Our Story
By Kitara Lira
Chapter Twelve: The Fire Way Incident
Natsuki stared for a few moments, mouth gaping. If anyone had taken a moments time to examine the situation one might have come to the conclusion that Natsuki was a fish out of water; gasping for air. "Nina… Wong?" She repeated, as if to do so would trigger some sort of function within the depths of her currently malfunctioning brain.
"Hai and you are…?" The first bluenette looked curiously at the second. Nina found it strange for the woman to have repeated her name, but even stranger to receive the stare she was currently being bore down with. It was almost as if she had become the buffet to a starving fiend – well not quite but to some degree.
"Ah," Natsuki regained control of her functions. Mouth slamming shut, hands poised by her side, feet somewhat together, the woman took a bow, "Kuga Natsuki; new student." Before the other could manage a word, Natsuki continued. It seems the habit of cutting others off was truly contagious, "You wouldn't happen to be the Nina that is acquaintances with Tokiha Mai would you?"
Nina's left brow arched upward, "Mai-san? Yes, I know her. Why do you ask?"
A moment was allowed for Natsuki to clear her throat; the two had begun walking towards the outdoor track field and stopped near the bleachers. Both women performing small cool down stretches, "Mai is in my homeroom and at lunch I was speaking with her in regards to the school. Just before the second warning bell rang she mentioned you might be in this class."
"Heh heh, is that so?" Nina chuckled softly, "Well I am honoured that Mai has the decency to spread my name in such a manner. I hope she said nothing poor of me. If she did I would have to tell you of a few embarrassing situation Mai has been in since transferring here to Saint Cathedrals herself."
The two shared a round of laughter, momentarily forgetting their stretches and the other students who were beginning to trickle in, "Mai was a transfer student herself?" This fact intrigued Natsuki, "My I wouldn't have guessed that, the way that girl walks the hall… it is as if she owns them. And the way people fawn over her? Wow…"
Nina nodded, "Ah, yes her adorning fans, and believe it or not the woman has a large fan base not only here but at her previous school."
"Mai? A fan base?" Shock permeated her emerald orbs, and Natsuki shook her head in disbelief, "That cannot be, are you sure?"
More laughter echoed through the crisp afternoon air, those about the two women paid them little heed, all too busy complaining about their sensei no doubt, "Mai has to have one of the biggest fan bases out of all the individuals in this school." Nina smiled, head angled to the right, "I'm sure you will grow quite a fan base yourself come your second year here."
One leg bent back, held by her arm as to elongate her rectus femoris (A/N: Err…), Natsuki immediately lost her balance at the notion of having a fan group of her own. Arms circling in wide arches, they scooped at the air in hopes to save her from an embarrassing fall. Miraculously the bluenette did not fall. At the last moment, when doom seemed inevitable, Natsuki regained her balance. Exhaling notably, Natsuki turned to Nina, casting a sceptical glance, "I don't think I could ever gain a fan base, nor would I ever want one." Natsuki said with great confidence; as if to say it so would make it set in stone.
The other harboured a disbelieving stare but knew better than to refute. As it stood, in this class alone, as the two had been chatting, Natsuki had received many sideway glances from the other students – and not simply because she was the "new kid". But Nina did not feel up to pointing out such a detail, "If Natsuki-san says so," She paused for a moment, "Now, I cannot imagine that Mai would tell you my name simply for kicks, there must have been a reason. Or else she would have introduced us in person."
"Ah, that's right," The woman who had been flailing desperately moments ago stood straight, exhibiting a serious tone, "The Fire Way Incident. Mai said you would know what it was. I was hoping you might be able to tell me what it is exactly and how it relates the Fujino Shizuru."
"I do know of that, as I am sure most individuals who have ever attended the sister school to Saint Cathedral would," she said softly, the former mirth gone from her voice. Just like Natsuki, Nina took to a more formal tone, "It was last year…"
At that moment the instructor decided to waltz in and "teach" his class, "Alright everyone, now that warm-up is done today's class will be my personal favourite; full contact football." Groans resounded from the apparently worn class, "Line up on the goal line!" The man barked, chucking as his students scramble, "Now remember your number, we're making four teams, forget your number and I'll have you running lines!" And with that numbers were spouted off, four teams were made and gym class was – for Natsuki anyways – quite enjoyable. Though she had been separated from hearing the rest of what it was she wanted to hear, Natsuki easily dealt out her frustration on any student who got too close and with the ball.
From the sidelines the sensei was clapping his hands, "Good job Kuga! That's how you play the sport!" What was wrong with this guy? Natsuki was possibly causing physical damage to her fellow classmates and the guy… was cheering her on?
-
Finally the students had all been released – told to hit the showers. Natsuki caught up to Nina; both covered head to toe in a thin layer of dust. It wasn't because the two of them had spent most of their time getting tossed to the ground; no it was because both had spent most of their time tackling others to the ground. At least that was what Natsuki had been doing anyways; she could only assume Nina's excuse might be the same.
The dial was thrust one way, and then spun the other, the lock ultimately popping open. From the locker Natsuki withdrew her navy blue towel, vanilla scented shampoo and a similar scented body wash. At the same time Nina withdrew her bathing necessities and the two headed towards the showers. The two young women took to a respective shower, scrubbing the dirt from the pores of their skin.
Natsuki was more then tempted to strike up the conversation they had been discussing earlier, however kept her eyes focused forward unsure of where she might begin.
The other chuckled softly, apparently noticing this tension within her companion's shoulders. Fingers working her mane into a lather Nina began, "So you were asking about the Fire Way Incident early correct?" She paused momentarily, glancing about to ensure no one might be listening in on their conversation. When it seemed clear, Nina continued, "It happened a little over a year ago. There was an incident where three boys were hospitalized." At this Natsuki stopped the rinsing of her hair her brow cocking upwards, "I don't want to go into too much detail about it, but the boys were beat pretty bad. The day after the incident Fujino-san was absent from classes; as well as the rest of week. The police were involved as were the parents and everything was utter chaos."
When Nina did not continue, Natsuki dared to speak, "Was there any connection between Shizuru and the incident?" Towel wrapped about her midsection, Nina doing the same, the two made their way back to the lockers.
"Nao got a call that day, during lunch. Shizuru transferred to this school solely on the basis that both Miyu and Nao had requested it. I may not have known Fujino-san during my time at that school, but I do know this. Boys had a fond liking for her and were often found sexually harassing her…"
"Why didn't anyone stop them?!" Bellowed Natsuki, slamming the door of her locker back, the entire room suddenly echoing with a bone chilling silence.
Nina chuckled nervously, dismissingly waving her hand for the others to return to their respective tasks, "Keep it down will you? I am trying not to draw any added attention to our conversation but you're destroying that. But for your information someone did do something; or so we assume." Natsuki could only blink, "The boys in the hospital," Nina sighed, "Miyu and Nao always had a funny habit of appearing on campus a day or so after the verbal assaults. The guys would come to school the next day with bruises, black eyes, some with broken noses. But the Fire Way Incident… That was different. Rumour has it that what happened… went past the normal verbal assaults; that they had become physical and during that Shizuru had managed a call to Nao's cell." Closing her locker door, school bag slung over her shoulder Nina sighed, "But of course that is the best of speculation. All that is truly known is that three boys were hospitalized and the underlying cause is thought to be Fujino Shizuru."
Author Note: Alright, a lot to say here so let's get this started.
First; I'm not proud of this chapter at all, remotely, not even close. There are some portions that I'm eh on. I considered scrapping the entire thing, but I knew if I did that... I'd never get it done. So I just have to work with that and hope that the next chapter I write will be much better.
Second, I'm no longer ahead of my posts, what you see here I just finished and am cursing myself colourfully for. I have been a tad busy with school work but also I've found a sudden interest in the political chaos that is developing within Canada. It is the first time I have actually had any political interest and a friend of mine said she was actually amazed that I even knew about it and she was so proud of me (Yes, I am not going to lie, all my pals know how much I openly hate politics and don't pay attention to anything other than my studies, my games, and my anime). So anyways that being said, I have just spent the last three hours catching up on the happenings in Parliament and won't bore you with all the gory details.
Third; I'm running a little low on fuel aka inspiration. I know where I want this to go, how I want it to go (ish) but I just seem to have lost my motivation for the moment. So you'll have to bear with me if updates become less and less frequent. That said, I do have the next few chapters laid out, its just a matter of forming it... and in such a way that I don't hate it.
Fourth; I'm not sure if there is a fourth. There probably is a fourth, I'm just to tired to remember what the fourth was supposed to be.
Fifth; Read, review, complain, jump for joy, tell me what you think of the current Canadian government and the idea of a coalition, or simply spin about madly in circles. Whatever fits your fancy! Okay, so maybe don't write a review on the Canadian government thing, but... I'd still like to hear what people have to say about it... just not in review format.... back to the forums I go!
Oh yeah, I remembered what the fourth was; it was, the end section as well as possibly the beginning section of this chapter, have not been proof read. So you will have to accept more errors than usual in my writing. What can I say, I don't use a beta because... well I just don't use a beta. So accept my flaws and non-beta ways.