AN: Thanks for all the reviews cries They make me really really happy and give me the courage and willingness (I'm in enginerding) to write some more.
AN2:When I went to school over there, physical punishment was still allowed. (That just tells you how old I am) I'm not sure if it's allowed now, or if it was even practiced during high school years. (My brother said no, but I'm always skeptical). I'm gonna assume that it's allowed. Also, I've taken some liberties with the trooper's age and time line. That probably won't show up until later. Also...I think this thing needs a better title. Suggestions?
So How Many Guys Are you Dating?
Second Day
Yumi, the class beauty, arrived at school with a score of worshipping males trailing and honoring her very steps. She strutted nonchalantly toward the gates, ignoring the many offerings of eternal love from both genders. Since middle school, Yumi realized that males like certain things about her chest that many boys found fascinating. Learning from her equally beautiful mother, Yumi knew that if she wanted something, she should give only promises in exchange for service. So far, Yumi had kept herself relatively safe from all those bad rape stories. Maybe it was Shingo's presence too as they were friends since childhood.
Having passed the gates ignoring the promises of eternal love from both genders, Yumi idly climbed the stairs to the second floor where her classes were held.
"Yumi-Sempai!" cried a Freshmen while waving at Yumi. She was a plain looking thing with short hair and brown eyes. She stood just about Yumi's height, but was as skinny as a dried twig.
"What is it, Tomoko?" asked Yumi as she entered the second floor to see an exclusive clique.
They were in a group of girls often referred to as the popular people. This group consisted of only two types of people; the popular and the extremely social. These people often met outside with the current head female of the class. As the head senior female was busy studying for a college entrance exam, the role of 'holding court' fell to the next available person, Yumi.
Tomoko's expression was urgent as Yumi approached the group for the latest school news. "Yumi-sempai! I saw Shingo-Sempai walking with that new girl."
Many other girls who were there looked very concerned also. They whispered among themselves
Yumi shrugged. "So? Shingo walks with a lot of girls." Shingo was a semi-sort of a player. He would often be nice to girls but only on a politeness basis.
"He was carrying her bag," clarified Tomoko.
That made Yumi a little more concerned. "When?"
"This morning," said Tomoko. "You gotta talk to the new girl Yumi. We don't want an outsider taking our Shingo-sempai away."
"We?" Yumi raised her eyebrows.
"Well..." Tomoko gave an apologetic look. She knew she had crossed the line when she assumed Shingo to be exclusively theirs.
"Let's go speak to this new girl, shall we?" said Yumi with a yawn. Ladies in Getsukin high tended to think ofShingo-kun as a treasure, the person that defined their school. He was popular and it would only be acceptable if he liked the most popular female: Yumi.
"But Yumi-chan, no one has seen her since then," said another.
"Hum?"
"Someone said that she turned into a blue light and disappeared."
Yumi snorted. Sometimes, people at her school said the strangest things. "Then I will speak to her when I see her."
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By the time lunch rolled around, there was no sign of their new student, not even a shadow. Some teachers voiced their concerns as it was highly unusual for anyone to miss class, even if Touma just turned out to be another delinquent.
Akira noticed some strange thing about his best friend. Shingo had some odd inclination to check the nurse's office each time there was a break. His mood was not the usual cool but seemed a little agitated yet extremely happy at the same time. Like how Shingo happily volunteered for the physics problem but messed up completely on the board. Akira was not the only person in the class that noticed, everyone else noticed too.
"He was smiling for no reason!" exclaimed one of the girls in Akira's female groupie.
"I know! He's just so cute, I could swoon if he smiled at me," said another.
"I got a picture of him smiling in class!" said a girl in the back.
"Let me see!!!" cried many girls.
Akira shook his head and wisely walked away from the obsessed females. Why were girls attracted to cold and unresponsive guys? Sure, he had a lot of girls follow him around, but probably not the type of girls that would worship him like they worshipped Shingo. I'll probably never figure out the female mind.
"Haha. Are you jealous, Akira-kun?" asked Aoi. She nudged Akira playfully on the shoulder. She had her short shoulder length black hair bounded.
"Jealous? Heck no!" AKira quickly balked at such a suggestion.
"Maybe," said Aoi. "I grew up with you Akira. I know how you feel to be constantly in the shadow of Shingo-kun."
Akira's expression blanched, but before he could say anything, Aoi started to talk.
"Anyways, I saw that Hashiba girl this morning in the school gym."
"Really?" asked Akira. "I thought she just didn't come to school."
Aoi shrugged. "Well, morning swim practice ended earlier so I came here to take a shower. She was in the showers too" said Aoi as her face grew troubled and her voice dropped to a whisper. Akira had to duck down next to Aoi's ears to hear her. "Don't tell anyone, but I saw a lot of red stuff wash away from her stall. I even saw her coming out. Her entire towel was red and pink."
"Blood?" queried Akira.
Aoi, who was looking slightly green now, nodded. Aoi decided not to mention the more gruesome parts. What the towel did not cover was perhaps the most mutilated shoulder that Aoi had ever saw in her entire life. It looked like someone had whipped the poor girl with garrote wires. Aoi did not want to imagine what more Touma was hiding. Parental Abuse? Gang Wars? Drug Deals? Her parents told her it was best not to associate herself with those people, least they drag her down with them. But there was that expression Touma had when she was looking at the mirror. There was so much towering rage mixed with unspeakable despair, nothing like the apathetic greeting she gave only two days ago. Aoi honestly felt that Touma could go insane at any moment.
"Hey, the bell rang, we gotta go back to class," said Akira.
Aoi blinked out of her thoughts. "Yeah, let's go back."
The two shuffled to their class and immediately noticed the missing person was back.
Touma had her head down on a soft-looking velvety blue pillow with her arms hugging the pillow. Some nightshades covered her eyes. Her back rose and fell slowly as if she was deep asleep. Around her were a few of the class A students, staring at her as if she was some daredevil.
"She's gonna get killed by Mrs. Yun," whispered one of the boys in the class.
"Where did she get that awful bruise?" asked the girl who sat in front of her.
"She just showed up half an hour ago," whispered another.
"Isn't she hot wearing the black school jacket?"
"No wondered she failed Osaka Prep," snorted Yumi.
"I don't know," said Houin skeptically. "Mr. Setshin said that she's the only one who passed the quiz last friday."
"You got to be kidding Houin! There's no way anyone could pass that quiz," blurted a girl.
"Quiet everyone! Mrs. Yun is here," said Shingo.
Akira and Aoi both quickly took their seat as Mrs. Yun walked in.
Mrs. Yun was one of the newer teachers fresh from the University. She was a small typical Japanese married woman and deceptively frail looking. However, she had made physics a nightmare for all of the classes she taught. She even made some students cry because of her often biting comments. In her hand was a meter long bamboo stick just in case the students needed more convincing about paying attention in her class. And today, she was in a bad mood.
"Good morning students," was Mrs. Yun's serious introduction. Her dark brown eyes did a cursory of the room, nodding in approval at the alert looks from the general room. Then her eyes fell upon the sleeping girl."I see we have a sleeping beauty in this class now," said Mrs. Yun loudly.
A soft snore was emitted from Touma.
"Wake up!" Mrs. Yun shouted.
Silence.
"Someone wake that moron!" commanded Mrs. Yun.
Everyone in the class looked away.
Mrs. Yun was a little indignant with the total lack of respect this Hashiba girl was giving her. Sleeping in class was the ultimate insult to a teacher. Making an example of the new student would definitely make the lesson stick. Without as much as a warning, Mrs Yun paced up next to Touma and raised her stick and brought it swiftly down.
"AH!" The reaction was immediate. Touma's eyes popped opened but closed just as quickly. Tiny rivets of tears fell and she shook violently from clenching her fist so tightly. Hyperventilation caused her chest to rise and fall like she was about to panic. "What the hell did you just do that for?" Touma's tone went from a whimpering whisper to a accusing roar.
The class stared at Mrs. Yun and Touma in shock. Never had anyone take that tone with Mrs. Yun.
Mrs. Yun herself was in shock also. She rarely had any student openly demand an explanation for her punishments. Those who did were the ones who were in trouble with the authorities. "What did you just say?"
"I said, 'What the hell did you just do that for?' That really really hurts!"
"That's it! I'm writing you up!" said Mrs. Yun.
"Go ahead," said Touma coldly. She swiftly slipped half of her jacket off. Underneath the black jacket was a pristine white shirt with a spotted line of red quickly solidifying, causing Mrs. Yun to gasp. "I'm reporting you for assault."
"No you won't," someone's voice broke in.
Everyone in the class looked toward the door. It was a relatively handsome young man with reddish brown hair and a little bit of sideburn. He looked too old to be in high school but too young to be out of college. His mature looks quickly attracted the adoring looks from the female population.
He proceeded to Mrs. Yun and gave her two pink slips. "There is an emergency call for you." He pointed out the first one. "And this one allows Miss Hashiba to leave."
Mrs. Yun took the slip, still looking at Touma's blood-dappled back. "Class. Read chapter six. I'll be back." With that, she left the room, still sporting a shocked look on her face.
"Get up. We gotta go," commanded the young man.
Shingo inwardly growled at the intruder. Who does this ass think he is? How dare he order Touma around like a little puppet. "Reason?" asked Touma as if the entire class of forty other students did not exist.
"Well, among other things...your father has asked for you."
"Oh..." Touma's mood was suddenly subdued. "Give me five minutes. Meet me in the front gates." She slipped the large jacket back on and rushed out of the classroom.
The young man looked around as if nothing had happened. Shrugging, he began to walk toward the classroom exit.
"Wait!" called Aoi.
Shin turned his head slightly.
Aoi had watched the happening of the last few minutes with much confusion like much of the class. Then this young man appeared and she swore she saw him somewhere. "Aren't you Mouri Shin? The Olympic Swimmer?"
Shin's eyes went large and tilted his head. "Yes." He looked thoughtful. "How did you know? I haven't been competing in the last three years."
"That's because Aoi is a fish," explained Yumi. "She knows about all the fast swimmers in the world. If I remember what Aoi always babbled about, you were the one of the youngest Olypmic swimmers."
Shin crossed his arm. "I suppose so. I don't keep track."
"So, how did you know Touma?" asked Akira.
"Touma? We know each other through a friend of a friend."
"So what is she to you?" Surprisingly, Shingo was the one who popped the question.
Shin looked at Shingo critically as if he recognize the young man from somewhere. "She is...one of the most special ladies in my life," he answered finally.
That statement made a rock drop in Shingo's stomach. This Mouri person looked to be semi-rich from his slacks and fine tan leather jacket. The same feeling permeated the stomachs of other girls in the class. It was not fair that the new girl in town got the attention of both Shingo-kun and this dashing athlete.
"Now, if you'll excuse me." With that, Shin left the classroom.
---------------------------------------------------
Four shadows watched the pool of water. Inside was the serious expression of a certain blue haired young lady opening her locker door. Inside the person length locker was neatly organized stacks of books and vanilla folders. She reached in with shaky fingers for a particular folder labeled "legal files."
"So that's Tenku," whispered one.
"Yes. The last of the Hashiba line..." whispered another.
"Quite the beautiful lady...she would be a lovely addition to us."
The scene in the water changed. Now the girl was getting into a silver coup with another person. A young man with reddish brown hair who was carrying a stack of files. He dumped the files in the trunk and got in the car.
"She doesn't look too much powerful," one objected.
"But she did killed the Iioni...without even noticing it."
"Why not Suiko? He looked to be a better candidate. Korin has greater spiritual power. Even Rekka. He can create the new Kikoutei."
"We have to be realisitic here. Each one of them has humane qualities. Kongo administers for fair treatment of all with Justice. Suiko solidify the community with trust. Korin's Courtsy cares for other's well being. Rekka rules all with a benevolence unmatched. But Tenku plans with cold logic. Out of all of them, she is the best one to take."
"True..." one said thoughtfully. The image in the pool shifted again. This time, it was a close up of her face, looking out of a car window, staring at nothing in particular. "All her handiwork is methodical and quick. Iioni did not have a chance to scream before he died."
The smallest one shivered. "Iioni did not even have a spirit left."
"One does not go after a priestess and yoroi bearer without any backup. I had warned him."
Suddenly the face in the pool changed. Her dark blue eyes seemed to stare straight into the dark faces of the shadows, then those midnight eyes narrowed. Without warning, the pool of water exploded in their faces.
The shadows scrambled away as fast as they could. One shadow, who was too slow, was immediately soaked by the water and started to steam and melt.
"Holy water!" cried the smallest. "She transformed it through dimensions!"
The other three watched helplessly as their brethren slowly dissolve into nothingness. There was nothing they could do. When all of them gathered their bearings again, the pool of water was empty, leaving a dark black charred hole.
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"Touma...Touma?" called Shin. "What's wrong?"
The two were in a car, on the highway heading toward Kyoto. Touma was on the passenger seat, still looking outside, not bothering wearing a seat belt. Her entire body was in very much pain from all the cuts she received last night. Then there was Mrs. Yun who thoughtlessly gave her a good smack, reopening some wounds. Being strapped to a seat was one of the last thing on Touma's list.
Touma paused for a little, not feeling like talking. Eventually, she said, "Nothing. I was only getting rid of some unwanted attention."