A/n...eh who cares, noone reads the author's note. *flops over and dies*
(c) Natsuki Takaya
I was so happy when you smiled
Your smile breaks through the clouds of grey
Far from the sunny days that lie in sleep
Waiting with patience for the spring
When the flowers can bloom, renewed again
Knowing there's more beyond the pain~ of today
Although the scares of yesterday remain
You can go on living as much as your heart believes~
You can't be born again, although you can change
Let's stay together always
Hey, there, Zakura here. In return for the valentines chocolates we gave him, Momiji took all of us to a hot spring for White Day. It was really fun and relaxing that we all got to spend time together. Kyo even made me a wristband for White Day and I promised myself to always wear it. In return I wanted to make something for him, I don't know what yet, but I'm sure it'll hit me eventually. I really want to make something for him since he pushed himself to deal with Yuki so he could go to the hot spring with us. It was nice to see him somewhat relaxed.
But before we knew it, spring was in full bloom and it was the first day of the new school year. It was almost hard to believe that we were already in our second year of High school! Although I think Tohru is the only one who was really feeling the spirit of it.
"Isn't this exciting?" Tohru asked us with an excited smile on her face, "And all of the first years are just so cute! I wish you two could've seen them at the entrance ceremony." She said to Uo and Kyo who were lounging at their desks.
"Whatever." They replied in unison sounding as tired as they looked.
"I shouldn't be here at all. I don't know what I'm allergic to more – all the damn pollen in the air or this place," She glance up at Tohru, "So where's the Prince today?"
"Oh, he's been busy helping out with the Orientation Committee," Tohru answered.
"Must be rough," I said, looking over Kyo's shoulder to see what manga he was reading, "With all the new first year girls here…"
"He must be dealing with all their lovey-dovey attacks." Hana stated with no emotion.
Uo nodded, "As popular as he is he's a shoo-in for Student Council President this year."
"Although, I don't think Yuki would want all that attention." Tohru sweat dropped.
Hana stepped next to Tohru, "That reminds me…at the entrance ceremony I thought I sensed Shigure's electric signals coming from the parent's section.
"Oh, yeah," I railed off remembering that he did say he was going to come, but we didn't take him seriously, "He did say that he wanted to come see the others who are coming today."
Uo looked intrigued by this, "Hm, so there are more Sohma's starting this year, huh?"
Tohru nodded, "Uh huh."
"Well, tell us about em," Uo said wanting more information, "Are they boys? Girls?"
"They're two more boys."
She puts a finger to her chin in thought, "You don't say…we gotta meet em." She decided.
"I agree," Hana said, "After all as upper classmen I'm sure there are many things we can teach them."
"Yeah, I can show them all the best places to skip outta class," She turned towards Kyo, "Yo, Orange-top, go get 'em."
Hana turned to Kyo as well, "Yes, fetch."
"Why do I gotta do it? Make them go!" Kyo snapped, pointing to Tohru and I.
Hana placed a hand on Kyo's shoulder, staring him down with her deadly dark purple aura, "Tohru is very tired from being at the entrance ceremony. It would be a terrible crime to make her go through all that trouble."
"What about me?" Kyo cried.
"Oh, you? That's fine."
"You know," I began, "I was already thinking of going to find them anyway. I don't mind going. Tohru can stay here and rest."
"Take Orange-top with you, he's not doing anything."
"Neither are you!"
"Come on, Kyo," I said, already giving into Uo and Hana's request, "We could look for them together. It'll be faster that way."
"Oh, please," he said, wiping his shoulder of Hana's touch, "I already see way too much of those guys as it is."
I leaned closer him and tried to work my persuasive skills, "But you'll be meeting them at school will be a different experience!" When he didn't show signs of moving I suggested something else, "Or you can stay here and be mercilessly abused by Uo and Hana."
Without another word, he stood from his seat, grabbed my wrist and made his way to the door.
"Be back soon!" I called over my shoulder.
"So what class are Momiji and Hatsuharu in anyway?" Kyo asked me a few minutes after we left homeroom.
I stopped walking and turned to Kyo, a nervous smile on my face.
"You don't even know?" He shouted at me.
"I forgot to ask!" I groveled, "I'm sorry!"
He sighed. "Okay, just wait here. I'll go ask."
Timidly I did what I was told and stood against the wall. 'That could've gone worse…'
(Switching it up)
Kyo walked over to two first-year girls. "Hey, you know a couple of guys named Sohma? One's got white hair, the other's blonde?"
"Yes," the first girl said a little nervously, smiling. "They're in our class."
"Go get 'em, will ya?"
"Okay!" they giggled and scurried off into the classroom next to them.
'Hell, why didn't she ask where they were before we started wandering around the whole damn school?' he wondered.
"Hey, man. Check it out!"
"Hmm?" He turned back around when his curiosity got to him.
"That girl's pretty cute, huh?"
His jaw dropped in surprise when he saw they were talking about Zakura.
"Yeah, I guess so," the second guy said. "But she's not really my type."
"Well, she looks like my type. I'll bet I can talk her into going out with me. I don't do so hot with smart girls."
"Well, you have a point there. So what are you waiting for? Go over there and work your magic."
"Watch and learn, man-"
Kyo walked back over towards where Zakura was standing. He punched the wall above her head and looked down at her. Instead of jumping up in surprise, Zakura just looked up and stared him in the eyes.
Kyo tore his eyes away from her to glare at the two guys that were talking about her.
"On second thought, never mind!" They cried as they scurried away.
Zakura was going to ask what that was about but her question fell short when Kyo stepped back and smacked her in the back of the head.
"See what happens when you stand there like a space cadet?"
"Oh...was I?"
He sighed and looked at her, "Didn't I teach you to at least stay alert when you're by yourself or else it's gonna be your own damn fault when someone kidnaps you?"
'Oh right! That was lesson number five!' Zakura immediately tensed up and tried to look alert. "Right!"
"I said when you're alone..."
"Right!"
"…and when you're with me you can space out as much as you want." He reminded her.
"Right," Zakura sighed blissfully, slouching slightly completely relaxed.
Kyo nearly choked, just realizing what he said, "And I didn't mean anything funny by that, either!" He quickly tried to correct himself, "I was just sayin'! S-so don't get the wrong idea!"
'Wrong idea? What does he mean? 'Zakura looked at him. "Huh? I- What do you mean?"
He grunted and blushed. "Mm..." 'What the hell am I saying? I sound like an idiot! Why do I always say stupid stuff around her? She's just a girl, like Tohru, only she's not just a girl! She's something else. Damnit! This is driving me crazy! Why can't she just piss me off and yell at me like a normal person?'
While Kyo was mentally ranting to himself he didn't realize that Tohru soon joined them in the hallway when she noticed they were taking a long time until he heard both of them call out to Momiji who was almost skipping down the hall in the girls' uniform.
"Zakura! Tohru!"
Momiji giggled and reached his arms out to hug them. Kyo hit Momiji on the head before he could.
"What are you, stupid?"
"Waahhh! Kyo's hitting me!" he wailed.
"Idiot! What the hell are you doing wearing a girl's uniform?"
"Kyo, don't me mad," Tohru said trying to sooth Kyo's rage as well as Momiji's crying.
"Good morning."
They all turned to see Hatsuharu slowly approaching them with his normal aloof looking expression.
"Oh, Hatsuharu."
"Well, at least you're not wearing a girl's uniform, too," Kyo said, looking at Haru.
"It's okay, isn't it?" Haru asked, looking down at Momiji, "It suits him."
"Yeah!" Momiji agreed a little happier that someone liked his uniform.
"Uh-huh, it looks good on you." Tohru smiled, happy he wasn't crying anymore.
"What difference does that make?" Kyo shouted exasperated that everyone was alright with the fact that Momiji was wearing the girls' uniform.
"What the-Momiji, what in the world are you wearing?" Yuki asked when he approached his cousins and friends.
"Yuki!" Momiji said happily.
Haru stared at Yuki for a moment before he scurried over to him, grabbing his shirt in his hands.
Yuki sighed. "Hello, Haru."
-0-
"So, Yuki, are you finished with all of your work yet?" Tohru asked.
"No, not quite. I was just making the rounds and I heard the commotion."
"Hey! Listen! Listen!" Momiji said, waving his arms to get everyone's attention,. "I'm really not supposed to goof around too much when I'm here…cause if I do, it'll be too easy for me to crash into girls! So I'm gonna try and play it cool at school!" He declared with a bright smile.
"How the hell can you call wearin' a dress 'cool'?" Kyo yelled.
"A valid point, Kyo Sohma, Class 2-D," Everyone looked down the hall to their left when they heard the new voice. "And while I find that orange head of yours disagreeable, I will ignore it for the moment. What I cannot ignore is a boy who would wear a girl's uniform to school! This goes beyond outrageous! And even if your teachers allow it, I will not! For I am this school's Student Council President, Makoto Takei! Also known as...Captain of the Campus Defense Force!" He proclaimed loudly as his two female cohorts clapped.
"What a complete idiot," Kyo, Yuki, and Haru said together.
"I can see already that you're going to be a problem student!" he said to Momiji. "And the same goes for you, Hatsuharu Sohma! I will not tolerate that white hair or those gaudy necklaces!"
"President Takei, it's his natural color," Yuki said, trying to soothe the council president or at least get him to stop yelling.
"Oh, Yuki," he gushed seeing the handsome male, "So nice to see you." He greeted a little more softly before raising his voice again, "But 'natural color'? I can see that his hairline is black!"
"Yes, that's a natural, too."
"That's ridiculous! I don't believe it!"
Haru stuck his unoccupied pinky finger into his ear and started twisting it back and forth to block out Takei from shouting in his ear anymore than he already was.
"And I suppose wearing this dress is 'natural' for you, Momiji Sohma? Have you no pride as a man? You had best change your ways and your clothes! Before this incident becomes the ruin of your life!"
Momiji sniffled. "But, uh...this uniform...looks better on me."
Tohru and Zakura stepped in front of Momiji to block him from Takei's verbal abuse.
"Please, don't yell at him anymore."
"Yeah, he's just a kid."
"If I am yelling it is to be sure he hears this advice which should've been obvious to anyone with common sense!"
"Shut up."
Takei's jaw dropped by the blunt statement after his speech.
"Quit shoutin' like you're kind of the freakin' world. You're making my ears bleed, you bastard!" Haru spat annoyed, pinning his glare on the loud president. Haru walked away from Yuki and towards Takei, "Now I've got some 'common sense' for you." Takei fearfully began to step back with every step Haru took forward, "If I wore a tie it wouldn't change who I am…If I had no piercings it wouldn't mean I'm 'nice'. And if my hair was black, it wouldn't stop me from kickin' your ass!" He grabbed Takei's shirt in his fist and brought him closer to his face, "Who do you think you are, anyway? Do you think you're God? Huh?"
"Black Haru..." Everyone whispered in unison.
"What's the matter? Run out of things to say? No more advice? You're not so high and mighty now, are you?" Haru shouted shaking Takei vigorously with every word.
Takei's cohorts cried out worriedly.
"Hey! Cut it out! He's just an idiot!" Kyo yelled.
"Shut up!" Haru yelled back, swinging Takei around in a circle, "No one asked you, you stupid cat!"
"Don't call me stupid, you little brat!"
"Gyaahh…" Haru stopped and glared at Kyo. "You run away from our last fight and you still think you can tell me what to do?"
"What?" Kyo shouted outraged, "You're the one who called it off, remember?"
"Well, I'm calling it back on!"
"That's just fine with me!"
"Hey, girls, you want some candy?" Momiji said, smiling and holding out two lollipops.
"Uh, no thank you" They declined watching the scene unfold before them, not sure how to possibly calm the situation.
"Hey, sweetheart," Haru said, putting a hand on each of the girls' shoulders.
"Leave them alone!" Kyo growled.
"Tell me somethin'. You ladies think Momiji's outfit is okay, don't you? In time, after he grows up some more, then he'll be able to start wearing men's clothing. And if you think he looks good in that girl's uniform, just imagine what he'll look like as an adult."
It only took a short moment for the two girls to imagine a older, more handsome Momiji wearing the boys uniform with a lollipop in his hand, "Lovely..."
"Don't be brainwashed!" Takei ordered.
Haru puts his hand on Momiji's head. "For now, he should wear the clothes that look best on him." He stated as though it were the end of discussion.
"No! There's a dress code! It's not fair to the other students!"
"You stubborn idiot," Haru frowned, "What would you do if it was Yuki wearin' a girls' uniform, huh?"
With moved tears in his eyes Takei had imagined Yuki in the girls' uniform, the short skirt version…Needless to say, the others weren't as moved to tears as Takei.
"Haru, cut it out or I will cut you off," Yuki said murderously to his dual hair cousin.
"Aw, have my words...made you angry?" Haru cooed placing a finger to Yuki's lips.
"It's beautiful!" Takei cried.
"Stop imagining me!" Yuki shouted, snapping Takei out of his fantasy.
"Oh my... I guess I got carried away...You are a worthy opponent, Hatsuharu Sohma, but still... Your hair is unacceptable! And you'll never convince me that's your natural color!"
Haru stared at him. Takei chuckled smugly.
Then Haru grabbed Takei's shirt in his fist and dragged him off into the boys' bathroom.
Silence fell over the group, but it wasn't long before Haru and the president quietly came back to them. Haru looked very smug while Takei looked pale and disgusted.
Takei took his glasses off. "Impressive evidence. There are still many strange things in this world that are unknown to me."
It didn't take long for Kyo and Yuki to understand what Haru did.
"He didn't!" Kyo said in disbelief.
"I think he did!" Yuki cried.
Haru smirked confidently.
"You may have won today, Sohma!" Takei yelled, pointing at Haru as he and his two cohorts backed away on scurry feet, "But you won't be so lucky next time! I'll get you! I'll get you all!"
Once they were gone Momiji faced the others, "So, who were those people, anyway?"
"Beat the hell outta me," Haru stated.
Kyo and Yuki let out a tired sigh while Tohru still looked a little confused about something. She turned to Hatsuharu and asked, "Um, Haru? I don't understand…how did you convince him that that's your natural hair color?"
Yuki, Kyo, and Zakura looked at her as though she grew a second head, 'Maybe she hasn't matured enough?'
Haru smirked deviously, "Alright." He stepped closer and put a hand on her cheek, "Why don't you come with me and see for yourself?"
Kyo and Yuki decked Haru in the back of the head at the same time, knocking him to the floor in a crippled heat.
"That Black Haru is too much," Kyo muttered.
"So...how did he do it?" Tohru asked.
"Never mind," Yuki said. "Don't worry about it Miss Honda."
Tohru looked at Zakura expectedly, hoping she would answer the question. Zakura placed a hand on Tohru's shoulder and shook her head no, "Trust me, you don't want to know. It's gross."
Haru sat up slowly, putting a hand to his head, "Why do I feel so exhausted?"
Yuki and Kyo sighed and slumped forward.
"Oh brother... You think you're exhausted?"
The bell rang causing everyone to strengthen themselves out.
"Oh, hey, there's the bell."
"Guess we better get to our classrooms, huh?" Momiji said a little excited.
"Oh yeah, Uo and Hana wanted to meet you all later," Zakura told Momiji and Haru, "So after school we wanted to introduce you to them."
"So we'll come find you all later, okay?" Tohru and the others began to walk away until Momiji told them that he needed to tell Kyo and Yuki something. Yuki and Kyo were unsure about letting the girls walk back to class by themselves since they're a magnet for danger, but the girls didn't mind and told them they would go back together and wait for them in class.
Once the girls were gone Kyo turned to Momiji, "So, what did you want to tell us? This sure as hell better be important."
Judging by the down casted look on look on Momiji's naturally happy face, it was important.
-0- switch it up-0-
"That was quite a scene back there," Tohru giggled a bit as they made their way back to homeroom, "If every day's going to be like this, I think it'll drive Yuki and Kyo crazy."
They laughed softly together as Tohru slide open the door to homeroom. The homeroom teacher looked up when he saw who it was he got up from his desk and went over to them, looking at Zakura, "Zakura, the main office called for you. They want you to go down there as soon as possible."
Zakura gave Tohru a soft small before giving her hand a light squeeze, "I'll be back ok?"
Tohru nodded and watched her friend back out of the classroom and walk slowly down the hall. She hoped that Zakura would be okay with whatever's going on.
-0-
'What else can happen today?' I wondered walking down to what seemed like endless white halls to get to the main office, 'I wonder what Momiji had to talk to Yuki and Kyo about? What ever it is I hope it's not too troubling. The last thing we need is trouble.'
I stood before the main office door, almost debating whether or not to open it. She couldn't be in trouble or anything; it's the first day of the new school year. Unless for some odd reason President Takei told the principle about what happened earlier, but that's nothing to complain about… 'Just open the door!' I yelled at myself before sliding the door open, "Excuse me…"
"Well, it's about time you got here."
I felt my stomach drop when I saw who stood before me…my mom. This had to be a joke…why would she be here? Her of all people?
I closed the door and quickly walked way from the door and down the hall back to homeroom, there was no way I was going to be anywhere near that women.
"Zakura Kojima!" I heard her scold me from behind. I could hear her high heels clicking behind me, getting steadily closer, "How dare you walk away from me like that!" I felt her hand grab my wrist tightly, "What is the matter with you?"
I snatched my wrist back, "Leave me alone…" I murmured, not looking at her, "What are you even doing here?"
"Is it wrong for a mother to check up on her daughter?" She retorted hotly.
"Oh, please, since when have you ever had the time to check on me?"
"Well, I first called Tohru's grandfather to check on you and he told me you were staying with a friend. You've never stayed away from home this long so will you please come home?" She didn't sound sincere at all. She made it seem like the entire process would be a bother to her.
"No thanks, I like where I'm staying." I told her quietly, "I actually feel welcomed there."
"You've always been welcomed home, Kenichi just said the other day that he-"
"So now you're dating some other guy?" I interrupted her, "What happened to the last guy?"
"That's not important;" She said quickly, "The point is that he wants to meet you."
I shook my head lightly, "Well, I don't want to meet him. I never want to meet any of the guys you try to use to replace dad because quiet frankly its embarrassing and disgusting." Mom's body stiffened for a moment before she regained her composure, "You will not talk to me that way. I am your mother you will show me respect."
I resisted the urge to scoff. I already lost all respect for her as a mother, "You've never been a real mother to me." I snapped at her.
Her cheeks flushed with rage and she raised her hand to slap me. I held my arms up to block my face but her hand never came into contact. To both of our surprise, Kyo was holding her wrist back. I've never seen such pure rage in his blood red eyes before, not even towards Yuki.
Mom was taken aback for a moment but slowly backed off when Kyo released her hand, "Who are you?" She questioned him, holding her wrist.
"This is Kyo Sohma. He's a friend of mine from class…" I told when Kyo walked over and stood beside me, 'And Tohru and I are also staying with him and Yuki at Yuki's house…'
Mom opened her mouth to say something but Kyo grabbed my hand and tugged me quickly down the hall without a word. I was stumbling along the way but I looked over my shoulder to look get one last look at my mom, who just stood there, and picked up my pace to match Kyo's.
It wasn't until we were outside of the school near the badminton courts that he finally released my wrist.
"You handled that quite well." I commented dryly, rubbing my wrist, not out of hurt but out of comfort, "Thanks…"
"Don't mention it," He replied gruffly, "It wasn't that big a deal, I was going back to class and I heard you and her talking…"
"Oh yeah," I trailed recalling that he and Momiji and the others were talking about something, "What did Momiji have to tell you guys that was so important?"
"…Nothing." Kyo muttered not looking me in the eyes; instead he glowered off in a different direction.
'Whatever Momiji had to tell Yuki and Kyo obviously wasn't good and saving me from my mother probably didn't improve his mood…he needs to relax a bit…' I could hear the voices of our friends on the coming from the badminton courts on our right. I forgot that since school gets out early today, Uo and Hana wanted to play badminton and I guess they dragged the others as well.
With a big grin on my face I grabbed Kyo's wrist and dragged him towards the others despite his very loud protesting. When we joined the others Uo heard Kyo's complaining and threw him a racquet and told him to shut up. Everyone grabbed a racquet and formed a small circle, to decide teams we had to play rock paper scissors…even though I had no idea how we would decide teams that way.
"What am I doing here?" Kyo mumbled holding up his fist to show he chose rock, "I hate badminton."
"Oh, stop it, I don't even want to hear you complaining over there, you're not the one who has to play with this mask on, wuss."
"Well, no one's forcing you to play!"
The teams were decided: Tohru, Yuki, Uo and Momiji versus Hana, Haru, Kyo and I.
"So, then," Yuki spoke softly, "We've picked teams, but what now? What are the rules?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Uo said thoroughly confused. I don't think she realized that our version of badminton is different from the actual version.
"Rules are useless in badminton," Hana stated, "You hit the birdie as hard as you can…your opponent will try to do the same. If you must call it a rule, then the first one to collapse from exhaustion loses."
"That's good," Haru smiled, liking the challenge, "It sounds easy."
"It sounds stupid!" Kyo butted in.
"Oh, shut up, will ya? Just get into position."
"Position?" Yuki asked, still confused.
We wouldn't really call it getting into position; we just took spots on our side of the court and waited for the game to start. I'm sure they'll understand how to play once we get started.
"Okay, Prince," Uo said to him after we'd all gotten into position, "Time to let Orange-top have it." She pointed her racquet at Kyo.
"Keep dreaming, Yankee!" Kyo yelled back.
"You ready?" Tohru smiled brightly Yuki. He nodded a little uncertainty in his eyes.
"Here it comes!" Uo called out, hitting the birdie over the net.
'Ever since my dad died and my mom started to abandon me I had thought I only needed Tohru and her mom to pick myself up and move on with my life…I always thought that as long as I had them caring for me, I can still think of dad and be happy…but when Tohru's mom died, there was another hole in my heart…in a way I felt that dad died again and I felt that I had no one…but there was Tohru…we had each other and we only need each other…' I watched Kyo serve the birdie back over toward Uo, '…but when we met the Sohma's…some of that loneliness lifted. We actually felt at home, we felt welcomed. Shigure wasn't the best father figure; he was more of a perverted uncle than a father to me. All the Sohma boys we've met so far are potential brothers…Kagura's the crazy distant cousin I never want to cross paths with…Hatori's the stoic father with a soft loving side that he won't show to others…Ayame…he's my strange boss…Kyo…' I couldn't help but to stop and stare at Kyo, my heart rate accelerating slightly watching him run back and forth hitting the birdie as his orange hair flutter slightly in the wind, brushing over his beautiful red eyes, '…at first I thought Kyo was a maniac when he came bursting through the roof and a little while after I still thought he was a short tempered angry cat, but he's actually really gentle and kind.'
"Zakura, it's coming towards you!"
I looked up and saw the birdie coming towards me. 'Ever since we met these wonderful people, I don't feel so alone or troubled. I actually feel happy and at peace with everyone around me.' I raised my racquet and sent the birdie back, 'And I want to stay right where I am…with all of them…'
Okay, I had a lot more written for this chapter, but it got screwed up and data was lost and I had to write it all over and I forgot a majority of what I originally wrote. It was awesome and dramatic in my opinion. Maybe if I remember, I'll reedit it. Thanks to all who have reviewed, you're all awesome! The DNAngel fic and Naruto fic will be updated momentarily, sometime soon, can't make any promises, I get killed that way.
