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"True." Kiyoko agreed, as the rain began to grow stronger. One could now hear it a bit in the school, as it sounded like small armies riding off towards a great battle of epic porportions. She couldn't help but laugh at his reaction (looking similar to one being hit in the head by a brick); it hadn't occured to him either. "Well, we'll just stay clear of her for now. If she does show up, well, not alot we can do."

She listened as he gave his word of protection and kissed her forehead. While she wasn't sure of how much that would help, it was comforting to say the least. Much like the security blanket of a child helps it with it's fears, while at the same time not looking chicken. Especially since at her old school, she hadn't wanted to bother her friends with her petty troubles, so she went alone to confront the three boys. Big mistake...

While part of her felt bad for chasing Al and Renji out so suddenly, she enjoyed the secludedness of it; it was just her and Ray, in the warm room that was now a campout. Perhaps the storm wasn't so bad. She felt warm in his arms.


((Oh, I won't be able to stay up really late on Friday. I have an out-of town orchestra thing, so I'm gonna need sleep since I have to be at school for the bus by 6 AM. sweatdrop ))

Ray chuckled, "Sounds like a plan..." he said with a grin. "I can try to avoid her." He held her body to his and then turned to lean against the wall. He had her still tight in his hold so that she couldn't slip away from him. "I'm actually kind of happy we're stuck here..." he said softly with a smile. "I don't think that I would of gotten to meet you if not." he said in the same tone. He was glad that she had shewed them away. He really was glad about this at this point. He'd get to spend plently of time with her. Plenty of time being close to her.

Celia had waited patiently for him. She smiled as he came back. "Took you long enough..." she said teasingly and took his hand. He lead him upstairs and down the confusing hallway. "There's a bunch of mats layed out and we have food..." she said to him with a smile. She found the room and headed in. She ended up walking in on Ray and Kiyoko. She tried to supress a giggle and covered her mouth with her other hand. But it was no use, they were going to see the two.

It took Ray a minute to realize who just walked in. He stared at the couple for a moment and then realized what his cousin was giggling at. He bit his tongue to not get upset, but gave Conall a glare.

Conall was smiling until he saw Ray's glare. His insides went cold and he swallowed. So this was Ray. Conall nodded in Ray's direction, only giving the look of predator encroaching on another predator's territory.
-"Ray."

"Oi, you're giving up that easily? I hate people like you." Renji replied coldly, "that just shows that you weren't serious about it. If you were, you wouldn't have given up." Renji started walking faster, "whatever, I'm gonna go somewhere else. Maybe go to the training room to practice. When you grow some balls, please, do come." Renji stormed off down the stairs, losers were Renji's pet peeve, he hated people who would just give up when something never worked out the way they wanted.

Upon entering the training room which was attached to the gymnasium, there were a few of the various clubs practicing in there. Many of them looked determined because of all their hard work be suppressed by the howling storm, which seemed to get even worse. A few of the members looked over to Renji, at first they hoped for someone that would join their club, but felt saddened after examining Renji's physique. Although, he wore a loose sporty suit jacket, Renji wasn't the biggest person you could see. He was slightly smaller than everyone. Renji could see the disappointment in their eyes, but Renji didn't care (well, he was still nervous) he was angry.

Pulling out a water weighed punching bag, he set it up near the corner of the room. It was sort of a habit to try to be out of everyone's way, he took off his jacket and put on some sparring gloves. A few of the other sportsmen in the room noticed that his body was actually quite trained for someone so small. Not to bulky, not too skinny, as for height, he was about five foot nine or ten -- It was hard to tell. Taking a step in, he threw a punch. The sound of the impact echoed through the gym which made everyone in the room look over. Instantly, Renji felt some sort of pressure pulling him downwards. He really wasn't a calm person in front of strangers. Regardless, he jumped and kicked the punching bag, nearly toppling it downwards.

"You there!" a voice which chilled the spine of Renji. "You've got a nice punch, sounds like it's hard."
"U-Uh... i-it's n-n-not..." Renji's voice trailed off.
"Hey hey, calm down! We're all sportsmen here! Don't need to be shy!" the man's booming voice loomed over the area.
"Y-you say.. it like that..."
"Hey, man.. really. I'm just complimenting you, you must have strong muscles!"
"Uh, not really. It's not really about strength, it's about hitting it properly... most people tend to throw their punches randomly and that doesn't work."
"Huh?"
"Uh... like.. when you throw a right hook and you swing too wide.. it starts to slow down cause of the air friction."
"Air friction? Well, I don't really understand, but I'll keep that in mind! You seem to know what you're doing."
"Uh. Thanks."
"So, what kind of sports are you into?"
"Umm... nothing really. My father used to force me to practice various sports among other things since I could walk."
"What kind of sport..err... martial arts was that before?"
"That was just basic karate, it helps you practice other martial arts by building your foundation...or so to say." Renji was still nervous, the guy that approached him was as big as an Ox. He was also practicing on a punching bag, but his hits seemed off or slightly dulled. He had started to become pumped up after Renji had shown up, and punched the punching bag again.
"Ah! I can't make the same sound as you. What's wrong? I feel ashamed as the amateur boxing club leader!"
"Eh? You're in the boxing club? The leader?"
"That's right! We've won six times this year, but our matches were canceled cause of the storm. So tell me, how do I hit like you do?"
"Umm... well, when you're punching, since you're bigger and heavier, your punches have too much strength and weight to them making you lose your balance before you hit the bag. Also, if I were to fight against you right now, I could have dodged the attack and countered easily."
"I see... Hey wait! are you insulting me?!"
"Urk! I-I meant that h-hypothetically. Anyway, when you're punching, step in, draw back your opposite hand closer to your body. While you do that, pivot your waist and step in foot and throw your right cleanly forward. (I think I dodged a bullet there.)"
"You mean... like this?" the man threw did what Renji had told him to do, hitting the punching bag cleanly. A loud crashing sound, like a Boeing 747 had just flown over top of the school, had filled the room. The punching bag's support and broken off and water spilled all over the mats. This man was some sort of devil.
"Uh... yeah... like that..."
"I guess I don't know my strength! Thanks for the tip! Say... wanna join the boxing club?"
"No thanks."
"Please?"
"Stop."
"Fine. But wow, I didn't know there was so many things about fighting! I used to just throw my punches! Too bad you won't join, my club members could learn a few things from you. But hey! You're not nervous anymore!"

Oi, he's right. I'm not nervous? I still think the guy is scary, and could probably decapitate me if he punched me, but I can talk to him?

"Hey, you're right!"
"Anyway, continue practicing, I'd like to watch!"
"Sure!"

[Just some filler, Renji's goal here was to improve his social skills and stuff.]

((Man, that was harsh crying ))

"There's no honor in chasing another man's woman, Ren!" He called out after slightly younger boy and then continued on his way to the music room. Al was pissed, of course, to have some one he just met mouth off like that to him. He figured that since Renji apparently hated him that it wouldn't be wise to return to a room which he had found.

While he was being moody over Renji's response, he also took the words to heart. If he really like Celia, he should try to go after her. But in such a short time, could he like her enough to come between a couple?

Shrugging, he remembered that he had left his guitar unaccompanied when he had gone to find Kiyoko. This worried him, and as expected, a few hooligans were messing with it. Already in a foul mood the spectacle did nothing to help it.

"Get your hands. Off my guitar." He said through a smile that was anything but pleasant. Al's teeth were clenched so the words came out like a growl. The kids gulped but laughed and continued messing with the ******** off, man." One kid said, starting to untune the guitar. Al moved closer and pried the student's fingers off of the end. He had a rather violent look in his eye.

"Get out, boy, or I'll break those little underclassman fingers of yours." He squeezed them as if to prove he could. In all honesty, with hands as exercised as Alastair's, he probably could. The kids immediately backed off and left the room.

"Poor Gianni... Damn brats really messed you up.." After spending a few minutes retuning the guitar, Al packed it up and brought it with him as he returned to the room.

After all, he needed to tell them he'd be staying somewhere else. Al knocked on the door. "Anyone in there?"

Celia looked at Conall and nodded. "Well I'm hungry..." she said softly and walked over to the mat holding all the food. She sat down and looked over at Kiyoko who was still in Ray's arms. It was a bit strange inone way, but normal all the same. Ray usually has a girl in his arms, but this time it was different. She was very aware on what was going around use now because Ray was causing so much tension.

She nodded, "Yeah, we're fine..." she said with a smile. "You guys are cute." she said, winking at Kiyoko. She was glad that Ray was being good to her. And more that Ray was learning to be real with girls.

Ray kept a close eye on Celia, but never let Kiyoko go. He was still wary that he could loose her. He then heard a knock on the door and a voice response. "Yeah, come in..." he called, but didn't take his eyes off his cousin or Conall. He didn't like to see her in his arms, but he promise to let them have a chance. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to keep a close eye on them.

[[aww poor Al]]

(( xp ))

Al had been planning on finding somewhere else to stay, but noticing the heavy mood in the room, he decided to postpone it until it was more appropriate. "hey guys..." He noticed Conall in the room and then smiled at the others, completely ignoring him. "I hope my guitar doesn't take up too much room. I just caught some kids messing with it so I don't want to leave it alone." He said as he sat in the corner of the room next to the cat.

"Who wants to be serenaded?" Al said with the slightest of grins.

Edit:

Adrienne followed behind him, smacking her head. Oh, how stupid could she be, saying those things? She felt like a right fool.

In her drifting thoughts, she found herself starting to fix up her hair and her makeshift clothes. Adrienne stopped doing it, cursing inwardly. Had it come to the point where she wanted to look... ... presentable to him? "Aw, man..."She accidentally said aloud and then covered her mouth. Hopefully he hadn't heard it..

The look on Al's face went sour for a moment before he took out his guitar. "I dunno. He kind of... er, ditched me." He blinked over at Celia before tuning. "Something about him disliking people like me." He said with a sighing laugh. "To each his own, eh?"

He started to play a Fields song quietly, for background music. "Any requests?"

~...~...~...~

Adrienne tilted her head at the password and giggled, still finding it funny a day later. "Good afternoon!" She stared over at the food and nearly drooled. Her hunger seemed to overcome her nervousness over Shirou. "Hey, Shirou, come on, let's get some food!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the food table.