Author's Note: Hey, it's DeNice once again. Anyway, I hope Chan didn't
throw you guys off. . . Actually, I hope that it was cool with you guys
who gave a darn to read (and hopefully review). Anyway, here's where
things get nuts. . . You'll love these upcoming chapters. Oh, and. . .
Mitsukake Kagatoshi belongs to Chan, not me. Yeah. . . that's right. . . I don't own him. She does. (ala Darth Vader) She. . . is his mother. . . (insert long breathing here)
Chapter 7: Darrell's Fall
"Sakura. . ."
Sakura K. didn't reply to Darrell as they made their way home. Uriko and Rei were taken care of (lucky that they were right in front of Koui Hospitial) and Sakura S. stayed back to make sure they were okay. Luckily there wasn't any massive psychical damage. . . but Darrell could definitely sense that Sakura's confidence took a huge hit. . .
As they reached their house after about a 20 minute walk, Darrell stopped and held Sakura's shoulder, who was still not making eye contact with him.
"Sakura. . . listen. . . I know that you're feeling pretty crappy but you gotta get over it. We've had worse than this, remember?"
"Yeah, I know. . ." Sakura mumbled, "but that's the problem. I shouldn't have just rushed in like that. . . That's how we got into this whole mess in the first place."
"Yeah, but at least you tried to take him out," Darrell responded, his voice dropping in volume. "All I did was stand there. . . Damn! I should have at least done SOMETHING. . ."
Sakura looked at Darrell for a while before forcing a smile and sighed.
"At least we'll get him next time. . ." she said, trying to think positive. "Now. . . let's go and get ready. We have school tomorrow."
---- ----
NEXT DAY
Sakura K. ran into homeroom about 3 minutes after the bell, panting. She couldn't find her bookbag, which was where she had it last time: under her bed and her little brother didn't tell her where it was until late. . . Luckily the teacher wasn't in, indicated by the many conversations that were being carried. As she started to take her seat, she laid eyes on Kei, who instantly looked away from her. Sakura frowned.
{Crap,} she thought, {I forgot about calling her yesterday. . . Maybe I'll get more luck talking to her now. . .}
"Hi, Kei. . ." Sakura started while sitting next to her long-time friend. Unfortunately, Kei wasn't acting like her friend. . .
"What do you want, Sakura?" she said nastily. "I'm busy. . ."
"Kei, please let me at least try to talk to you. . . I just want to apologize about what I said the other day. I was just. . . uh. . ." Sakura fumbled with what to say and Kei ended.
"A jerk?"
"Yeah. . . Kei, I. . . I. . ."
"Don't worry about it, Sakura," Kei said with a smile. "It's okay. We're still friends, 'kay?"
Sakura froze for a bit before cracking a smile and sharing a quick hug with Kei. At least the day was starting in a good note.
"Okay, class. Sorry I'm late. . ." a sudden female voice shot out from the front of the room. Sakura and Kei directed their attention to their teacher, who had just walked into the room. She was wearing a smile, which wasn't unusual for her. She was one of Tamagawa Minami's coolest teachers. You know, the one that all the students beg to get as their teacher. . .
"We've got a new member to our class. . . Please welcome. . . Mitsukake Kagatoshi."
As soon as the new kid stepped in, Sakura knew who it was.
{It's the guy who we saw yesterday. . .}
"He moves here from Kyoto, so he's completely new to Tokyo," the homeroom teacher continued. "I'd like for you guys to help him get settled okay?"
This lead to a universal moan of agreement from all the students, save for Sakura K and S, who just staring at Mitsukake. Getting the gesture from the teacher, Mitsu took a seat, right next to the normal Sakura. He then faced her and smiled, making Sakura blush a little bit. That little attraction she felt from him yesterday wasn't a hoax, it seemed, since she felt butterflies in her stomach.
"Uh. . . hi. . ." she said shakily. "I'm. . . Sakura Kasugano. I think. . . we've met before, haven't we?"
"Yeah, we have," Mitsu answered, his smile still on his face. "I see you're doing okay, ne? I mean, you're in school in all. . ."
Sakura let out a small laugh. "Yeah. Thanks for. . . helping us out yesterday."
"No problem. Who was that guy, anyway?"
"I wouldn't know," Sakura said, knowing that she was answering half-lie, half-truth. He couldn't let Mitsu get involved in her problems, especially since he was new.
"Well, at least you're fine. How about later you show me around, okay?"
"Sure!" Sakura let out, her peppy attitude peaking out for the first time. Already she felt comfortable with Mitsu. . .
---- ----
It was about halfway through the second lunch period when Sakura & Mitsukake entered the lunchroom. She just went on and showed him around, who to stay with and away from, and other little tidbits. They also did a little socializing while they went on their little tour and every second Sakura started to like Mitsukake more and more.
Just as the two started to get into the line for lunch, a call from the table right next to the two arouse.
"Hey, Mitsu & Sakura! We already got your lunches here!"
Sakura stopped and saw Kei and her Satsu sister already eating their own lunches while two lone trays sat at their sides.
"Thanks, guys," Sakura K. said while reliving her smile. The two sat down and just as Mitsu started to speak, another voice rang out.
"It's about time I caught up with you, Sakura! I've been waiting for you to show up."
Darrell made his way through the crowd of students that arouse around him and stood right behind his girlfriend, laying eyes on Mitsu. . .
"Oh! Hi!" he greeted the new senior. "I remember you from yesterday. Name's Darrell Markis and welcome to Tamagawa Minami!"
Mitsu stared at Darrell as he gave a very friendly smile and then gave him a devil-may-care look.
"Yeah. . . That's nice. . ." Mitsu replied unenthusiastically, making Darrell drop his smile. "Anyway, tell me a little more about yourself, Sakura. You're REALLY interesting to be around. . ."
Darrell frowned and sat down and started eating, just as Sakura K. started to answer Mitsukake's question. Throughout the ten minutes that the two new friends talked Darrell noticed that Mitsu was more and more. . . 'attracted' to Sakura and what really turned his stomach was that Sakura was giving off the same vibe. Suddenly a thought went into his head. . .
{This guy's trying to get. . . 'close' to Sakura. . . I just know it. . .}
He suddenly shook his head, washing away that thought.
{Nah. . . They just met. There's no way that they would be getting THAT close on his first day. . .}
". . .so basically that's how I landed here," Mitsu ended while finally finishing off his lunch. "It's pretty cool being in the heart of Tokyo. I never thought that it was this interesting."
{Hmph! Maybe it wouldn't be so interesting if you weren't talking to my girlfriend,} Darrell thought bitterly, then knocked himself in the head again.
{Why do I keep thinking that?!? I just met him. Why would I be jealous!?}
"Hey, Darrell. . . You okay?" Sakura S. asked, giving a bit of a concerned look. Darrell quickly got up, grabbing the attention of all the other seniors at their table, and replied, "Nothing. . . I. . . just gotta go. . ."
"Okay. . ." Sakura K. accepted. "See ya after school, kay?"
Darrell gave one nod to the normal Sakura, then looked at Mitsu once again before leaving. As he left, Mitsu asked one more question.
"That kid. . . You know him?"
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Know him? I live with him!"
"Really?" Mitsu let out, more like pondering it rather than asking. Somehow. . . he knew that those two were closer than that. . .
---- ----
"Biiidaaa! 'Sorry, Darrell. I'm going to go help Mitsu with his homework. . .' Whatever, Sakura. . ."
Darrell was on his way after school, his bad mood growing ever since Sakura laid down that quote on him at his locker. He was roughly two houses away from their house, still thinking about Mitsu and Sakura being so close only after one school day. Somehow he grew sick in his stomach, his earlier assumptions growing more correct to him. . .
He sighed, walking up to the front door and pulling his house key out of his uniform pocket and put it in, unlocking the door. He stopped a bit, closing his eyes and sighing heavily, then started to walk in. . . that is until someone violently grabbed his right arm and pulled him in that direction, totally catching him off guard.
"Hey! What the-gyyyyaaaahhhh!!!"
A knee exploded into Darrell's stomach, knocking the wind out of his body. Quickly, his attacker made his way to Darrell's backside and placed him in a very tight headlock. Darrell struggled to break the hold, especially taking the cheap way and tried to kick his attacker in the private. No luck. It was blocked with a leg. Quickly, Darrell started to see spots. . . and it took a while to notice what was really happening to him. . .
{It's. . . a sleeper. . . hold. . .}
Darrell felt his vitality drain out of his body as the hold grew even tighter. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. . . Heck, he couldn't even see anymore. Darrell let his arms drop from the attackers arms that were around his neck to his sides. . . and his entire world went black. . .
---- ----
Sakura K & S got home at the same time, roughly 5:30 P.M. The darker Sakura always went off after school to be by herself, just to relax and the normal Sakura was busy with Mitsu. They both knew the material. . . of the homework but. . . Sakura just couldn't resist being near Mitsukake. He was a cool character. . . REALLY cool. . .
"So, sis, how's the new guy?" the darker Sakura asked as they made their way upstairs to their room.
"He's okay, I guess. . ." Sakura K. said while shrugging. Sakura S. gave a smirk, both of them knowing that the original was using that as a serious understatement.
"Okay, okay. . . He's really a great guy. I didn't realize how. . . how. . . attracted I was to him."
"Yeah, so you're saying that you're falling in love with him?" Sakura S. asked while opening the door to their bedroom. Sakura K. blushed.
"NO!! I'm still Darrell's girlfriend, no matter what," she reassured while they entered the room and dropped their bags right in front of the door. "I'm just glad that I could see another boy that I could get close to without beating them up. . . huh?"
On Sakura's computer was a sheet of paper, her printer still on but the computer off. It was already typed on, so she looked at it and read it. . .
"Hey, Sakura. It's Darrell. Just letting you know that I'll be staying at Batsu's for the night, just incase you're worrying where I'm at. Hope you don't. . . 'worry' about me. . .
From Darrell."
Sakura K. raised an eyebrow. Never, EVER did Darrell and Batsu communicate unless they were having their usual battle. . . It was totally weird. Then again, Darrell was acting weird ever since Mitsukake met him. . . Maybe he WAS jealous and didn't want to see her right away. . .
"What's that?" Sakura S. asked. The normal Sakura shook her head hard, going back to her real world, and replied, "Nothing. Just something Darrell left behind. . ."
"Oh. . . Okay. Hey, you ready to do this homework? I know that it's easy but I'm not as good at math as you are. . ."
Sakura K. smiled at her sister, put the note in her drawer in her desk, and proceeded to go to work.
---- ----
DeNice: Yeah. . . It's about time that I directly talked to you guys. If you read this story and haven't reviewed, PLEASE do so. I'm desperate. . . *pulls out $20 dollars* Here, I'll pay you for your review!
Rei: You know. . . that's mine, you know. . .
DeNice: Yeah, it USED to be. . .
Rei: Okay, you asked for it!
DeNice: I don't think so. . . Sagat! Please show Rei the exit.
Sagat: No problem. . .
Rei: Oh, crap. . .
DeNice: Yeah. . . you should really be in the hospital, Rei, not trying to talk cash. . .
Mitsukake Kagatoshi belongs to Chan, not me. Yeah. . . that's right. . . I don't own him. She does. (ala Darth Vader) She. . . is his mother. . . (insert long breathing here)
Chapter 7: Darrell's Fall
"Sakura. . ."
Sakura K. didn't reply to Darrell as they made their way home. Uriko and Rei were taken care of (lucky that they were right in front of Koui Hospitial) and Sakura S. stayed back to make sure they were okay. Luckily there wasn't any massive psychical damage. . . but Darrell could definitely sense that Sakura's confidence took a huge hit. . .
As they reached their house after about a 20 minute walk, Darrell stopped and held Sakura's shoulder, who was still not making eye contact with him.
"Sakura. . . listen. . . I know that you're feeling pretty crappy but you gotta get over it. We've had worse than this, remember?"
"Yeah, I know. . ." Sakura mumbled, "but that's the problem. I shouldn't have just rushed in like that. . . That's how we got into this whole mess in the first place."
"Yeah, but at least you tried to take him out," Darrell responded, his voice dropping in volume. "All I did was stand there. . . Damn! I should have at least done SOMETHING. . ."
Sakura looked at Darrell for a while before forcing a smile and sighed.
"At least we'll get him next time. . ." she said, trying to think positive. "Now. . . let's go and get ready. We have school tomorrow."
---- ----
NEXT DAY
Sakura K. ran into homeroom about 3 minutes after the bell, panting. She couldn't find her bookbag, which was where she had it last time: under her bed and her little brother didn't tell her where it was until late. . . Luckily the teacher wasn't in, indicated by the many conversations that were being carried. As she started to take her seat, she laid eyes on Kei, who instantly looked away from her. Sakura frowned.
{Crap,} she thought, {I forgot about calling her yesterday. . . Maybe I'll get more luck talking to her now. . .}
"Hi, Kei. . ." Sakura started while sitting next to her long-time friend. Unfortunately, Kei wasn't acting like her friend. . .
"What do you want, Sakura?" she said nastily. "I'm busy. . ."
"Kei, please let me at least try to talk to you. . . I just want to apologize about what I said the other day. I was just. . . uh. . ." Sakura fumbled with what to say and Kei ended.
"A jerk?"
"Yeah. . . Kei, I. . . I. . ."
"Don't worry about it, Sakura," Kei said with a smile. "It's okay. We're still friends, 'kay?"
Sakura froze for a bit before cracking a smile and sharing a quick hug with Kei. At least the day was starting in a good note.
"Okay, class. Sorry I'm late. . ." a sudden female voice shot out from the front of the room. Sakura and Kei directed their attention to their teacher, who had just walked into the room. She was wearing a smile, which wasn't unusual for her. She was one of Tamagawa Minami's coolest teachers. You know, the one that all the students beg to get as their teacher. . .
"We've got a new member to our class. . . Please welcome. . . Mitsukake Kagatoshi."
As soon as the new kid stepped in, Sakura knew who it was.
{It's the guy who we saw yesterday. . .}
"He moves here from Kyoto, so he's completely new to Tokyo," the homeroom teacher continued. "I'd like for you guys to help him get settled okay?"
This lead to a universal moan of agreement from all the students, save for Sakura K and S, who just staring at Mitsukake. Getting the gesture from the teacher, Mitsu took a seat, right next to the normal Sakura. He then faced her and smiled, making Sakura blush a little bit. That little attraction she felt from him yesterday wasn't a hoax, it seemed, since she felt butterflies in her stomach.
"Uh. . . hi. . ." she said shakily. "I'm. . . Sakura Kasugano. I think. . . we've met before, haven't we?"
"Yeah, we have," Mitsu answered, his smile still on his face. "I see you're doing okay, ne? I mean, you're in school in all. . ."
Sakura let out a small laugh. "Yeah. Thanks for. . . helping us out yesterday."
"No problem. Who was that guy, anyway?"
"I wouldn't know," Sakura said, knowing that she was answering half-lie, half-truth. He couldn't let Mitsu get involved in her problems, especially since he was new.
"Well, at least you're fine. How about later you show me around, okay?"
"Sure!" Sakura let out, her peppy attitude peaking out for the first time. Already she felt comfortable with Mitsu. . .
---- ----
It was about halfway through the second lunch period when Sakura & Mitsukake entered the lunchroom. She just went on and showed him around, who to stay with and away from, and other little tidbits. They also did a little socializing while they went on their little tour and every second Sakura started to like Mitsukake more and more.
Just as the two started to get into the line for lunch, a call from the table right next to the two arouse.
"Hey, Mitsu & Sakura! We already got your lunches here!"
Sakura stopped and saw Kei and her Satsu sister already eating their own lunches while two lone trays sat at their sides.
"Thanks, guys," Sakura K. said while reliving her smile. The two sat down and just as Mitsu started to speak, another voice rang out.
"It's about time I caught up with you, Sakura! I've been waiting for you to show up."
Darrell made his way through the crowd of students that arouse around him and stood right behind his girlfriend, laying eyes on Mitsu. . .
"Oh! Hi!" he greeted the new senior. "I remember you from yesterday. Name's Darrell Markis and welcome to Tamagawa Minami!"
Mitsu stared at Darrell as he gave a very friendly smile and then gave him a devil-may-care look.
"Yeah. . . That's nice. . ." Mitsu replied unenthusiastically, making Darrell drop his smile. "Anyway, tell me a little more about yourself, Sakura. You're REALLY interesting to be around. . ."
Darrell frowned and sat down and started eating, just as Sakura K. started to answer Mitsukake's question. Throughout the ten minutes that the two new friends talked Darrell noticed that Mitsu was more and more. . . 'attracted' to Sakura and what really turned his stomach was that Sakura was giving off the same vibe. Suddenly a thought went into his head. . .
{This guy's trying to get. . . 'close' to Sakura. . . I just know it. . .}
He suddenly shook his head, washing away that thought.
{Nah. . . They just met. There's no way that they would be getting THAT close on his first day. . .}
". . .so basically that's how I landed here," Mitsu ended while finally finishing off his lunch. "It's pretty cool being in the heart of Tokyo. I never thought that it was this interesting."
{Hmph! Maybe it wouldn't be so interesting if you weren't talking to my girlfriend,} Darrell thought bitterly, then knocked himself in the head again.
{Why do I keep thinking that?!? I just met him. Why would I be jealous!?}
"Hey, Darrell. . . You okay?" Sakura S. asked, giving a bit of a concerned look. Darrell quickly got up, grabbing the attention of all the other seniors at their table, and replied, "Nothing. . . I. . . just gotta go. . ."
"Okay. . ." Sakura K. accepted. "See ya after school, kay?"
Darrell gave one nod to the normal Sakura, then looked at Mitsu once again before leaving. As he left, Mitsu asked one more question.
"That kid. . . You know him?"
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Know him? I live with him!"
"Really?" Mitsu let out, more like pondering it rather than asking. Somehow. . . he knew that those two were closer than that. . .
---- ----
"Biiidaaa! 'Sorry, Darrell. I'm going to go help Mitsu with his homework. . .' Whatever, Sakura. . ."
Darrell was on his way after school, his bad mood growing ever since Sakura laid down that quote on him at his locker. He was roughly two houses away from their house, still thinking about Mitsu and Sakura being so close only after one school day. Somehow he grew sick in his stomach, his earlier assumptions growing more correct to him. . .
He sighed, walking up to the front door and pulling his house key out of his uniform pocket and put it in, unlocking the door. He stopped a bit, closing his eyes and sighing heavily, then started to walk in. . . that is until someone violently grabbed his right arm and pulled him in that direction, totally catching him off guard.
"Hey! What the-gyyyyaaaahhhh!!!"
A knee exploded into Darrell's stomach, knocking the wind out of his body. Quickly, his attacker made his way to Darrell's backside and placed him in a very tight headlock. Darrell struggled to break the hold, especially taking the cheap way and tried to kick his attacker in the private. No luck. It was blocked with a leg. Quickly, Darrell started to see spots. . . and it took a while to notice what was really happening to him. . .
{It's. . . a sleeper. . . hold. . .}
Darrell felt his vitality drain out of his body as the hold grew even tighter. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. . . Heck, he couldn't even see anymore. Darrell let his arms drop from the attackers arms that were around his neck to his sides. . . and his entire world went black. . .
---- ----
Sakura K & S got home at the same time, roughly 5:30 P.M. The darker Sakura always went off after school to be by herself, just to relax and the normal Sakura was busy with Mitsu. They both knew the material. . . of the homework but. . . Sakura just couldn't resist being near Mitsukake. He was a cool character. . . REALLY cool. . .
"So, sis, how's the new guy?" the darker Sakura asked as they made their way upstairs to their room.
"He's okay, I guess. . ." Sakura K. said while shrugging. Sakura S. gave a smirk, both of them knowing that the original was using that as a serious understatement.
"Okay, okay. . . He's really a great guy. I didn't realize how. . . how. . . attracted I was to him."
"Yeah, so you're saying that you're falling in love with him?" Sakura S. asked while opening the door to their bedroom. Sakura K. blushed.
"NO!! I'm still Darrell's girlfriend, no matter what," she reassured while they entered the room and dropped their bags right in front of the door. "I'm just glad that I could see another boy that I could get close to without beating them up. . . huh?"
On Sakura's computer was a sheet of paper, her printer still on but the computer off. It was already typed on, so she looked at it and read it. . .
"Hey, Sakura. It's Darrell. Just letting you know that I'll be staying at Batsu's for the night, just incase you're worrying where I'm at. Hope you don't. . . 'worry' about me. . .
From Darrell."
Sakura K. raised an eyebrow. Never, EVER did Darrell and Batsu communicate unless they were having their usual battle. . . It was totally weird. Then again, Darrell was acting weird ever since Mitsukake met him. . . Maybe he WAS jealous and didn't want to see her right away. . .
"What's that?" Sakura S. asked. The normal Sakura shook her head hard, going back to her real world, and replied, "Nothing. Just something Darrell left behind. . ."
"Oh. . . Okay. Hey, you ready to do this homework? I know that it's easy but I'm not as good at math as you are. . ."
Sakura K. smiled at her sister, put the note in her drawer in her desk, and proceeded to go to work.
---- ----
DeNice: Yeah. . . It's about time that I directly talked to you guys. If you read this story and haven't reviewed, PLEASE do so. I'm desperate. . . *pulls out $20 dollars* Here, I'll pay you for your review!
Rei: You know. . . that's mine, you know. . .
DeNice: Yeah, it USED to be. . .
Rei: Okay, you asked for it!
DeNice: I don't think so. . . Sagat! Please show Rei the exit.
Sagat: No problem. . .
Rei: Oh, crap. . .
DeNice: Yeah. . . you should really be in the hospital, Rei, not trying to talk cash. . .