Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Now time for more Kiyota and Arika moments!
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Chapter 6: I'm Here!
DREAM SEQUENCE
"Let me go! Hanase!" A young Arika cried as a bully grabbed by the arm demanding for her pocket money. "I will not give them to you, you bully!" young Arika spat.
"That's right, so let her go!" A young Kiyota demanded towering the bully. The bully stared at Kiyota and snarled at him. Kiyota smirked and said, "So I see... you want a fight eh?"
With that Kiyota punched the bully in the face and in the stomach. The bully ran off crying for his mommy. Young Kiyota approached the crying Arika, and said, "Nee don't cry Arika-chan!" with that he wiped the tears of Arika.
"Kiyota-kun..." Arika replied looking at Kiyota. Kiyota grinned to her and exclaimed, "Don't worry now Arika-chan, I'm here!"
"I'm Here...."
"I'm Here...."
END OF DREAM SEQUENCE
He watched her as she lay sleeping there on the bed. He had to call his sister to come over in order for someone to change Arika's clothes. Her sister told him to keep watch on Arika, for she was burning with fever and since no ones around except for Shinichi, he had to stay making sure that Arika will be fine.
Shinichi sighed as he put down a bowl of noodles in front of Kiyota. "Nee-chan always comes home crying... she never tells me why, demo I know that she's not happy in Kainan." Shinichi replied seating beside Kiyota.
"Not happy in Kainan? She's very smart, students and teachers praises her because she's a genius in Science!" Kiyota exclaimed in disbelief. "That's what you think, that's because you don't know what's the truth!" Arika replied. Shinichi and Kiyota turned their heads at her. She was awake already.
Shinichi grinned and exclaimed, "Nee-chan you're awake!" Arika smiled at her young brother and replied, "I'm fine now Shinichi...anou... Kiyota and I need to talk, can you go down for awhile?" Shinichi hugged Arika and replied, "Hai! I'm glad you're okay now." with that Shinichi left the room.
Arika carefully sat erected from the bed, Kiyota helped her saying, "You scared me back there Arika, what happened?" Arika looked at him and replied, "If I tell you, would you believe me?" Kiyota nod his head. Arika sighed and shook her head.
"What? Common Arika, don't you trust me?" Kiyota exclaimed. Arika exclaimed tears streaming from her eyes again, "Can you blame me if I don't? Do you really think I'm happy in Kainan?! Teachers may praise me, students may look up to me... that's because I'm good in Science but another than that, they think I'm a loser! A dirt bag!"
Kiyota grabbed Arika by the shoulder and demanded, "What make you think that Arika? Jin looks up to you, according to you, you're an amazing girl and I believe that! What make you think that you're a dirt bag Arika?"
Arika jerked off crying, "Because I am!" Kiyota frowned and exclaimed, "Back there Arika, you told me that Ria..." he was cut off by Arika saying, "Yes Ria made me look like a dirt bag! I'm one of Ria's dog who has to beg for mercy upon her feet in order to live and survive in Kainan. She always treat me like trash, always yanking my hair, scaring me if I don't do this and that she'll embarrass me in front of all the students of Kainan!"
She paused for a second and demanded, "Tell me Kiyota, why do you think I ended like that in the rain? Tell me, common tell me?" Kiyota looked down and exclaimed, "I-I don't know..." Arika made a laugh and exclaimed, "Of course how would you know, you're one of those people who didn't see how Ria is, how the real Ria is."
"She did that because you were hers and she thinks I'm flirting with you, but you see I'm not and did she believed that? I don't think so, so she dragged me off and soiled me with mud and warned me to stay away from you. You Kiyota Nobunaga!" Arika cried looking at Kiyota with anger at her eyes. Kiyota didn't looked up and didn't said anything.
Arika sighed and replied, "I knew it, you won't believe me, but that's the truth. So from now on, stay away from me and I'll stay away from you. I regret agreeing to be your tutor, you can leave me now Kiyota... thanks for your kindness."
Kiyota stood up without looking at Arika and went off. As Kiyota left the room, Arika hung her head low and cried. Kiyota didn't believed her, why would he, after all, she is no one... no one at all...
THE VERY NEXT DAY, KAINAN GROUNDS
Arika scrubbed her eyes, it was very difficult to see without her glasses. She carefully walked among the school grounds so that she won't trip. Last night, all of her dreams of being with Kiyota, making friends with him were all washed away in the rain and soiled in mud. Kiyota hates her now, like the rest of the students of Kainan.
"Well, well, well, ain't it the dirt bag Arika Fujisawa!" Ria exclaimed with a raised eyebrow. She was wearing he cheer leading uniform. Meai and Tanya snickered at the sight of Arika. Arika ignored them and continued walking.
Ria frowned and grab Arika by the arm saying, "Don't you dare ignore me like that you dirt bag!" with that she pushed Arika to the floor. In near tears, Arika asked, "What do you want?" Ria smiled and said, "You know what I want"
"I'm staying away from him okay? He'll never approach me ever again, he'll loath me the way you loath me too! Are you satisfied with that?" Arika exclaimed standing up to her feet.
SLAP!
A hard slap landed on Arika's right cheek. Ria smirked and exclaimed, "Actually I'm not yet THAT satisfied dirt bag!" with that Meai handed Ria a paper. "This is my assignment for History this coming Friday. I want that finished before, you got that dirt bag?"
As Arika reached for the paper a voice cried, "DON'T YOU DARE TAKE THAT ARIKA FUJISAWA!" Arika turned around and there stood Kiyota Nobunaga with Jin Souichiro. Ria went pale and started to reason out, "Anou... I'm just asking her if she knew... you know... about Ancient Japan? It's our assignment in History, right girls?"
Meai and Tanya both nod their heads. Kiyota frowned and exclaimed, "I don't think Arika would have time for that and of course doing your assignment Ria Masahara!" Ria wide-eyed demanded, "WHAT? I'm not asking her to do my assignment"
Jin smirked and replied, "That's one good lie Ria. But you see we SAW everything, yeah even to the point were you slap her and calling her a dirt bag!" Ria went white, you could see tears forming in her eyes. Kiyota looked Arika and then at Ria and exclaimed, "From now on, Arika won't have time doing stuff for you Ria, she'll be really busy with the Science Club, in her studies and of all tutoring me in Chemistry, so I suggest you be nice to her."
Ria clenched her fist and demanded, "But Kiyota, why have her as your tutor? I gave you my personal tutor remember?" Kiyota gave out a laugh and exclaimed, "I don't need your personal tutor Ria, I need Arika!"
"I need Arika!"
"I need Arika!"
Those words echoed in Arika's mind and Ria's. Ria grabbed Kiyota by the sleeve and exclaimed, "You mean you're choosing her over me?!" Kiyota jerked off and exclaimed, "Get a grip Ria, I was never yours and above all, Arika is no flirt, you're the one who is a flirt!"
Ria cried, "ME? A FLIRT?!" Jin laughed and exclaimed, "Of course, always hanging around Kiyota, making kiss-up reasons just to be with him, common now Ria!" Kiyota then handed Ria a plastic bag and said, "By the way here are all your gifts you have given me, I have to tell, I can't be bought by those and of all, I HATE the way you hang around me showing me your sweet personality when you're more of a dirt bag than Arika!"
With that Kiyota took Arika by the hand and drag her away from the school grounds. Jin smiled at the three girls saying, "See you around flirts... I mean girls!" and went off. Ria could feel the tears falling from her eyes.
"I hate you Arika! You'll pay for this, certainly you will!" she muttered pure hatred and anger seeping through her heart.
MINI GARDEN
"Nee Arika, daijoubu?" Kiyota asked looking worried. Arika hasn't spoke not a single word, not even thanks for defending her in front of Arika. Sensing a very dramatic scene, Jin tapped Kiyota by the shoulder and whispered, "I'll be going now Kiyota"
Kiyota nod his head and Jin left. Arika looked at Kiyota and asked, "Naze? Why did you did that? I thought you didn't believed me?" Kiyota answered, "I never told you that I didn't believe you"
"Then why did you left without saying anything?" Arika demanded. Kiyota sighed and replied, "I was shocked, I never imagine such grief in your heart. You've always showing me that cheerful smile of yours, I never thought you were suffering that much... please forgive me"
Arika could feel that tears are falling from her eyes, Kiyota was there, he believed her, he defended her against Ria. The she felt fear, fear of Ria's wrath. "Kiyota, knowing Ria, she'll have her revenge, she'll go out to get me!"
"Don't worry Arika, I'm here... I'll protect you, I'm here..." Kiyota replied reassuring Arika. Arika then remembered back then in when Kiyota saved her from bullies.
FLASHBACK
Let me go! Hanase!" A young Arika cried as a bully grabbed by the arm demanding for her pocket money. "I will not give them to you, you bully!" young Arika spat.
"That's right, so let her go!" A young Kiyota demanded towering the bully. The bully stared at Kiyota and snarled at him. Kiyota smirked and said, "So I see... you want a fight eh?"
With that Kiyota punched the bully in the face and in the stomach. The bully ran off crying for his mommy. Young Kiyota approached the crying Arika, and said, "Nee don't cry Arika-chan!" with that he wiped the tears of Arika.
"Kiyota-kun..." Arika replied looking at Kiyota. Kiyota grinned to her and exclaimed, "Don't worry now Arika-chan, I'm here!"
END OF FLASHBACK
Tears were unstoppable, Arika was so overwhelmed thinking that Kiyota is willing to protect her from Ria, like old times, the only thing is, Kiyota couldn't remember her from his childhood days. Kiyota took out a handkerchief and started wiping her tears away saying, "Common now, stop crying Arika"
Arika nod her head saying, "Arigato Kiyota" Kiyota grinned and exclaimed, "What are friends are for?" Arika smiled and said, "Yeah..." Kiyota then took her hand and exclaimed, "Common, were extremely late for class now"
"Oh yeah I forgot! I guess we'll see each other later recess then" Arika replied with a knowing look. Kiyota laughed and replied, "Yes Arika-sensei!" with that they both laughed.
As Arika stepped into the class, the sadness and sorrow from her eyes disappeared that instant. In her eyes reflects happiness and relief. In her mind, the voice of Kiyota echoes, "Don't worry Arika, I'm here... I'll protect you, I'm here..."
IN KIYOTA'S CLASS
Kiyota sat down on his desk grinning from ear to ear. He got Arika back, he made her smile and forget her problems. It was good to see Arika's smile. A smile that could really brighten up one's day, "Just like your angel huh?" his conscious whispered.
"My angel? Veniz.... Arika? Nah... Arika is a friend, only a friend, I haven't found my angel, not yet" Kiyota exclaimed in his mind. Then his conscious whispered in a taunting voice, "Keep telling yourself that Kiyota Nobunaga...."
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TO BE CONTINUED
AU: Kiyota SAVED Arika! YAY! Kiyota is starting to feel something for Arika! YAY!
I wonder what would Ria do? Hmmm....
R&R Please!