A/N: Hello, me again. I'm gonna push up the rating of these next few chapters for strong language and adult situations and some sexual implications. I'll watch what I do so I don't go overboard, cause sometimes I loose myself and I do. Cheers!

CHAPTER 6

Tuesday morning came with music. Cye hummed a simple tune as he made breakfast as Alvina was whispering a song to herself in Italian while she took her shower and dressed in her uniform. Ryo, Sage, Kento and Rowen all awoke with questions as to the early morning opera. Sage and Ryo remembered from the night before and told Rowen, knowing he could keep the secret to himself. There were obvious reasons why they didn't tell Kento.

"Why can't I know?" he pleaded to Rowen.

"Because you wouldn't be able to resist the possible wise cracks you could make if you knew. It needs to stay between Ryo and Sage. I actually told them that I didn't want to know."

"At least tell me who it's about… please?"

"Fine, it's about Cye. Now leave me alone. Don't you normally get chased out of the kitchen around this time?"

"I resent that." But Kento made his way to the kitchen anyway and as always, Cye chased him into the living room with a spatula.

Alvina didn't bother to show up for swim. She skipped it, still feeling upset over what happened the day before. But Sam started acting like Ryo and encouraged her enough to come out. She regretted it when all eyes went to her. She could feel the heat of their stares, but Sam was right beside her.

"Just disregard them," she said. "Don't even look at them. Find something in this room and keep your attention on that."

Alvina nodded and looked around for something. Or rather… someone. He gave fell upon Cye as he made his way up the ladder to the high diving board. She watched him as he started on a handstand before falling and doing three frontal flips before making a perfect dive into the water.

She thought about what she did the night before. Just to do that caused her to bring up her courage. She even debated with herself, but her heart won and she just went ahead and did it. Even though she bolted away from him, she felt so much relief afterwards. It was like a five hundred pound weight was lifted from her chest. She liked it, and hoped she could do it again.

At the end of class, the two coaches called a "Battle of the Sexes." Unfortunately, Alvina had the pleasure to go against Darres. She scowled at him when they stepped up to the starting point. The whistle blew and they dived. Alvina didn't hold back with him. Besides, the group already saw her the day before. Secret was out.

Alvina pulled herself out of the water and sat on the edge for Darres to catch up, since he was only making his turnaround when she pulled out. Darres made it to the end and nearly drowned when he saw Alvina sitting there. He pulled himself out of the water and cursed her under his breath. Alvina only smiled at him, which made him red with anger.

After class, Alvina and Cye were walking towards the courtyard to meet with the others for lunch. But as soon as she stepped out of the door, Darres was there to grab her. She yelped as she was pushed up against the building. Cye was trying to get at him, but the two goons were holding him back, along with a bunch of others who held back the others when they saw what happened.

"You have guts, you know that?" he seethed.

"Really?" she asked in a sarcastic manor. "I didn't know. A plus on anatomy for you."

Darres pulled her away and smashed her against the wall again. This time, Cye was sure he heard Alvina's head hit the brick wall. But through all of this, she didn't wince or flinch.

"Do you have any idea what you did to my rep?" he asked, putting a little more pressure on her neck. "I was respected amongst the swimmers, until you came along and demolished it all."

"That's very interesting," Alvina said. "Because when I got here, your ego couldn't fit through the door. I'm surprised that you even got outside."

"Bitch!" Darres dragged Alvina across the courtyard towards the fountain. "You are going to resent saying that after your bath." Once there, he attempted to throw her in, but she got the better hand (or knee) and jabbed him in the groin. That caused him to let her go. She ducked out of his way and flipped him headfirst into the water. He came up and sputtered for air and looked around at the laughing students. His gaze fixed on Alvina who had her arms crossed in a proud way. He raised a finger at her.

"You just wait," he said angrily. "Before this week is over you will be begging me for forgiveness." He got out of the fountain and ran off towards the school.

"Ohhhh, I'm shaking in my skirt!" she called after him.

Cye went up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She turned to him and looked into his worried face. She smiled slightly and he smirked at her, but noticed the dark spot on her head where she hit the wall.

"You're bleeding," he said. Alvina touched her head and felt the stickiness of blood in her hair.

"I should probably go and get this tended to," she said softly. She went to head to the nurse's office when she noticed the other grouping of students that were still gathered. She growled deep in her throat.

"What are you all still looking at?" she asked. "Show's over, back to your lives."

Alvina and the Ronins sat at the kitchen table doing another mountain of homework. Rowen and Alvina were of course finished first and went to help the others. Alvina held an ice pack to her head as she tried to concentrate on her help. She was forced to sit back down when a wave of dizziness washed over her.

"I could heal that for you," Sage offered. Alvina shook her head with a smile.

"Thanks, but I'll be alright."

"Will you be fine here by yourself?" Cye asked.

She nodded. As a result for her throwing Darres in the fountain, she was suspended from school for the next three days. She figured that to be a good thing because she didn't have to see Darres. She'd kill him if she did.

"I'll be okay. Lonely, but okay. Promise that you guys will bring back my homework so I could keep up?"

"Why?" Kento asked. "You're brilliant, more so than Rowen. Why should we even bother?"

"I have to keep this under wraps," she explained. "I'm a freak of nature. I can't have people finding out about this. Who knows? The government would want to run some tests on me and I don't want that to happen."

"But on other matters," Ryo said. "It was about time somebody showed Darres where he belongs. He was getting to me."

"My pleasure. He has to keep his ego under control, it could get him in trouble."

That night was spent watching a movie. Since it was Cye's turn to choose, they watched Finding Nemo. Ryo, Rowen and Kento sat on the couch, Sage was on the floor, Cye was sitting in the recliner and Alvina nestled into the overstuffed leather chair that could fit at least two people. She mindlessly scratched at Salem's ears while she watched the movie, slowly nodding off towards the end. The sudden ringing of the phone woke her up again and Kento got up to answer it.

"Hello?" The other line was a wild speaking woman. He had to pull the phone away from his ear otherwise he'd go deaf. The woman was frantically speaking English so he figured it had to be for Cye or Alvina.

"Alvina?" he said. "I think it's your mother."

She pushed Salem off of her lap and went to the phone. She listened to the woman and smiled.

"Thanks Kento. Hello? Mother?"

"Alvina Gladys Sakora Hoppkins, what is the meaning of this e-mail? It says that you threw a boy into the school's courtyard fountain. Why did you do that? How long are you suspended for? Alvina, I swear on your father's grave…"

"Mother, shut up! It was self-defense. He bashed my head into the wall of the building. He was pissed because I out swam him in class. He just can't take it being second best."

"You out swam him?" her mother asked. "You mean to tell me that you used your ability? How many people saw you?"

"The entire class. It's no big deal, I'm being careful."

"That's not an option. You better keep it under wraps. I knew it was a bad idea to let you go. The world can't handle you."

"That's not true…"

"I don't want to hear it, Alvina. You're coming home. I'm going to arrange a flight ticket for you in a week. When your suspension is over, don't go back to the school."

"Mother, that's not fair."

"I don't care," she said. "You are coming home even if I have to come and get you. End of discussion."

Alvina stood there with the phone still in hand. Her mother had long hung up. She slowly placed the receiver back on the stand and wiped a stray tear from her face, only to have more fall. She turned to the living room door to see the others staring at her. She took a few deep breaths and smiled a fake smile.

"That was my mother," she said, her voice quavering. "I'm going back to Cardiff in a week."

"Why?" Rowen asked softly.

"Because I let my secret get out… excuse me."

Alvina ran out of the room and up the stairs to her bedroom. The five listened to the slamming of her door and felt their own disappointment in the situation. Cye was hit worse than the others were, considering the fact that he was the one closest to her, in his opinion.

"You think she really wants to be alone?" Kento asked.

"It's the best for now, I guess." Ryo wasn't sure though. "Give her an hour and we'll check on her, she how she's doing."

One by one, they all turned to their rooms for the night, thinking that it didn't mean anything if they all couldn't finish the night. Cye was last. He merely sat in the overstuffed leather armchair, thinking about Alvina, and the fact that she was leaving in a week. Her visit was short lived, but sweet all the same. He didn't want her to go, but it wasn't his decision.

He felt something tap his leg, pulling him out of his train of thought. He looked down to see a small black cat pawing at his pant leg. The cat looked up at him with orange eyes and leapt up onto his lap.

"Alvina closed the door before you could get in, didn't she?" he asked the cat, stoking him. All he got was the soft purring from the black ball of fur. "Or is it because you like this chair?"

Salem continued to purr. Cye just closed his eyes in an attempt to clear his already cleared head. After a while, he just fell asleep.

The tears finally stopped. It took about two hours, but they stopped, leaving Alvina's face red and raw with her eyesdry and irritated. Her face burned with the salt from her tears, making her very uncomfortable. She got up, ignoring the dizziness that came with her head injury and made her way to her door. She opened it and felt her way down the dark hallway to the bathroom. She closed the door and turned on the light, making her irritated eyes hurt more.

She turned on the sink faucet and soaked a washcloth in the cold water. Wringing it out, she dabbed at her cheeks and forehead. She felt better, but her eyes still hurt. She looked around and found a small container of Visine. She took it and read the label, making sure it was what it was. She put two drops in each of her eyes and blinked them a few times. She looked into the mirror and half-heartedly smiled.

"You really screwed up this time, Alvina," she said to her reflection. "This was worse than your raping incident. Now, you won't be able to even leave the house. Good work girl, you have just ruined your reflection's remaining life."

In her frustration, she banged her forehead against the cool glass, making the wall shake slightly from impact. She was sure she had awoken the light sleepers.

"Damn. What else can I do?"

She made her way out of the bathroom and down the main stairs to the living room. When she reached the bottom, she almost jumped when she saw Cye in the chair. She looked more closely at him and realized that he was asleep, Salem rolled into a ball on his lap. She smiled, and leaned back against the wall. Images and thoughts going through her head. But then a pesky voice interrupted her dreaming.

You love him, it said. There's no doubt about it.

So? She asked it back. I know I love him, but I don't think he loves me.

Did you at least give him a chance to say anything to you?

No…

Why? Alvina thought about it. She was going to lie, but she knew her inner self wouldn't allow it.

Because I'm afraid he'll deny it. I'm afraid to have my heart crushed any more than it already is.

But you won't know unless you give it a chance. If he doesn't make the move, then you will.

No I won't.

Yes, you will. Don't deny me, I'm your ethical consultant.

Alvina laughed at her strange mind. She amazes herself at how crazy she can be. But then again, it would get quite boring in her head if she didn't. She threw her head back, unaware of the wall and hit her wound. She let out a fairly audible yelp of pain and covered her mouth when she remembered Cye.

It was too late though; Cye was awake and pushing himself out of the chair. Within moments, he was beside her, examining her head.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "That sounded like it hurt."

"Of course it hurt," she said. "This wound hurts like a bitch. One of these days, I'm gonna give that bastard Darres an identical one and see how he likes it. Ow! Stop."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to press real hard." She turned her head to face him in the darkness, almost thrown back at how close they were. She admired his eyes, at how stunningly brown they were and at how much emotion they held. She really could see the ocean in his eyes.

Cye felt his breath catch in his lungs as he stared into Alvina's stunning blue eyes. It was like walking into a cold fire, but being soothed rather than burned. It almost looked as if her eyes were illuminating the area around them. He was comfortable around her, and he loved the feeling… he loved her.

Without thinking about what she would do, he closed the few inches between them, catching her lips with his. He really wouldn't call it a kiss since he merely brushed against her lips. He instantly felt his face heat up from embarrassment and made to get up from his kneeling position.

Alvina thought otherwise. She grabbed the collar of his tee shirt and pulled him back down beside her and covered his lips in an actual kiss, it growing more passionate with each passing second. Alvina wrapped her hands around Cye's neck and used him for support in their position. Cye was literally pushing her into the wall.

But neither of them cared. The feeling they were creating between themselves was enough to make up for any discomfort they inflict. They both moaned against each other when they allowed their tongues to explore. They both smiled as they tasted each other. To Cye, Alvina tasted like cinnamon and sugar, like she ate AppleJacks not too long ago. Alvina thought that Cye tasted almost like mint chocolate.

Whether or not they ate those respected things earlier that night, they didn't care. For all the worth in the world, it could only be their minds making them believe that what they are tasting.

But remembering that they were mammals, they had to breathe. They parted all too reluctantly and stared at each other, their lungs panting for oxygen and thanking them for taking a break.

"I've been wanting to do that since the day I met you," Cye whispered.

"Me too," Alvina admitted. "It's been driving me crazy. I thought I didn't have a shot because I was too different. Then I learned your secret and thought that maybe I did, since you, all of you, knew what it was like to not be normal. Then I was just afraid you'd push me away if I told you."

"You didn't seem all that afraid when you kissed me last night."

"Are you kidding me? I was terrified. Why do you think I ran away so fast?"

They giggled to each other and listened to the grandfather clock strike three times. It was late, Cye had to go to school later and Alvina had to start packing. She figured that all the stuff she brought would take her a least a few days to pack everything.

Once back upstairs, Cye and Alvina shared one last goodnight kiss before walking into their rooms for the night.

A/N: There you go. R&R please and I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can!