When Monday finally arrived Katsuya left his house all by himself, because Sakura had morning practice again and Takara left him behind since he was taking his time and had urged her to go on ahead. He moved slowly towards school remembering the family's reaction to the news of Nakagami's triumph. But despite the guilt he felt they had been very understanding, including Yamato who only cared that he and Stephanie were safe and sound. He sighed heavily as he arrived at the gate where his best friend Soujiro was waiting for him.
"Hey Kaye" he grinned, "Welcome back. Have a good summer vacation? Did you get to go to the beach?"
"Uh no. I just hung out with the family and stayed in Kyoto."
"I see. Probably best considering that kidnapping I heard about that occurred with your girlfriend."
"How did you know about that? That was supposed to be hush-hush?"
"Everybody knows about it" Soujiro shrugged.
"Of course they do" Kaye sighed.
"Ever figure out what happened with that?"
"No. But she's fine now."
"I can see that myself" he grinned and pointed a finger.
"Hmm?" he looked in the direction that his friend was pointing and saw that Stephanie was standing on the other side of the schoolyard talking to Yuriko and Kaori.
She smiled and he waved as Reiji came over.
"Morning Reij" he replied.
"Morning guys" Reiji grinned, "Well let's hurry up" he added as Sakura and Rei joined the group of girls, "We got new locker assignments today."
Katsuya and Soujiro agreed and the three of them walked into the building hardly noticing that behind them, a tall brown haired boy with hazel eyes was following close behind, his hair falling over his eyes, and him barely noticing the girls who stared at him as he walked by, including Mariko Kuonji.
(Next Scene)
Sakura Sohma, Kaye's twin sister stood next to Stephanie only moments later as her friend balanced on tiptoes trying to reach her locker.
"Oh. Why does this always happen to me?" she huffed.
"Looks like you need to talk to the administration's office again" Sakura chuckled closing her locker.
"Yea. I'll do that this afternoon" Stephanie agreed, "But in the meantime, I'm stuck with this locker."
"Well look on the bright side, at least we're in the same classroom."
"I guess you're right."
"I'll see you in there" Sakura replied as she left carrying her books.
"Okay" Stephanie nodded, "I just have one more book" she reached, "To put up there."
But the book slipped from her grasp and landed a few feet behind her just where the tall hazel- eyed brunette stopped. He picked it up and looked in front of him at her before clearing his throat.
"Excuse me?"
"Hmm?" she looked back.
"You dropped this" he handed it to her.
"Oh thank you" she smiled.
"You're welcome" he smiled back, "Do you need some help?"
"Huh?"
"Getting it up there?" he pointed to her locker.
"Oh sure" she nodded, "That would be very helpful" she handed him back the book, "I'm sorry for all the trouble. They always give me the worst lockers."
"No problem" he nodded back putting the book into the locker easily, "You speak pretty good English for someone who's Japanese" he observed.
"Oh I'm not Japanese. I'm American."
"No kidding," he eyed her, "So am I. I just transferred here."
"Really? So you're new to the school."
"Yea."
"Well welcome to Suichi Nakamura High. I'm Stephanie Kamiya" she bowed politely, "It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too" he nodded bowing back, "I'm Tsukasa Nakagami."
"Huh?" her eyes suddenly became wide and she took a step back.
"What?" he looked at her confused.
"Nothing" she shook her head nervously, "I just realized I have to get to class before I'm too late. Goodbye" she ran past him without closing her locker door.
"Huh?" he said quizzically to himself, "Was it something I said?" he thought as he closed her locker and headed for the classroom, "Oh well" he shrugged.
(Next Scene)
But if he thought her reaction was strange it was nothing compared to the Sohmas reaction when the teacher introduced him. Both Reiji and Katsuya gave him an angry frown and he could feel their eyes on him during the entire class, while Sakura ignored him completely along with Stephanie, which was unlike the other female students in the classroom.
"Did I do something wrong by coming to this place?" he thought with a sigh as the class ended and he packed up his books catching the angry stares of the three Sohmas as they departed.
During lunchtime Sakura and Stephanie discussed him further.
"I can't believe Ushida sent another one down here to cause trouble" Sakura spat.
"Yea" Stephanie replied, "But he said he was from America."
"He was probably lying" Sakura frowned.
"Maybe. Oh I got to get this stuff out for Mr. Yamada. Would you watch the store for me Sakura?"
"Of course" Sakura smiled with a hand on her hip.
"I'll be back soon" Stephanie grinned carrying the notes from the room.
Sakura shook her head and returned to cleaning under the counter. Suddenly she heard a shout and looked up to see Tsukasa Nakagami dash into the room completely out of breath and carrying a book he had gotten from the library.
"Mr. Nakagami?" she said in surprise and then frowned, "What are you doing here?"
"Hide me" he replied in a rush.
"What?"
"Hide me!" he repeated and jumped behind the counter out of sight.
"You can't come back" she began angrily.
"Shh!" he put a finger to his lips, "They'll hear you."
"Who?" she started to say but then she Takechi and his older brother Hayoto appear in the doorway, "Oh you two" she frowned once more.
"Sakura Sohma" Hayoto strode forward, pushing his hand through his dirty blond hair, "So you still work here?"
"What are you doing here Ushida?" she asked crossing her arms, "I thought you graduated. Or did you fail?"
"No. I graduated. But my brother informed me that someone important was here so I came to talk to him myself."
"You do realize that you're not supposed to be here."
"Of course. But putting that all aside, you haven't seen him by any chance have you?" he asked as Tsukasa closed his eyes.
"Who?"
"He's about this tall" Hayoto indicated, "Brown hair, hazel eyes. Have you seen him? Takechi said he ran by here."
"I think he kept on running. You might want to keep looking around" she lied.
"Perhaps we should" he nodded, "Catch up with you later?"
"Never in a million years" she shook her head angrily.
Hayoto chuckled and then he and his brother left the store and went in the direction she had told them.
"It's all clear," she said drolly.
"Oh thank you so much" he replied standing up.
"No thanks required" she frowned at him, "Just go," she ordered.
"Huh?" he looked at her confused.
"Leave now before I change my mind and call them back" she demanded with a point of her finger towards the door.
"All right, I'm going" he moved from behind the counter, "But."
"Just go!" she ordered again and he stumbled out of the room and she shut the door behind him.
"What the?" he scratched the back of his head, "What unwritten rule did I break by coming to this school anyway" he sighed and moved down the hallway still thoroughly baffled.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay I'm done. I know the chapters are short, but the next few should be longer. See you all next week!
Next time on Curse Renewed:
Chapter Three: A Trust Gesture
Tsukasa Nakagami finally confronts Stephanie Kamiyaabout the cold shoulder he has been receiving and she in-turn discovers something the two of them have in common. Find out what happens next time!
And
Chapter Four: The Tiger meets Mr. Kim
Not telling!