In this chapter the secret of the faculty lounge is revealed! Haha, if only at my school the faculty lounge was like this. Well they did have sofas...and they looked kinda comfy...
-shifty eyes-
"...MY ENGLISH TEACHER SAID IT WAS OKAY TO GO IN THE LOUNGE! STOP LOOKING AT ME!"
Kouichi: -sweatdrop- Well as Whitewolfgirl gets her head back in the game I guess I'll say the Disclaimer.
"KOUICHI WHEN DID YOU GET HERE! ZOMG! IS THAT POCKY?!"
Kouichi: "No...NINJA POWERS ACTIVATE! KYA!"
-Kouji walks in and sweatdrops-: What the hell... "Um...Kouichi this is my fanfic so why are you reading the disclaimer?"
-ignored-
Kouji: Well then...Whitewolfgirl doesn't own Digimon Frontier or the characters (meaning me) so get on with the story already!"
Whitewolfgirl: "WHAT? NOOOOO!! TELL ME ITS NOT TRUE!"
Kouji and Kouichi: "...It's not true..?"
Whitewolfgirl: -glares- It's a cruel, cruel world. D:
nani-what
oniisan-older brother
Chapter 11: ShEjUlEs
It was better than he had imagined. Tomoki took a few small steps into the mysterious faculty lounge. He gazed at everything around him, his eyes darting back and forth at everything.
"Amazing..." Tomoki whispered.
The room was larger than he expected. Against one of the walls was a large plasma screen television with speakers to match. Three sofas formed a semi-circle to face the TV. In another corner was a mini-arcade with the machines that had the old-school games people still played and some newer games as well. Tomoki being a game maniac almost jumped in excitement at seeing this.
He noticed Junpei had his attention on the buffet that was close to the back wall. Nearby was a counter with machines for drinks, ice cream and other delicious treats. A microwave also rested on the counter and was between the machines and a normal sized fridge.
"Wait...so you mean while we're in the cafeteria eating..whatever the food is, the teachers and other staff are in here with all of this?" Tomoki asked Junpei.
"Sad but true. You better enjoy this kid because you and I are the only students in the school that know about this. Oh, you should see the other lounges in the school. I swear I saw one with a mini bowling alley!" Junpei then rushed to the buffet and grabbed a plate putting several items of food on it.
Tomoki shouted, "What are you doing?!"
"Getting some early lunch. Come on and dig in! Don't worry you won't get caught." Junpei grinned and grabbed 5 slices of pizza.
The younger boy just stood at the door with a frown on his face. Junpei stopped what he was doing and sighed, looking at Tomoki.
"Tomoki, I get you a free ticket out of class and bring you here so you can enjoy yourself and now you're going to pass all of this up? Are you going to keep freaking out like a little kid and try to act like a mature teenager at the same time? Seriously, loosen up! I've done this several times and I've never been caught, honestly!"
Tomoki merely crossed his arms and glared at Junpei. "What was that deal with Chiyo-san then?"
Junpei rolled his eyes. "Chiyo-san is my aunt. She's the fun one and she warns me beforehand if anyone is coming and I get away. If I do happen to get caught she helps me get out of the situation. She knows how hard school is on kids and so she helps them enjoy school every once in awhile."
"I..I guess its allright..." Tomoki said this while eyeing the arcade. Unfortunately Junpei noticed this and smirked at the discovery.
"Don't you want to play the games over there? They're the kind you can buy and don't have to pay any money to play the game. And then you can get some food out of the buffet instead of eating that trash the school gives us. You know, just to be even with the teachers. Why should they get this relax during school and we don't?"
The young boy gave up and nodded. "Yeah, you're right."
"Attaboy."
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After Kouji and Izumi had left to go to Sensei's home...
"Yo! Junpei, Tomoki-kun!" Takuya shouted at the top of his voice at the sight of his two friends as he waited for his parental unit to arrive at the school. He suddenly seemed to remember the events at lunch and groaned.
--
Yesterday
After the previous two days of their strange disappearance, Junpei and Tomoki had joined Takuya and the others at lunch. The fiery brunette was surprised when the two boys claimed they 'weren't hungry' and wondered if they were on a dare. However, he didn't have a chance to question them at lunch when Kouichi interrupted his thoughts to ask about the project they were doing for English.
"I picked Queen Victoria for our research topic." he announced to Takuya.
"You what? Why in the world did you pick her?" Takuya exclaimed. Izumi and Kouji had picked an easy topic, Charles Dickens. He was the author of the book they were reading after all and he knew they would find plenty on him.
"We're studying the Victorian Era, Takuya. It was obviously named after Victoria. She was a distinct figure in society at that time. There's loads of information we can find out about her. Now..about our schedule..." He said the English world schedule and pronounced it 'shejule' instead of 'skejule'. Kouichi pulled out a packet of papers, ignoring Takuya's wide-eyed stare.
"Schedule...I mean schedule?! Since when did we have a schedule?!" Takuya sputtered. He noticed Junpei and Tomoki trying very hard not to burst out laughing. Kouji simply raised an eyebrow at him and Izumi stared at Takuya blankly.
Kouji turned to the second page of the packet and showed Takuya a chart. He pointed at the upper half and it was labeled at the top Takuya. "This is what you will do for the project..." Kouichi then turned several pages and pointed at another page, as well as a few other pages. "and this is what I will do."
"Nani? Why do I have to do more work than you?" Takuya's voice echoed throughout the cafeteria. Luckily for him there wasn't any faculty monitoring lunch. (hmm..wonder where they are, eh?)
Kouji's twin calmly told him, "Everytime you work with my brother for projects, both of you end up receiving failing grades. Kouji's parents and my mom aren't too happy about that so I decided it was time to take responsibility on my brother's behalf." Kouichi muttered afterwards, "Also because it took him this long to refuse being Takuya's project partner..."
"What was that oniisan?" Kouji spoke suddenly. He raised an eyebrow at his brother this time.
"Oh, nothing!" Kouichi grinned effortlessly to hide his mistake. He then turned around to speak to Takuya again. "Also your mom probably gets onto you about your grades. So think of this as me helping you get a good grade. You should make up for all the slacking off you did on your previous projects. Got it?"
Takuya wasn't quite sure but he thought he noticed Kouichi's eyes darken to a black. He shivered inwardly and gulped. "Got it." he said aloud.
"Good. So here, take a look at this..." Kouichi then appeared to be cheerful again in Takuya's point of view.
--
"Sometimes...sometimes Kouichi freaks me out." Takuya muttered to himself as his two friends arrived by his side.
"So what have you two been up to?" Takuya finally inquired the two and within a few minutes he was informed of the reason behind Junpei and Tomoki's mysterious disappearances. They promised him that next time he could join in on their adventure.
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"So how was school?" Kouji's grandfather, Sensei, asked when Kouji and Izumi were at the house eating dinner. Quickly, so she didn't appear to be negecting her kitchen duties, Izumi prepared a delicious meal for the two of them.
Kouji predictably did not reply. Izumi didn't want an akward silence to be held between them so she spoke up.
"Kouji-san and I are working on a project for English. We might have to go to the library soon for some research. I also got to talk some more with his brother and his friends." Izumi attempted to smile true but failed miserably. She sideglanced nervously, wondering if Kouji was mad at her for speaking.
He showed no indication that he heard what she said. On the other hand Sensei seemed to be interested in her conversation.
"Oh? Well I would gladly take you if I could but I'm still strong enough to work for a living. Maybe you can go the library alltogether with the others and stay over at their house...I suppose it could work out." Izumi understood what he was thinking. The idea of a girl staying over at a guy's house seemed alien.
Then, at the words 'stay over', Izumi remembered her encounter with Haruki Mei. She felt nervous but knew she had to ask.
"Um, Sensei?" Izumi began. Kouji's grandfather stopped muttering to himself and payed full attention to her. Kouji sensed her nervousness and perked up, inconspicuously of course.
"Yes, Izumi-chan?"
Izumi stumbled over her first few words but then was able to speak clearly. "I-I also met some other people at school. Haruki Mei, a girl at the school invited me to sleep over at her house after going to a club meeting for the club she is in. I figured it would be difficult for me to be picked up after the meeting since this house is far away from the school and it would be late after the meeting. So I was wondering if I could go to the meeting on Thursday and stay at Haruki Mei-san's house."
She added,"We're coming back to school the next day of course! And then-"
Sensei cut her off. "Allright, you can go. You didn't have to ask though." He smiled.
"Th-thank you, Sensei!" Izumi stuttered and stood up from her chair to bow.
"Not at all. You should enjoy your experience here in Japan. School takes up most of your time and that wouldn't be fun at all only going to school and doing nothing of interest. That reminds me...well your mother would worry about it..." Sensei looked at Kouji when he said this. "but how about at the end of this week you go with your friends to wherever you go to have fun? Of course take Izumi with you. You can stay at your friend Takuya's house, or your brother's place..."
Kouji wasn't sure how to reply to his grandfather with Izumi looking at him. Then he spoke, "Yes Sensei."
"It wasn't a command Kouji, it was a request though I do suggest strongly for you to do it. Maybe you can even go to the library that day. Oh, and speaking of plans, maybe you can take Izumi to kendo practice!" Kouji's grandfather continued talking more to himself, creating newer plans when the first ones he suggested weren't even decided upon yet. Kouji rolled his eyes and continued eating his meal while Izumi listened intently.
He reminds me of Kouichi. Or maybe it's the other way around..? Izumi thought to herself.
Then who is Lonewolf like? He doesn't like this guy or either of his parents. The only-too-familiar voice in Izumi's head spoke.
Well...not being nosy but Sensei mentioned Kouichi's place. That could mean that...
Divorced parents? Separate family? Izumi's spontaneous side didn't know the definition of nosy on the other hand.
Yeah, probably.
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While the main plot of the story was slowly taking its path, one of the many subplots that were coming was unfolding. Many miles away from the home of Hiroshi Minamoto in a half-Japanese teenager girl's home...
"Wonderful." the teenage girl gritted her teeth as she worked on one of her many long assignments for school. Even the evil force of Fujita Hanachi could not escape from the dark wrath of education.
"I bet Izumi is getting help on all of this from Kouji-kun and his friends." Hanachi grumbled, annoyed.
Finally, after several hours of writing Hanachi slapped her pencil on her desk and jumped onto her bed. She stared at the ceiling of her room leaving her wicked mind to wander. Her main thought of course was of Kouji. She wondered like she did every single minute of her life what her prince was doing. Yes, and only her's. She admitted honestly to herself that she never imagined forming the infamous club and running it.
At first it had seemed like a silly thought to her and she almost banished it when her longtime friend Mei bugged her to do it. Like Hanachi and practically every girl in the school, Mei had developed a huge crush on the Lonewolf. It was in a smart, nerdy kind of way however as Hanachi saw it. Hanachi remembered that during their first year of high school Mei was in his homeroom class and had plenty of chances to be his partner. Although as perfect their prince might have seemed on the outside, even The Kouji Minamoto struggled in various subjects of school. Luckily for him (as Mei saw it) and especially for Mei, she was there to help him. Usually Mei was able to handle her feelings for boys in a sophisticated manner but for some reason when she was even in the same room as Kouji she broke down.
Hanachi smiled coldly to herself as she remembered Mei telling her how stupid she had acted in front of Kouji. She pleaded for her friend's help and Hanachi gladly helped. Mostly out of boredom. However she soon realized that Mei and her weren't the only ones who had fallen for the Lonewolf. At the sign of a challenge and her friend's urging, Hanachi finally founded the Kouji Minamoto club and became its President. She hadn't expected many people to join the silly club but was surprised by the results. Soon Hanachi was known to all of the student body, especially to Kouji.
"Kouji-kun..." Hanachi stared dreamily at the ceiling as the memory of their first encounter came into her mind.
--
3 years earlier
Fujita Hanachi and Haruki Mei waited outside the junior high school like many other students for their ride to Hanachi's home. Mei seemed to be lost in her own thoughts while Hanachi was becoming impatient. Usually her mother was very punctual at picking her up but today she was fifteen minutes late!
"Where are you mother?" Hanachi said to herself. Then realization dawned on her and she interrupted Mei's daydreaming.
"Hey, I forgot my textbook in the classroom. I'll be right back, okay?"
Mei nodded and then continued with her daydreaming. Hanachi shook her head at the sight of her friend and left her. She quickly rushed to the classroom and was satisfied that it was still unlocked. Hanachi quickly grabbed her textbook and shoved it into her bag. She closed the door behind her and ran again through the hallways.
She wasn't quick enough to stop completely when she crashed into someone walking from another hallway that branched off. The two people smacked but Hanachi was the one that fell and dropped her bag.
Hanachi began,"Hey! Watch-"
She looked up.
"It."
The first thing she saw was a pair of dark blue fathomless eyes that stared into hers. Then below was a perfectly shaped nose and lips. The face was hidden behind an invisible mask. The boy's long dark hair was held back in a ponytail and he wore a bandana around his head. He didn't speak as he picked up Hanachi's belongings and handed them to her once she stood up.
"Thank you." she stammered hoping he hadn't noticed.
"Sure." was the only word he spoke. Without another word he walked away leaving Hanachi dazed. A very faint blush spread across her face and it became visible once the raven-haired boy was gone.
--
"My prince...my prince." Fujita Hanachi mumbled to herself as the memory faded.
She put the main thought aside for just a few moments as she focused on her new thought or rather, problem. Izumi Orimoto. Orimoto Izumi. It didn't matter which way you said it, she was still the same person.
"Of course you won't want to join but thankfully I always have a plan B now after the first incident." Hanachi said aloud to herself.
"Ah, its too bad you started off on the wrong side. I'm sure if things had worked out differently we could have maybe even become close friends."
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[Edit-Friday, November 28, 2008. Just to clear up some confusion: The characters are speaking in Japanese unless I indicate they are not (like in this chapter) Occasionally the words are written in romaji for emphasis or something like that. ]
Ahem. Well obviously my karate class is now over. I had no idea what to do during sparring time. I was too busy watching my opponents' legs for their kicks and trying to kick on my own that I went through a little damage. My leg doesn't hurt as much though but I will definitely feel sore in the morning. D: Anyways I must prepare for karate tournament! Practice, practice practice! And more confidence when I spar! I haven't yet practiced so maybe I should. ;D
I hope you all have enjoyed the story so far. And now for many thinking questions: Will Izumi join the Kouji Minamoto club? How will Kouji and the others react to this? And if she doesn't join what will Hanachi's plan B contain? Will Junpei and Tomoki be caught for whatever they're doing? Will Takuya do the work for his project and actually pass this time? And finally...what is the true nature and being that hides behind Kouichi's façade?
-cue dramatic music-
Tune in for the next epi- I mean chapter of Kaze Ni Hikari, roughly translated as: Wind Into Light. I'm off to bed so that's all folks!