A few reviwed..its..okay..sniffles.. nahh Writing this is practice..It's all cool..but yeah this story will eventually go somewhere..

Disclaimer: I do not.. I do not OWN Mai HiME or any of the characters mentioned in this story not even the non mentioned ones.. Cuz YOU HAVE TO BE THIS TALL "====" and I'm this tall "."

-I feel like drowning but the tides too low
And now I'm waiting for the undertow
So I
Stand tall it gets a little better
I see the wall that we can break down together-

There's Something About Her by Soul Stance

---Chapter3---The girl behind the mask---

Okay, I know I've exaggerated a lot on the school hating thing but it's just something not worth the time. Just like right now sitting in the school's massive auditorium.

Our principal stood on the podium radiating power and reeking of alcohol. Wait, what? Oh it's just the gym teacher who was a good friend of my mother standing to the left of me.

"Pst.. Midori, you smell like beer, what the hell have you been drinking?" I whispered to her as I covered my nose and mouth with a hand.

"Hmph! The nerve! I could give you detention, Natsuki!" The gym teacher pouted childishly.

"Oi?" I raised a brow, "You wouldn't."

"Pay attention, Kuga." She stuck her tongue out, "You just might learn something."

Nao, who was occupying the last seat right next to the drinking woman just laughed.

"…Grr!" I growled.

I turned my attention back to the podium and heard our principal speak. "..Good morning fellow students of Fukka Academy.."

And you thought I was going to pay attention.. Hah, that's funny. My friends and I were located on a far corner in the last seats away from the exit doors but in the last row so I took out my brand new iPod and listened to that for awhile. A few good The Secret Handshake songs later and many girls started to appear from the exit doorways. They filed in each wearing the famous Garderobe uniform which was seemly way more strict than our casual wear. The next song on my mp3 player was a song called Dangerous...I think. I didn't bother to check or do anything of the sort. It had an okay but I quickly changed to another before the rap started as the girls started walking down to the very front. I caught sight of a few girls who stood out just seat rows away, a girl with pink like hair that had these weird sausage like ends on her, she looked absolutely peeved about being here. Same thing about the more older students too. Another girl was kind of weird too, she just gave us all a huge goofy grin. She had short spiky hair with two braided ends framing her face. Next to her was an orange haired girl. My eyes widened as I took notice of her. She just happened to be looking my way and made eye contact with me. Her amethyst eyes widened slightly as she noticed who I was, her mouth opened a bit as if to say something.

I was still staring at her as I took off my headphones.

I accidentally stared a little to long for any normal person's comfort. When I noticed it I blushed at the same time she did and she turned away following the rest of the line down there.

Oh. My. Sweet. Baby. Back. Ribs. That girl.. She's going to attend this school too?!

"Oi, Natsuki.. What's up with you?" Nao asked as she kept tapping my shoulder. I was frigid for a moment but then I turned to her.

"Nao, its that girl, she's one of the students.." I choked out.

Nao looked at me with wide eyes and quickly went to sly curiosity. "No way.. Where?" She started searching for the carrot colored girl. "Orange hair, just passed by us." I said as I shifted uncomfortably, sliding down lower into my seat still not believing it.

Their black uniform tops helped Nao find the girl whose hair was hugely contrasting her clothing.

"Jesus, its like a uniform for soldiers." I heard Akira mumble.

Then one of the Garderobe students made their way to meet with our principal. After she said something to her she turned to the podium and proceeded to greet herself to us.

"Hello there, Fukka Academy."

She smiled charmingly at us all. Her blonde locks short like Chie's and a smile that could rival my friend's own.

I could hear some girls of our school already falling prey to this dangerous woman.

I could feel Chie visibly flinch since she sat to the right of me and Nao just sent me a smirk. Our poor friend was going to have some competition.

She was indeed powerful, she got them all swooning at hello.

"Well I guess I'll start the introductions." The woman grinned slightly.

"So the principal of Garderobe could not make it today because she had business to attend to.. Clearly due to all the issues involving the reason we have come here.. Our school was vandalized in a terrible manner that it had much work to be done. Our stay will last for a simple two months.."

She paused before continuing, "In Garderobe we show hospitality to everyone and we believe you will do so as well. So I hope we can get along during our stay here ."

She paused, "They call me Maria Graceburt," she winked at the crowd, "pleased to meet you."

I blinked as the crowd of hormonal teenagers whooped and cheered this stranger known as Miss Maria.

All throughout the day we had to help the Garderobe students give them their books and with plenty of empty lockers to go around they were pretty happy.

Oh my God it was Friday and I just wanted to go home.

But here I was distributing books to girls who would be joining my science class. Oh yeah, Garderobe was an all girls school so the male population here was overwhelmed at first sight of seeing so many girls and hopeful for interaction with them.

"Miss Haruka, where do these go?" Asked a student from that other school.

"Cut the bull Garderobe , we will be sharing this building for a while so you might as well tell me your name."

A bit shocked at the straightforwardness, the mousy looking girl quickly recovered feeling more confident, "I'm Yukino."

"That's much better yucky no!" Haruka gave a victorious hmph.

"Ara, I believe she said Yukino.. Haruka." Came an all too familiar voice.

"That's what I said." Haruka stated matter o factly.

The girl named Yukino giggled a little. Haruka had a faint blush and Shizuru left them at that.

"Ara, Natsuki.." I heard her call even though I was distributing the last five textbooks to the remaining girls.

"Hey, Shizuru." I said lowering my face. I knew she had a thing for me but I didn't know why.

"Now there are two of Natsuki." She stated with a giggled.

"Um.. What?" I arched a brow. Two of me and a giggle..? "Are you feeling alright Shizuru?"

"Miss Fujino, have you seen Natsuki?" Asked a girl with blonde shoulder length hair and glasses.

"Oh, Elliot, hello there. And no I have not, have you checked with Miss Maria..?"

The green eyed girl grinned and bowed , "I'll check that out."

Once in the hallway she began to run crazily with arms in the air.

"OH NOOO!!..NATSUKI I'M COMING TO SAVE YOU!"

I stood there with my jaw hitting the floor.. Okay not really but that was weird as hell.

Everyone else had left even Haruka and that Garderobe girl.

Okay, I admit that I was curious, "Hey Shizuru," Said girl turned in my direction and her eyes seemed to light up. What was up with her today? "Yes, Natsuki, what is it?" She said with special emphasis on my name. It made a chill rundown my spine.

"Um, who is this Natsuki?" I asked feeling kind of stupid to be mentioning my own name.

"Ara, Natsuki Kasuga, is a student from Garderobe and is quite a popular student. She reminds me of you actually."

"Oh.. okay.. I just wanted to know was all." I said truthfully.

"Where are you going Natsuki?" She asked with that special tone saying my name again.. "Home, Shizuru, I'm exhausted." I rubbed my neck and gave her a sheepish grin.

"Does your neck bother you? "

She asked and motioned towards me making her way to my shoulders. Reaching beneath the collared blouse rubbing the skin underneath.

"Ah, Shizu.. ah yeah that hit's the spot." I moaned in delight she was actually very helpful right now.

Then I felt a pair of lips close in on my ear. Just then the carrot haired girl walked in not noticing the situation saying, "Excuse me, I'm here to change a text book, I was tying to find the..the.." When she saw us like we were she looked at me and I saw her eyes feign hurt, they looked a little moist. What was her deal?

"I'm so sorry!" She bowed and ran much like I would have the first time we met.

The girl behind me giggled, some of her chestnut hair falling over my shoulder. "Ara.. It seems we've been caught red handed."

I really didn't like that Shizuru took advantage of me like that and I think I made that girl cry.

"Oi..Shizuru..I have to go.. see you Monday." And akwardly walked away.

I saw her visibly give a little frown. Well that was new, never saw her show much emotion before anyway.

I was making my way home in my car on a rainy afternoon.

But first I had to drop off my friends at each of their houses. Akira was the first to go and she lived farther away and then when we reached Chie's place, a little closer to Akira's area, she walked out without even a goodbye.

I gave Nao a questioning look before I hit the gas again. This time she spoke up after the relatively long quiet ride.

"I think Chie is feeling intimidated." She blurted.

We had reached a red light and I turned to face the redhead, "Oh, you think?"

She smirked, "Oi, Kuga, you saw the way she started acting after Maria did all that wooing stuff."

"I know." I simply said as I paid attention to the road. I started to chuckle. "Maria is stepping into Chie's territory."

"Wait, why are you laughing?" The girl beside me asked.

"Well," I said as I brought the car to a stop once more in front of the girl's house, "seriously, its just a bunch of girls and someone else taking a little bit of the spot light. I'm sure her ego isn't going to be all that damaged."

"I know you're right, we've been overreacting and so has she. But if Maria starts interacting with our girls on more than a 'Hello Miss Maria' basis, we are going to have some trouble."

"Well, that's when we let the doggie off the chain and let it hunt."

I joked with a smirk.

Nao just looked at me like I grew another boob. Then she burst out laughing. "Hah hah hah! You're talking about her like she's some beast."

I sighed. "Well she is usually found getting digits from a chick in heat every twenty minutes you know."

"If she heard you now." Nao's face eased again.

"Well get out of my car wench!" I joked.

"Oh? Foreplay and we're no where near a bed.. Kinky Kuga."

"Oi c'mon!" I blushed. Kinky Kuga was my unofficial nickname with this girl. Jeez.. She only called me that when we were alone though.

She grinned and leaned into my face till both our noses were about to touch.

Her forehead touched mine and I tried to keep my cool by just staring into those mischievous twinkling lime green eyes.

Nao turned her face to the side and slid on mine and kissed me on the cheek. I breathed heavily, then she whispered into my ear, "Goodnight Natsuki." And she exited my car. I watched her as she entered her house.

Nao was a strange friend. She would flirt and play around like that but I just hoped it was all good fun and not some serious seducing or something. I wasn't into girls, or boys for that matter. I was a flipping asexual as far as I knew.

Another light later I noticed something in the corner of my eye. Standing in the pouring rain was a person wearing some dark uniform. I turned to look and there stood this girl with a school bag over her head. The rain had gotten worse. And then I saw a bit of orange hair and my breathing hitched. Not again.. Why was she in the rain like this anyway? No umbrella either? She was on the left side right where I was going to make a turn she turned and began to cross, not paying the cars any mind. I came to an abrupt stop.

She didn't even notice my car almost close enough to hit her.

I rolled down the window on my side. "Oi, Garderobe, what are you doing? Trying to get yourself killed?"

She was just about to keep on walking when I offered, "Girl, get in my car before you get sick."

It looked like she was actually thinking about it and seemed to be weighing her options. I heard cars start to honk. Crap, she was going to mess with the traffic.

She then tried to got in on the passengers side. "No you sit in the front." I demanded.

She had to surrender and got in the vehicle.

Once she closed the car door I sighed relief and hit the gas.

A few blocks down I realized that I had to take her home but I had absolutely no idea where she lived.

As soon as I brought the car to a stop my head hit the wheel in frustration.

"Um..Listen..I don't even know your name an-"

"I'm sorry." She cut me off. It really was her, the voice that stayed on my mind for days ever since that incident.

One of my brows raised in confusion. "Oi, for what?" I didn't know if she meant the slapping, though that was my best guess.

Then as I looked into her eyes I noticed that they looked quite puffy and reddish.. She had been crying. Oh God what had I done? What did I do anyway?!

"For.." She looked like she was searching for words to explain herself.

"Interrupting you and your.." she stopped again, now looking out the window though I could see her reflection somewhat.

"Me and my what?" I asked calmly, what the duce was she talking about? SPIT IT OUT!

"You and your …girlfriend.." She made a funny face by wrinkling her nose at the thought.

"Ha.. Me and Fujino.. I don't think so, girl." I blurted out rather quickly.

"Hey, I have a name you know!" She jumped at me with an angry face and a fist looking ready to attack me. I didn't flinch though, I don't know why. One arm had hit the wheel and the car let out a long honk. But she had gotten super close to my face mere inches away which she later noticed. I could barely hear the noise with her so close. She blushed deeply but I think we were both rooted to the spot since neither of us moved. "What is your name then?" I asked with an uneasy smirk.

"Tokiha.." She withdrew herself and her fighting stance which was all over my seat area earlier. "Mai Tokiha.." she looked out into the window again in shame.

"Well.. Miss Tokiha, where in the flip do you live?"

"Please, that was my mother's name." She looked at me again, this time with a more easygoing smile.

"Call me, Mai. Okay?.. Uh.." she said suddenly realizing that she had no idea what my name was.

"Kuga.. I'm Natsuki Kuga." I said as I rubbed the back of my neck again in embarrassment.

"Wait a sec.. You're the other Natsuki?" She asked in awe with eyes the size of dinner plates.

I chuckled as I tucked in loose hair again. "Oi, what have you heard about me?"

"You're a Mayo fiend."

"SAY WHAT?" I asked not believing that the first thing people are telling people is that I eat mayo like a black hole??

"Joking.." She put her hands up to assure me. Then she put a finger on her chin as her thinking pose. "Though the Natsuki I know is a real mayo fiend yet she's in a lot of school activities and on athletic teams… And really popular too.."

"That's a lot of stuff." I yawned.

"You sound unimpressed."

"Cuz I do some of that stuff too but I stick to the outside world and work fer my money."

I said which was followed by a loud yawn.

"So where do you live? I'd like to get home sometime today."

The Garderobe girl faced me again with a bright smile. "I think I'll walk now."

"Oi?" I questioned.

She jabbed a thumb at the sky, "It stopped raining."

"I'm sorry but if you're going to my school its my responsibility to keep you well."

I turned on the engine and gave a small grunt, "Now, directions or you're stuck in here with me."

Mai blushed and told me where to go. I wasn't going to ask her about the jerk thing just yet. I was just barely getting to know the girl behind the mask.

Er..I was really busy?..Loll remember this is just practice and I see weak points in my writing..this is why I stick to drawin..like fer real.. Please leave a review! But I'm not desperate! ;P OKAY I'M UBER DESPERATE!