Amefuri slowly wandered up the walk to her school after the crowd of other students hurrying to their classes.  She was certainly not in the mood to be at school and wouldn't have come at all if it were up to her but, unfortunately, it wasn't up to her.

"So here I am again." Amefuri said looking up at the large brick structure in the distance. "I'm wasting my days within these walls when I could be doing more important things with my time."

    She sighed and gazed out over the campus grounds towards a small grove of trees in the distance.  She debated whether or not it was worth going through the trouble to skip school today.  It wouldn't be as if she would be missing anything important in school today...she already knew everything they were teaching this year.

"I would have been in university by now if Ms. Machiko wasn't on some kind of a quest to fail me." Amefuri sighed. "It wasn't MY fault that she was stressed out all of the time.  There was no reason to fail me just because of being late a couple of times."

"But Ame, I heard that you were late practically all of the time," Yorukai called from over his shoulder to her..

    Amefuri's face suddenly darkened and she at the annoyance grinning back at her.  Yorukai was wearing a pastel blue dress shirt and a loosely tied grey tie that failed to make him look vaugely like a proper teacher.  He slowed to a walk and waited for Amefuri to catch up to him. Amefuri gave him a disgusted look as he fell into step beside her and gave her an amused smile.

"I could wake up a 4 am to sit on a bus for 3 hours, walk 2 km to the school and be on time OR I could take the 8 am bus and get dropped off in front of the gate." Amefuri stated acidly, unsure of why she was bothering to tell him at all. "But the only difference would be that I would only be 20 minutes late rather than 5 hours."

"I see, So this makes you sleep deprived and irritable..." Yorukai grinned. "Which could explain some of your other... problems... with the school administration."

"Oh?" Amefuri gave him a cold look. "Like what?"

"Well, you have argued with the staff, skipped your detentions, refused to participate in class, walked out in the middle of class, terrorized the exchange students...well, it would be more like EVERY student...and you picked fights, caused many explosions in the school labs, gave numerous teachers nervous breakdowns, nearly speared the PE teacher with a javelin..."

"It wasn't as if I didn't warn him." Amefuri interrupted and glared at him. " Besides...it was his fault for walking onto the field."

"...on several occasions." Yorukai paused and gave Amefuri a strange look. "But Ame...he was on the other side of the soccer field at the time."

"Like I said, he shouldn't have been on the field while we were throwing."

"Ah....." Yorukai blinked and gave Ame another strange look. "Right...but,"

"But what?" Amefuri growled and shot a dark look at him.

"Nothing..." Yorukai said quickly and smiled at her. "Nothing at all..."

"Hnn..." Amefuri's expression darkened and she scowled at him.

    Yorukai walked past her and smiled over his shoulder at her.  Amefuri shot him another glare before turning away and ignoring him.  Yorukai snickered and resisted the urge to laugh out loud.  She reminded him so much of a stubborn child that wasn't getting her way.  Unfortunately for him, Amefuri heard him snicker...

"What are you laughing about," Amefuri grabbed Yorukai by the arm and jerked him back harshly.  "Boy."

"Yaaa!" Yorukai teetered back and nearly fell on his behind.  "Ame! What was THAT for?"

"Explain yourself. NOW." Amefuri glared at the older (and much taller) Yorukai.

"Nothing!" Yorukai smiled at her and sprinted away from her. "Now let's get to cl...urk!"

    Yorukai yelped in pain and stopped in mid retreat.  Amefuri had grabbed the trailing end of his braid as he ran past and now he was stuck in a very baaaaad position.  Yorukai absently began to regret having such long hair as she yanked on his braid as hard as she could.

"OWWWWW!!!!!" Yorukai screamed and stepped backwards to Amefuri to try and stop the pain.  Amefuri only gathered his whole braid in her hands as he walked towards her and continued to pull on his hair.  Yorukai twisted his head around to look at Amefuri behind him.

"AME!!! This HURTS!" He wailed and tried to twist his hair out of her hands. "Stop it!"

"Talk." Amefuri's face was completely still and emotionless as she yanked painfully on his hair. "Now."

"Ame!" Yorukai squeezed his eyes shut in pain and grimaced. "Okay! I'll tell you!"

     Amefuri gazed silently at Yorukai as he fell to his knees and in pain.  Yup, he was definitely beginning to regret having long hair. He looked up at Amefuri and shuddered inwardly as she glared impassively down at him. Slowly, Amefuri released some of the pressure on his hair.  Yorukai leaned back a little to relieve the pain and looked up at Amefuri. He didn't quite like to look on her face as she gripped his braid tightly in her hands.

"Very well," Amefuri said darkly.  "Talk."

"Okay..." Yorukai winced from Amefuri's tone but still shot a wide smile up at her, ignoring the pain. "What was the question again?"

"Aha..." Upon seeing Amefuri's eyes narrow slightly he decided that it wouldn't be very wise to tease her now. "Well, I was just thinking."

"About what?" Amefuri said with a glare.

"I was just thinking how you don't seem to have any close frien... " Yorukai shot her another wide grin and laughed nervously as she tugged on his braid. "er...allies! I was thinking of how you didn't have many close ALLIES! Ahahahahahaaa.."

"So?" Amefuri accused. "What's wrong with not wanting to be surrounded by dimwitted pests?"

"Nothing really, I was just worried about you..." Yorukai said nervously, hoping he didn't just make another big mistake. He smiled faintly to himself as Amefuri scowled and blinked several times in confusion.

"Why?" Amefuri glared at him, her face set in an icy mask again. "Why worry?"

"Because...even with all of your faults, I know that you are a good person...deep, deep, DEEP down inside." Yorukai smiled enigmatically up at her. "If other people took the time to get and know you, I'm absolutely sure that they would find a very trustworthy and loyal person."

"Nothing is absolute." Amefuri said and scowled darkly down at him.  Yorukai, however, noticed that the icy edge was now gone from her voice.

"True..." Yorukai nodded slowly, to avoid pulling his hair anymore. "Given half a chance, you could become a wonderful person."

"Che'..." Amefuri snorted in disgust. "That is what makes you an idiot."

"Perhaps, but at least I'm trying to understand you. If thinking you're a good..." Yorukai paused as Amefuri gave him an amused look. "Well, relatively good...person makes me an idiot, then I'm an idiot."

"........" Amefuri watched him, slightly surprised, for a few moments before sighing and releasing her grip on his braid. "At least you admitted it."

    Yorukai sagged against Amefuri's legs in relief. He rubbed the back of his head and sighed.  "Ame-chan, you could've just asked me politely. There was no need to pull all of my hair out you know..."

"I know." Amefuri said kneeling down behind him.

"You...did?" Yorukai tilted his head back and blinked wide, disbelieving eyes at her.  Amefuri stared at Yorukai as he gave her a very cute upside-down pout, complete with big shimmery eyes. "Then why did you tug on my poor, poor braid?"

"Because I could." Amefuri said with a dark look and tugged on his braid.

"My braid!" Yorukai wailed and snatched his braid away from Amefuri. "MY braid! Get your own!"

"I'd rather have yours." Amefuri said solemnly and reached into her pocket. Yorukai's eyes grew to the size of saucers and took a deeeeeep breath...

"NOOOO!!!" Yorukai screamed in horror at the top of his lungs and clutched it protectively to his chest. "It's MINE! Leave my poor braid aloooooonnneee!!!"

    Amefuri blinked, hard, several time to make sure she was seeing straight. A very well known and respected 21 year old  teacher was sitting in the middle of the walkway. Not only that, but this teacher was clutching his rather long and disheveled braid protectively to his chest and wailing at the top of his lungs.

"You've hurt it enough already! What'd it ever to to yooouu?!?!"

".........."  Amefuri stared at him. Now he was...comforting his hair?

"Don't worry...I won't let her hurt you," Yorukai glared over his shoulder at Amefuri. "She has to go through ME first!"

"Oh come on now..." Amefuri said shaking her head with a disgusted look.  "Calm down."

"Oh come on now?!? CALM DOWN?!?!" Yorukai cried out and pointed a finger accusingly at her. "You're not the one that's going to have their braid snipped off!!!"

"Che'..." Amefuri glared at him. "Childish pest."

"Childish?!?! I am NOT!" Yorukai glared at her and stomped his foot in frustration. "NOT! NOT! NOT! NOT!!!!"

"Oh really?" Amefuri gave him an odd look.

"YEAH! If I am being childish then have good reason to!" Yorukai crossed his arms. "You're the one that's threatening to cut my hair off!!"

"........" Amefuri frowned at him and tried to keep a her face impassive. She had realized what he thought she was going to do and found that it very funny. However, a snicker did escape her when he started to pout.

"This isn't funny!" Yorukai glared menacingly at Amefuri...and was still clutching the braid protectively. Amefuri took one look at him and doubled over laughing.

"Wahahahahahahaha!!!"

"Heeeeyy!!!" Yorukai glared at her."What are YOU laughing about? This is a VERY traumatic encounter!"

"You...*snicker* thought...*snicker* I  was...*snicker* was..." The rest was lost as Amefuri dissolved into giggles.  "Hahahahaaa!"

"Was what?" Yorukai stomped over and glared down at her. "WELL?"

"You... *gasp* you thought *gasp* thought  I was...*gasp* was...*gasp* going to...to *gasp* cut your hair off?!" Amefuri managed to get out between fits of laughter.

"Heeeeeey!!!!" Yorukai yelled indignatily at Amefuri. "Now who's being childish?"

"I am not being childish. You are the one that's acting like a spoiled brat." Amefuri said angrily and scowled at him. She tried to keep herself looking angry and neutral but failed miserably. *snicker* "Wahahahahaa!!!"

"Humph! That is not funny!" Yorukai fixed Amefuri with a glare and waved the his braid at her. "You hear me? NOT funny!"

"Riight..." Amefuri snickered and watched Yorukai poke the end of his braid at her with each word. "This is a veeeery serious matter."

"It is! This is the fate of my hair we're talking about!" Yorukai said with a stubborn glare. "So stop laughing."

    Amefuri had finally gotten control of herself and was prepared to retort.  However, she took one look at Yorukai waving his braid around like a pointer stick and collapsed to the ground in laughter. Yorukai scowled angrily at her and hit her with the end of his braid.

"This. Is. Not. FUNNY!" Yorukai yelled and waved his braid at her. "You got it?"

"Have I got it?" Amefuri questioned him between giggles. She couldn't resist...it was too easy.  She reached out, snatched Yorukai's braid, and tugged. "Got it now!"

"NOOOOOO!" Yorukai screamed and tried to pull away. "Not agaaaiiiiiiiinnn!!!"

"What's going on down there?!"  A furious voice bellowed from above. "EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!"

    Amefuri and Yorukai froze and they slowly turned and looked up at where the bellow had come from.  Ms Machiko and most of the people in the rooms on that side of the school leaning out of the windows...watching them.

"Oh this is just great." Amefuri growled and crossed her arms with a scowl.

"Ahahaa..." Yorukai blanched and stared up at the curious staff and giggling students.  "This is NOT good..."

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!?!" Ms Machiko bellowed down at them.

"Uh...." Yorukai looked over his shoulder at Amefuri...who was glaring at him as if it was entirely his fault. "Nothing!"

"Then what is she doing with your braid You-san?" Another student teacher called down to him.

"My braid?" Yorukai blinked in confusion and looked over his shoulder again.  Amefuri still had Yorukai's braid clutched in her hands and was weaving it through her fingers as she glared at the world in general.

"ahh..." Yorukai blushed slightly. "Ame?"

"Hnn?" Amefuri looked away from the school to glare at him.

"Ahh....would you ...Uh..." Yorukai glanced nervously up at the school. "Well...that is...umm..."

"What?" Amefuri narrowed her eyes.

"Would you please let go of my hair?" Yorukai paled as Amefuri glared at him and spun off all in one breath. "I mean...You've already tortured my poor braid today.  Besides the whole school is staring at us so this isn't very good for either of our reputations. You've already traumatized me enough with threatening to cut my hair off so don't you think that we could just call a truce and..."

"SHUT UP!" Amefuri bellowed at Yorukai and yanked on the braid as hard as she could.

"OWWWWWW!!!!" Yorukai screamed and lost his balance from the force of Amefuri's tug.  He teetered backwards and fell against Amefuri.

    Amefuri tried to keep her balance by grabbing something solid...too bad the nearest thing to grab hold of was Yorukai.  Yorukai stumbled backwards and was pulled further off balance by Amefuri. They tripped over each other and fell to the ground.  Yorukai (being the empty minded gentleman he is) twisted and grabbed hold of Amefuri to take the brunt of the fall, unfortunately, he only suceeded in making matters worse.  Yorukai ended up falling on top of Amefuri.  Amefuri's eyes narrowed and she growled at Yorukai as the school exploded into laughter.

~This is just perfect! If it wasn't for Yorukai and his stupid braid, I never would have lost my self control and this never would have happened!~

"GET TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE!!!" The teacher bellowed down at them. "NOW!!!!"

"I'm so sorry Ame! I was just trying to take the force of the fall, " Yorukai climbed to his feet and offered her a hand. "But I TOLD you to stop pulling on my hair!"

"........" Amefuri swatted his hand away and got to her feet.  ~I'm going to get that guy for this. I don't care HOW long it takes...but he's going to get it...~

"Ame?" Yorukai questioned her quietly. "Are you okay?"

"........." Amefuri glared at the school and started walking away.

"Ame? Wait up!" Yorukai called and caught up with her. "What's the matter? Are you upset about what happened?"

    Yorukai called at Amefuri until she stopped and turned to face him.  Yorukai opened his mouth to make a joke but it stuck in his throat.  He visibly shrunk from the intensity of hate and anger burning in Amefuri's eyes directed at him as she glared.  Her eyes narrowed and she whispered in an intense, controlled voice.

"You have humiliated me, tarnished my reputation and caused me to become the ridicule of my peers..." Amefuri hissed at him, her dark amethyst eyes seemed to burn jade green for a fraction of a second. "You are marked, Chikawa Yorukai. You will pay dearly for this."

    Yorukai felt himself breaking out in a cold sweat as she turned away.  He could only stare dumbly after her as she walked  into the school. He was shaken to the core and had an awful sinking feeling that she wasn't capable of making idle threats. However, he couldn't risk delaying his work for the principal.  His job and future education were doomed if he couldn't get Amefuri to co-operate. Yorukai swallowed his fears and ran into the school after Amefuri.
 

~To be continued~