Chapter 5

…..The rest of math hour had gone by without incident, THANK GOODNESS! Arashi thought in relief as she pulled her math book out of her bag and stuck it in her locker. All I have to do is survive the rest of school today without any problems and I'm home free for the weekend! That thought brought a small smile to her face as she searched for her history book.

"What are you smiling for Arashi? Is something funny? Or are you thinking of Kamui again?"

Arashi groaned inwardly at the obnoxious voice coming from behind her. This day just goes from bad to worse. She thought irritably. Don't these kids have anything better to do than to seek me out and annoy me to death!? If they only knew how close this world was to coming to an end, I doubt they'd be wasting another minute on me! She quickly squelched that thought and took a deep breath.

"Maybe she didn't hear you Hiouki!" a high pitched female voice chirped back.

"Yeah, or maybe she's just too caught up in daydreams of Kamui-san!" yet another taunting voice rang out.

Arashi briefly considered ignoring them, but hoping they would just leave would be too good to be true. And with the luck she was having today, it was also extremely unlikely.

Gripping the door of her locker she turned to face three students who stood in a semi circle around her.

"It's none of your business what I'm smiling about," Arashi replied coolly, shooting an icy glare at Hiouki, "and you're crowding my space."

Hiouki, an arrogant junior on the High School football's JV team leered at her and made it a point to move in closer to her.

"Come now Arashi, you don't seem happy to see me. What's wrong? Don't I please you?"

Natural instinct begged Arashi to back away, but she refused to give him the satisfaction, so she held her ground.

"Betcha' Kamui would please her." Jibed a second boy.

Arashi didn't need to look to know that it was Kyo, Hiouki's friend and fellow football player. They were practically attached at the hip and together they ALMOST formed a brain. Arashi never cared much for stereotypes but whenever she saw the two the words 'dumb jocks' came to mind. But what they lacked in brain they both made up for with brawn and most students made it a point to stay on their good sides.

Arashi's glare hardened. It didn't matter to her; she was NOT one to be bullied. Trivial matters such as school bullies meant nothing when a portion of the fate of the world rested on your shoulders.

"No…" that high pitched voice quipped again.


Ah yes Arashi thought. Hiouki and Kyo would not be complete without Miaka, the head cheerleader doting on their every move. The perky blonde was just as stereotypical as the football players she chased after, and twice as nasty.

"Kamui is too young for Arashi." Miaka smirked, her blue eyes practically dancing with mirth. "I think…Arashi has a taste for OLDER men. Like that new senior she hangs out with. Sorata?"

Arashi's head whipped over to lock eyes with Miaka, shocked that she'd make that connection. Miaka's smile widened into a full out grin, but her blue eyes held nothing but cruelty in their depths.

"Arisugawa!?" Hiouki coughed looking over at Miaka as well.

"Tell me I'm wrong Arashi." Miaka challenged edging a bit closer herself.

Arashi was beginning to feel a bit lightheaded. She couldn't come up with a response to that. Her mind started to mull over Sorata and her relationship to him. How could she possibly even begin to explain what they were? Friends? Comrades? Perhaps, if they were given enough time they could even be…..

"So it's true then." Hiouki stated turning his full attention back to Arashi. "Tell me Kishuu, what's he got that I don't?"

Arashi tore her gaze away from Miaka to look back at Hiouki. Trying to ignore the rising feeling of claustrophobia she tightened her grip on her textbooks.

"My respect." She stated defiantly.

Hiouki's leer vanished. Angrily he slapped Arashi's textbooks out of her hands and leaned in to her so closely that she could smell his foul breathe, hot on her face.

"And just what does that mean!?" he seethed.

Before Arashi even had a chance to answer, Hiouki was suddenly jerked away from her face and was none too gently pinned against the locker next to her. Her eyes widened as she saw Sorata hoisting Hiouki several inches off the ground with one arm, his other resting casually at his side.

"I was just passing by and couldn't help but over hear your conversation." Sorata stated in his typically relaxed and easygoing manner.

"Not many people such as yourself really understands just 'what' respect means….or how to even show it!" he chuckled gamely as if the situation was a simple conversation among friends.

"But…" he added as though it were an afterthought "If you need someone to educate you guys on the matter, I'd be more than happy to teach you."

Though his manner and tone of voice stayed friendly and polite, the sheer intensity of his eyes made it crystal clear that he was not making an idol threat. He meant every word.

Both Kyo and Miaka stepped back stunned to silence at the sight. Hiouki was so astounded by the abrupt change of events that he struggled little under Sorata's unrelenting grip, his feet dangling about a foot off the ground.

"No? Well, maybe some other time then." And with that Sorata released his grip and Hiouki dropped to the floor, gasping for air.

Arashi watched all of this unfold in wide eyed wonder. Where did he come from? How long had he been listening to the conversation? How much did he hear?

"But, before you go, how about an apology to Arashi for making her drop her books?" Sorata added as Hiouki started to slink off.

Hiouki uttered a nearly unintelligible apology and with that said quickly took off down the hall with both Kyo and Miaka at his heels.

Arashi watched Sorata's features closely as he watched the three beat a hasty retreat. His face was devoid of any trace of humor, his eyes narrowed into a hard scowl. She had never seen him behave in such a way. But just as quickly as the look had appeared it faded as he turned to face her, the scowl replaced by a soft and affectionate smile. Without a word he stooped before her and carefully picked up each of her dropped textbooks.

Arashi took that moment to try and regain her composure. The whole affair had put her on edge and had her extremely irritated. And just who does Sorata think he is to interfere!? She thought angrily.

Sorata, after picking up the last textbook, stood once again and grin still intact.

"Care to join me for lunch break Nee-chan?" he asked nonchalantly, as if nothing had taken place.

"I didn't need your help Sorata-san!" she blurted out angrily. "I can take care of myself!"

If her outburst surprised Sorata, he showed no sign of it. He simply continued to stand before her, grin still in place, holding her textbooks under one of his arms, the other hanging casually in his pocket.

"I know you can Nee-chan, its just one more thing that I love about you."

"Don't start that with me right now!" she snapped testily while reaching for her books. "It's none of your business what they wanted or what they were doing. And the truth is, it really doesn't matter. None of THIS…." she emphasized the school by waving her other hand at the empty hallway they stood in "matters to me! What DOES matter is protecting Kamui and doing that which we've been predestined to do!"

As she reached for her books, Sorata turned away from her slightly, moving them out of her reach. As her hand drew close he made a grab for it with his free hand and held her hand gently but firmly. Arashi looked up at him angrily, about to yell again, but stopped as she saw the look on his face. She had seen it only once before, when he had finally explained to her what he meant when he had told her that she was "the one."

His voice was thick with conviction as he spoke quietly.

"It may not matter to you Nee-chan, but it does matter to me. You, Me, Yuzariha, and even Kamui, we all have had to make sacrifices for these people who we are fighting with our very lives to protect." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You, Arashi, have devoted your precious life to becoming a Dragon of Heaven, so that you could save these people. These same people who just now treated you with such malicious disrespect. And you deserve so much better than that Arashi. So much better. And as long as I'm around, I will make sure that no matter where you go, people will treat you with the respect that you deserve."

He watched the anger slowly dissolve from her eyes and a wave of relief washed over him. He knew she would be furious for his intrusion but the sight that greeted him as he turned the corner to find her had made it impossible for him to just walk away.

He wasn't completely sure what was going on at first, but it was clear to him that something wasn't right. And as he watched Hiouki invade Arashi's personal space a blinding wave of jealousy crashed through him. He thought he heard his name being said and curiosity and a sense of territoriality brought him a bit closer, but when that damn kid slapped Arashi's books to the ground, fury propelled him to do exactly what he had done.

He had NEVER been one to have a temper, but when it came to Arashi, he experienced feelings and emotions that he had never felt before. Without a doubt she was the one he had been praying for all his life. She was his everything. And he would be damned if he let some punk kids treat her in such a way.

Arashi looked down at her hand, still in Sorata's grip. Sorata had almost forgotten that he still held it and realizing it probably made her uncomfortable, released it.

"And, if you don't mind Nee-chan, I wish to show you that I have the greatest respect for you too. May I please treat you to lunch today?" and keeping her books firmly tucked under one arm he turned slightly to offer her his other arm, as a guide toward the school cafeteria.

Arashi hesitated. She was deeply touched by what he had said, and if she were truly honest with herself, she was touched by what he had done. Decision made, she reached out and grabbed a hold of his proffered arm. Sorata beamed at her acceptance to his offer and walked with her towards the cafeteria……

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What do you think my dear readers??? I LOVE letting my imagination go wild but only YOU can tell me whether or not its worth reading! Please, please PLEASE give me a review, they keep me going! (wink!) And a special thanks to Minagi! You're reviews mean A LOT!!! Thank YOU!!!