STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY: Do I have to say I don't own RK one more time???
Chapter 2:Ordinary day (one of many)
Stifle yawn, doodle in notebook, zone out: pretty regular stuff to be doing while sitting through another boring Darwin-oriented biology class.
Somehow, the color of my shiny silvery pen seems so much more interesting to me right now than anything the teacher's humdrum voice has to say.
As I twist and turn my pen, and Professor Greenburg drones and rambles on about giraffes, monkeys and Galapagos, my mind keeps wandering back to this dream I had:
I was floating in the middle of a vast ocean, my naked body lulled and cleansed by the tide and the infinite and definite rhythm of the waves.
I soaked up the foamy, salty liquid and as invaded by the strong, potent scent of the sea. Seaweed got tangled in my hair and tears filled my eyes. However, these tears did not spring from sadness; the liquid crystal that rolled down my cheeks and became one with the never-ending body of water derived from a sudden surge of joy, born within the very depths of me, and that was saying a lot because, at that particular time, I felt as profound, as mysterious, as elusive and as ancient as the sea, whose surface I so naturally graced/grazed.
'Naturally' because I molded so perfectly against it, we both completed each other in such a way… Giving myself to the ocean like that felt all too satisfying and fulfilling. There was no fear, no hesitation, only wave after wave of rewarding contentment. Only renewal. Only me.
Yes, that's when I smiled broadly: I had finally found me; I was finally free. Within those peaceful translucent waters, I was finally me.
Granted I've had stranger dreams; like the one with elves stored in shoebox-sized cigarette cartons, or the one with Patrick and me climbing up giant yellow and green spaghetti strings, or, how about, the one where I was involved in a war held at the local 7/11, or maybe- well, I could go on forever, but that still wouldn't explain how this dream differs from the others.
I think that what makes this one stand out is that it wasn't that insane or… simple. Those dreams where one-legged sailors chase after me and Patrick kisses me while it literally rains cats and dogs, they don't evoke many emotions in me, except the wonder of how warped my mind is when I awaken.
This dream though, it was so emotionally complex: it was just one of those insightful, subconscious moments of clarity type 'o dream. I really don't know how to explain, how to put into words just how alive and at peace I felt.
One thing's certain though: I sure could use more of those extravagant oneiric effects my mind is willing to offer me!
… certain characteristics could contribute to the survival and reproduction of certain…
Who cares?!! Best tune this out before I ask myself for the zillionth time just why I have to sit through these yawn inspiring (awe inspiring would require, not one, but several miracles) biology lectures.
High school should be more specific: I mean, I know I'm not going to study anything involving chemical substances, mathematical equations, physics theorems or cell regenerative theories, so this whole scientific branch of my education is completely useless.
Okay, I may not know what I want to study, but I am 100% positive that whatever Greenburg is monotonously preaching about will have 0% to do with it.
Does the educational system of this country seriously believe that all this pointless knowledge won't instantly be erased from my mind as soon as I graduate? Politics, hypocrites, hopeless.
Lucky for me, school has its perks. Take the gorgeous blond sitting by the window, for instance: who wouldn't want to come to school everyday just for a glimpse of that 1, 78m Brad Pitt doppelganger?
"Patrick is so cute, isn't he?" Misao whispers behind me.
Guess I wasn't the only one looking; how about that?
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
…only the influence of its nucleus and the remaining electrons, but when two atoms approach and unite, the electrons corresponding to each atom find themselves submitted to the influence of the nucleus…
GOD!!! This woman sounds as vague, ambiguous and incomprehensible as I do in the mornings!!! Scratch that- at least I can handle my mutters and groans- this, on the other hand, is too much!
Well there goes another groan, but can anyone blame me? Atom, nucleus, molecule, electron, attract, repel- can't they all just get along and reach nirvana blending into one? It would be so much easier if they were just one solid thing! Oh, wait, they are… Example: me! I'm just a bunch of atoms, molecules and protons mixed together. So, if I'm all that, then why does Mrs. Miller have to be so pesky and picky?
Sigh. My hatred for the existence of a subject such as chemistry runs so deep that I even find myself blaming the teacher for its inclusion in the school's pensum. Yep, I'm losing it…
"It's not that bad…" Misao says in her best consoling tone.
"No, it's worse! How on earth am I supposed to graduate when I have to get a passing grade in this lousy subject? I retort, angry that at the fact that she can take this all so calmly: our getting out of this horrible place depends on strictly passing grades and that whole toga-wearing-thingy! Of course, she's not the one miserably flunking Chem.
"We'll pass, just relax and keep breathing! Besides, the bell will ring in five and this torture session will be over. In fact, think of it that way; just one more school year and you won't have to worry about "chemical properties" ever again!"
I smiled. I had to give Misao credit: if anyone in the entire universe was positive enough to deny the apocalypse while witnessing ultimate destruction, it would have to be Misao. She would probably say that it was "just a bad day" as opposed to "the end of all days".
"Ladies, is there something you would like to share with the rest of the class?" Mrs. Miller growls, turning to… the both of us? Internal groan.
A loud, deafening buzzing sound and… saved by the bell!
Misao smirks at the teacher as the rest of the corpus alumni gather their books and scramble out of this prison.
Te teacher evil-glares Misao and I laugh heartily; just one more year and I'll be out of this place, for good. It's always been a dream of mine, to run as far from this city as possible without so much as looking back. But, as I take a good look at Misao making faces at the unpresuming educator, I wonder…Maybe I'll miss this town, just a bit…
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Must get to dojo on time, must get to dojo on time…"
I stayed after school for a while, talking with Misao, and now, if I don't hurry, I'll be late for practice. The worst part is that the dojo is at my house and the instructor is my father; no use in lying or making up excuses for my tardiness!
Okay, focus, stay calm, just tell him you have a group assignment and you stayed after class sorting through everyone's agendas, or that you stuck around after classes were over to hear an explanation on…CHEMESTRY!!! No. Been here, done this, he won't believe me anymore. Shoot!
Okay, it's all okay, no need to panic. Just take deep breaths; no need to think about the 500 extra swings he's going to have you do today.
Relax Kaoru, run as fast as you can and everything will be just- My thought has been disrupted by me suddenly… eating pavement? What happened? Why am I on the ground? My arm hurts and my books are everywhere. Great, just great!!!
Groaning and massaging my arm, I lift my upper body and try to bend my legs under me. Thank heavens I'm not wearing a skirt! With a sigh, I bob my head in frustration and then look up to find… people staring?!!
"Yes people, staring is nice, but, how about helping a girl up? Nicer, DON'T YOU THINK?!!" I spit out, shocked at just how rude and curious people can be.
Some people blush and recoil in embarrassment; others hold their noses up and scram.
Well, how impolite and completely inconsiderate of them! Mind you, I'm not one to keep things bottled up inside- honesty is one of my strong suits and, sometimes, an equally vigorous detractor:
"Hey! What is wrong with you people?!! In fact, what the hell is wrong with this society?!! If someone falls, you're supposed to help them up, not stare at them as if they were some sort of circus freak!!! If I had been having a seizure just now, would you all just have stupidly gaped in awe and wonder?!! You know, there is something seriously wrong with that…"
"Could I offer you a hand or, maybe, a soapbox instead?" asks a voice from behind me.
Grr… Inward angry growl. I crane my neck painfully to glare up at the red headed, sarcastic little prick in question.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny." I reply sourly, with a cocked eyebrow to match his own.
"I apologize, it's just that I find you sitting on a sidewalk, spouting social morals at passers-by: I thought that, maybe, an improvised platform was in order." His soft voice jests at me, amusement barely contained in his tone or his amethyst eyes.
Amusement? He finds this amusing?!! I have just signed my life sentence and here's this stranger in sweats getting a kick out of my misery!!!
"Actually, more like sprawled and also, thank you for being so UNHELPFUL! You know, because someone bumped into me ( no need to tell him I was running so fast that I did the bumping) I'm going to be late and, consequently, because people like you found my predicament "oh so amusing" and didn't even bother to help me to my feet again, thirty minutes from now I'll be six feet under!!!
You know what?!! If I had my bokken with me right now you'd be praying for God or some other superior being to take pity on you! I mean, you're so scrawny- which, by the way, should make you think about working out or resorting to unorthodox methods like, say, eating spinach- that I would have you down on the ground in less than one second!!!"
All of that and he still doesn't gather any of my books or aid me to my feet? What is the matter with the people of this city?!!
"Do you always have an opinion on everything?" he asks, smiling mischievously. Obviously he knows he is driving me to my limits… and enjoying every minute of it.
"Are you always this unnerving?" I lash back at him.
"I'm sorry I caught you on one of your bad days. You might prove to be very interesting, attitude problems aside…"
Inward all-out rampage session begins. Who does this guy think he is anyway?!! Where does he get off making sarcastic comments like that and looking good humored and friendly all the while?!! And why should I resort to tearing at my brain on account of a jerk I just met on the street – one who makes fun of me and doesn't give the fact that I might like to be standing at eye-level with him any thought, at that?!!
"You know what? I'll be fine! I would probably do a better job standing up without your assistance anyway! Seriously, give the gym some thought! Oh, and a quick stop at the hairdresser's couldn't hurt either; your hair is really long…"
Wow! Could this guy's hair be longer than mine? Let's see: a petite, waist length red haired man with purple eyes; what a way to stand out in a crowd! No wonder he has to pick on random pedestrians: he must be the butt of everyone's jokes! Although, come to think about it, he is kind of cute so, maybe my assumptions about him getting picked on aren't exactly accurate. Still…
"Well, thanks for the advice but, I think I'm just about able to handle you without resorting to spinach…"
And suddenly, one minute I was on the floor and the very next, he hauls me up so fast that I land straight into his chest, almost toppling forwards, probably to land on my face were it not for his cushiony chest.
"Okay, so you are strong… Point taken."
God, I'm mumbling into his chest now! Groan. Okay, this is getting weird, even for my standards.
"You know – and this is just me talking – perhaps if you hadn't spent so much time handing out opinions like pamphlets, you could still have made it in time for your execution. Besides, you seem relatively scary when you get angry; approachable is doubtful. Frankly, I was a bit reluctant to come over; who knew what you might do?"
Was this guy for real?!!
With widened eyes I push him away, unwilling to let him have the last word. Thus, I strike:
"Maybe, if you had been a normal person and helped instead of standing around, wasting your breath on more than necessary comments, I wouldn't have had to waste my time blurting out clearly well-founded opinions about you, and then I might have still been able to make it in time!!!"
"Actually, I think you were doing pretty fine without me on the opinion front."
Shoot! Why is his voice so calm and relaxed all the time?!! Can't he get as exasperated as me, just once?
"FINE!!! I've had it!!! Look: thank you, you've done your good deed of the day; you may leave with no regrets! Now, excuse me while I pick my things up and have a nice life!"
Relax Kaoru, take a deep breath and think happy thoughts. Pick up your books and leave thoughts of annoying redheads behind; you have more important things to worry about, like murderous guardians, for instance.
"Here…" his soft voice washes over me as he hands me one of my notebooks.
"Thanks." I mumble, slightly grateful for the small gesture. What can I say? I forgive easily! That's one of my strong suits, not that it has ever worked to my advantage.
"You gonna be okay, to head out like that?"
"Like what?"
"You hurt you arm…"
Hunh? All of a sudden he is being nice??? And how did he know my arm was hurt? This guy has a very good clinical eye!
"I'm okay. 'Accident prone' would be the perfect term to describe me so, I'm used to the whole 'bruising', 'falling' and 'tripping over my own feet' issue."
"Well, be careful then; make sure you get wherever it is you're going in one piece."
"I will."
A wave and he's off. And me? I'm standing there like an idiot, gazing after his retreating form, upset that I didn't catch his name; it seems that I was too busy bickering and bantering to ask. Whatever. He's just some regular-Joe walking down the street that I will never again see in my life and I- I have to run!!!
In a flash of light I'm gone, dragging the super stuffed backpack, mentally preparing myself for the doom and gloom that awaits me a soon as I step into dad's sanctuary: the dojo.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"And now, my arms are sore!"
"Wait, go back to the part where you were in a ditch; I didn't quite get that…"
"What is there to get? Me + ditch = trouble and 600 extra swings!"
Talking to Misao on the phone can be quite cathartic, although most times it borders on frustrating. There truly is nothing like narrating your dramatic story of woe to an avid listener, who in this case happens to be my peppy and cheery best-friend, Misao Makimachi.
For those who don't know, Misao happens to be the energetic girl with blue streaks and a long braid who sits beside me in class. She's the one at the head of every school play, our drama queen par excellence, the one with so many track medals that they weigh her down, my one living proof – her infatuation for the human shaped block of ice named Aoshi speaks for itself – that opposites attract, and last, but not least, the girl who calls me every single day right before dinner-time without failure.
"Kaoru, I have the greatest news!"
Sigh: this can't be good; this is never good. 'The greatest news' usually means horrendous torture for me.
"I'm afraid to ask…"
"There's a fraternity party at Aoshi's university and he's gonna be there!!! Beshimi convinced him and… we have to go!!! Kaoru, this is my chance!"
"Aoshi at a party? What??? Is he going to be the decorative ice sculpture beside the keg and nachos?"
"Kaoru!!! Don't speak about my wonderful Aoshi that way!"
"He isn't your Aoshi, Misao."
"Which is why we have to go to the party! Don't you see? I'll walk in there and he will fall head over heels in love with me as soon as he sees just how beautiful I am!"
"So go! Who's stopping you?"
"You have to go with me!"
"I don't have to do anything Misao…"
If there is one thing I hate, it has to be people trying to twist my arm and force me into situations I would much rather not partake on. Misao knows this… and she pays no heed to it.
"Kaoru, please, you have to!!! Moral support is important in these types of situations. Besides, the only way for us to get in is if I find Beshimi a date. Kaoru, I'm begging you!!! If you do this for me, I swear I will never bother you again! Please; I'm on my knees here!"
"Beshimi?!! Misao, are you kidding me??? Why would I ever agree to this?"
Drat! The manipulative little runt! Why does she always do this to me? And why do I always find myself agreeing to her demented schemes? Sigh. I may seem a bit tempestuous on the outside, but I'm just one big pushover.
At length:
"When's the party?"
"Yey! Thank you, thank you, than you!!! You won't regret this; I promise!"
"I always regret giving in to you Misao; not that I get any wiser for it…"
"Oh, don't be silly! I'm so excited!!! I can't wait till Saturday! We'll go over to your house and we will go through your whole wardrobe, or maybe shopping would be better…"
I can't help but smile as I hear her ramble on about clothes, make-up and Aoshi. Perhaps we aren't very much alike, but I'm glad Misao's my friend…
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Time for bed: light's off and covers wrapped tightly around me. Peace and quiet come to reign at last and my mind drifts off.
My mom says that I never do get much rest, that my mind is always too busy crammed with both important and insignificant thoughts. She's right. Not a night goes by that I don't find myself having trouble to produce snores because I'm too focused on why leaves fall from trees, why glasses always seem to slide down people's noses or some other pointless deliberation.
I guess I'm simply a very curious person. Truth be told, the world never ceases to amaze me and, because of that, questions are bound to arise.
Tonight, as usual, I'm having a hard time drawing a blank, shutting my eyes and ears to the exterior world. This violet eyed boy I met out by the school today won't let me catch some much needed zzz's.
It's not his fault really; it's just me and my overly inquisitive brain. I wonder if we will bump into each other again… Knowing me, the "bump" part of the sentence could be literal. In fact, anything having to do with falling, bumping, slipping or crashing, is pretty much a given.
I was born a complete klutz and, apparently, it only seems to accentuate with the passing of the years. Who just happens to drop into ditches? Kaoru, that's who! And I do it with the familiarity and ease with which one drops by a friend's house.
Getting home covered in muck from head to toe is not shocking at all for me; it's all in a day's work. Accidents will happen, I will always be involved: story of my life…
Mud, dirt, scrapes, bruises, cuts and grime – just an ordinary day for this extra ordinary (as in overly common) girl.
Reviewer Responses:
To Naomi: Thank you for the miles of smiles Naomi, they really helped! I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!
To A.R Frederik: Well, it pleases me immensely that you have decided to check out this story too!!! Well, AU stories can get kind of weird and distorted so, you have a point, and I will totally understand if you don't keep on reading this because it's just not what your dish. Still, thanks for at least giving it a go. As far as surprising goes… I'm making this up as I go along so, who knows? Maybe I'll surprise the both of us during the process and, hopefully, it will be pleasant.
To Orora: Well, first chapters can't always be that entertaining. Also, I feel I have to build this ting up, not just rush into the main events; otherwise the experience will end too soon and I won't feel that happy. Actually, I am really overjoyed to see that you took the time to read this story as well and I can only hope that you will stick around for the rest of it. Tell me what you think, your comments are always more than welcome!