Treasured Legends: Ayashi no Ceres Sequel Chapter 3: Dealing and Farewells, an ayashi no ceres fanfic

Ch. 2

The Truth

Rin was searching through the Internet to find out about his father's side of the family. As he searched and searched he finally found a family tree of his kin. He clicked on most of the names most of the recent family members, and then he clicked on Aya's name. The computer showed her whole profile where she lived and who's she married to. Then he found out that she had a reincarnation in her that reincarnation was Ceres a volatile celestial maiden who needed to get her robes back. Once she got the robes back Ceres went back to heaven and Aya had a daughter. When Rin clicked on Takara's name nothing really showed up all it had was her age and picture.

"Well I'm guessing this was useless to look up my family history. I should search for celestial maiden descendents instead maybe that will get me somewhere," Rin said to himself.

"To whom are you talking to?" Naroki asked as he came through the door.

Rin stuttered, "Oh, no one myself I guess."

"You're really stressing over this project aren't you?" Naroki asked. "Hey, don't worry I promise I'll help you through this your dad probably would've wanted you to finish this."

"Thanks man. You're a really good friend," he complimented.

Abruptly these voices slithered into Rin's head, and his head was now throbbing with pain. He hoped this wasn't a reminiscence of what happened with him and his mother throughout the years. Instead, it was a voice. A voice that was so daunting and horrifying that Rin fell off of his seat. Naroki saw him tumble to the ground, so he rushed up to help him up. But then these words kept getting into Rin's head. "Don't do this you're making a colossal mistake. This is something you'll regret for the rest of your life." Rin kept straining to get those words out of him cause he knows this is right.

"Rin, Rin. Are you OK?" Naroki asked.

Rin replied, "Yeah, don't worry I'm fine. My head was panging."

"OK, good cause I thought something else was happening." Then the picture on the computer caught Naroki's eye. "Rin, do you know who she is?"

"Yeah, of course she's my dad's cousin's daughter. Why do you somehow know her?" Rin questioned.

"I just met her today," Naroki continued, "I offered her to let me walk her home. Man, I can't believe she's related to you then again she is a little bit headstrong like you."

"I am not headstrong! And you walked her home. Looks like somebody has a little crush on someone," Rin sang.

Naroki implied, "I do not. It was dark out and I couldn't let someone get lost or kidnapped."

"Yeah right Naroki I could see you lying right there. You've always been transparent as glass man."

Naroki said in annoyance, "No way. Dude, I didn't come with you to flirt with girls I came because I want to assist you with this project. Plus when that girl talked I had a feeling that she was under a lot of stress so being in a relationship with her will probably be hard enough for her. Anyway, did you find out anything about your family's history or the descendants of celestial maidens? Then again I don't really think there are more descendents of celestial maidens since most of them died."

Rin asked in curiosity, "The projects about celestial maidens? How did you know?"

Naroki hit Rin on the head and Rin let out an ouch. Then Naroki went inside his book bag to dig out the information about the project there were going to conduct. Once Naroki took it out he pointed to a section where the heading said 'About the Project'.

"This is why you read! No wonder you got an F in English, you never read first. Why were you even looking at your family tree anyway?" Naroki complained.

"I was just wondering if I had any other family beside me, my dad, and my mom," Rin continued, "Although, now you mention celestial maidens my dad's cousin had a celestial maiden inside of her named Ceres. I'm just wondering if her daughter, Takara, has Ceres's reincarnation. Say Naroki, you said you knew her, so maybe you could find out if she is the reincarnation. That'll be the first step of the project."

Naroki debated, "I don't think so. It's wrong to mess with a girls feelings just create your own personal game. Sorry, dude I can't do this."

"But, Naroki if she is the reincarnation then it'll be a step up for us then we'll get recruit even more celestial maidens. And what you said before the previous celestial maidens probably had daughters who have the celestial blood. Come on do this for your bud."

Naroki sighed, "OK, I'll do this but no one is going to get hurt in the process of this."

"Great!"

When Ceres was watching through the window she knew that the challenge that Takara will encounter is a much greater challenge than what Aya had to face. Now, Ceres is more determined to help Takara more than ever. After all, her kind might be in more danger than ever. Even if she begged the Buddha for her to help Takara early she knows the answer will be no. Yet she promised herself that no matter what the extent is she'd help Takara. Hopefully, she could warn her before everything blows up in her face like what happened to Aya. Right now she's just going to have to abide for a while.

Takara dreamt about the various uncertainties she was going through, and once she woke up she was gasping and sweating as if she were in the blistering summer sun. She put her hand on her forehead to see if she had a fever and she quickly picked up a towel off her nightstand. So she dabbed the towel all over her face to get that wet water off of her face that way she could get back to sleep. After she was done she put the towel back on the nightstand and went back to her peaceful slumbering. Unfortunately, once she closed her eyes she began to dream about the story Toya told her. Takara was next to one of the trees and out in the distance was this beautiful, graceful woman who was taking a bath in the ocean. But when Takara came closer that the woman looked almost like that dust girl who appeared in her room. Abruptly, someone grabbed her by the wrist to pull her out of the placid water. A man stood before her carrying some kind of orb with this purple-pink color and a gem on it. The man seemed very cordial when he looked at her, and there was a twinkle in his eye that states something. He clad the women with a robe then they vanished, and Takara thought seeing this story come to life in front of her very eyes was the best thing. But then there was this glistening light right behind her that was coming closer and closer. Takara got up and ran as fast as she can, and when she turned around the light wasn't behind her anymore but it was in front of her. Once she saw that she was getting closer Takara tried to stop herself, but when she tried to put herself in an abrupt halt she couldn't stifle her feet. They just kept moving quickly as a cheetah. Then the light was right in front of her and it sucked her in. A yell came out of her as she was inside that portal. All she could do was scream and close her eyes. Fortunately, she stopped her ear-splitting scream and opened her eyes. The only things that were inside that portal were florescent white lights that surround her. But then images started appearing in front her very eyes, but these images were things that could never happen like magic. She knew magic wasn't real. The only thing that could come close to magic is a phony magician, yet she felt like these events will happen. And then there was person that was standing in front of her. As he was turning around something was calling her. "Takara, Takara. Sweetie wake up."

"Takara wake up or else you'll be late for school."

Apparently the voice was the voice of her mother. Aya kept shaking her until she got up, but nothing was happening Takara didn't even make a sound when Aya was shaking her. When Takara actually peeped she was saying such ominous words.

"Who are you? What are you doing here? Wait, I know you. You're the person I met last night, but you're inside my dreams. How can this be possible?" Takara mumbled.

Aya heard those strange eccentric words coming out her mouth she felt her forehead to see if she had a fever. Once she had her hand on Takara's forehead Takara took one of her pillows and threw the pillow at her mother. As she got up she saw that it was just her mother waking her up, and now she knew she's in hot water.

"Mom?"

Aya got up and yelled, "What was the big idea? I was just checking if you had a fever. I tried to wake you up and before I knew it I was attacked by the killer pillows, and another thing you were talking in your sleep."

Takara responded, "I was? Man, this dream is really getting to me. What was I talking about?"

"About this guy or girl you met last night. So who is it?" she asked.

"Ma, it's no one it's probably the guy who walked me home," she said in content.

"Do you want to talk about what's been going on with you lately? You've been easily startled and get aroused once you hear any clanging noises," Aya asked.

Takara nodded, "I don't know it's hard to explain. It's like I've been feeling these pains lately in my chest and I just don't know what's going on with me."

"Maybe you're still going through puberty."

Takara scoffed, "Oh, please mom. I already went through puberty, and dad said not to get into that subject."

"Honey, don't worry OK. We'll talk about this when you get home, and tomorrows your big day so don't worry yourself," Aya implied.

"OK I guess," Takara continued, "But we will talk about this at home right?"

"Right, now go and get ready. I don't want you to be late."

Then Takara rushed out of her room to get ready for school, but then she just realized her birthday is tomorrow and she'll fourteen that day. Now, she's really worried about what's going to happen. What if something bad happens that day? As she walked to the bathroom she kept wondering who that women was in her dream. Takara thought she was as beautiful as anyone could be, and when she arrived in bathroom she began to wash her face. Once she was done cleansing her face she looked up and saw someone behind her. The image that she saw was the woman she saw from her dreams, so she splashed her face to see if she was still dreaming. But that image wasn't a dream at all. A wind picked up in the bathroom as the women disappeared. Takara picked up the towel that was on the hook and wiped her face dry, and then she brushed her teeth, combed her hair, got dressed, and got out of the house. Kieko was standing in front of the fence of Takara's house smiling. Somehow the wind was strong so Takara put her hair up in a ponytail. When Takara opened the fence Kieko was still smiling like a dog.

"Man what the heck is she smiling about? Is it the fact that my birthday is coming up or something? Either that or she's just hiding something from me,"Takara thought. Finally, Takara asked, "What are you smiling about? Did you get a raise in your allowance or something?"

Kieko sang, "No. I'm smiling because I know what Shinri is going to give you tomorrow."

Takara gasped, "What's he going to get me? A card with a cute poem in it? A stuffed animal? A book?"

"Maybe, maybe not. I promised him I'd keep it a secret. Whoa!" Kieko yelled.

"Oh my gosh! Kieko are you OK?" Takara yelled.

"Yeah, I guess so," Kieko complained, "Hey, man watch it or else next you get in my way you're going to really get it!"

The guy turned around to apologize to Keiko until he saw Takara. That was then Takara looked up and recognized the guy whom Keiko collided into.

"Naroki?"

"Takara?"

Keiko questioned, "You two know each other?"

"Yeah apparently we do," Naroki began, "I met her last night. When she walking home all alone, so I offered to walk her home."

Keiko smiled, "Really? Takara, could I speak with you alone please? Naroki, you just wait here."

Keiko pushed Takara aside but apparently she pushed Takara too much that she fell into the neighbors rose bushes. Takara let out a scream because the bushes had many cuspidate thorns, and Naroki saw her fall so he went to help her up. Her hair was now filled with twigs, leaves, and a rose at the top of her head. Naroki let out his hand so Takara grabbed it, and once she got up her uniform was all plant and green with a little rose bud. Then Naroki let out a silent snicker.

"Keiko!" Takara screamed.

"I'm so sorry about that," Keiko apologized, "Really I am. Um, Naroki, we're still talking in private here."

"Sorry, continue with your spat," Naroki implied.

Takara yelled, "Hey, this is not a spat! And Kieko what was the big idea my uniform is trashed now."

"Takara, I think you have a boyfriend," she sang as Takara took the leaves and twigs out of her hair.

"That is very ludicrous, Kieko. Man I have to go home again and change into one of my other uniforms. Plus he just walked me home, just wanted to be a gentleman," Takara complained.

Keiko laughed, "Please, you so like him and I think he likes you."

"Ahem, could I talk to Takara alone for a second?" Naroki coughed.

Keiko agreed, "Sure, take your time." She smiled then ran away to give Takara a little privacy. There she nodded and she got a little bit furious that her best friend would desert her like this. Takara didn't really need any privacy. After all, she never really kept any secrets from her family or friends. Honest, is the word to really describe her as well as timid, affable, and amiable. Anyway Takara is standing on the sidewalk with a boy, alone, and with plant life stuck in her hair. She really needs to converse with Keiko after this is over.

"So, what did you need to talk about?" Takara asked.

Naroki answered, "What I really want to talk about is what went down last night. You see I don't want you to get the wrong message or anything, so let me tell you this. I like you and all but not in that way if you know what I mean."

"Oh, I was really wondering the same exact thing," Takara started, "I really liked talking with you and you seem very courteous and everything, but I'm just hoping if we can be friends and that's all. Nothing more than just friends."

"OK, deal."

"Deal."

They shook hands and Naroki offered to take the leaves off of her head. She accepted and he began to take out the debris. Fortunately, the leaves were easy to take out, but then Naroki had to take out the fully bloomed flower off of the top of her head. The flower was out and then Naroki put the flower back into her hair again except it was placed on the side of her head. A smile appeared on her face as well as Naroki's, but then his watch beeped and it kept beeping until he checked it. He put his wrist in front of him to see what time it was.

"I got to go see you soon," he exclaimed. "But could I walk you home again tonight?"

"OK I'll meet you at the end of the block over there," Takara pointed.

Naroki smiled, "I'll meet you there then. See you tonight."

"See you, Naroki," Takara waved.

He started running toward the destination he was headed to, and all Takara could do was watch him. A big sigh was let out by her, and now feels really relaxed like all her worries just blew away. She took out the rose that he put on her hair, but then Keiko startled her so she nearly dropped her flower.

"Keiko! Would you quit it please?" Takara argued.

Keiko said in excitement, "Sorry, it's just that I think he's going to be your first boyfriend. Oh, no, no, no. Oh boy. Anyway, let's just get to school I'm so excited for you."

Takara rolled her eyes of ridiculousness since Naroki offered to walk her home again that didn't mean he was her boyfriend. She doesn't even think she's ready for a boyfriend yet. Until that day comes she'll be hitting the books no matter how irresistible Naroki is. Not to mention if her dad found out she was dating she'd be dead as dog when it's not house broken. Keiko has been trying to hook Takara up with some people, but she uses the 'dad' excuse especially when a guy asks her out. Most of the time Takara thought maybe the guy who did ask her out would at least the relationship a secret, but the guys at her school don't really like to keep secrets from their peers nor parents. Honest, sometimes isn't the word to describe her. Although, she kept wondering what Shinri was going to give her that made Keiko gasp. Maybe, it was something that was very special that only Shinri could give to her, but Naroki might somehow take it away. Even if her birthday is coming up that doesn't mean that she can't worry. There's going to be a lot to worry about like if even more pains come up during her very special day or something bad might happen or the classical worry of growing old. Mostly, she's worried about the first two. Then Shinri showed up in front of them waving his hand that way they could see him.

"Hey, guys."

"Hey, Shinri how's everything going?" Takara asked.

He answered, "Oh, not much. So are you excited for tomorrow?"

"Why would I be excited?" she questioned.

"You forgot your own birthday didn't you? I can't believe you forgot your own birthday?" he yelled.

Takara laughed, "Hey, I'm kidding yeah I guess I'm excited."

Everyone laughed on the way to school, cracking jokes or whatever. All of a sudden, this man did a helicopter kick that nearly knocked everyone off their feet, and then the guy came back and did a sweep kick. Keiko yelled, Shinri ran, and Takara did an incredible clean back flip then she landed with a dragon stance. The man turned around and smiled.

"Getting better with your martial arts everyday," he complimented.

Takara said in a pompous yet proud way, "Yes, I learn from the best, Yuhi."

She smiled and rushed up to hug him. He was probably going over to her house just in case if she burnt lunch or dinner.

"So, how has your mother been doing? And please tell me you tried to help her not burn food?" he asked.

Takara laughed, "Don't worry I used all your cooking tips and they worked. I figured they do work since your restaurant is the best in town. So how's business going for you? I'm guessing a little bit busy."

"A little? You mean very business is booming. Well, at least I have Suzumi to help me with her celestial magic. She uses it a lot now," he replied.

"So how is Suzumi doing I didn't see her in a long time now?" Takara wondered.

Yuhi answered, "Well, she's doing great although it's tiring to cook for her."

"Oh, come on she's your sister," Takara started, "If I had a sister like Keiko I'd be happy to cook for her."

"That's very sweet of you, Takara. You know you're looking like your mother everyday, but you have you dad's strength," he complimented.

Takara looked a little puzzled so she asked, "Is that a good thing or a bad? You know about my dad's strength cause I remember you telling me he had some struggle along the way."

Yuhi laughed, "OK, what I mean is you're strong as your dad and you have a lot of bravery keep that in mind. Well, I'm going to see your mother now, bye."

"See you later!"

Every time she's with Yuhi she could laugh and fool around, yet be very serious at the same time. "Brave like my dad." She laughed at that quote cause she knows her dad is much more valorous than her. Since in the past he fought many devious guys who were well armed, and if she were in that same situation she'd probably run as fast as cheetah. In real she could be a real coward even if everyone thinks she's the most valorous person. She'd have to disagree even her friends know that she could be recreant because once she saw a spider and she screamed when it was moving. Then Shinri stepped on it until the spider was crushed. Although, people see her stand up for herself, for other people, and friends she's still very timid no matter what. Sometimes she's afraid of letting the world know who she is. Then as she was walking she noticed after one-step that she was stepping on something, but when she turned around to see what it was something hit her and then she fell down on her back.

"What the hell? What was that?" Takara asked herself.

Keiko yelled, "Oh my gosh Takara are you OK?"

"Yeah, I think so. I thought I fell down enough today," Takara complained, "All I did was try to turn around to see what I stepped when some invisible thing just hit me."

"Well, I don't see anything so you're good," Keiko added.

Then as Takara got up she saw a crystal heart-shaped bracelet on the ground she bent down to pick it up. All of a sudden something hit her again and she nearly fell onto the streets. But she got up again and just ran away from that spot.

"Takara, are sure you're alright?" Shinri asked.

Takara stuttered, "D-don't worry I'll be fine."

She bit her lip and looked at that bracelet maybe that was a bad luck charm. Although, she took it anyway just in case someone lost it in school or something. Then Shinri looked at his watch and his eyes nearly bulged out, so he showed his watch to Kieko and Takara. Their eyes nearly bulged out as well since it was five minutes to 8:00. So they ran fast as they could hoping that they wouldn't get a tardy slip like one time they were late because Shinri did one of his magic tricks again, and they found him in her trash can. They tried pull him out and once he got out they were one minute to 8:00.

Rin suddenly got out of the bushes as Takara and her friends kept running. He smiled maliciously and found out he was right at the fact that Takara was a celestial maiden. The substance he used was a glow ball that had powers of a warlock on it and only a celestial creature is affected by its power. When he threw the ball he made sure that no one could see it by using a spray that could only been seen if you wear a certain type of goggles. The spray was one of his dad's inventions, but he perfected it. Then his cell phone rang so he picked it up.

"Hello," he answered.

"Man, where are you? Why aren't you here?" Naroki called.

Rin apologized, "Sorry but I had to do a little experiment."

Naroki asked with a worried face, "What kind of an experiment?"

"Well, I was testing if Takara had the reincarnation in her. And guess what? She does now we'll just have to capture her and take her to headquarters," he smiled.

"Rin, listen we can't capture her until tomorrow. Her powers aren't fully activated yet and since tomorrow is her birthday that will be the perfect time to capture her," Naroki hesitated as he said that loathsome word.

"Are you sure you don't like her? Cause I can tell you're disgusted by that word," Rin implied.

Naroki said in nuisance, "Yes, I'm sure now get off my back on that subject and meet me in the office. Bye."

"See you later," he exclaimed.

Rin grinned again and he knew exactly what he was going to do to kidnap Takara. When a group of guys called the NB guys walked passed Rin, he stopped them to ask for a favor. The NB guys refused so that was then Rin had to take some drastic measures. Then again bribing them with money isn't going into extremes, and once Rin told them what they were going to do they left and the gang knew that they had to keep an eye on their very close classmate. Sometimes when Rin accomplishes something he laughs at his achievement, but this isn't one of those times. All he did was smile deviously since his plan will work. He's also very complacent with himself so that's why he just makes up plans right on the spot. Then his cell phone rang again and he knew he had to get to the office, and he didn't even bother to answer so he just ran away from that spot to tell Naroki what his plan was.

Fortunately, Takara, Kieko, and Shinri were only one minute late and the school doesn't punish them if it's 8:01. Since they don't each other first period the three went their separate ways to get to class. Takara ran as fast as she could to the health room, and luckily she made it just in time. While she was walking to her desk one of boys of the NB guys stuck his leg out and that made Takara plummet to the ground. Everyone laughed while she just picked up her stuff but one of her classmates the nice, eloquent Anla helped her out. Takara smiled at her and even if she and Anla weren't close friends she's going to be very sad when she moves to Europe. Then once Takara's stuff was all gathered up she continued to walk to her seat. She scowled at Taro as she glanced back and he just smiled, she really wished that he were leaving instead of Anla.

"Takara, please take your seat, quickly?" Mr. Inaro yelled.

"Yes, Mr. Inaro," she listened.

To Takara and mostly everyone in her class Mr. Inaro was the most non-lenient, authoritarian, and cold person they ever met. Shinri always told her not to take his class and at first she thought he was joking. Until she actually set foot into his classroom, but she always kept her mouth shut so he doesn't punish her as much as he does to Taro or the rest of the boys in his gang. Every time she wants to sleep in his class and sometimes she did without him even looking at her, while sometimes she just tried to stay awake. Today she didn't feel so much fatigue in her so she's staying awake, but when she turned her head she couldn't believe her eyes. It was that women she saw in her dreams again. The image is really starting to haunt her yet she couldn't stop staring at that woman's beautiful face and silky hair. Mr. Inaro turned around and saw Takara in a stupor so he marched up to her desk.

"Takara, pay attention or else you know what I do to day dreamers," he bawled.

Takara answered, "You know Mr. Inaro, I'm thinking you just have to chill and relax instead of teaching us about our…" She stretched out her neck to look at the board and see what the lesson was. "…Reproductive system. Plus it looks like you need a vacation. Had any lately? That way you could not yell at us so we could do our best." Everyone in the class had astonished faces especially Anla.

"You know, I've always thought that you were shy and apparently I was wrong," she smiled as he continued, "So, I'm giving a huge assignment that will be due tomorrow on my front desk. Is that clear?"

"What? I don't even know what the assignment is about," Takara complained.

He argued, "Well, since my teaching is so tedious to you I'm going to let you teach yourself about the male and female reproductive system. Write a ten-page paper on it, single-spaced. Understand now?"

"Um, crystal clear," Takara hesitated.

As he walked away she stuck his tongue out at him and put both of her hands on her face. Like she didn't have any more problems in her life now she has to write this superfluous report about puberty. Sometimes speaking up and being too bold is very atrocious depending on the situation. She always wondered why she couldn't think before she answered after all she does it in her other classes. Then thirty minutes later the bell rang and being so relieved Takara rushed out of the classroom hoping she won't see her bogus of a teacher any time today. Then Anla tapped her on the shoulder and when Takara turned around Hanna had a beautiful grin on her face that made Takara smile.

"Hey, Anla what's up? Takara greeted.

Anla explained, "Well, nothing really just the whole moving thing I have to go through it totally stinks. I don't want to leave this place. I know all of the people here and I'm going to not only a new place, but also a new country. I probably won't know what their speaking over there. Plus I'm going to miss you as well."

"Really? Why?" she wondered.

"Well, it's because whenever I hear your poems in English or sometimes I hear you recite your poems at the café it makes me have more confidence in myself. Not to mention you write lyrics and I bet some day one famous person will come across it and record it," Anla complimented.

Takara thanked, "Thank you very much, Anla. I'm going to miss you too because you're the sweetest, most extravagant girl I've ever seen and met. And you've helped me a lot with homework so I really I have to thank you for that."

"Well, I know tomorrow is your birthday and since I'm leaving tomorrow I though I'd give you your gift a little bit early," she continued as she grabbed something that looked like a notebook out of her bag, "Here, it's special lyricist's notebook. You could write songs and poems in there if you wish."

"Oh gosh thank you so much. Actually I kind of have something for you too." Takara looked through her messenger bag and finally she found it. "This is a folder of all the poems and lyrics I wrote, so here you go I hope you enjoy reading them again."

Takara handed her the thick, green folder that was filled with many of her songs and poems. Then Hanna rushed up to her and gave her huge bear hug, and once she took the folder Hanna didn't realize how heavy it was so she nearly dropped it. Yet she managed the weight. Once she opened the folder she noticed that most of them were based on everyday and life and some were even inspired by her own personal experiences.

"Wow, these are really good and are you sure you want to give them to me?" Anla asked.

"Of course I'm sure you really deserve it, Anla. Plus I don't know what to do with them any way, so you keep them," Takara exclaimed.

Anla thanked, "Thank you so much. I hope I'll see you again, bye."

"Bye."

Then as Anla ran her wavy dark brown hair bounced against her back, and Takara was still recollecting on the year when she first met Anla, in 5th grade. When Anla was new she wasn't really liked by her fellow students and she was very insecure. Once Takara started to notice her she saw how luring she was. Her skin was so smooth and the tan color really suits her, she was so adroit when she trotted or ran, and her hair was so straight and it was flowing like a waterfall. Then once Takara started talking to her she was very mellow when she met her and sometimes Anla could be high-strung, but Takara never minded that part of her personality. All she liked about her was that she was nice, supportive, and very courageous even though that she doesn't show it. The second bell rang and Takara didn't realize that the five-minute passing period passed. So she ran to her next classroom hoping everyone wasn't there yet since sometimes people like to be late for math. Every period went very slowly today actually the whole day went slow as a snail. Finally, when the last bell rang Takara was so glad to get out of the torture chamber of learning. She sighed in relief until she realized that she still had a very long paper to write about both the reproductive system. Hopefully, she wouldn't get a call from the teacher complaining about her back talking even if she never gotten a call from any of her teachers before because very teacher sees her as angelic student when in real life she could be as cold as Antarctica. Throughout the day she's been getting these bitter looks from the NB guys. These guys had really horrid, aghast reputations and everybody tries to get out of the way or else they'll be on 'the list'. It seems to Takara that she may have done something wrong to insult the NB guys, but she wondered, "What could I have done to insult these people? I don't remember criticizing these guys or talking back to them otherwise I would end up in the school cellars inside a coffin." When she came out of the school the NB guys were staring her again, and when she turned around it's like she could still see them with their cold stares. She actually felt the chill in her spines so she just ran away from that school, but for some reason she saw Juko's eyes squint and that made her spine chill even more. Then all of a sudden Naroki popped out of nowhere petrifying Takara that she was nearly turned to stone.

"You scared me! What the hell is wrong with you?" Takara asked in a frightened voice.

Naroki defended, "I just wanted to walk you home, Takara. And I know I said I'd meet you down the block, but I wanted to walk you home all the way. I can see you don't want that I'll be leaving then."

"Hey, Takara wait up!" Shinri called.

"Um, wait Naroki could you wait up for a minute? I need to do something just wait here," Takara walked to Shinri and asked, "Is there something you need cause I need to get home now to work on that stupid paper Mr. Inaro dumped on me. Not to mention I have other homework as well."

Shinri questioned, "First off who is that? And could you meet me at my house tomorrow say around 7:00?"

"Yeah, sure I'll be there. But is there something you told Keiko cause when she arrived at my house she was smiling like a happy clown?" she answered.

Shinri's expression was ecstatic as she asked. So he said in a worried tone, "She didn't tell you did she? Oh, and you haven't answered my first question."

Takara smiled, "Don't worry she didn't say a word about what you were going to for tomorrow. You know you could trust her after all she never told anyone about my imaginary dog in 4th grade."

"OK, are you just stalling to answer my first question or are really asking?"

"What was your first question again?" Takara mocked.

"Takara!" he yelled.

She laughed, "I'm kidding man gosh. His name is Naroki I bumped into him when I was walking home. But don't worry he's just a friend and he asked me if I needed a walk home today. I'm still meeting you at your house tomorrow right?"

"Right, at 7:00 don't forget," he reminded.

"I won't, see you," Takara waved at him and he waved back, but as Shinri was walking he looked back to see who Naroki really was. Takara told him not to worry but he is worried because he might tell her at the wrong time. As Takara trotted over to Naroki's side she noticed his expression was a bit averse.

"What's wrong do you somehow have sonic hearing and you heard everything I said or something?" Takara wondered.

Naroki replied, "Well just asking is he your boyfriend? Cause if he is I don't think I should walk you home?"

So Naroki started to walk away from Takara until she tugged his arm, and when he turned around he could see that she wanted him to make sure she gets home safe.

"No, he's not my boyfriend and I really want you to walk me home," she continued, "Plus it's better since my mom says that there are a lot of horrid things happening to teens who walk alone."

"Takara, the worst thing that could happen to you is if someone kidnaps you and rapes you," Naroki corrected as Takara stepped back in disbelief, "That didn't come out right, but what I'm trying to say is that if you want me to walk you home then I will."

Takara's face lit up and Naroki held out his hand so Takara could feel less afraid. But Takara refused after all they were friends and she didn't want to weird out their friendship. So as they walked the conversation started to grow and bloom.

So Naroki started to walk away from Takara until she tugged his arm, and when he turned around he could see that she wanted him to make sure she gets home safe.

"No, he's not my boyfriend and I really want you to walk me home," she continued, "Plus it's better since my mom says that there are a lot of horrid things happening to teens who walk alone."