Chapter Two

Choices

The two stubborn relatives stared each other down. Both had their arms crossed against their chests. The old short man glared upwards while the taller raven haired girl stared down with a scowl. They had argued for six hours straight about the boy. Raye constantly hounded her grandfather to send him away, but her grandfather would refuse with all his might. He was not a tall or strong man, but he would not be bullied into something he didn't want.

"I just don't understand why you had to bring him here!" Raye threw her arms in the air.

The old man sighed and released his arms to his side. He walked over to the dining room table and sat down. Only the dim light of the dying fire lit his face. He rubbed his hands over his bald head and old face. "Raye, I'm getting old."

Raye's anger slightly relented. She walked over to the table and sat down in the seat next to her grandfather. "I'll always be here to take care of the temple. This is our family's legacy. I'll always take care of it. We don't need anyone else."

Her grandfather rubbed his face again. "You cannot take care of this entire temple by yourself…"

"I'll train a few Miko to help me!" Raye interrupted.

Grandpa shook her head. "Raye," he sighed.

"What?"

Her grandfather folded his hands together on top the table. "I am an old man. I don't have many years left in me. And when I die…"

"Don't talk like that!"

Grandpa raised his hand to silence Raye. "When I die, I have stated in my will that Kyoji Tsukiyama is to inherit Cherry Hill Temple."

"WHAT!" Raye jumped up from her chair. "HOW COULD YOU! TAKE IT BACK!"

Grandpa paused for a moment. "I have promised Tsukiyama-san your hand in marriage and the Cherry Hill Temple when I die."

More fire surged through Raye's soul and circled in her eyes. "HOW COULD YOU! I WILL NEVER MARRY HIM!"

Grandpa solemnly nodded his head. "Yes, you do have the right to refuse, but you will have no part of this temple if you do."

Raye looked at him completely baffled with tears forming in her eyes. "You're forcing me to choose between my heart and my heritage?" Raye looked up to try and hold the tears in. "I either have to abandon my heart and happiness or the very temple that my family has kept for 400 years!"

"It's not like that…"

"It is like that!" Raye spat angrily, tears dropping from her eyes. "You're forcing me to marry someone I don't even know and if I don't, I lose my family's honor?"

"You're making things more complicated than it seems." Grandpa stood up from his chair. "Tsukiyama-san is a nice young man…"

"I don't even know him! I don't love him!"

"Get to know him. Learn to love him."

Raye stomped her foot. "You're a barbarian! I should be able to choose whom I marry! This isn't fair!"

"Raye, you still have a choice…"

"Yeah, I'll lose the temple if I don't choose what you want me to! You're manipulating me!"

"You have the choice to put aside your pride and do what I wish for you!" Grandpa's anger started to flare again.

"You don't know what is best for me!"

Grandpa slammed his fist against the table. "You will do what I wish, or you will disinherited from this family!"

Raye clenched her fists as more tears poured from her eyes. "I hate you!" She stomped her foot again and stormed out of the room. As she walked trough the doorway, Tsukiyama-san was entering the room. She stormed right past him plowing her shoulder into his. The young man stepped back and caught his balance. After Raye departed, he gingerly stepped into the dark room. "Master, is everything alright?"

The old man walked over to the fireplace and stared into the dancing flames. "Yes, everything is fine," he said solemnly.

The young man's face looked curiously at the old man, but said nothing. He took a step towards the fireplace and stood on the other side of the bricks. He was tall compared to the old man and even to most other Japanese. He was 5'9'' with beautiful golden blonde hair that was wild and restless. Hair draped over his left eye, only revealing one of the saddened sapphire blue eyes he had. He was strong and muscular, but not bulky.

The old man looked up at the young man. "Yes, everything is fine."

"Master, if I beg your pardon, I am afraid that everything is not…"

"It is fine, Kyoji-san." Grandpa insisted.

"Yes, Master," Kyoji bowed. "May I be excused?"

"Yes, you may."

Kyoji exited the room, and Grandpa turned his eyes back to the dancing flames. "Raye, why do you always have to make things difficult?" He pondered aloud.

A few days had passed. Raye sat in front of the mirror combing her long beautiful silky hair. It was the first day of school—her last first day of school. It was her senior year at Matsumura High School. It would seem to be a happy time, but it wasn't. She propped her elbow against her dresser and pressed her face into her hand. Closing her eyes only brought images of a dark warrior dancing through her mind. She squinted to try to dismiss the thoughts, but she opened her eyes with tears forming. Her heart longed for the dark warrior, she was guarded and broken from her past love, while being betrothed to a complete stranger. It was a paradox indeed. No sooner had she wiped the tears from her eyes, the door to her bedroom slid open. Serina and Leta stood in the doorway beckoning their friend to come outside.

"Don't you people know how to knock?"

"Knocking? What's that?" Leta smiled playful while looking at Serina.

"Come on, Raye! Hurry up!" Serina said.

Raye stood up from her dresser and walked over to the bed. Grabbing her bag and slinging it around her arm, she looked to the door where her friends were and made her way towards them. After stepping out onto the bright morning sunlight, she saw her other two friends—Ami and Mina. The five of them congregated into a huddle on the sidewalk and started talking instantly.

"So what you guys want out of this year?" Leta asked everyone.

Mina smiled and blushed at the same time. "I want to find love."

Leta sighed. "Me too."

Raye rolled her eyes. "Oh, please!" She tightened her grip on her bag. A door slid open on the other side of the courtyard, and the girls turned their attention to the noise. Out stepped Tsukiyama-san wearing normal western clothes for the first time the girls had ever seen. The young man stepped out in blue jeans, flip-flop sandals, and a black vintage tee-shirt with a white collar shirt thrown over it. His blonde hair was still wild and messy, but extremely cute. He ran his hand through his hair and threw on his bookbag. .

"Well, it looks like Raye's already found love." Mina giggled. "I wish my parents would set me up with a hottie like that! Gosh, I think if I were you, I'd drop out of school and marry that hottie as fast as I could!"

Raye's anger flared. "Serina, why did you tell them?"

Serina shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "Couldn't help it."

"Tell us what?" Leta asked.

Mina circled around Raye. "That one day Raye and that hottie over there are going to be married," she stretched her words playfully.

"What?" Leta smiled. "You're getting married?"

"Is it true, Raye?" Ami looked away from her book she happened to be reading at the time.

"NO!" Raye spat, crossing her arms. "My grandfather arranged us, but there is no way on this earth I'm going to marry him!"

"Oh, I bet he's not so bad!" Serina said. She started waving her arms. "Yoohooo! Hey! You!" Kyoji looked over at the blonde in pigtails and then looked back down to his feet. "Yes, you! Come over here!"

The young man walked over to the girls slowly, keeping his eyes at his feet and his left eye hidden behind his hair. He walked up to the group of giggling girls and blushed a deep shade of red.

"You wanted me, Miss?" Kyoji uttered, not looking up.

"Well, I'm Mina!" She bowed. Kyoji responded, without making much eye contact. Leta and Ami followed suit, and he bowed to them. Serina tilted her head to look him straight in the eye and smiled. "I'm Serina Tsukino." Her beautiful blue eyes locked with his saddened blue eyes. He didn't look back down, but he faintly smiled. "Kyoji Tsukiyama."

"Are you going to school?" Serina asked.

"Yes."

"This is our last year. How about you?"

Kyoji nodded, only keeping his eyes on Serina. "Yes, mine too."

Mina stepped forward. "What are your plans after school?" She asked, flirtatiously.

Kyoji glanced over at her, but couldn't look her in the eye. "Uh, I...uh…"

"He's going to try to steal my temple!" Raye spat.

Kyoji nervously glanced over to Raye then looked back to his shoes.

"Well, I suppose we should head to school. We only have 35 minutes." Ami stared at her watch.

"Would you like to walk to school with us?" Serina asked.

"No, thank you. I will be fine on my own." Kyoji shifted his weight onto his right foot.

"Please, would you come with us?" Serina asked, pouting.

Kyoji looked up into the sweet pouting girl's eyes, and he nodded his head. "I suppose I could."

Leta, Ami, and Mina eyed each other suspiciously.

The five girls stepped into Matsumura High School for their senior year. Kyoji looked curiously along the hallways since it was a brand new school for him. The girls were dressed in forest green sailor uniforms with a navy blue trim. The boys walked around in navy blue suits and white collar shirts.

"You'll need to stop buy the office, Kyoji, to pick up your class schedule," Ami said.

"Where is the office?" He asked, not looking her in the eye.

"Over there," Leta pointed down the hallway.

"Thank you." He walked off towards the office and weaved through the crowds of students.

"Oh, my gosh, he is so shy." Mina shifted her weight as she watched him walk away.

"Yeah, but it's kinda cute." Leta said as she cocked her head while staring at Kyoji walking.

"He's very polite," Ami stated.

"And very…hot!" Serina laughed.

"I think he likes you, Serina!" Mina giggled.

Serina rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right!"

"Yeah, you're the only one he'd look at!" Leta teased. "Poor guy, if he only knew you were taken."

"Well, apparently, he's taken too!" Mina elbowed Raye in the arm.

Raye rolled her eyes. "There isno way that'll ever happen!" She started walking down the hallway toward her locker. She turned the knob on the door and did the combination to open it. After opening the door, she started unloading the contents of her bag. Her friends congregated around her locker.

"So what's your first class?" Ami asked.

Raye pondered for a moment. "Japanese."

"Uh, I have Health," Leta said.

"Yeah, me too," Serina said.

"Calculus for me," Ami stated.

Mina looked at her schedule. "French."

"Since when do you take French?" Raye asked.

"Since now! To find mi amor…" Mina giggled.

Raye rolled her eyes again and slammed her locker shut. "Let's just go to class!"

People started to hush and quiet down. The five girls looked over to where the commotion was. On the stairway descended the golden boy of Matsumura High School, Daitatsu Atsuji. On his left and right, were the Honda twins—Izumi and Taro. Daitatsu was the most popular boy in school—rich, good-looking, and athletic. Every guy was jealous of him, and every girl wanted to date him. He finished the stairs and the crowd split for him to walk. His dark brown eyes glanced around the hallway then rested at Raye. He smirked then walked towards the raven haired girl.

"Hey, you're Keiko right?"

"Uh, my name's Raye."

Mina almost fainted because she was so close to Daitatsu, but Leta kept her standing.

"Yeah, that was my next guess." Daitatsu flashed his smile. The smile that made women go weak at the knees. "So would you like to go out with me sometime?"

"Uh," Raye glanced around. She saw Kyoji approaching toward her and the group of friends. "Yes." Kyoji stopped and stood next to Raye. "I would love to go out with you sometime, Daitatsu." Raye said, enunciating every word for Kyoji to her.

Daitatsu smirked. "Good." He rubbed his hand through his short brown hair. He glanced over at Kyoji and smirked even deeper. "Well, I see you around then." He started to walk off, but he turned around smiling again. "By the way, just call me Daita." Raye nodded, relishing in the fact that Kyoji was staring at her. "Okay, Daita." Only Daitatsu's closest friends would call him just Daita. Daitatsu turned back around and continued down the hallway with his friends Izumi and Taro.

"Oh, my gosh, Raye!" Mina exclaimed. "Daitatsu Atsuji just asked you out on a date!"

Kyoji glanced over then looked back to his shoes, and Raye started to relish in the attention.

"I can't believe it either." Raye said, smirking.

"Wow!" Leta placed her hands on her cheeks. "Can you set me up with Taro? I think he's just wonderful…" Leta sighed.

"I'll take Izumi then!" Mina exclaimed.

Raye laughed at all the attention she received. "I'll see what I can do. I'm only going on one date with him."

The school bell rang. Everyone looked up at the bell.

"Well, I guess, I will see you all later." Leta said.

"Right." Ami nodded.

Everyone took off towards their classroom while Kyoji started at his schedule.

"Where are you going?" Serina asked.

"History." Kyoji tugged on the strap of his backpack.

Serina smiled. "I'll show you where you need to go."

"Thank you." Kyoji looked up into Serina's eyes. He gave a faint smile then looked back down to the floor.

The blonde haired boy slowly walked down the sidewalk clenching the straps of his backpack and staring at his feet. Many of the students from Matsumura High flooded the sidewalk and passed the slow moving boy. He would occasionally look up at a crowd or two passing by, but he would only glance for a second them return his eyes to the ground. Soon, all the groups of students had passed him, and he was alone traveling home from school. He passed by the video arcade and saw students socializing. The door flew open and he stopped quickly to keep from getting hit in the face. A few students poured out of the arcade in front of him. They didn't notice him standing at the door as they passed by. He looked back down to his feet again.

"Kyoji!"

The boy looked up. "Serina."

With an ice cream bar in her mouth, the blonde haired girl smiled warmly. "What are you doing around here? Come to play some video games?"

Kyoji shook his head. "No, I am just going back to the temple."

"You're not going to hang out with your friends after school?" Serina looked puzzled—what else was there in life besides goofing off with friends?

Kyoji shook his head again. "No."

"Well, come on! I'm hungry! Let's get something to eat!" Serina grabbed Kyoji by the wrist and started dragging him down the street. "I've been wanting a cheeseburger all day."

Kyoji pulled his arm away. "I probably shouldn't."

"Why not?"

"I have homework and chores."

Serina looked Kyoji in the eye and smile. "Just relax! You're always so tense! Come on! Let's go eat something!" She started walking again and Kyoji followed. "Eating something always makes me feel better."

"Maybe just this once."

"That's the spirit!"

They walked a few meters down the street then turned left and the stoplight. After a few minutes of walking in silence, they finally reached the café that was the favorite of the sailor scouts. They entered into the bustling café with many students talking loudly. As Serina and Kyoji made their way to an empty booth in the back, many of the students eyed them and started whispering quietly among themselves. Kyoji took off his backpack and threw it into the booth and sat down. Serina took a seat on the other side and smiled. "This is my favorite place to eat after school."

Kyoji glanced around then nodded.

Soon, the waitress came up and took their orders. Kyoji ordered a glass of water while Serina order two slices of pizza, a cheeseburger, and a side of fries.

Stunned, Kyoji looked at Serina. "Have you not eaten in a while?" Serina pondered for a moment. "Yeah, I haven't eaten since lunchtime." Kyoji glanced at his watch and noted that was only three hours ago, but he didn't say anything.

After a moment of silence, Serina smiled and folded her hands together. "So tell me about yourself, Kyoji."

Kyoji glanced up. "There isn't much to say."

"Nonsense!" Serina unfolded her hands. "Where were you born? Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like? Who's your best friend? You know, that kind of stuff."

Kyoji pondered for a moment. "I was born in Kyoto and grew up at the Tsukiyama Temple my whole life."

"Well, what are your parents' names? Do you have any brothers or sisters? Tell me about your family."

Kyoji bit his lip. "I don't have any family."

"What do you mean?"

"I was abandoned at birth in the Tsukiyama Temple. I became a ward of the Temple and was given the last name Tsukiyama. I was raised by Master Tenzen and the other priests."

Serina frowned. "I'm sorry, but at least you had the priests to take care of you. Were you close to your Master?"

Kyoji glanced away. "No."

"Well, tell me other things. What did you do for fun? Who were your friends?"

"I didn't have much time for leisure, and I didn't have any friends."

"You're telling me that you never had any friends?"

"Yes."

"How about now?"

"No."

Just then, the sailor scout gang walked up and crowded into the booth with Serina and Kyoji. Ami and Leta squeezed in next to Serina while Mina offered for Raye to sit next to Kyoji, but Raye refused angrily. The table became even more noisy after the waitress brought Serina's snack, and everyone starting picking at the food. Kyoji glanced around at the five girls uncomfortably but realized that these girls would probably become his first set of friends in his entire life. He glanced up at Serina, and she caught his subtle look and smiled faintly at him. He relaxed in the booth and leaned back into the cushion.