PSN: I made this particular chapter longer because I felt a little guilty for being away for so long. I just wanted to say something to you guys however. To those who are interested in continuing to read this story until the end, do look at the bottom A/N. Thank you very much for reading this because it does mean a lot to me. Reading your reviews is my inspiration and spurs me on, so thank you! I should stop before I get emotional and whipping out my tissue.
Do read and enjoy! *sniffs*
Thanks to my reviewers: Frost190, Tina, Eiida-chan, YukixSnow, minekoanime.
BTW minekoanime: Thank you for your suggestion. I will take it! :D
People fear the idea of a princess. But there is nothing to fear as she brings harmony rather than terror.~ Prince Giotto.
It was twelve midnight at the Academy and most students had been directed to their dormitories due to the fact that it was past their curfews and because Bianchi had threatened that if any person had the guts to sneak out of their beds before sunrise, they would be ingesting her special culinary for the remainder of the week. After that specific threat, not one person had ventured from the vicinity of their bedrooms. After all it was a well-established fact that Bianchi's cooking skills were a little below mediocre. The reason for that was because everybody had at least once experienced the cooking of the aforementioned matron, who specialised in poisoning her victims with just a whiff of her cooking. Moko had visibly paled when Bianchi mentioned her threat and rushed towards her room, bidding Chrome a quick farewell before she locked her door.
Since then everybody had been fast asleep and no voice could be heard within the dormitory.
Chrome was the only person remaining awake since then. She had been tossing and turning in her bed, throwing away the duvet as sweat layered her body. She had been in this position ever since she had been sent to her room and she could not close her eyes to sleep. It wasn't as though she didn't want to sleep. She did, but the problem was that she wasn't able to. Her stomach hadn't sat well with all the luxurious food that Moko had offered to her earlier that day. And now she was faced with a gastric problem and an unsettled stomach.
She laid face-down, her face buried in her silk pillow, grimacing as her stomach cramped yet again. She wished, almost desired even, that she was back in the hospital so that Nurse Yoko would fuss over her and give her the medication she required. At least Nurse Yoko would have been by her side, wiping away her sweat and reading to her, like a mother.
Chrome's heart panged as she remembered Nurse Yoko and her own betrayal towards the kind woman. She had pretended to die and had made her cry. Chrome never knew she could affect anybody in that manner. She never had anybody cry for her sake much like Nurse Yoko had. Her own mother had been impassive towards her during most of her life. Regardless of what Chrome did, her mother was never satisfied and never praised her, but Nurse Yoko had been different. She praised Chrome and stood up for her even though she did not have to. Even though they were virtually strangers to each other. She missed her dearly and her voice when she read a story.
Even though she was 15, she did like it when Nurse Yoko read to her. She had a strong voice and imitated the characters to make her laugh. She was different to her mother. Her mother had never ever read to her, and if even if she had as so much suggested it to her, her face would curl up in repulsion, as though she had entreated that she pick up a slug.
"Read? Oh Nagi, I just filed my nails and if I pick up a heavy book, it would break. "
So Chrome had never bothered asking her mother to do anything whatsoever. And her mother didn't really bother with her, except if it was to criticize about something arbitrary. Something that Chrome had, perhaps done a couple of years ago, and her mother would find fault in that and ask why she had done such and such on such day.
Chrome tossed herself to the other side, facing the alarm clock on her bedside. She stared at it and raised her eyebrows. It was already past 4 and she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep. She had only two hours and a half left before breakfast and met up with Uncle Kawahira to arrange her schedule for extra classes on flame controlling.
She blinked, rolling back so that she could stare at the ceiling, counting under her breath, in hope that she would lull herself to sleep. It didn't work however. She felt awfully frustrated. She sat up, inundated in her own sweat. She tried wiping it away with her sleeve.
Was Mukuro awake at this time? She pondered, as she swivelled out of the bed. She stood up and sat herself down at the vanity mirror and stared at herself in the mirror, raising her eyebrows at her own appearance. Quietly she touched her hollow cheeks.
Her face had turned a waxy colour and her eyes became glazed and unfocused, shadowed darkly. Tentatively, she touched her own clammy skin and breathed in. She was nothing but mere bones and skin, she thought. She had an unhealthy look about her. No medication had taken its toll on her.
"What have I done with myself?" She whispered aloud, sucking back a breath. Her skeletal frame was appalling. She looked inhumane and she tried to stop herself from crying. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gazed at her pitiful state. "What have I done?"
She had never really thought about why she was ill and why her stomach was so sensitive. Everything she ate was brought back up again. She could never really stomach anything and now it became really obvious to her. She didn't believe that it hadn't occurred to her before now. She knew that she had rushed of out of Japan pre-surgery. She had been in a really bad state, her life hanging precariously by a thread. Her organs had been crushed by the hit and run and most of them weren't really functioning. She had been advised to have an organ donor, though her mother had refused to donate. She remembered Mukuro had casually lit a mist-type flame over her skin, providing her with what he named 'Illusionary organs.' He had told her they would suffice for the time being.
She remembered feeling appeased and stared at her own ring, her mind whirring.
What if? What if she did the same thing Mukuro had done? Would it work? She thought, feeling hopeful. Would her pain go away and would she be healthy again?
"But I still can't light it," she whispered, sitting back on her bed, her mind in disarray.
But she could still try, couldn't she? There was really no harm in trying something, even if it resulted in failing. All she wanted was to dim the pain at this stage. She didn't want to keep waking up every night drenched in sweat or not sleeping at all. She didn't want to stay awake, simple.
She closed her eyes and concentrated. Clearing her mind just as Uncle Kawahira instructed. Her eyelids fluttered in pure concentration as she tried to channel her energy into the ring. It was hard when she hadn't slept at all but she could try. She winced a little as she felt the familiar tingling pain in her ring finger. It persisted as she exerted more effort into it.
She huffed, opening her eyes in frustration.
It hadn't worked earlier. So why would it work now? Why wasn't it working in the first place? Chrome didn't understand and she didn't want to feel left out. Moko had advised her to stay calm if she wanted to light it and she was calm now, wasn't she? What was this barrier that kept stopping her from using her flame properly? She sighed with dejection and sat down on her bed, her hand covering her face as she sobbed.
She was so tired. She wanted to sleep, she desperately wanted to close her eyes but she couldn't. She was getting really tired and thirsty. She felt dehydrated, her throat dry.
She decided to pad through her dorm hall and get a glass of drink and hoped that Bianchi would understand. She didn't want to face her cooking and risk making herself more ill than she already is.
"Just a little drink," she reassured herself, padding quietly out of her room and into the hall. She tried her best to tiptoe as quietly as possible. She didn't want Bianchi on her tail.
A drinking fountain could be found between the Mist and Sun dorm as they were very close to each other. Chrome was headed that way now. She smiled when she spied the drinking fountain and hurried that way. When she reached it, she grabbed a plastic cup and filled her cup with water. She nodded, wobbling, her eyes drooping heavily. Her arms swayed and she spilled a little on the floor.
She panicked as she gazed at the mess and hoped that it would somehow evaporate before morning. She didn't want Bianchi to find out that somebody had escaped from their bed.
Quickly she drank the water from the cup and sighed in relief. The water was so soothing to her body and she felt refreshed. She smiled and poured herself two, three, four more cups until she felt replenished.
She was about to turn around and leave but she had heard a slow footstep approaching from the wall behind her. Chrome stood stock-still, afraid that it was Bianchi who had found out and dropped her plastic cup. She watched as it hit the floor and winced when it made a scraping sound against the floor.
That definitely must have been heard.
She was busted. She watched with trepidation as the footsteps became nothing more than soft-tap-tapping that soon disappeared. She sighed with relief and hurried to her bedroom and threw herself on the bed. She gazed at her alarm clock and panicked. Only half an hour left before morning and she had not had a wink of sleep. There was no pointing in sleeping now. She decided to get out of bed and have a warm shower to cleanse her body and replenish her soul.
She searched for her uniform and laid it out on her bed before entering the bathroom. She whipped out her clothes and gazed at her body in the full-length mirror. She winced as she looked at the scars that dominated all over her body. Angry, jagged scars that ran from her collar bone to her upper thigh. The scars in her body were from an unfinished surgery and a reminder of her ugly past. Chrome had to just look at her body to be transported back to the past were her future had been bleak and dreary.
Thank Mukuro for that, her conscience hissed, infiltrating her mind as it usually did.
She shuddered and ran a hand through the thickest scar running across her abdomen and sighed. She would have to hide her body from Moko as it would raise too many questions. Nobody but Mukuro knew about them and if she confessed, Moko would know that she had lied about her past and Chrome was not prepared to lose her friendship so easily after having acquired it with such struggle.
It's your past; embrace it, her conscience said.
Chrome exhaled and stepped into the shower. She sighed with relief as the warm blast of air hit her and the warm water ran down her body. She hummed delightedly under her breath as she washed her body. She felt as though she was washing away all her worries and fears. The water running down her body made her forgot about her lack of sleep and her stomach-ache and instead made her focus on the shower itself. After 10 minutes have passed she stopped the shower and stepped out, covering herself with the towel.
When she entered her bedroom she shook with astonishment when she saw Moko in her bedroom a huge smile on her face. She was sitting on her chair already donning her uniform. Her short brown hair was held back with silver hair-clips. Her smile was so sunny and bright that it immediately made Chrome smile along with her and forget her worry momentarily.
"Hello Chro! Good morning," she smiled; her voice bright and sunny as usual. "I thought you were awake when I heard your shower running. Early morning?"
"Something like that," Chrome blustered, "were you awake also?"
Moko nodded and heaved a sigh, sweeping her arm along the room. "Yeah. I woke up at around an hour ago and couldn't get back to sleep, so I decided to stay awake. I thought you were asleep until I heard your shower running. You were awake too, I guess."
Chrome nodded, a small smile grazing her lips. "Yes, I was going to go downstairs for breakfast."
"Uncle Kawahira had an appointment with you right?"
Chrome nodded. His appointment had been on her mind all day and she was getting slightly worried. Would it help? Would she be able to ignite her ring? She had so many worrying questions last night that had kept her awake alongside with her stomach-ache. Right now she could feel the knots of tension tying itself tighter in her stomach and groaned.
Moko beamed and stood up. "Do you want me to come with you Chro? Moral support and all?"
Quickly Chrome shook her head. It was one thing that Uncle Kawahira witnessed her blundering weakness in igniting her flame but it was another if Moko was there to see it too. She was too prideful to show weakness in front of her new friend. "No, no, it is fine."
"What is fine?"
Both girls spun around to face a frowning Bianchi with a raised eyebrow. Chrome noted that she was wearing a white shirt along with a black pencil skirt as opposed to her usual brown garments. Her lavender hair was swept back in a pony tail which made her features appear softer. Right now she was gazing quizzically at them, her arms folded as she stood at her door.
Moko looked at Chrome as though to ask her permission to elaborate. Chrome shook her shoulders in nonchalance and Moko beamed, firing a quick thumb-up at her.
"Uncle Kawahira wanted to make a time-table for Chrome so that she could catch up with us for the exam," Moko explained hastily, darting a quick look at Chrome.
Chrome nodded in affirmation and looked expectantly at Bianchi.
"So," Bianchi drawled, "you two are up earlier than most students because of this very reason?"
"Not exactly," Moko said before Chrome could intercept. "We both happened to be awake at the same time."
Bianchi locked eyes with her and raised her eyebrows before looking at Chrome. "Well, if that is it then, I will take responsibility in escorting Miss Dokuro to Kawahira's office."
Moko opened her mouth to protest but Bianchi interjected by adding, "No, you have lessons to get to. I am her matron and I take responsibility."
Moko slumped in defeat and nodded silently, accepting her defeat.
"Now, why don't we all go downstairs for a big breakfast?"
Chrome agreed half-heartedly, though her heart wasn't really on it. She ushered them out so that she could get dressed and join them.
XxX—XxX
"You will only have coffee?"
The incredulous tone of Moko could not be disguised as she stared in horror at Chrome who had just received a steaming cup of coffee from the Rainbow Cafe. Moko herself had decided to have a creamy polenta with crème fraiche.
"I'm not hungry," Chrome said, blushing as she sat down in one of the seats, the steaming cup of coffee clutched in her hands. The cafe they inhabited was empty and consisted of only her, Moko and Bianchi.
"Well, you have a long day ahead of you," Bianchi warned, pulling a chunk out of her cheese bread and dunking it into her mushroom soup. "Coffee is not just enough in this academy. For one, you need energy to ignite your flame."
Chrome looked at them and smiled uneasily. She knew all this but she couldn't stomach any of this food. She had only chosen the coffee due to its caffeine and ability to make her stay awake. She hadn't slept and she knew it would affect her overall performance.
"You've just deteriorated since you've come here," Moko said with dismay as she glanced at Chrome in horror. "Look at you now! You're gaunt. You do need to eat Chro, please."
"She's right," Bianchi offered as she sipped her own coffee. "You do seem to have suddenly lost a tremendous amount of weight. It is worrying because you were not like this 3 days earlier." She grabbed her arm and held it aloft and frowned, "you've become small. I think you'll have to go to Dr Shamal for this case. He'll have something for this."
"Dr Shamal?" Moko eeped as she looked at Chrome with worry.
Chrome did feel weak. Very weak in fact but decided to hold herself together. She smiled at them in assurance, "I'm okay. I really am."
Bianchi shook her head. "After Kawahira, we go to Dr Shamal. And as much as I hate his work ethics, he is the finest doctor here. There is nothing to be afraid of, you will get better. It is just worrying how you suddenly seemed to have shrunk within yourself."
Chrome touched her cheeks and agreed silently. She did somehow lose a lot of weight in the three days she had been here. A short time indeed. She knew the cause and did not want Dr Shamal to see her because of her scars. He would question and probe in an intrusive manner whilst Bianchi watched the truth would come out of her mouth before she could stop it.
She did not want that to happen and almost shuddered at the thought.
Do not let him see you at all cost, her conscience warned.
"I'm okay, I don't need a doctor," she declined softly, inclining her head to the side as she drank from her coffee. She let her gaze drop, unable to look at Bianchi or Moko.
"I refuse," Bianchi said, shaking her head. "This is extremely worrying for me. I don't want to push you on your first week Chrome but this is an odd case. I want what is best for you as your matron. So do trust me please."
I had an accident when a car ran me over. This was when I was Nagi but now I'm Chrome. I was going to die but Mukuro saved me and gave me a new life. I lied my way through here and betrayed a nurse. Now I'm happy so please don't call the doctor. I hate doctors because they remind me of death. They remind me of my old self.
She could not form the words and say it out loud. She was scared that she would be discovered to be an imposter who has come here under false pretences. It was a matter of time and Dr Shamal's visit would definitely make the process quicker. Ever since she had arrived to the Academy she had had nightmares about being discovered and sent back home to her unforgiving mother and back to M.M her tormenter. At times she froze in fear when she thought about it. It was such a horrible thought!
"Chro?" Moko asked tentatively and gently shook her arms, shaking her out of her reverie. Her face was marred with worry lines which made Chrome feel wretched for making her worry in the first place.
"I'm fine," she said with a false smile. Inside she was crying though she had to hide it. She drained her cup of coffee and stood up but was suddenly stopped by Bianchi who held her arms and stood along with her.
"You will come with me to Dr Shamal's office after you go to Kawahira, do you hear?" Bianchi said this with such vehement force and emotion that it rooted Chrome to the spot. "I will not take a no for an answer."
Moko watched and shook her head at Chrome in pure dismay.
"Okay," Chrome said sullenly, feeling her panic rising. She swallowed and nodded, feeling scared and vulnerable all of a sudden. She glanced at Moko who offered her a warm smile. She wouldn't be seeing her again. Her past would be dug up and she would be sent back home after this visit.
Chrome could feel the tears prickling her eyes and quickly rubbed at it with her sleeves before they could comment. It was so unfair. She didn't want to be ill. She didn't want to be unhealthy. She didn't want to have these scars. She wanted to be normal. She wanted to sleep. She didn't want weird dreams. It was impossible in the end wasn't it? Fate had chosen its destiny for her a long time ago and there was nothing she could do to change it.
You can, her conscience hissed, if you embrace your identity as the princess, you will change your fate. Remember this Chrome, remember this!
Chrome shook her head. Her conscience always decided to rear its ugly head whenever she was feeling down or panicked. She didn't believe that she was the princess. Nobody in this academy, apart from Moko who was hopeful and Mukuro, believed in the prophecy. If she really was the princess, then she would not have been a class C.
"Let's go Chrome," Bianchi tugged at her sleeve and pulled her forward.
"See you Chro," Moko waved, she cupped her mouth with her hands as Chrome left, "I'll save you a seat in Dino's class after!"
Chrome nodded, though she wasn't really listening at this point.
XxX—XxX
"Ah, Chrome, hmmm, you're here early," Uncle Kawahira commented. He sat behind his desk and to Chrome's horror was still wearing his pyjamas also. He yawned and slurped from his steaming ramen and gazed at her contemplatively. "You brought your matron with you also."
"Good morning to you too," Bianchi said stiffly. She crossed her legs and sat protectively next to Chrome.
"Ah, still stiff as usual," Uncle Kawahira's eyes glinted. "I forgot how beastly you were in the morning."
"Chrome," Bianchi said, ignoring his remark, "said something about you making a timetable for her?"
He smiled and nodded, ducking under his desk to produce a heavy book. He laid it on his desk and blew on the dust and opened it slowly. "Ah yes, yes, hmmm," he flipped a few pages. "About the exams. Hmm."
Chrome watched as he stopped at a certain page, his eyes becoming steely and serious. He looked at Chrome, his gaze probing, as though he were undressing her with his eyes. She felt naked and vulnerable in front of him.
"And...?" Bianchi probed.
"You see," he began seriously. "We can all agree that Chrome is not at her full potential at the moment. I've had a thought about this yesterday and I've come to the conclusion that she won't be taking any of her exams with her peers this coming month."
"Why?"
This came from Bianchi who had unfolded her legs to sit up straighter.
He stroked his chin and sighed. "If you see it like this, please. Chrome arrived here without any prior knowledge to flames and rings. She arrived to get accustomed to a new environment that she had been newly exposed to. Overall this affects her concentration and hinders her flame resolution. We all know how important that is."
"But if she doesn't take this exam she will not be able to graduate to a class B," Bianchi said angrily. "Surely you can't say that she will stay in the same class twice?"
"I've thought about this actually. She will take this a week after the Christmas term with the other children who will make-up their test should they fail this one. I will give her this one chance, but it will be her only one. If she fails, I'm afraid I do not know how that will bode with her overall performance."
Chrome watched as they talked about her as though she weren't there in the room. She didn't get it. She had one chance to elevate herself to a class C?
"So did you take her lack of box weapon into account?"
Uncle Kawahira nodded. "Yes, she will get it next week will she not? I will train her alongside with Lal Mirch in order for her to fully use the potential of her box-weapon. Relax, she will be fine."
He looked at Chrome and smiled pleasantly at her.
Bianchi sighed and ran a hand through her hair distractedly. "You think?"
"Oh I'm sure," he said with a glint in his eyes, "Chrome is more than capable. She will prove this to all of us, given the chance." His eyes became more pleasant again as he faced Chrome, "right?"
Chrome looked at him, unsure of what he was talking about. She would prove to them what? She wasn't sure if he was even aware of what he was saying but...but the way he glanced meaningfully at her seemed as though he knew something. Something about her.
What was it?
XxX—XxX
"I do apologise," Bianchi said after they left Uncle Kawahira's office. She undid her hair and let it loose, allowing it to cascade naturally around her shoulders. "I'm feeling slightly agitated today. We'll just rush to Dr Shamal's and I'll escort you to your..."
Chrome watched as Bianchi stood still. She had stopped in front of a huge door with a notice signed at the front. Chrome squinted to look at it.
DR SHAMAL'S OFFICE.
OPERATING ALL DAY DEPENDING ON YOUR GENDER.
Beneath it there was a smaller sign.
Today I am away. I will return on Monday. Until then ladies I'm sorry you will not see my handsome face. I've hired extra nurses to care of this until then.
"Today of all days," Bianchi hissed as she drew in a breath. She sighed and knocked on the door loudly, irritating Chrome's ears. She tapped her feet impatiently and waited for a response.
Chrome looked on as the door opened slowly revealing a sultry red-headed woman with a big bust. Her hair was curled in ringlets and she was wearing a dark coloured lipstick donned with a tight nurse uniform. She gazed at Chrome and Bianchi and blinked her false lashes.
"Hey," even her voice was sultry, Chrome noted. "What can I do to help you? The doc is gone."
"He hired you?" Bianchi said, looking her up and down, a small smug smile on her lip.
"Yes," she said, batting her lashes and letting out a slow, almost rehearsed giggle. "There are other nurses too."
"Expected," Bianchi said, shaking her head. "Do you know where he is?"
"Oh, the doc?" She cocked her head to the side. "He went to Nepal or was it Thailand? He found an antidote for a complex disease or something like that. Not sure. He won't be here until Monday so you have to make do with us."
Bianchi let out an irritated sigh and waved her away. "No, it is fine. We're late anyway."
"Oh, are you sure? You do seem a little pale," she looked concerned as she pouted her lips, her doleful eyes emanating sorrow.
"I'm not the ill one," Bianchi snapped and pointed at Chrome. "It's one of my students here."
"Oh," the nurse gasped and looked at Chrome properly. Her blue eyes wide Chrome "Oh my, oh my, oh my!"
"What is it?" Bianchi asked.
Chrome felt panic rising as she waited apprehensively for the verdict.
"Her hair," she gasped again, "I see split-ends. Do you know how bad that is?"
Bianchi face-palmed with gritted teeth, "On second thoughts, we will definitely be going."
"Oh, okay," the nurse said pleasantly and ushered them forward. "Do take care of her split-ends though, it's bad."
Chrome sighed in deep relief. This nurse was not going to see her and she was safe for now. Nobody would discover her secret for now. She almost laughed with relief but contained herself just in time. This nurse was nothing compared to Nurse Yoko.
Stop thinking about that woman! Her conscience hissed harshly, or you will never let go of your past!
"Chrome," Bianchi shook her out of her reverie and pulled her forward, "why don't I escort you to your English class?"
XxX—XxX
"Students, may I please have you attention?" Dino announced, smiling awkwardly at his students. He held Chrome at arm's length and nodded reassuringly at her. She felt immediately appeased by his pleasant nature and attitude.
The class stopped what they were doing and stared curiously at Chrome, who suddenly felt her cheeks heat with flame at the sudden intense attention.
She hated it. She did not like the way they were staring at her. Chrome had never liked the attention inflicted on her by students. It always ended up badly. Dino had insisted that he would publicly announce her presence to the rest of the class and make her feel welcome. But Chrome doubted that. This was not the way she imagined it.
"Yes sir!" A dozen of voices chorused.
Chrome spied Moko from the back of her eyes, and smiled a little, the tightness in her chest recoiling a little. She was smiling at her encouragingly and she hoped that Dino made her sit with Moko, rather than the other student's in the class. Chrome knew from personal experience that the person you sit next to in class isn't necessary your friend. (A lesson, she had learned the hard way.)
Dino smiled jubilantly, "Okay, I'll introduce you to our new student. Chrome Dokuro who has travelled all the way from Japan to study in this Academy. Please be nice to your classmate," he turned to Chrome, "do you have anything to say?"
Chrome clasped her hands tightly and gazed intensely at the floor, "Um...no," she whispered shyly, her cheeks reddening even more.
"Oh? Okay then Miss Dokuro; sit with Miss Mori, okay?" Dino smiled kindly at her, his eyes crinkling as he gently pushed her towards Moko's direction.
Instantly, she heard people whisper as she passed by them.
"Mori? She sits with Mori?"
"I heard the mist prince invited her. But that's just rumours."
"The mist prince inviting her? That's crazy."
"He brought her roses in another lesson, isn't that crazy?"
"She looks weird and scary."
"She has an intense stare."
"It's because she's shy."
Chrome heard everything the students were whispering about her. Her lips wobbled a little, but she clenched her fist tightly before the tightening feeling in her chest increased. Why was it, wherever she went, rumours and talks would always be with her? She had done nothing to these strangers and she had not once talked to them, yet they were judging her. What did she have on her, which always got people talking? It had been fine yesterday when nobody approached at all except for Moko.
Moko was right, this school thrived on rumours. Suddenly Chrome was reminded of her first day at school.
Flashback:
A small trembling Nagi, only 9 years old, entered the classroom, clutching tightly to the teddy-bear that her step-father had sent for her in one of his over-seas trip. Bear-bear had been her companion ever since she could remember. Without him, Nagi felt lost.
The teacher smiled, gently pushing the shy girl inside. Nagi's eyes watered, feeling home-sick already. Her mother had promised to get her back by 3 o clock, but Nagi was scared that she wasn't coming back.
This was her first time in school. All her life her mother had hired tutors for Nagi, but they all couldn't penetrate through her. She was too shy and cried too much. The teacher's had advised Nagi's mother that she sent her to school so she would learn to interact with other students and make friends. Her mother was doubtful, but in the end she relented and discussed it with her husband who agreed.
"That child...all I get is complaint from all of her tutors," Nagi's mother would criticize bitterly, "what have I done to deserve a daughter like her?"
"You'll be fine. All that child needs is other play-mates. She has never been outside," her step-father countered.
Nagi's mother snorted, "Have you forgotten why? That girl would pick up germs from everywhere. She'd get too sick if she went outside."
"But you'd have to send her anyway."
"To a prestigious school. A girl's school."
"It's settled then," her step-father said, grabbing the phone as he made arrangements.
That night, Nagi had cried herself to sleep. She had heard everything and she had not liked what she heard. Her parents were abandoning her! She cried and cried, unable to stop until her mother entered her room, irritated and snapped, "Stop crying! I'm trying to sleep here!"
So Nagi stopped, clutching Bear-bear and silently sucking her thumb to sleep. If she had Bear-bear with her, everything would be fine, her child logic reasoned.
Now, Nagi was wiping away the tears from her eyes as she looked at the sea of unfamiliar faces, panic rising. She quivered as she stepped forward and the teacher introduced her.
"This is Nagi Aizawa. She has been home-tutored before, so this is her first time in a school. Do be kind to her and show her the way," the kind teacher thrilled. Her eyes locked on a red-head who was glaring at Nagi and smiled, "M.M dear, would you be a darling and be her guide for the first week until she gets accustomed to the school?"
M.M's scowl deepened, "Who would want to take care of a 9 year old who still carries teddy-bears?"
The class tittered.
Nagi's lip trembled even more, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She clutched tightly to Bear-bear. He was the only one who understood her. The only person who knew what she was feeling.
"Now M.M, please be considerate. This is her first time in an establishment like this, so she still does not know the rules," the teacher warned. She looked at Nagi, "sit there. Next to M.M. she says things, but she doesn't mean it. Also, next time, your teddy-bear has to go. It is not good for the school's image."
Nagi was so shocked at the announcement; she grabbed the teddy, "Bear-bear?"
The teacher raised her eye-brows, "Is that what you call it?"
The class laughed and Nagi's eyes shed the tears that she had been keeping to herself all day. She wasn't brave. She sobbed silently to herself as she walked towards the seat of M.M and accidently stood on her feet.
"Ouch!" M.M shouted, shoving her.
Nagi fell to the floor, crying even harder now. Nobody stopped her. Nobody reprimanded M.M and the class continued to laugh. Nagi suddenly felt extremely lonely as she lay there on the ground. Lonely. A familiar feeling that she had come to dislike. Why was she still feeling sad with Bear-bear by her side?
Why couldn't she stop crying?
End of flashback.
The difference between Nagi and Chrome was immense. Chrome would not cry in front of her perpetrators. She had learnt a great lesson in her childhood. Crying would never get sympathy from people who could never empathise with other's people's situation.
It was a lesson Chrome had learnt the hard way.
She ignored the remarks and whispers of the students, sitting up straight. The words still hurt her, but Chrome refused to cry. She would not cry. Not when her new identity was at stake. She had suffered too much to succumb to their malice.
"Hey again," Moko smiled, squeezing her fingers, "how did it go? Are you well now?"
Moko was referring to Chrome's to either Dr Shamal or Uncle Kawahira. She had forgotten about the ordeal the moment she entered class. But Chrome was still touched by her concern and nodded.
"Yes, I am," she whispered.
Moko beamed, as though she was genuinely happy to hear that which made Chrome glow warmly on the inside.
"Class, could you please bring out your homework sheets? We'll go through it in the class," Dino said, sitting atop his desk. He smiled at the class and nodded at Chrome, "Moko, show Chrome the text we are reading."
"Yes, sir," Moko answered in English, flitting to the designated page and sharing the page with Chrome so that she could read it. She pushed the book towards her.
Chrome had learnt English in Kukoya Ladies Academy and even though she was not as fluent as her other classmates, she could understand a few words here and there. She sighed with relief; this was, so far, a better lesson than math with Belpheghor. Chrome was dreading that lesson.
Dino beamed, "Aimi, why don't you stand up and read your sentence?"
Aimi, a plump girl who was sitting at the front of the class, sighed with mock-irritation and stood up. She pushed back her black hair and sighed, "Which line?"
Dino frowned, wobbling a little on his desk—he caught himself in time before he fell—and pointed at the book, "We'll start from the beginning."
Aimi raised her eyebrows, "Okay," she reverted to English, her voice a little choppy, "Jack said, "No, we can...cannot do that."
Dino nodded, "Excellent! That was a great sentence that you have produced. Okay, now on to Cho. Read line 2."
Aimi glowed with pleasure, her face tinged red.
Cho, the girl who she had seen yesterday at the Rainbow Room, smiled breezily. "I skipped line 2. Can I do line 3, please?"
Dino nodded, "Yes you can."
Cho smiled, reading in a concise manner, her accent accentuated strongly with Japanese, "No. I will do it," Sophie said."
Dino frowned, "That was line 2, Cho. But great effort!" He smiled brightly at her, causing her to blush and sit down.
"I'm sorry, sir. I got mixed up," she answered sheepishly, scratching her cheeks in embarrassment.
"It happens to the best of us, "Dino said, and pointed at Moko who had been slumping resignedly in her seat."Moko. Why don't you finish for Cho?"
Moko nodded and stood up. She sighed and read concisely. "But you will not do it, I won't allow you," Jack screamed."
Dino's eyes brightened, "Excellent verb there. Screaming. It highlights the emotions of Jack and his anger with Sophie. Good job Mori!"
Moko glowed at the praise and smiled at Chrome.
Dino tried standing up, but his shoe-lace had become entangled with the desk-chair so he fell face-first into the ground, groaning in pain as he strained to entangle himself. "Oof! I was going to say," he stood up sheepishly and rubbed at his sore head, "that this class has put a great effort into the homework that I have set last week. I'm proud of you all!"
Chrome liked Dino. He was an honest and genuine teacher who really did put effort into teaching. And even though he was a little clumsy—he had fallen 3 times while she was here—she would not want to replace him as an English teacher. He was much kinder than her old English teacher who screamed in your face whenever you mispronounced certain words.
"Chrome," Dino said, coming towards their table, "I have arranged for Cho to help you and build the gaps for you. I suggest that you meet up regularly at lunch-times, or even when you are free in the weekends to fill in the gaps of your knowledge," he looked at Cho who was reading a book, "that wouldn't be too much to ask for, is it? I just want Chrome to be on the same wave-length as the rest of you."
Cho nodded and put down her book. "I can help her sir," she smiled at Chrome. "I'll definitely help her."
Chrome's cheek glowed with happiness. Cho was so kind!
You are so simple-minded. You'd even be happy if the mail-man smiled at you, her cynical conscience retorted.
Chrome tried blocking it. There was no room for cynicism. She would try and bury that part of her.
"Okay. That is settled then," Dino said, returning back to his desk. "Let us get back to our lesson now."
"Cho, huh?" Moko said as she glared at the girl. "Well, do enjoy your lesson."
Was it just Chrome or did she detect a hint of bitter resentment in her tone?
XxX—XxX
"I cannot understand why he did not ask me to help you with your English. I'm your guide plus we life in the same dorm so it is easy. Ugh! Cho is such a show-off sometimes," Moko said, her eyes shaded darkly as she stomped angrily out of the lesson.
"It's just the English lesson," Chrome amended, "you can teach me everything else."
Moko nodded, "I know, but Cho is such a teacher's pet sometimes. I really wish he chose me instead of her. That is what irks me."
"Choose whom Moko?"
Chrome and Moko turned around to face Cho who was standing behind them, a haughty smile on her face. Chrome's eyes flickered between Moko and Cho, their eyes both blazing with fury.
"You heard me once," Moko said slowly, "and I do not repeat myself as a rule."
"Oh," Cho said, "are we going to fight again over something petty as this? You can have Chrome to yourself if you want but this lesson is reserved for me. English is my forte, as we all know."
Before Moko could interject, Cho stormed off.
"See," she said to Chrome, her arms flailing wildly, "she's so damn infuriating sometimes!"
She glanced at Chrome and sighed. "Why don't we get to Physics lesson now?"
As they walked towards their lesson, Moko did not utter a word. Chrome didn't understand why she had been so upset over Dino's arrangements. It was only an English lesson. Did Moko feel somehow threatened by Cho? Did she feel as though the moment she approaches Cho that she would ditch Moko and leave her in the dark? Chrome had never even entertained the thought. She herself was scarce when it came to the friendship department. She would never betray anybody like that, least of all Moko.
"I won't leave you," Chrome said suddenly, her eyes focused on Moko's shadowed face.
Moko looked at her and blinked back several times. She stopped and stared at Chrome before she burst into laughter.
"What?" Chrome whispered, feeling ashamed.
"Nothing, except that I find you scary sometimes."
"Huh?"
"I've never met anybody who can read me so much. I under-estimated you Chro. I'm sorry for wallowing in self-pity though. It's just that I have never really had any friends here and I thought that if you went with Cho..." she trailed, gazing meaningfully at Chrome.
"I won't," Chrome said, understanding full well what she was aiming at.
Moko's smile brightened and she wiped away the glistening tears with her sleeve and laughed, "I'm such an idiot sometimes. It's probably why I never had friends in the first place," she laughed. "Loser Moko, always the stupid one. Never had friends." She shook her head at Chrome who opened her mouth. "Hey! Don't worry. I'm a self-deprecating soul and I do at times chastise myself."
Chrome smiled with relief. At least now Moko would not be in a bad mood. They stepped forward and walked to their next lesson. Chrome felt extremely tired and her legs had wobbled slightly as she moved forward. Her movement became sluggish as she walked. She did want to jump into bed and sleep without any interruptions, however she had to finish the rest of the day in order for that to occur.
Just a little more, she thought as she stepped a few more steps to her class.
She was so tired and she was finding it hard to focus. Her surroundings were becoming blurred and she felt dizzy. Everything became blotted and she tried to blink rapidly but it was too much effort on her part. She glanced at Moko who was walking slightly ahead of her. She had become nothing but a blur. She moved in a sluggish manner and tried to open her mouth.
She felt something drip onto the ground.
"Chro?" Moko looked at Chrome and gasped. "Your nose...it's bleeding!"
Chrome felt the drop of her blood seep through her white shirt and gingerly touched her nose. She froze as more blood escaped through her nostrils and stained her clothes. Why was she bleeding? What was happening to her? She tried to stop the blood-flow but it continued to flow out of her nose.
"I," she began but her speech became slurred. She tried to move towards Moko who looked anxiously at her but her knee gave way and buckled under her weight. She fell to the ground with a loud thud and blinked in horror. "I...cant...move," she slurred.
"Oh my God Chro! I'll just page Bianchi right now. Wait here," Moko said her voice rising in panic as she knelt by her side. "Chro?"
But it was already too late; Chrome had already become unconscious at that stage, succumbing to the darkness that beckoned. She lay on the ground, the blood in her nose pooling at her side already coagulating.
"CHROME!" Moko screamed, holding her lolling head.
PSN: I'm so bad at building tension lol. OTL. Shame on me.
So the big message really was this:
You see, this current arc which began since chapter 1 is named The Transition. This will probably be the longest arc of this story as opposed to other arcs that are to come. I just wanted to tell you that no major characters will be introduced until then. Mentioned maybe or seen fleetingly, however there will be no interaction with them until the second arc. Do you guys find this boring? Because in reality this arc is the most important arc as it develops on Chrome + Moko's characters. Also other random OC's that are not relevant to the story but just to fill in the story will appear. For example Cho. So I was a little worried that you guys wouldn't like that and be bored and restless as you waited for the big events to occur. Don't get bored guys okay! I don't want you abandoning this yet! D:
Every chapter has a meaning and builds up for the big events to come. So I do hope that you hang in there. I will try to make it as entertaining as possible and Chrome will have fun until then and that is what matters right?
I'm talking too much. Just tell me what you think in your reviews guys, I need to hear what you think.
Thanks,
PSN. x