Toykia sat at the café table with Kohaku. He pretended to be looking over the menu, but really he was eyeing his girlfriend. She seemed to change a bit. One minute she was okay and the next she was paranoid. He watched her twirl a stand of her red hair as looked over her menu.
"Umm… waitress," he said beckoning over a girl with a notepad ready; "We'll have two hot chocolates please and bring a cake for her."
She wrote down the order and gathered up the menus before bowing. Toykia looked over at the girl sitting across from him. He offered her a sweet smile, but she seemed more interested in the condensation on her glass of water. Why was she acting like this? She practically begged him to take her out for a date this weekend and now she was ignoring him.
"So, how was your trip to the Caribbean?" he asked trying to engage with the red headed beauty in some way.
"It was nice," Kohaku replied in a monotone voice as she traced circles on the table.
"Is everything all right, Kohaku?" he asked as he took hold of her soft hand with his. He finally could see those violet eyes, but they didn't sparkle. It was as if something or someone had taken the light out of them.
"I'm fine," she lied and laced her fingers with his. She let her thumb rub the side of his hand as if trying to assure him of something.
"You don't have to worry about me, Toykia," she said, "I'm still a little weary from the trip. The sudden change in climate just takes some time to get use to."
Toykia stared into those violet eyes with his aqua colored eyes and saw a little twinkle there. In a princely manner, he took the hand he was holding and placed kiss on it. He looked up at Kohaku to see her blushing fiercely from this action.
"You're so beautiful," he said in a hushed tone. The red head continued to blush. This was strange behavior for her.
"Kohaku, I wish you would open up to me," he said as he let go of her hand, "You've been acting strange since the semester has started."
"I told you, I had fun," she sighed, "I'm just still tired from it."
"It's been almost a week," Toykia said as he raised an eyebrow. He saw her nervously bite her lip. She was thinking of another lie, again. He tighten his jaw as he waited for her false truth to come to her.
"I'm still on the western time zone over there," she said as she looked away, "Can you not talk about anything else? You're giving me a headache."
The purple haired boy shook his head. He wasn't going to stand for this, so he gathered up his coat before their order even arrived. He left money on the table as he stood.
"When Kohaku comes back," he said as he put his coat on, "Please tell her to call me."
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Mari stretched before the team started doing warm up shots. It was the first game of the season and the school was a buzz of how well the girls' basketball team was going to do this year. With Mari as team captain this year, she had focused everything on knowing her team this year. She made sure that the second string players knew all of their plays as well as their first string. Training days were hard as well as she made sure they all stuck to a strict diet regiment. She pushed them to the limit every practice, but allowed them once a week to recover. They may have seen her as a dictator, but it would all pay off in the end.
"Mari-san," she heard someone say. She looked to see a girl from the younger classes approach her with a small poster with a picture of the pink haired tomboy in the center and the words "Good Luck" written all over it. Mari smiled, took the marker from the girl's hand and signed her poster. The little girl blushed and smiled with excitement.
"Thank you, Mari-san!" the girl exclaimed and ran back to her friends as the giggled and squealed over the autograph.
"MARI-CHAN!" called very familiar voice from across the gym, "GO MARI-CHAN! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
She looked over to find her excited boyfriend holding up the biggest poster of them all decorated with baby chicks and penguins. It had her name in bold character along with other encouraging phrases. She chuckled as the two smallest member of their group tried to get him to put the clearly obnoxious poster down.
"Wow Mari," said one of her teammates, "You have one of the best boyfriends ever. Not even my boyfriend would make a poster like that."
Throughout the duration of the game, Mari heard Natsuki's cheers the loudest over the whole crowd. It kept her spirits high, even if he didn't really understand the game. Periodically, she would wave at him when she could or give him a thumbs up. With the sound of the final buzz, the game was over. Saotome Academy was victorious. The girls jumped and hooted as the crowd cheered. It was a great game.
With her hair no longer pulled back with a head band, Mari was relieved that all the team's hard work had paid off, but that didn't mean that there couldn't be improvements. She made minor notes for her team to practice on her clipboard in her locker before heading out. Some of her team members were heading into town for karaoke and food, but she hung back. Outside the building, waiting patiently was her loyal "puppy" as some would call him.
"You could have headed back with Shou and Junko," Mari said as she walked up to the blonde haired boy wearing glasses as he still held his poster.
"But I wanted to make sure you made it back safely," he said with pride, "Now that I've met your family, I must strive to protect you at all cost."
She rolled her eyes. When was Natsuki going to stop fussing over her like this, but then again, it was nice to have someone want to protect her. She had never had that before. Even in her family she had to fend for herself. With a sigh she held out her hand for him and he gladly took hold of it. Surprisingly, Natsuki pulled her in close and embraced her like lovers do. She had never been this close to a man. This was new and scary as she felt something warm touch her forehead.
"I love you, Mari," he sighed and he held her close.
Mari's heart was beating like she had just sprinted. She tried to steady it, but there was no way she could. She couldn't meet his emerald eyes, because she was afraid of looking like a love struck fool in front of him. Then she felt her head tilt upwards to meet the loving look that was making her tremble. This was weakness.
"Well umm…," she coughed as she pushed him away, "That's nice. Now, let's head to the dorms it's freezing out here."
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Junko walked hand in hand with Shou everyday it seemed. They laughed and teased. She would build up his ego whenever he helped her get things off the top shelf and he would make her feel special with compliments. Most of the time when they were like this, their friends would either gag or awe at their over the top coupleness. Junko didn't really care. It was nice having someone tell her how cute she was, do things for her, or not mind her being so close. Shou couldn't have been a better companion for her.
"Wow Junko-chan," Masami giggled, "You've changed so much since you and Shou have started dating."
"What do you mean, Miss Masami?" her small friend asked with a dazed look upon her face.
"You've been drawing hearts with yours and Shou's initials in them," Masami giggled as she pointed out the doodle on her notes.
Embarrassed, Junko closed her notebook really quick.
"Sss… so," the little pixie stammered, "A lot of girls do that when they start dating someone."
"But it such a change," she said as she walked with her friend from the library, "You seem happier, more relaxed. Most times before a test, you are organizing all your notes again."
Junko blushed at her friend's observations. It was something she didn't really think about a whole lot. The small girl thought about what Masami said, but she didn't seem to feel different. Except for every time she saw her prefect boyfriend, she would get a stirring in her stomach that she couldn't stop that seem to spread all over her body. She couldn't help, but smile when she thought of those sparkling blue eyes. Her heart raced faster and her face would heat up when she thought of his kisses. Maybe she had changed some.
"Well, I guess that's just a side effect from being in love," Junko said meekly.
"Oh Junko-chan," Masami exclaimed as she patted her small friend's head, "I'm so happy for you and Shou."
"Tampen-chan," said that playful voice of her perfect match from behind the girls, "Want to have dinner with me before I head to a late night rehearsal?"
The petite girl looked up at her friend for permission and was granted. With a wave and a smile, she grasped onto Shou's hand with the warmth feeling in her heart. Yes, this was right. This was utter perfection.
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Ren locked his saxophone in his locker before making his way out of the music building. He opened his phone to find multiple messages from several ladies of Saotome Academy, but none from the one he had hoped to hear from the most. His heart was heavy, but he wasn't going to give up. He may be known as a playboy, but even playboys have feelings too. He kicked a stray pebble as he walked towards the dorms. Love was hard. It was the most complicated feeling the 18 year old had ever experienced. He sighed as pulled his coat closer to his body. He couldn't wait for the weather to warm up. Mush like the seasons, people could change. The blonde boy was going to prove to the young lady he loved so much that he could change. He knew deep down that she had to feel the same for him still. Toykia had to be a passing fancy for her. He smirked as he thought back to the night they salsa danced in the hotel's ballroom over the break. The way her hips swayed and how they had perfect rhythm made people stop and stare at them. She was beautiful in her pink dress and a hibiscus in her hair. Her smile and laughter just seem to make the room shine more that night. Kohaku knew how to draw a crowd anywhere she went.
Together they would be the most idolized couple at Saotome. With her flawless beauty and his model like looks, they would make anyone envious of them, but that would have to wait. He had been this patient with the violet eyed beauty, Ren just had to plan the perfect attack. Without looking where he was going, Ren accidently bumped into a small figure that was walking rather fast.
"Terrible sorry about that," he said as he helped the young lady up. She remained quiet as she brushed herself off. There was something familiar about the ebony hair beauty in front of him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. The dim lighting from the campus lights made it hard for him to see her face.
"It's no trouble," she said, "I wasn't looking where I was going. Accidents happen."
"Natsako?" The sternness in her tone gave her away.
"What happened to you?" he asked as he got a better look at her. Her hair went from of a field mouse to an almost midnight blue. She wasn't wearing her glasses and her makeup was done in a way that made her gray eyes pop. Her pale face seem to glow like it was the moon. Her lips were defined by a deep red lipstick and her lashes were much longer. She wasn't a plain Jane bookworm anymore, she was hot.
"What? Can't I try something different?" she snapped at him.
"Well yes," he chuckled, "But why so sudden? Is there someone you are trying to impress? Say maybe me?"
Natsako held her glare as Ren gave her a flirtatious look.
"It's none of your business," she said as she turned on her heels to make her way to the girls' dorm.
"Well, all right, but don't you think the others will be specious if you showed up to class with hair suddenly dyed?" he asked as he jumped in front of her; he pulled out his phone to take a quick picture of her, "Or maybe I should show this off to the whole school?"
"Ren," Natsako growled, "Are you really going to resort to blackmail?"
"Yes," he smirked, "Now why don't you tell me why this sudden change?"
The girl who was the smartest in the academy grit her teeth together to try and figure out a way out of this trap, but there was no way she could. Every possible way she thought of, she saw herself losing in the end. So with a sigh, she caved in.
"I am Izumi Yama," she said not able to look him in the eye.
"Izumi Yama?" Ren said confused, "As the rocker with the piercings and the intense dragon tattoo?"
"It's not a really tattoo!" she snapped, "It was done for a photo shoot! But yes. She is my alter ego in a way. She is the side that comes out when I'm upset. She's kind of the girl I wish I was. She's cool, aggressive, and could careless of what anyone thinks of her. She's the heartbreaker who's never had a broken heart."
The blonde boy could hear her voice start to tremble.
"Men adore her and don't think of her a freak or a know-it-all or they fear her intensity," she continued as her voice shook. Natsako was trying to hold her tears at bay.
"I hoped," she said as her eyes finally met his blue ones, "that if I became her again, maybe someone I really liked would notice me."
So the stern, strong Natsako had her moments of vulnerability. She just wanted to be tried like a girl should. Ren took her face and with his thumb wiped the stray tears that were rolling down her face. Why did he need to torture her like this? She was just like any other girl. He placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Come on, Natsako," he said softly, "I'll make sure you get to your dorm safely."
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Natsuki sat on the floor in his dorm room, hugging his knees close to his body. In front of him was the poster he had made for Mari's first basketball game. He was going to make a new one for her next game, but what was the point? She would just half smile at him, say thank you and be on her way. He sighed and nudged it away from him. She had changed her hair from pink to electric blue with white strikes and she didn't even bother to ask him what he thought about it. He halfheartedly wished she wouldn't. He liked it when it was longer and pale pink, but it didn't matter what he liked. Mari was going to do it anyways. He reached for the glasses sitting on his nose and pulled them off. He let his mind go black as if he was getting possessed by another being. His adrenaline was pumping and he threw a punch to the poster in front of him. This new person he became was going to take care of Natsuki's problem. Mari was going to learn.
The game was almost a lost, but luckily Mari's other team members were on top of it. Her head hadn't been right since that night Natsuki confessed his love for her. She still hadn't given him an answer, but how could she? This was so sudden. The only people who have told her that they love her were family members. She ran her fingers through her newly dyed hair and tried shake this unsecured feeling. Maybe if she explained that she wasn't ready to say those words, than he could understand.
"Mari," she heard a dark tone in her ear. She turned and felt herself being pinned against the lockers.
"Natsuki," she said sternly, "What are you doing here? This is the girl's locker room."
A smirk formed on his face as flash of lust shown in those golden eyes.
"Natsuki isn't here," he whispered and captured her lips. Mari was shocked. The kiss was hard, forced, but there was passion behind it. She tried to fight her way, but there was something about it that was drawing her in. Something told her that this was right. The impostor in the form of her boyfriend released her lips and began to kiss and nibble against her neck. His hand found his way under her shirt. Those finger tips skimmed across her flat stomach. She inhaled quick and felt her mind go into a haze, but a voice was telling her this was wrong. This wasn't Natsuki. It took him nearly four months to ask her out and almost a year to confess his love. Snapping back to reality, lifted her knee to try to and get him off, but he seemed to know what she was going to do.
"Nice try, Mari," he said in a deep tone, "But it's best if you just relax and let me take over."
"Let go," she growled.
"But you seemed to be enjoying this though," he purred in her ear, "Don't resist it. Shut your mind off and just let your body react to this."
"I said," she growled as she fought her way out of this impostor's arms, "Let go!"
Once free, she tried to run deep into the locker room, but when she reached the showers, she slipped on the slick floor and landed onto her back. She hissed in pain, but stopped when she heard a deep chuckle.
"When are you going to realize that you shouldn't resist," he said as he made way to her. He straddle her before she could make a run for it. Pinning her hands above her, he slipped his hand under her shirt to feel up her sports bra. Mari really was uncomfortable, but her body was acting in a different way. She bit her lip to her moan back as she felt his teeth graze against her neck.
"Go on, moan, Mari," he said in that deep tone, "Tell me how good make you feel. You know you prefer me over that weakling."
"No," she said finding the courage to block out desire that was building up, "I would never prefer you over Natsuki."
The impostor smirk against her neck and pulled himself away to speak.
"Didn't you know, Mari-chan," he said stroking her face, "Natsuki and I are the same."
"Natsuki!" There came call of Shou's voice as Mari heard his footsteps get closer. Before she knew it, the little man had jumped over her and wrestled him to the ground. The tomboy moved herself away so she was leaning against the cool titles of the shower room.
"Ugh… Ochibi-chan," said a confused Natsuki, "Where am I? Mari-chan?"
He crawled his way over to her, but put up her defenses.
"Mari-chan? What happened?" he asked, "Your shirt is ripped. How did you get that bruise on your arm?"
"Don't touch you monster!" she yelled and made a run for it.
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"Poor Mari," Haruka said melancholy, "I can only imagine what could have been going through her mind when that happened."
"Poor Mari?!" Shou exclaimed, "Poor Natsuki! I've never seen him more upset. He finally gets the nerves to tell the girl he has been pining for over a year how he feels and then that Satsuki character comes and mess it up."
"Still, I couldn't imagine being in a state like," Kohaku sighed as she threw her lunch away. It was bad enough she had her only problems to deal with, but now it worried her that Mari was doing everything she can to keep Natsuki away from her. It just didn't seem right. Even though she didn't want to admit it, she envied the pair. They were perfect for each other. It was like they canceled each other out. Their fights weren't really fights at all and Natsuki knew how to make Mari feel like a girl. Toykia had no right to have his heart played with. She had to come clean with him. She had to tell him the truth, but every time she thought of it, it made her stomach churn. She always felt uneasy.
"I'm sure Mari will be over it soon, but whether she forgives Natsuki for his actions, I cannot tell you," the red headed beauty said as she walked away.
Alone in the hallway, surrounded by the chatter of students and teachers, Kohaku drowned them out with the music she had playing in her ears. She didn't want to be bothered by anyone. She needed time to think. She made her way to a practice room which she did not noticed that it was occupied.
"Kohaku," said a shocked Ren. She looked up and felt like running, but running would make her look like a coward.
"Oh, Ren," she said gathering herself, "I must not have been paying attention. How are you?"
It had been at least a month since their last interaction and she longed to see him.
"I'm fine," he smirked, giving her a wink, "And how are you, my rose?"
He was acting like nothing happened. Was this good?
"Fine," she said. The blonde, pretty boy put away his saxophone as she rocked back and forth on her heels. The silence was rather thick. Too thick for Kohaku's liking. She studied Ren's profile. Every bit of was perfection. Her eyes lingered on his lips. Those were the things she missed the most. The heat that they brought inside of her was something she could explain. What was this spell he had on her? He shook his hair out after putting his uniform jacket back on. He gave her a crooked smile before making his way to the door. Kohaku had somehow found a way to wedge herself between him and the door. Her violet eyes looked into those blue pools longingly. She knew that she was begging for his touch when she saw the slight shock in his eyes. She wanted to give into this temptation one last time and then she would be done. She would be able to kick this crazing if he just gave her one kiss. She watched him close the distance letting his lips playfully brush against her. It wasn't until she grabbed the back of his head that she finally got to taste him again. Ren pushed her into the far corner of the practice room so others would see the sin that was taking place. Kohaku felt his tongue against hers as the danced with each other. His taste was addicting. She wanted more from him as she pulled his coat off. She felt him fumbling with tie and then the buttons on her shirt.
"No," he sighed, "I won't."
"Won't what?" she asked as she place kisses on his exposed chest.
"This isn't right," he said, "I won't let you do this."
Ren began to fix himself as Kohaku stared in shock.
"What do you mean?" she asked getting angry, "Isn't this what you wanted?"
"No," the blonde boy said, "It wouldn't be right to allow you to throw away your integrity like this. You can come to me when you're ready."
Kohaku could feel her temper raising as he left the room. To relieve the frustration she felt, she began punch the wall. It wasn't fair that her heart felt this way. He shouldn't be the one she should fall in love with and before she knew it, she was on the floor trembling as she consumed by the darkness of the room.
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Haruka sat in her room with Tomochika going over the song she had been working on, but her mind could not focus on that. It was swarming with thoughts about Natsuki. He had just been so depressed since Mari stopped talk to him.
"She just glares at me whenever I try to talk to her," he told the ginger haired girl, "I know I must have done something wrong, but I can't remember."
She closed her journal and hugged her knees close to her body. As if sensing her distress, Tomochika started to rub her to comfort her.
"Everything will turn out all right in the end," the red head said with a smile, "You'll see."
"It just feels like things have been falling apart after winter break. Everything is changing too fast for me to keep up with. Toykia is having problems with Kohaku. Mari won't talk to Natsuki. Masato is acting paranoid and won't tell anyone why. Even Natsako and Ren are acting different recently," she whined.
"Well, there's always the positive," Tomochika giggled, "At least Shou and Junko aren't fighting anymore."