Yellow

"Good morning Fukazawa-san." Sohma-san smiles at me as I reach my classroom. I really like his smile; it is a bright thing, like the rays off of a content sun on a summer's day.

I feel my cheeks resonate with warmth as I get nearer to him.

"Good morning Sohma-san. " I tilt my head in acknowledgement since he won't let me bow.

"I'll see you later." He says and waves, before he is dragged away by his many friends. It would be pretty nice if we could be friends. Then again, someone so pure and beautiful will not want to be around someone as tainted as me. Yes, I have decided. No associating with him unless he initiates the conversation.

xXxXxXx

Dog food...Check

Chicken... Check

Vegetables... Check

Cereal...Check

Cheese...Check

Bread...Check

Milk...Check.

It seems I'm finished with my grocery shopping. Good timing too, the street was really crowded a few minutes ago. So after I pay for the food, I head home. As I am walking on a street, I see a pile of clothes left unattended. I peer closer since they look pretty clean, and I see that they are my school's boy's uniform.

How odd.

I pick up the clothes and arrange them neatly beside a gate, just in case that boy happens to come back.

As I am about to leave, I spot a rat. A very small rat compared to ones I have seen around the neighborhood. It's fur is not the dark gray that belongs in the sewer, but instead, a light purple gray. Very odd. It looks, for some reason, like it's waiting for something. Or maybe it's just hungry. So I reach in my bag and break off a bit of mozzarella. I toss it to the rat and that's when it spots me. It's tiny eyes go wide, and then there is a POOF.

I cough as glittery smoke billows around. Where on earth did that come from? I wipe the tear in my eye, and I cautiously glance around.

The rat is gone. That was pretty weird. I look around for a vent that the smoke might have come out of, but I couldn't find a single one except for one on the top of the building.

I shrug to myself and turn around to go home. To my utter surprise, I see Sohma-san, shrugging into his uniform top. So it was his. But why were his clothes off in the first place?

"Sohma-san! Did you manage to see what just occurred? How very peculiar!" I say, very much flabbergasted still. Even more so, now that he appeared out of nowhere, seemingly half naked. Right after I ask, I remember I didn't follow my resolution.

For some reason, he laughs.

"Haha..Your language is so...old fashioned..haha.. Forgive me." He manages to choke out before dissolving into a fit of giggles again.

My cheeks warm and my temper raises its head.

"I apologize for my 'old fashioned language'. If you're done laughing, I'm going home now." I grab my bags and take a brisk step forward before he reaches out to stop me.

"I'm very sorry for laughing at you. It was just...interesting. But no, I did not see anything." He looks at me dead-on, and for some reason, I feel like he's not telling the truth. Maybe it was just my imagination.

"Oh. Um. Alright. Then how come your clothes were on the sidewalk? Were you thinking of becoming the subject for some very risque artist?" I ask. My head is drawing a giant blank as I see his bottom lip quiver. He's laughing again.

"Ahahahaha! That was funny. You are very funny Fukazawa-san. No, I wasn't. It was just very hot." His eyes are dancing with amusement as he says this.

"But! Then why did you take off your pants?" What an odd fellow. It was barely sixty five degrees outside and he was saying it was hot.

"Those are my friends. I am getting them washed for him because I dirtied them by accident." Sohma-san replies.

"Oh....I see." Not. Either he was an ultra, mega, super nice guy to wash someone else's pants, or he was taking me for a fool. Whatever. I guess it's none of my business anyway.

"Well. See you at school then." I say as I hurry towards home.

I turn back around one last time to see his face. He is surprised. Maybe because I gave up asking too abruptly. Serves him right to be only half as confused as I was.

xXxXxXx

In class, I am more absentminded than usual. That incident was too weird. The sparkly smoke and then Sohma-san appearing out of thin air? It had to be connected one way or another. Maybe I will ask. No. Maybe not. I will just probably bother him.

During lunchtime, I wander aimlessly in the corridor. I stop by the vending machine. Should I get oolong tea or just water. I eenie meenie miny moe it until I land on the tea.

"Ah, Fukazawa-san! May I have a word?" Sohma-kun waves at me as he is nearing the machine. I nod, as I look at the drink in my hand. Where are my manners.

"Would you like tea?" I ask, holding it out for him.

"Oh. Thank you very much." He says as I drop the can in his reluctant hand. He motions me to follow him out the courtyard, so I go with him. As we pass, I notice many girls are looking at him with admiration, want, even idolization. Then their eyes focus on me, and they shine with envy and malice. I have a feeling I won't be seeing my indoor shoes tomorrow.

"So." I begin.

"So.. How come you left so suddenly yesterday?" He asks me as he takes a sip.

"I had to go home. Shiro gets lonely."

"I see. Is that your sibling?" He questions again.

"He's my dog."

"Oh. Isn't there anything else you want to ask me?" He finally gets to the point.

"Not really." I say. Then I notice my responses get shorter with each question.

"And why is that? Oh. Forgive me for prying. You shouldn't answer if you prefer not to."

I wave away his thoughts with my right hand as if it were a fly."It's fine. It's just that, I think it would be bothersome to you."

He grins at me. The one that supplies the sky with sunshine on a summer's afternoon.

"I see. Well thank you for being so considerate."

"That isn't anything big enough to be thanked for." I look at him. He talks like he isn't used to be treated like that. He shrugs. But he is still smiling. Very odd fellow.

We stand there for a few minutes in silence. He is gazing at the courtyard. I am gazing at the flowers in the grass that the gardening club has long neglected.

It takes me a few moments to work up the nerve, but I am able to say it.

"You have a nice laugh. You should laugh more often. When you're with your friends you seem kind of distant."

He doesn't say anything so I look at him. He is looking at me too. Except he is surprised again. Maybe he is thinking I'm a queer-o, or maybe he is just struggling to find the words. Like I do. Only, words seem to slip out of me all the time when I'm around him.

xXxXxXx

When I enter my classroom, I feel the weight of about twenty eyes on me. It feels kind of heavy so I look up to see what they are whispering about. On the blackboard, in big letters it says : Hisako Fukazawa is a whore! She is tricking Sohma-kun! Do not be deceived by her!

I see our homeroom teacher walk in to see the board with those words on it. His brow furrows as he calls me out to see the principal. Oh brother.