A/N: To the reviewer who asked how I knew Mistral was having a baby. Well, to put it simply, I spoiled myself.
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Dot hack//Relationship
II: It's A Date
Well, now that school is out for the day, I can go back to playing The World Online!
…
That's what I would have said, but not today. Skeith's gone, but Yasuhiko's still comatose; I've no idea what to do. Yeah, a good month-long break will do me good.
Well shit, I forgot my locker combination… and the only other person who knows it is Yasuhiko. I'm in trouble, I've to go to soccer practice and my clothes are in my locker!
Wait a minute, the guidance office! People always forget their combos and they go there.
I can't believe I forgot about it.
I raced towards the guidance office, pushing people to and fro. I've only five minutes before practice starts, and I might get kicked off the team for being late once more! Success, the guidance door was just down the hall.
I began a sprint towards it, and as I'm about to reach the door-
"Whoa!"
Ouch.
What happened?
I tried to pick myself off the floor, only now realizing something was holding me down. Something that weighs like a person, something with two mounds pressing into my chest.
Oh shit, don't tell me it's a girl!
I heard catcalls in the background, chants of, "go Toshiio" followed. Yep, that sealed my fate. It's a girl, and I'm most likely going to be slapped in the face, kneed in the groin, or something to that effect.
I finally opened my eyes and stared into the most beautiful shade of brown I had ever seen. I've never seen anything like this. I took a good, long hard at the girls' features, and surprise surprise, it's the new girl!
Snapping myself out, I gently nudged her a bit.
"Would you mind getting off of me," I asked, preparing my punch line, "I'm not sure this is the right place, but we can meet at my house and continue this if you want."
Her expression was as expected. She blushed a deep shade of crimson, and picked herself up off of me… unfortunately, she slipped and fell back on me!
"Hey," I said, "I never knew you wanted me this bad."
This was fun!
After wiggling around for a minute, moaning in slight pain as she finally picked herself up and stood straight, face as red as fire.
Of course, mine was too. Tell me you wouldn't get aroused if a girl was moaning and moving around on your body.
Well, now that the fun was over, I began to act seriously.
"Are you alright," I asked sincerely this time, promise!
"Yeah," she told me, "I'm sorry I ran into you."
"No problem," I smirked.
"I kinda liked it," I whispered after moving in closer.
"Toshiio, this is inappropriate," she stated, backing away.
"Alright," I laughed, "so are you lost?"
"Yes," she answered, "I'm trying out for the girl's tennis team."
She motioned to her tennis racket.
"But I can't find the tennis courts, can you show me?"
I stood there for a minute, deciding whether to escort this beautiful angel to her destination, or go to soccer practice.
…
Screw soccer.
"Here, I'll show you," I motioned with my hand for her to follow, "want me to carry your bag?"
Always a true gentleman.
"No, thank you."
***
Wow, the new girl was pretty good. If I'm going to be friends with her, I've to start to learn her name. What was it again, Hana? Or was it Anako? I guess I'll have to ask her.
I glanced at my watch, 4:15. Tennis tryouts are taking as long as my soccer practice, so my parents shouldn't be too worried about it. The new girl, whose name I still don't know, is probably going to be the best on the team. She may even bring our school's tennis team to the fin-
Ouch, something hit me in the head! Man, it's a tennis ball. Damn it, can they not make the balls fly everywhere?
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Toshiio," the person who I assume hit the ball at me apologized.
My ears were still ringing that I couldn't tell who it was, until I looked up.
Who would have guessed it was the new girl.
"Oh, it's you," I stated, "It's alright, it doesn't hurt much."
Damn it, why can't I remember her name?
"Are tennis tryouts over yet," I asked.
"They're ending in a few minutes," she answered, "you didn't have to wait for me."
"It's alright," I gently told her, "I wanted to."
She blushed.
Yeah, I do have that charm on the ladies.
"I'll start packing up now, wait five more minutes," she asked me.
"What's five more minutes to an hour," I smiled at her.
"Thank you for waiting for me, Toshiio."
"It's alright," I assured her, "I enjoy watching tennis."
She picked up the duffle bag that lay beside me, and raced off towards the change room.
Five minutes passed by like a blur, and the new girl, whose name still eludes me, came out looking radiant. I decided to ask her what her name was in the five minutes she was absent, so this time is good to ask her.
"Uh, I've something to ask you," I began.
Man, I'm sweating already!
"Sure, what is it," she responded.
Here goes nothing.
"Eh… what is your name? I kinda forgot."
"My name? Oh, it's Hanako," she answered.
Hanako, such a beautiful name.
"Is that why you're all so nervous?"
"Yeah," I admitted, "so where to next?"
"I'm tired," she said, "I want to go home."
"Okay, where do you live?"
Why does she trust me so much to walk her home?
Oh yeah, I remind her of someone.
"Where do you live," I asked.
"Me? Well, I live in the Koizumi Apartment building."
That's close to my building, about a block away if my memory serves me right.
"That's close to my building."
"Really," she asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Yeah, it's only about a blo-"
"Whoa!"
I heard that, and then a thud came instantly after. Sigh, the new girl tripped on her shoe laces.
Pretty as she may be, she's clumsy.
"Oh, look at that, poor new girl fell down."
I instantly recognized the voice behind the taunt, and it belonged to Ushio.
You might be wondering who he is, and I guess it's time for a history lesson, children!
You see, Ushio, like all big brutes, is a bully. A very common bully at that, big and strong, but dumb like a doorknob.
He's the biggest bully in the school, everyone's afraid of him. Rumours are around the school that he carries a knife with him at all times, so that's why no one dares mess with him.
Oh, and kids? You know how adults always tell you to walk away from bullies? Well, they're wrong. As soon as you turn your back to them, they'll kick the shit out of you.
Trust me, I know, but that didn't stop me from doing what I'm about to do now.
"Shut the hell up, Ushio," I said in my toughest voice.
Kite, my character from The World Online, really has influenced my character. Before, I would always be scared of the brute, but not now. After risking my life, Ushio is a piece of cake.
At least until he threw the first punch.
And let me tell you, it hurt like hell.
Ah shit, what the hell was I thinking picking a fight with Ushio?
Wait a minute, was that sobbing I heard?
I forced myself to look behind me.
Oh yeah, this was for Hanako's sake.
I strained my ears to hear what she was saying.
"Please, st-stop it."
She was on her knees and crying a bit. That made me smile a bit.
A punch in my gut knocked the wind out of me suddenly, and I was sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath. I felt one of Ushio's cronies rest a foot on my shoulder, pressing down a bit hard. I'm going to be sore tomorrow.
"Heh, I think poor Toshiio's had enough, eh fellas?"
They all nodded in agreement, and they soon filed out.
I laid my head on the cold pavement floor, recollecting my self.
"Ohh,"
I groaned from the soreness when Hanako came over and lifted me up. She moved my arm around her shoulders, and she wrapped her arms around my waist, supporting me with her body.
"H-hey, what are you doing," I eked out.
"I'm getting you to my place so I can treat your injuries," she managed to say.
Before I knew it, Hanako and I were at her apartment building, waiting in front of her door for someone to answer. She told me her mother was home.
"My goodness, Hanako, what happened at school," I heard someone ask.
I think that was her mother. I couldn't tell because my eyes were closed.
"Who is this, and why does he look so bad?"
"Well, you see mom-" she was about to explain.
"We'll worry about that later, let's get him treated."
I felt another pair of arms around my waist, and I suddenly felt weightless. I guess the mother was carrying me too. They set me down on a chair, I think. The one of my left, the mother I think, left my side and the opening of cupboards followed.
I hope she doesn't get that cursed iodine out. That thing stings like hell.
And luck was not on my side, for I felt a swab over my cuts. Damn, they hurt.
I vocalized my discomfort in a hiss.
"We need to treat your cuts, don't worry," Hanako's voice soothed me.
After what seemed like hours of intense pain, it finally stopped. I opened my eyes and saw the smiling face of Hanako staring back at me. My face flushed an intense face of red. She frowned.
"Are you sick," she asked me, touching my forehead.
I gently nudged her hand away, "no, I'm fine."
"Is anyone going to tell me what happened," I heard her mother's voice in the background.
"We-well, you see mother."
"Hanako was being picked on at school; I stepped up and got my ass kicked."
Simple, and to the point.
"Really," her mother asked me, incredulously, "you defended my poor baby girl?"
What's going on?
"Yeah, I did, why," I asked, after a bit of delay.
Hanako's mother paused for a minute, as if recollecting her thoughts.
Then, in one motion, her mother swooped me up in a hug.
"Excuse me, misses."
What was Hanako's last name? Eh, running… out… of… breath… must…. Inform.
"I'm running… out of breath, miss," I choked out.
She immediately released me, concern over her face.
"I'm so sorry."
This time, she hugged me a bit softer, and then went to Hanako.
It was a whisper, but I could hear it faintly. "Don't let go of him, he's a keeper."
I looked away, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping as Hanako gasped.
"She's gone now."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"I know she can over-react sometimes."
"That's an understatement," I said smiling.
"Yo, Hanako."
"Yeah?"
I'm going to ask her out, and this is a better time than any.
"You want to go catch a movie Friday?"
Missiles away.
She didn't talk for a minute. "You mean like a date?"
Missiles off-course.
"Yeah, a date, you want to go?"
"Sure, I'd love to go, Toshiio."
Target hit, success!
"That's great!"
I tried to stand up and hug her, but the soreness in my legs made me collapse back into the chair. Hanako immediately went up to help me.
What time is it?
I looked at my watch, 6:50.
I may be in trouble. I've only ten minutes to get home.
"I've to go now, Hanako, my parents want me back by 7:00."
"Okay then."
She led me to the door, and I gave her one last hug before I left.
But something caught my eye.
A strand of hair escaped the confines of the bandana. The hair wasn't what really shocked me though, it was the colour. It was pink hair. Just like the shade of BlackRose's hair. Could she be BlackRose?
Nah, what am I saying? They're personalities are totally different. BlackRose is spontaneous and outgoing, while Hanako is calm. The hair is probably a coincidence. I guess that's why she wears a bandana.
"I'll see you tomorrow at school."
I waved goodbye, and as soon as she was out of my sight, I dashed out of the building.
I've got to tell BlackRose about my date!
***
"I've got something great to tell you, BlackRose," I almost shouted into the headset.
"What is it, Kite," she asked me.
You must be wondering how we can talk to each other. Well that is something I can explain. When Altimit became the new computer, it made its own messaging system that uses headsets for communication. It's called Altimit Instant Messenger, otherwise known as AIM. Don't get it confused with that horrendous AOL Instant Messenger, it can't even compete. And beware, if you dare mutter a word about AOL Instant Messenger in public, you'll be criticized to hell and back.
"Are you going to tell me, or what!?" BlackRose was getting impatient.
"I'm going on a date Friday!"
"What?"
"A date, you know, a guy and a girl go see a movie or something." I chuckled.
"I know what a date is; I just want to know who you're going with!"
"You jealous?" Ouch, that's gotta hurt.
"What? No! Of course not! Why would I be jealous of you!"
"Because I have a date and you don't."
This is too fun. This may be the only time I can tease BlackRose without getting hurt.
"As a matter of fact, Kite, I have a date too! This Friday!"
Whoa, didn't expect that one.
"Really? Since when?"
I want to meet this guy who can take BlackRoses' wrath so easily.
"He asked me out at my house, today, after school."
"What was he doing at your house?"
Great, now I'm sounding a bit jealous.
"He got beat up because of me."
This is too weird. What if Hanako and BlackRose are one and the same!? Then that means I'm going out with BlackRose!
I had to make sure Hanako wasn't BlackRose.
"How did he get hurt?"
"He fell down a big hill because of me."
Phew, so Hanako's not BlackRose.
"Yo, Kite, I have to go eat my dinner now, later!"
She left before I could respond. My dinner was going to be ready soon, too.
Well, at least I know that Hanako and BlackRose aren't the same person. Still, when BlackRose said her date fell down a cliff, she didn't sound really truthful.
"Toshiio, dinner's ready."
Heh, I'll think about it later because right now, I'm going to eat some very delicious food.
A/N: Chapter II's done for you guys, hope you like it. Chapter III may not be done for awhile, as I have a project due after my March break. See ya later, folks.
Once again, this has not been proof-read.
