~~~~~~~000~~~~~~~
Yanagi stood awkwardly near the lockers in the immaculately clean hallway. The meeting with the principal wasn't so bad, she recalled, but after he had given her her class schedule and her locker assignment, she was once again left on her own, like a lone soldier marching into battle. Only this battlefield didn't come with dust and grime and blood-coated armies. Instead, she found herself in the midst of confident-looking students all looking sensational in their freshly ironed uniforms.
"And everyone seems to know exactly what they're doing and where they're going," Yanagi mumbled to herself, "except me. I feel like a salmon swimming upstream when everyone else is headed in the opposite direction."
A crowd of noisy students passed by her, nearly pinning her to the row of lockers. She pressed herself as flatly as she could against the cold steel for fear that she might bump into anyone and embarass herself to no end. One of the girls in boisterous group stopped right in front of her and gave Yanagi a cold, calculating stare.
"You're blocking my way," the girl said to her in a haughty voice. Yanagi's throat went dry with nervousness. Her brown eyes fluttered in apparent unease as she tried hard not to look back into the girl's snapping ebony eyes. The girl started to tap her foot in impatience.
"Are you deaf or something? I said, you're in my way. That's my locker you're lounging in."
Yanagi quickly stepped aside, still trying to find her voice. The girl looked at her disdainfully, tossing back her long flaxen hair. The other students behind her snickered, obviously enjoying Yanagi's predicament. The girl opened her locker, took out a couple of books and slammed the locker door shut with an irritating clang.
"What're you looking at," she spat. "You new here?"
"Ye...yes."
"It figures. Newbies like you keep sprouting all over this school like weeds. You want to survive in this hellhole? Take my advice and stay out of my way. I could make life really good or really miserable for you so you'd better watch your step. What's your name?" she looked at Yanagi with pure distaste, studying every detail.
She's pretty, Yui observed in disgust, and she has an air of daintiness around her that guys find irresistibly appealing. No sense in having a potential rival around, Yui thought. I'll have to put this princess in her place before she could take root.
"Ya...Yanagi."
"Listen here Yanagi, " Yui spoke to the trembling girl in her most icy tone, "I'm Yui and I'm a junior, way older and more superior than you or any other silly dame in this stupid school. Now the first thing you need to learn is that there are rules around here, rules you newbies need to engrave into your heads and one of them is that you should NEVER---and I mean NEVER, get in my way, and that includes staying near my territory," she pointed at her locker. This part of the hallway is reserved for us," she indicated at her sniggering group, "and you losers don't belong here and unless you want to be miserable for the rest of your life, I really think you should keep this little info in mind. You understand, don't you princess?"
"Yes...yes Yui-san. Gomen...gomen nasai, it won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't."
Yanagi stared fearfully at the retreating figure of Yui accompanied by her snooty clique. Tears started to form inside her eyes. She had prepared herself for the worst but she hadn't expected to have a most unpleasant encounter with the "in" group on her very first day of class.
"I'm such a wimp," she reprimanded herself. "I should've stood up to her." A short laugh escaped her lips. "Stood up? That's funny! How could a mousy-looking nobody like me stand up against Ms. Popularity? Face it Yanagi, you're really pathetic. I should've taken up oniisan's offer to accompany me, at least it would have saved me from that ugly scene."
The shrill alarm of the school bells resounded throughout the hallways, cutting through Yanagi's thoughts. Hurriedly, she located her locker and threw her books inside.
"First period---English literature, Bellwhistle Hall." She scanned her schedule again and again. "Bellwhistle Hall? Where is that supposed to be? It's not here in my schedule. Shimatta! How am I going to find it in this...this..." her eyes roamed over the unbelievably huge hallways with rooms and doors in every direction. Rising panic crept up her spine.
"Oh no! First it's a run-in with that brat Yui but now it's even worse. If I'm late for class, the prof's probably going to make me stand in front of the room and..."
"Lost?" a deep voice asked from behind her.
Yanagi turned to find herself gazing straight into a pair of almost luminous silver-grey eyes.
"Yes...I mean no! I mean...," she stuttered. Standing before her was one of the most beautiful young men she'd ever set eyes upon, rivaling even her brother Soujiro and Kami-sama knows a beauty like Soujiro's couldn't be even called just exceptional.
The handsome stranger flashed her a disarmingly charming smile.
"I'm not really lost. I'm supposed to be in Bellwhistle Hall and I don't exactly know where Bellwhistle Hall is."
"You're new here I presume?"
"Hai. I'm really sorry for sounding so stupid. It's just that this school is so big and not everyone's being very...um...well...helpful and I'm kind of ashamed to ask around so..."
The stranger let out a low, rich laugh. "I think calling people here 'unhelpful' is an understatement. Bellwhistle Hall you say? I can take you there, it's on my way to gym. But in return, you need to tell me your name."
Yanagi offered him her most gracious smile. It wasn't everyday that someone so good-looking did a favor for her in return for such a simple thing as her name.
"I'm Ya..." she started to say but an awful thought dashed across her mind. What if he's also playing games with her? What if he's another one of those snotty brats who are on the prowl for new victims? She had already fallen prey to that mean snob Yui. Who knows how many of these arrogant kids are waiting in the sidelines for someone as weak and defenseless as her for them to poke around and have fun with. The wretchedness of her day itched through Yanagi's veins like a germ. She may be naive but she certainly wasn't some idiotic dimbulb whom anyone can just walk all over on. Frustration and sudden anger coursed through her as she eyed the gorgeous figure standing in front of her, fury written all over her face.
"Is there something wrong?"
Yes! She wanted to shout from the top of her lungs. Yes, there is something VERY wrong with this school and everone in it. She wanted to rant and rave, scream out loud all the worry and hurt that has been tearing her up ever since she set foot in the preppy Silver Slate. But instead, her voice came out in a hollow monotone, lifeless and cold.
"No. Everything is perfectly fine. Sorry for disturbing you, I must be going now." She turned on her heels to leave but the stranger grabbed her arm.
"Chotto matte. Was I just hearing things a while ago or did you actually say you didn't know where you're supposed to be right now? If asking for your name is too much in exhange for telling you your way to class, then I'll let it pass this time. I could always ask you your name later on," he smiled winningly at her.
"No it's not that," she replied, trying to twist her arm free of his firm hold. "I know the way to Bellwhistle Hall, I just remembered the principal showed it to me during the tour."
One finely arched brow rose in mock doubt. "A tour you say? Well you must be really somebody special."
Yanagi wrenched her arm free and glared at him. "And just what do you mean by that crack mister?"
"Forgive my manners, fair one. I seem to have forgotten to introduce myself. You see, knowing your name was preoccupying me so much. I'm Sasame," he held out one hand. Smooth, slender fingers enveloped Yanagi's in a warm handshake. Tiny bolts of electricity shot through the palm of her skin where his hand made contact. Sasame. So this beautiful stranger's name was Sasame.
"I'm sorry if you're offended by that comment but you see, our ogre of a principal wouldn't bother wasting his time touring students around unless there's something in it for him. And as he's an ancient tome," he grinned showing his perfect pearl-white teeth, "I doubt if he'd do it in exchange for your name."
Yanagi's knees went weak. "Will I ever stop making a fool of myself," she berated herself.
"Now unless you have any other excuses, I suggest we'd better get to class. You wouldn't like detention on your first day now, wouldn't you?"
"No!," she almost shrieked. "I...I mean, no, I wouldn't want detention. I've had enough trouble today to last me a month in this awful school."
"Hmm...you've had a run-in with Yui I gather?"
Yanagi looked at him in surprise. "How did you know that?"
The stranger's grin turned into a frown, his full lips curving downwards in a seductive line.
"I have my ways. If the reason why you're hesitant to give me your name is because you had that little tiff with Yui a while ago, then you'd have to grow up a bit, princess."
"Don't call me that!"
"Calm down. Listen to me.Yui is a snobby brat. I'd advice you to avoid her at all costs. But that doesn't mean you should let her dictate you or the people whom you want to talk to," he motioned to himself. "Let me assure you princess, that I have abslolutely nothing to do with an immature bitch like Yui. In fact, I don't care much for the girls in this fake establishment with all their grossly preppy ways. You will learn later on that Yui doesn't care much for me either so there's no more reason for you to avoid my assistance. Now shall we?" he offered his arm.
Yanagi stared at him in utter confusion. Thoughts danced in her head like a rhumba rhythm gone bad. One part of her told her not to trust this man but another part of her whimpered and whined to get to class.
"Besides," she reasoned out, "he did say he didn't like Yui. At least that's one thing we have in common." With that, she took his arm and let him lead her to the east wing of the enormous hall. He continued to guide her down the gleaming aisles and as they passed several rooms along the way, Yanagi noticed, with a bit of untutored excitement, that more than just a couple of eyes followed them, each one glowing with jealousy. She gazed at Sasame's finely scuplted profile and felt her heart skip a beat. He reminded her a bit of her oniisan, with his unblemished complexion and perfect features. Ok, so he was indeed impossibly attractive. But she still had to be careful. Even though he didn't like Yui, that didn't mean he wasn't like all the others who laughed at her. Just then, Sasame stopped.
"This is your destination, I believe," he indicated at an open door with a silver plate cemented on its right side. "Bellwhistle Hall," the sign read.
Yanagi stared at the huge room packed with students, her eyes reflecting her fears. One strong hand rested on her shoulder and Sasame bent down to whisper in her ear.
"Go on, it'll be ok," his breath tickled her ears. He was so near she could feel the heat from his flushed cheeks. Yanagi could clearly hear her heart pounding violently.
"A...arigatou, Sasame-san," she managed to choke out.
"It was my pleasure princess."
"Onegai...don't call me that."
He stared at her long and hard, his steely eyes fixed on her amber ones. "Then tell me your name."
"I..." Sasame gripped her shoulders.
"If not, I'll just call you princess then," he bent down. Yanagi drew back instictively. He was so near it almost looked like he would kiss her. Behind them, twenty-three curious pairs of eyes watched closely.
Finally, Yanagi relented. "Yanagi...my name is Yanagi."
Sasame drew back and released his hold on her. "I think you'd better get inside .Odaijii ne, Yanagi."
"Ha...hai!" she rushed inside the room but not without hearing his parting shot.
"Ganbatte...princess."
"Nani?," Yanagi turned to reprimand him for breaking his promise but the silver-eyed stunner was gone, leaving her more bewildered that she'd ever been in her entire life.
Yanagi stood awkwardly near the lockers in the immaculately clean hallway. The meeting with the principal wasn't so bad, she recalled, but after he had given her her class schedule and her locker assignment, she was once again left on her own, like a lone soldier marching into battle. Only this battlefield didn't come with dust and grime and blood-coated armies. Instead, she found herself in the midst of confident-looking students all looking sensational in their freshly ironed uniforms.
"And everyone seems to know exactly what they're doing and where they're going," Yanagi mumbled to herself, "except me. I feel like a salmon swimming upstream when everyone else is headed in the opposite direction."
A crowd of noisy students passed by her, nearly pinning her to the row of lockers. She pressed herself as flatly as she could against the cold steel for fear that she might bump into anyone and embarass herself to no end. One of the girls in boisterous group stopped right in front of her and gave Yanagi a cold, calculating stare.
"You're blocking my way," the girl said to her in a haughty voice. Yanagi's throat went dry with nervousness. Her brown eyes fluttered in apparent unease as she tried hard not to look back into the girl's snapping ebony eyes. The girl started to tap her foot in impatience.
"Are you deaf or something? I said, you're in my way. That's my locker you're lounging in."
Yanagi quickly stepped aside, still trying to find her voice. The girl looked at her disdainfully, tossing back her long flaxen hair. The other students behind her snickered, obviously enjoying Yanagi's predicament. The girl opened her locker, took out a couple of books and slammed the locker door shut with an irritating clang.
"What're you looking at," she spat. "You new here?"
"Ye...yes."
"It figures. Newbies like you keep sprouting all over this school like weeds. You want to survive in this hellhole? Take my advice and stay out of my way. I could make life really good or really miserable for you so you'd better watch your step. What's your name?" she looked at Yanagi with pure distaste, studying every detail.
She's pretty, Yui observed in disgust, and she has an air of daintiness around her that guys find irresistibly appealing. No sense in having a potential rival around, Yui thought. I'll have to put this princess in her place before she could take root.
"Ya...Yanagi."
"Listen here Yanagi, " Yui spoke to the trembling girl in her most icy tone, "I'm Yui and I'm a junior, way older and more superior than you or any other silly dame in this stupid school. Now the first thing you need to learn is that there are rules around here, rules you newbies need to engrave into your heads and one of them is that you should NEVER---and I mean NEVER, get in my way, and that includes staying near my territory," she pointed at her locker. This part of the hallway is reserved for us," she indicated at her sniggering group, "and you losers don't belong here and unless you want to be miserable for the rest of your life, I really think you should keep this little info in mind. You understand, don't you princess?"
"Yes...yes Yui-san. Gomen...gomen nasai, it won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't."
Yanagi stared fearfully at the retreating figure of Yui accompanied by her snooty clique. Tears started to form inside her eyes. She had prepared herself for the worst but she hadn't expected to have a most unpleasant encounter with the "in" group on her very first day of class.
"I'm such a wimp," she reprimanded herself. "I should've stood up to her." A short laugh escaped her lips. "Stood up? That's funny! How could a mousy-looking nobody like me stand up against Ms. Popularity? Face it Yanagi, you're really pathetic. I should've taken up oniisan's offer to accompany me, at least it would have saved me from that ugly scene."
The shrill alarm of the school bells resounded throughout the hallways, cutting through Yanagi's thoughts. Hurriedly, she located her locker and threw her books inside.
"First period---English literature, Bellwhistle Hall." She scanned her schedule again and again. "Bellwhistle Hall? Where is that supposed to be? It's not here in my schedule. Shimatta! How am I going to find it in this...this..." her eyes roamed over the unbelievably huge hallways with rooms and doors in every direction. Rising panic crept up her spine.
"Oh no! First it's a run-in with that brat Yui but now it's even worse. If I'm late for class, the prof's probably going to make me stand in front of the room and..."
"Lost?" a deep voice asked from behind her.
Yanagi turned to find herself gazing straight into a pair of almost luminous silver-grey eyes.
"Yes...I mean no! I mean...," she stuttered. Standing before her was one of the most beautiful young men she'd ever set eyes upon, rivaling even her brother Soujiro and Kami-sama knows a beauty like Soujiro's couldn't be even called just exceptional.
The handsome stranger flashed her a disarmingly charming smile.
"I'm not really lost. I'm supposed to be in Bellwhistle Hall and I don't exactly know where Bellwhistle Hall is."
"You're new here I presume?"
"Hai. I'm really sorry for sounding so stupid. It's just that this school is so big and not everyone's being very...um...well...helpful and I'm kind of ashamed to ask around so..."
The stranger let out a low, rich laugh. "I think calling people here 'unhelpful' is an understatement. Bellwhistle Hall you say? I can take you there, it's on my way to gym. But in return, you need to tell me your name."
Yanagi offered him her most gracious smile. It wasn't everyday that someone so good-looking did a favor for her in return for such a simple thing as her name.
"I'm Ya..." she started to say but an awful thought dashed across her mind. What if he's also playing games with her? What if he's another one of those snotty brats who are on the prowl for new victims? She had already fallen prey to that mean snob Yui. Who knows how many of these arrogant kids are waiting in the sidelines for someone as weak and defenseless as her for them to poke around and have fun with. The wretchedness of her day itched through Yanagi's veins like a germ. She may be naive but she certainly wasn't some idiotic dimbulb whom anyone can just walk all over on. Frustration and sudden anger coursed through her as she eyed the gorgeous figure standing in front of her, fury written all over her face.
"Is there something wrong?"
Yes! She wanted to shout from the top of her lungs. Yes, there is something VERY wrong with this school and everone in it. She wanted to rant and rave, scream out loud all the worry and hurt that has been tearing her up ever since she set foot in the preppy Silver Slate. But instead, her voice came out in a hollow monotone, lifeless and cold.
"No. Everything is perfectly fine. Sorry for disturbing you, I must be going now." She turned on her heels to leave but the stranger grabbed her arm.
"Chotto matte. Was I just hearing things a while ago or did you actually say you didn't know where you're supposed to be right now? If asking for your name is too much in exhange for telling you your way to class, then I'll let it pass this time. I could always ask you your name later on," he smiled winningly at her.
"No it's not that," she replied, trying to twist her arm free of his firm hold. "I know the way to Bellwhistle Hall, I just remembered the principal showed it to me during the tour."
One finely arched brow rose in mock doubt. "A tour you say? Well you must be really somebody special."
Yanagi wrenched her arm free and glared at him. "And just what do you mean by that crack mister?"
"Forgive my manners, fair one. I seem to have forgotten to introduce myself. You see, knowing your name was preoccupying me so much. I'm Sasame," he held out one hand. Smooth, slender fingers enveloped Yanagi's in a warm handshake. Tiny bolts of electricity shot through the palm of her skin where his hand made contact. Sasame. So this beautiful stranger's name was Sasame.
"I'm sorry if you're offended by that comment but you see, our ogre of a principal wouldn't bother wasting his time touring students around unless there's something in it for him. And as he's an ancient tome," he grinned showing his perfect pearl-white teeth, "I doubt if he'd do it in exchange for your name."
Yanagi's knees went weak. "Will I ever stop making a fool of myself," she berated herself.
"Now unless you have any other excuses, I suggest we'd better get to class. You wouldn't like detention on your first day now, wouldn't you?"
"No!," she almost shrieked. "I...I mean, no, I wouldn't want detention. I've had enough trouble today to last me a month in this awful school."
"Hmm...you've had a run-in with Yui I gather?"
Yanagi looked at him in surprise. "How did you know that?"
The stranger's grin turned into a frown, his full lips curving downwards in a seductive line.
"I have my ways. If the reason why you're hesitant to give me your name is because you had that little tiff with Yui a while ago, then you'd have to grow up a bit, princess."
"Don't call me that!"
"Calm down. Listen to me.Yui is a snobby brat. I'd advice you to avoid her at all costs. But that doesn't mean you should let her dictate you or the people whom you want to talk to," he motioned to himself. "Let me assure you princess, that I have abslolutely nothing to do with an immature bitch like Yui. In fact, I don't care much for the girls in this fake establishment with all their grossly preppy ways. You will learn later on that Yui doesn't care much for me either so there's no more reason for you to avoid my assistance. Now shall we?" he offered his arm.
Yanagi stared at him in utter confusion. Thoughts danced in her head like a rhumba rhythm gone bad. One part of her told her not to trust this man but another part of her whimpered and whined to get to class.
"Besides," she reasoned out, "he did say he didn't like Yui. At least that's one thing we have in common." With that, she took his arm and let him lead her to the east wing of the enormous hall. He continued to guide her down the gleaming aisles and as they passed several rooms along the way, Yanagi noticed, with a bit of untutored excitement, that more than just a couple of eyes followed them, each one glowing with jealousy. She gazed at Sasame's finely scuplted profile and felt her heart skip a beat. He reminded her a bit of her oniisan, with his unblemished complexion and perfect features. Ok, so he was indeed impossibly attractive. But she still had to be careful. Even though he didn't like Yui, that didn't mean he wasn't like all the others who laughed at her. Just then, Sasame stopped.
"This is your destination, I believe," he indicated at an open door with a silver plate cemented on its right side. "Bellwhistle Hall," the sign read.
Yanagi stared at the huge room packed with students, her eyes reflecting her fears. One strong hand rested on her shoulder and Sasame bent down to whisper in her ear.
"Go on, it'll be ok," his breath tickled her ears. He was so near she could feel the heat from his flushed cheeks. Yanagi could clearly hear her heart pounding violently.
"A...arigatou, Sasame-san," she managed to choke out.
"It was my pleasure princess."
"Onegai...don't call me that."
He stared at her long and hard, his steely eyes fixed on her amber ones. "Then tell me your name."
"I..." Sasame gripped her shoulders.
"If not, I'll just call you princess then," he bent down. Yanagi drew back instictively. He was so near it almost looked like he would kiss her. Behind them, twenty-three curious pairs of eyes watched closely.
Finally, Yanagi relented. "Yanagi...my name is Yanagi."
Sasame drew back and released his hold on her. "I think you'd better get inside .Odaijii ne, Yanagi."
"Ha...hai!" she rushed inside the room but not without hearing his parting shot.
"Ganbatte...princess."
"Nani?," Yanagi turned to reprimand him for breaking his promise but the silver-eyed stunner was gone, leaving her more bewildered that she'd ever been in her entire life.