Title: Of Consciences and a Crazy Colleague
Chapter: 3 » He's mine, I tell you! I'm buying him!
By: Authorless

Author's notes: I never expected this ficcie to get much response from anybody. ^^" So... Judging by the votes, from now on this ficcie is totally pure Yamachi. ^^; Much to my sister's delight... [[She be one hardcore Yamachi fan.]] Thanks to everyone for showing your support. And here's what some of you've been waiting for, Chapter 3. Enjoy. ^.~

To babydragon: Uhhh... I'm afraid I can't tell you what school or state I'm in, mainly because I'm not American and I don't live in the US at all. I'm a Malaysian.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. Period.

"Oh, no. No way. Forget it, Natsumi. I am not doing it! You hear me? No. No. No. You can't make me. Nothing you do will make me change my mind. I am not doing it!"

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How the hell did Natsumi do it?!

Here I am, sitting in the front row with the other teachers until the volunteers, or should I say, 'slaves', were called onto the stage in the auditorium. Students in the audience were chattering excitedly about this little 'event' before the weekend began the next day. Teachers and students were bustling around on the stage, carrying a few tables and chairs, and positioning them at the far end of the stage. To humor the crowd of students, one of the students brought a toy gavel for the auctioneer to slam onto the desk.

Thank god, this isn't opened to the public or I'll never live this down for the rest of my life. How Natsumi got me into this mess is beyond me. I just can't wait for this day to be over. It would be thoroughly humiliating if word got out that I was sold as a 'slave' to one of the students for a day. Hikari will use this against me, for sure!

Or Natsumi could use this to mock you for the rest of your life.

That's a comforting thought. Natsumi ridiculing me for the rest of my life! Remind me to asphyxiate her for ever mentioning the words, 'slave auction' again. I never want to hear those words after this whole deluge is over. Never.

Speak of the devil. There she is. Standing at the entrance, talking to the headmaster about something. I absently rubbed my arm where Natsumi had hit me as lightly as she could for mentioning her attire but that girl just doesn't know her own strength. I know she didn't mean it but did she have to hit me so hard...

I don't know why she hates wearing skirts. She practically dreads the thought of wearing them. Unfortunately this had to be a school event and she was required to dress like a lady and look mature since a few important people might be attending. Which I might add, that Natsumi scoffed at the thought of it. Now, here she is in a long dark-green skirt and white blouse. You can practically see her agitation at dressing like that. For one thing, she would stare down at herself in mute repugnance every once in awhile.

I twisted around in my seat and watched her seemingly make a mock threat toward the headmaster when he objected to whatever she asked. Funny thing was, the poor man had a terrified look on his round face. I wish I could read lips since the sound of chattering were steadily increasing as more students began occupying the auditorium and I couldn't possibly make out a single word of what they were saying. When the headmaster reluctantly agreed to whatever Natsumi was up to, Natsumi gave him a look of complete elation and practically skipped out the door. Wonder what's that all about.

A few minutes later, she came back in whilst dragging... Someone by the sleeve behind her. It's kind of funny because you can tell that person isn't too pleased at being hauled like a sack of rice. They were earning a few funny looks from the crowd too. I tried to take a better look at the person by sitting up straight in my chair. Can't tell if it's a man or a woman, considering he or she is wearing a hat, rather large coat, black shades and had a scarf placed around the neck, blocking the lower face from view. That person must have an extreme fear of cold to dress like that in hot weather.

Aren't you a genius?

Shut up.

Hmph. I don't see why you should worry about Natsumi bringing a complete stranger into the auditorium. The only thing you should be worrying about is yourself. You're the one who's getting sold, remember?

...Hey! Look! Natsumi is on the stage, taking the microphone.

Fine. Ignore the little voice at the back of your head. I never get any respect around here. Hmph.

"Is this thing on? Oh, it is. Ahem. I'd like to welcome all of you for coming to take part in this interesting school event to raise funds to open a new shelter for the homeless. I hope all of you students would graciously take part to give a helping hand and also to show a bit of hospitality. Before I end this little opening speech, I would like all of you to give a warm welcome to... Yunoki! Sit down immediately."

One of the boys were attempting to pour water from a bottle down a boy's shirt and he stopped quickly at Natsumi's sharp tone and sat down quietly, all the while glaring at Natsumi, who just smiled back cynically.

"Now where was I? Oh. I would like all of you to welcome a friend of mine who has willingly decided to take part for the sake of donating funds. Please give a warm reception to… Uhhh... Kumamoto-san!"

Smiling weakly, she directed everyone's attention to the stranger who was now seated in the front row alongside one of the teachers. He only nodded in response as he received a welcoming applause from the large crowd.

"And one more thing. Sorry kids. You are not allowed to order your slave to do your homework, if it's a teacher, you may not ask for a better grade and you most certainly cannot order the slave to do something, he or she is not willing to do. Therefore. If I catch any one of you being naughty, you will definitely know what grade I will be giving you on your English term paper. Have fun now."

Natsumi gave the crowd of students a somewhat evil smile as groans of displeasure erupted and murmurs of disapproval were heard yet ignored. Natsumi passed the microphone to the auctioneer sitting at the desk and went offstage, doing her best not to trip in the skirt. She cast me a familiar grin before taking the empty seat next to Kumamoto. Something tells me that Natsumi is up to something. Again. God knows what she's got up her sleeves!

I barely took notice of my surroundings as students who had volunteered to be 'slaves' were called onto the stage one by one and were standing in a neat row, waiting in anticipation to be sold. Some of them had a look of pure confidence on their faces, possibly convinced that someone would buy them. Others were looking rather timid and shy, also more than a little nervous. I wonder whom I would be sold to... I hope I won't be sold to some student who wanted me to wait on them hand and foot! That is a horrifying image...

"Yagami-sensei? Helloooo? Yagami-sensei!"

Feeling a nudge from the teacher sitting beside me, I jerked back into reality, feeling my knees go weak as I climbed the steps to the stage nervously and stood next to one of the Math teachers, Yukako, who must have been forced into it, considering she didn't look too happy either. I was surprised when I finally realized that most of the teachers had volunteered, which had gradually lifted my spirits. At least I wasn't the only teacher.

Finally feeling relaxed, another wave of feelings washed over me. I felt my heartstrings tugging slightly and some unnamed emotion rise within me. I scanned through the crowds and my eyes fell onto the stranger named Kumamoto, who was watching my every move from behind the pair of sunglasses. I'm sure of it. I mustered up of what little courage I had then and gazed back just as intensely at the man and I swear that I could see him flinch lightly and look away.

That is strange. Very strange.

Great... You're still here.

Of course, I'm still here. Where else would I be?

Somewhere far, far away, where I don't have to hear you ever again.

You're mean...

Whatever.

Glancing at Natsumi, I'm absolutely sure that she is up to something. The way she's resisting the urge to grin and she's got that twinkle in her eyes when she has some malicious scheme going on in her mind. You can almost imagine the wheels in her head turning... Why me?

I mentally groaned and judging by the looks I was getting from the other people standing around me, you can tell that my face must have been contorted in pain or something. That's no surprise. I can feel my stomach churning. I dread the thought of what that... that... deranged girl will do to me... Think positive thoughts. The least she could do was to get some psycho maniac to buy me and have me clean his entire house up. So why don't I feel any better?

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Erk. It's my turn... And Natsumi's friend hadn't even looked at the other 'slaves'.

"And now, Yagami-sensei. We'll start with the minimum of 200 yen. 200 yen anybody?"

I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed for this to be over with quick. Why should I panic anyway? I only just noticed one of the girls in my class who always stares at me when she thinks I'm not looking, raise her hand at what I vaguely made out as 700 yen. Something tells me that I'm not going to like what I hear after all this...

"1,000 yen?"

"Anyone 2,500 yen?"

"7,000 yen from the young lady over there."

"Nobody for 9,000?"

"Going once..."

"Twice..."

"10,000 yen."

I did not expect that. I opened my eyes and stared confusedly around my surroundings for the bidder.

"12,000 yen!"

I blinked this time and saw the same girl who stares weirdly at me, just bid 12,000 yen for me. I looked toward Natsumi to see her reaction to that. I was taken by surprise when she looked like she was refraining from jumping out of her seat and chewing that girl out. Apparently, the girl must have spoiled her plans in some way to make her look so irritated. That was until she took a deep breath to gain some composure and nudged the man next to her with an elbow as she sunk tediously into her seat. He must have understood the gesture because he nodded knowingly and raised his hand.

"15,000 yen."

"18,000 yen!!"

The girl countered, her voice hinting a challenge as she smiled defiantly at the back of Natsumi's head. I turned back to look at Natsumi and her grip on the armrest seemed to have tightened till her knuckles turned white and if you looked properly, you could barely make out that she's gritting her teeth. In the 2 years I've known her, the prior thing you must remember is to never anger Tadahiro Natsumi to the point where she would rip your head off, break every bone in your body and toss you into the ocean to make sure you were really dead. You would have a more likely chance to survive in hell than facing her in a bad temper.

Once again, she takes a few deep breaths and this time, she leans over and whispers to her companion. The man recognized as Kumamoto, nodded once again without flinching at her possibly angry tone of voice. She could sound very intimidating at times, making you shiver and shake in fright without meaning to.

"35,000 yen."

What?! My mouth dropped and I could tell at that moment that I would blend in very well with a school of fish. Who would pay that much for me?! Hushed whispers were emitted from the crowd and others were trying to sit up straight in their seats to see who had bid so much on a teacher. I can feel my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. I raised my eyes to meet with Natsumi's in silent plead as to what she was up to and she gave me a comforting yet weak smile, like everything was going to be all right.

I find that hard to believe.

I have to agree with you on that.

"Umm... Okay... Nobody else?"

The girl in the back could be seen, throwing dirty looks at the back of Kumamoto's head and I let out a silent sigh of relief. At least I wasn't sold to a student. That was one good thing.

"Going once..."

"Twice..."

"Sold to the gentleman over there."

I let my gaze wander upon the stranger who had just bought me for more than double the last bidder offered. Somehow... That person seems rather familiar, now that he was standing up to go and sign the agreement like everyone else. That rather slim and tall figure, though it may be hard to make out through all that bulky clothing. That wasn't what made him seem familiar though. What really caught my eye was the way he walked. Swift yet full of grace in every step, as if every stride was carefully planned. It was so... Strangely familiar. Like I was accustomed with it from the first time I set eyes on him. So frighteningly familiar. It reminds me of someone. Someone I knew well. Yet why can't I place a name to that someone?

I feel so frustrated with myself. I can't even remember! That's it. I can feel my legs going weak. My knees would have surely buckled under me if I didn't feel small but strong hands hold me up. Turning my head, I saw Natsumi who must have ran onstage and I could make out the look of worry on her face.

"Come on, Taichi. I promise you, it'll be worth it."

I nodded meekly, too exhausted with berating with myself to argue with anyone. I slowly headed over to the desk where that Kumamoto was, obviously paying the sum of money via check. I could vaguely hear Natsumi following me close behind. Is it just me or is that guy looking at me rather strangely? Maybe my head is just messed up with all this tension building up. I gingerly took the pen that was offered to me by the auctioneer and signed my name in the empty space on the agreement. I noted that the other signature that possibly belonged to the man, now standing next to Natsumi, was rather scrawny. Like he wasn't used to writing it much. That would be ridiculous though. Why would anyone fake their name anyway?

After all that was done, Natsumi opted for the both of us to head toward the auditorium doors. Being that she was a tad bit small sized, she didn't notice the boy she had scolded during the opening, Yunoki, sneaking up and hiding behind an empty seat. I wouldn't have notice him either if I weren't so near. It didn't occur to me that he could cause any mischief from where he hid. It seems to me that Natsumi wasn't the only one who didn't notice. Kumamoto didn't say a word as he walked beside me with Natsumi escorting us out from behind. Like his mind was a thousand miles away. I wonder what is he going to do with me. Order me to wash his extra heavy laundry perhaps?

Next thing I know, there was a sharp cry of 'aha!', followed by a series of gasps were heard. I turned swiftly to face my companions and I felt my heart leapt into my throat, completely taken aback by the sight before me. There. Right in front of me. Hair of golden strands falling all over a pale face with that pair of cerulean blue eyes I could forever drown into. I'd recognize them anywhere. I have the image of those lovely blue eyes memorized by heart. They were peering at me, trying to understand what I'm feeling right now... Those eyes. They hold... Fear. My breath started coming in short gasps as I stared in utter shock at the one I've been missing.

"Yamato?!"

Tsuzuku... [To be continued...]

There! XD Chapter 3 complete! I've managed to fit 'fanfic-writing' into my schedule. Even if I should be studying. ::cough:: Anyway, I won't know when I'll write the next one. We'll just have to see, ne? And don't ask me about Japanese currency because I forgot it after my trip to Japan last year. ^^"