Not Your Typical Night
Chapter One
(January 5th. Wednesday. 12:28:16 pm)
Yusuke sighed, leaning over the fence on the high school roof, watching the members of the JROTC practice their formations. How had Keiko talked him into this? It was just after Christmas vacation, and the model student had gotten it into her head that she wanted to go to the school's Military Ball. Problem? To get in, you either had to be in ROTC…or go with a date that was.
Why couldn't high school be as simple as middle school?
But that wasn't the only hindrance. The ball was formal dress. Man, Yusuke positively hated tuxedos. Then again, Keiko dressed prom-style wasn't a bad prospect. Almost worth putting up with dressing up. It seemed things were looking up for Urameshi.
He picked up his stuff and quickly ran back to class as the 'end of lunch' bell rang, wondering who Keiko's matchmaking-loving gal pals were going to pair them up with…
(February 1st. Tuesday. 7:39:22 am.)
February crept up on Kurama, failing to convince him that it was winter. It was getting more and more difficult to tell the difference between the seasons anymore.
He had been forced to transfer into the public high school after the tuition for his private school became too much for his mother's income, and he wouldn't have her put herself in debt just for the sake of his education. Just as she couldn't bring herself to allow him to find a job.
His friends and teachers at his old academy were sad to see him go at first. It was such a waste. Their star pupil was being lowered to public school.
It had been his mother's wish that he join ROTC, and also that he go to the Military Ball they were planning on the 18th. What was a loving son to do but obey? However, the decision of which girl to bring was quite tricky. The majority of the school was begging him to take them.
He sighed. Hiei was having the same trouble. Even he couldn't escape the government when Koenma, too, wanted him to follow the Ningenkai laws. There had been more than a few heated arguments on the subject.
The apparition had been especially annoyed when the school chose his classes for him. He had refused to fill out the application for selecting his own courses, though, so he didn't have the team's sympathy. It would be good for him to learn some discipline, anyway.
But would he go to the dance? Probably. It would be within his personality to go alone, just to spite all the women who desired so desperately to go with him. The thought made Souichi smile slightly.
He continued his walk, able to see the school gate not too far away. As the ball was drawing closer, the torture of attending would intensify with each day he didn't settle on a date. He could already envision the swarm of girls waiting for him at the classroom…
Today, he resolved to choose one of them.
(February 9th. Wednesday. 11:54:02 am.)
Hiei glared at each passing chick. They ignored the evil stare and fluttered their eyelashes at him, silently praying that he would pick them. 'Fat chance,' he thought.
Keiko's clique was over in a far corner of the cafeteria, giggling with the brown-haired girl. The pyro-master just could not comprehend what the detective saw in her. He swiftly looked away as he saw them begin to glance in his direction.
The object of attention went on to Algebra II while her groupies cautiously advanced on Hiei.
"What do you want?" he barked at the girls. The first was intimidated by his harsh tone and whimpered, cowering behind her buddy. The other just laughed and explained.
"Would you take Keiko to the dance on the 18th?" she asked.
"What?" Did he hear that right? What, exactly, was going through their heads? He was interested in taking no one.
"Well, we want you to take Keiko to the military ball," she repeated.
"Why?"
The fearful one piped up. "Because she and Yusuke can't go unless they have ROTC dates."
"And I should help them because…?"
The outgoing brat answered, "Well, for one thing, you wouldn't have to put up with the people asking you out now. Besides, you don't have to hang out with her the whole night. Yusuke'll dance with her. They're gonna pay their own way, anyway."
The brainy female did have a point. He found himself accepting their proposition.
"Whatever."
The girls gave a joyful squeal and thanked him before running off to tell their friend the good news. Hiei rolled his eyes. He'd never understand them…
(February 9th. Wednesday. 2:07:19 pm.)
Kuwabara stood perfectly still, performing the tasks that he was told by his superior. Why in the worlds had he ever taken this stupid course? Oh, yeah. It was the easiest, not to mention impressed Yukina.
He wanted so badly for the day to end. It was really a shame that he couldn't take her to the Military Ball. But even if he did, Hiei'd probably be all up in his face about it first chance he got. Why was that guy so protective over her, anyhow? It's not like he was her big brother or something. Did he want her for himself?
(A/N: Remember, he doesn't know about the sibling thing…)
This left a huge dilemma. Who would he take? There was always that girl…that blond-haired ditz that his gangster guys swore up and down had multiple personalities. But that was silly.
Still…she was pretty. And she was looking for a ticket in.
What the heck? It couldn't be all that bad, could it?