Ahhhhh! So sorreh that I didn't get to update at all! Gomen, gomen! Its all because of stupid homework...X3 Nevertheless, this chapter is here! Shorter, I now. But, a chapter's better than none!
A red-haired girl rushed through the crowd of people in the gym. Cheeks fuming, she muttered incomprehensible words under her breath.
"That Mr. Akasaka," she growled. "Sure, you have to admit, he's quite the cute one, but…but…puh-lease! Don't finish your homework and-" the girl paused to mimic her biology teacher. "-'Oh, that's alright! You can finish the butterfly assignment at recess. We will never dissect butterflies. They are delicate to nature. Don't understand? If only you knew Rei, she's this butterfly researcher-you should meet her…' I mean, Mr. Akasaka's too…" she shuddered as her hands pushed open the doors. "…Nice. Wow, what a day to start off the school year!" Then the girl stopped in her tracks. She had already walked out of the school and onto the soccer field.
"But…" the girl said slowly as she sat down under an oak tree. The colourful leaves were already falling away, as her crimson bangs swayed with the breeze. Tears fell to her eyes. Never had she felt so happy. Usually teachers would scowl at her, but Mr. Akasaka had made a big difference. She hugged her knees in joy. For once, a teacher didn't look down on her, but encouraged her to keep it up. Up… That made a big difference. The girl smiled to herself and got up. Sitting would make no big difference, so why not hurry up and walk home?
"Konnichiwa, Ichigo!" Masaya Aoyama called. He was the most popular, most handsome and the most flirtatious in the whole school. The girl stopped and looked back at him, wrinkling her nose. Probably the only bad thing about him was his smelly armpits. Oh, and the crushing girls. Two classmates of Ichigo were chasing after Masaya as he was running towards a frightened girl with lovey-dovey eyes.
"Ooh, Aoyama-Kun!" Moe, a girl from Ichigo's class said. She was huffing and puffing between calls. "I want to be your girlfriend!"
"No, I'll be his girlfriend!" Miwa snapped angrily. Then, she turned her cute eyes toward Masaya. "You wouldn't dream of even going with that loner are you?"
"Hey, don't you dare insult me!" Moe yelled. Her cheeks were now crimson red, as she thought Miwa was taking about her. "I'm no loner, thank you! What I know, is that Aoyama-kun would faint of your breath!"
Miwa glared at Moe. "Now that I call an insult! Prepare to die-RWAR!" She pounced onto a sweatdropping Moe, and the two rolled around on the grass. Really, they looked so funny, punching each other, slapping faces, terrible insults and pulling cheeks!
"Konnichiwa…Aoyama-kun." The girl said slowly. She began to sweatdrop as the guy was running up to her, with the background of two girls rolling on the grass. Even though he was the coolest, she wanted whatsoever no relationship with him. Studying to get better grades was far more important. At this, the girl clutched her science and history books closely to her chest.
"So," Masaya began when he had run up to her. "You're Ichigo, eh?" He smiled kindly at Ichigo and took her hand. "You're really sweet."
"A-ah…" Ichigo stuttered. Her cheeks were now blushing mad. "Really?"
Masaya smirked silently. Had he already made another one fall head over heels? "Yes, Ichigo." Masaya said, nodding. "And I'd be honoured to walk you home today."
Ichigo looked at Masaya. Perhaps one tiny walk with this handsome guy wouldn't harm her test grades…
"Y-yes!" Ichigo said happily. "Arigato, Aoyama-kun." She courteously bowed to Masaya in thanks, and her tied up hair bobbled over also.
Masaya grinned at her. "You can call me Masaya."
Ichigo blushed as he took her hand. "O-okay!"
With that, the two walked home slowly, hand in hand as the sun came down. All the time, Ichigo was blushing as she stuttered, while Masaya just gave his usual flashy smile and cool composture.
Perhaps…perhaps I'll truly find someone who cares. Ichigo hugged Masaya's arm tightly. Perhaps…someone to love, and someone to love me.
"So…this is your neighborhood?" Masaya and Ichigo were now walking down the sidewalk, nearing to Ichigo's street.
"I-I can take it from here." Ichigo muttered, and she reddened once more. Ichigo stopped and turned to Masaya with a tiny smile on her face. "Arigato again, Aoyama-kun."
Masaya grinned. Was it so easy to get this girl to fall in love? "It was no problem." He said, with a wave of the hand. "Well then, I'll see you tomorrow, Momomiya-san."
Ichigo nodded as Masaya turned around and jogged away. "See you too! Bye, Aoyama-kun!" She started walking away, humming a cheerful tune with each step.
"Can't believe it!" Ichigo chirped as she started skipping. "My first day of school, and I already find true love in the air!" She twirled around while blushing madly at the thought. "Oh Masaya, you make my heart soar and my feet twirl! But most of all-" Not looking, Ichigo smashed into a giant oak tree.
"GWAHHHHH, MY NOSE! BAKAAAAAAA!"
Ichigo swung the door open angrily and stomped into the house, saying incomprehensible word under her breath. Yes, her face was still tomato-red, but it wasn't from Masaya, it was from the you-know-what. As the authoress, I don't want some evil Ichigo chasing after me when I'm through!
"Konbanwa, Ichigo," someone said kindly from the kitchen. A woman stepped into the hallway, rubbing her hands on her apron. It seemed that she'd been cooking. "Remember to take off your shoes, m'dear." Red hair and the same perky eyes-it was obvious this lady was Ichigo's mother.
"Meh, konbanwa, Okaa-san." Ichigo said, half-frowning and half-smiling. She couldn't help but think of Masaya-and the stupid tree. His cute eyes-and the stupid, hard bark. Grr, why did everyday have to have some bad stuff with the good stuff? Ichigo didn't get it.
Ichigo took off her shoes happily, then stepped forward to hug her mother. "Okaa-sama, I had a wonderful day!" She said.
"Oh?" Sakura Momomiya smiled and hugged back her daughter, but then raised an eyebrow. "I thought you hated school, especially first days of schools."
Ichigo smiled once more at her mother. "Ai, I had a wonderful day! And all because Aoyama-kun's smile cheered me up! He's so cool, Okaa-sama!"
"That I can see," Sakura said, rather angry in Ichigo's point of view. "Ichigo, do you remember Kish?"
Ichigo paused from her hug, trying to remember. "Oh, him?" the young girl wrinkled her nose at the thought of the green-hair guy. "Kish was such a pervert, mother!" Whenever Ichigo got irritated or angry, she called Sakura by her English form. "He was always trying to sneak into my room and stuff like that-why do you ask?" A sweatdrop went across Ichigo's forehead. What was her mother planning?
"Ah, nothing!" Sakura laughed pitifully as her daughter growled. "Only that his mother called and asked us to go over to his house for dinner tonight."
"Feh, you mean his mansion," Ichigo snorted. "But why do I have to go? You could just go by yourself."
"On the contrary," her mother said coolly, "Kish has taken over his family's house and name, and became mayor of Tokyo. He ordered for you to be brought to his presence." Sakura sighed at the thought and twirled around the hallway with her spatula in the air. "Perhaps you two will get married, I can retire soon enough, you two will develop love for each other, I'll have some grandchildren…"
"Mo-om!" Ichigo said, astonished and ticked off at her mother's wish. She edged back until her back felt the wall. "I would never marry that horrifying guy! Even if he was once my childhood friend, never!"
Sakura grinned evilly and pried her daughter off the wall and flung her over her shoulder to go up the stairs. "It wouldn't hurt to acquaintance him all over again," She said as Ichigo cried and wailed. "After all, we were invited, and I already said yes. Kish wouldn't take no for an answer."
"You could've said maybe, then told me, then let me pack up!" Ichigo said, still crying over the matter.
"Well, you're going, and I won't take no for an answer!" The door to Ichigo's room slammed behind Sakura.
"Ugh, Okaa-sama. I still can't believe you're actually forcing me into this dinner!" Ichigo said as her mother pushed her to the giant iron gates. Sakura was wearing a pretty, purple dress with a pearl choker. She had made Ichigo put on a crimson dress with many ruffles, with matching high heels that Ichigo had issues with. Her tied-up hair sailed through the air as Ichigo muttered angry words. "Really, this is no way to treat your daughter."
"Hurry up and press the button!" Ichigo's mother hissed. "We're already late, thanks to you and your fuss's.
"Well, I'm sorry!" Ichigo snapped as the gates opened before the two. They stepped into the gardens and wove around the statues until they were in front of a wooden oak door.
"Okay, it's showtime!" the elder of the two girls chirped. "And the beginning of a great relaxation holiday, too."
"Mom!" Ichigo said angrily as the door opened. "Stop talking about it!"
"So, my favourite koneko-chan is here!"
Okay-eeee, so Ichigo's going to visit Kish! What's gonna happen? Hmm, I wonder. Okay, maybe a bit of the next part…
"What's happening?" Ichigo cried as a glow emitted around her. "What's going on?"
"Hold on, Momomiya-san!" Ryou yelled as he reached for the instruction manual, flipping rapidly through the pages. As he reached Chapter Three, the blonde's eyes widened and slowly turned to his comrades.
"Ladies," He said calmly to his frightened Cafe workers as Ichigo continued to freak out and spaz. "I think we've found her."
So…see ya!
-Karuri Kajiwara