"
To see the world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower;
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour. "
- William Blake, Auguries of Innocence
The Inevitable Fate
Chapter 4
"I couldn't believe you actually trick me into doing this…" Rika moaned for the billionth time that day as she slammed shut her locker precariously, which in result attracted many astounded stares from the nearby students.
Shutting her own locker as well, Jeri slung her bag pack and then landed an arm around Rika's elbow, trudging her along as they made their way down the corridor. "Aww, come on… it's not like the end of the world. Besides, it's only for today. Perhaps you might even develop an interest to it and if you were in luck, Reiko sensei might consider putting you in the team alongside with me, of course…"
"I would be consider lucky if you would just leave me out of this absurd matter of yours." Rika snapped.
"But…I have submitted your name to Reiko sensei…"
"Blast."
"But you promised me, Rika-chan."
Halting midway, Rika eyed her companion with an acidic glare, rated around pH 3, which was good enough to neutralize Jeri's mournful expression. "Since when did I agree to this idea of yours wholesomely?"
Pondering over her last words, Jeri promptly fingered her chin in a very Sherlock Holmes way, with an irking smile to go with it. "You said, 'uh, uh' yesterday when I ask, remember?"
"I did?" a questioning look descended on her face as she triggered her brain to recall yesterday's event.
Jeri nodded excitedly.
"Okay, fine, I did. But logically, 'uh-uh' doesn't even make any sense!!! How could you take that as a 'yes' to your unwelcome invitation?!!"
"Please…Rika-chan, we're lack of one person and would be eternally grateful if you would just do us this itsy-bitsy-tiny favour…" Jeri's pleading went on, racing through her left's eardrum and generated echoes of its own in her empty head before been registered briefly in her still-functioning brain.
"—you can stop now –"
"—oh, and this is definitely worth it –"
"—err…right…--"
"—it's a chance of a lifetime –"
Rika sighed defiantly. "Right, when is this ruddy thing of yours?"
Jeri stopped her babbling at once and look into her eyes with gleeful gratitude. This tactic of hers had never failed her once. "After school, in the gymnasium and don't be late." She seemed to breathe the words one shot which sounded much like, 'aferskoolindagimeseumdunbeeeeight'.
Grinning as sweetly as possible, Jeri entered the class without further explanation when she spotted Takato and Henry chatting idly in the class.
What have I gotten myself into? Rika asked for the zillionth time that day as she followed suite after her and collapsed into her seat staidly. A friend indeed.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Open. Slam. Shut.
Uh-oh.
Profound silence.
"Mind tell the class why are you late again this morning, Akiyama-san?"
Every single head in the class turned at the interesting commotion and shortly after that developed the ah-it's-Ryo look.
He grinned sheepishly, which grated a nerve somewhere in the sensei's brain. "Overslept."
"Ah, I see." The sensei replied bluntly. "The fourth time this week."
"Fourth? But sensei, this must be a mistake." Ryo tried to explain. "This was only the third time…"
The class dissolved into laughter. Sensei glared. The class ceased laughing. Sensei wasn't too happy about it. So what's new? If it wasn't Ryo Akiyama, the top student in the entire third grade *in Japan, the highest grade in high school*, the sensei would long glad have him straggled before sending him straight to the principal's office, making sure he was expelled for good but since he was Ryo Akiyama…
The sensei clamed himself down with several fake coughs as he ushered him to take his respectful seat so he could continue with his lecturing peacefully. Yeap, that was the solution that came across the sensei's mind that particular moment but somehow, something or more likely that certain someone who was late and was grinning like a cloned Cheshire Cat, seemed to be lingering on the spot longer that he was supposed too…
"Yes, Akiyama-san, what can I help you this time?"
"Gomen sensei. Regarding the homework you gave to us last week…"
"Yes, go on…"
"Err…the homework…I…"
"I believe you had finish it, I suppose?"
"Actually sensei…I forgotten to do it." There, he had spat it out, knowing greatly that he was into a wild ride for sure.
I just hope I could still breathe freely after this…The last straw of Mr-Nice-Guy had finally broke as a rather contented-looking Ryo Akiyama flew out from the classroom and landed painfully, butt first then the head.
Me and my big mouth.
So for the rest of the History period, he stood outside the classroom, grinning occasionally at the by-passers, and believe it or not the most of them turned out to be girls…
Why do I have a feeling as if I was been watched…secretly??
Rubbing his eyes wearily, Ryo noticed that the people who passed by seemed to increase incredulously.
Maybe this is one of the side effects from lacking of sleep.
But how very wrong he could be at that time as more and more girls passed by deliberately, he could hear the girlish squeals and giggles from the other end of the corridor and had actually wished he was inside of the classroom instead of outside. Try imagining this. You were tired from the lack of sleep and you tend to snooze off unconsciously, not to mention you were kick out from the class, giving you some opportunities to get a really good sleep in the same time creating an infamy for yourself. And then people seemed to pass by unnoticed…as if done deliberately. They winked and flashed simper smile at you. And the best part was you don't know them except of course they are the student of this school. What alternatives do you have but to force a smile or even a slight grin just to repay them back for such nice hospitality?
I think I'm going nuts…
In the middle of amusing himself, a tiny voice perked his ears as Ryo stared into the complete stranger in front of him who was looking at him with uncompromising expression.
"Yes?"
"I'm just wandering…Akiyama-kun…co…cou..could…"
Ryo furrowed a brow upon her stammering and forced a slight smile on his dry lip.
"I mean," she said with utmost difficulty before finding enough courage to finish her sentence. "Couldyasignthisparchmenfome?"
"Huh?" Ryo blinked. "Sorry? Can't hear you clear enough."
Inhaling deeply, she resumed her previous statement, clearly and much more slower too this time. "Could you, please, sign this parchment from me?" Her head was bowed so low; he could have sworn she had definitely worked in McDonald as a part-time worker whose job is to greet the customers whenever one enters the restaurant. A white parchment and a marker were offered to him, which he took absent-mindedly.
"Huh, oh, yeah, sure. Why not?" and with that he drew a rather fancy; correction, weird looking thing or you could even call it as a drawing carved out by a three-year-old kid and if it could ever been considered as a perfect sign, he could be the next Picasso. But the girl certainly didn't mind at all as long as he scribbled something on it. She, in fact, was gazing with awe at him, little twinkling stars and small heart-shaped thingy were beginning to form in her eyes.
"Here." Ryo passed over the parchment abruptly when he stopped scribbling; admiring not the little masterpiece of his as he gingerly pressed it onto her palm. Seconds passed and still…
"Hey?" he waved a hand in front of her. "Anyone there? Hello…"
The dazed looking girl simply continued to stare beyond him.
And the next thing he knew…
"GET OF ME!!!!!" he yelled but they did not seem to hear him. Dang. I HATE GIRLS. If the sudden attack of primitive girls were not enough, another voice boomed behind of him as the sensei stepped out of the class, with curious heads popping out from the door and shooed the girls away. Slowly and unwillingly, the crowd began to subside, until the end only left a gravity-defying haired guy, laying in shock on the floor. Surprise. Surprise.
"We need an explanation to this, Mr Akiyama Ryo."
He gulped. At least I'm rid of those barbarians…
*~*~*~*~*~*
"There you go. You look amazing in it, Rika!!" Jeri squealed with delight to her wistful companion.
Rika shot a scornful glare at her before walking up to the mirror and stared into the reflection of herself. "You must be kidding…" she said as she fingered her slender figure with utmost disgust.
"You look great, Rika! Besides, this is how a cheerleader suppose to dress up. It fits perfectly on you, all right."
"If I have told you once, I've told you a hundred times. I was supposed to be out of circulation from the supermodel life and until then, I wish only to have a peaceful life of a normal high school student. And now you are acting like my second mother, who was constantly fidgeting on my clothing. And you know, I hated –"
"—skirts more than anything in your life?" Jeri cut in. "Haih, haih. I'm fully understand and well aware of your current situation. So, the faster your rehearse the steps, the faster we can get this done, the faster I could stop bugging your life."
Rika sighed unenthusiastically. "Right. What's the steps then?"
"Easy." Jeri grinned. Throwing two brightly pompoms at her, Jeri showed her the maneuvers, the cheerleading style.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Everybody looked tensed in the locker room, especially Ryo who was the captain of the team. It was as if an alien had suddenly descended and everyone was too appalled to say anything. But even those who were caught in that kind of situation would at least be excited about it but this far worse then he had expected. They must win. They had to win. They had to win to prove that their opponent was not entirely invincible like what the mass media had reported.
Knock. Knock.
Everyone looked up and stared hopefully upon the person who entered the room and almost abruptly the room began to buzz excitedly.
"Have they arrived yet?'
"How were they like? Friendly? Bulky?"
"I bet they must be arrogant."
"Is their ace player there? You know the tall, lanky one with –"
"Err…sorry to disappoint you people but I'm here to find Captain Akiyama. Where is he?"
"Here." A voice replied as the buzz died down and it was tensed once more. Spotting his best friend, he started across the room, eyeing occasionally on the benched players with an etched concern.
Ryo, who had kept a lonely corner all to himself, patted the vacant sit beside of him, urging him to sit down. He did and he began to whisper to him, sotto voce-ly.
"What's up, Ken *Kenji*?"
"You'll never believe what I saw out there…"
Rolling his eyes, he replied sarcastically. "Why? A pig just jump over the moon?"
"You see –"
And Ryo listened intensely. "The stadium was filled to the brim with your fans. And each and every of them were frantically chanting your name."
Ryo cast his vision away from his friend and focused onto the cemented floor dully. "So what's new?"
"Well, there is something new… if you're interested."
"Shoot."
"I don't see Kumiko anywhere in the cheerleading team. And to think she never missed a day in school and especially an event as important as this…she never let anyone replace her place and surprisingly they did replaced her after all."
Ryo was silent as he listened to the eagerness in his friend's voice.
"And guess who they found to replace her?"
"Who?" he asked flatly.
"A girl with auburn hair with really amazing figure and she's a friend to Takato and his gang."
That was certainly something new to ponder about as a whistle was blown from the outside, disrupting their conversation and everyone prepared to leave for the match of the season…Shonandai High versus the champion of all time, Tendouji High School.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just a question, should I categorized this fic as a humour fic? I don't know what's gotten into me recently. Perhaps too much holidays and it's driving me nuts. This may be the last time I update this fic since schools starting in a week time and everything is back to the busy mode. And it is also my last year in school.
Wait, on second though, should this fic go on drama category? Err…no idea…and please review!! It's my only happiness during this holiday…and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I want to thank those who reviewed, so here they are :
Junny : I'm not ending this fic, so don't worry. *smile gleefully*
Dark Shadow : You love my story?? *cries* I can't tell you how glad am I to hear that. *cry even more*
Angel13 : Here's something for you this Christmas break. And I understand very well *pat pat*, how's it likes to have older brothers who don't like to share their pc. *pat once more*
Raven Wing : Fuh! I'm definitely working on. In fact, I'm just getting started.
Akino Ame : Glad you enjoyed. It's my first Ryuki fic after all.
Princess Marlene : Thanks for reviewing.
Yuki Onna : More humour coming up!!
Silver Shadow : One of the best piece? *gasp* I'm touched!! But I do believe they are betters out there…*looks into the horizon, shading the light with a finely sculptured hand…*
Kitsune Asakara : Puppy eyes?? Don't do that! *back away…*
MizzKlutz : Thanks for pointing my flaws and I'm extremely glad that there are still alert readers out there. You reviewers are just too wonderful!!
Rika1332 : There ya go, next chapter!
JiYouNg : Thanks, thanks and a millonth THANKS!!
PanDora : I'm touched!
Sakura Scout : I'm on your favourite list? Oh my…I don't know what to say…
DigiqueenTM1M : We all love Ryuki!!
Anjel bluez : I'm not blaming you for having a bad day. Don't worry I'm not offended either. *Grins*
SilverShadow : Thanks a lot for your comment!
JoJo : Here you are, I present you, the fourth chapter!! *With a banner to accompany*
Almost forgotten,
Signing out,
Psycho_kyugurl