Chapter 20

As Inita entered the school the next day, she could barely remember anything that happened after she blacked out. Now, her condition had worsened; a fever.

And to think she still came to school! She was pushing herself way past her limits, so it was no surprise, for her at least, when she fell backwards into a shocked student's arms, completely unconscious.

Hours later, she awoke in the nurse's office on one of the hospital beds.

"You ok?" a voice came.

She turned her head slowly, her eyes finally agreeing to focus. Someone was sitting in a chair next to her bed.

"You're running a heck of a fever. Caught the cold maybe?" They stood and walked over to the sink to wet a washcloth for her forehead.

She noticed the boyish flare of their shoulder-length hair; the dark tresses of a playboy, perhaps? Most of their clothes were loose fitting, from the black camo cargo pants, to the grey hoodie with the black star design on the back, to the white t-shirt. They also wore combat boots and one of those huge chains with a ring on it around their neck. Their ears were pierced, each at least twice, with both tiny hoops and studs.

As they turned back to her she noticed the cold glint in vaguely girly eyes and the spiky fringe which battled to keep its position in front of those eyes. A watch, obviously to big for his wrist, ticked away quietly.

Ah. She recalled seeing this person every now and again in the halls after classes. Almost always with a certain group of guys or followed by their dedicated fan girls. But then, what guy at this school didn't have a group of fan girls. But there was something else about his face… something more familiar.

Placing the wet cloth on her forehead, they watched in amusement as she wiped the stray droplets from her eyes. "What's your name?"

"…Inita…" she answered quietly. His voice wasn't deep…but it wasn't too high pitched either…

"You should take better care of yourself then, Inita."

"What time is it?"

"I wouldn't worry too much. You only missed assembly and two classes so far."

"Only?" she sat up quickly, only to fall back onto the pillow exhausted.

"So excitable…" he laughed.

"…Why are you here anyway?"

"Me?" a smile as he pointed to himself, "I'm skipping class."

"… Delinquent?" she wondered.

"I'm leaving now though. Take care of yourself."

"Wait!" she called, "What's your name?"

"Well, since so few people know my first name, everyone just calls me Yamato."

"Thanks for watching over me then, Yamato."

A quick smile, "No problem…"

Just then, Savila arrived to deliver her application letter to the school.

"Good morning. Principal?"

"Yamato this is the third time this morning!" the elderly gentleman raged, shocking her, "What's with the get up and the wig?"

"Um…Sir, I'm Savila Cain…I'm here to give you my application letter?"

"Oh…my, my. Sorry my dear. You look a bit like one of the troublemakers at our school."

"Why don't you just kick them out then?"

"Unfortunately, aside from being a troublemaker, Yamato is actually a brilliant student; always placing 3rd or higher in class…In any case, thank you for your time. We will alert you once you are accepted to the school."

As Yamato strolled through the halls, girls eyed him, wondering when he would at last pick a girlfriend from amongst them. Every attempt to seduce him had always gotten them answers like:

"What do you think this is? A circus?"
"I definitely don't want to go out with any of you. With good reason too."
"Please leave me alone already."

A gasp. Everyone focused on the girl down the hall. She looked so much like Yamato, just more feminine and with much longer hair.

He turned, his eyes widening as he spotted her.

"So you're Yamato. I had a feeling it was you." Savila smirked.

"I haven't seen you in a long time, Savila."

"Right back at you, sis."

Sis? As in sister? Then…That meant that Yamato…was a girl?