: CHAPTER 2 :
The next day, you are walking to school with your best friend. You were telling her all about you meeting Yusuke and the others. And you were talking about Minamino Shuichi.
"Oh yeah? I know he's a very, very popular senior." Your best friend said in his/her cold expressionless voice. (If it's a girl, then read these following sentences.) Your best friend always had a voice colder than other girls yet still womanly. In fact, very womanly. Her voice is like the voice of a twenty year-old sophisticated woman.
"Yeah, He's cute, I'll admit. But I don't know. He's like too...too..."
"Too what?" Your best friend said stopping in his/her way to step in front of you and to face you straight in the face.
"Too polite." You smiled knowingly.
"Yeah right. And you're Miss-never-even-say-'hn'." Your best friend smirks then turns around to walk ahead of you.
"WELL, it's not like you're miss acknowledging too!" You tried to yell in your faint voice then jogs to catch up with her.
As you reached school, you stop mildly in your tracks to see Minamino Shuichi standing off somewhere, leaning at some railing of a staircase to the entrance of the school building. You watch as his long fiery red hair gets to his face as the winds blow it. You watch as he trails his fingers down his face to remove the few strands of hair that have blocked his gaze. Suddenly, your best friend breaks you from your thoughts.
"What's up?" Your best friend looks back at you. He/She glanced around to see what you were looking at but saw no one familiar. "What is it, (your name)?"
You shake your head as if waking up from a trance. "It's nothing. Nothing at all."
Your friend looks around once more, trying to strain his/her eyes just to see who it was or what it was. Then your best friend spotted Shuichi. "Oh I get it." Your best friend looked back at you, who, by now, were blushing deep red. "Oh brother!" Your best friend muttered to himself/herself while shaking his/her head. "You like him don't you?" Your best friend pointed accusingly.
"What? No! I told you, he's not that...that for me." You backed away blushing redder than even possible.
"You lie! It's so obvious. God! You're not going to turn into another one of those girls who'll drool at him, are you? And kiss the land he walks on? Or then I'll deny I was even your friend." Your best friend said crossing his/her arms in his/her chest.
"First of all, I just think he's cute, okay? Second of all, I am never, ever, ever, need I say never ever, ever going to be one of those girls who'll fall down on their knees to sit at his feet. I will never be at the mercy of any man. " You place your hands on your hips then grinned satisfied at yourself.
"Yeah right!" Your best friend was confident in doubting you. "Come on." You best friend grabs your arm.
"It's true. I don't have a crush on him. I'm telling you."
"Shut up, will you? I don't' believe a single word you say. You are SUCH a bad liar."
You opened your mouth to say something then closed it again. It's inevitable. You thought as you sighed in resignation. To fight, against my best friend, I mean. You thought defensively. Not Minamino Shuichi. Ugh. I'm going crazy. I'm debating with myself! But it is inevitable not to like him too. He IS cute, I'd admit that much at least. And very charming. But I don't have a crush on him. I don't. I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't!
-
Kurama stood alone quietly absorbing the pre-school atmosphere. He watched as Yusuke and Kuwabara wrestled down to the ground and then he smiled to himself, feeling as if he was controlling the two and playing them in his hands. He chuckled silently when Keiko scolded Yusuke for being such a war freak.
"Hey, Shuichi. Why're you alone?" A pretty senior from one of his classes approached, along with her other friends. "Where're your friends?" The girl couldn't help sounding irritated at the mention of his friends, pertaining to Yusuke and the others.
Oh man. Just when I was feeling peacefully subtle. Kurama racked his brain for a name. He couldn't exactly remember the girl standing in front of him. Was it Izumi? Something with an I and an M. "Nothing. I was just hanging around." He finally said. "Nothing else to do, as you can see." He shrugged casually. He tried hard not sound as if he was avoiding to say her name which was what he was actually doing. There were too many people introducing themselves, not enough indications who is who and what.
The girl looked at her friends who were all smiling supportively at her. They looked all happy at his response.
Why couldn't Minamino Shuichi just say the wrong things even for just sometimes! Kurama mentally slapped himself.
"Well then, you wouldn't mind if we hang around with you, right?" The girl wasn't actually waiting for an answer from Kurama as she knew all along that Minamino Shuichi could never say no.
"Actually he will. So if you would just leave us in our happy existence and gladly leave us be, contented and..." Yusuke studied the girls. "...preppy- free." He finished smiling sweetly at them, yet insulting at the same.
Kurama couldn't be happier his friend came when he did or else he would've had another of his boring moments with drooling girls who couldn't even strike up any good conversation. He fought the urge to laugh and join in the insults from Yusuke.
"If you would excuse us, SHUICHI." The girl emphasized his name, meaning they were talking to him alone. "The air is starting to shout disaster freak." The girl said before snobbishly turning around along with her posse.
Kurama smiled and curtsied as if he had hat above his head, just like gentlemen from London. "Yusuke, you should learn about manners." Kurama said when the girls left.
"ME? THEY should be the ones to learn about manners, not ME. I am perfectly well trained." Keiko rolled her eyes skyward while Kuwabara had appeared just in time to start attacking him once more.
Soon, Kurama was left alone once again. He glanced at his watch and saw that bell time was near. I'll wait for them anyway. He thought to himself pertaining to Yusuke and the others. He stared into the distance for a while before something caught his attention.
Out of the corner of his trained eye, he saw the girl Yusuke bumped into yesterday looking at him. She probably thinks he wasn't paying attention. A corner of his mouth curved into a smile. Very pretty, he reminded himself. He imagined her face while not looking at her. He had immediately been drawn to it and so he had clearly seen everything in her face in his mind. Her eyes were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Her lips, the thinnest, moistest, most reddish, and most kissable lips he had ever seen. Her cheeks, with rosy- pinkish color, had slight freckles on it. He finally felt to look at her. He turned his head nonchalantly, like he was just looking around. Then he looked at her straight in the eye. He was a little surprised when she didn't turn away or was surprised. Unlike other girls, she didn't fake a cough or a sneeze to refuse his gaze. He held her gaze equally to his. He smiled courteously at her and that was when she looked away. I guess she doesn't take into formalities well. He smiled content at himself. He continued staring at her.
She was sitting somewhere with an also beautiful girl with brown long hair—very unlike her, with dark black hair blown into the air like smooth black silk. He watched as her expressions change, smiling to frustrated and then smiling again. He realized she started reading a book. He never saw someone so involved in a book except...except...except him. Hmm, she's definitely something to keep. Suddenly, a handsome young man approached the two.
A pang of annoyance hinted inside Kurama.
The man obviously wanted to have a normal conversation with Kurama's prospect but she kept ignoring him and only gave him a few glances and brief answers. Kurama decided to approach the two girls himself. As he made his way to them, a few hello's and hi's were exchanged with people he barely even knew. So they noticed him before he even came close. As he neared them, a few hating glances were sent to the poor girl. "Hi." Kurama greeted politely.
The girl stared incredulous at him while her friend smirked at him. "Minamino, right? Senior? Shuichi Minamino" The girl's friend welcomed. "I'm (your best friend's name) and she's (your name)."
"Guilty." Kurama smiled. "Hey there." Kurama turned to face the black- haired girl directly. "I met you yesterday. Actually, more like bumped into you. My friend did. But we rudely didn't even ask for your name or apologized."
The girl blushed which gave Kurama the satisfaction.
"So anyway, here I am, apologizing."
She tried to maintain her composed self and said, "Apology accepted." Then smiled faintly. Her features were soft and expressions were only weak, slightly unnoticeable. But Kurama was happy to see her kind of smile which was gentle and almost sweet. It was as if an honor to see her smile.
"I'm glad. Anyway, umm..." Kurama looked around as the bell rang. "Can I take you to your class?"
Kurama didn't think it would be possible but she blushed an even deeper red. He felt like blushing himself at her own flush of red. How weird is that! He felt like blushing for making her flush? It definitely felt weird but also sort of good. It's unbelievable but right now, he didn't want to go to school. He just wanted to play with her. Somehow, he knew she'd like that.
"O-okay. Are you sure? I mean, isn't it out of the way? Aren't you going out of your way to my class?"
Kurama acted like he thought about it. "Well if you don't want to." He turned around and took one step. He was surprised when she didn't call after him. For then second time that day, he realized she wasn't like other girls. When he turned around once more, he felt his heart took a fall when he saw her disappointed face. Did she think I was serious? "I was just kidding." He smiled.
"Oh." She smiled confused, as if she didn't still think he was saying the truth.
"Again. Can I take you to your class? I promise it won't be any trouble." Kurama offered his hand.
(Your name) simply nodded and took his hand. She grabbed her friend along with her.
"Now, let's go." Kurama said with a smile as they three made their way towards the school, and people's stares with them.
-
When you and Shuichi, and your best friend by your side, were walking through the corridor, there were heated glances directed to you. You felt so uncomfortable yet Shuichi acted as if it's the most ordinary thing.
Suddenly a guy you knew stopped in front of you. "Hey you. We still up for tonight, right?"
"Uhhm..." The truth was you were racking your brain for that thing tonight. It seemed like you forgot everything when Shuichi had approached you.
"No. She has plans for tonight." Shuichi smiled at the guy. But his eyes betrayed his dear smile. His eyes said something like 'back off from my girl'. You felt good and all but there were only two things wrong with this picture. First of all, you weren't his girl and second, you barely knew each other.
Then Shuichi looked down at you and smiled. "Right?"
All you can do was smile and nod along. All right. I give up. If someone wants to be with you, then you'll play along, right? So I'll play along. It's not bad to.
Suddenly, you saw Shuichi smile to himself.
Or not. I feel so uneasy. He's so... smiling. Too smiling. He's hiding something. I know it. He's so creepy, so mysterious... And I won't give in to him that easily. But maybe, just maybe, I'll still play along.
Kurama stays behind and seems to be planted in his place. "You're right, Kuwabara. Very pretty." Kurama whispered to himself.