A Life With or Without You
Chapter 2: New Guys
By: KawaiiLeena
Disclaimer: I don't own FFIX!!
It's not easy to live life sometimes, and face the world with a smile when you're crying inside. It takes a lot of courage to reach down inside yourself, hold on to that strength that is still there, and know that tomorrow is a new day – with new possibilities- Kathy Obara
Chapter 2: New Guys
Dagger wakes up softly, opening her beautiful deep brown eyes as the sun reaches her creamy skin through the bedroom window. She looks around her as she sees herself lying on the bed, in her wallpapered white and orderly room.
She rubs her eyes as she slowly gets out of bed, wearing her pink pajamas printed with Cherry Blossom flowers. She yawns as she stretches her arms and fixes her messy black hair in the mirror with her pink comb.
Yes, an unusual morning, for her, that is. In her past two years, when her family was still alive, she would wake up, smelling the sweet cooking of her mother and receiving the simple greetings of her father when she comes downstairs for breakfast. How she misses it so much, especially the times when she would argue with her big brother for small things, but that is what makes her family special to her.
Dagger sighs as she puts down the comb on her dresser, then looks again to the mirror. She studies at her reflection, detail to detail. The twinkle in her eyes seemed to disappear all of a sudden, and her cheerful smile faded away. Her heart ache often when she remember the painful memories that always haunt her, the memories that keeps getting back at her.
Dagger looks down as she thinks sadly, 'Why is it like this? Why am I suffering like this? I have been so stupid two years ago! If only… if only… I was killed with them, and then, I wouldn't be suffering like this!'
"Stop this, Dagger… it's over," she reminds herself, not looking at her own reflection, because it only hurts her. It hurts her to see her own reflection. "What's in the past is in the past! You can never do anything to undo what is already done! Your life is like this, and will always will, so better accept it."
She turns around and looks up, only to see tears flooding in her eyes, her right hand on her chest. "But it hurts…" she cries softly, head down, her shoulders trembling. "It hurts so much…"
Later
Let us now transfer to Odaiba High School, a peaceful school to begin with, cheerful people, good kids, fine teachers, great status, clean surroundings, nice sportsmanship, and everything else that makes it a highly recommended school for students who are aiming for a good education and a better future.
Eiko Carol enters the gates of the school with a smile and happy whistling, also wearing her school uniform: a dark black long sleeve blouse with a white like-scarf tie with a skirt that was up to her knees. She looks around, her green eyes bumbling with happiness.
Eiko is always known to be a girl with hopes for everyone, an innocent smile that shows she has dreams for the upcoming future, but also a sly female character indeed. She may be suspicious and cunning at times, but despite of that, everyone likes her, making her feel unique and loved.
Eiko's father died when she was still four years old because of a car accident. She never forgets that incident, though she would mourn and cry for her father often at times, but she always know that there are reasons for everything.
She also remembered what her father's last words to her before he died,
"Eiko, my daughter, you are beautiful not only to my eyes, but to the point of view with everyone else's. Always be strong and never give up, even to the difficult obstacles in life you are going to experience soon enough. Life continues until the depth of time, so, whatever happens, always move on. I love you, my child."
Up until to this day, Eiko always reminded herself to continue life, with or without her father. But she knows, even though he passed away, she feels his presence always with her, a shadow or a smile away.
The cheerful girl looks around for her best friend and finds her sitting on a bench beside a Sakura tree not too far away, deep in her thoughts. Eiko grins and walks to her, hoping to have a chat with her.
"Hey, Dagger!" Eiko calls, waving at her. Dagger blinks and looks toward where that voice comes from to see her best friend waving at her. She forces a cheerful smile and waves back.
"Hi, Eiko," Dagger greets, hoping to sound convincing enough. "It's a good day, isn't it?"
Eiko sits beside her and flashes a stunning smile. "Sure is! Why did you say that anyway?"
Dagger shakes her head and looks up, admiring the beautiful sky up above her. She knows her family is watching her. If only she could join them, then they could be together, and she, herself, won't be lonely anymore.
"Just a while ago," Dagger continues, her brown eyes still gazed to the blue cloudless sky. "I saw three white doves, each holding a leaf. The came to me and gave me the leaves they are carrying and flew away. Somehow, as I reach down and pick up the leaves, new hopes appeared, making me more relaxed and confident for the future."
Eiko looks at her friend and studies her. She notices she was serious and asks, "And what makes you say that?"
Dagger does not reply, but continues gazing. Will she tell her friend that her family members were secretly killed and she was living all by herself ever since? No, she can't. She'll still lock the secret out.
"Nothing," Dagger replies monotone, turning her chocolate eyes to Eiko's emerald ones with a smile. "I just felt like saying it. But true enough, I did feel like hope is coming back to me."
Eiko smiles and pats her friend's shoulder. "Great, Dagger! I'm so happy to hear that!" she exclaims, suddenly hugging her best friend gently. "I don't know why, but I feel like an overflowing of joy passing through me!"
Dagger laughs as they let go with each other. She looks up to find that the first bell finally rings, motioning students to go to their first class in the morning.
"Let's go, Eiko," Dagger motions, standing up, seeing Odaiba High School students entering the school. Eiko smirks and crosses her arms and her legs, and still not getting away from her seat. Dagger narrows her eyes and asks, "What are you doing? Let's go!"
"Make me," Eiko mocks in a sly tone, not even bothering to move. "I'm too lazy to get up. So I want you to make me laugh first."
Dagger rolls her eyes and shakes her head in disgust. Now, she is really convinced that Eiko is sometimes really annoying to handle.
"I'm not a clown, Eiko!" Dagger retorts back, getting very impatient. Of course, the early bird Dagger comes late for class? What would others think? "I'm not good in making people laugh or that sort of thing! C'mon! We'll be late in class if we don't hurry!"
Eiko smirks as she says, "Like I said, make me."
Dagger sighs and gives up, "Fine, besides, I don't want to make my best friend late…" she says softly, but loud enough for Eiko to hear. Eiko suddenly feels guilty when she heard those words, but she decided to play along.
Dagger thinks for a while, then puts her books and backpack down, then flaps her arms like a chicken, making Eiko softly giggle. She then makes funny and goofy faces, forcing Eiko to laugh a little.
'I can't believe this! I look like a mad lunatic idiot!' Dagger thinks as she acts like a clown. 'UGH! Concentrate Dagger, concentrate! Make her laugh before the second bell rin—'
"RRRIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!"
Dagger gasps and covers the side of her face with her hands, looking around to see only them in the remaining campus.
"Oh no! I'm late! Oh My Gosh! I'm late!" Dagger exclaims, jumping up and down, her face totally priceless, making Eiko laugh so hard. "What are you laughing at? Can't you see? We're the only ones in the campus! Everybody has gone inside! Worse, I'm late! The early bird Dagger is late!"
"Yeah, I know!" Eiko laughs, not able to control herself. She stops when she receives a glare from Dagger. "Look, I'm sorry if I make you late! But I really need a laugh," she explains as she takes Dagger's book and backpack and hands it to her. "Here, let's go. Let's dash to the classroom before Suzuki-sensei comes."
Dagger nods and takes her things with her and runs to the entrance, seeing everybody has gone to their appointed classes. Without second thoughts, she makes a run to the second floor where her first class is, which is History.
"Hey, Dagger!" Eiko calls, still on the first floor. "Aren't you going to your locker?"
"I'll move that one later!" Dagger replies back, stopping. "Let's go, Eiko! We are already five minutes late!"
Eiko sighs as she grumbles, "Fine." She immediately runs up to catch up with her best friend, so she did. They dash to room 218, seeing their teacher, Mrs. Suzuki, already arrived, teaching. She has dark brown hair that is tied to a messy bun and fiery red eyes. She is wearing the usual black pants and red T-shirt with peony flowers printed.
"Dagger Alexandros and Eiko Carol, you are late," Ms. Suzuki announces, in a gentle voice, but in a warning tone, too.
"Gomenasai (I'm sorry) Suzuki-sensei," Dagger apologizes, taking a short bow. "It won't happen again."
Mrs. Suzuki smiles as she gently says, "That is quite alright, Dagger. You may now take your seat. Eiko Carol, take your seat, too. But I want you two not to do it again, clear?"
"Hai (yes) sensei," they reply together. Dagger walks up to her far left seat on the third group, 2nd row, left side that is beside the window, and Eiko behind her.
Mrs. Suzuki soon continues to teach, not noticing Dagger is not paying attention. She is on her own world again, gazing outside, in her own thoughts.
FLASHBACK
Dagger was sitting on the bench beside a Sakura tree. She would have gone inside, but she felt she needed air for once and time to think and reflect her thoughts. She looks up and admired the blue sky that shone above her.
A while later, three white doves appeared on the sky, flying gracefully, a leaf in their beaks. Dagger smiled at the sight of this. She watched them fly, their graceful moves and swings.
"I wish I am like that, a dove," she whispered to herself, her chocolate eyes gleaming. "Then I can be free, free from all the sufferings I am experiencing right now."
Suddenly, the white doves flew down. Dagger seemed surprise when they disappeared on the sky. She looked down to see the doves before her stopping one by one.
She looked at them while she smiled. Then, one at a time, they bowed their heads and put down the leaves they were carrying then flew away, leaving a very stunned Dagger.
END OF FLASHBACK
Eiko looks at her friend worriedly while Dagger continues to gaze outside the window. Somehow, she feels something is bothering her for a long time now, and becoming distant and distant every day that passed.
"Excuse me, class, but can I have your attention?" Mrs. Suzuki asked loud enough to make the student's heads turn to her, except Dagger. She smiles as she says; "We have two new students today from America. Let us now introduce Zidane Tribal and Vivi Ornitier."
Two boys walks in the classroom, one has greenish-blue eyes that seems so heart-warming and messy blonde hair. He has a friendly smile on his face when he walked in, wearing the school uniform. The other one is a bit smaller than the other one. He has a large hat that covered most o his face, but it reveals he has pure golden eyes.
"Can you please be kind enough to introduce yourself to the class," Mrs. Suzuki asks, sitting down on the chair beside the teacher's table.
The blonde nods as he turns his head to the class, "Hi, I'm Zidane Tribal, from America. I live with my brothers, Kuja, my sister, Mikoto, and my dad, Baku. I am good when dealing with swordfights and I am available." He wiggles his eyebrows, hearing sighs from the girls.
"Hello… I am Vivi Ornitier and I am also from America… I live with my grandfather, Kio (made it up), and I practice black magic…" he stammers, obviously shy.
"Thank you for your introduction, boys," Mrs. Suzuki says with a smile as she stands up. "Now, let's see where we will put you two."
Zidane looks around when he spots a very beautiful girl with midnight black hair and chocolate brown eyes by the window, staring outside and seems deep in her thoughts. 'She's pretty cute! I wonder what's her name?'
Mrs. Suzuki looks at where Zidane is looking and she thinks that Zidane is looking at the two vacant seats beside Dagger and Eiko. She smiles as she announces,
"Zidane, you go sit beside Ms. Dagger," she announces, hoping to get Dagger's attention. "Dagger, please raise your hand." Dagger didn't budge, her eyes not moving from the glass window. Mrs. Suzuki sighs, "Ms. Dagger."
Eiko pokes Dagger on the back, making Dagger jumps and shrieks, "No, ma'am, I did not feed your dog with your underwear!"
Mrs. Suzuki arches an eyebrow and the class burst with giggles and laughter, Zidane chuckles at her behavior, and Dagger, realizing her mistake, sits down and blushes crimson.
"Class, quiet down," Mrs. Suzuki warns. She looks at Dagger and smiles; "I take that as a good joke. Zidane, please sit beside her." Zidane willingly nods and then does what he was told.
"And you, Vivi, my boy, go sit beside Ms. Eiko, the cute girl with the weird purple hair," she teases.
Eiko pouts and sticks out her tongue, "Cute, thank you, for that is very much true, but weird? I resent that, Suzuki-sensei!"
Mrs. Suzuki laughs with the giggles of the other girls and snickers of the other boys. "I was just teasing you, Eiko. Vivi, sit down beside her." Vivi nods and does what he was told to do.
Dagger looks away, not wanting to look in the eye with her new seatmate. She's so embarrassed from what she did earlier that she would definitely blush when they will make eye contact.
"You don't have to be embarrass," Zidane says, grinning. Dagger looks at him surprised. "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes."
Dagger blushes and looks away. "T-thanks…"
Zidane smiles and turns to her, seeing her looking out the window again. "Can you please turn to me for a while? I want to see your face."
Dagger sighs as she plainly replies, "It's not necessary. You'll see me later on; I don't feel like talking today. No offense, but, I want to be alone for a while."
Zidane shrugs, "Sure."
Dagger sighs as she thinks, 'A new seatmate… just great… it's the most least thing I ever need right now… he's probably a jerk.'
To be continued…Hi! Thanks for the reviews!!! Here are some replies:
Justme2004: Thank you for your review! Yeah, drama is HARD, even though I have no similar experience; I have to let the emotions out.
Ashitaka666: Thanks 4 the review! Yeah, feel sorry for Dagger, too! And you'll all find out the tragedy later on! I want to keep it SECRET for a while! Hehe…
RefugeOfSouls: Hey, don't cry, ok? And you all will gonna discover what happened to her family in the next chapter... promise!!!!
Sorry for the long delay, but I need to focus my attention to my education right now because the 3rd Quaterly exams are coming! I have to study for a good grade, duh! Please expect a new chapter by next week! Thurday or Wednesday maybe, I don't know! But I promise, next week!
Well, that's all! With or without reviewers, I'll continue this fic to replace my beloved other one! Hehe… well, have a nice day! Don't forget to leave a nice review, ne?