From: The Fox I'd prefer to put all at time now...tomorrow the third...and thaks as always to Caithi'on. I'd just buy The End of Evangelion and I'm ________ And I'm searching for somebody who can recommend me a good YYH CD. Seeyah!!! And for a pen pal to make a good EVA/Saint Seiya crossover... Love, The Fox. SLAM REIKAI ROMANTAN Chapter 2 Every time you look at me Lemon Crush Prince The class of Ritsuko Akagui was a quiet one, except when some red-haired cousins began to fight, or when somebody got near the youngest Shinomori when he was dozing. Minamino-Himura was lost in his thoughts. Any other day, he would be giggling at the ever-present brawl. The same as always: Kuwabara, Sagara, or Sakuragi vs Shezar, Shinomori, or Hyoga Kido... separately or together. This time, it was only a comment from Schezar about the lack of style of some boys trying to get Michiru Kaioh's attention, and the brawl began, with the addition of an abruptly awakened and upset Kaede Rukawa to the mess. "ENOUGH!!" Miss Akagui had a voice which could be heard clearly through an entire stadium. She picked up Sakuragi by his ear and Kuwabara by his, and placed them in their desks. Of course, Allen was just putting on his gloves; all the female teachers adored him as much as the "saccharine group" of boys in the first grade. "If YOU TWO make any noise in the next two hours YOU WILL BE SENT TO INSPECTOR SAITOH TO BE PUNISHED!!!" The threat was horrible. Everybody knew the Wolf of Mibu ate students who dared to upset teachers for lunch. "Yes, sir!!" chanted the two, pale cousins. "Better." Anyway, Shuuichi Minamino-Himura didn't notice the whole mess. He was thinking deeply, wondering about Sempai Darien Chiba's advice, and the mysterious hatred of Sempai Aoshi Shinomori for his goody-goody brother (who appeared to be the finest man in the world, and maybe more kind). Questioningly, he took a glance at the already dozing Kaede, who sat a few desks away with the silent Trowa Barton - hadn't many opportunities of being disturbed by him. Kaede was an antisocial, egotistical, and ruthless person. Just a basketball star, without anything more inside. *Gods. How alone a human being would have to feel without anybody except that stupid orange ball.* To his left was the sarcastic girl from the Red Cross group, the girl who Kenshin said needed another opportunity. She remained silent and attentive, despite the futile attempts of Miyagi, Sano Sagara, and Allen Schezar to catch her attention. *Gods. She looks so... detached.* "Hey, what bad taste." His desk-companion, the blonde, Russian, Kido let out a giggle. "She is pretty, but what a sour face. I prefer Yukina Korkurya." "She is in primary still. And her brother will beat you up, Hyoga-kun." "Don't be silly. He is hardly a meter tall." "Minamino-Himura, Kido Shiryu, Shinomori-Rukawa, Takani." The voice of Ritsuko suddenly interrupted the chatter. "Don't forget today is your turn to clean the classroom. Now, open your Genetics texts to page fifty-nine." Between lessons, Shuuichi took a quick glance at the brother of his blonde companion, who smiled at him in response. Shiryu was the most quiet and serious of the Kido gang, the complete opposite of the hyper Seiya, the sweet Shun, the dominant Ikki, or the joking Hyoga. He was kind, but very calm and intellectual. Half Chinese, his black hair fell like a cascade over his back and he had soft gray eyes full of wisdom and gentleness. Kurama liked him a lot, and sometimes they ate their lunches together, talking about philosophy or books. When the classes ended, the students left, swiftly heading for their houses. The day was over, and the afternoon sun was setting in a great display of red and yellow sunlight. While the school emptied, Kuwabara and Hanamichi went straight to Kurama, followed by Sano. "Oei, Shuu, will you walk with us to Danny's?" Kuwabara asked. "Sorry, Kuwa-kun... I have to clean today. Sano-kun, would you mind telling my brother - if you see him - that I will arrive home late?" Kurama asked. "OK," Sano replied. "We will wait for you at Danny's when you finish. I'm sure you will be hungry. Hyoga, will you come? And Kenji, Ryota? Hey, Jarjayes, Tenouh, you can come if you want to!!" "All right." The smiling Kenji Fujima, and the hyper Ryota Miyagi rushed to his side, thinking about a good burger. "Hey, Barton, Dilandau, Zephyr, Wang Fei..." Of course, the young and tall blonde boys, Jarjayes and Haruka Tenouh, declined and left for their one-on-one basketball practice. They were antisocial like Rukawa, although they didn't punch everyone. The beauty of the class, Michiru Kaioh, followed her always stuck-up partner, but she was invited to have coffee by the always-flirting Allen Schezar... and what girl would say no? Trowa just said no: Somedays he is a brick and goes to the gym. Wang Fei just hmphed at them and went home, to the temple which he cared for with his sister, Rei Hino. Dilandau and the silent Lantis Zephyr, little brother of Zagato Zephyr, agreed. They were the silent type, no catatonics like Rukawa, but almost. Lantis said "bye" to Shiryu, his closest friend (how can a gentle boy like Shiryu stand this ice cube?) and left with the boys. "Ok, I will see you later!!" Kurama said to his friends. When he got to the room, Shiryu was just putting the tables in a corner. Rukawa icily began cleaning with a broom, and Megumi Takani with a rag. Kurama shrugged, because his favorite work was to go search for fresh flowers and put them in the classroom. He took the flower vase and headed for the door... And somebody was in his way. He was tall. Very tall, and muscled. And he was not alone. Four boys entered the room. Kurama gulped, and Rukawa stopped sweeping. The tallest was Akira Sendoh, the incredible basketball star, smiling like always; calm and kind. At his side was young Kamatari, a cheerleader as popular as Michiru and Yumi Komagata. Then the millionaire Julian Solo appeared, his long pale-blue hair falling onto his uniform; as collected as always. And the last to appear was the shrugging Karasu Komagata; long black hair waving slowly. "Good afternoon, boys. It appears you're lonely here, cleaning." Sendoh gave his shining smile to everyone and went over to a slightly surprised Rukawa. "What a pity," agreed Julian Solo, putting a hand on the desk Shiryu was trying to move. "So much energy wasted." Their tones were deliberate: hard and rash. Kamatari took a hold of the rags in Megumi's hands and tore them away. "You're ruining your hands. And they are so beautiful," he said, laughing softly and pulling her hands apart. "Oh, Minamino-kun," Karasu said softly, and his voice seemed in some way threatening. "Are these flowers for me, Shuu-chan? So sweet." *This situation is getting out of hand,* Kurama thought in despair. They were alone in the school, and the four third-graders had a clear advantage. "Look, well, we're sorry, but we have to..." Kurama began. He could get out no more words when Karasu reached for him roughly. Karasu's advance was the trigger for the situation: Rukawa growled in anger when Sendoh caught his jacket; Shiryu gave a yelp when Julian Solo twisted his arm behind his back, almost breaking the bone; and Megumi screamed furiously under Kamatari's attack. Kurama twisted and fought. Kuwabara and Yuusuke were right: Sometimes a man does need his knuckles. He punched Karasu, but his opponent was skilled. Suddenly, he landed on a desk, his air knocked out of him, and an unfamiliar weight on his back. He tried to get up, but a hand pinned his face onto the wood, and the other went under his shirt and began... pinching him. "No, no..." he begged. He heard a rip: Julian Solo had slammed Shiryu against the wall with bitter cruelty and was now above the semi-unconscious boy, ripping his jacket with studied and serene efficiency. Sendoh had Rukawa trapped on the floor under him. Kurama could hear the growls and rows of disgust from the young Super-lucky while he fought like an alleycat. Megumi was pinned to the window, and she was scratching Kamatari. He didn't pay it much attention, and was raising her skirt coolly. *Gods no... somebody.* Karasu took hold of his belt, and Kurama screamed in denial, trying to get free. But it was useless - the other was too much stronger. *Help... anybody.* "Let my brother go NOW, Sendoh." It was an icy threat. "Niisan..." Rukawa sounded out of breath, and his voice trembled. Sendoh, kneeling over the boy, took a quick glance at his classmate, Aoshi Shinomori. Aoshi was standing threateningly in the doorway, and a long trechcoat covered his dark uniform. "You did say you wouldn't mind who we choose if we gave to Battousai's brother a good..." Sendoh began. "Shut up," Aoshi interrupted. "Of course my brother is left out of this. Now leave him or _I_ will break your neck." Aoshi's voice was calm, but deadly serious. Everybody knew it wasn't an empty promise: Aoshi was the star of the Kempo and Martial arts group. Sendoh rose slowly, hands up. "Ok... but I'm sure you won't mind letting the others continue." "Kaede, go," ordered Aoshi. But Rukawa wouldn't move, his eyes were fixed on the struggling Megumi and Shuuichi. No words, no warning; suddenly Kaede fell onto Kamatari and sends her flying against the wall. Then, his hard knuckles found Karasu's jaw. Kurama fell like a dead weight, still trembling, and looking with amazement at the breathless Rukawa. "-- You!! -- Leave Shiryu alone NOW!!" screamed Megumi, going over to Julian Solo. The three managed to free the unconscious boy from Solo's grip, and fell over backwards in a tight group. "You damn brats of..." blurted Karasu, as he advanced in rage. "Stay still, Komagata. Let me take charge of this," sounded the cold voice of Aoshi. Without hesitation, he took a hard grip on Shuuichi's jacket. "If this is who you want, Komagata, I'm certainly happy of bring him to you." "Leave him. Your problem is with ME, Shinomori," a hard voice reverberated. Everyone turned and stared at the short third grader Himura Kenshin, who stood still in the doorframe. He walked directly to Aoshi, took a firm grip on his arm, and freed Shuuichi. Then the two of them looked into each others eyes for a while. Cold blue, almost grey, eyes stared directly into golden and feral eyes. Then Aoshi turned away and walked to the door. "Come, Kaede. We will go home now." "No." Kaede's voice was a replica of the cold voice of Aoshi. He merely continued walking and left. The rest of third-year boys (Sendoh, Julian Solo, Karasu and Kamatari) leave then, with hard glances at the tight group of boys. Kenshin spoke softly, all of sudden. "If you dare to upset another first or second grader, you will soon be messing with me yourself. And if anybody dares to touch my brother, I'll kill him personally. Understand?" It wasn't an empty threat either. The third graders can clearly remember the time when Kenshin Himura was called the Battousai, and when he, alone, defeated (almost killed) a third year boy who dared to upset a young classmate called Tomoe Shinomori. When he was the star of the kendo & esgrime group. Aoshi never forgave Kenshin for the shock he gave to his sister by almost killing in front of her. Since that day, Tomoe has become almost mute. "We can go home, Shuu-chan. I will carry Shiryu. Megumi-dono, are you OK? And you, Kaede-dono?" "It's... I'm fine..." Rukawa was trembling. Shuuichi began to cry from all the aftershock. Megumi's face was a calm facade of control, but her hands were shaking so much she almost couldn't clear the hair from her face. "All of you come to our house. Shiori-mama will help you. You need rest," he said softly, holding Shiryu in his arms, and with Shuuichi weeping softly on his shoulder. "And then I'd like to talk with you." He sighed heavily. "Thanks... Kenshin-san. And... thanks... Kaede-kun for protect me." Megumi said softly. Kaede just nodded; he was still trembling. Kurama dried his eyes, and held his hand in silent grattitude for his help. Kenshin looked at them, and then began the walk to the Minamino-Himura's home. That night, a crying Shun (who went with Quattre R Winner and Shinji Ikari to see how's Shiryu concussion was doing) told them Hokuto Sumeragi was deeply hurt and had been savaguely attacked that same afternoon. She was in the hospital, unconscious. The faces of the second-years narrowed. And the eyes of the Minamino-Himuras showed a strange and feral gold gleam. End of the Chapter two._ --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- You can WIN $100 to Amazon.com! If you join ONElist’s FRIENDS & FAMILY program. For details, go to http://www.onelist.com/info/onereachsplash3.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------