A War of the Roses - Chapter 1: All is fair in love... by Aino ForSylvite@aol.com Rated PG He was a tall dark stranger on the sun spotted grounds of Juuban high school. His hair was raven black and his eyes a deep blue. They seemed to beg you for the truth. They wanted to know you; they wanted you to share with you all of life's imperfections. They gently beckoned from you anything deep within your soul. These eyes were impossibly inviting. The truth was that their host did not match them. His name was Seiya and he simply didn't open up to anyone. He had one mission in life and everything he said, did or even thought was working to achieve this unbelievable goal of his. On his right was Seiya's brother Tekki. Tekki was a genius plain and simple. However he wasn't a genius in a conventional sense. No, Tekki knew people, perhaps better than they knew themselves. He knew flowers and the secrets of art. He could see the truth behind the literature and find the greater picture. Math and such trivial underly useful pursuits angered him. On Seiya's left was his other brother Yaten. Yaten lived for the overwhelming pleasure of a truly brilliant joke. The power of laughter did not interest him, the feeling of it did. Yaten saw most everything as a joke, the world was terribly colorful through his eyes, it featured two things, and himself and the cool satisfaction he carried around with him everywhere. These three brothers approached the unsuspecting building with their every controlled stride. They wore very neat blue uniforms, the customary attire of Juuban High School. Yaten, in his neatly tailored blue suit and long silver hair was the first to break the mornings-tense silence. "How does it feel to be 17 and have a receding hair line?" Yaten joked. This was obviously aimed at Tekki for his brothers had always perceived his forehead as rather large. "Fuck off Yitan." Tekki spat back glance only for a moment at his brother as a warning. Yaten only smirked at this. Just then the drone of the first bell pierced the tranquility of morning. The three walked in the front door and took a look around. There were people everywhere and it seemed as though they were all screaming at the top of they're lungs. The three siblings winced at the knawing sound. "Come Yaten, we're to report to HM 222." Seiya stated holding up a white sheet of paper that had been folded several times. Tekki was a grade higher than Seiya and Yaten so he parted from them. They steadily made their way up the main stairs and down the hall to room 222. As they entered a paper air plane his Seiya in the face. He bent down the pick it up. Looking around he spotted the boy who had thrown it. He was about 5'10 with the strong build and a shaved head of a military officer. "Right in the kisser!" The boy laughed. His laugh was obnoxiously loud and wet. Seiya crumbled up the paper and walked quickly to his seat in the back of the classroom. Yaten sat next to him. However, instead of sitting down Seiya walked back up the young loser and grabbed him by the collar. He stuffed the wad of paper in the guy's mouth and pushed him back into his seat. "Unacceptable." Seiya calmly whispered as the boy gagged on the paper. Usagi bolted up the stairs at 7:30 that morning, late again to her dismay. She reached room 222 her first period class, English yeah. Calm Usagi, slow and steady, she thought to herself. The door opened a crack and she could now here Ms. Haruna's familiar voice explaining something or another. How was it possible for anyone to function this early in the morning she never knew. Focus. She pressed on sucking in her waist and sliding through the doorframe. Ms. Haruna's back was thankfully to her and she was still babbling. Home free. Oh no She tripped over a stray book bag and lost her balance. She stumbled across the room and landed on the floor in a heap nearly beheading herself on the trashcan. The class was quiet with the exception of two, Yaten who was slightly amused and Hino Rei who sighed in annoyance. Ms. Haruna didn't even turn around. "Take out your homework Usagi, and have a seat." She sighed annoyed as well. Usagi got to her feet and walked clumsily down the row to her seat, which was right in front of Yaten. Class slowly drew to an end and Seiya got his first good look at the blond girl whom had so intrigued him through out the class. She was angelic with her light blond almost silver hair fastened tightly in two round balls a top her head. She wasn't too tall or short. Her eyes were about average as far as he was concerned, he had always fancied green eyes above blue, but she was indeed pretty. A pretty face in the crowd. "Excuse me." She said politely. Her voice sweetly wafted in the air for a moment like a cloud then settled on Seiya's ears. He leaned back in his chair assuming his arrogant 'I don't give a shit' pose as a form of defense. "Uh huh?" He answered ready for anything. "Well, uh, your stepping on my lunch." Usagi pointed out with a sweat drop. Whatever Seiya had been expecting, it wasn't that. He sat up suddenly and swallowed hard. "Yah...I know." he stuttered quickly picking the box off the ground and handing it to her. "Arregato." She smiled. "You?re new in class huh?" "Yah." "When did you come here?" "Umm..why?" "Just wondering. It was today right." "Maybe, hey I gotta get going." Seiya lifted his bag off the floor and made a run for the door. Serena stared after him confused. "Hey wait up!" She called out, her nurturing instinct finally kicking in. Seiya stopped and turned to her as she bounded up to him. "Where you off to?" She asked gasping for a breath. "Math I think. Room 116." Seiya reported. "Wow you?re in the smart class and everything!" She smiled what a ditz. "How about you?" Seiya asked going with the flow. "I'm in Algebra, room 111." Usagi reported. Seiya held out a hand to grasp Usagi's. Usagi began to friendly shake it when suddenly Seiya lifted it to his lips and kissed it softly. "Kou Seiya, it's a pleasure to meet you miss..." "Usagi." Usagi said softly still in a daze. "Walk with me?" Seiya asked intrigued by the young lady. Usagi nodded dully. Makoto and Minako were walking side by side down the hall way to class. The steady drown of students talking filled the hall. It was unusually muggy today and everyone in the hall seemed to be all the more violent because of it. "Minako have been shopping lately?" Makoto smiled slightly nudging her friend. Minako caught the drift. "Ahh...why do you ask Mako-chan?" "Oh, Well it's getting near Christmas time and I always think it's a good idea to get an early jump on shopping for the holidays don't you?" Makoto asked innocently. "No Makoto I didn't forget your birthday. Ja ne!" Minako waved as she entered her classroom, History...yeah. Suddenly she found herself on the floor surrounded by her books. "Umm..owwwwaa!" She sniffled picking up her books and standing up. She turned around to see her attacker, who was in fact a short chubby girl with red hair running away. "You'll pay you hear me! You can't go around calling me things like that!" The red head screamed while jogging down the hall. A loud MOOOOOOO came from next to Minako's desk. She stared puzzled at what appeared to be a new student. She walked slowly to the desk and sat down fixing her bangs. "What was that all about?" Minako asked the young man. His hair was silver and longish. His eyes were a very light green, Mina held her mouth closed. "What a cow!" Yaten yelled chuckling slightly. He turned to Minako and immediately stopped laughing. No visible flaws. "Are you new here?" Minako asked never dreaming of passing up an opportunity to snatch up a cutie. "What about yourself?" Yaten asked on guard. "No I'm not how about you?" Minako asked ready for a game. She shifted in her seat giving this captivation young man all her attention. "That?s some blond hair...bleach?" Yaten asked tugging at a strand. Minako was taken a back. "Bleach? BLEACH! No way...this is..." "Looks bleached to me." With that Yaten got up from his seat and picked up the pass for the water bubbler and walked coolly out of the room. Mina was left to anxiously examine her hair. What a strange guy, cute, but strange! Who the hell was he anyway? What a strange conversation, what a strange...shut up baka don't talk to yourself so much! Much to Artemis's despair Minako was no longer the level headed middle schooler slash pretty soldiering of justice she had once been. No way, she didn't like the fact that Usagi practically always had a date with Mamoru and she had no one, at least not at the moment, okay so she had never really had anyone. It was tuff being single when two of your best friends had been soul mates for centuries and were destine to be that way forever. As she thought about this she became sick to her stomach. The ache was all too familiar. She resented Usagi for her happiness, resented her with a passion. This hurt because Usagi was one of her best friends, not to mention princess of the Moon Kingdom. Usagi would be happy for Mina if she had found that special someone, so why couldn't Minako feel the same way. Mina hated herself for this so much that she winced in pain. It was very warm for a late fall afternoon. It was overcast; the sun was trying to peek through the cloud cover with little success. The parking lot was crowded with students bolting for their cars in a mad rush to escape! The two of them had spent the whole day getting to know each other. She had told him about her family and friends, he had nodded. She had explained that she wasn't the greatest student, but she intended to try harder and he had nodded. "...And you look so much like him!" Usagi said suddenly. "Huh?" Seiya asked unsure of what she meant. Usagi stopped and turned to Seiya for a moment. Seemingly trying to picture him in a different light, under different circumstances. She smiled slightly. "Look so much like who?" Seiya asked pleading for explanation. "Mamo-chan!" Usagi smiled tilting her head to one side. "You look just like him. "Gomen, Chiba Mamoru my boyfriend." She explained. ***************Total SHUT DOWN******************** ********************************************************************************** ********************************************************************************** **** A military aircraft had just flown over the school and dropped 100 atomic bombs on Seiya. A 53,000-LB truck carrying 10,000 tuns of cement and the biggest everything on the planet had just hit him while going 200 mph. "Butyoudisayanyythiab...a" Seiya stammered his eyes narrowing and his mouth opening then closing. CHIBA MAMORU A name he loathed "Yah well, your nothing special Usagi." Seiya spat, he was raging with anger. He pushed past his blond friend and stomped off with his hands in his front pockets. Usagi stood dumbfounded. What the heck was that all about? Had she said something to offend him, no, maybe he was just in a bad mood. Maybe.... "Bye Seiya." She yelled in an effort to reconcile with him. No reply came. Oh well, she would catch him tomorrow. Now maybe I can bum a ride home off Michiru! Haruka turned out of the driveway after checking her rearview mirror. Her arm rested on the door of the dark blue sports car and her short blond hair rustled in the cool breeze, she had the top down of course. "It looks like it might rain Haruka." Her green haired companion stated from the seat next to her. Haruka just nodded. "So then, do you think it's smart to be driving with the top down baka-chan?" Michiru shook her head and pushed the green strands of long shimmering hair out of her eyes. "Relax, the weather man didn't say anything about a hail storm did he?" Haruka smiled turning on the radio. From the corner of her eyes Michiru saw a shot of silver shoot out in front of the car! "HARUKA! She screamed grasping the dashboard with both hands. Haruka looked up from the radio saw the silver porsha about three feet away from the front end of her car. "Fuck!" She swerved hard to the right and slammed her foot down of on the breaks. "Easy!" She coaxed hitting the curb not quite missing the telephone pole. Haruka spun the wheel furiously but her heart sank when she felt the small shutter that went through her car. The little blue car finally came to a stop on the side of the road. Haruka began to curse under her breath as she unbuckled her seat belt. "Calm down please." Michiru said softly. Haruka slammed the door and walked to the other side of the car. There was a small dent on the right side near the passenger door. Michiru watched quietly as Haruka's face turned slightly pale and she swallowed hard. She marched over to the other car, which had pulled over next to them. There were three young men in the car all wearing 10th grade uniforms. Haruka felt strangely superior in her 12th grade green slacks and maroon sports jacket. Yaten turned to faced Haruka head on. He was considerably shorted however because he was sitting in a little porsha. As Haruka approached she got taller. "What the hell was that?" Haruka yelled losing patients by the second. Michiru shifted in her seat. Yaten looked up at haruka. "You little punk! You scratched up my car! Give me your registration." Haruka strongly demanded. Yaten scowled. "Learn how to drive sir!" Seiya stated boldly crumpling up a twenty-dollar bill and throwing it at Haruka, it hit her chest and landed next to her foot on the ground. She clenched her jaw. "That should cover the damages." Seiya stated confidently. "Son of a..." "Hey your name wouldn?t be Chiba would it?" Seiya asked suddenly. Haruka glowered at him. "What the hell are you talking abo..." "Yah I didn't think so, let?s go Yaten!" Seiya demanded turning the radio on full bast. The car jolted forward almost taking Haruka's entire front side with it. "Damn!" Haruka growled extending her middle finger to the threesome as they sped off. Michiru didn't say a word as Haruka climbed back in the front seat. She grasped Michiru's delicate hand and placed the crumbled up twenty in her fist then started the car. "There, go buy yourself somethin' nice." Haruka stated sarcastically, trying to hold her temper. Michiru shook her head displeased. Cherry Hill temple was particularly placid this gray winter?s day. It sat on top of a slight hill surrounded by stout little cherry trees and high grasses that swayed softly in the wind. The building itself was a very quaint wood structure similar to a log cabin but much brighter and less rugged. Not a soul had ever been seen coming off temple grounds looking anything but fulfilled. They always had a certain calm aura to them. "Yuuchiro! BAKA-head!" Suddenly a harsh yell echoed down the serene temple halls. The voice was that of Hino Rei's, mysterious shrine maiden with shimmering black hair and traditional praying robes. "Hello Yuuchiro?" She repeated walking quickly down the carpeted hallway in her slippered feet. She rounded the corner to come face to face with the side door. She turned the knob and pulled it open. Rei stepped out into the calm outside in her red slippers with annoyance in her dark purple eyes. She stalked through the courtyard with a look of determination plastered on her face, 'no good stinker' when I get my hands on him...' "Rei?" someone stated from her far right. Rei spun around to see who was calling her. It was he THE HIM. The him she had had a crush on for as long as she could remember. The very same him who she had dated. The him who had 'broken up with her' and was now hopelessly in love with her friend Usagi. "Oh... Mamoru-san!." She coughed slightly. Off in a dream world somewhere she jumped into his arms and kissed him fully on the lips, but not in reality. In reality they stood awkwardly five feet apart from each other. She fidgeted; he put his hands in his pockets. Yah right, as if Chiba Mamoru could ever really look awkward, she though to herself. What could he possibly be doing here? "Umm." He spoke. "I just dropped by to well...Usagi, she is stuck on the stairs." he confessed awkwardly. "On the stairs?" Rei repeated. There was moment of silence. "Well, not so much on...more like...in." Mamoru stuttered. "IN?" "Well apparently there was a hole and...yah in." He finished nodding his head. "I might need some help getting her out, I looked for Yuuchiro but umm," Mamoru stalled recalling past not so pleasant experience with the wrongfully envious Yuuchiro. "umm, he's not around." he finished. Rei just stared blankly at him for a moment. "Tell Usagi to hang on I'll be there in minute." Rei stated turning to exit. "Wait where are you going?" Mamoru asked holding out a hand in front of him. Rei didn't turn around but continued jogging. "I'm gonna go get some help." Rei called back to him. Mamoru stood puzzled, Usagi wasn't that heavy. He hadn't though it would take more than two people to release her from the stairs. Oh well, this was no time for reasoning. "MAMO-CHAN!" Usagi yelled from the other side of the temple. He looked to the sound then began to walk back. What kinda help could Rei possibly try find on the temple grounds, besides Buddha of course. Certainly not her elderly, eccentric grandfather. So that left...Mamoru cringed...that left Yuuchiro. The apartment was stark black and slightly chilly. The only sunlight was filtering in through the cracks of the shades. As the rays hit the wood floor dust scattered and was blown lazily around the beams until it wafted out of sight. It was a new apartment, and it smelled of cedar and paint, as new apartments often do but it was ideal for it's three in habitants. Tekki Kou, Seiya Kou and Yaten Kou the mysterious new young men in town. Tekki hung up the phone and turned towards the center of the room to face his brothers. "I'm taking a bath." he stated walking slowly into the other room humming some cheerful but unrecognizable tune. Seiya paced back and forth in the middle of the room. He hadn't been able to sit still since they had returned from school. The floorboards creaked slightly under his feet. There were countless things to think about, the contract, and the mission...of course most importantly their mission. No matter how he tried, Seiya simply could not clear his head. The blue eyes and pink lips were clouding his mind. He had to see Usagi. "Why are you so nervous?" Yaten said strongly a little annoyed at his brothers? actions. "You've been pacing forever, sit down Seiya!" He insisted getting up from his seat against the white wall. Seiya didn't answer him but took over his seat. Yaten walked over to the fridge and opened the door. "So you?re not going to tell me what?s wrong?" He asked picking up a carton of Orange juice. The refrigerator had been stalked for them before they had moved in. Yaten carefully un-screwed the cap and peered into the container. "EW." he made a face s he hastily screwed the cap back on to escape the pungent odor, and returned it to it's self. He continued his search. Meanwhile Seiya simmered in his annoyance. "What it the matter with me?" He frowned disappointed in his lack of focus. Yaten continued rummaging through the meat and cheese drawer. "I keep thinking about this girl I met at school today." He said allowed. Yaten lifted his head up for a moment. "That blond?" He asked. Seiya nodded. "There is something about her that is unforgettable." Seiya stated deep in thought. "Her hair" Yaten remarked loudly. "That, but her eyes too and well it's goes deeper than physical appearance." Seiya thought. Yaten looked up from the fridge once more. "Oh THAT kind of attraction. I'm surprised at you Seiya, that pretty damn gross." Yaten chuckled from behind the door. "Shut up BAKA! Don't be vulgar that?s not what I meant!" Seiya paused lost in thought. Yaten slammed the door of the fridge angrily. "I'm going out." He announced. "Please focus Seiya." Yaten pleaded putting on his jacket. The front door opened silently then shut with a bang. Seiya stared out into space. "What is it about her that lightens my heart? What?s your secret meatball head?" Seiya whispered. He had to see her again.