{>Behind Emerald Eyes<}

[Lady Shad]

Disclaimer: I do not own Kekkashi, nor any characters in this story otehr than SuteNeko, Miki, and Neko.

Chapter One: the Valiant Wolf

"Alright everyone, before class starts, I'd like you to welcome our new classmate, Gen Shishio," Mr.Green said as a tall guy walked in. I could tell my the sound of his footsteps, but I didn't bother looking up. Of course he would be the generic brand male, over confident and cocky. Nothing different, but the only seat avaliable was next to me, and if I could spare myself a moment of teasing I would. After all, I'd been doing science experiments alone for half the year now, in order to avoid it. After all, one good look at me and he'd be running for the hills. Whispers ran rampant as he walked in, mostly from the girls. This is how I knew I'd be in big trouble. Having the next popular guy as my science partner? I'll have the whole female race at Whispering Winds High on my back!

"It's too bad he Has to sit by Suteneko. She's so weird!" I heard one particularly mean girl whispter, and I flinched as if she's physically slapped me. You'd think that, after years of abuse I'd get used to it, but in truth, every new insult seemed to be harsher, hurt more. I looked down at my unfished sketch, a vialiant wolf, though battered. Why didn't I go to sleep as soon as I came in? Why did I have to find the name of my newest tormentor? I still didn't look up as Shishio sat next to me, preferring to keep by eyes hidden. As soon as my eyes where revealed, it was all over. I kept expecting him to talk, but he seemed to be as comfortable with silence as myself. Strange, of a new popular guy. I picked up my pencil, contenuing my sketch, though soon I fell of into sleep again, sitting up while I slept, in that weird way I do.

When I woke, it was a few minutes before the lunch bell rang, strange for me. I looked up to the clock, freezing when, instead of the back wall, I met the eyes of the new boy. I stiffened in fright, but then I saw that he looked.. different. His eyes where weird, and I could smell that his spiky hair held no gel. He was different, but not like me. My hair was too thick to do anyhting with, but that was ok, as it laid striaght always. Still, that was not the bad part about me. The bad part... was my bright red eyes, with slitted pupils. I soon looked away, in shame. He would always be on the inside looking out now, meanwhile I'd be on the outside looking in. Always and forever. At that moment, the bell rang, and I quickly gathered my things and hurried out, the first one in the hall. I didn't notice the new guy staring intently after me.

~~~

I picked carefully at my food, taking tiny bits of mashed potatoes. I hid away in the farthest corner of the lunchroom, hiding from the majority of the violent glares directed towards me. Maybe if I ignored them, they'd all just go away and leave me alone? I wonder how the new guy, Gen, was doing? I have to admit, there was something, and not just his looks, but something was strange about him. It drew me closer, as if, whatever it was, and I was scared of it. I grabbed my locket, as if it's warm metal in my hand would comfort me. To tell the truth, it did. I picked up a peach, biting into it. I had wasted half the luch period thinking, and if I wanted food today, I needed to fill up. It was back to searching for a decent place to sleep again. My last hiding spot had been found my one of the gangs, so I couldn't go back there. They'd be waiting for me. I fiished off my peach and started on a samwich before I noticed a presence behind me, and I looked up. There he was, Gen Shishio. I hadn't noticed how much I've been thinking of him today, until I saw him.

I looked dawn at my hands, sadly thinking of the plate full of food I didn't get to eat, and how hungery I'd be later. Of course, though, he would have heard about me by now, and wouldn't want to sit next to a freak. "I'll go now," I said in my usual quiet voice, standing up. It was either this or be attacked later. I laerned long ago that it was better to be a live coward than be a dead fool. I stood, turning to leave, ready to go without a fight. Gen grabbed my wrist, though, shocking me greatly, and I turned to ice under his touch. "Wait," He said, looking at me with little emotion in his eyes. "Sit with me?" I was sure that my wide eyes betrayed my utter shock at this notion, but he didn't seem to be joking. The possiblility that this was a dare from his new friends was quickly diffused from a look around at the surrounding tables. This was not expected. "A-alright," I said, my hunger winning out. Note to self: Wit has no defense against hunger.

I ate quickly and in silence, knowing that I'd regret it, but I just couldn't stand the tension that was between us. It grew stronger every second we remained silent, but I was the only one trembling for this tension. So, either he hid it better, or he was totally oblivious and this tension was completely one-sided. That was a possiblity, as my abilities often led to feelings that I felt alone. Either way, he had an effect on me that no one else had, and I wasn't sure whether or not that was a good thing. I chanced a glance at him, fleeting, but I couldn't help it. When I did, though, I noticed he was looking at me, too, and I wasn't sure how long he had been staring. My face turned pink and I looked down at my tray, my stomach tossing and turnign so violently that I had lost my appetite. I stood, grabbing my tray and leaving before I even noticed that I hadn't even said a word to him. So, I did the greatest kindness to him that I was able to. When my hand touched the dorr to leave, I looked back, and sure enough, he was watching me. Is miled at him, no, for him, though just for a moment. I leaft then, but I had a feeling that, with that one small kindness, I'd be seeing alot more of Gen Shishio.

[Lady Shad]

Chapter Two: Coming To the Rescue

I walked quietly down the street, getting jumpier the darker it got. Of course, being jumpy was good for a poor homeless girl like me, when I was homeless in the worst part of town. It was home, though, the dark trees, the cracked sidewalks, even the broken benches. I was at home here, dispite the fact that I was contenuously in danger. It was all I ever knew, ever since I could remember. Perhaps not the Safest, but for me, undoubtedly the best.

"Hey! Over here, she's over here!" I heard a voice call out, and as I looked behind me, I saw a bunch of guys turn around the corner. With a flood of panic, I realized that these where the same guys that where after me last time. I broke out into a sprint, quickly turning a corner, but with no avail. They where still gaining. I looked over my shoulder, scared out of my wits. It was then that I plowed into a brick wall. That is, I thought it was a brick wall, but when I looked up, I met the face of Gen Shishio.

I didn't have time to be shocked, I jumped up and hid behind the frame of the new kid, looking around his shoulder at the three guys that where still racing after me. They slowed as they got up near us, and I could see the smirks on their face. After all, this was just some new kid on the block that was going to be taught a lesson, right? I hoped not. I didn't want his blood on my hands.

"Hey, guy, it's obvious you're new here, so I'll cut you some slack. This is our turf, so back off, unless you want trouble," One guy stepped forward, swaying as if drunk. Come to think of it, he did smell rather nasty. I sniffed, and paired with my wide eyes, I think the head guy signed it off as fear. "Back off,"

I almost didn't hear it, even with my excellent hearing. It certainly caught me off gaurd. I mean, why stand up for me? I was a stranger, a street urchin whose name he didn't even know. To add to the downside, there where three gang members! Why would he help me? Wouldn't it just be easier to let them catch me? "What was that?" The head guy asked.

"Back. Off," Gen growled, and to me, his features seemed to grow somewhat more feral. "You think you can take uh-" His senentce was cut off as Gen dissappeared, attacking with blinding speed. As I watched, he easily took down three older guys, who undoubtedly had alot of brawling experiance, without breaking a sweat!

Though the most startling part as not the ease in which he attacked; It was the blood he drew without even a knife.Sure, the three left running, but what was he? I stepped forward, toward the rigid figure of Gen. "G-Gen?" I muttered, touching his shoulder ever so slightly. "Do have anywhere to stay tonight?"

This question was surely not what I was expecting. Come to think of it, I wasn't sure what I was expecting. I looked down at the concrete, instantly ashamed. "No," I whispered, peeking up at the spiky-haired boy. Surprizingly, he didn't look disgusted, like the others she had admitted this to. I trembled slightly in the growing cold, and the streetlights flickered on. Gen looked... well, I wasn't sure. I couldn't register any emotion on his face. "Come on then, you'll go home with me,"
~~~
When we stepped into his small apartment, I looked around in awe. It was by far the nicest place I’ve ever seen, and bonus, it was warm. A welcoming sensation after the nighttime chill of an autumn night. I took off Gen’s coat, handing it to him. “I’ll go get some spare blankets, you can wait here,” He said, disappearing into another room.

I walked around the main room for a bit, but there was nothing there but a window, walls, a couch, and a small T.V. Not much, but it smelled nice. Kinda spicey and woodsy at the same time, just like Gen. Isat on the couch, pulling my legs up under my chin, and closed my eyes. I was so warm, and the spicy smell was the last thing I remembered as I drifted off to sleep.

Gen's POV

Gen walked back into the room, carrying a couple of white sheets. "Here..." He let his voice trail off as he saw the girl's sleeping figure on the couch. He blushed slightly as he thought of how cute she was. It wasn't as if he'd ever have the liberty of having those feelings. Because just one unchecked moment, one angry night... she'd end up like his sister, or worse. The sound of her shifting position brought Gen back to reality. How could she be able to trut him so easily, even after he helped her? It made no sense.

He walked over, covering her with the sheets as he inhaled her scent. It smelled nice, floral, like a mix of Roses, Honeysuckle and Wisteria. He allowed himself to indulge in teh scent for a moment, before backing off. He told himself that it was for tracking purposes only; A half-ayakashi couldn't go running around unchecked. The truth was, though, he did it for himself. He already missed Tokine and Yoshimori. He missed the companionship of others who really understood. Perhaps this is why he took her in, though that made no sense. It was very clear she had no idea about ayakashi, or what she was.

Gen walked to look out the window. They would be at Karosumori now, without him. How was their lives now, his only true friends, thinking he's dead? He hoped they didn't miss him too much. After all, the reason he was taking care of the girl now was for them. They'd want him to help her, with them being so alike. Was it really right for him to do this, though? It was dangerous every second they where near each other. He could lose control, or attract an ayakashi. For some reason, ayakashi haven'y been attreacked to her. In fact, he couldn't even sense her. Why was that? He wondered, looking abck at the serene picture behind him. He could puzzle over it later. He needed to sleep now.

[Lady Shad]

Chapter Three: Animal Cruelty

I awoke to sunlight reaching through the window. I opened my eyes slowly, blinking. Where was I? I sat up, rubbing the crusty sleep out of my eyes. I sat dazed for a moment, letting my eyes adjust to the brightness of the room surrounding me. Then I gazed at the grey walls, wondering how I got here. I wrapped the sheets closer around my skinny shoulders, noticing a spicy scent. Everything from last night came rushing back into my head, and I squeezed my eyes shut, starting to tremble from fear, still fresh in my heart.

After a few moments, though hardly enough time for this festering fear to die down, I got up, walking into the nearby kitchen. A pot of boiled eggs was sitting on the stove, and I took four, and walked back out of the kitchen. By the smell, Gen was gone. So either he was kind enough to give me refuge and let me live here, of he abandoned me. My guess was the latter, as usual. No one ever stayed near me for long, with me being a monster and all. I told myself that I've long become numb to it, but that's a lie. I still felt the sting as harshly as the first time.

I walked out the door, deciding that, if he did abandon me, he didn't mind me going for a walk. If he didn't, He'd be back, and maybe I could get some answers. Why would he bring me here, after possibly saving my life, and then leave me? Wasn't he afraid I'd steal, or something like that? As I moved slowly down the sidewalk, I began to nibble an egg, looking around at the graffiti-riddled cement walls. It's a shame how people with such artistic talent wasted it like that, you know? "Meow," I jumped, looking down at a cute, tiny tourtouiseshell cat.

I laughed at myself for being scared of such a cute kitty. "Hey there, kitty. Are you hungry?" I cooed, holding out the last of my eggs. The cat took it, eating it greedily. I smiled, petting the cat's soft fur. How great would it be to have a cat? Or any kind of pet, really. Still, that just wasn't possible for me, after all, I couldn't feed myself, much less an animal. I stood again, giving the cat one last pat. "Bye, kitty. Have a good life."

~~~

The sun beat down on my uncovered arms, turning them slightly pink. Unfortunately, the autumn offered no respite from the sun for my unusually pale skin. I scratched absent-mindedly, really just wandering around the neighborhood. I paused at a iron fence, looking through the bars at a park, where a lot of kids, young and old, where playing together happily. I grabbed the bars pressing my forehead to the cold iron that shut me out of a normal life as surely as the other kid's shunning.

I felt tears start to rise in my eyes as I watched the children at play. There was something that I wanted more than anything in the world, something I would give anything to have. I wanted a family, I wanted a mother and a father to hold me when I was scared, to take care of me and make all the bad things in life go away. I sniffled, rubbing my eyes with teh back of my hand. Why'd I have to be so emotional? After years of these fruitless wishes, I should have learned better by now, as I keep telling myself.

"Are you alright?" I epped and jumped as Gen spoke quietly in my ear. I hadn't heard him come up, even with my heightened hearing. My mind searched for an answer, scrambling rapidly for a well-placed lie as I turned my face away, hoping he wouldn't see my tears. "Y-yeah. I'm fine, just fine," I was a terrible liar. Even I didn't believe that. I rubbed my eyes again, depurate to get them dry before Gen noticed anything. Who wanted to hang around an emotional, weepy girl all the time?

My body went rigid as I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders lightly, surprising me, and by the sound of his voice, Gen too. "It's alright to cry sometimes, if you don't overdo it," He said, starting to lead me back down the street, away from the park and it's haunting beckons. I walked silently beside him, not really sure what to say. It was clear that he wasn't used to comforting someone else, and it made me wonder what he had been through. He certainly was a mystery, and I looked at him out of the corner of my eye as we walked along the once-again darkening streets.

I suddenly heard barking, and distressed mewls coming from one of the alleys, and as I looked down the alley, I saw a bunch of guys with their Doberman, sicking the dog on a cat. Not just any cat, but the cute little kitty I met earlier that day! I stopped dead in my tracks, horrified as the dog leapt toward the cat. Then, of course, my protective instincts came over. I ran towards the guys, moving as fast as my legs could move. "Leave that cat alone!" I yelled, breaking past the line of boys and scooping the bloody scrap of fur into my arms. Not even a quiet mew came from the bundle in my arms, and I desperately hoped it wasn't too late. Though now I had a new problem; The four guys in front of me, and the snarling Doberman, and with my terrified stance, I was hardly a menacing target.

"Hey guys, look like we’ve got some hero here!" One of the guys snickered, and I closed my eyes in fear, until I heard Gen's icy voice. "Leave her alone."

"Yeah, kid? And who's gunna make us?" One, the oldest, stepped forward.

"I'm not going to say it again," I noticed that Gen's hand had some strange, dark aura hoveing around it now, and it confused me. What was that? I had no time to get a closer look, because Gen was once again a blur, moving so fast that I couldn't see him. Though the effect was immediate; All four guys where now laying on the ground, bleeding from strange claw-like wounds. Meanwhile, I was face-to-face with Gen, who was attentively looking me over for injury, which was a bit embarrassing, and I felt my face heat up. "Can you not stay out of trouble for for five minutes?" He growled, grossly exaggerating. It had been a day, not five minutes.

I ignored his angry question, though, more concerned about the sticky blood dripping on my fingers. "Gen?"

"Yes?"

"She's hurt..."

~~~

I sat on the couch close to Gen, watching as he tied the last of the bandages onto the now-clean cat. He handed her to me, and I stroked her soft fur as we sat in dark silence. The cat slowly raised one paw, catching my chin gently with her claws, though not enough to break the skin. Its golden eyes looked up intelligently at me, and I smiled at it. It looked as if it where sincerely grateful for our help, mine and Gen's.

I smiled, scratching the cat's chin. I looked at Gen out of the corner of my eye, and noticed that he was staring out of the window again. He did that a lot I've noticed. What was he looking at? I followed his gaze, staring closely at the horizon. There was a strange, dark smudge in the distance, perhaps a faraway rain cloud? I quickly looked back down at the cat as Gen looked over at me, as if he sensed that I was spying on him.

"So what are you going to call her?" He asked, and I could tell he was trying to make me feel at ease. I appreciated the effort, but really, just being next to him provoked strange feelings in me. I wanted to be near him, but at the same time I wanted to run. I wanted his friendship, but some other distant part of me faintly wanted to claw his face off, strangely. This muddle of confused feelings scared me, and I didn't know what to think.

I thought for a moment, but I couldn't think of a name. So, I went with the obvious. "Neko," I said, and I could swear the cat rolled her eyes. What was up with this cat? Gen nodded, and looked off out the window again as my eyes drooped sleepily. Tomorrow was the field trip to the forest. Gen was my science partner, so we’d spend most of our time together on the trip, I realized. I hope I won’t be a bother. Really, he was nice to me now, but what would happen when the other students told him what I did? He had proven kind, but I doubted his kindness would extend to me when he found out what I’ve done.

I leaned back, looking at the roof. No, don’t think about that now. Enjoy Gen while you have him. I smiled at the thought of Gen being mine. I closed my eyes, my petting turning into a small scratch of Neko’s ears. I smiled to myself, thinking of how I’d be to have a normal life, not one where I’m constantly being harassed. I liked to think it would be like the kind of life that I’d recently had with Gen, with someone there to take care of me.

I kept these thoughts close in my mind as I fell into sleep, as if just by thinking about them I could insure sweet dreams. I leaned against Gen’s side as I fell asleep, snuggling into his side comfortably, relishing in his spicy, warm scent as my mind drifted into unconsciousness.