Chapter 3: Surprise Surprise

(Tsubasa's P.O.V)

I'd like to say I was calm. I'd like to say I was unsurprised. I'd like to say I acted aloof. I'd also like to say that I have a plasma screen TV. Unfortunately, that would be a lie.

"What's your name?" Misaki asked.

"Tsubasa." I took her extended hand and shook. Her hands were so small…

"Sorry I wasn't here to welcome you when you first came." She smiled apologetically. That smile… I grinned too. She had an infectious smile. It made me want to smile too.

"It's alright. I got quite a warm welcome from everyone here." I gestured to the crowd of teens that had gathered. Suddenly I heard a loud yell. We all turned towards the classroom door, from where the shout had emanated.

"WHAT?" With a quick glance around, I realized that the yell must have been Eric. Misaki sighed. I turned back to her and gave her a sly smile.

"Sounds like it's time for you to run."

Misaki's P.O.V

Tsubasa Ando. He seemed like a nice enough guy. As he let go of my hand (I couldn't help but notice they were really warm) there was a loud yelp.

"WHAT?" I winced slightly. I heard a quiet chuckle and turned back from the classroom door that I'd been about to walk through.

"Sounds like it's time for you to run." Tsubasa muttered under his breath, the words meant only for my ears. I snorted. The sound of pounding footsteps broke through the din of the halls and everyone seemed to tense. Eric flew through the doorway as if trying to achieve lift off. He skidded to a stop about a foot from me.

"Misaki?" His whispered. His short spiky blond hair looked like he hadn't combed it in days, and his clothes were creased and dirty in places. I gave him the once over, and then tackled him. I'd missed him so much.

"Oof. Misaki be careful!" He gasped as I banged into him. But he hugged me back, holding me close. "Where have you been?" he breathed whispering in my ear.

"Tell you later." I pulled back from his embrace to look him over once more. I pulled a spiky bleach-blond lock and stared into his blue eyes. "Eric, don't be offended, but you seriously need to comb your hair!" We were both soon laughing hysterically. All around us, our friends and classmates were staring at us.

"Alright guys, nothing to see here, c'mon. We still have to get ready for the class cultural project don't we?" Tsubasa seemed to be the only one unaffected. He straightened his black cap and led everyone reluctantly back into the classroom. I'd have to thank him later.

"So where the hell were you?" Eric practically shouted.

I cringed slightly. "I honestly can't remember."

"You were missing an entire week, the teachers didn't know where you were, we couldn't track you, and you don't REMEMBER?" I thought he was going to blow a gasket.

"Eric, calm down. Breath, relax. The nurse said that it could be amnesia due to fatigue, dehydration, and lack of food."

"You were gone a week Misaki." Eric's voice was hurt, sad.

"You think I WANTED to be gone so long? I don't remember why I was missing but I remember how I felt about it. I wanted nothing more than to be in class and happy with you and everyone!"

He sighed. "Alright. I guess it's time we went back to class huh?" I grabbed his arm and pulled him into the class room with a grin. Noda-sensei was very nice and welcomed me back as if I had been gone for a year not a week. I was home.

Tsubasa's P.O.V

As I walked down the hall from my class to the lunch room, I heard a yell.

"Yo Ando! Wait up!" The voice was loud but full of laughter. It could only be Misaki. I grinned slightly and stopped to wait for the girl I'd saved to catch up to me. She stopped right in front of me, looking the picture of health. If I hadn't talked to the nurse the day before, I would have thought her perfectly recovered. But Misaki was still in much pain. She refused the medicines though, saying that she was fine. I sighed shaking my head. Does she WANT to make herself suffer more?

"What's up?" I asked out of pure curiosity.

"You wanna sit with me, Alexia, and Kana?" She asked. A tiny small tugged at the corner of my mouth. I had been about to sit with Andre and Tonio. But the idea that I'd maybe be able to hear why Misaki had been attacked was too irresistible.

"Sure. Can Tonio and Andre sit too?" They would never forgive me if I went to sit with a bunch of hot girls and didn't bring them with.

"Sure." Misaki grinned again. I just wasn't getting used to that smile… "See you in the garden." And then she raced off to find her friends. I had never seen anyone with so much energy before. It was utterly bewildering. I wondered around for a little bit, looking for Tonio.

Ah, I'm lost again. Oh well, I'll find my way at some point. As I jumped up the stairs, I resolved to one day make a map of this place for any new comers to the school. And judging by how easy it was for ME to get lost, that map was going to take a while to make.