A/N: Okay, back to the slow progression...

The Curse of the Cat

036. Veneer

Zoe wasn't thrilled to bump into Chiaki on her first day back; she'd missed two days of the new term thanks to her flight and timezones, and she understandably had been running late thanks to a trip to the Principal's office. The other however had most likely been fixing her makeup, or so the blonde scathingly thought as they silently glared each other to class.

At least she had managed to keep it silent that the thin covering made her look like a washed up rag doll. In her opinion anyway.

She was surprised to find the seat behind her empty as she sat, and she spent the remaining two minutes of homeroom attempting to remember who it was who sat there. It distracted her, which was good as Chiaki had not stopped glaring until their first period teacher entered the room.

It was also at that point where it clicked; she remembered. Koichi Kimura. Rather quiet and hardly ever stood out in class. The type that one would normally forget, except Tommy and Takuya had both mentioned his name before the break, and in two totally different contexts.

She was good at remembering stuff like that.

037. Fall

Zoe was a little concerned to find Koichi absent the following day as well, and when she asked the teacher and found he hadn't returned since the break she was even more worried. It was mostly because of Tommy…or rather, the two bullies who enjoyed using him as sport. Luckily the brunet had avoided any further run-ins with them, but the story Takuya had told (with a few interjections from Koji) was fresh on her mind, and she couldn't help but wonder if they'd done something to the quiet boy during the holiday for his interference.

Not that it really accomplished anything, Zoe mused, remembering how worked up Tommy had been about somebody else getting hurt on his behalf. On the other hand, it might prompt him to stand up for himself…but that really remained to be seen. It also remained to be seen whether such actions would accomplish something, and whether somebody else taking a fall worked out or not. And that set her wondering as to why someone who didn't even know another would willingly take a hit for somebody else and not lift a hand to defend oneself.

She spoke to all three of them: Tommy, Takuya and Koji. It was Tommy who put her worries to ease.

'They'd brag about it if they did something,' he pointed out. 'They always do.'

But that didn't explain the absence. She also couldn't explain why she was worried either, although no-body asked. She couldn't help but notice that her friends looked a tad worried as well after she informed: worried enough to ask her the next day.

At least her answer was different by then, seeing as he had returned…although he looked rather pale and weak.

038. Nightmare

Once the days had realigned themselves properly and Koichi had a good gauge as to the passing of time, he wished they were still hazed and muddled. For a few days he still couldn't walk the length of their small apartment without dizziness forcing him down.

The worst was watching the sun crawl up and then dip and counting the hours alone, the hours lost. He would rather be at school, surrounded by people even if he was just a shadow passing through. It was easier to lose oneself therein, not thinking about the time that was lost and the time that remained…

On his own, it was a living nightmare he could not unravel.

039. Contagious

Koichi was surprised at the looks he received upon returning; normally the other students didn't go out of their way to stare at him and he much preferred that. He still wasn't feeling as well as he should, but he was well enough to return to school and simply could not remain at home while his mother worked.

He was relieved though to find the majority avoided him. Oh, it hurt of course; it was hard to ignore actions people went out of their way to execute, but it kept them from pulling him inward and he was glad for that.

Nothing would come out of it after all.

040. Good riddance

Zoe wondered if she should say something, and her decision swayed throughout the day. First, it was simply because he was somewhat acquainted with her friends…but that had seemed like such a weak reason. Then it was how sick he still looked – and he was coughing too, throat scratchy and raw – and how some others made it a show of backing away from him.

Obviously, they were just kidding around, but that sort of thing you did with people you were close to. Perhaps they all took it for granted that a class that progressed up the years together was close, but the truth was they didn't know everybody. She had only noticed when Takuya had mentioned a name that nagged at the back of her sentences. But those same actions could help people who weren't close.

She supposed that – and the fact that they were supposed to be selecting partners for a pair assignment – was what made her stand up, and she did it so fiercely that everybody looked at her – except Koichi, who took the opportunity to bury himself into his book. That made her angrier – it reminded her of Tommy in a sense, but also not…although it explained why he had allowed himself to be hit and hadn't fought – and marched up to him.

The blue eyes marked her shadow. His expression showed surprise and…caution?

She disregarded that. 'We're working together,' she ordered, much to the shock of everybody present. Normally, both of them would up being paired separately by the teacher with the last dregs of the class. 'Meet me at the gates after school.'

It didn't occur to her to ask whether the other had a club meeting or any other after school commitment. She simply turned around and went back to her seat. The gazes of the rest of the class followed her before returning to their normal routine, and she huffed silently at them.

Good riddance. She'd thought they had better things to do, but apparently she was mistaken. And by that time, the teacher had returned to arrange the remaining students into random pairs – and she was surprised too to find that two students she normally had to assign had paired themselves together.