Moon Roses: Chapter One

Disclaimer: I own nothing that belongs to the creators of Yu Yu Hakusho or Sailor Moon.

Welp.

I was bored again.

And unfortunately had no muse for my other stories.

SO

Here is this one.

HAPPY READING!

It's difficult to even remember what life had been like before I knew of the Netherworld's existence. I had been fourteen at the time, and all I thought I had to worry about was school, and looking out for my younger brother, Kazuma.

Boy, did I miss the days of chasing down a twelve year old so he'd do his homework.

That was two years ago now.

Now, I make it sound like I had it easy before the Netherworld came into play. Easier, yes, but there was still a lot of crap that my siblings and I had to wade through on a daily basis back then. Our parents had died in a car crash when we were all fairly young. Shizuru was the oldest out of us three, eighteen at the time our parents died. She took on guardianship of Kazuma and I, sacrificing so much of her time, and her dreams, rather than giving us to the child care system to deal with. It's why, when all this happened at the age of twelve for me, I had immediately taken on all the responsibilities that I could around the house.

This included making sure that my ten year old brother wasn't getting into trouble.

Easier said than done, obviously, given my brother's reputation on the streets now.

Then again, he got his no bullshit, tough guy attitude from our older sister. Shizuru had to grow up so quickly, that her once softer demeanor was replaced by one that clearly told anyone who tried to mess with her, or with us, to back the fuck up. Compared to my siblings, I wasn't nearly as tough, nor as infamous on the streets for fighting.

Not as Kaera Kuwabara, at least.

I was Kaera Kuwabara, older sister to the second toughest punk at Sarayashiki High.

Uraemshi was still the toughest, no matter what Kazuma seemed to think.

'And I could really use Urameshi's muscles right about now!' I think desperately to myself as I race along the street, cutting down into an alleyway at my first opportunity. My breathing is heavy as I spin around quickly, hands clenched into fists and waiting tensely for the being I knew would follow me in here. The moon was high in the sky, and full, giving off plenty of light for me to see by. 'Almost ironic,' I think dryly, reflecting on the fact that my signature was so clear for me to see on a night like this. I swallow thickly as I see the large, shadowed form of my adversary stop at the entrance of the alleyway, the bright, blood-red symbol of the Netherworld shining from it's forehead. The creature looked like something out of a horror movie. Two horns sprouted out and and curved upwards from it's forehead, twisting grotesquely into two sharp points inches above it's head, which was quite the height considering the beast was already at least ten feet tall. The demon's face resembled that of a bull's, with a large snout that extended outwards, mouth filled with jagged teeth. Drool dripped from it's jaw, hissing as it hits the ground and melts away at the very pavement. Wincing, my arm burns where he had spit his drool at me before, the red skin along the length of my forearm clearly irritated after it had easily burned through the material of my elbow-length white glove.

"There you are, Sailor Moon."

That's right. I was Sailor Moon, Defender of Love (though I had no love life to speak of), and Justice.

"You found me, asshole, and now you're about to become Moon-dust!"

Perhaps my blunt phrasing might catch some off guard. After sightings across the city had eventually become inevitable, I mean I was a girl dressed in a sailor costume with a tiara that turned into a glowing frisbee for goodness sake, the media portrayed me like some sweet-mouthed, ideologically naive girl. They made me out to be a role model for women of all ages in all stages of life, and perhaps at the beginning of all this, I had been. Now, however, I had seen what evils this world has to offer, and what the few good people that are in it are up against.

Not all of my opponents had been demons, nor subjects of the Netherworld.

I will be the first to admit it's made me much harder, sharper, and bitter than I had been two years ago.

"Big words for such a little girl," The monster cooed, laughing gruffly. "Especially when you're here all on your own," I smirk at that, grabbing my moon crested tiara off of it's place on my forehead.

"What makes you think I can't handle the likes of you on my own, Netherworld scum?" I ask evenly, allowing my energy to push outwards from deep inside, my tiara forming into a golden disk that I flicked up to hover above my fingers. "I've been doing just fine so far," The beasts dark eyes glint maliciously, his toothy smirk growing in size.

"You might defeat me on this night, but there are worse things than I out there. And they're coming for you, and your precious Earth," He responds ominously, and it's actually enough to give me pause as my green eyes widen minutely.

"What are you talking about?"

The clear hesitation that his statement induces is no doubt what the brute was waiting for. Instead of answering me he lets out a glass shattering roar, charging towards me at full speed. I'm inexplicably frozen, the first time such a thing has ever happened to me, as he tilts his head downwards, horns glinting menacingly in the low light and aiming directly for my chest.

Something red slices through the air, straight along the bull-like face of the creature charging me.

As the Netherworld being reels back in clear pain, large clawed hands coming up towards it's face to take in the damage, I look towards the ground.

A single, perfect red rose was jutting upwards from the pavement, the stem stuck in the ground.

This time I don't hesitate, because I knew I couldn't afford to. The Netherworld demon is dead before it probably realized what was going on, my golden tiara hitting him full force and aura purifying him into non-existence. In a matter of seconds my tiara regresses back into it's physical form, clattering to the ground beside the pile of ash, all that remains of my adversary. Only then do I look towards the tops of the buildings on either side of me, eyes easily zoning in on a single shadowed figure that stood high above. I couldn't make out any distinct features as he stood there, a hand clearly in his pocket and the wind blowing through what appeared to be shoulder length hair. Due to the clear cut figure of the shadowed form above me, I could tell that, despite the long hair, it was a man that stood there.

"Who are you?!" I call up finally after moments of tense silence pass.

He disappears without an answer.

Chewing softly on my lower lip, mind still reeling from what had just happened, I walk over to where the rose was still pinned. I kneel down on one knee, and being careful of the sharp thorns, gently pry it loose from the ground. It was still utterly perfect, not a petal out of place. It was such a beautiful shade of red as well, the perfect shade for a rose. Bringing it to my nose, I can't resist taking a deep breath of it's scent, closing my eyes for a moment as I do.

Who was that mystery man with the rose?

And why did he save my life?

"KAERA! GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED!"

Groaning, I roll over away from my door, pulling the edge of my blanket up to just under my nose.

Can Shizuru not understand that I was up until the early morning hours saving our city?

Of course not. She and Kazuma could never know what I do. It would endanger them too.

"KAERA! NOW! YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE FOR SCHOOL!"

Barely refraining from screaming in frustration back at her, I rip the blankets off of myself as if I was ripping off a band-aid. A great shudder rushes through me the moment my skin touches the cooler air in my surrounding room. Stretching, I hiss at the dull painful throb on my forearm, having momentarily forgotten about the fresh injury.

And the shadowed figure that had saved me.

Sighing softly I sit up on the edge of my bed, looking out my window towards the city beyond. My mind was still plagued with wondering who that guy had been…and who's side he was really on. I mean, true, it would appear that if he saved me he was on mine, but I had learned the hard way that looks and gestures could be deceiving. Standing slowly from my bed I walk over to my window and, being careful with my injured arm, rested my forearms on the ledge after opening it up to let the morning air in.

'What if that guy had been one of the things that, that demon had been threatening me about?' I worry with a frown, my dark brows furrowing slightly as I gaze out over the wakening city. The warning still rang clearly in my head.

"You might defeat me on this night, but there are worse things than I out there. And they're coming for you and your precious Earth."

Trying to push it to the back of my mind for now, I turn from the window and start to get cleaned up for the day. After dressing in my school uniform, I go to stand in front of my full length mirror to put my mid-length light brown hair up into it's usual high ponytail. Thankfully the sleeves of my uniform were long enough to hide the gauze wrapped around my forearm. I would have to remember to take more to change the bandage throughout the day at school.

Looking over my frame in the mirror, I have to admit that over the years my gig as the vigilante, Sailor Moon, had done something for my figure, even if only a little. I was always a chunky kid, and as I got older I only became even more overweight. Looking at my very curvy figure, I knew I was still considered such, but my body was far more toned than it would have been without the constant exercise I got from fighting the Netherworld and it's demons on a regular basis. I guess the new term these days for my body type would be 'thick'? Well, regardless, the school uniforms over the years have done nothing to show that I'm any more than a shapeless blob, when the reality was very different. My freckled nose wrinkles at myself as I tuck my uniform shirt in under the band of my skirt, and it helps slightly with that dilemma. Running my hands flat over my pulled back hair to press down any fly-aways, I inwardly shrug my shoulders at my appearance.

No one would ever guess that a plain, overweight, girl like me was Defender of the Earth.

Then again, I didn't look like a plain, overweight, girl when I transformed into Sailor Moon.

That uniform complimented my body far more than this school one did. The body of the uniform was all one piece, the white material fit to my curves and even smoothed them better than any body-shaper I've every tried, and far more comfortably too. The skirt was a deep blue in color, ruffled, and was in a high-low style. The hem at the front reached just above my knees, before extending down to my calves at the back, covering my thighs. I appreciated the form fitting length of my uniform, as I was rather self conscious about my body, and I had to admit it made me look kind of sexy while simply standing in it. Then again, feeling sexy standing still in my disguise seemed slightly ridiculous because, during fights, I didn't doubt the rolls on my body would show as soon as I had to bend around or over, and my skirt would easily fly up to leave my chunky thighs on full display.

Also, the large, bright red bows on my chest and just above my ass took away from the sexiness as well.

'The boots always look good, though,' I reflect as I look down at my every-day sneakers, thinking of my knee high red boots that shaped my calves like a dream. I mean, it was no doubt a good thing I felt empowered as Sailor Moon. It gave me confidence, which I was in short supply of on the daily. I needed that to face the horrors the Netherworld unleashed upon my city, and the world.

A loud knock at my bedroom door jolts me from my thoughts, Kazuma opening it and sticking his head in my room. Rather humorously, he's got his large hand plastered over his eyes as he does.

"Yo, sis, hope you ain't naked, but Shizuru is going to lose it on you if we aren't out the door now," Kazuma informs me, and I can't help smiling a little and shaking my head as I slip on my sneakers.

"All ready to go, Kazuma," As soon as I say so, he lets his hand drop from his face, blue eyes blinking slightly to adjust to the light. I grab the strap of my bag, slinging it onto my back and stepping up towards Kazuma.

It still amazed me that I had to look up at him now to make eye contact.

Kazuma looks ready to turn, satisfied that I was indeed prepared to leave, but pauses and turns his head back to me. His gaze looks trouble, eyes narrowing slightly under his furrowed brow as his mouth pulls into a small frown.

"You look exhausted," Ever annoyingly perceptive. Why couldn't Kazuma be like most other brothers? Completely oblivious to their sisters?

Then again, thankfully my little brother wasn't like most boys his age. Losing our parents had made him grow up too, in his own way. Shizuru may have taken on the role of provider for our family, but Kazuma had taken on the role of protector over both our older sister and I.

And he took that job very seriously.

I often reflected on the irony of him feeling the need to protect me during moments like this.

"Big science test today. I stayed up too late studying," I lie easily, brushing off his concern gently. Kazuma seemed to buy it, nodding as he turns from me then and heads out of my doorway and down the hall to the front entrance of our home.

"You know, Kaera, you can study all night, but if you're too tired to take the test then all that studying goes to waste," Shizuru speaks up from where she was relaxing on the couch in the living room. The smell of smoke wafted heavily off of her as she balanced a cigarette between her lips, and though I was greatly disgusted by her bad habit, I hardly had the heart to try and make her feel bad about the one thing that brought her some relief from the stress. It was bad enough she had to work two jobs to support Kazuma and I, let alone me nagging at her about her health.

"I'll make sure it doesn't happen too often," I assure her, giving her a small wave as Kazuma opens the door. "See you later, sis."

"Have a good day guys. Keep your hair-brained brother out of trouble, Kaera," Shizuru gifts us with those parting words, Kazuma letting out an indignant scoff before he closes the door behind us.

"So what about you?" I speak up as we walk together down the sidewalk, Kazuma once again oddly quiet. He'd been like that for the past week, ever since he and Urameshi had went away for a trip to the mountains together last weekend. "Something happen between you and Urameshi? You guys get into a real fight?"

"No," Kazuma answers, frowning as he looks everywhere but at me. "Suppose I'm just tired too."

"You've been like this all week Kazuma," I point out, frowning more in concern when he clearly was avoiding telling me what really was up. The past few months had been like this. Kazuma and Yusuke had become friends shortly after Yusuke's miraculous recovery from his car accident. Since then, Kazuma and Yusuke would go on outings together, sometimes days at a time, and Kazuma would often come back battered and bruised. Training, he had said they were doing.

Looked more like a beating than training to me.

"Look, I'm just going through something, alright?" Kazuma snaps, finally meeting my gaze. I'm shocked at what I see there. Irritation at my poking is prevalent, of course, but seated beneath that irritation was something I had rarely seen coming from my littler brother.

Fear.

Genuine, fear.

I reach out, grabbing at the sleeve of his blue uniform jacket and firmly yanking him to a stop.

"What happened this weekend?" I demand then, tense. Kazuma looks slightly shocked, and I would be too. Usually I allowed him his room and his privacy, though I made sure he always knew I was here and had his back. It was something we both appreciated about our sibling dynamic with one and other. We gave each other room to grow, with the assurance that we'd be there when called on. We never meddled in each other's lives.

But this, that look, it was new, and it unsettled me to my very bones.

Then a bright flush works it's way from his nose down onto his cheeks.

I blink in surprise.

"Look, you have got to promise not to tell Shizuru, or I'll never hear the end of it," Kazuma replies in a hushed voice, looking around us then as if paranoid the wrong people would hear. Still utterly confused, I easily nod in agreement to his request.

Who was I to judge about keeping secrets?

"I-I met a girl this weekend," Kazuma replies, voice sounding unsure. "I'm worried," My brows furrow at that.

"Worried? Who is this girl? What's the matter?" I ask softly then, letting go of the sleeve of his uniform now that he thankfully opened up to me. His behavior was making a great deal of more sense now.

"Her name is Yukina, alright? I met her this weekend, and I really like her, you know? But she's heading back to her home, and I don't know if or when she might be back," I refrain from my sisterly urge to start teasing him about his feelings for this girl. This actually seemed serious, unlike all of Kazuma's other passing fancies.

My little brother was a fighter, and a lover by nature.

"You're afraid you won't see her again…," I trail off, the look of fear in his eyes making more sense. But I realize now that it wasn't fear I had been seeing, so much as longing. My heart softens more at the downtrodden look that takes over Kazuma's face, his shoulder even slumping slightly. "Listen, bud…," I sigh, moving to rest my hand on the middle of his back, "I'm a firm believer that if it's meant to be, it will be. Dig past the doubt you might be feeling, and ask yourself; do you feel like you will see her again?" I advise, Kazuma looking at me with hopeful eyes then and nodded after a moment. "Then hang on to that, and I don't doubt that if you feel that way, you will. Besides," I smirk a little, "out of anyone I know, you seem to have an uncanny ability to predict things, maybe even with more accuracy than our sister," He laughs a little at that, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as he does and nodding.

"Thanks, Kaera. What you just said really helped," He admits, and I can tell he's being honest. His body language has even changed, standing much straighter than before.

Suddenly an all-too familiar bell chimes in the distance, still blocks away.

Kazuma and I look at one and other, eyes going wide.

"WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!"

Without further ado, the two of us race together side by side down the sidewalk.

"Kaera, hi!" An overly cheer voice calls out to me across the courtyard, a voice that I had recently gotten to know in the past couple of weeks. Botan's bright blue hair was easily discernible from the sea of brown and black as she makes her way over to where I had seated myself under a large tree for lunch hour. Botan was a new girl here at the high school, and the same age as my little brother. She had surprisingly not only befriended Kazuma, but Yusuke as well, and by extension Keiko. She had been over to our place a few times to work on homework with Kazuma and Yusuke, and we had honestly gotten along pretty well so far. Though the unique blue haired and purple eyed girl seemed pleasant and kind enough, I still felt a little on edge when she was around.

I couldn't honestly pin-point why this was.

"Hi Botan! How's it going?" I greet back politely as she smiles down at me, before kneeling on the ground so we could be eye-level with one and other.

"Oh same old, same old. Still getting used to the neighborhood and school," She admits, shifting then to sit on her hip, rearranging her skirt so it tucked in modestly around her knees. "Have you spoken to Kazuma today? How is he doing?" She asks then, chewing on her lower lip. I raise an eyebrow at that, wondering how on earth she had been more aware of my little brother's troubles than I had been. Was I truly becoming that oblivious?

"He's better. We had a good talk on the way into school, and it lifted his spirits," I admit, not wanting to disclose the nature of our conversation for Kazuma's sake and privacy. I wasn't too sure the extent to what Botan might know about my brother's recent mood. Botan looks genuinely relieved to hear this, nodding.

"I'm glad. I have to say, I'm certainly not used to a mopey Kazuma!" She sighs, looking up at the clear blue sky then. "It was really troubling to see him like that."

"It was," I agree, thumb absently spinning the bands of my ring that rested on my left middle finger. The glint of the gold in the sunlight catches Botan's eye, her gaze turning downwards to look at my hand. "That''s a beautiful ring." She compliments, smiling. "Where did you find it?" I look down at my hand now as well, the delicate ring sitting comfortably just under my knuckle. It was formed into a snowflake, tiny crystals embedded at each of the six points.

"To be honest, I can't remember. Just feels like I've always had it," I answer honestly, because I really couldn't remember when I had gotten this ring. Maybe when I had gotten it I had been too young to remember? All that I knew was that I never went a day without wearing it.

"Well, if you do remember, you're going to have to let me know," Botan states in a friendly but firm voice. I look up to her, smiling and nodding.

"Will do," The bell rings once, signally our five minute warning to get to class. Sighing softly, I stand, dusting off my uniform skirt and picking up my bagged lunch. Reaching down towards Botan, I offer her my hand to help her up, which she takes with a grateful smile.

"Well, I'm off to biology," I sigh softly then, already feeling the boredom coming on, and I hadn't even made it into the classroom. I wasn't good at every subject, but I was a good student, and biology was an area I excelled at. It didn't take long for me to grasp concepts being taught in that particular class.

"Alright. I'm sure I'll see you around, Kaera!" Botan chirps in reply, giving me an enthusiastic wave as she turns and runs back towards the school. "Gotta go and make sure Yusuke makes it to class!"

"I thought that was Keiko's job?!" I call after the blue haired girl with amusement.

"I'm the back-up!" Botan calls back, before she disappears into the sea of students filing back into the building. I can't help laughing at that, shaking my head.

"God help Urameshi now that he's got two women on his case," I mutter under my breath, before sighing and heading on into the building as well.

"Miss. Kuwabara, could I speak to you for a moment?" Mr. Suzuki pulls me aside after class before I leave, his brown-eyed gaze leveling me with a knowing look. "I've known for quite some time that this material hasn't been challenging enough for you. I think I may have come up with a solution."

"Oh?" I ask curiously, frowning a little as I hold my biology textbook to my chest.

"I took the liberty to speak to one of the guidance counselors. They informed me of a program that a high school in the next district over runs for advanced classes. You've probably heard of the school, it's Meiou," Mr. Suzuki looks over his glasses at me, a dry smirk on his face. It was no secret that Meiou High was for the elite, both as a student and as a teacher. I blink in surprise at this.

"Would my grades be good enough?" I ask doubtfully, frowning.

"Your biology marks are off the charts, so to speak. The advanced programs they offer are structured as specialties, so overall averages don't matter to get enrolled. Just the mark in the course that you're planning on taking," He explains, my heart beating wildly. I had always wondered what it would be like to attend a school like Meiou, with all the best resources and facilities. I could have never dreamed of being accepted, however. My average wasn't terrible, not by Sarayashiki High standards, at least, but they weren't good enough to compete with the majority of the students enrolled there. Not only that, but it wasn't cheap.

That had my heart sinking a little.

'Shizuru works so hard as it is just to maintain us. How could I possibly ask her for more money?' I think to myself, already feeling guilty about even thinking about wanting to go.

"The classes run in the late afternoon, right after regular classes are ended for the day. I could have you enrolled and ready to start tomorrow," Mr. Suzuki smiles at me, clearly not noticing my change in mood. I chew on my lower lip, feeling shame and embarrassment heating the back of my neck.

"I really appreciate all the trouble you went to. Mr. Suzuki, but I still don't think I can go," I reply, feeling awkward. "We couldn't afford it," I admit, knowing there was no use trying to beat around the bush about it.

"Well, this will no doubt come as good news then," Mr. Suzuki replies with a kind smile. "Meiou has offered scholarships to students of exceptional academic talent, and who might not have the resources to be able to take advantage of this unique opportunity. I inquired as to whether you would qualify, and was told you would. Your course in Advanced Biology would be completely covered, Miss. Kuwabara. All you would lose is some time," My eyes widen at that, and try as I might, I couldn't stop the sting of happy tears that nearly flooded my vision.

This was an amazing opportunity that could open up so many doors for me, and for my family too.

"Thank you, Mr. Suzuki. I'll work very hard to ensure that your time, and your kindness, wasn't wasted," I bow in genuine gratitude and respect, heart overflowing with excitement at the possibilities.

It wasn't going to be the Netherworld keeping me up tonight.

Before I knew it the following afternoon was upon me, and I was brimming with excitement as I stepped off of the train in the neighboring district. Looking down at the map in my hand, I furrow my brow to try and make sense of where I would be heading once out of the station.

'Perhaps some landmarks might help,' I think to myself, meandering my way through the crowds and to the street beyond. Looking around I could already tell this was a far more evolved and richer district than my own. No matter which way you looked, men were wearing suits of every shade of navy and browns, and women were also in formal business attire, their heels clacking rhythmically against the ground.

There wasn't a single punk or thug in sight.

Chewing on my lower lip, I look down at the map once more, finally able to make some headway on which direction I should be going. Following the map proved to be successful, and soon the gates of Meiou High loomed in front of me. Unable to stop the excited grin on my face, I walk at a quick pace through the gates and directly to the main entrance. I barely even stop long enough to observe just how clean the walls of the building are, not a single bit of colorful graffiti in sight. Even the halls and walls inside are pristine, almost like you could eat off of them.

This felt like being on a whole other planet.

I take out a much smaller strip of paper from my pocket, gazing at the number for the room. Looking to the room closest to me, I'm happy to see that I'm on the right floor. Moving down the hallway, I keep an eye on the numbers on the door, finally coming to the right one. It was slightly ajar, the dull sounds of students speaking just beyond. Fighting down nervous jitters, I walk in.

It's a sea pink, no other distinct colors in sight.

Everything stops, the room going silent the minute I walk through the door. I stick out like a sore thumb in my blue uniform. In fact, I no doubt stick out because I'm wearing a skirt. A quick glance told me that there were no other girls in this class either.

'Well, fuck,' I think to myself, swallowing thickly as I clutch tightly at the strap of my backpack. Most of the boy's are looking at me like I'm in the wrong place, and maybe I am? Glancing towards the chalkboard, the letters that stretch across it compose the world ADVANCED BIOLOGY.

Nope…right classroom.

Ducking my head, though it hardly does me any good to try and hide with my hair pulled back into it's usual high ponytail, I rush towards the first open seat I see, making sure not to make eye contact with anyone along the way.

Whispers follow me as I do.

Sitting down heavily in my seat, I finally am able to let out a breath, the boys thankfully turning their attentions away from me. Well, their eyes more than their attentions. They were still whispering amongst themselves, and though I wasn't a narcissist by any means, I knew it was about me.

I was the only girl, the only girl from an entirely different school, in the room.

"Don't mind them," A kind voice to my right suddenly speaks up, and I look over to be greeted with green eyes. They weren't the same shade as my own, instead rather deeper. As I take in the rest of the boy's face, and I do have to double check he's a boy with his delicate features and the length of his red hair, I felt even more flustered.

He was handsome.

A regal nose was settled in the perfect position on his flawless face, right under and center to his impossibly beautiful green eyes. The long hair that had almost tricked me into thinking he was a girl was a vibrant shade of red, almost unnaturally so.

In fact…it reminded me of the same shade of red as the rose still sitting on my desk at home.

"I'm Shuichi Minamino. Welcome to Meiou High," He greets kindly, and I finally snap myself out of my boy-induced stupor to try and attempt a real conversation.

'I hope he wasn't put off with my staring, but damn, he must be used to girls staring by now,' I think to myself, trying not to flush. "It's nice to meet you, Minamino. My name is Kaera Kuwabara," I reply softly. There almost seemed to be a flash of recognition in his green eyes, but it's gone long before I have a chance to see if it was more than the lighting. Quickly deciding it would be in my best interest to look around, so I didn't come off as some sort of creep, I quickly make an observation. "Am I really the only student here from another school?" I can't help asking, frowning a little.

"It would appear so. I believe I recognize your colors; Sarayashiki High, correct?" Minamino asks lightly, and I use the opportunity to turn back and look at him, nodding.

"That's right."

"I'm surprised," Minamino hums then, and I can't help sighing softly in defeat. Great, the stigma that came with my school's reputation was already starting to skew people's views of me here.

"I know, my school isn't exactly known for it's academics," I murmur, frowning as I look down at the top of my desk.

"Oh no, I wasn't indicating that at all," Minamino denies smoothly.

"Then what were you trying to say?" I ask, looking forward now, feeling irritation bubbling in my chest.

"Well, being the only girl in the room-"

I look towards the red-head with disbelief. "So now my intelligence is being questioned due to my gender?" I ask, cutting the boy off. Maybe that pretty face hid a slimy personality after all. Good. Consider my attraction to him running cold. Minamino looks flustered now, but before he can say anymore, our teacher, our female teacher, breezes into the room and calls the class to attention. I smirk at this, looking up towards the front.

Maybe this teacher will give the asshole next to me a wake-up call.

It's so late in the afternoon by the time we're done that the sun is nearly setting, the street lights flickering to life as I walk under them. Besides my unfortunate interaction with the red-head, I had, had the time of my life in class today. We had covered more topics and concepts than I could have anticipated, and it felt good to know that I was keeping up. I had to admit, being the only girl, and the only one from an outside school, made me feel like I had something to prove. I felt confident now that I could justify being there, that I was good enough to be there.

"Kaera! Please, wait!" My back stiffens at the voice that calls out to me from behind, melodic and low, and oh so smooth. A shiver rushes down my spine at that, and I stop as a reaction, more so than doing as Minamino requested. Sighing softly, I turn, looking up towards the red-head as he approached, looking genuinely apologetic. "I wanted to give my sincerest apologies for before. I did not mean to offend you, but clearly I was rather good at putting my foot in my mouth this afternoon," He murmurs sheepishly. I tilt my head, feeling my heart flutter in my chest, and the anger just miraculously melts away.

"We all have those days I suppose," I finally answer after a tense moment, tucking some stray fly-away strands of my brown hair behind my ear. Minamino suddenly stiffens, nose flaring.

"Are you hurt?" He questions, frowning down at me with concern now. I blink at that, immediately thinking of my forearm, the burns still healing from the night before last. Of course, I couldn't admit to that.

"I'm fine, why do you ask?" I answer calmly, making sure I sounded confused. Minamino's nose flares once more, but he doesn't push it and shakes his head.

"Nothing, don't worry about it." I frown at that, cautious now. Why would he ask me something like that out of the blue? When I'd given no indication of my injuries. "Will you be alright walking alone to the station? Or would you like me to escort you?" He offers, and like a light-switch, his charming and kind smile replaces the frown of concern from moments before.

'Talk about mood swings,' I think to myself, feeling uneasy suddenly around this guy. "I'm sure I'll be alright. I appreciate the offer, though."

"Then I shall see you tomorrow afternoon?" Minamino asks, and I nod my head in affirmation. "Then I will endeavor not to make such a fool of myself again," My eyebrows both raise slightly in shock at this, a little stunned as he bows respectfully to me. "Have a good night, Kaera."

"Y-You as well, Minamino," I reply, the red-head straightening up, pausing as he turns away from me.

"Please, call me Shuichi," He requests over his shoulder. I swallow the lump that formed in my throat at that, simply nodding before he turns away fully and walks away.

Leaving me staring after him in utter confusion.

"Weird," I finally mutter to myself, before turning and heading towards my own destination. 'But it wouldn't hurt to have a friend in this class.'

Little did I know that I was going to be seeing Shuichi a whole lot more than I bargained for in the near future.

Sooooo, what do ya think? Haha, I know it's shallow of me as a writer, but my muse really is fed by feedback, so please leave a review if you think this story is worth continuing!

Until Next Time

T.O.T.