Tales of the Heart
Story One: Building Relationships

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey, guys! As I said last time, I wanted to revise my fanfic and to divide the chapter one –the one that I just typed - into two separate chapters. The first one is the introduction or a prologue and the chapter one proper. This is because I just wanted to make the story more interesting and more exciting. And starting from this chapter onwards, instead of using words "he" and "she", I am just going to use the words "I" instead. After all, it's Runo Misaki's story. I'm just going to use these words during point-of-view scenes. I hope you guys understand that. Anyway, let's just begin this chapter with a disclaimer so that you can focus on the chapter proper.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY SHOWS MENTIONED ABOVE. I ALSO DO NOT OWN SOME OF THE SONGS, WHICH WILL BE FEATURED IN THIS FAN FICTION STORY! THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTFUL OWNERS AND ARTISTS WHO CREATED THESE SHOWS AND SONGS.

RATING ADVISORY: THIS STORY IS A CERTIFIED "K+" FOR CHAPTERS THAT ARE BEST READ FOR ALL READERS YOUNG AND OLD, AND "T" FOR LATER CHAPTERS THAT ARE ONLY TO TEENS AGED 13 ABOVE.

Chapter One
Exam Day

Where? Chicago, U.S.A. Date? November 16. It was a cold day for some residents here. But for me, life just can't get anything worse. Runo Misaki is the name. I was 16 years old back then. I once lived in Tokyo. But after all the tragedy that I felt, my mom and I moved in here. My father died because of pancreatic cancer. Stage 4, actually. So my mom wanted to live a new life abroad. So she chose Chicago and that's where we headed.

Okay, enough with the flashbacks. Let's go with the story. I woke up at 5 in the morning according to my cute Hello Kitty clock that my mom bought. Seriously mom, I'm a teenager not your average 7 year-old. At that time, I had a beauty sleep. But then, my beauty sleep was interrupted when someone called at me.

At first, I ignored it. But the phone kept on ringing and ringing. I started to complain about the ringing so it is time I answer the phone. Before I answered it, I saw the name "Dan Kuso" in the phone screen. What does he want?

"Hello?"

"RUNOOOOOOOOOO"

I jumped off the bed. And then the caller laughed.

I said to him: "Seriously Dan. Don't disturb me while I'm sleeping. I'm gonna kill you later!" So I dropped the phone call and went back to sleep but when I looked at the clock, it's already 5 in the morning! And speaking of the caller, allow me to introduce him. His name is Dan Kuso. He is also 16 and he always bother me whenever I'm busy. But at least he's hot! He's gorgeous, handsome, cute, but that doesn't mean I have a crush on him. So I rushed downstairs to see what mom's cooking today. My mom was surprised when she saw me in the kitchen.

"Oh, good morning, dear." My mom greeted.

"Hi, mom." I greeted her back.

"It's a good thing that you're up early."

"Yeah. Thanks to Dan."

"What? Dan? Again?"

"Yeah. He called me and started shouting at me."

"Well, honey, don't bother him. Just ignore him if he does something wrong."

"Thanks mom." I said to her. My mom always gives me advice.

I asked her: "Mom, what's for breakfast today?"

Mom answered: "Today's breakfast is scrambled eggs with bread."

Scrambled eggs with bread are my favorite breakfast meal. Second to pancakes served with chocolate syrup.

So I ate mom's dish and it's delicious. Mom always cooks delightful and inspiring recipes. After eating breakfast, I rushed back to the room to brush my teeth, take a bath, (blah blah blah), and went off to school. I always took the train to go to school. I sometimes use the bus or a cab to school. I also met my friends there at the subway.

When I use the subway, I have to wait 4 stations before I reached my destination – school, isn't it obvious. When the train reached the second station, I saw Dan in front of the train door. I guess he waited for minutes before the train arrives. Actually, he is always late going to school. But at this point, he is not. Actually, it's 45 minutes before the school opens. But this time, he brings his electric guitar. Well, maybe you guessed it, Dan is a lead singer of the school's popular band, Electro! He maybe practicing after school for the upcoming Christmas Party next week. He saw me beside the front door and sat down beside me.

"Hey." He greeted.

"Hey." I replied.

We are quiet for a few minutes and then I started talking.

"You know, you should suffer the consequences after you yelled at me this morning."

"Well, it's for your own good."

"For my OWN GOOD?" I questioned him. "Is that what you're doing to me this morning because it's for my own good?"

"What?" Dan asked "You're always late at school so I called you up the moment you're having your beauty sleep."

"Well, so do you, pervert! You're always late at school. ALWAYS!"

"Ha! No I'm not!" he said.

"Yes you are!" I said it back.

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are!" I said it again

Dan stopped talking to me and I continued talking.

"Seriously, I'm going to kick you right in front of people in this train." I pleaded him. "No wait, it's better if it's at school

"You'll never get away with that."

"Oh no, I will."

Then I stopped talking until the next station arrives. Only one more station left until I'm off to school, leaving this pervert behind, just in case. And I'm not going to be late. Besides, it's just only 30 minutes left before school opens. While I'm waiting for the next station, I picked up my iPod and grabbed my earphones. I played the music entitled "If I Die Young" by the Band Perry and I started to sing. Don't worry, I'm not going to be embarrassed in front of people at a train. Last time I sang on the train is last Monday. People are clapping at me because I was very good in singing. (Why don't you sing along as well if you have an Mp3 player or an iPod with you?)

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

(While I sang the first lines, Dan was amazed at me because of my beautiful voice and I continued singing the second line)

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother

She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors

Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no

Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life

Well, I've had just enough time

(While I was about to sing the chorus, Dan interrupted and paused the music.

He said to me: "What song are you singing?"

I said to him: "If I Die Young… by the Band Perry."

"Oh, may I hear it?" he asked.

"Sure." I said and I put one earphone on Dan's ear. I continue playing the music)

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

(He closed his eyes while playing the chorus. He maybe focused on something but I don't know what.)

Sink me in the river at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

(Dan said to me: "I love the music. Can I sing with you?"

"Sure." I said. I was blushed at that time. He sang the bridge.)

The sharp knife of a short life

Well, I've had just enough time

(Dan pulled his guitar out from the cover and started strumming. I wasn't even hearing his strumming guitar. So we started singing the next line.)

And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom

I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger

I've never known the loving of a man

But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand

There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever

Who would have thought forever could be severed by

The sharp knife of a short life

Well, I've had just enough time

(He played his guitar and hundreds of people were amazed on what we are singing. Some of them didn't listen. Others were staring at us. But we don't even care about it.)

In the end, everyone applauded. They thanked us for a good music we had. They wished to have one more but the last station arrive and we rushed outside. The people inside the train are still clapping their hands. "Encore! Encore! Encore!" they cheered and we even didn't listen. We went out of the subway and we started riding the bus to school. The school is just 20 kilometers away and we are still 15 minutes left before school starts.

At the bus, Dan said to me: "You know you're voice is beautiful when you sing."

I was blushed at that time but then I said to him: "Thank you."

Dan said to me in a low quiet tone: "Look I'm very sorry that I yelled at you this morning."

I put a finger on his mouth and I said: "Don't worry, I'm not giving you any punishment. I'm just joking." And Dan kept quiet while I kept on blushing. "What was I thinking?" I thought "I should never do that to him." But oh well, I have no choice. I said that word and that's final.

Finally, we're on the school zone and were on time as well. I stepped out of the bus and I saw some students studying in their tables. Oh no, I forgot it's examination day today so that's why some students are studying not only outside the school but also inside as well. I totally forgot that it is a very important day for me to pass some of my subjects. To tell you the truth, my grades aren't really that good. I got a grade of 'F' in some of my subjects, 2 in minor subjects, 1 is major. So does Dan, almost all of his subjects have a grade of 'F'. Lucky for me, I have a grade of 'B-' in some subjects. I need to get all of these subjects passed before the end of the quarter. My school is as large as a famous university campus. But it's a high school, why shouldn't they have a college here? When you walked inside the school building, there are hundreds of thousands of lockers to put in your stuff. When you walked to the second floor, you will see the principal's office and the registrar's office all into one large room. When you walk farther east, you will see the teacher's lounge and just miles away from the lounge is the cafeteria. Believe me, that cafeteria is huge! It is like the size of a gymnasium. From the cafeteria, up north you will see the library. And when it comes to classrooms, there are over 60 classrooms inside the main building. There is also an annex building where there are over 30 classrooms inside. There is also a swimming pool, a gymnasium, and a football/soccer stadium – fit enough for a student to learn.

Back outside the school grounds, I was staring at the students studying in their chairs while Dan on the hand other hand tried to get me stop staring. I went back to my normal self when he pulled my hand inside the school building. I couldn't believe that I forgot to study to get ready for exams. I wish my friends are here with me, but no, I am right here beside that pervert!

"You forgot that today is exam day, aren't you?" Dan said to me.

I'm really nervous to answer that question because I can't tell the truth to him right away but…

"I knew it!" Dan said to me.

He really knew it that I didn't study. He's really a psychic or something.

"What?" I said. "I forgot about it, so what's important?"

I just smirk and I said to myself that I would pass this test in no time. It's not gonna bother me, at all.

"What's important?" he said to me and he started to touch my shoulders with his two bare hands. "Runo, you know what's important, right?"

"I know. I know." I said. "I need to have a chance to pass my grade. If not, it's gonna be summer class for the two of us."

"What do you mean the two of us?" he said. "I'm gonna pass this test and I'm gonna leave you behind. You know what, he thinks its easy but its not, I mean, come on!

"Are you sure about that?" I said to him. I asked him question to prove that he knows the lessons: "I'll ask you: How many are you absent?"

"Um…" he said. He scratches his head proving that he is about to lie. "…thirteen?"

"Wrong! The answer is twenty-one! Too close!" I said.

It's really true. I saw his attendance sheet and boy would you look at that, he has twenty-one absences in the fourth quarter. That's one lazy kind of guy, you know.

"Did you pay attention to the lessons discussed in the past meetings?" I asked him again.

He scratch his hand once more proving that he is about to lie, AGAIN! And then, the answer came… "No."

"Correct!" I said.

He doesn't pay any much attention at all in school since the first day of the fourth quarter started. And yup, another kind of laziness … INDEED!

"See, I told you!" I said. "There's no way you can't escape my questions!"

After that, he said to me: "Come on, we don't have any much time left!" So he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the library. And didn't I mention that we have only 9 minutes left before the exam starts. Good thing, I have my permit with me to take the exams. So we're now inside the library and there are so much students inside it. There is one group of students studying at one corner. Another group of students are studying on the other corner. There are some students studying alone and there are some who doesn't like to study at all and instead chatting and tweeting with their friends. We can't study properly in a place like this. So we find a place that's quiet and soothing and not disturbing. After all the time finding the right seats for the two of us, finally we found a perfect spot for us! There are two seats and a table surrounded by bookshelves at the tip of this room. Trust me, this library is very big and it has three floors. There are no escalators, just stairs. It's very big actually. So we took that spot and we didn't want anyone to sit on these chairs.

It's just a few minutes left before the exams starts until we heard an announcement from the principal of the school. "Attention please! We are going to suspend the exams until further notice due to a strong blizzard that is expected to hit Chicago today. We will send an SMS message regarding when to resume the exams. That is all!" We are in a state of shock right now and we are excited that the exams are finally suspended until further notice. The students cheered and applauded because of the announcement. Some of them were clapping and others were very disappointed. We are excited as well. Actually, we just started studying until the news came out to our ears.

"Wow! I can't believe it!" He said to me.

"Yeah, me too." I said.

"Well, we have much more time to study." He said.

"Yup."

And when Dan and I draw close to the windows, we were surprised that we can't see the whole city. We can see the snow falling fast.

"Looks like we can't go home today." He said.

"Do you think so?" I asked him.

"Yup. The snow is falling fast and it's strong, too." He explained. He goes to the window one more time to see the snow coming down fast.

As the students going home to escape this horrific blizzard, we are still at the school library to study instead of going home. We cannot put our lives in danger. And besides, it's too risky for us. Some students decided to stay in school as well. They were very disappointed that the announcement was called late. The staff and the administrators just found out that the blizzard is expected to hit the Chicago downtown area today.

I turned on the radio using my cellphone and I put the earplugs on – one earpiece for me and another earpiece for Dan – to listen to the news. When the news was on, the newscaster said it will last the blizzard until tomorrow night. So we can't even think about relaxing around and just having fun. We still have time to study and we promise ourselves that we can pass the exams. But the real question: How am I supposed to go home with that pesky pervert on my side? What should I do?

= END OF CHAPTER ONE =

Okay, review time! Guys, I just wanted to tell you this. Regards to the story, may I ask everyone what are your comments, your suggestions, or your questions with no foul words, and no violent reactions? Do you want to have a love scene on it or do you want to have a suspense kind of chapter. Please let me know and I'm going to answer everything. Who knows? Maybe I am going to post your "shout-outs" on the next chapter. The more reviews, the better! Okay, review, review, review!