Ch. 10

Dawning Darkness

                Ouka tugged at the hemline of the short skirt that was part of his school uniform and looked at her adoptive mother with pleading wide eyes.

                "Can't we get one with a longer skirt?" He asked, making sure that his voice remain high sounding and clear. Another week had passed and tomorrow was supposed to be his first day back in school… as a senior. His nerves had been getting to him and sometimes his voice would lower. It didn't help his nerves to know that something was up but that the Wilsen's were taking painful measures to keep him unharmed by… whatever was happening. Still, as sweet as that might seem since it was obvious they trying to protect him, it scared him. He'd found Josie crying one afternoon and too shocked to do anything smart, like walking away and acting as if he'd never seen the scene, he had walked forward, hugging his adoptive mother until the tears went away. That in itself had been scary but what had been worse was that as he hugged her, the woman had started to sob harder and he had been able to decipher only some words such as… 'I don't want to lose you…' Ouka shook his head. Enough. He would find out when they felt he was ready to find out… until then, he needed a longer skirt. Jeans were fine… he could hide in jeans… but this short of a skirt? No. It was too risky, especially since any wind could just blow it a bit higher and then… he'd be done for. "Please mommy?" The woman's eyes softened and she nodded.

                "I don't understand why they even make school uniforms skirts that short. It's almost un-decent. In America, my school made us where uniforms too. They weren't half as cute as the ones you get to wear but… well at least the skirts were practical." She went on a bit about skirts and uniforms as she searched the piled for a longer skirt that would still fit him. "Aha! I knew I'd find one. Try this." She handed him the hanger and he complied, trying to keep a blush at bay. Oh the things he had to do to keep the secret safe.

/My what a kawaii kitten./

Ouka passed a hand through his long hair after he had finished buttoning the longer skirt up. It would have to do he decided. No girls in the school he was going to were allowed to wear pants except for gym of course so… He opened the door and came out to see his mother nod approvingly. He smiled.

                "Are we done?" He asked carefully, keeping his voice neutral. Last time he had asked that, Josie had been a bit saddened that her 'daughter' didn't enjoy shopping as much as she did and instead enjoyed technology or playing darts more. Mr. Wilsen or daddy as Ouka now thought of him, would teasingly call Ouka his little tomboy… whatever that meant.

                "Hai." Mrs. Wilsen said with a smile. "Did I say it right?" Ouka nodded with a smile. "Lets pay for this and then lets go home. You need your rest… tomorrow will be a busy day for you."

…

                The next day, the sun rose with unusual splendor leaving Ouka to wonder if it was a good or bad omen. The sun could be shining because it would be a good day or simply because the day would turn bad for her, and it was shining to make her feel better. Or not. It could be irony. He managed to eat the breakfast that had been placed in front of him and to look relatively calm as his adoptive mother opted to walk with him towards the school. As they reached the gate Mrs. Wilsen paused.

                "Well this is it. Good luck!" She smiled. "I'll be waiting right here for you when you're done, ok?" Ouka nodded. "Have fun today." Ouka nodded again and then decided that enough was enough. If he didn't start walking he'd probably chicken out. He moved past the gate and nearly ran into the school. It didn't take him as long as he thought it would to find his classroom and so it was nearly empty when he stepped in. The sensei greeted him warmly by smiling and coming to his side immediately.

                "Ouka-san?" He asked. He nodded. "Usually I like to introduce new students in front of the classroom once everyone is seated but… would you feel comfortable with that?" Just at the mere thought his insides quivered. He hadn't had to deal with anyone near his age for so long…

                "Whatever is best." He found himself answering. "I don't want to cause anyone a problem."

                "I can see already that you won't." The sensei's smile widened slightly, remaining gently. "Could you wait outside? I'll call your name when its time for me to introduce you." Ouka nodded and bowed her head slightly before turning on her heels. "Ouka-san?" He turned his head to see his teacher's face. "You'll be fine." He blinked and nodded once more. He then took the couple steps out of the room and leaned against the wall. Had he looked that frightened? He raised a pale hand to his face.

                Minutes later, after having many students pass him in the hallway and enter the class without any of them even bothering to consider who he might be, the sensei's teacher called his name out and he entered slowly, his stomach one big ache. He continued to keep his eyes locked to the ground as he went next to the sensei. "She is a new student. Ouka-san you can take your seat behind Teno, Yui, the fifth desk in the second row. Teno, Yui, if you could be kind enough to raise your hand to show Ouka-san who you are…" Ouka was forced to look up. Silence had descended upon the class as he did so. There was no more vague whispering of guys saying how cute the new girl was or girls already trying to get the gossip about the supposed 'her'. If only they all knew… A small smile made the ends of his lips curve up. It wasn't a happy smile though; it was kind of bitter and cold. He was afraid but… fear could easily be pushed away and forgotten. A girl in the second row stood up, her face paling.

                "Omi? Is this some kind of joke?" Her voice rose high. Ouka eyes widened at the sound of that name. He flinched as the sensei put a hand on his shoulder.

                "Yui, this is Wilsen, Ouka." He said lightly. "Omi-san is still sick." There was a little pause. "Go to your seat Ouka-san." He forced his leaden legs to move to where the girl still stood, a little pained look playing over her features. As soon as he reached his seat though, the whispers rose in the air once more. The teacher seemed not to notice as he turned to black board and started class. Ouka tried to pay attention and not to listen to the words that were being spoken but he soon gave up and sat back in his chair. As he did, a hand poked him in the back. He looked back a bit shyly and saw that a girl looked back at him with a smile.

                "I'm Mika, is it true you're only 15?" Ouka blinked. How could she have known that? He nodded slowly and her brown eyes widened. "Sugoi! I bet your parents must love you to bits! I'm barely passing the classes here." She gave a soft laugh. "Maybe you can help me!" Again Ouka slowly nodded and then he tried to turn back forward. "You're nice Ouka… but a bit too quiet." Mika paused for a moment and then shrugged. "You'll love our sensei… he's really nice." Ouka bit the inside of his cheek. The last thing he wanted was to get in trouble with the teacher. Did this girl ever stop talking? There was another longer pause as the sensei in question turned to face them, asking them to take out their English books. Ouka reached for his bag and pulled the blue book out, placing it on the small desk. "How's your English Ouka? I have a horrible accent when I talk… and my grammar is terrible. I've had so many tutors but none of them ever helped. Omi was my last tutor… I was actually impro-" The girl trailed off and blushed as the teacher called on her with a slight frown on his face.

                "If you please Mika… since you enjoy talking so much. Line 30, page 56."

                "Tell you more about it later." Mika whispered with a crooked smile, standing up with the book in her hand. Ouka stared at her wide-eyed. Were all senior girls like this? Was this why his 'mamma' was always so worried that he was too quiet? He snapped out of his thoughts and followed what Mika was reading out loud.

                It was a couple hours later that the lunch bell finally rung and freed all the students to leave the classroom for a break. He was at a loss of what to do but tried desperately not to show it as he gently began packing away all of his books. A hand rested on his shoulder making him look up. To his surprise it was not Mika's face that he looked up to but Yui's, Mika was next to Yui sitting on the edge of a desk with a smile on her face.

                "Well new girl, wanna get some lunch?" Yui asked gently yet her eyes were a bit… not cold but… odd. He couldn't place a word to what he saw there. Wordlessly he nodded, getting up and about to place his backpack strap over his shoulder.

                "Oh don't bother with that!" A guy that was behind him muttered taking it from Ouka's hands. "It's what I'm here for." He gave Ouka a smile causing Ouka to blush and look away. If only you knew… Ouka thought, starting to tremble a bit.

                "You're an idiot, Shinchiro." Mika hissed glaring at the tall boy as if he were just a pesky mosquito. "Stop flirting and scaring innocent Ouka!" Yui sighed and shook her head.

                "Ignore those two, Ouka. And don't worry; Shinchiro is a big sap at heart. He wouldn't be able to hurt a flea… He'd probably be scared by it no doubt." The boy glared at them.

                "Not scared… disgusted." He announced carefully. "Fleas… are disgusting." He grabbed Ouka's hand and tugged, causing him to yelp as he stumbled forward and away from the two girls. "This way lets leave this ruffians behind."

                "Oh no, you don't!" Mika shouted, following them close. "Argh… I wish Omi were here. He's a true gentleman!" Ouka was lost and decided to keep quiet as the four of them walked down the hall and into another hall on the right. They were soon outside and it was only when they reach a big tree that Shinchiro let go of his hand. He wiped it quickly on his skirt, hating the way it had gotten sweaty in that short trip.

                "You wound me." The boy whined as he saw Ouka's movements making him blush harder.

                "G- gomen. I…" He started. Mika hit Shinchiro on the head.

                "He'll live. Sit. This is where we eat! Isn't it pretty? If Omi was here he'd tell you what kind of tree it is and everything. Omi…" Mika came closer as if confiding an important secret. "Is perfect."

                "Can you be any more obvious?" Yui muttered, staring at the sky with hopeless exasperation.

                "…who is Omi?" Ouka asked finally, getting the courage to interrupt the never-ending flow of words that came from the three friends. "Why… why did you think I was him when…" He looked down. It was quite obvious right now with this disguise that he was a girl. Why would any guy dress as a girl to go to school… willingly? Mika opened her mouth to start talking but a quick look at Yui's deepening glare made her shut it. Instead the petite brunette sat on the ground, kneeling and quite uncaring if she got dirt on her uniform. She removed a small plastic box from her backpack and opened it, beckoning silently to Shinchiro with her hand that he could share her lunch with her. The senior boy didn't wait to be asked twice, and sat down next to her with a huge smile on his face. Yui rolled her eyes, obviously wanting to get down and get comfortable and eat before answering questions.

                "Lets sit, ne?" Her offer only proved Ouka's observations correct. With a nod, Ouka glanced at the floor with a bit of dismay… how the heck was he supposed to sit with a skirt? He decided that the best would be to follow Mika's example. "Omi…" Yui started, startling him. "…is one of our friends, obviously. He looks exactly like you except with shorter hair and…"

                "A guy's body." Shinchiro added, his mouth full. Ouka flushed as he noticed the way Shinchiro was staring at him and wished that he could just punch the idiot. Surprised at the anger, Ouka bit her lip and looked away.

                "Idiot." Yui snapped. "Anyway… He's been absent for a really long time now. His guardians keep saying that he's just sick and that he'll be fine in a couple of days…" The girl looked worried. "Those three idiots haven't let us visit him once. They say he's contagious or something." Ouka heard a sniffle and looked up to see Mika's tearful face.

                "I think they're just horrid. Poor Omi…I miss him SO much."

                "When I saw you and heard the name Ouka… I just couldn't… I couldn't believe it. Ouka was Omi's first girlfriend. She died in an accident…" Yui trailed off, her eyes looking strangely absent. "That's all that there is to it. Sorry if I made you nervous, new girl." Ouka shrugged and gave a small smile. He didn't feel like eating. It was just so strange.

He felt nervous and sick almost. Feverish. Each time they spoke the name Omi…

                "…i don't feel so good…" He found himself whispering. Mika looked at him startled, and jumped to her feet before Yui or Shinchiro could react.

                "This way…" She muttered worriedly.

…

                He'd spent a good hour at the nurse's office before finally being released and allowed to go back to the classroom. Upon entering, Mika had given a small wave and had whispered everything that Ouka had missed. His backpack had been placed on his desk by Shinchiro and Ouka asked Mika to thank the boy for him, not feeling up to it himself. The rest of the day went by pretty fast and it was not without great relief that the last bell of the day started ringing. As he started to pack up, Mika jumped up and came around so that she could face Ouka's face. It was Yui though that asked him how he was doing first.

                "I'm ok. Thank you." He whispered shyly.

                "No need to be shy!" Mika offered happily. "We're friends, ne?" Ouka nodded tentatively. "Good." The girl smiled. "We were going to go to the Koneko no Sume, that's where Omi works. Wanna come?" At the mention of that name, his stomach lurched and the headache he thought had disappeared began to throb dully. He shook his head.

                "No thank you… Okaa-san is waiting for me."

                "Oh ok. Another time, then?" He nodded and was quickly hugged before Mika skipped away saying her goodbye cheerfully. Yui waved, shaking her head at her friend's behavior. Shinchiro winked and then moved to follow the two girls. Ouka then sighed with relief, realizing that he'd survived his first day of school.

…

A/N- This is the end of this chapter. The next one will hopefully be done soon, thank god summer is finally here!! I'm free to write! Yay! Author of Blank Slate does a little dance and then stops! Please let me now what you think.

Thank you already if you've read this far!!!

And I must say thank you to Skippys Cat who helped me in the beginning when I had all sorts of formatting problem. You were great!!!!

Ja ne, I'm off to go write some more now!!!