Blackout

Chapter One: Friendship Backwards

October

Saturday - 8:30 am

She awakens to a room flooded with luminosity, an overdose of brightness that she can't handle so early in the morning. She squeezes her eyes shut, attempting to block out the ferocity of light that surrounds her, knowing that getting up and going to work seemed out of the question with how badly her head was hurting.

But the girl is only seventeen.

She shouldn't feel like someone dropped two anvils on her head when she comes out of sleep. And now that she thought about it, she couldn't even remember what went down the night before.

Except...maybe, the glimpses here and there.

Of black and white.

Pain.

Loneliness, despite the company of sharing a bed with someone.

Fear.

And then...nothing.

The girl smacks purple and blue lips together, scrunching her nose at both the pain and unwarranted taste of morning breath. Shifting slightly, she suddenly becomes aware of a well sculpted calf tangled up with her own, and the smell of pine overwhelming her olfactory senses. She freezes. At a loss for whom was there with her, when all she remembered were bits and pieces of the guy from last night.

Was he someone from school? Someone off the street?

...was she raped?!

This thought shocks the girl out of her hazy stupor, causing her to shoot up; she's quick to scramble to her feet, taking the comforter with her and leaving the boy beside her exposed to the low temperature of her extravagant bedroom. The hot pink chevron pattern wraps around her small frame, concealing her naked body from both herself and the ox.

This was so embarrassing. And awkward. What could she even say to Hatsuharu? It all started off as a group project they were working on. Haru, Momiji, and she joined forces to complete a psychology assignment on the way different people coped with stress in their lives. Ironically, her homework might actually apply to her life this time; she was one step away from jumping out of her third story window as it was.

The girl sidesteps until she makes it safely around the double bed without waking up her classmate, before practically sprinting into the bathroom and locking the door behind her.

Letting the blanket fall to the expensive bathroom tiles, she drags herself to the shower to fiddle with the water and intensity settings, preparing to rinse away how filthy she felt from last night's events.

It was so unbecoming of a young lady such as herself. She could just hear her mother now. If she and her dad weren't away on business, she'd probably be exiled if she wasn't executed first. She was sure to be shunned by her sister and "friends" if what she and Hatsuharu did ever got out. They all had snobbishness down to an art form.

"Look at the mess you've gotten yourself into, Someina," she mumbles groggily, lathering shampoo into her obsidian, wavy tresses. This was definitely not how she pictured her senior year when she begged her parents to let her transfer to Kaibara. Before, it was always All-Girls Boarding Schools, Private Academies, and the best of the best tutors. But she wanted to spend her final year where she wanted; public school. The only way she was finally able to coninvce them was by dropping the Sohma name, explaining that they attended school there as well.

And well, everyone knew just how wealthy the Sohmas were.

Her parents saw it as an opportunity to get acquainted with the only family richer than their own. Someina just wanted a taste of normalcy, sure that it wasn't as bland as her older sister believed.

But all of that would be ruined if her parents ever found out about the sex escapade from yesterday. She was bound to be shipped overseas so as to avoid tarnishing the Fujimoto family name. To them, it was almost a sin that she was working among commoners - because she wanted to - and had asked her to go by a different name so that wouldn't find its way into the rumor mill. And that was only a job! She might as well run and never look back.

After toweling off, she searches the cherry wood cabinets for her makeup bag, only to smack herself on the forehead when she remembers. She forgot to grab clothes...

She was in such a hurry that not going around in the nude completely slipped her mind...nice...

Someina bites her bottom lip, harshly, beyond annoyed with herself for making such a simple mistake at a time like this. With heavy disdain, she slides the bathroom door open, and inhales sharply at the sight before her.

Hatsuharu was now wide awake.

Sitting on the side of the bed, facing her.

Sans clothes.

The girl's cheeks flush beet red, flustered by how unabashedly he was staring at her before she rushes back inside the bathroom and locks it again.

How was it that he was so calm? Doesn't it bother him at all that they just slept together? And where the heck was Momiji anyway? If he stuck around, maybe this wouldn't have happened in the first place! Kicking something was getting more and more tempting as the seconds wore on.

"Someina," Hatsuharu deadpans from just outside the door. "Are you doing okay?"

What? Of all the questions-

"Fine. I'm fine," she supplies, anxiety weaving its way into her tone. She just wished he would leave so she could try to sort through this. Or, to start packing her bags so she would be halfway to Tahiti by the time her parents returned.

"Can we...? Never mind. Can I use your phone? I need to call my cousin to pick me up so that I won't get lost along the way." Oddly, the only shame in his tone is when he mentions getting lost and nothing else. He truly was an enigma.

"Sure." It was an opportunity for her to get changed, anyway. Speaking of which, "Haru, can you at least put on some pants or something? My sister might be leaving for horse back riding lessons late and she could see you."

At first, his only response is silence. Which wasn't all that great with how on edge she already was. Thankfully he gives her an answer of compliance and she can't help but sigh in relief.

"Thanks. And...one more thing," she says, more uncertainly this time.

"Yes?"

"...don't tell anyone about this. Please? Can we keep it between us?"

"Ok."

"Okay? Great. Um...the phone's in the hallway just before the stairs."

She receives a grunt of acknowledgement before hearing the sounds of rustling and receding footfalls, followed by the soft sound of her bedroom door closing.

October

Monday - 7:30 AM

5 Years Later

Someina races across the apartment, simultaneously slipping into one of her ballet flats, and searching for the last place she left her keys. After nearly stumbling, she spots her set of car keys laying on the bar, buried underneath college papers and coloring books. Someina finally manages to get her foot into the worn and well-used shoe, approaching the counter to scoop up the key ring and the Aladdin coloring book her daughter loved to scribble in. She realized that Kaiko certainly was an interesting one; she often gave Jasmine blue skin and red hair as opposed to recreating how the character was supposed to look. But in all honesty, Someina thought she looked better that way. It was more original.

After shuffling through the assignments she finished before her summer classes ended, she files them away in a nearby junk drawer, and retrieves an expo marker to jot down a few things she needed to buy after school. They were in desperate need of more sugar-free options; some chicken would do very nicely, and maybe with a little more effort she could get it to a nice even brown. With a dramatic flourish of the maker across the dry erase grocery list, Someina recaps the marker just in time to see her daughter bustling down the stairs and dashing towards her.

Kaiko's shoulder-length sable hair flies behind her as she runs straight for her mother, latching onto her leg and beaming up at her. Someina can't help but return the gesture, looking upon her daughter with nothing short of adoration. She truly looked to be the picture of beauty and adorableness all wrapped into one itsy bitsy package. Sporting her lacy, black and grey dress, tied together with a ribbon of white satin that cinched her petite waist.

"Mommy!" She exclaims, bouncing on her heels to receive a kiss on the forehead, to which Someina doesn't hesitate to give her. With a loud smack, Kaiko giggles and swipes at her forehead. "Mama, you slobber when you kiss."

Someina laughs, wrapping her arms around her and rocking back and forth as Kaiko balances herself on her feet.

"You knew what you were getting when you asked for a kiss from me. Don't act like you're so surprised, sweetie."

Kaiko makes a face before breaking the embrace, and hopping up on the bar stool with her short little legs. She was always such a ball of energy, despite the fact the sun was barely up. Children...they had all the energy adults needed. Adults really should be the ones to get naps, not the other way around.

"Did you pack a brownie in my lunch pack? Daisy was real jealous when she saw I had choco chip cookies."

Someina plants a hand on her hip, wagging a finger in her direction. "I hope you don't want a brownie so you can brag, Kaiko. That's not very nice."

Kaiko shrugs, sticking her lip out. "Well, she didn't wanna share a cubby with me in pre-school. Its fair."

Someina breaks into laughter, leaning across the counter to ruffle her hair, before looting through another pile for her Psychology text book. "Alright, little Missy. You can get two brownies. But I want you to eat the apple and not leave it in your lunch bag this time, okay? No more brown apples."

Kaiko looks to the ceiling, thinking this over before her obsidian eyes fall back to her mother's snowflake blue.

"Ok. But only 'cause they're red apples. Granny apples are nasty."

Someina was actually fond of green apples. Sour always tasted better than sweet; to her anyway. It was interesting how philosophical and deep discussions with her five year old daughter could get. Apples were quite the controversial subject.

She finishes packing her daughter's lunch by adding a grape juice box, and zipping it shut. She slides it across the granite countertop before spinning around and double-checking that her own backpack contained everything she'd need for her first day. Even though she'd already checked two times, she didn't do so out of a sense of anxiety for the first day of school. It was her last year of college and she knew this was the year she had to lock down connections with those outside of the brick and mortar of her university. It was a comfort she would soon be leaving behind to go play in a bigger sandbox. So, leaving a good and lasting impression on her professors through punctuality, glowing references, and great work ethic would be integral if she wanted to get her foot in the door of therapy and psychology internships.

The sharp squeal of bus breaks sounds from outside, shaking her out of her stupor and into action mode. Now was the challenge every year for the two of them, from now until they both finished school; getting ready on time, eating breakfast on time, and getting to school on time. Unfortunately, the bus was already on their street and they lived on the third floor of their apartment complex.

Quickly grabbing a furry crimson coat and Kaiko's cow backpack, she ushers her daughter out the door and carries her down the steps as she runs as fast as her legs can carry her. It was times like this she became painfully aware of how badly out of shape she was. The gym was calling her often these days.

Bursting through the entrance of the building, she dashes towards the bus and gets to the doors seconds before they close. Someina sets Kaiko on the black, rubbery steps of the bus, and slips her arms through the backpack. After passing off the lunch box full of milk brownies and a non-brown apple, Kaiko retrieves the red coat her mother forgot to give her, because she was distracted. This was the moment her little girl was heading off for the first day of Kindergarten. And there wasn't a thing she could do to slow down time so that she wouldn't one day grow up and take off. But she'd savor this moment when her daughter kissed her on the cheek before bounding towards the middle of the bus, and plopping down beside Daisy. It feels surreal as she steps back from the curb and watches as the glass door folds and the bus drives off until its nothing more than a speck in the foreground.

But her heart aches. Because Kaiko's father wasn't here to witness this. He wasn't anywhere nearby to watch as his daughter left for the first day of elementary school. He didn't know what she looked like or sounded like. He had no idea that she hated Granny Smith apples but loved Red Delicious. Or the fact she was a five year old with a vendetta against a girl named after a flower, but still sits next to her anyway. Her chest flattens beneath the weight of regrets and bittersweet feelings as she makes her way back upstairs, distantly wishing the elevator would be repaired sometime this month so she wouldn't have to climb three flights.

Nothing about Someina compared to the girl from five years ago. She was less delicate, though she still carried herself with the grace of a swan, all because of those years of lady lessons and ballet practices. Though she was still naive about what it meant for someone to make love to her, or to be in a serious relationship, she was no stranger to dates and boyfriends; not like she was back then. In the span of five years, she's been involved with the man that bagged her groceries, but was too immature to hold down a job; a man caught between two other women while trying to have an affair with her; and now...she was currently seeing a doctor. A rich, drop-dead gorgeous physician with a heart of ice that only she managed to thaw with her persistence and warm conversation. She tried not to find any flaws in the man, in hopes of him finally being the one to take her mind off the father of Kaiko. But there was one small problem with him. He just so happened to be a Sohma and a cousin of Hatsuharu's.

When Someina gets back to her bedroom, she quickly slips a comfortable sweater over her head, bringing it down so that it covers her Lord of the Rings t-shirt, before she grabs her bag and locks the door to her apartment as she makes her exit. Down the hallway, a man steps outside of his own apartment, nodding in her direction before striding over.

"Hey, got class today?" He asks, shifting his glasses to the bridge of his nose as he flashes his cocky smile. Takashi was the type of person that would be dating three girls in one week, when he wasn't busy reading comics or playing video games. He was always trying to beat Someina in Smash Bros, but that endeavor was soon found to be impossible.

"Yup. Sorry I missed our tutoring session yesterday," Someina says, her voice pinched as a result of her embarrassment.

Takashi shrugs, his smirk faltering infinitesimally. "No biggie. I get it, you're busy. Japanese Lit is a pain, and I don't blame you if you bail because of the subject. I know you're legit so I'm not too worried."

She sighs in relief, expelling the breath she'd been withholding upon seeing him in the hallway. She really did feel bad about not making it yesterday because she was studying until she passed out at her desk last night. But...she also wasn't too hasty to be alone with him anymore, even for co-op video games. Lately, he'd been making passes at her, and it seemed like harmless flirting at first. But little by little he was returning home with less women than he had in the past. It was speculation and theory at the moment, but it might be because his intrigue with her became infatuation.

"Alright, well...can we make it up tomorrow? I have to run before I'm late picking up my pay check from last week."

He nods, holding his hands up in surrender. "Of course, I'll get outta your way. And I'm looking forward to tomorrow if it means getting to see a face as pretty as yours. I might have to fail more subjects than Japanese Literature."

She laughs nervously, starting the long walk towards the stairs. Right when she gets to the door, she checks over her shoulder to see him still watching her from afar, though he's quick to turn his head when he realizes that he's staring. Before he can face her again or ask why she's standing there after agreeing to part ways, she vanishes.

...

The girl that never left his mind had been his first, and he couldn't even remember it. Not the feel of her or the scent of perfume her body carried. Even the faint memory of her voice had drifted down the depths of his head. Into the abyss that straddled his two counterparts. All it had taken was one moment where he forgot to take his pills and it could be considered interchangeable with guzzling down cognac. Because it still lead him down the same road of amnesia that followed blackouts from drinking binges, or in his case - turning 'black.'

His girlfriend dips her head down and nips at his ear lobe, grazing his skin with her teeth in a way that demands him to draw in a sharp breath and his eyes to fall shut. There was no denying the effect Rin had on him physically. But they weren't ever really on the same wavelength, though they shared common interests. Even a few that involved activities with their clothes on. But there was one problem, he was one of those people compelled by those different from him, which might have been why this thing between them was purely sex and gratification.

He rolls over so that he lies flat on his back and Rin settles herself on top of him, giving him that seductive smile that always managed to pull him in like a magnet. It was interesting how his body was attracted to a negative when he himself was a negative; didn't opposites attract? Shouldn't they repel?

Her lips slide over his, pulling his bottom lip between her teeth shortly before releasing it. She tucks a strand of her long tresses behind her ear, frowning as she speaks against the point their lips melded together. "My mom wants you to have dinner with us. Again."

Haru sighs, watching as goosebumps explode across her bare forearms from the air that spilled between his lips to her skin, and she trembles over him with anticipation.

It wasn't that he hated Rin's mom...per se. But she seemed to have it out for him from the jump. That woman was the epitome of a highbrow, and she detested her daughter's pick of a boyfriend. Though he never really understood why.

It only stood to be another reason to not be involved with Rin when he wasn't even sure if he loved her; or if she loved him.

"Rin," he murmurs, fighting the temptation to go for another round before class. "I should grab a quick shower and get ready. You know I have class today."

She scoffs, before nipping at his jaw in defiance. "Really? I don't even get why you're doing that in the first place. You're already a mechanic. You have a job, so what's the problem?"

He sits up, leaning on his elbows and she follows suit. "Because I want to be more than just that. Yes, it's something I've always wanted to do...but its not the only thing. I don't know. I'm still twenty-one, I might change my mind and become something else one day. I want to keep my options open, Rin."

She rolls her eyes, getting to her feet and cursing at how cold the wood flooring feels at this point in the morning. She doesn't even trouble herself to feel the least bit modest and cover up, putting her hands on her hips and glaring down at him. "Your loss. You could have me a lot more if you didn't go to school."

And with that, she snatches up her clothes and slams the bathroom door behind her. Moments later, the shower cranks on and she shrieks as cold water churns out of the pipes instead of the hot water she was expecting. Haru smiles at this. He feels wrong for doing so, but he can't help but feel just a little vindicated afterward.

...

"How are things for our favorite college student going?" Uo asks, taking a large gulp of her piping hot, just-been-made, cup of latte macchiato.

Someina exhales, seating herself in one of the french chairs between Tohru and Hana. "Well, I have class in half an hour. I wish I didn't have to sign up for morning classes, but you know how it is."

Hana and Tohru give sympathetic nods as Someina takes a bite of a buttery croissant, not bothering to use a napkin to collect the crumbs. "Oh. I am considering a double major, but I'd really like to be there for Kaiko. I know its not a good idea to work, go to school, and take on another thing. I should be working towards lightening my work load."

Uo gives Someina a pat on the back, nearly causing her to choke as she gives a chuckle of agreement.

"That's the spirit! Slack off. Make bad grades. Party hearty. I believe in you."

Hana shakes her head, sipping from her cup of decaf in silence. After a few beats, she spares a glance in the blonde's direction. "Uo, you know that's not what we encourage our daughter to do."

Someina is unable to resist her smile when Hana references to their inside joke. She and Tohru were both considered to be Hana and Uo's daughters. They always looked out for the two and gave them advice whenever they were in a tough spot. And honestly, considering the hand they were both dealt, it was nice to have a little affection and care in their life.

"Um, Meina? You supposed to be eating that?" Uo asks, gesturing to Someina's quick-and-easy-breakfast.

Someina glances down at it, bobbing her head before cramming the rest of it into her mouth. Sweeping the crumbs from her hands, she plucks a packet of natural sweetener and tears it before pouring it into her sugarless coffee. "Yeah, its fine. My sugar's doing okay, I just have to watch my levels. I can't eat this kind of stuff all the time, of course."

Tohru smiles in admiration, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. "You're so brave! I could never imagine sticking myself with a needle everyday. When I was younger, my mom always had to get me through my shots because I was scared."

The yankee nods once, twirling her house key so that it spins in a circle. "Yeah, your mom sure was something. The Red Butterfly will always go down as a legend. Y'know, even though I got out of the gang, its your mom's advice to me that keeps me from getting sucked back into it."

Someina smiles warmly, tying her hair back so that its in a high ponytail, loose strands brushing the temples of her forehead. "That's so great. And its even better that you're volunteering. What's it like working with all the children?"

Uo snorts. "Those little rug rats are a handful most of the time. I thought working at a daycare would have been a mickey mouse course...but I've been having nightmares ever since."

"I suppose it is a better name than ankle biters," Hana chimes in, finger-stirring her nearly lukewarm drink. "I said that I would be willing to help you, Arisa."

"You can't read those gothic stories to them, Saki. It'll scar them for life and then who'll get the blame? Me. Everyone always puts the blame on the ex-cons and criminals, just because we've done time before."

"Alright guys, that's enough," Someina cuts in, breaking into peals of laughter. "No more fighting or you're both grounded. I'll personally see to it."

"Who's really the parent around here?" Uo grumbles, slumping in her seat.

Tohru clasps her hands together, placing them in her lap and blinking owlishly. "I could fill in for you Uo, if you need the break. I love children."

Uo sighs, patting Tohru on the head placatingly. Whenever that girl got an idea in her head involving children, puppies, or anything remotely similar, it was hard to stop her.

"Nah, you've got enough going on with your bakery. I wouldn't ask you to do that. Besides, if you're not running the joint, how else am I gonna get free cake pops and lemon meringue pie?"

...

Kyo kicks off his shoes before spinning around and flopping on his bed, slinging a tanned arm over his eyes. The second that stupid cow (or former cow, rather) got back, he was gonna be hearing from him! The room looked like a pig pen, and if he wasn't somewhat wary of Kagura eavesdropping or catching wind of it, he'd tell Haru exactly that. She's cooled it a little since the engagement announcement last month, but he still had his doubts. The way his left eye twitched every time she was brought up in conversation attested to that.

Haru arrives shortly after, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he drops the keys to his bike on his desk and strips off his shirt. Kyo's eyebrow raises at this, but he notes with relief that the cow wasn't planning on getting completely naked in front of him. He wasn't that stupid. But it didn't change the fact he'd just added his shirt to the growing mountain of clothes on the floor, haphazardly trudging his way to the dresser in exchange for a clean one.

"Hey, ox-boy. Mind picking up your thong instead of leaving it where I can trip on it?"

Haru's form stiffens, not long before he gently shuts the drawer of his dresser and spins on his heel to face the hot-tempered redhead. With a face as blank and empty as an untouched canvas, Haru scoops up the 'offending' object of conversation with his index finger, dangling the lacy black material tauntingly.

"Oh. You must mean this, huh?" He deadpans, his grey eyes teetering on a darker shade. "Sorry about that, Kyo. I forget that you're sexually frustrated sometimes. I wouldn't want to make you feel left out or anything." He shrugs infuriatingly as Kyo seethes from his place on the bed. "It just wouldn't be fair to Tohru."

Kyo slams his fists on the mattress, swinging his legs over the side and springing to his feet. "Lay off, idiot. We agreed to stay celibate until wedding night. Not every guy is a man whore."

Haru scoffs, shoving the pair of underwear into his back pocket to drop off at Rin's on his way to class. "Wanting to have sex doesn't make you a whore, KyoKyo. But you wouldn't know a thing about that. I guess I should cut you some slack."

"Why you-" Kyo snarls, clenching his fists as he breathes in and out like he practiced. After agreeing to attend anger management classes, he'd been going religiously and the program appeared to have done its job; that is...until his insensitive roommate decided to rear Black Haru's head this morning. Or at least, he thought it was Black Haru. He could never tell. But there would have to be a snowstorm in hell, nine inches deep, before he'd consent to the fact he'd instigated their argument with his insults.

Haru yanks open their mini fridge to get Asashi Super Dry and set it on Kyo's nightstand. After gathering his Physics textbooks and a few pens and pencils, he pulls the door open. "I got a beer out for you. Don't say I never get you anything...maybe it'll help you to mellow out a bit." Before Kyo can get a word in edgewise, the ox is out the door, with the keys to his bike in the palm of his hand.

...

The pages of her notebook curl beneath her fingertips as she constructs a juxtaposition of emotion theories in her Cornell notes. She thumbs through her dog eared textbook, scanning its contents for Howard Gardner's thoughts and ideals on emotional intelligence. This was the basics and she learned it back in high school her second year, having taken Psych 2. But it never hurt to review, especially if she wanted to make a strong case for IQ and Mental Age's affect on a human's emotions.

With a sigh, she puts away her psych homework and retrieves her notebook for physics. Getting a head start on homework was fine and good, but completing extra credit in another class had to stop; she needed to draw a line somewhere and stop being such a workaholic. She didn't really mind the way her tendencies ate away at her social life until there was not much there, but it was starting to affect how much she slept at night. And it was never good to show up to work at a cafe' with bags under her eyes. It kind of projects a bad image for the business.

One minute to nine, the professor saunters into the classroom, making his way up to the podium that stood front and center before a large green chalkboard. Someina never understood why universities hadn't upgraded and used dry erase boards by now. She supposed it was because chalk was far cheaper and therefore, easier to replinish. But the fact room and board cost an arm and a leg - along with tuition - could only mean they were actually just stingy.

After retracting her black pen, she sets it down next to her other three multicolored ballpoint utensils, lining them up in a neat little row as someone takes a seat beside her, kicking their feet up on the desk. Her gaze flicks upward, landing on those black boots with chains and a few spikes brimming the edges. The top part of the shoe folds downward so that a plaid pattern draws the eyes away from the intimidating accessories. The footwear seemed to be familiar somehow. Maybe she'd seen the same pair in a catalog when she was shopping for her daughter's sneakers over the weekend.

Deciding to focus her attention on the lecture ahead, Someina flips to a clean page in her five subject notebook, and records the date in the left page to accommodate her dominant hand. When the professor begins to drone on about thermodynamics, a folded sheet of paper lands in front of her, where she'd already begun writing notes.

Her eyebrow arches, wondering why her impromptu desk partner decided to pass notes in class like it was high school all over again, dropping her pen just long enough to unfold the wrinkled paper and find out what he wanted.

Do you have an eraser I can borrow?

She sighs in relief, thankful that all he wanted was to borrow something. She wasn't exactly sure what she'd been expecting, but she was glad it wasn't that.

Someina digs through her bright blue pencil pouch, sorting through a plethora of color pencils and a baby picture of Kaiko, before finally locating one of three white erasers she always carried on her person during each semester. She reseals the bag with finality, offering it in his direction without bothering to meet his eyes. She decides its safest to keep watch of the chalkboard in case the professor added any more notes and she happened to miss it.

The man sitting beside her accepts the eraser, inadvertently brushing his fingertips with hers during the exchange before he rubs out the words he misspelled from his place beside her. But she doesn't miss how his fingers felt, and the way they seemed like a distant dream or memory, because they were even more familiar than the boots propped up on the desk.

Biting her lip in a way that often drove her boyfriends crazy, Someina chances a peek in his direction, checking him out in her peripherals. And when she catches sight of white hair attached to a pale face, she nearly flies backward, slipping out of her chair and dropping to the ground. Hard.

Ouch.

That was going to bruise later. She just knew it.

There's a lull in the professor's speech, moments before it resumes and he continues onward, going back over Newton's laws and how it applies to thermodynamics. But that was college for you. Time waits for no man, and neither do the professors. Or, maybe it did, and her prof was just a cold-hearted jerk.

But the man at her side, whom wasted no time crouching before her, looks her over to check for any signs of injury. But all she can focus on is the way her heart is doing jumping jacks and the foggiest memory of a moment she spent with him five years ago; with her hands interlaced with his, pressed against his mattress, as she giggled through the haze. Her blue eyes refuse to look into his, because she was terrified of getting lost in that abyss. It had been so easy to do the first time and she wasn't so sure that she was immune to it now.

"Are you okay?" His voice comes out smooth, but concern manages to creep into the monotone. There was no sound to indicate whether he recognized her or not. But if he didn't, she couldn't blame him. Her face had matured and the only features that remained unchanged were her eyes, her nose, and her mouth. But they'd only known each other intimately for that night and she'd been banished from her family a week after. It had been years since they'd last been in the same room together after only knowing one another for two weeks, as acquaintances. It was easy to identify him; the black and white hair, paired with his attire, made him hard to miss.

Someina gives a small nod of confirmation, keeping her gaze transfixed to the floor, even as he helps her stand by taking her small hands into his large ones; she remembers liking this about him, because she felt guarded somehow. Protected, whenever they held hands that evening.

She reclaims her seat, the pants leg of his black jeans swishing against her leg as he follows suit. There's a rift between them that is gradually growing smaller and smaller until the lack of distance is palpable. Tangible. For her, the close proximity was like wearing headphones, wondering if he could hear the music she was listening to; only it was her thoughts that she was afraid of him knowing. Because she wasn't certain if she wanted him back in her life. And if he knew what she was thinking, he'd know all about the aftermath of that night they shared.

Breathing in and out through her nose, Someina selects a blue pen and begins to copy the terminology on the board. In the midst of it, Haru leans in and she sucks in a breath, completely panicked at the prospect of him doing something. But what would that something be? Oh. Apparently, it would be him whispering in her ear. That's not strange at all.

"Will you see me after class?"

Someina has to slap a hand over her mouth when he pulls away in order to stifle her laughter at his choice of words. He made it sound like she was a bad student and he was the teacher, requesting time to scold her when everyone else filed out. And if it felt like that...then why did she feel like smiling? And jumping up and down. Okay, maybe not that. But she felt far more excited than she ever had in the past five months. That was when she first began dating again...three boyfriends later, a man she'd had sex with once manages to bring her to her knees with one sentence, in contrast to the three men she'd made out with on countless occasions, never once making her feel half of what she did now.

Maybe that's the way it worked when you slept with someone. Your body never forgot theirs, even if your mind chooses to. She could only hope her heart remained benched and never joined in the game. Though she had the sneaking suspicion that her heart would be pleading with her constantly, saying, "Put me in, coach." Over and over again on repeat until she would finally give in.

...

When class is over, after dragging for the past two and a half hours, Someina is quick to pack her bright pink backpack. In stark contrast, Haru takes his time tucking his books beneath his arm and putting away the balled up sheet of paper he'd borrowed from her in the middle of class. He'd made something of a game out of asking her to lend him things in the most ridiculous ways. Like when he took a red pen and scribbled on the palm of his hand.

Do you have a pencil I can use?

She knew right then, that this was just for fun. He'd just been using a pencil, which was why he'd requested an eraser earlier. On and on he went, providing distraction for a course that bored her to tears, but one she had to take for the final credit she'd been lacking.

And here and now, they were at a standoff. The back of her legs met the desk as he stepped in front of her, observing the way she pulled her lip between her teeth like she was nervous. Haru had no clue what he was doing, or why he was even coming onto her at all. If you could call it that...but there was something about this girl that left an imprint on his mind, and not-so-regrettably, his heart.

"Look down," he commands softly, his stomach twinging with anticipation when she complies. He takes the yellow highlighter that she'd gifted him with, his gaze remaining on her until she dares to meet his eyes again. And when she does, he smiles almost imperceptibly, before tucking it into the pocket of his jeans.

Someina expels a shaky breath, clutching her textbooks to her chest like she was attempting to create a barrier between them. "You like highlighters, huh?"

Haru gives a shrug in reply, though something akin to intrigue ripples through his chest like a tsunami. "Only the yellow ones."

She freezes, her mouth falling open as she matches his words up to their daughter's.

"Ok. But only 'cause they're red apples."

She knew that children could inherit personality traits just as they could physical attributes. But that was just a little bit spooky when she already knew that the man standing before her was the father of Kaiko.

Someina releases another pent up breath, shrugging her backpack on over one shoulder. She needed to play it cool. He had no way of knowing about Kaiko. She would tell him, but it had be a good time. He had the right to know and it wasn't fair of her to rob Kaiko of that.

"So...what did you want to see me about?" She asks, swinging her right leg over the left in an attempt to be casual. She fails miserably and careens to the side, catching herself on the edge of the table at the last second.

Haru snorts, but is quick to cover it up by clearing his throat. "Um. I wanted to ask if..." What did he want to ask her, anyway? He was too caught off guard about seeing her again to think before speaking. And now, he was just floundering instead of maintaining the even, calm demeanor he was famous for.

"I wanted to know if you'd like to go out for...tea, or something."

He winces, mentally face-palming.

Tea?

Seriously?

"As friends," he adds quickly, scratching the back of his head.

Someina shifts from foot to foot, readjusting the heavy textbooks in her arms to get more comfortable. "I'm okay with hanging out, I suppose. I just don't care too much for tea."

He cocks his head to the side, matching her stride for stride as she makes her way towards the quad.

"Really? Not a fan of tea?"

She shakes her head, tossing a smile in his direction. "Nope. It always seems to taste too watery, or it has this bad aftertaste I haven't been able to get past. I'm more of a coffee enthusiast, if anything."

Haru nods as if filing this information away, despite having no clue why he was even trying to involve himself with her to begin with. Just because they had a one night stand didn't mean they had to talk. Why was he making such an effort?

The outside air smells crisp and fresh, accentuating boughs of ivy and other vegetation that surrounded the campus center. The plants were of the brightest shade of green, sparkling with droplets of water from being tended to. A study group sprawled out on the lawn, surrounded by laptops and notes; a couple parked on a bench near the water fountain whispered sweet nothings, sharing a set of earbuds while they sat side by side.

Once they arrive at a cafe' just off campus, filled with patrons and pop music playing over the speakers, Someina maneuvers through the crowd and to the front of the line like she owned the place. Haru found that he liked that about her; she seemed like the assertive, take-charge type.

But what he doesn't expect is to see her go behind the counter and make her own drink. Huh. Maybe she actually did own this place. He just hadn't figured out how taking Physics played into owning a coffee shop.

She smiles up at him, applying pressure to the black top of her cup so that it's closed. After finishing up, she fills up a cup of Café Bombón before making her way to the espresso dispenser, pumping shot after shot until the order is complete, and she brings both of their drinks around. He accepts it, curious and surprised that she knew the exact thing to make him.

"I can tell what coffee suits people if I know their personality to at least some degree. If I weren't planning to be a psychologist, I would definitely spend my days filling coffee orders and running a business like this."

He notes the way it appears split, running his thumb along the glass' ridges; like a compelling balance of two different colors, or different sides. The condensed milk sinks to the bottom, beneath the coffee, to give off the effect of how beautiful the marriage of different ingredients could be. And it is in that moment that he's struck with revelation. She understood him. Somehow, she got him on a deeper plane than he ever thought possible with what he'd revealed to her. At least, from what he could remember about that night with her. He'd always wondered what happened to her after she disappeared a week later. There were rumors, but he never subscribed to gossip. He couldn't help but wonder if the reason she left had something to do with him.

They find a seat in the far back of the cafe'. Its a cozy - almost intimate - spot, with a brown leather booth, away from the chatter and noise that derived from the most populated areas of this place.

Haru kicks up a leg, resting his foot on the seat across from him, and taking a sip of a drink he'd never tried before. As Someina crosses one leg over the other and rummages through her bag, his eyes widen out of shock. It had only been a few hours and she hadn't ceased to surprise him yet. He hadn't known what he'd gotten himself into by accepting the mystery drink, but he was beyond grateful that he did.

It was sweet, but it didn't overpower or drown out the strength of the espresso's flavoring. The whipped cream, topped with sprinkles of cocoa and caramel had him sighing out of bliss. If he hadn't met Someina or if she hadn't become this coffee connoisseur, he would have never known this combination existed; of that, he was certain.

Deciding to sip slowly, in order to savor it, Haru begins to get the conversation flowing again. "Since you're becoming a psychologist, I guess you take classes for that. But, why physics?"

Ah. That question. There was more to her reasoning than just lacking a credit. The sole reason she'd been missing what she needed to graduate was because she took a semester off school to care for Kaiko. She was too young and too attached to Someina to be left in the care of a babysitter; even for a few hours. Getting through that time was difficult since she was battling with stress of keeping a job and gearing up for returning to school later that year. In the end, it left her squandering to take this one final class before she could earn the right to adorn the coveted black cap and gown this winter.

Someina fishes out her glucose meter and alcohol wipes, deciding to give him the condensed answer for the time being.

"I'm just one credit short of graduating. That and you can't really go wrong with wanting to further your education and learn something new." Even if it was tortuously boring.

Haru's eyebrow raises - much like hers did earlier - as she lances her index finger, squeezing it so that a decent amount of blood gathers at the injection site, and it can be applied to the slide of her test strip.

He continues drinking his hot beverage, with an air of nonchalance as if he'd seen her prick her finger thousands of times, like this was perfectly normal for him. He tries not to stare, but his interest almost always got the better of him; he just didn't get what was so fascinating about her. Except for the fact she was different. Unique. And he happened to like both.

Someina waits a few moments, before checking the screen for her readings. "One-o-two...Not bad at all." After reaching for a napkin and applying pressure to her newly made wound, her eyes lock with Haru's again. She doesn't even look embarrassed about it; instead, she rolls her shoulders back, and stuffs the crumpled napkin into her backpack as if this was an every day occurrence.

She snags a biscuit, dousing it in gravy, before taking a huge bite. "What? Have you never seen a diabetic in action?" She questions with a wink, sitting back to gauge his reaction.

He calmly shakes his head, polishing off the last of his drink before setting it down on the defaced table's surface. His eyes roam over the carvings of boys and girls in love, not-so kind words, and drawings of a certain male body part. Apparently, the crowd this cafe' attracted ranged from teenager to college age, due to the immature engravings in the wood.

Someina giggles, clasping her hands together in front of her. "Well, now you have. Would you like to take a picture with me so that you'll remember this day? Its not often you run into one of us," she says, barely holding back any laughter that threatens to escape.

Haru can't help but smile a little at her antics. She sure had a strange sense of humor. Though he wonders how he missed it the first time around. Or...maybe he didn't. From the beginning he must have found something attractive about her, for him to wake up in her bed the next morning. Speaking of which, he did want to ask about-

"Oh no!" Someina yelps, scrambling to repack her bag and get to her feet. "I have to go pick my daughter up from school. I completely forgot!"

Haru stands, but is rendered completely immobile by her words. She had a daughter...? But, she was his age. And she made no mention of a man in her life or anything. But then, he hadn't gotten the chance to bring up Rin, either.

By the time she's halfway out the door, his brain sparks back to life and he dashes after her. She's desperately trying to get her car key out of her pocket while performing the balancing act of keeping her books from smashing to the concrete. Her feet leads the both of them to the back lot of the cafe,' where a beat up four-door sedan is parked, but barely standing. It inspires the mechanic in him as his eyes scan the body, looking past the nicks and dents to diagnose the heart of the problem. He'd have to get a look at the engine in Shigure's garage before he could know for sure, but he was sure there was a problem with the engine; maybe the transmission, too. The muffler appeared to have given up on the car long ago and fallen off.

She throws her backpack into the back seat, slamming the door shut before making her way around the front to the driver's side. Once she slides in and closes the door, Haru leans down so that his elbows rest where the window would normally be, and she looks up at him again. Going by the surprise and shame in her eyes, it was obvious that she'd forgotten about him in the midst of the chaos. He couldn't fault her for that. She seemed like a person with a lot on her plate and a lot on her mind.

She ducks her head, sticking the key into the ignition and turning it. She chooses to keep her gaze averted as she buckles herself in. The engine sounds like a dying animal, sputtering and coughing up dust from the exhaust pipes. And if he had any say in all of this, he'd be sure to take on her car as his newest project. It was hard for him to pass up an opportunity to work on a fixer upper; hers was no exception.

Sifting through his jeans pocket, he hands off a sleek business card through his two forefingers. Her blue eyes drop to it before she accepts it and tucks it into the glove compartment on the passenger side. No words about it pass between them, like it was a quiet understanding. He figured she wasn't too keen on how bad off the car was and he hoped it would give him a chance to see her again. Why he wanted to, he wasn't sure.

"Is there any day that would be good for you to stop by? First, I'd look under the hood to see what's going on and then you would bring it back to be worked on. I can get you an estimate once I take it up with my boss."

Someina's hands find the steering wheel as she flashes a smile in his direction. "That sounds okay. Are you open on weekends?"

He nods, explaining that the garage was open every day but Sundays. And their hours ran from six in the morning - much to his chagrin, at times - to nine at night. Although he tends to stay overnight if he's tricking out a ride or he's had an argument with Rin and needs to blow off some steam.

She tips her head, looking through her phone so that she can double-check her calendar for her work schedule. Even her phone is an outdated flip phone. No optimum operating systems or apps or anything too advanced. It was just simple and low maintenance. Somehow, he found the minimalism to be even better.

"I'm available this Saturday before I go into work." She flips it shut, her gaze sliding back to his. "Will this take long?"

"It might. To get a full look at it, I'd say no more than fifteen minutes. But if you want me to start on it, it could be half an hour."

She bobs her head, expelling a long breath. "That sounds good. Thank you, for your help. I'll give you a ring sometime this week to set up an appointment?"

He chuckles, twisting the ring on his thumb. "We're not that fancy. But if you hit me up, I'll jot it down and leave an opening for you."

She smiles. "Sounds like a plan."

A smile tugs at his own lips, but he doesn't do more than smirk. "Agreed."

"See you Saturday?" She confirms, preparing to put the car in drive.

"See you then."

He steps back, adjusting his own books as he watches her peel out of the parking lot and into traffic. He remains rooted in place, even long after her car disappeared off into the distance. A mixture of emotions assail him as he starts for his workplace, just around the corner of the cafe'.

Looks like he'd be getting coffee a lot more often, these days.

...

By the time Haru arrives at Shigure's, he barely has the energy to raise his hand in greeting towards Yuki. This day had him spent and broke, with the invitation to a dinner that qualified as a suicide mission, Kyo getting on him about a few scraps of clothes on the floor, and running into Someina to find that she has a daughter. If he didn't know any better, he'd say he was being punished for his misdeeds of dating Rin when there was hardly a day that passed by when he hadn't thought of Someina and how she was doing; or what happened to her. Now, he knew the answers to both of those questions and he had no clue what to do with them.

He eyes the shop, taking in the three cars parked before spotting the number he'd be working on today; it was a restoration job, but he was also being paid a little bit extra to trick out his customer's ride. Lately, being strapped for cash because Rin was always borrowing his debit cards without asking, he'll take all the money he can get at this rate.

Shaving cream was smeared all over the metal gray of his locker, handle included. All he had to wonder was who was behind it this time. It had to be Shigure because it certainly wasn't Yuki's style. His were always far more complicated whereas Shigure's were more childish and unoriginal. If it were Yuki, his locker would have been turned inside out or something that required more effort than a little shaving cream.

Shenanigans at Shigure's garage were commonplace. Pranks and practical jokes were not only not corrected, but encouraged. It kept the job exciting and made it easier for people like his buddy Yuki to pay their way through law school without it feeling too arduous or tedious. There was one time that Yuki and Haru ganged up on Shigure to set him up with a blind date; the woman was a riot with her attitude and sailor-esque speech. She was pushy, materialistic, and rude. To make a long story short, the woman gave him a night to forget and went down in history as the worst kind of person. But it made for a priceless photograph when he arrived back at the garage to his employees, lying in wait with a camera.

Haru chuckles, coming across that very picture in his locker as he stows away his textbooks and gets out his oil stained navy uniform. He'd tried to convince his boss to change their colors to black but Shigure considered it payback for the blind date nightmare from before.

That man was even too lazy to be vindictive.

I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter! This is kind of like a taste of what can be, but its only something that will happen if you guys want it to. I don't really ask for reviews...but since this is something that could be a full-fledged story, I want to know if there's any demand for it. I rarely run out of ideas and there's tens of stories I have in mind to take on. But I wanted to know if this is something you would be interested in reading, and if you believe it has the potential of great longevity.

1) This story should never stray from its T rating.

2) I'll try to ask 'fun' questions each chapter that relate to it so that way it'll make the whole thing more engaging and interactive ;)

But the most important thing of all...

I want to thank Bloody Red Queen Of Angst and SweetLiars for their help! It is because of their encouragement through feedback that I have become more inspired to work on this and post it, so I'm extremely grateful. Thank you! ^_^

Chapter Question: Have you seen The Hobbit and/or The Lord of the Rings? If so, which was your favorite?