There is a strange reluctance on the part of most people to admit they enjoy life.

— William Lyon Phelps

Perhaps she had gotten too accustomed to the ghostly presence of her cousin (and perhaps Kuroo as well), because stepping into Nekoma High without them seemed like a strange new experience to Rin.

Sweat beaded at the back of her neck as she went over to her locker to change into her indoor shoes. She couldn't shake off that feeling that she was being watched... Rin swiped one hand over her neck to wipe away the perspiration, lifting up her braid as she did so. Her hair was getting too long and the braid made her look like an orange-haired Elisa from that one animated movie, Frost. She'd have to cut it soon—the only reason she kept it this long to begin with was because her mother insisted upon it.

But now that she was far away from that woman, she could do whatever the hell she wanted with her hair. Okaa-san means well, she thought, If only she could just be less bothersome...

She nearly dropped her shoes when she realized something. Shit! Okaa-san's assistant is going to be dropping by this Thursday to check on me! That's tomorrow!

Her mother's assistant, Hanako, had known Rin all her life. In a way, Hanako had filled the role of a competent guardian; there was no way that she would believe that Rin would be capable of surviving by herself without some outside help. After all, Ryouta Rin had never lifted a finger to do housework and chores in her life. And then there was the question of lunch! Hanako would be arriving in the afternoon, and Rin had no doubt that she would be examining whether Rin ate her regular meals or not. Hanako was sharp—she wouldn't believe that Rin was capable of cooking until she saw it for herself.

She felt someone tap her shoulder, and jumped, letting out a small shout as she did so. Her socks sliding across the floor as she whipped around, Rin breathed out a small sigh when she saw Saki grinning at her.

"You again?" Rin sniffed, putting on her indoor shoes.

"Hey, don't sound so tortured," Saki said, fiddling with the pair of goggles sitting on her head. In an odd way, it suited her. Her white hair was windblown as usual, her electric yellow eyes practically glowing as she continued, "Look, I get that I was probably being super pushy before... and what I'm about to offer you was Soomi's idea, not mine."

Rin stared at her. "... Go on." There was still a significant amount of time before class began as it was still early in the morning.

"Well..." For the first time, Saki sounded almost uncertain. "Instead of becoming a permanent member of our band club, why don't you have a trial period first? At the end of the two week trial, you can decide whether you want to join or not."

Rin frowned. "A whole two weeks of spending time with you after school? Don't kid around, I have better things to do."

Saki clapped her hands together, suddenly bowing. "Please! Just give us a chance." She stood back up, her eyes slightly damp with tears. "You have no idea what this means to me and Soomi. We said we were going to play together in high school! Me on the drums and her on the keyboard! So please, Kohaku-chan! We can't do this without you!"

"I..." I don't care, she wanted to say. She had no reason to help them. She hardly knew them, nor did she want to. Cursing herself inwardly, she said, "Fine." Saki's face instantly lit up and Rin added cuttingly, "Don't take this as a guarantee! I'm only doing this because I feel sorry for you." Fuck me gently with a chainsaw, I actually agreed.

"YATTA!" Saki whooped, grabbing Rin by the hands and twirling the both of them around. "I knew you'd warm up to me! Everybody does!"

"GET OFF ME!"

Saki continued to grin even with the red slap mark on her face.

After school, Saki dragged Rin to the band room, holding her by the sleeve of her sailor uniform.

"I can't stay for long," Rin warned, "I have to pick up my little brother from toddler school."

"Oh, pish posh!" Saki said flippantly. "We've got plenty of time! It's time for you to meet the gang."

"Gang?" Rin echoed. I thought it was just her and Soomi. Did she... lie to me? "Kenshin-san—"

"Call me Saki!"

Annoyed, Rin corrected, "Saki-san—"

"Just Saki!"

"SAKI!" Rin snapped, yanking her wrist away from her, nearly falling over at the abrupt stop. "What gang are you talking about?"

"Oh, well..." Saki laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. "It's not really a gang. Soomi and the supervising teacher, Chinatsu-sensei, are waiting in the club room for us to arrive, you see."

"Chinatsu-sensei?" Rin murmured contemplatively. That would explain why Chinatsu-sensei has been staring at me all day.

Saki fixed the goggles on her head. "Eeyup, the very same one that's our homeroom teacher. She doesn't really have anything better to do considering she's a total Christmas Cake."

"... Christmas Cake?" The two girls stopped in front of the sliding wooden door of the music room, Saki grabbing the handle. "What the hell you mean by that?"

"Oh, well, you know," Saki said, giggling, "No one ever wants to eat a Christmas Cake after Christmas Day. Basically—" Saki yelped when the door opened from the other side, revealing a ticked off Chinatsu.

"Yes, go on," Chinatsu said through gritted teeth, "Why don't you tell her allll about my unmarried woman status?!" She raised a rolled up magazine and began to hit Saki on the head. "You little brat!"

"ITAI! I'm sorry, sensei!" Saki warbled. "Forgive me!"

After everything settled down, Rin found herself sitting on a table with her homeroom teacher, Saki, and Soomi. Saki was leaning back in her chair with her legs spread in a most inappropriate and masculine manner, while Soomi was sitting beside her with her back straight and her legs closed.

"So," Chinatsu said as she poured everyone tea. "I've seen you three hanging around each other before. I'm guessing that introductions aren't needed?"

"Yes," Rin said immediately.

"Aw, come on," Saki butted in, "Why not? I mean, we hardly know each other, really. I'll go first!"

"Etto, Saki..." Soomi trailed off, smiling apologetically at Rin. "Once you get her started, there's really no way of stopping her."

"Damn right!" declared Saki, standing up and wilting only slightly when both the teacher and Rin gave her dry looks. She said back down, clearing her throat. "Anyway, the name's Kenshin Saki. I've always wanted to be in a band, and I can't wait for more members to join! Soomi's been my best friend since elementary school." She thumbed her chest, winking. "I saved her from a bunch of bullies so she helped me study in return, hehe! And we've been friends ever since."

"Saki!" cried Soomi, blushing. "They didn't need to know that...!"

"Aw, don't be like that!" Saki ruffled Soomi's dark hair, grinning. "You secretly adore me, kiddo!"

Soomi introduced herself next. "My name is Miko Soomi. I've been learning piano since I was five and I've played in a few national concerts here and there. My dream is to play in an international competition, and I really hope that will happen soon. I come from a Catholic Korean family. I was born in Korea, but moved to Tokyo when I was very young."

Chinatsu let loose a laugh. "If only I could have you in my class instead of Kenshin-san! You seem like a really good student."

Soomi blushed. "N-not really... I'm not a top student."

"Oh, I'm sure you can be one easily of you wanted to. Now, Kohaku-san, why don't you introduce yourself?"

"Well..." Rin hesitated. What should I say? Soomi talked about her dream, Saki talked about Soomi and her band dream... Does that mean I have to talk about a dream too? Now that she really thought about, what was her dream? She didn't know. She didn't have one. "My name is Ry—I mean, Kohaku Rin. I used to attend a school in the Miyagi Prefecture before I moved to Tokyo for... family reasons. Right now, all I want is to have an average high school experience and not worry about adult things." Which is why I really joined the club if I have to be honest with myself...

"Wonderful," Chinatsu said, "So what instruments do you all play? I know that Soomi plays piano..."

"In the band, I'll be playing the keyboard," Soomi said, and Chinatsu nodded.

"The drums for me," Saki put in, using imaginary drumsticks to hit some imaginary drums on the table. "I can't understand how people move their fingers so fast for piano and guitar..."

"I play three instruments," Rin said, feeling pleasure bloom in her chest. Oh, how she loved showing off... But, somehow, it was losing its appeal every time she did it. "Violin, piano, and guitar."

"Nice!" Saki exclaimed. "For the band, we already have a keyboard player," she gestured to Soomi, "and we don't really need a violin player. So do you mind doing lead guitar?"

Rin shrugged. "Not really, no. But we seem to be missing something in this band... Like a bass player and a rhythm guitarist."

"The club is still looking for new members," Chinatsu explained, "So it's really not complete yet. A rhythm guitarist would be pretty useful, but what we need most right now is a bass player."

"Mmhm..." Saki murmured. "Looks like we're going to have to put up some posters! I'll design all of them, so don't worry about it, Rin, Soomi."

At the end of their club meeting, they all went their separate ways, Soomi and Saki heading home while Rin went down to the train station.

She halted when she saw Makoto and only Makoto waiting for her at the front gate. "Where's the Bedhead Captain?"

To her surprise, Makoto smiled, if a little sadly. "Where do you think? The bastard's back... in his body."

To say that it'd been the craziest two days in his life would be an understatement. As soon as his soul was returned to his body, he'd woken up with bruised ribs and a mild fractured ulna that was apparently already healing now that his body was no longer an empty shell.

Kuroo held his hands up in front of his face, blinking steadily. In his ghost form, he'd had less... feeling, to put it on way. Things still hurt and he still felt, but not to the extent of... well, now.

The boy pinched his face, relishing at the pain he felt as his skin was nipped between his fingernails—he'd have to cut them soon, even if they weren't that long. It was then he began to cry, sobbing violently while laughing hoarsely like a maniac at the same time. His hair was an oily mess—shouldn't the hospital have washed it?—but he was relatively clean otherwise. Besides his hair, the hospital had done a good job of washing him while he was unconscious.

Everything that happened after that was a massive blur. His mother was there to greet him a while after he awoke, and he recalled that there had been lots of crying on both of their parts.

Then the doctor had declared that he was to abstain from doing any strenuous physical activity for a while, which meant no volleyball. Kuroo couldn't even find it in himself to care (though he knew he would throw a fit about it later).

All that mattered was that he was back.

He'd forgotten how warm his mother felt; it only returned to him when she embraced him for the first time in forever.

A/N: And Kuroo returns to the land of the living. His 'death' isn't the main plot of the story; it was just to give things a kickstart around here. Nope, the real focus is on... other things. Mostly interpersonal relationships, I guess. And I took him out the volleyball team for a reason. Volleyball is almost never the main focus in my fics... so if you like epic volleyball battles and comradery, I'm afraid you're going to have to hit up a different genre of fanfiction.

This story was inspired by Orange Marmalade and K-On! (:

Please review~