Chapter Five;

Okay, so my Saturday didn't go as planned. Right when I was getting a little bit closer to my room mate, she gets killed. That night, I had made sure not to touch anything inside the apartment and I ran up the stairs and just told the Headmaster. Of course, he was much more understanding than anyone else who found out. Everybody seemed to want me dead as well, as if I was the killer. And now I couldn't really blame them, it looked like it was me. I had stayed in my room most of the day, too, probably waiting for her to show up so I could kill her.

But on the other hand, I was an ordinary girl who couldn't cast such spells. I had no motive. All that changed because of her death, in the room, was that my Chara people got an extra bed. Ran fought to the death for that bed, and he got it. The others didn't really seem like fighters. Only Dia had this spark of anger in him. It was like he was a statue that came to life at night; because he really didn't show any emotion unless someone tipped him off the edge.

My Saturday included Ikuto surprising me and coming to my door. That part was nice. I had gotten my old TNA case and slipped it onto my new iPhone. The magic here had made phones even better. There was an app that would let me teleport! And the best app I'd found so far was the one that helped you with spells. First, it would scan your abilities, and then choose the spells appropriate for you. And it gave me some cool pranks to try out some time!

"Hey," he said with a monotone.

I smiled weakly, attempting to break his outer shell, "Have you ever tried smiling?"

"When I was a kid," he said, stepping forward to close the door behind me, "but now I know the dirtier things in life. So I just instinctively smirk now." And he was right, as the topic appeared, his smug look stared at me intimidatingly. It showed up when he was in any kind of teasing or joking mood, too.

After that app, I had found out some spells for clothes. Today, I decided on a loose blue crop top, white shorts, and some wedges. Ikuto took in my appearance and raised his eyebrow, "Showing some skin?" And I felt my cheeks turn as pink as my hair, so I rushed ahead of him so he wouldn't see.

I scoffed, "What's it to you?"

"I don't know," he looked genuinely sweet, "it's just that this whole week I wanted to see what clothes you wear on your spare time." He sheepishly ran a hand through his hair, and my face went beet red. So I whipped my head back around and walked even faster. I heard his laughter from behind me, "Gotcha."

Stupid Ikuto! I got out my phone and texted Rima, "Hey, whats up?"

And as I took in slow, deep breathes, trying to calm my nerves, she replied. There was just the typical ringtone. When I read the screen, my heart tensed up and I had a flashback of the dead girl in my room. Her brown hair splayed across the rug. She did have green eyes; I saw them wide open and motionless. "Just trying to stop getting accused."

Instead of getting all emotional through text, I just said, "Meet me and Ikuto at the dorm lobby." And during our awkward elevator ride, I had a quick glance at Ikuto. His ivory skin glowed against his plain white t-shirt. As soon as he looked my way, I thought about pretending like I wasn't looking, but I just stared at him.

"What?"

I glared a little, making it look authentic, "You're a prick."

He shrugged, "Well, I'm sorry you think that." And he slumped against the wall and put his hands in his pockets. He looked away. His eyes had lost their mischievous shine. But I couldn't be sure that it wasn't another joke to make me flustered. With a ding, the doors opened.

I screeched, taken aback. I thought I left them all behind in the room!

Yep, they all followed me, Ran, Dia, Miki, and Suu. Without restraint, I yelled at them, "Where did you guys come from?" And Miki replied, of course, from a logical point of view, "The stairs." Right, that made more sense.

As I tried to regain composure, I mumbled, "Sorry for yelling, you just frightened me, that's all." And I made my game plan for the day, hoping Ikuto was listening to this from behind me, "We're going to go out shopping with Rima. She's going through a rough time."

Ran looked at me, confused, "Aren't you?"

Suu hit him on the shoulder, "Of course she is."

"Thanks for understanding," I replied, not sure what to say or how to interact with Charas that were extremely nice eye candy. So I took my eyes off them, walked past and sat down on a couch. Ikuto slowly made his way out of the elevator, glaring at the four boys and sitting down opposite me. Was he jealous? Was he upset I called him a prick? Or both?

All I knew was that I felt guilty, "Ikuto, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

"Then why stare at me?" he looked back, sullen. And as his eyes widened, I knew I was screwed. His eyes were calm again, and his mouth was tightened in a cruel smile. I cried out in desperation, "Oh, give me a break!"

Ikuto playfully poked me in the leg, "So, you were checking me out?"

"N-no!" I retaliated, hopping off the couch and spotting Rima. She was a savior! I stormed over to her, my cheeks bright red. Looping her elbow with mine, I tugged her to the double doors, "Let's go!" I heard the guy behind me chuckle, and it was infuriating!

x

So, Ikuto explained he was taking me out shopping. He would be showing us what jobs we could get, and where to shop for what we needed. The city we were in was the capital of continent. Yes, it had no name. But the continent did; Number Seven or just Zara. Ikuto wasn't so pumped up with ego anymore, which I was glad about, "I'll take you clothes shopping. We've made the city a more magic-free tourist approach, with all the brands you love from back there. Although with the right spells, anyone can easily create clothes...and money."

"You can make money?" Rima asked, her eyes widened. And not in the good way. She was looking money-crazy, and a little excited.

Ikuto rolled his eyes, "Look, don't get your hopes up. That's illegal." She still didn't look convinced not to try it out, though. Her eyes screamed i-will-even-do-illegal-activities. "Seriously! If you try it, there is this...stench that comes from the spell. It's what the law here does to make it noticeable that there's a thief."

My best friend still wasn't convinced, but that note of information had definitely knocked her down a lot of notches, "Well, can't the real smart ones get around the stench? You know; using spells to hypnotize people into giving them money, or freezing time to rob a bank?"

The man I have a feeling I might be in love with nodded, looking proud of her, "Your damn right they do. Which is why the law exists. But some are so elusive they get away with it." I can't believe I just admitted I was in love with Ikuto. I watched the two walk away side-by-side, in deep conversation about spells.

"And can't you change your appearance?" Rima asked, a little quizzical, but the glint in her eye told me she knew that was correct.

Ikuto nodded, and I interrupted, "Look! It's Aritzia!" Although that was true, it really didn't need to be shouted out. I was just desperate. He both looked at me funny, or so I thought. When I dragged Ikuto into the store by the elbow, my phone buzzed. I looked at the text from Rima, "I knew you liked him!"

I texted back, "Well, you like Nagihiko." And when I turned around, it was her turn to be as bright red as a tomato. In Aritzia, we saw Utau, who hugged her brother as soon as my arm wasn't linked to his, like a clingy little puppy. We looked around, and Ikuto bought me a white crop top and black spandex shorts. He even got me my own pair of TOMS. I'd almost forgotten that Ran, Miki, Suu, and Dia were there until they caused a scene. Ran was yelling at Dia in harsh whispers, while Dia just had his arms folded and a smirk on his face.

"I do not," Ran spat back, a cruel look on his face.

Dia chuckled, "Okay, whatever you say."

And before someone could throw the first punch, one of the employees escorted the two out. I felt so embarrassed. She walked up to me, asking politely, "Are they yours?" And pointing with a thumb behind her back. I just nodded meekly, and decided to leave as well. No point in staying around there after that scene. Ikuto, Utau, and Rima left with me. They were good people.

Well, some of them.

"Look, Ikuto, I appreciate it, but I'd rather go back to the Academy and practice some magic," I tried to act nice, and show off how well I was raised. "God knows I need to." I added as a side note of humor.

He looked a little sad, "Okay. But Rima needs to go with you."

"Why?" the blonde asked, tilting her head a little bit. Ikuto mumbled a reply of something like, "You need some practice as well." And with a huff, Rima turned and left, dragging me with her. I could only weakly wave goodbye. As soon as the two siblings were out of ear shot, Rima showed me the screen of her phone. On it was her contacts, which included Nagihiko Fujisaki! I noticed the four guys shuffling awkwardly behind us, following like lost little puppy dogs.

"Aw, he gave you his number?" I asked teasingly, nudging her in the waist with my elbow. She nodded, flustered and adorable. We exited the little shopping area and walked up the stone path decorated with flowers until we were back at the Academy. To my right were the fields I was first brought here on. The memory was a strange one. I didn't know how I felt.

"Look, my point is," Rima went on, and I zoned back into the conversation, "we've been texting a lot lately, and he offered to give us a lesson. As in right now." And it ended up being in the fresh air out in the courtyard. We learned how to defend ourselves with a magic shield. He said they were pretty weak, but any type would deflect a prank spell. Rima and Nagihiko had gotten pretty intimate, and I decided to leave the two alone. Later that day, on a Saturday night, as I lay there in my room with my Charas, I had a thought. The thought to text Ikuto. But when I was about to, I got all rosy cheeked and shoved it back under my pillows.

Ran stared at me from the opposite bed, looking bored, "Where was that Chara that Rima got today? I didn't see him." I just shrugged, not even bothering to learn the name of him. He hopped off the bed with a grin as an idea hit him, "Hey! Let's experiment with some magic!" Everyone else agreed and I just said, "Okay, why not?" My app gave me some crazy spells, but I decided to go with the ones for my elements. Using Miki, he became so small and tiny, like a little doll that could fly, and I used his powers to make an ice cube. It was so cool! I found an empty glass from the kitchen, and without using the tap, I filled it up with water (if you get what I mean). After Miki complained about being tiny for too long, I swapped him out for Suu.

I made a sunflower grow out of the glass of water. Strange, but very cool! I put it on the windowsill. Suu didn't seem to mind being tiny, with a stubby arms and legs. But I returned him to normal for Ran. As he lost all of his height in seconds, I felt very in control. He was pouting, saying things like, "Just turn me back eventually." And with him, I set fire to the sunflower. With one quick whip of the wand. And another whip put out the fire again. Last but not least, I tried out Dia's powers.

He shrunk right before my eyes, and I wasn't sure what to do with the power of air at first. All I could think about was making a strong wind, but I didn't want to do that in the room. "Wait a second, can I make things levitate?" And he nodded. I jumped for joy. "Yay!" He said the lighter the things, the easier to cast the spell. So I pointed at the sunflower, and slowly flicked my wand up. It shot out of the glass, and water dropped all over the floor. So, you can use two Chara's powers at once, so I used Ran too, and my the flower explode in flames. There was a little pile of ash on the floor.

I stopped using Ran and Dia. To use or not to use; you just think of it with a strong will in your mind. Quite simple.

After eating some noodles, brushing my teeth and getting ready for bed, I tucked myself in. Before I turned the light out, I looked at all of them. Ran had the bed. The rest were on the floor. I flicked my hand, directing him with words, "Ran, get off the bed and share the floor." And grudgingly, he got up and sat down. Dia got up and jumped onto the bed, making a loud thump. He hummed for the words, "My turn."

I was about to turn off the lamp light, when there was a meow outside my door. I got up and opened the door, very suspiciously. A black cat bolted in, hopping onto my bed and curling itself at the foot of my bed. Without a doubt, that was a human.