AN: In this (much longer) chapter I finally reveal Rikuo's subject. Many of you have guessed, and a few have guessed correctly. If I sent you a message saying your guess was wrong and you were right, well, I'm sorry I lied...heh (not really). I don't think it was too hard to guess, given what was said last chapter. And finally, I appreciate everyone's support! Such lovely reviews, so please keep it up!

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"Ready, Set, Go!"

Chapter 3

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The morning was clear and cool despite the previous evening's weather report. Kakei, despite his clairvoyance, had expected some rain when he opened the store. It was very pleasant out anyway and he took in a deep breath when he unlocked the front door. Already waiting for instruction, two new employees looked at their employer with confusion as a tall man (very dark and handsome) came into the store, took a heavy drag of his cigarette, and planted a rather obscene kiss on their boss' lips.

Kakei laughed and shooed Saiga away. Saiga gave a hearty handshake to both the employees before disappearing into the back office.

"Ah, that is Saiga...just ignore him. Let's get to work then shall we?" Just as the three were beginning to work, Kazahaya came into the store to say goodbye to Kakei and Saiga.

"Saiga is in the back, probably napping. I'll tell him you said good morning, Kudo-kun."

Kazahaya smiled. "Thank you Kakei-san."

"I do hope you have fun. It shouldn't be any different than Suiryo, except for the girls." Kakei suddenly looked very menacing as he leaned forward saying in a low voice, "You look very handsome today in your uniform. I would watch your back if I were you."

"Eh?" A classic Kudo moment. The poor boy actually turned around.

"You're very funny, Kudo. Now, you better run along or you'll be late." Kazahaya nodded and gave a little bow. He was almost out the door before he turned and asked quickly, "What is Rikuo teaching?"

Kakei shrugged his shoulders. Kazahaya rolled his eyes and left.

"Heh. The boy's going to have one hell of a day." Saiga chuckled and gave a firm smack to Kakei's rear. He walked away very quickly after the venomous look that had been put in his direction. Of course the staff had seen the "transgression," and for the rest of the day, Kakei had to stave his worker's appetite for knowledge. The male employee named Watanabe asked, "Who is that man...and if he can smoke in the store, why can't I?"

The female employee, Suzuki, inquired once after she caught Saiga feeling-up Kakei in the back, "Is he your lover?" And then more boldly, "Does he have a brother?"

Kakei wished they would stop asking useless questions. It was all Saiga's fault. He tended to get rowdy in front of new employees. In the end, he guessed it didn't really matter what questions they asked so long as they worked hard. And work hard they did, maybe even more than Rikuo and Kazahaya.

Kakei made a mental note to be more of a slave driver when the boys returned.

And maybe put some kind of dog leash on Saiga...

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So, here I am. Tokyo High. It sure is big...

Kazahaya followed the gaggle of students to the auditorium where the student orientation was being held. As much as Rikuo drilled him on the campus map, he knew he would get lost. He was horrible with directions! His nervousness had made every memorization melt as soon as he set foot on the campus.

Why am I so nervous? I wasn't this nervous at Suiryo. Kazahaya kept to himself as he sat among the students, his fellow classmates. He wasn't aware, but he was wringing his hands.

"Are you having an anxiety attack?" Kazahaya turned his head at a girl's voice.

"Excuse me?" he asked not-so-politely. The girl was taken aback and tried to amend the situation. After all, it wasn't everyday a girl got to sit next to someone as pretty as this boy!

"I'm sorry, it's just that my mother does her hands like that when she's nervous. She has panic attacks. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."

Kazahaya raised his hands up to say, "No, no I'm not having a panic attack!"

"Are you nervous?" He nodded yes. She grinned and said, "Me too. I just moved here so I don't know anyone. My former school was much smaller than this. It's a little overwhelming."

"Oh. Well, I don't know anyone either. I...uh, kinda just moved here too."

"Kinda?"

"It's a long story."

She nodded and took the hint that he didn't want to talk about it. "My name is Yamada Ai."

"I'm Kudo Kazahaya."

Yamada smiled and showed off a perfect set of white teeth. "It's very nice to meet you, Kudo-kun." All introductions aside, the two ended their conversation when orientation began. It was a very boring affair with the principal introducing the staff. Rikuo was conveniently absent.

Probably goofing off in the teacher's lounge, Kazahaya thought with a scowl.

"...and I have to say, once again, that this year will be the best year this school has ever seen. Be sure to sign up for the many extracurricular activities and clubs, if you haven't done so." The principal, a very stout, balding man, ended orientation with, "Now get to your classes." His voice was stern and commanding and something about him itched Kazahaya. He didn't like the way his gaze picked him out of the crowd. Shaking it off as coincidence, Kazahaya left with the other students and made it to his classroom.

A familiar voice hit him before he had a chance to take in the room.

"Kudo-kun!" Yamada called him over from the very back row. He sat next to her and was suddenly so grateful for her earlier meddling. Now he had someone to talk to. He figured he would have made a friend eventually, just like at Suiryo. Nayuki and the others had been good friends--but they were all boys. This was a girl! The only girl he had ever really talked to was Kei.

And this girl, boy was she pretty. She had long dark hair and dark eyes to compliment her fair skin and graceful bearing. Plus...she had some decently sized breasts! She smiled a lot and her voice was pleasant like a tinkling bell. Kazahaya counted himself lucky to be sitting next to her.

"I'm so happy we're in the same class!" she exclaimed. She seemed to be excited about everything she said. "Maybe we'll be in some of the same clubs too! Oh, I know! Let's go to the club fair after school to join, okay?"

Kazahaya frowned confusion. "Do we have to join clubs?"

Yamada put a pretty finger to her lips and thought. "Well, I guess you don't have to, but most people do because it's fun." Kazahaya watched Yamada's train of thought wander. "Maybe I'll see if there are any sports I could play." Yamada then grinned and said, as if it were a stupid wish, "Not like they'd let a girl who's never played a sport in her life join!"

Oh. It hit Kazahaya. He had to join the track and field team today. He had forgotten the whole reason he was here in the first place! Stupid! And no one had said anything about joining clubs either! What if Yamada, nice as her intentions were, made him join a thousand clubs with her? He would have no time for himself!

"Kudo-kun? Are you alright? You were groaning." Yamada waved a hand in front of Kazahaya's face. He came back to attention a little redder and played off his embarrassment (for groaning) as nothing more than being a little warm. It was mild out today, not enough to make the blue blazer he wore uncomfortable. Yamada grinned and said it was a little stuffy in the room. He was sure she was only humoring him.

Their friendly conversation was suddenly interrupted by a murmur throughout the classroom. Kazahaya looked to the source of the commotion and saw a boy in a wheelchair take his place at the front of the room. Most of the students had gathered around him and were either shaking his hand (as was the case with the male students) or smiling and starting animated discussions about one thing or another—of course, this was the case with the female students because the boy was very handsome. He seemed to be very friendly with everyone and as neither Kazahaya nor Yamada knew him, they figured they should introduce themselves before class started.

"My name is Yamada Ai! It's nice to meet you!" The boy smiled nervously when Yamada grabbed his hands and began shaking them vigorously.

"Eh…I'm Sato Hideki. Nice to meet you too." Sato turned to Kazahaya and introduced himself. "I've never seen you two before. You must be new."

"We both recently moved," Kazahaya said just as the first class began. Sato nodded and said he hoped both would enjoy the school. They all separated and went to their seats. A female teacher entered the room and began checking student attendance. She was also the English teacher, a subject Kazahaya hated with a passion. His tutors at home always yelled at him for his lack of attention when asked to conjugate so-and-so verb. He barely remembered anything from those lessons because they were the ones he skipped most often.

Kazahaya sighed heavily when the class was over. He glanced at his notes. Dreadful. Yamada giggled when she compared her carefully organized notes to his.

"Kudo-kun, we will definitely have to work on your note taking skills."

The English teacher left the room and in came the next teacher. Kazahaya fidgeted through the math and social studies classes. He doodled in the margins of his papers. It felt like Suiryo all over again, but this time the stress was heavier. He knew he would be here for a year, not a few weeks. He would have to study and pay attention, yet saying it and doing it were two different things. Perhaps Yamada would do more than help him organized his notes.

He needed a tutor.

By the time lunch came, Kazahaya had become so nervous that he couldn't even eat. He gave all his food to Yamada. For a girl (he imagined) she had a healthy appetite. As Yamada ate his bento, Kazahaya began thinking of Rikuo. The school day was nearly half done and he hadn't appeared to teach the mystery class. The only subjects Kazahaya could see Rikuo teaching were history and music. He dared himself to ask, "Why music? That's just stupid." He answered with, "Yeah, it's stupid but he's the kind of guy who might play the violin or piano."

History was the next class, taught by a middle-aged man who looked "crooked."

There was no music class.

A few minutes into the science laboratory class, Kazahaya was completely out of guesses. He relaxed knowing that only one class was left and that it was definitely Rikuo's. He wondered if Rikuo was as nervous as he was…

"I'm so excited!"

Kazahaya was jarred by Yamada's exclamation. She and a few other girls had gathered around to chat between classes.

"W-what?" Yamada and the other girls grinned at him. The puzzled look on his face was cute. They suddenly giggled and scattered to their seats when the next teacher entered the room. The thing Kazahaya had dreaded all day was now upon him. Rikuo, the soon to be teacher from Hell, was at the front of the class. He had gained, in the span of ten seconds, a legion of female fans who had swooned as soon as he stepped in the room. They were already writing love notes and making mental lists of which girls were the biggest threat to their undying love.

His name was Himura Rikuo, the sexiest Home-economics teacher any girl could wish for. Even Yamada was sighing at the sight of Rikuo. Kazahaya could literally see the glitter and sparkles surrounding Rikuo. He threw in a heart shaped frame with fat little cherubs to add to the effect. And some romantic music…okay, so maybe the girls had good taste. Kazahaya had already admitted to himself that Rikuo looked good, but that was no reason to lose control of your senses! Yes, he looked incredibly good wearing a simple button up white shirt and dark slacks…but seriously, stop gawking!

"You, what is your name?" Yamada had to poke Kazahaya before he realized that Rikuo was addressing him.

Kazahaya frowned and answered in a little voice, "Kudo Kazahaya."

Rikuo smirked. This was going to be fun. "Kudo, I want you to move to the front of the room." Kazahaya started up, then hesitated. Rikuo narrowed his eyes in irritation. The looks were passed quickly and intimately; Kazahaya knew it was useless to fight. Angry at being singled out so quickly, but still compliant to the command, Kazahaya moved from his beloved spot next to Yamada and switched seats with a girl in the front. He was now directly in front of the teacher's desk. Everyone in the classroom expected to be moved as well, but when Rikuo moved by Kazahaya and took his place at the front of the room, expectation turned to confusion.

Why had Himura-sensei only moved Kazahaya?

If they only knew…

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tbc.