Disclaimer: I do not own any of the multiple animes or mangas in this story. Thank you.


The Anime/Manga Revolution
Chapter 7

Change. A difference in being or state. Change. A new way of doing. Change. It's subtle but there is a change at Hearth. I just wish I could say it was for the better. The Alphas have let up on their 'pranks' on me. Mrs. Fujimoto has stopped singling me out in class. My marks are good. On the surface everything looks fine. But it isn't.

Yesterday I was wandering around the school when I stumbled across something in Room 130. Girls in costumes. Actually, costume isn't the right word. Well maybe it is but it doesn't seem to match. I've been a fan of American comic books heroes since I was little so I recognized the people in front of me instantly. Although I wasn't sure if I was looking at Superman or Super girl, Batman or Batgirl, and Hawkman or Hawk girl. (Why is it when there are girl versions of male heroes they always take the suffix girl?)

All four girls had stopped and stared at me when I opened the door. Wonder Woman had been battling with Hawk person when I entered and they had frozen with Hawk's punch caught in Wonder's hand. I was the first to speak.

"Hi," I said. "I didn't know there was a DC club here."

From her place in front of a computer Bats said, "It was an American comic book club but all our Marvels got brainwashed."

I didn't have class until after lunch so I stepped into the room and closed the door. "I'm Mona."

"Batgirl."

"Super Girl."

"Hawk Girl."

"Wonder Woman."

I nodded. "So you're all that's left?"

Wonder nodded as she sat down. "Hearth took everyone else. However," she leaned forward and narrowed her eyes at me, "you don't seem very surprised."

I shrugged, not the least intimidated. "I'm from Room 444."

That meant nothing to them so I explained. "An anime club."

That meant something to them because under her mask, Hawk's eyes widened. "You mean that with Mrs. Fujimoto's son?"

I nodded. "I have the battle scars to prove it."

Super Girl leaned over from her place on top of the teacher's desk. "So you were the one who was nearly hit by a semi."

I winced. "Yeah. In my defence, my tea had been messed with."

"Alphas?"

"I sorta turned them down."

Bats smiled. "I made the same mistake and was branded as trouble ever since. Teachers hate me."

I grinned as I sat down. Somehow I felt as at home in room 130 as I did in room 444. "Speaking of that, did you notice how this school seems out to kill people who don't really fit in?"

The girls didn't seem to have the rules about coming out of character because Wonder rolled her eyes. "Duh. Why do you think we hid in here instead of battling on the lawn?"

The other girls nodded in agreement. Hawk leaned forward and put a hand to the side of her mouth. "I heard that fifty years ago Hearth was actually an art school. The best in the area even but then they went bankrupt and some hotshot business guy turned it into a business college and made it the best university in the country."

I frowned. "Isn't that a good thing?"

Hawk shook her head. "For the robots they make, maybe but I prefer to think for myself and that makes us dangerous. Anyone who still thinks could jeopardize the rep of the school so…" She pretended to slit her throat with her right hand.

Wonder nodded. "Our current dean is the worse though. My dad went to Hearth and in those days they would just kick you out but more and more of us are their best students so we have to removed."

I nodded. "Some universities will do anything to keep their rep."

Sups leaned back to lie down on her desk. "If I didn't want a good paying job, I'd have left a long time ago."Suddenly she sat up again and grinned. "So Mona who's your favourite superhero?"

There was no hesitation on my part. "Batman."

Bats punched the air. "Yes!" she said with a laugh.

I just blinked, unsure of what was going on. We talked for a little while longer before I left to get lunch. For the rest of the day I was amazed that I had found some people out of club who I could talk to who weren't trying to kill me. In fact, I made a mental note to keep in contact with the girls. Rebels have to stick together after all.

I closed my notebook and hopped down from my tree once I had finished writing. The Alphas may have been leaving me alone, but I was well aware of the saying the calm before the storm. I kept close to the pillars in front of the school to avoid not only water balloons but also plants and beer bottles falling from windows. The boys had given me a couple of survival tips based on their own experiences. However, I had yet to quash the polite instinct in me that caused me to stop and look around when someone called out to me. So far that habit had not caused me any grief but I knew it eventually would.

"Hey freshman."

I paused behind a pillar as my ears adjusted to hearing the word 'freshman' instead of 'raw metal.' A man in at least second year came up to me wearing a jacket supporting the Hearth cheerleading team. The oddest thing about the man (other than him calling me a freshman) was his hair. It was either naturally white or bleached really well. His eyes had to be covered by contacts though because they were a demonic red. I probably should have started running but I was too curious to move.

"You're one of those people from room 444, right?" he asked as we stood behind the pillar.

Mind still filled with the thought of my talk with the girls, I hesitated. "Did one of the guys talk to you or something?" I asked as I tried to figure out his angle.

He nodded as he put his hands in his pockets. "Said his name was Tam… something and that I should talk to you about the club because he was busy."

I nodded, wondering when I had become the go-to person. "Okay."

Thankfully, the upperclassman didn't beat around the brush because if I had been in control of the conversation, I doubted we would have ever gotten to the point.

"The blonde said that the club was probably my girlfriend's style since she is really into Inuyasha."

I couldn't help but blurt out, "Oh."

He rolled his eyes. "You were wondering about the hair."

"And the eyes," I admitted.

He shrugged. "I only put up with it since I forced her to dye her hair black and wear purple."

I nodded. "So are you into anime too?"

"Not really. I prefer American comic books. Kayla does too but we couldn't find anyone else who does."

I smiled. "Did you try room 130?"

He frowned. "What's in there?"

I glanced around to make sure that no one was listening. The place was deserted. "Just go over there with Kayla and say Mona sent you."

He stared at me for a moment before shrugging. As he turned to walk away, he paused and turned back. "Some other guy named Kurama also wanted me to tell you to go to room 444 at lunch for a meeting."

"Did he say why?"

The guy shook his head. "Just said come in costume."

I nodded and we went our ways. I went to class and once again everything seemed fine. I was even proud of myself for helping out the other club but I couldn't help but wonder why Andrew had called a meeting during the middle of the day.

*A*M*R

My good mood managed to last until club when I slipped into a blue skirt, brown wig, pink shirt, and blue contacts for my Anzu (Tea Gardner) costume. As I stepped into room 444, my good mood was stabbed and died.

From his place in the far left corner of the room Kurama was glaring at Sean. He wasn't in costume and he wasn't reading. Sean was just sitting with his arms crossed and eyes closed. They didn't even open when I entered the room. Part of me wondered if Andrew and Sean had a disagreement but that wouldn't explain Sean's costumeless state.

I said hello as I sat down at my desk but neither of the boys noticed my presence. Completely lost, I pulled out my homework and started studying. Mid-terms were coming up and I wanted to say I at least tried to pass Jap 101 even though I probably wouldn't. I was trying to remember basic kanji when Martin burst down the door, gray eyes blazing.

"Is it true?" he demanded.

Sean nodded but because his eyes were closed he was unable to avoid Martin grabbing his collar and hauling him to his feet.

"You always came down on Ashley for leaving and now you are going to do the same thing?"

My jaw dropped. "Sean's leaving?"

Kurama nodded. "Apparently his mother offered him a deal he could not refuse."

Sean was silent but he removed Martin's hands from his collar with ease. Martin's hands were shaking I noticed.

"What's so important that you would abandon your friends?"

Sean spoke now and I had a feeling he was barely holding back from saying what he wanted. "I wouldn't expect you children to understand."

Kurama's eyes narrowed. "And you are an adult?"

"Someone has to be. We can't all live with a safety net, Mr. Brock."

"As the bastard, I suppose you feel you have no net."

Sean was shaking with rage but he didn't attack Kurama. Instead he left. Vanished out the door. I wasn't sure what I was thinking as I followed Sean. I wasn't even sure if I was thinking. Maybe I had developed a personality problem from cosplaying. Regardless, I followed Sean as Anzu most likely would have.

He heard me coming and paused in the shadows behind the building. "What do you want, Deaden?"

I wasn't sure but if I didn't speak, he wouldn't give me time to figure it out. "An explanation," I said.

His eyes narrowed. "For what?"

"For leaving the club. You can't just leave and not tell us why."

"I thought you were smart enough to figure it out on your own. I left to join student council."

"So you're leaving your friends for people you don't even like?"

"This isn't high school. I have two years left here before I'm gone. Do you think any employer will care if I was part of a lame club?"

"And they'll care if you're on student council?"

Sean nodded. "The connections you make here can make or break you."

I glared at him. "So it's all about work."

"That's what we are here for. To learn how to survive in the workforce."

"University is to learn more about yourself and your chosen path in life."

"Are you really that naïve, Mona?"

I was silent. A gust of wind blew through the school tossing up stray papers in its path and the sun ducked behind a cloud. Sean was glaring at me.

"The only reason people bother with each other is because it benefits them," he said. "The only reason people bother to get higher education is to get a higher paying job. The only reason people do anything is to get ahead. I suggest you learn that quickly before you get eaten." He started to walk pass me and towards the front doors. As he passed, he added, "And if you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from me."

Before I could say anything, he had moved on. For a moment I simply stood, absorbing what Sean had said. I had expected the response and thought I had prepared for it but I hadn't prepared for the anger that was welling up in me. The same anger had gotten me into trouble many times before but I couldn't stop it from overflowing.

I turned on my heel. I was going to make him change his mind if it was the last thing I did. Some little voice in my head might have said I was being suicidal but I didn't notice. I walked towards the doors and when I spotted him I called out his name. Sean paused on the front steps to the university and slowly turned. The glares he had sent my way before were nothing compared to the one he sent in my direction then, but I had learned that his glares meant nothing as Kaiba and they would mean nothing as Sean.

"Sean!" I repeated as I pointed at him. "I challenge you to a bet!"

He continued to glare and I slowly became aware of the hundred of students who had paused on their way to class to watch this insane challenge. I could feel my fear sipping into my mind, but I summoned all my strength and stubbornness to push it back. I was still wearing my costume. I was not Mona. I was Mona's choice of self-expression. I ignored the many eyes as I pointed at him, an angry scowl on my face.

"Mid-term exams are coming up. If I pass my Japanese exam, you will rejoin the club."

Sean blinked and nodded. "And if you fail?"

The thought hadn't occurred to me, but I went with a usually fail-safe answer. "I'll do whatever you want for a month— within moral and legal boundaries."

He shook his head. "Childish."

I swallowed as my scowl turned into a worried frown. "What do you suggest?"

He smirked. "First, you will not have to pass your exam; you will have to get a prefect score. If you fail, you will have to give up manga and animes and anything connected to the two until you die."

The yard was silent as my anger froze and turned into gut-stabbing, dry swallowing fear. A pass would be enough of a stretch since I was currently failing the course. I doubted I even had a 20%. A perfect score was impossible but…

I took a deep breath.

Impossible only became possible though risks.

"You're on."

My fate was sealed.

A/N: Yeah Mona isn't too bright. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

-D101