Disclaimer: Who, Qkslvr? Oh yeah…that's me. Oh, what? Fushigi Yuugi? Oh, sorry…nope. Belongs to someone else.

Warnings: Actually…none still.

Notes: What. An. Idiot. Would you believe I forgot one veeerrry important detail? Can you tell? Well, I forgot to mention who's POV this is. Good God, you'd think I'd remember something that simple…

In Dreams

My story took place in a small town in New Mexico called Belen. I don't know if you've heard about it, it's a pretty small town. About five thousand something population. The year was 1946 and I was, if I'm not mistaken, sixteen years old.

You see our town is really small that everyone knows everyone and anybody's business is everybody's business, if you know what I mean. So, that also means a new face in town couldn't go past the observant eyes of the ladies who gather in front of the local pantry every afternoon.

I remember that day clearly, May 16, the day was warm with the summer sun up high. Now, I live in New Mexico, just off to the south of Arizona, so that means most of the time we're exposed to the heat of the sun. Actually, too much sun, if you ask me. Anyway, that day, a family of five just moved in the empty store about five blocks from where I live. Don't get me wrong, I don't gossip, but in a town so small where news—especially gossip—travels faster than lightning, you'd be an idiot not to know what's going on.

So, anyway, the family just moved in. The old store they were moving in to had been empty for as long as I remember. When I was young, my grandfather used to tell me stories about that store. When he was young, he and his friends used to go there around six o'clock in the evening and try to summon the ghosts that inhabit the place and when they hear a creak or any sound at all, they'd all run across town and tell everybody the store was possessed. I would watch in fascination as my grandfather told the same story over and over again during Halloween, when my cousins come over for Trick-or-Treating. We would all sit around him in front of the fireplace, the light of the fire giving his face a scary effect and we'd scream in fright whenever he gets this scary look on his face and surprise us with his deep laugh. I tell you, my grandfather is a nice man, but he laughs like the devil.

Where was I? Oh yeah, the family that just moved in. When I heard that, I was with my friends under the mango tree we have claimed our own. When we found the spot, we started carving our names along the trunk. Drove the adults nuts. Anyway, when we found out about the new addition to our happy little town, we hurriedly got on our bikes and sneaked over to the store, in hopes of finding a beautiful girl with the family and then maybe we can show off our heroic deeds and help them get settled in.

As it turned out, almost half the town got there before us. I could see Butcher Tom from the Butcher Shop, bringing some fresh meat, Mrs. Thompson from next door, carrying some sort of dish she invented as a housewarming gift. Let me tell you, you wouldn't want Mrs. Thompson bringing you any food. The woman has way too much time on her hands that she can invent something made from inedible ingredients and still call them food. Ugh, excuse me while I puke. I looked at the cars lined up in front of the house and found that my Mom's blue Mitsubishi was also there. I wonder what my mother is doing to the poor newcomers. Now, don't get me wrong, I like my mother, she's a really nice person, but sometimes she has a tendency to overdo her kindness that it ends up a bit suffocating. Just a bit.

Realizing we won't get a good look at the children anyway, me and my friends started to turn our bikes around and head for the park. We'd see them in school, anyway. I was about to turn when a flicker of purple caught my eyes. Turning back to the house, I saw them—the children. Actually, only one of them was a child. They were al purple-haired and looked almost alike. There was a tall one, a boy, about 18, grabbing some boxes from the back of a Uhaul and bringing them in the house. That left another boy with his sister, I presume. The boy—about my age or so—grabbed another box and his sister—eleven, I think—trailed off after him, grabbing the hem of his shirt. Now, normally, this wouldn't catch my attention seeing as its just two boys and if there was one girl, she's too young, but there's something about them. I don't know what, but they just kind of forcibly pulled my attention. I guess it was their hair. I've never seen anyone with purple hair before. And these three have it. I thought maybe they dyed it, but during those times, dyeing hair are specifically for celebrities only. Expensive.

After the momentary glitch in my attention, I just shrugged it off and followed my friends.

True to my expectations, there he was, the middle kid, walking into my homeroom, first day of class. He was shy, I can tell, by the way he walked in the room with his hands stuffed in his jean pockets and his head held down low. Must be hard being the new kid in town. I wouldn't know I've lived in this place forever. My father used to tell me stories how his ancestors used to race to claim a piece of land. Well, if that was true, my ancestors must be in one hell of a hurry to claim land. Our house sat very near the river and at times, when a tornado hits the county, our house is the first one to get soaked. Way to go.

So, the new kid sat in the third row and was apparently being completely ignored by everyone. Mind you, we may be a small town, but ours is a heavily discriminating small town. Instantly, I felt my heart go out to the kid. After all, what could be worse than to move in to a town where no one even notices you?

I, myself, sat at the end of the room, the last row. That one is exclusive to my friends and me. Let me tell you, one good thing about having football player friends is that most people give you space. But it's more out of fright than respect. I should mind, shouldn't I? But no, I don't.

The new kid brought out a notebook and started writing something. For some reason, I was curious as to what. Maybe it's a journal. He's writing about how this school is filled with bitches and jerks. Mind you, I'm not one of them. But I'd be an idiot if I let them know that. Even in the 40's, reputation is everything. If you're seen donating to the church out of your own volition, that'd be the talk of the whole school. You'd never live long enough to hear the end of it. I remember how the kids taunted this girl about how she always rats on to her mom what they do to her in school. She ended up transferring at the end of the year. I wouldn't want to be like that. So better to go with the flow, instead of be the odd ball.

The teacher arrived shortly and we did this hideous welcoming ritual we've done since preschool. We'd walk over to the new kid, tell him or her something about ourselves and try to get to know them and promise to be their friend, blah, blah. I mean, for Pete's sake, that's what preschoolers do. We're in high school and we still do that. Whatever, school board.

When it was my turn, I don't know what I was gonna say. Usually, I invent stories of how me and my dad love to climb volcanoes and stuff, but for some reason, I feel odd saying that to him. Walking slowly to his seat, I smiled.

"Hi," he smiled. He sounded like a girl!

"Hey."

"You don't seem to be very fond of this."

I snorted and ran my hand through my hair, "Sort of."

He held out his hand, "I'm Ryuuen. Ryuuen Chou. I live at the…"

"Store, I know. I've seen you when your family moved in."

"Oh. You're…?"

I smiled sheepishly; I can't believe I forgot that! "Saihitei. Saihitei Seishuku."

"Oh, your mom visited us before." He said, still smiling. Doesn't his jaws hurt?

"Yeah. You remembered?"

He shrugged, "Yeah, she's really nice. She talked about you a lot."

Well, gee mom thanks. "Yeah? What did she say?"

He smiled mysteriously, "Oh, you know. This and that."

I was about to ask him exactly what but the teacher rang the bell, telling me my two minutes was up. Oh yeah, in case I forgot to mention, we have two minutes to get to know each other. And they expect us to forge a lifetime friendship in that short amount of time.

"Hey, we're going to the park, you comin'?"

That was my best friend, Jason Hall. His parents practically own the county. I think his ancestors even discovered this place. Anyway, he's also the football captain. Smart, handsome, and an all around jerk. Only to the girls, though. He's actually a nice guy behind that jerky façade.

We, along with our friends like to go to the park after classes. They play football, while I just lie on the bleachers and nap. I've never been much of the sporty type. Not like I'm flabby or anything, I just don't do sports when I can just lie around and nap. As I was on the process of covering my face with my cap, the football they've been playing around with landed and hit me smack on the nose.

"Oww…" I'm bleeding. Good.

I heard footsteps coming towards me and Jason was leaning down to look at my face, "Aw, sorry, Sai. Didn'tcha hear the ball comin'?"

I gave him a sharp look, still cradling my offended body part, "You could've gived be a wardig, you dow."

He fought snickers and removed his shirt and held it to my nose, "Here."

I scooted away, wincing as my nose started to throb. Ow, even that hurt. "What the…d'ya hodestly thigk I'd allow that to cob dear be?"

"Fine, what do you want?"

I grabbed the bottle of water he was saving up for after practice and held it to my nose. I see my mom doing this whenever I get nosebleeds when I was young.

Later, after everyone left, me and Jason sat on the bleachers quietly. My nose still hurts, but at least it stopped bleeding.

"What do you think about the new kid? Whathisname…?" he asked me.

"Ryuuen."

"Yeah, him. Weird hair, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess so. He's okay."

He looked at me and just shrugged. Jason and I have been friends since we were in first grade and he knows I have a soft heart for…well, everybody. I guess that's why he decided to appoint himself my personal bodyguard. When we were in fifth grade, I got in a fight with a bunch of seventh graders who I accidentally slammed with a bathroom door. I almost died when they threatened to meet me behind the junk shop after class. The empty lot behind the junk shop is exclusively reserved for big fights. Students would gather around and take bets on who'd win. When Jason found out about it, he insisted on coming and when we met the other guys on the way to the empty lot, he socked them in the face all the way to next Saturday. We arrived and there were students waiting for the fight to begin. We just explained that the other guys chickened out and skipped. When they found the same guys with bruises on Monday, they knew what happened. Everyone was too afraid to pick on me since then.

The next day, we were lining up for PE. I don't like PE, we're always being forced to do stupid kinds of sports. As I've said before, I'm not fat, I actually have quite an athletic build, I just don't like sports much, is all. Usually, I sign up for soccer so I don't have to do PE. Now, soccer is a nice sport. I think that's the only one I like. Even after watching Jason and the others play numerous games, I still don't get a hang out of football. But soccer's another story. You see, my uncle used to be a striker for the national team and he'd teach me how to kick a ball properly when I was young.

This year, however, I forgot to sign in and when I went to the coach this morning, the slots have all been filled. It's not actually the varsity, you see, just a club of sorts. But anyway, I didn't get in this year so here I am, in line with everyone else, doing PE.

I looked around the group of wide-eyed students and noticed that Ryuuen wasn't here. What? First week and absent already? Wow, he must really hate school.

That afternoon, I met up with Jason in front of his locker.

"So, how's soccer?"

"I dunno. Ask them."

His brows furrowed in confusion, "I thought you like it."

"Yeah I do, but I didn't get to sign up." I shrugged. He knows I'm pretty much bummed by it, but in any case, I won't let it show.

"How come? The new kid was there."

My eyes widened, they let the new kid—I mean Ryuuen sign up, but not me? "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, they were practicing before we did."

Wow, this sucks. I was trapped to do PE and the new kid gets to play soccer. Well, he must be really rich or really good to get this special treatment.

We were about to go out to the park when I heard someone call me. I turned around and saw Coach Burns from soccer. Patting Jason on the back to tell him to go ahead, I half-ran half-walked to the coach's office.

"Ahh, Saihitei. Well, seems we've got a little confusion here. Turns out, we have a slot open for you. Would you like to sign up?"

"No kidding," I muttered under my breath, and then louder, "Sure coach."

I walked out later, a member of the team. Well, looks like I wouldn't have to go to PE later, then. Heh.

AN: I know they live in the States and all, but I'm gonna use my country's school system. Since I've proven it to be kind of hard to write a story about kids going to school in a place where I don't know shit about the system (courtesy of my other story, Takyou, Kondo, oh, read it, read it! And review!…ehhhh, okay, enough shameless plug for the day)

Anyway…aaaahhhhh, I'm so excited about this one. I actually wrote the epilogue already. Wow, is that a sign of me being a loser or what? Annnnyway…review! ^____^