The Skylark and the Cat Chapter Six

Okay, I'm an American, and I don't know what Japanese schools are like, so please, excuse my American-ness. I don't want to research, solely because a story is better when you have experience, and I happen to know exactly what my own school is like. I'll be using that as my outline.

"That was pretty nice," Ikuto laughed as we headed back towards the locker rooms.

"Not really," I mumbled, even though that was a bit of a lie. "Don't trip me again."

"It was just payback," the other man sighed, "Don't forget that you dragged me along the ground for fifteen meters and some of the way back."

I grunted with satisfaction, then sighed at the temperture change from the fair weather outside, into the humid, heated air of the locker room. Hibird flew off of my head and back outside as Ikuto and I came further in. God, that place reeked. I changed back into my Namimori uniform, and checked to make sure the badge was still in my pocket, before looking back at Ikuto. He was pulling his shirt down over his body as my eyes rested on him. I thought I saw a flash of blue around his shoulders, but it vanished immediately. Had I imagined it?

"Well, I'm glad that your mood has been improving," Ikuto sighed, looking back at me. "I mean, very slowly."

"Hn," I grunted, before heading out of the locker rooms. Ikuto chased after me, and grabbed my arm.

"Hey!" he protested, "Don't leave so easily, there are girls outside who want to tear you apart."

"Why would they bother to try that?" I asked tiredly, rolling my eyes.

"You know, I always choose a lucky girl to do P.E. activities with me," he sighed, "You got the spotlight."

I smacked the back of his head, growling, "Stop treating me like one of your slave women."

"That's cold, Kyoya," Ikuto sighed, "I don't mean it like that. And I don't have slaves! They do that on their own."

"Uh huh," I said, holding out my finger for Hibird as he flew down. But, to my disappointment, the bird took perch on Ikuto's shoulder instead.

"Hehe, this little guy's pretty cute," Ikuto chuckled, reaching up a finger to pet my bird. "Hey, how did you find him? He's really tame." After saying that, the blue-haired man snickered and added, "Unlike you."

I folded my arms. "I met him when I was being held prisoner by a bastard named Mukuro Rokudo. A man who exploited my weakness and destroyed me. Hibird, come." Hibird, recognizing my tone, hopped from Ikuto's shoulder to mine, and nuzzled into my neck. I sighed. "I'm sorry I snapped at you, Hibird."

"Hibari, Hibari!" came the sing-song reply, and I smiled slightly.

"Hey, can I get an apology, too?" Ikuto asked, before rubbing the back of his head where I'd hit him.

"No," I said flatly. Ikuto muttered 'whatever' under his breath, and walked back out towards the main building.

"There are only two more periods. History, and then... er... orchestra."

"Orchestra?" I repeated. "I don't play."

"We'll find something that works for you," Ikuto sighed. "You'd probably be good at piano... then again we have a pianist. What do you think of cello?"

"I think I'm not going to like that class," I muttered, before looking questioningly at him. "What do YOU play?"

"Violin," Ikuto replied, grinning. "I've been playing my whole life."

"I'm sure you have," I said sarcastically, though I figured that a goody-goody like Ikuto wouldn't lie.

We stepped into the main building just as the bell rang to let out the previous period, and we headed on to History.

That was a fairly boring class. All we learned about were things like Buddism, and how it influenced our daily lives. I didn't have an apartment that allowed Buddhist garden-making.

Orchestra was next, and, though I was relieved that it was the last period, I had no idea what I'd be doing in there. As Ikuto was getting ready for class, tuning his violin and preparing the bow, I observed the class. Ikuto suddenly began playing a scale, going up at least three octive on G major, and I stopped him, finding the highest octive to be excruciating.

"What should I do?" I asked him. He shrugged.

"Tell the teacher you're new."

I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time that day, and approached the music teacher. "Excuse me?" I began, "I'm Hibari Kyoya."

"Ah, the new student," the teacher said, before looking me over. "Any experience?"

I thought for a moment. "I've pressed a few keys on a piano before, but I don't know any real music, or notes."

"Scales?" he asked. I searched my memory again.

"Only C and D major," I told him. The man sighed.

"Ikuto!" he called, "I believe you're this boy's friend?"

"That's right," Ikuto replied.

"Get him a rental instrument and start teaching him in the storage room. I'll give you today's music to practice at home."

"Thanks," Ikuto said, taking a few sheets of music, before leading me into the storage room. "You're lucky I know base cleff," he said, "You can play cello if you want."

"Why do you insist on me playing cello?" I asked. The man shrugged.

"It suits you," he said, pulling out a chair out and setting it down. He took a large case from a rack and opened it, then took a cello from it. "I think you'll like it."

"I think you're wrong," I replied curtly as he placed the neck of the instrument in my hand. He handed me a bow, after giving proper preparations, and adjusted my grip until he was satisfied.

"Alright, now, just to tune," he said, "play your A string."

I just played a random string, and Ikuto laughed. "Your other A string."

I played another string, and Ikuto winced. "That's pretty out. Alright, one second."

He played the A on his violin, and I dragged the bow over the same string, until he bent down and twisted a knob on the instrument. He nodded, and I played again. The feel of this was uncomfortable. I wasn't very fond of it. I made sure I voiced this after Ikuto had spent a solid six minutes tuning the cello. He just placed the violin on his shoulder, and said, "D major scale. Start on your D string, and play a single quarter note every scale degree."

"Huh?" I grunted, but he began playing. I started alongside him, and tried to follow, placing fingers on the tapes on the instrument, becoming frustrated whenever I hit too sharp or flat. He switched strings, and I did so as well, becoming more balanced with every move. As the scale went back down, Ikuto stopped playing, and I finished on my own.

"Good," Ikuto said. "Now, a half note."

After being worked to the bone, and learning how to play quarter, half, whole and eighth notes with all sorts of different patterns, I was ready for a nap. Of course, that wasn't going to happen. As Ikuto put the instruments back, he asked a question that I never wanted him to ask.

"What was your old school like, Kyoya?"

"... It's a long story," I told him.

"I don't care," he replied, tell me what it was like."

I looked down. "Well, first of all, it was my home," I said. "My parents had all kinds of enemies. They were shot and killed about five years ago, and I inherited the house. The principal was the only one who was really friendly with them, and he took me in before any of my distant family members could get to me- which isn't so bad, because none of my family were really useful. Nor did they care for me. The principal took me under his wing, and even kept the old house for when I was old enough. We had most of my things kept there. He made me the head of the Disciplinary Committee almost immediately. I was educated like a middle school student a couple years early, so I had to wait out the rest of the time until high school.

"... Just a year ago, the man who had fathered me for six years died in a car accident. The new principal and I didn't see eye-to-eye. He thought that it was simply absurd for a child to care so much about their school. And so, the second I turned seventeen, this new guy sent me off to this place. I don't think it was entirely legal, but it's not like I had anyone to speak out against it, so here I am."

Ikuto remained silent for a bit. "That must have been tough," he said.

"... It was," I agreed.

'Very tough,' I added silently.

"My father left the house a long time ago," Ikuto told me. "And my mom remarried. Heh. This new man treats me like his errand boy. And my sister is treated just about the same."

"Sister?" I repeated. I hadn't heard anything about Ikuto having a sister.

"Her name is Utau. She's a singer. She's a little weird, but... she's a sweet girl.

"Huh," I replied.

The bell rang, and Ikuto swung his bag over his shoulder. "Alright, mister Head Prefect," he said, "Need me to walk you home?"

"That won't be neccessary," I told him. "But... I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sure," Ikuto said, holding out his hand. I stared. "Come on, Kyoya, I'm not going to hurt you," he coaxed in a rather belittling voice. I frowned, and took his hand, then let him shake it.

"Later," I said, walking away.

"See you."

I clenched my fist. I could still feel his warmth on my hand. It felt oddly nice, but it did fade, slowly. Something about Ikuto threw me off balance. I disliked people who made me feel off like that.

I was definitely not going to let him into any more of my inner self.

I'd have to bite him to death for him to get any closer.

-End Chapter

Feels like a bad chapter. Sorry! Not worth the wait, I know. BLACKANGEL1994! SLAP ME!