Okay, here is another totally different story from 11 year old me---

WARNING: This is more childish and written more pathetic than "Minutes to the Guillotine". This is MUCH worst, trust me, I even started on chapter two and cut chapter one, see how stupid I was before…

And, I never thought I could get this much reviews, thanks a lot! You all don't know how much this means to me! All your reviews, just reading them, can warm my heart! Thanks to HopeGrace1920, alexzhou04, Unknown2008, Kuchiki Jeanne for reviewing! Now, another childish tale by little old me…

And everything beyond this line is NOT written by Miyano Ran with a sense of taste…in story writing I mean…

Hehe…

Well, we all improve, don't we?

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Sacrificed Reputation

"Kindness"

Genre: General, Angst, Suspense

Prologue 1 (a week before)

"Don't do it!!!! I am begging you! Please!!! Stop!! No!! Kill me instead!! No!!!!!! Don't….please……don't!!!!!!!!! Kudo- kun, Ran- chan!!!!!! No!!!!!", Shiho yelled, pouring all her tears and shouting all her might, almost loosing her voice in shouting.

She yelled her heart out with despair, begging, crying. No longer did she care about her aching throat, and her tired eyes that were filled with tears. Nothing, nothing mattered at that moment except for one thing, for all people to be saved, for all people to live. She didn't want a tragic ending, she yelled. She didn't think of anything else except- for all of the people who she knew in her life to live, not to die.

She ignored the wet- like crystals that were glistening in her beautiful face. It didn't matter how much anxiety she was feeling. Only one thing mattered. The sorrow seen in her sparkling eyes were too unexplainable. Ran, Shinichi, no one, no one could understand how exactly she was feeling at that very moment. No one could put together the heart- tearing feelings that she had at that moment. The look on her face almost seemed like she was being injected by billions of needles, piercing her blazing flesh.

Her eyes looked in deep pain; bitter, agonizing and burning flames were like surrounding her soul, haunting her. The pain….the look on her face….was…was definitely unimaginable. She has never been so desperate!!

Her eyes continued poring out more tears as each drop fell down the floor one by one. All she wanted was everyone to be happy, for everyone to live.

She asked herself, "All I want is for everyone to live…. I…..want them to be h…happy……liberated. Is…is that so big a wish…that….that it can't even be granted? Is….is the world……..we are in….really like this……trapped? Is that wish too much to ask? All I want is for them to...... to have….to have…..free…..freedom."

Prologue 2 (2 days before)

"Um, hey, wh….wha…what are you guys doing?", a figure of a girl asked innocently.

"Damn you!!! Don't get in our way, fool!!", a rude voice was heard somewhere in her surroundings. It was a voice of a school bully.

"Yeah! Don't you dare notify this to the teacher, clear?!! Or else, we are going to ruin your life! I don't care even though you are the top in the class, or even in the batch, however, if you try anything naughty, we'll crush you!!! We'll ruin your perfect reputation somehow! Get lost! Scram!!! Forget the things you saw me and my boyfriend doing just now, clear?!!! Let's just keep this our little secret!", a voice of an almost drop- out high school student was all she heard. It was a girl's voice.

It sounded like a sadistic girl whose thoughts were evil and malicious. She, too, was the school's bully. Both the boy and the girl were the worst, most disrespectful, evil high school students in Teitan High, and, they have cornered the girl wearing the Teitan uniform.

They were evil, oh yes, even for their age of 18, they were like the minions of Satan. Even in their young age, they were already considered, evil, impious and mischievous! Silence filled the air.

"But….but that's chea….cheat…..cheati…..and….and….stea….stea…..", she says as those words escaped her mouth with the tone of trembling fear.

"Huh!! What do we care! Get lost and get the hell out of here! I don't care!! I'll do whatever it takes to pass the stupid final examinations, especially in Chemistry so that my parents won't call me a useless son!"

After he spoke, the figure saw his eyes, sparkling, shining. Then, when his cheeks were also about to glisten, he turned around and gave a smirk and whispered to them, "My parents would always call me a worthless son. They have been punishing me since I was in elementary school. They said that I have low Intelligent Quotient!! My brother, who is now in college, is the top in the batch, and my two younger sisters, one is in high school one, and, you know what, she is in the top ten honor roll, and my other sister who is in the fifth grade, is also a promising prodigy!!! My mom was once a child prodigy and my father is a rich businessman!!! My whole family is so successful and intelligent!!! Except…..except….for me…… I want to at least pass one test!! Just one test just to prove to all my relatives that I can be someone someday!!! I just want, to prove, to prove to them! Just….even once……"

"I…um…my…my….I….I am an expert in Chemistry and…and I….I can help you out in the finals, you, and your girlfriend, both of you. There is another way you know. This is not the only way. I….I can tutor you if you want. I can help you ace these exams, it's just a breeze for me.", the figure of the girl in the shadows offered with her ever so soft voice.

Then, the boy, aroused with great fury and pain shouted and said, "Damn!! I know!!! I know!! There is another way to passing, study!!! Study!! Study!!! Study!! I have tried that already!! When I had continuous red marks in last year, and, not only the last year, but since when…..when I was a kid, I gave my hardest!!! My hardest!!! I tried!! I studied all night long!! Sometimes, during examinations, I study from six in the evening when I get home to five in the morning!! Sometimes, I don't even eat and sleep anymore!! I just finish at five in the morning and sleep, and yet, despite all my sacrifices, all I end up getting is an aching stomach, two hours of sleep everyday, and a failing mark in the test!! Face it! No matter how hard I study, I still….I still fail!!! I am really dumb!! Dumb!!! So, the only way that a dumb person like me can pass is when I do this!! I have no choice, for heaven's sake, maybe, this time, if I fail, my father will disown me already!!!! I am a total disgrace in the family!!! You see, there are only two ways to get what you want, it's either you work hard, or cheat!! Well, working hard to the hardest that I can offer didn't help me, so, I have two options left, become successful in taking the shortcut of life, or never get what you want until you die!!! So?!! Now, do you understand why I am doing this!? I really don't want to, but I think I can already commit suicide just hearing my parents yell at me once more!!! I can't stand it!!! I also have a dignity to protect, you know, so don't dare tell anyone, okay!!!?? Or else, I'll make your life miserable!!! Forever!!!"

He shouted at the top of his voice that the two girls almost felt deaf. Both could see true anger in his eyes, like fire, however, his soul said otherwise. The girls could feel that within his soul was someone screaming, yes, screaming, crying for help!!!

They felt so sorry for the boy, while, the other girl who felt sorry for the boy was also in his shoes! Suddenly, there was silence, as if the three of them were in a soundproof world, just the three of them, suddenly, the boy broke the silence and begged softly, while crying, "Please? Please, no matter what happens, don't tell anyone, okay? Please?"

The other girl held down her neck and pressed it hard on the wall, begging, shouting, "Please!!!! Have mercy on my boyfriend!! I love him!! And when he suffers, I suffer, too, and, and he is a good person anyway! It's just that his stupid parents are so hard on him, too hard for that matter!!! I know how he is suffering and I pity him!! And, you…you felt it too, right?!! His anxiety, you felt it, right!!??? I get hurt when he tells me these stories, so, please, have mercy on us!! I am failing, too you know!!! If…if I don't cheat, then, the school will kick me out!! Just keep this a secret, okay? I…I am so sorry if I have threatened you a while ago, I…I was just so desperate, you know, that's all and I was afraid that a cold, intelligent, person like you, who is also a teacher's pet, would definitely report the teacher about all that you saw and not have mercy on us. And…and that's why I….we…we threaten you. But….but, can't you at least be a friend, just break the rules this once, okay? We can be your friend if you want. You don't need to sacrifice for us or anything serious, just, just don't do anything. Don't tell and don't help because, I, too, also worry for you because you are a nice person and I don't want you to get involved. Try to forget what you just witnessed right now and pretend that you didn't see anything, okay?" The girl's last seven sentences didn't have an aura or anger, rather, of a sweet apology and a begging whisper.

She had a friendly tone, too. Both of them, surprisingly, very much wanted to make friends with the girl. Then, she let go of her neck. They begged. They both begged so hard to the girl not to tell anyone about what she saw.

The girl felt sorry for the two, wiping her tears, she mumbled, "Okay, I…I won't tell. I won't tell anyone, I swear!" She said very softly.

The boy and the girl who were bending their heads, looked up to the girl and gave a smile. The girl said, "We…we never knew that someone could be as understanding as you. Thank you!! Domo arigato!!!!"

The boy then said, "I guess we can all be friends now, huh, and, um…I promise, I…I will never bully anyone again! Domo arigato gozaimasu!!!" "Yeah, now that we know that there is a kind person like you who can understand people like us, we can totally be friends instead of fiends! We will stop being bullies from now on and try to be good, like you. We will never hurt people again, or our classmates and we will never shout and disrespect our teachers."

The sassy and peppy girl told her. Both of them were eager to change for the better and be her friend ( except in the aspect of cheating because as what they have said, "There is no other choice even though we don't enjoy doing it. We just got used to it." )

The figure then spoke, "You know…I….I was also punished when….I….I mean, ever since I was a child. I know how it feels, bitter." Then, the figure gave out a liquid substance from her eyes.

While it was rolling throughout her cheeks, the other girl questioned sarcastically, "What do you mean by that, huh? You are a prodigy and you are so smart, so perfect, how would you know? Why would you be punished?!! Tell me!"

"I….I wasn't punished because of my test results…..", she whispered. "Then, what did they punish you for?! Speak up!!", the other girl hollered, while, the other boy, also curious, waiting for an answer.

Until that time, it was still unavoidable for them to be released from their rude shells, especially in speaking. When the girl was about to open her mouth, she closed it again and ran away from the scene, her face, glistening in the dark.

Prologue 3 (that early morning)

When Yamagishikuchi-sensei had gotten into their class room first thing in the morning, she went right away to the teacher's cabinet. She wanted to change something in one of the students' record. She also wanted to edit something in the answer sheets…..

Then……………

None of them could be found…………….. She grew heated………….

She knew that one of the students took them…………….

Chapter 1: The Start of a New Life

NONE

Chapter 2: The Scene of the Misdeed

In school………HS 3 Class B……..

"Won't anyone admit?!! The answer sheets for the mid terms won't just run off by themselves and my students' record sheets won't be disordered without someone touching them!! I had confirmed with the janitors yesterday and the other school personnel and they told me that they never got in this classroom!! Who did it!? What! No one dare admit, I see!! This class has gone too far!!! One of you did it and I know you know who yourself or yourselves are!! I bet the one who did it IS or ARE one of the students with the lowest grades here!! Kudo- san! Aren't you the famous Sherlock of the 21st century?! Well, can you solve this case for us!?? Who did it!!? Who?!! Kudo- san, who do you think stole the test answer sheet?!! Who?!" Yamagishikuchi- sensei shouted, as she lectured the high school students in her advisory class.

She was furious upon her class being dishonest, then, some students stealing and cheating. She questioned her best student, Kudo Shinichi angrily desperate, hoping for a straight answer.

Shinichi grinned. "I solve high profile crimes, Yamagishikuchi- sensei. I am sorry, but, I don't know how to solve THIS kind of mystery. Besides, sensei, if I were to investigate and find out about whom the culprit is, they'd hate me, wouldn't they? And I don't want my own classmates hating me. Sensei, I am sorry but I can't give a straight answer. Unlock your anger inside your heart and just maybe you will find out who the culprits are. They might actually admit it if you were more gentle."

Shiho knew who the culprits were; however, a promise remains a promise, she thinks. Shiho sweat profusely as she seats uncomfortably in her chair. She can't possibly lie, but, she can't possibly break a promise either. Her eyes were gleaming with guilt. Her face was pale. She stared down at the floor. Her eyes were widened. She shivered and clenched her fists.

She suddenly stood up from her seat quickly.

"Yamagishikuchi-senei, I…I know who did it!" Shiho shouted.

The class gasped. Shinichi, Ran and Sonoko were shocked as they covered their gapping mouths.

"That's a relief to hear from you, Miyano-chan, my favorite student." The teacher sighed in relief gladly. "Now, would you be a dear and point at whoever it is in this classroom that dares steal test answers! Tell me, Miyano!!"

"Who do you think is it?" People were murmuring back and forth.

"Darn that girl!" The boy whispered.

"I really trusted her, damn! She's gonna pay big time!!" The girl said worriedly.

"I thought she was our friend! She's gonna squeal on us!" The boy murmured back.

"Yeah! I detest her! Backstabber!" The girl said lividly.

The boy and the girl gave her a very bad look and bad stare. More like a death glare.

Shiho saw them give her the death glare, but she still opened her mouth.

"Sensei…"

"Don't say it darn it!" The girl whispered to her.

"That was a promise!" The boy inserted while giving her scary death glares.

"Your butt is so gonna be in the garbage can later on!" The girl whispered.

But those angry murmurs didn't stop her from confessing.

"We will ruin your life forever and destroy your name!" The boy told her.

Everyone looked at Shiho with great anticipation.

Shinichi looked at her. She bit her lip and looked down.

"I DID IT! I STOLE THE TEST ANSWERS!!!" She said with full courage.

"Oh my God!" The boy whispered while coving his mouth.

"Oh no." The girl whispered.

Shiho darted them a bitter smile.

"YOU, WHAT???!!!" The teacher shouted in great indignation.

"No! She's lying!" Shinichi defended. "She's covering up for somebody here!! Probably someone blackmailed her, sensei!"

The whole class agreed with Shinichi.

Ran said, "I second demotion! She would never do that! Someone's making her do this!"

Everyone agreed that it wasn't her.

The teacher just laughed.

"Dear Miyano, you're my best student! You would never do such a horrible thing, let alone in the finals! Just tell us who it is. Don't be afraid! I'll have them expelled! Tell me the truth Shiho! Who is that horrible student in this room making you do this, pulling down your reputation!? Who?"

The boy and the girl thought that she would squeal this time for sure.

If the boy and the girl get expelled…………..

Their families would disown them……………….

But if it was me……………..

I have no place to call home anyway……..no family…………

At least if they got passing grades, their parents and family will all be proud of them and give them praises. They might even throw a party.

Shiho smiled a little.

But………

No matter how many high grades I have……………

I have no parents anyway…………….

What's the use…………….

I might as well be a drop out…………..

They deserve to have good grades……………because………….

Their family will be with them when they do and they'll be happy…….

But even if I got the best grades…………….

It really doesn't matter now, does it?

Grades don't even make me happy; they just satisfy me with my already wretched life…..

At least I have at least one thing to be proud of in my life…….my smarts…….

But…….that's all……….I've got nothing more……might as well help them out……

There's no turning back now………..

"No sensei! I did it! I'm not covering anyone! I really did it!"

"Then, I'm sad to say, you're gonna have to be expelled."

Gasps…murmurs….

"She didn't have to do that!" The girl whispered.

"Oh God. We ruined her life." The boy stated with utmost guilt.

"Shiho, no!" Shinichi gasped.

"You wouldn't!" Sonoko defended.

"I know sensei, that's why; I'm leaving school right now." Shiho whispered as tears fell.

She ran towards the door of the classroom and yanked it open, running in the hallways.

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"You didn't have to do that!" The boy shouted angrily.

"Yeah! You can't be expelled! We're so sorry!" The girl apologized.

"We'll find a way to clear your name!" The boy said. "We might as well tell the truth!"

"Yeah!" She shouted.

"No thanks. Grades are not important to me. They are to you. So, just butt out."

Shiho said. She started crying.

"Don't tell the truth. Good luck in your exams!"

Started: December 2006

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Feel it's a cliffhanger? Don't worry! I'll revise this and continue!

TY for reading this!