It took forever to finish that day of school. Each class seemed to last eternity. The teachers never caught my attention, so I just gazed out the window hopefully at the falling leaves. The browns mixed in with the yellows and oranges, while the red stuck out like a sore thumb. The bark on the trees was slowly getting darker. In some places, the bark looked to be black. Black as night. That saying, 'black as night', is sort of incorrect if you ask me. If something is as black as night, there has to be some light. What ever happened to the stars and the moon? When is something ever pitch black? Our eyes eventually get used to it. Black, like Satoshi. My eyes are getting used to him too. However, where is his light? I've never seen the twinkling of the stars or the opaque glow of the moon when it comes to him. How can someone stand to be so dark and concealed?
"Kasumi-san?"
My trance is broken as Mizuho-sensei calls my name.
"Are you still with us, Kasumi-san?" She asks.
I shake my head once more. "Sumimasen."
"Do you know where your lab partner has gone?" Mizuho-sensei asks.
I look at the seat next to me. Ryu. "No, I do not know. I saw him at lunch, but not afterwards."
"Then I'll let you do your presentation tomorrow instead."
"Thank you very much, Mizuho-sensei." I bow my head quickly.
After Mizuho-sensei turned back to the board and started writing down some statistics, I sigh heavily and try to wake myself up. I am so fixed on Satoshi. It isn't a good thing, I believe. All I can think of is the look on Ryu's face when Satoshi blasted him halfway across the courtyard. He was defending me. I just know it. Something catches my attention at the table next to me. It was the one that Sae-chan and Naoko-chan sat at. Sae-chan was waving her hands close to the tabletop so Mizuho-sensei wouldn't notice her. She was mouthing something to me. I was never good at reading lips.
Sae-chan gives up eventually and takes a page from her notebook and tears it out. Her pen moves quickly, as if it never touched the paper. Before I knew it, a paper football was being flicked at me. I catch it swiftly and hide it down in my lap as I unfold it. My eyes flick left and right, just making sure that no one was trying to read it as well.
Kasumi-chan! You look so out of it! What happened at lunch time after you left us? Naoko-chan and I are dying to know. Naoko-chan was a little edgy afterwards. You and I both know why! ^_^. Satoshi-kun wa suteki, ne? Is he starting to become your type of shounen? Hehehehe! You don't have to write back, we'll talk after school, ne? Ja!
~Sae
I turn to Sae-chan and give her a quick 'V' sign as proof I read it through. Sae-chan will be dancing in circles around me later today, and she won't stop until she gets the information. I wasn't quite sure how long I could keep on lying about this whole situation. Now that I think about it, it's sort of exciting! Satoshi and I having this little secret. How many girls have something like this? Oh, I can be such a romantic. It's not like Satoshi is thinking the same things I am. He's probably thinking how he could get rid of me as soon as he can. I must be such a nuisance. Always in his way. I hope he really trusts me.
After science class was over with, I head to the girls restroom to put more foundation on my neck. I remembered during class that Satoshi had rubbed it off at lunchtime. I was rummaging through my schoolbag for the make-up when I heard someone call my name. I look up and see Ryu standing right in front of me. I give him a quick smile and try to walk around, but he gently grabs my shoulder.
"Can I at least talk to you for a moment?" He asks.
"I really need to go to the restroom, Ryu-san." I point towards the girl's bathroom which was only around the corner.
"It can wait, unless you want me to tell everybody about you and Satoshi." Ryu says close to my ear. I couldn't believe this! He was trying to blackmail me!
"Look, there is nothing going on." I tell him to his face.
"Then what were you talking about during lunch break today?" Ryu asks.
"He's in my math class and he had a question on the homework." I lie. Another lie.
"Yet when I ask for help on my science, you refuse to?"
"Your case was different! You could have done it the night before, but you didn't even try. Satoshi-kun tried but still couldn't understand it." I back up the information. Fake information that is.
"Then explain this." Ryu pokes the red mark on my neck.
I wince a little bit. It was still a little sore. He didn't have to push it so hard.
"I got bit by a spider." I cover the spot up with my hand.
"Sure you did." Ryu says.
"That's the truth." I stick my nose a little higher into the air. I did get bit.
"I wonder if you make house calls for your 'homework help' …" Ryu pondered to himself out loud.
That was the last straw. I slap him across the face. "Ryu-san, zettai DAIKIRAI!"
I stomp off around the corner and into the girls restroom. I couldn't believe him! What was he trying to prove? Since when did he hate me that much? It was none of his business what sort of connection I have with Satoshi. We just bump into each other once in a while, that's all! But then there's Ryu, who uses the word 'bump' for something completely different. Ah! My blood was boiling! I take my schoolbag and slam it down in the sink to begin searching for the foundation. After finding it, I smear some over the mark on my neck while continuing to mumble to myself.
"Chikusho…thinking I could be some slut. I've never even kissed a guy, or got kissed by one for that matter."
"Kasumi-chan?" I voice from inside a stall calls.
A flush issues and Sae-chan comes out of the stall in which the voice came.
"You were talking to yourself, did you know?" She points out.
"Laugh if you want." I say, putting the make-up back into my bag. "I couldn't help it, I was really mad."
"At who?" Sae-chan starts soaping up her hands.
"Ryu-san." I grumble. "He comes up to me, trying to nail me with blackmail material. The moron, thinking I was some run-out-of-the-home prostitute."
"Eh?!" Sae-chan made a gasping sound. "But, really, Kasumi-chan…That's Ryu-kun for you. He's just one big sack of dung."
"But, GAH!" I was so frustrated for some reason. I put my bag up to my face and scream into it.
"Kasumi-chan?" Sae-chan walks over to the paper towel dispenser. "It couldn't be that bad, could it?"
"I can't take this anymore, Sae-chan. I hate lying, but I have to."
"Lying? About what?"
I look at myself in the mirror. My eyes were droopy. "This mark on my neck will be the end of me."
"Daijobu!" Sae-chan grins. "It will go away eventually. Chotto Matte, you're not lying about that mark are you? I don't see how you could. A hickey is a hickey."
"It's not a hickey, Sae-chan." I say, leaning up against the wall.
"What else could it be? That must have been one big bug." Sae-chan laughs a little at her own words.
"It was." I say quietly.
"Hmm?" Sae-chan asks, not hearing me.
"Betsuni." I sigh. I couldn't let Satoshi down. I promised him I wouldn't tell a soul.
"Anyways, I let out my Muchuuru last night so I could play with it. It's so kawaii. I can't wait to use it in the Tournament." Sae-chan says.
I didn't want to burst her bubble, but her Muchuuru wasn't probably over level 5. "I bet you'll do great."
Sae-chan smiles. "I don't think I'll make it that far. I think the final two will be you and Satoshi-kun. You're so strong as a trainer and from what I heard from you about him, he is as well."
I lift my eyebrows and then let them fall. "He is a good trainer."
"You got to see his Pokemon, right?"
"Yeah, I did."
Sae-chan and I leave the restroom and go down to the shoe-locker room. It was the end of the day after all. We change out of our uniform shoes and put them into our own lockers, then put on our own for the walk home. I was glad that Sae-chan didn't ask too much about what Ryu had said to me. I didn't feel like explaining everything quite yet. I had a promise to keep! It was then that the thoughts I had earlier entered my head again. The whole black concept.
"Sae-chan, I have to go stop by the library." I say.
Sae-chan looked at me a little confused but nodded. "Alright. I'll call you later tonight."
"Okay!" I give her a smile. "Ja'ne!"
"Ja'ne!" She calls to me as I run off in the opposite direction.
I hardly use my library card in the first place. I hope it's still valid. Then again ,when does a library card expire? When I get there, I quickly go to the information cards and check under supernatural. It didn't take that long to find the books I was looking for. That afternoon, I checked out three books about vampires and their behaviors. I didn't think I was going to find out much, seeing that these books were writing by authors thinking that vampires were fictional creatures. I did realize, however, that a lot of the facts that were assumed to be true about vampires were indeed true. I'd have to trust these books, because I could already sense how uncomfortable it would be to ask Satoshi about it all.
On my way home, I had to pass the graveyard like usual. I gazed through the gate for no apparent reason. It was habit, I suppose. Just down the stone path was the shrine that was supposed to house the spirits lost between heaven and hell. It was such a pretty building. It was a shame it was never truly used. By the living that is. I was about to walk past it when I saw something on the steps of the shrine. It was Satoshi! He was sitting there, under the shade of the overhang, working on homework. Now that's a sight you don't see every day.
I must have stared too long, for Satoshi's head slowly looked up and glared back. I could feel my hair stand up on end. I quickly turn on my heal and walk as fast as I could, without running, the rest of the way home. I pause at the front of my house and let out a big breath I was holding in the whole way.
"Kasumi-san."
I must have jumped right out of my skin.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."
I turn around to see the black figure of Satoshi. Black shoes, pants, turtleneck shirt, sunglasses, and then hair.
"Good afternoon!" I try to put my jumpiness behind me. "What brings you here?"
Satoshi takes out a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolds it. He holds it out for me to see it. On it was a bunch of numbers, square root signs, and miscellaneous lines. "I was wondering if you could help me with my math homework. I hear you're the smartest in our class."
I could feel my eyebrow twitching from the irony. "Um, sure thing! Which part?"
"Most of it, actually. My answers are all guesses." Satoshi looked almost sheepish.
"Alright, um, do you want to step inside to work on it?" I point towards my house.
Satoshi's head didn't move, but I could tell his eyes were looking at the door behind his sunglasses. "If it's not any trouble…"
"Not at all!" I try to put on a smile. "Come on in."
I guide him in the house and we both take off our shoes and slip on the comfy slippers waiting for myself and the extra pair for guests. I didn't mind at all helping Satoshi with is homework, I just was a little worried having him in my house. My parents were still on vacation, so it wasn't like they'd come barging in and falsely accuse me of anything. I wasn't expecting any friends to come over either. It was just going to be a nice study hour. Just him and me. Just him and me?
"Go ahead and have a seat in the living room." I point the way to him. "I'll go make us some tea."
"Do you need any help?" Satoshi asks.
"Oh, no, but thank you for asking."
I go into the kitchen and quickly turn on the sink so the water would cover up my voice in case I decided to talk aloud again. What was wrong with me? I felt like my heart was jumping rope. Three quick pounds, then a break, followed by three more quick pounds. I never reacted this way when I was around Satoshi before! It couldn't be what Ryu said, could it? Oh, if it is, Ryu should start praying. I'll kick his butt so hard in that Tournament if it's the last thing I do. The best way to get back at someone is to beat them horribly in a Pokemon battle…which is what I'll do.
I quickly brew the tea and bring out the teapot with two cups as well as the sugar bowl and cream pitcher. I pour Satoshi and myself a cup and let him use the sugar and cream as he pleased. He sat on the couch and I sat down on the floor next to the coffee table.
"So, what exactly aren't you understanding?" I ask.
Satoshi uses his pointer finger and points to certain spots on the paper. "I know how to start out the problem, but I never can finish it."
I look over his work quickly. "I think your problem is with your cosigns. How do you punch them into your calculator?"
"I don't have a calculator." Satoshi says quietly.
I think I found the problem. "That must be hard, trying to figure it all out in your head. I don't think I could do that!"
"It is a little hard." Satoshi bends his fingers back and forth, cracking his knuckles.
Only a little? A take out my calculator and quickly check a few of the problems that were finished. It was amazing! The first three problems were correct. And he didn't even use a calculator? Either this kid was a genius or a lucky guesser.
"The first three problems are correct, Satoshi-kun." I turn my head to look at him.
He looks back with the eyes that aren't there. "You don't say…"
I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable, so I thought I'd act like the typical school girl that I try to pass myself as. "Sugoi wa."
Sae-chan's note suddenly flashed back into my memory. 'Satoshi-kun wa suteki, ne? Is he starting to become your type of shounen?' I stand up and go to the cabinet next to the window. In the drawer, there was a new calculator I was planning on using for the end-of-the-year exams. I walk back over to the couch and hand it out to Satoshi.
"Here," I say. "You can use this one for now. I think your homework will be a lot easier that way."
Satoshi takes it and flips it over once. "Arigatou."
That would have to be the first time I heard him say thank you.
"Do you need any help on other things?"
I could have sworn I saw a little bit of red rush to Satoshi's face. "Could you show me how to use this? The cosign function."
I put a hand to my cheek. "Silly me, I'm sorry!"
I down on the couch next to him and show him which buttons to push in order to get the right answer. It didn't take long for Satoshi to get the idea. I let him try a few problems on his own and he was getting the hang of it. He stood up and folded his assignment back up before putting it back into his pocket. I took that as a sign that he was ready to leave. I lead him back to the door where he puts his regular, black shoes back on.
"I'll see you at school tomorrow." I say.
"Yeah." He merely says, but stop when I open the door for him. "Um, thanks again, Kasumi-san."
"You're welcome." I reply. "If you need any more help on anything, don't hesitate to ask me. I know you're a really smart guy."
"About the Pokemon Tournament…" Satoshi goes completely off subject.
"Yes?"
Satoshi looks directly at me and I could see the corner of his mouth curl up the slightest bit. "I won't go easy on you."
I took the challenge gratefully and do my own little sneer back. "I won't expect you will. Give me your best shot."
Satoshi gives me the thumbs-up sign before walking out the door and down the walk to the street. Turning left, he went to his own home. Yousei Graveyard.
I lean up against the doorframe and watch his black hair disappear . I noticed something when I was sitting on the couch with him earlier. Something I wouldn't expect. He smelled good.
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Japanese Romanji Translations
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Sumimasen - I'm sorry
Satoshi-kun wa suteki, ne? - Satoshi is wonderful, isn't he?
Shounen - (slang) hunk, hot boy
Ne - Ne is used at the end of sentences to back up what they're saying. Like 'right?' 'okay?'
Ja! - Later (short form of see you later)
Ryu-san zettai DAIKIRAI - Ryu, I hate you so much! (with a passion)
Chikusho - Damn it (in this case, it can be Damn him as well)
Daijobu - It's alright/Don't worry
Chotto Matte - What a minute/second
Bentsuni - (slang) It can be used for many things, in this case, it means 'nothing at all' or 'forget it'.
Kawaii- cute
Ja'ne - See you later
Sugoi wa - That's amazing/ You're amazing
Arigatou - Thank you