PART ONE

.:Legacy of the Wind:.
PART ONE:
A NEW BEGINNING
By: Hoshi-chan

Jessica looked down at the photo that she held in her hand and then looked up at the bustling airport. She stood on her tip-toes, straining to see the faces on the photo that was sent to her a week earlier to her home in St. Louis. She saw a boy that looked familiar from the photo, but he was surrounded by a huge group of girls and she thought, 'That couldn't be him. I was told that there would be a group of people here to pick me up...' That's when she noticed more people from the photo scanning the crowd, also. She walked over towards them, flipping her long brown hair over her shoulder.

Jessica was tall and almost skinny. The pretty, 16-year-old had long, flowing brown hair and beautiful blue eyes, so light they almost seemed to be a crystal blue. She had a sharp, beige face and built like a model, although she ate what she wanted and really doesn't try to be thin. She was wearing long flare jeans that neatly fanned out around her brown boots that she wore on her feet, and a white T-shirt that was tucked into her jeans. She wore a light, silver necklace around her neck with a crystal-blue jewel suspended from it and an almost matching ring on her right hand. She glanced at the ring just now, oh, how it brought back memories...

She turned to the first guy in the group. He looked nice, he had dark brown hair and a round face. "Um, excuse me, but are you the welcoming group for Jessica?" she asked timidly.

"Oh! Hey! YOU'RE Jessica! Sage has had shrouds of girls all over him claiming to be Jessica...." he said, motioning his elbow in the direction of the blonde-haired boy Jessica had seen earlier in the middle of a suffocating crowd of girls.

"Uh, yeah, I noticed. So, what's your name?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm Kento. And, hey!! Ryo, Cye!! Jessica's here! Those girls aren't her at all." Kento called to Ryo and Cye. They turned around and walked towards her.

"Hey!" the guy with long black hair said to her. "I'm Ryo. Just doing my job - Welcome to Japan!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, welcome to our little corner of the world. Although many, many people here have already discovered it...so it's not so little! How are you? I'm Cye." Cye had nice light-brown hair that reminded her a little of the Beetles. Jessica giggled a little in spite of her self.

Jessica shifted her weight to her other leg and picked up her flight bag that she had set on the floor upon finding her new friends. "Hi!" she said cheerfully. "It's nice to meet you all, and I really appreciate you coming to meet me here!"

"Oh, this isn't all of us..." Cye told her, turning around. He tugged on the sleeve of the blonde haired boy who turned around. "Sage!! THIS is Jessica." Cye then turned to the crowd of girls and announced, "Sage has to go now. Go on your little merry ways..." The group sighed disappointingly and walked away.

Sage turned to Jessica. "Well, hello there beautiful!! Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are the prettiest blue..." He said, leaning against the wall. "I'm Sage. And..."

"I'm Rowen. Nice to meet you!" A young boy with bluish-greenish hair said to her. "Here, let me take your bag..." Rowen said, instincingly reaching for her flight night bag.

Jessica was flattered. "Thanks..." she said. Two girls walked up to the group with sodas and hot dogs.

"Kento, Cye, we're back with the food." A girl with startling pretty green eyes and long, shiny blonde hair said. The girls no sooner handed them their food when Kento was already on his second hot dog.

A girl with glasses and short black hair noticed Jessica standing there awkwardly. "Hi! Are you the new transfer student from America??" she exclaimed.

Jessica blushed. "Uh, yeah. I'm Jessica. And you are...?" Jessica said, extending her hand.

"I'm Mary. And the other girl is Alexis." Mary said, taking her hand and motioning to the girl with long blonde hair.

"It's nice to meet you all...oh, I almost forgot about Magic!!" Jessica suddenly exclaimed and ran over to the luggage pickup belt. The group arrived there and heard a soft mewing coming from one of the carriers that Jessica picked up. She stuck her finger through a hold in the cage and said, "This is my kitten, Magic. He goes everywhere with me, and if I don't bring him somewhere, he'll let me know that he doesn't approve when I get back." she laughed.

"Awwww how cute!!" the two girls exclaimed and were cooing and aahing over the tiny creature in the cage. Magic affectionately stuck one of his startling white paws through the hole in the cage as if to say hello.

"Is...this all your luggage, Jessica?" Ryo said to her. "I'd be more than happy to..."

"Carry it for you!!" Sage and Kento exclaimed at the same time. They turned and glared at each other.

Jessica thought, 'These guys seem so familiar. As if I've known them before. But it's impossible...because...it's just this strange vibe that I get from those five...' she wondered.

"Uh, Jessica?" Rowen interrupted.

"Hmm?" Jessica said and snapped her head up to face Rowen. "Oh, sorry..." she replied almost shyly. 'Weird....' she thought.

"Well, we've got all your luggage and we're ready to go..." Kento and Sage grunted as they strained with all of Jessica's luggage. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the two. 'Honestly,' she thought. 'Those two...'

When they reached the parking lot, the girls departed from them, saying their good-byes and 'we'll see you in school on Monday' and the six waited at the curb. A van pulled up and Ryo opened the back door and Sage and Kento thankfully set her luggage in the back, then plopped down on the seats in the van. Jessica stepped into the van and sat between Rowen and Sage, Ryo was in the front along with another girl and Kento and Cye were in the back with Magic on their laps.

Ryo turned to Jessica. "Jessica, I don't believe that you've met Mia." He laughed. "Well, then, how could you have met her already if you just got here? Well, Mia, this is Jessica and Jessica, this is Mia."

Mia turned around. "It's nice to meet you! Now, do you know where you're living at? The address to your house?" Jessica handed a slip of paper from her flight bag to Mia. Mia studied it then said, "Oh! This isn't too far from these guys' houses. In fact, you're right in the middle of them!"

'Great,' Jessica thought. 'Round-the-clock flirting and 24 hour buffet, all you can take.' "That's nice. See, my mom is supposed to be getting a transfer here from St. Louis and I came here earlier than her so that I could start the school in the beginning of the semester instead of coming in during the middle of it...it's just easier for me, that's all. I'll be alone for a month or two until my mom arrives with the rest of our furniture and stuff."

"That's cool! What kind of job does your mom have?" Rowen asked, interested.

"Oh, she studies ancient stuff. You know, like the Mayans and stuff. But, of course that wasn't here. Actually, I don't know what she'll be studying here..." she trailed off. 'But I do know what I'll be studying,' she thought.

The van drove along through roads; Jessica tried to memorize the names and which turns Mia took, but it all became too confusing so she eventually gave up. About twenty minutes after they had left the airport, Mia pulled into the driveway of a nice, two-story house. Mia double-checked the address on the slip of paper that Jessica had handed to her. "Yes, this is it. Do you need help unloading?" Mia asked nicely.

"That would be nice, thank you." Jessica followed Sage out of the van and walked up to the front door. She fished in her pocket for the key to the house, stuck it in the key hole, opened the door and stepped inside. She turned around and noticed Sage directly behind her leaning on the doorframe.

"You're going to be here, all alone by yourself, for a month? Hmm a girl would need some protection..." He was about to say something else when Kento bumped into him from behind. "Hey..." he growled at Kento.

"Oops, sorry buddy." Kento walked over, a little too close, to where Jessica was standing. "So...where do you want us to set your stuff at?"

"Oh, just...anywhere." Jessica sat down on the couch that was shipped here about a week ago. Many of her furniture and items have already arrived here.

When the last of the luggage was brought in, the guys stood by the door and said their good-byes.

"Hey, we'll see you at school Monday. Maybe we can...swing by and pick you up?" Kento offered nicely.

"Oh, well, I...sure, I guess so." she said uncertainly. 'It's that feeling!' she thought. 'That feeling that I get whenever I'm around only them!!'

She bid them good-bye and closed the door behind them. She turned to Magic and picked him up. "Oh, Magic. What am I to do?" she said, lovingly stroking his head. She set him down and picked up the phone book that was setting on the kitchen table. "Well, first things first." she sighed as she flipped through the thick book and picked up the phone. "Monday is only two days away, and I've got to find something to wear to this school, what is it? Han'a High?" she sighed. And if Monday was anything like today, she didn't know what she'd do!!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

As the guys drove home, Ryo sat thoughtfully in the front seat while the four others joked around in the back. Mia looked sideways at Ryo and asked, "What's up? You're being too quiet. Even for you!"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing, Mia. It's just that...that girl. Jessica. It's as if she's afraid of us. I mean, Kento and Sage may be contributing to that a little..." he said, turning to Sage and Kento.

"Who, me?" Kento said innocently.

Sage just rolled his eyes. "Well, you might as well drop out of the running, pal. We all know she's as good as mine!!" he said, matter-of-factly.

"Oh, yeah?" Kento said angrily.

"Yeah." Sage retorted.

"Well, well, Mr. Macho. Aren't we so sure about that?? And WHO is the one who hasn't gone out on a date in over a year?? Huh?"

Sage turned a shade of red. "W-well..." he stammered. Then he regained his posture and said, "I could have any girl that I want in a snap of my fingers," he said, snapping his fingers to accentuate the line. "Just like that."

Rowen turned to the two. "Aw, come on guys. Knock it off. If she wanted one of you, she would have responded to one of your ridiculous flirting. Maybe she's just... not interested."

"Not interested? NOT INTERESTED? In me? Ha! Who could resist me?" Sage said.

The other five in the car leaned away as Sage opened his eyes and looked around. "O-kaay maybe YOU can but still..."

Kento shot back. "Just because you have girls swarming all over you like a mass of bees around honey DOESN'T mean that you can have any girl that you lay your eyes on."

"Guys guys!! Stop it! Knock it off!!" Ryo said as the two started shaking their fists at each other. Thankfully, Mia just turned into Kento's driveway to drop him off.

Kento hopped out of the van and kept shooting looks at Sage to kill. "Man, those two are as bad as... I don't know but when I find out what they're as bad as, I'll let you know." Cye said from the back of the van.

"Mind you, I AM still here..." Sage said warningly, turning around to look at Cye.

Rowen looked up from the book he was reading. "If you were listening to a WORD Ryo said earlier, just give her some space. I mean, she just got here about an hour ago and you two are already making passes at her! Give the girl some time to adjust."

"Yeah..." Ryo agreed. "But, there's still something about her... I don't know. Maybe it's just me. I haven't exactly been myself lately. But it seems as if she's afraid of us."

Sage smirked. "Well, just let the doctor take care of that!"

"I'll be glad to," Cye said. "I'll talk to her Monday, BEFORE any of you do. I'll find out what's bugging her. So...try to stay away Sage. Until I find out what's up, ok?"

Sage slumped down into his seat. "Hmph! Why do you get to have all the fun?"

Mia then turned into Cye's driveway. "Bye guys. See ya tonight at the theatre, right?" he checked with the three other guys.

"Sure. Bye Cye." The others said and pulled away.

As they drove to Sage's house, Ryo still wondered over what was REALLY up with Jessica. But, then again, he'd been getting strange vibes from EVERYONE lately. Even the guys and Mia! 'It's as if...something's going on inside of me that I don't even know about,' he thought. 'But what's really up? Or...is it just me?'

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Jessica walked down the sidewalk glancing ever so often at the directions that she had written on a slip of paper in her hand. She was looking for the store of whom she called earlier. She glanced at her watch. It was only 5:30 still, and she hadn't eaten anything since on the flight here. Spotting a sign on a nearby restaurant, she stepped inside and ordered some food.

As she was carrying the food over to a table in the corner, she heard some voices from the back of the room. She turned around in her booth and saw the guys from earlier playing football with a folded up napkin.

"He shoots... he scores!!" she heard Kento shout. The group started to laugh.

'Maybe if I just sit here and eat my food quietly, they won't notice me...' she said and slumped down a little farther into her seat and began eating some of her meal. She kept glancing over at the group. The girl from earlier wasn't there with them. 'Well, at least SHE seemed nice,' Jessica thought thoughtfully, chewing on a piece of teriyaki chicken. She was lost in thought when she noticed someone standing beside her.

"Are you... going to eat all that?" Kento politely asked.

Jessica stared at her half-eaten meal. She wasn't even hungry anymore. "Uh, no..." she said, pushing her plate towards Kento who had already seated himself across from her at the booth. Ryo, Cye, Rowen, and Sage weren't too far behind Kento as she noticed the three approaching. Rowen sat down in the booth next to Kento, who had already finished her plate and bellowed for more. "Awwwwww man, and I'm still WAY hungry!" Sage slid into the seat next to Jessica, and closed it up with Cye who politely sat down on the edge next to Sage. Ryo just stood, shooting looks at the guys.

"Ahem..." Ryo said, narrowing his eyes. 'He looks cute when he's mad!' Jessica thought to herself. She almost immediately felt guilty for what she just said and darted her eyes away.

"Oh, yeah..." Kento said, pushing Rowen out of the seat next to him and stood up.

"Hey...!" Rowen laughed. "Are ya that much in a hurry to see the movie? We've still got an hour and a half!"

Sage turned to Jessica. "Ya, we're going to see a movie at the theatre in a bit, wanna join us?"

Jessica looked down at her hands and played with the fork. "Oh, well... I was just about to go shopping for clothes, uniforms for school Monday."

"Oh, well..." Sage glanced up at Ryo. If looks could kill...

Cye butted in. "Well, that's ok. We could show ya around the mall a bit before the movie."

Ryo just rolled his eyes. "Gu-uys. Remember??" he said through his teeth.

Jessica turned to Ryo. "Is there something wrong? I mean, don't you WANT me to come? It's ok. I really don't..."

"No!" Sage interrupted. "He's just anxious to be getting to the movie, as we all are." Sage shot Ryo a look.

'There it is! That feeling again!' Jessica thought to herself. 'Well, if they were... if they are from... maybe I should just drop it. It's impossible. He's been dead for over 150 years... Maybe I should try to get to know them. They seem nice enough...' Jessica smiled at Ryo. "No, really, it's ok. Actually, I'd love it if you would show me around and help me with the uniforms and stuff!" 'What am I Doing?!?' she thought.

Ryo's eyes grew large. "Really? Ok then..."

The group stood up, Kento and Sage walked on either side of her, giving each other menacing looks. Jessica laughed. "What's UP with you two??"

The two stopped and stuttered. "We...Well, you see, oh, nothing..." they said looking at the ground. 'All over me and won't even admit it!' Jessica gaily thought. 'These guys aren't so bad after all! They're actually... nice!' Then her memories flooded her memory again and she thought, 'No! How can I DO this? After all of what happened, why I'm here...' blurred images filled her mind, half pictures of what were soon to be very clear.

They reached the mall and Rowen turned and started walking backwards, looking at the group. "So, anyone up for... Casablanca??"

The group burst out laughing. Even Jessica couldn't help herself as she started giggling.

"Wait!" Cye yelled as he stared at Jessica, who was still giggling, as so was the rest of the group. "Is that Jessica..." She stopped laughing and looked about startingly. 'Oh, no! Has he found out who I am?' Cye continued, "...laughing?" Jessica sighed a breath of relief and smiled at Cye.

"Yes, you dummy. Have you never seen someone laugh before?" She glanced sideways and smiled at him again.

"Hey," Ryo broke up their laugh session. "Here's the place where we buy our uniforms. I've... seen some girls from school shopping here before, too."

Kento ran up to the first rack and picked up a skirt that was clearly much to large for Jessica's slender waist. "I don't know HOW girls do it...." he said astonishingly, looking through the skirt at the group.

"Is he always this crazy?" Jessica said to Rowen, who nodded.

"And if he isn't, then somethin's up!" Cye added.

They left the store with about 45 minutes to spare until the start of the movie. "What movie are we seeing, by the way?" Jessica politely inquired. She ran her fingers through her hair, which had become slightly tangled from the afternoon's activities.

"Ya know.." Ryo said, scratching his head, "That's something we haven't been able to figure out yet!" He laughed.

"Well, there's a new sci-fi flick that's coming out. Who's up for that?" Rowen suggested. The other's just looked at him with the same bleak expression. "Ok... NOT such a good idea..."

The others just smiled and shook their heads. "Well, I hope something good is showing!" Sage commented. "Although, something good IS showing, right now!!" he said as he glanced sideways at Jessica, who felt the color rush into her cheeks and she looked down.

Rowen noticed and tried to turn the attention away from her. "Ooh look! Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus is showing!!"

The group laughed.

Jessica said, between fits of giggles, "Ooh, let's... let's see that!!" she said cheerfully. Then she turned to Sage and said, "and I'm almost POSITIVE that you're the star!"

Sage looked taken aback.

"Oooh dissed by a gir-rl!!" Kento teased. Sage's face grew red and he glared at Kento.

"AND I BET THAT YOU'RE THE OTHER STAR, HUH KENTO??" he said between his teeth, glaring at Kento.

Kento got an amusing look on his face as he said, "Actually, no, I'm not. But... Jessica here is!!"

Jessica blushed and smiled. "Yeah, one of the women from Venus!!"

"Venus... the goddess of love and beauty, behold!!" he said, taking Jessica's hand. "And this is supposed to be a love story...? I think I could adjust to this...!" he said, grinning his boyish grin that girls would die for. But not Jessica. She just conked him on his head, withdrew her hand, and rolled her eyes as the group began to laugh hysterically.

"We'd better get our refreshments and tickets and stuff!!" Rowen stated, as the movie started in a half-hour.

"Yes, I can't WAIT to see it..." Kento said, still teasing Sage.

"Oh, you two, grow up!! As you can clearly tell," she said, a sweet, innocent smile on her face, "I'm NOT interested in a relationship now, sorry to burst your bubble, Sage... and you too, Kento."

Sage and Kento both looked up at Jessica, astonished. Then their looks changed to innocence. "Who, me?" they said together.

"Oh, please. Gimme a break!" Ryo said laughingly. He glanced over at Jessica and their eyes met for a few brief moments. Rowen, once again, broke the awkwardness.

"I've... got the tickets you guys... uh, Kento? Kento?" everyone turned just in time to see Kento making a beeline to the refreshments stand.

"Oooh!! Oooh!! They've got gummy worms!! My favorite!!" they heard Kento from the other side of the room. Kento turned, ran back to the group and looked up at Jessica with a childlike look on his face as he said, "Oh, mommy, mommy, mommy? Can I pweeeeease have some, mommy?"

"Oh, get real, Kento!! I can see the ten hanging out of your pocket...!" She laughed and pushed him back towards the stand, which he didn't resist. "And while you're up there, you can get me a box of Milk-Duds, too!"

Kento turned and bowed to her. "As you wish, your majesty...." he said in a fake, royal accent. He then turned to the counter, bought the candy, then returned with an armload of candy. When Jessica asked for her Milk-Duds, a look of guilt spread over his face.

"I KNEW I forgot something...awwww, man I'm sorry!!"

Fifteen minutes later the group was seated in the theatre, Sage and Kento thankfully were at seperate ends of the row and Jessica was seated comfortably in the middle between Rowen and Cye. She settled back into the seat, munching the bowl of pop-corn that her and Rowen were sharing. She glanced around at the guys as the previews started. 'This isn't so bad, I could get used to hanging out with these guys! They aren't so bad as they seemed...' she thought and settled into the movie as it started.


Part II