~Chapter 1- Start Your Engines~



Aiko Theodore Fish stood in front of Bayville high, nervously adjusting his backpack strap. He had never attended a *public* school before, nor had he found it necessary. He started his way to the doors, skirting around large cliques of chatting girls and skater punks, even the occasional goth. He had to restrain himself from wincing. When he finally made it to the doors he was aware of *many* pairs of batting eyes on him and he began to feel a bit more comfortable. He was in his element, the center of *female* attention. He opened the doors and cut a path through the middle of the crowded halls, studying a peice of paper that had the directions to his locker. "Hey cutie, lookin' for somethin'?" He glanced up, aware of the hand resting suggestively on his rear. A tall, blonde girl was standing in his way, grabbing his butt and showing a large amount of cleavage for the world to see. Aiko grimaced and jerked away, shoving the wad of paper back into his pocket before snarling, "Nothing that you've got. Better be on your way, missy, before you've got problems you can't reckon with." The girl straightened up and gave him a look that could freeze hell over before walking away, swishing her hips. Aiko grinned and kneeled over, sticking his hand out. A small shiny stone skidded across the floor and under the hussy's shoe, causing her to slide across the waxed linoleum floor. A loud rip souded through the hall, announcing that the girl's pants had been ruined and that her panties were pink with yellow flowers. Aiko smiled and undid his ponytailer, causing his silky silver and blue hair to cascade down his back. He could practically smell the lust that his appearace caused, and he was pleased. He again started toward his locker, this time making it without any difficulties. He fumbled with his combination and finally just cut the damned lock with a small sliver of the sharpest diamond he could muster, making sure nobody saw him do it. Jerking the locker door open, he shoved his stuff into it and began repacking what he needed when a angry grunt sounded. He glanced to his side. A pretty girl stood next to him, fumbling with her locker too. "Damn.........lock!.........OPEN!!" Aiko smiled and watched, aware of the fact she was ignoring his presence completely. When she began pounding on her locker he decided to help the crazy girl, placing a hand on her shoulder. The girl whirled at him, giving him his second death-glare of the day.

"What do you want?!" she growled, cracking her knuckles. Aiko looked at her hands and gasped. On her knuckled a set of silvery scales were appearing, glinting off the flourescent lights. The girl saw him staring at her in horror and fascination and followed his gaze, almost passing out when she saw what he was staring at. "I-I can explain!" She stuttered, her face turning pale and her eyes widening in panic. Aiko just smiled at her which just caused her to panic even more "I-I, well..........Ah!" Aiko just let her stutter and mumble before taking her hand in his. "What's your name?" The girl stared at her small scaled hand dissapearing into his large hand and felt the scales melt away as she relaxed. "You can call he Ana." She muttered, not even daring to ask why he wasn't calling her a freak or passing out at the sight of scales. Aiko smiled and squeezed her hand and let it go, cutting her lock in the same fashion as he did his. The girl felt something cold drop into her hand as he let go and tightened her hand around it, wondering at its coldness. "My name's Aiko Theodore Fish. Just call me Aiko." Ana nodded and smiled at him. "Well, I gotta go to my first class, don't want to be late." With that Aiko turned and walked down the hall, retying his hair back up. Ana opened her hand and gazed at what he had given her. A beautiful blue stone glittered in the dim hall lighting, shining with a luster of it's own. Ana gasped and hung onto her locker for support. What a boy..........



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A sadly scary looking girl sat in the corner of the lunchroom, nibbling on some crackers. She had mussed black hair with two bangs hanging in front of her glinting golden eyes, giving her a catlike appaerance. Her body was sinewy and her long legs were wrapped around the legs of the chair in somewhat complicated bends. No one sat by her and she glared at everyone who looked happy. Even though her body language was hard and unnerving her eyes were sad and filled with untold.........untold something. She finished her cracker and started on another, lost in thought.



Kathryn Walker glanced around the lunchroom, looking for a place to sit. ::Let's see.........:: She thought, :: Preppies- no way in hell. Jocks- *snort*. Dweebs- I don't even have a reputation to ruin.:: She looked deeper into the mob of writhing bodies, searching for *somewhere* to sit. Her eyes rested on a girl sitting by herself in the corner, immersed in the shadows. In Kathryn's eyes she seemed to glow somewhat. ::Bingo:: Kathryn propped her tray and walked over to the old table, slinking into the shadows and popping up in the seat right next to the girl. Instantly the girl stiffened and her eyes pooped open, glaring accusingly at Kathryn. "Why are you over here?" Kathryn sighed and threw open her lunch pack, grabbing an apple before replying, "Why not?" She tore into the apple before the other girl could respond. "Why are you sitting here? You're pretty enought to sit over with them." The sad girl waved her hand towards the preps and at Kathryn's shiny auburn hair and inquisitive silver eyes and pale, glowing white skin. Kathryn finished her apple and grabbed a sandwich, eyeing the girl with utmost fascination. The girl's aura was strong and Kathryn could feel it, and she had to know *why* it was so demanding. Kathryn smiled and tried to start small talk with the girl. It was *not* her style to be *this* nice. "So.........what's you're name?" The girl looked off to the side playing with a cracker. "Ren." Kathryn frowned. Getting to know this girl was not going to be easy.........she didn't even know why she was trying to make friends. Again, it was not her fashion.