A/N: WOOT. A year and 5 days later… I finally update this. Thank you for all the reviews! They're love!

I'm very sorry to my faithful readers. D: I was really busy this year! I know that's my understatement of the past years but it was very unavoidable: school, work, friends, drama, boys, drama… etc. But I will work harder and hopefully get myself together before I forget what this whole story is about. :) Also, my email no longer exists. I've to fix that.

No Strings Attached

Chapter 6: What lies behind the Captain

Hiromi thoughtfully and slowly made her way to her sixth period class. The last class of the day…a rather strange day. Shaking her head she erased the thoughts that plagued from her mind. She was the first one in class today and she quietly took her seat. Not that anyone would notice her anyways even if there were people in class. She was so damn invisible no one noticed her. Or maybe it was the fact that no one wanted to notice her simply because she was the loser/outcast of the entire school. They often associated bad luck with her. But whatever as much as it hurt her she would ignore it.

She sat in her desk quietly just like always as students started coming in. Looking at the door through her thick glasses she sighed. Why couldn't she be invisible to the jocks and preps? Why the hell did her parents send her to a prep school in the first place! She hated the damned building the damn students and everything in the school except the art class, and yes…Brooklyn and well Salima too. Wilding her herself not to blush as she saw him enter, remembering her outburst from the day before.

But she knew nothing could happen between them after all he chose to ignore her outburst of her almost confession. That made her sad. She searched through her bag and brought out her Spanish textbook along with her folder in order to take notes. She was always prepared and it made her feel pathetic. She really had no life whatsoever.

"Hey!" she heard Salima greet as she took the seat next to hers. "Hello." Hiromi replied distractedly.

Confused by Hiromi's behavior Salima regarded her for a couple of minutes until Ms. Solis called their attention. Today they would work on verb conjugation. There were a many mutters and damns throughout the room before the teacher told them to be quiet or they would get an extra-load of homework, which did the trick.

'First week of school and already they are complaining about using their brains…how pathetic.' Hiromi thought as she wrote down notes from the white board. 'Just like Kai.' a shiver ran down her spine as she thought about the idiotic two-toned freak. The mere thought of him disgusted her. The guy was probably a walking STD! Yuck!!

Snapping out of her thoughts she continued to pay attention otherwise she would not be able to help Brooklyn later. Any thoughts of Kai and his strange behavior of the day had to be pushed away for now that is.

"blah blah Past, present, future blah blah…add the endings blah blah blah blah" were the only things a certain orange haired jock could hear. He had tried to pay attention he really did but his thoughts were often turned to his girlfriend. Their relationship wasn't that great anymore and they did have more problems than before. It seemed that the dark haired captain of the cheer squad was getting tired of him. Sighing apathetically he decided to look out the window. Even if he tried listening to Ms. Solis it would only enter one ear and leave through the other. There was really no point.

Salima stared at the board then at the too engrossed Hiromi. Could her behaviour have something to do with Kai's strange behaviour today? gods knew the guy had not been himself today. He had been quiet and—it killed her to say it but—he had been nice. That was wrong in so many ways. He didn't insult Hiromi or call her names…he hadn't been mean to her at all. That was disconcerting and Salima would bet her house that it was bothering the brunette. Hell it bothered her too!

Flashback

Hiromi and Salima kept walking until they reached the Art Classroom. Hiromi sat down and put her head down awaiting for doom to enter the door and sit next to her. Oh how she hated Kai Hiwatari with a passion!

"Hey you ok?" she heard Salima ask as she poked her back with a pencil.

"I'm fine." Hiromi whispered as she sat straight in her chair when the bell rang. Time to face the stupid gel head jock; she watched the door wearily waiting for the damn person to enter through the door.

She sighed. If only he sat somewhere else and not next to her. That made it ten times or rather a hundred…wait no a thousand times worse.

"Calm down Mimi." she heard Salima say reassuringly. "I'm sure he won't do anything in the classroom." That was where she was wrong. You see Salima did not know Kai. Hiromi did. After all she had suffered more insults and embarrassments from the afore mentioned person than anyone in the school had.

He did not care if it was in a classroom or outside or in a deserted place. He would make fun at her and embarrass her no matter what and with Sephoria in the class…well that made it worse.

Hiromi was expecting everything, from cruel remarks to insults to whatever jock Hiwatari could come up with when he entered the room. But nothing came. He nodded at her without saying a word and took his seat next to her quietly. Hiromi sat staring ahead shocked. Her shock might seem a bit unreasonable but it was not. You see when it concerns jock Hiwatari her shock was in all sense reasonable.

Snapping out her shock she took out her sketchbook. She wanted to look his way but she dared not maybe he was just waiting for her to turn and then he would launch his verbal assault.

Time passed…and passed…and passed and still no cruel or sarcastic remark from the jock, none what so ever. It was making Hiromi nervous. Maybe he was plotting her death and at the moment he was analyzing her for her weakness.

"Uh is it ok if I call you Mimi?" he asked without turning and without a sneer in his voice. Hiromi could have fallen off her chair. "Are you ok? Was the real Kai abducted by Aliens?" she asked looking at him intently.

He rolled his eyes at her. "Well?" he asked as he stared at her. Trying his best not to insult or say something that would hurt her feelings. That wouldn't go to well with the plan.

"No." she said as she turned more concerned than ever. Kai was being…nice?

Salima stared at the scene smiling lightly. Brick wall with eyes had a heart after all and wasn't as evil as Hiromi had said.

End Flashback

Salima turned to her Spanish book as she pondered on the infamous Jock Hiwatari and Hiromi. The girl was still baffled and was coming up with crazy theories explaining the strange behaviour from the jock. She shook her head as she tried to work on conjugating the verbs. But to no avail her thoughts went back to lunch.

Flashback

"I'm telling you something is wrong with him. He's probably analyzing me so that he can kill me later!" Hiromi hissed as she looked at the jock table and was surprised to see Kai alone without a girl, when he usually has one to at least trade saliva with.

"What happened now?" Salima asked as she directed her attention to where Hiromi was staring.

"I'm telling you something is wrong with him." Hiromi said as she went back to eating her salad.

"Maybe he just realized that being a player is disgusting and is turning over a new leaf." Salima stated.

Hiromi turned to look at her with a weird expression on her face, "Kai? Never. He's never nice to nerds of any other unpopular kid. He's only nice to the people who wear short skirts and are popular. He'll never change," and she started eating once more.

"Look!" Hiromi heard Salima say. Exasperated she turned at Salima ready to tell her to let her finish eating, but the words died in her throat. 'Kami help me!' she thought as she noticed the slate haired jock make his way towards their table.

"Mimi," he said smirking as he stood next to the table, "Mind if I sit here?" he asked and without waiting for her answer he sat down next to Salima.

Hiromi stared dumbfounded. What the hell?

End flashback.

Salima returned to the present as she heard the teacher start speaking. Their project was due in two weeks and Ms. Solis was reminding them that if they didn't do it the least they could get was a D in the class. The project was worth a lot of points. Only an idiot would not do it. But then again both the class and the school were full of idiots, who only worried about the latest fashion and who were going out with whom.

The bell rang and the class was dismissed. "Hiromi are you ok?" Salima asked her quiet friend.

Looking at the red-head Hiromi smiled, "I'm fine. Except I really think he wants to kill me or at least cause some serious bodily harm!" was her outburst. Although she didn't know that the harm would be caused to her heart instead of her body.

"I need to go to the library and meet Brooklyn there. I'll see you later Salima." Hiromi said as they parted ways and she redirected herself to the school library, the place that had been half a sanctuary last year.

She entered the library slowly and quietly. Brooklyn would be late, even though they had the same Spanish period he was always late. She sighed as she sat on a small round table. Today had been different. Maybe Kai had been having a bad day or would it be a good day? After all the player had not tortured her at all! That had been rather strange seeing as it was one of his favorite pastimes.

But who cared maybe she had finally shown that he couldn't pick on her. 'yeah right' That would never happen. She sighed as she rested her head on the table. She just wanted to go home and sleep. But the thought of seeing her mother and the disappointment shook her awake.

Sitting up in her chair she took out her textbook and notes. Brooklyn would be arriving soon.

Kai looked at his watch as he walked through the halls of the school. He had excused himself from practice with the excuse of 'studying'. He couldn't believe what he was doing, pretending to be nice to the damn nerd. It killed him. He had to practically bite his tongue to keep from insulting her or making a nasty retort.

He sighed as he passed a hand through his messy locks. He couldn't believe he had actually agreed to the damn bet. Not only that, stupid Tala had been snickering when he gave Boris his excuse, all the player knew what he was doing.

Yes it was proving difficult. The nerd truly did despise him. She was suspicious of him now that he was trying his 'act nice' tactic. Maybe he should change it. But Kai Hiwatari was never one to apologize and so apologizing or even saying sorry was out the question.

He had to figure out how to get Hiromi to fall for him by mid October or by the beginning of October. Then break her heart simple as that. Except that Kai Hiwatari didn't count on one thing happening.

He looked around as he continued to pass by classrooms trying to spot the thing or nerd. He spotted the purple streaks of Sephoria Tanaka and he smirked. He caught sight of Brooklyn, her current boyfriend, and frowned. It wasn't that he didn't like the guy, well he really didn't, but it was more that he hated the fact that Sephoria was going out with the Hockey captain.

He slowed his pace as he saw they were arguing. Kai did not and would never listen in on other peoples conversations. He might be a player but he had a code of honor and principles after all. Even if people believed otherwise, but then again he kept his part of himself hidden. Everyone knew the outside Kai no one knew what was beneath except maybe Tala.

He turned his attention once more and continued walking once he realized Kingston had left and the cheer captain was walking in his direction. "Kai" she said as she winked at him while passing by. Kai smirked as he nodded at her. She would have been his next conquest if only the bet had not been issued. But he figured he would have time later.

He continued in his way as he stopped by his locker. Grabbing his Spanish book he closed the locker and left. He had found out that Hiromi tutored the Hockey Captain after school in the library. He would make use of that. Not because he actually wanted to be 'tutored' but just to keep up this "I'm changing and becoming a better person" act.

Looking at his watch he realized it was thirty minutes after school. Walking at a faster pace he walked in direction of the library. Hopefully she was still there. Upon reaching the library he entered and noticed the arched eyebrow of the librarian because an actual soccer jock had walked in. The world was probably coming to an end.

Entering more into the nerd's haven he scowled. He never imagined himself in such a place ever. He walked further in and spotted his target with the Hockey captain sitting on a round table. He smirked. Walking closer he couldn't help overhearing the conversation. Apparently Kingston was talking about his failing relationship with Sephoria.

He would smirk but he had to keep his act up. If Sephoria and Kingston broke up that meant the Cheer captain would be free. "Hey Kai," Kingston greeted snapping the varsity soccer captain out his thoughts.

"Hn," he nodded as he snapped his eyes towards Hiromi, who at the moment looked confused.

"What are you doing here?" she asked flatly. He raised a perfectly shaped brow at her. This nerd really did hate him.

Kai sat across from her. "Nothing. Heard you tutored Kingston so I thought I'd stop by," he answered.

"Failing the class too?" Brooklyn asked as he chuckled. "Ms. Solis is such a hard teacher."

"He's probably failing all his classes." Kai heard Hiromi mutter under her breath and he frowned.

"Are you doing the project Kai?" Brooklyn asked as he watched the soccer captain. There had always been this untold line of rivalry between the two and even though they didn't really acknowledge it they both knew it was there. So it prevented them from actually becoming friends, even though they got well enough of to keep appearances.

"Guess I have too." he said nonchalantly. "You?"

"Yeah. I didn't do it last year. I was lucky to at least pass with a C last year. All thanks to Hiromi here." Brooklyn said as he turned to the brunette next to him who gave him a fake smile. It was really uncomfortable being in the presence of Kai.

Kai nodded at the orange-haired male next to him then looked at the bespectacled brunette sitting across from him.

"What are you doing Hiromi?" Brooklyn asked.

"Salima and I are doing option three." she answered as looked down at her notes.

"The restaurant, nice choice." Brooklyn said as he nodded and looked towards the library door. He was actually wishing that his girlfriend would come barging in after their little quarrel. Hiromi looked up to notice Brooklyn's gaze and returned her eyes to her book. No matter what he will always love that damn cheer captain.

Kai studied the brunette before him. Catching the slight glimpses she would give the hockey jock. Shaking his head he decided to chase the thoughts of her having a crush on the hockey captain away. That would only complicate this damn bet.

"I really need to get home so we can either start or leave this for another day." Hiromi said as she looked up at Brooklyn.

"Huh? Oh! yeah…sorry. Verb conjugation right. Will you be joining us Kai?" Brooklyn asked out of politeness. The said boy shrugged his shoulders as he looked at his book. "Why not" he said as he smirked.

Hiromi could have screamed. She hated that smirk. She hated him!! What the hell was wrong with him? "Don't you have soccer practice?" she asked hoping Kai would rethink his actions and leave.

"They don't need me." he said as he looked at her impassively.

'Damn' she thought. "What about your girlfriend? Won't she want to see you?" she asked wanting a way to get rid of him.

Kai scoffed. "I thought you had to go home early. Why are you stalling?"

Hiromi frowned as she looked at him. She ignored him as she turned to Brooklyn. He could stay but she wasn't going to help him. No way in hell. Noticing this Kai glared. Damn nerd. But he paid attention nonetheless. He would show her.

"…so then once we add the ending it would be Ella ira. El ira. Nosotros iremos and so on." Hiromi explained.

"So then it would be Ellos iran?" Kai said as he stared impassively at her.

Hiromi gaped at him. She had always thought Kai's brain was nothing but mush. "Yeah" she answered not wanting to admit the guy had a brain. Kai just smirked. Kai Hiwatari could always prove someone wrong.

Brooklyn smiled lightly. "Great job Hiwatari." he said as he looked over and wrote something down. "So then if we change it to past tense it would be Ella fue?"

Hiromi nodded. "You're getting ahead of yourself here." she said as she laughed.

"I just want to get this. I know I won't pay attention tomorrow and this is basically all we are going to go over." Brooklyn replied as he continued to write notes in his binder.

Kai watched everything with a bored look. The girl was actually good at explaining stuff. But he would never admit that out loud. Ever.

"I have to go." Hiromi said as she looked at her watch. "Bye Hiromi and thanks." Brooklyn said as he packed his things. The said girl smiled at the orange-haired male and left completely ignoring the other dual haired male at the table.

"So no practice today Kai?" Brooklyn asked raising an eye brow. He had known Kai since middle school and the guy never missed practice. He was too dedicated for his own good. It made the hockey captain wonder why on earth the great Kai Hiwatari would miss a practice just for a study session. The guy never studied.

"Like I said. I wasn't really needed today. Besides I was needed at home for some important business." the dual haired teen said and he wasn't really lying. He had gotten a call from his grandfather just before school let out.

"Well then unlike you the hockey captain still needs to practice." and with that said Brooklyn Kingston walked out the library.

Kai stared at the empty seat contemplating his grandfather's call. Standing up he walked out the library at the pace of a turtle.

Hiromi walked as fast as she could to her house. Well the girl practically ran. She was confused. Kai's actions confused her. What the hell was he up to? Well whatever it was she would keep her guard up.

She slowed down once more as she saw her house come into view. She noticed the black car parked in the driveway. Her dad was home for once. She smiled lightly. At least her father didn't think her a social loser.

She sighed as she looked toward her house. If only her mother could understand. Maybe then everything would be much easier. But she had resigned herself because she knew that would never happen.

Entering her house she went up the stairs and to her room. Ready to do homework, it was always homework. But she had gotten used to it. Maybe today she could practice some of the art exercises she had learned last year from Romero.

But taking out her sketchbook reminded her of Salima's drawing. The pretty girl with the jock…and not just any jock but Kai…the Kai Hiwatari.

Ignoring her thoughts she dropped her sketchbook and turned to her math homework. This weekend Salima and she would go to the restaurant and finish the project.

Stupid Kai. How she hated him. He made her miserable life more unbearable.

Kai had walked at the pace of a snail until he finally reached his parked convertible. He looked around the almost empty front of the school. Most of the people were either at practice or watching the teams practice. He knew after all most of the girls came to watch the varsity soccer practice.

He got in the car and put the key in the ignition. He stayed there for a moment as memories assaulted his mind. Sighing he closed the door and drove off in the direction of his house. The call from his grandfather only unnerved him even though he wouldn't show it. Only Tala knew and that was only because the red-head had known Kai since they were little kids.

He felt the wind assault him as he drove over the speed limit. He had gotten stopped a few times but he never cared. Slowing down he came to the street where he had lived since he had been a kid. A street that was full of bitter memories, memories that he never allowed to surface.

He pulled into the driveway and walked inside the rather dull and cold house. A shiver went down his spine as he saw his grandfather at the top of the stairs.

"Meet me in the study in thirty minutes Kai." came the cold voice of grandfather Voltaire. He stared at his grandson with a rather dispassionate look before turning and leaving.

Kai glared at the place where his grandfather had once stood. "Master Kai will you be attending dinner tonight?" asked the butler. Kai shook his head, "No." then walked off and went up the stairs.

The study was situated in the right wing but he instead took the stairs to the left and headed into the left wing of the house. He passed two doors and stopped before the third one. He knocked lightly and a small fragile voice answered with a soft "Come in."

Entering he noticed the nurse and nodded in greeting. "Kai" the same voice from before said and he turned to look at the body that was lying on the bed. She was as pale as the sheets that covered her. She looked weak but she still managed to give him a soft sincere smile.

"Hey mom," he said softly as he sat on the side of the bed and held her hand. "You're home today. No practice?"

He shook his head. "Date perhaps? When will I finally meet your girlfriend?" she asked as her eyes shined and she looked hopefully at Kai. He took in a deep shaky breath as he turned. "When I find her," he said. He knew he was lying…but it was better than telling her that he had multiple girls.

She smiled. "Well better find her. I'm sure she'll be something out of the ordinary." she whispered as a cough attack hit her.

"Oh my goodness. Excuse me." said the nurse as Kai moved away and looked at the scene before him.

"I'll come back later mom." he said as he exited the room. Closing the door softly behind him he reclined against the wooden surface and took in a shaky breath. That damn bastard he thought as he clenched his fist. How he hated his father. Inhaling deeply he composed himself and grabbing his backpack he walked past the third door on the way to his room. His was the last one in the corridor.

Entering he flopped down on his bed as he stared at the ceiling. He had twenty minutes before he had to meet his grandfather. Twenty minutes to think, to sleep to do with as he pleased. But figuring out that it was better to face the man he grabbed his car keys and then walked out the room. Voltaire's visits were never social and every time he came Kai knew that he would eventually run out the house, coming back late into the night.

He walked slowly as he crossed into the right wing. Sighing he reached the door. After knocking three times he entered. His grandfather didn't look up. He was too busy sorting papers and signing some others. "Take a seat," he ordered.

Kai sat across from him and watched him for at least three minutes before spacing out. "I don't know what the hell you think you are doing Kai." the strong voice of Voltaire brought him out his reverie.

"Apparently these girls are getting to you. F's, D's, C's? This is unacceptable!" the old man roared. "This is your senior year. You can't mess up. It's probably that soccer too. Doesn't give you enough time to study." he said in distaste.

Kai glared at his comment. Soccer was his life. "I'm going pro." he said knowing the answer his grandfather always gave him.

Laugh erupted from the man. "Pro? With these grades?" he mocked, "No, as heir you will inherit the company. Your loser of a father couldn't handle it. I would hate to see my grandson turn out like him."

Kai looked away. "Whatever."

"I don't know what your problem is Kai. You better clean up your act. I would hate to see your mother's disappointed face when she learns the truth about her beloved son."

Kai glared at his grandfather with the most loathing he could muster. "Don't you dare." he hissed, "You know better than I do that I'll eventually get the company. There is no need for you to remind me every time."

"See I knew we could see eye to eye." Voltaire said as he returned to his papers.

Growling Kai walked out the study, ran down the stairs and out the door. These visits always landed him in a bad mood. Getting his keys he ran to his car and a few minutes later he was peeling out the drive way at full speed.

Fuck the world.

As soon as he was out the street he slowed and actually followed the speed limit. He took a long deserted winding road. Green scenery passed by him as he slowed down.

His sanctuary.

Stepping out his car he took out his worn out soccer ball. The ball that had been given to him before his father abandoned him and his mother. Walking down a hill he came to a stop next to a lake surrounded by weeping willow trees. When he could drive he would often walk here. The place was usually deserted except for a few families and some lovers that came trying to escape the outside world.

Kai Hiwatari came to escape his problems, his feelings, and his memories, memories of an abandoned and broken family, in which the father had decided to pursue his career in engineering rather than stay with the family, leaving a heartbroken mother, a confused Kai, and an infuriated grandfather.

Sitting down next to the lake he looked out to his reflection. Remembering how jealousy would creep out and engulf him whenever he saw a happy family in this park. It ate at him knowing that he had once had it. But Kai hated his father because after his departure nothing was ever the same.

His mother had slowly deteriorated and that only made him hate his father more, because the beautiful successful woman became nothing more but a broken shell. She loved him…but even that had not been enough and so he had shut off his emotions.

Looking at the ball he smiled a bittersweet smile. His path in life had already been chosen. He would never go pro. He would grow up to inherit the company. All the hard years of trying to be the best soccer player would go to waste.

But these were thoughts that Kai only allowed to surface every once in a while. Because once he left the side of the lake and weeping willow trees he would go back to what he was, a no-good player.

His thoughts turned back on his mother and the hatred for his father returned. It had been in the middle of the first semester of junior year, when his mother had the accident and until now she had never recovered.

He stood up and kicked the ball in the air. Remembering all the past flings and broken hearts he had left in his wake. But it was better to break their heart than to have his heart more broken. He wasn't emotionless he did feel a bit of pain whenever he broke up with someone. But he never allowed the feelings to surface and would just push them away.

He looked back and thought on Hiromi and the bet. It was wrong, he knew. But it was just in him to never refuse a challenge. Like before he would rather break someone else's heart, and that nerd had actually gotten on his nerves.

Catching the ball he let himself fall onto the soft green grass. Looking up at the blue sky he sighed. Whatever…

Tomorrow would be another day and this moment in the park would be forgotten and his life would resume like it always had.

A/N: I hope you liked it. Thank you for reading!!!! Please review. Constructive criticism will be eaten and appreciated. :D