Starry Savana Night

Chapter 6: First Crush

Yuu dumped the next load of laundry onto the grassy surface with a heavy sigh. She knew she'd get punished for having caused Leona more trouble again, but she'd hoped it would have been a more severe workout than just doing a bunch of chores. She snapped the first t-shirt out into the wind and stood up on her tiptoes to hang it carefully on the wire to dry.

"You look right at home doing that." Inola's voice made her fur stand on end. She glared at him over her shoulder. "Leona finally showed you your place."

"Watch it, senpai…" she growled at him, her hands gripping the fine fabric firmly. "I have strangulation items at my disposal and I'm not afraid to use them "

"Tough talk, house Frau." He snickered. He heard another growl from behind and glanced over his shoulder. He jerked when he saw Jack and Ruggie standing behind him. "Ah… just making sure she's doing her job, Ruggie-Senpai."

"Really? Seems to me you're distracting her, Inola." He jerked his thumb. "Take a hike before I tell Leona and things get really ugly."

"Yes sir, Ruggie-Senpai!" He slapped the arm of his associate and they ran off at high speed. Yuu couldn't help but smirk at the sight.

"They seem spooked. What'd you two do to them to make them react that way?"

"Nothing much…" Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "It's Leona-Senpai who they're scared of. Can't say I blame them after what we witnessed the other day."

"Hmmm?" Her ears perked up at this info.

"Never mind, want some help with that?" Jack stepped up and picked up a pair of pants.

"That's nice of you Jack, but you don't have to help me. I got it."

"You shouldn't have to do it alone. It wasn't really your fault what happened, and I owe Leona for saving my skin." He decided and easily hung up the pants. "It'll go by faster if we do it together."

"Well listen to you, Mr. Team Player." Ruggie hissed out a laugh. "Are you taking what Leona said to heart?"

"I still prefer to do things on my own… but if I want to be a valuable member of the team I need to learn to work with others. So…" he eyed Yuu who just stared up at him with big green eyes. He stared so hard at them that he noticed there were little flecks of gold circling the irises… almost like an eclipsed sun. "... Yeah, I'm learning."

"I really want to play too, but until I can keep up with the big boys I won't even be considered for the team." Yuu sighed.

"Well he's already got a speedster like me on the team, so what he really needs is some defense players to go up against guys like Malleus who are power players. Though I don't know anyone who can stand toe to toe with that guy, at least at this school."

"He is something else, isn't he?" Yuu had to admit. "When I met him face to face the other day I was scared stiff."

"You actually met him?" This from Jack who gawked at her.

"Yeah, long story, but basically I was just running an errand for Leona and got the opportunity. He's impressive… the air around him just sizzles with power. Made my fur stand on end. No wonder Sebek worships the guy."

"Sebek, huh?" Jack tried to recall. "Yeah I know him. He's a real loud mouth, and a hypocrite."

"He's actually really nice once you get on his good side. He doesn't have the greatest fondness for humans though. I wonder why." Her ears flicked and she stood up on her tiptoes again, reaching. Jack stood behind her, gingerly taking the pegs from her and clipping them in place while she held the fabric. "Thanks."

"You don't actually like this Sebek person, do you?" Jack scowled, his ears going a little flat. Ruggie caught sight of Jack's body language immediately and couldn't resist the temptation.

"Nah, she's only got eyes for Leona." Ruggie teased and laughed louder when Yuu tossed a shirt at his face.

"Senpai! That's not funny!" Yuu blushed. "I do not feel that way about him!"

"Then how do you explain the reddish tinge to your cheeks, eh?" Ruggie squished her cheeks between his fingers pulling.

"Owowow! Stop that!" She slapped his hands away and held her face. She glanced up at Jack, her eyes quickly shying away. "I don't have a crush on Leona. I just admire him."

"Uh huh, sure, keep telling yourself that." Ruggie nudged Jack. "WE can tell the difference, right Jack?"

"Huh? Oh, um…" Jack's ears lowered all the way as he looked at Yuu's face. "I don't know, maybe."

Yuu frowned up at him and grabbed the now empty laundry basket heading back inside.

"You're both blind." She stalked away huffily.

Jack watched her go. He didn't like the way his chest tightened when he thought of Yuu and Leona in that kind of relationship. It wasn't any of his business how they felt about each other.

…Or at least that's what he told himself.

He continued to think about it throughout the day, until it drove him insane. His classmate Epel, whom he'd instantly clicked with, showed concern for his apparent foul mood as they wandered through the school to check out club activities.

"Everything alright, Jack-kun?"

"Hmmm? Yeah, I'm fine." He shrugged it off. "Just thinking."

"Anything you'd like to share?"

"Not really… and don't take this the wrong way, Epel, but you're not exactly the type of guy I could vent to about this."

"What way am I supposed to take it?" Epel huffed and puffed out his cheeks.

"It's…" Jack rubbed the back of his head, his eyes shying away. "Girl trouble."

"Ooooh…" Epel's insulted face instantly relaxed into understanding. He shrugged and shook his head. "Yeah no, can't help you out there."

"I told you not to take it the wrong way." Jack sighed. "Problem is I don't know anyone I could ask for help on this. I'm not really on the best of terms with any of my superiors… and I can't go to Ruggie or Leona about it because it partly involves them."

"Why not talk to Vil? You guys are childhood friends after all." Epel suggested and got a thump on the back.

"Great idea! Vil ought to have some experience with this."

"Ugh, yeah, I think he's in the movie makers club. I think their club room is over there somewhere." He motioned down the hall, and the two made their way through the clutter of students.

At the end of the hall in the Movie club room, several club members were performing an art piece with incredible ham acting that either entertained or weirded out most of the first years. The ones that seemed to enjoy it were mainly Pomefiore first years who were enthralled by their upperclassmen.

"BRAVA! BRAVISSIMA!"

"Okay, that's just a little weird…" Jack sniffed the air and made a face. "Ugh I can't sniff Vil out with all this perfume in the air."

"Pardon me, Mes Ami." Rook appeared behind him. "I couldn't help but overhear that you were looking for Vil."

"Gah!" Jack jolted and whirled around ready to strike.

"Rook-san!" Epel exclaimed with wide eyes. "You startled us!"

"Ah, forgive me Epel. I didn't mean to frighten you. I was merely trying to be of assistance. I'm afraid you won't find Vil here today as he's been called to work."

"Damn…" Jack rubbed the back of his head. "There goes that idea."

"Is there something perhaps I could assist you with?"

"Uh well…" Jack flummoxed. "I don't really know you, so it's not really something I'm-"

"He's having woman troubles." Epel said it simply and had Jack flustering.

"Oi! Epel!"

"Oh, Mon Dieu!" Rook held his face. "You poor boy. Scorned by a woman's love?"

"I don't think it's anything that extreme, Senpai." Epel laughed. "Right, Jack?"

"Mmmph…" Jack averted their gazes for a minute, debating on whether or not to actually speak it aloud. He decided to heck with it, maybe this new guy could actually give him some decent advice. "Can we… go somewhere private and talk about this?"

"Of course, matters of the heart should always be a private affair. Come, follow me." Rook motioned them into a nearby empty classroom. Once everyone entered he closed and locked the door with his magic pen. "Now then, Jack is it? Tell me about your lady problems."

"I wouldn't exactly call it a problem… more like an annoyance." He crossed his arms and turned his head down and away. "See… there's this girl named Yuuki in my dorm."

"Ah yes, the petite lioness. She caught my eye the other day walking about the campus with her little companion." Rook smiled brightly, making over the top gestures with his arms. "Is she the one you've fallen for?"

"I wouldn't say I've fallen for her." He grumbled. "More like, I've grown fond of her. She's cute and interesting to talk to. She's got a wild and adventurous spirit, and isn't afraid to stand up to people." He smiled a little as he spoke of her. "I guess you could say she's kinda growing on me… but she's been spending a lot of time with Leona-senpai. I think there might be something going on between them, and it bothers me. I don't know why."

"You're done." Epel and Rook both said simultaneously, Rook with fervor, and Epel with exasperation.

"Huh?!" He jerked at the statement.

"Jack, you've barely known this girl for a week and you're already smitten. Even I can tell you're crushing on her." Epel declared with a wave of his arm.

"Seriously?"

"He's right, my friend… mmm come to the window, let me show you something." He crooked a finger and leaned out it with a coy smile. Jack mirrored his position. "Tell me what you see."

"Hmmm? The school courtyard… what about it?"

"Ah, ah, look harder, Mon Ami." He tilted Jack's chin just a little and then pointed. "To the right, just past the apple trees."

"Mmmm…" Jack adjusted his gaze, and then blinked. "Oh, it's her… and she's with those two freshmen from Heartslabyul."

~Meanwhile~

"So what club are you planning to join, Yuu?" Ace asked. "We've got room in the Basketball Club if you're interested."

"Actually, I think I'm gonna join the track and field club with Deuce." She smiled, baring fangs. "Thanks for the offer, though."

"Aww man, why Deuce's club of all clubs? I'd understand if you'd wanna join the Spelldrive club, but track and field?"

"It'll be a good chance for me to do some extra training and work on my stamina. Plus I can go at my own pace since it's an individual sport." She gave Deuce a high-five.

"Best of all, I can nap or have a snack outside while she's doing club activities." Grim laughed, his grin ear to ear. "Nyahaha, it's a win-win."

"You're pathetic, Grim." Ace scowled down at the little familiar. "You napped all through history class, grumbled through P.E. and now you said you wanna nap and stuff your face as a club activity?"

"Hey! It's not my fault that all your stupid classes are boring! That Professor Trein guy is a real snooze fest!"

"I can't argue with you there." Deuce shook his head, and rubbed his wrist. "I kept having to snap a rubber band on my wrist to keep myself awake. My wrist is all swollen now."

"That looks like it hurts." Yuu glanced down at Deuce's wrist, her ears flattening. She reached into her school bag. "Hold on, I think I have some salve in my-" she paused, her ears perking back up and her head jerking upward. Her eyes turned to slits and shifted color.

"Yuu? Is something wrong?" Deuce raised a brow curiously.

"We're being watched." She bared her fangs and turned her body fully.

~Back with Jack~

"Oh my… it seems I've been spotted." Rook held up his hands and stepped back from the window. "I lose this round."

"You lose? Wait, what do you mean she can see us?" Jack squinted, trying to make out Yuu's form in the cover of trees. "How can you even tell?"

"Your little friend and I both have very keen senses. Her and I have been playing this little game of cat and eagle…"

"You mean cat and mouse?"

"Non, non, for you see we are both predators. We both hunt and are at the top of our specific food chains. We don't hunt each other, so much as we remain aware of each other. She can feel my eyes on her, almost like a physical touch that sends her instincts into overdrive. It is quite fun, actually."

"Amazing…" Epel pressed his face to the window, catching a glance of Yuu before she shoved Ace, and Deuce further into the trees with Grim at her heels. "I could barely even catch a glimpse of them."

"Now then, back to my point. When you saw the three of them just now tucked together as a group… how did you feel?"

"I don't know…" he muttered. He kept it to himself that he wanted to go down there and join them. "Weird, I guess."

"Is it the same way you feel when Rois Du Lion and our fair jezabelle are together?"

"Rois du- huh?" Jack looked befuddled.

"I think he means Leona-san." Epel translated. "Do you feel the same weirdness when you look at them as you do when her and Leona-san are together."

"Oh… no, this is an entirely different feeling." Jack crossed his arms, scowling. "It's not a pleasant feeling, but it's not the same gut churner that I get when she and Leona are together. I don't feel… competitive, I guess is the best way to describe it."

"There lies your answer, Mon Ami. This churning feeling you're getting is your animalistic instinct to claim your potential mate."

"My mate!? Whoa, whoa, whoa, there dude. I'm only 16. I don't need a mate right now." Jack held his hands up. "My kind mate for life, and there's no way I'm ready for that kind of commitment."

"Oui you are young, but if she is the one you want then you must be wary. She is the only female in your territory and another male is already staking a claim." Rook pointed out. "Which is why you feel the way you feel. You don't like her being around other males, but you don't see those two little ones earlier as competition so it is not as dire. Roi Du Lion is an entirely different matter. He is the Alpha of your territory, he is strong, proud, and isn't hesitant to go after what he thinks is his. You can rest assured he will not hesitate once he decides to make her his."

Jack's ears lifted high and he thought back to the other day at Heartslabyul…

"Some Heartslabyul scum has got some nerve taking one of mine!"

"You're right about that… damn." He shut his eyes. "What should I do?"

"It doesn't have to be a serious commitment, Jack-kun." Epel patted his shoulder supportively. "You just need to tell Yuu how you feel, then take things slow. The worst that could happen is that she says no, and at least then you'll have no regrets."

"I guess you're right… better to seize the moment than let it slip by." Jack smiled and pumped his fist. "Okay, I'm going for it! Wish me luck!"

"Good luck!" Epel called out to him and waved. He let out a slow sigh and held his chest. Rook gave him a gentle pat on the back.

"Not to worry, Mon Ami. He'll be alright." Rook gave him a thumbs up. "Your young and vital friend will bounce back no matter what obstacles come his way."

"Physically maybe… but bruised feelings and broken hearts don't always mend easily."

~Track and Field~

Yuu tossed the outer jacket of her P.E. uniform aside as she did her stretches on the grass. The prickly sensation of having eyes on her was finally fading away.

"Why does that creep always pop up at the weirdest times?" She lay on her back, sticking her legs up and then curling them into her chest. She held that position. "What's his sick fascination, I wonder."

"I still think you're imagining things. I didn't see anyone."

"My eyesight is a little better than yours Grim." She released the position then went into a set of curls. "He was just standing at a window, staring at me with a sick fascinated smile on his face. What was weirder was that Jack was standing right next to him looking clueless. I hope he doesn't get roped into this ridiculous game."

"Too late…" Jack's voice startled her, and Yuu flopped onto her back and peered up at him as he towered over her. "... and yeah, I agree it's weird."

"Jack!" She sat up and turned around on her butt to face him. "What are you doing here?"

"I joined Track and Field too." He held his hand out to help her up. "Probably for the same reasons you did, so I can train at my own pace."

"Guilty." Her lips curved in a sweet bowed smile. "Glad you're here though. I was kinda bummed when I realized we weren't in the same classes together."

"Yeah, but you seemed to have made some friends at least." He glanced over at Deuce who was already jogging around the track.

"Mmmm… so wanna tell me why you and mr. creepy were eyeing me out the window an hour ago?" She asked with a curious brow raised.

"You really did see us." Jack tensed up holding his temple. "Rook said you could, but I thought he was just making a point."

"I have very good eyesight, it's my one gift among my many flaws." She took a mock bow making him laugh.

"You've more gifts than that, you just haven't discovered them yet." He smiled down at her.

"Thanks, but flattery will get you nowhere. Answer my question, why were you guys watching me?"

"Um, well…" Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "The truth is, Rook was giving me some advice concerning you."

"Me?" Her ears lowered and she shifted them away. "Am I annoying you or something."

"No! No, it's nothing like that!" Jack held his hands out. "Far from it. I actually really enjoy talking to you, and being around you." He sighed heavily. "Guess that's why this is all really weird and new for me."

"Oh, okay. So what advice did he give you?"

"He told me not to hesitate, and to stake my claim." Jack frowned, his eyes going serious. He stood up tall and straight.

"Your… claim?"

"Yes… Yuu… the thing is, is that I-" he started to confess his feelings, but then noticed the change in Yuu's eyes. He saw the slitted pupils, and shift of color and next thing he knew he was on the ground with her on top of him. The spelldrive disc that had zipped by went over their heads and embedded in the ground a few feet away.

"What in the-"

"Whew, that was close." Yuu sat up straight on his lap and then growled over at the one who'd thrown the disc. "Watch where you're aiming that thing! Someone could have gotten hurt, you klutz!"

"Don't lecture my club members when you haven't shown your own prowess, kitten." Leona strolled over nice and easy, hands on hips. He raised a brow at the precarious position. "Seems like your pouncing skills are getting better at least."

"Huh?" Yuu glanced down at Jack, who was still flustered and stunned at being knocked over and straddled by a girl. "Oh! Crap, sorry Jack." She crawled off, stumbling to her feet. She retrieved the disc and jogged over to Leona waving at him as she continued her rant. "If you don't want me to lecture your teammates, then tell them to get better at aiming!"

"Now you're ordering, ME, around? Just where do you get off?" He grabbed her face, squishing her chin. "Did you forget who you're talking to?"

"No, I know exactly who I'm talking to. Mr. Lazy Bones, who can't even do his own laundry!" She huffed at him and shoved the disc into his chest.

"Why you little…" he dropped the disc and tucked her under his arm. "I have a mind to just-"

"Hey!" With the air back in his lungs, and irritation spiking his temper, Jack got to his feet and glared. "I think that's enough goofing off, you guys."

"Now YOU'RE giving me orders?" Leona released Yuu making her stumble onto her butt.

"It's not an order, it's a request." Jack stayed firm. "Yuu's in the Track and Field club, not Spelldrive. She shouldn't be lecturing your club mates, and you shouldn't be teasing her." He picked up the disc and handed it back to him. "Yours…" he then grabbed Yuu's arm, yanking her up to her feet and holding her body to his. "Mine."

"Ohhh…" Leona smirked. "Is that the way of it, then?" Leona waved the disc around. "Alright, then. I'll leave you to your club activities… but we both know who she'll be crawling to, come first light." He turned his back to them both, strutting with such arrogance and male bravado that it made Jack growl.

"Hey, what was that all about?" Yuu shifted at his side, but Jack refused to let go. "Jack?"

"Don't worry about it." He looked down at her, and slowly released her from his grasp. "Come on, I'll jog the track with you to help get you warmed up."

"You don't have to, Jack." She rolled her shoulders as both of them started at a light pace. "I know I'm not on your level. You don't have to slow your pace just so I can keep up."

"I don't have to…" he glanced down at her, this time with a warm and affectionate smile. "... but I want to. I like being with you, Yuuki."

"Really?" Her eyes brightened. "You mean that?"

"Yeah." He closed his eyes, and for the first time of his life, enjoyed the leisurely run around the track. "I really do."