A/N: Hi again! As promised, an update a week! (this is when you ignore me saying that I'd do it faster in the last chappy ^-^) I won't promise that again though, because from now on it will be very hard for me to find time to write. Do not despair, I won't leave you without your weekly update; but I have to throw my self into my studies. As amazing as it seems, being the genius that I am, I have to ready myself for an English and Spanish admission test. You see, I'm going to try my luck at this very prestigious and very *free* (i.e. limited vacancies) school so I can become a translator. I would so love to be able to do that. After pre-med and Anthropology, I hope this one goes well. ^.^
Another thing is I separated this chappy a little different than how I usually do it. I not only separated scenes but also P.O.V. You know by now that though I write on the third person, I do write in P.O.V as well; if that's even possible. I just thought it would be confusing to have the perspective of the one telling the story changing so much without some kind of marking. And oh, do I love writing Tsuzuki!! I think just like that! It's like I'm actually writing myself, but since no one has said I write Tsuzuki out of character, then I'll keep it up!
Enjoy!!
A SMILE UPON MY FACE
Four students were quietly having lunch in the deserted cafeteria. Apart from them, the only people left were a couple of bored employees watching a soap opera in the kitchen. With every other student eating outside, the place didn't only look empty; it looked abandoned, and the people actually in there didn't help the situation.
There was an awkward silence around them; though some were more awkward than others. Tatsumi was simply eating; not paying attention to the others' discomfort. Watari was drawing something either very bad or remarkably abstract; Hisoka, who once in a while would peak at the drawing, couldn't really decide which.
The awkwardness, in honest, was caused by two of them alone- Hisoka and Tsuzuki- but it was enough for a battalion. The latter hardly ever took his eyes from the younger boy, while Hisoka tried his best to ignore him. Of course, as soon as he lifted his gaze from his lunch to look at Tsuzuki, the older boy would look away and pretend he was directing his attention at the most ridiculous things.
At the moment, Tsuzuki was pretending to study a napkin with utmost interest. Hisoka rolled his eyes. At first, seeing the apprehension that his new friend's friend had for him, Hisoka had thought he'd blown his chances of not turning into the outcast he'd always been in every other school.
He hadn't given it much thought before that day, but after meeting Watari he had the sudden urge to stop being the awkward kid who never talked to anyone for once. The blond aspirant for scientist was a very warm hearted person- though Hisoka would have to say of questionable ethics- and after just half a day at the school he already felt a bond with him. Watari was one of the most honest, cheerful people he'd ever met and, though he was hard to trust anyone so quickly, he wasn't used to people like the blond, so he couldn't stop himself from doing just that.
The feeling, for some reason, had only increased after meeting the other two boys. Though they'd hardly crossed a word, Hisoka liked Tatsumi immediately; even when he did found it hard to trust him. Tatsumi was a little like a block of ice; a very sharp, dangerous block of ice. Hisoka immediately realised he did *not* want Tatsumi as an enemy. But, with their little misunderstanding, he got the feeling that the blue eyed boy was very loyal and protective. That made him feel safe, somehow.
As for Tsuzuki...Well, he didn't know a thing about him; except maybe that he had gorgeous eyes. He was the hardest to figure out, but that only increased Hisoka's curiosity. To top it all, Tsuzuki wouldn't stop acting like he was some sort of big bad boogie man. At least Hisoka didn't think the other boy resented him for what had happened; he was just scared as hell of him, but that could be fixed.
And he found himself *wanting* to fix it, for reasons he couldn't understand. Maybe it was that he was just tired of always being alone. Now he'd been given the chance to have friends and he would try very hard not to waste it.
Whatever the reason- though he wouldn't admit it for the world- he was feeling more and more drawn to the violet eyed boy.
Though, honestly; Did he have food on his face or something?!
-----------------
Tsuzuki Asato had always been a curious person. He was never concerned by that fact, because the saying went 'curiosity killed the cat.' and he'd always felt more like a dog than a cat.
Yup, yup; he was a puppy person. Puppies are just so cute and fluffy!
But he wasn't thinking about puppies. What was he thinking about? Ah, yes. Hisoka.
He looked at the boy again and found a pair of green eyes glaring at him.
Ah! Napkins were curious little things, you see? Seriously though, who made them? Who woke up one morning and said 'Mom, Dad, I'm going to make paper napkins for a living'? Maybe someone should thank those hard working, napkin-making people. What would the world be like without them? Messy, for sure.
Yay! Hisoka stopped looking at him! Bye bye Mr. Napkin, nice meeting you!
He felt sort of bad leaving Mr. Napkin aside. He had gone as far as naming it and now it was being discarded for the boy in front of him. But Hisoka was much more *lookable* than Mr. Napkin!
He seemed cute too, like a puppy; though not that fluffy and a whole lot more lethal than a puppy. Tsuzuki also wasn't sure the green eyed boy would appreciate him petting him or scratching his ears.
Oh, getting distracted again.
One quick, guilty look at Tatsumi to make sure the other boy hadn't heard his thoughts about scratching another boy's ears and he was back to studying Hisoka. Well, it's just Tatsumi sometimes acts like he can read his thoughts!
'God, his eyes are so green!' he thought, amazed. Even with Hisoka's head tilted downwards he could still get a glimpse of the bright colour of his eyes. He tried then to come up with a good metaphor for them, but only came up with things like 'impossible emerald pools' or 'big emerald gems.' Wasn't there another poetic reference to green besides emeralds? It wasn't for nothing he'd flunked literature.
He realised then, with amusement, that every single person he knew and talked to had a different eye colour. There was blue, amber, green, silver-ish grey and deep brown. For a moment he even found amusement in his own eyes being the eerie colour that they were. They could all make a rainbow of eyes!!
Ok, that was a creepy image.
And besides, he could never find his eyes to be something pleasant for more than a split second. Specially since he got the mental image of everyone's eyes in a row making a bloody and gory sight.
But what upset him the most about his eyes was that they made him a monster. A life time of being shunned, beaten and despised because of them will teach you that. Before Tatsumi arrived at the school, he'd have to endure his most benevolent classmates locking him inside closets, and some not so kind attacking him at night with duck-tape and baseball bats.
No one wanted a monster as a classmate.
He felt his mood sinking. It wasn't hard to recognise the signs; shoulders slumping, eyes watering, chest aching.
'Was that the reason Hisoka-kun immediately thought I was a bad guy?' he thought gloomily, 'Cause of my eyes?'
It wouldn't surprise him at all. It would certainly not be the first time. Maybe they were all right in calling him a demon. Yes, they probably were.
'He must hate me now. And with good reason too.'
It was a pity really. Hisoka seemed like such a cute person.
His thoughts were interrupted when Tatsumi tenderly encircled his waist and pulled him closer.
'He sorta does read my thoughts!' he thought, sighing contently and resting his head on the taller boy's shoulder.
------------------
Hisoka arched an eyebrow.
'What's that all about?' he asked himself, seeing the two boys in front of him being more than a little affectionate with each other. For some reason it made him uncomfortable. Any kind of display of affection did, if he had to tell the truth. He just wasn't used to them. 'Thanks a lot, Mom and Dad!' he thought bitterly.
Apparently, Watari either agreed with him that Tatsumi and Tsuzuki were acting like jerks or he'd noticed his discomfort, because the blond left his doodles aside- yes, Hisoka decided, Watari wasn't artistic, he just couldn't draw at all- and cleared his throat.
Tatsumi seemed to tense up at this, but he didn't let go of Tsuzuki.
"Kurosaki-kun," Watari begun, "You haven't told us anything about yourself; and we haven't either. Why don't you tell us a little about yourself and we'll do the same? Kinda like an A.A. first meeting or something."
Hisoka felt like a deer caught in headlights. He begun feeling very nervous and inadequate. He knew they would ask eventually! He'd even prepared some of the answers to the most obvious questions! It wasn't that hard, was it?
"Uhm...Well...I...I'm...er...sixteen years old and...I'm a Libra?"
What the hell?! When did he become a 20 year old waitress?!
Watari didn't seem to mind though, neither Tsuzuki or Tatsumi. The blond nodded encouragingly.
"Well, that's great! I'm fifteen and I'm a Taurus! We should check our horoscope to see if we are a match!!"
Hisoka frowned a little.
"How come you're fifteen and a senior?"
"Watari-kun is really, really smart. He should have graduated a year ago, actually, but he refused to skip another year so he could be with his friends." Tatsumi was the one to answer.
Watari and Tsuzuki both nodded enthusiastically.
'Amazing', Hisoka thought, 'for someone who can't draw better than a four year old to be that smart.'
Watari then nudged Tatsumi, who cleared his throat uncomfortably. "C'mon! Now you!" the blond chirped.
"Er...I'm seventeen years old and I don't believe in all that Zodiac stuff." he smiled apologetically.
Watari huffed.
"Well, that's something at least." he remained pensive for a moment then whispered, "He's a Capricorn" to Hisoka's ear, who had to try very hard not to chuckle.
Tatsumi heard, of course, and threw daggers at Watari with his eyes. But the blonde's only response was to smile warmly and Hisoka saw Tatsumi's stern gaze faltering.
"Now me! Now me!" Tsuzuki cheered happily. Watari motioned him to go on and he took a deep breath. "I'm eighteen years old, I'm a Pisces -we Pisces get along real great with Libra, but it's bound not to last long if we were to have a romantic relationship- and I love, love, *love* sweet things and cute things and things that are sweet and cute at the same time! Like gummy bears! Or, or..."
"You're eighteen?!" Hisoka couldn't stop himself from asking. Besides, he was feeling the beginnings of a headache.
He immediately regretted it, though. Tsuzuki's eyes grew big and shimmery, as if he was about to cry. It was obvious he had touched a sore spot for the older boy.
Tatsumi just shook his head, mildly annoyed, while Watari chuckled.
"Oh, Kurosaki-kun!" the blond said amusedly. "Don't get the wrong idea! Tsuzuki is as smart as any of us. He's just a little...well..."
"Lazy." Tatsumi finished for him.
That did it. Tsuzuki burst into tears.
"Waaaaaaaaaah!! You all hate me!!"
-------------------------
The smell of burnt wood invaded Oriya's nostrils and he looked up from his lunch. He frowned as he saw his best friend lighting a cigarette for the nth time that morning.
"That shit's going to kill you, you know?" he murmured as he took the cigarette from Muraki's sharp fingers and took a long drag, letting the smoke warm his lungs.
Muraki snorted and snatched the cigarette back.
"Some example you are."
They were having lunch where they always did; in their room. They were sitting on the floor, next to the window; away from any curious teacher or blabbering student and free to do and say whatever they liked.
It was a troublesome choice for an eating place. The walk from the dorms to the classroom was a long one and they had to calculate their timing perfectly to avoid being late. Not that it would have mattered that much. Oriya's dad had quite a bit of influence with the directives of the school (i.e. he had dirt on them.), so they could do pretty much what they wanted. But most of the time, they didn't make use of this advantage.
They ate in comfortable silence for a while. Or at least that was how it would have looked like. For his part, Oriya was fighting with his own thoughts. Something was nagging him and it wouldn't go away until he'd said something. He squirmed and folded his legs over each other.
"So,..." Oriya begun carefully, playing with the chopsticks between his fingers expertly. "How...how are you...you know...doing?"
Muraki didn't look at him; he just stared at the small fire on the tip of his cigarette intently.
"You don't need to worry about me." he said detachedly after a while, shrugging. "I have enough money to fend for myself. Dad's practice will still be there for me when I graduate from college and he left me enough in the bank so that a few 'unproductive' years won't change anything."
It was unsettling for Oriya to watch his best friend acting so emotionless when he talked about his situation. When the subject came up, Muraki would only talk about his financial situation; never his feelings. But Oriya thought he could see it; the hurt. It was right there in Muraki's silver eyes.
For god's sake it hadn't even been a month since he'd lost his entire family!
He grunted in frustration and then swallowed a mouthful of rice, chocking with it. Muraki couldn't help but to laugh and patted his friend's back to help him breathe again.
"That shit's gonna kill you, you know?" the white haired boy mocked him, and Oriya gave him his nastiest glare.
"Ha, ha, very funny." With a final cough the dark haired boy took a deep breath and sighed; his face loosing the reddish colour it had gained a moment before. "If you need anything...to talk or, whatever..." he trailed off.
"Yeah..." Muraki took another drag of his half smoked cigarette and passed it to Oriya. "As I said. You don't have to worry about me."
There was an underlying bitterness in Muraki's tone. Oriya averted his gaze, focusing it on his hands. He so wanted to make him feel better.
Muraki noticed it. He kicked himself for worrying Oriya- which was becoming a bit of a habit- and felt he needed to fix his mistake. He gently lifted Oriya's chin with his hand and gave him an honest smile. Oriya smiled back, his eyes practically shining with anticipation.
"Senpai?" Oriya said softly, but Muraki quickly took his hand away and pulled back.
The older boy pushed his plate away, turning his attention to the window. Specifically torth the crowd of students on the park bellow them. The dark haired boy sighed, disappointed.
"Hey, Ori-chan?" Muraki said suddenly.
"What?" Oriya asked, looking curiously at where his friend was but saw nothing.
"Lets get out of here."
Oriya nervously glanced from the window to his friend, wondering what he'd meant by 'here', since Muraki had a bit of a history of cutting class at the most inappropriate times.
"We really shouldn't. The teachers will be paying more attention than usual to who's here and who's not...I mean, ...it's the first day, they have to check the lists and everything...I..."
Muraki shook his head and snorted.
"I meant this room, not school."
"Oh!" he sighed relieved.
Muraki rose to his feet with a little struggle and held a hand for Oriya to take; which he did, gladly. Soon he was being dragged through the halls and towards the cafeteria, rather hurriedly.
"Why are we going there? It should be empty today." he asked curiously.
"That's why, precisely."
Oriya didn't push the matter any further, for what Muraki was glad. In truth, the reason of his going there was simply because of something he'd seen out on the park. Or, to be precise, someone he hadn't seen.
~Tsuzuku~
Or TBC, whatever...
Anyway, how is this coming along? Do you still like?
I have a little question to make. It's a matter of opinion but I'll go with the majority on this. Does anyone else thinks Saki (as in Muraki's evil brother *shudders*) looks remotely like Hisoka in an evil twin sorta way? At least in the anime? Anyone? Is it just me? I have my reasons for asking. It's important that you answer me....pwease? *.*
And now to the reviews!
Miko, you never told me if you were the same Miko, but that's ok. I'll just assume you are. I totally agree! Poor Tatsumi-san...er...kun. Anyway, I plan on torturing them all so you will feel sorry for all of them soon enough!
Loki's rose. First of all, please, please, please; will you tell me where I messed up the in's and on's? If you read the A/N you know it's important. But I don't mean in a beta reader sort of way, just examples. I thought in was when something was inside another thingy and on was when it was over it? Is that right? Well, never mind, I totally appreciate you mentioning that. How else am I going to become a good writer/translator?
Yes, I think I'll make 'Soka-chan an empath, though maybe not as much of an empath as he was when he was dead. Now, *that* sounded weird. And thanks for what you said about the characters. I'm always so scared they'll turn out OC. Maybe I already screwed that up? Ah, the insecurity!
Isumi, thanks for your review and kind words! Stick around, ne?
Lina...Wow...all of it in just one night?! *blink**blink* Wow. It is pretty long! (all that sounded dirty, somehow) Sankyuu!! I'm glad you liked it and like this one as well. And I'm also glad you liked 'Soka-chan and the way he and Tsuzuki met. Actually, I'm thrilled that you noticed that!! Make your reviews as long as you like, heh heh, I don't mind! *-*
Kitsuneblood, ah, I know, I'm lazy like that too. Logging in is just so ...ugh...But I still know it's you! Thanks for your review!
Cofi...Cofi...*bows apologetically*. I am not familiarized with Harry potter fanfiction. I just saw the first movie and I didn't....uhm...*whisper* like it much. *looks around for any mad HP fan* Ah, it was a really cool film, but...ah, well I dunno, I wasn't as...thrilled as other people. But since I promised I'd read your fic, I'll just ask you one thing. Write me a review telling me about the characters in the story; like, their names and what are they supposed to look like? So I can read it! I promised it and I keep my promises! And no, Muraki is not a teacher, he's...a student!! And in the next chappy something will happen with him and...'Soka-chan!!...I think, maybe, cuz this things just write themselves, you know?
White Angel of the Blood Moon, I take it you used the good doctor as inspiration for that wonderful name? You are not...really...*him* are you? Heh. Anyway, Patience is a virtue, but not all of us are that virtuous really so I forgive you. Just don't go cursing me or anything! Thanks for your review!
Sankyuu all!
Ja ne!
Another thing is I separated this chappy a little different than how I usually do it. I not only separated scenes but also P.O.V. You know by now that though I write on the third person, I do write in P.O.V as well; if that's even possible. I just thought it would be confusing to have the perspective of the one telling the story changing so much without some kind of marking. And oh, do I love writing Tsuzuki!! I think just like that! It's like I'm actually writing myself, but since no one has said I write Tsuzuki out of character, then I'll keep it up!
Enjoy!!
A SMILE UPON MY FACE
Four students were quietly having lunch in the deserted cafeteria. Apart from them, the only people left were a couple of bored employees watching a soap opera in the kitchen. With every other student eating outside, the place didn't only look empty; it looked abandoned, and the people actually in there didn't help the situation.
There was an awkward silence around them; though some were more awkward than others. Tatsumi was simply eating; not paying attention to the others' discomfort. Watari was drawing something either very bad or remarkably abstract; Hisoka, who once in a while would peak at the drawing, couldn't really decide which.
The awkwardness, in honest, was caused by two of them alone- Hisoka and Tsuzuki- but it was enough for a battalion. The latter hardly ever took his eyes from the younger boy, while Hisoka tried his best to ignore him. Of course, as soon as he lifted his gaze from his lunch to look at Tsuzuki, the older boy would look away and pretend he was directing his attention at the most ridiculous things.
At the moment, Tsuzuki was pretending to study a napkin with utmost interest. Hisoka rolled his eyes. At first, seeing the apprehension that his new friend's friend had for him, Hisoka had thought he'd blown his chances of not turning into the outcast he'd always been in every other school.
He hadn't given it much thought before that day, but after meeting Watari he had the sudden urge to stop being the awkward kid who never talked to anyone for once. The blond aspirant for scientist was a very warm hearted person- though Hisoka would have to say of questionable ethics- and after just half a day at the school he already felt a bond with him. Watari was one of the most honest, cheerful people he'd ever met and, though he was hard to trust anyone so quickly, he wasn't used to people like the blond, so he couldn't stop himself from doing just that.
The feeling, for some reason, had only increased after meeting the other two boys. Though they'd hardly crossed a word, Hisoka liked Tatsumi immediately; even when he did found it hard to trust him. Tatsumi was a little like a block of ice; a very sharp, dangerous block of ice. Hisoka immediately realised he did *not* want Tatsumi as an enemy. But, with their little misunderstanding, he got the feeling that the blue eyed boy was very loyal and protective. That made him feel safe, somehow.
As for Tsuzuki...Well, he didn't know a thing about him; except maybe that he had gorgeous eyes. He was the hardest to figure out, but that only increased Hisoka's curiosity. To top it all, Tsuzuki wouldn't stop acting like he was some sort of big bad boogie man. At least Hisoka didn't think the other boy resented him for what had happened; he was just scared as hell of him, but that could be fixed.
And he found himself *wanting* to fix it, for reasons he couldn't understand. Maybe it was that he was just tired of always being alone. Now he'd been given the chance to have friends and he would try very hard not to waste it.
Whatever the reason- though he wouldn't admit it for the world- he was feeling more and more drawn to the violet eyed boy.
Though, honestly; Did he have food on his face or something?!
-----------------
Tsuzuki Asato had always been a curious person. He was never concerned by that fact, because the saying went 'curiosity killed the cat.' and he'd always felt more like a dog than a cat.
Yup, yup; he was a puppy person. Puppies are just so cute and fluffy!
But he wasn't thinking about puppies. What was he thinking about? Ah, yes. Hisoka.
He looked at the boy again and found a pair of green eyes glaring at him.
Ah! Napkins were curious little things, you see? Seriously though, who made them? Who woke up one morning and said 'Mom, Dad, I'm going to make paper napkins for a living'? Maybe someone should thank those hard working, napkin-making people. What would the world be like without them? Messy, for sure.
Yay! Hisoka stopped looking at him! Bye bye Mr. Napkin, nice meeting you!
He felt sort of bad leaving Mr. Napkin aside. He had gone as far as naming it and now it was being discarded for the boy in front of him. But Hisoka was much more *lookable* than Mr. Napkin!
He seemed cute too, like a puppy; though not that fluffy and a whole lot more lethal than a puppy. Tsuzuki also wasn't sure the green eyed boy would appreciate him petting him or scratching his ears.
Oh, getting distracted again.
One quick, guilty look at Tatsumi to make sure the other boy hadn't heard his thoughts about scratching another boy's ears and he was back to studying Hisoka. Well, it's just Tatsumi sometimes acts like he can read his thoughts!
'God, his eyes are so green!' he thought, amazed. Even with Hisoka's head tilted downwards he could still get a glimpse of the bright colour of his eyes. He tried then to come up with a good metaphor for them, but only came up with things like 'impossible emerald pools' or 'big emerald gems.' Wasn't there another poetic reference to green besides emeralds? It wasn't for nothing he'd flunked literature.
He realised then, with amusement, that every single person he knew and talked to had a different eye colour. There was blue, amber, green, silver-ish grey and deep brown. For a moment he even found amusement in his own eyes being the eerie colour that they were. They could all make a rainbow of eyes!!
Ok, that was a creepy image.
And besides, he could never find his eyes to be something pleasant for more than a split second. Specially since he got the mental image of everyone's eyes in a row making a bloody and gory sight.
But what upset him the most about his eyes was that they made him a monster. A life time of being shunned, beaten and despised because of them will teach you that. Before Tatsumi arrived at the school, he'd have to endure his most benevolent classmates locking him inside closets, and some not so kind attacking him at night with duck-tape and baseball bats.
No one wanted a monster as a classmate.
He felt his mood sinking. It wasn't hard to recognise the signs; shoulders slumping, eyes watering, chest aching.
'Was that the reason Hisoka-kun immediately thought I was a bad guy?' he thought gloomily, 'Cause of my eyes?'
It wouldn't surprise him at all. It would certainly not be the first time. Maybe they were all right in calling him a demon. Yes, they probably were.
'He must hate me now. And with good reason too.'
It was a pity really. Hisoka seemed like such a cute person.
His thoughts were interrupted when Tatsumi tenderly encircled his waist and pulled him closer.
'He sorta does read my thoughts!' he thought, sighing contently and resting his head on the taller boy's shoulder.
------------------
Hisoka arched an eyebrow.
'What's that all about?' he asked himself, seeing the two boys in front of him being more than a little affectionate with each other. For some reason it made him uncomfortable. Any kind of display of affection did, if he had to tell the truth. He just wasn't used to them. 'Thanks a lot, Mom and Dad!' he thought bitterly.
Apparently, Watari either agreed with him that Tatsumi and Tsuzuki were acting like jerks or he'd noticed his discomfort, because the blond left his doodles aside- yes, Hisoka decided, Watari wasn't artistic, he just couldn't draw at all- and cleared his throat.
Tatsumi seemed to tense up at this, but he didn't let go of Tsuzuki.
"Kurosaki-kun," Watari begun, "You haven't told us anything about yourself; and we haven't either. Why don't you tell us a little about yourself and we'll do the same? Kinda like an A.A. first meeting or something."
Hisoka felt like a deer caught in headlights. He begun feeling very nervous and inadequate. He knew they would ask eventually! He'd even prepared some of the answers to the most obvious questions! It wasn't that hard, was it?
"Uhm...Well...I...I'm...er...sixteen years old and...I'm a Libra?"
What the hell?! When did he become a 20 year old waitress?!
Watari didn't seem to mind though, neither Tsuzuki or Tatsumi. The blond nodded encouragingly.
"Well, that's great! I'm fifteen and I'm a Taurus! We should check our horoscope to see if we are a match!!"
Hisoka frowned a little.
"How come you're fifteen and a senior?"
"Watari-kun is really, really smart. He should have graduated a year ago, actually, but he refused to skip another year so he could be with his friends." Tatsumi was the one to answer.
Watari and Tsuzuki both nodded enthusiastically.
'Amazing', Hisoka thought, 'for someone who can't draw better than a four year old to be that smart.'
Watari then nudged Tatsumi, who cleared his throat uncomfortably. "C'mon! Now you!" the blond chirped.
"Er...I'm seventeen years old and I don't believe in all that Zodiac stuff." he smiled apologetically.
Watari huffed.
"Well, that's something at least." he remained pensive for a moment then whispered, "He's a Capricorn" to Hisoka's ear, who had to try very hard not to chuckle.
Tatsumi heard, of course, and threw daggers at Watari with his eyes. But the blonde's only response was to smile warmly and Hisoka saw Tatsumi's stern gaze faltering.
"Now me! Now me!" Tsuzuki cheered happily. Watari motioned him to go on and he took a deep breath. "I'm eighteen years old, I'm a Pisces -we Pisces get along real great with Libra, but it's bound not to last long if we were to have a romantic relationship- and I love, love, *love* sweet things and cute things and things that are sweet and cute at the same time! Like gummy bears! Or, or..."
"You're eighteen?!" Hisoka couldn't stop himself from asking. Besides, he was feeling the beginnings of a headache.
He immediately regretted it, though. Tsuzuki's eyes grew big and shimmery, as if he was about to cry. It was obvious he had touched a sore spot for the older boy.
Tatsumi just shook his head, mildly annoyed, while Watari chuckled.
"Oh, Kurosaki-kun!" the blond said amusedly. "Don't get the wrong idea! Tsuzuki is as smart as any of us. He's just a little...well..."
"Lazy." Tatsumi finished for him.
That did it. Tsuzuki burst into tears.
"Waaaaaaaaaah!! You all hate me!!"
-------------------------
The smell of burnt wood invaded Oriya's nostrils and he looked up from his lunch. He frowned as he saw his best friend lighting a cigarette for the nth time that morning.
"That shit's going to kill you, you know?" he murmured as he took the cigarette from Muraki's sharp fingers and took a long drag, letting the smoke warm his lungs.
Muraki snorted and snatched the cigarette back.
"Some example you are."
They were having lunch where they always did; in their room. They were sitting on the floor, next to the window; away from any curious teacher or blabbering student and free to do and say whatever they liked.
It was a troublesome choice for an eating place. The walk from the dorms to the classroom was a long one and they had to calculate their timing perfectly to avoid being late. Not that it would have mattered that much. Oriya's dad had quite a bit of influence with the directives of the school (i.e. he had dirt on them.), so they could do pretty much what they wanted. But most of the time, they didn't make use of this advantage.
They ate in comfortable silence for a while. Or at least that was how it would have looked like. For his part, Oriya was fighting with his own thoughts. Something was nagging him and it wouldn't go away until he'd said something. He squirmed and folded his legs over each other.
"So,..." Oriya begun carefully, playing with the chopsticks between his fingers expertly. "How...how are you...you know...doing?"
Muraki didn't look at him; he just stared at the small fire on the tip of his cigarette intently.
"You don't need to worry about me." he said detachedly after a while, shrugging. "I have enough money to fend for myself. Dad's practice will still be there for me when I graduate from college and he left me enough in the bank so that a few 'unproductive' years won't change anything."
It was unsettling for Oriya to watch his best friend acting so emotionless when he talked about his situation. When the subject came up, Muraki would only talk about his financial situation; never his feelings. But Oriya thought he could see it; the hurt. It was right there in Muraki's silver eyes.
For god's sake it hadn't even been a month since he'd lost his entire family!
He grunted in frustration and then swallowed a mouthful of rice, chocking with it. Muraki couldn't help but to laugh and patted his friend's back to help him breathe again.
"That shit's gonna kill you, you know?" the white haired boy mocked him, and Oriya gave him his nastiest glare.
"Ha, ha, very funny." With a final cough the dark haired boy took a deep breath and sighed; his face loosing the reddish colour it had gained a moment before. "If you need anything...to talk or, whatever..." he trailed off.
"Yeah..." Muraki took another drag of his half smoked cigarette and passed it to Oriya. "As I said. You don't have to worry about me."
There was an underlying bitterness in Muraki's tone. Oriya averted his gaze, focusing it on his hands. He so wanted to make him feel better.
Muraki noticed it. He kicked himself for worrying Oriya- which was becoming a bit of a habit- and felt he needed to fix his mistake. He gently lifted Oriya's chin with his hand and gave him an honest smile. Oriya smiled back, his eyes practically shining with anticipation.
"Senpai?" Oriya said softly, but Muraki quickly took his hand away and pulled back.
The older boy pushed his plate away, turning his attention to the window. Specifically torth the crowd of students on the park bellow them. The dark haired boy sighed, disappointed.
"Hey, Ori-chan?" Muraki said suddenly.
"What?" Oriya asked, looking curiously at where his friend was but saw nothing.
"Lets get out of here."
Oriya nervously glanced from the window to his friend, wondering what he'd meant by 'here', since Muraki had a bit of a history of cutting class at the most inappropriate times.
"We really shouldn't. The teachers will be paying more attention than usual to who's here and who's not...I mean, ...it's the first day, they have to check the lists and everything...I..."
Muraki shook his head and snorted.
"I meant this room, not school."
"Oh!" he sighed relieved.
Muraki rose to his feet with a little struggle and held a hand for Oriya to take; which he did, gladly. Soon he was being dragged through the halls and towards the cafeteria, rather hurriedly.
"Why are we going there? It should be empty today." he asked curiously.
"That's why, precisely."
Oriya didn't push the matter any further, for what Muraki was glad. In truth, the reason of his going there was simply because of something he'd seen out on the park. Or, to be precise, someone he hadn't seen.
~Tsuzuku~
Or TBC, whatever...
Anyway, how is this coming along? Do you still like?
I have a little question to make. It's a matter of opinion but I'll go with the majority on this. Does anyone else thinks Saki (as in Muraki's evil brother *shudders*) looks remotely like Hisoka in an evil twin sorta way? At least in the anime? Anyone? Is it just me? I have my reasons for asking. It's important that you answer me....pwease? *.*
And now to the reviews!
Miko, you never told me if you were the same Miko, but that's ok. I'll just assume you are. I totally agree! Poor Tatsumi-san...er...kun. Anyway, I plan on torturing them all so you will feel sorry for all of them soon enough!
Loki's rose. First of all, please, please, please; will you tell me where I messed up the in's and on's? If you read the A/N you know it's important. But I don't mean in a beta reader sort of way, just examples. I thought in was when something was inside another thingy and on was when it was over it? Is that right? Well, never mind, I totally appreciate you mentioning that. How else am I going to become a good writer/translator?
Yes, I think I'll make 'Soka-chan an empath, though maybe not as much of an empath as he was when he was dead. Now, *that* sounded weird. And thanks for what you said about the characters. I'm always so scared they'll turn out OC. Maybe I already screwed that up? Ah, the insecurity!
Isumi, thanks for your review and kind words! Stick around, ne?
Lina...Wow...all of it in just one night?! *blink**blink* Wow. It is pretty long! (all that sounded dirty, somehow) Sankyuu!! I'm glad you liked it and like this one as well. And I'm also glad you liked 'Soka-chan and the way he and Tsuzuki met. Actually, I'm thrilled that you noticed that!! Make your reviews as long as you like, heh heh, I don't mind! *-*
Kitsuneblood, ah, I know, I'm lazy like that too. Logging in is just so ...ugh...But I still know it's you! Thanks for your review!
Cofi...Cofi...*bows apologetically*. I am not familiarized with Harry potter fanfiction. I just saw the first movie and I didn't....uhm...*whisper* like it much. *looks around for any mad HP fan* Ah, it was a really cool film, but...ah, well I dunno, I wasn't as...thrilled as other people. But since I promised I'd read your fic, I'll just ask you one thing. Write me a review telling me about the characters in the story; like, their names and what are they supposed to look like? So I can read it! I promised it and I keep my promises! And no, Muraki is not a teacher, he's...a student!! And in the next chappy something will happen with him and...'Soka-chan!!...I think, maybe, cuz this things just write themselves, you know?
White Angel of the Blood Moon, I take it you used the good doctor as inspiration for that wonderful name? You are not...really...*him* are you? Heh. Anyway, Patience is a virtue, but not all of us are that virtuous really so I forgive you. Just don't go cursing me or anything! Thanks for your review!
Sankyuu all!
Ja ne!