Worth more that I thought

Chapter four

Chapter Title: Detentions and determination

Author's (extra long and apologetic) Note:

Hello :D I am so sorry for this terrible delay in updating. I've finished all my holiday needs and whatnot, so I can finally update. In peace. I apologize, I really do.
When you try write the next chapter of a story and you forget what your story is about, you know you haven't update for way too long.
So, I wrote this in my holidays in Australia in the dead of night and on bumpy car rides, so I really cannot say how good this chapter will be. Currently editing this in Singapore airport. I'm all over the place, haha. I'll upload this as soon as I get back to Hong Kong.

Again, the original chapter was lost, along with my usb. So, I have made big changes from the original chapter.

My writing style has gone a little different, but I hope you enjoy this just the same.

Also, on a side note, I'll be uploading a proper KandaOC fanfiction, since Cold Hands ended up in such a wreck. I have made some sort of half-assed plan for it, so it will not turn out like Cold Hands, I promise. It's an AU future fanfiction called 'Reincarnation', and I've already got seven chapters typed out! Each chapter is promised to be more than a thousand words, at least :D I had fun typing that future fic, so I hope you guys will check it out! Only if you want to of course :)

Thanks for sticking with this unreliable amateur writer. Knowing someone's reading my rubbish makes me so happy.

And, just thought I'd show you my private and very lame tumblr: nestea69 . t u m bl r . c o m (without the spaces of course :D)

Oh, disclaimer:

I don't own anything.

Okay, on to the chapter.

'Gorgeous little thing, aren't you?'

The Chinese girl rolled her eyes, but a smile was tugging at her slight pink lips.

'Flirt. About my notes…'

Lavi flashed a smile immediately, and inclined his head forward.

'I'll be sure to return them by tomorrow.'

'Ahh… well, you sure that will be enough time for you?'

The red head nodded, fingering the two stacks of notes under his desk.

'I'm sure I'll manage.'

Lavi heard footsteps coming through from the corridor. They had a rushed air about them, and a higher 'tip tap' of the heels than your average high school crowd. Lavi's smile widened. In no time she would call his na-

'Bookman!'

He turned round, almost in a lazy manner, seeming jaded from the sound of the girl's voice. There was a way that she would call his name in a slight accent, a little harsher than others, that would make him listen to her.

A creaking of the door's old metal hinge and Hikari's Asian head could be seen popping from behind it. She stepped over a school bag, then, weaving round the classroom of cluttered desk and shelves, made it to her desk. A sigh escaped her lips as she collapsed onto her chair; her own bag was dropped unceremoniously onto the floor nearby.

She turned to her left, where Lavi was sitting. The red head politely ended the conversation with Lenalee and turned to Hikari.

'So, coming at lunch time? Trying to be a rebel and trying to surpass my epic popularity? I'm afraid that won't be happ-'
The girl blinked, then quickly regained her posture and gave Lavi a light punch in the shoulder.

'Don't be a dumbass. What did I miss? The last two periods were...shit, um… Science and English?'

He gave her a large smile and passed her his notes.

'Here. I hope you gave him your essay.'

'I emailed it to him… but, don't you need them for your next period…?'

He laughed, and the sound seemed to resonate through the near empty classroom.
'I'm a genius. I don't need the notes. Plus-' He flipped out Lenalee's notes 'I'm so popular that I've already got someone to lend their notes.'

She gave him a dry smile and gave him an odd look.

'Hey! I am popula-'

Hikari laughed and gave him a single armed hug. 'Okay, calm down! I was joking. Thanks, Lavi.'
Lavi gave her a soft smile and ruffled her hair.

'Always welcome.'

They sat at the desk for a while as Hikari flipped through Lavi's notes briefly, scanning for anything she didn't already know.

Suddenly, a loud rumble was heard.

'So, erm… lunch? I am kind of…'

She rolled her eyes and chuckled. She placed the notes in a file carefully and shoved everything else into her bag. Slinging her bag on her shoulder, she stood up and looked at Lavi, smiling.

'Where to?'

They ended up going to the roof. It was a spacious area, with a plain concrete floor. It was said that the roof top was once covered in grass but the expenses associated with keeping the grass green was too grand. It was a shame; Hikari would have liked to see that. In the far corner were an abundance of potted plants. It seemed like most people were done eating already, and went back to the classroom.

'Wow.' Hikari crouched down in front of a small rose bush, staring up at it curiously. 'Did the gardening club really plant these? This is pretty good… I never realized.'

Lavi looked up from his burger briefly, before munching again.

'That's because you're always so busy.'

'Ahh…' Hikari gave Lavi a small smile, 'I suppose you're right… but you're pretty busy yourself yeah? Mr. Bookman is training you and giving you extra lessons.'

Lavi shrugged.

'I'm a fucking genius, his lessons are nothing to me!' Hikari rolled her eyes 'But I don't need to worry about paying my rent, or not having enough food on the table.'

Hikari cast her eyes down on the rose bud again, biting her lip.

'Bullshit. I don't need to worry about shit like that.'

'You just have to work till you faint. Like you did today. Right?'

She frowned. 'It's nothing like that. I just forgot to eat breakfast.'

He sighed, and put his burger down. His single green eye seemed to pierce her pale blue ones.

'I've said this before. You don't have to be worrying about finance at all. I can lend you money. So can Panda. Even Komui. I could even ask if you can live at my place. We have enough space. I don't want you to need to work-'

'Thanks, Lavi. You don't need to worry. Really.'

She smiled at Lavi, and he sighed deeply. Hikari had a strong sense of pride, and if asking her father to pay for what he should be paying for would hurt her pride, there was no way she would leech off Lavi. He knew that already, but it was always worth a try.

'You keep saying that! You're the dumbass… working so hard. If it makes you feel better, I'll get you to return all the money me and Panda lends you. I'll even get you to pay interest.'

'No, Lavi, really. I'm fine.'

Another defeated sigh.

'Fine. The deal's always open.'

Hikari gave him a hard punch in the chest, chuckling.

'Man, no need to sound all beaten. I'm sure this isn't the first time you got rejected by one of the opposite gender.'

Lavi laughed and finished his burger off.

'Depends. Do we consider you a female?'

'Dumbass, you know I'm so much more girly and cute than all your ex-girlfriends combined.'

'Bull. I have higher standards than-' Lavi stuck his index finger out and prodded her forehead, '—this!'

'Bullshi—you!'

'Black.'

The Eurasian turned round to meet golden eyes. Ah. Tyki Mikki. He looked dashing as always but there was always this certain hostility that irked her. It seemed to her that he was trying to tell everyone that he was better than everyone, and that if he was your teacher it would make you a better student. This wasn't true. Hikari always made it her goal to glare at him until he looked away. It was a childish game that made her feel some sense of victory. To make matters worse, this certain homeroom teacher seemed to enjoy making her school life hard. The dumbfuck. It was him that almost saw her at work before.

'Mr. Mikki? You called me?' She smiled sardonically.

A deep chuckle rolled from the base from his throat, 'I sure did.'

'And?' She looked up, putting on her best I-didn't-do-anything-you-better-let-me-go face.

'It appears you have been late to class three times this week. I think it seems to deserve some…ah… attention.'

'Well, sir, better late than not arriving at all. I assure you that all my school work and assignments are handed on time, and that they are of the best quality. I did hand that biology assignment in by email, yesterday, which makes it a day early.' Her smile widened.

Fuck, he better leave it at that-

Tyki gave her a smile, and shrugged.

'Well. I believe Black Order is very particular about etiquette and attendance, as a scholarship student, you seem to disregard the rules quite a lot.'

'Well, but-'

'Black. You have been late three times in a row. We seem to have school five days a week.'

'It-'

'That's great. I was going to keep you for lunch breaks, but I have a better solution. I'll see you every Saturday, twelve o'clock sharp in the homeroom. Please don't be late.'

Fu—

'And I want you to get that seven page biology essay handed in hard copy, printed out. If it scores less than ninety percent and the word count is incorrect, I'll have you type it all out again.'

Fuck.

Hikari undid the buttons of her uniform and slipped it off. She rummaged round for a plain black t-shirt before slipping it on. It wouldn't do to be caught seen in her uniform. Probably be reported within seconds.

She took her time to push the door that led to her counter. She was surprised to see that there was someone sitting there already, waiting.

'Hello. Sorry to keep you waiting. What can I get you—oh.' The cheerful air round her dropped and she face twisted into an ugly scowl, 'Cross.'

He swiveled round to face her, amused look planted on his face.

'Well, well. I would have thought people are should be grateful to their savior.'

She grunted. Refusing to look at him, she picked up a glass and wiped it with a damp cloth.

He leaned in closer and whipped out a cigarette. She placed the cloth down briefly to lit the cigarette, but still refused to look at her teacher.

'That was surprising. You lit it.'

She rubbed at a whisky glass and glared at it as if it had insulted her greatly.

'You're a customer.'

'Well then. I would like the usual, and I would also want to ask the bartender to entertain me.'

Her head whipped up and she snarled. 'I only make drinks. You should know that, sir.'

Cross took a puff of the cigarette and smiled cynically.

'I merely wanted a drink and someone to talk to. I am not asking for any extra… services, Black.'

The Bloody Mary was already in the cold glass, and placed on the counter. She glared at him.

He took a short sip of the beverage and pushed it to the side. Leaning forward, he stated

'You are breaking school rules.'

She froze for a fraction of a second before picking up the damp cloth again, rubbing at the different glasses. The Sino-European girl was aware that there were other customers that were in the bar that could hear them. She gritted her teeth. She thought she had already settled this.

'You need money. Am I correct? '

HIkari leaned forward. She would have to force the guy to shut up. Her eyes were half-lidded and she had a smile at her lips.

'You seem to have all the answers, sir. I see no need to respond.'

He chuckled, and lit another cigarette.

'Well then, Black, I made a deal, remember?'

'…'

She continued to clean the glass in her hand; his words seemed to have made no impact on her.

'…'

'Tyki Mikki.' She finally said. 'I know. You see, you haven't told me enough to get me working.' In reality, Hikari had totally forgotten about the deal.

'I don't need to tell you anything. If you get what I want, you get to keep working here and I will not spread your secret.'

Hikari bit her lip thoughtfully. Then he placed the cup on the worktop and looked into Cross' eyes.

'Well… don't you think its fair that I get to know why you need this information?'

'Hm.' Cross looked slightly surprised, then a look of amusement crossed his face, 'why? Do enlighten me.'

'Because… I want to make sure that information I get for you will be correct. There isn't much point in knowing that he brushes his teeth four times a day when what you want to know is what he had for lunch, yes?'

There was a look of fierce determination and curiosity on her features. Not a hint of fear.

He mused over this as he took a draught of the ruby red drink. In someway, this kind of made sense, but there were some things… He chuckled inwardly, she is an interesting one. He answered slowly.

'…Tonight. I'll tell you what I can tonight.'

'Tonight? You'll tell me everything?'

'I'll tell you what I can, dumbass. I'll see you then.'

With that, Cross stood up and went. His deep red hair still seemed to dazzle the Eurasian girl, despite his previous mockery. It was until the man's fiery mane left did she realize that he hadn't paid for his drink.

'Fuck! MARIAN CROSS! GET YOUR ASS BAC-'

How was it? ._. -Wrings hands in worry-

This chapter is long than all the others, and I didn't have much time to proof-read. Please tell me any grammar mistakes/spelling mistakes you see.

Oh, and I have to thank Deathbringerofvengance for making me actually want to write this chapter, haha. And of course, I thank all my other reviewers and my kind, patient readers that haven't abandoned me yet ;_;