*** Sorry about not updating…I've been way too busy. But I finally got this done so here you go. Also, I've decided to put acknowledgements to my reviewers at the end of the chapter, so look for your name there. Thank you to all those who have reviewed and I look forward to what you have to say in the future.
~*~ Will indicate a time or scene change.
Disclaimer: These are becoming more and more pointless. No one on this site owns ANYTHING, you hear me? NOTHING! We're all poor writers who have to borrow another's characters and twist them around into our own creations because we have nothing better to do! AHHHHH!
Sorry…
Anyway.
Enjoy***
Silent ScreamLegato sighed in irritation at the pair of females behind him. For the past week, that girl had been following him and his sister around. Ever since that day in the market, Rei was meeting them on their way to school, walking and talking with Allegro, and making valiant, but vain, efforts in attempting to engage in a conversation with him. After Allegro would disappear within the school building, the blonde would accompany him to his own class, ignoring all the questioning stares they got from the other students.
It was really becoming quite annoying.
Legato let out another agitated sigh as he stopped in front of the building, allowing the duo to catch up with him. Allegro trotted happily over to him, Rei following in tow.
"Bye, Legato-niisan! Allegro will meet you after school by the stairs again, ok?" She gave her brother's leg a brief hug before turning to Rei. "You too Rei-neechan!"
Another thing to add to his list of gripes. Allegro had begun referring to Rei as her 'older sister'. He arched his brow slightly, observing as the pair held a quick embrace. He still had yet to comprehend why the girl was being so flamboyantly friendly to him and his sister, even when he tried his best to ignore her presence.
Legato watched his sister run up the concrete steps, turn around to give one last wave good-bye, and then disappear into the building. He didn't linger any longer, walking towards the adjacent building as soon as his sister was out of sight, and away from the blonde that was still gazing after Allegro. Before he had managed to attain a reasonable distance from the girl, he heard her footsteps trotting up beside him.
He stopped walking, golden eyes rolling skyward in annoyance as he turned to face her.
"What do you want?" he demanded irritably
"Huh?" Rei asked in unintelligible confusion.
"You've been following me and my sister around for a week, like a dog. What is it you want? I'm sure you have an ulterior motive for pursuing me."
Rei's jaw dropped when she heard her comparison to a dog. Anger surfacing in her once tranquil blue eyes, she turned on the boy who had the nerve to insult her.
"First off, I am no dog," she stated indignantly, "And secondly, did it ever occur to you that maybe I'm just trying to be nice? Or maybe, I don't want your company at all, but rather prefer Allegro's. At least she is kind and considerate, unlike you, who fails to show any form of compassion to any other human being, save for the mild affection you show her."
"If that is the case, who are you to hang around children more than half your age? What are you, a pedophile?"
That hit a nerve. Rei exploded with fury.
"You pompous asshole! How dare you say that to me? No wonder no one likes you, you have absolutely no social skills whatsoever! I try to be friendly and I get shit for it. Didn't your mother ever teach you to be courteous?"
Legato's smug gaze instantly turned to ice.
"My mother is dead." He responded, staring at her frigidly.
Rei's rage dropped a few notches at his blunt statement, her eyes melting to mild sympathy. "I'm sorry," she managed dejectedly.
His golden eyes were still cold when he responded harshly, "And what reason do you have to be? I don't need your compassion." With that, he turned and began walking away.
Unable to think of a clever retort, Rei just watched him leave. It was only until he passed the entrance of the building that she called after him.
"The school's that way, idiot!" she yelled pointing in the direction Legato wasn't heading.
"I'm well aware of that, bitch." He returned, not bothering to look back at her.
Rei grunted in irritation. If he wanted to skip, that was fine with her. She didn't think she'd be able to deal with him any longer anyway. She stormed up the steps of the concrete school building, still fuming over their quarrel. Upon her entrance, Aiden, who was leaning against the adjacent wall with his arms folded and a ridiculous smirk on his handsome face, greeted her.
"Having a lover's spat are we?" he asked mockingly.
"Shut up," she growled, continuing her path down the hallway and to her first period class.
~*~
She sat in her desk, twirling a pen between her nimble fingers, a scowl on her face as she glared at the empty desk a few spaces in front of her, thinking of its usual inhabitant. He sure had some nerve to insult her like that. Just because he didn't have a mother didn't mean he could treat everyone, including her, the way he did. In fact, she had grown up without a prominent mother figure and she could still act civil.
And Rei was sure he didn't deal with the same problems she had.
She grimaced, shutting the invading thoughts out of her mind before the painful memories could fully resurface. She had gotten past it all, and there was no need to be reminded of it now, just because of some arrogant jerk like Legato Bluesummers.
Instead, she turned her attention to the ticking clock that lay just above the doorway, watching the second hand click by the little dashes along the clock's circumference. She furrowed her brow when she realized that she still had a half hour left to endure of Biology class before lunchtime. Never being much of an optimist, Rei found the last few minutes of class to be particularly grueling. The teacher finally loosing focus and listening to the rest of her classmates erupt in noisy banter was not something she particularly cared for. She would much rather be involved in some kind of class work until the end of the period; it always seemed to pass the time faster than anything else did.
Expecting this to happen very soon, Rei was surprised when the teacher began to speak, calling everyone's attention to an important statement.
"For the next few weeks, you all will be working on a very important project." As soon, as the word "project" left the haggard woman's mouth, she was met with the grumbling protests of the students. Ignoring their unvoiced complaints she continued, "For this particular assignment, you will be working in a pair, with a member of the opposite gender." This comment was met by fewer rebuttals. The Biology teacher was known for making the oddest pairings. In one instance, she had commanded that everyone pick a partner with different colored sock. This presented a problem when she discovered the majority of the class was wearing white socks. So in comparison, this arrangement looked promising.
Quickly, the woman did a survey of the room, counting how many pairs could be made successfully. Her gaze stopped at Legato's empty seat.
"Hmm," she drawled. "It would appear that Mr. Bluesummers has neglected to attend class today. Would anyone like to be his partner willingly, or do I have to assign someone?"
Silence.
Everyone looked around, seeing if any girl would be brave enough to volunteer. None raised their hand.
"Alright then, I shall have to pick for you…" Her hawk-like gaze fell upon Rei, who was contemplating a way to convince Aiden to be her partner. "What about you, Miss Madison?"
Upon hearing her name, Rei blinked and brought her attention to the shrewd woman before her. "What?"
"Would you like to be Mr. Bluesummers' partner for this assignment?" she repeated patiently.
Rei stared into the woman's dull jade eyes, contemplating her decision. When she saw the approving gaze of Aiden out of the corner of her vision, she made up her mind.
"Okay," She responded. This would, after all, give her an excuse to spend time with Legato, without being questioned for it. Plus, she could get back at him from before. "Yeah, I will, Mrs. Thomas." she added more confidently.
Mrs. Thomas peered at the girl through her thick, black-rimmed glasses in genuine surprise. "Well, since that is settled, we can continue the pairings." She paused in consideration. "Actually, let me explain the project to you, and then we shall determine who's with who. Since we have recently been studying genetics, I thought I would be fitting if we did a project to determine the different traits a child would possess. As you know, when two organisms reproduce, their offspring inherit certain genes from their parents. With your partner, you will determine which traits you each possess and what ones you would pass on to a child-imitation."
Rei's face fell. She was going to have a simulated child with Legato?
Aiden elbowed her, speaking mockingly, "Well, I didn't know you two were getting that intimate." He snickered.
Those sitting around them that had heard laughed as well. Rei glared at them to shut up.
Mrs. Thomas, who had also heard the comment, looked over the class once again.
"It would appear that we have an extra pair of boys… Aiden, you will work with Kiro, and one of you will have to assume the role of the female. I'll leave it for you to decide amongst yourselves who is the lucky lady," she smiled evilly.
Now it was Rei's along with the rest of the class' turn to laugh. Aiden's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. Reluctantly, he turned his head to the back of the room to look at the punkishly dressed Kiro. He was met by a harsh gray glare, one that silently told him who was going to be playing the woman in their mock relationship. Aiden turned around miserably amongst the continued laughter and hung his head in defeat.
Satisfied that she had put the snobby rich-boy in his place, Mrs. Thomas continued. "Now, we shall continue with the rest of the pairings so I can finish my explanation before the bell rings."
~*~
Outside, a gentle wind caressed the dusty plain, stirring up the coarse sand and causing it to shift as the breeze blew. Above, the first of the twin suns had begun to arc westward signifying noon had already passed. Both of the bright orbs shone down heavily, enveloping the land with perpetual warmth. A few, rogue wisps of clouds drifted across the otherwise clear blue sky. To see actual, puffy clouds was rare, for they usually stood for an upcoming rain, which was very uncommon for the desert planet called Gunsmoke.
Legato lay on his back, arms propped behind his head as he watched the sky from the solace of a high plateau overlooking the city. His golden eyes had dilated to mere slits from staring skyward for so long. Gazing at the suns, he determined that it was nearing one-thirty, and he should start heading back to town to pick up Allegro. Thoughts of her brought back memories of how happy she looked when she was with Rei. He wondered if the obnoxious girl would continue to follow them, even after the words they had exchanged. Allegro would not be too thrilled if she knew her dear brother had told off her beloved Rei.
Sighing irritably, Legato sat up, wrapping his arms around his knees. He just couldn't win. If the girl stayed, his sister would be happy, however he would be miserable. If she left like he had implied she should, although he would be exultant, he would have to cope with Allegro's sorrow, and she was the only one that could make him feel truly guilty. Either way, he would have to endure some form of mental agony. And it was nearing time to make a decision because he had to go to the school soon.
'Joyous', he thought mentally as he stood up, brushing the sand from his clothing.
He sent an unfocused glare at the town that lay before him. Once again, he would have to return to the confines of that accursed place, and he had no desire to do so. The only thing that kept him from disappearing into the sandy frontier was Allegro. He had contemplated taking her with him, but common sense had reminded him that there was no way two people could survive out there for very long with nothing. Supporting life without ample supplies would prove to be a difficult task.
So, each day Legato would return home with his sister, often to endure the drunken rage of his father. Another thing he did not look forward to, but dealt with anyway.
Shaking his head, he decided to stoop procrastinating and start the four-mile trek back to town.
~*~
***Whooooo I'm done! That took a while. Hope you liked it. On to reviews!
Tessa Marlene- Thanks for reviewing, and I'm glad you approve of my story. I've read so many Legato fics as well, I couldn't help attempt to make my own, and it actually worked! Yeah, I was getting the same vibe from the Japanese when I reread it. I'm glad I stopped doing it, lol. Anyway, I'll look forward to your comments in the future!
Yutaan- I'm glad this is a new experience for you, and happy you enjoy it. Sorry, but the Japanese was really bothering me, as well as a lot of other people so I took it out. There may be a phrase here and there, but the characters won't speak it in sentences. Thanks for reviewing.
Khaotic Memories- Thanks so much! Your review meant a lot to me. I'm glad you enjoy this, and sorry for not updating sooner, I've just been so busy!
Touchi-chan- As always, thank you for your avid reviews and suggestions. It helps. And I brought back Rei, happy? Lol.
Kinkosami- Looking at everyone's comments, I'm glad I got rid of it, because I may have been flayed alive in the near future…and that wouldn't be too good… Anyway, thanks for the review and I hope you liked this chapter.
Magnet-rose- Oh yeah, they are going to have a lot more interaction, don't worry, ;-). Thanks for reviewing and sorry for not updating!
Raditz- Haha, its okay, a reviews a review, regardless of whether its signed or not. And I'm glad you weren't so lazy as to not comment. And I updated, so please don't flay me…
CaptainMurphysMistress- Thanks for your avid reviews; although I missed you last chapter! I hope this chapter met with your expectations and added to your enjoyment of the story.
Tauhiryo- Hey, how have you been? I haven't talked to you in a while; we've both been busy. I hope you get time to read this and relish me with another one of your reviews.
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Until next time ~_^ ***