Goin' Under

Part 1

Authors Note: Theres not enough evil!Kisumi out there. So I made him evil in this one.

"Teacher! Nanase is playing outside in the rain again!" A female classmate of mine said as she pointed at me.

"Haruka Nanase! Get back inside the classroom or I will have to put you in Time Out!"

What did I do wrong? It was recess anyway. Indoor recess to be more specific. All I did was lay on my back on the wet concrete as small drops of water landed on my face. I wasn't hurting anybody. I wasn't scared of being sent to Time Out, since I've been on it longer than I've been alive. But I was scared that she would call my parents again. They get so sad when they see that I don't behave well. I got up and slowly walked back to class as I tried to enjoy my time in the rain. I couldn't help doing what I do. I have a strong connection with water. I need to be with water.

When I was close to the door, the teacher grabbed my shoulders firmly and nearly pulled me inside like a predator pulling it's prey into its cave to eat them. Once one of my classmates grabbed my very own special towel from the cabinet under the sink and gave it to the teacher, she dried me off and sat me on the corner. She left the towel wrapped around my shoulders. Then, I remembered her question. There was a big difference between "and" and "or". I starred at the corner as I heard the other kids behind me scribbling loudly on paper and singing the A,B,C's. The rule was that I could join the others any time I felt, "to be with the others". I stayed there the entire the day.

I heard the kids packing behind me. This was my Que. to grab my backpack from the hanger and leave. But as I tried to leave the school, the teacher stopped me.
"Where do you think you're going?" Teacher said as she rested her hand on my shoulder. I told her I was going straight home, but she wouldn't let me take one step outside. "

"It's okay. I can walk home. I don't live far anyway," I said. Even so, she still didn't let me out of the building. I sat on the step and waited a bit longer. But there was something inside my head that was telling me to go in the rain. It was the same feeling that made me go outside just a few hours ago. Then, I felt a warm presence behind me. I looked up to see another kid. He looked familiar to me. Was he from another class?

"H-Hello!" He waved.

"H-Hi."

He looked shorter bit shorter than me. His hood covered the back of his sip key light brown hair. His body was cloaked by a light green raincoat. It was almost the same color as his eyes. "M-My name is Makoto Tachibana," he quaked. There's one thing we have in common. Girly names. "We live near each other and I thought it would be nice to walk home together. Plus I have an umbrella, so we won't get wet."

I turned back around and starred at the rain. "Thanks. But I'm fine."

"B-But I don't want you to get sick."

"I said its fine. I rarely get sick." I'll give him points on persistence. He stood behind me silently for a few more moments.

He blurted out, "But you'll be all alone."

Never in my life had I heard someone sound so concerned for me. This was a new concept for me. But still, it must feel nice to have someone walk by your side once in a while. Especially on a beautiful rainy day like this. I nodded and took his offer. He rushed to put his rain boots on. He opened the door for me and smiled. Just when we were about to leave, the teacher came back asked if he was taking me home. When he answered yes, the teacher happily obliged and let us go.

As we walked, I could tell the the boy felt a bit anxious and nervous for the first couple minutes. We walked quietly and let the rain do all the talking. I glanced to my side at the boy next to me. He suddenly stopped in his tracks. I gave him what are you doing? look. His sight was caught by something in the distance. He motioned me with his hand to follow him up ahead to a neighbors small garden.

We both squatted in front of bundles of pink carnations, hydrangea, and hibiscus flowers. Near a tiny brick border, a flower was being pelted by heavy drips of rainfall from the roof. It was a strange slower, one I, not familiar with. Some of its leaves have fallen to the mud. I kinda felt sorry for the plant. Then, Makoto rustled the leaves of a tiny bush near the flower and pulled on some branches, enough so where the water slid down the leaves onto the dirt. With that, the flower had remained unharmed by the rain. The damage had been done, but it helped save the few remaining petals Makoto made a comment that the flower resembled the color of my eyes. "Deep blue, like the ocean and beautiful" was what he said. We continued to walk.

Just as we were close to home, I felt rock like pellets hit my body. It was as if bees had come by and stung me for the fun of it. They came from my side. His cocky laughter could only be resembled to that of Kisumi. He threw a rock up in the air and caught it with his palm. His rose colored hair looked messier than ever. His ash colored and grey clothes looked as though they had been torn on purpose. To his side were two smaller kids from school. Their hair short and wavy, as though to mimic Kisumis hairstyle. His droopy, purple eyes locked onto mine.

"Leave us alone you big bully!" Makoto shouted as he covered me with his right arm.
"No chance, Tachibana. I want Nanase," called out. The ringleader had a personal grudge against me, even though I did absolutely nothing to him. He kept saying that he beats me up for my own good. Frankly, I think he's just jealous because I'm the talk of the town.

He flung his arm above his head with a handful of small rocks. Before he was able to bring it down, one of his members tapped his shoulder and whispered to him. I could make out only a few words through the rain, like "Makoto... With him" and "big trouble". Kisumi promised that he would come back for me and like that, they scurried back to the sewer they came from.

"Geez. What's got their undies in a bunch?" Makoto commented. "Why were they picking on you?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I had began to keep walking. My hair and clothing had gotten drenched in the process.

"Haru? Where are yo-"

"Don't follow me!" I shouted.

"H-Haru. W-What's the matter?"

I clenched my fists and starred at the ground. Water droplets bounced up from the wet concrete. "Those kids are after me because I'm a freak. It's best if you don't get close to me. That way you won't get hurt."

"But Haru, I-"

"Just leave me alone!" I roared.

Nothing. I just stood there, hoping that the rain would melt me onto the cement. And here I thought I would actually make a friend, for the first time. I had never driven anyone away on my own free will before, I felt disgusted with myself. I thought he would have left at this point. Suddenly, the warm touch of a small hand clasped mine. I looked do my side and saw the brunette boy holding my hand with a luminous smile on his face.

"Don't worry, Haru. If those bullies come back, I'll protect you from them."

Never has he had anyone offer him protection before. I was shocked. Throughout my life, I only had myself to protect from those pelts rocks and bullets of words. But now, I had someone to help me. By my side. A real companion. I felt my chest feel as warm as my hand. This feeling had grown familiar to me. It was almost the same feeling I had when I come in contact with water. It was like I was home.

A few moments late, the pounding rain had died off.

We walked hand in hand all the way to the top of the stairs, where another set led to my house and a different row led to his. Before I said my departure, he invited me to dinner. Actually, he insisted that I go. No matter how hard I tried to look away, I just couldn't say no to those big, emerald eyes.

I now see why those bullies ran off when I was with Makoto. A slight scratch on his pale cheek would certainly cause an uproar in the town. How could anyone hurt him? He's compassionate, understanding, thoughtful. Everyday, we would walk back home together. Sometimes, we would sit by the beach side and split a blueberry Popsicle. Those were the moments I treasured the most. Since then, Makoto and I have gotten closer and closer. And he's gotten taller too. The scratches up along his doorway was proof enough. He and I have almost become inseparable, like something along the line of a barnacle on a whale. Or a pedal on a flower.