one

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

From the beginning I had never been a 'people person'. This was common knowledge by the time I had reached middle school, and everyone knew to avoid me because of my tendencies to easily snap. Though, as I grew older, it gradually became worse, with rumors being created and spreading like wildfire. I tried to defend myself and control what damage was being made, but the only thing I knew to do was fight back with my own fire. People became afraid of my sharp tongue and short temper, and I was appropriately labelled the "Ice Queen" of Yuuma Middle School.

Regardless of my anger issues, however, it was no secret that I was popular amongst the male population of the school for my supposed 'beauty'. I didn't want to be at all, but when every girl is against you, no one will ever listen. Persuasion was absolutely pointless. People just weren't for me, and I had fully acknowledged that I would never be liked or accepted at all.

That was, until I met Tadashi.

To be frank, he was an outcast. No one really knew him, or wanted to know him, for that matter. That aspect of him attracted me. We were both complete misfits, and so began our odd friendship.

At first, he was too nervous to say a word to me. Of course even he would've heard the undeniably true rumors of my poisonous tongue. I found it normal, but I didn't want him to be afraid of me. I didn't want anyone to be afraid of me.

Over time, we both opened up to each other, and he became my one and only friend. I kept myself in check when I was around him, and made sure I wouldn't snap. I childishly told myself I didn't need anyone else but Tadashi. I let everything else pass over my head, and I didn't let cruel words eat me away. I admired him for choosing me.

But, of course, lies always find their way to me. I got so caught up in the supposed glamour of having a companion that I had never considered the possibility of deceit.

I should've known. It was so obvious that it would turn out this way. He didn't want to be lumped in with me, the "Ice Queen". He was never my friend. He was nothing more than gas for the flames.

"Tsutano? No way. Of course I'm not her friend. Who would want to be friends with that bitch?"

When I told him to stop messing around, he simply laughed. All of them did.

"You're mistaken, Tsutano. We were never friends."

"We were never friends."

"...never friends."

That was when I decided I did not need friends, nor would I ever. Humiliation was a feeling I should've been used to by then, but it felt like a train in that instant. I did not need people, and people certainly did not need me.

As I walk through the halls of Kisaragi High School, I feel all eyes following me. I knew that I would never go completely unnoticed, but I never knew that I would already be the talk of the whole school. The whispering and laughter slowly gets louder, and I turn around to see the sources. Silence. I continue walking to homeroom.

Am I that scary?

I stare at my feet as I walk, praying that maybe high school won't be as bad. If I just ignore everyone and focus on my studies, I can probably make it out alive. I don't need any of these pathetic people.

Reluctantly, I slide open the door to my new homeroom classroom. It gets immediately quiet, and everyone stares at me as I find a desk safely in the back.

I guess the one by the window will do. At least there'll be something to look at.

I place my bag on the desk and sit down. My head rests on my hand, and I look outside. The trees are swaying in the wind, and clouds are gathering up above. It seems today's weather will be a bit dreadful.

I hear the chair move next to me, and I'm surprised that someone has, with risk, decided to sit next to me. I turn to see my new neighbor, and I'm stunned to see what I'm looking at.

Wh... What!?

"You..."

The boy glances in my direction, bright blue eyes absolutely ablaze.

"What are you looking at?" he snarls, eyebrows furrowed.

"Excuse you? What's with the jerky attitude? And what's with your hair? Why would you dye it white? How idiotic," I quickly retort, crossing my arms.

Crap, I'm doing it again...

He rolls his eyes, "What about your attitude? And for your information, this is my natural hair color. Get off your high horse."

"—Natural? Don't make me laugh! That's impossible!"

"What? Do you need proof, or something? You want to look at my birth certificate? You want me to call my mom and have her tell you straight up? Trust me, you don't want that. Or what, you want to look at my pu—"

"No, I'm good, I'm good!" I frantically say, shutting my eyes and holding my hands out in front of me. He snickers, and I shyly look at him.

"What an ass," I mutter, watching him.

"Oi. I'm Killua," he says, holding out his hand. I study it, and hesitantly shake it.

"Friendly guy now? Hm. I'll play along. Kotone."

He grins, and sits back in his chair. I watch him with discontent. Our teacher arrives, and everyone settles down.

"I'm Miyake, your homeroom teacher. Try not to do anything stupid."

With that, he sits down and begins writing. Everyone starts whispering, and when he doesn't say anything, it becomes louder. I look at Killua in the corner of my eye, who's practically drifting off to sleep.

"You're already falling asleep? What a low attention span."

"Not my fault this is boring," he mumbles, yawning and stretching his arms. I stare at him for a few seconds before catching myself.

You don't need people.

I sit up in my seat and face forward, trying to think of what to do first when I arrive home. A tapping noise starts ringing in my head, and I look to my right.

"Do you mind? That's rather annoying," I grumble, pointing to the pencil. Killua looks at me like I'm stupid.

"I mind. Just ignore it if it annoys you," he snaps, tapping even louder. I clench my jaw, and sit back in my chair.

How hopeless.

I observe the classroom. Everyone is huddled in their own little cliques, chatting and laughing away as the minutes of homeroom wind down. I see a particular group of girls looking at me and giggling. When they see that I've noticed, they stop talking and move away, backs facing me.

"Say..."

I look at Killua, who's now slumped over his desk. He turns his head to me, which is rested over his arms.

"Doesn't that bother you?" he asks, eyes trailing over my face.

"What?" I sigh, knowing exactly what he means.

"Everyone, y'know, saying crap about you. People who you've never even met before know about you. For example, if I asked someone, anyone, if they knew who you were, they would say yes, and they'd explain all the nasty shit they've heard about you. Doesn't that ever bother you?"

"I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me anymore," I quickly say, turning to face the window. The glare makes it hard to see anything, and instead, I see my own reflection, with Killua in the background.

"That look on your face says something else. But, hey, who cares?" he says, yawning, placing his forehead against his desk and covering up with his arms. Quickly, he drifts into a nap.

He sure falls asleep quickly.

I study him for a few seconds.

Wish I could be like that.

Too bad I care too much.

Suddenly, another boy walks up to Killua's desk, and shakes him awake. Killua glares at him.

"What the hell are you doing?" he growls, fixing his hair. The boy chuckles.

Wow, his hair looks... dangerous.

The boy notices me, and smiles and waves.

"Hi there!"

I flinch at the tone of his voice.

"I'm Gon! What's your name?" he cheerfully asks, moving to my desk. Killua attentively watches.

"...Kotone?"

He takes my hand and shakes the life out of me.

"It's nice to meet you!"

"Oi, Gon. Knock it off," Killua says.

"But I was just greeting her..."

"She's not me. She can't withstand your outbursts of freakish strength."

"Ah, you're right... I'm sorry..."

I regain my vision, and properly look at his face.

...He didn't know who I was?

Wow... Big, brown doe eyes.

He grins, "We're friends now!"

"Er... F-Friends? You— Uh..." I stammer, gripping the sides of my chair. He doesn't say anything, but beams, and promptly returns to his seat beside Killua. Killua looks at me.

"Ain't he a piece of work? If you're wondering, I've been stuck with him since middle school," he says with a slight smile, jerking his thumb over in Gon's direction.

"Piece of work isn't really... Er, more like... Is he an idiot?" I bluntly ask. Killua sniggers, and props up his elbow, resting his chin on his hand.

"Yeah, maybe."

I smile, knowing that it's all in good fun. Killua tilts his head.

"...Hm? You know, smiling really suits you."

Hope you enjoyed this first chapter! I've done some HxH stories in the past on old accounts, but usually I follow the main storyline, so I'm trying something new. Tell me what you think!

- Leigh