Later that day, during art class Kusanagi had decided to paint an abstract scene from her imagination...an underwater scene. The view of the sky from what it looked like from being underwater in the vast ocean. Kusanagi wanted to capture that feeling one had when one swims deep down and then looks up through the sea at the sky. It was a feeling of becoming a part of that sky instead of just looking up at it. And as the fish swam around one it was similar to watching birds fly past overhead in the sky except that underwater one became a part of it. Just like being in the sky among the birds, flying, and free... A girl with short black hair, and large gleaming dark eyes came up besides Kusanagi. “It’s beautiful.” She complimented in Bitch 149
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a low voice, “You’ve captured the true feeling, the essence of how one feels when they’re underwater and looking up at the sky...”
Kusanagi blushed at the unexpected praise, no one else had ever seemed to understand her ‘abstract’ art before. “You really think so? Thanks.” Kusanagi turned to give the girl a shy smile.
“You are extremely talented.” The dark girl continued, “I believe you have the Gift. You can truly put your emotions into your paintings. I can tell, I can feel them. Why are you so...sad?”
Kusanagi’s expression turned to surprise. Sad? How does she know... “Sad? I’m not sad...what could I have to be sad about?”
Kusanagi’s classmates were snickering in their direction, probably eavesdropping Kusanagi realized. And they began whispering among themselves. Kusanagi only caught a few snippets of their conversations. “The Bitch...” “Freak...” “Who does she think she’s talking to?”
Orihime, the beautiful yet egotistic, snobby, modelstudent and fashion model came up to take a look at Kusanagi’s abstract painting out of curiosity.
Kusanagi took an unconscious step away from her. There was just something off about that girl, something unsettling that made Kusanagi’s stomach churn unpleasantly.
“Hmmm~ and what is this supposed to be exactly? The sky?” Orihime quirked her head at the painting. Kusanagi frowned, wondering what Orihime was up to.
“It’s an underwater scene...”
“Underwater? That’s just silly. Who would want to look at that? That sky alone is much more beautiful than a sky being seen from underwater. It makes no sense. The fish look like they’re flying in the sky, surrounded by the clouds…” Orihime furrowed her brow thoughtfully.
Kusanagi shrugged. “To each their own.”
Orihime turned to give Kusanagi a calculating stare. “I knew you were a bit eccentric, but you really shouldn’t stand 150
there talking to yourself, Kusanagi. They’ll talk even more about you than they already do. You’re so pathetic. I pity you though, bitch.” Orihime gave Kusanagi a haughty smile before turning and walking off with a flip of her long golden hair. Kusanagi glared after her, “Hey! I wasn’t talking to myself I was talking to-” Kusanagi turned to get the dark-haired girl’s name and saw that she was no longer there...How odd. Lunch came quickly and Kusanagi went to her usual spot under the cherry blossom tree when she spotted the dark girl again. “Oi! Come join me!” Kusanagi waved her over. The girl hesitated before coming over to join Kusanagi.
“I never got your name, I’m Kusanagi.” She stuck her hand out towards the shy girl.
The girl again hesitated but then took Kusanagi’s hand.
“I’m Azumi.”
Kusanagi smiled, an oddly warm smile. “Nice to meet you, Azumi.”
Azumi sat down across from Kusanagi, “Now I know why you’re so sad.” She said in an eerie way. Kusanagi choked on some green tea she had been sipping as it went down the wrong way. “Excuse me?”
Azumi’s expression turned grim. “You have people like Orihime at your school. All she cares about is her looks, her perfect image, and her beauty. It’s disgusting. She...envies you.”
Kusanagi blinked and then she burst out laughing.
“Orihime envies me? Get out of town! Orihime...well...she may be a snob but she is very beautiful. WAY more beautiful than me anyways!”
“Her beauty is fake. An illusion. And you...” Azumi reached out her hand to the odd piercings on Kusanagi’s ears and nose. “Are trying to hide your own beauty. But even if you deface it - it still shines through. As does your inner beauty. Kusanagi...The Bitch...yea right.” Azumi gave Kusanagi an ironic smile.
Kusanagi’s eyes had widened when Azumi had touched her piercings and said those things only to widen even more when Azumi acted as though she were in on the charade about Kusanagi being considered a bitch. Those dark eyes...they seemed to see right through Kusanagi. Did she really know the Bitch 151
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truth about her so easily? Just who was this girl? Those dark eyes that held a sadness oddly similar to her own. Kusanagi realized they must be kindred spirits. Kusanagi decided she’d like to try and befriend this strange girl.
“Hey, where’s your bento?” Kusanagi questioned Azumi suddenly.
“Oh, I didn’t bring one.” Azumi said in her quiet voice.
“Here you can share mine then. It’s HUGE! I don’t know what he was thinking! Packing me all this!” Kusanagi complained about the handmade bento (box lunch) Ranmaru had made for her and opened the elaborate lacquered box that had three levels of food. One level was just rice, another level contained shrimps in a spicy sauce, and the last level contained vegetables and pieces of sliced omelet. It was very extravagant but... “I’m going to get fat at this rate mou! ”
Azumi shyly accepted some of Kusanagi’s bento. She used a pair of borrowed chopsticks to take a small bite from a piece of omelet and her eyes widened. “It’s...delicious.” But then as she chewed slowly a slight frown formed on her face and her expression turned thoughtful. “But...I don’t feel like I should be eating this...”
Kusanagi blinked confusedly, “What do you mean?
There’s plenty-”
Azumi shook her head, “No, it’s not that. Who made this bento for you?”
“Ranmaru, my Samurai Butler. Why?”
“Samurai Butler? Well, he puts his emotions into his cooking...his feelings...feelings for you...and he-” Azumi blushed and opened her mouth to continue when-Ranmaru and Katsumi suddenly arrived at that exact moment so that Kusanagi was unable to find out what Azumi had been about to say.
Katsumi enthusiastically plopped herself down right next to Kusanagi, “Hey girlfriend! Wazzup?”
Kusanagi sighed. Oh brother. Tweedledee and Tweedledum have arrived.
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Ranmaru silently took a seat directly across from Kusanagi and just stared at her.
After a few moments of uncomfortable staring Kusanagi’s eye twitched in irritation. What was up with this guy? “Will you stop staring already? Geez!” Kusanagi pointed an accusing finger at Ranmaru.
Ranmaru blinked and was that a slight smirk on his face!
“But I have to keep an eye on you - it’s my job after all.”
Did Ranmaru just crack a joke! I really must be losing it today. Why oh why did I even bother to get out of bed today? “Oh shut up moron, keep your perverted glances pointed elsewhere hmph! Or else.” Kusanagi with lightning speed used her chopsticks to fling two pieces of omelet at Ranmaru, which hit their marks perfectly, directly landing on one of Ranmaru’s eyes. Ranmaru didn’t move as the egg slid slowly down his face.
Katsumi giggled as she watched the two of them. “You two...get along so well. It’s almost as if you two were lovers!
Teehee!”
Kusanagi predictably spazzed out. “K-k-koibito! L-llovers? This guy and me? Ha! Never! I would never go out with an emotionless freak like him! ‘Teehee’ my ass! KATSUMI! ”
Kusanagi growled and glared at Katsumi menacingly. Katsumi gulped as the full glare was directed at herself. Epp. “Yes?” She squeaked.
“Shut up now.”
“Hai. ” Katsumi quickly agreed and just as she opened her
mouth to apologize more Kusanagi flung a piece of omelet into Katsumi’s mouth. Katsumi blinked in surprise but then began to chew the piece of omelet with a thoughtful look on her face.
“Yep, I knew it.” Katsumi winked over at Ranmaru as if the two of them had shared an inside joke.
Kusanagi looked back and forth between the two of them frowning. “Hey! Just what the hell was that all about hmm?”
Katsumi giggled, “Oh nothing.”
Kusanagi glared and turned her glare next towards her stoic Samurai Butler, who was still calmly wearing egg on his face.
“Oi! Idiot! Wipe that egg off your face already will ya?
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Geez!” Kusanagi complained.
Ranmaru half bowed, while sitting. “Hai Oujo-sama. I was merely awaiting your permission to do so. I know how much it seemed to amuse you.” He smirked and wiped the egg from his face with a handkerchief.
Kusanagi glared suspiciously at him and her emerald eyes were glittering with anger. Did he just do that on purpose to make her angry? Was he...teasing her! Naw....that was impossible...right? Sigh. Ranmaru didn’t seem the type to have a humorous bone in his body. “You see what I have to put up with Azumi?” Kusanagi turned expecting to see the dark, shy girl still sitting next to her on her other side, but was surprised to find that her new friend Azumi had pulled another one of her disappearing acts. Strange.
Ranmaru’s expression turned unexpectedly serious. “Who were you talking to Oujo-sama? ”
Kusanagi frowned, “Oh...no one.”
“Hn.” Ranmaru frowned back and narrowed his golden eyes at Kusanagi as if she were hiding something.
“What?” Kusanagi exclaimed irritated by that look,
“Don’t look at me like that! Weirdo! Geez!” I don’t get him at all... Kusanagi threw her hands up into the air in exasperation. And when she thought Ranmaru might be smiling inwardly she decided to throw another piece of omelet at him. This time it hit him smack on the forehead - dead center. “Baka! Hmph!”
“You two are just so-” Katsumi was saying but was silenced by Kusanagi’s Glare of Death.
***
It was summer and so at Akai Bara Academy there was mandatory swim class. Swim classes were split up between the girls and the boys in their class since the pool wasn’t very large. Kusanagi enjoyed swim class except for the fact that her rival, err, Orihime was in her swim class too. And so there was the Grim Reaper’s shadow lurking just behind Orihime and in plain sight to Kusanagi. It was highly unnerving. Kusanagi made sure to keep an eye on the girl while she was swimming...but nothing 154
untoward had happened so far.
All the boys in their class were watching the girls from behind the chain-link fence that surrounded the entire pool area, and were enjoying getting the chance to see the girls in their school swimsuits. Typical boys. Kusanagi sighed and shook her head.
During swim practice Kusanagi had to take out all her piercings or else they’d rust. She also had to put all her wild hair into a swim cap since it was so long and unruly. And the swimsuit she had to wear was much too tight for her liking. It made her feel extremely uncomfortable and exposed in more ways than one. Here a part of her Bitch Mask had been taken away from her and so she felt oddly self-conscious. Basically, all the boys were seeing her in her underwear if one really thought about it. Kusanagi blushed at the thought. Why oh why couldn’t she have been born into an era where they had ‘respectable’
swimsuits? One piece suits that came up to the mid-thigh and that were all the rage in like the 1920s.
Was it Kusanagi’s imagination or was the shadow behind Orihime growing larger and more defined anytime she neared the pool? And was the Grim Reaper’s shadow smiling mockingly in Kusanagi’s direction? Kusanagi rubbed her eyes deciding she had probably been getting too much sun.
Kusanagi and Orihime competed with each other during freestyle laps and completely wore themselves out. But Kusanagi’s pride wouldn’t let her be beat by Orihime no matter what the challenge.
Kusanagi had even beaten Orihime during an impromptu race! Booyah!
Ranmaru had ‘infiltrated’ the pool area dressed in nothing but a tight fitting red Speedo (Kusanagi had to wonder where the hell he had even gotten the thing… Roze!! ) and his butler necktie, to ‘spy’, err, keep an eye on Kusanagi.
The girls were all blushing prettily at getting to see Ranmaru in nothing but his Speedo, but Kusanagi just thought he was a disgusting pervert. I mean how can he be so shameless...?
Kusanagi snuck a peak at him though and couldn’t help but admire his tan and muscular chest. (How had he managed to get a tan already anyways mou! ) His body was lithe and yet powerful Bitch 155
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looking. He had been putting on weight compared to when he first arrived at the Kimamura estate.
Mmmm hot stuff. No! No I did not just think that!
Kusanagi caught herself about to start drooling and shook her head furiously a frown forming on her lips. That would have been so embarrassing! “Ranmaru no baka! ” Kusanagi declared as she ran towards Ranmaru and sent a flying sidekick the unsuspecting Ranmaru’s way, and then as he was flying back she sent a harsh uppercut - her fist connecting with the bottom of Ranmaru’s jaw - his way and with such force that it sent him flying up and over the chain-link fence so that he landed amidst the other spying and sympathetic boys.
Orihime’s jaw dropped at Kusanagi’s harsh treatment of her butler. “Why do you treat him that way? Your butler is so...handsome.” Orihime was giving Kusanagi a look of pure disbelief.
“He’s also a complete idiot.” Kusanagi scoffed, waving her hand dismissively in the air, “Besides, he deserved it. He keeps stalking me!”
Orihime gave Kusanagi a sharp look. “He’s just doing his job. You know, looking out for you. And just because he’s clueless about girls doesn’t mean he deserves to be treated that way. Would it kill you to be a little nice to the guy?”
Kusanagi’s inner voice piped up. She has a point. You could be just a little nicer to him neh?
Nice? I’m doing this on purpose remember? It’s all for his own good so that he’ll quit neh? I have to be a total bitch to him! It’s not like I want to I-
Aha! So you do like him!
No way in hell!
Really, you don’t think you’re going too far? Her inner voice was inwardly frowning. No one deserves to be treated like that...like a dog...
Hmph! If he doesn’t like it he should just quit already!
Her inner voice seemed worried. He seems to take his job, honor, and Bushido very seriously though...what if your careless 156
words end up putting Ranmaru in real danger. What then?
Kusanagi frowned, Then...I’ll get him out of it myself. Kusanagi glared at Orihime, “Yes, it would.” She declared imperiously, her nose high in the air. Orihime sighed and threw up her arms in mock despair, “I suppose that’s all I should expect from Kusanagi The Bitch. If Ranmaru were my butler I would treat him far better than you do. In fact, if you don’t want him so badly why don’t you let me hire Ranmaru instead? I wouldn’t mind having a little eye candy like him at my estate. So what do you say?”
Kusanagi’s eyes widened in shock at the request. Orihime wanted to hire Ranmaru? She would want that baka? Kusanagi looked over to where Ranmaru was calmly keeping an eye on her now from the other side of the fence. He really was like a watchdog or guard dog or something. He took his job so seriously, watching out for Kusanagi every second of the day. It was irritating but also...comforting. She had been alone for so long and now she had Ranmaru and Katsumi and Shinichi...did she really want to give that up?
Kusanagi bit her lip. No! She couldn’t have emotional attachments. She had promised herself she wouldn’t care...about anyone. So, that they wouldn’t end up caring about her and wouldn’t be hurt. But...Kusanagi couldn’t help but feel like maybe this once she should be selfish. “
I’ll have to think about it.” Kusanagi decided to reply offhandedly.
Orihime smiled triumphantly, “Good! I expect your answer by the end of the day!”
Kusanagi watched her go. The Grim Reaper’s shadow still trailing after her. End of the day indeed... Kusanagi glanced over at Ranmaru and was that a sad expression on his face that was there for all of five seconds before he quickly masked it with that emotionless expression of his? Naw. It must have been her imagination.
***
The rest of the day went by in a blur, too fast really, Kusanagi’s mind and heart were in chaos. She was still stalking Orihime and had let out a sigh of relief when the bell rang and signaled that the school day was over. Orihime would go home to her nice, protected mansion and be safe. But Kusanagi was Bitch 157
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surprised to find that the model was not heading home right away, but that she was instead headed back to the pool area. Had her loss against Kusanagi pissed her off that much - that she felt the need to practice overtime? As she watched Orihime dive into the pool, her eye twitched - apparently so. Why did she matter so much to Orihime anyways? Sigh.
Models...they were way too wrapped up in appearances. Kusanagi shook her head. Kusanagi dully watched as Orihime swam lap after lap and was beginning to get bored. She yawned. Maybe she had just been paranoid...
That was until Orihime was suddenly pulled down underwater. Huh? Kusanagi blinked at what she had just seen in disbelief. A definite hand had come up and grabbed Orihime’s ankle to pull her down under the water. But...Kusanagi hadn’t seen anyone go into the pool and had been watching Orihime swimming for the last twenty or so minutes. So then who....? And Orihime wasn’t coming up! Oh shit!
“I don’t even like this girl so,” Kusanagi panted as she ran and leapt over the chain link fence. “I can’t believe I’m actually doing this!” Kusanagi declared as she dove into the pool, fully clothed, knee high combat boots and all.
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