Sakuma was sullen today, his mood totally off due to the streak of bad luck he had run into recently. This morning, he had nicked himself whilst shaving, tripped thirteen times already, forgotten everything about the human skeletal system the moment he had received the paper from his professor and was only hoping for a passing grade at the moment, had misplaced his carefully done homework and to make it worse, he had had nightmares about the past.
He shook his head angrily, infuriated that his treacherous mind was dredging up old painful memories. Hadn't Kidou apologized? Hadn't Genda and Kidou sworn to never let a woman get in between their friendship again?
It was just his luck. Dammit, he knew that Mondays were out to get him. He hated everything about today.
What he wouldn't give to just be able to curl up and sleep it out in the comfort of his own room. Garfield had a point- Mondays were evil.
His mood was still black and brooding when he made his way to his last class, sitting in his usual seat with a slightly audible thud, his mouth set in a grim scowl. He fiddled with his pen whilst the rest of the class filtered in- Kidou and Genda amongst them, their faces questioning as they made their way towards the seats on either side of him.
His mood rose slightly only to plummet again when he caught sight of a tattooed guy slipping into a seat beside Kidou. Heaven knew why they tolerated each other anyway; they were like two opposite forces which collided all the time. He sighed in frustration. Guess that wise old asshole knew what he was saying when he had said that opposites attract.
He was still in a gloom when a sudden ball of paper hit him on the head. He spun his head angrily to look at who had thrown the projectile his way- furious that someone had dared to interrupt his gloomy thoughts.
Grinning, Dylan Keith caught his eye and motioned for him to read it and then to pass it over to Kidou and Genda. God, it was impossible to fume at the friendly blond American transfer student. He sighed and picked up the note slowly before un-crumpling it and reading the words written on it.
"Have you seen the new girls? Mark has and says they're hot! We have them in this class!"
Sakuma's eyebrows rose up until he was sure they were touching his hairline. He crumpled the note up contemptuously and passed it over to Kidou from under his desk so as to avoid being seen by the teacher. Hot new girls was exactly what he didn't need! He was still scowling when the door to the class room opened widely, not cautiously which meant that it was probably a teacher who was sure of himself or herself.
Maybe it was the librarian, Sakuma mused, intrigued by the simple act of the door's swing.
But as fate would have it, it turned out to be a student and not a teacher. Two students who were totally unconcerned about being late and who did not care about breaking the strict rules of Raimon College sauntered into the large class room. He saw the faces of his class mates as they caught sight of the new girls as they stood side by side, whispering and occasionally giggling.
Mark's face lit up, Dylan's smile widened and his eyebrows raised a fraction which was a feat for the newcomer to accomplish. They had just arrived and managed to get the most laid back guy to raise his eyebrows at them- plus, he hardly had any to raise so he usually saved it for when he was really amused. But Sakuma knew Dylan wouldn't let the girls know that, he would rather play it cool. It was unbelievable how experienced the American transfer student was at handling girls.
Natsumi's eyes narrowed- goody two shoes as she was. Genda's and just about every guy's eyes widened while all the girls looked either murderous or shocked but Genda was not appraising the girls at all. He ogled at them with wide eyes- well, maybe at just one of them.
The teacher himself seemed flustered with them, not at all reproachful that they were late and had rudely interrupted their class without knocking once. In fact, he seemed to be happy that they were in his class at all. Typical male, Sakuma snorted inaudibly but despite his sarcasm, he couldn't help but stare at her himself.
Loose violet tresses which flowed till her shoulder blades -shining as if they had been spun from silk; pale white skin which reminded him of snow- pure, white and icy cold, curving lips and amusement dancing in her eyes- one of the new girls swept a searching gaze over the class and nodded amiably. He didn't know why but he thought she looked cold although her glossed lips were spread in a smile- perhaps because it was oddly malicious on her face, considering he knew how many times it had appeared when she was doing something under handed.
Maybe it was due to the fact that her eyes were fringed with dark lashes and were enormous- the strangest color he had ever seen; a blazing turquoise which seemed to be shimmering with blue, silver and green high lights.
Or maybe it was because it was her- so uncannily like the wicked witch of the West from where she had come back from.
Sakuma blinked to make sure he had seen right. It wasn't possible. She couldn't be but the glint in her eyes told him the truth. She was the one and the same- the very girl who had made Sakuma's life hell on earth in high school.
'I wish she had stayed wherever she went- probably hell. It would have made life so much easier. With her in the damned picture, I doubt Kidou or Genda will want to even stay in the frame!' Sakuma thought glumly, resentment flaring through him- continuously cursing his luck. 'Oh shit, Kidou!'
He glanced at Kidou to see how he was reacting to see that his friend's mouth had dropped open and he was just staring at her with incredulity and shock. On the other hand, Fudou didn't seem very happy to see her either. He was scowling but his eyes still traveled over her form, taking in her curves and denims with an appraising smirk plastered over his face.
Sakuma felt sick. What the hell was she doing here? Why was she back? He saw that some of his class mates were sickened by her sight whilst others were fascinated. Maybe it was because she had strange eyes. Whatever the reason, the class was fixated upon her tall and willowy figure.
Sakuma tore his gaze away to look at the other girl who was standing before the students, her arms crossed across her chest- a gesture of forbidding entrance. Her hair was longer than the latter's and flowed down to the small of her back, framing her face with the silvery white locks. He peered at her closely, aware of the fact that a few people were looking at him and that what he was doing was considered rude in society but he had to see her eyes. He had to judge whether she was reliable or not.
It wasn't as if she looked the part of a bitch- she looked positively indifferent- but rather the fact that she had committed her first error in befriending the vile girl also known as Zonex. Maybe she could be saved. There was still the probability that she would listen to the others who had endured Zonex's torment in the painful past.
She might just be horrified and resent the girl she had formed a friendship with already with no hesitation. Sakuma was sure she'd rebuke Zonex the minute she found out about her true colours.
What kind of a person would want to befriend her after finding out about her abhorrent ways? Sakuma wondered, trying to convince himself that she would convert to their side but one look into the albino's cold eyes made his feeble attempts at reasoning with his suspicions and doubts go sinking down the drain. He felt as if he had been shot. You see, Sakuma Jirou had become a fairly good judge of character. He could tell what a person was like by looking into their eyes.
And the other girl's eyes indicated nothing but cold emptiness- a pure evil radiance which sent his mind reeling. If anyone else would have been in Sakuma's place, they would not have been able to make this observation merely by looking into the short girl's sea-green eyes but Sakuma wasn't most people. It was the little things, really, which gave it all away. Her mask had been perfect, too perfect.
At first, Sakuma had been unable to catch it himself but he had seen the slight glint in the corners of her eyes which had caused him to take a second, longer look which confirmed his rising fears. He had another Zonex on his hands.
Wasn't one cold-hearted bitch enough? Did there really have to be two of them? Sakuma's raised his single good eye heaven-ward and sent his silent mental plea up to the Lord. Please let one of them switch Universities after the first few weeks! Maybe they both will miss each other so much, that after one leaves, the other will follow!
He turned his attention back to them and was startled to see she nodding towards him whilst Zonex shook her head, smiling sweetly at him as if she expected him to have forgotten her. No way José! He was going to steer clear of these two for sure and he'd make sure the others did too. He did not want another fiasco like the last one on his hands and neither did he need it.
He blinked again to make sure he was not hallucinating but just when the teacher had been about to introduce them to the class, the door opened a second time to reveal a flushed dual-haired girl who was panting slightly- she had obviously run all the way here. She flushed further when she saw that all eyes were on her and quietly gave the teacher a slip of paper. He smiled slightly and nodded at her.
"Everyone, these are our new transfer students. This is Matsukaze Annie, Iruko Ann and this is Krypton Zonex. Please welcome them warm-heartedly."
Annie hurried to the closest empty seat nearby. It was next to Dylan who was now looking at her curiously. There were murmurs and whispers amongst the students in the class but Sakuma was still reeling from shock. The girl Annie looked so familiar. She couldn't be the same Matsukaze Annie, could she?
The coincidence was just too great to be true. It had to be her. He knew it in his heart as he stared at her. Was his heart thudding or was it just him? He gazed at her with scrutiny.
Her hair was shorter now and it was kept out of her face with a pink hair band. Her eyes were still the same deep viridian green they had been and her smile was still crooked as she talked to Dylan eagerly. A sudden flare of jealousy shot through him and he resented Kidou and Genda for taking the seats next to him so that she had to sit next to Dylan.
Oh dear lord! KIDOU!
He turned his head to look at his best friend whose face was pale and saw that his hands were clenched and shaking. He was looking everywhere but at Zonex, the very girl who had undermined his self-confidence till she had destroyed him completely. Sakuma had helped him to start from scratch with the help of all of his peers. Kidou did not need this kind of pressure now. He was not ready to face her yet. But on the other hand, Sakuma doubted that Kidou would ever be ready for her.
Kidou's way of dealing with the pain inflicted upon him had been to bury it all underneath the cold granite of his mind but he had never thought of her coming back. He had been caught unawares and his mental wall was now close to shattering.
Touko gazed at him with concern as well. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the stressed teen, her eyebrows knit together to form a frown.
And now, he would have to face two of them! Two bloody girls who would certainly be out for his blood- like demented mosquitoes only much, much more pesky and blood thirsty. And he was sure they wouldn't be dumb enough to be killed easily. He had to find a way to eradicate them before they spread a disease much worse than any disease an insect might carry.
Sakuma cursed fate once again. He had been right, this day was crap. And something told him that it was about to get really ugly from now onwards. College didn't seem to sound like fun anymore. Life was no longer simple- the equation had intensified by a million times the moment these three had transferred to Raimon. A war was coming and he had a feeling that survival was the only option left.
The minutes ticked by with agonizing slowness and he could feel sympathy and worry for Kidou while his own blood boiled at the sight of Annie chatting away with Dylan, exchanging glances and smiling as if she'd known him for years. It wasn't fair. He had been the one craving to meet her and now that she was finally here, she was avoiding him for Dylan Kieth.
Maybe she was racist now and didn't want to be seen associated with him. Maybe she hated him for not coming back, for not returning to fulfill his promise- heaven forbid; maybe she liked Dylan better than him. He fervently hoped it was not the latter. He'd rather have her…
'You'd rather have her forget you? You don't need to worry about that sport, she's got that part covered fine,' his mind callously interrupted. Sakuma reeled with shock, gasping softly- shaking his head at Genda's raised eyebrows. He couldn't believe it -how could she have forgotten him so easily?
But now that he thought about it, he understood what had made his mind come up with that explanation. She really did seem to have forgotten him, so engrossed in her conversation with Dylan that Sakuma was seething with envy and betrayal. How dare she have forgotten him when he had held her memory so close, so dear- treating it like a fragile wilting flower: doing his best to keep it alive till the gardener came to help him out whilst she just erased him from her mind, pretending he didn't exist?
Did she remember his name? Did she even remember saving his life? He mentally screamed the last thought out, amazed that no one could hear his yells or growls nor his thudding heart beat. His pulse rate increased by a dozen fold and small beads of cold perspiration began to appear on his forehead and he was sure he would have a stroke if he didn't stop tormenting himself soon. Sakuma was shocked beyond anything, his mind in mental arrest- neither able to provide a suitable explanation for her actions nor protect himself from the vicious jibes his mind sent in his direction.
He raised hollow eyes to the clock to see that it was five minutes till the class ended and they were free to go. The professor droned on and on about something related to psychology or sociology.
Sakuma was too busy in thought to listen properly to decipher which of the two it was. He waited whilst the bell rang upon which he jumped up and collected his things and ignoring the odd looks from the others and leaving Kidou to fare on his own with Genda, he rushed over to where Annie and Dylan were standing.
As he approached them, he heard Annie laugh at some joke Dylan had probably cracked. He was awfully good at wise cracks too; Sakuma winced, having been on the receiving end of quite a few. His heart hammered against his ribs as he reached them, at a loss for words now that he was standing in front of her- face to face after so long.
"Hey, I'm Sakuma Jirou." He smiled, wondering how he had managed to stretch his lips into a smile but he had started now and there was no going back from here. He extended a hand towards her at the same moment as he heard a melodious voice above the din of the students' exuberant chattering.
"ANNIE! Come here now!" It was Zonex, with her eyes flashing with triumphant joy. What had she done this time? Who was her trophy now? But even as his thoughts raced in his mind, he realized with a sinking feeling that the trophy was Annie and there was no way she was going to let go without a fight which basically meant that a lot of people were going to get hurt.
As he watched Annie smile at him apologetically while she flounced away to her captor and her equally ruthless assistant, Sakuma felt pity for her. She had been freed from her father's strict laws only to be stuck with a slave driver like Zonex Krypton. He HAD to save that girl, no matter what- like she had saved him ever so long ago when the odds had been stacked against her favor.
It seemed like centuries had passed since he had last seen her smiling at him and the sight made his heart contract painfully. He vowed to save her regardless of the consequences. Watching the innocent woman laughing playfully with Ann and Zonex only served to steel his determination, ambition burning through his veins as he quietly made his way to his circle of friends.