A/N: This fully explains some of the pairings. DO NOT THINK that I will suddenly have a PoT character turn straight with Cass also turning straight, and those two getting together. I have to ask that if you are truly curious, go onto my LJ, where hopefully it will explain everything. If it doesn't, send me a message or something.

Note: I AM KEEPING CASS GAY. THERE WILL BE NO HETERO PAIRINGS UNLESS IT IS MORE OF MY OCS. THERE WILL BE NO HETERO PAIRINGS WITH PRINCE OF TENNIS GUYS.

Thank you.

Chapter 3: Anger

Ah, lovely dreams of warmth and palm trees. Aili's there, and we're drinking champagne. Lying on beach listening to the sound of the waves pounding the shore, light glimmering on the dark blue water.

WAIT! I AM NOW COLD!

I force my eyes open enough to see Niou happily grinning down at me. He's holding my covers.

Grrr.

I launch myself at him, going for my still-warm blankets. He stumbled, not prepared for my jump, and loosens his hold on my warmth.

I grab it and hit the ground, securely wrapping it around me. A familiar lethargy surrounds me, the happy feeling I get when I'm warm. "You do not steal the covers," I inform him, clutching said covers around me protectively. "They are untouchable and protected."

He grins-uh oh.

He picks me up and hoists me over his shoulder, kicking open what should have been a locked door.

Niou…once you put me down, you are so dead.

I kick at him, but he doesn't notice and strides down the hallway. Suddenly…

"Niou!"

A stoic guy was coming out of his own room, which he apparently shared with a guy who was the proud owner (I could tell because he kept flipping it) of violet-grey hair.

The stoic guy had on a black cap, but it didn't detract from his overall intimidating aura.

I shut up and quit moving.

Niou had no such compulsions. "Fukubuchou," he greeted.

'Fukubuchou' frowned at him. "Why do you have Thompson over your shoulder?"

"Because he's evil," I filled in helpfully.

The guy with grey hair turned aside to smother a laugh.

"She refused to get up this morning," Niou told him, ignoring me once again.

"He got into my locked room," I disagreed. "And he stole my covers."

No reaction from 'Fukubuchou'. I feel ignored.

"Niou, perhaps you should put her down?" a gentle voice says softly. We all turn to see a soft-looking boy with purple wavy hair coming out of his room.

"O-of course, Buchou," Niou stutters.

I slide to the floor in a heap of blankets and flannel pajamas. Gathering the shreds of my dignity, I march out of that wing to get changed into my hated uniform.

A few minutes later……

Aha! Sweet warmth, sweet sweet warmth. I snuggle deeper into my oversized jacket, feeling much better, more human.

When I open my door, Niou is waiting.

I huff and walk past him.

He settles next to me, walking with an easy, almost loping style. I had the sudden mental picture of me in a medieval-style gown, Niou the hunting dog walking beside me.

I smother a giggle. I must not break, must not break, must not break…

"Still angry, huh?" he chuckled.

"What on earth possessed you to get into my locked room this morning?" I demanded.

He held up a handful of metal files. "I pick locks."

Blink.

Blink.

Blink again for good measure.

"So, it's your first day of school!" he said cheerfully.

He gets a strange look from me. "No, it isn't."

He deflates slightly. "Well, your first day here."

"Fine," I concede as we enter to the dining hall-my first true look at how many students are here.

There aren't many. Maybe 100 is a little too far, and for the first time I understand what kind of strings my parents had to pull to get me to go here.

When I email them tonight, I would have to thank them for their efforts.

Niou grabbed my arm, effectively tearing me out of my musings, and ragging me over to a table where the two guys from the hallway before, 'Fukubuchou' and that grey-haired guy, along with Fuji are sitting with a couple of others.

3 boys with glasses; a short young boy; and a small redhead. The young boy is sitting between Fuji and Grey-Haired Guy. Young Guy is leaning against Fuji, lightly dozing, while Grey-Haired Guy has an arm wrapped around Young Boy's Waist.

Small Redhead is sitting between 2 of the Glasses Guys. One has dark blue hair that's falling in layers around his face; the other has brown hair that is shorter, but his bangs almost perfectly frame his glasses.

#3 Glasses Guy is sitting between Blue Hair and Fukubuchou. He has dark purple hair-I am really beginning to wonder if these strange hair colors are natural-and he turns to look at us as Niou drags me across the room.

Niou greets him in…I think it's Japanese-don't hold me to that-and the guy replies with an interesting look in his eyes. It's a look that shines in my parents eyes when my father returns from a business visit-and as I look around the table to see that same look in everyone else's eyes as they look at their respective partners.

Or, in the case of the five-Fukubuchou, Grey-Haired Guy's, Little Kid's, Fuji's, and Brown-Hair-With-Glasses-their respective people-involved-in-a-relationship.

Love.

Ah, what a fickle thing. They all feel such love for each other. I try not to think of what my pastor would say if he knew about this. Then again, he didn't know I was gay either. Thank goodness, or his lectures on how "the homosexual disease is infecting the rest of the population" would have made me the featured star.

I sit down next to Blue-Hair, wishing for a round of introductions so I can quit calling them these stupid names.

Somehow, Fuji knows this. –Shudder--. He obviously has Aili's perception as well.

"Cassandra, dear, you're looking lost. Perhaps they should introduce themselves."

"Gee, ya think?" I drawl.

Little Kid focuses on me. "Where are you from?"

"Charleston," I respond after the initial shock is gone.

He grins, much to the surprise of the people around. This was apparently not a normal occurrence.

Great.

"I'm from Amherst," he told me.

I shuddered. "It's gets cold up there."

"Southerners," he grumbled. "Anything below 60 degrees Fahrenheit is freezing to them."

I refrained from replying, mostly because it's true.

"Anyway, I'm Echizen Ryoma," he continued. "I guess you already know Syuusuke and Niou-" here the guy received a glare, which Niou merely chuckled at. "His boyfriend's Yagyuu Hiroshi ;" the purple-haired guy with glasses gave a wave. "You're sitting next to OshitariYuushi, and his boyfriend-the redhead-Mukahi Gakuto." He gestured to Glasses Guy with Brown Hair, "This is Tezuka Kunimitsu."

Okay. Really stern glare.

What have I done wrong??

"Don't worry, he's like that with everyone," Niou stage-whispered.

A crimson blush spreads over my face as Fukubuchou says as calmly as if he was ordering something to eat at a restaurant, "Niou, 50 laps at practice today."

Niou shut up.

Thank God.

"This is Monkey King," Ryoma-I called everyone by their last names in my mind, but this kid was simply too adorable to do that-gestured to Grey-haired-Guy. It was my turn to swallow giggles as he hissed like an offended cat at the smirking boy-child. "My name is Atobe Keigo, bratling. NOT Monkey King."

I blink, trying to remember something. My parents had spoken of a really, really wealthy Japanese business family…something about introducing my older sister to them when she was old enough? I squint, trying to work out the name.

I gave up. It's probably going to come to me at 2 in the morning.

"And the last but not least is Sanada Genichirou," Ryoma's voice tears me out of my headache-inducing musings. Ah, so this is the name of Fukubuchou.

I nod to the table in general. "I suppose Fuji has already given it way-terrible thing to do, in my opinion-but my name is Cassandra Thompson."

"Should we call you Cassie?" Oshitari inquires lightly.

"No." I say as politely as I can manage.

"Let's call her Cass!" Niou exclaims.

Oh no. Oh no. This cannot be happening. There has to be some other nickname…Sandra? Please?

Too late…all who care are nodding agreement.

Shit.

Apparently, throwing canned tomatoes at a classmate was not the best approach to starting your first school day.

Though right now, I can see Mrs. Ryuzaki trying not to laugh as she informs Niou that he shouldn't influence the new students and that I shouldn't let him.

I put my head down and tried to look penitent. Though the sight of the crimson juice from the tomatoes dripping through his hair is almost enough to make me lose it-can't forget the injured expression either. Teehee.

"You have both been assigned detention tomorrow night in the stables. Mr. Gregor will assign you work to do, and you must obey him like you would obey as teacher, understood?"

Niou and I both nod.

"Now, go clean up, both of you."

Oh yes, did I mention? After I tossed the tomatoes-by accident of course-to Niou, he "accidentally" poured milk all over my hair. I retaliated with oatmeal all over his uniform, and his last, parting shot before the teachers broke it up was jam all over my own uniform.

We depart the office, and Niou casually drapes an arm around me. I do my best not to shrug it off-I don't like people touching me.

"Should be fun, huh, sweetheart?" he teases.

I glare at him, but somehow having jam on your shirt and face for some strange reason seems to detract from that intimidating persona. "Why do I get the feeling you spend a lot of time in there?"

"Mainly 'cause I do."

I press my lips together to fight the giggles that bubbled up. "I now understand what Mrs. Ryuzaki meant by you not being a bad influence on me."

"Too late, isn't it?" he quipped. "Come on, it's time for biology."