threat, ignoring the death warning. His words were like water putting out my fire.

I had it with his stalling. I threw my fist at him, but a sound made me pause a few centimeters away from his chest. A grumbling sound.

Yusei let out a small laugh "Did you eat breakfast?" I was in such a rush this morning that I decided to skip the food. I shook my head in embarrassment. "I could buy you breakfast if you want. They're still serving it at the cafeteria.

"...whatever..." I don't know why I agreed to him. Before I could change my mind, we were already walking down the hallway.

I'm not sure about Yusei's true intentions with me. But whatever it is, it's not going to be good. I sense a negativity in him.

I felt Yusei's hand on my arm when he pulled up my sleeve. Once again, those wretched marks appeared before his eyes. "There was seven cuts yesterday" He muttered, his eyes not meeting with mines "Why is there eight today?"

"Let's not start with this." I pulled my sleeve down and bolted to the cafeteria. I don't want to tell him how I got it.

"I'm just concerned about you." Yusei said catching up with me. He stood behind me in the line, probably to bother me more about it "Tell me."

"No."

"What if I said 'please'?"

"No." I held my tray of food and started to settle at a table. Before I even got a chance to sit, Yusei pulled my arm and we started walking together, arm in arm. That thing that couples do.

"Y-Yusei? !" I yelled a mental curse at myself for thinking about us as a couple. That will never happen. He took me to the outside food court and led me to a table with familiar people. The three guys from yesterday.

"Hey there Yus!" the orange guy exclaimed. He stuffed the last remains of his egg omelet in his mouth and glanced at me "Who's that?"

"You guys," he said to catch their attention "this is-"

"That girl from yesterday." the silver-hair one chimed in.

"She won't tell me her real name, so just call her Rose." Yusei pointed over to the orange hair guy "That is Crow." He then pointed to the silver hair guy "That's Kalin." Then he pointed to the blonde guy "And that thing over there is Jack." Jack didn't say anything about Yusei's comment, he just sat there and drank his cup of ramen.

"You look more like a Black Rose to me," Crow said while staring at my clothes, especially my red skirt "y'know, since you're wearing all black clothing." This is uniform, so I have no choice but to wear it. I can't afford to get in trouble by the principal again.

I took a seat between Kalin and Crow while Yusei sat across from me next to Jack. Kalin reached over to put his arm around me, to which of course, I panicked and looked at him with my eyes wide open in astonishment. "Want to come with us to the movies after school?"

"I can't." I replied, still couldn't believe he tried to touch me. "I have detention."

"Awesome!" Crow shouted out "You should've been in our crew a long time ago!" I looked over to see Kalin nodding in agreement, Jack sipping his ramen being oblivious, and Yusei who just sat there and gazed at me.

"We'll wait for you." Yusei finally said.

"No," Jack interfered in his Australian accent "You'll wait for her, we'll be long gone by the time her detention is up."

"Well, then I'll wait for her while you guys go." Yusei remarked, being stubborn.

"You're making it sound like a date." I hope Jack gets food thrown on him.

Somewhere out in the distance, someone is holding a tray full of food and running full speed near us. First, I thought it was a lunatic. But, the more I looked at that person, it wasn't. It was Carly.

"Akiza!" She screamed out. She waved her arm so everybody can see her "I found you!"

"Who's Akiza?" Kalin asked, eying us "She sounds cute."

"She's heading towards us." Crow noticed when she came a little closer. Yusei, Jack, Crow, and Kalin all turned to face me with a questionable look. I think they figured it out. Thanks Carly.

"So," Yusei cracked a smile "Akiza is your name then." Red flushed all over my face. I can't deny his answer due to Carly. She's already heading her way over here.

I saw past Yusei's shoulder the running Carly tripping over a rock. Her and her clumsy self fell in the grass while her tray of food flew out of control and landed on Jack.

Crow immediately burst out laughing while Yusei and Kalin took out their cell phones to take pictures of the mess all over Jack. The way how the orange juice and syrup adds highlights to his blonde hair, egg on his shoulders and collar, and the piece of toast sticking to his forehead made it look priceless.

"This is going on Facebook!" Kalin joked out.

Jack threw the toast at him "You better not!"

"Ah!" Carly squealed. She hopped up and tried to dry Jack with a paper towel "I'm so sorry!"

Jack gritted his teeth "It's fine." He's obviously mad, but he's trying hard not to lash out his anger on her.

"Great timing you!" Crow hollered out, finishing his laughter "Wasn't that funny to you, Akiza?"

"Yeah," Kalin joined in "Akiza"

I clenched my fists again, my mind wanting to knock them out.

"Cut it out you two" Yusei suddenly said reading my behavior, defending me and saving me from starting a fight "Clearly, she doesn't like it."

I sighed heavily, trying to forget what I just heard, and trampled back inside the cafeteria. I squeezed myself past the crowd of people who were enjoying the sight of Jack and sat by myself at a table in the corner.

"Akiza!" Carly screamed. She handed Jack the paper towels "Wait for me!"

I just want to be left alone.

...I really need to catch up with my Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's episodes. I'm about 8 episodes behind :(

I'm sorry if they sound a little out-of-character.

Ancient Fairy Dragon says:
(: Please Review :)

[I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's because Yu-Gi-Oh! belongs to Kazumi Takahashi]

But if I owned it, then it'll be a romance/action shounen anime with guns, explosions, and blood. :)

Nor do I own Code Geass.
Or 'Checkers'