Sakura: YAY! I got it up!
Hiei: Drat!
Sakura: Since when do you say 'Drat?'
Hiei: (shrugs)
Sakura: Anyhoo, quick thanks to my reviewers! WOOT!
Ivy: You wanna get thanked? Go review. Now.
Kurama: Please?
Sakura: There you go again, bieng polite. I'm mad at you now.
Kurama: (pout)
Sakura: (shifty eyes) Our first reveiwer is....
Hiei: Kuranga108 .... Thanks.
Ivy: (whacks Hiei) also, AnonymousHieiFan101 !! YAY!
Kurama: Who else but ForestHanyou ???
Sakura: OWL! I LOVE YOU TOO!!!! (huggles Owl) She sent me such an uplifting reveiw! I'm SO happy!
Duncan: Woof! (reborn-soul-09)
Sakura: ON WITH THE STORY!!! .
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"Achiko, it's time to wake up!"
Someone was shaking Achiko. She moaned and opened her eyes slowly.
"Achiko, we're going to be late!" It was Kurama. All was not forgotten of the previous day in a nights sleep. Achiko looked at him blankly, slowly sitting up in bed. Her eyes contained anger and shame, sadness and defeat.
"Achiko? What's wrong?" Kurama was worried; this wasn't the Achiko he had grown to like.
Achiko swung her legs out from under the sheets and stood up, kneeling beside the bed and drawing out the suitcase she had her clothes stored in. She picked out her outfit and Kurama shook his head.
"Achiko, really, you should wear the uniform. At least once in the time you are here." Kurama said, looking at the baggy black pants she had taken out.
Achiko looked confusedly at him, then drew out the red and cream uniform, short skirt and all.
"Ugh," she muttered, looking at the outfit in disgust.
"That's right, now go put it on." Kurama pointed to the connecting bathroom, and then turned to grab his own uniform.
When Achiko came out of the bathroom, Kurama was tugging on his shirt, buttoning it. Achiko glared down at her skirt, willing it to burn and never resurface.
"Achiko?" Kurama turned around to get a full view of the girl. She looked twitchy and horribly uncomfortable in the skirt, she had obviously not worn a skirt in either a long time or ever.
"What?" she snapped, then looked sorry for her sudden angry spell.
Kurama smiled, understanding.
"Hey, you don't have to wear the damn skirt!" she whispered angrily, remembering Shiori sleeping in the room across the hall.
"Yea, you're right. But my uniform is purplish pink. Almost as bad." Kurama said jokingly.
Achiko sighed, defeated. She hopped downstairs, letting her tired, angry mood drifting off with each step she skipped.
"Breakfast today is…" Achiko looked around and found a yummy fruit, "Oranges!"
Achiko peeled the orange and dug her fangs into the fleshy fruit. She finished it off in a minute, and grabbed a napkin to wipe the sticky off her face. Once it was all off of her face, Achiko looked over to the TV set, which was flashing and making strange noises every once in a while. A spiky black shape loomed over it from the couch. Achiko stepped back in surprise, then regained herself and grabbed at her shoes, walking to the couch to put them on her small, dainty feet. Hiei looked at Achiko a moment, then quickly looked back at the TV. Achiko tied the shoelaces and stretched out her legs and arms.
"You're in a skirt."
"Eh?" Achiko could have sworn Hiei had just spoken, but to make sure she poked him.
"I said, '"You're in a skirt,'" replied the poked demon.
"Ah, well, wasn't totally my choice." She looked annoyed and stared at Kurama's door.
Hiei followed her gaze, watching as Kurama exited his room and entered the commodious living room.
"Good morning, Hiei." Kurama greeted, smiling at his two friends.
"Hn"
"Well, school starts soooooon." Achiko said, looking at the clock.
"Actually, it starts in… three … minutes…" Kurama said.
He began to hurry around grabbing everything he needed, then opening the door and running out it, dragging Achiko with him.
"Bye bye Shiori-san!" Achiko shouted, and Kurama had hastily said his goodbyes earlier.
Hiei was running with them, keeping up the pace. He could have gone faster of course, but what fun would that have been?
Finally at the school, Achiko hugged Hiei goodbye, then was mercilessly dragged into the building by Kurama.
They ran as fast as they could to homeroom and got there in the middle of announcements. Kurama ran up to the front desk panting and Achiko just standing there, she didn't look the least bit tired.
"You're out of shape, Suichi-kun!" Achiko joked after reaching their seats.
Kurama nodded, then clunked his head down on his desk, leaving it there until the bell rang. The two made their way to English class for A period, one of Achiko's specialties was speaking other languages. Next was B period, exploratory. Achiko and Kurama both had gym class, convenient. Achiko ran to the girls' locker room while Kurama sprinted to the boys. Achiko had never been in a gym class before, and she figured it would be horribly boring.
"First things first, ladies," said the gym teacher, "four laps!" she pointed her clipboard towards the track, and the kids said their names as they passed her.
"Who're you?" she asked Achiko as she walked by.
"My name is Achiko… Oh! Achiko Kokoro…" replied the startled wolf girl.
"You're not on my list, your days mixed up?" the teacher rudely shoved her pen in Achiko's face.
"She's an exchange student!" someone said from behind Achiko, she turned to see Mikashi.
"Mikashi-san?" Achiko said curiously, she was in this gym class as well?
"Exchange student?"
"That's right, she's going to be here for the rest of the week." Mikashi smiled.
"Well, if you says so Tenkai-san," the teacher wrote a note on the bottom of her clipboard.
"Thank you so much Mikashi-san!" Achiko smiled at the blonde.
"No problem," Mikashi had a slight hint of disgust, but it wasn't like Achiko to notice such things.
The two made their way to the track and took off. Achiko was jogging, remembering her usual speed, but when she saw Kurama she couldn't help herself. She broke off from Mikashi and her group of friends, running ahead, her short legs pushing the ground away and giving her the propulsion she needed to catch up. Although she wasn't of normal speed, she still was able to reach Kurama in record time.
"What are you doing?" she voiced, startling Kurama and the other people he was running with,
"Achiko-chan?" Kurama said looking at her strangely.
"Yea, what? I just wanted to say hi!" Achiko grinned at the fox.
Kurama smiled back at the wolf girl and continued to run, Achiko keeping a steady pace with the boys.
Once the lap was over, Achiko ended up where the boys were having gym class, she didn't want to go back so Kurama said she could stay until their teacher told her to go back. Achiko smiled and punched her hand joyously into the air. Of course, the other boys were happy Achiko was there too and flirted shamelessly. Achiko didn't know what they were doing really, but just smiled and said thanks when they complemented her.
"Class, we are going to be playing dodge ball today," the male gym teacher said.
"Dodge ball?" Achiko whispered to Kurama.
"Two teams, you have to get a ball to throw at people or the pin they are guarding. If you get hit, you go to jail, if you throw a ball and they catch it, you go to jail. So really you just have to dodge the balls, and don't throw them too hard!" Kurama explained, warning her in the very end.
Achiko nodded.
"Maybe you should go play with the other girls Kokoro-san." The gym teacher suggested.
"But… why?" she asked, disgusted.
The boys looked over at the girls playing dodge ball, watching Mikashi throw the ball as hard as she could, having it move only a foot or so, and then complaining about broken nails.
The teacher sighed, "Fine, if you don't mind getting pummeled, possibly, then play with the boys,"
Achiko shouted her joy and high-fived Kurama. She turned to the other boys.
"I want to be treated like an equal in this game! Don't exclude me! I'm not a softy little complainer those girls over there!" she wasn't afraid of anything.
The boys nearly burst out laughing, positive that no matter how slowly they threw the ball, she wouldn't be able to dodge it.
"Just don't cry when we do!" warned one particularly imposing boy.
"Don't worry," she countered, "I won't."
They were split into two teams; Achiko and Kurama were placed on the same team. The whistle blew and instantly the balls were tossed at Achiko who either caught or dodged all of them.
"Ha! You thought you could get me out on the first try? I'm insulted!" she picked up a ball and threw it lightly at some of the guys, well lightly for her anyways. Balls whizzed right pass some boys ears, others getting hit by the balls. After getting seven people put on one try, then four at the same time, eleven people were in jail. Achiko let out a laugh and jumped for joy. Achiko high-fived Kurama again and continued playing.
By then, the girls had found where Achiko had wandered off to, most watching in awe while others found the green eyed monster. Finally, once the game was over, Achiko's team winning, the two groups split up, boy and girls, and left for the locker rooms.
"That was a mean game, girl!" said Yuna Karasi.
"Totally awesome!" agreed Setsune Miko.
"You kicked MAJOR ass kiddo!" nodded Hina Segawa.
Achiko smiled and said thanks as she took a quick shower and changed back into her uniform. She glared at the clothes however before putting them on.
She walked out of the locker rooms only to see that Kurama was waiting for her. Achiko smiled her greeting and the two walked back to class. They stopped by his locker, grabbing the history items needed for class. Once History was over, it was on to Science. Science in general was a pain for Achiko, she grew up in a twisted form of poverty- of course it would be hard! She finished up with Science, eagerly awaiting the bell. When it came, she felt like she could fly out of the room, but of course she couldn't. Achiko followed Kurama to his next exploratory, art.
Kurama had to admit, he was a failure at art, and had only signed up for it because it was the only thing left. Yuna and Hina, the girls in gym class, were also in the art class. Achiko and Kurama made their way over to them and they all sat at the table. The teacher gave the lesson for the day, a lesson in values. From dark to light, deep darkness, soft darkness, white. Ribbon drawing.
Kurama shuddered at the mentioning of ribbons. Achiko looked plainly interested and instantly began to follow the instructions given to her. Kurama was struggling, as were
Hina and Yuna.
"See, if you mix together the two values slightly, it looks more realistic!" she said, demonstrating on the paper and watching as the others tried it out. Achiko and Kurama laughed at his sad drawings. Finally, lunch was next! Again, Achiko tried out numerous foods, each with a new, strange taste.
"So, how was today at my school?" Kurama inquired, looking at the wolf girl who was stuffing her bag with stuff. "Ne, okay." Achiko replied, glaring as she tried to shove a huge book into her bag. "Achiko-san!" came a shout.
Achiko turned to view who was yelling to her. "Mikashi-san?" "Yeah! Come on over here a minute!" Mikashi's friends were smiling, all waving at Achiko. Achiko smiled back at them, and then looked towards Kurama, "Be back in a minute, most likely!" She waved and ran over to Mikashi and her friends, who ushered the wolf girl down a hallway. 'It's nice she's making human friends,' Kurama thought while walking down the corridor to the exit.
"Hey, Mikashi-san? Where are we going?" Mikashi and her friends had been pushing Achiko down a deserted hallway. "Oh, just a little question we need to ask." Mikashi replied, hate downing out her façade of a kind person. "Oh, okay." Achiko replied, looking around at where she was.
It got chillier and chillier the farther the group went, and at a last turn, they stopped. Achiko faltered and tripped over the human shoes. "Achiko Kokoro, a question for you." Mikashi said, glaring at the girl who was seated comfortably on the floor. A girl to the left of Mikashi smiled evilly, it had been her own idea, this particular treatment, and the particular questions asked.
"Achiko Kokoro, do you have a boyfriend?" Mikashi asked. Achiko looked at her strangely, twirling her long black hair around her fingers. "What's that?" Achiko thought a moment, must be a ningen thing. The girls gasped, then regained themselves. That was a default question anyways.
"Kokoro, what is your status with Minamino-kun?" Mikashi intensified her glare. "Mina- oh! Right, Kurama…" Achiko mused, "Status? We're great friends- one of the best friends I've ever had!" A serene smiled floated onto the girls face, and she flushed at the thought of the numerous friends she had acquired.
Mikashi turned red, "Do you love Minamino-kun?" Such hatred, anger, distrust. Achiko was confused- wasn't Mikashi her friend? And that girl beside her, the scent was familiar, but her blonde hair and green eyes were not. Achiko regained herself and answered, "Of course I love him! I love all the people I have in my life right now!" But she could hardly finish her sentence, for the jealous girls quickly grabbed Achiko's arms- a reaction that normally would have had them killed. Achiko recalled Kurama speaking of acting human in school, and figured all this to me some sort of ningen thing.
Achiko tried not to sneeze as she was dragged near a room, not knowing what it was. Mikashi opened the door and the other blonde girl gestured for Achiko to venture inside, seemingly knowing her wolfish curiosity.
Achiko was shoved inside without another thought on her part, and she heard the door lock. Although she could usually see in the dark, the sudden onslaught of cold dulled her senses. She grabbed at the door handle, looking through the tiny window atop the door, although she had to jump to even catch a glimpse of the outside door.
The blonde seen earlier was grinning, along with a boy who looked strangely like-
"Koryu!!" Achiko shouted, not caring if anyone heard. The girl grinned even more, a sharp glow surrounding curvaceous body. Large fox ears sprouted from her head, long silvery hair falling into place as her true form was revealed. Her amethyst colored eyes were laughing, as was their owner. Her tail swished back and forth, watching the fire demon writhe in pain as the cold permeated her once warm skin.
"Atticus!?" shouted Achiko, and the fox nodded. Her tail swished even faster, obviously enjoying the thoughts of the torment the wolf girl was about to receive. The two walked away, Atticus changing back into her human form, and Koryu and her walked away.
Achiko, scared and cold, sunk down against the door. Atticus, and Ryu? Together? How could that have happened? The wolf girl sighed, watching as the steam disappeared.
Oh how she loathed the cold…
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Sakura: LOL! Anyways.... just reveiw pleases!
Hiei: It'll make her shut up!
Ivy: Bye bye!
Kurama: TTFN!
Sakura: This was probably short... sorry! Lol! HA! Atticus is me and Ivy's char! GRRRR! DUNCAN! GAURD!
Duncan: Grrrr!
Sakura: Thaaaat's riiight! BACK OFF! MWAHAHAHAHA! I AM insane!
Ivy: Wish me and Dais and Sakura luck in Twin Day today!
Sakura: We're retro waitresses! WOOT!
Daisy: Rollerblades! Yippeee!!!!
Sakura: If I don't put any up for a while.... it's cuz I'm in the Hospital.
Hiei: Why would you be in the hospital?
Sakura: YOU TRY ROLLERBLADING INDOORS ON THE GYM'S NEW FLOOR!
Hiei: O-o
Sakura: (ahem) Anyways.... Please reveiw, I hope the people who aren't reviewing will!
Daisy: Because it really motivates her!
Ivy: Just ask me! I told her to keep it up!
Sakura: And Owl of course, she's a hoot! . (BTW, I'll be fourteen soon, Owl!)
Daisy: What about ForestHanyou? You talk about her all the time at school!
Sakura: (sniff) Sakura love Forest.... and Hiei.... (huggles both)
Kurama: (gets dragged into a bear hug from DAisy and Ivy)
All: aawwwwwwww!
Sakura: TTFN! HAPPY TURKEY DAY!
All: Turkey..... YUM!
Sakura: Love each and every one of ya!! Bye!
Ivy: By the way, Sakura is going over her grandmothers house on Turkey Day and is sleeping over, but she will try to type her tiny little heart out!
DAisy: Our little girl is growing up!
Both: (sob)
Sakura/Hiei: O-o'
ALL: BYE!
Chapter 12 Fin