Finally, here it is... Chapter 6! *vocalizes* I'm sorry I've kept you waiting so long. ^^; It's been so long I bet you forgot what the story was about. :x Anyways, it was for a good cause... I had to rewrite it twice cuz it was crappy, but I'm very satisfied with this version. ^^
Hope you like it! (Please review!) c:
Chapter 6: Sharp Around The Edges
"Ladies first." Leon gestured me to go ahead of him.
"What?" I looked back at Leon. I tried not to speak too loudly.
"It's only a joke, sheesh... You have to learn not to take everything so seriously." He sighed and opened the door.
We both went inside with a sheepish look. The teacher looked at us—arms crossed. And the other students stared at us. We became the center of attention. The air felt... heavy. And there we stood, thinking about an excuse. But we both thought that if we told the truth, well, we'd be in trouble—both of us—for bad use of time, I guess.
"You're late again, Mr. Suto." Mr. Mizushiro said in his usually serious tone, but it had a hint of angry in it. "But that isn't surprising. Now take your seat." He ordered. "I don't want to hear you excuses."
Leon didn't protest as he would usually do, he just went to his seat. Knowing him, he probably felt guilty for making me late. It's not like I'll die for being late just once.
"As for you, Miss Sakuta." Mr. Mizushiro turned towards me. "This is the first time you're late to my class. I'd like to hear an explanation." He said in a rather demanding tone.
"Perdón, es que..." Those damn Spanish words slipped out of my mouth without my permission. I quickly blushed and covered my mouth. "Sorry."
I heard the other students laugh and that made me even more nervous than I was already. Sweat drops came down from my forehead, but I wiped them away as quickly as possible. I didn't want anyone to notice how nervous I was—surely they'd start laughing again.
"It's okay." Mr. Mizushiro sighed. "I'll talk to you after class."
"Thank you." I said quickly—maybe too quickly... Then I proceeded to my seat.
My hands shook uncontrollably so I hid them under my thighs. Then I tried to put my attention back to the teacher, but it was very difficult because I over heard a conversation behind me—about Leon and me.
"What do you think those two were doing?" The first girl asked.
"Who knows." A second girl replied. "Maybe they were making out or something like that."
I was mad. Leon and I are just friends, nothing more. When two people of the opposite gender hang out together it doesn't necessarily mean they're lovers. What a sick and immature way of thinking! I wanted to yell at them and say 'You got the wrong idea...' and who knows what other things but that'll probably make things worse so I got a hold of myself.
"Akira is so lucky. Leon is so hot, but he's always with her." A third girl said. "I wish I was her."
"Believe me you wouldn't want to." The second girl added. "You'd be known as the class top whore."
The moment she said that I felt like a sword pierced right though my chest. The one of the girls asked the very same question that went though my mind.
"Why?"
"Didn't you know? Everyone saw it." Another one of the girls said. "She came to school with Uryu, then she ditched him to be with Leon. And in math, she totally ignored Leon to have god knows what conversation with Uryu. And then Leon and Uryu almost fight in the hall for helping Akira with her books. They almost eat each other out there—all because of her."
Now I felt the twist of the sword in my chest. What a horrible way to find out! I was completely unaware of that. Did it really look that way? I think Leon heard that too, because I saw his face from the corner of my eye—he was disturbed.
My eyes started building up tears. I really wanted to cry now—I needed to. But this wasn't the right moment. I wiped the tears off before they could even start running down my face, trying to pretend to be only rubbing my eyes. I tried to clear my mind and pay attention to the teacher's class. That way I managed to stay calm, at least for now—until I was alone.
When the bell finally rang, everyone dashed out, as usual. The teacher got me before I could even start walking. I had totally forgotten he wanted to talk to me.
"Akira, why were you late today? It's not like you to be late." Mr. Mizushiro sounded somehow concerned. "What happened?"
I didn't know what to say for an instant, but then I got the perfect excuse. Even if it was a lie, it might save us both, Leon and me.
"It was nothing really... I just lost my book and Leon helped me find it." I said as naturally as I could manage. "I'm sorry for my tardiness and for interrupting your class."
Oh. It's okay, don't worry. I'll excuse you both for today, but don't let this be repeated ok?" He said in an unusually nice tone. It surprised me, even though it was right what I was aiming for.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Mizushiro." I bowed.
"Oh, please. Just call me Shinbashi and you don't have to thank me." He smiled.
There was a short silence while I got my lunchbox. I felt horrible for lying now. It's just that I thought if I told him the truth I'd get Uryu and Leon in trouble or something. Then I'd really be one to blame. But Mr. Mizushiro, I mean, Shinbashi, took me by surprise with his kindness. I think he's one of those teachers who are very serious in their class but out of it, they're really nice people. Now I had to apologize for the lie.
"About earlier, I..." I said sheepishly, but I couldn't continue. I just wasn't brave enough.
"Yes?" Shinbashi turned back at me.
"Never mind." I said. "Have a nice evening." I took my lunch box and walked towards the door.
"You too." Shinbashi said. "Take care."
I just smiled back at him and went out. Leon was waiting for me right next to the door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. I was quite surprised to find him waiting for me—after hearing that conversation the girls had in class, one would rather stay away from the other. I looked at him, the sighed—and continued walking.
"You lied." He said as he caught up with me.
"Yes. And I feel bad about that. Please don't mention it again." I replied. There was a slight change in my voice—I was sad.
"Sorry." Leon said.
"Don't worry..." That was all I said in reply.
The next few moments were awkwardly silent as we walked down the hall. And I was starting to feel some kind of urge to be alone.
"Hope you don't mind, but…" I broke the silence. "But I'd like to eat alone today."
"Of course I don't, go ahead." Leon smiled warmly at me.
I didn't reply. I just started going down the stairs when his hand landed on my shoulder and stopped me.
"Just don't let it get to you." Leon started. "You shouldn't give much importance to what other people say about you. I'm sure you know they are completely wrong about you… As long as you're sure of what you are and what you aren't you shouldn't be worrying about this and you know it." Now he pulled me a little closer to him. "Just take this as a piece of advice from me—and probably the best I can give you. Please, keep that in mind." And he let go of me and went up the stairs to the rooftop.
I just stood there. I was taken aback by what Leon said—and the way he said it. I've never seen him so serious before. The way he was concerned scared me.
But I couldn't stay there, so I continued my way down the stairs. After a short walk around the school and getting a few sharp stares from the other students, I finally found a nice spot under a tree near the courts. I sat on a root facing in the direction with less people and started eating the tuna sandwich I prepared before I walked to school.
While I ate, I thought about what Leon said. I really did worry too much about what people think of me. Maybe it'd be a good idea to stop worrying about that. But that was actually kinda important to me. I don't want to be glared at, nor avoided, nor excluded. I just don't want it to be the same as it was before I moved here.
"I'm so hopeless." I sighed.
The bell rang. Lunch hour today passed much faster than usual. Maybe because my mind was so busy with thoughts I didn't notice the passing of time.
I got up and went to the next class, throwing the lunch leftovers in a trashcan as I walked by it.
When I got to history class, everyone was already seated and Miss Minami about to start her class, so I quickly went to my seat and settled there. Then I suddenly felt something missing. I glanced to my side, to see an empty seat—Leon's seat. He left?
"Leon Suto." The teacher called his name. "Mr. Suto?" She looked over to the back.
"He left." A girl said.
"Oh." Miss Minami said. "Do you know why?" She asked.
"No. Suddenly he just ran off." The girl shrugged.
Strange. That's just not like him. He does leave school, at random times—even during classes—but when he does, he always gives some kind of reason. And he never runs off in such a hurry as the girl described. Something's definitely going on.
"Okay, class. Let's start our lesson." Miss Minami said. "Turn to page 183 and start reading." She instructed. "We'll discuss it in ten minutes."
I did as the teacher said, as well as the other students. And that's how most of the class went on.
The rest of the day was boring. Now I truly noticed how Leon was the only person who actually talked to me. I was alone today more than ever.
When the bell finally rang in the last period, I gathered my stuff and rushed outside. I hoped no one would follow me, but someone did.
"Akira, wait!" Uryu said as he caught up with me.
"Please, leave me alone, would you?" I kept walking, trying not to look at him.
"I can't." He put a hand over my shoulder as he spoke in order to stop me. "What if another hollow attacks you?"
He had a point. I was vulnerable to those monsters—I had no way to defend myself against them. But it didn't really matter to me. Actually, I couldn't care less if I got killed by one of those hollows. If I died, I won't be able to bother anyone again.
"Look. I just…" It took me several seconds to make up my mind and speak. "…want to be alone."
"Fine." Uryu replied and took his hand off my shoulder. "But I'll be around the area just in case a hollow appears." He left.
I didn't reply to that, I just kept walking down the street until I couldn't see the school anymore.
DISCLAIMER: Leon Suto is an OC but he doesn't belong to me, he belongs to Daigen. daigen(dot)deviantart(dot)com The only character I own is Akira Sakuta. Bleach and Bleach characters are copyrighted to Tite Kubo.