Solitary Mask

Chibi Tsuki

A/N: I'm so happy that someone likes my story. *wipes away tears* I didn't think that anyone would read it but thanks a lot readers! You've kept my spirits up. If I don't manage to update within a short period of time because it takes a while for me to finish a chapter since I also have school and other story chapters to complete. By the way, if you want to be updated on new chapters, please leave your email and I'll send you an email.

Chapter 2

Beginning of Friendship?

Kurama, asked to hand out the bottles of acid to each paired group, lowered the individual bottles onto the benches with care. Each bench was a working place for two pairs, so there were four to a bench. In an entire class of twenty-two, now that they had an extra classmate, there were twelve benches, with a bench singled out in the corner so it could only hold one working pair. Everyone called it 'the corner' because the bench was rather cramped and didn't serve as a place convenient while conducting experiments since half of the time, the students bumped into the wall, spilling dangerous contents onto the floor. There had been another reason for the name because it was rather isolated from the other benches.

Placing the bottle on the sad, gloomy desk where there was obviously evidence that someone was using the bench and walked off, distributing the acid to others.

Since the other students had partners for the experiments, Kurama instinctively strode towards Mikazuki. That was until Raku, his newly met friend pulled him aside and urged Kurama to join him and Jobi. "Stick with us Shuichi," the taller boy, Raku advised in a firm voice.

"How long does it take for us to get this to your head Shuichi? That girl means trouble and no one goes looking for trouble," Jobi whispered trying to reach the red-haired boy's ear, with slight difficulty.

Reluctantly, Shuichi gave him a smile and worked with the pair, often glancing towards the lonesome character.

~*~*~*~

Panting the girl woke up from her daydream, the sun blaring at her between the leaves. What was this dream she was having? What did it have to do with Youko Kurama, the famed thief of Makai? Surely her hidden life wouldn't have anything, none whatsoever to do with the kitsune. Mikazuki took deep breaths, bringing up a hand to obscure the sunlight. Why won't he just leave me alone? There was plenty of time until lunch ended, perhaps a wash of the face would do her good. With fast speed, the girl slipped out of the tree and headed towards the bubblers. Everyone seemed to have decided to stay in the safety of shaded areas, away from the humidity and heat of the sun. When she reached the water supply just hidden from the sun by a brick wall she placed a hand over the dreaded mask and it fell off onto her hand. Water definitely was the way to go, but it would've been much better if she didn't have to do this. If anyone saw her facial features it would only cause more problems within the school, something that she didn't particularly want to involve herself in. It was a rather foolish idea to do so. Sleeves patted the soaked face dry, the mask slipped back on, concealing the unknown face once again. The mask served as a wall that allowed her safety behind it. Others couldn't see her or know how she felt but she could see everything around her. Trudging warily into an air-conditioned building she sighed with pleasure as the cool air tickled the back of her neck. Her hair swayed gently in the same momentum as her fast pace.

Staring at this mysterious character from a particular distance away, the young gentleman was ushered along. "Come on Shuichi, we'll take you to the D and T area, it's quite big there," Jobi uttered, walking freely as always, his cheeky grin showed cheeriness within him.

Suddenly Kurama halted and said to them, "I've forgotten my exercise book, you two better go to your classes. I'll find my way there." He turned around and started running, smiling all the time. Alone with her books in one hand, Mikazuki walked with her head bowing the entire time until the red-haired boy she remembered from yesterday brushed past her deliberately, stealthily slipping a piece of folded paper into her freehand. "Sorry," he whispered as moved on. Clutching the note, she stuffed it in between several sheet of papers and continued walking on normally. Kurama glanced backwards and smirked when the girl decided to keep it.

Opening the note, the girl took a quick glance at the short message and scrunched up the piece of paper as the teacher approached. "What is that? A note?" the teacher snapped, glaring ungracefully at her. This female teacher was definitely born from the side of the furious and frightening side of town. She was the only staff within the school who was brave enough to treat Mikazuki like the others and the girl actually didn't mind her for that. Instead of taking it a bad way, Mikazuki was glad to secretly feel as if she belonged, even if it was a split second that would instantly vanish afterwards. Kaji sensei snatched the scrunched up paper from the girl's hand and smoothed it out, reading the message with raised eyebrows. Bending down she whispered to the girl, "Who is it?"

Clearly the woman couldn't hear the subtle moan. "I only found this note on my desk." Her voice was quiet and boring, and so there was no possibility of betraying herself. The woman removed herself from the table and continued the lesson, waving her hand as she spoke. Instead of listening to the teacher ramble on, Mikazuki continued thinking whether to talk to the boy. No, teenager; Shuichi. There was no need in getting him involved in anything in anyway.

~*~*~*~

The sky was turning dark, rays of sunlight no longer peeked between the clouds. Presently, the school was rather quiet now, most of the students had left the school already since they had no afternoon activities to attend. Kurama waited patiently near the tennis courts, somehow knowing that she would turn up. The silent figure leaned against tree, wondering to himself why this girl had attracted him to her so much. It wasn't physical beauty or her intelligence in anyway, it was something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Slowly the earth rotated, making the moon seem to have changed positions. Footsteps alerted him and he pushed against the tree lightly so that his two legs now supported him. "Hello Mikazuki," he greeted, approaching the shadowy figure, even though she was still several steps away from him, he could still sense her ki and it had confirmed to him that she was the one.

"How did you know it was me?" Mikazuki stepped forward, her glossy silver hair standing out in the night.

"I don't know, I just felt that it was you," Kurama replied, trying not to let sleep get over him. She shrugged, as if to say 'fair enough' and seated down on the cold surfaced steps that led to the tennis court. The teenager walked towards her and stood a short distance away. "I was wondering whether you wanted to be friends."

Ironically, the girl smirked, portraying a bitter expression to the silent night. Letting out a sigh she mumbled, "Leave me alone, it's better that way."

"I'm not a person who leaves someone to be isolated after each day."

"To tell you the truth, I've changed because everything around me has changed. Humans are prejudice against those who are different, there's no point in making friends with someone who'll be forever afraid of your deepest secrets when you want to be truthful to them."

"Different? To me there's no difference between us," Kurama's voice tinged with hope and honesty. Turning her head around to look up at the teenager, Mikazuki's eyes widened. Behind him the moon shone as brilliantly as ever, but this was not why she was startled. Something had struck her. The moon's silvery white beams reflected off Kurama's long dreamy hair, kissing his features with the smooth and pure colour. She had seen an image much alike the scene she witnessed now, except he had eyes and stood taller, with a broader frame. "Is something wrong Mikazuki?" Kurama noticed the tension in her body when she flinched at the sound of his tender voice.

Her eyes lowered, just like her face and shook her head, "Nothing's wrong. You just reminded me of someone from a dream." Why was she talking about her personal stuff to him? But something about him gave her a warm feeling around this peculiar character, she just had a feeling that she could trust him. "I'll see you later," she uttered, placing her hands on her bare knees as she stood up, lifting up the black strap bag up beside her.

"Shall I take you home? It's rather late, it's not safe to be walking home by yourself," he seemed fairly persistent to take her home but didn't push it when his classmate kindly rejected the offer, saying that she didn't live far from the school. They exited the school grounds together, walking together for some time, both unsure why the other was still there. "So where do you live?" Kurama asked in curiosity, keeping his calm and casual tone.

"A few streets away from here," she replied and readjusted her bag strap. "Well I'll be turning off here, I'll see you tomorrow." Without waiting for him to say anything, she left, picking up speed as she walked.

Swiping a hand across her unmasked face, she stepped into the empty house, changing from shoes to slippers. Mikazuki dumped her bag and books on the kitchen table and gathered some ingredients for a simple dinner for herself. This happened nightly; she lived with no one, no parents, no friends, only herself. This was a lonely world for her, it never was like this until she came here and entered this world.

~*~*~*~

A/N: Sorry about the short chapter! I kinda had a writer's block and I don't know how to finish the rest of the chapter, so I just decided not to keep you waiting. If the next chapter comes out late, please forgive me because I'm having yearly exams and I usually take a while just to type out the next chapter. Ja ne!