http://clampfix.fanworks.net/ccd-fix/family4.txt </head><body><pre>Hello! Here is a really long chapter. Please tell me what needs fixed, I am constantly fixing things as I find them ^_^ Comments and criticism always welcome... --------------------------------------------------------------- Family - Stage 4: Participation _______________________________________________________________ This is a fanfic. That means that no money was made off using characters that belong to talented people. I wrote this because I wanted to. I didn't ask to use any name's likenesses or anything else. CLAMP holds copy write on all the characters that originate on CLAMP Campus, Hisaya Nakajo owns all the denizens of Ohsaka Academy. Also. This would work better in Japanese, since a person can easily get around using gender specific pronouns, but since this is English I will use "he" when people talk to "Mizuki," UNLESS they know she is masquerading as a boy, because as far as the general population of Mizuki's school is concerned, she is a he. Thanks to M. who gave me the dorm that Masao Himejima leads. I promise to use my passkey often ^_^; Though the characters belong to other people, the story is mine. Thank you to Shara who has been reading the first drafts. She also told me that Nokoru should have a dream ^_^ Am I evil for what I did with that? Math shamelessly borrowed from Anton's Calculus book. ______________________________________________________________ Suoh was sitting at his desk, relishing his momentary privacy. There was something about sharing a room with a stranger that left him on edge. He sighed. [I wish I could enjoy some quiet.] Himejima sang in the shower. It would be annoying, if Suoh permitted himself to focus on the deep voice's awkward rendition of the current love ballad. Suoh knew that he had only a few hours to prepare for karate, but sat instead looking at the "Rules of Poetry" book Himejima had tossed him as a wake-up call. He listened as the faucet turned off and the deep voice stopped. Himejima sauntered into the room, filling it with steam and the scent of floral shampoo. "Today, we begin!" He buttoned his shirt and spoke in Japanese accented German, "Ah, the beauty of morning. When all is fresh, and bright." The dorm leader brushed his hair over the heating vent. "What. Why are you so quiet?" Suoh continued reading as he spoke. "I only have one event today." Sure it sounded snappish, but he wasn't in the mood for pleasantries with foppish, longhaired Germanophiles. But it was better to be on good terms. He modulated his voice to the one he used in apology. "Don't worry. I'll do my part." Himejima turned, his hair fluttering around him. "I finished my watercolor two days ago." He struck a dramatic pose, "Such magnificence will surely be recognized!" He reached around Suoh to a small, ornate box nailed to the wall above Suoh's desk. Opening it, Himejima selected a light purple silk ribbon. He closed the box and ran a dry towel on the fogged mirror. Almost as an after thought he uttered. "I'm not worried about your performance." He used a blow dryer and mouse before tying the main portion of his hair back, leaving long, strait locks on either side of his face and fluffy bangs. "The ladies of St. Blossom are most appealing. Perhaps they will cheer you up." Suoh stood up to retort form a better angle, but Himejima left and closed the door. Sitting, Suoh looked at the Victorian-style clock. It was time for breakfast. The thought made his stomach rumble. [I've lost my discipline.] He sat and went back to his reading. He had eaten Akira's large meal the night before, but Suoh still felt empty. While he showered and dressed, Suoh considered how good it had felt to make Nokoru feel at least a little better last night. Even if he wasn't in Nokoru's immediate vicinity, he knew that by showing his true feelings in front of Suoh, Nokoru was showing that he still trusted the younger student. He turned a page. Poetry was more complicated than he had originally imagined. Modern poetry had always escaped him; it seemed to him almost like 'cheating' to make a poem without form or structure. In a way, it described himself and Nokoru. Poetry is an art as old as Suoh's own karate. It has form and structure there are rules and a mindset to it. When one imagines the heir to a family like the Imonoyama or Takamura clan, it stands to reason that the family's history would be evident in its members. Nokoru embodied the kindness and ability of his family as much as Suoh did his own family. The young ninja's mind returned to the previous evening. Suoh recalled that Nokoru allowed most people to touch him, so long as they were well meaning. Most people were too polite to actually take advantage of this. If they weren't kind, or if they were more forward than appropriate, Nokoru usually put them off gently after a few seconds. As he had done with Suoh. [He pushed me away.] He sat heavily. [No. We had come to an understanding. He's confused himself.] If what he gathered last night was right, Nokoru was as out of the loop as Suoh was, and the Imonoyama was feeling horrible about it. Suoh closed the book. Staring out the window would do nothing for him. He decided that food would help. With his dark eyes concentrated internally, Suoh left for the dining hall. He knew he was being obsessive, so allowed himself only this last replay. In Dorm Two's courtyard, Nokoru had talked to him. The slight blond had seemed so alone and so in need of a shoulder to lean on. But he had pushed Suoh away. Suoh moved one dark hand to his chest where he could still feel the heel of Nokoru's hand. But it was just like the Imonoyama heir to try to keep others from any harm, even emotional distress. But it was odd, the way he had said, "I'm sure it's as you say," rather than his usual, "Thank you." The more Suoh thought about it, the more he realized things had not changed. There was no understanding. Maybe he was overanalyzing. Regardless, Suoh would do his best for Nokoru. Even if his best was merely protecting the more delicate man's body. Suoh breathed deeply. In the warm morning air he felt that nothing was too difficult. He could even take Nokoru cross- country running on a day like this. At the main path, he saw Nakatsu. Suoh lengthened his stride to catch up. "A word?" Nakatsu turned quickly, "Ah, you're Imonoyama's friend, right? The ex-..." Suoh stopped Nakatsu with a look. Suoh didn't answer, but as they walked, the senior student began herding Nakatsu off the path. When they were near the trees Suoh quietly intoned, "You know the saying, there's always a bigger fish?" Nakatsu eyebrows went down, "What are you talking about?" Suoh stopped walking, "It would be very dangerous for you if Nokoru Imonoyama gets hurt." Nakatsu's eyes widened. "It won't have anything to do with me if he does." He started to move around Suoh, seemingly angry. To Suoh, Nakatsu appeared to be dismissing the idea. Suoh blocked his path. "I know about Friday. Don't lay another hand on him." Suoh turned and left. Suddenly he wasn't hungry any more. [Nokoru had been right.] They wouldn't see each other until later in the day. * * * Mizuki stood. "I'm going to go, now. OK?" Nakatsu opened his mouth, but didn't seem to have anything to say. Sano looked at her speculatively, "Are you going to finish your math?" "No..." He nodded. "I need my notebook before class. I guess I'll get it myself." Mizuki left the dining hall and headed towards Dorm Three. She didn't know where Suoh was, but since he hadn't been at breakfast it was a good bet he was still in his room. Akira had told her Suoh was rooming with the dorm leader. Mizuki allowed herself to feel vaguely sorry for Suoh. It wasn't that Himejima was a bad person, but she wouldn't have wanted to be his roommate. She checked the downstairs register and found Himejima's room. On her way upstairs she noticed how the dorm was exactly the same inside as her own. Structurally the same, anyway. But Dorm Three had several extra touches. On the cork boards, Mizuki saw the usual postings and a couple of posters. The cork was painted in pastoral scenes. The second floor message board had a flowered wreath on top and silk covering the sides, like a curtain had been pulled back. Another board itself had black broad cloth spread over the cork. She found the right door and knocked. Mizuki studied the hallway as she waited. Then she knocked again. She felt like she was going to have to wait forever. She pressed an ear to the door, then knocked again. [Nothing.] Turning around she nearly ran into Suoh. "Takamura-sempai! I'm sorry." Suoh stepped back. "I think Himejima's at the cafeteria." Mizuki shook her head, "No I was looking for you." With his odd gold eyes on her face, Mizuki was suddenly nervous. "I just wanted to," She closed her eyes. "I just wanted to get to know you since your Nokoru-kun's friend and that must mean you're a nice person and I want to talk to nice people, and I think that you might be a good person to get to know." She held her breath. Somehow that wasn't what she had practiced, but she had said it all. She opened her eyes to see how he took it. The elder student looked at her for a moment, then he reached forward, and she shrank into herself a bit. "Excuse me," He stood back politely. She looked around, "What?" "The door." Suoh inclined his head once. "Oh," Mizuki stood aside and let Suoh turn the knob. He left the door open, so Mizuki followed him in. Looking around, she thought that the room reminded her of something she had seen in a magazine. "It's very nice." She took the offered chair and ran her hand over the carvings. Suoh sat in the other chair and rested his arm on the back. Suddenly she didn't know exactly what she wanted to say. "I heard from Akira-kun that you're very focused on your karate. I think that we will probably go up against one another tonight, unless we have to fight Dorm One first..." Suoh remembered that Himejima had somehow negotiated for Suoh to be placed in Dorm Three because Suoh had athletic experience. "Dorm One must have quite a reputation here." Mizuki nodded, "Itsuki Kujou is known as the 'Bodhisattva of Karate' and their dorm leader Megumi Tennouji is the karate team lead. They are both very active as leaders on the school karate team." Suoh watched Mizuki as he moved. The boy was small and there was little reservation or focus of energy in the Japanese American's movements. "Why did you join the karate team, Aishya-kun?" Mizuki blushed. "I wanted to do something as great as Kujou-sempai or my roommate, Sano. I may not have Kujou- sempai's technique, but I do want to do well." Suoh nodded, his voice far off, "Desire is most important. Skill comes with training." [He's like Kujou-sempai...]Mizuki looked at the ground. "I hope to do well for my dorm today." Suoh didn't seem to hear her. She looked up. He was looking at her again. It wasn't uncomfortable, but she thought he could see through her somehow. "Were you hurt in the fall?" His tone was one of polite inquiry. Mizuki was startled. "Me? I fell?..." "You fell Friday morning." He kept his voice neutral. She understood, "It won't affect my ability to compete. Nokoru- san caught me." When she had decided to talk to him, Mizuki had thought that Suoh must be as outgoing as the other CLAMP students she met. But the silences were rather awkward for her. [I'll bring someone with me next time. Maybe introduce the girls...no bad idea. They would feel the way I do, probably. Maybe Akira-kun...] She looked around the room, hoping to find a polite way to leave, but they still had twenty minuets until class. She saw a CD on the table. It didn't look like anything she had seen before. The script and decorations were perfectly spaced, and looked homemade. She picked it up. "Wow." Suoh seemed to flinch a little. "It was a gift." "May I listen to it?" She had yet to move her eyes from the CD. Suoh looked at her for a moment before nodding. He stood and looked at the door. She got up, holding the CD carefully by the edges. He opened a drawer and pulled out a slipcover. Handing it over he looked down on her. "I have a few things to get done before class. I'm sorry. Maybe we can continue this conversation at lunch." Mizuki was glad. "Lunch's good. I'm glad I can be your friend!" She waved a little and hurried back to her dorm room. When she opened the door Sano was organizing his book bag. "I thought you would be a while." Mizuki shook her head. "No. I went to talk to Takamura-sempai. He seems like a nice person, just quiet." She held out the CD, "Do you mind if I play this?" Sano shook his head, so Mizuki stuck the CD in the player and stared at it. He must have gotten it from a girl. It was a really good idea, giving the boy you liked a CD. She started it. She didn't know what to expect, but the slow, traditional music that came out seemed out of character. [No, he is in both the karate and the archery events this week. It would be fitting.] The song was so sad. It was lovely, just a flute with piano accompaniment. She pushed the forward button. The next one was a flute solo. It seemed to have been recorded in a large hall. It was quiet and soft, but had a slight echo. The next song was a more modern one, but it still followed the sound theme. It was so sad, [But at the same time it seems to ...] Mizuki searched for the word in her mind [...love... everyone.] "No wonder Takamura-sempai is so alone. We need to talk to him more." Sano looked up, "We?" Mizuki blushed. "I do." She closed her eyes and put her head on her desk. [Sometimes Sano's a lot like Takamura-sempai.] * * * Nokoru put the final touches on his poem. It was almost final anyway. Close enough. He didn't believe in doing things half way, but he couldn't seem to figure out how to write his feelings. He was pretty sure that was the problem. He had trouble occasionally writing when he wasn't sure how he felt about a subject. He rolled onto his back, holding the pad far from his face with both hands. "Akira?" Nokoru realized he was sucking the end of his pen and put it down. It would leak, and he'd get ink all over his mouth. Like a kid. "Yes, Kaichou?" Akira kept his head down. Nokoru didn't look at Akira. "It wasn't anything." Akira finished off a sentence then turned around from his desk. He had been writing a letter to his mothers. "Kaichou. I think this project is going very well. We should be happy to be able to do so much for so many of our school's students." Nokoru stood up, smiling. "Of course you're right. This assignment is going very well." Akira nodded and returned to his letter. "Kaichou?" Nokoru walked over to his desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out his handy-phone. Raising his eyebrows, he looked at Akira. The first year student was a study in forced casualness. Nokoru set his phone to display the numbers his messages came from while he would be gone. He leaned against Akira's desk. Akira put his pen down and looked up. "Last night, I got a good look at St. Blossom." Nokoru crossed his arms. He noticed that Akira didn't say under what circumstances he had been at St. Blossom. It was really none of his business, but part of Nokoru wanted to know. Suoh had told him they had been there to check on Utako, but it was better data collection to hear from Akira's description as well. "Utako-chan is in the middle of three dorms. They don't have much security, and her dorm is the closest to the outer fence. But I think they will be safe there." Nokoru nodded. Suoh had said the same thing. "As long as the girls in that school are safe, we won't have to worry about her or them." Akira seemed hesitant to answer. Finally he said, "You are right, as usual." Nokoru pursed his lips. He felt that he had been missing a lot lately. "I'll go wander for a while." He waved vaguely at the window. Akira looked up. "I'll be along in a few minuets. You still have time for a walk, I think." Nokoru left his room and started down the hall. As he passed the doors on his way down stairs, he heard familiar music coming from Mizuki's room. Nokoru knocked on the door before entering. Somehow he didn't feel right walking into Mizuki and Sano's room the way the rest of the dorm seemed to operate. Sano got the door. "Imonoyama. Actually, I'm glad you're here." He let Nokoru pass and then presented his book. "I was looking at the book, and I think you could use superconductors as detectors for light." Nokoru was only listening with half an ear. The music he heard was so familiar. He smiled at Sano and followed him to the desk. "If you mean that the questions in both chapters' 'special application' sections are pretty much the same, you're right. But that doesn't mean that most companies are using them for commercial purposes right now." Sano nodded. "I guess. But it would be very useful." Nokoru realized he was being rude; he was ignoring Sano. [This is happening too often lately.] "But it's a really great idea. There are a lot of people in their first few years of college who wouldn't see that. We're sure to do well in physics tomorrow." Nokoru reached out. "Mizuki-san." When he touched Mizuki's shoulder, the young student's head jerked up. "Nokoru-sempai." Mizuki smiled. "I was just...this music is so soothing." Nokoru nodded, trying to smile. Mizuki was looking up at him rather oddly. Mizuki stopped the CD, handing it over. "Takamura-sempai let me borrow it." He seemed to hesitate. "It's so sad. I was thinking it may be why he seems so alone at school." Nokoru traced the swirls on the outer edges of the CD. "It was a gift." Mizuki nodded. "He didn't say anything about it. Do you know who gave it to him?" "I'm sure it was an admirer." Nokoru shook his head, "Suoh has quite a following at CLAMP School." Mizuki looked at the CD in Nokoru's hand, entranced by his moving fingers. "The strong silent type. Lots of girls like that." Sano moved his papers on his desk and began to clean up for class. The other two looked over at him. Nokoru handed the CD back to Mizuki. "I think I'm going to have a look around campus before school." He left the dorm and headed towards the backfields. He hadn't had much time to just wander, and he didn't have much time at Ohsaka at all. * * * Suoh left the cafeteria feeling relatively stable. He had gotten through class without thinking anything strange, and then gotten lunch without incident. He was finally starting to feel more like himself. Suoh was regaining his center. He was heading towards a far stand of trees when he heard his name. "Takamura-sempai!!!" He pretended not to hear it, but when Akira's voice joined and his name was yelled in chorus, he felt he had no choice but to comply and head over to the group that now sat watching him. He nodded slightly, recognizing most of them were Akira and Nokoru's dorm mates. Sekime spoke excitedly as he made space for Suoh to sit next to Mizuki. "Today's the day. I can't wait until after math. All the girls will come over from St. Blossom's this afternoon." Suoh took a bite of his noodles. He watched the group. Akira seemed to get along very well with the members of his dorm. Despite of his own curiosity, Suoh could not ask where Nokoru was. Akira, Nakatsu and Mizuki continued the conversation they seemed to have been in for some time. "Something homemade is the best gift." Akira said. "It comes from the heart and imagination." He paused for a moment. "Anyway, in my family what people want is often not purchasable." Suoh choked a bit. "I agree with Injuyin." He had always liked gifts from Akira. Somehow the youngest member of the CLAMP Campus Detectives team had made creating gifts an art. He was thoughtful and serious. Suoh could not remember one gift from Akira that went in a box or on a shelf never to be touched again. Nakatsu nodded. "But it's good to buy something to go with it." Mizuki looked confused. "No I think that it can go either way. What if you can't think of anything?" Suoh stopped listening. It wouldn't matter anyway. He spent his time watching Mizuki. Somewhere in his mind an idea was forming. * Suoh looked around the locker room. Nokoru wasn't there yet. He wouldn't blame Nokoru for skipping P.E. It wasn't really his cup of tea. Back in the protected environment of CLAMP School, Nokoru had been excused from most physical classes since he somehow managed to stay in shape without causing himself the embarrassment of public exercise. Suoh shook his head at the thought. As long as he'd known Nokoru, even in sporting competitions in elementary school, the blond had managed to compete without actually exerting himself. It was all for the best really. Field hockey and soccer were not things Suoh could save Nokoru from, really. Suoh pulled off his shirt and rummaged through his locker. He found his P.E. shirt, but he had stuffed his jogging suit over his usual clothes the other day. He reached far into the back for his missing uniform shorts. A hand on his spine brought him up quickly. Looking at the offending fingers, Suoh realized they were familiar. "Nokoru- sempai." "I wanted to make sure I wished you luck. I understand that Dorm One's residents are a very active group." Suoh relaxed his face. "I hope it is a good match." Nokoru smiled and opened his locker. He started talking while dressing, so Suoh stuck his head back into the locker. Nokoru's voice was happy, "I went out on a walk this morning, and got a good look at the statues on the east lawn. Have you seen them?" Suoh nodded, then realized Nokoru couldn't see him. "They are good representations of Lehmbruck's work, I think." He got his shorts and piled his running shoes and pants back in. Suoh looked over at Nokoru, "The..." He stopped and started for a moment, before noticing what he was doing. Suoh exhaled slowly and looked again at the purple and green bruise under Nokoru's left arm. To Suoh's eyes it looked just like a deep thumbprint. Nokoru noticed the lull in conversation. "Suoh?" He turned around so his hurt arm was towards Suoh, but the bruise hidden. Nokoru continued dressing, looking up at his younger friend occasionally. Suoh put on his P.E. uniform. "The statues. They're imitators. They were very good," he sat down to put on and tie his soccer cleats, "but the materials were metals, not stone." With nothing else to say, Suoh went out to the field. * * * Nokoru watched Suoh leave. He hurriedly put on the remainder of his clothing and hung up his school uniform. He didn't have any competitions this evening, but he still felt more comfortable being tidy. He half ran out to the field, thankful that there were still a few people behind him. He had spent too long in his room at lunch. But it was worth it. The teams were made by a different method each day, from what Nokoru had gathered. Today it was according to name, the same way they had gotten a class together. Nokoru and Suoh were on different teams, but that hardly mattered. Nokoru's team captain was a tall junior who acted as an alternate on the school's varsity soccer team. He gave everyone assignments quickly, and only paused for a moment before putting Nokoru in the right fullback position. As play got underway, it became apparent that this class was mixed. Some people had very good control of the ball, while others were lucky to make a pass without having it taken over by an enemy player. Suoh's captain was a huge man, probably a senior. He had great control and would yell as he ran. It seemed to Nokoru that Suoh not running for the front line was odd, but the captain surely knew best. Suoh was third goalie on CLAMP high school's team during the off-season. Nokoru watched in fascination as the ball moved with perfect accuracy from his team captains foot to the goal, only to be stopped by Suoh in the goalkeeper's position. He couldn't help smiling as he watched Suoh and the other team's captain nod to each other. Nokoru ran back towards his own goal, looking at Suoh only to verify that the ball was still in his hands. Nokoru had seen plenty of soccer teams fall to CLAMP's team, just because they underestimated the ability of the goalies trained by Tanaka. Coach Tanaka had been a star on CLAMP College's team, and was great with younger people. He stayed on to coach when he graduated, insuring his children would have their father near them at all times. That reminded Nokoru of the dorm situations. [Focus, focus...] He got into what he thought was the right position. He had never been on the field at this point in the game, so wasn't sure if he had the angle right. There had been no time to research soccer between Friday and Monday, so he still didn't know what he was really doing. Nokoru turned around, looking down field at the opposite goal. Several members of his team had begun yelling. Nokoru looked up and barely registered the white orb that hit his forehead. * As Nokoru and his escort approached the sick room, voices floated down the hall. "..What the hell are you doing?" Nokoru recognized the doctor's voice and frowned. Something must be very wrong. They continued walking down the hall. "But, Umeda-sempai..." This voice was plaintive. Nokoru thought he knew it, but couldn't place it anywhere. As they entered Umeda-sensei was extracting himself from Akiha-san's arms. "I told you to keep your hands to yourself!" Umeda pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his right lab coat pocket. Akiha was about to argue when Umeda looked at the door. "Ah, Imonoyama, right?" Umeda put the pack away with a slightly sigh. Akiha looked interestedly at Nokoru. "Have you considered my offer? You would make a great model." Nokoru looked dazedly at Akiha's blond hair, trying to figure out just what the appropriate response would be. Umeda stepped between them, bending to look Nokoru in the eyes. "Do you see any blackness at the edges of your vision?" Nokoru shook his head, then stopped. "But shaking my head makes me see black and white spots." Umeda took him by the arm and led him to the same chair he had sat in on his last visit. He waved away the student escort. >From his pocket, Umeda produced a tongue depressor and turned it's flat side toward Nokoru. "Can you see this?" Nokoru smiled, "Yes. I don't think it's really that bad." Umeda bent down again, this time reaching between his legs to pull his chair underneath himself. "Probably not. How'd it happen?" Nokoru shrugged, following the tongue depressor with his eyes Umeda-sensei passed it back and forth. "I was thinking rather than watching the ball." Umeda pulled a pen out of the pocket of his lab coat. He made a few notations in a black notebook, nodding. He leaned forward, looking into Nokoru's eyes. "Your pupils look fine." Akiha's face came into Nokoru's field of vision. "Umeda-sempai, I think I need..." Akiha's plea was cut short by Umeda's hand pushing his face away. Nokoru tried to ignore the exchange. Akiha didn't seem very offended. "I just got distracted." Umeda looked angry, but he was keeping himself professional. "The redness will go away in a few hours." He opened a small refrigerator. Behind several cans of beer, Nokoru could see compresses. Umeda's voice was distracted. "Does it still sting?" Nokoru touched his forehead. "A little." Umeda put the pad in a cloth, then pressed it to Nokoru's temple. "This should do it." Nokoru stood up. "Right." He looked at Akiha. "Mizuki-kun is very fortunate to have an employer who cares enough to watch her meet." Nokoru bowed slightly and walked towards the exit. He could hear soft talking behind him, but was glad not to know the details. People's private converstations should remain private. He headed back to the locker room. Class had just broken up, and most people were leaving the building. Nokoru assured several students he was fine. The room was nearly empty when Nokoru entered. Suoh was closing his locker. He had Nokoru's uniform draped over his arm. "Kaichou." Nokoru took his clothes and began changing. "Thank you, Suoh." He started to put on his tie, then changed his mind. "That was a great drop kick." Suoh turned red. "I'm sorry. It was supposed to end up behind you." Nokoru's laugh hurt his head. "No. I've never experienced it before." At Suoh's stern look, Nokoru giggled. "It was probably good for me." He mimicked himself looking at the ball. "I just barely saw it coming, it was so fast." Suoh looked suspicious for a moment then laughed softly. "I don't think so." Nokoru took his book bag from Suoh. "I think it is, and it's my head." * * * Mizuki pulled on a fresh shirt. She buttoned it with one eye on the bathroom door Sano had closed behind himself. She lifted her gym bag out of a chest and put her blue with pink-argyle tee shirt in with the matching socks on top. She carefully laid her gi. She had spent the last ten minuets ironing it in preparation. Sano came out of the bathroom. He ran a hand through Mizuki's hair. "You ready?" Mizuki looked up with him, hoping her adoration wasn't showing. He put together his own bag with a towel, Speedo, and goggles. Mizuki couldn't help but be impressed. "I had no idea you were so into swimming." Sano shrugged. "I'm not really. There are just more people interested in talking to the girls today, than interested in swimming for the dorm." Mizuki blushed when she saw the way he was looking at her. "Well, it's the age you know." She looked at her feet. [Why does he have to look so serious?] She looked up into Izumi Sano's eyes. [Is he blushing?] Mizuki desperately wanted to look anywhere but at his face. There were times she felt that through a look, her secret would get out. She crossed her eyes slightly and looked at his bag. "But to own the equipment..." Mizuki stood transfixed, staring at his bag. "It keeps me in good shape." He turned around, his head slightly down. "Well, we should get out to the rec room." Sano opened the door and waited for Mizuki to follow him before going downstairs. "Mizuki," Sano leaned near her, "poke me if I start falling asleep." They caught up to Akira, Kayashima and Nakatsu talking in the middle of a large group. Mizuki looked around for Nokoru, but he wasn't down yet. "What's up?" Kayashima spoke for the group. "Nanba's talking about 'extra incentive' from St. Blossom for guys who do well. He has a contact over there who's got pictures." Nakatsu shook his head, "And now people are trying to change the lineup so they can win the photos." He shook his head. Minami Nanba stood on a chair. "Can I get your attention?" He looked around at offending boys who didn't stop their conversations. "Now." When he was sure all attention in the room was focused on his face, he stepped down. "I know what the other dorms are saying, but we do have a better group. All around you are high scoring students and great athletes. These are your teammates, your friends. You can depend on them to protect your good name in the dorm competitions. The members of our illustrious dorm who initially signed up as members of our Decathlon team were few. But a dependable few. We know you will present the best face of our dorm in the competitions over the next three days." Mizuki looked over when Akira stepped closer. Nokoru had come up on Akira's right. She smiled at them both. Minami continued. "Let's not think they will be unrewarded. I know rumors have been flying." Nakatsu snickered, "He planted them." At the front of the Minami spoke a little louder, "And many people want to join in the Decathlon now. But the final decision was made last week. There will be no exceptions. If I allow one man in because he is a good athlete, then another will start reading me a poem." He waited for the laughter. "And I don't want any of you reading me poetry." As hands slowly went up through audience, he dismissed the group. "Meet in the commons in twenty minuets." * * * Suoh looked around the room. There was a large crowd. Dorms Two and Three were larger than Dorm One. From what he could see it was a pretty even mix of people. Except that there weren't many people Suoh would immediately classify as athletes. They were definitely individuals, though. He made a mental note to talk to Nokoru about mixing types of people in a given dorm. There was a possibility that it was beneficial to allow people with certain focuses to remain together instead of making daily interaction between mindsets mandatory. Those were the sort of thought that allowed him not to remember that he had kicked the ball that had hit Nokoru. They also helped him ignore Himejima's speech. It had opened with German. That was enough to make Suoh stop listening. In the few days Suoh had lived at Ohsaka Academy, Suoh had come to know his roommate much better than he had ever wanted to. Himejima was, Suoh supposed, attractive to women. He was tall, dressed well, and did well in school. He had leadership ability or he wouldn't be dorm president. Suoh watched without listening. When he only watched the way Himejima moved, he thought the man was just dramatic. He swished his long hair around and carried a rose. Not normal, but not as bad as what Suoh thought when he heard the dribble that came from the slimmer man's lips. Himejima spoke especially dramatically, "This is one of the last times we will have to prove our superiority over the other students." He paused and looked out over the group. "Don't be stupid." He put his right hand up to his forehead and let the rose just graze his cheek. "Our image is at stake." The meeting broke up. Suoh had about half an hour before he needed to be on a stand with all the other competitors from his dorm. He went back to his room to gather his bag. He took the poetry book with him, shoving it in his bag as though he would be burnt if he held it too long. He left the dorm and headed down a path he had never noticed before. The path was paved, but didn't go anywhere directly. It seemed to skirt the main buildings, but stay within sight of the primary walkway. It was a nice day, he decided. Sunny and warm, but not oppressively hot. He watched the birds fly from tree to tree and tripped over something soft. "Hey!" Suoh sat up and faced the voice. It was Dr. Umeda. "I'm sorry Umeda-sensei. I wasn't watching..." Umeda laid back down and took a drink from an open can in his hand. "What're you doing down this way?" Suoh began standing, but Umeda grabbed his shirt and pulled him back down. "It'll look suspicious if you're talking to someone no one can see." Suoh nodded slowly, settling into a squatting position. "May I ask what you are doing, sensei?" The school's tall doctor pulled his legs in to his body. "I'm waiting for the events to begin." "We still have the opening ceremony to go." Umeda smiled wryly. "That's why I'm here." Suoh looked at the doctor in confusion. Umeda sighed, putting his head down in defeat. "I'm staying out of sight until I'm needed." He looked over his shoulder through a hedge at the main path. "That cameraman..." Suoh leaned on his elbow and looked between the leaves. "The man with a ponytail?" "Yes." Dr. Umeda's brows knit. "That bast--" The doctor looked at the building in the distance. He pulled his glasses off. "Sh! He'll hear you." He pulled a can of beer out of a small cooler and offered it to Suoh. Suoh shook his head. Shrugging, Umeda put it back. He ground his heel into the concrete. "Until the events start, I'm here." Suoh inhaled noisily. "Well, I have to be going." Umeda peeked at the main path again, then pulled Suoh's jacket. "Don't stand up yet." Suoh realized he must have betrayed some irritation because the doctor chuckled. "You're Imonoyama's friend, right? The one with the temper." "Temper?" Suoh narrowed his eyes. Umeda laughed outright. "Umeda-sempai!" Footsteps ran towards them, but stopped at what Suoh guessed was the grass. "U-me-da-se--mmm---pai!" Next to Suoh the doctor flinched. "Damn." At his own voice he held his finger to his lips. Suoh heard the footsteps coming towards them, but guessed Umeda didn't. The doctor gagged as Akiha's arms lifted him by the neck. "You...!" Umeda put his legs under himself and stood up, leaving himself in Akiha's embrace. The hedge between them seemed like a supernatural barrier of ice. Or maybe it was just the doctor's eyes. "If you want to be near me...Ever." Umeda paused and pushed Akiha's arms back to his side of the shrubbery. The pause lengthened as Umeda put his glasses back on. "You won't touch me." Akiha winked. Suoh stood, righting his jacket. "Then I'll be on my way." He continued down the path. [This entire school...] * * * Nokoru looked around from his position on the platform. He hadn't realized he would have to be on stage during the school Decathlon's opening ceremony. He watched the dorm presidents, in their high-necked, long jacketed uniforms, make small speeches about sportsmanship and the caliber of students standing behind them. The school staff stood to one side. He looked past Akira and across an isle towards Suoh. Suoh seemed to be looking at an object somewhere in the audience, but over everyone's heads. Nokoru smiled remembering the advice Suoh had given him during junior high. ["If you can't stand the speaker, just keep your mind interested while running math tables in your head."] Of course for each person it was a different idea that ran through the mind, but the idea was sound. Make it look like your interested enough to pay attention and politely bored at the same time. Nokoru looked back out into the audience. He was looking for a large yellow bow. He knew Utako would be out there somewhere. He just needed to find her before the karate tournament. Most people in the crowd were wearing casual clothes. It made Nokoru a little envious. The school uniform at Ohsaka was a bit drab for Nokoru's taste. [Though it does have a sort of casual appeal to it. All in all, though, CLAMP's traditional, military style uniform is best for my school.] Nokoru had never thought of himself as a hound's-tooth and blazer sort of man. Not even as a hound's-tooth blazer man. He looked around. Akira was clapping, looking at him. Nokoru clapped twice as hard to make up for his faux pas. "Good luck Akira!" "Thank you!" Akira and Mizuki went off in the same direction Nokoru had seen Suoh leave. He found himself standing next to Sano. "There's someone I wanted to find before we head over to the karate tournament." Sano nodded. "You mean the girls coming over now?" Nokoru turned around, "Utako-san, I'm so glad to see you." "Nokoru-sama! I hope you are doing well at Ohsaka Academy." She curtsied quickly. Utako had a few girls around her. She indicated a girl with long hair, "This is Rio Umeda, and Kanna Amagasaki. We live in the same dorm." "Such lovely ladies. No wonder the arrival of ladies from St. Blossom's is such an event for the students of Ohsaka." A fan appeared in Nokoru's hand. Both girls blushed deeply and bowed slightly. When their heads were down, he noticed a familiar face behind them. "Nagisa-san. I...am so glad to see you." He smiled his happiest smile, wondering if Suoh knew about this, and what the implications of Suoh's knowledge and Nokoru's own ignorance were. "Nokoru-sama." Nagisa curtsied. Her small boned frame looked fragile in the calf length skirt and finely woven silk top. Nokoru stepped aside, "These are dorm mates of mine and Akira's. Izumi Sano, Daiki Kayashima." They started walking towards the tournament center. Nokoru found himself walking next to Rio as the others entertained the ladies from St. Blossom. "It's unusual to meet so many lovely ladies in one area." She smiled and looked at Nokoru's face. "How long have you been here?" Nokoru touched his head with his fan. "Only a few days. But I have been able to get to know the staff here already. And the group in my dorm is wonderful. However, nothing compares to the companionship of a group of beautiful ladies for an afternoon." Rio blushed, avoiding his eyes. "You already knew Utako-chan and Nagisa-chan?" Nokoru nodded. "They were one division below me at school." Rio looked up to the sky. "You must have been very popular there." Nokoru put the fan before his mouth and used his left to gesture the lady indoors. Most of the spots near the central mats were taken, but on the far side of the room from where the group entered, several seats were available next to each other. Kanna bowed, "I'm sorry, I promised to sit with Dorm One today. I'll see all of you later, right?" Rio spoke for the group. "Of course. Good luck!" The room seemed to be divided up into dorm groups with observers here and there. "Onee-chan!" Nokoru looked in the direction Rio was looking. "The lady in front with the fashionable suit?" Rio smiled. "I think clothing is the true way my family expresses themselves. Onee-chan's name is Io." Nokoru took in the ladies haughty posture and the way she talked with others around her. "She reminds me of someone..." Rio waved. The lady waved and smiled with her whole face. "She must be here to watch Mizuki-kun." As the competitors came out, Nokoru's group rushed to the open seats. The school's tall rijichou came out from the hallway that led to the locker rooms. "Welcome to our first event of the Decathlon!" There was general cheering. It seemed that the portion of the school that had not found seating was content to stand around the edges and watch the event from the doorways. "We would like to welcome St. Blossom's representatives." A group of four ladies stood and bowed, their faces red from the applause and attention they were receiving. Looking at the girls, Nokoru saw Dr. Umeda and his friend from that morning. "That's it. Umeda-sensei." Rio turned her head. "Onii-chan? What about him?" Nokoru patted one hand with his fan. "Your sister, her bearing reminded me of Umeda-sensei. For a moment I thought my senses were deceiving me." Utako leaned over Nagisa to speak directly to Nokoru as the rijichou continued. "Deceiving you?" CLAMP School's student council president laughed loudly, "It's nothing." The group of students, each in their pressed gi, bowed again. A very tall man from Dorm One stepped forward. Nokoru recognized him as the dorm president, Megumi Tennouji. Takahashi from Dorm Three followed. They each bowed to each other and the central observer who had been introduced as the karate instructor. From the formation Nokoru supposed the girls from St. Blossom were only for show in this category. Unless they were ranked very high, they would not be good judges. He wondered as Takahishi fell to the mat why this tournament was part of the Decathlon. [It must be tradition.] Mizuki and Suoh stepped forward and bowed ritualistically. Even from his seat far away Nokoru could see the mask of calm over her face. Nokoru laughed at himself. His face. Nokoru marveled at how Mizuki, who was so small, could participate so fiercely. He began by forcing Suoh into a defensive position. Or was it Suoh forcing Mizuki into the attack? Nokoru had almost no knowledge of the sport, but he knew that Mizuki's attack was focused too much on the middle region of the body. Suoh knocked Mizuki to the mat with a sweep of his leg. That seemed to be the point of this meet: to get your opponent to the ground and have that person remain there rather than get up in a continuous motion. If the motion stopped, the match was over. They bowed to each other and the instructor before returning to their positions in line. The next pair was Kujou from Dorm One and Akira. These two lasted longer. They alternated, on punching with the other blocking. Nokoru had no idea what was going on, but the competitors were an even match from his viewpoint. He looked at his friends, wishing that one of them was proficient in the sport. At an general inhalation in the crowd, Nokoru turned quickly back to the sparers. Akira was on the ground, but rolling. He came up and they began their dance again. Akira was the same height as Kujou, but they were night and day in appearance. Kujou had light, strait hair. Akira's was wavy and defied most styling attempts while remaining very becoming. Akira was beginning to give ground. Kujou made a new gesture and led with his elbow. Nokoru watched the faces of the participants in line to tell how this changed the match. Most seemed interested in the event, but as a blur moved across the mats, Suoh's eyes closed for a moment. Nokoru took it to mean something Suoh knew the outcome already. When the golden eyes reopened, they focused on Akira without any other movement of Suoh's body. Akira hit the mat and lost momentum before attempting to continue his roll. It was enough to lose the round. They returned to the line. Tennouji and Suoh stepped forward at the rijichou's announcement. Nokoru watched as the two men took their position. Both seemed confident in their abilities. They entered into the heart of their match quickly. Nokoru had never seen an actual meet before, only practice as he was walking through. He wanted to ask Nagisa what was happening, but both opponents were moving so fast that he didn't want to take his eyes off. He had never seen anything like this. When Nokoru did look away from the competition, it was by something more than his own choice. He scanned the audience for the source of the feeling. There was a petite girl in the Dorm One's front row. It was Kanna. Her hair fell past her shoulder, and she was watching the meet with eyes that seemed to know what was happening. A soft wind tickled Nokoru's ear. "She's Megumi Tennouji's fiancee." Nokoru turned to his right. "I'm sorry." Rio smiled. "The girl, she is the fiancee of one of the participants." He whispered, "She seems very into the match." Rio's smile showed she understood. "No one knew until the winter dance, but they are going to be married soon." "Such a lovely girl and a strong warrior are ideal for each other." Nokoru smiled softly at the girl he had only met for a moment. Kanna's face changed. Her eyes widened and mouth opened. Nokoru looked back at the central mat. Tennouji was down and Suoh was holding him there. The match was called. They both bowed to each other and the mat before returning to the line. The rijichou called Kujou and Suoh out. Suoh was breathing harder than he had after the last match, but Nokoru was confident that the Takamura must have been reserving his best moves. As the two bowed and began their exchange of punches and blocks, Nokoru zoned out a little. Perhaps most of what he had seen Suoh do did not fall under the 'karate' category. He was in judo and had been trained at home as well. Really this should cause Suoh no trouble at all. When they were children Nokoru had seen Suoh take down several trained, armed men. Nagisa gasped, causing Nokoru to refocus. Suoh was just turning. He must have fallen and come back up. Nagisa seemed to be speaking directly from Nokoru's mind, "This is strange." Suoh fell again. When Suoh was regaining his feet, Kujou struck at the blue hair. Suoh seemed to block the move effortlessly. Instead of fully standing and turning as he had done in the last match, and the last fall, was already moving his knee. It connected with the back of Kujou's. Kujou fell and, as had happened with Akira, lost momentum before getting up. Suoh had won. * * * It had been a very good match. Mizuki looked around the assemblage. She saw no reason to stay any longer. By now she decided most of the participants would be out of the locker room, so she went to change. Mizuki held her breath before entering the locker room. [Hopefully it'll be empty.] In the locker room, Nakatsu was patting Akira on the back. "That was a great match!" When Akira bowed to Mizuki Nakatsu turned around. "Mizuki! You were wonderful." He ran towards her, arms open. Sano appeared out of nowhere putting an arm around Mizuki's shoulder. "Yes. It was a very good match." Mizuki smiled at Nakatsu, "Thank you." She bowed to Akira, "I think I have a ways to go." Akira smiled and shook his head. "You want to do things correctly. That's very important." He picked up his bag and passed her on his way to the door. Akira paused, "Good luck in swimming, Sano-sempai. We'll be rooting for you." He left, shutting the door softly. Mizuki turned around, "Yes. I forgot. I have to hurry and change. To get to the pool in time." That was then she realized Sano was in his Speedo and a pair of shorts. Blushing, Mizuki went to her locker. Out of her bag she produced her casual clothes. "Oi, Nakatsu," Sano began. "I need someone to keep my stuff." Thankfully, the two teens disappeared around the corner to Sano's locker in the next row. Mizuki tuned out their conversation and hurried to the shower with all her clothes in tow. She cleaned quickly and dressed in the blue tiled room. It was a little cold, but at least it was out of site of the lockers. She put her gi into a plastic sack and back in the bag. Socks in hand, Mizuki padded back to her locker. Nakatsu was talking to someone. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Mizuki could hear a low voice. She stopped, trying to figure out if she should interfere or not. "Just leave me alone!" The southerner's voice was near panic. That was really all Mizuki had to know. "Hey!" She stomped to her locker. "Leave my..." Her eyes went wide. Suoh Takamura was guarding the open end of the rectangle her locker was in. Her voice faltered a little. "Leave," Mizuki gathered her anger, "Leave my friends alone." Suoh stepped back, so he was facing both Nakatsu and Mizuki at once. "Exactly what I was saying." "What?" Mizuki's attempt at "menacing" failed in her confusion. Suoh watched Nakatsu, but spoke to Mizuki. "No one can threaten Nokoru Imonoyama while I'm around." As he spoke his face changed until he was glaring at Nakatsu. "He's been hurt since we arrived at this campus." Mizuki's chest heaved. She wasn't sure what she was going to do. She wanted to yell and cry, actually. Instead she put her arms out and pushed Suoh. He only moved one foot, but he did focus his attention on her. "Nakatsu is my friend. And no one intimidates him while I'm here. He didn't hurt Nokoru-sempai. They're friends! If there's a problem, why don't you ask Nokoru-sempai yourself instead of threatening people who are smaller than you?!" Suoh looked at each of them for a long moment then sat down. "You really didn't hurt him." Nakatsu's expressive face was indignant, "I said that!" Looking around for the clock, Mizuki exclaimed, "It's almost time for swimming!" Nakatsu jumped and yanked Sano's bag off the bench. "I'll see you at the meet." Suoh watched him go, then watched Mizuki put her socks on. There was something in his face Mizuki couldn't identify. "Why don't you just talk to Nokoru-sempai." She put her toiletries back in her bag. "I saw you when you all got here. You're friends, right?" "I can't talk to him." Suoh was looking at the spot where she had been seated. "But I'll bet you are very good friends with him by now." Mizuki slowly zipped her bag. "We talk sometimes." Suoh nodded and smiled slightly. It was just the corners of his mouth turning up, but it changed his face. "If I give you a note, can you take it to him?" Mizuki nodded. "His room's near mine...I can do that." Suoh stood. "We had better get to the pool. You'll miss the race." The rushed out the door and stuffed their feet into shoes on their way out. Like the karate tournament, the swim meet was a one-heat one-chance event. The excitement around Ohsaka's pool was intense. Kayashima stood on his toes behind Utako, "There's Sano." The group around Nokoru quieted as Sano came out, goggles in hand. He and Sekime slapped each other on the back a few times and talked to the other participants. Akira stood on Nokoru's left. "I hear that Dorm One has most of the students who participate in sports, but Sekime-san is supposed to be very talented." Rio, standing close on Nokoru's right, spoke quietly. "If Sano's here, where's Mizuki?" Nokoru reassured her, "Mizuki-san is probably changing. It must feel good to have such a tough meet over now." Rio nodded, but she was distracted. "Well, here comes Nakatsu-kun." Nakatsu made his way between people to be near the swimmers. Nokoru guessed he had Sano's sport's bag. That was surprising. He had thought if anyone would hold Sano's equipment it would be Mizuki. Rio smiled at Nokoru, "I just saw my sister. She must have come for the karate." "A lady who is interested in karate is a rarity in this busy world." Nokoru smiled at Rio. She was a very nice girl. He tried to categorize her: she was rather like Utako. He could easily imagine her leading a group like Utako does. Rio giggled a little. "I think she wanted to visit family and watch Mizuki-kun." "It is good to see your family while living away from home." The announcer began speaking into a megaphone and the swimmers stripped down to their suits. Nokoru moved aside to give Rio a better view of the race. Moving left his back open, but the space was soon filled. When Nokoru turned his head for a look at Nakatsu, Mizuki's profile blocked his view. "I'm sorry." He began to move back to let Mizuki have his spot, but stepped on someone's toes. He looked down at the trodden loafers and apologized. Looking up into the man's face, they both ginned. "I've been looking for you, Suoh." Until he said it, he hadn't realized it was true. The swimmers bowed and got on the blocks. The announcer called, "One race, four hundred yards medley. Miss-starts are grounds for disqualification." There was a pause as the audience settled. "Swimming for Dorm One: Arai-san and Sasaki-san." The swimmers were popular. There was a lot of cheering when they raised their hands. "For Dorm Two: Sano-san and Sekime-san." The noise around Nokoru was too loud to be able to tell how many supporters his dorm had in the crowd. He hid his mouth behind a fan so Mizuki couldn't see how he smiled when he watched her cheer. "For Dorm Three: Fuji-san and Nakamura-san." Nokoru saw that the main group of students from Dorm Three were on the far side of the pool. "Swimmers take your mark." Some of the men on the blocks touched or curled their fingers around the block's edge, the rest swung their arms back to give greater momentum before hitting the water. As the crowd went almost silent, Nokoru could felt Suoh's hand move to his waist. There was an electronic blare and the swimmers dove. Sasaki was gaining a small lead as they touched the wall. His turn was smooth and he went back into his butterfly without pausing at all. Suoh stepped closer and watched the race over Nokoru's shoulder. At the next turn, it was obvious Sano was an athlete, but not a swimmer. He was keeping about half a pool length behind the other contestants. During the backstroke hundred Nakamura gained on Sasaki quickly. The judges were getting into the race. Nokoru looked at the ladies lined up with note pads at the side of the pool. They were bouncing in excitement. In front of him Mizuki and Rio were yelling for Dorm Two's swimmers. Again it struck him just how feminine Mizuki was. He laughed a little. He would have to watch those stray thoughts. Who was he to judge or categorize her? The first swimmers touched the wall under the blocks and pushed off again. This length was breaststroke. Nokoru could feel Suoh tense behind him. He looked back. Suoh was watching the race seriously, but had seen his head move. "Breast stroke can make or break a race." He spoke closely to be heard over the yelling around them. Nokoru nodded and turned back. Sano was now almost a pool length behind. Nokoru balled his fist around his fan and felt his arms tense. Suoh removed his hand. Nokoru waved his fan in the air and yelled, "Go Sano-san!" Mizuki and Rio took up his cry, adding a yell for Sekime occasionally. As Sasaki, Arai, Sekime, and Fuji turned they broke into impressively fast freestyle. Nakamura was the next to touch the wall. When Sano made it, Fuji and Sasaki were coming up for their first breaths. It was easy to tell Sano was tired. He took several breaths in the first twenty-five meters. He seemed to get a rhythm and moved much faster than the other swimmers. When Fuji touched first a cheer went up from the far side of the pool. Sasaki was next, followed by Sekime. When Nakamura touched the wall, Sano was at his ankles. The participants waited for Sano to catch his breath before the rose from the pool as one. Fuji raised an arm and the third dorm's people went wild. Nokoru waited for the crowd to drift towards the commons before bowing apologetically to the ladies. "I'm sorry. I have to be in the auditorium soon." * * * Akira held his arm out, holding people back to give Nokoru a little space to take his exit. "Good luck, Nokoru-sempai!" "Thank you, Akira." Suoh filled the space Nokoru had left, and took Akira by the arm. "Perhaps it would be best if you remained with Kaichou." Akira nodded and looked around. For the first time, Suoh noticed the lady in the yellow floral print dress was Utako. He bowed slightly, "Ohkawa-chan, it's good to see you again." Utako put her hand on Akira's arm, "Takamura-sempai, we'll see you at the auditorium." Suoh watched the young couple run to catch up with Nokoru. Mizuki stood next to Suoh, watching them leave. "I didn't know Utako-chan was dating anyone. Akira-kun is such a nice person. She's lucky." Suoh nodded and jumped a bit when he heard a soft voice on his other side agree, "They are a very good couple." He turned quickly. "Nagisa-chan!" Nagisa's soft eyes looked up at him, "It's been a while, hasn't it, Suoh-kun?" "Ah! You two know each other?" Mizuki stood between them. "And this is Rio Umeda." Rio bowed. "It's nice to meet you." Suoh stammered, "It's nice to meet you." It almost hurt to take his eyes off Nagisa. Rio took Mizuki by the arm, "Well, we should be getting on to the next event." She forcibly pulled Mizuki away. Nagisa waved slowly at the student's retreating backs. When she turned back, she must have noticed Suoh's eyes on her face. [Even her blush is beautiful.] He took her hand. "I tried to call you last night. I didn't realize you weren't at home." Her blush deepened and she looked down. She leaned forward, her soft voice had never carried over distances well. "I'm doing a favor." Nagisa's hair brushed his pant leg as she gazed at the crowd. "I thought it would be nice to surprise you." Suoh lifted her hand. He bent his head about to tell her what he had been thinking when he called, but Himejima interrupted. "So lovely." The dorm leader took Nagisa's hand away from Suoh, "Such a vision is surely a gift from the gods." He was wearing low-rise pants and a red shirt with matching hair ribbon. He handed Nagisa a flower. "I can die a happy man, now." Suoh put his arm around Nagisa's waist and retrieved her hand. "I think the math competition will begin soon." Himejima's eyes glinted. He spoke in German. "I never thought you had it in you. Such a dull personality." Himejima gathered the group of women he had been leading and moved off with the rest of the audience. Nagisa leaned her head on Suoh's shoulder. "Shall we go?" Suoh nodded, watching his roommate. Only when he took a step forward did he realize he was holding Nagisa. Suoh quickly let his hand drop. She smiled softly and stood fully upright. Suoh extended his arm, "I've ... missed you." Nagisa's soft laugh reached his ears. "You did very well today." She took his elbow and allowed him to lead as they walked. "The competition was very good." She shook her head and spoke so softly he almost didn't hear, "That's not what I meant." Suoh frowned, making her smile. "I like your casual look today." Suoh looked down at his slacks and tee shirt and blushed. * * * Mizuki looked around the auditorium. She was surprised there were so many people for a math competition. They were standing in back and couldn't find anyplace to sit. A man behind them practically growled. "Keep moving." Rio turned around, "Onii-chan?" Mizuki searched the crowd, "Where?" She turned around to where Rio was looking. "Umeda-sensei." The tall doctor was standing next to a curtain. "Not so loud. So far the most serious injury was a prick with a rose. Now I get to check up on paper cuts from the math competition." Rio put her hands on her hips. "Weren't you in the math competition when you attended Ohsaka?" Mizuki saw Akiha coming from the doorway, talking to Nagisa and Suoh. She waved, "Akiha-san! Did you--" She was cut off by Umeda putting his hand over her mouth and putting her in the chair next to him. Umeda turned his back to the main door, "So, how are you feeling now that it's been a few days since your fall?" Mizuki looked up. "I don't feel anything. Like I said, I think Nokoru-san took most of the fall." Umeda nodded sagely, with his hand over his mouth. "Uhm-huhmh." "Umeda-sempai. I've been looking for you everywhere." Akiha pushed his sunglasses up. "Mizuki. You did very well. I'm glad I got to see it." Akiha cocked his head and closed one eye. "I have a great idea for a shoot." He pulled a small camera out of his pocket. "Just hold still the way you are." Umeda pushed the camera back, hitting Akiha. "You..." Rio looked a bit embarrassed. "Onii-chan, I don't think I've ever met your friend." Umeda's face got long. "Rio, this is Akiha. He was an underclassman at my school." He gestured towards Rio. "This is my younger sister." Mizuki stood up. "I want to get a good spot..." Rio followed her. When Mizuki looked back, Akiha was sitting in the chair she had vacated and was looking up at Umeda. Near the back, Nagisa and Suoh were sitting by a group of fourth year students. "Mizuki!! Rio-chan!" Mizuki turned around to find Nakatsu and Sano saving seats for them near the center aisle. Rio waved happily. As the two made their way across the room, Mizuki thought about how hard Sano had tried. [He's like me in some ways, too. He knew he couldn't win, but he swam anyway. For a high jumper, he did really well.] She sat between Sano and Nakatsu. Nanba turned around and mock-whispered. "Hey have you seen the girl with Akira-kun?" He pointed towards the stage door where Akira and a lively Utako were talking with Nokoru. Rio looked where he indicated. "That's Utako Ohkawa. She's a new transfer student." Nanba sighed, "One fewer lady to kiss. Works fast, doesn't he?" Rio crossed her arms. "Utako-chan said she had a boyfriend when she moved in. They already knew each other, Minami-chan." Nanba flinched a little. Mizuki remembered he was embarrassed to be older than his aunt. Rio must have become attached to Utako to be using the jibe. Ohsaka's rijichou stepped up to the microphone. "Our mathematics competition will begin in a moment." He waited for the audience to sit. The lights went down. "If you will look to the top of the stage you will see a rectangle of light. In that rectangle, you will find the problem the students are working on. There will be only two problems. Students are graded on speed and accuracy." He paused, looking into the darkness. "Sabura-sensei from the math department will judge the accuracy of these problems, and the dorm representatives from St. Blossom will judge speed in cases of ties." There was polite applause. "From Dorm One: Hayashi-san and Suzuki-san." The applause in the auditorium was more subdued than that at the pool. Mizuki looked around and saw why. Most of her schoolmates were taking advantage of the dark to whisper to the girls from St. Blossom and their friends. Overall the math competition had the same atmosphere of the previous competitions. People were just being quieter. "From Dorm Two: Imonoyama-san and Nakao-san." Everyone in her area began cheering wildly as Nokoru and Nakao appeared on stage. Mizuki leaned forward, "I didn't know Nakao was so good at math." Nanba turned his head, "How would I know? He said he could do it." "And from Dorm Three: Yamaguchi-san and Yoshida." Applause was strongest from behind Mizuki. Sano leaned whispered, "That's some tough competition." Mizuki realized that she had forgotten to congratulate him. She turned her head, but he was looking up at the projected problem. His mouth was open as he read the problem. "I'm glad I don't have to do this." Mizuki looked up. The problem was written in a bold font: Evaluate d/dx [ ln cos x/((4-(3x)^2)^2) ] . The students began working on paper. Only pocket calculators were allowed, so most of the information, including theorems, had to be kept in their heads. The teacher in charge walked behind the student's chairs. He looked over their shoulders and nodded or frowned as he went. After a few minuets the rijichou began making rounds as well. After a while both stopped behind Nokoru. Though Mizuki couldn't see the page he was working on, it became apparent that Nokoru was not doing the math, at all. Sabura-sensei tapped Nokoru's shoulder and spoke near his face. Nokoru moved his pages around and produced a relatively clean sheet. He handed it to the teacher and went back to the paper that had been occupying his attention. The teacher held up his hand. Ohsaka's chairman went to the microphone and announced. "First problem complete." The contestants put their pencils down and looked at one another. Sabura-sensei walked from desk to desk collecting passing out clean paper. Above the students a different problem appeared in the light: What is the work done by F as it acts on a particle moving from P to Q. F(x,y) = x(y^2)i + (x^2)yj; P(1,1), Q(0,0) Mizuki heard Nakatsu's hushed voice. "That looks more like physics than math!" Mizuki nodded agreement. She wondered how much math and science she would need in her time at school. Of course, she would have to decide what she wanted to do after school before she knew for certain. Again, the instructor moved around behind the students. Sabura-sensei stayed closer to Nokoru's side of the group this time. It seemed that he was watching Nokoru as the blond worked. The rijichou moved amongst the other students, watching each pencil carefully. Nokoru shuffled his papers, putting a blank one on top. The instructor came over and lifted his stack, taking the one on which Nokoru had worked the problem. He looked at it, then at Nokoru. He walked behind the students, pausing to look at each paper, then handed Nokoru's work to the rijichou. The tall rijichou stepped up to the microphone again and announced the mathematics portion of the decathlon complete. Dorm Two had won. "While we were watching this competition, the ladies elected by St. Blossom's art department were in the main lobby of Hall Two judging the drawing contest. Please feel free to view the images after a short break." * * * Nokoru bowed to the other students back stage. He had tried to do something other than the math, but discovered that his sense of fair play wouldn't let him. He knew that if another person had only pretended to work the problems, he would feel awful. It wasn't a fair tournament in many ways. Nokoru was naturally able to do calculations in his head. He could remember huge amounts of information, easily. He knew he wasn't average, but that was why he held such a high position in CLAMP School's student council. School alone didn't occupy enough of his thinking time. Speaking of which he wanted some quiet. [All I want is to get out of here. Just a few minuets alone is all I need.] Nokoru had hoped to get back to his room to change in the break before viewing the drawing contest's entries. But when he approached the stairs, Akira and Utako were waiting for him. He put on the jacket he had just removed and accepted their congratulations. He was starting to feel claustrophobic. He really needed time to think. A lot had happened today, and having the extra quiet while he was on stage had made his start to miss his office. With piles of paperwork surrounding his desk, he could pretend he was in a big maze. The rest of the world would have to come in to find him. "Utako-san have you had a tour of the campus yet?" Nokoru's eyes twinkled as he watched the two younger students exchange looks. "No. I haven't had a chance to look around yet." Utako looked at Akira. Akira blushed and looked guiltily at Utako, "We've been watching the Decathlon." Nokoru drew a second fan out of his pocket. This one was blue. He held it to his lips closed, and just looked at Akira. "The Decathlon is mostly an excuse to get to know the ladies of St. Blossom. The ladies must not be ignored." He opened the fan, on which he had written "Go for it!!" Akira ducked his head. "Utako-chan, would you like to see Ohsaka Academy's grounds?" Utako swished her skirt, "That would be lovely." Smiling at Nokoru, she accepted Akira's hand and they excused themselves. Nokoru took a deep breath and started for the door. Dr. Umeda caught his sleeve as he passed. "Let's have a look. Have a seat and look at...Look at that." The only thing Nokoru could see where Umeda indicated was Mizuki's employer. Nokoru sat in the chair next to Umeda and looked dutifully at Akiha. Akiha's attention moved from Nokoru's face to Umeda's. The pony-tailed blond put out a hand towards Umeda's leg as the doctor passed, but quickly retried his hand and held it as though it was doing things on it's own accord. "I hope your photo shoot went well today, Akiha-san." Nokoru wanted to draw Akiha's attention before he did something to upset the doctor. Akiha spoke to Mizuki and a group from the dorm distractedly. "Oh, it was fine. Thanks again for your help." Umeda ignored the group that had arrived, "You're fine. Bring back the compress in the morning." Nokoru looked up, "Thank you." Mizuki was enthusiastic. "You did so well. How did you finish so fast?" Nokoru demurred, "I've always been good with math. It's just luck that I was born with this talent." Rio looked at him with wide eyes, "No, everyone saw how you finished so fast. It was amazing." Umeda deadpanned, "You care about math?" Rio glared at him for a moment, then looked at Nokoru and quickly changed her expression. "Nokoru-san, you've gotten to know my brother?" Nokoru stood and took a few mechanical steps. "Oh, we have had a few chances to run into each other." He looked around. "I have to run back to the dorm to change, but I will meet up with everyone later." He waved and started out the door. He heard a shout of "Hokuto!" and didn't look back to see what was going on. He had almost made it to the door when Nagisa and Suoh blocked his path. [I'll never get out of this building!] "Nokoru-sama." Nagisa bowed her head slightly. "You did very well in the competition." She smiled prettily. "I was just about to find Rio-chan. Do you know where she is?" Nokoru laughed a little with relief. "She's back near the doctor's station. I think a group is going to view the drawings together." "Thank you." She removed her arm from Suoh's. "I'll see you both later." Nokoru's relief fled. Now he was alone with Suoh. Exactly as they had decided not to be. He looked around the room as he spoke. "I'm going back to the dorm to change. Congratulations again on your victory in karate." Suoh put his head down for a moment. "Thank you." He looked back at Nokoru. "You did very well in math, as expected. Congratulations." "Thank you." He started to leave. Suoh lowered his voice, "You should have an escort. There are many strangers on campus today." Nokoru indicated Nanba talking to Mizuki and everyone. Nakao was holding possessively onto the older student's arm. "I'm going with them." Suoh looked over to the doctor's station. "The other math contestant?" Nokoru realized that Nakao did not look like the bodyguard type. Unless it was to verbally spar with any girl who tried to talk to Nanba. "No, all of them." Suoh nodded, but looked slightly disappointed. "I'll walk you over." He took a step and stopped. Nokoru stopped walking and turned to looked at Suoh expectantly. "I'm sorry." Suoh took a ragged breath. "About the ball." He gestured towards the group. "I know it is alright with you, but you saw the doctor twice." Nokoru kept his emotions inside as a rule. Now he needed to be sure that he did not appear to close to Suoh, even though he knew everything his Takamura protector was feeling. "It could have happened to anyone. A soccer field is a dangerous place." Suoh shook his head slightly. "My thoughts earlier." The movement was just enough to let Nokoru know that he had come up against Suoh's training, not against his friendship. Nokoru led the taller student back towards the group while explaining again, "But Suoh, I couldn't have been safer. Goalies trained off CLAMP campus tend to kick almost wildly down the middle of the field. You knew where to direct the ball, and how much force to get it there without having it bounce wildly upon landing. I would have been in real trouble if someone else had been in the goal box today." Suoh smiled slightly. "Nice try." They passed Akiha and Sano talking away from the group. Akiha was gesturing towards the group, "The kid's cute! I always say it doesn't matter if a person is male or female, it is the beauty that matters." Sano turned away. "Just don't let it get around." Akiha snorted, "I have my own problems. It'll cost you. I may need a model again. Really you are a natural..." They reached the main group, and Nokoru dropped his hand. The group opened, apparently making dinner plans, but they could hear Umeda who was on his knees with his beautiful dark haired older sister pinching one of his cheeks. She was gesturing towards the group "...by Friday!" The doctor held his cheek and fished in his pockets. "Right, right." He lit a cigarette and started packing up his table and the lady turned her attention on Suoh and Nokoru. "Adorable." Before Nokoru could realize what was happening she had his face between her palms. Mizuki stepped away from the group. "Nokoru-sempai, Takamura- sempai, this is Io Umeda. She is Dr. Umeda and Rio-chan's sister." Nokoru extracted himself. "Such a lovely family." He bowed politely. "I am sorry that I have to excuse myself, but I want to be getting back to change before the drawing exhibit opens." He started to leave, but instead of an open walkway, he found Suoh's shirt before his face. He laughed. [I've got to figure out a way to get my nervous laugh down a pitch or two.] "Mizuki-kun, Nakatsu are you headed back to the dorm?" Mizuki looked around. "I can go back." Nanba wanted to go, too, and from his arm Nakao said he was just going back to the dorm, too. [Suoh won't make a big deal in public.] As they were leaving, Nokoru saw Suoh pass something to Mizuki. Suoh took Nagisa's arm and began leaving through the east exit. * Nokoru promised to be out quickly, then went through his clothes he wanted something that wouldn't draw too much attention. After he had pulled everything out of this cupboard, he changed his objective. I was looking for something that was not too colorful. [The main problem] he decided, [is that I'm feeling guilty for not doing what Suoh said.] He picked up a pair of dark brown cargo pants. He had brought them thinking he might need to paint or something while at Ohsaka. They were fashionably baggy and covered the tops of his feet. He picked up a plain undershirt, then put it back in the pile. He waded into the clothing a bit and found a pink shirt with the CLAMP School logo on it. He pulled it over his head. [I told myself not to talk to him, except in a big group, and then I go and put my arm around him like we're old friends.] He shook his head. [We are old friends. How do you not talk to the person you talk to almost every day. How can you avoid the person to whom you don't even need to confide everything because they already know almost everything about you?] He found a tiger striped shirt and started buttoning it over his undershirt. "This is ugly." Unbuttoning the shirt, he started to throw it next to his desk, but stopped to look at it closer. He would have to figure out what he had been thinking. He supposed it matched something in his closet at home. [Thank goodness I still have Akira with me. I'd go crazy without him.] "Hey look at that." He looked at the sleeve of the tiger camouflage he had brought with him from CLAMP School. The sleeves were wider around the wrist, then the cuffs would gather them. The effect was nice. He nodded and started to put the shirt back in his clothes pile. "I'm never going to wear this." There was a knock on his door. His heart raced for a moment, thinking that Suoh was checking up on him. It would be unsafe for the school, but who knows? Suoh might have a legitimate reason for being here. Nokoru threw open the door, shirt in hand. Mizuki blinked a couple times and looked at the emblem on his shirt. Nokoru laughed and hid the shirt behind his back. "Mizuki-san. Come in." Mizuki entered and took the chair Nokoru offered. He looked at the pile of clothes. "I think the blue top with the big numbers on it would be good." Nokoru picked up the shirt. "This was for if we play sports outside class." Mizuki put his hand out for the shirt Nokoru still had not released. He looked at the tag. "Wow, someone worked really hard on this." Nokoru pulled the shirt Mizuki liked over his head. "What do you mean?" The brunette held out Nokoru's 'ugly' shirt. "This was hand sewn." Striking his palm with his fist he smiled, "That's it! It was a shirt I wore in the school fashion show last month. The college needs people occasionally for the end of year fashion show in the design department. Misa-san made it herself." He put it back on his pile. "I knew there had to be a reason for it to be with my clothes." Mizuki stood up. "I have a note for you. It's from Takamura-sempai." "Thank you." He looked at her for a moment. "You know in this light..." Mizuki raised her eyebrows. "This light?" Nokoru laughed. "Your features are very soft. In some lighting you can look very pretty." Mizuki blushed. "That's a strange thing to say..." The blonde opened the CD player and retrieved Suoh's CD. "Thank you for letting me borrow it. I know that you must be a good friend for him to have offered it to you." Mizuki shook her head a little. "I've been told I have a trustable face." "Like a kind, sincere girl." Nokoru was trying to push the point, but Mizuki stood up. "We're heading for the drawing contest soon. The full list of winners gets announced before competitions tomorrow." She was talking very quickly, "But Sato-kun is going up against Ito -sempai and Yoshida-sempai from dorm three. It's going to be a great exhibit." She crossed the room and closed the door quickly. Nokoru could hear her running down the hall and slamming her door. He sat in the chair Mizuki had just vacated. Nokoru fiddled with the note a little before opening it. It was plain note book paper, folded a few times. Suoh and Nokoru had discovered a long time ago that unless the letter was from a lady, Nokoru had no luck opening intricately folded papers. He opened it and studied the handwriting. Suoh's handwriting was as neat as Akira's but more regular in size. Kaichou, I am glad to see you prospering in the dorm environment. It's good to see you having so much fun. Please feel free to convey messages to me though Ashiya-san. Ashiya moves about social groups without concern or suspicion. I am curious about the bruise on your arm. I would like to share my thoughts on this project. Cordially, S Nokoru refolded the note and put it in his desk. Since the drawer was open, he checked his phone. It was flashing a message he had never seen before. "No Known Number (2)" Whoever had called while he was persistent. [She. This was a woman.] Nokoru realized that he was either going to be proved right in this case or he would have to stop making these assumptions. Obviously Mizuki was upset. But then, Mizuki was obviously a girl. He leaned his elbow on the desk and reread the note. He thought Suoh had seen something during P.E. but thought nothing of it when the bruise didn't come up. He shook himself a little. He had to get back to the group if he was going to view the art and catch dinner with them off campus. * * * Suoh led Nagisa down the main path, past the buildings. He wanted to get her away from all the eyes, but ahead he saw Akira and Utako. The slim brunette was unfolding papers and Akira was looking avidly through them. Suoh took a breath to call out, but Nagisa pushed against him. He turned to her quickly, "Are you well?" Her delicate voice, "I have missed you." He nodded, watching her for signs of fatigue. Though he had known her since she was in kindergarten, he had never become accustomed to her delicate appearance. Suoh felt startled anew each time he held her small hand. He looked back at Akira and Utako, and quickly turned away as Utako threw her arms around Akira's neck. "Perhaps it would be better to view the statues." If they went to the statues, they would be far enough away to give Akira and Utako their privacy. And as far from Himejima as possible. Suoh had finally decided that Himejima was a man who wasn't happy unless there was a romance in his vicinity. And from the flock of women that had swarmed around Himejima since the Decathlon began, Suoh supposed that women liked a man like Himejima. He looked at Nagisa. Not all women were the same. Her strong chin was lifted to the sunset as they walked. She allowed Suoh to lead her along a path she had never seen before. It was a show of complete trust. He held her arm closer. Nagisa turned her face from the sky to his eyes. The sunset's colors warmed her complexion and reflected in her golden eyes. They continued down the path, neither of them looking at the ground. * * * Mizuki, Sano, and Nakatsu walked slowly around the exhibition. The art was spectacular. There were two landscapes. Ito in Dorm Three was famous at Ohsaka Academy. He could draw anything, it seemed. Mizuki stood in wonder before his landscape. It was a simple village scene done in pencil. The shading created more than simple dimensions. Mizuki could see people as though she was able to view their minds. There were two adults and a child that seemed not to relate to them at all. The child was chasing a cat through the street. "I've never seen anything like this before." Miyake, from Dorm One, made the other landscape. It would have been a winner in Mizuki's mind, if it hadn't been placed right next to Ito's work. The drawing was a view of downtown Tokyo as seen from a distant tower. The buildings were catching light from the setting sun. It was very well done, perceptively, but didn't have the heart Ito's drawing exhibited. The entries from Mizuki's own dorm were made by Saro and Kobayashi. Saro's image was a cat on a table. The cat was stretching out a claw and snagging pages form a book. In the background a mirror showed the cat was catching a mouse by the tail rather than a book's page. Kobayashi had done a complex series of patterns. They were shaded from one edge of the paper to the other in such a smooth way that Mizuki had to get very close to see the differences between shades in most places. The winner, though was Ito from Dorm Three. He had used his pencils like a paintbrush and somehow made a scene that could have been from ancient Chinese watercolor. His shading was flawless. It looked like no eraser had ever touched his page. Mizuki spoke to herself, "I see how something made with your own hands can be so special. The CD, and this picture." Sano smiled at her. Nakatsu put an arm around each of their shoulders, "This drawing was definitely the winner." His mind changed tracks, "I'm hungry. Let's get everyone and go eat." * * * Unable to sleep, and alone in his room, Nokoru alternated his view from the window to his note pad. He wanted to think that the unlisted number that had called while he was at dinner was nothing. But three calls in one day was a good indication that something important was happening. Nokoru walked his circuit around the room. He stopped at the window and squinted out. He wanted to talk to someone. Someone he could trust. But Akira was walking Utako home and Suoh was off limits. Without really thinking, Nokoru left his room and padded barefoot down the wooden floor of the hallway. He stopped at Mizuki's room. She hadn't talked to him during dinner. That was a bad sign. He must have upset her. Nokoru raised his hand in a loose fist and knocked softly. Mizuki answered, "Nokoru-sempai." She stood back to let him in, moving her fingers nervously. "Sano's in the shower." Nokoru smiled reassuringly. "Actually I was here to ask if I might borrow the CD you were listening to this morning." Nokoru closed the door. "Unless you are using it tonight." "Takamura-sempai's CD?" She looked back at the player. "I don't think he will mind." She shook her head. "It wasn't that. It's just such sad music..." Nokoru tried to assure her. "I like being alone with good music." He looked into her eyes, "I am very sorry about earlier this evening. I won't tell anyone." Mizuki sat on the floor. "How did you find out?" For the first time in days, Nokoru smiled with true feeling. "I have a sense about these things. It isn't obvious to most people." They looked at each other a moment. "Does anyone else know?" Mizuki nodded slowly. "Umeda-sensei and Io-san. I don't think anyone else at the school knows." She swallowed hard. "It's a boy's school. I would be expelled." Nokoru put a hand on hers. "You needn't worry about me. I would never cause a lady harm." He removed his hand and looked at her before asking the question he had wanted to know since realizing what he already intuitively knew. "Why would a beautiful girl like you enroll in a boy's school? Is Ohsaka Academy better for you than any other school?" Mizuki's eyes grew distant. "I saw a video clip of Sano jumping. He had the most perfect form. He was dedicated and worked hard to create a great high jump. I found out he goes to this school and applied." She shrugged. "I want to be near that perfection. I want to learn how to make it myself." Nokoru nodded. "So you became his roommate." "That was an accident." She blushed. "I was lucky." She cocked her head to the side, listening to the water in the shower. "I was so happy. But now that I have met you three from CLAMP, I keep thinking about how fortunate I am that Sano was only at a boy's school. I got in here. If he had been at your school, I don't know if I could have followed. The shower turned off. And they could hear Sano moving in the small room. Mizuki looked at the door. Mizuki picked up a cracker and munched as she crossed the room. "I'll get you the CD." Sano came out of the bathroom wearing a tee shirt and sweats, with a towel on his head. "Imonoyama. Did you want to go over this weeks chapter again?" Nokoru stood up. "Thank you, but I don't think so. We have done as much physics as we need to for a while. Thank you for letting me borrow this." He took the CD from Mizuki. "It's a very good collection of songs." He smiled. "Good night." He closed the door behind himself as a duet of "good night" ended. Going back to his room he pulled out a portable CD player and turned off the lights. He crawled into bed and set his player to random repeat. A fine, high clarinet note came to his ears. A bassoon followed, like a horse's throaty deep sound of contentment. Nokoru had planned on skipping through the music until he found the song he was looking for, but this one suited him much better just then. He changed the player to endless repeat. He lay back and cleared his mind. Suoh had taught him that a very long time ago. A French horn entered. The French horn was airy, light and regal. It reminded him of Akira. Akira had taught him how to look at a room and see everything. It had been a slight fight, actually. Suoh said he needed to focus, not view everything, but Akira insisted that totality was most important. Incidentals when viewed in a larger perspective were actually details that were too precious to miss. It was from Akira that Nokoru learned he could stop playing at Sherlock Holms. [Just enjoy everything.] Nokoru yawned as the bassoon overtone the French horn. In the end, the horn returns, but the woodwinds taunt and play for the majority of the piece. Nokoru rolled onto his side, pulling the top cover with him. He snuggled his head into his pillow and let his empty mind drift. He imagined sitting in an gondola on a warm day. It was carrying him up the side of a mountain. Turning around, Nokoru looked out into the distance. He could see a small city and it's surrounding farms. No building reached higher than five stories. He sat back in his seat, allowing the red-cushioned bar to fall back to its natural position across his lap. To his left and right, butterflies danced across the flowers. Vivid purple and golden rod blooms were occasionally obscured by the black and multi-colored wings. Nokoru let his eyes wander to his destination. Or was he drawn? At the top of the slope, a large Clydesdale watched, twitching its ears in time to the gondola's creak. Nokoru had never been much for riding horses, but he wasn't scared of them, even this large animal. Movement near the horse's finely tressed feet caught his attention. A barrel chested golden retriever with alert eyes drew him. A horse was difficult to relate to because of its size and remote look, but the dog was friendly, and dependable. The gondola stopped before he reached the top. He looked around for a cause. [A stuck link in the chain?] But at the top, he saw a pair of ladies step out of a finely painted car like his own. They wore hoops in their skirts and when their feet touched the ground, umbrella's opened in their hands, protecting their delicate skin from the sun. Nokoru's gondola resumed its climb. The women approached the mysterious animals and bowed. To Nokoru's amazement, the dog and horse bent their heads and lowered themselves into three legged bowing positions. The dog turned and led the ladies on, away from the carriages, then was hidden behind swishing lace and silk. Nokoru checked the mahogany horse. It remained, marking his progress with periodic stamps of its right front hoof. The closer Nokoru got to the top of the hill, the more agitated the horse became. When the lap restraint lifted, Nokoru stepped out with a hand slightly before himself. The horse did not sniff him, did not bow as it had to the ladies, but walked behind him and pushed with it's large nose. Nokoru turned, putting his hands on the horse's forelock. He moved around the side, but the next gondola got in his way. The horse pushed him again. This time the shove made Nokoru loose his balance a bit. He took a step to catch himself, and the horse took the opportunity to lessen the space between them. Nokoru thought he would never see the city again if he didn't get around the horse, but when he stood on his toes, he saw over it's back. The third car behind his own housed a huge monster. It was calling him, with many voices. The monster watched Nokoru with hungry eyes. The horse moved again, pushing harder. Nokoru no longer resisted. But when the Clydesdale tried to push him down the path the ladies had taken to a boat the dog was guarding, Nokoru went in the opposite direction. The horse fought, but Nokoru knew in dreams he was the strongest. In dreams he could change the world to suit his fancy. The blond turned to the monster again. As it came out of its gondola, the horse charged. Nokoru screamed. He heard a dog bark. "Kaichou! Kaichou!" Nokoru's world moved, making his stomach hurt and his head spin. "Kaichou! Wake up!" Nokoru opened his eyes. Akira was at his side, a small flashlight in his pale hand pointing at the roof of the bunk. "Akira." Nokoru tried to sit up, but was tangled in covers and his earphone wires. He cleared his throat delicately. "Akira, I thought you were with Ohkawa-kaichou tonight." Akira's face grew more worried. "Kaichou, it's two AM." Nokoru laughed. "That would be why I was asleep! The problem with relaxation is the risk of becoming lost in your own little world." Akira smiled doubtfully. _______________________________________________________________ answer to math problems Anton, Howard. _Calculus_with_Analytic_Geometry_Fourth_Ed._; Joh Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. problem #1 - tan x + (3x/(4-(3x)^2)) Answer to math problem #2 -1/2 The best Calc book and the worst class... ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading this far! C&C heartily encouraged. ^_^ miai</pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>