Standard disclaimers apply.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"Hey, Ha-san, we've been really good lately, wouldn't you say?" Shigure asked idly. He was sitting on the lawn by the lake, supposedly studying his Potions homework. Aya and Hatori were with him.
Hatori looked up - alarmed. "I . . . should say that you have been, but I don't want to," the former doctor responded carefully. He slipped a bookmark into his textbook and closed it with a soft thunk. "What are you planning?"
"Well, Gure-san and I were rather upset because we didn't make any our house teams - " Aya began.
"And I'm upset because I did," Hatori interrupted. "In case all of you forgot, I can only see out of one eye."
"So, you agree that we've been behaving, but you don't agree that we should do anything about it, correct?" Shigure asked carefully, ignoring the dragon's remarks of distaste concerning Quidditch.
Hatori nodded his head once and reopened his textbook. "That's correct. I don't want either of you starting any stupid prank wars like you did in high school. Honestly, you were behaving like children and you haven't grown up very much since then."
Aya grinned boldly. "Hey, Shigure, do you remember the Star Wars theme music?" he inquired mischievously.
Shigure's eyes widened. "As I do recall it goes something like, DANT DANT DA DUN DANT DA DANT DANT DA!" he bellowed.
Then they both sang it together. "DANT DANT DA DUN DANT DA DANT DANT DA!"
"That would make a good joke, don't you think?" Aya laughed gleefully.
"A a splendid joke if I do say so," Shigure agreed.
"What kind of joke are you planning?" Hatori demanded. For the life of him (and all his patients including Akito ) he couldn't figure out how they could play a joke with a theme song from a boring movie.
"A non-stupid one," Shigure said promptly.
"Aya?" Hatori stated coldly, glancing at the snake and willing him to talk.
"Okay, I confess we're going to - " Aya said, melting without any effort.
"I don't think so," Shigure interrupted. He clapped a hand over Aya's mouth. "That is, unless you plan to help us, Ha-san."
"I don't think so," Hatori said flatly. "The last time you convinced me to participate in your mindless schemes, I ended up with my ears pierced in several places, a tattoo, and hot pink hair!"
"Well, it was your fault that happened. I warned you not to let yourself get drunk at that party, but you just kept drinking and drinking until you passed out - "
"I was drinking tea, and Aya accidentally hit me with a lamp!" Hatori objected. "I didn't get drunk and I -" he cut himself off abruptly. "I'm not going to drag up the past to deal with the present."
"Well then, we'll see you later," Aya shouted. Then he vanished from sight along with Shigure.
Hatori sighed and glanced back at his book. It was becoming more and more likely that he was going to begin erasing memories to simply keep the Soumas in Hogwarts."
"Hey, you look kinda stressed out," Kana said, plopping down beside him. "You have to relax a little more. You're a kid again, that's not something that everyone gets to experience. You should - "
"I'm not a kid again. I'm a fully grown man trapped in a younger body - " Hatori began.
"Yeah, but who knows that besides us?" Kana asked, referring to the Souma family. "You should at least enjoy yourself a bit more, ne? Take Quidditch for example. You're so upset about making the team, but why not just relax a bit and enjoy the sport? You could- "
"I could turn into a sea - " he cut himself off abruptly and stood up. "I have to go check on Aya and Shigure, I'll see you later." Mentally he cursed himself for even bringing up his transformation into a seahorse.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Ritsu glanced cautiously around the library before walking up to Ernie. "Hello," he said softly.
"Hmm?" the Quidditch captain murmured. Then, realizing who it was he froze. "Hello Ritsu," he said cautiously. "What did they say about you being commentator for the matches?"
Ritsu beamed. "They said that I could! I mean, I'm going to be commentating the matches with Ayame and it's all thanks to you!"
Ernie laughed nervously. "I really had nothing to do with anything I just - "
"Oh but I would have never tried for such a bold position if you hadn't encouraged me to and -OH My GOSH, YOU WERE TALKING AND I CUT YOU OFF!" Both hands flew to his face. "I'M SO SO SO VERY SORRY, I SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED-"
"In the library," Madam Pince said firmly. "If you cannot hold your tongue -" she didn't notice Ernie giving her a cut-off motion, oblivious to the upcoming noise, she continued. "IF you cannot hold your tongue then you may not stay in the library - "
"AGHHHHHHHHH!" Ritsu bellowed. "I'M SUCH A FOOL!" I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO YELL IN THE LIBRARY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!"
Then, to Madam Pince's amazement, he dropped onto all fours and started bowing excessively before crawling around begging for forgiveness.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"What's her problem?" Ron muttered, getting distracted from his homework as Ritsu began his apology.
"His," Kisa responded quietly. "He's a boy. Ritsu Souma, he's my cousin. He's kinda like me . . . . not very confident, but he always apologizes for everything."
"That's a boy?" Hermione demanded in amazement.
Kisa nodded once. "He just dresses like a girl because it makes him feel more confident." She paused for a moment, she needed to get the conversation off of Ritsu before she said something stupid about the curse. Being around Harry, Ron, and Hermione made her feel at ease.
"Where's Harry?" she asked, suddenly realizing that she hadn't seen him since breakfast that morning.
"Oh," Hermione said, glancing away quickly.
"He's with Sirus," Ron said dismissively. "Down at the Shrieking - "
"RON!" Hermione exclaimed in horror.
Madam Pince threw her an ungrateful look before returning to Ritsu who, at the moment, was getting ready to cling to her leg.
"Ritsu!" Kisa shouted. "No! Akito-sama, he'll be really upset and - " she started running foreword, trying to stop the monkey from revealing the family curse in front of the library patrons.
But before she got even close, she tripped, just as a dark figure stepped out from between two bookshelves.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" Kyou demanded, slipping from between two towering bookshelves and dropping his foot onto Ritsu's back, pinning him to the floor. "She told you to be quiet in the library, not to make more noise."
He grabbed Ritsu by the back of his dress and hauled him to his feet. "I'll just take him outside where he can cool off," he told Madam Pince.
The librarian nodded, not even objecting to the violence the young Gryffindor had displayed.
Kyou smiled humorously and swung Ritsu over his shoulder. "See ya all later," he called out, leaving the library.
He hadn't heard the distinct poofing noise that indicated a Souma transforming into their zodiac form.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Kagura sighed. Haru glanced at her shortly. "Well, it serves you right, you know. You really shouldn't have been attempting to cling to Professor Snape, and hitting him for telling you to go away . . . . . " he let his voice trail off.
"Yeah, but . . . . . " Kagura complained. "You didn't really have to hit me that hard, did you?"
"I really didn't have to get detention for attacking you - I was defending a teacher. What's really irritating is that idiot Snape gave me detention along with you," Haru said stoically.
Kagura frowned at him. "There, you see. You shouldn't have attacked me in the first place. If you hadn't then - "
"You would have transformed and revealed our secret to everyone," Akito hissed. "Hatsuharu did correctly in giving you a through beating - you deserved it!"
"Then why didn't you -" Kagura began, but shut up almost instantly. "Why are you in detention with us anyway?"
"I should think that would be obvious," Haru said blankly. "He screwed up, just like us, and Snape - who's just like him - "
His voice was cut off as Akito hit him upside the head. "SHUT-UP!" he roared before falling silent. His hand was starting to sting terribly.
"Ow?" Haru said inquisitively.
"F***," Akito hissed. "I think that I broke me hand."
Kagura glanced at Haru sidelong. He looked back and shrugged.
Then the door opened and Snape marched in. "What's going on in here?" he demanded.
Akito held up his hand. "I broke my hand when I hit Haru in the face," he said in amazement.
"You attacked a fellow student?!" Snape demanded, outraged, and maybe slightly gleeful.
"No, didn't you hear him, he said that he hit me in the face," Haru interrupted. "He didn't say he attacked me."
"I fail to see the difference," Snape said with a tight smile. "Detention and remove fifty points from your house Mr. Souma."
"Which one?" Haru asked. "Because I'm in Gryffindor right now . . . ."
"I wasn't talking to you, but you may remove fifty points from your house as well," Snape snapped hotly at the black and white haired cow.
"Oh, okay," Haru said. He turned and brushed past the professor. He opened the door and was about to step into the hall when Snape objected.
"Just where do you think you're going Souma?" he hissed.
Haru glanced at him. "I'm going to remove fifty points from my house . . . . . hey, you're right, I don't know where to do that at. Could you give me some directions?"
Snape took one trembling breath. "Souma I - "
"My hand is still broken. How come I didn't break any bones when I put Kisa and Rin into the hospital?" Akito said suddenly.
Snape rounded on him, realizing that he had let himself get stuck alone with three Soumas. "When you put who into the hospital and for what purpose?"
"Kisa and Rin, I put them in the hospital to teach a lesson to their boyfriends," Akito said dismissively. "But my hand didn't break then. I must have a bone disease that makes my bones brittle and soft - "
"Hey, Kagura, do you know where the point removing room is?" Haru whispered.
Kagura barely glanced at him. She was gazing at Snape with a star-struck look in her eyes. "I don't know, but I'm not going there unless Snapie-poo and I decided to get a bit of loving done . . . . . "
"I'll find it," Haru said, ignoring her obvious adoration for their teacher.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"I told you to leave me alone already, didn't you hear me?" Hiro snarled at Goyle and Crabble. The two thick headed boys had taken to following him around the school, flanking him and threatening anyone who got to close.
They both moved back a step and continued following him. "Don't you find that . . . uhm . . . .disturbing?" Kunero asked lightly.
"Hmph," Hiro snorted. "Of course I do. It wouldn't matter so much if they were useful, but all they do is grunt and make idle threats towards people who aren't threatening me at all. If they keep it up for much longer, then someone's going to start thinking that I need protection. It's debasing everything about - "
"Hello," Tohru interrupted him. She had a bright smile on her face. "Uo, Hana, Momiji, and I are going down to swim in the lake before winter sets in. This could be the last warm day we get this fall, so - "
Kunero smiled. "Will Akito-sama be there?"
"He's got detention, but I'll be there," Uotani said from behind him.
"So will I," Hana added, causing Crabble and Goyle to cower behind Hiro. One way or another, they had decided she was a threat.
"Cut that out. Don't you feel any pride? Hiding behind a kid isn't really dignified, not to mention it makes you look pathetically weak and useless. But I suppose you don't mind showing your true colors - you are weak and pathetic and you know it, don't you?" Hiro questioned.
They both scrunched up their faces, attempting to find a correct answer.
"Don't bother, you're just going to say something stupid anyway. You might as well say not say anything and just stare stupidly, it's the best course of action in the long run - "
"Hey," Haru said, interrupting the young sheep's recommendations. "I'm looking for the Point Removing Room."
"You mean where they keep track of the house points?" Uo asked. "I think that it's in the great hall."
"You lose a lot of points and need to see how badly you screwed up?" Momiji asked. "I just came from there. Hufflepuff is in second place," he said proudly.
"That'll change once Haru stops losing points for my house," Yuki and Kyou said at the same time. Kyou still had Ritsu draped over one shoulder.
"Miss Honda, I heard that you were going to the lake. If you don't mind, I'd like to tag along," Yuki said softly.
"I'd love it if you'd come!" Tohru exclaimed. "And what about you, Kyou? Ritsu? I'd love it if you'd come too!"
"Well, I'm not going," Kunero announced. "Chickens hate water. It scares them."
"Chickens are afraid of everything," Goyle said. "That's why they're called chickens."
"And everything tastes like chickens too!" Crabble added.
Haru turned and walked away while Kunero took a big bite out of his arm. "Yeach!" he said, spitting blood and skin from his mouth. "I've never tasted anything so bad before, so you just made that up. Everything doesn't taste like chicken!"
"Imbecile. You just took a bite out of your arm. Akito-sama's not going to appreciate you - " Hiro began.
"And you called yourself a chicken," Crabble snickered.
"That's because I am one," Kunero said, puffing his chest out importantly. "Well, I'm actually more of a cock - "
"I'm going to take him to the medical wing now," Uotani said, grabbing his uneaten arm and hauling him away.
"Let's go to the lake," Yuki said. He turned and took a hold of Tohru's arm and started steering her towards the lake.
"Oh, but Kyou, you didn't say if you were coming with us or not," Tohru exclaimed, reaching over and clasping his arm. "I haven't seen you in a long while again, I mean, what with classes being at different times and all . . . . ."
Kyou's face turned bright red. "All right, I'll come," he said, attempting to fight down his blush.
They entered the grand staircase leading down to the doors. Yuki put one foot lightly on a step.
"DANT!" a loud blare of music echoed through the hall.
"What was that?" Momiji whimpered, clinging to Ritsu.
"I don't know," the monkey responded, looking around in fearful awe. "It was some sort of noise . . . . . ."
Yuki took three more quick steps down the stairs. "DANT DA DANT - " music echoed once again.
"What is it?" Kyou asked.
Yuki stopped and gestured the others foreword. "It's the steps. They're acting like a giant music machine. When you step on them, they play a different note - "
"Sure they do," Kyou muttered, taking a step foreword.
"Phew, I thought it was something scary," Momiji exclaimed. He ran down all the stairs and waited at the bottom.
"That's the Star Wars theme song," Rin announced. "I remember hearing Aya and Shigure chuckling about it earlier. I suppose that this is their work." She walked down the stairs in a dignified manner.
The others followed. "Have you seen Kisa lately?" Hiro started to ask as they reached the bottom.
A loud shattering noise split the relative silence in the hall. Then pebbled thundered down onto the ground.
Everyone jumped in surprise.
"Well, I guess I should get back to detention now that I removed fifty points from my house," Haru announced, looking at the shattered hourglass like container and the small rubies scattered across the floor.
"Ha-ha-haru," Momiji squeaked.
"Leave - NOW!" Rin exclaimed. She grabbed Ritsu and hurried out the door, dragging Momiji after her.
"Why?" Kyou started to ask.
"Before someone comes!" Yuki exclaimed. "We'll be blamed." He caught Tohru by her hand and raced out the door with her.
Kyou frowned. "Wait up!" he shouted and hurried after them. "We didn't have anything to do with that, so why should we -?"
Hiro stopped running. "Just what are you - stupid? The teachers are going to be really upset about that getting broken. But more then that, if it got back to Akito-sama, he'd probably get really really mad and punish us - "
"Why?" Kyou sulked.
"Forget about it and race Yuki across the lake," Rin suggested.
Kyou's red eyes gained new fire and he shouted, "You're on!" at the top of his lungs before flinging himself into the water and across the lake.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Haru shrugged, not running and left the hall. "Hey, Professor McGonagall," he said, spotting the stern Transfiguration teacher. "There's a mess in the hall, you should probably have someone look at it and clean it up before someone gets hurt."
"What?" McGonagall demanded. She hurried past him and into the hall. Seconds later there was a muted scream and she hurried off in search of the culprit.
Haru, in the meantime, returned to his detention and started irritating Professor Snape some more.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Author's notes; I'm trying to think who Kisa should have run into. Any suggestions or ideas are more then welcome. :)
Thanks for reading,
Kissa-chan
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"Hey, Ha-san, we've been really good lately, wouldn't you say?" Shigure asked idly. He was sitting on the lawn by the lake, supposedly studying his Potions homework. Aya and Hatori were with him.
Hatori looked up - alarmed. "I . . . should say that you have been, but I don't want to," the former doctor responded carefully. He slipped a bookmark into his textbook and closed it with a soft thunk. "What are you planning?"
"Well, Gure-san and I were rather upset because we didn't make any our house teams - " Aya began.
"And I'm upset because I did," Hatori interrupted. "In case all of you forgot, I can only see out of one eye."
"So, you agree that we've been behaving, but you don't agree that we should do anything about it, correct?" Shigure asked carefully, ignoring the dragon's remarks of distaste concerning Quidditch.
Hatori nodded his head once and reopened his textbook. "That's correct. I don't want either of you starting any stupid prank wars like you did in high school. Honestly, you were behaving like children and you haven't grown up very much since then."
Aya grinned boldly. "Hey, Shigure, do you remember the Star Wars theme music?" he inquired mischievously.
Shigure's eyes widened. "As I do recall it goes something like, DANT DANT DA DUN DANT DA DANT DANT DA!" he bellowed.
Then they both sang it together. "DANT DANT DA DUN DANT DA DANT DANT DA!"
"That would make a good joke, don't you think?" Aya laughed gleefully.
"A a splendid joke if I do say so," Shigure agreed.
"What kind of joke are you planning?" Hatori demanded. For the life of him (and all his patients including Akito ) he couldn't figure out how they could play a joke with a theme song from a boring movie.
"A non-stupid one," Shigure said promptly.
"Aya?" Hatori stated coldly, glancing at the snake and willing him to talk.
"Okay, I confess we're going to - " Aya said, melting without any effort.
"I don't think so," Shigure interrupted. He clapped a hand over Aya's mouth. "That is, unless you plan to help us, Ha-san."
"I don't think so," Hatori said flatly. "The last time you convinced me to participate in your mindless schemes, I ended up with my ears pierced in several places, a tattoo, and hot pink hair!"
"Well, it was your fault that happened. I warned you not to let yourself get drunk at that party, but you just kept drinking and drinking until you passed out - "
"I was drinking tea, and Aya accidentally hit me with a lamp!" Hatori objected. "I didn't get drunk and I -" he cut himself off abruptly. "I'm not going to drag up the past to deal with the present."
"Well then, we'll see you later," Aya shouted. Then he vanished from sight along with Shigure.
Hatori sighed and glanced back at his book. It was becoming more and more likely that he was going to begin erasing memories to simply keep the Soumas in Hogwarts."
"Hey, you look kinda stressed out," Kana said, plopping down beside him. "You have to relax a little more. You're a kid again, that's not something that everyone gets to experience. You should - "
"I'm not a kid again. I'm a fully grown man trapped in a younger body - " Hatori began.
"Yeah, but who knows that besides us?" Kana asked, referring to the Souma family. "You should at least enjoy yourself a bit more, ne? Take Quidditch for example. You're so upset about making the team, but why not just relax a bit and enjoy the sport? You could- "
"I could turn into a sea - " he cut himself off abruptly and stood up. "I have to go check on Aya and Shigure, I'll see you later." Mentally he cursed himself for even bringing up his transformation into a seahorse.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Ritsu glanced cautiously around the library before walking up to Ernie. "Hello," he said softly.
"Hmm?" the Quidditch captain murmured. Then, realizing who it was he froze. "Hello Ritsu," he said cautiously. "What did they say about you being commentator for the matches?"
Ritsu beamed. "They said that I could! I mean, I'm going to be commentating the matches with Ayame and it's all thanks to you!"
Ernie laughed nervously. "I really had nothing to do with anything I just - "
"Oh but I would have never tried for such a bold position if you hadn't encouraged me to and -OH My GOSH, YOU WERE TALKING AND I CUT YOU OFF!" Both hands flew to his face. "I'M SO SO SO VERY SORRY, I SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED-"
"In the library," Madam Pince said firmly. "If you cannot hold your tongue -" she didn't notice Ernie giving her a cut-off motion, oblivious to the upcoming noise, she continued. "IF you cannot hold your tongue then you may not stay in the library - "
"AGHHHHHHHHH!" Ritsu bellowed. "I'M SUCH A FOOL!" I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO YELL IN THE LIBRARY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!"
Then, to Madam Pince's amazement, he dropped onto all fours and started bowing excessively before crawling around begging for forgiveness.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"What's her problem?" Ron muttered, getting distracted from his homework as Ritsu began his apology.
"His," Kisa responded quietly. "He's a boy. Ritsu Souma, he's my cousin. He's kinda like me . . . . not very confident, but he always apologizes for everything."
"That's a boy?" Hermione demanded in amazement.
Kisa nodded once. "He just dresses like a girl because it makes him feel more confident." She paused for a moment, she needed to get the conversation off of Ritsu before she said something stupid about the curse. Being around Harry, Ron, and Hermione made her feel at ease.
"Where's Harry?" she asked, suddenly realizing that she hadn't seen him since breakfast that morning.
"Oh," Hermione said, glancing away quickly.
"He's with Sirus," Ron said dismissively. "Down at the Shrieking - "
"RON!" Hermione exclaimed in horror.
Madam Pince threw her an ungrateful look before returning to Ritsu who, at the moment, was getting ready to cling to her leg.
"Ritsu!" Kisa shouted. "No! Akito-sama, he'll be really upset and - " she started running foreword, trying to stop the monkey from revealing the family curse in front of the library patrons.
But before she got even close, she tripped, just as a dark figure stepped out from between two bookshelves.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" Kyou demanded, slipping from between two towering bookshelves and dropping his foot onto Ritsu's back, pinning him to the floor. "She told you to be quiet in the library, not to make more noise."
He grabbed Ritsu by the back of his dress and hauled him to his feet. "I'll just take him outside where he can cool off," he told Madam Pince.
The librarian nodded, not even objecting to the violence the young Gryffindor had displayed.
Kyou smiled humorously and swung Ritsu over his shoulder. "See ya all later," he called out, leaving the library.
He hadn't heard the distinct poofing noise that indicated a Souma transforming into their zodiac form.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Kagura sighed. Haru glanced at her shortly. "Well, it serves you right, you know. You really shouldn't have been attempting to cling to Professor Snape, and hitting him for telling you to go away . . . . . " he let his voice trail off.
"Yeah, but . . . . . " Kagura complained. "You didn't really have to hit me that hard, did you?"
"I really didn't have to get detention for attacking you - I was defending a teacher. What's really irritating is that idiot Snape gave me detention along with you," Haru said stoically.
Kagura frowned at him. "There, you see. You shouldn't have attacked me in the first place. If you hadn't then - "
"You would have transformed and revealed our secret to everyone," Akito hissed. "Hatsuharu did correctly in giving you a through beating - you deserved it!"
"Then why didn't you -" Kagura began, but shut up almost instantly. "Why are you in detention with us anyway?"
"I should think that would be obvious," Haru said blankly. "He screwed up, just like us, and Snape - who's just like him - "
His voice was cut off as Akito hit him upside the head. "SHUT-UP!" he roared before falling silent. His hand was starting to sting terribly.
"Ow?" Haru said inquisitively.
"F***," Akito hissed. "I think that I broke me hand."
Kagura glanced at Haru sidelong. He looked back and shrugged.
Then the door opened and Snape marched in. "What's going on in here?" he demanded.
Akito held up his hand. "I broke my hand when I hit Haru in the face," he said in amazement.
"You attacked a fellow student?!" Snape demanded, outraged, and maybe slightly gleeful.
"No, didn't you hear him, he said that he hit me in the face," Haru interrupted. "He didn't say he attacked me."
"I fail to see the difference," Snape said with a tight smile. "Detention and remove fifty points from your house Mr. Souma."
"Which one?" Haru asked. "Because I'm in Gryffindor right now . . . ."
"I wasn't talking to you, but you may remove fifty points from your house as well," Snape snapped hotly at the black and white haired cow.
"Oh, okay," Haru said. He turned and brushed past the professor. He opened the door and was about to step into the hall when Snape objected.
"Just where do you think you're going Souma?" he hissed.
Haru glanced at him. "I'm going to remove fifty points from my house . . . . . hey, you're right, I don't know where to do that at. Could you give me some directions?"
Snape took one trembling breath. "Souma I - "
"My hand is still broken. How come I didn't break any bones when I put Kisa and Rin into the hospital?" Akito said suddenly.
Snape rounded on him, realizing that he had let himself get stuck alone with three Soumas. "When you put who into the hospital and for what purpose?"
"Kisa and Rin, I put them in the hospital to teach a lesson to their boyfriends," Akito said dismissively. "But my hand didn't break then. I must have a bone disease that makes my bones brittle and soft - "
"Hey, Kagura, do you know where the point removing room is?" Haru whispered.
Kagura barely glanced at him. She was gazing at Snape with a star-struck look in her eyes. "I don't know, but I'm not going there unless Snapie-poo and I decided to get a bit of loving done . . . . . "
"I'll find it," Haru said, ignoring her obvious adoration for their teacher.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"I told you to leave me alone already, didn't you hear me?" Hiro snarled at Goyle and Crabble. The two thick headed boys had taken to following him around the school, flanking him and threatening anyone who got to close.
They both moved back a step and continued following him. "Don't you find that . . . uhm . . . .disturbing?" Kunero asked lightly.
"Hmph," Hiro snorted. "Of course I do. It wouldn't matter so much if they were useful, but all they do is grunt and make idle threats towards people who aren't threatening me at all. If they keep it up for much longer, then someone's going to start thinking that I need protection. It's debasing everything about - "
"Hello," Tohru interrupted him. She had a bright smile on her face. "Uo, Hana, Momiji, and I are going down to swim in the lake before winter sets in. This could be the last warm day we get this fall, so - "
Kunero smiled. "Will Akito-sama be there?"
"He's got detention, but I'll be there," Uotani said from behind him.
"So will I," Hana added, causing Crabble and Goyle to cower behind Hiro. One way or another, they had decided she was a threat.
"Cut that out. Don't you feel any pride? Hiding behind a kid isn't really dignified, not to mention it makes you look pathetically weak and useless. But I suppose you don't mind showing your true colors - you are weak and pathetic and you know it, don't you?" Hiro questioned.
They both scrunched up their faces, attempting to find a correct answer.
"Don't bother, you're just going to say something stupid anyway. You might as well say not say anything and just stare stupidly, it's the best course of action in the long run - "
"Hey," Haru said, interrupting the young sheep's recommendations. "I'm looking for the Point Removing Room."
"You mean where they keep track of the house points?" Uo asked. "I think that it's in the great hall."
"You lose a lot of points and need to see how badly you screwed up?" Momiji asked. "I just came from there. Hufflepuff is in second place," he said proudly.
"That'll change once Haru stops losing points for my house," Yuki and Kyou said at the same time. Kyou still had Ritsu draped over one shoulder.
"Miss Honda, I heard that you were going to the lake. If you don't mind, I'd like to tag along," Yuki said softly.
"I'd love it if you'd come!" Tohru exclaimed. "And what about you, Kyou? Ritsu? I'd love it if you'd come too!"
"Well, I'm not going," Kunero announced. "Chickens hate water. It scares them."
"Chickens are afraid of everything," Goyle said. "That's why they're called chickens."
"And everything tastes like chickens too!" Crabble added.
Haru turned and walked away while Kunero took a big bite out of his arm. "Yeach!" he said, spitting blood and skin from his mouth. "I've never tasted anything so bad before, so you just made that up. Everything doesn't taste like chicken!"
"Imbecile. You just took a bite out of your arm. Akito-sama's not going to appreciate you - " Hiro began.
"And you called yourself a chicken," Crabble snickered.
"That's because I am one," Kunero said, puffing his chest out importantly. "Well, I'm actually more of a cock - "
"I'm going to take him to the medical wing now," Uotani said, grabbing his uneaten arm and hauling him away.
"Let's go to the lake," Yuki said. He turned and took a hold of Tohru's arm and started steering her towards the lake.
"Oh, but Kyou, you didn't say if you were coming with us or not," Tohru exclaimed, reaching over and clasping his arm. "I haven't seen you in a long while again, I mean, what with classes being at different times and all . . . . ."
Kyou's face turned bright red. "All right, I'll come," he said, attempting to fight down his blush.
They entered the grand staircase leading down to the doors. Yuki put one foot lightly on a step.
"DANT!" a loud blare of music echoed through the hall.
"What was that?" Momiji whimpered, clinging to Ritsu.
"I don't know," the monkey responded, looking around in fearful awe. "It was some sort of noise . . . . . ."
Yuki took three more quick steps down the stairs. "DANT DA DANT - " music echoed once again.
"What is it?" Kyou asked.
Yuki stopped and gestured the others foreword. "It's the steps. They're acting like a giant music machine. When you step on them, they play a different note - "
"Sure they do," Kyou muttered, taking a step foreword.
"Phew, I thought it was something scary," Momiji exclaimed. He ran down all the stairs and waited at the bottom.
"That's the Star Wars theme song," Rin announced. "I remember hearing Aya and Shigure chuckling about it earlier. I suppose that this is their work." She walked down the stairs in a dignified manner.
The others followed. "Have you seen Kisa lately?" Hiro started to ask as they reached the bottom.
A loud shattering noise split the relative silence in the hall. Then pebbled thundered down onto the ground.
Everyone jumped in surprise.
"Well, I guess I should get back to detention now that I removed fifty points from my house," Haru announced, looking at the shattered hourglass like container and the small rubies scattered across the floor.
"Ha-ha-haru," Momiji squeaked.
"Leave - NOW!" Rin exclaimed. She grabbed Ritsu and hurried out the door, dragging Momiji after her.
"Why?" Kyou started to ask.
"Before someone comes!" Yuki exclaimed. "We'll be blamed." He caught Tohru by her hand and raced out the door with her.
Kyou frowned. "Wait up!" he shouted and hurried after them. "We didn't have anything to do with that, so why should we -?"
Hiro stopped running. "Just what are you - stupid? The teachers are going to be really upset about that getting broken. But more then that, if it got back to Akito-sama, he'd probably get really really mad and punish us - "
"Why?" Kyou sulked.
"Forget about it and race Yuki across the lake," Rin suggested.
Kyou's red eyes gained new fire and he shouted, "You're on!" at the top of his lungs before flinging himself into the water and across the lake.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Haru shrugged, not running and left the hall. "Hey, Professor McGonagall," he said, spotting the stern Transfiguration teacher. "There's a mess in the hall, you should probably have someone look at it and clean it up before someone gets hurt."
"What?" McGonagall demanded. She hurried past him and into the hall. Seconds later there was a muted scream and she hurried off in search of the culprit.
Haru, in the meantime, returned to his detention and started irritating Professor Snape some more.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Author's notes; I'm trying to think who Kisa should have run into. Any suggestions or ideas are more then welcome. :)
Thanks for reading,
Kissa-chan