A/N: It's Dia again, ello there. Real quick- I just wanted to express how happy I am to be writing here on Fanfiction! I have all these story ideas (as does my sister) and now we can finally have people reading them; YAHOOO!

Anyway, if you like what you've read so far, please follow the story or favorite us as authors ^_^ or even both

Psst, oh yeah and if you write a review, I'll share some of my cocoa marble fudge ice cream with you~ ;D It's real tasty!

Welp, I'm done now, trying to bribe you. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

[Enter The Shadows]

Chapter 4

- Close Call -

{Kyo's POV, 4:02 pm, Kaibara High School's detention room}

I grunt, leaning heavily over the desk I'm sitting in. What a pain.

Apparently, I was being closely watched by the hall monitors ever since that damn old lady sentenced me to detention. Because the moment I tried to casually exit the school with the rest of the kids, I found two other students blocking my path.

So now, thanks to that, here I am sitting in the detention center with absolutely nothing to do but wait for the hour to pass.

A sigh escapes my lips, and I scan the room for the heck of it. Not many people are in here with me, there's just the teacher sitting up at his desk reading a book, another guy my age sitting over in the corner looking bored as hell, and some girl a few seats to my left.

My eyes widen when I take a closer look at her and what she's doing- there's two slim stacks of papers on either corner of her desk. From a distance, it doesn't look so daunting, but when I look at the way she's bent over working like that- shoulders hunched forward, hand rapidly moving as she writes- I can tell it's a lot of work. I can't even see her face, she's so completely indulged in the papers on her desk.

Either this weirdo has some sort of homework obsession... or she's really damn desperate to get her work done within the hour that we have to stay here.

I'll guess the latter. Why else would she be in detention?

Turning my head away, I begin to feel kinda bad for her. I'm no ace student, but at least I get my work in on time. She must be pushing herself to her limits right about now. But then, there's nothing I can really do about it.

Another sigh escapes me, and I rest my head in my arms on the desk. Well, at least I don't have any work to do, so I might as well take a nap.

{Naomi's POV, 4:30 pm, Kaibara High School's detention room}

For the entirety of the time I've spent working in this room, I could hear both of my uncle's voices yelling at me- warning me to get my homework done.

And it is that which kept me going, fast and furious, for so long.

But I honestly couldn't take it anymore now!

"Gah..." I pant out, dropping my smoking pencil on the desk and leaning back to stretch my arms up over my head. "This is too much..."

I glance from the right side of my desk, over to the left. The right holds the finished pages of my homework, and the left is what remains to be done. UGH- even after so much time working, sadly I can see that the right stack is much smaller in comparison to the left.

Well, nevermind that problem for now. It's okay for me to take a break, right? My hand is cramping up and my back and shoulders hurt from sitting forward for an extended period of time. I have to take a break- it's mandatory for me to do so now- otherwise, I fear my brain will explode.

Leaning back into my chair, I tuck the curving strands of my hair back behind my ears and observe the room. It's been too quiet for too long, and the ticking clock on the wall is the only noise heard... but then I notice, just under that sound, there's a heavy breathing coming from my right. I look over, noticing a guy leaning over his desk and into his arms- his head is orange, so I mean, you couldn't miss him. His shoulders are gently rising and falling, keeping to the rhythm his breathing makes.

Lucky bastard's sleeping, isn't he? If only I had it that easy.

My gaze travels away from him for a moment, and I turn in my seat to see if it's just me and him in here. It seriously surprises me when there's no one else- not a soul behind me, or to my left- hell, the teacher isn't even in the room anymore! His desk is empty!

I look back to the only other person in the room, and I blink when I notice he's switched positions. His head is pulled out of his arms now, and his cheek is resting there instead- his face turned in my direction. Huh, he's pretty handsome. Wait a minute- those features...

Standing up, I make my way over to him and stand in front of his desk, getting a closer look at his face. Those features, plus his orange hair... was this the kid all those girls in my class wouldn't shut up about? He looked like he belonged to that one family everyone talked about. I mean, I heard the kids in this school who are apart of that particular family really stand out.

Looking for answers, I tap him lightly on the head twice with my finger, and pull away when he stirs. Then, his eyes snap open and he leans back quickly, looking up at me with a confused glare.

"Yeah? What do you want?" He says to me in a defensive tone. A tone that says I should back off.

I don't like to back off so easily though. Plus, he's being rude so why should I oblige to his wishes? "Are you a Sohma?" Is all I ask.

He crosses his arms over his chest, cinnamon-colored eyes still glaring at me. "Yeah, why?"

"What's your first name?"

"Why the hell do you wanna know?"

I take a step back, watching him carefully. "Do I need to have a reason? I'm just asking for your name."

That's when he blinks at me, unsure of what to say. Then, he looks around the room, and seems to realize that we're alone. "Did I oversleep? Is detention over?"

I move into the seat next to him, crossing my legs and leaning back as I continue to study him. "Look at the clock- we have about another twenty-five minutes left."

He looks up at the clock on the wall, then grumbles something to himself, shoulders going slack in disappointment.

There's a steady and deep silence that follows, in which I close my eyes and rest my head back, not really interested in our conversation anymore. If he doesn't want to tell me who he is, then I don't really care. I didn't really ask for any reason besides mild curiosity. And I wanted to know if my guess was right- my guess about him belonging to the Sohma family. I heard there were four guys by the name of Sohma attending this school- all super attractive, and all with very different personalities. I was just wondering which one he was.

"Hey."

I open my eyes and see him giving me a side glance. He has such an intense stare, jeez.

"Yes?"

"You think we can just leave?"

I lean forward, suddenly interested. "Would you want to risk getting caught?"

He meets my gaze completely after turning his head more in my direction. "Maybe. You?"

"Maybe."

Another silence fills the room as we both contemplate things. I look over at my other desk covered in papers a few seats away, and let out a heavy sigh. "Well-"

Just then, the door to the room suddenly bursts open, and the teacher walks back in with a firm grip on some guy's collar. The guy looks guilty and ashamed, and the teacher looks pretty pissed off.

"No more 'trips to the bathroom' for any of you!" The older male hissed, dumping the student in a chair and then going back behind his large teacher's desk, collapsing in his chair without another word. He quickly grabbed a book, and began reading it.

I glance over at the Sohma kid, and he glances at me for a split-second, before looking quickly away. So escape isn't an option, then.

I sigh, leaning forward onto my new, paper-free desk. Maybe I should follow this Sohma guy's example, and get some rest.

{Kyo's POV, 4:47 pm, Kaibara High School's detention room}

I was weirded out when I woke up and saw a pair of wide green eyes staring at me. That girl just woke me up like it was nothing and started asking me all these stupid random questions. What am I, another math problem that she's trying to solve?!

But after talking to her for a few minutes, I became less and less annoyed. She wasn't so bad to talk to. I guess. But why do I care? I don't like most people anyway, and it's not like I'm into getting all friendly with a total stranger that I met by chance in detention.

I look up as the teacher suddenly stands from his desk, shutting the book he holds in one hand. "I'll be back. Don't move from your seats, and don't leave the room unless you want detention again tomorrow, plus cleaning duties."

I roll my eyes and sink lower into my seat. What an idiot.

When it's just me and the other two students in the room, I find myself looking over at that girl again. She has her head turned away from me, resting it in her arms while she's napping. I don't want to wake her up, and I wasn't going to- it's not like I was gonna try talking to her again. But then she turned her head in the other direction, my direction. She opens her eyes and stares over at me, her head still resting in her arms.

I blink, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. I don't like it when people stare at me- especially if they're not even saying anything. "What?" I snap at her.

I notice her gaze shifts from my face, to my arm, and then my wrist. She purses her lips and sits upright.

"Cool bracelet."

My eyes widen at the fact that she noticed it. Why would she be taking any interest in it? It is just a bracelet. Well, not to me, but to anyone else it should seem pretty average and insignificant.

She looks back up at my face, locking eyes with me. "Can I see it for a second?"

I automatically bolt upright in my seat at that question. "No!"

She blinks in a bit of shock. "Hey, I just want to get a closer look..."

I grit my teeth and turn my head away. "Well, you can't."

"Why not?" She asks suddenly, catching on to my desperation.

"Because I need it."

"Eh?"

"I said I need it."

She sounds confused, and it only adds to such an annoying situation. "...You need it?"

Forcing my gaze back on her, I grip the edge of my desk and begin yelling; "Yeah! So why don't you just shut the hell up already?!"

Her frown makes me feel ashamed, but I still glare at her anyway.

"Listen, Sohma." She says evenly, meeting my glare with one of her own. "I get enough people yelling at me at home, so I don't need you to add to that."

I'm about to snap at her with my own response, when she suddenly reaches forward and grabs my left arm. I instantly freeze, every muscle in my body coiling and tensing, preparing to throw a punch or do something else reckless and defensive. But all she does is bring my wrist up to her eye-level and stare at my bracelet. She doesn't touch it, or even reach for it, and my eyes widen when, after only a moment of staring, she drops my arm. I yank it back angrily, turning away from her and glaring at the floor. Though I'm mad that she just grabbed me like that, I'm relieved that at least she didn't try to take it off.

"Those are interesting beads." I hear her voice next to me, but don't care much to acknowledge it.

A pause follows, and about five minutes pass before I feel her staring at me intensely. With a low growl, I turn back around, sending her a glare.

"Why are you staring at me?!"

She narrows her eyes. "Calm down. I'm trying to figure out what your name might be."

My mouth drops open slightly at such a comment. Then, I collect myself and grit out; "That's weird."

She stretches, arching her back and reaching up with her arms, while uncrossing her legs and extending them underneath the desk. "Not really." She yawns.

I turn my head away again, sighing in frustration. What kind of person is this girl, anyway? She's not nearly as annoying as Momiji, but she's just about as infuriating as Hatsuharu. For all I know, she might even be as troublesome as Kagura.

A sudden shiver runs down my spine at the thought of Kagura. No. No one could be more trouble than that terror.

"Maybe you're that Yuki person all the girls refer to as their 'Prince'?"

I slam my fist suddenly into the desk when I hear what she's saying to herself. What a stupid guess! "I'm not anything like that damn rat at all!"

She leans forward in her seat now, more towards me, and I can feel her staring again. "Then... what was the other name I heard of... are you that Momiji kid?"

I nearly choke. Whipping my head towards her, I glare pointedly. "Are you kidding me?!"

She leans back, green eyes widening at my reaction. "What's up with that reaction?"

In frustration, I close my eyes and clench my teeth. "Look. If you really want to know that badly... My name is Kyo."

When I open my eyes again, she has a small smile on her face. I immediately scowl.

"What?!"

"I was thinking that that name fits you much better than Momiji does."

I let out a low growl, feeling my face grow red. "Shut up and quit smiling like that!"

Her tiny smile vanishes in an instant, and she turns away from me. "I wasn't smiling."

I huff. "Yeah, you were."

"No, I wasn't." Now she's the one gritting her teeth.

I roll my eyes- she's being such an idiot. "Whatever."

A soft pause between us is quickly interrupted when a different voice calls across the room to us; "It's true. She never smiles."

I look over in surprise at the kid in the corner that I had forgotten all about. Then, I glance at the girl, and she simply sinks lower in her seat.

"Quit talking about me." She mutters under her breath, and then I can hear that kid laughing, as he starts to mock her.

"Hey I'm just saying the truth. You never smile, or laugh, or try to make friends. Really, what are you anyway?"

There's a sudden sound of wood scraping against tile, and I look over to my left to see that girl standing up now, her face growing dark and serious.

"I think I'll leave now."

I stand up too. I have no idea why I'm so worried- none of this is my problem. "Hey wait a minute, the teacher might-"

She turns her head, sending me a glare from underneath her bangs. "I'll take my chances."

My shoulders tense and I flinch at the look she's giving me. Then, I find myself scowling. "Hey, you know you don't have to listen to what some stupid kid says about you."

"Hey!"

I look over my shoulder, growling. "Shuddup!"

When I turn back around to face the girl again, she's already disappearing out the door. I blink.

Narrowing my eyes, I scoff and mutter under my breath. "...What the hell was that all about?"

{Naomi's POV, 4:59 pm, Kaibara High School grounds}

The reason I don't like to smile, is because I apparently have my father's perfect, pretty smile. And I hate my father and wish to be nothing like him. So I don't want to show anyone my smile, because that'd be like showing a part of my good-for-nothing father.

It's really as simple and stupid as that. But there's even more-

The reason I always keep my hair cut to just above my shoulders? My mom likes her hair long, and if I can manage it, I want to look nothing like her as well.

Basically, I want nothing to do with both of my parents. So... being their child, and having to share some of their physical traits- it bothers me.

Oh, and the reason I never try making friends? Well, that's just my own personal problem. I have no specific, logical reason behind it. But... it's not like it matters.

I sigh, hooking my thumbs in the rim of my skirt since I don't have pockets. The sun is bright this afternoon- it feels like it's trying to make me melt into a liquid version of myself. I better get home soon before I turn into a puddle.

I pick up the pace, but right as I round a corner of the building, I catch sight of a flurry of orange, and before I know it-

"AAHHH!"

Papers are flying in every direction, and I'm tilting backwards after the impact hits me. The blue sky meets my eyes, and the sun blinds me for a moment as I collapse to the ground. I squeeze my eyes shut as I feel another body fall on top of me- the sudden weight is heavy against my chest, and it knocks the breath out of me.

There's suddenly a strange poof, and the heavy weight I feel is much lighter. I try to open my eyes and see what's happened, but the sun again blinds me, and I quickly squeeze them shut again. There's a ruffling sound I can hear next to me, and I feel something... soft... brush against my nose. I try to reach out blindly, but whatever's on top of me suddenly leaps off, and my hand catches air.

I wait a moment before trying to get up. That weight from before is definitely gone, and I manage to sit up with no problem. I blink open my eyes, and to my surprise, no one is there. The only thing surrounding me are papers, scattered every which-way in the dirt.

I kneel down, picking a few up. As I start to sort them together, I realize that they're the pages of homework I had accidentally left behind in the detention room. Well, it's a huge relief that I have them with me now, but...

Shaking my head, I stand up and brush off my skirt with one hand, holding all the papers in the other. I look around the area, but there isn't a single person in sight.

"Who was... what just happened?" I mumble to myself, squinting to see further into the distance. All that I can see though, is a bunch of bushes, and then to the right of those, more of the walls of the school building.

Before the frustration at the confusing situation starts to get to me, the sun does first, and so for now I begin to walk away from the school again, finding my way towards the main street in the distance. But still, as I walk I can't help but wonder about what exactly just happened.

{Normal POV}

Kyo sat in the bushes surrounded by his clothes, and his tail was flicking back and forth in aggravation.

"Damn curse..." he muttered in a low growl, ears flattening atop his head.

Soon after the girl had fled the detention room, he had noticed that she had left all her homework behind... and seeing that she had been working so hard on it earlier, he felt he might as well do the right thing and return them to her. But when he went looking for her, he had somehow ended up bumping into her when they each rounded the corner, and, then, well...

Of course, he just had to land on top of her. And of course, something like that had caused him to transform... into a cat.

Fortunately, luck was on his side. Because she had the breath knocked out of her and the sun was so bright, she couldn't do much or see much until he had already grabbed his clothes in his mouth and ran off, dragging the heavy articles of clothing with him as quickly as possible while in his cat form.

Kyo dug his claws into the ground in his angst. Now he had to wait for who knows how long until he transformed back again and could go home!

What a pain in the ass!

A/N: Hope you liked it.

Reviews make the world a better place ;3

- Dia -