Summary: Fond de l'étang have a problem. Students from a mixed, public school in Japan are coming to visit. And they're stricter than they thought! When Pierre Morhange witnesses one of the cold, distant students displaying a kind act to Pepinot, he swore to see what was underneath her tough shell.

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Pierre had tried everything in his capacity to stick by Kagome (and Pepinot) and make her smile. Kagome only ever sent him blank looks at every stupid joke, every cringy pun, every single trip and fumble. And Pierre was getting a little desperate. He stared at her from across the table.

"C'mon!"

"No."

"Not even a tiny laugh? A giggle?"

"No."

"Not even one tiny smile?"

"No, Pierre." Kagome rubbed the bridge of her nose, looking a little exasperated. "Why do you want me to laugh and smile so much? Why do you want me to show emotion? Aiwa says it shows weakness." sighed Kagome. She looked at him with her blue eyes. Kagome scanned the boy, trying to find his motive as to why he wanted her to look happy at all. Pierre looked truly shocked at her statement. These kids were being taught not to show emotion? But so many still did yet why didn't she? What was going on through her head?

"Showing emotion isn't weak. Don't believe Aiwa when she says that, it's not true. I'll admit that you are a very pretty girl but if you smiled more, you would look better." Pierre felt rather embarrassed at what he said. Kagome stared at him, eyes wide slightly. She shook her head and shut her eyes, her seemingly permanent frown still on her face.

"Don't be silly, I do not look attractive, smiling or not." Kagome said stiffly. Pepinot let out a sound of disagreement, making her quickly look at him.

"Uh-uh! You are pretty! If someone says otherwise, ignore them!" Pepinot cried. Kagome looked between Pepinot and the smug-looking Pierre. She looked away, frowning deeply. Pierre looked at her expression but one look in her eyes told him something. She was self conscious about herself. This girl, top student in her class, in her year, didn't have any confidence.

"You don't believe in yourself, do you?" Pierre said. Kagome glanced at him, knowing he was meaning it as a statement more than a question. She stared at him and he stared back. Kagome let out a sigh.

"Okay, yes. I've been taught that it's weakness and I honestly hate my laugh and smile, okay?" Kagome said roughly. Immediately, she got up and headed out of the room. Pierre darted after her quickly, ignoring the stares he was receiving. Kagome was fast, but he was catching up due to his slightly longer legs. He grabbed her arms and she wriggled and writhed, trying to pull out of his grasp. Pierre held on, turning her to face him. She looked angry but at the same time she looked sad. "Let me go!" Pierre knew Kagome wasn't using her full strength, she wanted him here with her. She wanted someone to comfort her.

"Calm down." Pierre pulled her in and hugged her to his chest. Kagome felt her eyes grow wider and she stood there, unsure of what to do. Kagome never really received hugs and it felt odd and... surprisingly soothing. And, for the first time in years, Kagome allowed herself to cry. Her tears stained his vest and she gripped the fabric. "As you said, you know not to change someone into something they're not. And you're not supposed to be emotionless, you're supposed to be happy. For God's sake, you're 14, like me." Pierre muttered in the crying girl's ear. They stood like this for a while, Kagome trying to get used to showing this kind of emotion again.

Kagome then avoided Pierre at all costs, the one person here who had seen her cry. The one who had seen her be weak. She couldn't face him, despite the fact he encouraged the show of emotions from her. She just couldn't look at him again. How could someone she barely knew even have the ability to bring her feelings out? It was weird, it was impossible. Who the hell was he? Kagome was being brought up to be cold, despite it being a public school, her parents were preparing her. For what, she didn't know. But she knew she had to fight, to be strong. You live, you win. You die, you lose. Her father's motto. Kagome didn't know why she was being brought up this way but she knew she had to unless she wanted to bring shame onto the family name, as her father had repeatedly told her.

Kagome made her way through the building, thinking deeply until she bumped into someone. Kagome jolted out of her thoughts before bowing deeply.

"I'm sorry." She murmured before straightening her back. Her eyes widened a fraction when she saw that it was Pierre. She quickly tried to swerve around him but Pierre grabbed her arm. "Let me go, Pierre." Kagome didn't look at him. He refused to loosen up his grip on the smaller 14 year old. She turned her sharp eyes to him only to have them widen at the serious expression on his face.

"Kagome, stop avoiding me." He said quietly.

"I'm not." Kagome answered a little bit too quickly. Pierre gave her a disbelieving look and kept on holding her arm. Kagome glanced at the hand on her and shoved it off before turning to him fully. "Listen. What do you want from me? There's something you want and I don't like how you're trying to get close to me. What do you want?" She demanded angrily. Pierre stared at her before smiling slightly.

"I honestly just want to see your emotions. I've seen sad and angry. Honestly, Kagome, you should show your emotions. For the month that you're staying here, I'm going to make sure I see every one of your emotions." He replied before letting go of her arm. Kagome watched him walk away. She felt surprised at how much he wanted to see her show her feelings. As soon as he disappeared round the corner, Kagome turned to look at her reflection in the window. She raised her right hand and placed her index finger at the corner of her mouth. Slowly, she raised the corner of her mouth up. Kagome stared at her reflection before pulling her hand away, her lips falling back into place.

"Smile?" Kagome tilted her head before trying to twitch her lips up into a smile but then gave up. "How do you smile again? It's been so long..." She shook her head before continuing on her way.