Aine Crabtree - The Thief

She greeted him with a friendly hug. “I was wondering when you’d find your way back here!” she exclaimed. “I couldn’t believe anyone would take over the old Episcopal church, but now I’m not so surprised.”

“I’m going to assume that’s a compliment,” he said.

“Mr. Katsura,” said another woman, crossing the threshold, “I would welcome you to Havenwood, but I am told that this is not your first residence here.” She didn’t sound very welcoming, in truth; she stepped through the construction gingerly, as if waiting for the building to collapse. She was a stark contrast to Charlotte - short, Japanese, and overdressed in a skirtsuit. Her straight, black hair was cut in a harsh line across her cheek, and her expression was pinched.

Gabriel smiled at her anyway and shook hands with her. “I have too many fond memories here,” he said. “Besides, Havenwood School has been after Camille for some time, hasn’t it? Which Umino sister are you?”

“You presume much,” she commented. Her accent was so slight she almost sounded like a native English speaker, but Camille could tell the difference. “I’m the principal of the school, something you should be mindful of.”

“Rin, then,” he said lightly. “Glad to finally meet you. You can imagine I’ve heard all kinds of things about your family. Didn’t your sister just win a Nobel prize for her work in genetics?”

“A widely known fact,” Rin Umino said sourly. “You are not unstoried yourself. This is neither the time nor place for histories, Mr. Katsura.”

“Please, call me Gabriel,” he said.

“Hmph.” She glanced at Camille. “I take it this is the girl?”

Camille bristled. “ The girl? ” she said in English.

“I hope her scholastics are up to the high standard our school expects,” Rin said, seeming not to hear her. “Have I been told correctly that she has never been to a real school?”

Still Gabriel smiled. “From the numerous letters I’ve received in the last two years, I was under the impression that Havenwood would accept Camille at any time, under any circumstances.”

“With stronger leadership comes more stringent guidelines,” Rin said. “Tarrant Smith was a good principal, in his own way, but Havenwood has outgrown him.”

Gabriel’s gaze crossed over Rin to Charlotte, who was looking resolutely at the wall. “I see. Well, yes, it’s true Camille has never been in a classroom setting, but I’m sure her education will hold up even to Umino standards.”

Rin frowned at him, as if disappointed by his unshaken calm. “For expediency’s sake she may begin attending school on Monday - on a probationary status.”

Camille had been having trouble with some of the larger English words they’d been using by now, and probationary had her completely stumped.

“She hasn’t even set foot through the doors and she’s already on probation?” Gabriel laughed. “She hasn’t done anything.”

“Exactly,” Rin said coldly. “Our students must all prove themselves in some way. Average children belong elsewhere.”

Gabriel looked thoughtful, glancing at Charlotte again. “It’s your school,” he shrugged.

“I’m glad we are of compatible views,” said Rin. “I was made to expect otherwise.”

Gabriel put a hand on Camille’s shoulder. “The important thing here is Camille’s education.”

That’s when she heard something outside - a metallic rattle, followed by a low hiss. Her eyes narrowed. The others wouldn’t be able to hear it, but she knew exactly what that was. She walked wordlessly out the front doors. Rin murmured, “How rude,” but Camille had no interest in that woman. She’d been the one coming into their space, bringing challenges. Like this idiot.

She turned the corner around the building’s exterior and came face to face with a tall boy, not much older than herself, holding a can of spray paint. He took in her frown and returned a toothy grin.

“Oh, was someone here? My bad,” he said, all insincerity. He must have seen the cars in the parking lot. He probably even heard the voices inside. Camille could hear them talking even now - Gabriel was trying to smooth things over with Rin.

Camille looked at the shape he’d been drawing on the grey brick wall - some kind of face with sharp teeth. She looked back at him. Dark spiked hair, piercings all over his face. A scar that ran from his nose across one cheek. She knew this type. Guys just like him were all over Tokyo.

She pointed away, toward the street and the other buildings beyond. He must have come from there. “Get out,” she stated in English.

He snorted, unimpressed. “I’m not finished,” he sneered. He shook the can again.

Camille lashed out, sending the can flying. “I said, get out,” she snapped, louder.

His eyes sparked at the challenge. “What are you going to do about it, Goldilocks?” He stepped closer, using his height to intimidate. “You foreign kids come into our town, acting all big and bad, but in the end you run away crying for mommy and - ”

Camille shoved him and he stumbled back, but he was grinning.

“Camille!” Gabriel said. “That’s enough.”

Her pulse was racing. She could feel her veins in her left arm restricted by the iron bracer. No one talked about her parents like that and got away with it.

She looked back. The adults had come around the front of the building. Gabriel took in the scene quickly. Rin regarded Camille with disapproval. Charlotte was aghast.

“Warren Hyde!” Charlotte exclaimed. “How could you?”

He shrugged. “The place has been abandoned for years. I thought it still was.”

Liar! “There are cars out front and construction everywhere,” Camille told Gabriel heatedly in Japanese. He merely put his hand on her shoulder, his universal signal for her to calm down.

“Even if that were true,” Charlotte told the boy, “we still don’t go around putting graffiti on things!”

“We do not,” Rin agreed. “Nor do we fight other students in public.” Her eyes shifted to Camille. “You have not even crossed our threshold, Ms. Teague, and you are already engaging in violence. Yes, I would say probationary status is well warranted. Come, Mr. Hyde, I am removing you from the premises. Mr. Katsura, I expect we will continue this conversation later.”

“I expect so,” Gabriel said evenly.

With a parting smirk to Camille, the boy followed Rin to her car.

Charlotte sighed after they’d left. “I’m so sorry. He’s impossible sometimes.”

“When did Rin Umino take over?” Gabriel asked her, his gaze following her car pulling out of the lot.

“Over the summer,” she said. “I know she seems harsh, but so far this has been the smoothest school year we’ve ever had.”

“And she’s brought with her some projects you’re very excited about.”

Charlotte colored slightly. “Huh?”

“You’ve got chalk on your sleeves and your shirt’s inside out. You’ve turned into an absent-minded professor.”

“I’m a high school chemistry teacher, not a professor,” she chided. “She expanded my budget, if that’s what you mean by projects. I’ve been able to put together much better experiments for the kids this year.” She smiled at Camille. “You’re lucky, I’ve got some really cool things planned. If we don’t set something on fire before Christmas, I’ll be shocked.”

Gabriel sighed, looking at the new graffiti. “Why do I get the feeling you’re the only one who’s happy we’re here?”

“Rin’s just a very careful person,” she said generously. “And Hyde...that’s nothing personal. He seems to think he has to test every new student.”

“And Tailor?”