Red as Roses
Chapter Two

"I'm sorry we're late!" a blonde haired girl apologized, bowing deeply in front of the bewildered teacher.

"Oh…" Kiyoteru started awkwardly, staring at the student in front of him, "That's alright," Kiyoteru said, nodding curtly at the blonde girl, "It is first day of school, so I guess I could let you slip."

The blonde girl, as Len had observed, has ridiculous long hair tied into a side ponytail and her eyes were the color of dark amber—a strange color, Len noted… Her face was slightly flushed, probably from running and from embarrassment. Suddenly, a blur of wine-red crashed into the blond.

"Argh!"

The girl and the blur of red fell into a heap of limbs on the floor. "T-Teto!" the blonde exclaimed as she sat up, while smoothing out her crumpled skirt. The red blur was a petite girl who has wine-red hair tied into twin-tails, and was curled—her hair reminded Len of twin-drills that was hanging from both sides her head. The red-head, or as the blonde had called her, Teto sat up and sent the blonde an apologetic look.

"Um, girls?" Kiyoteru started once again, he was scratching the back of his head while his face showed utter surprise. "Are you okay?" he asked. Immediately, the pair stood up from the ground and bowed at the confused teacher.

"S-Sorry!" the blonde apologized once again, her and Teto's faces has a dark shade of red.

Kiyoteru blinked, "I suppose you could take your seats so that we could continue with the class… Umm… Miss?"

"Neru Akita," the blonde said, "and this is Teto Kasane."

Kiyoteru nodded his head slowly, "Ah, yes. Miss Akita and Miss Kasane, you may take your seat," he said, suddenly becoming professional. Neru and Teto simultaneously nodded their heads and took their seats, which was located at the back.

Kiyoteru cleared his throat and straightened his tie, "Ah, as I was saying, I'll begin the introduction first…"

"I am Kiyoteru Hiyama, as you may know," the brunet teacher paused and nodded at the two girls who entered late—Neru and Teto, who lowered their heads, their cheeks still has a slight pinkish tint. "Things I like? Let's see… I guess I like…" Len growled and dropped his head on his desk, droning out Kiyoteru's mindless babbling. Gumo had been snickering all the time, imitating and mocking Kiyoteru's introduction. Len breifly wondered if he deserve this rotten fate.

As Kiyoteru finished his introductions, he directed his attention to Neru, "Since Miss Akita disrupted the class, why don't you be the next to introduce yourself?" Kiyoteru requested, giving the blonde a smooth smile. Neru forced a smile of her own, before stiffly nodding her head—she doesn't really wants to be first. Oh well, might as well be done with this sooner than later.

The blonde stood from her seat and walked to the front of the class, "I am Neru Akita," she started slowly. She looked at Kiyoteru with a raised brow. The teacher smiled and urged her to go on. The girl sighed and continued, "I like… Uhh… I guess I like my cell phone… Err… What else? I like quiet places, quiet people… Yeah, something like that…" the girl ranted, staring at the ceiling with a thoughtful look on her face. "I hate… Hmm… I hate noisy people. Stupid guys… back-stabbing bitches…"

"Miss Akita," Kiyoteru interjected, appearing unefected or even thrown off guard, "Please refrain using inappropriate words," he reproved smoothly.

Len blinked, surprised of the teacher's smoothness. 'Oh, he's good,' Len thought.

Neru mumbled an apology before continuing her introduction, also suprised of Kiyoteru's smoothness. "I expect… this year…" Neru paused, a thoughtful look on her face, "To be boring, I guess?" she said smiling cheekily at Kiyoteru. The teacher, on the other hand chuckled softly.

"Well then, I'm afraid but I must disappoint you Miss Akita," Kiyoteru joked, returning Neru's cheeky grin with his own. Neru blinked, not expecting Kiyoteru's reply. Kiyoteru chuckled once more, "You may return to your seat Miss Akita," he said, motioning to Neru's seat. The blonde nodded her head and went back to her seat.

"Thank you Miss Akita for your wonderful introduction. Now, Miss Kasane, if you would?"

Teto jerked her head up, her eyes wide. She turned her head towards Neru, her eyes clearly asking for help. Len raised a brow at Teto's actions, why does she look so scared? Neru forced a smile, yet her brows knitted together, while her hand rubbed the back of her neck. "Umm… Mister Kiyoteru… Teto can't talk," she said carefully, the words rolling of her tongue slowly. The class went silent, and Kiyoteru stared at Teto, his eys turning wide eyes before nodding his head slowly.

'Can't talk, huh?' Len thought, biting on his thumbnail. No wonder she hasn't uttered a word ever since she entered.

"Poor girl," Len heard Gumo said to him. Len turned his head to Gumo, to see the energetic guy staring at the red-head intently. "I hope no one tries to make fun of her," the green-head muttered again, dropping his head on his arms propped up on the back of his seat.

Len sighed, and rested his chin on his open palm. "That Neru girl will protect her," he said, as he stared at Gumo. Gumo stared back at him with awe, "What?"

"I never thought you could think positively like that!" Gumo said a little too loudly, which was followed by his laughter. Len frowned; did Gumo really think he was that pessimistic? Ergh, he should try smiling more… Then again, he rather not.

"You sir!" Kiyoteru called after recovering from the shock of having a student with a special condition. Gumo turned his head around and look at the brunet teacher. "Why don't you introduce yourself?" he asked the energetic green-head.

"Aha!" Gumo grinned and stood up from his seat and walked excitedly to the front of the class. He jabbed a thumb on his chest, "I am Gumiya Nakajima! But call me Gumo!" the green-head said with his loud and energy-filled voice. Then, the male shoved a hand into his pocket and produced red-goggles. He pulled back the strap, and positioned his goggles above his forehead. "Gumo Nakajima, ready for service!" he announced, grinning widely as he crossed his arms in front of his chest—sending winks at the female population as he did so. Gumo then noticed the blank look Len was giving him, Gumo turned to him and sent him a thumbs-up.

The students attention went to stare at Len—the blond placed a palm on his face, sighing heavily.

Kiyoteru laughed, clearly amused of the green-head's antics. "Well then, Mister Nakajima, could you tell us your likes and dislikes?" Kiyoteru asked, nodding his head at the boy.

"Right!" Gumo made a thoughtful expression, "Hmm… Ah! I like carrots—no, wait! I love carrots!" the male exclaimed, grinning childishly. "And Len Hatsune, that sour boy over there, he's my best friend!" Gumo declared, as he pointed a finger at the blond. Len stared at him with wide eyes, his jaw slightly slacking. Gumo chuckled, "The things I dislike… Hmm… I don't really hate anything! About my expectations for this year? Well, I'm expecting to have more friends! And to get that sour look out of Len's face!"

Len felt blood fill his cheeks, lowering his head in embarrassment. He could hear a few amused giggles coming from his classmates… Could this get any worse?

"Well then! Thank you, Mister Nakajima…" Kiyoteru nodded at Gumo's direction. Gumo replied with a thumbs-up and walked back at his seat, sending a huge grin at Len's direction. "Okay… How 'bout Mister Nakajima's friend? Could you introduce yourself?"

Len cringed, it got worse alright… Then again, he could take this opportunity to set thing right. Very well. Len stood up, and walked towards the front of the class. The blond teen pocketed his hands, and stared off at the ceiling—he could feel all his classmates' eyes on him. Man, does he hated this.

"I am… Len Hatsune. I like… some things… I dislike… a few things… And Gumo is not my friend—he just proclaimed himself to be," Len said, his voice monotonous, yet his eyes are still focused on the ceiling. "My expectations for this year…" The blond merely shrugged his shoulders, "I just have to wait and see…"

"Ah… I see," Kiyoteru stared at his student, a peculiar look on his. "Thank you… Mister Hatsune…"

Len sighed heavily and walked back his seat, giving Gumo an icy glare as he passed him. Gumo returned it with a sheepish look. The blond flopped back down on his seat and focused his eyes on the clouds, droning out the introductions of the other students.


Len sat down lazily on one of the tables in the mess hall. Freshmen filled the hall, sitting with their classmates and their friends. Only the freshmen were there; sophomores and juniors have their lunch together, while seniors have the mess hall all for themselves. (The first years have four sections; usually, each section consists of thirty students. The sophomores and juniors only have two sections, while the seniors only have a single section.)

The blond Hatsune placed his tray on his table. He was sitting there all alone—not that he minded, in fact, he prefered to be alone at the moment. Len took his sandwich and raised it to his mouth when suddenly, a tray fell clattering next to him. He snapped his head to the side, his brows furrowed together in confusion and his mouth still slightly hanging open. The cause of the sudden clattering was none-other-than Gumo. The green-head grinned at the blond, then flopped down next to him.

"Shut that mouth or flies will be flying in," Gumo said casually.

Len scowled, "What are you doing here?" he demanded, glowering at the annoying green-head.

"What? Don't I have the right to sit next to my friend?" he asked back as he took a carrot stick from his plate. Len stared at him blankly, before turning his attention back to his sandwich (which was still raised right in front of his mouth). "You wouldn't mind if I sit here… Right?" Gumo asked as he took a bite out of his carrot stick.

The blond teen gave the green-head a side-way glance, and thought for the moment. 'Oh, what the hell…' He sighed heavily and slightly shook his head.

"Great!"

"Whatever."

The two freshmen sat in (awkward) silence, slowly eating the food in their trays. Suddenly, another tray slammed against the table right across from Len. The blond looked up to see a scowling Neru with a sheepish Teto standing by her side.

"Whoa! What're you doin' here?" Gumo asked, staring at the blonde girl.

Neru grunted and sat on one of the seats with Teto following her suit—only that she done it calmer than her friend. "This is the only table where I could see recognizable faces," Neru answered, grumbling under her breath as she glared at her food. Gumo raised a brow at her, and then turned his head to Teto. The red-head smiled in return.

"Well then! I guess the more the merrier," Gumo said, grinning from ear to ear. "Right, Len?" the green-head turned his head to Len, and waited for a reply. However, the blond boy purposely ignored the statement directed at him and continued on with his meal. The green-head pouted at the lack of attention from his so-called 'friend'.

"Let me get this straight," Neru butted in as she stuffed a piece of French fries into her mouth, she took another one and pointed it at Gumo. "Are you or are you not Mister Sour's friend?" she asked, eyeing the green-head with her amber eyes.

"Mister Sour?" Gumo blurted. Len looked up and stared at Neru's eyes for the first time, his brows raised questioningly.

"Yeah, Mister Sour," Neru repeated, cocking her head towards Len's direction.

"Mister—bahahaha!" Gumo guffawed, clutching his stomach, a few tears gathering by the corner of his eyes. A few students from the other tables sent weird looks at the laughing male. "Miste—ahahaha—oh god!—Sour!—yeah—ahahahaha! Th-that fits him p-perfectly!" the green-head blurted between laughs, still clutching his stomach with a hand and his knee with his other. "Oh god!"

Len resisted the urge to pummel the male Nakajima, rip him into pieces, and throw his remains to the sea. "Shut it," he hissed as he lowered his head to hide his embarrassment beneath his blond bangs.

"S-Sorry!" Gumo apologized, however, he could not stifle a few laughs escaping his lips. "Mister Sour… Ha! So true!" Gumo said, giving Len a friendly slap on the back. The blond Hatsune growled at him, gave him a hard glare and walked off. "H-hey! Where are you going?" he asked as he stood from his chair to follow the fuming blond.

"Oi!" Gumo turned around as he heard Neru's voice. "If you didn't notice, he has just finished," Neru said, pointing a finger on Len's empty tray. Gumo pouted and his shoulders slumped, walking back to the table, where he continued eating his food. "You haven't answered my question," Neru pointed out as she sipped from her box juice.

"Oh… It's sort of one-sided," Gumo replied, sighing heavily.

Neru and Teto eyed the sullen green-head. "Why do you want to be Mister Grumpy's friend anyway?" Neru asked once again, Gumo looked up at her with a confused look on his face, "I mean, if I meet someone like him, I'll totally avoid him," Neru added, popping another French fry into her mouth. Teto eyed her bread intently, before tearing a piece out of it and popped it into her mouth, then looking back at Gumo.

"But you didn't," Gumo pointed out, biting on a carrot stick.

"There are no available tables."

"You could always seat with the other sections."

"I'd rather not."

Gumo suddenly laughed, making Neru glare at him, with her cheeks slightly pink. "Wh-what?"

"You're cute," Gumo said, reaching out to pinch the blonde's cheek. Neru slapped his hand away and growled at him. "And a hot-head," Gumo added thoughtfully. He looked at Teto who were watching them with amused eyes. "I wonder why the two of you are friends…"

"I'm so going to kill you," Neru threatened, her amber eyes darkening. "You stupid Moss-head."

"M-Moss?" Gumo repeated, staring at the blonde with wide eyes, "Oh no you didn't!"

"Oh yes I did! You air-headed moss!'

"Argh! Don't call me that!" Gumo shouted as he gripped his green locks. Neru smirked, feeling satisfied that she had hit a nerve. "I hate it! I hate it!"

"Moss-head! Moss-head! Moss-head!" Neru shouted, pulling down her lower eyelid with her tongue out in an insulting and childish way.

From the side, Teto watched her best friend and her new acquaintance with amusement—it's like Gumo had been their friend for so long. If Teto has her voice, she would be laughing right now, and teasing with her friends. A small smile graced her lips—it did not mattered if she didn't have her voice; she was just glad that Neru and Gumo are here. For her, this moment was perfect.


Later, after lunch. At room 1-Amon

Gumo tapped his pen repeatedly on his table, while his jaw rested on his open palm. Ah, where the hell is Len? Suddenly skipping classes… And at the first day of class too! Gumo thought, a soft sigh escaped his lips. He can't seem to find any reason why Len would suddenly leave… Then again, Len looked irritated during lunch… Hmm, what could have irked Len like that? "Probably Neru," the green-head muttered to himself, then nodding his head, like his statement totally made sense—which did not.

Gumo instinctively turned his head to the side and stared at the blonde who was sitting at the desk next to him, which was Neru. "Yup, definitely Neru," he muttered as he kept staring on the girl with his green-eyes… Wait—Neru?

"A-ah! N-Neru! What are you doing here?" Gumo asked, surprised, "When did you got there? Aren't you sitting at the back?" he asked again, lowering his voice this time as to not attract the teacher's attention.

Neru gave the green-head a bored look, "I got here while you were still at La-La land, Moss-head," she replied, her voice sounded bored, blowing on her blonde bangs.

Gumo gritted his teeth together, while forcing a crooked smile, "I told you not to call me that!" he hissed, clearly annoyed with the nickname Neru gave him. "Mosses are disgusting! And I'm too good-looking to look like a moss!"

"Ah, you're still at La-La land after all!" Neru replied, cracking a smug grin, while her amber eyes narrowed at Gumo. The pair exchange looks, one looked smug, while the other one looked very annoyed. Then a small crumpled paper hit the green-head by the side of his head.

Gumo peeled his heated glare from Neru, and stared down at the crumpled paper on his desk. "Hm?" Gumo gave Neru one last look, before un-crumpling the paper. Neru frowned and raised a brow, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

You two lovebirds are getting too noisy.

~Teto

"What?" Gumo exclaimed, his cheeks dusted with a pink blush. He looked up to look around for the red-head—who was (surprisingly) sitting at Gumo's other side. "What the—! When did you get there?" Gumo asked, his voice loud that the teacher heard him.

"Mister Nakajima!" The middle aged teacher glared at the green-head, "Is there something you like to share to the class?" he asked, his nostrils wide, and his eyes were flaring. He looked like an angry hippo.

Gumo made a sheepish look, scratching the back of his head, "Uhh, I just want to point out that—"

Before Gumo could finish his sentence, rhythmic poundings came from the door. "Hrn," The teacher gave Gumo one last glare before walking towards the door. Gumo sighed in relief, mentally thanking the person who had knocked at the door. The teacher opened the door to reveal a red-headed girl standing by the doorway, "Yes—Ah, Miss Furukawa," he said as he recognized the student.

Gumo observed the girl; she has red cherry hair, and matching red-colored eyes… Wait, is that finger marks on her neck? Gumo thought as he focused his eyes at the strange girl.

"Sir, is this Len Hatsune's room?" 'Miss Furukawa' asked, her cherry-like eyes stared around the room for a moment, before fixing her stare back at the teacher. Gumo—and Neru, and Teto—stared at the girl with slightly widened eyes; does this girl know something about Len?

"Ah," The teacher pulled out an attendance sheet, "This is Len's class, however he appears to be absent."

The red-head shook her head, "Ah, no. He's at the infirmary at the moment," she said. The infirmary? What's Len doing in the infirmary?

"Oh, really?" The teacher's brows rose, "I see, I guess I'll have to excuse him for today… Thank you for informing me, Miss Furukawa." The girl nodded before walking off. The teacher walked back in front and continued on with his lesson.


During lunch hour. Before classes starts.

Len grumbled as he walked down the hall; there's still a few minutes left before classes starts again. That Gumo kid annoys him—why can't he get the idea that Len doesn't want to be friends with him? Is he stupid or simply ignorant? Len thinks it's both. A dark scowl occupied his face, clearly irritated at the moment. He just wished that this day to end—first day of school and he's already pissed.

The blond teen walked aimlessly down the hall, passing a few empty classrooms and storage rooms. The halls were empty and Len was the only there—or so he thought. Suddenly, there was the all-too-familiar laughter reaching his ears. Len froze and he looked around, his eyes slightly widening.

"Who's there?" Len demanded, as his light-green eyes looked around for the source of the laughter. He warily continued down the hall, glancing around. The childish laughter still continued. "Show yourself!" Len shouted, yet his voice slightly shook. His heart fastened its beating, his hands started to sweat profusely, and his knees slowly started to lose its strengths.

"Over here…"

Len turned around and saw a blur of black and yellow ran down the hall. The blond grunted and took off towards the strange blur. When he turned down the hall, he found it to be empty; there was no shady figure in sight. The blond Hatsune took in a shaky breath as he placed a hand on his face, which was wet with sweat. He could feel a slight headache pounding at the back of his head. "Must be seeing things," he muttered. Len was about to turn away, when suddenly, the temperature around him dropped.

Len found himself frozen in place, unable to move a single limb. He felt arms wrapped around his torso, with the hands hovering over his chest. He could feel a petite body pressed against his back.

"Let's have fun…"

The blond whirled around, but found no one sight, just the empty hall. Len gulped a lump forming in his throat as his wide eyes glanced around. For a moment, he could've sworn someone was there He just knows someone was thereBut where? And Why does he suddenly feel heavy?

Len moved a leg forward but it suddenly weakened, making him falling on the floor. His body felt weak and heavy, his eyes felt like leads, and his breaths were heavy and labored. The corner of his eyes started to darken, and black spots scattered around his vision. He tried sitting up, but his limbs won't respond. He was getting dizzier by the moment, with the painful pounding at the back of his head.

He heard giggles right above him. Len tried twisting his head to get a better view…

For a moment, he caught glimpse of crimson eyes, and inhumane slit-like pupils…

It was frightening…


A/N: This chapter also contains changes! Kiyoteru is smoother and less awkward. Some changes with dialogues and descriptions.