Can I safely assume that nobody's interested in the interview thing? Haven't had any replies or anything about that...

Chapter 10

It was getting close to being the end of the lunch period, and Hiruma was getting closer to his snapping point. There was absolutely nothing in the school's database about the new chick except her name, grade, and classes. No previous school history or anything like that. The "home address" that she'd given the school was worthless; checking it online, Hiruma found it to be the address of a small convinience store. He figured the phone number wasn't worth shit, either, soncidering that the area code was one for northern Hokkaido(1). As annoyed as he was, however, Hiruma couldn't help but smirk.

'What's the fucking space cadet trying to hide?'

School was finally out, much to your relief. Some of the students (mostly female) were getting curious about you now that they'd figured out you were new to the city and were beginning to approach you were a barrage of questions. Of course, they always had some of their friends with them; apparently they didn't have the guts for a one-on-one conversation with you. Oh well.

You got home and put your bag in your bedroom, then grabbed your work uniforn in a duffel bag and headed to your part-time job at a small store. Whilr you were on the train, your cell rang, and, checking the ID, you answered it.

"Hey Coach," you said casually.

"Rai!" he said cheerfully, "How's school?"

"School-ish."

You could tell by his silence that he'd sweat-dropped at your reply.

"How's your training with that arm?"

"I haven't trained since it happened; I plan on going to the gym tomorrow."

He sighed. "Are you sure you want to be involved with this type of thing, Rai?"

You paused, slightly surprised. It had been a good while since Coach had brought that subject up. He trained you exactly the same as he would anyone else, but he was still totally against you fighting anyway.

"I've already discussed this with you," you said stoically, "Now what's this about?"

"Your first match is coming up, Rai," he stated. His voice was completely somber.

"When is it?"

"Two weeks."

~Time lapse~

You thought back to the conversation you'd had with Coach earlier as you shelved some inventory, especially him questioning you like that.

'Ni, I don't want to be an illegal cage fighter,' you thought, 'I don't want to be so paranoid about being found out- again' you though bitterly, remembering your reason for moving to the city in the first place. Come to think of it, there were several things having to do with your unusual starting career that you would've happily been without. But you were stuck with it now; you'd been taken into fighting shortly after you left your mother's, and coach had taken you under his wing before another crueler trainer could get to you. It paid a good chunk of your rent and bills, too.

After putti9ng the last of the food and whatnot out of the box and onto the shelves, you took your break and walked outside, sitting on some steps.

'Two weeks,' you thought bitterly, 'And my arm's in a damned sling.'

You wouldn't lie to yourself and say that you weren't nervous, there'd be no point in doing so. There was a lot to worry about, like how you'd explain the ineitable bruises you'd have when you went to school. If you were lucky enough to get out with just bruises. You'd seen the aftermath of real fights before; blackened and swolen eyes, large cuts, missing teeth, broken bones, the works.

And what if you didn't pass? New fighters weren't generally expected to win their first fight - although they'd score major brownie points with the higer ups if they did - they just needed to do well enough to convince the bosses that they were worth keeping.

Unbeknownst to Rai, someone had been following her shortly after she left her appartment, slinking about as slealthily as a shadow. Which really said something, given that her sixth sense was fairly well developed.

Hiruma made a mental note of where she worked, which was a convinience store in his neighborhood. At least he had a starting point in finding out more about the enigmatic female. At the moment she was sitting in front of the store, deep in thought about something, while Hiruma observed from the roof of a nearby building. He knew her shift wouldn't end for a couple more hours (he'd interrogated an employee about it earlier) so he decided to find someone that looked about her age and see what her former classmates had to say about her.

~~~~ You took your phone out of your pocket and dialed Coach's number.

"Rai?"

"I'll be there after work," you said, keeping your statement vague slo any people passing by wouldn't get suspicious. He knew what you meant immediately and said he'd be there with a sparring partner. Hanging up, you repocketed the phone and walked back into the storeto resume working, a sudden uneasiness that you couldn't explain coming over you.

Well, here it is. Obviously, I kind of changed the POV transitions so that it isn't plainly stated who's point of view it is. I like it bette that way. And seriously, PLEASE send some replied about the Rai interview thing!

(1) Hokkaido is the northern-most regoin of Japan, and is known for it's cold weather and heavy snowfall during the winter. The houses there actally have doors on the second story because the snow gets so deep, it covers the first door. Sapporo, Hokkaido, is famous for their ramen, too.