CHAPTER 7 : THE MAN FROM MY DREAMS

Lately, I've been having strange dreams… I think it must be because of him.

Ayako was running. She didn't know why but she has to get away to save her life.

The tall trees block the light of the sun, making the surrounding very dark and eerie. She couldn't see the way but she kept running.

"Nufufufu…" A voice echoed throughout the place.

Ayako didn't want to look back. That killing intent was scaring her. It's as if before she could even look back, she'll die.

The hanging branches and vines were scratching her body but she kept running. The shadow behind her moved closer and closer.

"Why are you running little one?" It said as the shadow swiftly moved in front of her. Ayako instinctively stopped on her tracks and tried running back but she twisted her ankle upon turning and landed harshly to the muddy ground.

"Nufufu… You certainly are just like him, aren't you?" The shadow said as it tried grabbing her. Ayako couldn't speak nor move.

"Nufufufu… Don't worry, I'll make it painful, just like what your father did to me…" The shadow told her as something thin and hard wrapped itself around her neck, suffocating her.

"N-no… S-somebody…" Ayako mouthed as her vision starts bluring.

"Kufufufu… I thought I've finished you already…" Another shadow appeared as it skillfully cut what was wrapping Ayako's neck. She landed on the ground, trying to catch her breath as she massages her neck. Ayako tried taking a look at the two shadows but her vision wasn't helping, she's almost passing out.

"For someone like you to finish me is merely a dream… I'm the one who taught you after all…"

"Surely you've taught me, but I also have some sources of my own. Kufufufu… You thought I never knew those scrolls you've hidden from me?"

"?!"

Suddenly, the taller shadow disappeared mysteriously from its place. Ayako's rescuer crouched down to her level and touched her cheek."

"Kufufufu… Don't worry, you'll have peaceful dreams for the time being. As long as I'm here, that man can never touch you. I'm sure we'll meet again very soon."

And then it disappeared, leaving Ayako all alone.

"…ko!"

"…yako!"

"Ayako!" A voice called as Ayako opened her eyes and saw her mother besides her wearing a worried look.

"M-mom?"

"Are you okay? You've been sweating and moving restlessly when I came in. I was worried so I tried waking you up." Ayako's mother explained as she wiped her daughter's face with a small towel.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Thanks mom. What time is it?"

"It's still 6:15. I'm already cooking your breakfast, so get change and come down later. Are you sure you're okay?" She asked worriedly as Ayako looked in front of the mirror to see her reflection. For some strange reasons, she has some scratches but she doesn't know where she got it from nor remember why she's shaking up so much. She couldn't even remember the bad dream she was having.

"Where did those scratches come from?" her mother questioned while looking at her hands.

"O-oh, this?! I-I ah… Got this from our Biology class yesterday! We were doing some experiments! Ehehe…" Ayako lied as she hid her hands behind her. Her mother, clearly seeing through her lie, decided to let it slide for today. She knew her too well. Ayako's right eyebrow twitches whenever she lies.

"Okay then. Well, prepare for school now and clean some mess in your room before going out." Her mother commanded as she left the room.

Ayako took a deep sigh and miraculously obeyed what her mother told her. After taking a shower and wearing her uniform, she went downstairs and ate her breakfast. Her mother already went to work by the time she's done.

"Huh? What's this?" She wondered as she noticed a wrapped box by the table. She opened the folded paper on top of it.

"I made this for you so you don't need to line up for lunch. Good luck in school! – Love, mom."

"Geez…" She smiled. After putting her bento inside her bag, she went off to school.

Bad things aside, It's already my 4th day of school in Namimori U! So far, I've been having fun and made new friends. My teachers were okay except for the weird ones like our English and Arts&Music teachers.

"Yawn… Man, I'm sleepy." Hayato complained as he walks with Ayako to school, as usual.

Good morning!" A tall Yamamoto greeted as he caught up with the two of them.

"G-good morning Yamamoto-san!" Ayako greeted as her face heated. Hayato got annoyed. Not only did Yamamoto showed up this early in the morning to ruin his day, but Ayako also got this stupid little crush towards the baseball freak. He doesn't approve of her liking anyone at all.

"What's good in the morning, baseball idiot?!" Hayato argued as the baseball star laughed at him.

"Hahaha, oh look there's Tsuna." He pointed to the brown-haired boy who walking rather slowly ahead of them.

"Tsuna! Good morning!" Hayato greeted as he catches up to Tsuna, leaving Ayako and Yamamoto.

"Didn't he just asked what's good in the morning?" Ayako repeated. Yamamoto laughed and pointed at the store besides them.

"Look, there's a new desserts store opening up. I heard they're good, want to try it out with the others later?" He suggested as he smiled down at her. Ayako felt happy.

"S-sure, Yamamoto-san!" She answered enthusiastically.

- IN CLASS

"Hey Tachibana! Who's the new kid we've been hearing about?!" The leader of the Ganguro Tres, Haruka, demanded as she slammed her hand down Ayako's desk with a loud bang.

"W-what? New kid?"

"Don't pretend you have no idea!" Haruki said.

"As a trainee to become one of us, you must report any information here in the school!" Haruko explained.

'Wha-what the hell are these girls saying?! Since when did I become a trainee?!' Ayako wondered.

"So… Spit it out Tachibana!" Haruka demanded as she pulled Ayako by the collar.

"Now now, you girls don't need to fight for my love. I tell you that I love you all equally." Dr. Shamal said out of nowhere as he removed Haruka's hand from Ayako's collar.

"Now, give your teacher a morning kiss to start your days~!" He proclaimed as he opened his arms wide and gave a kissy face to every girls.

"Kyaaaa!"

"Get out of here you pervert!"

-Enter sounds of Dr. Shamal being beaten, mostly by some carnivore who just arrived because of all the crowding-

"Okay then, let's start the class girls." Dr. Shamal started as he wrote down some notes on the black board. His face was swollen pretty badly. It seemed the class has gotten used to beating him up routinely before class.

"Is this 2-1?" The sound of the door being opened caught the attention of the whole class as a blue-haired guy entered the room.

"Hmm? A new boy student? I'm sorry but, can you introduce yourself later after I'm done teaching? I'm only interested in girls." Dr. Shamal shooed as he continued to write down some notes. The new student only smirked.

"Well, that won't do sensei." He said as Dr. Shamal skillfully blocked an attack from his side. What surprised Ayako was the fact that the new student didn't even move an inch from his position.

"Interesting…" Hibari muttered

"What was that just now?! I thought I saw something EXTREME!" Ryohei yelled as he got up from his seat.

"Sigh, hurry it up then. These girls need my teachings." Dr. Shamal said, acting up like nothing happened. Though he kept in mind to watch out for this strange new kid.

"Kufufufu… I'm Rokudo, Mukuro. I've come a long way from here…" He introduced as he smiled at all of you.

'What a familiar voice… I know I've heard that somewhere…' Ayako thought, never noticing that he's only staring at her.

"It's nice to finally meet you." He finished, mostly referring to Ayako.

"Herbivore..." Hibari called to his seatmate who seemed to be in a trance.

"Hmm…"

BAM

"W-what is it, Hibari-san?" Ayako asked nicely through gritted teeth, ignoring the throbbing bump on her forehead.

"Do you know him?" Hibari asked, un-nicely.

'Wow, Hibari is talking to me first. Are we friends now?'

"N-no, I don't." Ayako answered as Hibari went back to his own business of ignoring her.

'Or maybe not…'

"Well, sit whenever you like. I don't really care." Dr. Shamal ordered as he kept an eye on Mukuro.

"Kufufufu… Well then…" He went and sat down on an empty seat behind Ayako.

And that Mukuro, Rokudo…

"I see you've been doing well. That's good." A strange voice said inside Ayako's head.

'W-who's?!'

"Kufufufu… You don't need to be scared, little Ayako."

'That voice! It's…!'

Ayako turned and stared terrified at the boy behind her. Mukuro only smiled at her and his other eye changed in color. It became red and has a kanji of 6 in it.

I remember him now…

'H-he's the one in my dream!'

"Kufufufu… You've remembered me."

I'll try to stay away from him for the rest of my stay at school.