Author's Notes: I'm sorry this has taken so long to be published, but I've been extremely busy with other updates and stories that needed to be completed. (cries) Ahhh well, enough complaining! I'll have to make up for it with an EXTREMELY good chapter now!
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Chapter Four – As Long As I'm With You
"I'm so clumsy!" Sakuya laughed as she and Toboe walked outside to the track that afternoon, both dressed in their P.E. clothes. "I hope I don't trip and fall on my face or something!"
"I-I'm sure you won't!" Toboe assured her, blushing red as the two walked along. "The girls are just playing soccer today, so you'll be fine! I bet you'll be great!"
"Nah…I'm really bad," Sakuya laughed. "Not really the "Star Athlete" if you know what I mean."
"Odakari-kun!" the gym teacher called to Toboe, and he quickly ran over. "Thank you for joining us. Now gentlemen," the teacher looked down at the boys. "Since I see you've been lagging behind lately, we'll be running laps."
"Huh?"
"No way!"
"Man…I'm too sore from Karate practice."
"You'll be expected to run at least five laps," the teacher explained. "Now go!"
The students ran passed each other, trying to get onto the track as soon as possible. Sakuya smiled at Toboe. "Good luck Toboe!" she called and Toboe blushed.
"C'mon Odakari!" someone yelled. "You're going to get left behind!"
'No way…' Toboe thought, running into the group of boys. 'Not in front of Sakuya-chan.'
"So, I'm free this Saturday if you want to pretend that we're at a night club or something," Tsume said to Reika as the two walked in the school hedge maze the next day.
"Shhh!" Reika snapped. "Someone could hear you!"
"Nah," Tsume scoffed. "I can hear people a mile away. Call it a talent."
"I guess…" Reika sighed. "Still, we'd better start getting cautious about this."
"So, are you free this Saturday night?" Reika looked up at Tsume who had a light hint of pink in his cheeks. "I know this cool club on the edge of town."
"Sure, whatever," Reika winked. "We'd better advertise though!"
"Heh! You bet! Cafeteria or halls?"
"Hmm…halls, that way we can start earlier," Reika winked. "Everybody in school will be there!"
"They'd better be!" Tsume laughed. "Or they'll miss the whole show!"
"Yeah…" Reika sighed, her eyes becoming slightly dull. "The whole show…"
"So…Cheza-chan!"
"Yes Kanakawa-san?"
"Please," Narumi smiled. "Call me Narumi!"
"Uhh…all right Narumi-san."
"Anyway," Narumi smiled, throwing her arm around Cheza. "I just wanted to talk to you. You've probably noticed that some girls may have been giving you a hard time lately?"
"Umm…" Cheza bit her finger. "This one is all right, that this one is."
"I just wanted to tell you how to get rid of them!" Narumi winked and Cheza lit up.
"R-really Narumi-san?"
"Of course!" Narumi laughed. "It's very simple!"
The next thing Cheza knew, she backed against the lockers, Narumi's hand forcefully on her shoulder, slamming her against the hard metal. Cheza made a noise from pain, but whimpered from fear at the dark expression on Narumi's face. "Stay away from Kiba-kun…"
"Wh-why Narumi-san?"
"Ever since I was a Sophomore, I've been after Kiba-kun!" Narumi insisted, her teeth gritted. "I refuse to have him taken away by some slut who just shows up and plays her games to get at him! But don't worry," she smiled. "I'm not like the other girls. I don't skip around and play nice. I'm going to make your life a living hell directly." She backed away, smiling brightly. "Got that?"
"Th-this…this one…"
"But I really don't know why I'm so worried," Narumi smiled. "After all, look at you! Your eyes are weird, you've hardly got a personality. Over me and all the other girls at this school, Kiba-kun would never choose you."
Cheza looked down at her feet, tears welling in her eyes. Narumi gave a small wave and started to walk down the hall. "Bye, Cheza-chan!"
As Narumi sauntered down the hall, Cheza sat down at the lockers, staring at her knees, the red of the skirt becoming blurry as tears welled in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly and noticed the bell ring, noting that she only have five more minutes to get to class. She ignored it and continued to cry on the floor.
"So…History's next, right?" Blue asked Kiba as the two walked after the bell had run. Kiba was paying Blue little mind, his head was obviously elsewhere. "Kiba?"
"Huh?"
"Are you worried about Cheza?" Blue asked, sighing. "Don't be. Kanakawa or whatever her name is probably just wanted to talk with her. You're getting worked up over nothing."
"I guess," Kiba sighed as Hige ran up to the two.
"Hey guys, sorry I was tagging behind. Some people stopped me about my watch," he grinned, obviously loving the attention.
"I don't know why they gave you that thing," Blue said, disgusted.
"I'll let you wear it for five minutes if you're that jealous."
"Jealous? Of those girls? Please!" Blue scoffed. "Just because they give you some fancy watch, I'm supposed to get all huffy? Please!"
"I was talking about being jealous of me…" Hige said and Blue blushed crimson.
"I-I've got to go!" Blue insisted, turning away from the two boys and running down the hall.
"What about class, Blue?" Kiba called.
"I'm ditching!" She yelled as she continued to run through the halls of the school, dodging in and out of people, leaving the two boys alone.
"Odakari," a boy in Toboe's class said to him as they were running. "You're not tired? You always give up about the third lap."
"Tired?" Toboe laughed, fighting the cramp in his side. "Me? Please! I could do fifteen more of these!"
"Well this is the fifth lap," the boy sighed. "I'm quitting, that's for sure."
"I think I'll keep running," Toboe smirked. "It feels good."
"Whatever you say dude." Toboe's classmate sat down on the grass as they passed the gym teacher and Toboe continued.
"Odakari, you're finished!" the teacher called to him, but Toboe just waved.
"I'm doing a few more!"
"Whatever," the teacher shrugged and sat down.
"Woah Toboe-kun!" Sakuya smiled as Toboe passed her on the track. "You're such a good runner!"
He blushed furiously and made sure that drool wasn't escaping his mouth. "Uhh…it's nothing! I'm actually pretty good at sports! It's no big deal."
"You're amazing Toboe-kun!" Sakuya giggled and Toboe beamed as he kept running along.
"So you're suggesting that we pretend to actually…" Reika and Tsume were sitting in the janitor's closet, huddled amongst the brooms and mops, making their plans for Saturday. "You know…do it?"
"Why not? It'll be great publicity! All over the gossip pages!"
"I don't know," Reika sighed. "It seems kind of…weird, you know?"
"C'mon Reika!" Tsume smirked, although you couldn't see it in the dark. "This is the biggest prank in the history of our school!"
"I know, I know."
"Look, whenever you have doubts," Tsume assured her. "Just think about the looks on the faces of everyone at the dance when we tell them they've been had."
"Yeah, that would be funny," Reika laughed. "Anyway, so you've got your friends all set for this little plot?"
"Don't worry, I've got everything under control," Tsume winked.
"Cheza and Blue are absent?" the teacher asked, marking on an attendance list. "I could've sworn they were both in school today."
"We knew Blue was ditching," Kiba whispered to Hige. "But what about Cheza? I'm worried."
"You'd be worried about Cheza if she breathed wrong," Hige rolled his eyes. "She probably just got sick and went to the Nurse's office, give her a break."
"Sir?" Kiba raised his hand and the teacher looked over to him. "May I please use the restroom?"
"Of course Kiba-san."
Kiba swiftly left his seat, not turning back to Hige as he walked out the door and into the hall.
He turned his head, but heard and saw nothing. His brow furrowed as he tried to clear his mind. "Where could she be?"
Cheza was just fine before she met with that upper-classmen, Narumi. Now she wasn't in class. Something was definitely wrong. Cheza wasn't the kind to ditch…
"Cheza?" Kiba whispered, not wanting to attract attention to himself in case a teacher should pass by. "Cheza, where are you?"
Still nothing. Kiba was becoming slightly frustrated now. Maybe Hige was right and she just felt sick and went home.
"Ki-Kiba-sempai?" Kiba turned his head, almost relieved and saw Cheza, face red, walking through the halls. His expression dropped.
"Cheza! What's wrong?"
"N-nothing…" Cheza stammered, averting her eyes from Kiba's. "This one is fine…"
"No you're not," Kiba insisted, walking over to her and putting his hand on her shoulder. "What's going on?"
"Th-this one…" Cheza whimpered. "This one is fine."
"Why were you late to class then?"
"It's nothing…" Cheza insisted, wiping the tears off her face. "There is nothing wrong. This one just got lost."
"Cheza…"
"Kiba-sempai, don't worry about this one." Cheza walked swiftly past Kiba, not wanting to make eye contact. "This one is going to class, see you there."
And as Cheza walked away from Kiba, she felt the tears threatening to come out of her eyes once again. Kiba could only stand and watch.
"Blue, what are you doing? You're late for class."
Blue had slammed into the girl's bathroom where Manami, Chikage, and Yuri stood, fixing their make-up. "So are you…" she reasoned.
"We have an excuse," Manami said, holding up three excuse passes from the counselor. "See? It's good when your uncle is the counselor."
"I need to know why you gave Hige that watch…" Blue bit her lip.
"Because I felt bad that I had made fun of him," Manami said, popping the cap on her lipstick back on and putting it in her purse. Taking out eyeliner, she opened her eye lid with two of her perfectly manicured nails. "Can't a girl do something nice nowadays?"
"I thought you said you'd help me get to know him."
"I am! Blue darling, you really have no idea about this do you?" Manami smiled wide as she released her eye and gave her hair a wild shake. "All you need to do is get Hige an even better present. That way, he'll forget all about mine. Yet, if you give him one saying it's a return gift for that necklace, then he won't suspect a thing." Manami put her hand on Blue's shoulder. "With men, it's all about comparison. Out with the old and in with the new."
"I-I can't afford anything more expensive then a rolex watch," Blue stammered.
"Don't worry," Chikage smiled, joining her friend. "We've got it all planned out. Tomorrow, Yuri's getting an importtuxedo inthe mail. Give it to Hige for a prom outfit. He'll be all over it."
"Are you sure?" Blue asked skeptically. "All of that…for free?"
"Yuri's parents are rich," Manami assured her. "It's a trifle."
"And…all I have to do is get it from you three tomorrow?" Blue asked.
"That's it! We won't even charge you for shipping and handling," Yuri joked and Blue forced a laugh.
"A deal…"
"You bet Blue! Hige will be asking you to Prom in no time!"
"Thanks guys…" Blue shifted her feet. "I…owe you."
"Toboe-kun, maybe you should stop running." Toboe had run about thirty laps through the entire period, not stopping once to take a breath. He looked as pale as ghost, running around the track endlessly all by himself. Sakuya jogged along the field as he continued to run. "Are you okay?"
"O-of course!" he said, forcing a smile that looked almost pained. "I-I could do this before breakfast!"
"Odakari, stop or you're getting a zero for the day!" The teacher called out, and Toboe stopped, falling to the ground. A huge amount of students crowded around him, Sakuya making sure he was all right.
"Woah, Odakari! That was tight man!"
"You must have run at least seven miles straight!"
"That was too cool!"
"You're so cool Toboe-kun!" Sakuya bent down and offered Toboe a hand. "Funny, cute, nice, athletic! Are you sure you don't have a girlfriend?"
"N-nope! No girlfriend!" Toboe laughed, feeling as though his legs were jelly. "Nooo girlfriend…"
"All right everyone, class is over!" The teacher announced and the group ran into the locker rooms before he could even finish.
"Odakari, you never run like that," someone commented in the locker room as they changed back into their uniforms. "You take steroids or something?"
"Ha! Funny…" Toboe growled, trying to slip into his pants without his bones breaking. He whimpered slightly, but quickly sucked up the pain. 'As long as it's for Sakuya-chan, nothing matters.'
"Toboe-kun!" Sakuya called as Toboe walked out of the locker room. "I'm so impressed! You did so well today!"
"Well, they wanted me on the Cross County team, but I decided that I didn't want to show everyone else up," he laughed and Sakuya beamed.
"That's so noble! I'm getting more and more impressed with you by the minute Toboe-kun!"
"Wh-what about you?" he asked.
"Me?" Sakuya laughed nervously. "Uhh…I kind of just got in the way. I'm nothing compared to you Toboe-kun. I probably couldn't run even one lap!"
"That's probably just because you're delicate!" Toboe assured her. "A lot of guys like delicate girls."
"A lot of guys?" Sakuya asked, smiling. "Like who?"
"Uhh…uhh…" Toboe blushed, stammering. "Um…I dunno! Just, lots of guys!"
"I see," Sakuya winked. "So, what's our next class?"
"Oh, Geometry," Toboe told her. "It's really boring, I usually fall asleep."
"I see," Sakuya nodded.
"Oh crud," Toboe groaned. "I forgot, we have a test this Friday."
"A test?" Sakuya asked.
"Yeah, but I bet she won't make you take it because you're new."
"That's okay," Sakuya smiled. "I'll take it."
"Are you sure? I can stick up for you!"
"No, it's really okay," Sakuya smiled brightly.
"You sure?" Toboe asked.
"Of course!" Sakuya smiled and linked arms with Toboe. "Let's get! We don't want to be late do we?"
And the pain in Toboe's legs melted away as he was pulled up the gym stairs by Sakuya, arm in arm.
"Thank you for joining us ladies," the teacher said sternly as Blue and Cheza came into the room. "Tardy in your first week of school."
"Forgivethis onesensei," Cheza bowed and Blue did the same. They both took their seats, Kiba flashing Cheza a worried look. She averted her eyes and stared at the board.
The teacher continued the lesson and Kiba kept looking at Cheza over his shoulder. Finally, he grabbed a piece of paper and wrote:
Hey, are you all right? Tell the truth, I want to know.
-Kiba
He threw it over to Cheza and she looked up as it hit her desk. She reached for it and carefully unfolded it. As she read the message, she frowned and wrote on the back of it, pausing slowly and writing hard, then returning to her quick penmenship. She quickly threw it back to Kiba as soon as she was done. Kiba caught it and opened it as quickly as she had thrown it.
I'm fine. Leave me alone.
Kiba looked at the paper, his eyes slightly wide.
'Cheza never said "me" before.'
Author's Notes:
Well, there it is! Slightly mishigosh and not much to do with Reika and Tsume, but next chapter will be jammed pack of Toboe, Sakuya, Reika, Tsume, and the others! Stay tuned pleased!
Sammy