Chapter one: A metaphorical Prince
It was a normal early fall day. It was warm, summer still lingering in the breeze and the threes still bearing their green leaves. The grass waved gently as the wind passed through; kissing the cheek of a young woman before passing away.
Her fingers brushed against the pale skin of her cheek, while her eyelashes brushed gently across them. Her eyes were dark and thoughtful, their murky green richness hidden behind a veil of black hair. The thoughtful and gentle kindness of her face hover, would not allow her to open the truth behind the world around her. She stayed blissfully ignorant of the cruelty.
A slender leg shot out, catching her ankles and she tumbled to her knees. She had been day dreaming once again and her books flew out of her arms; the thick volumes scattered across the pavement. One girl stepped on her fingers and the others laughed at her clumsiness. Miko looked up and into the cold blue eyes of a person; a girl she called “dear friend”.
“You should be more careful,” she said. “You’re so clumsy Togashi. You should try watching where you’re going, instead of daydreaming.”
The group of girls erupted into more laughter at their leader’s comment. She was the cold beauty, standing out from the rest of her little monkey troop. Her eyes were bright and vibrant steel and her hair was a cross between scarlet and red. She was a vibrant flame and she lived for attention. The laughter only fueled her hate-filled personality.
The girl kneeling on the cement reached out to grab her English book trying to hide the pain when her bruised fingers wrapped around its hard surface. “I-I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I’m really sorry, I’ll be more careful . . .”
The others turned to leave, still laughing so hard they didn’t hear her meek little voice. She continued to sit on her knees, at the brink of weeping. Her hand hurt, but her heart hurt even more. She wondered what she had done to deserve this pain. She stopped after picking up her math book, holding both volumes against her chest now. With each one she picked up, the pain in her heart grew louder. The ability to keep the pain inside was weakening.
Someone stopped beside her; it was a boy seeing from the hem of his pants. He knelt then, picking up her chemistry book. He turned it in his hand examining it carefully and then he held it out to her. “Are you alright?” he asked as he waited for her hand to take it. “Those girls were cruel to you and I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.” He took his hand away when she held the book. His green eyes fell on her hand, and he quickly asked, “What happened to your hand?”
Miko pulled her hand close to her adding the chemistry book to the ones at her chest. Her skin was already turning purple and she could barely move her fingers, but at least the pain was gone. “I-I got stepped on,” she stammered. “I think they must not have seen m-my hand, is all.”
“May I see?” he held out his hand while she raised her head to look at his face. His eyes were so gentle but at the same time, there was something sharp and even hateful about him. At least he did not direct that hate at her. “You’re hand,” he added after a moment. “I promise to be gentle.”
She held out her hand and bit down on her lips to keep any cry from escaping. She closed her eyes tightly to brace herself for pain, but she opened them once he touched her. He ran his fingers over her knuckles and he was being careful, just like he had promised.
“Does it hurt?”
“Huh?” she exclaimed.
“You’re hand: does it hurt?”
“No . . . not really but it did at first. I thought that my fingers had broken . . .”
“It’s really nothing to worry about. The Bruising should go away in a few days,” he stopped brushed her hand and shook his head to get his red hair out of his face. “I’m just glad it isn’t anything to worry about.”
“H-how do you know?”
“My friends get into a lot of fights,” he answered. His face lit up with a smile and he laughed. “They come back bruised and broken, and I’m the one who has to fix them up. I’ve gotten good at it.”
“You don’t mind; do you?”
“Not really. I’m usually more surprised when they’re not hurt and bleeding. They’re good guys once you get to know them.” He was enjoying himself and his friends were lucky. Miko blushed and quietly wished that she had friends like this. “You can’t judge a book by its cover; that’s one thing in life that’s certain.”
He looked at her confused expression for a moment and chuckled at it. “What’re you name? I’m sorry I didn’t ask earlier but it didn’t seem appropriate.”
“Togashi,” she replied humbly.
“I meant your first name.”
He smiled at her more and she felt her heart skip a beat or two. She was almost certain he wanted to laugh at her. On the other hand she might have been worrying a little too much as she always did. “Oh,” she said. “It’s T-Togashi Miko. That’s my name . . .”
“It’s nice to meet you,” he said. “It probably would have been better under different circumstances. It might have even been friendly but I guess it really can’t be helped now.” The young man slid effortlessly to his feet and the sun bounced of his hair. He smiled down at her and said politely, “My name is Minamino Shuichi.” He started to brush the dirt of the knees of his pants and picked up the last few of her books. He tucked them under his arm and held out his hand for her to take.
She looked at it a moment and hesitated before she took it. He pulled her up gently but there was power behind his pull. “T-thank you . . . thank you very much.” Miko bowed at him and made sure she was holding onto her books so she would not drop them again. The braid of hair behind her back fell over her shoulder with the movement and she tossed it over her shoulder after raising herself. “I can’t find anyway to appreciate your kindness. I-“
“You don’t need to be so polite,” Shuichi exclaimed. “You make is sound like I saved your life instead of picking up your books. Your thank you is more than enough for me.”
“I uh . . .”
“I have just one more thing to ask you. Those girls from earlier, have they done this sort of thing to you before?” He scowled slightly. “I noticed now that you’re standing but your knees are scratched.”
Miko shook her head. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m clumsy . . . and I fell yesterday. They-“
“YO!” Shuichi turned at the sudden outburst and a look of surprise replaced the look of anger from before.
“Oh,” he whispered to himself. “It’s Yusuke. I was wondering when he would show up.” Shuichi turned back to her, offering an apologetic smile. “I have to go now. Please take care of yourself Miss Togashi.” Shuichi handed her back her books before he turned again.
“It’s alright,” Miko said. He didn’t hear her and he had already walked out of earshot. “I . . . really liked meeting you today.” Miko bowed her head and sighed. If only she was more outgoing, she could have asked him if he would talk with her again. She did not even have enough courage to do something as simple as that.
She looked up once more to see him standing at the front gate watching her. “Be careful,” he told her while his voice rose above the beating of her heart. “Don’t let those girls step all over you again.”
“I . . . won’t,” she whispered back. She felt her cheeks burning and was more than happy that her bangs hung over her cheeks. Maybe her luck was changing just a little. She thought that the afternoon was only to get worse after she fell. Now she felt that she did not just have bad luck. Miko placed her bruised hand over her heart and looked down at it. “He was just like a prince.”
“Who was that?” Yusuke violently shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and he grinned at Shuichi in his normal sheepish way. He was hinting at something.
“No one really,” Shuichi replied. He would not look at him and he was not going to play Yusuke’s game either. “Shall we get going? I don’t think we should keep Boton waiting. You know how worried she can get.” Shuichi walked just a little faster and Yusuke had power walk to keep up with him.
“That sounded unusually cold for you,” Yusuke stated. He stared at his friend with half-closed eyes for a moment. “You really are gay,” he said after the silence.
Shuichi blushed angrily and the corner of his mouth twitched. “I am not,” he said. “I shouldn’t have to justify myself.” Then he sighed and smiled. “I shouldn’t have to justify myself to you at least. I didn’t mean to sound cruel but it’s the truth.”
He sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s a little sad. She made up an excuse. I don’t know if she’s protecting those girls or if she’s protecting herself. I pity her.” Kurama sighed again, twirling a strand of hair around his finger.
Yusuke grinned, “She was cute.” He laughed, “In a mousy sort of way. I bet she’s a big fan of yours too.” Yusuke held his sides as he laughed harder and tears came to his eyes when Shuichi glared at him. “That look on your face is priceless Kurama!”
“I’m really not that surprised,” Suichi answered. “Let’s go Yusuke. We’ve wasted enough time talking about this.”
