Perfection

Chibi Tsuki

A/N: The characters seem slightly OOC. Sorry! But I don't exactly know how I could put Zechs with this type of personality when it's not exactly him. *lost* Ok, don't mind what I typed... Just read! I'm also trying to put most of the characters into the story with a little altering on their ages and relationships (as in family linkages) with each other so that it will be 'stranger'. Hehehe… Just to tell you, I consider myself abnormal.

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Chapter 3

Braids and Ponytails

This was his fifth game against Noin, the mysterious basketball player who nobody knew who he was. Zechs stroked his fingers through his silky hair, ridding it of the tangling knots in his ponytail. He breathed deeply, inhaling as much air as his lungs would let him. Resting for a second, he was already sprinting down the court, his hair flying behind him. The raven-haired player had the ball in his position, bouncing it steady in front of him as he dodged between the people. He wasn't a ball hog but usually it was the others who couldn't catch up to him fast enough before he scored. Suddenly Zechs was running next to Noin, his eyes on the basketball before they were brought up to see Noin's piercing blue eyes. They were blue, he knew it. A deep mysterious blue that only conveyed determination but briskly something in his eyes made him stop. It looked as if they were smiling at him; not evilly but instead kindly. That emotion only made him feel determined to make friends with his opponent.

Cheers and applauds corrupted the suspense and silence that hung in the courts before as Noin scored another goal. From under his cap, Louie could see him smile. This time he was glad that Noin was on his team instead of being opposing team members. He ran to the shorter player and the slap of a high-5 echoed softly.

There was five more minutes left until the match finished and this time the score was leaning towards Noin's side. Zechs called for the ball, his voice above everyone else's. Soon the ball landed in his hand and he dribbled towards the end of the court. As expected, the raven-haired player was right next to him, eyeing on the ball. Cunningly, he stopped only a foot away from the key and spun around Noin expertly, confusing her as he successfully went around her, now being able to freely shoot a goal. Dribbling diagonally to the ring, he performed a lay-up and scored simply with an easily flicker of his hand. Noin smiled at him as she collected the ball and searched for someone to pass to. Louie was free, standing at the edge of the key, dodging and breaking towards the ball and Noin used this chance the pass him the ball, purposely doing a bounce pass so Zechs would have to bend low to be able to intercept it.

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"Excuse me Noin, you want to have lunch break together or something?" Zechs suggested, running up beside the figure with the blue cap, slightly brushing shoulders. Noin just shrugged and continued walking towards the change rooms, realising that Zechs was still tagging along beside her.

"I guess so. Why not?" Noin replied, a subtle tone of hesitance in her voice. "Er… I'm going to change a while before class so we have fifteen minutes I suppose." Her voice had been modified so that it was deeper although it still didn't work out properly. The tall blonde nodded and strode quietly with her.

Only little of the boarding food remained in the warming machine, where the food was kept until the end of lunch and anyone was allowed the rest. Seats were neatly tucked under the tables until the pair seated down with a tray in their hands. They ate silently, not talking to one another because it was rude to disturb someone from eating in peace and Noin was just afraid to blow her cover. Zechs had already eaten his sandwich and was now finishing his apple which was quite large. He opened his mouth and was truthfully, startled to see Noin starting her third sandwich with her large glass of orange juice in the other hand.

"Wow, you ate a lot," Zechs remarked when Noin had finally finished satisfying her own stomach.

"Yeah, strange isn't it? Before I didn't eat this much until I came to boarding that its," she answered, her blue eyes sparkling under her shadowing cap. She could see Zechs sudden tense feeling and was about to ask him what was wrong when he interrupted her silence with a question.

"I don't mean to be rude but do you usually play basketball with your cap? It seems as if you like it a lot." He was rather nerved by his question and his curiosity possibly got the better of him.

"No it's alright. I guess it's just that I don't like people seeing my face and start jeering at me for who I am."

Zechs boldly asked again, "As in your ethnicity?"

"Sort of," she responded, picking herself off the seat and approaching the front of the dining hall with her tray.

Quickly running up behind her, Zechs placed a hand on her shoulder and she immediately flinched. "Did I say the wrong thing? I apologise deeply."

"No it's not that," Noin smiled weakly, clutching her tray firmly. Phew that was so close. She fumbled mentally for an excuse. "I must be getting to class soon. I'll see you around Zechs." The disguised girl placed her tray on the bench and left immediately, knowing that she left a very baffled Zechs Merquise behind. Remember never to let that Zechs frighten you again like that. She spoke to herself inwardly and zipped into the change rooms before anyone could see her.

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"Hey Noin!"

Lucretzia Noin froze and turned around to lock eyes with a certain blue-eyed teenager. Her hold on her books had loosened as she gave the teen a grim look, uttering, "What are you doing here?"

The bouncy character in front of her merely grinned and shrugged, "My pop changed me to this school because I wasn't a gentleman."

Chuckling the girl replied, "I wouldn't be complaining since you are only my cousin, Maxwell and it seems that both our parents don't approve of our unique characteristics." Duo Maxwell, the fourteen year old with the long brown braided hair and the bubbling blue eyes agreed with a cheery laughter. He was half Italian but inherited most of his feature and accent from his American father who too, had the same coloured hair except the main difference was that it was short. But Duo's darkish-blue coloured eyes came from his mother and she was like Lucretzia's mother with the dark platinum black hair. In fact they were sisters and so therefore the pair, Duo and Lucretzia were close cousins. "Hey Duo. Next time call me Lu, ok?"

"Um… yeah sure, whatever." He paused for a second and then spoke again, "But I've called you Noin for my whole entire life since I was able to speak."

"Well here you must call me Lu or Lucretzia. If not my basketball playing days are over."

"Why?"

"Girls aren't allowed to play basketball here. It's a rule."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Why?"

Irritated, Noin grinded her teeth, "Shut up Duo."
"Why?"

Soon Lucretzia gave up and turned on her heels, waving a simple gesture of good bye to her cousin before disappearing down the corridor.

He sniggered and commented to himself, "She gets pissed every time. Great, where do I go now?" Mentally hitting himself he regretted about forgetting to ask Lucretzia where his classroom was.

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Time had gone quickly in the last period and everyone was currently talking about a recent competition only posted up onto the message board that day. Re-entering the classroom, the teacher's appearance called for silence and every student immediately quietened down. "Right my dear students, there's going to be an assembly meeting right now so you may pack your belongings and gather at the assembly hall," the grey-haired teacher announced while adjusting his glasses. He disappeared again, his footsteps leading out of the room. Once he had left, the students chattered softly to each other, their voices barely rising over a whisper. Lucretzia walked up to Louie and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "So what's the… I mean, can you tell me what the competition is about?"

"Don't need to be so formal around me Lu," the broad-shouldered gentleman chuckled.

"Well still, can't I practise?"

He chuckled again and received a pair of glaring eyes staring straight at him. "The competition's for anyone who wants to join. All you need is a partner to enter and there are many rounds to it, including quizzes on our economy, instrumental music and possibly sport. There's also a creativity activity in that too."

Lu sighed and let her shoulders slump. "I'm good at nothing at all, all except for sport." She sighed again and trudged slowly out of the classroom, following the last student into the corridor.

"Wait Lu." The girl stopped and glanced at him. "What sports are you good at? Perhaps you and I can join as a team."

"Mmm… basketball, tennis, swimming, fencing, rock climbing, running, gym but I'm still on level five but I don't intend to continue. There are others but there are too many to name."

The friendly expression on Louie's face had changed to a cheeky grin. "So you are that basketball player. I knew it all the time."

Swiftly Lucretzia clamped a hand over his mouth. "Don't tell anyone!"

"I won't Lu, you're like a little sister to me and you're short enough to be one too," he added. She scowled and lightly punched him in the ribs before exiting through the doorway while Louie tagged behind.

Flocks of students gathered at the assembly hall, the low shuffling sound disturbing the silenced air. No one spoke once they sat down, acting like the prim and proper ladies and gentlemen they were taught to be. Everything felt so long, the unexpected assembly announcements, taking a seat, the principal's 'speeches' and basically everything else. The only thing that caught Lucretzia's attention was when he mentioned the competition and upcoming drama play, which sounded quite interesting if she was the one watching everyone nervously fumble over their words. Louie nudged the girl on the arm when she started dozing off into her own fantasy world, several times.

"That was so boring!" Noin complained when they stepped out of the assembly hall, behind the other students. Her friend beside her could only shake his head. "But I think I might enter that competition."

The taller teenager shrugged but kept his friendly smile. "I'm going to go off with my friends. I'll see you around."

"Wait, what do we do now since the assembly's finished?" she implored, causing him to stop.

"Lessons for the day are over unless you have extra curricular activities."

"Don't have any today."

"Well then, you can go and practise your manners." Surprisingly Noin didn't scowl at him or seem angry at him in any way. "Aren't you a little bit angry?"

Lucretzia grinned unexpectedly instead and replied in a cheery voice, "Hey, I'm not that snobbish or hot tempered. Well then, see ya." She held her books firmly in her hands and walked away with a delighted thought in her mind. For a second, her closed eyes weren't able to see the path she was walking and crashed into something. Or to be exact, someone. Immediately, she sprung backwards and apologised for not watching the road.

"It's alright Miss. Just remember to watch where you're…" the person's voice trailed off. "Have we met before? You seem so familiar?"

Huh? That voice… It's… "Zechs Merquise?" she uttered, realising the identity of the obstacle in her path. "Sorry for my rudeness but your name just came out of my mouth."

"It's alright," he smiled sweetly, studying her face before noticing the intense mystery she held in her eyes.

Now get up and leave before he remembers who you are! "Excuse me Mr Merquise," Lu muttered politely and turned around to leave.

"Miss, can I have your name?" the striking young blonde asked, hoping for a response.

"Lucretzia." The girl had already rushed off before he could ask her any further.

Lucretzia, what a beautiful name. He pondered silently to himself whilst a goofy grin boarded his face.

"That was a close call," Lucretzia mumbled to herself as she leaned against the tree, her books clutched tightly with her right hand, hanging around her thigh.

"What was a close call?" The girl jerked her head backwards and banged into the wall at the sound of someone's voice. "Too happy to see me already?"

Noin groaned and rubbed her head gently where she felt a small bruise beginning to swell. "Thanks a lot Duo. I just needed you to ruin my day didn't I?"

"C'mon Noin," he whined but instantly stopped when he saw the stern look directed towards him. "Sorry Lu… It's hard to remember to call you Lu though…"

"Tough." Beginning to leave, Noin sighed as her cousin instantly continued to follow her. "Why don't you go join your friends? I'm sure you've made quite a few already in your year."

"Nah… they're too polite, formal and anything but like me!"

Patting him on the back gently, Noin smiled, "I'm sure you'll find friends. It's not like you to give up." She grinned at him and headed off, leaving him filled with encouragement as he sped off somewhere…

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A/N: So what do you think guys? I'm having this problem deciding whether to get him to like her or not (perhaps vice versa). So how about you tell me? Hope no one's going to start flaming me about Duo not fitting the role as Noin's cousin. I decided that I won't put Hilde because she's Noin's sister in the other one. Anyway, the other characters will be coming in soon. Please review people! I need encouragement and inspiration ^.^ And now that I've probably failed in my Jap exam (it was today… *gasp*) I don't feel up to anything unless someone wants to give me a giant chocolate banana split with blueberries! Love them desserts!