The Miracle of a Courageous Light
Let the Year Begin
Yamato awoke a little after ten am. He looked over at the boy sleeping on the opposite bed. He chuckled to him self. Taichi was sprawled out all over the bed, mouth slightly open. 'He looked exhausted yesterday.' Yamato thought to himself. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stretched. He got up and made his bed, grabbed some clothes and went into the bathroom for a shower.
It was such a wake up call to have the cold water blast into his face and trickle down his body. Just as he was waking up the water's temperature rose. He shut of the water and stepped out grabbing a towel. Stood there, bushy brown her and all, was a half naked Taichi staring.
"Ahhh! What are you doing? Get out!" Yamato screamed at the boy. Taichi stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds before blushing and almost running out of the bathroom. Yamato flushed and wrapped the towel around his slender frame quickly drying himself off. Of all the time he'd spent here at the Manor, none of his roommates had ever walked in on him having a shower.
"Hey, uh, I'm really sorry about that." Taichi started as Yamato walked out of the bathroom.
"Oh, yeah." Yamato shrugged, turning away. He was still flustered.
"I guess I wasn't really fully awake." Yamato sighed and went over to the mirror to start on his hair. His locks were pure golden. Taichi stood up sighing and took his clothes and walked into the bathroom, this time shutting the door. Something Yamato had failed to do.
When Taichi had finished showering he walked out to find Yamato sitting on his bed reading a piece of paper.
"You should probably open up that envelope about now." He stated. Taichi walked over to his cabinet and picked up the envelope he had received last night. He opened it slowly and emptied its content on the bed. The first piece of paper was a letter welcoming him to the school. There was also a manual full of school rules. Next was some sort of option sheet which was to be handed in later that day to complete a class timetable.
Yamato walked over to Taichi and looked down at the option sheet.
"So we're in the same year huh?" Yamato said looking at his own option sheet.
"Pick what you're good at, trust me, it'll help you out a lot." He went back over to his bed and sat down, pen in hand, ticking the boxes of the classes he'd like to take. It was compulsory for the students to pick an English, Maths and Science. They could then pick a language, an art, a performing art, some form of humanities, a technology and a sport. They were then prompted to pick two extra curricular activities to be done outside classroom hours.
"What are you going to be taking?" Taichi asked, looking up at Yamato.
"You want to know all of what I'm taking?" He asked. Yamato was surprised by this comment. Not even his friends seemed bothered with what classes he took. They all just took them. They went, they learnt and then they passed their exams.
"Well, yeah, I'm new here. I'd like a familiar face in a few classes if I'm honest. Not that I have a problem with new people but…" Taichi looked back at the option sheet. He really didn't have a clue.
"Well, I'm going to be taking both English Language and Literature, Basic Mathematics, Biology, Fine Art, Music, Law, Cooking, Italian and err, I'm not really sure about the last one." Yamato lied. He knew perfectly well what he'd be taking, but if anyone found out his reputation as one of the school's 'cool kids' would be ruined.
"Oh right. So you say I should take the ones I know I'm good at. Well, I think that'd be English language, basic mathematics. Ha, I've never really like math!" Taichi said looking back at Yamato. He smiled.
"Nah, me either."
"So, a science? Probably biology too, maybe we'll get to dissect something!" Taichi said excitedly.
"That's really nasty Yagami. How could you think...actually, never mind." Yamato blushed. "Whatever." He said, as if trying to cover up a different side to him. Yamato couldn't help it, Taichi seemed to bring out his best side, and they'd only known each other a few hours. 'I need to keep my cool.'
"I think my weak point is Art, I like it but I just can't seem to ever get my ideas onto paper. Know what I mean?"
"No, not really. I've never had that problem." Taichi frowned and continued ticking off his options.
"So that'll be err Music I guess…" Taichi said looking back to his list. Yamato looked at the boy quickly, a little surprised.
"What do you play?"
"Soccer." Taichi replied carrying on with his list.
"No baka, I mean, what instrument."
"Oh." Taichi giggled at his own idiocy. "I don't." He smiled at the blonde who shook his head in response.
"You can't take music then." He shrugged.
"Why?"
"Because you don't play anything." Yamato said looking at the brunette. He gave him one of those don't-push-me-I-know-more-than-you glares. Taichi frowned.
"So?"
"Argh!" Yamato cried. "How can you pass if you don't play?"
"I figure they'll give me something to do." He replied calmly. Yamato stood up and walked over to the boy. He was agitated by his logic, it made no sense!
"No, they won't." He said, trying his best to keep calm.
"Oh, well why didn't you say so?" He asked, looking up at Yamato, smiling again.
"I was just trying to tell you that!" He almost screamed.
"Well, I've changed it to Theatre now. Happy?" Taichi said, standing. Yamato was about the same height as him, maybe a little shorter and Taichi couldn't help looking in his eyes. They were the deepest, brightest blue he'd ever seen. There were so many shades seemed to swirl around in them. There was some sort of glint; it seemed as if he was hiding something. Not from Taichi, but from the world.
"Quit staring at me!" Yamato said threw gritted teeth. Someone Taichi had done had obviously annoyed him. Taichi shook his head and sat back down.
"Sorry." He said simply. Yamato looked at him, utterly surprised. Usually he'd have some one quivering in fear almost kissing his feet but not this boy, he was somehow different from the rest of them.
Yamato stood speechless for a few seconds before returning back to his own bed.
"No. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be telling you what to pick." He said quietly. He then hit himself. He, Ishida Yamato had just apologised for something he hadn't actually done, but something he said. He wasn't usually one to back down on his own opinions even if it was something this petty. "Yagami, I'm going for a walk." He said, getting up off his bed and grabbing his key from the side.
"Okay, would you like some company?" Taichi asked. "I want to go meet up with some people, but I'm not entirely sure where they are." As he said this there was a knock on the door. Yamato opened it.
"Hey big brother, this is Koushiro. He said someone called Taichi was sharing with you? He's my roommate." Yamato looked over at Taichi.
"Yeah. I'm going for a walk." Yamato walked past the two boys at the door. "See you at lunch Takeru."
Taichi looked up as Koushiro walked through the door.
"Hello Taichi. The others didn't know how to find you. I'd like you to meet someone, Takeru Takashi." Koushiro said pointing at the boy next to him. Takeru smiled.
"Does your brother always have mood swings, or is it just because it's still morning?" Taichi asked. The boy was almost a spitting image of his brother, except maybe the height and build. Takeru was a little shorter and a little broader. His hair and eyes however, were almost identical to Yamato's. Takeru laughed.
"I see you've met my real big brother." He said smiling. "Haha, yeah. He can be pretty moody sometimes I guess. He's a good enough guy though." Taichi smiled.
"Yeah. So Koushiro, what have the girls planned for today?" Taichi looked at the red head.
"They've just gone to hand in their option sheets. Have you done yours?"
"Just finished."
"Well, Takeru and I were heading there next. To the reception desk I mean. Come with us?"
"Sure." Taichi got up from his bed and followed the two out of the room locking the door behind him. They walked down together talking about their first night at the Manor. Takeru was a lot warmer than his brother. He wasn't as quickly annoyed and he hadn't shown any sign of a mood swing so far. The only thing that bothered Taichi about Takeru Takashi was the way he had greeted Hikari.
"Have you met my sister yet?" Taichi asked the boy. "You're the same age as her." Takeru nodded.
"I met her at breakfast. She seems really nice, Mimi too." Takeru nodded.
"Yeah." Taichi looked at the boy as Hikari walked over. His cheeks seemed to fluster as Hikari approached them.
"Hey Takeru." She smiled. Takeru smiled back.
"Well, I better go and find my friends. Hey, Hikari, why don't you come too? It'll be good to meet a few new people. We're all around the same age so it'd probably make sense. They might be in your class." Hikari looked at her big brother for some sort of approval. He looked away and she frowned a little.
"Sure. It'll be nice. She you at lunch guys." She said as she walked off with Takeru whose hand was a little to close to hers for Taichi's liking. The rest of them handed in their forms and took a walk around the Manor grounds before heading into the dining room for lunch.
Hikari and Takeru were already there sitting around a table with a few others, both male and female. Taichi, Koushiro and Mimi all walked over and joined them
"Hey everybody." Hikari started as they approached they table. "This is my brother Taichi and my roommate Mimi." The people around the table greeted them.
"And this redhead is my new roommate Koushiro. He's pretty smart." Koushiro blushed at Takeru's compliment. "Let me introduce you to these guys." Takeru said, looking up at Taichi smiling. "The metal princess over there, that's Keirei." Takeru pointed to a girl across the table. She was reading some sort of book. She looked up at the mention of her name and smiled.
"Hi there." Taichi smiled back. It was obvious why she was called the metal princess with the amount of piercings on her face.
"Here to my left is Daisuke. He's our hot headed soccer champion." Takeru said whilst roughing up the boys hair.
"Watch it TS!" He said trying to get out of the boys grip but instead knocking himself of the chair completely. "Argh, every time!" He got up of the floor. "Ken switch places with Takashi here!" He said talking to the blue haired boy sitting across from him. He smiled. Takeru just rolled his eyes.
"Lastly we have our little Iori, Kendo Master."
"Hello." The youngest member smiled and went back to his meal. "Takeru, your brother." Iori pointed towards the entrance to the dining room.
"Yamato!" Takeru called. Yamato turned to the call and walked over to his brother.
"Hey guys, sorry I'm a little late." He said smiling.
'Well he sure has cooled off.' Taichi thought to himself. Yamato pulled a chair from a nearby table.
"Keirei, have you eaten yet?" He asked her.
"Not yet, joining me?" She asked, putting her book down onto the table. Yamato stood and Keirei followed suit.
"Hey, Takeru?" Taichi asked as he watched the pair walk over to the food table. "What's the deal with those two?"
"Who?" Takeru asked breaking away from his conversation with Hikari.
"Yamato and Keirei?"
"Oh, well, Yamato and Keirei have been friends for a long time. She's the year above Yamato but they started on the same day. They've been friends ever since. They're pretty similar in personalities. Keirei seems to have a knack for getting Yamato to, I don't know; get on with things I guess." Takeru replied. He rose from the table and walked over to get himself some more food. The rest of them joined him.
The day passed quickly. The group spent most of the day together wondering around the school and familiarising themselves with the surroundings. A little after dinner the headmaster asked all students to report to the assembly room.
Another speech was given and the students received their yearly timetables. They were told to keep this handy at all times. Before long the group found themselves wondering back to their bedrooms.
Yamato was already lying on his bed when Taichi got there. He looked up as Taichi walked through the door.
"So, one more day till lessons then I guess?" Taichi said walking over to the blonde. He pulled out the chair from their computer desk and sat down. Yamato sighed.
"Something wrong?" Taichi asked.
"No."
"Oh." They sat there in silence for a few more seconds. "Can I see your timetable?"
"No." Yamato repeated.
"Why?"
"Because." Yamato tried to signal that this was the end of the conversation but Taichi wasn't having it.
"I only want to know if we're the same classes." Taichi stated holding his hands up defensively. Yamato turned over onto his stomach. Taichi sighed and walked over to his side of the room. He got onto his bed and before he knew it he was fast asleep.
'Why do I feel like this around him? It's not like he's anything special. It's like Keirei all over again.' Yamato sighed as he turned back around to face the ceiling. 'He'll start breaking me down bit by bit like she did. What if he laughs at me?' He looked over at the sleeping boy. 'No, I have to keep my guard up, no matter what it takes. Even If I do…' Yamato's thoughts carried him away into his dream world where nothing could hurt him because he was save there. He was away from pain, torment and all the other things he had had to come to terms with in reality. In his dream world people didn't fight him, they accepted him and he could be himself. He didn't have to put up his cool, hard guy act. He could play the sensitive musician that Keirei knew. If it wasn't for her, Yamato would probably be much worse than he already was. She was working on him, it'd taken him this long to get where he was know and she was proud of him. He was slowly but surly letting his guard down to the rest of his friends. Naturally of course it had become a little more forceful around the newer people but at least he wasn't afraid to smile anymore.
The next day passed much more slowly. The whole school was slowly swinging into place as students were getting ready to start lessons again. Everyone seemed pretty friendly, Taichi noticed as he asked for directions for the third time that afternoon. Everyone had agreed to split up and locate their classes so they'd know where to go first thing in the morning. Taichi had managed to find everything with the help of a few of the older students. It was funny that he hadn't seen many teachers apart from the headmaster and Mel.
The dining room was exceptionally loud that evening. The headmaster had come in half way through bringing a microphone with him. He stood at the end of the dining room behind a podium. The chatter quickly died down as he tapped the microphone to make sure it was working.
"Good evening Students. Everyone has seemed to settle in. I'd like to say, again, welcome to the new students here. Tonight is the last night of the summer. I suggest that you all get a good night's sleep and prepare yourselves for the morning. As usual room inspections will be at 8am. Teachers will be a little lenient tomorrow but please do not expect that on a regular basis. Lessons will commence at 9am sharp tomorrow morning. Thank you. Now, let a new and successful year here at the Manor begin!"