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Fearful

Chapter 6

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Even though his mind was millions of miles away in whatever place the redhead deemed worthy, his physical self was firmly rooted into the school's provided chair with his pencil in hand idly scribbling down main points of the lesson and would occasionally on auto, glance up at the dusty chalkboard to write and memorize what was written.

It was History Class, one of the easiest classes in Ran's opinion, and given that it was being taught by an elderly teacher, most of the students took advantage of this and snoozed until lunch came next period. Other than having an elderly man teaching which came with being deaf, whatever quizzes, tests, exams he'd give, it would usually be straight from the notes so those who didn't take notes and was busy catching up on sleep or gaily chatting with friends, they'd typically reply on those who did and three-fourth of the students regularly came saddling up to him.

He refused, of course. And that would wind up with Yohji 'saving the day' by means of stealing his papers through various methods, Xerox it and hand it out to the class in less than half an hour—much like Robin Hood except instead of stealing from the riches and give it to the poor, it was more like stealing Ran's paper and give it to the lazy asses.

Determined not to be hitched yet again by that lanky male for the nth time this week, the redhead made sure he packed his things a good fifteen minutes prior to class being dismissed.

"Oi, why getting ready so early, Ranny?" Yohji quirked an eyebrow up behind dark shades after he dragged a vacant seat over in front of the redhead's desk, sitting on it backward with his arms resting on the backing. Narrow lilac eyes glared as he quietly snorted, bring his backpack up to set on his lap. "Oh, yeahs! Your date's after this period!" the blonde male smacked his head like it was the most obvious reason.

His right hand instinctively twitched for his katana as icy pair of amethyst orbs glowered at unsuspecting jade ones. Ran opted to ignore the blonde completely as the taller male tried to snatch his backpack with several failed attempts.

Then the bell nosily rang.

Ran upped and swiftly left Yohji and his blind lunch date to their own devices. Screw the date and the Playboy. He has other things to waste his time on. The redhead didn't need the lanky blonde forcibly intruding upon his otherwise dead love life. In fact, Ran liked it that way—dead.

Ticking off the many reasons why having no love life or interest for that matter was the best thing in his life, given that he had fancied no one—male or female—and planned not to have one. First of all, he'd have to worry for that person's well-being and Ran does not like to worry about anyone outside his family as well as the fact that being coupled means to be affectionate. Ran affectionate? Hah, don't him laugh. The only person he's ever affectionate towards was his imouto-chan and no one else. Showering each other with senseless presents on top of 'whispering sweet nothings'—he recalled Yohji saying that—? What was the point of that if they already professed their 'undying love' for each other? Such meaningless things 'couples' do . . .

Pressing on—well, actually, elegantly walking through the throng of chattering students down the unreasonably narrow hallway for this many pupils—Ran's presence radiated an aura of bubble that left him his personal space. Neatly trading his unneeded books for those that he needed in his locker, the senior deliberately ignored the girls' seductive moves on him when they passed by and probably a few homosexual males' cat calls . . . just what he needed before lunch. Throwing them and the rest of the motley crew a sub-zero glare, the amethyst-eyed male made his way down the hall; planning to grab some edible lunch to eat outside.

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What was he to do now? The brunette rubbed his temples with his forefingers in circular motions as he made a beeline to Chemistry Class. Ken needed some plausible reason of why he was quitting and Omi had made it clear that he had to do it either today after school or tomorrow. But without Omi's brain, he couldn't possibly do it today so the athlete concluded that he'd talk with his younger brother later and quit tomorrow. That sounded like a plan. Then that means he'd have to work today. Oh, the problems he wouldn't have to face if it wasn't for his step-father.

His head drooped slightly lower so that his unkempt chocolate bangs obscured on-lookers' views of the goalie's faintly sadden sea-kissed eyes, slowing his pace a bit.

Ken couldn't completely understand why his step-father was acting like the way he is. Yeah, sure, the brunette knew that his mother had an affair and that resulted of him being born. So the man had some anger held against his step-son but that doesn't give him the right to abuse both him and Omi! Okay, more like the man aimed most of his anger on him rather than the petit blonde seeing as his younger sibling sported minor to none whereas he sported mild concussion to having stitches. Then there was their mother. He mentally prayed that she was fairing well at home if his step-father ever came home early with her sons absent. She bore the brunt of the beating aside from the occasional saving and protecting from yours truly.

Since the man's daily spending on liquor excluding paying the monthly rent and outside image to the people, that left Ken working all week in the afternoon trying to meet ends meet with the bills and food. If his step-father wasn't so against with having Omi working alongside with him, the brunette wouldn't be so damn tired while doing his homework and sleep in that would result in having the smaller boy dump ice cold water on his face. Why was it he was against with Omi working? Oh, that's right. The man said that his son doesn't have to lift a finger in the financial department but he was wrong. Omi helped as much as he can with his calculating mind. In fact, Omi handled all the financial things which, if it wasn't for him, Ken would've dropped school all-together and work nonstop without a clue as to where all the money was going. Ken was always thankful for having a wiz of a brother who didn't have that snobbish air of 'I don't have to deal with the likes of you because you're lower than dirt.'

Maybe, if his mother just left him for adoption then all would be well and dandy and none of this would have happened. Then maybe he and Omi would've grown up separately with a normal life and be entirely oblivious to what abused children go through each day, living up a façade that nothing was wrong with their family; hiding dark, dirty, frowned-upon secrets so they wouldn't be separated. So the Social Workers wouldn't get on their cases and sent them to the orphanage or foster homes; send their parents to rehab or jail, whichever or whatever floated the Workers' boat, really.

Yes, he was in deep thoughts. Well, as deep he could get before zoning out and become morbid, truthfully. But he couldn't have that right now while still in school. He just couldn't. Ken Hidaka had built a perfect façade and he really wasn't planning to chuck away all that years' hard work for naught and beside, he had a 'reputation'—or so he called it, anyway—to keep up. He was planning to keep it on for Omi and their mom, so they wouldn't have to worry. So they wouldn't have to be sad or distraught whenever he's beaten. So they can try to live normally or at least partially. They are the only people he trusted with what shreds of remnants of his long discarded easy-going trust. Good people don't do things for nothing. They always want something in return. They always do. . .

Although, Ken had a nagging feeling that Omi knew about his mask. But then, so does Omi with his ever exuberant energy of cheerfulness and innocence that no one could even possibly ever par up to. Doesn't everyone have their own masks they hide behind?

Ah, he should really get out of his thoughts before someone notices his slightly odd silence when they were used to his quick shooting glances and defiant aura that made him uniquely Ken Hidaka. But with the throng of students going in random different directions to meet up with their buddies or just hurrying to class, who would notice or even care to glance at the soccer player? He wasn't all that popular with most of the cliques here save for the fact that he got along decently well with others . . . when he wanted to be.

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Neither of the two was aware they were heading straight towards each other with the mass of students heading here and there and probably way over there. They were about to brush past each other if it wasn't for Lady Luck to intervene and cause the two to bump and probably collide from a nearby soon-to-be brawl.

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If it was any other students, the redhead would've possibly thrown the Look of Death that may have gotten himself a spot to be next in line to be Satan. But that was not so for he found the recipient of his icy glare to be a somewhat familiar brunette with the wrong expressions. Where he was a supposedly hot-headed, brash and deceptively unapproachable young male, the brunette that stood before him was anything but what was described.

The pale-skinned senior didn't know which struck him odd first—the seemingly glazed ocean blue-green eyes that was hidden behind tousled chocolate bangs or the way he carried himself like a broken rag doll.

As they brushed past each other after the bump and curt apologies exchanged, violet eyes dared a quick glance back and notice the sudden change in the goalie's form.

Ken's posture completely straightened itself. If one didn't know any better, one would've thought that nothing was wrong with the brunette. That was the idea of Ken's façade; assume that nothing was wrong with him. Of course, the redheaded male did not know that.

He quirked a slender deep wine-colored eyebrow and filed that strange behavior in the deep recess of his mind . . . Wait, why the hell was he saving that useless information for later! Ran shook his head in confusion and then exhaled a sigh.

If Yohji found out that the brunette was plaguing his mind as of late, the blonde would've went either way: 1) tease the hell out of him that he was indeed gay and that he knew all along (which Ran told himself he wasn't gay) 2) lay claims on the soccer player first to see if it could get a rise of jealousy out of the ice prick.

Why did Ran have an inkling feeling that the playboy would try to do it both? And fail with a katana sticking out of blonde's chest? Yes, he knew he's sadistic; especially with Yohji's demise.

Continuing on walking towards the overly crowded lunch room, silently reprimanding himself that treading down this familiar road will only result in the same position he was in last time. Ran involuntarily growled in thought as unbidden memories slowly drifted to the surface, unaware he was throwing off on-coming fan-girls who were planning to shower him with chocolates and useless presents with fragrance-scented love notes tucked away. Females, he can't understand what drives them to be so . . . what's that word? Affectionate? Fond? Tender? Devoted? Of what though? What qualities or traits does he have that drives the opposite—probably same—sex? Okay, so maybe he knew some of the answers to that in hearing from Yohji praising him, which had gotten him an icy glare after Ran threatened to lop off his manhood.

Vibrantly red, or better yet, blood red hair with exotic amethyst orbs, pale skin, tall, lithe, intelligent, effeminate-looking, elegant . . . the list can go on, but, realistically, that's just mostly his physical traits. One simple glare on them and they flee with their tails tucked in-between their legs in cowardice. He assumed he was those types that people can pine from afar; much like an overused clichéd analogy—a rose. Pretty to look at but hurt like a bitch if handled improperly. Yup, one could say that Ran Fujimiya definitely had a prickly interior underneath the pretty face. In fact, almost all could vouch for that except Aya-chan and probably the blonde playboy.

Grabbing a plastic tray of today's menu, which consisted of Sloppy Joe, a red apple, milk, orange juice and bread, Ran headed outside and trekked towards his usual spot under a tree on a small sloping mound that gave him better view of where everyone was at.

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The automatic reply of brisk apology and the bump, snapped him back to reality, suddenly straightening his posture. The brunette didn't take notice of who he knocked into since he didn't really care at the moment, but it was enough for him to silently curse himself for being on the brink of zoning out. That and for being almost late to Class. He had arrived just barely seconds prior the ringing of the bell.

Taking a seat near the back and the window that overlooked the front school yard where most of the seniors are having lunch, teal eyes were involuntarily drawn to the being underneath the budding cherry blossoms. Ken didn't know how long he was staring but it was enough for the teacher to slam her book on top of his desk, once again violently snapping him back to the things at hand. Maybe his ears were turned off or it wasn't tuned to his liking, but he didn't hear one single thing that left her mouth. All he saw was her mouth flapping and eyebrows creasing and not. The teacher was mostly likely to have wrinkles on her forehead for furrowing it so much . . .

"Do you understand, Hidaka-san?" Ah, so his ear was turned off! Hmm, wonder how did that work?

Numbly nodding, he was dumbfounded for a moment at his ears. After she left to the front of the class, who were snickering by the way, Ken was resolved to not look out the window and concentrate on his work that made no sense to him. He would've bonked his head with the textbook if it wasn't for the fact that he was in class or that the teacher was giving him the evil look—much like the one the nurse gave Fujimiya and Kudou two days ago in the infirmary room.

An hour later found him coming out on to the school's front yard, after finishing his lunch, with his energy drink in hand. He glanced about the milling students while fingering the hem of his black t-shirt, absentmindedly taking in the promising sight of spring in full swing. The budding cherry blossom trees were strategically placed about for wanting shades, a few benches here and there for the weary, growing green grass to collect the morning dew, and, of course, birds of spring to chirp merrily. Strolling over to the same tree Ran sat earlier without much thought; he plopped down as he swallowed another gulp of his drink, leaning against the trunk, finally being able to be slightly melancholic as he watched the other students being animated. The brunette would watch for a bit before his gaze transferred over to stare at the birds hopping on the grass. Sea-kissed eyes didn't know when he stared past the birds to be glazed over in lost thoughts.

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With his cheeks in both his palms, Yohji watched his best friendly briskly leave to his locker. Hmm, he must've known. He grin his trademark grin with a slight chuckle as he languidly got up and took his time to meet the date that Ran rudely ditched. Winking, throwing seductive glances, and misplacing his hands on other's bodies of both genders –those he knew was gay- as he sauntered his way towards lunch, he retrieved at least ten numbers. Not bad, not bad at all. Tucking it away for safe-keeping in his back pocket as he entered the café, he pulled back his shades, jade eyes skimming for a particular person.

No, not Ran. The redhead was outside, obviously. No, the blonde was looking for the lunch date. Ah, found him! Waving merrily, Yohji strolled over to the deserted date, skimming through mental files of 'Explanations for Ran Ditching You in a Nice Way.' Hmm, I'd get eleven numbers including him . . . But, of course, primary prey is Kenken! They're just my appetizers!

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Tapping the end of his eraser on his open notebook, sapphire eyes stared out the window, watching the clouds roll lazily along underneath the glaring sun. Unaware of the Chemistry teacher's intense gaze on him while he taught about Boyle's Law until he caught his attention was Omi startled.

"Tsukiyono-san."

His eyes snapped to the front as the tapping ceased. "Huh? Ah, hai, Sensei?"

"Are you finished daydreaming?"

Fair-skinned flushed in embarrassment, Omi squeaked, "H-hai, Sensei."

With a curt nod as if to say, 'I thought so,' the teacher resumed his teaching.

Face still flushed, the honey blonde hung his head as he scribbled his notes abashedly.

It wasn't often he daydreamed, although he wasn't. He was thinking for his oniichan; thinking of places where they'll hire students and pay a reasonable paycheck. Aside from breathing and living soccer, Ken had other hobbies, too, though not many would know about it beside Omi. A thought struck him. Wait a minute, isn't there . . . ? Of course! Oniichan would love it! Why hadn't I thought of it sooner! Internally smacking himself on the head, he scrawled himself a note in the corner of his notebook and smiled with triumph.

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The Foreign Language teacher was exceptionally late. Lilac eyes rolled after he glanced at his watch for the umpteenth time—forty five minutes late to be exact. Certainly, the teacher was usually ten-fifteen minutes late but this was ridiculous. Ran had finished all the work on the board including the assigned homework. Oh, well, if someone's to blame for the class's property damage; lay it all on the teacher. The least they could've done was to send in a substitute to make this class slightly civilized. His eyes roamed over to his 'classmates', if one could call them that when they were obviously anything but that, chattering gaily, shamelessly flaunting whatever they had, making out and the likes. He rolled his eyes again.

Standing by the window, grateful for undivided attention on Schuldig, who enjoyed the limelight like Yohji, Ran was allowed to be alone; staring detachedly out the window from the third floor to the school yard below. It was a nice scene to a certain extent; until the fan girls or groupies or whatever they are called, spotted him and start waving, squealing, giggling, or swooning like mad. That just killed the momentary peace. However, for whatever reason which he was thankful for, none of them below noticed his striking red hair since their attention was all diverted to a recognizable brunette squaring off a darker brunette under his tree.

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Ken didn't know when he was brutally brought out of his musing or how long he was in it, but he did know that someone chucked something at him and brazenly pulled him up to his feet by his shirt, staring into dark brown eyes. Teal eyes narrowed as he shrugged off the offending limb, taking a step back. What the hell had he done wrong? Ken planned on finding out.

"He's the one right?" The darker brunette turned his head to one of his two 'minions' before shifting it back to glare at him.

"Yeah."

"I'm the one what?" Ken felt his temper running with his mouth although he tried to keep in check.

"Yeah, I thought so" nodded the obvious senior as he did a once-look over on the younger male. He sneered, "You're the one that cost me my fight."

Giving him an incredulous look, the goalie wasn't able bite back his retorted, "What? The fight between your forehead and your receding hairline?"

"Why you-!"

A punch was thrown.

SMACK!

Damn, should've kept my mouth shut.

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Ahh, four months and four days later, I decided to live once again. So sorry for the paused. Had one of those writer's block on top of a summer job and startinga school year. Sophmore. Yay. Anyways, somewhat short to my last chapters but still in the three-thousand range . . . though have a question to ask you all if you're still in the wagon and alive for that matter. Would you guys prefer quicker updates but shorter chapters or longer updates with longer chapters? Just wondering cause it seems that I have mountain loads of work to do. -stares at the increasingly overwhelming pile of papers, essays, and projects- Meh. I'm exaggerating. But, yeah. Didn't like how the chapter started out . . . -fiddles- . . .Seems kinda . . .rushed at the end or is that just me?

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From latest to oldest:

Nekosune: Sankyuu! Yays! Cookies AND Pockys! -gobbles them- Is this soon? Like a day later for your? Thanks to your unexpected review, I found time to update! Though I was planning to do it this Friday. . . Oh, well. Better late then never since the last update! Hope you enjoy! -munches on Pocky- Oh, btw, read your profile and I LOVE IT! Cracks me up!

Redroseternity: Ah, is only confusing if you don't read it carefully! I tend to use long sentences so probably that's why . . .? Oh, yay! You put me on favs! I feel loved!

Gillian Sillis: Ah, you again, I see. -smile- -is doing the reponse to reviews oldest to latest- I almost ran out of inspiration until you popped up outta nowhere and reminded me I still have expecting readers! The exams will turn its ugly head sometime around Jan. and PSAT next week, urgh. Aw, sankyuu for the hopefullness you've instilled in me! -caves into puppy eyes- I will try my hardest!

artemis347: Sankyuu for loving this fic! Hmms, another prey for why the dad's all sobered up . . . Haha, wait and see! Though, I hope it's not too long of a wait. . . Glad you like the addition of Schuldig in it, but not completely confidence in my skills of portraying him correctly. If not, please do tell! Ah, the school royal issues. Let's see here. All the girls named Yohji, Ran, and Schuldig, who are like the most popular guy on campest after royal titles. Yohji is the King, Ran's the Prince and Schuldig's the Duke, which when go by definition, is the nextafter the Prince, since he just transferred over for several months from a different school.Hope that clears any confusion? I'm known to not make things clear . . .

Gillian Sillis: Somehow, I can always depend on you to make me crack a smile. That or the long review you left me, but I enjoy it nonetheless, so don't be discouraged! -Sweatdrop at verbal abuse to Ran- Ah, Pocky Sticks are thin biscuitsticksdipped in assorted flavors though I prefer chocolate, strawberry with the fleckings of real strawberrys, and am planning to try coconut with chocolate. -drools-You should try it. It's GOOD. Ah, what Kenken did before for earning moneys? Can you wait until the next installment or so? Hmms, that was a thought until a new plot bunny decided to have its way with my mind. Does this chapter answers your questions about Kenken working and why Omi's not? Hehe. Ah, is Yohji getting Ran to react? Why Yohji drops by Ran's place when his house is only a block away? We have yet to find out his true intentions . . . But what you said is true about popular kids having wear facades. Maybe. Maybe not. Mehehe. Hmm, yes, that's probably the case. . .And no you're not taking it too far cause you give me insights as what the readers think as well as give me some more plot bunnies to handle -jesters to closet full of them- Hmms, yes, why is their dad all sober? Ahaha, sankyuu and glad you enjoyed that little 'tender' moment between Ranny and Yohji-kun. I think I dashed your hopes of updating soon...

Joan Mistress of Magic: Ah, sankyuu! Ums, about that Ran/Omi pairing section . . . Let's just say, at first I was planning for that then I opted for Ran/Ken after much enjoyable reading of that. Meh, change of heart? And, uh, I changed it so no more confusion, ne?

HeeroDuo4eva: Sankyuu for your encouragement! xD Ah, the action will soon heat up . . .eventually. . . I hope you're still alive? Meh.

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Sankyuu all for those who put me on Alerts! Had time to actually fiddle around with the stuff. Meh. So, expect some reviews from me!