Author's note: Sorry for the delay in updating – I'm have been totally buried in work for the past few days!!! This chapter holds the key to the mystery of the brown haired lass. And between, do let me know if this requires a rating higher than PG-13!
Lian3: Hi! Thanks so much for your comments !! You are right about Shadow – she did have the same scent as Shizuka. And that was part of the reason for her "attraction". Bull's eye and well done!
kensingtonkid : The mystery is revealed !!! Hope you are not disappointed with the result? Yes, Shizuka has set off to discover a new world without Rui … … Sigh … … well but that bodes well for our Tsukushi ne ;) Thanks so much for dropping by!
*Yan* : Yes, the timing is perfect as per you rightly highlighted … … Are you disappointed with the revealing of the identity of this mysterious girl? ;)
Shopps : Ah a new reader !!! Hi, I think I remember you from A diff POV, but you were on the other website right? Thanks so much for reading! And between, just for curiosity – do you prefer this or POV? Or is it too soon to tell?
ToinKs: Hi hi! Ah yes, our Shizuka is pretty ruthless isn't she? Perhaps she does not know of Rui's attraction to her? Or does she know and is purposely doing something about it? ;) Perfectly right about distance making the heart grow fonder – I actually incorporated something to that extent in this chapter and thanks so much for your kind comments! I read your story – blew me off my feet!
Blackcat: I'm so glad that you found the conversation hilarious! I was trying to do something to lighten the gradually darkening mood! Your questions about the identity of Shadow are answered in this chapter !!! Thanks so much for your comments!
curdled-milk: You made my day again and especially since I was able to read updates on two of your stories at once !!!! You must be telepathic because you highlighted exactly the dilemma that I was undergoing i.e. in relation to the reconciling problem. However, I won't go into much details now because that will be giving away to other readers who Shadow actually is – which I could tell you knew immediately. Really really appreciate your kind comments and I hope you have a great holiday!
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Chapter 15 – Déjà Vu!
"Rui, hurry up!" Tsukasa gestured to me a little impatiently as I lagged behind Soujirou and Akira. I continued to saunter along taking my own sweet time, until they actually stopped and waited for me to catch up with them.
"Why are you in such a hurry today, Tsukasa?" Asked Soujirou with a deceptively innocent look.
"Are you finally having a tryst with one of the girls who's always trying to hit on you? Ah, Uncle Akira is so proud of you Tsukasa … …" Akira gushed enthusiastically. I shook my head as I blocked out the rest of their teasing remarks and Tsukasa's subsequent violent reactions. Those two are really a glutton for punishment. A few minutes later, I was once again tagging behind a much more disheveled looking trio.
"Seriously Tsukasa, why this hurry?" Soujirou persisted. "Don't tell me you've developed a new fetish for high school after so many months!"
"For goodness sake, we already know the stuff! It's a waste of time … …" Tuskasa growled. "I just got sick of Rui walking so slowly today. Didn't you get enough sleep again?" The last grumpy question was directed at me.
I lifted my head slowly and flashed him my deadpan look, "no."
Really, high school was a waste of our time. Thanks to our family tutors and the rigorous program that was specially tailored for the four of us, we were much more advanced than the rest of the students. The main reason for us to go to high school was for networking purposes – that was why we were sent to the most elite high school in our country. In addition, the entire school – staff included – treated us four like gods because of the power and affluence of our families. How many different ways can you say shallow? Frankly, I think Tsukasa quite enjoyed lording it over the school and punishing any kid who was unfortunate enough to raise his ire. In fact, he invented his own system of tormenting such pathetic souls. Although, Soujirou, Akira and I participated in his schemes, we often kept a close watch to make sure there were no accidents or fatalities. Soujirou and Akira also found something to enjoy - the attention of the entire female student population. It almost made Tsukasa and myself sick to see them charming and flirting with the horde of girls who were constantly swarming around us and batting their eyelashes at us in a manner that they probably thought was most enticing.
I simply hated school – there was no argument about it at all. Other than the fact that I had to wake up early and was qualified to lecture the entire staff body rather than vice versa, I absolutely loathed the attention that we were all paid by the drooling and scheming female student body. Although Soujirou and Akira may have felt that they were having the time of their lives (as previously mentioned), I felt like a slab of rich meat displayed in the butcher's shop right in front of a pack of hungry hounds – the avarice or adulation (or a mixture of the two) glinting in the multiple pairs of hungry eyes that followed us everywhere was enough to give me nightmares. I knew that Tuskasa, like me, was also often uncomfortable with our adoring fan club although he did not share my inner demons. This was proven time and again when he scared the exceptionally annoying ones using threats or violent behaviour. Moreover, the superficiality of those materialistic airheads contrasted sharply with Shizuka's personality and only intensified my longing for her company. The rest noticed and claimed that I was moping around. I was not. I was simply withdrawing more into myself because there was no longer anyone around who I could confide in about certain important matters … …
"So where should we go clubbing tonight?" Soujirou was asking Akira as we headed to the cafeteria for lunch.
"Any preferences you both?" Tuskasa shrugged impatiently and I remained silent. I had no idea why Akira actually bothered to ask Tuskasa and myself. We always ended up at whatever place they chose.
"Get out of my way!" I was jolted out of my thoughts when I heard Tsukasa yelling loudly and then a loud crash. I lifted my head as my eyes took in the scene before me – a crowd of scared looking students, an upturned bin and a slim girlish figure jumping back from the contents spilling out of the bin. The girl turned her head to look at Tsukasa and I caught sight of her face. My heart suddenly skipped a beat and I felt the hairs on my neck prickling as I experienced the eerie sensation of déjà vu … …
Strangely familiar startled brown doe-like eyes fringed with long eyelashes reflecting a trace of fear, long braided brown hair that would cascade past her shoulders down her back when hanging loose … … The memories suddenly flooded into my head. I recalled the delicate scent of her perfume, the feel of the pulse at her smooth neck throbbing wildly against my lips, the warmth silkiness of her skin beneath my fingertips, and the music of her sighs echoing in my ears … …
Almost involuntarily, I found myself stepping forward and picking up the fallen bin. I straightened up slowly as our eyes met. With a strange pang of disappointment, I realized that it was not Shadow. Those somewhat familiar yet alien brown eyes held an innocence that Shadow lacked. And although they resembled each other physically, it was obvious that this girl was much younger and less worldly than Shadow. Also, in contrast with Shadow's and my abilities to camouflage our feelings, her expressive face reflected every single emotion that she felt. As I gazed at her expressionlessly, I saw her recent shock and fear dissolve into surprise, followed rapidly by gratitude and then something deeper and more profound … …
"Rui, leave it alone. Let's go!" Akira called impatiently. I spun around and quickly left to join the rest ignoring the fact that she was starting to thank me.
"What's the matter with you?" Tsukasa growled.
"Practicing," I gave a decidedly vague answer, leaving them to interpret it as they wished.
"Ah Rui," Soujirou almost purred as his arm went around my neck immediately. "It's about time. How would you like to join me and Akira for … … OTHER activities tonight … …" The two playboys exchanged smug and meaningful glances before turning to me with similar expectant looks on both their faces.
"Home. Sleep." With those extremely enlightening words, I shook off his arm and ignoring their protests headed for home, suddenly feeling suffocated by their presence. Shadow's look alike had somehow brought back unwanted memories and succeeded in disturbing my peace of mind. I was overwhelmed by a sudden need to be by myself, or just be with someone who understood. Shizuka, I wish you were here … …
I leant back against the brick wall as I soaked up the warmth of the golden sunrays, letting myself relax as my eyes took in the beauty of nature, enjoying the peace and the quiet. To my great annoyance, the silence was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps and the door was suddenly thrown open. I heard the sound of heavy breathing and then a familiar slim brown-haired figure was standing back facing me. I cocked one eyebrow in amusement as I observed that there was something sticking to her hair that had the consistency of uncooked eggs. I recognized immediately the outcome of being feisty enough to stand up to Tuskasa. I shook my head mentally as I recalled the recent events of how she managed to get on his bad side … …
"Damn them!" She suddenly shouted, her voice shaking with fury. Them? For a second, my lips twisted into a wry smile as I contemplated her choice of destination for me in afterlife. Why on earth do I always end up being embroiled into one of Tsukasa's revenge plans even though I do not always have anything to do with them? The problems of being a groupie. I looked at the brown hair was cascading almost to her waist, the hands that were tightly clenched into small fists and the rigid, aggressive stance that she adopted. Again I was struck by the difference between the personalities of two people whose physical appearances were similar enough to be mistaken for sisters. Ignoring the small voice in my head, I decided to try pushing her buttons to see her reaction out of banal curiosity and boredom.
"There's something in your hair." I said without any inflection in my voice. Top marks for stating the obvious, Rui! I congratulated myself silently. At the sound of my voice, she jumped and spun around as her slim hands moved to cover her throat. Her brown eyes widened in shock as she stared transfixed at me.
"What is that? Raw egg? … … Hmm … … Did you decide to a special type of hair treatment with egg yolk?" Very mature Rui, I told myself dryly, a prime indication of your intellectual abilities. I was a little taken aback by my sudden loquaciousness and the ease that I felt in the company of this girl. Other than her physical resemblance to Shadow, there was something totally artless and naïve about her, and I found myself teasing her so that I could watch the interesting play of emotions on her expressive face. Indeed to my secret amusement, her eyelids stretched to their maximum circumference for a few seconds before narrowing into slits as a huge frown appeared on her forehead. The dark brown eyes flashed angrily and she started yelling at me at the top of her voice, insulting my character, the company I keep (specifically Tsukasa) and so on. Did she really think she could make me angry by a few choice childish taunts? However, I shocked even myself when an unexpected chuckle sounded from my throat. Immediately warning signs started flashing in my head. This was dangerous – this little mite of a girl had actually succeeded somehow in making me drop my guard. Like any cornered animal, I struck back quickly in the most effective way I knew, cutting her off rather rudely when she started to complain about how we added onto her existing problems.
"I don't give a damn. I'm not interested in other people's problems," I stated flatly giving her a pointed look as I got to my feet and left, gloating inwardly at my accurate assessment of her character when a hurt look appeared on her face. Bull's eye - maximum damage done! Yes, I'm an insensitive bastard, but this would probably ensure that she keep far, far away from me from now on … …
I sat in the corner of the garden under a tree deep in thought as I tried to come up with a new code for J. He needed it in a couple of weeks' time and I did not like lagging behind my schedules. I was so caught up in my "work" that I did not hear the sound of pounding feet and the loud racket, until a yell broke my train of thought. This was followed by the sound of something heavy crashing onto the ground. I got to my feet and found myself walking towards the source of the noise.
"Great, we've got her! Hold her down!" A male voice was raised in triumph. My footsteps froze for a second as the implications hit me. Immediately, a wave of nausea swept through me.
"Nooooo!" A strangely familiar female voice screamed. The mixture of anger and fear in the voice was palpable. "Don't touch me … …" I broke out of my trance as I started sprinting the short distance. Don't let me be too late, I prayed. No one deserved to be put through that kind of torment that I had undergone, and I would do anything within my power to stop the atrocity.
I pressed my lips grimly together as I surveyed the scene that I came upon. A small figure was struggling wildly on the ground, pinned down by three guys. One guy was kneeling on the person's shoulders and holding her failing arms against the ground, and she was trying to kick out at two of her attackers who had her slim legs spread apart. The last guy (apparently the leader of the operation) had his pants unzipped and was starting to stroke himself.
"What are you doing?" My voice was colder than ice. At the
sound of my voice, all heads swiveled in my direction and the leader actually
stepped back in surprise.
"Ha … Hanazawa san!" However, I simply ignored him, looking past him to the victim who had stopped trashing wildly for a moment. My eyes widened slightly in surprise as a pair of angry, fearful yet hopeful dark brown eyes collided with mine. I saw a flash of recognition and her eyes burned with hope for a long moment, then she seemed to recall something and the flame of hope died away as her eyes darkened with despair. Those eyes reflected emotions that were once familiar, recalling memories that I had buried. A wave of fury beyond what I had ever felt swept through me … …