Dark Side of Wonderland

Reo

Halo Five: Reo:

What am I doing?

Reo stood near the school entrance, waiting. The Master picked out a target for her to use her powers on. She stared at him with big eyes.

"You can't be serious," Reo said. The Master grinned at her.

"Why yes," he said.

"But... But she's my teacher," Reo stammered out. The Master grinned.

"Which makes this all the more delicious," he said. "Now, go on. Get on it. Show what you can do." Something told her that he wasn't going to let her back out of this.

Reo turned her head when she heard footsteps walking toward the gate. A woman in her early thirties walked down the path. Mizuno-sensei. She was the only one who had been so nice to Reo. Everyone else turned her back on the tadpole. It was because of her and the other tadpoles that Reo was able to keep from turning out like Azusa.

The tadpole girl stepped out in her homeroom teacher's path. Mizuno-sensei stopped and looked up.

"Oh, Tachibana-chan," she said. Reo struggled for something to say.

"Um..." she said.

"Is something wrong?" Mizuno-sensei asked. The tadpole dug in her brain to speak. She could feel eyes on her. He wants a show. He wants to see her build the only non-tadpole relationship she has left. Reo lifted her chin.

"Are you okay?" she asked. The teacher stared at her.

"What?" she asked. Reo shifted in place.

"Are you okay?" she asked again. Mizuno-sensei shifted in discomfort.

"Uh..." she said. The teacher's eyes shifted away from her student. It was then Reo remembered how Mizuno-sensei had been lately. She was more upbeat and in love with her job at the beginning of the school year. She looked so worn down, so tired. The teacher dropped her head.

"I'm so sorry, Tachibana-chan," she said.

"What's the matter?" Reo asked. The teacher shook her head.

"Nothing," she said. "It's nothing." Her student's body started to go stiff. Her left ear began to throb.

"Tachibana-chan? Tachibana-chan, what's wrong?" she asked. Reo could only stare at her with big eyes. She tried her best to keep her mouth shut. Her eyes started to water. No. Not again. I can't lose her too. I don't want to be alone again.

"Tachibana-chan!" Mizuno-sensei shouted as she walked over to the girl.

"Don't!" Reo pleaded. "Just don't." The teacher stepped closer still and touched her on the shoulder. They looked at each other in the eyes.

Meanwhile, the Master watched from inside the school. Okay, the start was a little bit sloppy. He might have to give her a little push. Not too much though.

But suddenly, the Master paused. He glanced over his shoulder. The Master clicked his tongue. It would appear that someone else was watching little Reo too. It wasn't any of his siblings coming to stop him. No, this was something different. This had more... malice to it.

"Looks like I'm going to have to look out for them," the Master said to himself. He was too invested in his toys to stop the fun now.

They would give up on Mio.

"Let me do this one," Itori said.

"Fine," Yukio said.

"Thank you," his girl said.