Amy Blankenship - Cursed Hearts

Kyoko’s gaze locked on the guy whose voice had given her the shivers, but as soon as she took the sight of him in, her lips parted. No wonder there was a throng of girls peeking in the doors. He had the longest hair she’d ever seen on a guy and it was white-silver… not like the color of an old man's, but soft and vibrant looking. His clothing was that of a rich kid and it seemed he was used to getting his way. The smile he gave the secretary was wicked and cold, but his face was sheer perfection.

He looked like he should have been at a photo shoot somewhere for those Calvin Klein underwear ads. Her cheeks heated up when his expression instantly softened and he glanced toward her as if he’d heard her thoughts. Kyoko took a step back, looking away from him. The carpet was much safer to look at.

“Are you Kyoko Hogo?” The lady practically yelled from behind the desk.

Kyoko’s gaze jerked up and she nodded, not liking the spotlight.

“Here is your schedule.” The lady held the paper out but kept her eyes on the guy in front of her. “Your lawyer had the forethought of sending your information last week instead of last minute.” Her voice couldn’t have been sweeter if sugar had been poured on it. Kyoko knew the sarcasm was meant for the guy she had been arguing with and not her.

“You may go on to your first class.” She waved Kyoko toward the door then turned back to the others, “I can’t believe I have six new enrollments to do in one day.”

Kyoko turned and rushed for the door only to find one of the guys holding it open for her. She had been embarrassed enough, so without even looking directly at him, she quickly murmured, “Thank you,” as she slipped past.

She stepped back out into the hall and put several feet between her and the drooling girls before she finally felt the tension level plummet. Looking down at the piece of paper then back up at the huge hallways, Kyoko noticed them leading off in different directions, even up the steps. “Great… so how am I supposed to find room 101?”

“Up the stairs and the first door on your left,” Tasuki said as he leaned over her shoulder looking at her schedule. “Hey! We actually have the same classes.” Watching her whirl around like he’d scared her, Tasuki gave her his ‘I’m so innocent’ smile. “I’ve never seen you here, and I know what a screw-up that office can be. So, I thought I would come over and introduce myself in case you needed some help.”

He stuck his hand out. “Tasuki… and you are?”

Kyoko couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips as his warm hand took hers and held it. Curiosity entered her mind feeling like she knew him from somewhere. She blinked when the feeling didn’t disappear although she knew there was no way she had ever met him before now.

His hair was so dark that it had strange blue highlights running through it in the light and it hung in haphazard layers past his shoulders. She could see a dangling cross earring peeking out one side and thought he looked like the lead singer of an 80’s rock band. One of the girls at her school had constantly been in trouble for smuggling rock posters in and putting them up in various places around campus.

“Kyoko,” She gave him her first name since that was all he had offered her.

“And the teachers claim that I’m not good for anything.” His smile was brilliant as he waved his hand toward the stairs. “I can now prove them all wrong by keeping you from getting lost today.”

Kyoko thankfully followed him up the stairs as he kept talking about the teachers, who gave homework and who didn’t. When they entered the science class, she noticed it was set up with double desks.

“Yeah,” Tasuki frowned. “Everyone already has a partner. The school has a thing about putting double desks in every class.” He shrugged, “but the desk beside mine is empty.”

Kyoko was just happy that the teacher simply smiled at her then looked away instead of introducing her to the class. Finding a science book already on the desk, she quickly got herself organized as the rest of the students slowly filled the chairs. Tasuki was the last one standing since he was flipping through her book pointing out what chapter they were on.

“Tasuki… quit trying to pollinate and take your seat.” The deep male voice came from the front of class making Kyoko turn several shades of red when some of the students turned to look at them. “She may be new, but from the look of her previous grades, I don’t think her lack of a partner will hurt her.”

“If she needs a partner…” Shinbe walked into the class like he belonged there, “… then I will volunteer.” He handed a slip to the teacher and started for the only empty seat in the room.

While the teacher looked over the paper, Kyoko’s eyes widened and she moved her stuff out of the chair beside hers. He instantly reminded her of Tasuki because they seemed to have the same hairstyle. But this guy’s eyes weren’t soft brown like Tasuki’s… she could have sworn they were amethyst. Where Tasuki tried to look like a rock star, this guy didn’t have to try… he simply did.

“Will you share it with me?” Shinbe locked his gaze with hers as he took his seat.

“Heh?” Kyoko so elegantly replied. Why had her temperature just gone through the roof?

“Your book,” Shinbe smirked wondering what she was thinking. “There seems to only be one.”

“Oh. Yes.” Kyoko nodded sliding the book between them as he slid his chair right up against hers. She silently wondered if it was a rule somewhere that the new girl had to blush all day long.

Looking past him at Tasuki, she noticed her new friend’s smile had vanished and he was rapidly tapping his pencil against his desk as he stared a hole in her new partner. He wasn’t the only one staring. It seemed every girl in the room decided they needed something out of their book bag so they could turn and look.

Shinbe placed an elbow on the desk and leaned in to block her view of the guy he’d seen lead her up the stairs from the office by the hand. “Looks like you’ll have a partner after all. Name's Shinbe,” He winked wanting her full attention.

An hour later Kyoko was almost sad to see class come to an end. Shinbe had turned out to be a lot of fun as they did that day’s science experiment. Only their table and Tasuki's table had gotten it right.

Shinbe picked up their shared science book the same time she did. Placing his hand over hers, he pulled her toward him. As she stared up at him with those big emerald eyes, it was all he could do not to wrap his arm around her waist and bring her flush against him. “I’ll keep this,” his voice was husky then evened out as he added, “Since there’s no homework.” His thumb caressed the back of her hand as he listened to her heartbeat speed up.

Kyoko nodded, feeling herself go weak in the knees, then pulled her hand away from his reluctantly. There was something about him that made her want to crawl up in his arms and that was just disturbing. She turned around to grab her backpack off the floor but noticed someone else’s arm already reaching for it.

Tasuki scooped the book bag up before she could and quickly squeezed in between her and Shinbe. “Ready for calculus?”

Kyoko nodded glad for the distraction. “Never.” She laughed at the look on Tasuki’s face.

Tasuki caught on to the joke, rolling his eyes and groaning. “Yeah, every time I think I have math figured out, they throw something even stupider up on the chalk board just so they can laugh at me.” He grabbed Kyoko’s hand, pulling her behind him, “Come on, I’ll show you the way to hell.”