The Chess Master

Chapter One: Signs

Their first day back was cold, the overcast sky making sure the air held quite a chill. Drenched and dried dead leaves squished, as well as crunched, beneath the steps of everyone who walked the massive, foggy laden grounds. Various disembodied voices were a buzz with typical teen chatter as the student body made their way into the looming building.

A lanky, rather young girl with long, thick pink hair made her way up to the lockers, her locker mainly. That of which sat closest to the double doors, the first one on the right. Her exuberant and exotic cat-like eyes scanned over the lock as she entered the code and pulled it open, her books and the like having already been brought in the day before by the staff and her host family.

"There's my Mountain Cat!"

Lin jumped at the energetic arms coming around her tiny shoulders. If she hadn't heard him first she would've drop kicked the city boy.

"Hi, Kaitus." Lin said as she turned to the athletic man, his long and greasy slick-back hair sticking to his big head as usual.

She briefly glanced back to grab her Algebra 1 and Geography textbooks then she slammed her locker shut, spinning her lock so it would click on its own.

"How's the adjustment going?" Kaitus asked, flashing his pearly whites to her. He followed her as she walked to her first period which sat a few rows and a couple of doors down.

"Its going fine. My host parents say it'll still take a couple of weeks for me to really get used to things. Can't be as hard as learning Japanese and English."

"You don't speak any of those at home?"

"I'm from a mountain village in China, located near the outskirts of Hong Kong, so no. I speak Mandarin."

Kaitus blushed, his onyx eyes moving to the floor and over to a crowd of mousy girls squeezing themselves over some model in an old magazine.

"I see. Maybe you could teach me?" He dared a glance back at her.

"Sure." Lin said, giving him a bright, fanged smile of her own.

The bells rang as they made their way in. Lin swallowed her nerves. It wouldn't be easy but she could do this.

Come Noon, it was time for lunch so Lin made her way down the stairs to the cafeteria but she was no longer in a good mood. That had vanished with their Geography instructor, a Mr. Micheal Summers.

"What an ass." The sixteen-year-old grumbled to herself as she walked down the old stone steps. In this part of the school, every sound bounced off the walls as if it were an empty room.

Feeling a chill as she turned to go down the second set of steps, Lin stopped, seemingly frozen in place. Hearing a line of cracklings, she fearfully turned to see the window behind her freezing over in a thin layer of ice. It wasn't that cold out yet was it?

Then she looked at the top of the steps to see a tall shadow standing there. The figure had no face or detail, it was just fuzzy. In a lightening fast blur she watched as it descended the stairs, coming toward her. Within the shadow a bloody and horribly burned hand reached out, on the cusp of brushing the buttoned up navy green blazer covering her white top and red tie. Her black legging covered knees trembled, this couldn't be happening.

"Lin? There you are."

Her head snapped to Kaitus coming up to the stairs.

"Kaitus." She squeaked out, half in fright and half in relief.

A look of concern creased his Russian features as he stepped closer to her. "What's up? You look pale, ya okay, cat?"

He put a hand to her forehead and said, "You're clammy. Come on, I'll pay for your lunch and if you're still not feeling better after I'll take you to the nurse."

Lin nodded, still in shock. Kaitus smiled warmly and put one arm under her legs, careful to hold her skirt too, while the other one went around her shoulders. With little effort he pulled her to him, her hold on him being light, near limp.

Hushed whispers met her ears as the two entered the room. Kaitus sat her down at a corner table as he went to go get their food. A minute later he came back.

While animatedly placing them down he said, "Alright my gorgeous wild cat. On the menu is a big ol' mega stuffed burrito, a large burger with seasoned fries, and a jumbo s'mores milkshake with not one but two maraschino cherries!"

Lin flashed him a grin, brushing off her nerves. "This looks great! Thank you, Big K."

Kaitus put his loosely balled hands to his widening mouth. "Aww! My own nickname? I'm flattered."

Lin laughed as she chomped into the double decker burger. Kaitus was a huge blessing.

Kaitus watched her eat, the warmth he felt filling his empty stomach. His head rested into the palm of his right hand, his eyes gleaming with untold feelings.

Feeling a cold spot at his right, he kept the bubbling anxiousness hidden.

"... Sorry." Came a whispery, husky voice. It sounded male but he wasn't entirely sure. Sorry? Was that what scared her? Were the random rumors he'd heard floating around here actually true?

That jolted him straight, making his insides go frigid. On the outside though, he kept up that happy demeanor, not wanting to spoil their moment.

Before the two knew it, Monday was done. So, being that they lived in the dorms a block down, decided to walk. The leaves were still falling so Kaitus had the bright idea to use his umbrella. He had to protect what he held dear.

"Was it good? Are you still full?" Kaitus asked, noticing the girl rub her slightly distended tummy, her beige skirt, swaying as the two walked a step off from each other, his much broader than hers.

"Oof, yes I am. I'm surprised I was able to finish it all." She looked at him quizzically knitting her thin brows together. "But why didn't you eat anything?"

"Good, and I already ate."

She blinked. "You did?"

He looked her in the eyes and said, "Mhmm. Got all I wanted."

Lin smiled. "You better have. I don't want to have to kick your ass in gear again."

Kaitus laughed. "I did don't worry. My eating disorder is behind me." Underneath the smile his stomach sank, knowing he'd just lied to her killed him and it'd eat at him for the next little while.

Lin had come to live in Japan about a six months ago. Her host family, the Hiwataris, were his next door neighbors. From what he understood, they'd turned their son's workout room into her bedroom. Mrs. Hiwatari saying at a dinner one night that his actual room was to remain untouched until he returned from his exchange program. It was odd, it all sounded funny to him. It was like they were hiding something, Mr. Hiwatari specifically. If he were to be honest with himself, he'd always rubbed him the wrong way and he didn't really like Lin staying with them. Luckily they were allowed to stay in the dorms. He only really had to worry about her during holidays and stuff now.

Stopping just outside her dorm room, Kaitus put his hands behind his back and looked around nervously, his two-tone dark purple and black hair moving to frame his face a bit more, covering his black sideburns and some of the stubble. The gel he used must be wearing off, just great.

"Hey, cat?" He asked, keeping her attention.

"Yes?" Her heart was pounding. What did he want to ask her?

"Would you like a kiss?" He felt his face burn flush but he stood his ground.

"Huh?" Lin breathed out in shock, her own light tan face heating up.

Kaitus leaned in closely, a tender but playful smile on his face. He held out his hand in between their chests, his Stetson scent wafting around her.

"Here you are." He stood back, his grin widening.

Lin looked down to see a jumbo sized chocolate kiss resting in the palm of his right hand. She smiled as she took it. He really was a sweetheart. She was so lucky to have met him.

With a soft peck on his cheek she said, "I'd love one."

She opened her door and went inside, leaving a flustered Kaitus out in the hall. Has she really just done what he thought she had? Then he smiled brightly, feeling bubbly, and made his trek to his room. If this was any indication as to how Freshman year was going to go, he couldn't wait for tomorrow.

To be continued...

This a group project between LuxahHeart and myself. I love working with her! We hope you all enjoyed this first chapter. Feel free to leave your thoughts below! ^^