Standard Disclaimers Apply

Rain at the Train Station

Shuuichi

"What do mean that your brother has the same jacket as I do?" I had to ask him; maybe this is a symbol for some motorcycle gang or some sort organization that Minamino-sempai is a part of. Their group was probably called the 'Kurama' like the name on the back. I mean that is possible. It should be, maybe this goofy-looking kid's brother know Minamino-sempai. But isn't that a little funny that they have the first name. I guess Shuuichi is a common name. I mean mothers have the right to call their sons to be the first in beauty and everything, right? Not that Shuuichi is unfortunate looking, he's just you know, young.

"Well, he said he had it customized, the jacket, I mean. It was this great symbol for him you know, but looking at you wearing something that he does wear makes me think that you look better in it." He said. I suppose that was an attempt at a compliment. He continued, "Now that I think of it, my brother probably got from somewhere that kept a copy of the design, like tattoos you know, besides he didn't get the rights to the design."

Maybe. Minamino-sempai does not look like someone who would act like a bad boy, like this kid's brother. He must be some punk who they say go to a university when in truth he just goes to a trade school. I feel sad for his mother already. Dude, this family must be in denial. It's very clear that Shuuichi idolizes his gangbanging brother. I wonder what compelled Minamino-sempai to buy a gang symbol. He doesn't seem the type to pick fights, even though he is pretty odd.

What in the world is this kid doing? He's like coming too close for comfort; I need my space. What is he doing?

SHOO!

"You know Bot-chan, you're boyfriend has good taste...in jackets I mean, it's exactly like my brother's." Dude, this kid has spatial issues. I need to set this kid straight, before I use my hidden talents on him. I mean I wasn't ranked #1 gymnast of the city of Edo for nothing. But then again, why waste my energy, when this moment does not require its use.

"Look, you should just mind your own business. I mean, we're not playing 20 questions here. I don't have a boyfriend, and I don't really plan to have one anytime soon. This jacket was a present. Okay. I really don't care if you're brother owns exactly every piece of clothing I own. I'm really sorry, if I am coming across like some insane person, but I have issues."

Man, I feel bad now. The kid said a quiet, "Okay," then left me. He muttered something along the lines of, "I was only being polite."

Why do I always do that? Why must I always be rude to kind people? I am dishonoring my parents; I have failed. The only request Mom gave me and I can't even do that right. I guess I should do something nice for Shuuichi, I mean it wouldn't hurt right.

It was that moment that I realized that I had been clinging to the jacket.

I survey the room, and it is very obvious that it used to be a male living here. Green wallpaper, great. I wish it were pink. Like the one from home. I miss home. I have no friends here. I wish Ayame was here; we would have a blast. Maybe, I'll call Keiko later, I promised to be her friend right? But first I have to do some thing about Shuuichi...it seems to be the decent thing to do. But why do I feel wrong?

I feel like I'm betraying something, someone

Who?

Mom?

No, Daddy?

No.

Who?

ME!

What?

I'm not betraying myself.

What about the cardinal rule?

Eeh?

No attachments.

Simple as that.

Yeah, I better not forget about it.

It's not like I'm going to be attached to Shuuchi, I mean he's a kid.

But I don't know how old he is.

He's a kid; he looks like it.

I never asked him though. Just do it. It helps to keep me out of my own back. I hate having these conversations.

I know.

"Shuuichi-kun? How old are you?"

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Yeah, my weekend was spent with entirely Shuuichi. Although my first impressions of Shuuichi were very poor assessment of his actual character, he seems like a great guy. He actually helped me settle in my room. Guess what the weirdest things I discovered in the room? His brother is a briefs kind of guy. No, I did not look through his underwear drawer. All cabinets and drawers were empty just for me. I saw it under the bed. It was rather odd. But at any rate, I was right when I said Shuuichi idolized his brother, so does the rest of Meiou High, especially the girls. Pitiful fools. If they only knew that this guy wears briefs, only gay men wear briefs. At least that is what Daioh Koenma said. He also said he know these things because he is a guy who will be caught dead before he would actually wear 'those' things.

I don't believe him though because I saw wearing a pacifier to sleep. I even took a picture for blackamail.

But Shuuichi is not that weird. I found out that he is actually 6 months my junior, but that placed him in the lower grade because his birthday was iffy. I'm glad my uniform is pink. I love the color. Pink looks good with my eyes like what Mom said. Shuuichi is my bodyguard and I'm glad. No one messes with him because of his brother and now I'm practically family so people instantly respected me. His brother has quite a reputation. I would hear all teachers gush about Shuuichi's brother being a brainiac and they all said I'm lucky that I'm actually inhaling the scent of his old quarters.

LOONS!

Piece by piece I get this image of Shuuichi's brother in my brain, and it shifts from thug to nerd, depending on the hour. A lot of girls say his looks are legendary. C'mon, I think they are running on low oxygen. The guy's the most depressing thing I'll probably see. I can't wait to piece together the story behind this mystery dude and his actual face. Shiori- san and Kazuya-san said that he will be visiting on Saturday. Finally. I get to meet their 'invisible' son who wears briefs, and is legend on campus.

All I know now though, is that I will be late for dinner. Shuuichi left me because I had to meet with the gymnastics coach, Yamagata Genkai. She was pleased that I will be joining the team. Apparently she has been keeping track of my career, so far. It feels great that at least someone was looking at the sports at Edo. I don't feel that I miss home that much anymore. She seems tough but fair. Reminds me a lot of Daddy.

I really need to sprint home. The forecast said it will be raining soon, again. I really don't want the flu; I'll be competing soon and then...

ACHOO!

"Bless you," I know that voice. It couldn't be could it?

Yes, it was Minamino Shuuichi standing behind me right next to his bike. How?

"I see that you happen to attend my old Alma Mater."

"Yeah for now, Minamino-sempai. Why are you here though, don't you have school?"

"I went to visit my mother." A sad look passed his bottle green eyes, as he responded to my question. I wonder? I his mother sick. Maybe, just like Daddy. I knew though that I had to leave. I shouldn't be caught in the rain again, even though I want to really talk to him. I feel bad. Why?

"Oh, well I gotta go! Ja ne!" I left him there at the front of the school as a sprinted as fast as I could. I couldn't look at him. No attachments remember. How could I forget, I made that rule. No matter how crazy it is no attachments before I'll forget about it.

I ran; I was hungry. Shiori-san would be worried about me. She worries more than Mom, I don't know why though. I ran not saying more than five sentences to the person who saved me from the station, that feels worse than being mean to Shuuichi that one time. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to know why he always has a somewhat sad look on his face. The feeling I have now is worse than the feeling of disgracing my own parents as if I'm running away from the one thing that Keiko referred to as Fate. I don't believe in it anyway. Destiny is crap.

I got home finding Shuuichi bouncing off the walls. He says his brother passed by and that I missed him completely. I shrug it off. I really don't care about nerdy boy/ thug right now. Then I remembered, I still haven't told Minamino-sempai my name. I'm really a genius. The smartest one there is.

I just wish he heard me that night, but he wasn't paying attention to little Mitsuno Botan who is a little too young for him. He seems so mature. I assume this brother of Shuuichi cannot hold a candle to Minamino- sempai. Even though people worship his brother, Minamino-sempai is cooler in my book.

"Bot-chan, you should have come earlier, my brother was here and we caught up with each other's lives. He is the best. He is so interested in meeting you too, since you live in his room you know. Funny thing was that he inspected it." What does Shuuichi mean?

"What do you mean, inspected? Did he check my drawers?" I'm really despising this person called 'brother'. I mean can't a girl have her privacy. That's all I ask some privacy, now even my most private things are being searched, illegally.

"I really don't know, Bot-chan, he left in a hurry though. But you know what's funny, he didn't wear his 'Kurama' jacket today. He usually does. That was strange." I really wasn't paying attention to what he was saying, my stomach is grumbling like there is no tomorrow.

Man, I underestimated my own hunger.

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Author's notes: Thanks to Dark Koorime 0-0, crazy nixie, Mourning Fox, Galandria the Vampire Queen, and Jelly Bob for your encouragement for me to continue this story. I wouldn't have the passion to continue if I know that no one cares about my humbly story.

And yes for those who are awaiting for the next chapter to Bonds of Fire, it is coming up soon like by next week, I hope if editing goes well. I finally came out of my writer's block and decided to pursue the original path that the story should take. So, I hope the interest is still there.