Beautiful Stranger

By CleideJam

Chapter 3: The New Student is a Charmer


Natsuki's POV

As I watch the retrieving back of one Miss Maria Graceburt, I send her the Kruger death glares, secretly of course, and turns my head towards the office door of the famous Fuuka Academy's head master.

"Wow, who would have thought that she would become a head master" a grin plasters my face as I remember the whining image of her when once upon a time she lost her favorite toy, "Childish" with that last mutter I enter her office.

After closing the office door quietly I now stand in front of a black leathered seat whose back faces me. However, when I gaze higher I can make out a head with long gray-colored tresses which I suppose is owned by my cousin. I slowly walk towards her mahogany office table and as I walk I could make out a scent of something like…tea?

"Don't tell me that Shi-chan suddenly remembered you and taught you how to prepare and drink tea" I say when I see a tea set placed on her table.

At that moment the head master whom I had not seen for so long turns on her seat and faces me, her once before joyful, mischievous and playful blue-green eyes are now calm, collected and elegant pair of cyans. Her short hair is now so long I think it passes through her waistline. I stand, not yet taking my seat, in front of an all new Mashiro Blan De Windbloom.

"Natsuki…" her voice full of longing returns me from my moment of gawking to the present time. She smiles warmly and elegantly when she notices that I has just been day dreaming once again. I scratch the back of my neck and smiles apologetically.

"Time sure did well for you, Mashiro. You look so…" I pause and let my originally colored emerald eyes study every feature edible from her sitting position, "Beautiful…" and smile at her. I then take a seat in front of her well-furnished desk.

"Why thank you, Natsuki. I guess everyone just change as time passes by" she explains and gestures for her tea set. I look at her quizzically.

"Would you like a tea? And no, Shi-chan didn't regain her memories and didn't teach me anything about tea but I can request her to have some private tutorials with you if you want" she smirks, something that make me realize that some habits just don't change, when she sees me blushing at her comment. I quickly shake my head a sign of rejection on both of her offers.

"Geez, Mashiro. Please, I've just returned from Germany and I have had enough teasing experience from there" I say and lean my back on my chair while releasing a sigh of annoyance when I remember a certain short wavy-haired woman who is left in Germany.

I hear Mashiro giggling thus turning my attention towards her and away from the thought of that woman.

"I guess Ah-chan still loves teasing you for your oh-so-delightful fifty shades of blushes. Anyways, Natsuki…?" the head master looks at me with concerned cyan eyes. I look at her in question.

"Hmm?"

"Uncle Natsu told me that you are coming and are to study here but he hasn't mentioned anything as to why you are here. Will you please do the honors of answering so?" she asks so formally and calmly that I think we are just talking about how our pets are doing.

"Well…" I stand from my seat and leans on her smooth table, our faces just an inch away from each other. "That, my dear cousin, is something I don't know either" I grin and reach for my schedule which I notice is placed on her table. I move back and stand straight once again while waving my schedule.

"As sneaky as always, Natsuki" she sighs and smiles at me.

"What can I say? Some habits just don't die that quickly" I snicker and scratch my left cheek. My index finger then grazes above the band aid resting there. I guess Mashiro notices it as well for she gives me a quizzical look.

"You still haven't had that mark removed?" she asks as she rests her chin on her right palm whose elbow is resting on her table.

"No need, I guess. Just a mere scratch from the past" I say and shrug my shoulders.

"A mere scratch that reminds you of that incident. Really, Natsuki, you should start moving on from the past and accept that Shizuru would never-"

"Stop that. Please" I interrupt her statement, no longer wanting where the conversation is heading. "I am trying to move on and accept the fact that…gah! This is irritating. *sigh* I gotta go. I don't want Midori hunting my head with that deadly weapon of hers when she found out that I had just snapped at her oh-so-beloved ojou-sama" I say and wave my hand as a goodbye. I shudder at the image of Midori standing in front of me with her beloved Gakutenou, her deadly weapon, in her merciless hands.

I make my way towards the office door and when I am about to reach for the door knob I hear Mashiro's final words before I leave her office. The exact words she had given me when I had left Japan for Germany.

"The brain may forget but the heart never will. Take care, Natsuki".


3rd POV

In Fuuka Academy, in each year level, there are star sections called class A's. In this class, only students whose grades range from 90-100% are chosen to be a part of the so-called class of aces. And in each class, well-trained professors are hired to be their homeroom teachers. In the first years, a stout and afro-haired guy named Sakomizu, who is a PhD graduate of chemistry, is their homeroom teacher. On the other hand, a woman whose age is always seventeen handles the second years. Her name is Midori Sugiura. She has trained and studied under her favorite professor in the arts of archeology, while the graduating section is handled and furnished by the fearful Miss Maria Graceburt.

And right now, inside Class-2A, the top students of the second year level are listening to their homeroom teacher's announcement about a new student coming to their class. Some find it amazing that a transferee quickly enters their class while some hate the idea thinking that maybe the transferee has paid her way into their class and some just shrug their shoulders not really caring.

"Listen carefully, class. This semester we will be welcoming a new student into our section" the voice of Midori is quickly interrupted by some students groaning. Well, she can't blame them if they think it is unfair. After all, it needs a lot of wisdom, perseverance and burning of eyebrows for them to enter such an elite section. Well, her new student DOES have those qualities though.

"Now, now, class. It is the decision of the head master so if any of you want to question her decision," she pauses and, out of nowhere, her deadly weapon appears within her grasp. "You will have to go through me first," she says with her deadly aura scaring any students who would dare the decision of her ojou-sama. Noticing that no one is approaching her, Midori continues her announcement. With a swift motion, her weapon disappears.

"Anyways, this new student is a girl" again, she is interrupted but this time by the boys only, "Haay…perverts" the teacher says.

Knock

Knock

Knock

"She's finally here, Yay! I better get that" Midori says and heads towards the door. All students watch her as she opens the door. However, when a hand suddenly grabs Midori's collar, their teacher is pulled out of their classroom without even a second passing by. Then the door shuts close, leaving every student wondering what exactly is going on outside their room. Each pair of ears are getting sharp and big trying their best to hear anything.

"Do I really have to do this?"

"Of course, Nat-kun!" Nat-kun? This transferee seems to be familiar with their teacher.

"Eh? But…you know how shy I am in this kind of things…" Aww…she's shy, isn't that cute.

"Nat-kun shouldn't pout there and look like a lost puppy. Now enter the room when I signal you to, ok?" OMG! She's pouting?! We wanna see as well!

With that, the door to their classroom opens and come striding in front is their homeroom teacher. Every student is quiet, too quiet if Midori would say so.

"Class, I want you to be good to her. Nat-kun, you may enter now" with that, all eyes are watching intensely as the door slowly opens and a figure elegantly walks beside their teacher.

In front of the entire class 2A stands a girl with long midnight blue tresses, her skin as pale as white and her arms and legs slender yet smooth. Her face looks so delicate as if it is carved by a well-known sculptor and just below her left eye is a band aid, white and thin. Her eyes are a pure shade of black making her give a very intimidating image to her fellow classmates.

"Good morning, my name is Natsume Kruger," the transfer student then looks at Midori with puppy eyes making the other occupants of the room ogle and say their "Awws" at her, however, Natsume isn't able to notice the ogles and awws because her attention is focused on her new sensei. "Do I really have to do this?" she asks coyly and even though she has given her best puppy eyes to Midori she is still persuaded to do the next scene.

"I'm a stranger here, so please take good care of me" she says with cherry-like cheeks and bows shyly in front of the entire class. At that moment, all of the boys have decided to court her and almost all of the girls become fund of her. Seeing the hearts flying in the air, Natsume sends her Kruger death glares towards every student eyeing her and even Midori seems amuse at the scene.

"Oh boy, Nat-kun, you are so dead" Midori muses to herself seeing the hearts forming in the eyes of the boys and some girls having their girl-crush moments.

After straightening her body from the curt bow, Natsume, Midori and the entire class are surprised when the famous president of the newspaper club stands from her seat and points an accusing finger at Natsume.

"You!" she says suspectively, her handsome gray eyes shining mischievously.

"Huh? Me?" Natsume asks in confusion. "What is going on? Have I done something wrong with my introductions? I knew I should have not trusted Midori in those kinds of things" Natsume groans inwardly.

"Yes, you, Natsume Kruger" the dark-haired bespectacled girl walks slowly towards the position of Natsume. Fishing out her Samsung Galaxy Note II, she now stands beside Midori and Natsume and in front of the entire class.

"This morning, almost every student of the academy saw a very romantic scene. A lost phantom running away with a very well-developed queen" she says and finally reveals her phone with a picture of Natsume carrying Mai in bridal style. As if on cue, the entire class comes to a ruckus.

"Phantom? Queen? Midori, what's going on?" Natsume asks her question in a whisper. For all she knows, she has just tried to help Mai because it is her fault after all why the girl in question gains a sprain in her ankle.

"Nat-kun, you should really not use those chivalrous acts of yours here in the academy. As you can see there," Midori says also in a whisper and points at the girl standing with them, "She is Chie Hallard, the president of the newspaper club and the famous 'Gossip Queen' of the academy" Midori finishes.

"And so? And I am not doing ant chivalrous acts!" still not getting Midori's point, Natsume asks while sending daggers towards the redhead through her glares but Midori just giggles in retort.

"In short, you will be in the headlines when that picture gets published in the newspaper. You should stay away from flashy scenes if you don't want any attention at all" Midori pats her friend in the shoulders and walks in front of the class but the teacher is quickly tied in a chair by some students who seem to work under Chie.

"Nat-Su-Me Kruger, being a transfer student you sure have guts to take hold one of Fuuka Academy's Queens" Chie continues her speech as she shows pictures of Mai to Natsume. The entire class nodding their heads in agreement with the Gossip Queen.

"Queens? What are you talking about?" totally confused of what is going on, Natsume finds herself looking directly at Chie with her eyes confused at the moment.

"Well, if you still haven't known it, there are seven," Chie brings out her two hands with seven of her fingers raised in front of Natsume, "Yes, seven queens here in Fuuka Academy" Chie brings down both of her hands down now moving beside Natsume and wrapping the girl in a half hug with her left arm resting on Natsume's shoulders, "And you are talking to one of them now".

"Seven queens? And you're one of them? What does that information has to do with me?" Natsume asks trying her best to control her cool. Chie removes her arm from the transferee and faces the class once again.

"We'll talk about the seven queens some other time, Natsume-kun, because this time, we'll be talking about Mai Tokiha, the Queen of Cuisines" Chie says and smirks when Natsume raises one of her eyebrows in question.

"Mai is the queen of cuisines? Ok… I get it. Mai is someone very important in this academy and so what have I done wrong?" the biker asks with an irritated tone in her voice. It seems as though Chie is just blabbering around not really answering her question.

"And you! You who are a stranger who had just come here in Fuuka quickly dared to not just touch but carry one of the seven queens! Do you know just how many of the students here in this academy would die just to be around the seven queens?!" the newspaper club president says in a very dramatic tone with her dramatic gestures.

"Hey! I'm no stranger!" Natsume retorts not really liking the thought of her being a stranger.

"I know, Natsume-kun. Because right now, I, Chie Hallard, also known as the Queen of Gossips, am naming you as," Chie stops for her dramatic pause. She smirks when she realizes that all of her other classmates are so enjoying the small show she has started, "The Phantom" she finally says looking at Natsume.

Every student actually like the name that Chie has given to the transfer student but what exactly is 'The Phantom'?

Chie walks around Natsume, eyeing every inch of her body.

"Mysterious yet flashy, elegant yet quite the dare devil and you appear and disappear like an enigma" Chie says as she slowly and sensually walks around the midnight-blue haired girl, "You are like a phantom, Natsume Kruger" she then moves away and faces her classmates. "Aren't I right, guys?" she asks gaining nods, whistles and cheers from everyone.

Chie is about to continue but quickly interrupted by another figure.

Clap!

Clap!

"Alright, class! That's enough! Chie get back to your seat" Midori suddenly says in her most strict tone bringing the room in total silence. The students working under Chie gawk at their teacher who is now standing in front of the entire class, Gakutenou in hand. When they turn their gaze on the chair where they tied Midori earlier they gawk even more. The rope they used is now cut into thin strips and the chair?! The chair is…pulverized! They slowly look at their sensei who is already looking at them with a smug smile. They all keep their retorts, whines, and words into themselves not daring to know how Midori did it.

With Chie finally sitting on her seat, Midori faces the class once again.

"Now that, Chie, is a very interesting show but I'm sure Natsume has some good reason as to why she is carrying Mai" the homeroom teacher then faces the quiet Natsume. Natsume then faces the entire class, using her best stoic expression.

"I'm so sorry about this ruckus, Midori-sensei. I just helped the girl because she has a sprained ankle. I carried her towards the clinic and the rest is history. I hope that clears your doubt, Hallard-san" Natsume says in a tone strict yet not angry. Her pure dark eyes flickering towards Chie who feels somehow intimidated.

"O-Of course, Kruger-san. I guess this issue is off-limits for the newspaper. Sorry but I will still be publishing the idea about 'The Phantom'" the bespectacled girl says and smiles at Natsume.

Natsume in return smiles also, making the handsome gossip queen blush which is very rare. Fortunately, her friend, who has a secret crush on Chie, is not in their class or else, Natsume will be facing a very fuming brunette.

"Whatever you want is alright as long as it won't bring me any harm, Hallard-san" the blunette says and although she thinks her decision is somehow not right, she pushes the irking feeling at the back of her mind. Natsume waits for Midori to give her some instructions.

Unknown to Natsume, her chivalrous act and her beautiful and at the same time handsome features had swoon more than half of the students of class 2A.

"*sigh* Kids these days, anyways, Nat-kun, take your seat at the back near the window" with that, Midori starts her class, History.


When first period is finally over, Natsume stands from her seat but her trail of vision is blocked by three unknown figures. Feeling that something bad is about to happen, Natsume decides to take another route and steps back from the three figures. However, when she is just about to walk away a firm hand grabs her wrist. Irritated, Natsumeturns on her heels and is about to give them a good shouting when…

"N-Natsume-san! Ww-would y-you l-like t-to join us f-for l-lunch?" is the sudden greeting of one of the figures whose head is looking quite a lot like a tomato.

"Huh? Lunch?" Natsume asks really confused. Just a while ago they seem to be blocking her view in a very intimidating way and now they want to have lunch with her? "Lunch? They blocked my way out just to ask me out on a lunch?! Gah! This is the reason why I hate going to schools! They all want to befriend and then go out malling or whatever instead of studying just like what they are supposed to do. Chill, Natsuki. Remember what the spider said last night. Try and make some friends" with that decision, Natsume smiles at the three figures making them tint their cheeks with that familiar shade of red. "Natsume-san is so cute!" they all inwardly announce. About to open her mouth to make some words, the biker gets interrupted when another famous figure enters their classroom.

"Whoa! The seductress is here! Wait. Why is she here?" one of the boys says and some begins to whistle as the figure walks sensually towards her target.

"Oh my- don't tell me that the Queen of Seduction is also attracted to the transfer student?" one says when they recognize where the figure is heading.

Hearing the noise in her classroom, Natsume ignores the three figures in front of her and gazes at the familiar figure heading her way.

Slender legs and vuluptous breasts catch the eyes of any passers-by.

Angelic face and a tempting pair of jades faces the transferee.

"Nao…" Natsume says unconsciously in a very sensual manner surprising her beloved cousin who smirks at her.

"Natsume-kun shouldn't really keep me waiting for our lunch date" Nao decides to play some game.

"Date? What-" getting another interruption, Natsume's mouth is quickly covered by Nao's hand.

"I'm so sorry, ladies, but Natsume-kun and I had already some plans for lunch. So may I have her?" the spider asks so nicely that it makes natsume think that the red-headed girl standing in front of her is an impostor.

"O-of course, Nao-sama! We apologize for delaying your lunch time with Natsume-k-kun" all of the three figures say at the same time.

"Thank you" the spider replies with a very sweet smile adoring her seductive face. And with that, Natsume is now dragged along the corridor by her playful cousin.

"What the hell did just happen?" the biker asks in a daze as her cousin faces her.

"That, my lovely cousin, is what they call 'Getting tricked by the seductress'" Nao says and smiles smugly.

"Seductress? Wait. Why are almost all of the students looking at us?" the lovely cousin asks in wonder when she notices that indeed all of the students are looking at her in amazement, anger and disgust.

"Umm…maybe it's because you are walking with the Queen of seduction?" Nao asks almost proudly.

"Queen of what? Wait. Nao, don't tell me that YOU are actually one of those famous seven queens"

Natsuki's question is answered by another smile from her seductive cousin.

"Oh my god…what have I done to deserve this?"