Yay!!!!! Reviewers, I LOVE YOU! I can't believe how well my fic has been received thus far . So, because I am so happy I will respond to your reviews :
tamashiipurizuma: My FIRST !!! Review, that is. Anyway...so, this is how you'd imagine them? I'm glad that I'm not the only one. As for how far...well, it'll probably end sometime while they're still in HS, but I plan to do a companion fic about them as adults (current DC era). Maybe I should do one of their marriage. Can't you imagine Kogoro going on and on about what kind of 'booze' they need for the wedding? Then Eri would, of course, hurt him.
magicbulletgirl: The BEST?? Well, there aren't enough around, but I'm flattered all the same. As for me knowing the characters...well, I read volume 27 A LOT. You want some Kogoro/Eri-ness, read that volume. It's got the BEST scenes.
tively-split: You like that kind of writing? That's cool...there will be more of that, but also Eri will narrate some of it, and third person for some bits (Eri and Kogoro are just a TAD biased sometimes.)
SensesFail26x: YAY FOR CUTENESS !
Sooner: O-O...MY TWIN!! They said you didn't exist...but I knew...(insane laugh)
kyllir: There aren't enough!!! On there is only ONE fic with 'Eri' in the summary. AND IT'S IN FRENCH!!! I have found so few fics about Ran's parents it annoys me. DC is awesome because unlike a lot of other teenage manga, the parents aren't just there to provide money and occasional advice. They're growing WITH the kids. That's one reason why it's awesome .
Cricket-chan: Uh, oh...I wouldn't do that...(Eri crashes through door)
Eri: ALRIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Kogoro: Um, it's not what it looks like, Eri! Really!
Eri: Yeah, I'm sure. (drags him out by his ear)
Yeah, that happens...(sweatdrop)
Okay, so here's chapter 2. And um, actual plot development! I have to tell you, I am quite proud of this chapter. It is long, descriptive and when I compare it to my first attempts at fanfiction from 7th grade, it really...is A LOT better. Many times I struggle with my fanfiction and get burnt out halfway through, but this came VERY easily to me. And it was SOOOOOOOOOO fun to write. Oh, yeah, and this chapter marks ERI'S FIRST NARRATION! That I am especially proud of...I think it's hilarious. And keep in mind that I usually tell my readers that everything sucks.
So, onward!
When something goes wrong
I'm the first to admit it
I'm the first to admit it
And the last one to know
When something goes right
Well it's likely to lose me, mm
It's apt to confuse me
It's such an unusual sight
Oh, I can't,
I can't get used to something so right
Something so right
-Paul Simon, "Something So Right"
"Mouri, Teitan High school was certain...expectations of its students."
...Um...okay...and your point is?
Kakashi and I are sitting in his office after school, I haven't had a chance to talk to Eri since the, erm, 'incident', earlier today, and I have no idea where this conversation's going. Fun times.
"We know that at any school of this size, its expected we will have students who are good and follow the rules, and students that...aren't good. And don't follow the rules."
I reaaaaaallllly don't like how close this guys is getting to me. His ugly face is about ten centimeters from mine. I think his mole is staring at me.
"Do you what kind of student Eri Kisaki is?"
Even though you've just separated our whole school into two generalized clumps, I guess she falls into the 'good' clump.
"Eri Kisaki is the most brilliant student this school has seen in years. At the end of her first year here she already had been accepted to 4 major colleges. Right now she has a pending scholarship to Tokyo University."
That's my Eri. She has enough brains for the both of us...I guess since she often claims I have no brain at all it works out okay.
"Our school's reputation has been waning over the last few years. If Kisaki does as well as I know she can on the entrance exams Teitan High will return to the glory it once knew."
'The glory it once knew'? Teachers need lives.
"This school isn't the reason Eri's so smart. She was the smartest at our old schools...primary and junior high."
Well, it's true. I expect this guy to get mad at me insulting his precious school, but no...he just keeps on leering.
"Do you know what kind of student YOU are, Mouri?"
The kind that wants to punch your face in?
"He he he...I don't think I even need to answer that. So, boy, do you see the dilemma?"
....Have I mentioned that I'm NOT SLOW?
"No? You are a dimwit. Well, I'll explain. You'll recall that earlier I mentioned expectations?"
Nope, I'm afraid I'm too DIMWITTED and I don't remember.
"Yes, well, I said that our school expects there to be good students and bad students. What it does not expect..."
Is for teachers to explain its whole system to students for no apparent reason?
"...Is for good and bad students to associate with one another."
...Is he hinting at what I THINK he's hinting at?
"I don't know what is going on between you and Kisaki. I just know that whatever it is..."
He's making a semi-threatening gesture with his hands. This moron is trying to SCARE me? Has he even bothered 'researching' me at all? Doesn't he know I'm on the judo team?
"Stop hanging around Kisaki."
On second thought, maybe he's looked at my match records. 0-8. So I couldn't win in a tournament to save my life! I'm good at judo, just stick me in a ring with 150 people watching and I get a little nervous, okay??? Eri would be laughing at this, she's always teasing me about it...oh, right, Eri! This guy wants me to stop hanging around her?
"Who says she doesn't hang around me?"
We kinda hang around each other, truth be told. There's mutual hanging-ness. I try to copy her homework, she follows me and catches me sneaking out of school, its like we're constantly bugging each other. I don't remember life any other way.
"I don't care. Get rid of her. Dump her. Cheat on her. Drop out. I couldn't care less about you as a student here, but she's important. And you're dragging her down. So let go. For the school's sake. For HER sake."
I. Don't. Believe. This. That bastard! Who the hell does he think he is??? What does my friendship with Eri have to do with ANYTH-wait a minute!! 'Dump her'?? 'CHEAT ON HER'???? Can this guy read minds or something??? How does he know how I feel about Eri???
"You don't scare me. I would never abandon Eri unless she herself told me to."
Even then I don't think I could. She means too much to me. Besides, without her who would keep me in line and make sure that I don't do incredibly stupid things?
Woah. I thought I hated it when she did that. I guess you learn new things every day.
And I lied...because Kakashi's FACE scares me.
"Oh? You're a tough guy, are you? Or perhaps you just bluff...I checked your judo records...thought I wouldn't know that you haven't won a single match, huh?"
Bingo. I have got something on this guy...though if I use my judo I really will be dead...I'd probably get suspended and Eri would kill me for that!
"Hm...I'll tell you what...if you can't be persuaded THAT way..."
Okay, ten bucks says this guy tries to bribe me. What kind of person does he think I am?...Don't answer that.
"I have a lot of good connections...My uncle is a dean of admissions at a good university. So, I'll make you a deal...stay away from Kisaki, I'll get you a spot in a good school. What do you say?"
...That was predictable. Really. It was.
Okay, okay, so that was a really lucky guess. Okay, so I had no idea he was actually going to try and bribe me. Okay, so I was just trying to sound cool. Give me a break!
"...You think you've got me figured out, don't you? You think I'm just some punk, and Eri's just a smart girl with some sort of, of...bad boy thing, don't you? Well, you're wrong! There's a lot more to me, and her as well! And one thing I would never do is sell out for a friend! Ever! Especially one I care about as much as Eri!"
I am yelling at this guy, which is probably a mistake. But I mean, come on, the bastard totally deserves it!
"I've tried to be nice about this, Mouri..."
I'm sure you have. Right.
"Why does it matter? We both know Eri will do well on the exams if I'm her friend or not."
Of course. She's Eri. 'Queen' is in her damn name!
"You still don't get it!! If someone from another school, a visiting teacher or principal, sees the two of you together, people will begin to talk! 'Teitan High's gem student hangs around some brat'!"
Brat? I went from punk to BRAT? This guy must really hate me.
"You can't stop me from seeing her! You can switch our classes or whatever, but we can hang out as much as we want after school!"
Hah. Shows him. I should stick out my tongue right now.
"Your disobedience is tiresome. I can do whatever I want."
Resisting...urge...to...punch...this...guy...
"I'll put you in detention every day after school if I have to."
Oooo, like I care.
"You can't punish me for being FRIENDS with someone! I'll just tell a teacher or someone that you've been threatening me."
That's a total bluff, I would never tell anyone if he did that. I have my pride, if nothing else.
"You won't tell anyone. Who'd believe you if you did? There aren't any teachers here who like you, Mouri. Besides, I hear that you've got a lot of pride."
Part of me's really ticked; another part's kinda flattered. My reputation precedes me. And anyway, there's at least one teacher who sorta...doesn't hate me, at least.
"You're a real bastard, you know? I should-"
Something's wrong here. Usually when I threaten people they don't grin at me.
"You know, Mouri, I wondered what you saw in Kisaki...but today, when I saw her there, leaning over you...why, she looked quite fetching. She's really got something there."
......How old is this guy???? Like, 32 or something???? He's even more of a lecher than me; at least I'm not picking up 7th graders!!!
"Such a pretty face..."
Much, MUCH prettier than yours once I'm done with you, 'buddy'.
"If you ever, EVER lay so much as a finger on her, I will-"
I'm about to demonstrate exactly WHAT I'll do when there's this big crash out side the room. Kakashi and I figure it out at exactly the same time at rush out there to see who it is. Turns out the backed into the trash can after tripping over a box of old books outside his room. Whoever it was can run really fast, there was no trace of them. The only movement was a slight swing of the girls' bathroom door across the hall. I just know one thing.
Someone heard at least PART of our conversation.
That. Boy.
God, I have never known ANYONE who can make me so angry so fast so MUCH! Normally people describe me as a QUIET, POLITE, EVEN-TEMPERED girl!
Kogoro says that I have the temper of a raging bull.
Or he did, that is, before he started teaching me judo (He didn't want to, but I made him. I threatened to tell everyone that he looses judo matches because he gets NERVOUS (snickers)(He tells everyone it's because of some made-up injury or bad luck or foul play. He can be sooooo stubborn sometimes). Talk about pride!) Now whenever I get mad he just cowers.
Like today.
It started out like any day for my hall monitoring. I noticed that Kogoro (who I will henceforth refer to as 'the biggest moron on the face of the planet') wasn't in class, which is strange because WE WALKED TO SCHOOL TOGETHER (idiot), so naturally I asked to be excused. I then went to investigate. After meeting up with a few fellow hall-monitors (including teenage-girl-drool-inducer Tokoro, who frankly creeps me out. I didn't talk to him long, thankfully, he's got a bigger wandering eye than Kogoro! Stupid Kogoro...), I was about to give up hope when I spied a wrinkled boys' uniform whip round' the corner in the direction of the front doors. Naturally I put two and two together (By the way, that's FOUR, for all you who are mathematically challenged (coughKogorocough)) and screamed out the name I have been SCREAMING for the past twelve years!
Naturally, I was right. Call it women's intuition.
I think our conversation went something like this (this is, of course, completely unbiased):
Eri: (incredibly sweet) Why Kogoro, wherever have you been?
BMotFotP (BiggestMoronontheFaceofthePlanet): Duhhhhh...wait let me think up a lame excuse (scratches thick skull covering walnut-sized brain) ...Uh...bathroom?
Eri: (still incredibly sweet) Surely that cannot be right, as the bathroom is in the other direction. Is there some truth you would like to divulge?
BMotFotP: Duhhh...I was just sneaking off school grounds to go to the race-tracks and do something incredibly illegal like bet and probably smoke and drink and do all the other things which you tell me not to do. (tries to run away but fails in a spectacularly comical way)
Eri: (gently pulls BMotFotP in opposite direction of door) Why Kogoro, that's not good at ALL. (gives powerful lecture that would have anyone BUT BMotFotP praying for atonement from past sins)
...Okay, there may be a few, er, liberties taken in that rendition of the conversation, but that's basically what happened. So there I am, fully into my favorite rant-I mean, lecture, when suddenly I feel SOMEONE'S (note the sarcasm) hand feeling up the back of my leg.
Here's where it starts to get weird. Normally in this situation I would be very violent and angry and the next day at school Kogoro would have a couple of casts. But when he does it THIS time, I get the weirdest sensation...I think its called 'butterflies', and I start BLUSHING.
Oh. My. God.
BLUSHING???? I never, EVER blush. Ever. Rarely.
Okay, so maybe I've blushed a few other times when Kogoro did stuff like that. But this is the first time I ever noticed it! I thought that the burning face and butterfly sensation were anger! Really, I DID! But then someone yells at me, 'Hey, Kisaki, what'd he do to make you blush so much?'
I immediately ran into the closest girls bathroom to see for myself...and there I am, both cheeks bright red.
What does it mean???
When I get out of the bathroom, he's sort of lost me, so I run in the direction I saw him last. And I'm still upset, but not because he felt me up (I'm starting to have the strangest inclination that maybe I didn't hate that as much as I thought), but because I realize...my feelings are really confused. Why DOES he feel me up? To annoy me? To antagonize me? Or maybe...
No...no, he couldn't...
Could he?
All of a sudden I'm yanked out of the oh-so unpleasant thoughts by one of my senseis.
"Ah, Ms. Kisaki. Were you looking for Mouri? He's right over here, behind this trash can."
I told him to stay on the teachers' good sides, but did he LISTEN? Noooooo.
He's saying something to Kogoro, probably something mean, because this particular sensei happens to hate him a lot. And then the sensei moves off, and I can see Kogoro fully. He crouched behind the can looking very guilty and afraid.
And then, all of a sudden...
I'm not mad at him and have absolutely no desire to maim him at all. Because he looks...dare I say this...
Very, very cute in this position.
...I did NOT just think that. I did not just think that Kogoro Mouri, bane of my existence, that snotty brat who pulled my hair (he started it, by the way) the first day of kindergarten, that idiot who's been doing dumb things that piss me off for the last twelve years...
...Dumb things that piss me off because I'm worried about him...
...is cute.
By this point I was feeling about 8 different emotions at once...so I tried (albeit very awkwardly), to ask why he did these things that he does. I'm leaning over him on the ground, waiting for an answer. Kogoro gives me this look, like he's screwing up his courage to say something. My thoughts were as follows:
"Eri...I..."
Oh, that's really meaningful. He looks frightened.
"...Kogoro?"
Am I blushing again??? Damn.
"Um, eh, Eri-"
And then half of the school's teachers walk out of the teachers' lounge AT THAT MOMENT. Here I am, one of the school's top students, leaning over some GUY behind a trashcan DURING CLASS, and I'm BLUSHING!!!!
Kogoro, of course, didn't seem to get it. How typical.
"-So then she said-eh? What? Mouri, Kisaki, what are you doing here?"
...Ask him. I have no idea.
Oh, well, I better give SOME explanation before we both get expelled.
"...Nothing, sensei. We-I was just going back to class."
I stuttered. I just. Stuttered.
When Kakashi turned to Kogoro, I did the only thing that seemed logical. I ran. Without even looking back.
So that's basically what happened. I haven't had a chance to talk to Kogoro all day, so I'm looking for him now. He couldn't have gotten into too much trouble, but he must still be around...
I don't know what I'll do when I see him. Either substantially shorten his life or get all weird and emotional. Maybe I'll start crying...
Ergh. No way. No one will ever have control over my emotions. I am an INDEPENDANT WOMAN.
Oh, in class today I decided to look up a few words:
Blush: n. a reddening of the face from shame, modesty, confusion or embarrassment.
Self-denial: n. A restraint or limitation of one's own desires or interests
Concern: n. A marked interest or regard usually arising through personal tie or relationship.
And...
Love: A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
I have NO idea why I looked up the last on. Really. It was probably temporary insanity, or something.
...Where IS he? I've checked everywhere...wait, what about the girls bathrooms? Bastard's probably peeping at the girls or something...not that I care or anything. And I'm not jealous.
Hmm...he's not in here or anything. Maybe...
"Stop hanging around Kisaki."
I just walked past Kakashi's office. Immediately I lean against the door, silently. He's talking about me with someone. Who...?
"Who says she doesn't hang around me?"
KOGORO?? I'd recognize that stupid 'macho' speak anywhere! Wait...Kogoro...what's Kakashi talking about?
"I don't care. Get rid of her. Dump her. Cheat on her. Drop out. I couldn't care less about you as a student here, but she's important. And you're dragging her down. So let go. For the school's sake. For her sake."
...First of all, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?????? Second of all...Kogoro and I are NOT going out, so how can he dump me?? Or CHEAT on me? Grrrrr...you better deny that we're going out...
"You don't scare me. I would never abandon Eri unless she herself told me to."
...You wouldn't? Really...? That's so-heeeeeeeyyyyy! You never denied that we're going out!!!! I think that means that that sweet thing you just said is null-and-void!
"Oh? You're a tough guy, are you? Or perhaps you just bluff...I checked your judo records...thought I wouldn't know that you haven't won a single match, huh?"
Eiiiiiiiiiiii! Kakashi is THREATENING Kogoro! And as for the judo...well, that's silly Kogoro's nerves...hehehe...
"Hm...I'll tell you what...if you can't be persuaded THAT way...I have a lot of good connections...My uncle is a dean of admissions at a good university. So, I'll make you a deal...stay away from Kisaki, I'll get you a spot in a good school. What do you say?"
Now he's trying to bribe Kogoro to stay away from me? Why does it matter if Kogoro and I...oh, wait. I get it.
"...You think you've got me figured out, don't you? You think I'm just some punk, and Eri's just a smart girl with some sort of, of...bad boy thing, don't you? Well, you're wrong! There's a lot more to me, and her as well! And one thing I would never do is sell out for a friend! Ever! Especially one I care about as much as Eri!"
One you...care about...as much...as me?
Could this be true?
Could you care...as much as I do?
"I've tried to be nice about this, Mouri..."
Psh. Yeah RIGHT.
"Why does it matter? We both know Eri will do well on the exams if I'm her friend or not."
Idiot, you make me 'look bad'. And why is it you give me all these compliments only when you think I can't hear you??
"You still don't get it!! If someone from another school, a visiting teacher or principal, sees the two of you together, people will begin to talk! 'Teitan High's gem student hangs around some brat'!"
Hey, only I can call Kogoro a brat!
"You can't stop me from seeing her! You can switch our classes or whatever, but we can hang out as much as we want after school!"
Now you want to hang out AFTER school? I thought I was a 'nagging witch'?
"Your disobedience is tiresome. I can do whatever I want. I'll put you in detention every day after school if I have to."
No you can't! I've heard this entire conversation...I'll do badly on the exams on purpose if I have to!
"You can't punish me for being FRIENDS with someone! I'll just tell a teacher or someone that you've been threatening me."
I suppose that works...in theory. How do you know that Kakashi's the only one in on this, Kogoro?
"You won't tell anyone. Who'd believe you if you did? There aren't any teachers here who like you, Mouri. Besides, I hear that you've got a lot of pride."
That's the biggest understatement of the year.
"You're a real bastard, you know? I should-"
Temper, temper. Please, moron, don't do anything you'll regret later for such a stupid reason.
"You know, Mouri, I wondered what you saw in Kisaki...but today, when I saw her there, leaning over you...why, she looked quite fetching. She's really got something there. Such a pretty face..."
...It is impossible to describe how creepy this is becoming! How old is this guy, 32?? Wait a minute...is he indirectly trying to threaten me and get Kogoro angry? I need to go get someone...this could get bad...
"If you ever, EVER lay so much as a finger on her, I will-"
Oh...damn. I AM clumsy. I have to get out of here-the bathroom! I'll hide in there!
I can see that Kakashi and Kogoro are coming out, looking for me...well, they don't know it's me they're looking for. Wait...now Kogoro's walking away. Looks like their 'conversation', is over...Kakashi won't DARE do anything, he doesn't know who was listening in on it, it could have been ANYONE.
Kogoro............
Did you really mean all those things you said about me?
Awww...okay that's enough of that. NOW REVIEW!!!! PEASANTS! OR FEAR MY-sorry...lost the happy...but the happy is back .
R&R!!!