Duel Masters – Heart on my Sleeve

Chapter Six: The temporary truce of doom

It came as no surprise to anyone…especially you, fair readers…when Kokujo managed to locate Rakka the next day. He walked into the store, wearing his nicest clothes (not the coolest, that was for sure) and found her behind the desk again, looking incredibly flustered. Noticing the look from the person behind the counter, he made a great show of looking through the shelves, and finally picked something up. Well, he had planned this, and biting his lip, he approached the desk and caught Rakka's eye.

Then watched her get pushed out of the way.

In a no-nonsense way, Chitose rung up the register, took his money, gave him his change and then stared at him until he left.

Well, that hadn't gone as planned.

Looking around, he decided to sit down on the small bus stop, a few metres away from the entrance and relax – from his careful questioning after slamming Seto against a wall when he was about to leave and threatening to tell anyone about Seto's secret Hello Kitty fetish, he'd learnt all of Rakka's time table. And, by his count, his first week was almost up.

He had to work fast.

But, hey, the sun was out again, why not enjoy it? Sitting down, he opened the shrink wrap and began to read.

Kokujo had never done this before. He never saw a reason to stop and actually do anything as simple as this, because it just didn't fit his style. It also gave him time to switch off, and as he continued on in his book a smile began to form, followed by the odd chuckle of delight. Buses came and buses went, but no one bothered him until a shadow fell over his book and he looked up.

"Are you stalking me?"

"Uhh…no."

"Uh-huh."

Rakka sat next to him.

"I figured maybe we could talk. Seeing as I need your help."

"Umm, sure." Came the worried reply of someone who was not used to company. Oh, this was too good to pass up -

"Do you have any friends at all?"

"HEY!"

"Easy." Kokujo grinned evilly. "You're too easy to wind up, you know that?"

"Oh, lay off-" Came the hissed reply. Rakka went to leave but Kokujo was already up and making a grab for her hand. She turned sharply, but did not break away, simply leaning forward as a child would in the hope that the person holding onto them would let go. Of course, he would not.

"Not in that way. I meant that you're funny. What happened to your knee?"

Rakka blushed. "Umm, fell over yesterday."

Kokujo took a scary mental leap. "I was…kinda mean…Sorry about that."

"It's…ok. What's on your mind?"

The dark haired youth stared in surprise. But then his mind caught up with his ears – of course, she wasn't one of the twerps. No big shiny eyes and 'aww, come 'ere ya big lug' or even worse 'let's duel to celebrate'. Unsure of where to go next, he cocked his head to the side and considered his options. "D'you wanna walk with me?"

oOo

"I suppose it's because you're almost a complete stranger to me and all." Floated a lofty voice. It was very up itself, which is hardly surprising seeing as this is Kokujo we're talking about here.

"Yeah, because I don't know you?"

"Probably."

"Formulating an opinion on someone on first impressions?"

"Are you going to let me tell my tragic and overly long story?"

"No, because it's probably going to be full of horrendous flashbacks."

Kokujo grinned.

The two were in the park. It seems to figure quite heavily in this story, doesn't it? Anyway, on one of the grassy hills, the two lay stretched out and were staring at the clouds above them, talking about whatever came into their minds. Unlike what one might ordinarily expect; there was no instant connection other than the fact someone as bright and as cheerful as Rakka played off brilliantly against Kokujo's mean streak of humour.

In short, they were having fun.

And this was just clouds for chrissakes! What was the world coming to?

"Okay, I'm sorry I cut you down and all…what did happen to you?" Rakka finally asked, looking to her left. It gave her a great view of Kokujo's ear.

"To begin with; you're not sorry, and why should I tell you now?" Kokujo shot back.

The grass rustled. It tends to in this kind of scene. "Because you're busting to tell someone."

"Hnh. Whatever."

Another silence.

"Well?"

"I'm trying to be broody here." Came the chuckled reply. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to be cool when you're around? You seem to just…ooze geekness. That is not cool." Rakka laughed. In his vision, he saw her shoe against the clouds.

Kokujo sighed. There was no point in fighting the inevitable, and he needed her help after all. If that meant telling her the important stuff, then it was okay with him – better than confiding in the moron society, who would no doubt formulate some sort of plan and it would all blow up in an amusing way in his face. Presumably, he would learn some sort of lesson and get on well with both parents, maybe even reuniting them.

Tch. No chance in hell.

"My mother is coming to town."

"Isn't that good?"

"I don't really know. I don't much about the stuff back then and all…I just know I've always been with my dad and my ma was out of the picture for I don't know how long."

"Wow."

"So…Ma wants back into the picture. I don't know why. But…it's freaking me out, and I don't freak easily. My Dad hardly sleeps. He's pulling double shifts and going crazy over the house…"

"Trying to get it ready or something maybe?"

"I guess…"

Rakka rolled over, her bag clinking ominously at her side. Looking down at him with an expression of extreme concentration it could be said she looked quite sweet. The only problem was that now Kokujo could see up her nose.

'Twas not a good look.

"How do you feel on all of this? I mean, how well do you know this woman?"

"Not too well." Kokujo sighed. "We talked some time and all, but it never really became anything because if I ever went near her, she'd get all huffy and mean." To illustrate his point, he idly waved a grass stalk around. It didn't help his image. "So, there's this social worker visiting us, and is seeing how we react. Me and dad of course. Then reporting back."

"I don't see what the problem is concerning that factor of your life…You're not that challenged are you? It's just your mother, right?"

"Uh, yeah." A fleeting version of Hakuoh beneath him made his stomach twist. Not because what he was doing was wrong; it was how it would be viewed. "Thing is…I've done some things I enjoyed…but wouldn't be seen as correct in the eyes of someone I hardly know. Unfortunately, someone roughly guessed and has been starting rumours about me."

Rakka only nodded, staying silent. Ordinarily, there would have been some sort of outburst by now followed by cutesy poses. Having someone listening and not chiming in with things that were supposed to boost his already oversized ego was something new.

"Most of the kids around here don't like me, so the rumour will spread, and will no doubt dirty the Kokujo name and land my dad and me in the proverbial shit. Then…it's off to reform school. I'll probably become a lawyer."

"Hnh. A fate truly worse than death. Why does everyone hate you?"

"You don't get out much do you?"

Rakka didn't reply at first, only staring back just as coolly. "…Why then?"

Kokujo sighed and sat up, fidgeting a little. "Because…I'm mean…"

"I know, but why else?"

The sulky reply couldn't have come from his mouth. Or something. "Because nobody likes me."

"Well, you are arrogant, controlling and rather cruel to people. But I suppose that's part of your charm." Rakka pulled herself up and sat down beside him, hugging her knees to her chest. "But that…as far as I can see…is just you. I mean, you're not so bad from my point of view." Her dark eyes met his. "…But I am curious…why me? What about those people you were with before? They seemed nice."

Kokujo said nothing. Then, finally, he decided to grace her with honesty. "I need someone to talk to. Someone who doesn't know me on the playing field and with a fresh point of view." He grimaced and looked away, not really wanting to say it to her face. "And I need someone who can pretend. For the last week I've seen what you're like, and I'm glad that Toru decided on you. So, could we pretend?"

"Sorry?"

"Will you…will you go out with me? I just need to kiss a girl in front of Toru, and I have his word he'll leave me alone and not tell anyone…'specially anyone who asks questions about me."

Rakka looked at him, and she looked sad. "A guy like you has to ask a girl to kiss him? Figured they'd be lining up and all…"

"What?"

"Look in the mirror some time. You're…the tall, dark, broody bad boy who every girl would like to be with…makes 'em feel safe." She giggled. "I like you. Not…in that way. I mean…you're talking to me, and not just seeing me as a piece of furniture that makes noises." She sighed. "Just kinda peeved that this is for a dare…"

"Hey, it's just a kiss."

"Kisses are not meant for stealing, Kyoushiro." She got up. "And a girl's first kiss is kinda special."

"I…Uh, I'm sorry?"

"Thanks. I think."

And then she walked away. Feeling slightly better about it all, the weight seemed to have lifted from his shoulders. Kokujo sighed and rested his head against his knee, brushing his deck at his side for support. The dark energy curled briefly around his arm and stilled the chaos inside. This was…unusual. It had been hard to ask her to do that, when normally he'd have blustered in and yelled until he got what he wanted. Besides, what she said was confusing…that bit about the dare…oh hell…Why was it so hard?

oOo

It was dark by the time she got home, skulking inside and peering around the door. Normal, standard routine; sit at dinner, talk civilly and then shower and go upstairs.

She slumped onto the bed, vaguely aware of being damp and stared at the ceiling.

She wondered why she had agreed to coming here. Rakka's dreams of music had been the only thing to really drive her; and here was the only place to go to learn…and learn properly. But the politics here were driving her insane, and you'd think her family would try to accommodate her or something. If the tension between them wasn't bad enough; the school was worse.

There had been another Argument.

What happened to the time when you could talk to someone? It was as if she wasn't there. They'd fight and scream and she would quietly clear the table and go upstairs.

It had been about dating again. How…cousin Maron…wanted to date some random fellow from the school OMGshockhorror…and how it had been put down that no boy was being dragged into this household. Maron always wanted everything now; she was the only child after Rakka's aunt had complications during labour, so her parents doted on her…the problem was that too much meant a spoilt brat. And let's face it; that was what she was.

Rakka closed her eyes.

Opened them.

Reaching for her guitar for the first time since the original argument four months ago, she plucked a few strings and tuned the battered and well loved instrument. Then she began to play.

Kyoushiro Kokujo would be a fitting distraction. The only problem was that if she transferred back into a normal school, she wouldn't be able to pursue music anymore…

…but what was music without happiness? She couldn't really be happy in this city. Ever. Well, at least until someone explained to the rest of the world that people should relax more.

And what about Kyou? She blushed at the nickname, the strumming becoming faster and more complicated as the tune formed. Oh boy, she was giving him nicknames now. Oh dear.

Best play it by ear.

The hammering on the wall by the sent-to-her-room Hikari only made her smirk, and she put down her guitar and slipped beneath the covers, punched her pillows into a nicer position and tuned out to the shouting downstairs.

A welcome distraction indeed…

- to be continued.

OMG it happened nn I got in! Yaaaay I get to do animation at uniiiiiiiii!!! –dances- eeeeeeee!