Colors in bloom

Momday

Karma POV
I woke before the alarm went off. Not something to unusual for me. I was always good at waking up when I needed to be. I was a light sleeper too. I went in to shower. I could hear Martia singing as she prepared my breakfast. I wonder what Nagisa was having. I had liked how he  changed his hair style the night of the sleep over. I smiled at my reflection at the thought of it.
Watching the movie he had curled up drinking his hot chocolate. I had to take the cup as he nearly spilled it on himself twice. I tucked him into the blanket. He had laid his head almost on my shoulder. It had been nice. I took his hand, lacing our fingers together under his blanket.
He snored gently but the movie had drowned it out. I fell asleep with my head on his after I had shut off the movie and lights. I had awoken that day with the vibration of my text message. Once again my father found something more important to do than spend time with me.
I shoved that thought away. Today I was going to have a friend at school. Even if it was only for one day, before the others told him about me. I frowned. Nagisa was such a gentle soul. Did I deserve to have something that pure in my life? I was glaring at the floor as I went down to breakfast.
Banana pancakes with milk sausage and bacon. Sometimes she still treated me like I was five. I told her so. She laughed setting a bag on the table with two paper travel cups. “Coffee and muffins to enjoy with that little blueberry friend of yours.”  She stated laughing as she walked away.
I tackled hugged her from behind. Ruffling her hair she swatted at me. “You're the only one that gets me.” I said. She twisted in my arms and hugged me back.
“You are a good boy. Open your heart and you will find someone.” She told me. I smirked backing away.
“Who says I need someone?” I asked. She swatted at me.
“Go get your little friend.” She told me. I scooped up my bag and the muffins. Getting my keys ready I picked up the coffees last. With a cherry wave I headed out to my truck. Driving to Nagisa's house didn’t take long. Soon I was pulling into his drive.
I had just gotten out of the truck when the front door opened. I rushed forward. Nagisa stood there clutching his bare chest and fighting to breath. “I.. “ he gasped. “Saw… you…pull…up" I caught him up against me.
“Come on let’s get you inside.”
“My… room…” he managed to get out. I was done with this. I swung him into my arms as gently as I could. It still caused him to take in a sharp breath. Once in his room I figured out what the problem was. The bandages for his chest laid unraveled on the bed. His shirt beside it.
“Your mom couldn't help?” I asked. I sat him down picking up the bandage. He shook his head. I wrapped his chest as tight as I could get it. His breathing came easier and he was able to straighten up.
“She had to be to work at six.” He told me as he reached for a white button up. He put it on, slipping a tie over his head. He placed a blue vest over this. I snickered.
“Sharp dress man.” I teased. He looked at me in his full length mirror.
“Talk about yourself.” He smirked. True I had dressed up for him. I wore a black button up with a blood red tie and lighter red jacket.
“Come on, Martia sent breakfast with me.” I picked up his book bag, swinging it to my shoulder. He tried to protest but I slapped his feeble hands away with a laugh. I ran down the steps. He couldn't move as fast.
He came out locking the door behind him after checking no fewer than three times that he had his house key with him. We walked to the truck. I stayed behind him making sure he was able to get in. Putting his bag in the back with my own I walked around and got behind the wheel.
“There are muffins in the bag. I already ate so eat as many as you want. There's at least a half dozen.” I told him. He opened the bag selecting a blueberry one. I chuckled at this. He rolled his eyes which made me laugh harder. Once I calmed I told him which coffee was his.
We drove to school in silence. I hadn’t even turned the radio on. I liked the silence sometimes. Enjoying it with him was nice. Not many people could sit in silence. Most felt they had to fill it with idle chatter, music or dumb videos from the internet. Watching Nagisa eat his second muffin, a banana nut this time, while looking out the window at the town, was peaceful.
We pulled into the school parking lot about fifteen minutes later. He glanced up at the very modern looking school.
“It was built three years ago. It's pretty nice. Principle Asano keeps up to date with the technology.” I explained. I slipped out of the truck grabbing both bags. Placing mine on my shoulder I carried his. He tried to reach for it but I carefully pulled it away.
We didn’t even get across the parking lot when I heard it. “Oh look, Karma has a girlfriend.” I drew in a breath. Closing my eyes briefly I plastered my most devilish smile on my face.
“So nice to see your eyes still work, Asano.” I grinned. He walked up to me. The one person my murderous intensive attitude never seemed to bother was my arch nemesis. Asano was a snake and hunted for the kill. He didn’t even respond to me.
“What is your name?” he purred sweetly. Nagisa looked at me, blue eyes wide. He flashed a small smile.
“Nagisa.” He said his voice higher pitched then normal. I couldn’t tell if he was taunting Asano or just nervous.
“Nagisa, is that like Brittney, just one name?”  he asked arching his eyebrows at my companion. Nagisa smiled tilting his head.
“Nagisa Shiota.” He stated. “I’m a boy.” He added pointedly. Asano grinned.
“So?” he smirked back. Then he seemed to remember me.
“Why are you carrying his bag?” he demanded.
“I feel like it.” I said slipping forward to separate him from Nagisa. The little runt tried to take his bag back, again. I shifted it away from him seeing him wince out of the corner of my eye.
“Why don’t you go find some slugs to play with? I’m sure you would feel right at home with them.” He snorted.
“Not on you’re a game I see.” He turned as a few of his friends came up. “I'll see you around Nagisa.” His eyes flicked to mine. “Karma.” His voice darkened with my name.
“Talk about sexual tension.”  Kayano said as she walked up to Nagisa's other side. She flashed him a smile. “Glad you kept the hair. Looks much better.” She told him he ran a hand through it.
“Yeah, I lie it. Thank you.” His cheeks pinked up a little.
“Come on or was will be late.” I said. We made our way into the building. Now this was the first year I wasn’t in the behavioral class. See I get into fights, like a lot. But I was trying this year. That was until I saw Nagisa’s schedule.
“Why did they put you in that class?” I asked him. He sighed.
“I have a tendency to get bullied and fight back.” He said. I laughed. I dropped his bag by his locker.
“I will see you at lunch. I need to go pick a few fights myself.” He caught my arm. I swung my head back with a wicked smile.
“I was playing nice, but now I have a better reason not to.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “Save me a seat, Nagisa. I will see you soon.”
“He doesn’t mean that?” I heard him ask Kayano.
“Karma means exactly what he says. Everyone was taking bets on how long he would last on the straight and narrow.” I laughed to myself. Yes that sounded like me.
My first period was English. Never was great in the subject but not horrible either. It was also one of the few classes I had with Asano. I sat beside him. All eye turned to us as soon as this happened. They all knew that trouble was going to take place.
Asano leaned back in his chair to look at me. I placed my elbows on the desk, hands clasped together. Leaning my head on my hands we faced each other. No one sat near us. It was like a bomb crater. The two of us in the center and everyone else spread around the outside.
“Good morning, Karma.” Asano grinned. I laughed softly.
“Yes it is, Asano.” He leaned forward.
“Where is your little friend?” he asked. “I liked the way he blushed while looking at me.” I felt my gaze harden. Nagisa hadn’t blushed at him. I moved my chair a bit closer to him.
“He was placed in the special class. Something to do with a behavior of his.” Now I saw the light engage in those deep violet eyes. He was going to play my game. I felt my smile take over my face.
“You wish to join him?”
“Who else would keep him safe?” I arched my eyebrows looking innocently at him.
“I would normally happily oblige you, but you see, my father thinks I should behave better.” I snickered.
“Since when do you listen to your father?” I asked. He tossed his head back.
“True.” He was out of his chair as fast as a lightening strike. I meet him in the small space between our desks. His hand flashed out from the side.
I caught it, jabbing my own into his ribs. He flinched buckling to that side but his knee was already connecting to my groin. Or would have if I hadn’t turned at the last second. Still I would have a bruise on my thigh from him.
“Now boys!” we heard the warning. Neither of us cared. I let go of Asano's hand. Using my palm I smashed it into his nose. Blood sprayed around his face like a misty halo. I laughed at the sight.
He tackled me. I fell backward as the empty desks flung out away from us. He was punching my sides. I clapped my hand over his ears. He roared from the pain. I brought my knee up between us. Shoving him backwards. He was grabbed by two other teachers.
Our teacher pulled me up from the ground. “Principle's office, both of you, now.” He demanded. The other teachers marched us down there. I held out my hand. Asano took it. We shook briefly.
He wanted me out of his classes, and I wanted to be with Nagisa. This fight had been a win win for us both. We didn’t even knock on the door. Instead Asano used his free hind to shove it open. He was holding a cloth to his broken nose.
“Another fight?” Principle Asano didn’t bother looking up from his Papers. “Asano go clean yourself up then see if the nurse can help you.” He said signing something on his desk. He placed it on top of another pile. I stood waiting my turn.
“Karma Akabane, what shall I ever do with you?” now he looked up to me. He steepled his fingers in front of his chin. Placing his chin on them he regarded me with shrewd eyes. “You are a clever little man. I had hoped you had turned a corner this past year.” He stood walking around his desk he leaned against it.
“I had hoped Asano and you would have brought out the best in each other. For a time it looked like I was right. You were doing so well encouraging each other. Pushing each other academically. Please tell me what changed?” he asked conversationally.
“Oh I don’t know.” I shrugged folding my arms in front of me, placing one finger on my chin as if to think it over. I grinned wickedly snapping my fingers.
“Oh, right that's it.” I locked eyes with him. “I hate your son.” I stated the smile still covering my lips. He sighed.
“I could expel you, again.” He pointed out. “But you don’t seem to learn from that.” He walked around me. “I could put you back in the same class as him.” He whispered into my ear. “Then I am sure I would have to pay for the plastic surgery to fix his handsome face.”
He came to rest before me once more.  “There is only one place I can put you. For the remainder of the year you will be in the specials class.” He informed me. “For now you will have in school suspension for the remainder of the day. Starting tomorrow you will report to your new assignment. Am I clear?” he asked.
“Crystal, sir.” I replied. I slipped my hands into my pockets and turned to walk out. I met Asano outside. Hooked like a baby raccoon.
“Am I rid of you?” he asked. I nodded. He held out a fist. I bumped it with my own.
“You know, one of these days we should see what happens when we work together.” I suggested.
“The last time that happened we burnt the kindergarten wing to the ground.”
“Everyone likes seeing the firetrucks.” I winked he laughed, we walked away in opposite directions. Nagisa, I will be with you for this semester. I grinned at the thought. Just hang in there for today my friend.