Different
By Cassandra
I finally got around to updating this fic. Cool huh? Now, if only people would review….^_^
Chapter II
Challenge
It was the usual day in school for Yaten Kou.
The minute he stepped into the school grounds, he once again regretted why he even bothered to get up that morning, if only for a moment. He always thought that every time he stepped beyond the school gates.
His fan club was waiting for him, as usual.
Minako was leading the whole legion of girls into the Yaten Kou anthem that she composed all by herself (Quite an achievement for her simple, little mind, if Yaten could say so himself). The "Pledge of Allegiance to Yaten Kou" that all members of his fan club knew by heart and recited with flourish then followed this.
Yaten had stopped being embarrassed a long time ago. There was no use trying to dissuade them, it would only cause more hubbub that they begun with in the first place.
It became just another part of his day that he greeted with no response. It was all part of a routine that happened day in, day out.
Classes carried on as usual. Tests were aced, recitation was excellent, and he was praised.
Walking through the halls on the way to his other classes caused the usual happenings. Girls of all levels were sighing and giggling at the sight of him and if he wasn't so untouchable, he was sure they'd be all throwing themselves at him. He could practically feel them tense, eager to pounce. Thankfully, none of them was bold enough.
Only Aino Minako had dared and she was considered a hero. She was practically idolized.
Yaten thought she was just stupid.
Obviously, she didn't feel the animosity that radiated from him like UV rays from the sun in a hot summer afternoon.
Many had wondered why he was bitter and he never gave them any answers.
Many had asked why he, the most popular boy in school, didn't have anyone he hung out with at the least.
All have wondered even once why he never smiled.
The mysteries of Yaten Kou were never solved.
And so, another day was finished with Yaten Kou disappearing right after the school doors were opened.
No one noticed that he escaped every afternoon up the school roof just to be alone.
It was only then that he let his guard down.
The high and mighty posture slackened to show the strain and the usual expressionless, snobbish mask fell to reveal exhaustion to the extreme. His brisk and military walk slowed to a sluggish stride. If anyone saw him now, they wouldn't know him at all.
He didn't want anyone to see him vulnerable. He didn't want anyone asking him questions.
He's had enough of those people who wanted to be so-called friends with him.
Friends, yeah right.
He opened the door to the rooftop and allowed himself a little smile.
Alone at last.
"You know, you look cute when you smile."
He stopped in mid-step when he heard the statement.
His eyes narrowed and his walls went up again.
Lime green slits slid dangerously to the side to find a girl.
She was standing by the wire fences that prevented anyone from falling from the top of the building. Her knee-length school skirt was blown by the wind along with her red school tie, navy blue sailor collar, and raven black ponytail. She looked perfectly at ease even when his eyes poked daggers at her. She even dared to smile.
She was that girl he had come across in that classroom.
He had easily forgotten her name.
But Yaten wasn't about to care for pleasantries right now. He was annoyed and he wanted her to know that.
"What are you doing here?"
Again, she did that annoying shrug of hers. That shrug that almost convinced him that he was innocent.
"What, can't a girl be alone somewhere? Do you own this place or something?" Her eyebrow rose in question as she pushed off from the wire fence.
She easily towered over him, but he wasn't intimidated.
He didn't answer her question. He had made a career of escaping these confrontations and he wasn't going to stop now.
"Are you stalking me?" He demanded, looking sharply at her. "Because frankly, I am not liking it one bit."
She let out a bark of laughter at that remark and her smile slid nastily into a smirk.
"You are so full of yourself aren't you?" It was amazing how she managed to combine frustration and amazement in one expression. Her hands positioned themselves on her hips. "And I asked why you didn't have any friends."
She sighed as she continued to smile infuriatingly at him. "If you think that I am like one of the other girls in school who worship you like you're God's gift to womankind, you are so wrong. I have better things to do with my time, thank you very much."
Yaten returned the smile nastily. "Kind of defensive aren't you? I haven't even said a word about that."
"You were implying it and I haven't forgotten what you said to me the first time we met."
"That's what they all say in the beginning."
And again, she laughed while he didn't find the situation funny at all.
"God, what kind of stick is up your ass?" She asked, giggling lightly as her indigo eyes sparkled. "A metal rod? And how deep in the gutter is your head?"
Yaten watched as she practically died laughing at his expense. He was getting impatient and in all honesty he wanted her to leave him in peace. He didn't need to be ridiculed like this, not in his sanctuary.
It was only then that he realized that he was pinching the bridge of his nose.
"You know? You are giving me a headache." He told her just as she managed to calm herself down finally. He eyed her with contempt as she smiled even more at him. God, what was wrong with this girl?
"It only shows that you haven't been picked on that much." She begun to tsk, wagging her finger almost in front of his nose in the process. "That's not very healthy."
This time, he was the one who raised her an eyebrow. "Oh really?"
She nodded, that raven ponytail bobbing with every movement of her head. "Yup."
"And I suppose you know the remedy to that?"
"Oh definitely!"
She was not leaving anytime soon, she was making it clear. The only way she would be able to leave was if he listened to what she was saying.
And he desperately wanted her to leave.
Yaten sighed in defeat as he sat himself down on the floor, not caring anymore that his uniform might get dirty. "And I suppose you are going to tell me just how to be healthy again by your standards."
He was surprised when she plopped down in front of him. He hadn't seen girls with such inhibition before.
"Sure, that is if you agree."
"Anything for you to leave me alone." He answered her dryly, relishing the small frown that marred her pretty features for a moment. Too bad she became cheerful again.
"So, what are you doing this weekend?"
He knew it. He smirked smugly at her as he crossed his arms over his chest in a gesture of absolute supremacy. "I knew it and the answer still stands," He paused for a full effect.
"Not on your life you deluded girl."
"God you're so incorrigible!" The dark-haired girl cried. She promptly stood up and looked down at him, looking annoyed. The frown was on full-force now as she looked at him like he was the scum of the earth. For a moment, he found himself intrigued. He had never met a girl who had looked at him like that.
"I am not asking you out on a freaking date!" She denied fervently.
All right. Frankly, she didn't look like the type of girl who would follow him around like those nimrods in school who knew the Yaten Kou Anthem and that stupid Pledge of Allegiance to Yaten Kou.
Seeing her with that crowd of girls could have given him a bad back by bending back after too much laughing.
Not in front of the student body, of course.
"Then why, pray tell, are you asking if I am free this weekend?"
He watched as she sighed in utmost exhaustion, but as moody as she seemed to be, he wasn't surprised when she was smiling again after a little while. The smile she was casting on him now looked different though. More than a little menace was in it.
Should he be scared?
"You are going to go on a little excursion with me and my friends this weekend."
"And what makes you think that I'll come?" He stretched his legs before him, eyeing her lazily. Yes, what did she take him for? A person with no life?
Her answer was pretty simple as she shrugged. "Coz you don't have any friends. I'm sure you're free."
He continued to look at her warily.
Odd how her simple remark sort of affected her in a negative way. He actually felt a sorrowful/regretful tug at his heart.
"You are a very strange girl."
"Thank you." She returned, even going as far as to give him a bow to humor him. "We'll be waiting for you at the entrance to the Crown arcade at one o'clock sharp."
And with not a little flourish, she turned around and made her way out of the rooftop.
As he watched her saunter off, something in his head clicked and he remembered her name.
Seiya Kou.
"Who is Seiya Kou anyway?" Yaten wondered out loud, not allowing himself to remember that it had been a very long time since he had been intrigued at the least about someone else.
