Ok, so many people liked my Hiei story that I decided to put up a
Kurama story in the same style. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Yu Yu Hakusho universe.
* * * * * * *
Lorin walked slowly form the testing center to her first classroom. She held her books to her chest and her test scores in one hand. She stopped in front of Room 120. At least that's what she thought it was. It was still an effort to read the Japanese. She looked in the window to the classroom. The teacher was already teaching. Lorin took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Yes?" A voice asked, impatiently. Lorin opened the door and walked to the teacher.
"Excuse me, Sir. I'm the new exchange student. I was told that this was my first class." She looked at the class who was starring at her. She tucked some stray hair behind her ear.
"Do you have your test scores?" the teacher asked, a little kinder. Lorin handed him the stack of papers that the lady at the testing center had given her. The teacher studied them. Lorin shifted from one foot to the other. The students still stared at her. Finally the teacher looked up.
"These scores are impressive, especially for an American. Shuichi," he said. Lorin heard a chair scrap against the floor and turned to see a young man standing up in the second row. He was tall and beautiful. He had long red hair and bright green eyes. He smiled at her.
"Shuichi, this is Lorin Nickols. She will be your class partner. Lorin, this is Shuichi Minamino. He's our top student. You will work with him." Lorin nodded and walked toward Shuichi. He motioned to the empty seat next to him. She slid into it and then he sat down. She heard whispers behind her, but tried to ignore them. She pulled out her notebook and her pencil. She was able to follow most of what the teacher was saying, but it was hard to translate all the Japanese speaking into English notes. There was no way she would be able to write fast enough in Japanese. She sighed when class was over.
"Having problems?" a calm voice asked her. She turn to her new partner, what was his name......... Shuichi. He gave her a smile. She smiled back.
"Yeah, a little. My written Japanese isn't as Mastered as my oral. So I have to translate it all in my head to write it in English. That makes it more difficult to keep up." Shuichi stood up, his books tucked under one arm. Lorin scrambled to collect her books. As they walked out of the classroom, Shuichi said, "I can help you with that as well as the notes for this class." Lorin nodded.
"Thanks. I'll take any help I can get." Lorin stopped in front of her next classroom. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow." she said and turned into the classroom. She waited at the front of the class for the teacher. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Shuichi. She frowned. "What, do you have this class, too?" He chuckled.
"Yes. In fact we share all the same classes." Lorin looked confused. "How do you know that?" He smiled again.
"When you were tested, you were placed with a partner, me. Then your class schedule was selected to match mine. We're partners in every class. Our seats are over here." He led her to a pair of seats in front of two computers.
"So, we work together in every class?" she asked. He nodded.
"Well, that's different than back home. But the other teacher said that you were the top student. I can't be that smart. Wouldn't I hold you back?" Shuichi shook his head.
"No. I went through my first two years here without a partner, because there was no one at my level. For the School to pair us, means you are 'that smart' and I will enjoy having someone as smart as I." He turned on the computers. Lorin blushed. The teacher walked in. Lorin was introduced to the class and the teacher started him lecture.
* * * *
Morning classes flew by and soon it was time for lunch. Lorin walked by herself, since Shuichi had been asked to stay behind for a minute. She entered the noisy lunchroom and looked around. She got her lunch and found an empty table to sit at. She pulled out a blue notebook and a pencil. This was the notebook she used to practice her written Japanese.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a voice asked. Lorin looked up to see a group of girls.
"Can I help you?" she asked in careful Japanese. The girl in the center of the group, the obvious leader, smirked.
"You think you're so cool, cause you're from America. Well, let me tell you something, even though you're partners, Shuichi is mine." Lorin blinked. Another girl interrupted.
"Leave her alone, Jyanne. She didn't do anything to you." The leader whirled to find Lorin's protector. It was a girl with brown hair and brown eyes.
"Well, Keylo, you're defending her.?" The other girl... Keylo? nodded.
"Yup. She wasn't hurting anything and if Shuichi is yours then there should be nothing that she can do about it, is there?" Jyanne huffed and moved off. Keylo and two other girls sat down across from her, placing their trays on the table.
"Hi, I'm Keylo. This is Geena and Mika. Mind if we sit here?" Lorin shook her head.
"I don't mind," she said quietly. "Thank you for your help." Keylo shrugged.
"Don't mention it. Jyanne and her group can be a pain. So, you're Shuichi 's partner. That's amazing. He's the smartest there is. And you're from America. You'll have to tell me what it's like. "Keylo pointed to Lorin's notebook. "What'cha studying?" One of the other girls, Geena, elbowed Keylo in the stomach.
"Ignore her, Lorin. Keylo talks too much and doesn't know when to be quiet." All four girls looked up as the chair next to Lorin slid back. It was Shuichi. He smiled at Lorin and set his books and lunch tray on the table.
"I'm sorry I was delayed, but it looks as if you made some more friends." Lorin looked at the girls across from her.
"Yeah, I guess I did." she said. "Well, um, to answer at least a couple of your questions, Keylo, Yeah, I'm form America and I'll be happy to tell you about it some other time and I was practicing my written Japanese." Lorin showed them a page of English sentences and some Japanese translations underneath. Geena winced.
"You mean they sent you here when you don't know our language? That's stupid." Geena spoke in careful English. Lorin shook her head.
"It's not quite like that. The opportunity came up for some one from our school to come here. I'm the only one who knows any Japanese, so I was the logical choice. I can speak Japanese fluently, but my written isn't as good. So, I can, obviously, communicate with people here, and I'm working on my written. Anyone else sent here would have no way to communicate. Besides, my parents lived here for 20 years, so they can speak and write Japanese fluently, and Shuichi, here, has already offered to help me." Shuichi nodded and gave her a smile. Keylo opened her mouth to say something else, but the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. She shrugged and they all left for their classes.
* * * *
Lorin led Shuichi down into the basement, where her mother and two sisters were unpacking boxes. The younger sister, Stephanie, was the first to see Lorin and ran to hug her around the waist.
"Lori," she exclaimed. Lorin knelt down to catch her sister in a hug.
"Hey, Little One, how was your day?" Lorin asked gently. Steph giggled.
"Well, I went shopping with mommy and we unpacked my room and put your stuff in your room for you to unpack and Dana got her books and she and Mommy fought." Stephanie recited quickly. Lorin heard Shuichi chuckle. Steph's eyes shot over to Shuichi and her face lit up.
"Who are you? Are you nice? Where do you live? Do you go to school?" Her face turned mischievous. "Do you like Lori?" Lorin blushed as Shuichi laughed.
"Steph!!" Lorin admonished. "You can't ask that." Steph turned innocent eyes on her Beloved big sister.
"Why?" she asked. Lorin shook her head.
"You just can't." Lorin looked to her mother for help as Shuichi knelt down to be eye to eye with Stephanie.
"I'm Shuichi." He said. Steph frowned.
"Sushi?" she asked. Shuichi laughed.
"Close enough." he answered. "I'm nice and I live a couple of blocks down the street. I go to school with Lorin. We're partners. And, yes, I like Lorin, I think we'll be good friends." Shuichi stood back up.
"Shuichi, this is my mother and my older sister Dana." Lorin's mother put out her hand and as Shuichi shook it, a small frown came to her mother's face. In a moment it was gone and Lorin wondered if she had imagined it.
"It's nice to meet you, Shuichi. And you're welcome anytime. I know exactly what it means to be school partners." Shuichi bowed.
"Thank you. I believe Lorin mentioned that you and your husband had lived here before." Lorin's mother nodded.
"That's right. We were exchange students. We came over when we were 15 and were school partners."
"Well," Lorin said. "We're going to work at the kitchen table, since I have to finish unpacking my room." Lorin's mother turned back to the box.
"That's fine, dear. I'll be down here for another hour at least." As they turned away, Lorin heard Stephanie's voice float after them.
"Good-bye, Sushi." she called.
* * * *
Several months went by as Lorin settled into her new life. It was very different from America, but she decided that she liked the changes. She had found a new set of girlfriends to giggle with and just be girls. She became close friends with Shuichi. They were together everyday at school and usually several hours after school. She knew Shuichi's mother, Shiori Minamino, and was over at his house as often as he was at hers. Stephanie had learned to say Shuichi, but refused to call him that. To her, he was Sushi and that was that.
Lorin and Shuichi were often found at the other's dinner table and started hanging out on weekends. They went bike riding, walked in the park, went to see movies and even went to see art and museums. School was better here, too. In America, Lorin had been bored. She had never had to work at her classes. That was one reason she had learned Japanese, it was something to do. But here, she was matched with Shuichi who was her intellectually equal.
The classes were challenging and that was fun. Now, not everything was perfect. Jyanne continued to harass Lorin when her friends weren't around and a boy Geena had identified as Yuu Kaito, glared at Lorin and she could almost feel his hostility. He never talked to her, but she knew he hated her nonetheless. But even these issues became a part of Lorin's everyday life and she decided that she liked it.
* * * *
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Yu Yu Hakusho universe.
* * * * * * *
Lorin walked slowly form the testing center to her first classroom. She held her books to her chest and her test scores in one hand. She stopped in front of Room 120. At least that's what she thought it was. It was still an effort to read the Japanese. She looked in the window to the classroom. The teacher was already teaching. Lorin took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Yes?" A voice asked, impatiently. Lorin opened the door and walked to the teacher.
"Excuse me, Sir. I'm the new exchange student. I was told that this was my first class." She looked at the class who was starring at her. She tucked some stray hair behind her ear.
"Do you have your test scores?" the teacher asked, a little kinder. Lorin handed him the stack of papers that the lady at the testing center had given her. The teacher studied them. Lorin shifted from one foot to the other. The students still stared at her. Finally the teacher looked up.
"These scores are impressive, especially for an American. Shuichi," he said. Lorin heard a chair scrap against the floor and turned to see a young man standing up in the second row. He was tall and beautiful. He had long red hair and bright green eyes. He smiled at her.
"Shuichi, this is Lorin Nickols. She will be your class partner. Lorin, this is Shuichi Minamino. He's our top student. You will work with him." Lorin nodded and walked toward Shuichi. He motioned to the empty seat next to him. She slid into it and then he sat down. She heard whispers behind her, but tried to ignore them. She pulled out her notebook and her pencil. She was able to follow most of what the teacher was saying, but it was hard to translate all the Japanese speaking into English notes. There was no way she would be able to write fast enough in Japanese. She sighed when class was over.
"Having problems?" a calm voice asked her. She turn to her new partner, what was his name......... Shuichi. He gave her a smile. She smiled back.
"Yeah, a little. My written Japanese isn't as Mastered as my oral. So I have to translate it all in my head to write it in English. That makes it more difficult to keep up." Shuichi stood up, his books tucked under one arm. Lorin scrambled to collect her books. As they walked out of the classroom, Shuichi said, "I can help you with that as well as the notes for this class." Lorin nodded.
"Thanks. I'll take any help I can get." Lorin stopped in front of her next classroom. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow." she said and turned into the classroom. She waited at the front of the class for the teacher. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Shuichi. She frowned. "What, do you have this class, too?" He chuckled.
"Yes. In fact we share all the same classes." Lorin looked confused. "How do you know that?" He smiled again.
"When you were tested, you were placed with a partner, me. Then your class schedule was selected to match mine. We're partners in every class. Our seats are over here." He led her to a pair of seats in front of two computers.
"So, we work together in every class?" she asked. He nodded.
"Well, that's different than back home. But the other teacher said that you were the top student. I can't be that smart. Wouldn't I hold you back?" Shuichi shook his head.
"No. I went through my first two years here without a partner, because there was no one at my level. For the School to pair us, means you are 'that smart' and I will enjoy having someone as smart as I." He turned on the computers. Lorin blushed. The teacher walked in. Lorin was introduced to the class and the teacher started him lecture.
* * * *
Morning classes flew by and soon it was time for lunch. Lorin walked by herself, since Shuichi had been asked to stay behind for a minute. She entered the noisy lunchroom and looked around. She got her lunch and found an empty table to sit at. She pulled out a blue notebook and a pencil. This was the notebook she used to practice her written Japanese.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a voice asked. Lorin looked up to see a group of girls.
"Can I help you?" she asked in careful Japanese. The girl in the center of the group, the obvious leader, smirked.
"You think you're so cool, cause you're from America. Well, let me tell you something, even though you're partners, Shuichi is mine." Lorin blinked. Another girl interrupted.
"Leave her alone, Jyanne. She didn't do anything to you." The leader whirled to find Lorin's protector. It was a girl with brown hair and brown eyes.
"Well, Keylo, you're defending her.?" The other girl... Keylo? nodded.
"Yup. She wasn't hurting anything and if Shuichi is yours then there should be nothing that she can do about it, is there?" Jyanne huffed and moved off. Keylo and two other girls sat down across from her, placing their trays on the table.
"Hi, I'm Keylo. This is Geena and Mika. Mind if we sit here?" Lorin shook her head.
"I don't mind," she said quietly. "Thank you for your help." Keylo shrugged.
"Don't mention it. Jyanne and her group can be a pain. So, you're Shuichi 's partner. That's amazing. He's the smartest there is. And you're from America. You'll have to tell me what it's like. "Keylo pointed to Lorin's notebook. "What'cha studying?" One of the other girls, Geena, elbowed Keylo in the stomach.
"Ignore her, Lorin. Keylo talks too much and doesn't know when to be quiet." All four girls looked up as the chair next to Lorin slid back. It was Shuichi. He smiled at Lorin and set his books and lunch tray on the table.
"I'm sorry I was delayed, but it looks as if you made some more friends." Lorin looked at the girls across from her.
"Yeah, I guess I did." she said. "Well, um, to answer at least a couple of your questions, Keylo, Yeah, I'm form America and I'll be happy to tell you about it some other time and I was practicing my written Japanese." Lorin showed them a page of English sentences and some Japanese translations underneath. Geena winced.
"You mean they sent you here when you don't know our language? That's stupid." Geena spoke in careful English. Lorin shook her head.
"It's not quite like that. The opportunity came up for some one from our school to come here. I'm the only one who knows any Japanese, so I was the logical choice. I can speak Japanese fluently, but my written isn't as good. So, I can, obviously, communicate with people here, and I'm working on my written. Anyone else sent here would have no way to communicate. Besides, my parents lived here for 20 years, so they can speak and write Japanese fluently, and Shuichi, here, has already offered to help me." Shuichi nodded and gave her a smile. Keylo opened her mouth to say something else, but the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. She shrugged and they all left for their classes.
* * * *
Lorin led Shuichi down into the basement, where her mother and two sisters were unpacking boxes. The younger sister, Stephanie, was the first to see Lorin and ran to hug her around the waist.
"Lori," she exclaimed. Lorin knelt down to catch her sister in a hug.
"Hey, Little One, how was your day?" Lorin asked gently. Steph giggled.
"Well, I went shopping with mommy and we unpacked my room and put your stuff in your room for you to unpack and Dana got her books and she and Mommy fought." Stephanie recited quickly. Lorin heard Shuichi chuckle. Steph's eyes shot over to Shuichi and her face lit up.
"Who are you? Are you nice? Where do you live? Do you go to school?" Her face turned mischievous. "Do you like Lori?" Lorin blushed as Shuichi laughed.
"Steph!!" Lorin admonished. "You can't ask that." Steph turned innocent eyes on her Beloved big sister.
"Why?" she asked. Lorin shook her head.
"You just can't." Lorin looked to her mother for help as Shuichi knelt down to be eye to eye with Stephanie.
"I'm Shuichi." He said. Steph frowned.
"Sushi?" she asked. Shuichi laughed.
"Close enough." he answered. "I'm nice and I live a couple of blocks down the street. I go to school with Lorin. We're partners. And, yes, I like Lorin, I think we'll be good friends." Shuichi stood back up.
"Shuichi, this is my mother and my older sister Dana." Lorin's mother put out her hand and as Shuichi shook it, a small frown came to her mother's face. In a moment it was gone and Lorin wondered if she had imagined it.
"It's nice to meet you, Shuichi. And you're welcome anytime. I know exactly what it means to be school partners." Shuichi bowed.
"Thank you. I believe Lorin mentioned that you and your husband had lived here before." Lorin's mother nodded.
"That's right. We were exchange students. We came over when we were 15 and were school partners."
"Well," Lorin said. "We're going to work at the kitchen table, since I have to finish unpacking my room." Lorin's mother turned back to the box.
"That's fine, dear. I'll be down here for another hour at least." As they turned away, Lorin heard Stephanie's voice float after them.
"Good-bye, Sushi." she called.
* * * *
Several months went by as Lorin settled into her new life. It was very different from America, but she decided that she liked the changes. She had found a new set of girlfriends to giggle with and just be girls. She became close friends with Shuichi. They were together everyday at school and usually several hours after school. She knew Shuichi's mother, Shiori Minamino, and was over at his house as often as he was at hers. Stephanie had learned to say Shuichi, but refused to call him that. To her, he was Sushi and that was that.
Lorin and Shuichi were often found at the other's dinner table and started hanging out on weekends. They went bike riding, walked in the park, went to see movies and even went to see art and museums. School was better here, too. In America, Lorin had been bored. She had never had to work at her classes. That was one reason she had learned Japanese, it was something to do. But here, she was matched with Shuichi who was her intellectually equal.
The classes were challenging and that was fun. Now, not everything was perfect. Jyanne continued to harass Lorin when her friends weren't around and a boy Geena had identified as Yuu Kaito, glared at Lorin and she could almost feel his hostility. He never talked to her, but she knew he hated her nonetheless. But even these issues became a part of Lorin's everyday life and she decided that she liked it.
* * * *