Author's notes: Okay, I've got the plot all planned out! Just hope I can finish it on time. * grins * I'm working on planning out the ending right now! So…hope you guys can hold on till then. * smiles * Hmm, yeah, just maybe, my writing could be confusing at times and I *know* some people tend to get confuse. I'm not an advance writer though, so any questions or mistakes you ppl want to point out, please do so. Very much welcomed. For all I know, my writing could be worse. I just wanted to point out that English is my second language, even though I've been taught since kindergarten, I still have limited vocabulary. LOL, is it me or do I just sound a tad bit unusual in this chapter? What no, cheery me? LOL…
Don't mind me, I'm just a very hungry-for-reviews kind of writer…and people, please read and THEN review? It really is a teensy bit disappointing when one reads a fic and not review. Some of us writers, take it personally. And oh all standard disclaimers apply?
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// … // Characters thoughts.
( … ) Whose ramblings, eh? ;)
* … * Background noise/sound
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Chapter 4
Kaoru woke up to the sounds of a not so pleasant voice. A really annoying one at that.
"Gooood morning, minna! Rise and shine cause' its Monday! I for one, personally love Mondays because-" the radio alarm was cut off when Kaoru's hand gingerly clicked it off. Nothing could dampened her mood, even if it means not-blowing-up hearing to the highly exaggerating voice of the DJ over the radio. Kaoru jumped of and quickly made her bed. Making a bee-line for the bathroom which was connected to her room, she clicked on another radio which sat on the edge of the sink. Clicking it on, the tunes of old' seventies songs wafted through the bathroom. Singing along with the lyrics, Kaoru stepped into the shower.
After 15 minutes of singing and showering, a toweled and fresh Kaoru walked out of the bathroom and into her walk-in closet. Another few minutes and you have a fully dressed Kaoru. Clad in a business-like dress that reached just above her knees, she fetched her thin briefcase and headed to Kaede's room. Fishing out a letter form her briefcase, she place it on the bedside table. Giving Kaede a loving gaze that only came from a mother, she gently gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead.
She did the same with Emi and made her way to her black convertible. ( Pick your own brand name for the car! ;) ) Stepping in, she maneuvered the car out of the driveway and towards Rukawa Corporation. Thus, another day for Rukawa Kaoru, Head Chairwoman of Rukawa Corporation.
( A little clearing would be nice here… ;) as you can see, this reveals the two sides of Kaoru. At home, a loving mother with a wacky personality. At work, calm, responsible and talented in the ways of business matters. Since Kaede's dad passed away, the family business had been passed on to his wife, Rukawa Kaoru because Kaede is still too young to step in and manage the business. That explains the simple but big house. )
Emi was the first to rouse from sleep. Considering herself lucky that she managed to wake even after experiencing the horrors of jet lag, she quickly did her usual morning stretches. Noticing a lone white envelope nestled between a night lamp and an alarm on the bedside table, Emi quickly reached out for it. Reading over the slightly messy handwriting, Emi smiled.
It says:
Ohayou Mi-chan!
I take it, you had a good night's sleep? If you have any problems with the room or anything at all, call me on my cell, 445-934. If that line is busy, then you can just go ahead and ask Kaede, okay? I'm sure he'll be able to help you. Everything is already arranged, you needn't worry. Your new uniform is in the closet and your books are on your desk. I had them in advance, don't ask me how I did it. ;) Make yourself at home, and eat anything you can find in the fridge! I won't be coming back until late night, so don't wait up for me! Kaede will fix dinner. That's all for now and the number for the fire department is one the fridge. You know what that means.
P.S.: If Kaede still leaves without you, tell him I'll wring his neck or burn a certain panda of his. Good luck on your first day at school! Well, I'm off to work. Ja!
Rukawa managed to pry open one eye and quickly regretted it. As much as he hated Mondays (that goes for all school days too except basketball practice. Ne, Kaede? :) ) he had to admit, if he didn't get up anytime soon, there'll be no time for breakfast, and he'll be late for school. ( I mean accidents takes most of his time, right? ) With the enthusiasm of a man on a death march, he slowly trudged his way into the bathroom. Placing his right palm on the doorknob, he heard there was a vague humming sound coming from the other side of the door. // Damn commercials! Mom must've left the radio on! Again! // As Rukawa pushed open the door in a fraction of an inch, he was immediately assaulted by steam coming from the shower. // What the?… Oh no, no, no, just shut the door Kaede, shut it…quietly and carefully. That's it, nice and easy. Now, all you have to do is run to your room.// Taking cautious but eager steps over the carpeted hallway, Rukawa managed to creep back into his room all with the enthusiasm of a spy on a mission. ( Enthusiasm of a guilty peeping tom is more like it eh? * narrowly MISSING stampeding Rukawa fan girls * )
//I forgot all about that girl! I didn't see anything! Nothing! What if she saw me? MOM WILL KILL ME! Think of basketball, bounce. Bounce, bounce… // Breathing heavily in his room, Rukawa now red, rather than paled-face leaned on the door. // Damn you, Furuhata… Eli? Edi? Oh, Emi! Damn! // After another few minutes of silence, Rukawa casually picked up the white envelope from his bedside table, which his mom always leaves him before she goes to work. Usually it contains sweet messages, reminding him to take a shower, eat breakfast and occasional threats.
It says:
Ohayou Kaede!
If you're still half asleep reading this, well, WAKE UP!!!! You better wake up. I trust you WILL show Emi around the school, ne? Hmm, she is in the same class with you so better play nice. NEVER leave her side, unless of course when nature calls. Keep her away from the bullies, okay? I don't want her to get beaten up or anything. Her father and I are good friends. Oh come on, Kae, do it for me? Please? I love you so much despite your lack of conversational abilities. :) I promise this is the last time, I'll ask you for your help. Hmmm? Who might I ask managed all your accident bills? Who oh-so-willingly moved from our old house that had simply everything to this house simply because it was 'near' Shohoku? Who gave birth to you? Me, so do this thing for me, I'll be so happy if you do! Well, I just hope I don't get TERRIBLY DISSAPOINTED when I arrive home.
P.S.: Oh one more thing, I'll be home late so would you be the PERFECT SON and fix dinner for yourself and Emi. BE REALLY CAREFUL! DON'T MIX ANYTHING YOU DON'T KNOW! DON'T GO POISONING EMI EITHER! Ja, lots of love!
Rukawa sighed and held his head in his hands. // Hmm, poisoning, that sounds like a plan. Mom, you know this is killing me! There you go rubbing in the guilt… //
After, 5 minutes of careful listening, Rukawa managed to persuade himself to pry his right ear from the door. He heard that the girl, Emi, had retreated back into her room. He made his way to the bathroom for a quick shower.
In her room, now fully dressed in her new Shohoku uniform, Emi quickly stuffed her books into her sling bag. // This is it! New school means new friends. No Nakamura Eiji. No bodyguard. Shohoku High here I come! Just hope I don't get sick this time around.//
Emi made herself at home, as she grabbed a box of cereal, milk from the fridge, a bowl and a spoon. She got herself of Mango juice. Setting her all-American breakfast on the dining table which seated two people, she began to dig in. Hearing heavy footsteps, Emi glanced up to find a pair of blue eyes staring right at her. She stared back, her cerulean blue clashing with his, after a moment, she cast her eyes back downwards when she discovered the faintest of blush momentarily covering his pale cheeks. // Say Good morning! Say it! Scream it! Whatever! //
"Uh, Ohayou…Rukawa-san,"
"…Ohayou," Rukawa replied hesitation clear in his voice and almost as an afterthought, he added, " You can call me, Kaede."
Emi nodded and smiled. Both of them continued their breakfast together in silence.
After locking the house, Rukawa closed the front gate, with his bag over his right shoulder, he decided to walk to school seeing as he would not want Emi to bear the wonders of riding with him. Walking in a leisurely pace with Emi close behind him, he quickly turned a corner, half expecting Emi to walk straight into the lamp post right in front of her. You know what? She did. *BANG*
"Owww," Emi wailed as she rubbed her sore forehead which unfortunately connected with the lamp post's metal surface. ( Of course, I won't use the regular 'Itai' )
"…" Rukawa sweatdropped as he watched the scene where Emi glared at the offending lamp post looking as if it'll turn to ice. // Hey, you can't turn that thing to ice. I already did that, and it doesn't work.// (Ooh, Kaede, you and the lamp post *met*. May I ask how? * snickers evilly * )
"Sorry, I tend to daydream. A lot," Emi grinned sheepishly still rubbing her forehead.
Rukawa just shoved his hands into his pockets and once again continued his walk to Shohoku High. // You and me both Emi, but I sleep.// (LOL, if he keeps this up, maybe then Emi can answer telepathically!)
This time fully aware of the growing silence between them, she tried to lighten up the mood by starting a conversation. Being the Emi that she was, she started a conversation about the weather. // Weather? That's how that actress did it! //
"Hmm, what a bright day it is!" Emi mimicked one of the actresses she saw on TV, who unbeknownst to her, seems to ALWAYS fail to get attention from the opposite sex.
"…" Rukawa said nothing and glanced up into the not-so-bright day. // I bet it's going to rain soon.//
"…" Letting the embarrassing moment pass, Emi, decided to try again. Mentally summing his height in her mind, she calculated him to be about over 6 feet tall. Ah, a potential basketball player.
"You look like a basket-" she was cut off when he stopped suddenly and she slammed into a wall. Oops, correction, not a wall but a back. A very hard back at that. Rukawa's back of course.
"-ball," she breathed into his back. She took a step back and continued, "player." Rubbing her nose, she picked her bag up which had fallen due to the collision and looked around. They have arrived at Shohoku High, eyed by just about the whole population of Shohoku High who were present in the front compound of the school.
Suddenly feeling very sick, Emi tightened her grip on her bag and unconsciously stepped closer to the immobile Rukawa. All at once memories assaulted her mind, school experiences, her first time being introduced to the school, being barricaded by the reporters, hiding behind Nakamura, people making snide comments, school teachers who were proud of her, being the odd one out, left eating alone in one corner of the cafeteria during lunch, the tree in the playground, her tree, and the boy and his basketball. Her would-be friend if Nakamura hadn't pulled her back at that time.
End of Chapter 4
Special thanks to all who reviewed:
Ruishi, Yuuki ( Hey! Thanks! ), Chan, dylan-mi, E.C, aga_xris (Hmmm, what will it be, to play or not to play, aye or nay, well it would have to be nay! ^-^), silversprite, Cherry Blossoms Kaorin (LOL, where are u girl?), Jt (… :p… ), korosu ( …would you believe it if I told you I have a blue eyed panda..from long long ago…^^;;), super_rookie ( I know, I know…spatula?…but I was at that point where my brains go weird...LOL..)
Author's notes: Anyone see a pattern? Hmmm…think about it…tell me what you think…who is that boy? Huh? LOL, by now you ppl probably could've guess. * grins *…Please read and review! I live on them! * Pouts * Hmmm, maybe I should stop this story altogether!? It really depends on the readers reviews… Mail me too! That'll be a first! Hahah...greedy lil' writer am I? E-mail or reviews, either way I'll really appreciate it! Email: fehrocious_182@yahoo.com.