This is where I get worried about my story idea cause this is when my made-up characters come in.... This is heavily made-up character time... :P....
DISCLAIMER: I'm a penniless fan who can't get enough of the RK series : P
*Chapter 2*
Blah blah blah.... Kuroda Miname's eyes were almost crossing in boredom. History class with Tanaka-sensei was her least favourite. She was sprawled unbecomingly over her desk, doodling nuclear bombs taking Tanaka-sensei exactly where he deserved. But he is kinda kawaii looking... she drew a picture of her teacher with a dinosaurs body and flames spewing from his mouth...
"Itai yo!" she glared over her shoulder and rubbed her side. Inoue Natsumi, her best (read - only) friend, had stabbed her with a pencil and was jerking her head to the black board. Natsumi's such a swot!!!
Both of them were first years at Ryonan High, and Miname sometimes wondered why they hung out together because they were so different. Natsumi was the class genius who was always sitting ramrod straight in her seat and asking questions no one understood. Most of the other classmates called her a zombie behind her back and gave her a wide berth because she emanated an air of coldness and austerity. She was extremely pale, had a pair of huge thick glasses that obscured her eyes so you could never really tell what she was thinking, and a severe braid of black hair. The only thing we have in common is ... unpopularity! By contrast to Natsumi, Miname was never any where near the top of the class. She was just slightly taller and seemed all arms and legs. She had flashing green eyes and very closely cropped brown hair and a smart mouth. Miname never bothered to watch what she said, which often got her into trouble.
"A-hem, as I was saying, this next assignment will take the place of our usual weekly test. Some of you need to realise how important doing well in this assignment is," Tanaka-sensei hemmed and pushed his glasses further up his nose, "Ne, Kuroda-chan." A titter went around the class as Miname fumed in her seat. Yes yes, otherwise you'll call in my parents and have a little talk about my not passing history again. "I want you to select a character from the bakumatsu - I don't care who, just someone who played a role in the events, research the character and write an essay about him... or her. This is due Monday." A collective grumble rippled through the room. The bell rang for the next class. "Remember, Monday," Tanaka-sensei repeated as he left the room.
"Urgh! I hate him!!!" Miname screwed up her eyes and rent the skies in front of her face. She ran her hands roughly through her closely cropped hair ... then pulled them down over her face. "NE, Natsumi... what's the bakamatsu...?"
Natsumi's glasses flashed in the sun as she studied her friend dispassionately. "Miname-chan, we'll be late for gym. Anyway, I explained about the bakumatsu to you last week. And the week before..."
"Kyaaa...." Miname yawned and stretched before shoving all her books into her bag. "It was so boring... who are you going to write about anyway?" She sweatdropped as she turned to look at Natsumi. The normally deadpan (some people just said dead) girl was balanced on tiptoe and clasping her hands under her chin in silent prayer, hearts in her eyes. "Why, that tremendous hunk of a man, Katsura Kogoro, of course..." she breathed.
"Er... Natsumi, you do know he's DEAD right? Anyhoo, lets go ..." Miname heaved up her bag and turned to leave the room - only to find a pretty girl with dark brown shoulder-length hair standing in her way - yikes, Shioriki Reiko, the most popular girl in class.
"Miname-chan," Reiko wasted no time, "I heard that you've been calling me names. Tell me - were you?". She was clenching and unclenching her fists spasmodically.
Miname flashed a crooked smile and swung her bag over her shoulders jauntily, "Oh puh-lease, Shioriki, grow up! How are you going to cope in the real world if you can't handle some name-calling? Anyway, you'll be glad to know, I only told the truth... Takashi from Year 2 was asking some girls in the class what you were like, so I told him - you are an airhead and a bit of a snob but that you would very much like it if he asked you out..."
"Takashi-senpai asked about me....?" Reiko's massive crush on the senior was well known. "And you said WHAT!!!!!" There was fire burning in her eyes.
"Look... just relax will you? The important thing is I told him to ask you out right? " Miname's brow furrowed in annoyance. "We're late so could you move aside please?"
Miname left a speechless Reiko behind her. She didn't notice the girl beckoning to four of her friends as she left... Natsumi caught up with her and fell in pace as they walked to gym class. Her friend had always followed a policy of indifference so Miname was surprised to hear her caution, "Miname-chan, I'd be a bit more careful with the attitude if I were you". "Nani?" Natsumi simply sped up her pace and left her surprised friend behind.
It's always difficult starting at a new school, her father had told her on the phone before her first day at Ryonan. That's funny, it shouldn't be for me - I've been to so many, she had responded back chirpily. This was her third high school - principals were always approaching her parents to ask that she be moved. "Miname-chan has ... problems adjusting". Not that her parents minded - they had it down as high spirits, which they valued. "See Miname, in school, they value you for conforming, following orders. Well, I didn't get to be my own boss by following orders. No robots in this family!" Her father's words echoed in her head.
So she had arrived at a new school as she always had - with a healthy dislike for authority and a sense of superiority against her sheeplike classmates. She was annoyed by their attention - she always got attention, because somehow or other, news always got out that her parents were THE Kurodas, owners of the massive Kuroda Industries. So she had successfully alienated them all by being rude, just so they would leave her alone. Natsumi had become her friend precisely because she was so detached and indifferent towards her. Okay, did I go too far with Reiko? she stood alone, thinking, her lower lip sticking out. Nahhhh. She shrugged her shoulders and forgot about the incident as she ran to the gym.
*****
School was over for the day...! Miname was swinging her bag in the air and breathing in deeply the gorgeous autumny smells - all was right in the world! Natsumi had not mentioned the earlier incident since then and was placidly walking alongside.
"That's an interesting necklace!" Natsumi had caught a glimpse of it as Miname strode about in her usual boisterous way "Let's have a look..."
"It's nice, isn't it?" Miname preened as she lifted it up for Natsumi to have a closer look. "My otou gave it to me yesterday - for my birthday you know. He loves collecting trinkets on his business trips..."
"Your birthday?"
"Eto... well, in advance. My dad never really remembers." And he didn't really give it to me either, she reflected nonchalantly. Her dad's personal assistant had left the package at her home yesterday, with a typewritten note explaining that he had been instructed to pass the necklace to Miname. "It's kinda old ... I think its from Europe, what do you think?"
"Its' a strange stone... " Natsumi murmured. "Almost like there's something swirling around inside it... oh well," she straightened up, losing interest already. "I have to leave you here."
"Eh?? But... I thought we could go to the bubble tea shop..." Natsumi was doggedly working through the menu of drinks at the local bubble tea cafe. "This is... the library?" Her face turned grey. "Natsumi, it's Thursday - you have all weekend to work on the essay. Besides, what don't you already know about this Katsu whatsit guy."
"Katsura Kogoro" Natsumi pushed her glasses more firmly up her nose. "I was pursuing a new thread about his life. Anyway, it's none of my business, but you know you need to do well in this to pass."
Miname gritted her teeth and blew out her breath. Her parents were incredibly easy going about her school performance, but this was starting to get humiliating. She could see her elder sister sniggering at her when the news came out. And - Natsumi was such a bakumatsu freak - she would be able to put Miname on to a good character to research. "Oh all right, I'll come to."
*****
Not surprisingly, Natsumi knew everyone at the library and even had special access to rooms not normally open to the public. The two headed to an obscure corner of the library and approached a table already piled high with dusty books and documents.
"NE, Natsumi, this table's a mess...I think someone's using it" Miname eyed the heap of books with distaste.
"Actually, this is where I do my research," Natsumi pushed her glasses up her nose and sat down at the table. She took out her notebook and pens and began flipping through the pages to get to where she had left off before. Miname could only watch in silent awe. Natsumi was really too weird sometimes. She picked up one of the books and began flipping through it too.
*****
"NE, Natsumi," Miname was chewing the head of her pencil
"..."
"NE!"
"..."
"LISTEN TO ME!" Her book bounced ineffectively off Natsumi's head. The girl lifted her eyes from her writing and adjusted her glasses. "You shouldn't do that - these books are national treasures." There was a catch in Natsumi's voice as she retrieved the volume, caressing its cover gently, before replacing it on the table. "What?" she turned to a slack jawed Miname.
"Honestly, you care more for books then me," Miname grumbled. "We've been here hours and I still don't know who to write about... ". Miname had been flipping book after book, jotting down random points without making any headway.
"..." Natsumi turned the pages of her notebook. "Oh, all right, I'll suggest some names. I made a list of secondary and tertiary personages that I intended to look into when I finished with Katsura Kogoro... but he's just an endlessly interesting character...Look!" She flashed a book in Miname's face, "Isn't he gorgeous...!"
Miname waved aside the sepia tinted photograph. "Natsumi... the names???"
"... Here's an interesting one..." Natsumi's pen came to rest on the page of her notebook. "Very obscure though. I don't know... might be hard to find more information... maybe you should do his mistress instead - lets see..Ikumatsu .."
"Obscure?" Miname was sitting on the table, straining to look at Natsumi's notebook. "As in, no body else would write about this person? ... No," she waved her hand in the air, "don't give me the mistress... who was that you were talking about at first..?"
"An assassin." Natsumi tilted her head up at Miname and lowering her voice several tones, "Hired by Katsura to take care of unpleasant business. A legendary killer. Here," she ripped out a page from her notes and handed it to Miname," I have a reference there where I first came across his name. Actually, its such a bloodthirsty subject - it suits you to the ground. Happy hunting. Oh, and ANYTHING you find about this guy in relation to Kogoro, let me know okay?"
"Whee!!" Miname was already bouncing down the aisles in search of the volume.
*****
"Huuuuu..." Miname stretched violently and wiggled in her seat. Her butt was aching and so were her fingers, but the essay was coming along marvelously! The thought of submitting a history essay on a bloodthirsty assassin that nobody else would write about had really motivated her at first. Then just trying to hunt down the information had given her another thrill... and the fact that Himura Kenshin @ Hitokiri Battousai had vanished without a trace at the start of the Meiji... even better! The current book she had open gave a hint of possible endings - some rumored that he had been cut down in one of the final battles, others that he had gone into retirement or even into a life of crime! Still, many criminals borrowed the nickname in order to instill fear in their victims, so it was hard to lend credibility to any of those stories... " "In a hushed up incident that took place in 1879, it was said that the Meiji government had called upon the battousai's services to suppress a planned rebellion..." ", she read out loud.
"Shut up", Natsumi was still furiously writing away. She had at least twenty pages of closely written work strewn around her.
Miname added that last portion to her essay - like a teaser, she thought - before shoving everything into her bag and preparing to leave. "I'm going now. I'm done. Its late. I guess you're staying. Ja NE!". She lingered a bit but Natsumi never even looked up from her work. Oh well. She smiled slightly. Still, Natsumi paid her more attention then anybody else in her life. She turned and made her way to the exit with a little bounce in her step. She didn't notice that four boys were trailing her at a safe distance.
*****
"No...!!!" Miname had just missed the bus. She would have to walk because she couldn't stand waiting. The fastest way was to cut through the park - it would be a great walk! She was already swinging her bag around wildly as she made her way along the main path, before turning off into the trees. She loved autumn ^_^.
"Oy, Miname-chan."
She came up short, having nearly walked into someone's chest. She peered up - it was Daisuke - a good friend of Reiko's.... and the rest of his gang as well. She stepped back and looked around her - Shou, Yuuta and Atsuji. The fantastic four, she thought, rolling her eyes inwardly.
She crossed her arms on her chest and tilted her chin up at Daisuke, "What do you lot want?"
"Oh, we're just hanging out," Daisuke was lounging casually against a tree, with his hands in his pockets - but she didn't like the way he was smirking at his friends. "Now, Reiko-chan wasn't too happy about something you said about her today... Well, it's a free country and you can say what you want, I guess. But we took a little poll amongst our classmates and everyone agrees you're a little too free with that mouth of yours...So, we thought we'd...encourage you" he chose the word delicately,"to ... be more discreet." He pushed himself away from the tree and stepped closer to Miname. As one, the other three also moved in, Atsuji was massaging his knuckles and Yuuta was grinning lopsidedly.
"Hunh.." Miname was completely encircled - anyway, she sucked at physical sports too - even if she could have escaped, she wouldn't have been able to outrun these four, who were all on the track team. Best to try and brazen it out. Although she could feel her heart thumping faster. That made her angrier. "So- you're going to try and beat me up? That's soo smart. What do you think my parents will say if they see me all black and blue?" She hated to play her parent card, but ...
Daisuke smirked, "You clever girl - that makes so much sense. But you see Miname, you have such a big mouth that everyone knows your parents are hardly around. And when they do see you... what was it you were saying yesterday.. "I could have two heads and they wouldn't notice"? Something like that anyway. Besides," He wasn't smiling now, "you're not the only one with influential parents."
Oh I forgot. Ogawa Daisuke. She wished she could cut out her stupid tongue. Her heart was really pounding now, but she was also seeing red. How dare they!!!!! And... arrgh I'm NOT SCARED!!!!!
"Don't look so nervous, Miname-chan... we only want to discourage you..." They had stepped in very close now. "Take something away perhaps... those thoughtless words of yours are costly you know..." Daisuke's eyes focussed on her pendant, "Now there's something interesting..." His hand was reaching out for it.
"DON'T YOU DARE!!!" Her adrenaline was really racing now as she ducked out of the way. She squeezed quickly past Yuuta and Atsuji, but tripped over a tree root not more than five steps away. The four boys hadn't even bothered to chase her - instead they were looking down at her with slightly mocking looks on their faces. Arrrrggghhh!!!! Don't patronise me!!! she was screaming internally and no one takes my otou's present away from me!!! She was so angry it felt like she was throbbing all over. Even her pendant felt like it was throbbing of its own accord. The battousai went berserk, she remembered reading... I want to go berserk too!!!
"C'mon Miname-chan, let's have that pendant then..." Shou was bending over her and reaching for it at the same time.
"NOOOO!!!!" Her hand grasped her pendant before he could. A wave of pure rage and anxiety washed over her as she clasped it - it seemed so cool in her hand - as if it offered a way out for her. If Himura Kenshin were here, I'd soo sic him on you sorry lot! she thought.
"Huh??!!!" all five of them gasped in unison. An intense white light engulfed the small clearing they were in - so bright and pure that they had to cover their eyes with their hands. The wind was whipping wildly around them and there was an intense buzzing sound.
As it gradually faded, Miname took her chance. Shou was still squinting hard. She gritted her teeth and kicked at his family jewels with all the strength in her tiny body.
"Arrgh!!!" he collapsed in a snivelling heap "Taskute kure!!!!"
*****
Notes: Okee! Did you enjoy that? Hope so! Promise, RK characters will come into this again!! BTW - I know there are inconsistencies in my spelling- apologise if it bugs you... I have US spell check and sometimes I can't bring myself to accept changes like "color" for "colour". It feels funny! Okay, I'm borrowing from Slam Dunk (Ryonan High) and Escaflowne (the pendant thing) as well : P. I also got "Miname" from the Jap TV drama, Long Vacation ^_^ - which I love! This Miname's a brat, but she has issues...
