On Monday morning Katsuya finished off his dressing by straightening his black tie. The school uniform of Suichi Nakamura High school was blue, black, and maroon in color. The boys wore blue jackets, white button down shirts with maroon stripes on the collar and black pants that matched the black tie. The girls however had the same white button down shirt, but maroon skirts, socks, and tie that tied just around the collar.
"You're gonna be late!" Tohru called.
Katsuya smiled and went out into the hall where his mom was waiting with three lunches. Kyo was running out the door as he arrived.
"Okay. I got to go" he replied in a hurry kissing Tohru on the cheek, "I'll see you later son. Good luck today!"
"Thanks pop" Kaye nodded as his father departed, "Where is Sakura?" he grimaced.
"She'll be here soon," Tohru said as Takara arrived ready to go, her backpack on her back already.
"She does this every year. Just once I would like to be early on the first day of school."
"I know" Tohru nodded handing Takara her lunch, "Here you go sweetie."
"Thanks Aunt Tohru" she grinned taking it gently, "Did my dad leave already?"
"Yes, early this morning. But he said he can't wait to see you tonight and hear all about your first day."
"Great."
Tohru smiled and then handed her son's lunch to him just as Sakura came into the hall.
"About time" Katsuya grumbled.
"We're not late yet" she retorted as her mother handed her the final lunch, "Thanks mom" she kissed her cheek.
"All right. You kids have a good day" Tohru waved as they walked out the door, Katsuya kissing her on the cheek in the process.
Kyo waved from the dojo as they headed down the sidewalk. Katsuya held onto Takara's hand as they walked until they reached her school, which was close to the high school. She left with an enthusiastic wave and then the two teenagers headed for their own school. When they arrived Sakura immediately spotted her friends and headed for them. As Katsuya watched her move away he suddenly felt someone jumping on his back slightly.
"Hello Soujiro" he replied with a smile.
"How did you know it was me?" the tall brown haired boy with hazel eyes asked him.
"Who else would do that except for my best friend" Katsuya said as Soujiro joined him at his side.
"True. Well it's the start of another wonderful year. And it's looking good already" he replied as two girls in short skirts walked by.
"And you're such a guy."
"And you're not Kaye?"
"Well let's just say I am not the type of guy who does stuff like that."
"No you're not. But maybe you should be with all the girls who hit on you and all."
"Enough" Kaye replied as they walked into the building, "I already heard enough from Sakura this past weekend on that subject."
"Oh and how is your super cute sister doing?"
"Shut up."
"Well she is."
"But she's my sister and I would never think of her that way and neither should you" he added firmly.
"Okay I am sorry. Boy you are kind of on edge this morning.
As they continued their conversation walking past the lockers they barely noticed that standing on tiptoe was a girl with medium length brown hair and brown eyes trying desperately to reach the locker on the top row. As she reached up she suddenly dropped one of her notebooks, spilling a ton of paper in the process, making Katsuya stop and look back.
"Oh shoot," she muttered getting down to pick up the other papers.
"Kaye what is it?" Soujiro asked as he walked over and squatted down to pick up the book, as she scrambled to get her papers together.
"Um excuse me" he replied making her look up into his own brown eyes, "Did you drop this?"
"Thanks" she nodded speaking in a befuddled kind of Japanese, "I appreciate that."
"No problem" he nodded standing up and speaking clear English back, and then walking back to Soujiro.
She smiled a little as she stood back up to once more try and attempt to reach her locker as they walked to their first class.
"Do you know her?" Katsuya asked his friend as they walked closer to the classroom.
"Who the chick at the locker?" Soujiro shrugged, "Must be someone new."
"I don't think she's Japanese."
"What do you mean?"
"Her accents a little off."
"Huh. Well either way she is cute. C'mon let's go to class" he stood behind his friend pushing him forward, "Lord knows there are many girls waiting for you to arrive."
"Don't I know it" Katsuya smiled but saying it sarcastically.
(Next Scene)
Sure enough as they arrived in the classroom, just about the only girls who didn't eye him from their seats, were Sakura and her three friends who to his relief had given up on him rather quickly. Kaye sat down at his desk with Soujiro on his left.
"They're staring at you undeniably fierce this year," Soujiro whispered.
"So what else is new?" Katsuya replied looking up from the book he had purposely brought to avoid all the stares.
Mariko Kuonji, one of the most popular girls in school eyed him quite intently and then stood up from her desk, walked over to where he was sitting, her curly red hair bouncing as she approached.
"Hello Katsuya" she said sweetly.
"Why hello Miss Kuonji" he replied back politely as Soujiro watched the whole interaction amusedly.
"You're looking good this year like always," she said sitting down at the desk on his right.
"You're looking nice too" he continued his politeness, "But, you do know that is Sakura's seat that you are sitting in?"
"I'm sure she won't mind."
"I'm sure she will," Sakura said from behind her.
"Sakura" Mariko grinned sheepishly a bit surprised, "How are you?" she turned to her with her fake smile.
"Fine Mariko. How are you?" Sakura said smiling just as fake.
"I'm okay. I suppose you want your seat back?"
"That would be nice" Sakura grinned sarcastically.
"Of course" she replied sliding out of the chair, "Very nice talking to you Katsuya."
"You too Miss Kuonji" Kaye nodded as she moved past Sakura's heated gaze as she sat down.
"So if I had come a second later" Sakura sighed running her fingers through her hair.
"Thank you so much. And you" Kaye turned to his best friend who was grinning like an idiot, " You could have helped a little."
"What? And miss the show?"
"Thanks a lot."
"C'mon she's just a girl. And speaking of girls" his hazel eyes became wide with interest, "Isn't that the same cute one we met this morning?"
"Huh?" Katsuya replied looking in the direction of the door.
At that moment the girl he had helped in the hall was standing outside the door, staring at it a little confused.
"Is she a new girl?" Sakura asked.
"I guess" Kaye shrugged.
"Well then I guess I'd better go introduce myself" she replied jumping up and walking over to the door.
As they talked Katsuya watched the conversation quite interested until he saw Soujiro staring at him.
"What?"
"You got a thing for the new girl?"
"No" Katsuya shook his head, "Not at all. Why would you say that?"
"Because you haven't been able to stop looking at her since she came in."
"That's not true. Besides me look at a girl. Get real."
"Whatever you say man" Soujiro nodded not believing him one iota.
(Next Scene)
Despite his protest Katsuya did watch the new student the remainder of the day. During home room he found out that the reason for her accent was the fact that she was American which was a bit strange to him at first since her last name was Kamiya, a well known Japanese last name. However she didn't look Japanese and by the end of the class it was obvious that Stephanie, as it was her first name was American and not Japanese in any shape or form. During lunch she sat with another boy with glasses, with the same hair color. Sakura had befriended her right away and by the end of the day Stephanie was already close with all her friends as well. Sakura and Stephanie walked to the lockers at the end of the last class where they finally parted.
"Well you did pretty good for your first day" Sakura grinned.
"Thanks Sakura" Stephanie smiled back, "I couldn't have done it without you."
"No problem. You will fit in here in no time. Well I have got practice this afternoon so I will see you tomorrow."
"Okay" Stephanie nodded, "Thanks" she added as the other girl dashed off for volleyball practice and she once more turned to her locker.
She sighed, as she once again stood on tiptoe and muttered to herself.
"I hate being short."
Just at that same moment Katsuya was coming back from the library and on his way out the door when he saw her drop the same notebook and the papers fly out again from her locker. So he walked over and once again picked up the book.
"Did you drop this?" he asked grinning this time as he saw her stunned expression at seeing him again.
"Oh" she smiled back her cheeks where her freckles were turning a little pink, "Hello again. Thank you" she said as he handed her the notebook.
"You're quite the klutz aren't you?" he asked kidding.
"Oh well um" she stammered, "I am actually" she admitted.
"I didn't mean anything mean by that."
"Oh no it's okay. I know I am. But it's actually a short issue not klutziness."
"Huh?"
"My locker is way up there" she pointed to the top, "And I am just a little too short to reach it."
"Oh" he nodded understanding completely, "I see. Well let me help you."
"Thank you" she agreed as he placed her books into the top locker and she stood up, "I really ought to do something about this."
"Well you can always go to the administrations office and they can fix it. Tell them it's a short issue," he added joking using her remark from earlier.
"I'll do that" she nodded as he closed the door of her locker, "Thanks again. You're in my class aren't you?"
"Yea. Nice to meet you. I'm Katsuya Sohma" he bowed his head.
"Thank you Mr. Sohma. Sohma? Why does that sound so familiar?"
"Probably because you already met my twin sister Sakura."
"She's your sister?"
"Twin sister."
"Oh of course, you have the same hair and eye color."
"It's okay. Well it was nice bumping into you again Miss Kamiya" he replied beginning to walk away but then stopped, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why is your last name Kamiya because you're obviously not Japanese?"
"Well it's not really my last name actually."
"What do you mean?"
"My mother remarried a Japanese guy and we just moved to Japan two weeks ago, and I thought it would be easier to use his last name rather than my real one in school."
"Oh makes sense. Okay" Katsuya nodded, "Well see you tomorrow."
"Thank you Mr. Sohma."
"You're welcome. Oh" he looked down and spotted a small piece of paper, "I think you dropped something."
"Hmm? Oh" she looked as he picked it up and handed it to her, "That's just directions to my house."
"Huh?"
"My older brother Sam kind of joined a club this afternoon, we walked together this morning. But he went to that so he wrote down the directions for me since I don't really know how to get there yet."
"Oh. Well how long did you say that you have been in Kyoto?"
"Um. Two weeks."
"Well that isn't a very long time is it? I guess I could help you since I do know Kyoto like the back of my hand."
"Really? You'd do that?" her face lit up for a second.
"Sure" he nodded, "It would be my pleasure and besides my mother always taught me to be polite to people in need."
"Smart mother. All right Mr. Sohma, lead the way" she smiled as they walked down the halls heading for the front doors.
(Next Scene)
Katsuya followed the directions on the slip of paper until they reached the park.
"So have you seen much of Kyoto yet?" he asked.
"No not really."
"What about the park?"
"I see that from my room everyday. And I intend to spend a lot of time in it very soon."
"Yea. It is a nice park. This is a pretty section of Kyoto if I do say so myself. The other part is just too busy for my taste. Way too touristy."
"Really? Kyoto is a tourist attraction?"
"Big time. Kyoto is actually the very first capitol city of Japan. So that's why."
"Oh. Like Washington D.C."
"Uh I guess. So you live near the park?" he said with a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just that I have been trying to figure out where I have heard your last name Kamiya. I mean it sounds so familiar."
"It ought to" she grinned.
"Why's that?" he asked as they stopped in front of a large estate.
"We're here."
"Huh?" he looked at the gate.
"This is my house."
"This is your house? That's weird I could have sworn I haveseen this place in the paper recently" he began as she nodded and then his mouth about dropped to the ground, "Oh" he suddenly realized, "Holy cow. You're the stepdaughter of our new mayor of Kyoto, Mayor Kamiya."
"Uh yes. He just got elected into office."
"Oh man I feel so stupid. I mean it has been in all the newspapers and everybody in this section has been talkingabout him for weeks now."
"Oh no it's okay. I am a little glad that you were a little ignorant of it. It did make it a lot easier to talk to you."
"Oh?"
"Well thank you for helping me with my locker and for walking me home. I appreciate it."
"You're welcome" he nodded with a smile.
"I'll see you tomorrow Mr. Sohma."
"Uh you know what, you don't have to be so formal. You can just call me Katsuya."
"Thanks but I did read that in your culture that it is more appropriate to address someone formally until you have gotten to know them better. So until tomorrow Mr. Sohma."
"Good afternoon Miss Kamiya" he replied with a grin at her politeness as she entered the gates and disappeared.
And feeling quite proud of himself Katsuya walked home with his bag swung over his shoulder casually, humming the same tune that had been stuck in his head all weekend.
From inside her house Stephanie placed her bag down and smiled when she heard a very hyper voice call out as she bounced down the stairs.
"So how was your first day?" her younger sister Sophie asked as her brown eyes twinkled.
"Calamitous" Stephanie replied with a smile, "But interesting."
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey you guys! Well this is it for the week. Hope you enjoyed it. Now don't be mad at me but I decided as a reward to myself for providing my many well-deserved fans with my stories that it was time to put myself a little bit into it. The character of Stephanie is actually partially how I used to be as a teenager and somewhat how I wished I could be as a teenager. And since Katsuya is alsoone of myoriginal characters I don't mind being the one inspired to fall in love with him eventually, since after all in this next series he will be by far one of myfavorite characters of all my characters including myself. So I hope you don't mind, but like I said it's my gift to me! See you all next Wednesday for the next two chapters. Have a good weekend everyone!
Next time on Curse Renewed:
Chapter Three: A Difference in Families
Stephanie is having trouble with her Japanese so Katsuya offers to tutor her after school but along the way he discovers major differences in their family lifestyles. See what happens next time!
And
Chapter Four: Another Ushida?
And you thought they were gone? But now the offspring of Tai Ushida are causing trouble in Suichi Nakamura high school. Find out what happens when Sakura and Stephanie meet the two brothers on an unplanned encounter.