The Shadow and The Angel -REWRITE-

Lost and Found

“Why do exams have to be so damn long?” Edge griped. “I feel like they're discriminating against us 'coz were from Gedo. If we were one of them Gorin brats, they prolly would have cut the damn thing in half. Things always twist in the favor of those jocks!”

Gan reached into his bag. “I just figure that exams suck, no matter how long or short.”

He pulled out a large pre-wrapped sandwich.

Edge eyed in hungrily. “Hey lemme have some of that!”

Gan held his sandwich over his head, protectively. “No, get your own!”

Edge jumped, taking swipes at it. “Don't make me take out my knives!”

“What going on here?” Daigo bellowed. “You two getting crabby again?”

Gan looked away. Edge took advantage of his distraction and grabbed the sandwich, devouring it. Daigo smacked the back of the blond's head.

“Men don't steal from their comrades!” He chided.

“I'll give it back when I'm done!” Edge whined. “Right, Gan?”

Gan ignored them, keeping his attention on the dark, narrow alley beside them.

Daigo became more alert. “Gan, what's wrong?”

“There's someone in there.” He slipped his bookbag over his shoulder. “They look hurt...”

Daigo walked up and peered into the alley. A swipe of energy sliced through the air. Daigo raised up his arm, blocking the attack. He jumped back, the others getting ready to battle the attacker.

Kurow emerged from the shadows, bandaged and clad in dirty scrubs. “Well, well, if it isn't the Gedo Boss. Shame I don't have my flute...”

“I'm gonna carve you like a pumpkin!” Edge threatened. Daigo held him back.

Kurow sneered. “What's wrong, too afraid to attack me.”

He stood up on one leg and crooked his finger, beckoning them.

“No one's gonna attack you.” Daigo's tone was surprisingly gentle.

Kurow stood there for a moment, then collapsed where he stood. He struggled to get up but it seemed that he was too weak to do even that. Blood began to seep through his clothes. He could hear them coming closer. They would do good to finish him off just like those people in the dark. He rolled over on his back. His vision doubled, making everything look psychedelic. Humanoid demons leaned over him, their speech garbled.

“D...don't come near me.” He rasped.

He could feel someone helping him up. He resisted at much as he could, grounding himself so that he wouldn't move. He then felt himself being picked up. As soon as he started moving he blacked out.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Notebook…notebook…” Akira muttered the words as if they were some sort of mantra. After some searching, she found it buried under some old newspapers she had picked up over the weekend. A creak alerted her and she jumped up and turned around. The door swung open. Surprised, she turned to face the intruder.

“Oh” After a few moments, her face eased. “It’s you.”

Daigo chuckled and held out his arms. “Is that anyway to greet your big brother?”

Akira apologized and ran up to hug him. “You startled me!”

The man grew stern. “I would have called but I feel this is something that I need to tell you in person.”

Akira flopped down on the bed. “Is…is something wrong?”

Daigo sighed and told his sister about how he and his gang found a banged up and bloodied Kurow wandering the streets last night.

“…He hasn’t said much but he’s recovering. Whoever it was, they messed him up good.” He added. “Has anyone tried to attack his sister?”

“Yeah, but Kagami from Taiyo intervened.” The girl folded her arms. “Do you think things will get nasty like the last time?”

“I don’t know. I just decided to check on you.” He got up and walked to the door. “Be careful, Akira-chan.”

Akira nodded. “You too, aniki.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Zaki slouched in her desk with a leg propped up against the back of the empty chair in front of her. She glanced up at the clock. This was ridiculous. Not only was Akira late but the teacher wasn’t here either.

“What kind of example is that for the students?” She mused. She caught her thoughts and grimaced. “I’m sounding like an old woman…”

After fifteen minutes, a scrawny woman with sharp purplish eyes and bleach-blond hair stumbled in. She wore an ornate grey kimono with a bright red sash tied around her waist. Zaki quirked an eyebrow at the sight…what kind of teacher would look like that?

“Good morning.” She bowed. “Please forgive me for being late. I was lost.”

“Your teacher, Himaya-san, left for maternity leave and I am covering for her.” She picked up a piece of chalk and turned to write her name on the board. “My name is Sa—ga—wa—Mi—chi—k—“

The chalk snapped in half. The upper chunk bounced off the wall and hit the woman square in the forehead.

“Ow!” She began to rub the sore spot with the back of her other hand. Most of the class erupted into a fit of laughter. Zaki groaned and put a hand over her face. This was going to be a long morning.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Despite her floundering start, the new teacher did know quite a bit about plants. Oddly enough, she spoke in extensive detail of the poisonous ones. Most of the girls displayed a passing interest at best but this only served to set off a twinge of alarm in Zaki.

“Yo, teacher.” She raised her hand. “You sure do know a lot about poison.”

A reflective look crossed her face for a moment before she smiled. “Oh, I do, don’t I.”

Her reaction only served to confuse Zaki. The woman seemed surprised that she knew as much as she did.

The bell rang. Most of the girls jumped up, hurrying out as the teacher yelled for them to bring a plant to the next class for their homework. Zaki lurked behind. She had a few questions for this teacher…

“So tell me,” Zaki folded her arms. “Where did you work before you came here?”

“If you must know, I was a private tutor for about seven years…then…” She trailed off. She bit her lip while her eyes grew glossy. Zaki felt her stomach twist up into an unpleasant knot. Without knowing it, she had ventured into some delicate territory.

“Never mind.” She brushed it off. “I’ve never seen you before and you seem a little green so that’s why I asked. I guess a class is a lot more intimidating than just a couple of kids, huh?”

“It is.” Michiko nodded. “But I can handle it.”

Footsteps rushed closer. “Sorry, I’m…” Akira barged in. She paused at the door and peered into the empty classroom. “…late?”

“You little bastard!” Zaki growled. “You missed the whole damn class! Where was that notebook, up your ass?!”

A smirk grew on Akira’s face. “I leave you alone and you’re bonding with teachers. I shoulda known you were an apple-polisher, Zakirin!”

She shifted her attention to Michiko. “So you’re the new teacher, eh?” The blond nodded. “About time! Himaya-san looked like she was gonna pop any second! I hope that we can get along uh…uh…”

“Sagawa.” She stated. “Sagawa Michiko.”

“I’m sorry I missed your class, Sagawa-sensei.” She bowed.

Michiko chuckled. “Just don’t make a habit out of it. You can get your homework assignment from Himezaki-san.”

Zaki glared at Akira who merely gave a nervous laugh. The two headed out going back and forth and playfully arguing about nothing whatsoever. Michiko watched them leave, the gentle smile fading from her lips. She placed a hand on her chest, staring sadly towards the ground.

“…Mugen-sama…”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

At lunch, Yurika chattered on about her date with Kyosuke. Zaki’s attention flitted back from her to Akira, who had remained oddly quiet.

“Akira-san?” Yurika grew worried. “Is something wrong?”

“Oh, nothing!” The girl snapped out of her haze. “I just need to re-organize my stuff so that I’ll stop forgetting it.”

Yurika nodded. She grinned. “He let me have the bear, y’know! It’s huge! I think that I’ll call it Kyo-kun!”

“Geez, one kiss and you’re already married to the man,” Zaki jeered. “I figured you for the clingy type.”

“I’m not clingy!” She huffed. “I just thought it was a cute name!”

Zaki continued to tease the other girl about her date. Akira remained quiet. Yurika was finally recovering from all the misery she suffered last year only to have something even worse looming over her head. Worst of all, she didn’t even seem aware of it. She excused herself and walked off to be alone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In the courtyard, Akira paced around in circles. How could she tell Yurika that someone had attacked her brother and would possibly be gunning for her? She wondered if it was even her place to say such a thing.

“Aniki!” She growled and raked her fingers through her hair. “Aniki, you bastard!”