Usual disclaimers apply…
NOT JUST ANOTHER TYPICAL SCHOOL DAY
It was another typical Friday afternoon as I glanced down at the slip resting in my hand…another detention. I sighed again and closed my locker door, beginning my usual walk to where detention was always held. I walk aimlessly past the other students nodding my head at Kenshin and Sano who where leaving to go home. I couldn't believe Sano got out of detention, the sneaky bastard. I wasn't too sure if we all considered each other friends. Well that wasn't really correct either. Kenshin and I have known each other since we began going to this school in grade 7. We had an understanding of each other. To everyone in the school we seemed to be the "popular" ones and I have no idea why the other students thought this. Kenshin is always polite to everyone and Sano is damn loud and crazy. I on the other hand am the silent one. Oh don't get me wrong I talk and reply to other people's conversations but only when it is necessary. I usually only speak if I find the conversation interesting or if I find the person interesting. I'm pretty sure the students thought Kenshin and I were untouchable because we both knew Martial Arts. As for Sano well everyone knows of his fights so they just back away completely. I knew Kenshin had become friends with Sano when he moved here about a year ago. So now it's the three of us.
As I walk closer to a group of girls I notice they have stopped their usual conversation around their lockers to gaze at me and try to catch my attention. I had asked my cousin Kaoru what the hell was wrong with them and she just replied to me that to them I was "hot". Maybe this was why Kenshin, Sano and myself were considered popular because all the females in school were "after us". Another one of Kaoru's statements put to me so bluntly.
I know Kaoru is in love with Kenshin but she isn't as obvious as the others are. She usually becomes all meek and shy if its just her, Kenshin and me. Occasionally I'd tease her about it because her reaction to this is quite hilarious. Kaoru has a lot of friends but she loves hanging around with Megumi, Kenshin, Sano and myself. Megumi is in my grade and Kaoru is a couple years younger. When they aren't in lessons they stick together like glue as though they are sisters. I too notice that Megumi is trying to score with Kenshin and yet he is oblivious to it all. I sometimes catch him gazing at Kaoru and shake my head at how shy he is being. I'd invited Kenshin along to our family outings when we first became friends all those years ago and that's how he had met Kaoru. They have known each other for so long I don't understand how they can become shy in front of each other. Although no one knows it, not even them I suppose, they only have eyes for each other. It's quite sickening really, but good luck to them anyway. As for Sano, well I bet he has a thing for Megumi. I watch them bicker at each other as they have their "play" arguments and yet when Megumi finishes and goes waltzing over to flirt with Kenshin I can see the sadness and hurt in Sano's eyes. I feel sorry for the guy, but one day I bet she'll finally realise that Kenshin is not the one for her. As for myself, I don't have an interest in the females at this school. Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't bat for the same side, I find some of the girls at school quite beautiful, but they are so dumb. Megumi and Kaoru are Kaoru are nice looking girls, probably two of the best but Kaoru's my cousin, hence the fact I have no interest and to me Megumi is all Sano's.
I am still walking down the deserted hallway when I notice a lone figure dressed all in black standing in front of her locker. I notice her immediately as I have heard Kaoru talk about her a few times and point her out to us. Kaoru had stated she was quite beautiful up close if only she showed it more. Her and Kaoru are in the same grade and the same classes but Kaoru said she never speaks to anyone. I forget what Kaoru said her name was. Anyway as I walk closer I notice she also had a slip in her hands. She crunched it up in her hand as it had now formed into a fist, slammed her locker shut and walked further off down the hall, her long braid swinging behind her. I watched her retreating form until she turned a corner disappearing down another corridor.
The detention room door was now in sight and I opened it up to find I was the only student. This was going to be even more boring then I thought. Usually I'd have at least one person in here complaining about the usual, "It wasn't my fault". That was always the excuse from everyone that I had seen have detention with me. I'd always laugh at how stupid it sounded. Some of these students were so weak they couldn't even confess to themselves that it was there fault for getting a detention in the first place. And to think most of them were guys, that's pretty embarrassing.
I sighed and jumped on top of a bench and placed my back against the wall. I propped one of my feet up on the bench and rested my arm on my knee and gazed into space. The room was quiet, peaceful and a great chance for thinking a few things over.
The slamming of the door however has rudely interrupted my thoughts. I turned my head slightly and notice I was going to have company after all. It was the girl I saw down the hall a few minutes ago. She had obviously been caught trying to sneak away. I could now see exactly what she wore which was a large black trench coat just like mine. She had placed it over her school uniform, not giving a damn what the teachers would say. She walked to a table and plonked herself down into a seat and rested her head in her hands as we waited for the teacher.
Minutes of silence passed but the opening of the classroom door again interrupted the silence and in walked Mr. Yoshi, the biggest asshole in school. He opened up a slip of paper and began to talk.
"Now who do we have here?" he stated blankly reading the contents. Was this guy truly an idiot or what? There are two of us, not a class full of students so it really didn't matter. After all I was always a regular one in here.
"Well judging by the two names on the piece of paper you are holding, I'd suggest that one of the names would register to me, while the other belongs to him." I laughed at what she had said. I was thinking the same and yet she had spoken it out loud. Gutsy, very gutsy indeed. This however did not go down well for the both of us.
"That has just given you sweeping tomorrow morning Miss Makimachi and since you thought she was so funny you may join her Mr. Shinomori." He had stated angrily at us and left the room. My eyes glared at his retreating back watching the door slam shut. What a minute! That name, Makimachi, it rang a bell but where had I heard it before. It was so familiar and yet I couldn't place it. My mind had drawn a complete blank. The room was silent once more until I heard the scrapping of her chair on the floor.
I watched her movements as she took off her shoes and the fact she had really tiny feet. She jumped onto the teacher's desk with ease, but couldn't reach the clock as it was just out of her reach, even on tiptoes. I knew exactly what she wished to do as I had always done this myself. Sometimes I'd gotten away with it and if I was lucky the teacher never caught on. However these days it was a rather old trick and I don't know if Mr. Yoshi will believe it. I decided to give her a hand when a small-frustrated sigh escaped her lips. I walked to the table and jumped up effortlessly onto it as well and reached over her hand and grabbed the clock. I turned my head over my shoulder looking into her eyes and that's when I noticed they were as blue as the ocean. Short strips of her blue-black hair that couldn't be placed into her long braid framed her pale delicate face. I placed the clock in her hands wordlessly and jumped off the desk walking back to where I sat originally. I sat down on the bench once more watching what she did. She began to wind the clock closer to the time we get to leave. She was just reaching to place the clock back on the hook when Mr. Yoshi walked back into the room. A frown crossed my lips as she'd been busted. Dammit! I so want to get out of here!
"Miss Makimachi get down this instance. I see you were trying to wind the clock further to your leaving time. Did you actually think you'd get away with this?"
"It would be stupid to say 'yes' now wouldn't it?" She stared back at Mr. Yoshi with those intense eyes. He obviously couldn't think up a good enough come back for that one and turned in a huff and left the room once again. I was beginning to like this girl; she was quite interesting to watch.
"Where do you come up with some of your comebacks?" I asked her casually trying to pick up a conversation with her. I let my smirk slip when I noticed those intense blue eyes staring curiously at me. She said nothing and so it was time again to say something more.
"I'm Shinomori Aoshi." I stated plainly after a few seconds. Great plain ease into the conversation Shinomori. I raised an eyebrow finally realising I wasn't going to receive a response from her and quit pestering her. Oh well, maybe another time. I began rummaging around in my backpack and jerked my head up when she finally spoke in a cold tone towards me.
"I know who you are." She had said while sitting on the teacher's desk with her ankles crossed and her head looking straight out the large window in front of her.
"Really? So are you going to tell me who you are?" I spoke confidently hoping she'd speak once more. The silence was getting to me and the fact I found her interesting made me want to start a conversation with her. If Kaoru, Megumi, Sano and Kenshin were here they'd fall over in bloody surprise! I pulled out a packet of chips from my bag, opened them up and began eating.
"Why does it matter to you who I am? You wouldn't even care if I were killed tomorrow. So why should I tell you my name anyway? You just want to know my name so you can crush me down like you do to every other poor student who isn't like you!" Wow she spoke so coldly and passionate it was rather a weird combination. I looked over at her posture and realised that she was still staring out the window and her hands where fisted tightly on her lap.
"Well actually I was just curious but that was an intense speech nonetheless." I noticed my response surprised her but she soon turned her gaze into a scowl and then continued to stare back out the window again. I guess that wasn't the best way to speak to her. I was soon surprised when the silence was broken as she spoke.
"Misao"
"What?" I was shocked when I had gotten through one of her many "walls" that obviously guarded her from everyone around her.
"Makimachi Misao" She looked at me and I silently nodded. Minutes passed by as we sat in silence both of us content with the ending of the very small conversation. I looked down at my watch to notice the time read 4:15pm.
"Shit! I'm late!" I yelled and jumped off the bench talking over to the closest window and opening it up. I glanced at Misao from the corner of my eye and saw her blue eyes watching me curiously. I grabbed my pack and jumped onto the window seal. I looked over my shoulder at her and noticed she was now standing up away from the desk and fully watching me.
"See you tomorrow!" I yelled and jumped from the second story to the other roof below me. I landed in a crouch position and looked back up at the window to notice Misao was now standing there her eyes wide in shock. I waved at her and dashed off jumping from rooftop to rooftop so I could reach my house faster. I needed to pick up my kodachi's as I had training at the dojo and my sensei is very strict at his students coming to class late.
* * * *
I reached the training hall where I had been training since I was a small child and opened the door and sighed in relief noticing I was a few minutes early.
"Well Shinomori, its good to see you can come early." My sensei spoke up and laughed at seeing me here and early for once.
"Miracles do happen Sensei." I replied jokingly and removed my trenchcoat, placing it on a hook and took off my shoes walking further into the room.
* * * *
An hour had passed of intense training and fighting with my kodachi's. Sweat poured off my sparring partner and myself. We weren't friends, we just had an understanding that both of us were on the same level of skills and strength. I was damn grateful when our sensei stopped.
"10 minute break everyone." The other students dropped to the floor exhausted. I took off my shirt and threw it to the side near my pack and drenched my entire face with my water bottle. My legs began to ache so I slid down to the ground and rested my back against the cool wall. I took deep steady breaths and closed my eyes for a short rest.
"Ah, you're finally here I see. A detention I presume?" I opened my eyes when I had heard sensei talking. The guys were now standing around and listening to the sensei's conversation, as he wasn't referring to any of us. I couldn't see whom sensei was speaking to as the guys crowded around intrigued to know who the person was.
"Yes father." Boy that voice seemed familiar to me. The sensei began to talk again, this time a little more annoyed.
"Misao when are you going to stop this? It's not good for your trai-?"
"It's not good for your training. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I heard ya the first time you said it to me years ago dad." Misao cut off sensei. Misao! I stood up to see that it was she. DAD! Her father is sensei! My brain finally clicked, as I knew where I had heard "Makimachi". We didn't call Sensei by his surname, as it was improper for students to do so during class. I'd gotten so used to it, I hardly ever called him Mr. Makimachi. I still couldn't believe it though. She was even sarcastic towards her old man.
"You are so like your mother." Sensei stated looking softly into his daughters eyes.
"I wouldn't remember. I'm going to practice." And with that she turned around and walked away. She practices here! How come I've never seen her here before? I was cut short of my question when sensei began to talk once more.
"Breaks over, begin again!" Next thing I knew I was up with kodachi's in hands and going through the routines yet again.
* * * *
"You are all dismissed." Sensei had said to us. We bowed and began walking towards our bags. The others began to talk profusely about what had occurred in the lessons but I kept to myself. These were my lessons and I only shared them with Sensei if I had any problems. I stopped at the opened door when he called back to me.
"Aoshi, may I speak with you for a moment please?"
"What seems to be the problem Sensei?" I spoke walking back towards him.
"Aoshi we are out of class now so stop calling me Sensei. I wish to discuss this to you privately, so would you mind stopping over at my house in a couple of hours?"
"Sure thing Mr. Makimachi, where do you live and I'll see you there." I listened to what he had said but became distracted as I watched Misao. She was using kunai's and obviously started young as she had a hand on them quite well.
"That's my daughter Misao." Mr. Makimachi stated proudly.
"I actually met her today Mr. Makimachi, quite a character." I spoke truthfully to him and a small chuckle escaped his lips.
"That she is Aoshi, that she is. I'll see you tonight." I nodded at him and waved my goodbye leaving the training hall.
* * * *
The sun had past the horizon about an hour ago and I was standing in front of the door at the Makimachi Residence. This place was huge! I have never seen a place this enormous before. Oh don't get me wrong Kenshin, Megumi and Kaoru all live in nice houses, but nothing like this. I knocked on the large wooden doors and seconds later am rewarded at the sight of Misao dressed in a silk sleeping robe and her long hair cascading down her back freely. Hmm, she looked pretty nice like that. What a minute! What the hell am I saying? I notice Misao has finally realised who stands at the front door and I watch her eye narrow as she scowls annoyingly at me. I know she secretly wanders what the hell I am doing at her house. Before I need to explain myself, Mr. Makimachi comes into view and ushers me inside.
I place my bag on the floor near the door and take off my shoes. We walk upstairs and into his study.
"Please sit Aoshi." I comply with his suggestion and wait for him to begin talking.
"So Aoshi, how is your mother?" I sigh at his question, as he has not asked me this question for quite some time.
"Well she can hardly get out of bed these days. I am running the house and working a couple of jobs to pay for all the bills. She is getting weaker and there is nothing I can do to help her at all. All she does is talk about how she will be seeing my father soon and then she begins to weep as I will be left alone."
"I am sorry to hear that Aoshi. Would you like some help Aoshi? I mean, does she need any other treatment?" I shake me head at him and explain why.
"I know my mother wouldn't appreciate that so I must decline, but thank you for the offer. She said she wishes to die at home where she belongs and not cooped up in some hospital bed with tubes stuck in her. I must respect her wishes." I look up to see Mr. Makimachi nod at me.
"I see, but you know I must ask anyway. Just give her my best wishes." I silently nod and he stands up indicating that this so-called "meeting" was just another one of these talks with me.
"I do hope your mother gets better Aoshi. I do pray for her well being. Good night." I look back to him and realise that he has become the father figure I have never had. I never met my father, my mother said he died, a long time ago.
"Good night Mr. Makimachi." I politely spoke back. He walked me downstairs and we both entered the large lounge room. Misao was sitting in a huge cushioned chair flipping through the millions of television channels they seemed to have.
"Misao dear, please show our guest out." I watched Mr. Makimachi walk off, heading towards another one of the many rooms in the mansion.
"So what the hell was that all about?" Misao asked me coldly walking towards the door and opening it up. I shrug my shoulders, stepping outside into to cool night and answered her question.
"Just a conversation I've had with your father ever since I was a kid."
"Whatever…" Misao spoke with not a care in the world. What was the point in asking the question in the first place if she was only going to reply with a 'whatever'? Boy, this chick was tough and getting on my nerves.
"See you later Misao." I stated plainly, walking down the steps and down the pathway towards the large gates and out onto the dully-lit street. I heard the door close, but I thought Misao would have slammed it in my face as soon as I stepped outside. She must have been watching my retreating for, silently thinking about something. I shrug my shoulders and continued on my way with my backpack slung over my right shoulder.