Beyond the Veil Chapter 2

Yuiko’s POV

I couldn’t believe this. Not even in the slightest would I ever imagine dad would even begin to pass something like that.  He knew how much soccer meant to me and Ria or at least I thought he had.  Aika stared at the sheet in complete disbelief. We had been searching all over the place for the club owners and the rest of the soccer members to tell them that we didn’t plan on giving up the clubs without a fight. Not by a long shot. Hell would grow icicles before I gave in to those two bitches.  

“We’ll work on something to bring the soccer club back alright Yui if we raise the funds ourselves we can reopen it?”

“Maybe we could work on something together combine our fundraisers maybe?”

“It’s going to take a lot of fundraisers..”

“Maybe if all of the cancelled clubs pitch in and the ones with reduce budget...we could make a festival ..several as many as possible.” Aiko pats me on the back when I let out a low growl.  . It wouldn’t be the first sabotage they orchestrated  “Don’t worry we’ll work this out. Okay? Even if we have to have a million car washes.”  We laughed it off after an idea of having my brother in a bikini to bring business had been brought up. When we got to the corner  I kept on walking on while Aika turned.

“Um genius cafeteria’s that way” Aika said pointing in her general direction with her thumb.

“Got to head to Biology lab first save me a peanut butter cup if there’s any left!”

“If it’s the last one no promises” She stuck her tongue out and headed down the opposite way.   I made a quick dash heading to the bathroom when I stopped to knot my shoe laces when I heard a whisper.

“No this is important!”

I peeped around in the direction of the muffled voice.  Mai was standing by the janitor’s door on her cell looking out for teachers around while standing impatiently.  I had no idea why I was still in the corner or even why I was spying on someone I considered a friend but my brain sent no signals for me to approach just the opposite in fact. Something in me just told me to wait.  I couldn’t make out make out everything she was saying since she kept turning her back to my direction.

“I promise to try my best, yes school will be my priority……really? You’ll do it thank you…yes I know the deal..”    Then out of the blue my own phone started vibrated, Mai visibly jumped at the sound. Just a text from my brother, something about saving him from Kiseki and Taro but I ignored it.    “Got to go I love you! See you later” she hung up shoving the phone into her bag before jogging straight down the hall no doubt heading to the cafeteria but ran into Aika on the way there.

“Oi Mai ….what are you doing in the West hall didn’t you have math last period….yah know on the other side of the school?”

“Ah just forgot something in the lab from biology this morning, heading to the cafeteria you?”

“Got a call I have to head out for something, if you see Yui tell her I’ll owe her a peanut butter cup okay?” 

“Got you”

“Oh and we’re having a dance meeting tomorrow evening after school in the gym. We’re going to be teaming up with the other clubs to raise funds this semester. So better get your heels ready Spit fire we’re going to be dancing up a storm.”

“Can’t wait, I can’t believe how many cuts were made”

“We’re gonna have to do twice as much events as last year”

“Last year wasn’t bad though” Aika laughed.

“It wasn’t but I can’t say I’m looking forward to being too sore to lift my head at nights…I gotta head off I’ll text you!” Aika ran just barely past my direction no doubt heading to the back entrance which I’d have to grill her about later. I eased out from the corner and after heading to the lab for my book I went to the cafeteria just in time to see Kairi walk away from the table. The urge to suddenly kick her ass was overriding my brain but my legs made it over to Mai without fail or incident.

“oh hey Yuiko! Aika said she had to head out  and she’d owe you a peanut butter cup.”

“Oh really?” I smiled weakly. “Well she better own up to that” Jirou groaned beside her.

“I could use a peanut butter cup….”

“I’ll have Aika get you one too then” I laughed patting his back. “Too bad I missed her, she could have just used the backdoor”

“Oh she did. I past on my way here?”

“Really? What were you doing around there?”

“Hallway forgot my book in the lab sadly met her on my way here”

“Oh ! I was just there must have just missed you then”

“I was only there for a second so must be” Her smile turned to a giggle when Jirou let out another tired groan.

I didn’t get it…why was she lying to us? I tried not to let it stay on my mind. Everyone had their privacy right? So I didn’t dwell on it and continued on lunch and the rest of the day and the usual hellish activities it brought. 

The next day after school, all the clubs who had been wronged in the budget cut were all cooped up in the gym waiting for Aika to show up with the updated sheet of the budget figures and several clipboards for the signatures some clubs would need to reopen their club. Amaya and Ria were here helping out as well, since soccer was their creation they weren’t going to let it die without a fight.  It was pretty busy afternoon when Aika arrived running practically dragging on her heel.

“Oh god you guys you’d never believe what just happened!”

“What? Spill it”

Everyone flocked around her. “There was a donation made yesterday clubs!”

“Oh my god for real that’s great!”  A girl from the club cheered.  They huddled around the sheet all amazed at how quickly the petty figure had grown all across the board.  “Who donated?” I asked.

“No Idea it was anonymous”  

“Guess that means we don’t to be raising funds after all” Amaya pointed out after giving Ria a high five while everyone in the room cheered. 

Along with Santa Claus, Easter bunny and the tooth fairy you could rack up coincidences on the list of things I didn’t believe in. Mai did however genuinely look surprised. I had kept my eyes on her the entire time. She either had absolutely nothing to do with that and I was more paranoid than I thought or a damn good actor.  I felt knots in the pit of my stomach.

What was I doing?  Mai was my friend.  We practiced dancing together since it helped train my legs for soccer.  She was my 911 on my cell if I had an issue with homework and mine on hers. It was one phone call and my mind was rolling with all these theories that she may not trust me as much as I thought.

It was stupid. It was paranoid.

So why couldn't I let it go?

“Thank god” Amaya muttered. “We were gonna have to sell a boat load of cookies if we didn’t get that donation and I’m no patient girl scout.”

“Yeah neither am I.” She nodded she turned to walk away but my grip stopped her in her tracks.  

“What? Something bugging you?”

“ um.. “

“Just spill it. What”

“Yesterday …I don’t know it could be nothing.”

“Not nothing if it’s bothering you.”

“Just that….I forgot my book in the lab yesterday and” her eyes were glued on me giving a slight attentive nod.  “I saw Mai! I whispered. “She was talking all secretive on the phone and stuff which was fine but when I asked about it she lied..”

Amaya shrugged. “People do that sometimes. “

“Yeah but a secret phone call and the next day a huge fund to the clubs?”

“And they call me paranoid”

“No Amaya” I sucked in air before turning her around strolling alongside her. “it’s not even about the funds or anything It’s just been getting me thinking about some stuff is all I mean……most of the parties we’ve always had has always either been at your house or mine when it came to getting everyone together……but we all know where each other lives, Kasume, Aika, Saya even Harumi , my cousin not the bitchy one –“

“Technically you know you and Kairi are related her mom’s an Uzamaki”

“Not now! And I was saying we have no idea where Mai and the others live.”

Absolute confusion set in with the realization. “That’s..true….weird”

 “I mean come on you are related to them a bit….any idea?”

“My mom’s side of the family is bloody huge, no way….no one absolutely knows everybody…Uchiha family dinners aren’t what one would call a frequent Occasion”

“Still I mean it just feels weird that….we’ve known these guys forever but don’t even know their address”

“Amaya need your help over here to review this” Ria called out. 

“Coming. Look we’ll talk more on that later alright? Just….relax…..it’s probably nothing. Maybe Mai just has a secret boyfriend or something. We all know Taro would flip his lid if that were the case” My shoulders fell visibly as my hope deflated. “but…..if you’re that curious….......we haven’t had  a parents day in a while. I wonder if your dad noticed that.”  She finished with wink before heading over to Ria.

I took a peek at Mai where she was discussing her routines with a fellow member. We were in alot of the same classes and being a year bellow everyone else in 10th grade with Daichi and Kiseki since they skipped a grade, we spent the most time together.  If last year’s mistakes had thought me anything between Amaya’s cutting or Aika’s eating disorder was that when friends kept secrets from each other it never ended well. 

 Ria’s POV

Do people actually have family dinners?  I’m talking the type where everyone sits down at a table , chat about their day, pass around and that sort of stuff.  That’s usually breakfast time stuff and it doesn’t have much talking. I don’t know when and how but tonight we suddenly became that family.

Usually my mom would make us all dinner and sometimes either my sister Yukio or I would help. Then after Dad would get home just as it was finished and we’d all take our food and retreat to all of the corners of the house though sometimes Yui and I would be on the couch watching T.V.  Doubt that’d happen anytime soon though she’s pretty ticked at me for forgetting to wake her up the other day. Now her hair’s more on the whiter side of things from leaving her conditioning in too long.   

Doesn’t she realize it was a matter of life or death? if Daichi had beat me to the assembly hall that morning it might that I had to be the one to shove chocolate in the teme’s mouth andI loved my hands attached to my body thank you very much. I lost anyway. I had a will written and everything but luckily Jirou the teme’s twin did the deed for me and I was scot free least I thought I was.

But anyway she still refuses to look at me so I expected to have my food in my room but not that night.  We all sat around the table just as my mom was bringing the steaming pot over. My mom’s a pretty sweet lady with the prettiest ivory eyes I’ve ever seen and just because she was my mom didn’t mean it was any less true. I had them and so did my sister but they just look amazing on her with her raven hair.   How did my dad ever managed to get with her? Not that I’m not thankful for existing or anything.

“So dad.” Yukio started. “I was watching T.V the other day and I saw this really funny show where a couple kids got in trouble with their folks for the dumbest of the stuff……I know if we ever had parents day some of that action would go on. Kids do that stuff all the time, hide report cards, spray paint the bathroom stuff like that”

“Is that a confession I hear?” He grinned before scooping more rice in his mouth.

“Noo, just wondering when was the last time we had a parents day?”  Dad stopped and laid back on his chair.

“Not for …..a while acturally….i don’t think I’ve actually had one yet.”

“What was the point?” I replied with a shrug. “He kind of already knows what we’re doing..yah know being the principal and all”

“Not everyone does genius.”  At least she spoke to me.  “Besides Mom hasn’t been to a parents day in forever I’m sure she’d like to meet the teachers too”

Why? It’s not like the song would change no matter whose ear it came to. Ria’s been an excellent student, no trouble, good grades, no problems what so ever. Just like it has been since I got there.  People would think having your parent as the principal would be nothing but a plus. Teachers left you alone and sometimes the kids did too but I had nothing but problems with that.

I hated it. No matter what I did or how many assignments I failed to bring in they wouldn’t flunk me. I’d know. I tried it. I had no idea if it was the same with Yukio but you’d think from freshman year onward I’d be used to it by know.

Only person who seemed to not give a damn was Teme and to be honest I wish it kinda had. He scares the crap out of me. Madana, a really cool friend of mine who since the universe hated me happened to be his little sister said he was actually a cool guy when he’s not stabbing me to death with his eyes.  She even mentioned that he was a bit of a mommy’s boy but told me not to breathe a word about it.

Dad agreed though it was time enough he had a Parent’s Day even though school just opened he wanted to have one to make up for lost time and set a date. Two weeks from now. Yukio seemed way to happy about that but I didn’t question it. Figured it’d be best to leave her alone till her hair went back to normal.

 Another “perk” of being a principal’s kid is knowing things before everyone else. It was another two days before the letters went out about it.  The general reaction was pretty hilarious. It seemed most even forgot parents day even existed.

After a few days though I started to look forward to it myself, not everyday get to meet you buddies parents and from whom I’ve met most seem pretty cool. Sasuke scares the crap out me but Sakura

On my way to class I managed to bump into Madana.  Rubbing the back of my head I could already feel myself fumbling even before I was going to speak.  “H-hey Madana!”

Closing her locker door she turned. “Oh hey”

“S-o ugh” I cleared my throat. “Heading to Biology?”

“Yep” she sighed with a yawn. “up all night and still couldn’t finish homework”

Throwing my arms behind my head I frowned. “Yeah Biology’s such a pain in the ass..i don’t blame you……I thank the gods everyday I don’t do that anymore….might have died from boredom already teacher kept talking and talking…ugh”

She closed her eyes and smiled little before looking to the side like she usually does. “Knowing your attention span probably” 

“Eh?!”  The sound of the locker door closing covered her quick laughter.

Come on think Ria Think. Don’t be an idiot say something.

“So Parents day huh, you freaking out like everyone else?”  my hand went from the back of my head to under my chin. “Come to think of it I haven’t met your folks yet so that’d be cool! Hopefully their nicer than teme” I muttered that last part hopefully he wouldn’t hear. I’m convinced he has ears everywhere. 

“Um yeah.” She shrugged her shoulders.  

“Well my dad’s here…well he’s always here being the principal and all….but my mom’s coming! So you’d get to see her! I don’t think you have..she’s pretty busy half the time and sort of shy…..so yeah..he he hehe…”

Madana nodded. Way to go Ria.

I followed her to her next class since it was on the route to my own when I saw Jirou staring at his open locker.

“Hey Jirou!” He jumped a bit before he realized it was me. “Why so jumpy?”

“You have Buisnsess with Kairi next right?”

“Eh no  I have Geography now….then Business……I think she has a free now…I think dunno why?”

“How on earth does she have frees when I have swim classes this year? How is that fair universe???”

“Uh…dude. She still stalking you?”

“Yes!! Only this time it’s worse. She seems to be everywhere ever since I helped her move a few boxes out of the old storage room.”

“Well !” I grinned with a thumb up. “I’ll help you ditch her today then”

“You have class”

“Eh I’ll skip it not like it matters anyway” The teacher probably won’t even mind.

“Eh what no I can’t ask you to do that”  he threw my arm around his neck.

“What are buddies for!, I’ll stay hidden around the pool area and when she comes up to you …..I’ll tell you Madana wants you for something urgent and you’d get a chance to get away. I would use Taro but I don’t think she’d buy that”

“You think that’d work?”

“Course ! trust me bud! You’ll see!”

Kasume’s POV

Amaya let out a heavy sigh pressing the frozen pudding against her forehead. “You okay there?” I asked. Only the fifth day and she’s already exhausted.   I guess the first week of school didn’t agree with anyone.

“I don’t remember being this damn frustrating as a freshman, do you? They are such punks…..I’m getting a migraine just remembering…..I have to go through a whole semester of this? why can’t they all be like you Kasume…..why? why do they all got to be mini- Aika’s -”

“Anyway” Aika cut in mid rant. “We still have to decide how we’re going to do this …Observation studies assignment due week after next. What exactly should we do for that?”

Observational studies were a mandatory class for 11^th graders, mostly had topics about cultural history, media influence and stuff like that. Jirou had said the class was basically an easy A.   “There’s a festival coming up week after parents uh by the harbor…we could do a report on that.. It has cultural aspects...and…food…probably music”  Aika suggested with a shrug. “Not sure what else.”

“Isn’t that the red tie festival? its a pair only thing you need someone to go with you if you want to go in” I replied.

“That shouldn't be a problem.” Amaya muttered against the cold desk.  “Just go ask out someone.”

“Ugh….that is a problem who are we going to ask for this thing? We can’t exactly ask people hey why don’t you blow off your work so we can do ours? and where’s ria this is his assignment too.”  Aika said curiously looking around.

“He’s at Jirou’s swimming practice apparently…for whatever reason” Yuiko added practically inhaling the dumplings in front of her.  “He’ll be here eventually”

Amaya looked up from her desk. “Are you guys for real….just bring Daichi or something Ai….or maybe Natsuko..you already like the guy”

“I do not! What does he even have to do besides Daichi’ll be busy with his own work, Sasuke’ll never let him leave on a school night.”  Yuiko snickered as Aika’s cheeks flushed red. Natsuko’s aika’s other best friend but he and a few others go to a different school a town over called Suna Academy.

“Poor cousin…….and come on Yuiko told me about you having to leave mid lunch on the first day” Aika turned to Yukio who just sat innocently sipping on her milk cup.

“What? You didn’t say it was a secret~”

“And the only “emergency call to go out” either have something to with school and since you were already in school means Natsuko probably came to visit aka he’s in town am I right?”

“That’s not the point…He was here for something for his dad..h-he’s leaving today anyway!”

“Tell him to stay a bit he’d do it.”

“I can’t have him do that!”

“God” Amaya let down her head again. “You two are as obvious as Kasume and Jirou…and those two are pretty damn obvious.”  Blood rush to my cheeks.

“EH huh?? What now?”

“You’d figure it out eventually”

“That’s so not true! He’s like a brother,  my best friend! like you!”

“Only you don’t want to screw me.”  Aika rivaled her tomato salad at this point. “You don’t right?”

“NO!”

“Oh? Really… too bad” she sighed almost sounding a little disappointed. “Look this isn’t rocket science…all you guys are so obvious....like Yuiko and that kid from her class….what’s his name..Mamo- something.”

“What now?!”

“Kasume and Jirou, You and Natsuko or Daichi…you’re a complicated human or…Ria and Taro..”

“You mean Madana, Ria and Madana?” Yukio corrected.

“…Sure”

“W-e can always go somewhere else?” I stammered trying not to show how nervous I was and failing miserably while doing so.

“Where? If you geniuses got anywhere else we all can go I’m all ears…till then it’s been decided….that festival’s our destination so go land you’re dates or study partners….whatever you oblivious peeps want to call it…and you can text that to your brother Yukio…..cupid out. Night” and with that she fell asleep.

The thoughts kept playing in my mind… Was it really that obvious that I liked Jirou? I mean...that couldn’t be true right?

And right then speak of the devil, Jirou and Ria came running easing into the empty spaces.   “Where’s the fire you two?”

“That chick’s crazy…” Ria repeated. “And I feel….dirty”

“What have I been saying?” Jirou held his head in his hands.  

“Kairi?”

“Who else….” Jirou groaned. I rubbed his back since he obviously needed it.

“What happened?” Yuiko asked.

“Okay so Jirou and I had this plan, when she came up to him after practice I’d pull him away telling madana’s calling him. Genius right?”

“That isn’t too bad. “ I replied.

“Nothing could possibly go wrong I thought. Except it did.”

“Horribly wrong” Jirou repeated.

“When she finally showed up, I figured game time….did the deed.. went up told her Madana was calling him….so he had to go quickly.. but then she asked why would Madana be calling him if she’s in first period Biology. I told her it just finished and she texted me but then she told me that Madana had two periods of Biology, how the hell should she know that? anyway I just stood there I wasn't sure how what to do then she got all up close to me and asked me if i tried to steal Jirou away~ and she just kept touching my arm and running her hand on my chest. It was like a horror movie. She kept licking her lips i thought she was going to eat me. The couch caught us talking and knew I had class. Of course i had to be caught by the one person who didn't give a damn about my dad. Now I have clean up pool duty on my free time, with Kairi and Jirou."

"I just lost my free periods that don't have practice for two weeks...and have to spend it with her..." 

Yukio burst out in laughter just as Mai had gotten to our table.

"What's so funny?" she sat down near her with a chuckle.

"Our brothers just got man-handled bad by a chick" 

"Kairi?"

"Who else"

"So not funny!!" the two groaned.

"Better get tested make sure you two didn't catch anything" Aika shuddered. 

"I am so sick and tired of hearing that bitch's name..I'll come to your practice on Monday Jirou." Amaya held her head in her hand few strands of her bangs sticking out between her fingers.  

"You would Really? ?" 

"If anyone can scare someone away it'd be her" Bumping my shoulder into his to cheer him up. It made him smile and breathe a sigh of relief. 

"One look at her face and anyone would run" Yukio teased.

"Eh Uzuamki. Watch it."

Amaya's POV

Whoever said school was in the best interest for kids were fucking liars. In only a week my stress level had already skyrocketed to a level that most volcanoes would crack at. Getting stressed out from something I didn't even want much less deserve is the antimony of bullshit. I don't see my  friends outside of lunch and outside of school and even then i'm way too tired to hang out for long.  I could give up head prefect, between that, track, helping the soccer team from getting organized  and my actual classes my entire body's felt totally spent but I couldn't quit. 

There's nothing in me capable of quitting. I always need to finish everything I start whether I like it or not or else i'd just feel like a total loser and the last thing I wanted to do was repeat last year. So much crap went down there but long story short now I have to see a therapist. He's pretty awesome and not at all what I expected him to be. I actually enjoy the consoling even look forward to them but i wouldn't tell him that of course. 

It's only cause of him I've been trying to tone it down with the violence this year but now i feel like it's out of my hand. Harumi knocked Kasume's books out of her hand earlier and slammed a door in Aika's face earlier this weekand i wasn't there at all to do crap about it and now Kairi's stalking has upped it's game this year and i'd be damned if i don't do something it.

As usual Jirou finished his timed laps in the pool while I sat on the bleachers looking on. Had to skip P.E to do this but i didn't care but like a broken record as soon as Jirou took a break from practice the banshee came out of the shadows and sneaked up on him. Poor guy almost leaped back into the pool from fright. 

"Aww don't be scared silly it's me."

"Y-y-you s-say that like it's supposed to help" She slid her hand down his arm. 

"You're so funny"

"I don't get how this is such a problem Jirou" Kairi turned to face me on hearing my voice. None of that sweet talking attitude she tried with Jirou her eyes glared straight at me. 

"Now now Amaya the school doesn't allow strays in the building much less the pool"  I ignored her going closer before getting in between Jirou and her. 

"Pay attention buddy i'm going to give you 101 on getting rid of crazy bitches. Number one. Identify the crazy bitch"  Shrugged my head to Kairi. "Number two." With a simple kick to the side she landed straight into the pool.  "Do that."

"Amaya?!?"

"What you wanted to get rid of her. Don't act so surprised" Though after a few seconds noticed she wasn't surfacing. Jirou's face paled and I narrowed my eyes at the water. 

"A-re you sure she can swim?!?"

"YES! I'm not crazy wouldn't have kicked her in otherwise!"

"Amaya!" 

"Jirou! Don't! she can hold her breathe but she has to come up sometime!"

"Is everything okay over there?" his coach called out and after a few more moments of no Kairi Jirou jumped in the pool. I facepalmed so hard i'm sure it left a mark on my face when he resurfaced with Kairi her arms curled around him like a snake.

She coughed for a few moments before rubbing her cheek against his. "My hero"  Jirou dropped her in seconds flat keeping his arms in the air but her talons were on him tight and she only snugged his face against his chest. When they got out Jirou cowered behind me while she smirked at him. The water had soaked through her from head to toe showing the dark butterfly patterned bra beneath. 

"Nice plan, now she got to rub up on me"

"I'm not the one who told you to jump in after her!  You should have left her!"

"I-i-i couldn't okay!"

"See Jirou now I know no matter you say you really do care...unlike that heartless bitch"

"You want to take another dip?"  I was well on my way to giving her another bathe but i didn't realize just how close Jirou's couch had gotten to us at that point. Not until it was too late that is.

"Shiranui!!!"