AU: Genderbend

"You know, it's not that fun when you just stand there and take it." Hata has him up against a wall, a couple of his friends flanking them just in case he gets any ideas and tries to run. Not that he has the energy or will to run. He just wants this to be over and go home, tend to his father, and go to sleep; be done with this day.

Mishima chances a look around. No one is there, of course.

Club activities are done for the day and only a handful of students remain on school grounds. He should have left the moment activities were over but he had stalled, thinking it'd be best to wait for his bullies to leave first.

Such a huge mistake.

"Do what you have to do and get it over with, I have to get home." His words are defiant but his voice is barely above a whisper.

"What was that?" Hata's upper lip curls up and Mishima knows what's coming before he feels the fist collide against his jaw and the knee against his stomach. He keels over, coughing into the ground.

He's just caching his breath when he's janked up by the collar of his shirt and even though he's panting and his lip is cut he levels his stare to Hata's. He might not be one to fight back, knowing it would only make the other two join in, but he won't look away either.

Hata frowns, apparently feeling insulted by the action. "Why you-"

"What are you guys doing?"

Mishima tenses, recognizing the sweet voice of the newly transfered student who sits behind him during class. She had actively tried to befriend him all day, blatantly ignoring his awkward silence and nervous fidgeting.

His bullies all turn their heads at the pretty brunette that just appeared around the corner of the building, her short, curly hair bouncing just above her shoulders as she all but skips over to hem. She's small and frail looking and Mishima is suddenly more scared for her than for himself.

She stops a few feet away and tilts her head innocently as if trying hard to read the situation. Her bright hazel eyes scan over each of their faces and finally stop on Mishima's face.

He bites his lip, ignoring the pain as he does his best to try and hide the bruise on it. She shouldn't get involved in this.

To his surprise the guy holding him by the collar lets go and shoves his hands in his pockets, offering the girl a smile that does nothing but make his stomach churn in disgust.

"Hey you're the new transfer student, right?" Hata's eyes make a slow run over her body and Mishima clenches a fist. He turns to the girl and urges her with his eyes to go but she seems oblivious to the atmosphere.

"That's right," she answers "I'm Hisami Taji."

"Kind of an unusual name, Taji-chan."

Her lips curve slowly and her bright eyes narrow. For some reason, Mishima feels a chill run up his spine.

"Hisami-san, you should go, we're just...hanging out." the lie feels bitter on his tongue and he does his best not to cringe.

"Really? I could've sworn they were bullying you."

Her bluntness causes a long shocked silence among the group, right before Hata lets out a raucous laugh."Us men like to play rough sometimes, that's all."

"I bet. Three against one though, how very manly of you."

One of the guys growls at her but Hata lifts up a hand as if to keep him from pouncing "You got it all wrong, darling, we're really all just friends."

But Hisami is done talking to them and is moving towards Mishima, who has his face turned away and is wiping at his cut lip with his thumb.

"Hey-" Hata reaches for her arm as she walks past him.

She spins around quickly, before he can even fully turn to her, and slams her foot flat against the back of his knee, making his leg give out under him, and sending him tumbling forward to his hands and feet "Don't try to touch me again, you asshole."

Hata stares up at her, too shocked by the action and her language to say anything.

Mishima reaches over to pull Hisami back but the brunette steps toward Hata and glares at the two guys who seem unsure of how to handle the situation. She pulls her phone out of her skirt's pocket and holds it up. "I called the police before I walked over here, I'm guessing they'll be here any moment now. You should scram."

"You-" Hata stands up, fists clenched at his sides but when he turns to his friends they're already running off and away. With one last glare at Mishima he turns around and forces himself not to run.

"Are you alright?"

Mishima blinks at the girl, she's so petite he wonders how she managed to stand up to his three bullies like that.

"Hisami-san, you shouldn't have done that."

She doesn't say anything, and pokes his lip, making him wince. "Yes, I should have."

He stares at her, and she traces the reddened spot on his jaw with a finger, her eyes focused on it as if trying to decipher something.

"Thank you," He says softly and offers her a shy smile before stepping back "I should get home, I'm already late and my dad-" he trails off, realizing he was about to share more than he should have. "Thank you, again, and uh...It'd be best if you don't interfere again, those guys... you shouldn't get on their bad side."

She laughs, shrugging one shoulder "I'm not worried."

Mishima wishes he could have her confidence.

"Let's walk out together then," she says, picking up his bag and dusting it off for him. He reaches to take it from her but she shoulders it and starts walking ahead "Come on."

He stares after her for a moment, dumbfounded, before moving. Such an unusual girl.

There's a devilish look in her eyes when he catches up to her and she looks up at him "You know, there are several ways to handle your situation with those guys without having to be physical about it, my friend and I wouldn't mind helping you, she's in another class, no one would suspect her, plus, we won't be staying in this school that long."

Huh? Why would she get involved? Why does she even care? And what does she mean?

He rubs the back of his neck nervously "Did you really call the police?"

"No, but I had backup."

She waves at a tall girl with long black hair who is waiting by the gates. Her perfectly shaped eyebrows arch over the rim of her glasses at the sight of them and she sighs, shaking her head.

"Are you sure your friend doesn't mind you getting involved in all of this?"

Hisami laughs again and hands him his bag before skipping over to her friend, a bright smile like the sun illuminating her features.

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Dolce S.- Submission for zntweekend (part of znt1a) day two, genderbend. I couldn't decide what to call them (especially Lisa) so I stuck with last names, then I came across the name (surname, the internet is not very clear on that) of "Taji" which means yellow, and thought it would be perfect for Twelve :) plus it's so similar to Touji. Anyway, in this universe Twelve and Nine are still terrorists, but I had to change their first encounter with Lisa/Mishima-kun, for obvious reasons. I hope you enjoyed.