Part four, 8:00AM Tuesday
First day of school
"Did you see that new girl? She's a real WOW!" A boy exclaimed to his friends excitedly.
"I heard she's a redhead," one butt in. " do you think she's related to Sakuragi Hanamichi?"
"Don't think so," one answered. "She's too beautiful to be related to a monkey."
The group laughed at the joke.
Kogure frowned as he overheard the group talk about the new girl in school. "A redhead, huh?" he said thoughtfully. "Could it be...?"
"Good morning everyone. We have a new student today." The teacher gave a gesture to the open door and a girl stepped inside the classroom.
The class started whispering excitedly. The teacher had to clear his throat three times before he got the attention of the whole class.
"Quiet, class, or you'll make Miss Sakuragi uncomfortable."
The name only increased the agitation of the whole class. Many girls started asking the new girl if she is related to Sakuragi Hanamichi, or who's her hairdresser, or is she the girl that a new magazine put in the front page, or what's her brand of make-up, etc. etc. etc. the boys, on other hand, just gawked at the new beauty.
The girl can only sweat dropped at the class's reaction to her name.
Bam!
The whole class quieted when their teacher slammed a stick to the blackboard.
"That's much better," the teacher stated. "Please step forward and introduce yourself to the class." the teacher nodded at the redhead.
Hanamichi smiled gratefully at the teacher. "Thank you, sensei," she said. Turning to the class, she said, "Hello, everyone. I'm Sakuragi Hana, twin sister of Sakuragi Hanamichi. It's good to be of your acquaintance." she bowed down respectfully.
"Kawaii..." a girl in the front row sighed.
The rest of the class nodded in agreement.
"Okay. Now that the introduction is done, you may now sit down, Miss Sakuragi," the teacher said.
Hanamichi nodded, and walked to the only available chair. She stopped and stared at the sleeping boy sitting beside the chair curiously. "Should I sit here or not?" Indecision clouded her mind momentarily.
"Is there a problem, miss?" the teacher asked when he noticed that the girl stood staring at the boy longer than she should. Even the whole class hush down.
Hanamichi jumped at the sudden question. "Nothing, sir," she answered, blushing prettily. She quickly sat down and smiled sheepishly at the whole class.
Thinking that the girl was falling for the handsome boy, the teacher smiled in understanding. He then ordered the class to turn their books to page 65.
Hanamichi sighed in relief when the class's attention was diverted away from her. As a boy, she always wanted fame, but as a girl, fame was a nuisance. She hated being ogled at and she didn't like to be pampered by make-up and hairbrushes. "K'so!" she mumbled.
The sleeping boy stirred. "Hum...roses," he said dreamily. He was dreaming of an incident at the park where he gets to kiss an angel, then the angel turned into Sakuragi Hanamichi.
The class was startled when Rukawa Kaede suddenly stood up. A certain girl hid her head on her book.
"He will not see me. He will not..." the girl's mantra was interrupted by a...
"Do'aho."
"Who you calling do'aho, you stupid fox?" Hanamichi stood up angrily.
"You," Rukawa retorted.
Steam can be seen escaping the redhead's ears. "You insufferable, stupid, good-for-nothing jerk. How dare you call the tensai, do'aho?"
"Tensai? Where?" Rukawa made a pretence of looking around.
Hanamichi literally burst into flames at the action of the kitsune. Instinctively, she raised her fist and gave Rukawa a powerful punch.
A lesser man would have been flying in the air after being hit by Sakuragi Hanamichi, but unfortunately for Hanamichi, Rukawa was no lesser man.
If one dropped a pin, it can be heard hitting the floor due to the class's deathlike silence.
Hanamichi stood defiantly in front of Rukawa. Fear held no place inside the angry redhead.
Rukawa's head swung to the side due to the impact. He slowly turned his head towards Hanamichi. The eyes darkened to almost black in color. No one was stupid enough not to know that the raven-haired boy was at the peak of blowing up.
"What are you looking at, kitsune? Did I hit you too hard? Ah, you poor baby." The last words are coated with 100 sweetened sarcasm.
The eyes seemed to darken even more at the mocking tone. "You bitch," the voice was emotionless. "You're nothing but a second rate, trying hard cross dresser."
Hanamichi's face turned red at the mention of the word cross dresser. She would have given the cold fox a flying kick but losing her temper would mean that Rukawa had the upper hand, and she couldn't allow that. Ever.
So she took deep breaths to calm the raging fury inside her chest, closed her eyes so not to see her antagonist.
"I'm a girl, kitsune, not a cross dresser. You have been mistaking me for my brother since yesterday. I suggest you wear glasses, your eyes are probably blurry due to too much sleep," she said calmly, opening her eyes to glare at Rukawa. She mentally congratulated herself for her self-control.
Rukawa, in other hand, was not intimidated with the glare. Instead he smirked.
Majority of the girls in the class fainted at the sight. Hanamichi blinked at the smirking fox.
'What is he up to?' she thought, eyes narrowing suspiciously at Rukawa.
The raven-haired boy stepped closer towards Hanamichi. In remembrance of yesterday's kissing event, Hanamichi positioned her right hand in a stop sign in front of the advancing Rukawa.
But, instead of stopping, Rukawa only took the hand and pulled the surprised girl in his arms. Chairs toppled when Rukawa bent Hanamichi backwards, tango style.
Fearing that Rukawa will let her fall on the floor, Hanamichi wrapped her arms around Rukawa's neck tightly.
"My eyes are not blurry, do'aho," Rukawa said emotionlessly.
Hanamichi can't look away from the cobalt eyes that held her's in an invisible magic. "Okay," she agreed breathlessly.
Rukawa's smirk widened. He knew he got her. He straightened, bringing the girl with him. He then turned around and walked back to his chair.
Hanamichi sighed with relief. She looked around and found out that the whole class was staring at her. She sweat dropped and sat down. She ended up sitting on the floor.
"Eeck!" She had forgotten that Rukawa had toppled her chair.
While the whole class laughed at the girl, Rukawa muttered his usual 'do'aho'.
Blushing, Hanamichi picked herself off the floor self-consciously. She straightened her chair and hurriedly sat down.
The teacher, seeing that the class had somehow calmed down, cleared his throat again and started the lessons.
12:00PM, Shohoku School rooftop
"Stupid kitsune! Who does he think he is?" Hanamichi keep muttering while walking towards the rooftop. Upon arrival, she dropped down in her favorite spot instantly still muttering curses to the kitsune.
"People who talk to themselves are considered 'crazy' and are placed in a mental institution," a monotonous voice said.
The veins on Hanamichi's forehead started popping. She knew who that owner of the voice, and the knowledge that he was also at the rooftop made her want to grab him and throw him over the rooftop. Ding-ding-ding-ding! The bell in Hanamichi's head rang crazily. She instantly brightened up at the idea.
'Not bad. Not bad at all,' she thought, grinning wickedly.
Rukawa's eyebrow rose when he noticed the evil grin.
'Now what is he thinking?' he thought. He mentally braced himself for any onslaught.
Hanamichi suddenly stood up and faced Rukawa. Giving her best smile, she walked towards the suspicious boy in bouncy steps.
In the outside Rukawa looked disinterested, but in the inside he was filled with nervous excitement.
'Damn him,' he thought angrily. He didn't like the feeling that he was feeling as of that moment. He was always in control of his emotions and never felt the jumpy beating of his heart before. He knew that the cross dresser is up to no good and he didn't like being distracted by a mischievous smile.
Hanamichi frowned slightly at the look that Rukawa gave her. But, being a simple-minded person, she didn't comprehend that Rukawa is already aware of her little plan.
"Why are you here, kitsune?" Hanamichi strike a conversation to distract the boy, smile back in place.
"Why wouldn't I be?" came the answer.
Gritting her teeth, Hanamichi continued walking towards Rukawa. Forgetting that she was now a girl and that Rukawa was certainly stronger than she was, she lunged at the raven-haired fox.
Rukawa saw the movement and quickly changed his stance. His knowledge of Hanamichi's fighting skills enabled him to predict how and when Hanamichi will attack. When Hanamichi tried to punch him, he easily dodged it. But a foot made a painful connection with his stomach.
Hanamichi grinned triumphantly. However, her grinned turned into an expression of shock when Rukawa suddenly grabbed her leg and swung her in the air. Lighter than her male counterpart, she was easily thrown in the direction of the edge of the rooftop. She closed her eyes tightly as soon as she spotted the ground below.
Rukawa watched in horror as the girl flew towards the edge of the roof. He moved swiftly and caught the girl's blouse.
Riiiiiiiiiip.
The thin material of the blouse yielded to the weight that was applied to it. But Hanamichi's flight to death was delayed for a microsecond, enabling Rukawa to caught hold of her waist firmly and pulled her out of danger.
The two teenagers crashed in the roof in a soft thud. Both were panting audibly, hearts still racing from the rapid flow of adrenaline.
Rukawa held the girl on top of him firmly. He had twisted in mid air so he will end up taking both their weight when they land. He could feel the girl's labored breathing, and tightened his hold on her when he felt her tremble. Blaming himself for the would-have-been-fatal-accident, he can only comfort the obviously upset do'aho.
Hanamichi had just had the scare of her life. Her over-active imagination painted the picture of what would have happened if Rukawa hadn't caught her in time. Trembling in after-effect, she allowed the arms to comfort her, blocking out the nagging voice inside her head that she shouldn't allow Rukawa to hold her. After all it was his fault.
"Gomen," Rukawa whispered. He gently stroked the red hair in a soothing manner.
"You're such a jerk," Hanamichi whispered back. She silently marveled at the hard body that she was laying on. 'This is nice,' she thought, a little smile forming in her lips. She closed her eyes and sighed as her body relaxed in the gentle ministration.
Rukawa felt rather than heard the sigh. He smiled slightly when he also felt the laxe posture of Hanamichi.
Hanamichi was about to fall asleep when the guntai decided to have their appearance.
"Look, guys. Two love birds are doing some lovey-dovey in the rooftop," Takamiya shouted then laughed out loud, his companions laughed along with him.
"Eh?" Hanamichi raised her head from its pillow when she heard the loud laughter.
Eyes popped out of the guntai's eye sockets when they recognized their redhead friend on top of a boy. Jaws dropped when they identified the boy.
'HANAMICHI IS ON TOP OF RUKAWA! TOPLESS!' their mind screamed.
"OH. MY. GOD." the four exclaimed simultaneously. Thousands of questions raced through their minds like a bullet train on why and how the sight that unfolds before them happened.
Hanamichi giggled at the goldfish look that the guntai was currently projecting. She carefully placed her knees on either side of Rukawa and straightened into sitting position. Rukawa also took that moment to sit up. His arms still around Hanamichi.
The redhead blushed when she found herself
sitting on Rukawa's crotch. Her eyes locked into those endless blue orbs, and widened considerably when it darkened with something that Hanamichi had no knowledge of.
Rukawa had become conscious of the discomfort around his mid section. The do'aho was clearly clueless of what kind of effects their close proximity is doing to his body. The innocent look that Hanamichi was giving him was only making him more aroused.
'But kissing the 'aho is definitely out of the question', his mind taunted him. The idea of kissing another guy, no matter how good a cross dresser he is, was not Rukawa's cup of tea. So he gently nudged Hanamichi off him.
Hanamichi snapped out of her trance and moved to sit beside the blue-eyed kitsune. She stared curiously at the boy who seemed to be in pain.
Rukawa had closed his eyes when Hanamichi slid off him. Electric shock cursed through his body that he had to fight down the moan that formed in his throat. He took deep breaths to calm his racing heart.
'Damn. Why does it have to be the do'aho?' he thought, frustrated.
"Oi, kitsune," the redhead said to the Rukawa. Hanamichi poked the boy in the ribs none too gently. "You okay?" she leaned towards Rukawa to look at the boy closely.
Rukawa stared with surprise at the redhead.
The redhead on the other hand felt the need to bang her head on the floor. She can't believe that she asked that.
'I actually sound worried,' she thought, blushing furiously. She immediately straightened and looked away from Rukawa to stare at some distant building seen from the school rooftop.
Rukawa Kaede's lips curled a little. 'Kawaii,' he thought as he gazed at the blushing redhead. He mentally hit himself to stop thinking of giving the redhead a kiss.
'He is a guy,' he repeatedly said to himself. 'And I don't kiss guys.' His conscience reminded him that he already did. Yesterday. At the children's park. He blushed as he felt his body respond to the memory.
"Damn it all to hell!" he muttered under his breath angrily.
He forced himself to look away from Hanamichi's face and looked down. Wrong move.
"Oro?" he said, his eyes widening like supper plates.
"Huh?" Hanamichi had faced Rukawa as soon as she heard the angry exclamation.
"What is that?" Rukawa pointed at Hanamichi's chest.
'Duh', his mind taunted him. 'Isn't it obvious? Those are breasts, baka.' Blood pour out of Rukawa's nose after his mind confirmed what his eyes were seeing. He immediately pulled out a handkerchief wiped the blood off.
Hanamichi blushed from head to toe once she realized that she's half dressed in front of Rukawa. Faster than lightning she twisted around but found herself staring at the shocked guntai.
The whole school was stunned to hear a loud scream
"Ahhhhhh!" Hanamichi screamed hysterically, horrified to be put in such a situation.
Youhei seeing the horror-struck Hanamichi, instantly blocked Takamiya's, Ookuso's, and Sauichiro's view of the redhead.
"Come on, guys," Youhei said. "Turn around if you don't want Hanamichi to sharpen her knives at
home."
The three twisted around immediately, making Youhei smile. Each of the three took out their handkerchiefs; the first time they ever brought a handkerchief to school, to wipe away the blood off their noses.
Rukawa had finished wiping the blood off his nose when the redhead screamed. He took off his shirt right away and wrapped it around the hysterical redhead.
Hanamichi stopped screaming when she felt Rukawa's arms around her. Her breath caught on her throat when Rukawa gently murmured a, "Shhh, it's gonna be okay." She didn't resist when Rukawa pulled her closer.
Rukawa smiled slightly when Hanamichi leaned closer to him. He tightened his hold whilst Hanamichi tried to move away.
"Stay," he softly requested.
Hanamichi was stunned to hear such a request but she complied. She liked the feeling of comfort and security Rukawa was giving her at that moment anyway.
Youhei looked back at his shoulders to see his best friend being held by Rukawa. He couldn't help but smile at the contented expression of Hanamichi. He looked away from the two 'lovebirds', as Takamiya had nicknamed them, and faced the back of the guntai again.
Suddenly, hurried steps can be heard climbing up the stairs. And, before the guntai could react, the door opened.
"Rukawa-kun!" a shocked Haruko exclaimed. She had climbed the rooftop to talk to Mito Youhei, not knowing the drama that had happened there. She heard a girl scream while she was halfway up the stairs so she had run all the way to reach the rooftop. Her knees buckled under her as her heart broke from the sight of her beloved embracing another girl.
Youhei caught her before she hit the floor. Tears of despair sprang and fell in her eyes as she sobbed her sorrow on Youhei's shirt.
Youhei tightened his hold on Haruko as the girl cried brokenly. He felt sorry for Haruko but deep inside his heart, a new hope sprung up. 'It's high time you forget him anyway,' he thought as he comforted her.
Hanamichi struggled out of Rukawa's arms when the girl arrived. "Haruko-san," she said hesitantly. She stood up and tried to walk towards her two friends but Rukawa stopped her by holding her hand. She looked at him incredulously.
Rukawa slowly shook his head. "Iie," he said. "Let her cry."
Hanamichi's anger flared at what Rukawa said. "You might not care for other people's feelings but I do," she snarled softly so Haruko will not hear them.
"It's high time she forgot her infatuation. And if you truly care for her feelings, you'll let your friend, Youhei, comfort her. She doesn't need your pity, she'll only hate for it if you try giving it to her," Rukawa said deadpan. "Unless you want her to know who you really are."
Hanamichi was surprised at the explanation. She never thought of Rukawa giving any explanation on his actions. Her anger dwindled as she realized that Rukawa was right.
She nodded.
Rukawa nodded back. He took his gaze away from Hanamichi to stare at the Youhei and Haruko.
Hanamichi followed suit, and was little startled when Rukawa spoke again.
"Would you like to go to my house tomorrow?" Rukawa asked, still looking at Youhei and Haruko.
The girl stared at the raven-haired boy in a very surprised expression. "Are you kidding me?" she asked frankly.
Rukawa's eyes left the two teenagers and stare directly at Hanamichi's eyes. For the first time in his life, he smiled warmly at a girl. "Iie," he answered.
Hanamichi's eyes widened when she saw the warm smile. She smiled back after recovering her from her shock. "Hai," she agreed.
"I'll pick you up around 6:30 tomorrow night then," Rukawa planned.
"Hai. 6:30 tomorrow."