Hey! HichiShirosaki here with another chapter for you guys.

Thank you My Broken Voice for reviewing and telling me how much you like my story. So far, you're my biggest encouragement and I really appreciate that. :3

Enjoy!

The breeze blew silently, gently blowing against my silver locks and causing them to sway in the wind. Everything hushed except for the birds, quietly chirping meanwhile soaring in the brilliant blue sky. The clouds were set just right to where they only looked like creamy wisps of color staining the relatively peaceful blue.

Lying there, skipping class to take a peak at the art laid out for all to see, was the best thing to do when there was too much on a person's mind, and that person would have to be me. My eyes were closed when a soft smile crept on my face. Somehow, it had gotten past the emotional turmoil trying so hard to be released. From everything that had happened, I never understood how I was able to hid things so easily and act as though everything was okay when it was obviously not.

I remain as calm as possible, normal people not able to see the pain my heart tries so hard to bear alone. That small, fragile heart that can break at any moment and go on an emotional rampage. Even the smallest crack could cause it to shatter and fall into many nonrecoverable pieces.

The only way I was able to relieve the emotional baggage was to fight but I don't want trouble here, not yet at least. So the only thing that was an option was to just stare at the sky, be mystified by nature's gifts and hopefully everything will pass as a phase or something. That was the hope anyway, who knows what's going to happen?

I took a deep breath and let that breath loose in a sigh. My head rested on my arms that were crossed one another underneath.

~earlier~

"The funeral is going to be a few weeks from now." My aunt said on the other end. "I'll let you know of the exact date when we get closer to it."

"Okay."

"By which I expect you to be here Tsurara." She demanded, "I'm not going to have the daughter of my brave brother skip his funeral because she doesn't "feel like it" or because she is "too emotional." You've dealt with worse things, so you and I both know you can deal with it. You'll have to prepare a speech anyhow. Remember."

"Do I really have to do the speech?" I asked. No way was I going to go in front of many of my dad's colleagues and talk about him. I may like to fight but there's no way I could fight stage fright, and why wouldn't I go to my dad's own funeral anyway. I mean come on. It's my dad, I respected him more than anybody. He was a role model to me and everyone around him in which he affected in some way. It was amazing really. Although I never truely tried getting close enough, I could see how much he's impacted a person just by watching him.

"Yes you will." Kiki answered, "I'll force you to, got it?"

"Yes Kiki." I said obediently into the phone.

"Aunt Kiki." She corrected me. "Anyway, before I go..."

"Hm?"

"Takeshi called earlier today, he wanted to know how you were doing." She explained. A gruff sound came out of the depths of my throat in amusement.

"Since when does he care how I'm doing?" Was my reply.

"Oh hush up, you know he cares about you."

"I've only been here for what? Three days?" I asked. "He's probably asking to mess with me..."

"That's a lie and you know it." Aunt Kiki stated. " So I've gone to the liberty of giving him your number and your email." I groaned.

"Thanks." I said, a hint of sarcasm following that word.

"Anyway..." Kiki continued, obviously ignoring my "thanks." "I need to get going now, I have some more planning for the funeral." A sigh was heard on the other end. "Just don't get depressed while you're on your own."

"I won't." A lie of course, not that my weird aunt would notice.

"Okay. Bye Tsurara. Love you." Click, dead tone. I stood there, my eyes seemingly staring at the phone now in my eerily calm hands. There was no thought going through my head, no emotion. I was dead, just dead. There was no feeling, it was numb. Everything seemed frozen, as though my body had been encased in ice for a century. How often was this going to happen? My mind going on a complete blank and not knowing what to feel or think.

"I wonder how long I'll be able to take the heat..." I muttered to myself.

~xXx~

The smile left as quickly as it had come. I took a deep breath of the fresh air and exhaled.

"Just relax Tsurara." I told myself, "you can do it. Stay strong." My eyes opened to stare at the sky again, to realize that the winds had stopped. The winds that stroked my face like a hand caressing my cheek. That seemed to carry my trouble away, if only for the moment. It was gone and I was left wanting the wind even more. The peaceful, cool breeze that had made my clothes sway back and forth and gave me the comfort of nature was now gone.

A sound could be heard and it interrupted my thoughts. I dug into my skirt pocket and pulled out my phone. I flipped it open to find that the number from the message was unknown. My eyes narrowed, if only for the moment.

You still trying to do everything on your own? Seriously, when will you learn Rara. Your Aunt is worried shitless and she actually wants me to go visit you and watch over you for a couple weeks. Who does she think I am? Your bodyguard? ;) And it's only been what? Three days? You better message back something meaningful. I don't want to hear all your "I'm fine" shit. You know I fucking hate it when you do that.

My eyes widened for a few seconds until I realized who it was that had messages me. No one else calls me Rara but him and he hasn't called me that since a few years ago. Not only that but who else would send me a random topic but him? My eyes softened ever so slightly and a smile managed to show on my face. What an idiot.

I guess Aunt Kiki was right huh, boss?

Huh? Oh yeah, sure.

A sigh managed to get past my lips and I closed the phone. I really didn't want to respond, what was I going to say anyway? It's not like I'm going to pour everything to him now am I? No, not my style.

I got up and stretched, my hands almost touching the floor. A yawn escaped and I smacked my lips tiredly.

The breeze let up again and the bird's chirping seemed to resume in my ear as though they had stopped when the wind had died down. My ocean blue eyes quickly skimmed the areas around me before I walked to the stairs the led to the classrooms below.

~xXx~

The bell rang, signaling the end of school. The chattering of the students was heard through the thoughts that were consuming my mind and it was bugging the shit out of me. My thoughts soon blocked all of the chatter and I heard no more.

How the hell am I supposed to prepare a speech in two weeks? She knows I can't deal with stage fright...especially at my dad's funeral.

There's always time to learn to stand up against your frights. Aunt Kiki knows that when it comes to yourself. It's almost like you're afraid to "fight" yourself... Do you think she's trying to teach you something, Boss?

Doubt it... I let out a groan.

"Damn it Kiki..." I muttered to myself. Then a picture of my dad flashed through my head. I stopped walking and stood there for what seemed like an eternity. "Why did you have to go and leave me...?"

Pain I had never felt before all of a sudden rushed through me. It was as though someone had stabbed me in the heart, or rather like my heart is tightening. Like it's trying to hold itself together, so it won't break like the fragile thing it is.

Something, or rather someone pulled me away from the emotions that were acting like an anchor. An anchor for the emotions I was trying not to show and the person who snapped me out of my daze was Kaname of course.

The eyes that seemed to have dimmed, blinked and looked around, scanning the people silently watching me while Kaname was trying to grab my attention.

"Where the hell were you?" She demanded. Her finger appeared only a few inches from my face. My eyes tore away from the area around me and I looked up at her in slight confusion.

"What...?" She sighed.

"What were you doing for the first half of school?" She asked. This time I could tell that she was trying to be as kind as she could to me, not that I really care.

"Why do you want to know?" I retorted. That kind personality she displayed disappeared as quickly as it had come and frustration appeared on her face. She growled. "Calm down, calm down. I was sitting on the roof of the school, don't even worry." She blinked surprisingly at the fast response, frustration still on her face.

"...and you were there why...?" I shrugged. I would never tell her why I was there, nor would I tell her anything at all for that matter.

"The view." Kaname looked at me with skepticism. Boy do her faces change quickly... "I'm being honest, why do you even care anyway...?" She started to blush slightly.

"No-no reason." I started walking away.

"Suit yourself."

"I think she was worried about you Miss Shizuki." I stopped and turned around, Sousuke was by Kaname's side.

"I was wondering where you'd be Sousuke." I sneered.

"I just had to take care of some business." He answered. I returned to them and placed my hands on my hips. I smiled at Kaname and at Sousuke. Then I looked at Sousuke with my don't-you-forget-last night eyes. He gulped and I looked back at Kaname.

"So...you were worried about me?"

"Of course I was!" She burst out for all to hear. "If you are anything like this idiot here-" She elbowed him. "I have every reason to worry!"

"Even despite what you did to me yesterday?" I pried. She blinked and her face strained for the moment.

"Yes, even after yesterday." She admitted, "I'm sorry I hit you." I smiled in victory.

"I guess you aren't a bad person after all." I gleamed, "right Sousuke?" He thought about it for a moment until Kaname looked at him evilly.

"Yes!" He answered right after. I chuckled a little and walked away.

"Wh-where are you going?" Kaname called.

"I don't know about you, but I'm tired." I lied, "so I'm going home to get some shut-eye. See ya." As I was walking, my eyes dimmed again and I was once more thinking about the funeral that was coming up in a few weeks. I had no idea what to do. What was it that I was supposed to say in my speech anyway?

What would Kiki do if I went to the funeral and I didn't have a speech prepared?

Why are you even asking that, Boss? You know what she would do.

Yeah, yell the shit out of me.

Um...on second thought, I don't think she would do anything seeing as it's your father's funeral... Obviously.

...hm.

Maybe you should talk to Takeshi, Boss. I'm sure he would understand and want to help you. It seems like you need someone to talk to.

As tempting as that is, I think not.

Why not, Boss?

I don't want to burden him, he lives far away anyhow. I don't want to take advantage of our friendship.

Lair. I stopped in front of my apartment complex and stood there contemplating whether or not that was really the case. Am I just thinking like that because I don't want anyone to think I'm weak? I didn't know, I was so confused. Friends are people I can go to in a time of need right? I didn't have much experience in that area but I did know one thing. I made two friends today and I wondered if they were friends I would have no matter what happened and no matter what went my way...

For those who are wondering who Takeshi is, I'm not planning on giving detail on him until later in the story when he is truly introduced. There will be brief talks about him in the next few chapters for sure. I'm also planning on Sousuke and Kaname being in the story more. Please review!

I'm so behind in my chapters! Please Please Please, someone help me! D: