origins-P16

PART SIXTEEN

Cye paused to catch his breath as he gripped his late pass to history. Damn it, he thought. I promised myself I'd never be late to history again. At least I didn't meet Rowen on the way his time.

Cye pushed open the door. Mr. Tanaka, the global history teacher, gave him a stern look, but accepted his pass. He explained to Cye the group projects they were starting and looked around the room to assign Cye to a group. Please join Miss Yamara's group.

Immediately beginning to wish that he'd been able to skip class again, Cye turned in the direction Mr. Tanaka had pointed and mentally declared the day shot to hell. Miss Yamara - Kimi, supreme Bitch Queen of the universe - was sitting with her would-be siamese twin Tammy, and a very pissed off looking Rowen. Resigning himself to his fate and making another silent vow not to be late to history again, Cye went and sat down between Rowen and Tammy. Um, I'm supposed to join your group, he said.

Tammy fixed him with a withering glare. Well obviously. She squinted at him. And what the hell is that white stuff on your shirt?

Cye glanced down at himself. Damn. He began to brush the white powder from his shirt. Rowen snickered.

It looks like flour, Kimi commented absently as she studied three slips of paper. You really need to stop being late from your little cooking class.

You take cooking!? Rowen grinned at this new avenue for teasing. That's so girly!

Nevermind that, Kimi snapped. We have more important things to do. Our project country is America -

The classroom door opened again. Rowen and Cye turned to look and each raised an eyebrow at each other. This should be interesting, Rowen muttered.

Class, Mr. Tanaka said, I'd like to introduce you to our new student, Sanada Ryo. Mr. Sanada, please join Miss. Kochiro's group. Miss Kochiro, please raise your hand.

Rowen watched as Tammy gave Ryo a quick once over and then slowly raise her hand. Ryo spotted the hand and smiled as he saw the familiar faces of his two new friends. Rowen moved to his left, closer to Cye, so Ryo could sit between him and Kimi.

Hi guys, Ryo said as he pulled up a desk.

Hi! Cye said brightly. You didn't say tha - ow! Cye glared at Rowen and rubbed his ankle where he'd been kicked.

Rowen caught Ryo's glance and pointed to the two girls. That's Tammy and Kimi, -

Stupid, I always go first, Kimi muttered.

- and that's Cye and I'm Rowen.

Ryo peered quizically at Rowen, wondering why in the world he'd just reintroduced himself and Cye. Wha...?

Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to sit down? Kimi snapped. She grabbed Ryo's arm and pulled him into the seat. Now as I was saying before I was interrupted AGAIN, she flicked an icy glance to Cye and Ryo, we're doing a group project on America. We have five topics. I have fashion and Tammy has pop culture. She laid three strips of paper down in front of Ryo. Pick one, she ordered.

Don't I get to see what they are first? Ryo asked.

Just pick one and stop wasting time! Tammy said.

Ryo picked the middle strip. He looked at it and frowned. Food. He didn't know anything about food. Wasn't American food just a big mixture of everyone else's food anyway? What was he suppsed to find out about food?

Kimi removed the remaining two strips and placed them in front of Cye. Pick one Poofy. Cye flushed slightly and Rowen snickered.

Cye picked up the slip on his right. Invention. Oh goody. How boring, he thought. I don't know any American inventions. Why couldn't we have gotten a good country? Like England. I know lots about that...

Kimi idly threw the last slip at Rowen. And Brain gets the last one. Rowen quickly caught it before it fluttered to the floor. He didn't even bother to look at it. He stuffed it in his pocket as Kimi chattered on to Tammy about where to find stuff in the book. Man, I really hate this class...

*****

Rowen bolted out of class as soon as the bell rang. He pushed his way through the crowd in order to get to lunch, but somehow Cye still caught up with him.

Cye knocked Rowen in the shoulder. What the hell did you kick me for?

Rowen turned sharply to face him, briefly wondering how long it had taken him to muster up the courage to ask, much less hit him before asking. Kimi and Tammy already don't like Ryo. If they had known that we know him, they would have been even bitchier than they were. Whatever you were going to say would have been like signing his death warrant on his first day of school. I spared him for a few days.

Is that why you reintroduced yourself and Cye? Ryo asked as he came up beside them. Rowen nodded. But did you have to kick him? Ryo scratched the back of his head.

Rowen threw a glance at Cye and then smirked at Ryo. I suppose I could have smacked him upside the head, Rowen said slowly, but that would have been a bit too obvious, I think.

Wonderful, Cye mumbled. So Ryo, when do you have lunch?

Ryo pulled out his schedule. Um, now. I think.

Good. Come with me. Rowen set off down the hall again.

Rowen sure has a funny way of doing things, Ryo said to Cye.

I don't think funny is quite the word I would use, Cye said slowly. He shrugged. But I suppose you're right. I have to go. See you later!

See ya! Ryo walked down the hall to where Rowen was waiting impatiently. You and Cye don't get along so well, do you? he said after they'd walked a bit.

What was your first clue? Rowen snorted.

Why?

Rowen shrugged. Dunno. Get in the lunch line.

Ryo obeyed. Do they have good food here?

It's a school cafeteria. You get what you get.

Ryo frowned as something brown but otherwise unidentifiable was plopped on a tray and handed to him. He picked up what he guessed was dessert and a milk carton, paid for what passed as a meal and followed Rowen. Hey Kento!

Hey Ryo! Kento kicked out a couple of chairs from the table. Long time, no see!

Ryo laughed. It hasn't been that long since third period bio.

It is when Kento's waiting for lunch, Rowen said.

Yelch. You eat this stuff? Ryo made a face at his lunch.

Sure! Are you gonna eat that? Kento pointed to Ryo's dessert.

Ew. Not if you want it.

So Ry, how's your first day at Han'a High been? Kento asked as he swiped the dessert.

Not bad. I have second period literature with Sage, third period bio with you, I think the lunch meat's still alive, and fifth period history wth Cye and Rowen.

Kento didn't miss a beat. Good. You can play peacekeeper.

Rowen blinked. This is meat?

Ryo looked at Rowen. Isnlt it?

I don't know. They eyed each other and their trays suspiciously for a moment, then pushed the trays away. Yuck. Kento, I think I'm coming over tonight to eat some real food.

Okay. Hey why don't we all go over to my house after school?

We who?

We, the five of us.

We, the five of us, you, me, him, Sage, and Cye?

No Kento drawled. fred, Dafney, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby.

Ha. Ha. Rowen flicked a piece of meat at Kento.

I think it's a great idea, Ryo broke in before an all out food fight could start. If we're all gonna go out and save the world, we might as well all hang out together, right?

Rowen threw him a wary side long glance.

And you and Cye have to start getting along sometime, right?

Hear hear to that, Kento added, raising his milk carton.

Rowen glanced at Kento and back to Ryo. He shrugged, folded his arms, and leaned back in his chair. Sage won't go for it.

Oh sure he will, Kento said, now swiping Rowen's dessert. Just use your old power of persuasion. Think of it as a personal challenge.

As if I didn't have enough personal challenges.

*****

I can't believe Im doing this.

Oh, it won't be so bad, Rowen assured his new friend as they headed for Kento's house. Just have dinner, which'll be great, powwow for a bit, then go home. No big deal.

I suppose, Sage sighed. Whose idea was this again?

Kento's. Why?

Mmm.

What's wrong with Kento? Rowen asked, already afraid of the answer he'd get.

Sage stopped and faced Rowen. Look, he's your friend and that's great.

But...?

Sage wrinkled his nose. But, well, he's just -

Loud, obnoxious, goofy, and doesn't really think before he talks?

Well, yeah.

Great, Rowen said lightly. He thinks you're a stuck up prick, and Cye and I already hate each other. We're gonna go out and save the world.

Oh goody.

Hey, looks like they're waiting for us. Hey Kento! Rowen waved.

Hey Ro. See I told you it would work.

Yeah whatever. Are we going in or what?

Kento opened his back door and ushered everyone inside. Mama! I brought some friends home for dinner!

Mama Fung came out of the front kitchen. That's wonderful! Cye dear, how are you? She gave Cye a hug and a peck on he cheek.

Cye blushed. I'm just fine Mama.

Excellent! AND Rowen! Well now, this is a treat! Rowen sweetheart we've missed you around here! She gave him a big hug and a kiss on each cheek. How are you dear? Are you alright?

I'm fine Mama, really.

Good for you dear.

Mama, Kento said stepping forward, this is Sage Date.

Sage bowed his head a bit. It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Rei Fung.

Why, the pleasure's all mine dear. But there's no need to be so formal. Call me Mama Fung.

And this is Ryo Sanada, Kento said.

How do you do, um, Mama Fung?

Mama Fung beamed. I'm quite well, thank you dear. Now you boys go on upstairs and I'll call you when dinner's ready.

*****

Dinner was finally ready after a fairly unproductive two hours by the boys. There were various phone calls home and a small run in with Kento's brother Rinfi. The balance of the time was spent in Kento's room: Kento and Cye on one side playing a video game, Sage and Rowen on the other side just hanging out, and Ryo sitting on the bed playing with his new-found friend, Kento's cat.

But dinner was ready so they all trouped downstairs to the empty table in the back of the kitchen. Kento's dad came in with three plates of the dish he'd tested on Kento. He set the first plate in front of his son. More chicken as per your request, he set the next plate in front of Rowen, more noodles as per your request, and the last plate in front of Cye, and no sea food as per your request.

Mama Fung placed two plates in front of Sage and Ryo. You boys eat as much as you want. You can always have more.

Wow, Kento, your mom sure is nice, Ryo said after she'd left.

Yeah, my mom loves everybody. Hey, you said you have fifth period history, right? Didn't get a chance to ask you how it was.

Sokay. But what's up with those girls?

Had his first run in with Kimi and Tammy, Cye explained.

Kento nodded. Queen Bitch and Princess Bitch. Don't bother yourself too much with them. They're looking for reactions. If you ignore them they might go away.

I'm doing a group project with them.

Kento made a face. Ouch. Can't ignore that.

Ryo shrugged. Yeah, but Rowen and Cye are in the group too. Kento gave him a wide eye look. Hey Cye, what did your paper say?

Cye pulled the slip out of his pocket. Invention. Rowen looked up but pretended not to be interested. What did you have?

Food.

Cool! You think we could switch?

Don't see why not. Ro, what did you have?

Rowen shrugged and pulled his slip out of his pocket. Famous historical person.

Ryo thought for a moment. Hey Ro, do you like science?

Do kittens like milk? Kento exclaimed. You bet he does!

Great! Ryo took Rowen's slip, handed his own to Cye, and Cye's to Rowen. There. Perfect. Rowen threw a glance to Sage who only gave a small shrug and smiled sympathetically.

The back door opened and slammed shut. Mama! Hi Mama!

Hey Chun Fa, come in here a minute! Kento called. That's my little sister, he exclaimed to sage and Ryo.

Hi Kento.

Kento picked the little girl up onto his lap. Chun Fa, these are my two new friends. This is Ryo and this is Sage. She waved shyly.

Hi ChunFa! Ryo said brightly. How old are you?

I'm four, she said quietly, holding up three fingers. The group had a small chuckle at her expense but she didn't care. She found something much more deserving of her attention. Chun Fa slid off Kento's lap, crawled under the table, and came up the other side onto Rowen's lap. Hi Rowen.

Um, hi Chun Fa.

Chun Fa squirmed around to face Rowen. Know what? I drew a picture at school for you today. Wanna see?

Sure.

Kay! Chun Fa hopped off Rowen's lap and ran to where she'd left her bag.

So is she three or four? Sage asked.

She's four, Keto replied. She goes to preschool everday and then to a babysitter who brings her back home.

Chun Fa came back into the room and climbed onto Rowen's lap. See, here it is, she said. It took me a whole twenty minutes! She was obviously very proud of her work of art.

Rowen studied the picture intently. There were two stick figures. One of them, a girl, had big black eyelashes, and short black hair. She appeared to be wearing a very ornate kimono. The other one, a boy, had one dark clothes. He had blue hair.

That's me and thats you! Chun Fa pronounced.

What - what are we doing? Rowen asked slowly.

Chun Fa giggled. Silly. We're getting married!

Rowen knew he was blushing. It seemed to be a fact of his life that he really couldn't do anything about. He stole a glance up at his dinner companions. Al of them were varying degrees of red in the face too, from trying not to laugh. Though Rowen suspected that was more in respect to Chun Fa's feelings than his own. Even Sage was having trouble keeping a straight face.

The petite four year old gave Rowena hug around the neck. Maybe, she said softly, if you go home and put this on your fridge, it'll make your dad like you.

Rowen looked at her sadly. How he wished that could be true. Okay, he said. But why don't you hold onto it for me until I leave?

Kay.

Chun Fa, come into the kitchen please, her mother called.

Rowen stole another glance up at his friends as Chun Fa slid off his lap, picture in hand. He saw a mixture of embarassment, sadness, and outright confusion. Looking back once more at Chun Fa, the last of her ponytail swinging through the door, he thought, Childhood innocence. A simple gift we know not of until it's been taken away...

_________________________________________

I'm sorry this ends so depressingly, but thatÕs just the way it turned out. Hope you all have been enjoying it thus far. Please let me know if you have been. Even if you haven't, let me know. Though please keep any flames to the constructive nature. Arigato minna-san!! --Jay'a