Gently
By: Sixth Child
Chapter Three
How Soon is Now?
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"Are you two Kouji Minamoto and Takuya Kanbara?" A blond girl stepped into the band room. She had an irritated look on her face. Her royal blue eyes neatly matched her long blue skirt, almost exactly the same hue. Her shimmering golden hair was tied back in a creative bun, with two pencils sticking out either side of it. Her sleeveless lilac shirt had the words "Believe in Yourself" written on it in glittering letters. She had a blue sweater over her shirt with the school initials on it. The look on her face didn't seem to suit her.
"Well?" She asked, obviously waiting for an answer.
"Oh, uh, yeah." Takuya stammered, embarrassed about the situation. He and Kouji were still standing in the center of the large room. Kouji still had his violin in hand, but no longer playing it.
"You guys better get to class. Mrs. Donahue is so mad at you, you know. You realize that class started a good twenty minutes ago? She even was kind enough to send me looking for you, instead of just informing the office, which would have you in even more trouble. Honestly, and only on the second day of school! Why can't kids these days be a little more organized?" And with that she turned and stormed off in the opposite direction, the door of the band room nearly grasping her long skirt.
"I guess we should get going to class." Takuya said through the awkward silence, cutting it like a knife.
"You go on ahead, I have to put this away." Kouji replied, gesturing towards the instrument in his hand.
"Right." Takuya said, turning and heading to the door. His hand was gripping the brass doorknob when she stopped. "You know, Kouji. I've never had a real friend. When I changed schools, going from primary school to secondary, I had to go to this one. All of the other kids from my old school went to the one across town. When I got here in the sixth grade, I didn't know anybody." Takuya was still facing the band door, as if talking to it, and not the other human being. 'Why am I telling this to Kouji? Why him? I never even told my parents anything about my life, and now here I am, spilling it all out to someone I've known for two days? But still, it feels like so much longer.'
"I joined a group of new friends who seemed to like me, but I always felt as if I didn't belong with them. Like they didn't need me there with them." Takuya's voice cracked as he continued. "Then, when I moved up to the next grade, my suspicions were confirmed. Everyone from that group but me ended up on the other team. They simply seemed to forget about me, whether it is by accident or not. I know it's only the second day of school, and that they could still contact me, but I have the feeling that they won't. It feels like I'm not much of anyone anymore, like I don't have a purpose. It feels like no one cares about me, and no one needs me. Like I don't even need myself…"
Takuya fell to the floor, tears streaming down his face, leaving their salty trail. Sobs escaped Takuya's throat as he held himself on the dirty floor.
"Don't say things like that." Kouji's voice came from behind. Takuya turned on his knees to face him. Kouji walked over to the tearful boy and wrapped his arms around him, holding him comfortably.
"My father has a complicated job, which means we have to move around a lot. I've never even had just a group of people to be with. I know it's not his fault, but I can't help but feel angry. It's just not fair! I mean, I may act like I don't care about other people, like I don't even want friends. But I'm human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does. *1" Kouji closed his eyes painfully, subconsciously tightening his hold on Takuya.
"So don't say things like no one cares about you, because that's a lie. I care about you, Takuya. Even if I've only known you for less than two days, you're the closest friend I've ever had." A smile suddenly made it's way to Kouji's face. "Now wipe your and get up, we have to get to class. I don't want that teacher to pop a vain."
Takuya smiled. "Thank you, Kouji."
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"What were you thinking?!" Mrs. Donahue nearly shouted at the two boys in front of her, who were hanging their heads. "Almost a half an hour late for class! And only on the second day of school! Honestly! You're lucky I'm in a good mood today; I'm only giving you two tomorrow's detention. You can spend the remainder of the hour sitting in the office."
"Yes ma'am." Takuya and Kouji said in unison as they rushed out the door.
After they were halfway down the ramp leading to the office, Takuya spoke up. "Geez, if that's her good mood, I'd hate to see her on a bad day!" Kouji chuckled at this remark.
As they reached the end of the blue-carpeted ramp, the pair spotted the unfamiliar office. Takuya opened the blue door for both of them. He and Kouji slid into the two seats closest to the door. A few seats away from them was a black-haired girl, whose outfit matched her apparent attitude. She chomped loudly on her gum as she boredly zipped and unzipped one of the many zippers on her baggy pants.
She turned to Kouji. "So, what'd you do?" She asked as she chomped her gum enthusiastically.
"Um…" Kouji was hesitant to talk to this strangely dressed person.
"We were tardy for class." Takuya saved him.
"Weak." The girl rolled her eyes.
"Amanda Schellack!" A women sitting at her large desk called out. The dark-dressed girl stood up. "The principle will see you now." Amanda walked into the Principles office with a casual look on her face, as if she was used to this routine.
"I hope we don't have to go in there." Takuya said, not exactly wanting to get in trouble with the principle.
"We probably won't get punished anymore than we already have been, just for being tardy." Kouji stated, looking at his watch. There was only three minutes until lunch hour. Those three small minutes passed quickly, however.
As the bell sounded, Takuya and Kouji got up from their seats, and Kouji opened the door for him and Takuya. The pair walked silently down the hall, as the other children rushed past them to get a decent spot in the lunch line so they could actually have time to eat their lunches.
Suddenly a loud sound screeched through the halls; kids covering their tiny ears with confused looks on their faces. "What's going on?" Kouji yelled over the ear piercing sound.
"Everyone get outdoors!" A teacher cried. A mess of students suddenly crowded the small hallway, pushing and shoving everyone in their paths.
Takuya got caught in a mass of kids and was pushed in the opposite direction of Kouji. "Kouji!" He cried, not wanting to be separated from his only friend.
Then he felt a hand grasp his own. Takuya was surprised at how soft this particular hand was. He turned to look at his capturer, only to be pulled forward. He felt like he was in a mash pit. All in a sudden rush, he was outside, Kouji's hand still intertwined with his own. Takuya blushed, but made no movement to break the hold.
"What's happening?" Takuya half whispered, seeing smoke rise from the far right of the school.
As Kouji's eyes widened, a gasp escaped his throat. "My violin!" He nearly shouted, a look of fear in his eyes. He started running towards the burning school.
"Kouji! You can't go in there! It's on fire, you're going to get hurt!" Takuya chases after the speeding boy, whose hair was blowing excitedly in the wind.
He ignored the shouts of "Stop! You can't go in there now! Its on fire!" and such from random teachers and students.
Takuya finally caught up with Kouji at the front doors. He grabbed Kouji's arm in attempt to stop him from going inside. "Kouji, you can't go in there! You'll get hurt!!" He exclaimed, worry cementing his face.
"You don't understand, that was my mother's violin! I can't let it be lost forever, like she was!" Kouji was frantic, tears slowly making their way behind his eyes. When he saw the look on Takuya's face, however, he softened his voice. "Please Takuya, I have to get it. Please let me do this."
Takuya looked at him hard, as searching for something in his eyes. Finally he said, "Alright. But I'm coming with you."
"Fine, just as long as you're careful."
"Same to you." Takuya reached for Kouji's hand and took it in his own. He heard sirens in the distance.
Kouji opened one of the front doors, only to be overcome in smoke. Both he and Takuya coughed, yet they walking inside anyways, still holding hands. Everything was covered with smoke. Down the main hall, there was a blazing fire.
"Well, there go our lockers." Takuya stated.
"This way." Kouji said, coughing and shielding his eyes from the dense smoke, but it was no use. They walked and turned to their right, lucky to see that there was no fire in or around the band room.
Kouji didn't say anything, just pulled Takuya along through the smoke, until they reached the instrument storage room. Kouji pulled opened the door with ease and quickly began shuffling through the many cases on the shelf.
"Kouji, I think I…"
"Found it!" Kouji exclaimed, holding his undamaged case. "Now let's get out of here!" He pulled Takuya out the door, violin in one hand, Takuya's hand in the other.
As they reached the main hall, they saw that it was completely in flames.
"Oh shit…" Kouji's eyes widened.
"Kouji, I have to tell…"
"There's no time for chatting, c'mon!" Kouji rushed to the door, not taking his eyes off it, nor his hand off Takuya's.
They were almost there, and then everything went black.
"Kouji!!!"
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God, I am evil or what?? This chapter didn't take a long time, surprisingly. I was in a really angsty mood so…Dun hate me people!
*1—From the song "How soon is now?"
DUDE! My birthday is on May 17th man! Everyone review for my 13th birthday!! ^________^
Later days!
~Sixth Child~
