Chapter 4: First Day at the New School

She stood near the building entrance, eyes casted to the ground, while she was silently holding her school bag, as if she was waiting for someone...
Many students glanced at her with curiousity and interest...
"Ehi, who's that pretty girl?"
"You really don't know! She's Kaioh Michiru, she's famous!"
"...and she's attending our school!"
"Oh man, she's stunning!"
"I'm gonna ask her out!"
"Forget it, I saw her first!"
"That's not true!"
"She's too much for the both of you!"
"Ehi!"
However no one seemed to be brave enough to talk to her. The young violinist was surrounded by some sort of aura, a brilliant but also detached one that kept others from getting too close to her...
A natural talent developed to keep away those that hear her music, but didn't listen to it... those that look at her paintings, but didn't see what was behind them... those that admire her perfect body, but didn't perceive the hurt soul beneath...
Nevertheless, she knew it wasn't their fault... how could they understand what she felt when facing a youma (an evil creature, but also an innocent human)... when she had those nightmares about the approaching Silence... and above all, her deep loneliness...
No one could know... except that very special person.

Suddenly she heard some footsteps coming towards her and when she looked up, she found her eyes locked with a pair of emerald ones.
She smiled brightly: "Good morning. I was waiting for you."
At those words (and that smile... that warm smile...), Haruka could only look away to hide her slight blush... something that happened rather often since they met... "Hm, let's go."
They walked towards the building: a high skyscraper with restaurants, cafés, a hospital, shops, gardens, a big swimming pool and of course schools: from kindergarten to university.
There were also apartments for students and all the people who worked and also lived there... it was a real comunity, a city in the city.
As they went through the hall like many other 'outsiders', different comments were exchanged around them...
"Kaioh Michiru is with Tenoh Haruka!"
"I can't believe they'll study here!"
"But.. are they together?"
"No! I mean.. I hope they aren't..."
"They are a beautiful couple, however..."
"Aah, Haruka-kun is so handsome!"
"And Michiru looks so gorgeous!"
"Hai... I wonder for how long they have known each other?"
The two girls heard some of the rumors but made no remark on them... even though Haruka had a hard time trying not to blush at the 'beautiful couple' statement... she stole a quick glance at her quiet partner, who showed no reaction...
Who knows what Michiru thought of it..?

They left the hall using the lift and arrived at the floor they were supposed to find the principal's office.
A light knock at the door (Michiru's) answered with a "Come in" and the two were in front of the short man sitting at his desk, surrounded by rather a lot of papers: "Oh, Kaioh-san, Tenoh-san... I was waiting for you. Was it difficult to find my office?"
"No, sir." came the calm reply of Haruka, while she took a sit on one of the two chairs the principal showed them.
"Well. Here are all your transfer documents. Bureaucratic affairs are always an annoyance... but this time all was promptly done... you're lucky!"
"Arigatou." Michiru replied politely, knowing that it was really an exception just for the two of them.
"Your books are over there.." he said pointing to a pile of books on the table on his left "You can collect them later, after the lessons. Here's your schedule... let me see... today you have history, math and modern japanese."
Michiru took the paper he was handing her and gave a look at it... Haruka was right next to her.
"Ah, take this too." the principal gave both of them a small book. On the cover was a black star with an infinite symbol in it "It's a sort of map. It will help you around here to find what you look for: classes, library, shops... whatever!"
This time was Haruka's turn to say: "Arigatou."
"You're welcome." smiled the principal, entwining his hands under his chin with a friendly smile.
"Now it's time for you to go, the lessons have already started and I don't want you to loose them. Your classroom is on this floor as well,
you should find it easily. Good work"
The two girls stood up and bowed before taking the books for the daily subjects and leave the office.

While walking, Haruka was once again lost in her thoughts when the soft voice of her partner reached her: "..nice man..."
"What?"
"The principal.. he seems to be a nice man..."
"Yeah.. perhaps he's too nice..."
The young violinist looked at her gravely, knowing what she meant: "He could be one of our enemies.. but he is not their leader..."
"Professor Tomoe..."
"Hai. We have to investigate on him, that's the only reason for us to be here. There's something wrong in this place..."
With that their little talk was over.
They were just in front of their new classroom.
Again they knocked and waited for a reply before entering the room.
As they stepped in, questioning glances and astonished gasps welcomed them, while the teacher started the usual speech: "Class, you should know already that today we have two new students." the woman turned to the couple, smiling: "Please, introduce yourselves."
Michiru took the lead and bowed politely in front of the class: "Good morning. My name is Kaioh Michiru, I'm a violinist and I love painting. I hope we'll be friends."
"...oh, much more than that..."
It was nothing more than a whisper and neither Michiru nor the teacher seemed to notice it, but the malicious comment didn't escape Haruka's ear. She gave a bad glare to the boy who spoke and memorized his face (just in case...): black short hair... eyes as cold as ice... a piercing on his lower lip, on the left... and that damn grin that the tall blonde would gladly wipe away from his face...
Now it was Haruka's turn to introduce herself. She mentally shook off the thought of the boy and started to speak with her usual nonchalance: "I'm Tenoh Haruka, I like racing and all the sports that involve speed. I also play piano. Nice to meet you."
And with a fascinating smile, returned by the whole female population,
the blonde knew for sure they have already fallen for her.
"Well, then... have a sit." and with that, the woman turned to the blackboard to continue her lesson.
Many hands were waved in the air to catch their looks...
"Haruka-kun, over here!"
"No, here!"
"Michiru-san, sit next to me, please!"
"Here, Michiru-san!"
The two looked around the room, then Haruka spotted two desks in the back, near the window. She turned towards Michiru, who noticed them too, and when the girl nodded her approval, they crossed the room to the selected seats.
Many disappointed glances where casted on the new students, but they simply ignored them, concentrating on the lesson.
Only after some minutes, when the interest of the class was turned back to the teacher, Michiru and Haruka exchanged a glance, reading each others minds: their mission was just started...


Author's Note: The flashback part's over, next time we'll go back to the present.
I should also say thanks for your reviews (please, keep on reading and reviewing!)
See ya!