Wah! I'm so sorry! I finished this on Thursday, but was too lazy to type it on Friday, and the next thing I knew, four days had passed! Wah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! -pulls Ritsu-fit- I'm soorry!
Ahem. Anyway, reviewers!
K'onix- Right mind? Riight...-looks around shiftily (is that a word?)- Suure...she's in her right mind...Cool! America! -sings-
Sugar911- Yay! You answered all my questions! I think you were the only one who did that...And you live in Ottawa! Whee!
Inoure- Cool. It must be nice knowing someone on the net...And Kitsune IS a cool nickname. I want a cool nickname...wah!
Torri-Chiobie-...Well, that was abrupt...but I got the point. Heehee!
Jello-Is-Evil- Ooh...juxtaposition...biig word...-shiny eyes- Ahem. Er...thank you for your kind thoughts?
FieryEyes- That's okay. My friends weird me out and I weird myself out so much I'm like weird-ness immune. Except to myself. Whee! Canada! My instincts told me to update sooner...but I was too lazy...-sweatdrop-
blackkaosrose- Whoa...Kei reminded you of Boris? Scaary...
connie- Yay! I'm unpredictable! Or unstable...or random...but I prefer unpredictable!
NorthernSky- Yesss...Tala must pay! Bwhahahah! ...Ahem.
windstar- Total unfairness! But it'll get better...eventually...
cry of the wolf- Wow...what a long review! Wah! You're so cool! -sniff- I'm so happy! You're so nice! WAAH!
ariotlatio- Toronto is cool! You can get anime stuff!
Apple Senorita- Well, at least you reviewed this chapter, eh? I'm glad you're back! And thanks for reviewing my SK stuff!
Glimmern-glitas- Tala and Aya...hmm...probably, yeah...
Ciel Of Light- Thanks! Don't worry, I will!
Wolfchilde- Woo! Thanks! I'm trying to make Aya believable! And...well, I'm not sure if the two stories are connected...I haven't thought that much yet...-sweatdrop- But that's a good idea!
DEDICATION:
So many nice people...I'm going to make this a multiple dedication! Dedicated to Glimmern-glitas, who's always been there, to Apple Senorita, who came back and reviewed my other stuff, to cry of the wolf, no one's ever said such nice things before! And to Wolfchilde, who made me feel better about my OC.
...That felt like a Grammy speech or something. I'm weirded out...
Anyway, enjoy!
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" Did you hear?" Was the first thing everybody said as they entered the first period art class. The air was filled with exclamations and rumours, kids comparing all they had ever heard and suspected of their teacher.
" I can't believe it!" Mariah shook her head. " Aira? I wouldn't have thought he could've done it!"
" He couldn't have! There has to be some misunderstanding! I bet he was framed by that low-life brother of his!" Aya declared, clenching her fists in righteous fury.
" Aya, didn't you listen to the news? The police gathered at his house because the burglar alarm sounded, and when they went inside they found a heavily-injured Aira holding a gun over his brother's dead body!" Emily informed her. " It had to have been Aira who did it. Maybe by accident, but still."
" I can't believe you guys would turn on him so quickly!" Aya cried, backing away from her friends. " You didn't even know him!"
Hurt and indignation shone in emerald and gold eyes as both girls opened their mouths to retaliate. They never got the chance to speak, as the classroom door slammed.
All the students turned to see a familiar figure leaning on the classroom door.
" Kirei!" Aya called joyously, momentarily forgetting her anger.
" Hello, Aya." Kirei forced a smile. It was clear he was disturbed by the news of last night. He turned to the class, pushing his glasses up his nose. " I will be your new teacher in Mr. Namasaki's absence. My name, as some of you already know, is Kireshii Namasaki."
" What happened to your brother?" Someone shouted.
" Yeah, why was a murderer allowed to teach us?"
" You ever think of yourself in a mini-skirt?" A smirking Tala Valkov made the last lewd comment. Most of the class roared with laughter.
Aya could see Kirei was at the end of his patience. His delicate hands were whitened in barely suppressed rage and his golden eyes were narrowed. At the last sentence however, he snapped.
" Enough!" He shouted, crossing over to Tala's desk with angry clicks of his heeled boots. He slammed the books he carried on the table. " Do you think you're funny? Do you think you're brave?" Each word was a poisonous hiss. The class was silent, riveted by the change in their pretty teacher. His thin frame was trembling in rage, his skin whitened and drawn, and his eyes reduced to golden slits. His hair almost looked like it was standing on end.
Tala stared back evenly, a small smirk tilting his lips.
" Kireshii, what about a dress?" One possibly insane classmate joked, breaking the tense silence.
Kirei whirled around so fast his hair whipped Tala across the face. " Shut up! Did I give you permission to use my first name? No, it's Mr. Namasaki to you!" One manicured nail pointed dangerously at the boy.
Then, Kirei abruptly turned and strode back to the front of the classroom. " Turn to the chapter on Stonehenge in your book. Read it silently. I want a five-page essay on it by the end of the class. Those who don't finish can stay after school."
The class erupted in groans and whines, not used to that kind of work.
" Silence!" There was silence. " I was going to do something fun with you, but obviously you don't deserve it. Now work; the clock in ticking." Kirei crossed his arms in satisfaction.
There was a rustle of paper as everyone took out the required items. And even as Aya flipped to the chapter in the book, she couldn't help smiling. A quick glance told her her friends felt the same.
You tell 'em, Kirei!
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Kirei had marked them hard on their assignment. Half the class had failed. Aya stared at the bright red 'B-' on her paper. She hadn't had such a low mark in ages. But she supposed it was to be expected. There had barely been enough time to finish the essay.
She sighed, sliding the essay back in her binder. There were more important things to think about. She made her way to the front of the class, where Kirei was furiously marking last week's homework.
" Hi." Aya bean cautiously, wondering if Kirei was still mad. He had been silent all through the class.
Kirei glanced up briefly, and looked down again. " Hey."
" Erm…" Aya looked for the best way to handle this situation. Her eye was drawn towards the painting Kirei was marking.
'…your ideas are childish and half-formed. I suggest you reconsider your ideals, and actually try next time. You should also practice your painting. The strokes are weak and shaky…'
Aya winced. Aira was never that critical. His suggestions always seemed like helpful compliments. Kirei was much harsher, Aya noted as Kirei scrawled a large 'R' on the painting's back.
" Are – are you okay?" Aya asked timidly, fidgeting.
Kirei wrote for a bit more, and then sighed. He looked up, pushing up his glasses. " I'm fine. The doctor said soon my eyesight will get even better, and I'll only have to wear a light prescription."
" That's great!" Aya smiled. " And um…I'm sorry about…you know." Her smile faltered and she looked down.
" Don't be." Kirei said shortly. " Aira won't be there long."
" Of course!" Aya nodded wholeheartedly.
" Don't worry yourself." Kirei thawed a bit, allowing a softer tone of voice. " It will be fine."
" Okay." Aya turned to leave, but she hesitated. " By the way, today in class…you were great."
Aya swore she heard a chuckle as she closed the door.
She walked down the hallway to her next class, but stopped when she heard a familiar voice.
" I knew he was no good. It's pretty lucky he got arrested. We don't have to deal with that puff anymore…"
Aya turned on her heel slowly, targeting the cluster of jocks and cheerleaders who were hanging onto Tala's every word. Her fists clenched and angry tears came to her eyes. She hated him. She hated the way that sneering voice came out of the person she loved. That arrogant gleam that hid the former caring shine in his eyes. She strode furiously forward, and before she knew what she was doing, she had slapped Tala hard across the face.
He froze, one hand lightly touching the flush that was spreading on his cheek.
" How dare you? How could you? You knew Aira! You knew he – " Aya broke off, sniffing.
A disdainful expression showed on Tala's face. " Standing up for him, eh? I always knew you were a teacher's pet. Tell me, what else did you do for him? There must be something that motivates him to give you such high marks. After all, it couldn't be your art!" He laughed cruelly.
Aya flushed at the innuendo. " Shut up! Aira would never! I wouldn't! How dare you?"
" I noticed you stayed after class again today." Tala continued. " Cozying up to the new teacher? What do you think he's going to end up as? A thief? An arsonist? A rapist?"
" Shut up!" Aya shouted, shoving him back. " You have no right to talk like that! You don't know anything! Just because you have no life – " She clamped her mouth shut as Tala burst into raucous laughter.
" You aren't exactly proving me wrong." He remarked roughly.
Aya was so red with both embarrassment and anger that she was practically glowing.
" Mr. Valkov!" A voice barked. Kirei was behind them, arms crossed and leaning against the wall. " Shouldn't you be in class?"
" Of course." Tala bowed mockingly. He sneered as he brushed past the teacher.
Aya blushed harder. She had no idea how much Kirei had heard. Stupid Tala and his dirty thoughts!
" You'd better get to class too." Kirei said pointedly.
" Yes! Thank you!" Aya smiled in relief, glad Kirei had not mentioned the confrontation. She ducked, and then, with another grateful glance, ran off.
Kirei shook his head. That boy…he glared at the floor, thinking of Tala.
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" It's nice of you to walk me there." Aya remarked shyly, looking up at Brooklyn.
" No problem. I'm just here for moral support." Brooklyn grinned, his hands casually folded behind his head. " Why didn't Mariah and Emily come?"
Aya flushed with embarrassment, looking away. She hadn't spoken to her friends since the little spat they'd had that morning. Aya wasn't about to talk to them until someone apologized, but it wasn't going to be her! She knew it was her fault…but she had difficulties apologizing to people close to her. All her life the other party had swallowed their pride first.
Brooklyn chuckled, realizing the reason for her silence. " You sure hold a grudge, don't you?" His tone was light, to show he didn't think any less of her.
Aya moved her head noncommittally, shrugging. Looking to change the subject, she stared at her surroundings. " Hey, looks like we're almost there!" She pointed to the rapidly nearing police station.
" Great. Do you think they'll let you in?" Brooklyn asked curiously. " In to see him, I mean."
" I don't know. They should." Aya said doubtfully.
They had reached the glass doors. Aya took a deep breath, pushed the door – and nothing happened.
" It says 'pull'." Brooklyn noted quietly.
Aya blushed and pulled on the door. This time it opened, and she quickly entered the station lobby. She looked around, surveying the clean, spacious place. She soon spotted a white sigh that read 'HELP'. She crossed over and joined the short line before that sign, with Brooklyn right behind her.
It wasn't long before she was facing a large man behind the 'HELP' desk. He was picking his teeth lazily, casting one eye on her.
" Yeah? What can I do for you?" He grunted.
" I would like to visit an Airashii Namasaki." Aya demanded bravely, stumbling a little over her teacher's full name.
" Oh yeah? Why?" He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her, as if she were planning on smuggling in a metal file or something.
" I don't believe that's any of your business." Aya replied coldly, her real self hiding behind a mask of indifference.
" Well, I believe it is." The man growled. " Mr. Namasaki is under full guard. He is a murderer."
" Is not!" Aya burst out childishly. Failing under the man's harsh gaze she stammered, " I – I mean, innocent until proven guilty!"
" Nothing to prove. He was there, he had the weapon, and he confessed!" The man jabbed a greasy finger at her.
Aya opened her mouth hotly, but Brooklyn cut in.
" I don't believe that is relevant to her request." He flashed a charming smile. The man was not impressed.
" There's not a lot you two believe, is there?" He growled.
Brooklyn's features hardened. He hated boorish people like this man. " We are personal friends. Now, I think it is time you stepped aside." He firmly grasped the man's hand, tightening his grip.
" A – are you threatening me, sir?" The man raised his voice.
" Of course not." Brooklyn's smile was courteous, but cold. His glittering eyes never left the man's sweaty face.
" A – alright. But only for five minutes!" The man glared. Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. This was no longer solely about Aya, but about his own, personal vendetta.
" Fine, just get in there!" The man roared, gesturing to the barred door next to him.
" Thank you." Brooklyn did a mocking little half-bow, and led Aya out of line.
" Thanks, Brooklyn." She smiled anxiously, watching the man be extra rude to the next person in line. " Are you sure you don't want to go in?"
" Yes. This is something personal for you. I shall wait out here." Brooklyn smiled, transforming his face completely. His jade-tinged eyes were warm once again.
" Alright." Aya wasn't sure if she preferred it this way, but she was grateful all the same. She turned and faced the barred door. She took a deep breath. What would she find in there?
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