Phoenix walked over to the gate speaker and hit the buzzer. A man's voice quickly answered. "Hello Ootori residence, can I help you?" He sounded to be middle aged, had to be a servant of some sort.

"I was wondering if I could retrieve a ball that ended up falling in to the owners yard. It'll only take me a moment." She didn't feel the need to try to sound sweet, that was against her character in this situation, not that she made herself sound rude. Phoenix was just blunt about her intentions, that was all.

"I'm sorry but unless you have an appointment-"

"The head of the family is here isn't he? Can't you just ask him?" She pushed a lock of pinkish-blond hair behind her ear and frowned when it fell right back in front of her face. Never again was she going to cut her hair short. Her eyes moved to the speaker, what was taking him so long to answer?

"Um, you see Miss, the head is out at the moment."

Phoenix pursed her lips a bit before putting her hands on her hips, "Well then ask the next higher up in the family. Surely someone of importance is there."

There was silence.

"Look here mister, there is a little girl who wants to get her ball, all I want to do is get her ball which so happens to be in this yard."

Still silence. Phoenix was getting upset with this, yes she knew the Ootori family was a very powerful family, but one would think that they would have some mercy for people and children. It wasn't like they really had any reason to fear a girl coming onto their property to retrieve a ball. She opened her mouth to speak again but was cut off be the speaker. She blinked, this time it was a much younger male speaking to her.

"You want to retrieve a ball?"

"Yes."

"One moment."

Goodness! Couldn't they have just done this from the beginning? Of course things were never easy when it came to rich families, she knew this. Her family was one of those rich families, actually more like one of those super uber rich families. Yet looking at her one would never guess, nor would they ever know. She didn't flaunt her status she wasn't allowed to do so. The brunette glanced back to make sure that the little girl was still there, and to her pleasure she was. It seemed the ball was very important to her.

There was a click and the gate to the Ootori property began to open. Phoenix looked at the gates and smiled softly, About time. She slowly began her walk down the driveway, she was trying to be as ladylike as possible, though it felt truly impossible to be so. The day had started out with her doing nothing other then going to the market; now she was going to have to be all prim and proper for an Ootori. I hate my life. Footsteps caused her to snap into the unsocial yet socially forced Dante that she was. Her eyes soon found the owner of said footsteps. He was a tall young man, raven colored hair with brown eyes. He was more then attractive and she found herself wanting to stare but knew better. Phoenix wasn't going to allow herself to be one of those star struck girls, they annoyed her beyond belief.

"I'm sorry about earlier, as an apology I'll escort you around until the ball is found." The young man looked at her from behind his glasses. His eyes seemed all knowing and he didn't seem all that friendly.

Phoenix frowned softly, "You aren't going to introduce yourself? And you don't need to escort me around, I'll just get the ball and leave. Simple as that." she looked to her left. The yard was fairly large but it wasn't like she couldn't find what she came for. No need to trouble anyone else over something that wasn't even hers. Even more so she didn't want to bother this boy about it, after all she didn't want him to think she was troublesome.

"Oh, I'm Kyoya Ootori. Didn't you know you were entering the Ootori property before walking through the gate?"

"Kind of… Oh! Look!" She pointed at something up at the sky, it was nothing really, but her sudden interest in the sky caused him to look up. Ugh, I don't think I'm going to be able to take much of his presence. We haven't even done anything and I feel all giddy and girly. She continued to look up at the sky until he finally asked what it was she'd been pointing out, "You didn't see it?" Kyoya replied with a simple, "No". Phoenix shrugged her shoulders and sighed, "Then maybe I was seeing things… anyways back to the matter at hand." The brunette began walking farther down the drive way and passed Kyoya, whom was watching her with curiosity and doubt.

There was nothing but silence as they walked and for Phoenix it was completely awkward and she found herself fiddling with the many rings on her fingers. I'm never helping another little girl in my life! Not even if it means I can meet my classmates-he's my classmate! She glanced back at him. Kyoya Ootori. He was a sight, and she couldn't help but enjoy looking at him. His glasses look awesome, I wish I could try them on… I bet he looks different with them off.. Her mind began to wonder about trivial matters such as what he might look like in western styled clothes, or maybe even what type of girl he was into. That thought of course caused her to look back in front of her and mentally scold herself. How dare she think about what type of girl he might like! It was none of her bees wax and never would be!

"Is that it over there?"

"Hmm?" She tried her best to act natural even though she was freaking out on the inside. "I think so…"

Kyoya looked at her and frowned, "You think so?"

She nodded and turned to face him, "It's not actually my ball. There was a little girl on the street whom asked me to retrieve it for her." she looked away from him and back at the ball. It was on the other side of the yard under some bushes but since it was white it was easy to see. "She refused to come because she said scary people live here." Phoenix smiled softly, "Of course I had to see these 'Scary People' for myself." She looked back at him and chuckled softly. Her giggles quickly faded -Kyoya didn't see her comment as a joke-. "Okay! I guess I'll go get the ball now…" She could feel her cheeks starting to turn red, thankfully she had darker skin and her blushes didn't normally show up, but that didn't mean she didn't feel them. Quickly she turned and made her way to retrieve the ball as calmly as she could.

Oh someone save me! God… you could save me couldn't you? Well I guess I shouldn't be asking you to save me… but please, oh please! Don't let me make a fool out of myself! I just have to remember he is with me… therefore I'm not alone. And besides Kyoya is only a guy, what is the big deal? Phoenix you hang out with guys. Quit acting like he is some sort of fuzzy-green-dragon-imp. Phoenix sighed and knelt down next to the bush the ball was under. She proceeded to reach out and grab a hold of the ball, but when she pulled the ball didn't budge. "Hu?"

"Is it stuck?"

Phoenix, startled by the male voice, turned and looked up at Kyoya. "Ah… umm… yeah it seems so.." She swallowed. Had he followed her? It wasn't like he had needed to do so, she could get the ball on her own. Her heart began to beat faster as Kyoya soon knelt down next to her. Don't freak out, he is just another normal, living, human being… not a dragon.

"You sure it's stuck?" He glanced at her and pushed his glasses back up on his nose.

Phoenix furrowed her brow, "Of course it's stuck! I'm not some weak little girl…!"

Kyoya looked at her, obviously startled by her sudden little out burst. His expression soon returned to one of total confidence and control and he looked at the ball. If she was out of the ordinary he wasn't making any remarks about it. Which in it's own way made Phoenix very happy. She would have hated to have him judging her when he barely knew her. Then again he was probably doing so anyways. He reached down toward the ball, brushing his shoulder against hers as he did so, and then pulled.

Once again the ball didn't move.

"I told you." Phoenix stated stubbornly. She'd noticed their shoulders touching but her mind was focused on other things at the moment. Like proving to Kyoya that she wasn't a weakling. Why she had to prove it she didn't even know, it was like some drive she was born with. A drive that would not allow her to let others think her weak; it was often a difficult drive.

He glanced at her, "Perhaps if we pulled on it together we could get it out." The idea sounded reasonable, so Phoenix agreed to it. They both placed their hands on the ball and pulled, at first nothing happened, but after a couple seconds the ball suddenly jerked free causing both Kyoya and herself to fall backwards onto the grass -the ball went flying, leaving them to themselves-.

"It's out!" Phoenix grinned.

"Yes, it's out. Now will you get off of me?"

She blinked and looked down, she was practically face to face with him. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" she scrambled to get off of him, "I didn't hurt you did I? I'm not the smallest person in the world.." Phoenix smiled apologetically to him. It wasn't like she had meant to land on him. She watched as he slowly stood up and dusted himself off. "It's fine, no harm done." He stated simply with absolutely no tone of friendliness. I kind of see what she meant by scary people, I wonder if the whole Ootori family is like him…

"Well you can get your ball now and leave, can't you?"

Phoenix nodded her head, "Yes I can, thank you very much for your help I'll be sure to leave quickly." she bowed slightly (It was a nervous habit of hers), and made her way to the ball. It was a relief to be able to leave this place. Kyoya was hard to be around, at least for her. She was used to being the quiet one, and he did talk but not nearly enough for her to feel comfortable. She bent down and picked up the ball, a soft smile on her lips, before turning back to Kyoya. "Thank you so much for your he-" She was cut off in mind sentence. Not by Kyoya or any human being or animal.

No, she was cut off by the sprinklers.