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Post by Angela on Oct 18, 2008 23:23:20 GMT -5
Scenes taking place in September will be posted here.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 30, 2009 1:51:28 GMT -5
Kyo had become very accustomed to life in Danil and Peter's home for only the few days he had already been there. Not just accustomed, but adoring of it. So on the morning he had to officially leave for his first day at an American school, he had to force himself to get up out of bed. "And if I do not get up next time," Kyo had told Peter while waiting for breakfast, "You should pour water on my head."Well, he was up now. He was dressed very casually and comfortably, he had all the books and typical school objects he assumed he would need. He guessed he was as ready as he could be for an American education. He was at least thankful that the school did not enforce a uniform. It wasn't that he disliked his Japanese school uniform--in fact, he had brought it with him to America for some odd reason--but he did want to try out going to school in something different for a change. He had to keep in mind all the big changes between schooling, like the fact he would be switching classrooms rather than staying in one, or that shoes remained on, not off. He sighed--a nervously excited sigh--as the school came into view. He was walking the distance to and from the school--it wasn't so far from the train stop and he preferred walking. The school was nice enough, by the name of Pittsburgh Langley High School. It had a very old-fashioned look about it, in Kyo's mind. Kind of like Western castles that he had seen in books. He smiled at the sight, shrugged, and began the trek up the stairs leading to the front doors. Other kids were milling about, chatting, some heading silently up the stairs just like him. He just smiled. He was nervous, but so far, it didn't seem too bad. Then he noticed that most of the students were dressed the same. Kyo paused in his trek up the stairs. "Uniform?" he asked out loud. He shrugged. What did it matter now? He didn't have one on and he was fairly certain he couldn't go to a store and buy one. Besides, he hadn't brought any money except for the train. No, he would just...deal. With that, he headed up into the building. *** "Now, I'm just going to do roll call. If you're here, you know the drill--say here. The faster we get this done, the faster I can start telling you just what 10th grade is all about... if I get to. Might have to put that off until after that meeting we're supposed to have..." She beamed. "Okay...Sandra Arnold?" Sandra said, "Here." "Catherine Friedman?" Mrs. Hart was a large, round woman with mouse-colored brown hair. She had a kind of jovial nature about her, like she was always smiling, always happy about something. Kyo relaxed a little in his seat. He liked this sensei already-- what a great name, he thought--there was nothing to be nervous about. She reminded him of the kind of character everyone liked in managa. Then he remembered she wouldn't be his only teacher and he rolled his eyes at himself. "Alexander Rhoades?" "Yo, teacher!" Kyo looked over to the source of the voice, and caught sight of a couple of punky-looking kids laughing to each other. "Alexander" had his hand raised in some kind of rap-like gesture. It was mostly stuff he had seen stereotyped before. Anyway, he was more interested in the teacher's response...Looking her way, he saw that she was still smiling as she checked off the student's name. Kyo shrugged. He decided if she wasn't phased by it, neither should he be. "Kyo Suzuki?" Kyo's eyes widened. "Hai Here!" He stood up abruptly and bowed his head fiercely. It was only after a moment of silence and when the teacher failed to call out another name, that Kyo looked up and around the room. Everyone was staring at him. Even the sensei. "Nande?" he asked beneath his breath. As if sensing his discomfort, the teacher chuckled and sat on her desk--the legs shuddered beneath her weight. "Ahhh, I forgot to mention! Class, we have a new student with us, an exchange student from Japan. This is Kyo...Everyone say hello!" Not all of the students said hello, but many of them did. Most of them seemed too shy to address him just yet. "It's wonderful to meet you, dear," Mrs. Hart went on. "I am sure you will be a wonderful addition to the class. Just know from now on, you don't have to stand up or bow or anything to me! I'm just your high school home room teacher--you can just say here! Hi works too--I like greetings! Brightens my morning..." Kyo angled his head to the side and sat back down in his seat. He didn't have the heart to tell Mrs. Hart that his "hai" was actually just a plain, old, "yes". As she went on with the rest of the roll call, he caught sight of Alexander Rhoades looking smugly his way. Kyo's face flushed and he looked away. But a girl was looking at him from the other side. He wrinkled his nose, not really sure where he was supposed to look. Why he had chosen a seat in the middle of the classroom beat him... "All right, now...Roll call is good. No absentees--that's a lovely first!" Mrs. Hart chuckled. "If you haven't gotten your uniform yet--" she winked at Kyo, "--don't worry too much. They won't be mandatory until Wednesday, and I expect many of you will be needing another fitting anyway. Bruce, you must have grown seven inches or something, because I do not remember you being that tall!" Bruce, who was already sitting comfortably in a Langley High School uniform pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. The bell rang. Mrs. Hart clapped her hands together. "All right! Just in time! Now, we won't be doing the usual schedule thing today. We're going to head down to the auditorium to listen to a speech from the principal, and I expect you'll be getting some papers about upcoming events and the like. If you have any drinks, make sure to put them away or dump them beforehand...Remember no food or drink in the auditorium! Meet back here when the meeting is finished!" She was still smiling as the class began to file out. On her way out the door, she paused and looked back to see who was left in the room. Kyo was taking his sweet time getting all his belongings together. He didn't know who he would sit with at the meeting, so he had decided he would just prefer to wing everything and follow the group to the auditorium. If he was last in, he wouldn't get to choose a spot. He would just have to take one. "Alex!" Kyo looked up. Mrs. Hart was looking in Alexander Rhoades direction. Kyo had a feeling he knew what was coming next. "Can you give Kyo here a brief tour of the school on our way to the auditorium? It's all the way on the other side of the building anyway, so you should be able to show him a good amount of the rooms." Alex nodded. "Whateva you want, Mrs. Hart." "Mhm, and you could maybe show him some of the places on his schedule, if it's not too much." She was still beaming when she was out of the room. Kyo wasn't quite as enthused. He slung his bag over his shoulder and turned Alex's way, trying not to look as intimidated as he felt. He was a good height for his age, but Alex and his buddies were at least that or taller, and many of them were twice his width. "I should eat-ah more meat," Kyo whispered to himself, as the gang approached. "So, what up, little man?" Alexander hopped up onto the desk in front of Kyo's and showed no intention of going to the auditorium. "You came here all the way from Japan? That is pretty d*mn awesome--we get no one here, not a one. It's always been the same people, you know?" Kyo nodded. "Close friends, hai, I understand." He looked to the door desperately, almost wishing Mrs. Hart would come back and get them going. "Should we not be going to the meeting?" Alex waved a hand casually. The gang laughed. "Those meetings are crap. I could tell you the speech before the Principal opens his mouth--it's the same every year. Ya know, I think he just likes to hear himself taaalllkkkkk--you know, talk?" Kyo nodded his head. "I know what it means." Alex was still smiling goofily. "I like you lots, kid, lots and lots. What's your name again? Just don't expect me to say it right or anything..." "Kyo--" "--Yep, definitely can't say it--" More laughter. "--so Kee--oh, you write with all the characters and stuff right? Can you write my name? Al--ex--an--der?" Kyo nodded. He was trying to decide if actually writing the other boy's name would get him out of the room and into the auditorium faster than refusing and trying to hustle out on his own. He picked the latter, pulled a pencil from his backpack, and began scribbling Japanese characters onto his desk. When he was done, he leaned back while all the others leaned forward, squinting at what he had written. "What does it say?" "Ah--leek-zan-do--san," Kyo responded, sounding out the syllables as he pointed to each of the different symbols. "Your name." "WHAT?" Alex gave his buddies high fives. "Get out, man. Maaaannnn, that is funny. That is really funny--I like it. You're pretty awesome, KEE-oh, pretty awesome..." Kyo sighed and erased the pencil marks from the table. He could have gotten in HUGE trouble at home for such desecration of school property... "I really think we should go to this meeting now." "Okay, okay, okay," Alex replied, caught between laughter and his own words. "One more thing, cuz I really gotta know. Can you do like all the martial arts stuff? Ya know, kung fu, karate, that jazz?" Kyo blinked, then rolled his eyes. "Kung fu is Chinese art, but I can do jujitsu a little." "Aw man, hell yes." There was a pause. "Well, come on, show me some." Kyo pouted and looked at the door again. "I do not think such an idea is good--" "--Come ON man, I definitely do. Look, if it's some consolation to you, pal, I took karate like when I was 5. I can defend myself." Kyo sighed and stood back up from his chair, depositing his messenger bag on his desk. "All right-o, but I will not hit you. I just can give an example." He took a wide stance facing toward Alex, looking very much like he was going to punch him. But his actual intention, were he to have truly performed the move, was to flip Alex up off the ground and knock him down. As he leaned in to show what he would have done if this were a real situation, someone cried out. The next thing Kyo knew, he was being pulled backward by his shirt. "What are you doing?" The voice was sharp. Kyo looked up to see who had grabbed him. The sharp voice belonged to an equally sharp-looking woman. She was glaring down at Kyo with an expression that Kyo knew meant she had mistaken his performance for real fighting. "We don't fight in this school--there is a strict school policy and a reputation to uphold. I would expect you both to know that by now..." "Mrs. Shaw, now come on...we weren't even fighting. He's new here, I asked him to show me some kung fu--" Mrs. Shaw shook her head. "Alexander, you're just lucky I didn't catch you hitting him. No more lies. I know the meetings are...well, boring as all hell, but you go there just the same. If I catch you in the hall, you're coming down to the office too." "Oh man..." Alexander hoisted his backpack over one shoulder and led the way out of the room, his cronies crowding quickly after him. "Wouldn't want to miss the opportunity." Mrs. Shaw gave him her, Very funny expression, then turned to Kyo. "All right, you, I don't know if you know the rules here yet, but I would think fighting would be an obvious no-no. You're going to have to come with me to the main office..." Kyo looked up at her, his face wrinkled in distress, desperate. He had to force himself to use English now that he was in this troublesome situation. He had never gotten in trouble in school before. His natural tendency was to revert back to the language he was most comfortable with, so he could get himself out of this trouble. "Se--teacher, this is the biggest mistake! I must go to the meeting!" Mrs. Shaw squinted at him, but shook her head. She could tell by his accent that he was foreign to this place, probably Pittsburgh all together, but she was an adamant believer in rules. She did feel a little bad, but she merely shook her head and ushered Kyo from the room. .....To be continued.....
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 0:45:13 GMT -5
All Kyo could think about was how this was his very first time in trouble in school, out of all the years he had been in grade school. Not to mention that it wasn't the fifth or so week in, not even the fifth day in, and he was already in trouble. Worse still, Mrs. Shaw seemed relentless. She would not hear him out, not now. She even had one hand on his back, ushering him forward, as if she were worried he might try to make a break for it. Kyo just went along with it, but he was quite scared. He was actually shaking a little, something that even he was surprised by. He had grown cold and his hands were clammy... The disciplining system in Japan was usually quite serious, especially in terms of fighting. But Kyo had no idea--not even a clue--about what the American disciplining system was like. Maybe that was what was making him so nervous...
Mrs. Shaw was surprised by the boy's nervousness. She could actually feel him quivering a little beneath her touch. She couldn't tell whether it was because he was confused or just plain guilty. Either way, she did feel a little bad. She sighed and quickly told him, "Take it easy, young man--you're not going to a beheading! The worst you'll probably get is a suspension."
Kyo looked at her. 'Sus-pen-shi-o? What is it?"
Mrs. Shaw saw the utter horror on his face and had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She wasn't sure what she thought about this student. He certainly was a character, she could say that much. Anyway, for now, she needed to be serious. "You'll find out--it's really not that bad."
They had reached the main office. Mrs. Shaw reached out with one hand and held the door open for the boy. The office was bustling with life--secretaries were running back and forth, answering phone calls, copying papers, faxing documents--it was more like the atmosphere of an important corporation's offices rather than a High School. Among the chaos, Mrs. Shaw gestured to a seat at the far end of the room, near a door that read "Principal Hayes." Kyo sighed heavily and sat down where he had been asked to. He, of course, knew who the principal was.
"Principal Hayes will be back in a short while," Mrs. Shaw told him, folding her arms. "When he does come back, you'll be one of the first to know, since you're right by his office door. Just let him know I sent you to him and tell him what you did. I'll check up later to find out your...sentence--" Kyo gulped. "--to make sure you told the truth. Not that I doubt you will..." She pivoted on her heel and was gone.
Kyo sighed again. There were never enough sighs in this situation. He rested his head in his hands, his elbows on his legs. He was trying to calm down a little bit and figure out how he could explain to the principal. Mrs. Shaw obviously thought he had intended to fight or actually was fighting, so if he told the principal he wasn't, she would assume he had lied. Not to mention, he would be doing all his explaining in English. If he wasn't careful, he would probably slip up and say something stupid anyway.
When Principal Hayes finally returned, it was half past ten--almost two hours since Kyo had been sent to the office. The man in charge of the school was the one who woke him up from the nervous slumber he had tumbled into during his wait. Kyo felt a rough hand on his shoulder and was jolted awake "I was not-a sleeping on the job!" Kyo's groggy eyes met with a pair of staring, narrowed ones and he immediately shook his head and raked an arm over his eyes. "Gomenasai, sir, I am so tired--sorry...Okay, I just need to speak with you."
Principal Hayes smirked. "Well, I would think that would be obvious with you loitering around my office door..." He turned his key in the lock, opened the door, and stepped inside. His voice echoed back to Kyo from inside the room.
"Well, let's go."
Kyo gathered up his belongings, rubbed his eyes again to get some of the tiredness out of them, then followed the principal inside, closing the door behind him.
Hayes' office looked like the place of a man who idolized himself. Kyo noted that everything was spit spot, perfectly tidy. The furniture was--even if it was some sort of rendition and not the real thing--incredibly rich-looking and a little out-of-place for a place like a high school. Worse still were all the portraits and documents hanging up on the walls. Principal Hayes had all sorts of pictures of himself with celebrities and other people Kyo assumed held some kind of high rank. The documents were such ones that commented on Hayes' credibility and accomplishments.
"Eh?" Kyo scratched his head. "Do you ever get so tired of staring at yourself?"
Hayes, now behind his desk, looked up. "Excuse me?"
Kyo raised a hand defensively. "Iie, iie...nothing!"
"Then you might sit," Principal Hayes responded, though it was more of a demand than a suggestion. He waited until Kyo was settled into one of the chairs behind his desk before he cleared his throat in a very businessman-like fashion. "Now, what do you need me for?"
Kyo bit his lip. "Well, I am in trouble."
"That is obvious--what is your name?"
"Suzu--sorry, Kyo Suzuki. I am in trouble because...because..." Kyo pondered. How could he tell the truth without getting in trouble with Mrs. Shaw later on? There didn't really seem to be anything for it... "I was supposed to go the meeting that you talked at earlier, but some students wanted to talk to me first. And they know that I am a new student, so they wanted me to show them some martial arts. So I was showing them some of the Jujitsu, and Shaw Sensei sees me and thinks I was in-approp-iately fighting the other students." He sighed again. "It is all so confusing..."
Principal Hayes was silent for a few moments. "So...you were fighting other students..."
Kyo looked up. "Eh?"
"And now you are sent to me, of course. Katherine Shaw is a good friend of mine--I trust her judgment. I have to say, I trust her a lot more than I could a student I don't really know." Hayes cleared his throat again and pretended not to notice the confused look on Kyo's face. "Well, Mr. Suzuki, the rules must be observed. I am a firm believer in order and following these rules. Since my ascension into the role of principal--"
Kyo angled his head to the side. Principal Hayes was losing him more and more with each word he said.
"--and after my acceptance, I have ensured the great reputation of the school and fulfilled students' and families' expectations. When students like you--and unfortunately a new student in your case--come along and start fist fights at random, I have no choice but to be harsh." Kyo swallowed.
"Because it is the first day, let alone your first day in this school, I will be lenient."
He paused. Kyo awaited his fate.
"Two days suspension, and be thankful it is not more...You can expect a call from the school later. You may leave."
Kyo felt like he had just been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Two days of suspension? He wasn't even sure what it was yet! No one had explained it to him! All he could imagine was being strung up by his arms or legs for two days, with no kind of respite. Was that legal in America? Was it possible they did that? It didn't seem like it could be, but the only definition he knew for suspension was something associated with being lifted in the air. He got up from the chair feeling very much like a dead man, and probably walking like it, now, too. When he got to the door, he turned around to ask what he was supposed to do in regards to this two-day suspension, when did it start, etcetera, but Principal Hayes had surprisingly snuck up behind him some time during his slow trek to the door. The next thing Kyo knew, the door to the Principal's office was closed in his face.
"Don't mind him, sweetie," one of the secretaries told Kyo as he turned around to leave the office. "Hayes likes to hear himself talk, but if you didn't do anything wrong, you'll be just fine."
Kyo wasn't so sure about that.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 1:27:38 GMT -5
Kyo wasn't exactly the happiest camper after finishing the school day. He was still 100% unaware as to what a suspension was, and when Alexander Rhoades had asked him how his visit to the principal was and he had explained and asked his "suspension" question, the other boy had merely laughed with his buddies and nodded. "Of course! Every time they get me, I get suspended by my ankles!"
Kyo was on his way back to the train station now, his bag over his shoulder, stuffed with the hundreds of pounds of schoolbooks he would need for the next year or so. Classes had been another slight disappointment for Kyo. He had missed a good number of them due to his wait in the office and then the ensuing visit. The three he had managed to get to--Science, Gym, and English--hadn't been so hot exactly either. Gym was all right--in fact, word had gotten around about his "jujitsu" skills, and the Gym teacher had actually asked him to demonstrate, to which he had politely refused. Science had sent him tumbling into another nervous nap, from which he was awoken by a ruler-smack to the head. (The science professor was an old man who students claimed used to be a drill sergeant). Last of all had been English, and who else but Mrs. Shaw ended up being the teacher? Kyo made sure to sit straight and pay attention in the class, but he couldn't tell what Mrs. Shaw thought of him.
As he boarded the train back to Danil and Peter's home, Kyo took out his Science homework--the old teacher had insisted on first-day assignments--and began to scribble out answers on the paper. When he realized he was responding to all the questions in Japanese, he frustratedly crumpled up the paper and stuffed everything back into his bag. He was not looking forward to returning back to the home to announce his "failure at life." Worse still, he knew he had to call home and let them know what had happened. The best he could get out of that, anyway, was finding out what a suspension actually was.
Kyo was off the train and onto the path to Danil and Peter's home far too quickly than he had hoped. He paused at the front door, took a deep breath, then stepped inside. With luck, the school would not have called yet and he would be able to explain everything before his caretakers got too upset with him for something that was all a mistake.
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 2:06:50 GMT -5
Zoloto barked, announcing the arrival of Kyo. Peter, sitting in the living room with Danil, scoffed. "Here comes the JD now."
"Pete, let's stay calm," Danil said rationally. "I got in trouble for fighting in school too. So did you, I might add."
"Yours was in self-defense, every time," Peter said as Kyo made his way through the foyer. "Mine, they had it coming."
"How do you know that it was not Kyo's fault?" Danil asked. "It could have been a misunderstanding-"
"Please."
Danil sighed. "Eiher way, he will be grounded for a week. That should settle things."
Peter shrugged, then nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, but Danil held up his hand and stood up. Kyo was just entering the hall that led to the living room, he could see him already. Peter stood up and folded his arms sternly.
"How was your day?" Peter asked knowingly. He did not sound happy. Danil shot a look at him, then turned his attention back to Kyo.
"I got a phone call from your school at the rink, Kyo. Is there something you wish to tell us?" he asked. He sounded like a diplomat, open-minded to hearing everything. Peter, however, was not nearly as kind.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 2:58:14 GMT -5
The only sound that greeted Kyo, as he entered into the home, was Zoloto barking. The remaining silence was probably more unnerving than Danil and Peter marching right up to him and demanding to know why he'd done what he hadn't exactly done. In fact, Kyo could sense his hosts' apprehension before he even saw them. It was like some foreboding omen hanging in the air. There was no doubt in his mind what was going to happen next. They were going to talk to him about the phone call. They had definitely gotten one.
Kyo was nervous, but not half as nervous as he was once he saw the expressions on Danil and Peter's faces. He felt butterflies in his stomach, a lump in his throat, and as though his legs were going to collapse beneath him. In fact, he would have preferred his legs just caved in, so he would have an excuse to pass out for a couple of hours and rest before he had to face the music. He had never seen them so upset before. He never wanted to see them that upset, and personally, he never imagined he would have had to. Of course, he knew his parents would have been just as disappointed and angry, had he come home to them in such a situation. Now he really did feel like he was being given the death penalty. He wondered if the school had told them his punishment, and if they knew what it entailed.
"Hel-lo..." he murmured softly, keeping his head low and bowing slightly.
"How was your day?" Peter's tone was icy. Kyo actually got shivers from it.
"I got a phone call from your school at the rink, Kyo. Is there something you wish to tell us?" he asked.
Kyo didn't say anything at first. In fact, he remained like he was for what seemed quite some time, with his body bowed low. Even when he spoke, he did not look his caretakers in the eyes. First, of course, because he was so embarrassed he had gotten into this situation on his first day of school. Secondly, because many Japanese thought staring one in the eyes could be taken as rudeness, and he definitely did not want to appear rude just now.
"I..." Kyo bit his lip and exhaled deeply. "Gomen-asai, I am very sorry." He really had to bite his lip to stop himself from getting too upset. He actually felt tears in his eyes. He was such a disgrace! Now he was thinking about what he would say to his parents when he called them up later... "I am so sorry...I know words are not enough, but I have disgraced you! I am so so sorry...I wish you could forgive me." He wasn't sure that if told the truth, Danil or Peter would believe him. No one else seemed to have. And it seemed a coward's way out to try to force the blame all on someone else. He had technically used the jujitsu moves in the classroom, or was about to, so he wasn't entirely free from blame.
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 3:10:39 GMT -5
Danil sighed. "Kyo, of course we will forgive you. I already have, and I am sure Peter has too." He glared once more at Peter who rolled his eyes. "Just tell us what happened. The secretary said that you were in a fight and that you were suspended for two days, which is lucky." He looked him over carefully. "You don't seem to be harmed. Odd for a fight."
"Or did you not give them a chance to defend themselves?" Peter asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Peter, let him explain," Danil insisted. "Kyo, why don't we sit down and discuss this." Danil sat on the couch next to Kyo, and Peter was on the other side of Danil. Danil was much kinder compared to Peter. "First, before you begin, let me say that we both have an open mind about this. We will not judge you until you are finished. If you are honest with us, we will be lenient to you. But you understand this cannot go unpunished. How long you are grounded depends entirely on your response to this. Please tell us exactly what happened. How did this fight start?"
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 3:45:35 GMT -5
Danil sighed. "Kyo, of course we will forgive you. I already have, and I am sure Peter has too."
Even so, Kyo did not move from his position. He remained bowed low, his eyes closed. He was so sad...It was a good thing he hadn't seen Peter's expression, though he could already tell that Danil was more willing to go easy on him than Peter. That was something that troubled him--he had never understood Peter to be so...hot-blooded, was that the word? Well, either way, Peter seemed adamant about punishing him. Kyo imagined he must have felt truly shamed by his exchange student guest to have become so impatient.
"Just tell us what happened. The secretary said that you were in a fight and that you were suspended for two days, which is lucky." He looked him over carefully. "You don't seem to be harmed. Odd for a fight."
Kyo still didn't move.
"Or did you not give them a chance to defend themselves?" Peter asked, raising his eyebrows.
Oh yes, Peter was quite upset.
"Peter, let him explain," Danil insisted. "Kyo, why don't we sit down and discuss this." Frankly, Kyo did not want to budge an inch. He would have preferred to stay in his shameful position. This way, he would have felt a little more respectful and have had an equally good excuse to not look his hosts in the eyes. He still couldn't believe what had seemed to be a fine day was turning out so drastically horrible. He just wanted to lie down in his big, king-sized bed and wallow in his own misery for a while, maybe sleep it all off before he called his parents and got an equally severe, if not worse, lecture. But Kyo, however grudgingly, followed Danil and Peter over to the couch, though he still refrained from looking them in the eyes. He decided that the rug on the floor was interesting enough to gape at while he was spoken to. Anyway, he was at least thankful that he had Danil next to him, and not Peter.
"First, before you begin, let me say that we both have an open mind about this. We will not judge you until you are finished. If you are honest with us, we will be lenient to you. But you understand this cannot go unpunished. How long you are grounded depends entirely on your response to this. Please tell us exactly what happened. How did this fight start?" Kyo looked up, horrified. "Ground-ed!?" First suspension, now this? What kind of crazy means of discipline did Americans use? He didn't even want to question "grounded". It almost sounded like they were going to bury him alive, or something. Although, with the look on Peter's face, it didn't seem impossible. Kyo shook his head and wiped a hand across his face, he was all sweaty from nerves. "It is all too stupid! I am sorry, okay? I made a very dumb mistake. We were told to leave the classroom to go to a meeting, but Mrs. Hart, who is my teacher, told another student to show me around. But instead, he asked me to stay in the classroom and show him different things. He insisted that I show him some martial arts...I told him I did not want to because I know someone can get hurt if I do this...but yes, he insisted on it and said that he was...oh, I forget the wording he used...capable to handle me? I forget...I just know that I was not going to hurt him. I just wanted to leave the classroom so I would not be late for the meeting. I got up to show him an example of a move--I was not going to touch him--when I felt someone pull me back. Then I was taken to the office."
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 4:24:18 GMT -5
The oddest thing happened for Kyo at that moment. Danil started laughing. It was a relieved kind of laughter. "Oh, Kyo."
"You believe this junk?" Peter asked raising his eyebrows once more.
"I am ure if we speak to the principal we can clear up this whole mess. They usually leave the school at least an hour after the students to. Come on, we will go therre right now, and see to it that this is entirely straightened out."
"I can't believe you-"
"Never doubt him, just because you don't know him well yet," Danil said philosophically. He got his shoes on. "Let's go right now." He paused, and grabbed the phone. "Excuse me, is the principal in at this time? This is Danil Andropov, I am the host for Kyo Suzuki. I'd like to discuss his suspension." He paused. "We will be there immediately. Thank you very much." He hung up the phone. "Let's go." His tone left little to be questioned, but it was clear that he was no angry anymore. "So there was no physical contact whatsoever? You did not hurt anyone?" He shook his head with a smile. "Americans often jump to the wrong conclusions." Part of that was directed to his husband.
"I'll believe it if this kid confirms the story, and even then I won't believe it right away. Besides, Danil, we can't exactly let him off the hook for this."
"That is true," Danil said, patting Kyo on the back. "I think a week without television will be enough. And unfortunately, no visiting any friends for this week. That's what grounded means. Grounded means you stay home with no television and sometimes other things are taken away but this should be enough."
Instead of walking, they drove to the school.
"Hello, we are Peter Zemeckis and Danil Andropov. We are the host parents for Kyo Suzuki, here to see the principal about his suspension."
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 17:11:50 GMT -5
What happened next certainly struck Kyo by surprise. He couldn't stop himself from watching Danil carefully, the instant the man started laughing at his response. Had he said something funny? He was really confused now... "Oh, Kyo.""You believe this junk?" Peter asked raising his eyebrows once more.Kyo was seated beside Danil, but he could see Peter on the man's other side, and he did not look half as "happy" as Danil did. In fact, Kyo suspected he would only start laughing the instant Kyo was punished. He sighed inwardly...he had not yet called his parents, but he knew he had to. He expected their reactions to be something of the same. "I am ure if we speak to the principal we can clear up this whole mess. They usually leave the school at least an hour after the students to. Come on, we will go therre right now, and see to it that this is entirely straightened out."
"I can't believe you-"Peter's determination in that Kyo was at fault left Kyo feeling not only confused, but a lot meeker than he thought he could become. Even though Danil wanted to help him clear the whole situation up, he still felt like falling into a hole in the ground and hiding out for a while. He decided to just go along with whatever the two men would do next. It was all he really could do now. He had told his story, he was paying the price for it even now, and his fate was--unfortunately--once again left in the assuredly incapable hands of his school principal. After Danil had called the school, he turned his attention back to Kyo. "So there was no physical contact whatsoever? You did not hurt anyone?"Kyo shook his head silently. "Americans often jump to the wrong conclusions."
"I'll believe it if this kid confirms the story, and even then I won't believe it right away. Besides, Danil, we can't exactly let him off the hook for this."
"That is true," Danil said, patting Kyo on the back. "I think a week without television will be enough. And unfortunately, no visiting any friends for this week. That's what grounded means. Grounded means you stay home with no television and sometimes other things are taken away but this should be enough."Kyo didn't mind quite so much. He didn't have any friends at the school for the moment anyway, and though he did watch television at home, he had not yet watched it here. He figured he could do without television for a short while anyway. He was still settling in, after all. Besides, he was just glad he wasn't going to be buried alive for a week or so. He would ask them about suspensions later... *** "Hello, we are Peter Zemeckis and Danil Andropov. We are the host parents for Kyo Suzuki, here to see the principal about his suspension."Kyo was seated with both Danil and Peter once more in Principal Hayes' office. The two older men had the chairs directly in front of the desk. Kyo had been asked to sit off to the side, like the defendant in some kind of awkward trial. But with such a biased judge as Principal Hayes, he wasn't sure his "attorneys" could do much for him. They had been in the room for a matter of about five minutes, but Hayes had refrained from talking, as though he were waiting for someone else to join them. Kyo expected he was awaiting Mrs. Shaw to arrive, but his thoughts were proved wrong when Principal Hayes turned his attention to the two men in front of him and asked, "So, when will your wives be joining us?"
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 17:34:31 GMT -5
Danil cleared his throat. Apparently, the man was one of the few who had not heard of him. "We are domestic partners," he explained. He had learned the term from the gay support group that his friends, Matt and Eric, had started. "We have no wives. We are together. Now let us discuss Kyo's suspension. Kyo told us what happened, and I think this has been a tragic misunderstanding. I'm sure that you just didn't give him a chance to explain." He looked around the room. "You seem to be a fine educator, Principal Hayes. I'm sure that you can understand hat sometimes mistakes are made in the interest of justice."
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 18:00:30 GMT -5
As Danil cleared his throat to explain in light of Hayes' obvious ignorance, Kyo slapped a hand to his face and shook his head. He had been embarrassed about his "situation" at the school, but he thought Hayes should have felt past the point of embarrassment and into the stage of feeling utterly stupid.
"We are domestic partners," poor Danil explained. "We have no wives. We are together. Now let us discuss Kyo's suspension. Kyo told us what happened, and I think this has been a tragic misunderstanding. I'm sure that you just didn't give him a chance to explain."
Kyo looked up. Maybe he had been wrong...Danil was already doing a fine job for covering for him. He still felt bad that he had wound up in this situation and even caused such trouble for his hosts. He looked at Principal Hayes to see how the man would react.
He was looking a little shocked--he was obviously still dwelling on the fact that Peter and Danil were a couple (Bakka, thought Kyo)--and though he opened his mouth to say something, Danil continued to speak.
"You seem to be a fine educator, Principal Hayes. I'm sure that you can understand hat sometimes mistakes are made in the interest of justice."
Principal Hayes looked like he had been slapped across the face. He shook his head as if trying to clear his thoughts about the entire "couple" thing, then leaned into his desk and angrily responded, "A mistake was not made here. May I point out who exactly is the children's educator and executive here? Your...child was brought to my office after a teacher--with 30-years of experience under her--belt caught him using karate on another student!"
Now Kyo was the one who opened his mouth to correct the Principal, but he shut it when he realized the man had gone into rant mode. He wouldn't be able to fit in a word if he tried.
"I agreed to meet with you with the understanding that we would be discussing the length of Mr. Suzuki's punishment," Hayes went on. "I thought you agreed that the use of dangerous martial arts on another student deserved a greater extension of punishment than what I doled out to him! If you are here to question my judgment, then...Well, there is nothing to question!" He was purple-faced with anger.
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 18:07:18 GMT -5
"Kyo told me that he was just trying to pose for the student, but never intended to actually make physical contact with him. Kyo, why don't you get up and show him precisely what you were doing?" Danil asked.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 18:17:05 GMT -5
"Kyo told me that he was just trying to pose for the student, but never intended to actually make physical contact with him. Kyo, why don't you get up and show him precisely what you were doing?" Danil asked.
Kyo turned red. He looked at Danil and Peter as if to say, Do I really have to?, but he knew neither of the two men was interested in what he wanted to do right now. They needed to get him out of trouble first. He stood up, his eyes on the floor, and was about to get into the stance he had taken in the classroom hours ago, when Hayes spoke again.
"Is that so?" Hayes' face turned red from laughter now, instead of anger. He was leaning back in his chair again, cracking up over something that did not seem nearly as funny as he was making it out to be. "And you believe that?" He took a moment to catch his breath. "Look, Mr. Suzuki can show me what he was doing all he wants, but I think even you two gentl--gentlemen have to agree that a long-term employee's word versus a brand new student's is a lot more reliable. This is not to mention that we know nothing of his previous school records. If I am not mistaken, Mr. Suzuki is a foreign exchange student. Isn't it possible that his English isn't quite so good? Why, I bet he didn't even know what he was saying when he told you he didn't touch anyone."
Hayes cleared his throat.
"That aside, just because he didn't intend on making physical contact doesn't mean that he didn't. Even if he didn't intend on hurting someone, fist fighting is fist fighting...and that is not allowed."
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 18:28:46 GMT -5
Peter gave Danil a look that said, "I told you so." But Danil was not to be rattled so easily. "Principal Hayes, even the most seasoned official makes mistakes. Kyo has shown no signs of agression to us. While we may not know him well, we think very highly of him as a person." He gestured to Kyo to sit back down. "I am not excluding him from punishment entirely, because I do want him to understand that just because a student asks him to do something does not mean that he should do it. But suspension is rather harsh considering it is his first offense, perhaps a Saturday detention should be enough to make him understand. Peer pressure is a powerful thing. Kyo wishes to fit in, but he also wants to be obedient."
"You know, I was just thinking," Peter piped up, "when I got in trouble at school it was never a one-sided thing. Have you talked to the other student? What punishment did he receive?"
"For that matter," Danil added, "what was his nationality?"
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 20:15:20 GMT -5
"Principal Hayes, even the most seasoned official makes mistakes. Kyo has shown no signs of agression to us. While we may not know him well, we think very highly of him as a person."
The principal snorted his disapproval. Danil gestured for Kyo to sit down, so he did so and went back to studying Principal Hayes' hideous, gray rug.
"I am not excluding him from punishment entirely, because I do want him to understand that just because a student asks him to do something does not mean that he should do it. But suspension is rather harsh considering it is his first offense, perhaps a Saturday detention should be enough to make him understand. Peer pressure is a powerful thing. Kyo wishes to fit in, but he also wants to be obedient."
"You know, I was just thinking," Peter piped up, "when I got in trouble at school it was never a one-sided thing. Have you talked to the other student? What punishment did he receive?"
"For that matter," Danil added, "what was his nationality?"
Kyo wasn't phased by Danil's comments, as he already knew he was being "grounded." However, when both he and Peter asked about Alexander, he began to get a little nervous. He tried to mind his own business. He thought it disrespectful and cowardly to try to bring someone else down in an attempt to save his own skin. He wasn't sure whether or not Alexander had been truly trying to get him in trouble, or whether he even liked the other boy or not, but he knew without a doubt that "tattling" on him was crossing a very awkward line. Not only was it horribly rude...well, Kyo didn't want to make enemies on his first day of school either, and every time he thought of saying names and faces, he could only think of the American movies where the kids who did similar actions were bullied and disliked to no end.
He rested his head in his hands. This was an unfair position. He would gladly have taken suspension and grounding over all this.
Principal Hayes, on the other hand, was looking at the boy's two caretakers like they were insects on his self-adoring walls. "I don't see where any of that nonsense would fit in. I do not know which student it was, but I do know he was not the one who put his fists up. And as for nationality...well, yes, it's as I've said. That seems entirely irrelevant. Unless..."
He paused, then smirked.
"Unless you have some sort of bias...do you, gentlemen?"
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 20:33:56 GMT -5
Danil hid a smile by pursing his lips. He'd gotten to him, all right. In fact, he seemed to e playing right into his hands. "Well, I wouldn't call us biased if it turns out that you let a white student completely off the hook and yet punish a brand new Japanese exchange student. You just said that you did not know who the other student is. So he has not come to you, has he? Doesn't that sound a little odd to you?"
"Forgive me, but it sounds like you did not investigate this properly. You just automatically assumed that just because you have a new exchange student that happened to get in trouble automatically meant he had to be guilty. Why didn't this other teacher bring both students to you to sort this out? After all, there's no knowing whose fault it was without him. Why don't we call this teacher, ask who the other student was, call his parents, have them come here, and we can straighten this out," Peter suggested.
"In the interest of total justice, I don't think that is a lot to ask," Danil agreed.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 20:55:05 GMT -5
Kyo was flabbergasted by their responses, but probably not as much as the Principal. Hayes was sitting there with his mouth open, and when he did try to vocalize his thoughts, it seemed he was unable to. His entire plan had been turned against him. And here he was thinking he had been soooo clever.
Hayes met Kyo's eye, but Kyo betrayed nothing.
"Th-that is...absolutely not the case! I am a fair judge in all the circumstances that are presented to me. And I trust Katherine's judgment. She is a very reasonable woman. She would not bring just this boy to me if someone else was partly to blame." He grabbed a tissue from a tissue box on his desk and dabbed at his face. He seemed to be sweating bullets. Kyo noted that the man's knuckles had turned white, they were clutching they arms of his chair so fiercely.
"Since you are so insistent on your child's innocence in this whole affair, I will call her in, assuming she hasn't left yet. We'll get this straightened out yet." Hayes picked up his phone and dialed out to one of the secretaries. "Yes, could you send Lorendra to find out if Katherine Shaw is still available? I am having some...er, trouble with a situation she dealt with earlier. If she is around, please ask her to come to my office immediately."
He hung up without a thank-you.
Not even five minutes later, Katherine Shaw knocked sternly on the Principal's door and allowed herself in. She was a little surprised to see two men sitting across the desk from Hayes himself, yet with another glance, she spotted Kyo and realized what this was all about.
"You needed to see me, Darren?"
If everything wasn't so serious at the moment, Kyo might have laughed. Darren Hayes. Heh heh, didn't sound half as spectacular as it was made out to be.
Hayes nodded. "Mr. Suzuki's parents here are giving me a hard time about the situation earlier. They seem under the impression that their child is entirely free from blame and are demanding to know the other parties involved."
Mrs. Shaw folded her arms. Her face was as stern-looking as ever. "I don't see how it's really relevant, but I'll admit I was a little concerned about the "other party", as you called it."
She looked at Kyo and continued.
"I was on my way to the meeting this morning and happened across this young man here in Maggie. Hart's classroom with another group of boys. He was standing in front of Alexander Rhoades in a fighting stance. When I got into the doorway of the room to further investigate what was going on, I saw him lash out. I'm certain Mr. Rhoades wasn't hurt--I believe I was there on time to prevent that.
Now, Mr. Rhoades did try to cover up for this boy by admitting he had asked him to see some martial arts, yet I believe all our rules--as in any school--about fist-fighting are clear, even in terms of some kind of 'showcase.'" She sighed. "I didn't realize this was so confusing."
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 21:09:57 GMT -5
Danil sighed. She had seen him "lash out," she said. Kyo did not exactly say such a thing to them. He just told Danil and Peter that he had done a pose. Well that did complicate things, and Danil and Peter knew that.
"Is this other student suspended as well?" he asked, trying to be diplomatic about it, although he already knew from the principal's earlier words that he was not. "Why was he not brought to the office with Kyo? And the other group of students, why weren't they punished as well? After all, as anyone will tell you, it takes two at least, to fight."
"We're not trying to free him from blame entirely," Peter said. "We just want to make sure that this is entirely fair. After all, it would be quite unethical if one student was punished and not another."
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 21:32:02 GMT -5
Kyo froze at his teacher's words. He began to rake his mind for the answers...Had he really lashed out? Had he really hit Alexander? No...he didn't think it was possible. He couldn't have have! He had been adamant about avoiding that very thing! In fact, Alexander's friends had been so closely crowded around him, that he had been concerned that there was not enough room for him to perform any martial art without some type of contact. With that in mind, he had been very careful not to touch anyone...
Of course, just because he didn't touch anyone didn't mean he hadn't "lashed out." But that was something he couldn't remember. There was a big gap between the moment he got into the fighting stance, right up to when he heard Mrs. Shaw's voice and was pulled back. Of course, it would seem very reasonable for that "gap" to have been filled up with some kind of action he couldn't remember doing.
Kyo looked up at Mrs. Shaw.
She must recognized the look of utter confusion, because she sighed and went on, "Alexander Rhoades isn't Langley High School's best student. In fact, he's been in a couple of incidents here, though nothing too big. I would have sent him down to the office with Mr. Suzuki, however, what I saw was him standing by when Mr. Suzuki...well, I don't want to say attacked, but, when Mr. Suzuki made a move at him."
She shook her head.
"Gentlemen, I completely understand where you are coming from, and I wholly agree. However, because I did not see Mr. Rhoades or his friends doing anything wrong, I cannot make any other say in the matter. It comes down to what the Principal thinks is best."
Now she turned to her superior.
"Darren, I would take some consideration into these young men's words. Mr. Suzuki has some blame in this, obviously, but it might be wise to question the other boys as well. Mr. Rhoades did tell me he was partly to blame."
Hayes looked like he wanted to take some consideration like a hole in the head. He drummed his fingers on the desktop in front of him and finally shook his head. "Fine. I will question Mr. Rhoades in the morning. If his response comes out matching yours--" he was addressing Danil and Peter, though he was not looking their way, "--I will drop Mr. Suzuki's suspension. However, I do not think Mr. Suzuki should attend school tomorrow. Fist-fighting is a serious-enough offense, and I think we're all pretty certain about what has happened here, for the most part."
Kyo felt totally ashamed, and even more so when Mrs. Shaw looked his way. He wasn't sure he wanted to even return to his hosts' home. It meant he would also have to call his parents and explain the matter.
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 21:54:50 GMT -5
Danil stood up, followed by Peter. "That is quite understandable, Principal Hayes, and we thank you for coming down to explain things, Mrs. Shaw. Good evening to you, and Kyo will see you on Wednesday then. I would also like to repeat that we are not asking for Kyo tio be left entirely unpunished in this affair. He is partly to blame for this misunderstanding. Good evening to you both, and thank you for taking the time to speak to us." He offered his hand, first to Mrs. Shaw, and then to Principal Hayes. Peter did the same.
"Hopefully if we meet again it will be under much happier circumstances," he said with a smile. "We're sorry for the trouble. We just had to get every fact, so we could understand the best action to take at home. Good evening to you. Oh, do you have a copy of the school handbook, by the way?"
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 22:13:37 GMT -5
Danil looked like some kind of god when he stood up. So much so, that Kyo almost wanted to bow down to him on his hands and knees and call him Dan-o-sama for the rest of his stay in America. He was quite the imposing figure... Kyo was suddenly a lot more nervous about what was going to happen than he had been when he had first walked in the door at their home. He purposely avoided Peter's gaze--that was one he wasn't sure he could take just yet.
He did feel guilty, sitting here red with embarrassment and listening to everyone debating over what he had and hadn't done...But he still wasn't sure whether he was or not.
"That is quite understandable, Principal Hayes, and we thank you for coming down to explain things, Mrs. Shaw. Good evening to you, and Kyo will see you on Wednesday then. I would also like to repeat that we are not asking for Kyo tio be left entirely unpunished in this affair. He is partly to blame for this misunderstanding. Good evening to you both, and thank you for taking the time to speak to us."
Kyo swallowed the lump in his throat. He wondered where the boys' room was. He couldn't quite remember, but he felt like he was going to be terribly sick. It seemed he was getting himself all worked up inside...He was never very good at making his issues a public thing, although this situation would have made that hard to believe. That was probably the reason why he was so worked up...He had never been in such a situation!
"Hopefully if we meet again it will be under much happier circumstances," Danil went on. "We're sorry for the trouble. We just had to get every fact, so we could understand the best action to take at home. Good evening to you. Oh, do you have a copy of the school handbook, by the way?" Kyo stood up, but he was so depressed and anxious and confused, he was sort of hunched over and meek-looking, like an extreme character from one of his manga books. He was still studying the floor.
Mrs. Shaw took note of this, but said nothing. There didn't really seem to be anything to say for the moment. "It's no trouble, gentlemen. Glad to meet you." She shook their hands back.
Hayes waited until the men were ready to go before he reached into his desk, dug through a few papers, and pulled out a school handbook. He didn't say anything to either of the two men, just held it out for them to take. Then, when he suddenly decided he didn't like that idea, he left it on the edge of the desk for them. He said nothing, not even a goodbye, as the family left the room.
Kyo, embarrassed as he was, bowed low on his way out.
"What do you think?" Hayes asked Mrs. Shaw, when he was sure the family was gone. He was quite serious.
Mrs. Shaw shrugged. "I'm not so sure. I don't know who he is, really, but he doesn't seem like the type to start fist fights on the first day of school." She sighed. As she was exiting the room, she turned around and added, "You'll find out tomorrow about the other boys, but I guess you should go a little easier on him. I am sure he will get some strict discipline at home."
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 22:31:53 GMT -5
Danil walked out carrying the handbook.
"That didn't go too well," Peter commented.
"It could have been much worse," Danil said with a sigh. He put his arm around Kyo as they walked to the car. "Are you all right? You looked like you were being given the death penalty in there."
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 23:06:05 GMT -5
Kyo thought they would all be silent, all the way home. He was even keeping an eye out for a bathroom on the way out of the school--his stomach was still lurching a little.
"That didn't go too well," Peter commented.
"It could have been much worse," Danil said with a sigh. He put his arm around Kyo as they walked to the car. "Are you all right? You looked like you were being given the death penalty in there."
Kyo felt a great deal of the weight lifted off of him. He had expected both men to be enraged with him, now that it seemed he had actually done something wrong. Anyway, if they were, they weren't showing it. They were more concerned with how he was doing, which he greatly appreciated, though he didn't feel he deserved it.
Kyo couldn't help smiling a little. "Am I dead yet?"
When they all finally got back to the home, Kyo realized just how exhausted he was. It had been a truly long day, and though it wasn't even close to supper time yet, he felt like he was going to collapse. He didn't want to think about calling his parents now--or ever, for that matter--but especially not when his head hurt and his thoughts were all muddled up and confused. He wanted to be able to tell them intelligently, not sounding like he had lost 10 IQ points within one day of schooling.
He knelt down to pet Zoloto, who greeted them at the front door, then turned to Danil and Peter. "May I take a nap? I am so very tired, I cannot think of what to say and I do not feel so good. I can wake up later so we can talk. I will call my parents then, as well. This is good?"
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Post by Angela on Jan 31, 2009 23:18:48 GMT -5
Danil looked at him piteously. "Of course you may get some sleep, Kyo. We'll just wake you when dinner is ready. Would you like something to drink? Some tea, a fruit smoohie, juice, something?" he asked.
"Kyo, listen, I'm sorry I was so hard on you. I didn't know all the facts and while I'm not thrilled about this whole thing, I overreacted. I am sorry." He patted his back.
"Go on and lie down, Kyo. I'll bring you something in a few minutes."
Zoloto trotted to the living room and got one of her toys as Kyo headed to his room. Kyo was surprised to see the black and white cat lounging on Kyo's own pillow, swishing his tail back and forth. When he realized that the boy was present, he looked at him, not moving, but swished his tail a little, looking at him almost expecting him to do something, or say something.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Jan 31, 2009 23:59:48 GMT -5
Danil looked at him piteously. "Of course you may get some sleep, Kyo. We'll just wake you when dinner is ready. Would you like something to drink? Some tea, a fruit smoothie, juice, something?" he asked.
"Kyo, listen, I'm sorry I was so hard on you. I didn't know all the facts and while I'm not thrilled about this whole thing, I overreacted. I am sorry." He patted his back.
"Go on and lie down, Kyo. I'll bring you something in a few minutes."Kyo angled his head to the side. Everything had changed very, very quickly. He felt like he had fallen into that hole he'd been wanting to fall into earlier. He'd fallen into it and landed in Oz. Something like that. It just seemed totally out of the blue that his two hosts' were doting on him so quickly after his "conviction." It wasn't that he didn't like it, he was just...well, just very much surprised. "Hai, hai," he bowed his head to each one, "this is so nice. You do not have to take the trouble over me. Hai, I can...uhh, just the sleep is fine. If I can rest a little I will be able to talk with more sensibl...I will talk more reasonably." He bowed his way out of the room, shaking his head with disappointment at his own inabilities at the moment, and closed the door partway behind him once he got into his new room. He had intended to just collapse onto his bed and sleep all his confusion off. Immediately. But it didn't seem like it was going to happen. Kyo actually jumped a little. As "Sing Sing Sing" began playing out lightly from the living room, he studied the sly eyes of Vaska, who was perched contentedly on his pillow. His tail was swishing back and forth, almost like he was just daring Kyo to try and move him. Kyo groaned and raked an arm across his tired eyes. "Ohhh...Vaska, you have picked such a bad-ah time to be stubborn." Kyo sighed heavily and flopped down onto the bed anyway. If he had to sleep without a pillow, so be it...He didn't feel like getting swiped at by the cat. Kyo looked up one more time to see if Vaska would relent a little and was somewhat surprised to see that Vaska was still looking at him. But this time, he had switched positions. He was clutching onto his pillows with his claws, looking very much as though Kyo--who had merely hopped onto the bed--had attempted to move him. "Nani?" Kyo asked the animal, eyes wide. "I did not touch you!" Vaska remained in the same position, still staring. Kyo thought about it. He had jumped onto the bed... A little curious, he bounced again, lightly, and watched the cat watch him. It was kind of comical, actually. Kyo bounced on the bed once more, this time much harder, and watched as Vaska went up into the air. This time he couldn't help bursting out into laughter. Vaska was looking at Kyo like the instant he got back down to the pillow, he was going to kill him. Kyo was cracking up. "Haha...so sorry, Vaska...this is actually very funny right now." He reclaimed his pillow quickly before the black and white cat landed, heaving it to the far side of the bed so that it would be out of Vaska's way, if the cat chose to stay. A couple of minutes later, Kyo, feeling a little better already, had fallen asleep. And Vaska, despite having been so rudely relocated, softened a little and curled up next to Kyo. But mainly because he was warm, not because Vaska actually sympathized.
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Post by Angela on Feb 1, 2009 0:21:47 GMT -5
A few hours later, Danil came to Kyo's room. He opened the door after knocking a little, and looked inside. He chuckled at Kyo and Vaska lying together. Vaska was curled in a ball against Kyo's knees. He shook his head at how adorable they were.
Makes me want a child of my own, he thought.
"Kyo?" he asked, gently leaning over to touch his shoulder. "Dinner is ready, Kyo-san, if you want something to eat."
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Feb 1, 2009 0:40:33 GMT -5
"Kyo?" he asked, gently leaning over to touch his shoulder. "Dinner is ready, Kyo-san, if you want something to eat."
Danil's voice interrupted a dreamless sleep that Kyo had drifted into a couple of hours back. Kyo grunted and turned over to find Danil leaning over him. Vaska was still at his knees and hadn't moved.
Kyo sat up.
The smell of home-made, Italian cooking drifted through the house. If Danil's polite waking hadn't roused him enough, the delicious scent of the food certainly did. Kyo rubbed his eyes and stretched. He was generally feeling a lot better. His headache was gone, his stomachache was waning, and though he was now groggy, he didn't mind getting up and facing the music when he broke the news to his parents. For some reason, it didn't feel like the same day he had been suspended.
"It smells yum-wah in the house," Kyo responded to Danil, climbing carefully out of bed so that he didn't get a head-rush. "Thank you for waking me up. I will join you. You can tell me what you wanted to tell before. I am ready to listen without--" He paused and laughed at himself, "--without sounding so stupid as before."
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Post by Angela on Feb 1, 2009 0:52:19 GMT -5
Eee? Vaska mewed as Kyo stirred. He looked at him annoyed. What's your problem? Why are you moving? he thought as he too got up and stretched, kneading the bedspread with his paws. He got out from behind Kyo's knees and shook. He sniffed the air. Food! he thought, licking his paw, then rubbing his paw on his face, cleaning himself as if to look "presentable" for dinner. He followed his master and the guest into the kitchen.
Danil smiled and put his arm around him as they walked to the kitchen. "Well, of course, Peter and I want to talk with you about what happened today."
Zoloto was eating a little of the cooked chicken in her bowl, contentedly. Vaska went to his bowl, which had nothing but cat food in it, and meowed insistently. To emphasize his distaste, he went to Peter, who was serving the dishes on the plates, and rubbed against his legs, purring and meowing insistently.
"Kyo, sit down. What would you like to drink?" Peter asked, his tone now just as friendly as ever. Obviously, the two had talked while Kyo was sleeping.
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Post by Kyo Suzuki on Feb 1, 2009 1:07:16 GMT -5
Kyo allowed Danil to guide him out of the room and to the table, where Peter was serving the food. He was feeling more up to talking now, especially with the delicious food that was in sight. And Peter himself was looking incomparably more content, more pleasant, than he had when Kyo had first walked in the door after school.
Kyo looked back towards the stairwell. He couldn't help wondering if Nicholas would join them. The other boy sometimes seemed like a shadow, coming and going as he needed to, but rarely seen doing so. It would be sad for him to miss out on the nice meal. But, Kyo realized, he probably wouldn't want to sit through an entire chat about Kyo's misbehaving anyway...
"Kyo, sit down. What would you like to drink?"
Kyo did as he was told and folded his hands. "Milk would be so nice, if it is available." He looked at the plate in front of him and licked his lips. "Thank you for your kindness, even though I may not be deserving. What will we talk about?" He wasn't going to eat until everyone else sitting and eating.
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