Disclaimer: … :blink: I got nothing to say, so let's just skip it…

A/N: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone:) I planned on posting this yesterday actually, but, ya know... ff. net was having probs... -.- :shrugs: Ah well. They happen...
Anyways, this is prolly the fastest update you'll see coming from me for this story, cuz this chap has been done for awhile now. The next chap isn't even done yet... Having a little trouble getting past a certain part...
Also, the school that gets mentioned is supposed to be Kurama's. If anyone knows the name of it, and notices I got it wrong, can you please correct me? Arigato. :)

And now...chapter 1.

Enjoy!

Awakening Spirits

By Pegacorn (aka Lisa Bako)

Chapter 1: Concussions…A Great Way to Start the Day!

'I wonder what this new school will be like…' That single thought continued to swirl around inside his head as he continued to get ready.

Since Reiki didn't yet have any school uniforms, which were required at his new school, he had to settle for dressing in a different way. Not wanting to look like a slob, he opted for a pair of black jeans and a light blue, button-down shirt, leaving the top button undone so he wouldn't feel like he was being strangled. He had yet to figure out what shoes he'd wear (which would most likely be a pair of sneakers), but for now, that could wait.

Right now, his focus was placed on his hair. And boy, did he have a lot of it!

Currently, when he had it down, it was long enough to reach his waist. Many a time had his parents pestered him to get it cut. His father would always beg him to do so, because he was tired of people always complimenting on how lovely his "daughter" looked.

…Alas…Reiki would always refuse to comply… He'd been growing it for years, he'd always say; it would be such a shame to throw all that effort down the drain.

Accepting that their son was just too stubborn to be persuaded,his parents decided to compose a deal… As long as Reiki's hair didn't start to get all "out of control", and he kept it looking tidy, then fine, he could keep growing it out.

…Needless to say, the boy managed to keep it in good shape.

There went his parents' clever plan…

At that thought, the teenager allowed a small grin of amusement to take residence upon his visage. 'I bet that when I reach the kitchen that they'll pick up from where they left off yesterday with that routine of theirs…' With smile still adorning his features, Reiki slowly shook his head in in the slightest of mock annoyance. He found great humor in how persistent his mom and dad were in still "subtly" trying to convince him, even after the "non-haircut deal"…especially since that no matter how many times their son would stubbornly refuse to comply, Reiki's parents would stubbornly insist on continuing the usual protocol.

…Well…at least he knew where he'd picked up that trait from…

Refocusing his attention back to the mirror in front of him above the dresser, Reiki got back to the task at hand…

Dealing with his hair.

He'd already managed to get out the tangles --though that was never a difficult task, since his hair hardly ever picked up any. Now, all that was left to do was to put it up in his trademark, low-ponytail. He knew exactly what he would tie it up with, too…

Smiling fondly, as if at a pleasant memory, his hand inched toward the dresser in front of him, expecting to find a certain ribbon, only to have his fingers come in contact with…

…empty wood…

…Blink…blink… 'Wha…?'

Allowing his gaze to drift downward, Reiki's face soon gained a look that was something akin…to shock.

'Where is it? I could've sworn it was here on the dresser a minute ago!' He moved to crouch on the wooden floor, planning to initiate his search mission--

"Mraow!"

He jumped, causing his skull to come in contact with the metal handle of the top drawer with an audible "crack!".

"Ow!" A hand moved to assess the damage --Reiki winced as he touched the bump forming on the back of his head. Luckily enough, there was no red stain on his fingers… But…

'Damn… That hurt!'

This brought a sudden thought to his head…

…What was that sound that startled him?

Revolving his gaze to behind himself --Reiki was certain the noise had emanated from there--, his question was answered. Lounging comfortably in front of the desk on the boy's gray computer chair was a cat. A half-grown black cat with an orange right-ear and left-forepaw, gazing at the teenager with its bright blue eyes, full of amusement.

At once, Reiki's vision narrowed to slits. "You…!"

Fiery orbs narrowed in return, feline mouth resembling a smirk, as if to say, "Yes…Me." And in the grip of those small fangs…was a blue ribbon…

Sharp hazel-green eyes caught sight of said ribbon, only to widen in shock. "My ribbon!" An accusing stare was set on the kitten. 'So that's why it wasn't on the dresser!'

"Bandit…" The little animal grew a bit tense at the sternness in that tone of voice. "You took my ribbon…didn't you?"

Another thinned gaze, plainly saying, "You figured all that out by yourself, Einstein…?" was the response he received.

Reiki was positively seething. Any chance of going through today with a good mood was completely gone by now. The only chance his thinned temperament had to improve would be if something really good were to happen…and that didn't seem likely. What the boy did see taking place in the near future was--

He lunged at the feline, with every intent of finishing the creature off --the cat scampering away with a screech, out the door, down the stairs, with a fuming human rampaging behind him.

--the death of the devil-cat.

---

'Man, do I hate school…'

This was the general train of thought for the punk-looking youth, raven hair slicked-back, the expression on his face set in a grim pout. He more than looked like he'd rather be going anywhere else than his current destination.

Meiou Private Academy.

It was amazing that he was even going there. Meiou was one of the top high schools in Tokyo; just passing the entrance exam alone required a high IQ, brains, and intellect --three traits of which should never even be mentioned in the same sentence as the youth's name, which just happened to be--

"Yusuke!"

The boy --named Yusuke-- lifted mahogany-brown eyes to meet the amber-brown gaze of the girl who'd been walking a few feet in front of him. Only now, she was more around ten or fifteen feet ahead, stride halted so that she was turned around completely to face him. If the look on the brunette's face was anything to go by, one could say she was none too pleased about her companion's lagging pace.

"Yusuke, would you hurry up?" The annoyed tone was perfectly clear. Keeping her grip on her brown book bag, the girl stood facing Yusuke with the other hand fisted on the waistline of her red skirt --the bottom half of her school uniform, matching the sailor-shirt top. "At this rate, we're going to be late. Something I don't wish to have added to my record."

Huffing in annoyance as he stopped not far from her, Yusuke merely shoved his hands into his green pants' pockets --his button-up, long-sleeve shirt being of the same color (not to mention that his outfit was the wrong color, seeing as the assigned shade for school uniforms was magenta)-- careful to keep his own briefcase-like bag (just like the girl's) tucked securely under his arm, "Oh, come on, Keiko! It's not like you're usually late in the first place; one time isn't gonna kill you."

Keiko mirrored her friend's annoyed huff, "I didn't say it would, but as class representative, it's my responsibility to set an example for the rest of the student body!"

Having already started walking again, "Yea, yea…whatever…" the black-haired boy slowly trotted past the seething girl.

Turning to stomp after him, she continued her verbal assault. "Don't give me that!"

Keiko received no response from the boy. Only silence.

"Yusuke, are you listening to me?"

Again…no response. In fact…it seemed he chose to speed up.

"Yusuke!" She tried to regain his attention…to no avail.

All the while, Yusuke was thinking as his jog broke into an easy run (easy for him, at least), 'Oh, the heck with it! I'll take school any day if it means avoiding one of Keiko's punkcha-whatever lectures!' (He means punctuality.) Lucky for him, he only had to face her in three periods. Lunch. Gym. And biology. He could eat lunch on the roof, no problem. And with gym…well, he didn't usually bother with gym. Who needed it anyway? Biology would be more of a problem, but he could always cut for the day. All he had to do now, was get away from her. Maybe when he'd have to pass the corner…

"YUSUKE!"

He winced. That was not a pleasant tone. But… Yes! There was the corner. The one with those tall bushes that served as a fence for whoever's house they were passing. Yusuke's run broke into a sprint as he approached the corner, getting ready to make the sharp turn--

WHAM!

"Ack!"

Thud!

…No one said things were ever that easy…

---

Easy to guess what happened there... X) Hehe... XD Okers. On to the review responses!

-Itsuki the Gatekeeper: I will. Thanks:)

-Akahana: :blink: You do? o.0 Heh..talk about your crazy coincidences.. :D

-Sapphire Angel: Yep. Reiki. Not literally "spirit energy" (though it does mean that). Even though I can be evil, I'm not cruel enough to do that. ;)

3 reviews... That's more than usually get on first chapters, which is just sad... T.T But it did boost my ego for a while there, which can be a good way to encourage me to write faster... :hinthint:) Hopefully, I'll get chapter 2 done quickly and not make you guys have to wait out my usual 2 month updating pace... :swirly eyes: That would just be evil of me...
Well, til next time then.

-Pegacorn (Oh! I forgot to mention! If you go to my bio, you'll find links to fanart I have done for this story. So far, I've drawn Reiki and the devil-cat... Enjoy. ;))