Holy can of Mountain Dew!!!! Is LizBethy posting a chapter???? after only FIVE (would have been four if would have let me log on yesterday) days of the last?!?!? and it's a full, complete, 18 page chapter?!?!? WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!? :D No, loyal fans, I have not been possessed or gone crazy, and yes, it's really LizBethy! And YES! i'm updating!
YOu all can go worship BS-chan and Kyia-chan, they got the ideas flowin' along with the Yahoo!group amigos! :D YAAAAAY!
Trouble in Paradise
--
"Hey, Quatre, you don't suppose I could try some of that?" Ranma's eye twitched and his hand spasmed. He and Van had come over to Quatre's mansion after their library trip to study and eat Quatre's good food. Duo and Heero arrived moments ago with the cure for Quatre and Trowa. Trowa went first and was his manly self again and Quatre early drank his share.
"Ranma, it reverses the spell." Quatre explained, his voice masculine once again, well, more so than a girl's voice, and his hair short once again.
"Just-just let me have a try? Please? You all are cured now, no sense in wasting that down the drain." Ranma laughed nervously. If it worked, he'd give it to Ryoga and possibly Mousse, but as far as his father was concerned, he could stay a panda. He'd be happier that way anyhow.
"Oh! Shampoo no think of that! Shampoo should got spell from Dorothy so Shampoo stay girl and no cat!" Shampoo fumed and thought about traveling all the way to Europe again and quickly decided against it. It was a very long journey by foot, and half of that was stuck as a cat.
Quatre shrugged and handed over the abused take out container that still held the cure in it. Ranma took a deep breath before taking a gulp. He was surrounded by the same cloud of smoke and it lingered for a moment before disappearing. "Some one get me some cold water!" Ranma cried excitedly.
Quatre handed him his fuchsia pink Nalgene bottle full of ice cold water. Ranma dumped it over his head without delay. "I'm... CURED!" He cried in a manly voice, much to his relief.
"Um... Ranma?" Duo ' called attention from the cursed boy.
"Yeah? There ain't no complications, are there? No funky tail or nothin'?" Ranma asked worriedly.
"Should you try hot water, just to make sure?"
Quatre brought Ranma one of the infamous yellow tea pots. Ranma smiled gleefully and poured it over his head. "See? No... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ranma cried and fell to the floor.
Ranma was a girl.
"It seems as if the curse effects have somehow been reversed." Quatre commented.
Ranma was sobbing on the floor.
"Hey man, don't get down, it's easier to avoid hot water than cold!" Duo grinned cheerfully.
--
Luna eyed Admetus like he was cheap cat food. Admetus eyed Luna like she was peasant scum. "Well, I see you two are going to be great friends." Usagi smiled enthusiastically. Luna curled up in the blankets on the bed, blatantly refusing to acknowledge the phoenix. Admetus ruffled his feathers and settled himself on the perch obviously ignoring the cat. "Just about as well as Rei and I when we first met." Usagi sighed. The two animals ignore Usagi. "Which means you'll be great friends soon! Rei and I have gotten over our differences! ...For the most part."
"Usagi, baby, why are you talking to your cat and ...bird?" Squall asked puzzled from the entry to Usagi's room.
"Squall!" Usagi crossed the small room and into Squall's arms. "How was the meeting."
"Boring, pathetic, trivial. The usual." He shrugged before kissing her softly.
"Poor baby." Usagi giggled. "On a good note, Wufei, Heero, and Duo are boys again. Trowa and Quatre probably are too by now."
"Good to know. How did it go?"
"Good, I guess, I did fall over a cliff and Gohan had to save me." Usagi smiled.
Squall's smile turned to a frown at the mention of Gohan. "Gohan?"
"Yeah, he and I were in this huge nest when I found Admetus–"
"You were alone with Gohan?" Squall interrupted angrily.
"Just for a little while."
Squall snorted.
"I was with Heero, Wufei, Shampoo and Ed as well, Squall. It's not like it was a date!" Usagi tried to joke.
"Now you want to go on a date with him?" Squall growled.
"What? I never said that!"
"Do you want to?"
"Want to what?"
"Go on a date with Gohan?"
"No! Selene! What is your problem?" Usagi asked. She stepped back from him to frown.
"My problem is that you were with Gohan, I KNOW how he looks at you."
"Looks at me? Like how? He's my best friend!"
"If that's what helps you sleep at night."
"Squall! I would NEVER cheat on you, if that's what you're implying."
"Never? So you never have kissed Gohan!"
"Never!...Except..." Usagi fidgeted nervously.
"What?"
"Well, he kissed me, but he apologized! He didn't mean to! He was just so glad I was okay that–"
"He KISSED you? I'll kill him."
"Squall! It was an accident!"
"What, he trip and land on your lips?"
"NO! Why aren't you listening to me?"
"I should have known he'd pull something when he had you alone."
"He didn't pull anything!"
"He kissed you!"
"But I didn't respond! Squall, please calm down!"
"Why the fuck should I calm down!"
"Please, you're starting to scare me."
"Hyne, Usagi, I'm sorry, it's just..." Squall ran a hand roughly through his hair and stared at the wall.
"What?"
"You don't even realize it, but Gohan looks at you like..."
"Like what?"
"Like I do!" Squall turned back to Usagi and shouted.
"...I haven't noticed." Usagi said quietly.
"Of course you haven't! Hyne!"
"Squall, you know that I love you!" Usagi looked up at him with her eyes full of tears.
"Yeah, look, I have to go."
"We're okay right? You aren't mad at me, are you?"
"No, never, it's just, it's so damn frustrating."
"Squall..."
"I'll call you later."
Squall pulled Usagi close for a good-bye kiss, but it was lacking it's usual luster. He left her room and crossed the small apartment quickly. Once he was out he leaned against the door and let out a breath. 'Hyne, I knew I shouldn't have let them go together on that stupid quest.'
"Seems like something's amiss in paradise." Startled, Squall looked up at Seifer, who was leaning causally against the wall. "Paper thin walls." Seifer indicated that he knew about the fight.
"Shut it, Seifer." Squall sighed.
"This ... Gohan character, you know that he picks Usagi up for school, right?" Seifer asked nonchalantly.
"What? But I thought Rei..." Squall stood up straight and turned to face Seifer.
"Yeah, whenever you can't make it, he comes." Seifer shrugged. "I thought you knew until now."
"Damn it!" Squall punched the opposite wall.
--
The next morning found Usagi, Shingo and Seifer in the elevator heading towards the ground floor. Squall had called last night to tell Usagi that he was picking her up in the morning and Usagi was dreading the awkward silence that was sure to occur between them. Shingo could distract them until they dropped him off, but then after that–Usagi didn't want to think about it.
"Well, you look like you didn't sleep a wink last night." Seifer commented.
"What? Seifer? What are you doing here?" USagi demanded, not realizing he'd been standing next to her since she got in.
Seifer just raised an eyebrow.
"For the love of Resident Evil, Odango! He's been in the elevator ever since we got in!" Shingo rolled his eyes at his older sister. "Sometimes I wonder what planet you're living on."
Usagi just glared at both of them. "I've had a long night." She grumbled.
Seifer studied her for a moment. "Hey, do you want to ditch with me?"
"What?" Usagi and Shingo cried.
"Hey, Seifer, you're a cool guy and all but you don't need to be encouraging Usagi to do something like that, her grades are bad enough." Shingo told Seifer.
"Thanks for that vote of confidence." Usagi muttered dryly and shot a look at her brother. I wasn't fun having a younger brother that was smarter than her.
"I mean, that I heard your argument last night, and if you want to get away from the drama I'm here for you." Seifer explained. Usagi was taken back by his sincerity.
"Argument?" Shingo asked clueless. He, his mother and Sesshomaru had still been out last night when Squall and Usagi's fight happened.
"You heard that?" Usagi asked, she blushed as she remembered how loud they had been.
"Thin walls." Seifer shrugged. He dug out his wallet from his back pocket and handed Usagi a card with his cell phone number on it. "Give me a call today if you change your mind."
Usagi took it and stared at it. She didn't even want to imagine what school would be like today. Would Squall confront Gohan? Would Gohan mention anything to anyone else? Oh Selene! "I'll think about it." She replied.
"Oh Lordy." Shingo sighed.
--
"Morning Usagi!" Minako greeted as Usagi entered the locker bay the next morning before home room. Minako was primping her hair in the mirror and retouching her lip stick. "I'm sad now that Quatre is a boy again, he paid me good money to do his hair in the mornings."
"Morning." Usagi greeted, not even paying attention. She had dark rings under her eyes and her hair was messier than normal.
"Sweet Venus, what's wrong Usagi?" Minako gasped and rushed to her friend.
"Wrong? How can you tell?" Usagi asked puzzled as she tried her locker combo for the third time.
Minako stared at her like she was a three year old. "Usagi, I'm the Senshi of Love, I know these things. You had a fight with Squall."
"Yeah." Usagi sighed. She rested her head against the locker. They hadn't spoken a single word on the way to school and when they arrived Duo–a boy now–bounced up to Squall to chat. Usagi slipped away when neither were looking.
"A fight with Squall? Uh-oh." Hitomi teased as she walked in. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Usagi's rumpled uniform. "You broke up, didn't you?" Hitomi asked fearfully.
"What? No, Usagi you can't break up with Squall!"
"Usagi's breaking up with Squall?" Duo gasped as he bounced in. He had left Squall when he had wanted to talk to their Chemistry teacher before school started.
"But they are so cute together." Quatre added as he followed Duo.
"Squall's a fool for letting you go." Gene added as he came up behind Hitomi.
"Did you know your relationship even has a fanclub?" Van asked as he also joined in. "They'll be so depressed."
"This is ridiculous, Squall and I are still together. He even drove me to school this morning." Usagi shouted above the gossip. "We just had a fight last night and I didn't sleep well." She grumbled.
"A fight?" Duo gasped. Squall didn't mention a fight when they were talking earlier.
"This is their first one!" Quatre clapped his hands together joyfully. "How exciting."
"What about?" Minako asked.
"Nothing." Usagi waved the topic away.
"Nothing? You can fight about nothing?" Van asked confused. "How strange."
"Van, she's just avoiding the question, they really did fight over something." Hitomi explained. Van mumbled something about 'odd earth customs'.
"Really, guys, we're okay now." Usagi finally managed to get her locker open and then was attacked by her math book.
"But you didn't sleep last night." Minako pressed.
"What the? C'mon guys! Clear the way, why are you all just standing around?" Trunks growled as he tried to get to his locker. He was followed by a cheerful Gohan. Usagi quickly grabbed her books when she saw Gohan and slammed her locker door shut before dodging out.
"What's got you in such a bad mood Briefs?" Gene asked. "Rei nagging you again?" He teased.
Rei, who came up behind Gene, glared at him. "Nagging?" She growled before tugging on his ear. Hard. "What's wrong with Usagi? She dashed out of here pretty quick." Rei asked, turning to Minako and still tugging Gene's ear.
"Let me go woman!" Gene pleaded.
"Usagi and Squall had a fight last night." Minako told her.
"What?" Rei cried. She let go of Gene's ear and he slunk away while she was distracted. "What about?"
Minako shrugged.
"That's odd." Gohan commented quietly. He wondered briefly if Usagi told Squall that he kissed her. Kami, he prayed, I hope not.
--
During Home room Usagi happily slunk to the back of the room to sit in between Heero and Trowa. She was fairly confidant that neither would strike up a conversation if she didn't start it and it was likely they hadn't heard about her fight with Squall yet. She ignored Rei's concerned glances by attempting to do the homework that she neglected last night.
"Hey Usagi." Usagi winced as Gohan sat down in front of her. "There's a rumor going around that you and Squall had a fight last night, do you want to talk or anything?" Gohan asked, he was concerned when Usagi didn't look up to greet him.
"Don't worry about it Gohan, I'm fine. Really." Usagi nodded and continued to struggled through math problems that she didn't understand.
"Hey Son, would you move please?" Gohan looked up to see Squall standing in front of him with his arms crossed over his chest. A curious Duo was peering over his shoulder.
"What's the problem Loire?" Gohan asked back, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'd like to sit near my girlfriend, is that okay with you?" Squall asked with a sneer.
"First why don't you tell me why Usagi looks like death this morning." Gohan responded with a slight growl.
"I fail to see how it's any of your business." Squall answered.
"It is my business when something's wrong with my best friend." Gohan stood to confront Squall.
"Gohan, Squall, please!" Usagi finally intervened. "Gohan would you just let Squall sit?" Usagi begged.
Gohan looked down at Usagi before sighing and moving to sit next to Trunks and Rei. Squall triumphantly took the vacant seat and Duo sat next to him. Squall leaned back and placed a soft kiss on Usagi's cheek and Usagi smiled softly in return.
It was official, there was no way Usagi was going to make it through the rest of this day.
"Good morning class! I have some very interesting news for you all today!" Kaoru greeted the class cheerfully and completely oblivious to the previous tension. "Its seems that your previous Principal, Souma Jubei, has unexpectedly quit. The school board has replaced him with a Mr. ... Knives."
"Knives?" A few of the kids mumbled.
"Well, doesn't he sound ... interesting." Kaoru stared at the uncommon name and hoped that he was a sane man.
The class seemed to drag on to Usagi, Gohan and Squall kept glaring at each other and soon all seven Senshi were shooting her worried looks. Even Trowa and Heero picked up on the gossip floating around the room. Heero looked uncomfortable and Usagi knew he still wouldn't say anything, but Trowa looked like he was about to break down and finally say something.
"So... did you see the basketball game a couple days ago?" Trowa began uneasily.
"Ah, no. I had to work. But we won, right?" Usagi asked in fake cheerfulness.
"Yeah, the other team couldn't stop staring at Duo, who had forgot that he needed a sports bra." Trowa smiled.
Usagi gave a short laugh. "I'm sure every guy in the audience didn't mind either." She smiled.
"No." Heero joined the conversation. "The stupid braided baka didn't even do it on purpose, he didn't know he needed one."
The three shared a small laugh before falling into a awkward silence. And thankfully, their short conversation ended officially as the bell sounded.
"Well, I'll see you two later." Usagi waved and bound out of the room before anyone could stop her. There was no way in all nine hells was she going to stay today. She raced to the bottom floor and ran to the payphones right outside the office. She briefly caught a glimpse of a tall blonde man with bright blue eyes standing in a gray suit in the office and she wondered if that was 'Mr. Knives'. She fished the card that Seifer gave her out of her pocket and quickly shove 100 yen into the payphone before dialing.
It rang twice.
"Almasy here."
"Hey Seifer... it's Usagi."
"Hey! I didn't think I was going to hear from you!"
"Yeah... well, I changed my mind, you still want to ditch?"
"Of course! Let's meet at the Royal Crown Arcade?"
"Yeah, I'm leaving now." Usagi smiled.
"See you in about ten minutes then."
"Ja ne."
"Ja."
Usagi hung up the phone and snuck out through the gyms.
--
"Wait a minute. You're ditching to go hang out with that Usagi girl that Squall is dating?" Sage asked in disbelief. His one visible green eye was staring at Seifer.
"Yeah, so cover for me for Astronomy, please?" Seifer begged.
"What's up with this girl, first Squall and now Seifer? Sweet Suzaku." Tasuki whistled low as he leaned against the wall.
"Hey, this is all part of my plan to get back at Squall." Seifer grinned and shoved his backpack into his locker.
"Right." Sage replied sarcastically. He ran a hand through his golden hair and check it in his reflection on the window across from them.
"Just say you'll cover for me?" Seifer asked. He gave Sage a ridiculous pair of puppy dog eyes.
Sage sighed and waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. I'll cover for ya."
"Thanks!" He grinned before taking off.
–
"Welcome to Ro–Usagi? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school?" Motoki asked as he watched one of his favorite customers walk in.
"Hey Motoki, don't mind me, I'm ditching." She told him as she sat at the bar that Motoki stood behind.
"Ditching? What for?"
Usagi sighed and rested her head against the counter. "I couldn't handle being at school for one more second, so I took up an offer to ditch." She replied.
"And I'm glad you did." Seifer slid into the seat next to her.
"Seifer? You're here already?" Usagi asked in surprise.
Seifer smiled cheekily. "Yeah, so now that you are a delinquent like me what would you like to do?"
"Well... we're in an arcade... care to try your luck against me at Hydro Racing?" Usagi asked with a grin.
"You're on!" Seifer smirked.
--
"Hey Loire!" Gohan called. It was after second period and Gohan hadn't seen Usagi since she ran off after Home room. And as the two periods rolled by he became furious with Squall. What the Hell was his problem?
Squall stopped as he heard Gohan call his father's last name. He turned slowly and crossed his arms over his chest. Duo stopped as well and watched Gohan approached.
"What do you want Son?" Squall asked nonchalantly.
"Where's Usagi?" Gohan asked.
"I'd assume she's on her way to Algebra, that's her third period class." Squall replied.
"I know what her third period class is, I have every single class with her." Gohan snarled back.
"Well then, you should know where she is then, shouldn't you?" Squall asked impatiently. He was really getting sick of Gohan.
"She wasn't in our Literature class nor Gym." Gohan told him. "And I assume her absence is because of you."
"What? Me? What the Hell? Usagi and I are fine, in case you haven't realized it yet." Squall growled back, he clenched his fist as he glared at the taller and more muscular Gohan.
"Fine, yeah, is that why she responded to my kiss the other day?" Gohan taunted with a smirk. He was really not acting himself, but he couldn't help it, Squall just made him so mad with the way he took advantage of Usagi.
Squall's eyes widened, even Duo flinched when Gohan told him that. Squall's fist balled and he punched Gohan square on the jaw. Which he knew it was a stupid move the second his fist connected with what felt like steel and was really Gohan's cheek. Hyne, he forgot for a moment what Gohan really was.
Squall didn't even see Gohan's counter punch but the next thing he knew was he was in a world of pain and across the hallway and against the wall.
"Gohan!" Duo cried in shock. Luckily for Squall Trunks and Gene were not to far down the way and saw Squall fly across the hall. Trunks was at Gohan's side in an instance holding him back.
"Trunks, let me go right now." Gohan ordered.
"Hell no Gohan, you forget your strength, you could kill Squall." Trunks struggled to hold back the furious half saiyajinn.
Across the hall Gene and Duo hauled Squall up off the floor. Squall wiped at the blood that started to leak out of his mouth. "Hyne he's got a punch like a brick." He muttered.
"He is a brick." Duo replied with a small smirk as he and Gene checked Squall over to see if he was hurt badly.
"Son! Loire! What the Hell was that?" Mr. Weizer approached the scene, he had been down the hallway talking to the school nurse–who was guy–when he saw Squall throw the first punch. "I'm taking you down to the office, now!" He ordered.
Squall nodded as Gene and Duo let him go. He was hit with a wave of nausea as he stood on his own. He slowly started to follow the Auto shop teacher. Gohan shrugged off Trunks and followed. He prayed to Kami that they wouldn't call his parents, his mother more specifically.
–
"Well, this is quite exciting for me! My first day here and I already get to meet some of the students." Knives greeted the two delinquents that sat in his office with a laugh. Oh how he hated humans. Their pathetic mortal lives.
He stood in front of them and leaned back against his desk. Gohan read the name plate on the desk: Millions of Knives. He gulped. That had to be some sort of joke to scare kids.
"Mr. Weizer tells me that you two were fighting in the hallway, is this correct?" He asked in a business like manner. If either Squall or Gohan had been looking at him they would have noticed his eye bulge and then twitch, but his smile stayed steady.
"Yes sir." Squall responded immediately. He gingerly felt his jaw and wondered if it would fall off.
Gohan nodded in response.
"Well, care to tell me why?" Knives asked.
"Over my girlfriend." Squall responded. Gohan snorted and sent a glare at Squall.
Pathetic humans and their disgusting drama. The whole race was worthless, no matter how his brother tried to convince him otherwise. "I'm afraid I'll have to take disciplinary action. According to the school's rules I'm obligated to call both of your parents and both of you will be suspended for three days.
Oh kami Chichi is going to kill me! Gohan thought mentally. Why? Oh why did he decided to taunt Squall? Stupid, stupid, stupid! He decided to blame it on his saiyajinn instincts.
Squall sighed and excepted his punishment diplomatically. This wasn't the first time he'd be suspended or that a school administrator had to call his father. Katana High had the Loire residence of speed dial. Laguna would laugh it off with 'that's my growing boy' and Kiros would properly scold him with the help of Ward's intimidating looks. Dear Hyne, three days of suspension for a first offense?
Knives picked up a folder from his desk. "I see that you used to get in tons of trouble at your old school, Squall. It looks like I'll be seeing you back here frequently if you keep this up. And do try not to. Gohan, go ahead and return to class, suspension starts tomorrow. Squall, go to the school nurse and get that cheek look at." Knives ordered. "Now go."
Gohan and Squall stood up and sent each other a glare before heading off in opposite directions.
--
Squall had never been the nurse's office, he saw it far too often at his last school with all of his frequent fights with Seifer and was all too happy to avoid it here. He paused outside the door to take in the name written of the door: Hokuto Umeda. He opened the door and walked in slowly.
"Hello... Mr. Umeda?" Squall asked as he noticed the tall man sitting at the desk. He was looking over a few papers and peering through his glasses. His amber colored eyes looked up at Squall, and he wondered if they used the same hair stylist, Umeda's brown hair with natural red highlights fell around his face the exact same way Squall's did. Duo called it 'Shagilicious'.
"Can I help you?" He asked. Umeda stood up to look over Squall when he noticed the rapidly forming bruise on Squall's pale cheek. "Well, that looks nasty." He commented dryly. "Take a seat." He gestured to a chair next to his desk.
Squall sat quietly while Umeda pulled out some ointment and a bandage. "Walk into someone's fist?" He asked lightly. He adjusted his glasses before sitting down next to Squall.
"...You could say that." Squall winced as the cold ointment was smoothed over his skin.
"And I assume this was the infamous fight in the sixth floor corridor?" He asked with a small smile.
"Yeah." Squall sighed.
"You got a good punch in too if I remember correctly, why isn't the other kid down here too?"
"He doesn't exactly bruise." Squall shrugged. "He hits harder too."
"I'd imagine so, I did see him send you across the hall." Squall winced at the memory.
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes as Umeda applied his ointment. Squall started when his hand brushed against his, which was resting in his lap. Squall looked up to see the school nurse smirk at him. "Ah... sir?"
"Yes?" Umeda asked innocently as he brushed a strand of hair out of Squall's eye.
"What are you doing?"
"Why, I'm applying your ointment." He winked and pulled out the bandage to cover his cheek while his other hand caressed his non bruised cheek. Squall started and fell out of his chair.
"I think you're hitting on me!" Squall blushed.
"How very perceptive of you. I couldn't help myself, you've got beautiful eyes." He grinned down at Squall before offering a hand to help him up.
Squall declined and scrambled up on his own. "I think I'm feeling better already! ...Um, thanks, I guess. I'll... see you around." He called before running out of the room like Diablos himself was on his tail. Umeda laughed to himself before putting the ointment and bandage away.
--
After two hours, and dozens of quarters, Seifer and Usagi decided to call it quits.
"Not bad Usagi, I didn't peg you for a videogamer." Seifer grinned and stretched his cramping fingers.
"Have you met my little brother? Who do you think he inherited it from?" Usagi smiled and stood from the chair she'd been occupying.
"Who woulda thunk."
"So, what now, oh Master of Ditching?" Usagi teased.
"Food. You always have to pig out on junk food when you ditch." Seifer instructed.
"There's a small café down the block." Usagi suggested.
"All right then, let's go!"
"See ya later Motoki!"
"Come back soon Usagi!" Motoki waved.
Usagi exited through the automatic sliding doors and ran straight into a person. A tall person. A tall person with long silvery white hair. And facial markings. And he oddly resembled her mother's boyfriend. Crap.
"Sesshomaru?" Usagi looked horrified. 'Figures, the first time I decide to ditch and I get caught. Talk about bad karma.' She thought as she mentally berated herself. Her mother was going to kill her.
Sesshomaru frowned down at his woman's daughter. "Usagi? Aren't you supposed to be at school?" He asked. He then noticed the tall blonde standing behind her. Where did he recognize him? Wasn't he the neighbor? What in the name of the nine Hells was he doing with Usagi? His eyes narrowed as he studied the human.
"Heh, well, funny you should ask, I was, just, um... Crap?" Usagi nervously twisted her hands together and tried an innocent smile on him. Her mother's smile worked against him so why shouldn't hers?
"What are you doing with the neighbor?" Sesshomaru asked and glared threateningly at Seifer.
"Hey, this neighbor has got a name, it's Se–"
"It does not concern me fool, what concerns me is your influence over Usagi. Now be gone before you regret it." Sesshomaru threatened in his deadly calm voice.
"What? Why the Hell should I listen to–"
"Seifer, I think it's best if you go..." Usagi tried to shoe him off. "I'm already in enough trouble for being caught." She tried to reason with him.
Seifer glared at Sesshomaru before caving in and heading off. "I'll talk to you later." He grumbled as he trudged off.
Usagi turned to face the Demon again. "Please don't tell my mother! I know it's stupid to ditch school but... but..." Usagi begged with eyes that she knew Sesshomaru couldn't resist.
"Usagi, calm down. Why don't we get some lunch and talk?" Sesshomaru suggested and gestured to the café that Usagi had intended to eat lunch at.
Usagi looked up at him in surprise. "Uh, sure!" She agreed with a smile.
--
Fifteen minutes later after their lunches had been ordered Usagi and Sesshomaru were sitting in an awkward silence. Usagi was nervously picking at her nails and Sesshomaru was busy mentally cursing the surrounding humans. Their smell, their apparel, their choice of food, and most importantly their cell phone conversations.
"Honestly, don't humans know anything about etiquette or even decency?" Sesshomaru sneered.
Usagi smiled briefly. "I guess not, stupid humans." Usagi agreed.
Sesshomaru looked over at the blonde and she giggled back. He let a small smirk show. "Why are you out of school?" Sesshomaru began now that the atmosphere wasn't as uncomfortable.
Usagi sighed. "Squall and I had a fight."
A fight? That stupid human–that wasn't so bad for a human–dared to treat his Goddess's daughter with disrespect? "I'll kill him." Sesshomaru growled.
"No! It's okay, Squall is... he's jealous of my friend Gohan and how close he is to me. I didn't want to put up with the tension today so I left school." Usagi explained earnestly. She really didn't want Sesshomaru to hurt Squall.
Jealous? Well, that didn't seem so bad. The girl was bound to have plenty of suitors with the looks that she inherited from her mother. "Simple human emotion. Let him spend more time with you and let him show you off to get it out of his system." Sesshomaru advised.
Usagi smiled happily up at Sesshomaru. "Wow, fatherly advice, that's a change for me... My father would just tell me I'm not old enough for boys yet and ground me." Usagi started at Sesshomaru thoughtfully. He would make a better dad then Kenji.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes slightly. "That is absurd, what would that solve?" Usagi shrugged in response. "...Speaking of... fatherly... Could you answer a question I have?"
Usagi paused. Sesshomaru seemed... uncharacteristically nervous. He wasn't fidgeting or anything, he just seemed... off. "Fire away." She nodded.
"I want to ask Ikuko to mate–marry me."
Usagi stared at him in shock. That was certainly unexpected. "Marry?" Mate? Did she even want to know? No. Good Selene, no.
Sesshomaru nodded. "Ikuko... Ikuko is the most beautiful and wonderful person that this Sesshomaru has ever met. I want to, I want her by my side until death do us part. I want her to bare my pups."
Wow... Usagi never imagined the stoic and fierce Sesshomaru to be so romantic. Wait, did he say pups? "Pups?" Usagi squeaked.
"Yes. Pups. Children. Heirs. Call them what you wish but I have found no better woman than Ikuko to bare them."
This was all very... surreal to Usagi. "What do you need me for?"
"I fear I don't know the correct way to ask her to be mine, and so soon after that despicable Kenji hurt her." Sesshomaru growled at the thought of Usagi's father.
"I see." Usagi sat and studied her glass of water. How did her mother feel ever since Kenji left? Surely she loved Sesshomaru, Ikuko wasn't one to lead someone on like Minako would. But how would she feel about being remarried? What if she thought Sesshomaru would eventually leave her too? This needed some serious research to be done. "I'm not sure right now what she thinks...but give me some time to find out and I'll give you an answer." Usagi replied.
Sesshomaru nodded in agreement. He looked up as the waitress set down their dishes. "Enjoy!" Usagi and Sesshomaru switched to frivolous topics while they ate. Sesshomaru paid the bill and called Usagi's school on his cell phone to excuse her for the day. Sesshomaru then walked her home and said good-bye, he had to get back to work.
--
Seven o'clock that night found Squall knocking on the Tsukino's apartment door. Ikuko greeted him with a smile and ushered Squall towards Usagi's room asking if he'd like to stay for dinner. Squall nodded and stood in Usagi's doorway. She was sitting on her bed with Admetus on her shoulder and playing with her hair. Luna was effectively laying across Usagi's lap and begging for attention.
Squall cleared his throat to catch her attention.
Usagi looked up and was startled to see her boyfriend standing in her doorway. "Squall!" She smiled warily. She then noticed his still bruised cheek. She quickly stood from her bed, much to Luna and Admetus's dismay and rushed to him. "What happened to your face? That looks nasty?" Usagi gently touched his cheek.
Squall sighed and led Usagi back to her bed and sat down. The tv blared Shingo's latest video game fixation: .hack.
"Gohan and I fought today at school." He told her.
"What?" Usagi's eyes widened.
"I want to be honest with you so that you trust me and I trust you. I wanted to be the first to tell you why. I guess he hasn't called you?"
Usagi shook her head. "No, he hasn't... but Minako is stalking out answering machine but I didn't feel up to talking with her."
Squall nodded. "Gohan came to me before third period and accused me of having something to do with you being ... where ever you were today. Well, that led to him commenting on your kiss–" Usagi flinched "–and I punched him."
"You punched Gohan? Squall, I know you're strong but that's suicidal!" Usagi held Squall's hand and nestled into his shoulder.
Squall early except her. "Yeah... I know." He sighed. "Well, I guess you can figure out what happened next. Gohan punched me and I flew across the hall." Squall sighed. "We both have been suspended for fighting."
"Suspended? For how long?" Usagi exclaimed.
"Three days."
"Three days? For a punch?" Usagi frowned.
"Yeah... and then the school nurse was flirting with me." Squall frowned as well.
"Isn't the school nurse a guy?" Usagi asked.
"...Yeah."
Usagi giggled and Squall mock glared at her. "So where were you today?"
"I... was with Seifer." Usagi told him honestly.
"What? Seifer? Hyne! Why?" Squall growled.
"Squall, you have nothing to worry about." Usagi reassured him. "This morning Seifer offered to ditch with me and I took him up on it to avoid everyone today."
Squall collapsed backwards on Usagi's bed. "Hyne, Seifer?" He sighed.
Usagi rearranged herself so that her cheek was on his chest. "Let's go out on a date." Usagi thought back to Sesshomaru's advice.
"A date? Now?" Squall asked curiously.
"Yeah, well, not now, but Friday. To prove to you that I'm not planning on cheating, and prove to Gohan that I'm not available, and to prove the everyone else it's no big deal if we have one measly fight." Usagi looked down into Squall's gray blue eyes.
Squall smirked and hugged Usagi. "A date."
--
To Be Continued
Holy Schism, i think i need a break! :D
In the next chapter, Usagi finds out if her mom wants to get remarried, and will Ami FINALLY find Kamui? and is Usagi and Squall REALLY okay? And how will CHichi react to her precious boy being suspended? And will Knives kill all the students?! BUM BUM BUUUM bwaaaaaaaahahahaha
Thanks to: Yujin-chan aka Neko Megami, yami (thanks so much!), Kitty Kat-chan, Chaos Babe (Ed and Squall? now there's a twist!), Nikkiara, Vegnagun (aw, be nice! :D thanks for you inspiration via teh Yahoo!group and Akira Toriyama did an injustice by letting them creat GT!), Chibi Michi Reese-chan, black Aura-san (didn't realize MARS was so popular!), BabySerenity (WAAAAAAAAAAAAAI! GLOMPS Aren't you SO proud of me!!! i think i deserve a raise or something!), Kyia Star (WAAAAAAAAAAAAAI! We finally talked! :D Thanks for all the advice amiga!), Jes, Poison Ivy16 (Your... favorite?! GLOMPS), Callisto Star, PrincessLesse (I really was going to have Squall talk to Cloud during this chapter... at least a phone call or something... oops?), Riru-chan, Lady S.L, Gact Camui, dream wind, sailorveggie, Ja Rule, The Setra Prince, LunarPrincess, Repori (Glomps), AND Datajana! the first person to review chapter 26! :D
I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
Review please! And check out the Yahoo!Group and the Fanlisting, links on my author's page! :D
YOu all can go worship BS-chan and Kyia-chan, they got the ideas flowin' along with the Yahoo!group amigos! :D YAAAAAY!
Trouble in Paradise
--
"Hey, Quatre, you don't suppose I could try some of that?" Ranma's eye twitched and his hand spasmed. He and Van had come over to Quatre's mansion after their library trip to study and eat Quatre's good food. Duo and Heero arrived moments ago with the cure for Quatre and Trowa. Trowa went first and was his manly self again and Quatre early drank his share.
"Ranma, it reverses the spell." Quatre explained, his voice masculine once again, well, more so than a girl's voice, and his hair short once again.
"Just-just let me have a try? Please? You all are cured now, no sense in wasting that down the drain." Ranma laughed nervously. If it worked, he'd give it to Ryoga and possibly Mousse, but as far as his father was concerned, he could stay a panda. He'd be happier that way anyhow.
"Oh! Shampoo no think of that! Shampoo should got spell from Dorothy so Shampoo stay girl and no cat!" Shampoo fumed and thought about traveling all the way to Europe again and quickly decided against it. It was a very long journey by foot, and half of that was stuck as a cat.
Quatre shrugged and handed over the abused take out container that still held the cure in it. Ranma took a deep breath before taking a gulp. He was surrounded by the same cloud of smoke and it lingered for a moment before disappearing. "Some one get me some cold water!" Ranma cried excitedly.
Quatre handed him his fuchsia pink Nalgene bottle full of ice cold water. Ranma dumped it over his head without delay. "I'm... CURED!" He cried in a manly voice, much to his relief.
"Um... Ranma?" Duo ' called attention from the cursed boy.
"Yeah? There ain't no complications, are there? No funky tail or nothin'?" Ranma asked worriedly.
"Should you try hot water, just to make sure?"
Quatre brought Ranma one of the infamous yellow tea pots. Ranma smiled gleefully and poured it over his head. "See? No... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Ranma cried and fell to the floor.
Ranma was a girl.
"It seems as if the curse effects have somehow been reversed." Quatre commented.
Ranma was sobbing on the floor.
"Hey man, don't get down, it's easier to avoid hot water than cold!" Duo grinned cheerfully.
--
Luna eyed Admetus like he was cheap cat food. Admetus eyed Luna like she was peasant scum. "Well, I see you two are going to be great friends." Usagi smiled enthusiastically. Luna curled up in the blankets on the bed, blatantly refusing to acknowledge the phoenix. Admetus ruffled his feathers and settled himself on the perch obviously ignoring the cat. "Just about as well as Rei and I when we first met." Usagi sighed. The two animals ignore Usagi. "Which means you'll be great friends soon! Rei and I have gotten over our differences! ...For the most part."
"Usagi, baby, why are you talking to your cat and ...bird?" Squall asked puzzled from the entry to Usagi's room.
"Squall!" Usagi crossed the small room and into Squall's arms. "How was the meeting."
"Boring, pathetic, trivial. The usual." He shrugged before kissing her softly.
"Poor baby." Usagi giggled. "On a good note, Wufei, Heero, and Duo are boys again. Trowa and Quatre probably are too by now."
"Good to know. How did it go?"
"Good, I guess, I did fall over a cliff and Gohan had to save me." Usagi smiled.
Squall's smile turned to a frown at the mention of Gohan. "Gohan?"
"Yeah, he and I were in this huge nest when I found Admetus–"
"You were alone with Gohan?" Squall interrupted angrily.
"Just for a little while."
Squall snorted.
"I was with Heero, Wufei, Shampoo and Ed as well, Squall. It's not like it was a date!" Usagi tried to joke.
"Now you want to go on a date with him?" Squall growled.
"What? I never said that!"
"Do you want to?"
"Want to what?"
"Go on a date with Gohan?"
"No! Selene! What is your problem?" Usagi asked. She stepped back from him to frown.
"My problem is that you were with Gohan, I KNOW how he looks at you."
"Looks at me? Like how? He's my best friend!"
"If that's what helps you sleep at night."
"Squall! I would NEVER cheat on you, if that's what you're implying."
"Never? So you never have kissed Gohan!"
"Never!...Except..." Usagi fidgeted nervously.
"What?"
"Well, he kissed me, but he apologized! He didn't mean to! He was just so glad I was okay that–"
"He KISSED you? I'll kill him."
"Squall! It was an accident!"
"What, he trip and land on your lips?"
"NO! Why aren't you listening to me?"
"I should have known he'd pull something when he had you alone."
"He didn't pull anything!"
"He kissed you!"
"But I didn't respond! Squall, please calm down!"
"Why the fuck should I calm down!"
"Please, you're starting to scare me."
"Hyne, Usagi, I'm sorry, it's just..." Squall ran a hand roughly through his hair and stared at the wall.
"What?"
"You don't even realize it, but Gohan looks at you like..."
"Like what?"
"Like I do!" Squall turned back to Usagi and shouted.
"...I haven't noticed." Usagi said quietly.
"Of course you haven't! Hyne!"
"Squall, you know that I love you!" Usagi looked up at him with her eyes full of tears.
"Yeah, look, I have to go."
"We're okay right? You aren't mad at me, are you?"
"No, never, it's just, it's so damn frustrating."
"Squall..."
"I'll call you later."
Squall pulled Usagi close for a good-bye kiss, but it was lacking it's usual luster. He left her room and crossed the small apartment quickly. Once he was out he leaned against the door and let out a breath. 'Hyne, I knew I shouldn't have let them go together on that stupid quest.'
"Seems like something's amiss in paradise." Startled, Squall looked up at Seifer, who was leaning causally against the wall. "Paper thin walls." Seifer indicated that he knew about the fight.
"Shut it, Seifer." Squall sighed.
"This ... Gohan character, you know that he picks Usagi up for school, right?" Seifer asked nonchalantly.
"What? But I thought Rei..." Squall stood up straight and turned to face Seifer.
"Yeah, whenever you can't make it, he comes." Seifer shrugged. "I thought you knew until now."
"Damn it!" Squall punched the opposite wall.
--
The next morning found Usagi, Shingo and Seifer in the elevator heading towards the ground floor. Squall had called last night to tell Usagi that he was picking her up in the morning and Usagi was dreading the awkward silence that was sure to occur between them. Shingo could distract them until they dropped him off, but then after that–Usagi didn't want to think about it.
"Well, you look like you didn't sleep a wink last night." Seifer commented.
"What? Seifer? What are you doing here?" USagi demanded, not realizing he'd been standing next to her since she got in.
Seifer just raised an eyebrow.
"For the love of Resident Evil, Odango! He's been in the elevator ever since we got in!" Shingo rolled his eyes at his older sister. "Sometimes I wonder what planet you're living on."
Usagi just glared at both of them. "I've had a long night." She grumbled.
Seifer studied her for a moment. "Hey, do you want to ditch with me?"
"What?" Usagi and Shingo cried.
"Hey, Seifer, you're a cool guy and all but you don't need to be encouraging Usagi to do something like that, her grades are bad enough." Shingo told Seifer.
"Thanks for that vote of confidence." Usagi muttered dryly and shot a look at her brother. I wasn't fun having a younger brother that was smarter than her.
"I mean, that I heard your argument last night, and if you want to get away from the drama I'm here for you." Seifer explained. Usagi was taken back by his sincerity.
"Argument?" Shingo asked clueless. He, his mother and Sesshomaru had still been out last night when Squall and Usagi's fight happened.
"You heard that?" Usagi asked, she blushed as she remembered how loud they had been.
"Thin walls." Seifer shrugged. He dug out his wallet from his back pocket and handed Usagi a card with his cell phone number on it. "Give me a call today if you change your mind."
Usagi took it and stared at it. She didn't even want to imagine what school would be like today. Would Squall confront Gohan? Would Gohan mention anything to anyone else? Oh Selene! "I'll think about it." She replied.
"Oh Lordy." Shingo sighed.
--
"Morning Usagi!" Minako greeted as Usagi entered the locker bay the next morning before home room. Minako was primping her hair in the mirror and retouching her lip stick. "I'm sad now that Quatre is a boy again, he paid me good money to do his hair in the mornings."
"Morning." Usagi greeted, not even paying attention. She had dark rings under her eyes and her hair was messier than normal.
"Sweet Venus, what's wrong Usagi?" Minako gasped and rushed to her friend.
"Wrong? How can you tell?" Usagi asked puzzled as she tried her locker combo for the third time.
Minako stared at her like she was a three year old. "Usagi, I'm the Senshi of Love, I know these things. You had a fight with Squall."
"Yeah." Usagi sighed. She rested her head against the locker. They hadn't spoken a single word on the way to school and when they arrived Duo–a boy now–bounced up to Squall to chat. Usagi slipped away when neither were looking.
"A fight with Squall? Uh-oh." Hitomi teased as she walked in. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Usagi's rumpled uniform. "You broke up, didn't you?" Hitomi asked fearfully.
"What? No, Usagi you can't break up with Squall!"
"Usagi's breaking up with Squall?" Duo gasped as he bounced in. He had left Squall when he had wanted to talk to their Chemistry teacher before school started.
"But they are so cute together." Quatre added as he followed Duo.
"Squall's a fool for letting you go." Gene added as he came up behind Hitomi.
"Did you know your relationship even has a fanclub?" Van asked as he also joined in. "They'll be so depressed."
"This is ridiculous, Squall and I are still together. He even drove me to school this morning." Usagi shouted above the gossip. "We just had a fight last night and I didn't sleep well." She grumbled.
"A fight?" Duo gasped. Squall didn't mention a fight when they were talking earlier.
"This is their first one!" Quatre clapped his hands together joyfully. "How exciting."
"What about?" Minako asked.
"Nothing." Usagi waved the topic away.
"Nothing? You can fight about nothing?" Van asked confused. "How strange."
"Van, she's just avoiding the question, they really did fight over something." Hitomi explained. Van mumbled something about 'odd earth customs'.
"Really, guys, we're okay now." Usagi finally managed to get her locker open and then was attacked by her math book.
"But you didn't sleep last night." Minako pressed.
"What the? C'mon guys! Clear the way, why are you all just standing around?" Trunks growled as he tried to get to his locker. He was followed by a cheerful Gohan. Usagi quickly grabbed her books when she saw Gohan and slammed her locker door shut before dodging out.
"What's got you in such a bad mood Briefs?" Gene asked. "Rei nagging you again?" He teased.
Rei, who came up behind Gene, glared at him. "Nagging?" She growled before tugging on his ear. Hard. "What's wrong with Usagi? She dashed out of here pretty quick." Rei asked, turning to Minako and still tugging Gene's ear.
"Let me go woman!" Gene pleaded.
"Usagi and Squall had a fight last night." Minako told her.
"What?" Rei cried. She let go of Gene's ear and he slunk away while she was distracted. "What about?"
Minako shrugged.
"That's odd." Gohan commented quietly. He wondered briefly if Usagi told Squall that he kissed her. Kami, he prayed, I hope not.
--
During Home room Usagi happily slunk to the back of the room to sit in between Heero and Trowa. She was fairly confidant that neither would strike up a conversation if she didn't start it and it was likely they hadn't heard about her fight with Squall yet. She ignored Rei's concerned glances by attempting to do the homework that she neglected last night.
"Hey Usagi." Usagi winced as Gohan sat down in front of her. "There's a rumor going around that you and Squall had a fight last night, do you want to talk or anything?" Gohan asked, he was concerned when Usagi didn't look up to greet him.
"Don't worry about it Gohan, I'm fine. Really." Usagi nodded and continued to struggled through math problems that she didn't understand.
"Hey Son, would you move please?" Gohan looked up to see Squall standing in front of him with his arms crossed over his chest. A curious Duo was peering over his shoulder.
"What's the problem Loire?" Gohan asked back, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'd like to sit near my girlfriend, is that okay with you?" Squall asked with a sneer.
"First why don't you tell me why Usagi looks like death this morning." Gohan responded with a slight growl.
"I fail to see how it's any of your business." Squall answered.
"It is my business when something's wrong with my best friend." Gohan stood to confront Squall.
"Gohan, Squall, please!" Usagi finally intervened. "Gohan would you just let Squall sit?" Usagi begged.
Gohan looked down at Usagi before sighing and moving to sit next to Trunks and Rei. Squall triumphantly took the vacant seat and Duo sat next to him. Squall leaned back and placed a soft kiss on Usagi's cheek and Usagi smiled softly in return.
It was official, there was no way Usagi was going to make it through the rest of this day.
"Good morning class! I have some very interesting news for you all today!" Kaoru greeted the class cheerfully and completely oblivious to the previous tension. "Its seems that your previous Principal, Souma Jubei, has unexpectedly quit. The school board has replaced him with a Mr. ... Knives."
"Knives?" A few of the kids mumbled.
"Well, doesn't he sound ... interesting." Kaoru stared at the uncommon name and hoped that he was a sane man.
The class seemed to drag on to Usagi, Gohan and Squall kept glaring at each other and soon all seven Senshi were shooting her worried looks. Even Trowa and Heero picked up on the gossip floating around the room. Heero looked uncomfortable and Usagi knew he still wouldn't say anything, but Trowa looked like he was about to break down and finally say something.
"So... did you see the basketball game a couple days ago?" Trowa began uneasily.
"Ah, no. I had to work. But we won, right?" Usagi asked in fake cheerfulness.
"Yeah, the other team couldn't stop staring at Duo, who had forgot that he needed a sports bra." Trowa smiled.
Usagi gave a short laugh. "I'm sure every guy in the audience didn't mind either." She smiled.
"No." Heero joined the conversation. "The stupid braided baka didn't even do it on purpose, he didn't know he needed one."
The three shared a small laugh before falling into a awkward silence. And thankfully, their short conversation ended officially as the bell sounded.
"Well, I'll see you two later." Usagi waved and bound out of the room before anyone could stop her. There was no way in all nine hells was she going to stay today. She raced to the bottom floor and ran to the payphones right outside the office. She briefly caught a glimpse of a tall blonde man with bright blue eyes standing in a gray suit in the office and she wondered if that was 'Mr. Knives'. She fished the card that Seifer gave her out of her pocket and quickly shove 100 yen into the payphone before dialing.
It rang twice.
"Almasy here."
"Hey Seifer... it's Usagi."
"Hey! I didn't think I was going to hear from you!"
"Yeah... well, I changed my mind, you still want to ditch?"
"Of course! Let's meet at the Royal Crown Arcade?"
"Yeah, I'm leaving now." Usagi smiled.
"See you in about ten minutes then."
"Ja ne."
"Ja."
Usagi hung up the phone and snuck out through the gyms.
--
"Wait a minute. You're ditching to go hang out with that Usagi girl that Squall is dating?" Sage asked in disbelief. His one visible green eye was staring at Seifer.
"Yeah, so cover for me for Astronomy, please?" Seifer begged.
"What's up with this girl, first Squall and now Seifer? Sweet Suzaku." Tasuki whistled low as he leaned against the wall.
"Hey, this is all part of my plan to get back at Squall." Seifer grinned and shoved his backpack into his locker.
"Right." Sage replied sarcastically. He ran a hand through his golden hair and check it in his reflection on the window across from them.
"Just say you'll cover for me?" Seifer asked. He gave Sage a ridiculous pair of puppy dog eyes.
Sage sighed and waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. I'll cover for ya."
"Thanks!" He grinned before taking off.
–
"Welcome to Ro–Usagi? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school?" Motoki asked as he watched one of his favorite customers walk in.
"Hey Motoki, don't mind me, I'm ditching." She told him as she sat at the bar that Motoki stood behind.
"Ditching? What for?"
Usagi sighed and rested her head against the counter. "I couldn't handle being at school for one more second, so I took up an offer to ditch." She replied.
"And I'm glad you did." Seifer slid into the seat next to her.
"Seifer? You're here already?" Usagi asked in surprise.
Seifer smiled cheekily. "Yeah, so now that you are a delinquent like me what would you like to do?"
"Well... we're in an arcade... care to try your luck against me at Hydro Racing?" Usagi asked with a grin.
"You're on!" Seifer smirked.
--
"Hey Loire!" Gohan called. It was after second period and Gohan hadn't seen Usagi since she ran off after Home room. And as the two periods rolled by he became furious with Squall. What the Hell was his problem?
Squall stopped as he heard Gohan call his father's last name. He turned slowly and crossed his arms over his chest. Duo stopped as well and watched Gohan approached.
"What do you want Son?" Squall asked nonchalantly.
"Where's Usagi?" Gohan asked.
"I'd assume she's on her way to Algebra, that's her third period class." Squall replied.
"I know what her third period class is, I have every single class with her." Gohan snarled back.
"Well then, you should know where she is then, shouldn't you?" Squall asked impatiently. He was really getting sick of Gohan.
"She wasn't in our Literature class nor Gym." Gohan told him. "And I assume her absence is because of you."
"What? Me? What the Hell? Usagi and I are fine, in case you haven't realized it yet." Squall growled back, he clenched his fist as he glared at the taller and more muscular Gohan.
"Fine, yeah, is that why she responded to my kiss the other day?" Gohan taunted with a smirk. He was really not acting himself, but he couldn't help it, Squall just made him so mad with the way he took advantage of Usagi.
Squall's eyes widened, even Duo flinched when Gohan told him that. Squall's fist balled and he punched Gohan square on the jaw. Which he knew it was a stupid move the second his fist connected with what felt like steel and was really Gohan's cheek. Hyne, he forgot for a moment what Gohan really was.
Squall didn't even see Gohan's counter punch but the next thing he knew was he was in a world of pain and across the hallway and against the wall.
"Gohan!" Duo cried in shock. Luckily for Squall Trunks and Gene were not to far down the way and saw Squall fly across the hall. Trunks was at Gohan's side in an instance holding him back.
"Trunks, let me go right now." Gohan ordered.
"Hell no Gohan, you forget your strength, you could kill Squall." Trunks struggled to hold back the furious half saiyajinn.
Across the hall Gene and Duo hauled Squall up off the floor. Squall wiped at the blood that started to leak out of his mouth. "Hyne he's got a punch like a brick." He muttered.
"He is a brick." Duo replied with a small smirk as he and Gene checked Squall over to see if he was hurt badly.
"Son! Loire! What the Hell was that?" Mr. Weizer approached the scene, he had been down the hallway talking to the school nurse–who was guy–when he saw Squall throw the first punch. "I'm taking you down to the office, now!" He ordered.
Squall nodded as Gene and Duo let him go. He was hit with a wave of nausea as he stood on his own. He slowly started to follow the Auto shop teacher. Gohan shrugged off Trunks and followed. He prayed to Kami that they wouldn't call his parents, his mother more specifically.
–
"Well, this is quite exciting for me! My first day here and I already get to meet some of the students." Knives greeted the two delinquents that sat in his office with a laugh. Oh how he hated humans. Their pathetic mortal lives.
He stood in front of them and leaned back against his desk. Gohan read the name plate on the desk: Millions of Knives. He gulped. That had to be some sort of joke to scare kids.
"Mr. Weizer tells me that you two were fighting in the hallway, is this correct?" He asked in a business like manner. If either Squall or Gohan had been looking at him they would have noticed his eye bulge and then twitch, but his smile stayed steady.
"Yes sir." Squall responded immediately. He gingerly felt his jaw and wondered if it would fall off.
Gohan nodded in response.
"Well, care to tell me why?" Knives asked.
"Over my girlfriend." Squall responded. Gohan snorted and sent a glare at Squall.
Pathetic humans and their disgusting drama. The whole race was worthless, no matter how his brother tried to convince him otherwise. "I'm afraid I'll have to take disciplinary action. According to the school's rules I'm obligated to call both of your parents and both of you will be suspended for three days.
Oh kami Chichi is going to kill me! Gohan thought mentally. Why? Oh why did he decided to taunt Squall? Stupid, stupid, stupid! He decided to blame it on his saiyajinn instincts.
Squall sighed and excepted his punishment diplomatically. This wasn't the first time he'd be suspended or that a school administrator had to call his father. Katana High had the Loire residence of speed dial. Laguna would laugh it off with 'that's my growing boy' and Kiros would properly scold him with the help of Ward's intimidating looks. Dear Hyne, three days of suspension for a first offense?
Knives picked up a folder from his desk. "I see that you used to get in tons of trouble at your old school, Squall. It looks like I'll be seeing you back here frequently if you keep this up. And do try not to. Gohan, go ahead and return to class, suspension starts tomorrow. Squall, go to the school nurse and get that cheek look at." Knives ordered. "Now go."
Gohan and Squall stood up and sent each other a glare before heading off in opposite directions.
--
Squall had never been the nurse's office, he saw it far too often at his last school with all of his frequent fights with Seifer and was all too happy to avoid it here. He paused outside the door to take in the name written of the door: Hokuto Umeda. He opened the door and walked in slowly.
"Hello... Mr. Umeda?" Squall asked as he noticed the tall man sitting at the desk. He was looking over a few papers and peering through his glasses. His amber colored eyes looked up at Squall, and he wondered if they used the same hair stylist, Umeda's brown hair with natural red highlights fell around his face the exact same way Squall's did. Duo called it 'Shagilicious'.
"Can I help you?" He asked. Umeda stood up to look over Squall when he noticed the rapidly forming bruise on Squall's pale cheek. "Well, that looks nasty." He commented dryly. "Take a seat." He gestured to a chair next to his desk.
Squall sat quietly while Umeda pulled out some ointment and a bandage. "Walk into someone's fist?" He asked lightly. He adjusted his glasses before sitting down next to Squall.
"...You could say that." Squall winced as the cold ointment was smoothed over his skin.
"And I assume this was the infamous fight in the sixth floor corridor?" He asked with a small smile.
"Yeah." Squall sighed.
"You got a good punch in too if I remember correctly, why isn't the other kid down here too?"
"He doesn't exactly bruise." Squall shrugged. "He hits harder too."
"I'd imagine so, I did see him send you across the hall." Squall winced at the memory.
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes as Umeda applied his ointment. Squall started when his hand brushed against his, which was resting in his lap. Squall looked up to see the school nurse smirk at him. "Ah... sir?"
"Yes?" Umeda asked innocently as he brushed a strand of hair out of Squall's eye.
"What are you doing?"
"Why, I'm applying your ointment." He winked and pulled out the bandage to cover his cheek while his other hand caressed his non bruised cheek. Squall started and fell out of his chair.
"I think you're hitting on me!" Squall blushed.
"How very perceptive of you. I couldn't help myself, you've got beautiful eyes." He grinned down at Squall before offering a hand to help him up.
Squall declined and scrambled up on his own. "I think I'm feeling better already! ...Um, thanks, I guess. I'll... see you around." He called before running out of the room like Diablos himself was on his tail. Umeda laughed to himself before putting the ointment and bandage away.
--
After two hours, and dozens of quarters, Seifer and Usagi decided to call it quits.
"Not bad Usagi, I didn't peg you for a videogamer." Seifer grinned and stretched his cramping fingers.
"Have you met my little brother? Who do you think he inherited it from?" Usagi smiled and stood from the chair she'd been occupying.
"Who woulda thunk."
"So, what now, oh Master of Ditching?" Usagi teased.
"Food. You always have to pig out on junk food when you ditch." Seifer instructed.
"There's a small café down the block." Usagi suggested.
"All right then, let's go!"
"See ya later Motoki!"
"Come back soon Usagi!" Motoki waved.
Usagi exited through the automatic sliding doors and ran straight into a person. A tall person. A tall person with long silvery white hair. And facial markings. And he oddly resembled her mother's boyfriend. Crap.
"Sesshomaru?" Usagi looked horrified. 'Figures, the first time I decide to ditch and I get caught. Talk about bad karma.' She thought as she mentally berated herself. Her mother was going to kill her.
Sesshomaru frowned down at his woman's daughter. "Usagi? Aren't you supposed to be at school?" He asked. He then noticed the tall blonde standing behind her. Where did he recognize him? Wasn't he the neighbor? What in the name of the nine Hells was he doing with Usagi? His eyes narrowed as he studied the human.
"Heh, well, funny you should ask, I was, just, um... Crap?" Usagi nervously twisted her hands together and tried an innocent smile on him. Her mother's smile worked against him so why shouldn't hers?
"What are you doing with the neighbor?" Sesshomaru asked and glared threateningly at Seifer.
"Hey, this neighbor has got a name, it's Se–"
"It does not concern me fool, what concerns me is your influence over Usagi. Now be gone before you regret it." Sesshomaru threatened in his deadly calm voice.
"What? Why the Hell should I listen to–"
"Seifer, I think it's best if you go..." Usagi tried to shoe him off. "I'm already in enough trouble for being caught." She tried to reason with him.
Seifer glared at Sesshomaru before caving in and heading off. "I'll talk to you later." He grumbled as he trudged off.
Usagi turned to face the Demon again. "Please don't tell my mother! I know it's stupid to ditch school but... but..." Usagi begged with eyes that she knew Sesshomaru couldn't resist.
"Usagi, calm down. Why don't we get some lunch and talk?" Sesshomaru suggested and gestured to the café that Usagi had intended to eat lunch at.
Usagi looked up at him in surprise. "Uh, sure!" She agreed with a smile.
--
Fifteen minutes later after their lunches had been ordered Usagi and Sesshomaru were sitting in an awkward silence. Usagi was nervously picking at her nails and Sesshomaru was busy mentally cursing the surrounding humans. Their smell, their apparel, their choice of food, and most importantly their cell phone conversations.
"Honestly, don't humans know anything about etiquette or even decency?" Sesshomaru sneered.
Usagi smiled briefly. "I guess not, stupid humans." Usagi agreed.
Sesshomaru looked over at the blonde and she giggled back. He let a small smirk show. "Why are you out of school?" Sesshomaru began now that the atmosphere wasn't as uncomfortable.
Usagi sighed. "Squall and I had a fight."
A fight? That stupid human–that wasn't so bad for a human–dared to treat his Goddess's daughter with disrespect? "I'll kill him." Sesshomaru growled.
"No! It's okay, Squall is... he's jealous of my friend Gohan and how close he is to me. I didn't want to put up with the tension today so I left school." Usagi explained earnestly. She really didn't want Sesshomaru to hurt Squall.
Jealous? Well, that didn't seem so bad. The girl was bound to have plenty of suitors with the looks that she inherited from her mother. "Simple human emotion. Let him spend more time with you and let him show you off to get it out of his system." Sesshomaru advised.
Usagi smiled happily up at Sesshomaru. "Wow, fatherly advice, that's a change for me... My father would just tell me I'm not old enough for boys yet and ground me." Usagi started at Sesshomaru thoughtfully. He would make a better dad then Kenji.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes slightly. "That is absurd, what would that solve?" Usagi shrugged in response. "...Speaking of... fatherly... Could you answer a question I have?"
Usagi paused. Sesshomaru seemed... uncharacteristically nervous. He wasn't fidgeting or anything, he just seemed... off. "Fire away." She nodded.
"I want to ask Ikuko to mate–marry me."
Usagi stared at him in shock. That was certainly unexpected. "Marry?" Mate? Did she even want to know? No. Good Selene, no.
Sesshomaru nodded. "Ikuko... Ikuko is the most beautiful and wonderful person that this Sesshomaru has ever met. I want to, I want her by my side until death do us part. I want her to bare my pups."
Wow... Usagi never imagined the stoic and fierce Sesshomaru to be so romantic. Wait, did he say pups? "Pups?" Usagi squeaked.
"Yes. Pups. Children. Heirs. Call them what you wish but I have found no better woman than Ikuko to bare them."
This was all very... surreal to Usagi. "What do you need me for?"
"I fear I don't know the correct way to ask her to be mine, and so soon after that despicable Kenji hurt her." Sesshomaru growled at the thought of Usagi's father.
"I see." Usagi sat and studied her glass of water. How did her mother feel ever since Kenji left? Surely she loved Sesshomaru, Ikuko wasn't one to lead someone on like Minako would. But how would she feel about being remarried? What if she thought Sesshomaru would eventually leave her too? This needed some serious research to be done. "I'm not sure right now what she thinks...but give me some time to find out and I'll give you an answer." Usagi replied.
Sesshomaru nodded in agreement. He looked up as the waitress set down their dishes. "Enjoy!" Usagi and Sesshomaru switched to frivolous topics while they ate. Sesshomaru paid the bill and called Usagi's school on his cell phone to excuse her for the day. Sesshomaru then walked her home and said good-bye, he had to get back to work.
--
Seven o'clock that night found Squall knocking on the Tsukino's apartment door. Ikuko greeted him with a smile and ushered Squall towards Usagi's room asking if he'd like to stay for dinner. Squall nodded and stood in Usagi's doorway. She was sitting on her bed with Admetus on her shoulder and playing with her hair. Luna was effectively laying across Usagi's lap and begging for attention.
Squall cleared his throat to catch her attention.
Usagi looked up and was startled to see her boyfriend standing in her doorway. "Squall!" She smiled warily. She then noticed his still bruised cheek. She quickly stood from her bed, much to Luna and Admetus's dismay and rushed to him. "What happened to your face? That looks nasty?" Usagi gently touched his cheek.
Squall sighed and led Usagi back to her bed and sat down. The tv blared Shingo's latest video game fixation: .hack.
"Gohan and I fought today at school." He told her.
"What?" Usagi's eyes widened.
"I want to be honest with you so that you trust me and I trust you. I wanted to be the first to tell you why. I guess he hasn't called you?"
Usagi shook her head. "No, he hasn't... but Minako is stalking out answering machine but I didn't feel up to talking with her."
Squall nodded. "Gohan came to me before third period and accused me of having something to do with you being ... where ever you were today. Well, that led to him commenting on your kiss–" Usagi flinched "–and I punched him."
"You punched Gohan? Squall, I know you're strong but that's suicidal!" Usagi held Squall's hand and nestled into his shoulder.
Squall early except her. "Yeah... I know." He sighed. "Well, I guess you can figure out what happened next. Gohan punched me and I flew across the hall." Squall sighed. "We both have been suspended for fighting."
"Suspended? For how long?" Usagi exclaimed.
"Three days."
"Three days? For a punch?" Usagi frowned.
"Yeah... and then the school nurse was flirting with me." Squall frowned as well.
"Isn't the school nurse a guy?" Usagi asked.
"...Yeah."
Usagi giggled and Squall mock glared at her. "So where were you today?"
"I... was with Seifer." Usagi told him honestly.
"What? Seifer? Hyne! Why?" Squall growled.
"Squall, you have nothing to worry about." Usagi reassured him. "This morning Seifer offered to ditch with me and I took him up on it to avoid everyone today."
Squall collapsed backwards on Usagi's bed. "Hyne, Seifer?" He sighed.
Usagi rearranged herself so that her cheek was on his chest. "Let's go out on a date." Usagi thought back to Sesshomaru's advice.
"A date? Now?" Squall asked curiously.
"Yeah, well, not now, but Friday. To prove to you that I'm not planning on cheating, and prove to Gohan that I'm not available, and to prove the everyone else it's no big deal if we have one measly fight." Usagi looked down into Squall's gray blue eyes.
Squall smirked and hugged Usagi. "A date."
--
To Be Continued
Holy Schism, i think i need a break! :D
In the next chapter, Usagi finds out if her mom wants to get remarried, and will Ami FINALLY find Kamui? and is Usagi and Squall REALLY okay? And how will CHichi react to her precious boy being suspended? And will Knives kill all the students?! BUM BUM BUUUM bwaaaaaaaahahahaha
Thanks to: Yujin-chan aka Neko Megami, yami (thanks so much!), Kitty Kat-chan, Chaos Babe (Ed and Squall? now there's a twist!), Nikkiara, Vegnagun (aw, be nice! :D thanks for you inspiration via teh Yahoo!group and Akira Toriyama did an injustice by letting them creat GT!), Chibi Michi Reese-chan, black Aura-san (didn't realize MARS was so popular!), BabySerenity (WAAAAAAAAAAAAAI! GLOMPS Aren't you SO proud of me!!! i think i deserve a raise or something!), Kyia Star (WAAAAAAAAAAAAAI! We finally talked! :D Thanks for all the advice amiga!), Jes, Poison Ivy16 (Your... favorite?! GLOMPS), Callisto Star, PrincessLesse (I really was going to have Squall talk to Cloud during this chapter... at least a phone call or something... oops?), Riru-chan, Lady S.L, Gact Camui, dream wind, sailorveggie, Ja Rule, The Setra Prince, LunarPrincess, Repori (Glomps), AND Datajana! the first person to review chapter 26! :D
I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
Review please! And check out the Yahoo!Group and the Fanlisting, links on my author's page! :D