A Shadow in the Dark

Chapter 3 America's Side of the Moon

AN: hi again! Tsukios pretty damn awesome, huh? but theres a reason for that... anyway---

Tsukio POV

I sat outside on the house porch of the family i was staying with and stared up at the moon... two nights untill its full, i shuddered at the thought. It reminded me of how hard i need to work to keep it under control. It reminded me that, no matter how human i might feel... im not normal. And i never will be, i thought to myself, frowning. i leaned back on the porch, grimacing at the soon-to-be-full moon, and thought about that night...

"Tsukio? c'mon, its getting late and your pobably still jet-lagged." I tilted my head back, seeing Megumi behind me. i didnt know what it was about him, but he always made me feel uneasy. i nodded and stood up, mentally locking away my doubts. he turned back to the screen door, black hair blowing in the breeze. Who is it that Megumi reminds me of?! i couldn't remember, but the thought sent a chill down my spine. who was it? he seemed so farmiliar, but we only met yesterday. he tuned back around, waiting for me, icey blue eyes borring into me. i felt like he could see right through me. his expression stayed pretty much the same as always, though; bored and uninterested. "well? you comin? or are you gonna sleep out here and have the mesquitoes eat you alive?"

"oh, uh, yes." i followed him inside, saying goodnight to Mrs. Akai.

                                                                                            ~~~~~

on Monday, the alarm on Megumi's  nightstand blared loudly, sharply snapping me back into the concious world. I sat up in the bunkbed, whacking my head on the upper bunk's bedframe. "oow... that hurt...." i rubbed the top of my head, then climbed out of the bottom bunk, avoiding a box on the ground and a few scatered comic books. Megumi swung his legs over the side of his bunk, pushing off with his hands, landing in a crouch next to me. "morning." he yawned and walked to the bathroom. i just stood there, dumbfounded. what am i doing?! im going to be late! i scrambled over to my suitcase, quickly changing into my clothes, brushed my teeth and hair, grabbed my backpack, and sprinted down the stairs, taking them five at a time.

"Good morning Tsukio!" Mrs Akai greeted me as i crash-landed at the bottom of ther stairs. i straightened up and walked over to the kitchen.

"Would you like any help with breakfast..?" I asked, smiling. cooking was my stronghold... even if i only knew Japanese dishes.

"oh, no, dear. i've got it! but thank you for asking, sweetie!" She turned back to the stove, and the pan of 'bacon' frying on it, creating a mouthwatering aroma.

sweetie? shes only known me for two days... "ok." i said, sitting down at the table. Megumi walked down the stairs, wearing kakis and a loose 'Dalas Cowboys' T-shirt.

"good morning Megumi!" Mrs Akai crooned, kissing him on the forehead. Megumi grimaced, loathing in his blue eyes. i smirked at his expression, recieving a glare in return. i put one hand up to resume the relative peace of the morning.

"i hate Mondays..." grumbled Megumi, walking out the frontdoor. "...don't take too long, the bus is comin' in five, Tsukio." i nodded and grabbed a peice of bacon, following Megumi out the door to the bus stop.

                                                                                   ~~~~~

In first period, I noticed Tom was sitting in a different spot today. Tom, who was usually shy, wore a huge grin and was openly conversing with a girl on his right. I smiled. good for him, I thought, looking down at my notes which were mere scribbles at the moment, barely legible. I sighed and looked around the room. My stomach rumbled, and it made me remember-

"Psst! Hey, Tsukio!" i looked up, seeing Tom sitting next to me.

"what?"

Tom motioned to the girl with dirty blond hair standing next to him, "This is Janey! she just registered here! Like you!" I gave him a look. I don't need to be introduced to people...

"Hi. I'm Tsukio." I replied, looking at the girl named Janey. She had blue-green glasses, light blue eyes, barely visible behind them by the way the harsh light in the classroom glared off of them. Can she even see out of those with the light the way it is? She smiled at me.

"hey. I heard you just transfered here from Japan."

"yeah." we talked for a while, then the bell rang.

"well, see ya." Janey smiled and hurried back to her seat in the front of the classroom. I heard Tom sigh next to me and grinned.

"you like her." i looked over at Tom who gave me an incredulous look.

"I-I-I..! nuh-uh!" i raised an eyebrow and he cracked. "fine... i like her, OK? but its obvious you like Emma, too!"

 "Of course I do. What is there not to like about Emma?" he gave me a you-know-what-I-mean look. "Yes. Yes I do know what you mean. But I also learned a long time ago not to admit to anything." I smirked at the look he gave me.

"When and where did you learn that?! Your not a jailbird are you?" he asked, concerned but curious.

"What?! No!" I could hardly beileve he'd ask that. Do i look like ive been in JAIL before?!

"Oh, well that's good! I got kinda worried there for a second!" he started to laugh. what is so funny? i thought to myself, not exactly getting why he was laughing like a maniace.

"What are you laughing about..?" He just kept laughing.