School
By: Keiko Nakamoto
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. I don't own the characters in Fushigi Yuugi. If there is a school like the one in my story, I don't own it. Besides, if you sue me, you'll only get a cat. I'm only a poor fan.
Notes: Yeah, I put myself in it, but I have a real small part. I'm not even a main character so don't worry. If you didn't know my name, you wouldn't even notice me. I had to give them other friends, so why not myself? Anyway, it's not a typical 'self-insert'. I'm just an extra, like Kotono and Takemi.
Chapter 1
"Woah," a guy whispered to a friend. "Check out the new guy's hair."
"Weird." The other boy answered quietly.
"Kawaii!" a girl squealed. "Hey, new guy! I love your hair!"
The boy looked at her. He had a scar across his left eye, but he was still drop-dead gorgeous. His hair was light blue, cut short, with a slender, long ponytail in back. But the one thing about him that made everyone stare was his bangs. Absolutely gravity-defying, long, sorta spiky bangs. He was, as the girl said, very cute. He walked softly though the halls to homeroom with an aura of shyness around him. Light lavender eyes watched him carefully.
"Ryuuen?" a girl asked. "You okay?"
The girl with lavender eyes pushed some of her dark violet hair out of her face and grinned at the girl.
"I'm fine." She said. The girl shrugged.
"Whatever." She said. "But can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Ryuuen said.
"Do you know that guy?" the girl asked.
"No. Why?" Ryuuen looked puzzled.
"I heard he had a Chinese name, you know, like you do." The girl shook her head. "It might be a coincidence, but I find this kinda odd."
"What?" Ryuuen frowned. "I don't think it's odd that you all have Japanese names, so why is it odd that a few of us have Chinese names."
"Well, you all transferred here in such a short period of time." the girl said. Ryuuen nodded. "First you, then, those two boys got sent here. And now that kid. And you all have Chinese names. Don't you find it a bit odd? Maybe we'll get more students from China!"
"It's not odd." Ryuuen shrugged. "I dunno, Kotono. You always try to find something weird. Face it, we're all weird here. Remember, this is a correctional school."
"Yeah, but..." Kotono started. She pouted. "Fine. Have it your way. But I wonder why he got sent here. Other than that scar, he seems real quiet. Not the kind to get in trouble."
"I'm not here because I got in trouble." Ryuuen stated flatly. Then she grinned evilly. "Maybe he's really a woman!"
Kotono rolled her eyes.
"I doubt it." She said. She thought for a moment then smiled. "Maybe he's a thief, and he got the scar by cutting himself on the glass of a window he broke! Then the police found the blood and did a DNA test and caught him! Then, they sent him to this school to straighten him out, rather than sending him to prison!"
Ryuuen laughed.
"You're nuts!" she giggled. "C'mon, we don't wanna be late for homeroom!"
The two girls scampered off. They burst into their classroom and skidded into their seats just as the bell rang. The teacher glared at them. They bowed their heads in apology and bit back laughter. The teacher rolled her eyes and pulled out a chart. She began listing names.
"Chou Ryuuen."
"Hai!" Ryuuen called.
"Nakamura Kotono."
"Hai!" Kotono giggled.
"Whydidn'tyougiveusyourfamilyname Kouji."
"Stopsayingthat hai." A boy with blue hair and a scar on his left cheek said.
"Don'ttalkbacktomeoryou'llbepunished." The teacher said. Kouji cringed.
"Gomen." He said. The teacher nodded, and continued until she hit a name that made Ryuuen look up in surprise.
"Li Houjun."
"Hai." The boy said quietly. Ryuuen stared at him. She was sure she knew him from somewhere. But she simply couldn't thing of how. She shook her head. She decided to introduce herself when it was free time. She didn't have any homework anyway. Soon the teacher announced that they were allowed to work or talk quietly, and she left. Ryuuen jumped up and walked over to the new boy.
"Hi!" she said cheerfully. "I'm Chou Ryuuen, 11th grade!"
"Hello." The boy said. "I'm Li Houjun. I'm in 12th grade."
Ryuuen pulled a chair over and sat down.
"First day?" she asked. Houjun nodded. "Tough. Do you know anyone here?"
Houjun shook his head. Ryuuen frowned. Houjun didn't say too much, huh? Fine. She would just ask questions then.
"So, why were you sent here?" she asked. Just then, Kotono came, and grinned.
"Is he flirting with you?" Kotono giggled. "It's such an annoying habit of his..."
"Oh." Houjun said. "No, he's not. Are you his girlfriend?"
Ryuuen stared at Houjun. Kotono blinked twice then laughed.
"No!" she giggled. "I'm not Ryuuen's girlfriend. He's waiting to meet someone named 'Hotohori' with long, beautiful hair, and an elegant, regal face fit for a model!"
Ryuuen glared at her.
"Shut up." He said. Then he turned to Houjun. "Did you know I was a guy? If not, why weren't you surprised."
"I could tell." Houjun said. "I knew you weren't a girl."
"Impressive." Kouji said. He was sitting back one seat, in the next aisle over. He slid his chair over. "The creep had me an' Genrou fooled fer a whole damn week."
Ryuuen grinned. Houjun looked surprised.
"Genrou?" he asked. Kouji nodded.
"Yeah. My buddy." He said. "We got sent here for runnin' away an' then fer fightin'. It sucks. We should'a been in the mountains, but they caught us. Sent us here to 'make us behave'."
Ryuuen wrinkled his nose.
"Better than being sent here to be 'straightened out'." He said. "Do you have any idea what they do to try and make me be 'normal'?"
Ryuuen shuddered. Kouji shrugged.
"How about you, what'er you here for?" Kouji asked. Houjun looked away.
"I...I was in prison." He said. The other three stared. Kotono nudged Ryuuen.
"Prison..." Ryuuen whispered. "Wow...what'd you do?"
"It's not really any of your business." Houjun said, standing up just as the bell rang. He walked quickly out of the room.
"What the hell was that!?" Kotono frowned. Ryuuen turned to Kouji.
"Who are you anyway?" he asked. Kouji grinned and walked away. Kotono slung an arm around Ryuuen's shoulders.
"That's Kouji." She said. "Isn't he dreamy?"
Ryuuen frowned.
"He's not Hotohori." He said. Kotono rolled her eyes.
"Do you really think that he's gonna come here?" she asked. "I mean, get real. He probably doesn't even exist."
"He's real." Ryuuen said firmly. "But I don't know where he is."
They left the room and headed for their first class.
~*~
"...and he knew that Ryuuen was a guy!" Kouji was saying to a boy with flame colored hair. "Can you believe it? And he's been in prison. Prison! He's really strange."
"Li Houjun..." the boy said quietly. "Hmm....oh well. Didja pass yesterday's test?"
"Which one..." Kouji groaned, Houjun quickly forgotten.
"The math one." The boy said. Kouji sunk in his chair.
"Damn class..." he muttered, swirling his fork in his spaghetti. "I passed. Barely."
"Really?" the boy asked. "What'd ya get?"
"Genrou!" Kouji wailed. "I'm not tellin' ya!"
"Ya got a 'D', didn't ya?" Genrou smirked. "Least I gotta 'B'."
"You didn't!" Kouji gasped. "Yer lyin'!"
Genrou shook his head and showed Kouji a paper. Kouji's eyes widened.
"How the hell did you get a B!?" he yelled. "I got a fuckin' D!"
"I knew it." Genrou grinned. "Aw well. Ya passed, so you'll be fine. Besides, you've got a steady C average. That one mark ain't gonna hurt ya any."
"Are you two going to ignore us the whole period?" a girl with shoulder length blonde hair griped. The two boys looked at her.
"Sorry Keiko." Genrou smiled charmingly. Keiko rolled her eyes. "What did you all get on your math tests?"
"A." Keiko grinned. Kouji glared at her. "Takemi?"
"I got a B." Takemi, a boy with short black hair, said.
"I got a D." a boy with dark brown hair said. "So don't feel bad Kouji."
"But, Kakeru, you always get D's on your math tests." Kouji pouted. Kakeru glared at him.
"So?" he scoffed. "At least I've never failed any test!"
Kouji grumbled something under his breath. Kakeru didn't hear what, but he was sure it wasn't nice.
"You're all so immature." Keiko rolled her eyes.
"Says the straight A student." Genrou glared. Keiko stuck her nose up.
"It's not my fault that you never study." She said. Genrou, seeing that he would lose this argument anyway, decided not to answer.
"Hey," Kouji said. "There he is."
"Who?" Takemi asked, brown eyes scanning the room.
"It's Houjun. Over there with the crossdresser." Keiko said. She grinned. "Woo! He's key-ute!"
"Who? Houjun or the crossdresser?" Kakeru smirked. Everyone knew that Keiko had a soft spot for really feminine guys. Keiko stuck her nose up.
"Both." She said. Kouji was going to say something about this when the Principal burst into the room. Everyone jumped to their feet.
"Miyake Yaten has escaped!" the Principal yelled. "If anyone has any information as to how she got away or as to where she may go, come forward NOW!"
No one moved. Even if anyone knew, they wouldn't say anything. If someone escaped, they were better off wherever they went. Besides, if Yaten was caught, she would be 'punished', and not a single person at the school would ever wish that upon someone. The Principal looked around the silent room, eyes scanning each face. As his gaze drifted nearer to their table, Kouji and Genrou grasped each other's hands tightly. The tall, dark man's glare settled on Kakeru.
"Nobuyashi Kakeru!" he yelled. "Come forward!"
All eyes turned to the small boy. He stepped forward and bowed.
"Hai." He said.
"Where is Miyake-kun?" the Principal asked.
"I do not know, sir." Kakeru answered smoothly. The Principal's eyes narrowed.
"You do know the punishment for lying?" he asked.
"Hai." Kakeru answered.
"You do not know Miyake-kun's whereabouts?"
"No, sir."
"He lies." The Principal snapped his fingers. A woman came and grabbed Kakeru firmly by the wrist and pulled him forward, onto his knees. Keiko bit her lip. Genrou noticed this and tightened his hold on Kouji's hand. He had never seen a public 'punishment'. Or a private one for that matter. Genrou felt Keiko shudder as the Principal pulled something out of his pocket. He slid his hand into hers and squeezed gently. She didn't turn her head to him, for doing so could get her in trouble, but she squeezed back.
"Do you know where Miyake-kun is?" the Principal asked again, revealing that he had pulled a whip from his pocket.
"No sir." Kakeru said, shaking slightly. The Principal uncoiled the leather and lashed Kakeru across the back soundly. Genrou heard Keiko choke back a sob.
"Did you know that she was planning to leave?"
"No sir."
Crack
"Did you help her."
"N-no sir..."
Crack
"Do you know where she is?"
"No...sir"
Crack
This time Kakeru cried out in pain. Genrou saw tears flowing down the faces of many students now. Kakeru's breath was coming in strangled gasps.
"Are you lying to me?"
"N...o...sir..."
Crack
Kakeru was bleeding heavily now, as the Principal gave him four more lashes. He re-coiled the whip and placed it in his pocket.
"I will ask you again tonight." He said, turning to leave. When he was gone, no one moved. Everyone stood and watched Kakeru, until Keiko and Kouji tore away from Genrou and rushed forward. Everyone else stayed where they were.
"Kakeru!" Keiko shouted, racing to him. "Daijoubu ka? Say something!! Kakeru!"
"I...I'm fine..." he managed. Keiko peeled away the torn cloth to examine his cuts. She smiled softly and looked up.
"He'll be fine." She announced to the room. There was a collective sigh as everyone sat down and began to eat again. Kouji stared at her.
"What the hell was that?!" he asked. Keiko was cleaning the cuts carefully.
"I've seen so many injuries over time that I can tell how serious they are." She explained. "When this kind of thing happens, I check on the person and everyone waits, out of respect to find out how bad it is. If the person is ok, they sit down and I clean up, otherwise Nakamura Kotono goes for the nurse. And if the person is dead, no one eats the rest of their lunch. We stand in silence until the bell rings."
"People have died?!" Kouji gasped. Keiko nodded, cringing when Kakeru whimpered. "That's not legal!"
Keiko kept her eyes down.
"Do you have a family?" she asked. Kouji shook his head. Keiko's eyes clouded. "Then be careful."
"Huh?"
"They won't kill anyone who has a family to go home to." She said quietly. "If you're an orphan or a runaway or something like that, they might."
"...Do you have a family?" he asked. Keiko didn't answer. Kouji looked away, stood and walked back over to the table.
"Did Keiko explain everything?" Takemi asked, looking down.
"Yeah." Kouji sat down heavily. "Yeah, she told me. Hey, does Keiko have a family? And why is she here anyway? She seems nice enough."
"Yeah, she has a family." Takemi said quietly. "Sort of."
"Sort of?" Genrou asked.
"Her dad is alive, but he's in America and won't take her." Takemi said. "And her mom doesn't want her, so she's staying with a family here, but they're jerks. They sent her here, convinced that she's depressed, anorexic, and other things. Things that I don't really have the right to tell you."
"Are those things true?" Kouji asked, eyes wide. "Is she anorexic? Or depressed?"
"No." Takemi said. "She's not anorexic and she's not depressed. Some of the other things were true, but they weren't any reason to send her here. Just little things that a lot of people do."
"Drugs?" Genrou asked. Takemi shook his head.
"No, not drugs. But, look, it's not my place to tell you." he said. "If she wants you to know, she'll tell you herself."
The boys nodded. They sat in silence until Keiko and Kakeru came slowly up to the table. They sat down.
"You ok?" Takemi asked. Kakeru nodded. Keiko frowned at her spaghetti.
"Kakeru." She asked eyes downcast. "Do you know about what happened to Yaten?"
"Yeah..." Kakeru said quietly. Keiko's eyes filled with tears.
"I-I'm real sorry to ask this..." she said quietly. "But can you...can you not tell on her?"
Kakeru put a hand on her shoulder.
"I wasn't going to anyway." He said. Keiko smiled at him. Genrou looked back and forth between the two.
"Who's Yaten?" he asked.
"Miyake Yaten." Keiko said. "Real pretty thing. She was sent here after she was found in the mountains. She had run away from home and joined a small group of bandits who claim to have originated in ancient China. They called themselves the Mt. Leikaku bandits. Real nice people, from those I've met. Nonetheless, she was a 'bandit' so they caught her and a couple others and brought them here. She was always saying that she wanted to get away, that she had to help the others find their leader. I guess she finally acted on her words."
"Leader?" Kouji asked. "Who's their leader?"
"Oh, they think that their famous leader 'Tasuki' and his lover were reborn into this time, so they're looking for him." Takemi said. "They want him to lead them again to glory. But some of them think that he was reborn in China, and they won't find him. Either way it's a noble search. It's amazing really, the bandits are liked, even loved. Even by those they've robbed. They're just real good people, and I for one hope that they find Tasuki."
Through the whole exchange Genrou was silent, overcome by the oddest sense of déjà vu.
"Genrou!" Kouji called. "Hey! There's a wagon coming up the north side, real fancy thing! Let's go!"
"All right!" Genrou cheered, grabbing his tessen. "It's been long enough!"
The two boys headed off for the forest.
"Kouji, take five around behind them, I'll take two with me around front to stop them." Genrou ordered. Kouji nodded.
"Let's go!"
Genrou shook his head. What the hell was that!? Like a dream...or a memory...He realized everyone was staring at him. He flashed them a fanged grin. They all sweatdropped and turned back to their conversation. What the HELL was THAT!? He shook his head and stared at his empty tray until the bell rang.
End Chapter 1
*grins* So? Do I continue it? Sorry if it sounds like any other old 'reincarnation' story, but I liked thinking of reasons that the seishi would go to a 'reform school' the thought was irresistible. So PLEASE review?
~ Keiko
By: Keiko Nakamoto
Disclaimer: I don't own Fushigi Yuugi. I don't own the characters in Fushigi Yuugi. If there is a school like the one in my story, I don't own it. Besides, if you sue me, you'll only get a cat. I'm only a poor fan.
Notes: Yeah, I put myself in it, but I have a real small part. I'm not even a main character so don't worry. If you didn't know my name, you wouldn't even notice me. I had to give them other friends, so why not myself? Anyway, it's not a typical 'self-insert'. I'm just an extra, like Kotono and Takemi.
Chapter 1
"Woah," a guy whispered to a friend. "Check out the new guy's hair."
"Weird." The other boy answered quietly.
"Kawaii!" a girl squealed. "Hey, new guy! I love your hair!"
The boy looked at her. He had a scar across his left eye, but he was still drop-dead gorgeous. His hair was light blue, cut short, with a slender, long ponytail in back. But the one thing about him that made everyone stare was his bangs. Absolutely gravity-defying, long, sorta spiky bangs. He was, as the girl said, very cute. He walked softly though the halls to homeroom with an aura of shyness around him. Light lavender eyes watched him carefully.
"Ryuuen?" a girl asked. "You okay?"
The girl with lavender eyes pushed some of her dark violet hair out of her face and grinned at the girl.
"I'm fine." She said. The girl shrugged.
"Whatever." She said. "But can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Ryuuen said.
"Do you know that guy?" the girl asked.
"No. Why?" Ryuuen looked puzzled.
"I heard he had a Chinese name, you know, like you do." The girl shook her head. "It might be a coincidence, but I find this kinda odd."
"What?" Ryuuen frowned. "I don't think it's odd that you all have Japanese names, so why is it odd that a few of us have Chinese names."
"Well, you all transferred here in such a short period of time." the girl said. Ryuuen nodded. "First you, then, those two boys got sent here. And now that kid. And you all have Chinese names. Don't you find it a bit odd? Maybe we'll get more students from China!"
"It's not odd." Ryuuen shrugged. "I dunno, Kotono. You always try to find something weird. Face it, we're all weird here. Remember, this is a correctional school."
"Yeah, but..." Kotono started. She pouted. "Fine. Have it your way. But I wonder why he got sent here. Other than that scar, he seems real quiet. Not the kind to get in trouble."
"I'm not here because I got in trouble." Ryuuen stated flatly. Then she grinned evilly. "Maybe he's really a woman!"
Kotono rolled her eyes.
"I doubt it." She said. She thought for a moment then smiled. "Maybe he's a thief, and he got the scar by cutting himself on the glass of a window he broke! Then the police found the blood and did a DNA test and caught him! Then, they sent him to this school to straighten him out, rather than sending him to prison!"
Ryuuen laughed.
"You're nuts!" she giggled. "C'mon, we don't wanna be late for homeroom!"
The two girls scampered off. They burst into their classroom and skidded into their seats just as the bell rang. The teacher glared at them. They bowed their heads in apology and bit back laughter. The teacher rolled her eyes and pulled out a chart. She began listing names.
"Chou Ryuuen."
"Hai!" Ryuuen called.
"Nakamura Kotono."
"Hai!" Kotono giggled.
"Whydidn'tyougiveusyourfamilyname Kouji."
"Stopsayingthat hai." A boy with blue hair and a scar on his left cheek said.
"Don'ttalkbacktomeoryou'llbepunished." The teacher said. Kouji cringed.
"Gomen." He said. The teacher nodded, and continued until she hit a name that made Ryuuen look up in surprise.
"Li Houjun."
"Hai." The boy said quietly. Ryuuen stared at him. She was sure she knew him from somewhere. But she simply couldn't thing of how. She shook her head. She decided to introduce herself when it was free time. She didn't have any homework anyway. Soon the teacher announced that they were allowed to work or talk quietly, and she left. Ryuuen jumped up and walked over to the new boy.
"Hi!" she said cheerfully. "I'm Chou Ryuuen, 11th grade!"
"Hello." The boy said. "I'm Li Houjun. I'm in 12th grade."
Ryuuen pulled a chair over and sat down.
"First day?" she asked. Houjun nodded. "Tough. Do you know anyone here?"
Houjun shook his head. Ryuuen frowned. Houjun didn't say too much, huh? Fine. She would just ask questions then.
"So, why were you sent here?" she asked. Just then, Kotono came, and grinned.
"Is he flirting with you?" Kotono giggled. "It's such an annoying habit of his..."
"Oh." Houjun said. "No, he's not. Are you his girlfriend?"
Ryuuen stared at Houjun. Kotono blinked twice then laughed.
"No!" she giggled. "I'm not Ryuuen's girlfriend. He's waiting to meet someone named 'Hotohori' with long, beautiful hair, and an elegant, regal face fit for a model!"
Ryuuen glared at her.
"Shut up." He said. Then he turned to Houjun. "Did you know I was a guy? If not, why weren't you surprised."
"I could tell." Houjun said. "I knew you weren't a girl."
"Impressive." Kouji said. He was sitting back one seat, in the next aisle over. He slid his chair over. "The creep had me an' Genrou fooled fer a whole damn week."
Ryuuen grinned. Houjun looked surprised.
"Genrou?" he asked. Kouji nodded.
"Yeah. My buddy." He said. "We got sent here for runnin' away an' then fer fightin'. It sucks. We should'a been in the mountains, but they caught us. Sent us here to 'make us behave'."
Ryuuen wrinkled his nose.
"Better than being sent here to be 'straightened out'." He said. "Do you have any idea what they do to try and make me be 'normal'?"
Ryuuen shuddered. Kouji shrugged.
"How about you, what'er you here for?" Kouji asked. Houjun looked away.
"I...I was in prison." He said. The other three stared. Kotono nudged Ryuuen.
"Prison..." Ryuuen whispered. "Wow...what'd you do?"
"It's not really any of your business." Houjun said, standing up just as the bell rang. He walked quickly out of the room.
"What the hell was that!?" Kotono frowned. Ryuuen turned to Kouji.
"Who are you anyway?" he asked. Kouji grinned and walked away. Kotono slung an arm around Ryuuen's shoulders.
"That's Kouji." She said. "Isn't he dreamy?"
Ryuuen frowned.
"He's not Hotohori." He said. Kotono rolled her eyes.
"Do you really think that he's gonna come here?" she asked. "I mean, get real. He probably doesn't even exist."
"He's real." Ryuuen said firmly. "But I don't know where he is."
They left the room and headed for their first class.
~*~
"...and he knew that Ryuuen was a guy!" Kouji was saying to a boy with flame colored hair. "Can you believe it? And he's been in prison. Prison! He's really strange."
"Li Houjun..." the boy said quietly. "Hmm....oh well. Didja pass yesterday's test?"
"Which one..." Kouji groaned, Houjun quickly forgotten.
"The math one." The boy said. Kouji sunk in his chair.
"Damn class..." he muttered, swirling his fork in his spaghetti. "I passed. Barely."
"Really?" the boy asked. "What'd ya get?"
"Genrou!" Kouji wailed. "I'm not tellin' ya!"
"Ya got a 'D', didn't ya?" Genrou smirked. "Least I gotta 'B'."
"You didn't!" Kouji gasped. "Yer lyin'!"
Genrou shook his head and showed Kouji a paper. Kouji's eyes widened.
"How the hell did you get a B!?" he yelled. "I got a fuckin' D!"
"I knew it." Genrou grinned. "Aw well. Ya passed, so you'll be fine. Besides, you've got a steady C average. That one mark ain't gonna hurt ya any."
"Are you two going to ignore us the whole period?" a girl with shoulder length blonde hair griped. The two boys looked at her.
"Sorry Keiko." Genrou smiled charmingly. Keiko rolled her eyes. "What did you all get on your math tests?"
"A." Keiko grinned. Kouji glared at her. "Takemi?"
"I got a B." Takemi, a boy with short black hair, said.
"I got a D." a boy with dark brown hair said. "So don't feel bad Kouji."
"But, Kakeru, you always get D's on your math tests." Kouji pouted. Kakeru glared at him.
"So?" he scoffed. "At least I've never failed any test!"
Kouji grumbled something under his breath. Kakeru didn't hear what, but he was sure it wasn't nice.
"You're all so immature." Keiko rolled her eyes.
"Says the straight A student." Genrou glared. Keiko stuck her nose up.
"It's not my fault that you never study." She said. Genrou, seeing that he would lose this argument anyway, decided not to answer.
"Hey," Kouji said. "There he is."
"Who?" Takemi asked, brown eyes scanning the room.
"It's Houjun. Over there with the crossdresser." Keiko said. She grinned. "Woo! He's key-ute!"
"Who? Houjun or the crossdresser?" Kakeru smirked. Everyone knew that Keiko had a soft spot for really feminine guys. Keiko stuck her nose up.
"Both." She said. Kouji was going to say something about this when the Principal burst into the room. Everyone jumped to their feet.
"Miyake Yaten has escaped!" the Principal yelled. "If anyone has any information as to how she got away or as to where she may go, come forward NOW!"
No one moved. Even if anyone knew, they wouldn't say anything. If someone escaped, they were better off wherever they went. Besides, if Yaten was caught, she would be 'punished', and not a single person at the school would ever wish that upon someone. The Principal looked around the silent room, eyes scanning each face. As his gaze drifted nearer to their table, Kouji and Genrou grasped each other's hands tightly. The tall, dark man's glare settled on Kakeru.
"Nobuyashi Kakeru!" he yelled. "Come forward!"
All eyes turned to the small boy. He stepped forward and bowed.
"Hai." He said.
"Where is Miyake-kun?" the Principal asked.
"I do not know, sir." Kakeru answered smoothly. The Principal's eyes narrowed.
"You do know the punishment for lying?" he asked.
"Hai." Kakeru answered.
"You do not know Miyake-kun's whereabouts?"
"No, sir."
"He lies." The Principal snapped his fingers. A woman came and grabbed Kakeru firmly by the wrist and pulled him forward, onto his knees. Keiko bit her lip. Genrou noticed this and tightened his hold on Kouji's hand. He had never seen a public 'punishment'. Or a private one for that matter. Genrou felt Keiko shudder as the Principal pulled something out of his pocket. He slid his hand into hers and squeezed gently. She didn't turn her head to him, for doing so could get her in trouble, but she squeezed back.
"Do you know where Miyake-kun is?" the Principal asked again, revealing that he had pulled a whip from his pocket.
"No sir." Kakeru said, shaking slightly. The Principal uncoiled the leather and lashed Kakeru across the back soundly. Genrou heard Keiko choke back a sob.
"Did you know that she was planning to leave?"
"No sir."
Crack
"Did you help her."
"N-no sir..."
Crack
"Do you know where she is?"
"No...sir"
Crack
This time Kakeru cried out in pain. Genrou saw tears flowing down the faces of many students now. Kakeru's breath was coming in strangled gasps.
"Are you lying to me?"
"N...o...sir..."
Crack
Kakeru was bleeding heavily now, as the Principal gave him four more lashes. He re-coiled the whip and placed it in his pocket.
"I will ask you again tonight." He said, turning to leave. When he was gone, no one moved. Everyone stood and watched Kakeru, until Keiko and Kouji tore away from Genrou and rushed forward. Everyone else stayed where they were.
"Kakeru!" Keiko shouted, racing to him. "Daijoubu ka? Say something!! Kakeru!"
"I...I'm fine..." he managed. Keiko peeled away the torn cloth to examine his cuts. She smiled softly and looked up.
"He'll be fine." She announced to the room. There was a collective sigh as everyone sat down and began to eat again. Kouji stared at her.
"What the hell was that?!" he asked. Keiko was cleaning the cuts carefully.
"I've seen so many injuries over time that I can tell how serious they are." She explained. "When this kind of thing happens, I check on the person and everyone waits, out of respect to find out how bad it is. If the person is ok, they sit down and I clean up, otherwise Nakamura Kotono goes for the nurse. And if the person is dead, no one eats the rest of their lunch. We stand in silence until the bell rings."
"People have died?!" Kouji gasped. Keiko nodded, cringing when Kakeru whimpered. "That's not legal!"
Keiko kept her eyes down.
"Do you have a family?" she asked. Kouji shook his head. Keiko's eyes clouded. "Then be careful."
"Huh?"
"They won't kill anyone who has a family to go home to." She said quietly. "If you're an orphan or a runaway or something like that, they might."
"...Do you have a family?" he asked. Keiko didn't answer. Kouji looked away, stood and walked back over to the table.
"Did Keiko explain everything?" Takemi asked, looking down.
"Yeah." Kouji sat down heavily. "Yeah, she told me. Hey, does Keiko have a family? And why is she here anyway? She seems nice enough."
"Yeah, she has a family." Takemi said quietly. "Sort of."
"Sort of?" Genrou asked.
"Her dad is alive, but he's in America and won't take her." Takemi said. "And her mom doesn't want her, so she's staying with a family here, but they're jerks. They sent her here, convinced that she's depressed, anorexic, and other things. Things that I don't really have the right to tell you."
"Are those things true?" Kouji asked, eyes wide. "Is she anorexic? Or depressed?"
"No." Takemi said. "She's not anorexic and she's not depressed. Some of the other things were true, but they weren't any reason to send her here. Just little things that a lot of people do."
"Drugs?" Genrou asked. Takemi shook his head.
"No, not drugs. But, look, it's not my place to tell you." he said. "If she wants you to know, she'll tell you herself."
The boys nodded. They sat in silence until Keiko and Kakeru came slowly up to the table. They sat down.
"You ok?" Takemi asked. Kakeru nodded. Keiko frowned at her spaghetti.
"Kakeru." She asked eyes downcast. "Do you know about what happened to Yaten?"
"Yeah..." Kakeru said quietly. Keiko's eyes filled with tears.
"I-I'm real sorry to ask this..." she said quietly. "But can you...can you not tell on her?"
Kakeru put a hand on her shoulder.
"I wasn't going to anyway." He said. Keiko smiled at him. Genrou looked back and forth between the two.
"Who's Yaten?" he asked.
"Miyake Yaten." Keiko said. "Real pretty thing. She was sent here after she was found in the mountains. She had run away from home and joined a small group of bandits who claim to have originated in ancient China. They called themselves the Mt. Leikaku bandits. Real nice people, from those I've met. Nonetheless, she was a 'bandit' so they caught her and a couple others and brought them here. She was always saying that she wanted to get away, that she had to help the others find their leader. I guess she finally acted on her words."
"Leader?" Kouji asked. "Who's their leader?"
"Oh, they think that their famous leader 'Tasuki' and his lover were reborn into this time, so they're looking for him." Takemi said. "They want him to lead them again to glory. But some of them think that he was reborn in China, and they won't find him. Either way it's a noble search. It's amazing really, the bandits are liked, even loved. Even by those they've robbed. They're just real good people, and I for one hope that they find Tasuki."
Through the whole exchange Genrou was silent, overcome by the oddest sense of déjà vu.
"Genrou!" Kouji called. "Hey! There's a wagon coming up the north side, real fancy thing! Let's go!"
"All right!" Genrou cheered, grabbing his tessen. "It's been long enough!"
The two boys headed off for the forest.
"Kouji, take five around behind them, I'll take two with me around front to stop them." Genrou ordered. Kouji nodded.
"Let's go!"
Genrou shook his head. What the hell was that!? Like a dream...or a memory...He realized everyone was staring at him. He flashed them a fanged grin. They all sweatdropped and turned back to their conversation. What the HELL was THAT!? He shook his head and stared at his empty tray until the bell rang.
End Chapter 1
*grins* So? Do I continue it? Sorry if it sounds like any other old 'reincarnation' story, but I liked thinking of reasons that the seishi would go to a 'reform school' the thought was irresistible. So PLEASE review?
~ Keiko