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Author's note:
Very sorry for the severe negligence of my fic. Most of you guys more than likely would have forgotten the story by now, I know! Really am sorry O.O
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Key
"" Speech
* Actions
= Thoughts
~ Break
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Chapter 10
Though it was already morning the lamps aligning the footpaths continued to flicker, lighting up the dim streets. It was a dark day as heavy gray clouds filled the sky, blocking out the sun almost completely.
The bell had yet to ring at Shohoku High but students could already be seen scattering into the school building, holding their bags tightly against them as the wind picked up.
Stopping close to the building's entrance, Sunny clutched at her heart until she felt the pang of pain fade. This wasn't the first time it had happened during the past few weeks, the occurrence although infrequent were consistent. Usually it was just a small squeeze of the heart or else a brief burning sensation - nothing to alarm the others about yet …. but just as a precaution, Sunny reached into her bag for her pills and quickly swallowed them.
"You okay?"
Surprised had Sunny snapping around .. to find Rukawa beside her.
"Morning Rukawa!"
His stony expression did not change the least, however he did managed to nod ever so slightly in acknowledgement - and from him that was saying a lot!
Watching him, Sunny noticed his eyes narrowing ever so briefly at the bottle of pills still held in her hands, reminding her of his unanswered question. It warmed her that he did care in his own way, just like she'd know he always had deep down. But not wanting to worry him, she subtly tried to shove the bottle of evidence back into her bag as she beamed a smile.
"I'm okay. I, ah, it's nothing. But thanks for asking."
Looking down at her, it was obvious to him she was hiding something, but then if that was all she was willing to reveal who was he to say otherwise. After all he didn't really care - yet something nagged at him and he stood there one moment longer looking at her (and contradicting himself), before finally shoving his hands into his pant pockets and walking through the entrance without another word.
Smiling to herself at what was considered as an exchanged of friends between her and Rukawa, Sunny quickly hurried after him – all previous worries forgotten.
"Wait for me!!"
Catching up, she fell into step with him and immediately chattered away. And despite his usual unresponsiveness, Rukawa made no move to leave her behind as they made their way to class.
"Did you watch that show on last night? Hehe, it was sooooo funny!! Especially when the bunny started to dance ….."
And wasn't it so like these two, to have not once noticed in all that time, the girls staring at them. Some had just been standing around, while most were fans that had been rushing up to catch a glimpse of their beloved Rukawa. All stood speechless, eyes goggled as they watched in utter amazement to Rukawa acknowledging the existence of a girl and treated her, well, almost nice!
=Who does that girl thinks she is??!=
No one noticed either, the angry eyes of one girl.
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As soon as she opened the door to the roof, she spotted him – asleep, of course.
Creeping up to him, she shook him hard once and then jumped away. As if on cue, his arm swung out but missed her.
=Ha! So predictable, that guy.=
"RUKAWA!! Wake up!! Time to wake up!!"
Somehow she managed to pierce through his hazy state and he mentally flinched at the registration of her voice.
"RU-KA-WA! RU-KA-WA!"
For someone so small, she sure made a racket. Slowly he sat up and glared at her, irritated to say the least.
Plodding down, she looked innocently at him.
Rukawa eyes narrowed.
Swallowing her giggles when she saw his face darken, she quickly spoke up.
"It's a good thing you're awake. I bought you lunch and you can't exactly eat it asleep now right?"
Pulling out a couple of wrapped sandwiches from her bag, she offered him one. When he made not action to take it, she dumped it onto his lap instead and well that was that. Picking it up he slowly unwrap it and took a bite, noting that it tasted okay he continued to eat.
"… I was meant to have lunch with Mitsui today, but the teacher made him stay back in class – I think he forgot to do his homework again … anyway, by that time Haruko and Hanamichi had also disappeared on me."
*munch, munch, gobble*
"So I decided to come up and look for you, and you know what? I think we should have lunch more often! At least this way I can make sure you're eating properly – you're too skinny as it is!"
=Skinny??=
Having finished the sandwich in three bites, he lay back down on the ground and stared up at the dark cloudy sky, letting Sunny's voice drifted past him – in other words, tuning out. She didn't mind, and maybe it was because she allowed him to be that he considered her as a friend in part.
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"Shit! Look, isn't that her and Rukawa??"
All five heads turned towards the roof.
"Yeah, and it looks like they're having lunch together!"
"Haha! And to think he wouldn't even speak to you Kass! Ouch, that must hurt."
"What do you mean Yoko, I don't think Rukawa even knows Kass exist! HAHA, now that's really gotto hurt!"
"SHUT UP, both of you!" Flicking her long blond hair back, Kass's eyes gleamed dangerously. Looking back to the roof, she clenched her teeth. "Who the hell does she think she is??! A stupid shy mousy thing and she thinks to compete with me – oh pleaseee."
"Yeah, well Kass. In case you didn't noticed, she's the one up there with him, not you. She's also the one he's chummy with most of the time."
"Oh poor, poor Kass. The one's person she's been chasing for so long now and he won't have her. Aww."
And with that, the four girls all broke out into laughter.
Walking up to the one who had made the last comment, Kass slapped her hard across the face and the glared at the rest.
Their laughter ended abruptly.
Though it was fun to finally see Kass not being able to get something she'd wanted, they knew better than to cross her when she was in her foul mood. She was a spoiled little rich girl and downright vicious during her tantrums.
"If I don't get him, than let me make it clear – nor does she. No one makes a fool out of me!"
A hard glint appeared in her eyes as she smiled.
"I'm going to teach that Sunny a lesson."
Turning on the heels of her expensive leather shoes, she stalked off.
Shrugging, the four others hesitated for a moment longer before they too, followed her.
=Here we go again.=
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Keeping her eyes on the ground as she made her way to the gym, Sunny was careful to avoid stepping on any cracks, having been taught by her mother as a child that to do so would bring bad luck. Not that she was all that superstitious, it was more a game to pass time.
"So here you are Sunny!"
Missing a step, her foot landed on a small crack.
=Arrggh.=
Despite her slight irritation, Sunny managed to stop herself from frowning as she looked up at the girl who had called out.
=I don't know her=
But that wasn't surprising since Sunny generally didn't talk to anyone else outside the basketball team except for classmates Haruko and Youhei. What piped her curiosity was that the girl knew her name and obviously wanted something. Studying the girl, Sunny couldn't seem to help but feel something similar to dislike to the girl - it was her face, almost false angelic. Trying to shake off the feeling though, since it was unfair to judge someone she didn't recognize, Sunny gathered up her courage and smiled hesitantly at the girl.
"Ah, hello. Was, I mean, uh, can I help you? You called for me?"
"Ah, um, ah" The girl cruelly mimicked Sunny. "God you're pathetic! The only reason Rukawa talks to you is probably cause he feels sorry for you!"
Subconsciously clutching the sunflower pendent hanging from a chain around her neck, she took a step back, what of her courage quickly fading. Suddenly noticing the coldness in the air around her, Sunny felt a prick of danger run along the back of her neck.
"W-who a you? I don't understand–"
"I'm Kass, and you know exactly what this is all about. Don't play oh-I'm-so-innocent with me, bitch!! Why anyone would choose someone like you over me is beyond my reasons – but I won't have it! No, I won't have it!"
Looking at Sunny in the eye, Kass eyes filled with outraged – "No one steals what's rightfully mine."
Shock at the anger and resentment 'Kass' was directing at her, Sunny couldn't seem to think straight. What was going on? Nothing was making sense. Grabbing her bag tight against her, as if to deflect Kass's verbal with it, Sunny tried to calm the fear that was growing bigger and bigger inside of her.
"I haven't stole–"
Sunny's voice died on her lips as she realized that it was no longer just Kass, but four other girls surrounding her. And they were in a deserted corner of the school ground; school having finished fifteen minutes ago and all the student having gone home.
"Scared? You should be! This is what you get for crossing me of all people! Listen carefully Sunny, we may both be exchange students, but I've been here longer - Rukawa's belongs to me. And I'd better not see you any where near him again. Ever."
As the sound of Kass's crude laughter washed over Sunny, pain suddenly gripped at her heart. Proving to be the straw that broke the camels back, panic overwhelmed her and something inside snapped. It was too much like last time, the horrible echoing laugh, the pain, when her life had been forced to a stop.
=It's happening again.=
Sunny broke out in cold sweat that sent her shivering.
=No. No. Stop it!=
Time stood still for Sunny. Kass's vicious attacks slowly faded into the background, as her unhappy past school years took shaped.
=Why are they picking on me again? Is it because I'm different, because I'm always sick? It's not my fault!! I don't want to be sick anymore!=
=Scared. So scared. They're approaching me, why won't those girls just leave me alone?=
=No, I don't have any money!! Go away, please just go away!!=
Her ears roared and her heart accelerated as she felt the overwhelming fear of her past, of her present.
=Stop calling me names, I haven't stolen anything from you ….=
=Stop calling me names, I haven't got any money ….=
She could see herself crying in terror as she sat there on the grassy patch. No one came to help her as the school bullies close in on her.
=Why won't anyone help me?1?Please, please!=
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Feeling victory at hand, Kass walked up to Sunny.
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The bully stopped in front of Sunny. Angry that Sunny really had nothing of value to hand over, she reached out to grab her hair.
Sunny could once again feel the pain that shot from her scalp.
The girl raised her free hand ready to bring it down on Sunny, but suddenly all Sunny could feel was the agonising pain squeezing at her heart.
=NO! Not again. Please, I don't want to be sick anymore. Help me, anyone!=
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Stopping in front of Sunny, Kass frowned as she finally noticed Sunny state – she seemed to have frozen.
"Hey? HEY! Stop play-acting!! Don't think you could ignore me you stupid -"
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The few unsuspecting students walked past, but none reached out to help. Averting their gazes, they hurried on, not wanting to be the next to be picked on and bullied. Sunny watched as they all past by, feeling the hope inside her die away as she fought to breath from the pain in her heart – then she saw him.
=Mitsui!=
Wing at her, he smirked. "You can't give that easily Sunny-girl!"
Still caught up in her memories, Sunny suddenly lashed out blindly at an unsuspecting Kass and drew blood - a small cut along her cheek. And for that one moment, Sunny broke through her memories and was once again aware of her surroundings. She was back at Shohoku High, and Kass was screaming about her face.
Then Kass raised a hand and brought it down hard across Sunny's face.
The girl raised her free hand and brought it down on Sunny – and the pain in her heart became unbearable.
Everything went blank in Sunny's mind. Like the light of candle blown out, everything went dark.
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"Shit! What's wrong with her?"
"She's not responding!! Kass!! What have you done??"
"What do we do? That girl's broken down on us!!"
Slightly in panic herself, Kass looked at Sunny.
=Shit!=
Realizing how much trouble she was in, she backed out.
"C'mon, let's go! She's not worth it anyway!!"
With that, Kass quickly ran off, not once checking to make sure the others were behind her.
"Do we just leave that girl here? Shouldn't we call for someone?"
Yoko looked hesitantly at the girl as she sat curled up in the corner, conscious but like a doll, utterly unresponsive.
"You crazy Yoko??! Let's get our of here, NOW!"
"Yeah. Lets move it you two! Shit. We're never gonna listening to that Kass no more, right!"
And with that, the four others left quickly. Not that Sunny noticed anymore.
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"Hey, thanks for staying back and helping me out Kogure! Owe you one."
Mitsui swung his bag over his shoulders, as he and Kogure headed for the gym.
=Glad that's over! Now on with basketball – and Sunny!=
"No problems. I just hope Akagi's not going to be too mad with us for showing up so late!"
"Yeah. Took longer than I though it would – I can't believe I had to stay back and discussed homework with the teacher, twice in one day! Talk about bad luck!"
The sky suddenly roared with thunder, the sky lighting up with flashes of lightening and it started to rain.
Growling, Mitsui glared at the water soaking up into his uniform.
"Great! Just what I needed to end this crappy day!"
"Now Mitsui, couldn't have been that bad! C'mon, since it's raining, lets hurried."
"Not bad??! Wanna hear it first? Could make the difference."
Watching Kogure *sweatdrop* in the drizzled, Mitsui finally gave up on his complaints.
"Yare, Yare. May as well get there quickly, Sunny's waiting."
Grinning at the thought, Mitsui started to speed up – but after taking two steps, Mitsui suddenly came to an abrupt stop.
"What is it now Mitsui??"
A little ahead, Kogure also stopped, exasperated as he peered at Mitsui through his watery glasses.
And frowned as he watch the colour drained from his friend's face.
"Mitsui? What's wrong?"
Mitsui didn't hear Kogure, he couldn't hear anything except the roar in his ears and feel the fear the gripped him inside. Scanning the corner of the school ground with his eyes, he had no idea what he was looking for, yet continued to search almost desperately as the fear coiled itself more tightly inside of him.
And then he saw her.
Feeling a little panicky, Kogure quickly made his way towards Mitsui. But before he could reach him, Mitsui had taken off again.
"MITSUI!!" Suddenly picking up Mitsui's fear, Kogure hurried to follow.
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O.OKnow that this chapter was much longer than the others, but hopeful you'd have stuck through it to the end .. thanks for reading! really!
Jt.