(a/n) Yo yo yo...It's been a while, huh? Sorry for updating after more than a month. No excuse better, or truer in my case than school!!! Anyways, enjoy this chapter...
After the announcement of lunch break by their school bell, Ogami went straight to the rooftop where no one will disturb him. He didn't bother to buy something for himself and just stared at the gray sky.
Something is bothering him. Big time.
He cannot understand himself a while ago in the homeroom. The guy hasn't done anything.
But Ogami felt doing something.
He cannot really read Sakura-san well. Her unpredictability is really tricky. But the radiance he saw in her is intriguing.
It was the first time she showed that kind of expression, the expression of surprise, happiness, and something he couldn't name.
This is really bad, he concluded. He can't take it off his head. He needs to be still in focus. Threats are lurking everywhere and as a Code: Breaker, he shouldn't be distracted by something shallow.
He stood up straight and gazed below. His sharp eyes caught a long black hair swaying on the wind and another ebony-haired lad. He automatically knew it was Sakura-san.
And the new student is the boy.
His grip on the criss-cross railings tightened.
Hell, he is distracted.
He remained in that position for a few minutes more, not minding that the one he is looking at a while ago isn't there anymore. There are so many things running on his mind right now. So many that he couldn't focus his mind on one of them.
Maybe not.
Who the hell is that irritating bastard?!
After spending some time thinking on how to explain to Kanda that he had damaged the rooftop fence, snapped them as if he used big metal scissors to cut them, he returned to the dark cave inside his mind. His full concentration is on it that he only flinched upon hearing the door to his sanctuary open.
Sakura-san entered with the same gay atmosphere as before, smiling the widest he knew and her eyes shining brilliantly.
His swollen hand from crushing the fence unconsciously balled into a fist when he recognized the man on her trail. It was that irritating bastard.
"Rei-kun," she called him, "I want you to meet Sano."
Sano, eh? No honorifics? That's a very good news. He could even bet his life that it is that bastard's first name. Just how close can they get in half a day?
Sano came from her behind and offered a hand to him.
"Umemiya Sano." he said.
Ogami fought the urge to remove his glove and burn him on the spot. That made him confused on his feelings. What is the reason behind that?
Sakura-san noticed Ogami just staring on the hand, she softly whispered on his ear to break his trance. "Rei-kun, Sano's waiting."
Ogami reached for the hand slowly with his right. It is somehow safer since he could only resort to breaking his bones if ever he can't control himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Umemiya-san." He greeted pleasantly, "I'm Ogami Rei."
Umemiya released his hand quickly, as if sensing the dangerous aura he is emitting despite the Noh mask he is wearing. "I'm Sakura's friend from middle and elementary school."
Okay, that just made things worse. Ogami's Noh mask felt like slipping itself from his face. The bastard called her Sakura so casually and no honorifics? This guy should stop speaking or else he'll turn into something unrecognizable.
Ashes, Ogami guessed.
"I'm surprised to know that, Umemiya-san." he continued in a still calm voice, pleasantries usually have the advantage when it comes to these things, "Maybe that explains Sakura-san's delighted reaction when you came earlier at homeroom."
"Quite the same for me," Umemiya replied, "I didn't expect to see her again."
"It must be luck." Ogami suggested.
"Maybe." the latter said.
Deep inside, he was telling him it is his bad luck to have met him.
"Kanda, give me all the information you can about Umemiya Sano." he ordered his assistant as soon as possible after Sakura-san left with the irritating bastard. He still couldn't make himself call him with his name. His stomach cannot take it. Or maybe somewhere else inside his body.
He doesn't care in the least. All he knows is that every part of his body screams hate towards that irritating bastard.
Kanda promised to provide her research results the day after tomorrow, which gives him approximately two days to observe him personally. He swears to himself, if he found out any kind of dirt in him, he'll forcefully remove him from Sakura-san's life.
After all, she doesn't deserve someone like him if that'll happen.
A voice broke through his thoughts, the same time as tobacco smoke invaded his nose. "Aren't we getting a little too concerned about that Umemiya Sano?" He just came from the door Sakura-san and the bastard used a while ago.
"It has nothing to do with you in one way or another, so just stay away from my business." he threatened Toki.
He blew a set of circles. "In one way or another, Sakura-chan is my business."
It is not the time to argue with him, Ogami thought, "Then just leave that Umemiya Sano to me, all other matters, to you."
"Then," Toki wouldn't give up on this, "Sakura-chan's love matters will be handled by me. That means Umemiya is my concern after all."
His curiosity is stirred. "What do you mean?"
Toki placed his cigarette between his middle and index fingers in his right hand. "You're not blind, are you? There's a warm fuzzy aura around him when he's with her."
Warm? Fuzzy? What the heck are those?! What does that warm fuzzy aura mean?
"I'm correct, you are blind." he said blandly, "But you are one more thing, Ogami. Dumb." He started heading for the exit. "I thought you are one of the smartest Code: Breakers around but you disappoint me. You can't recognize your own feelings."
Ogami is left standing, wondering where Toki's words are getting, and where does Sakura-san's unusual brightness comes from.
No idea.
Ogami avoided the thirty minute allowance he had yesterday. He doesn't want to spend an awful, not to mention creepy minutes under the glares of the yakuza members. But he arrived on time nevertheless.
Several feet away from his destination, his sensitive ears picked out something from Sakura-san's front gate. He stopped for a while and listened a bit.
"I'll just e-mail Rei-kun that you have already fetched me." that is Sakura-san's voice.
"Would that be alright for him?" Someone else asked. But it isn't a bother for Ogami to know who it is. It is that irritating bastard.
Both Ogami's hands clenched by themselves. How dare he substitute for his job of walking Sakura-san to school without his permission?
Not that he'll give it anyways.
"Rei-kun is a very kind person." Sakura-san replied.
Ogami felt grateful for her faith on his goodness, if there is anything left after he became a vigilante. But please, he thought, don't go with him.
"So I'm sure if I will go with you to school this morning..." Sakura-san left off.
I'll be really disappointed, Ogami continued on his mind.
"He'll understand it and thank you anyways."
Ogami couldn't care less if Umemiya becomes ashes right that instant.
"Good morning, Rei-kun." Sakura-san greeted enthusiastically after seeing him on the doorway of their classroom.
His bad mood is still in place but letting it show to her will only make things worse. "Good morning, Sakura-san."
"Did you receive my e-mail a while ago?" She asked, "Sano surprised me on the gate of our house. I knew you would be coming but I felt like I can't turn him down. Is it okay with you?"
Rubbing that thing on his face didn't do any good. His mouth is itching to form a scowl but doesn't want to do it at the moment. "As long as you have someone else with you, that's fine by me."
Sakura-san took ahold of his hand. "I just knew you are so understanding. Sano was a bit guilty earlier. Guess I'll tell him after he comes back."
He slid some books under his desk. "Now that you mentioned it, maybe I should thank him personally for bringing you safe to school, Sakura-san."
Ogami wondered if a hundred punches would be enough to express his gratitude.
"Ogami!" his classmates -namely the boys- flocked around him and started pestering him with their comments.
Since they have been really kind to him apart from their typical banters, Ogami let them go. "What is it?"
"You're princess has been stolen already!"
"Don't give up yet!"
"You're still the legendary 'Erogami', you have our full support."
His head warned for a sudden headache. He doesn't know if he felt better with their words or not. Which reminds him, where is Sakura-san?
With several panting breaths, mainly due to worry and not exhaustion after almost flying through stairs inside the school, he found her gazing on a blank scene at the back of the school. Soft raven hair flowing gently, dancing with the cold breezes.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
There is a weird sound resounding on his ears. It is the first time he heard that kind of thing. Too loud. Too fast.
He panicked. There shouldn't be some kind of thing he doesn't know after years of experience. He tried to sense danger around.
Nothing.
Sakura-san slowly faced him, allowing him to see the seldom serious look in her face.
And to notice the tears that were trickling down her cheeks.
He took one step unconsciously, ready to run again to dry those droplets that stain her face.
"Rei-kun, Sano was my first love."
He froze on his previous position, unable to react for the moment.
More importantly, why did the crazy beats stop?
Was it good??
I sure hope so, you know...
That's why I need your R-E-V-I-E-W-S!!!
Seriously folks, it fuels me up!!
Till next time...