Chapter Eight

– Not Enough For Us All –

A huge yawn came from Takashi as she scratched his head. Some of his gang members were trying to stay awake while others were taking notes of the different flowers before them.

"Write clearly so I can read it better," Keita said out and the guy taking notes nodded.

"Oh and make sure to write extra notes on the side," Ren added.

Takashi glanced around and he spotted some of the girls, which are in the tightest clique in school, were leaning on each other and were talking rather than doing the assignment. They all had their hairs tied up and were heavily accessorized with their bracelets and chokers that blended in just perfectly with their uniforms.

"Cheap shit," Takashi mumbled and Keita looked at him.

"What's the matter?"

"Those girls are cheap," Takashi yawned and Keita looked at them then laughed nervously.

"Hey, I know they are but they shouldn't bother you."

"Are you standing up for them?" Takashi questioned and Keita gave him a reasoning look.

"No, I'm just saying. They haven't done anything to bother you so let's not think of them."

"Just looking at them makes his eyes burn," Ren said out and Keita gave him a short glare. "Besides, those girls just dress like that because they're prostituting."

"Don't say those things! You don't know them!"

"Shut up," Takashi ordered.

"Why are you even standing up for them?" Ren asked out. "Are you sleeping with one of them?"

"It's not like that."

"Then you won't have a problem if I do this," Ren said out and he spit out his gum then threw it at one of the girls.

The gum flew in air then hit one of the girl's faces. A small scoff came from the girl and she glared towards Ren then took off her earring and swiftly spread it through the air.

On the ground there was a tiny trickle of blood and Ren looked before him and saw that Takashi had his arm out and in between his index and middle finger was the sharp earring. It had made a cut in Takashi's fingers and a slim stream of blood was clinging onto the skin.

"Are your accessories made with the cheapest materials? It feels so cheap and I'm thinking that's how you would feel."

"What?"

Ren and Keita looked at Takashi and saw the gang leader walk over towards the girl that threw the earring.

"Hirono…is it?" Takashi asked and the girl's eyes met his. "You don't look like the kind of girl who would be gentle and polite towards other people. You're more the kick ass type of person…"

"What are you getting at?"

"I'm just saying, I like your style."

The other girls were slightly blushing as they saw how close Takashi and Hirono were against each other. Hirono found herself feeling warm then she gasped as Takashi grabbed her by the hair tightly.

"But you're just so much like a dog out in the streets. You should behave more like a student."

Takashi let go of Hirono's hair and he slowly made his way towards his friends. On his way he dropped the earring and it shattered into tiny pieces on the cold ground. Hirono trembled slightly and the other girls were trying to support her but tears were at the rim of her eyes.

"That bastard," she hissed.

"Wa these flowers are beautiful!" Minako said out as she looked at the beautiful blossoms outside near the fountains.

"They look the same to me."

"Eh?" Minako looked at her friend and saw how the other girl wasn't her usual happy self. "Ai-chan, I thought you adored flowers," Minako smiled brightly.

"Adore? Yeah right…"

"Oh hey, looks like they're selling cotton candy. Isn't that your favorite?" Minako asked out but Aiko didn't seem like she was listening. "Well, I'm going to go get some. You just stay here and enjoy the flowers!"

Minako ran off and a deep sigh came from Aiko. Her eyes were glimmering and her chin was gently resting upon the palm of her hand while her arms were resting upon her lap. The flowers around her made her feel lonely and something within her felt strange…

"Aiko."

Aiko looked up and she saw how Toboe was walking towards her. A small smile formed upon her face and she slid to the other end of the bench for Toboe to sit down.

"Did you choose which flower you're going to write about?" Toboe asked and Aiko didn't respond quickly. "Are you still deciding? I chose one and it's the big yellow ones I saw earlier."

"Big…yellow ones?" Aiko questioned and she looked at Toboe.

"Yeah! It was bright as the sun and it looked towards the sky."

"Sunflower…are you talking about the sunflower?"

"The what?" Toboe asked and Aiko took out her small notepad and pencil then began to draw a sunflower. "Hmm…"

"Is this what you say?"

"Yeah! That's it. Well the name is sure obvious," Toboe smiled and he took the notepad then looked at Aiko.

Slowly his smile faded as Aiko's eyes were on the drawing of it. Her eyes were glimmering beautifully as the sunlight upon water but only this glimmer came from sadness.

"S-something wrong?" Toboe asked gently and Aiko sighed deeply.

"Why did you choose that flower? It only hopes for nothing."

"Well, it looks towards the bright side," Toboe laughed. "I don't know…it just seems to brighten things up. I read it was the autumn flower and thinking of autumn it's not all that bright. The sunflower seems to-."

"Brighten things up?" Aiko asked and Toboe nodded. "That's what I thought too." She then yawned and stretched slightly. "I guess I'm tired. Sorry Toboe-kun, I don't think I'm in the greatest mood today."

"You're sad," he whispered. "I can smell the tears."

"Yes…I suppose you're right."

"What…happened?"

"There was someone that adored the sunflowers."

Aiko's eyes softened and Toboe slowly got closer to her. As he eyed her, the sudden scent filled his nose. His eyes trailed towards her necklace and he slowly blushes as the sweet scent comes over him.

"W-who was the person that adored the flower?" Toboe asked shyly as he continued on blushing.

"My sister," Aiko said out and Toboe looked at her. "She loves the sunflowers. The way how they look towards the warm light always made her smile…and her smile was the most beautiful warmth I've ever seen."

"You must feel warmth all the time then," Toboe smiled and Aiko looked at him. "You get to see your sister all the time."

"I live with my aunt," Aiko whispered.

"Oh, well at least you can still visit her, right?" Toboe gave out a cheerful laugh and Aiko looked at her simple drawing.

"Even when she's not here anymore…" a soft whisper came from Aiko and Toboe's eyes focused on her more. "I'll still remember her. I suppose she went to a beautiful land with many flowers."

"Paradise…" Toboe whispered and Aiko's eyes softened.

"You really think there is such thing?" came a voice and the two students looked towards the voice and saw their teacher.

"Sensei," the two stood up and Nadeshiko walked over towards them with a smile.

"Have you two chosen your flowers yet?"

"I chose the sunflower," Toboe showed.

"Good choice. Hmm, Aiko-chan, have you not chosen a flower?"

"…I don't know what to choose," Aiko said out and she Nadeshiko looked around.

"There are so many to choose from. They're all so beautiful. That's why they're called the Paradise Garden," Nadeshiko smiled and Toboe did the same but Aiko didn't smile along with the two.

"Paradise…" Aiko whispered as she looked at the blossoms.

"But no one knows if there are such things," Nadeshiko said out and she walked over towards Aiko then placed one hand upon her shoulder. "Hmm…everything all right?"

"Yes," Aiko answered.

"All right then."

"Sensei," Aiko called out and Nadeshiko looked at her. "You know a lot about flowers, right?"

"Yes."

"Then, could you tell me…what this is?" Aiko pulled out her necklace and Nadeshiko's eyes widened. "Since I don't know which flower to choose from here, I was wondering maybe I could write about this…even if it's withered."

'This flower…how did she…'

Nadeshiko looked at her student and Aiko gave her teacher a worried look. Toboe looked at the flower and the scent was ever so much stronger.

"Um…I'm afraid you might not be able to gather information upon it."

"Why not?" Aiko asked. "Oh…is it because it's withered?"

"That and…some other reason."

Aiko looked at the ground quite disappointedly but then Nadeshiko placed her hand upon Aiko's shoulder and smiled softly.

"You can always try though," Nadeshiko smiled.

"Really? Right, then I better start working on it," Aiko smiled slightly and she walked off with Toboe following her.

'Darling…I've finally located it…'

At Hino the students were in class while a few students skipped class and were hanging out. Ryuhei lit up his cigarette and started to smoke then raised an eyebrow as he spotted Mitsuko walking over towards him.

"Hmm, what are you doing here?" Ryuhei asked.

"What's it to you?" Mitsuko shot a glare at him and he smirked.

"Damn, you're beautiful but you're so bitchy."

"Smoke somewhere else. I hate the smell of smoke."

"You should be used to it. All the guys you slept around with smoke don't they?"

Mitsuko looked at Ryuhei with a slight warning look and Ryuhei leaned back against the tree.

"What are you…?"

"Oh, don't they all have daughters the same as your age? Strange, they'd be f-."

Right then Ryuhei's cigarette fell to the gravel ground and Mitsuko's ruby ring jabbed into the male student's cheek. He stumbled back a bit and eyed Mitsuko surprised as she cracked her knuckles.

"I don't know where you got that idea but don't you dare talk shit in front of me!" Mitsuko spat out.

A small chuckle came from Ryuhei and he straightened up.

"You got that ring from Shinji didn't you?"

"What?"

"That ruby ring. That bastard loves ruby, did you know that?" Ryuhei asked and Mitsuko looked at him. "He only gives rubies to those that he loved sleeping with. I guess you're the best."

"Don't-."

"Tsume doesn't know, does he? I'm sure he does…he has a sharp sense of smell for a guy. He probably smelled Shinji's shit on you."

"You little-."

"Heh, why should he care? He's only using you."

Ryuhei picked up his cigarette and walked off while Mitsuko stayed stun. She glanced back towards the bushes and clenched her jaw.

"Get out from behind there you fat ass!"

"Geez, you're harsh," Hige said out while coming out from the bushes. "What was that all about?"

"It's ruined…everything's ruined."

"What?" Hige looked at Mitsuko and for a human, she really did seem beautiful. "Hey, nice ring." He noticed the ruby ring and Mitsuko looked at it then smiled.

"You're new at this school right?"

"Eh, not really. I know what happens every now and then."

"Well…I bet you didn't know that I was being a spy for the Yang gang, right?"

"Oh really? That's not so cool," Hige said out while putting his hands inside his pockets. "You seem to follow Tsume around, don't you?"

"Tsume? You know him?"

Hige smiled and placed his arms around his neck and leaned back against the tree.

"Of course. A bit stubborn here and there but naturally…nah, just stubborn that's all. He doesn't seem to have the same feelings for you as you do for him. I mean I see you following him around and always yelling at his gang members. Never have I seen him talking to you personally."

"That's because he doesn't love me. So I decided to become Yang's little spy girl. I got this in return," Mitsuko smiled while showing off the ring.

"You're a whore," Hige laughed and Mitsuko smiled while looking at him. "You're still human, you can always turn back and go the right way this time."

"What if…you don't want to go back? What if…"

Hige placed his hand upon Mitsuko's shoulder and smiled. "Just try. If that doesn't work then you can always hang around with me. I'm a nice guy, I can show you places where they have the best food of all," he smiled and Mitsuko's face lit up slightly.

"You're kind…thank you for treating me like a human."

"Hmm?"

"Many people have always treated me as a dog. The girls always feared me…the guys have always played with me. I'm sick and tired of it. Even as I've wanted to change…I just couldn't because no one would trust me."

"Hey, what bad things have you done? I'm sure they're not all that bad?" Hige said out but knew he was wrong as he spotted Mitsuko's dark look.

"Go around the school a little more. You'll probably find out," Mitsuko headed off but then Hige took off running.

Mitsuko glanced behind her slightly and a vision of a golden colored canine came to view. She closed her eyes then opened them again and spotted Hige running towards her.

"Hey! Wait up," he said out and Mitsuko stopped and looked at him. "You should really turn back," Hige said out and Mitsuko raised an eyebrow. "Living with yourself in such guilt will only cause you pain."

"Living is a pain for me," Mitsuko scoffed.

"Oh really?" Hige gave a slight sarcastic look then he grabbed her arm. "Then you can always head towards the moon. I'm thinking of going there. There will be a lot of beautiful scented flowers and from the pure white of the moon no one will be able to see your faults."

"What good is going then? You shouldn't hide your faults…you should cleanse them away clearly."

Hige smiled and Mitsuko realized what she had just said. "I told ya. You should turn back and confess."

"Why are you helping me?" she asked out and Hige loosened his grip on her arm. "Why do you even care?"

"Because I believe we should all have a chance. Hey, if you don't want to then…it's your choice. You're just going to regret it afterwards."

Hige walked off and Mitsuko stood still, thinking of what Hige had told her. She eyed him walking off towards the school building and a small smile formed.

"Even so…chance isn't enough for us all…" Mitsuko whispered and she walked off.

Late that night, a black-coated canine was sniffing around the empty streets. Cold wind harshly blew throughout the city and the ears of the animal perked along with its senses. The sound of claws against the asphalt ground was heard and the tiny metal clang from the animal's collar.

"Hmm, a mutt?" came a voice and the dog turned around and viewed a similar species. "What are you doing out here? Lost your master?" the gray furred animal asked and the black dog growled while showing off her fangs.

Swift as light the two bodies crashed and blood splattered on the ground. There was the noise of growls and snarls while the dark clouds covered the brightness of the star and the guiding light of the moon.