Black Rose

 Chapter 2

I was sitting in the cafeteria with my best friend Alice. The casual cafeteria was packed up with students either cramming for finals or relaxing after theirs was done.

Many things were rushing in my head that time: Studies, friends, my guardian, and 3 bully vampire sisters. While thinking, I picked at a French fry. I told Alice what happened in the principal’s office.

“So that’s it? He didn’t call for the sisters?” she asked and I nodded as she ate in a steady pace as she dipped fries in spicy cheese. “You know, I’m starting to doubt that guy. It’s as if he’s siding with them.” She said and I glared daggers at her.  “Or maybe he's not.” I commented.

I knew Alphonse. He wouldn’t side with those vampires. He can be very secretive at times but he would never turn his back on me. He wouldn’t do that, would he?

Late morning light streamed in through the big plate-glass windows that looked out on the place. The cafeteria before was just simple but now it’s a noisy, packed up place that serves lattes and had free Wi-Fi access. There was a center space with coffee tables and cushioned chairs. A few people were plugged in, hunched over their laptops, and eating overpriced sandwiches and gourmet kettle chips as they surfed.

“So,” Alice said, “how’s your powers?”

I sighed, fingering a barbecue-flavored chip before placing it in my mouth. “I still can’t manage to control them. The invisibility one is giving me a real hard time.” I replied.

“Hey,” she said, “maybe it’s your focus that’s wavering which could explain why you can’t control them.”

Then it hit me. She could be right. Maybe my focus is really wavering. I smiled at her and said, “I’ll give it a shot.”

I knew what could happen. If I turn invisible, I could also be insubstantial with the ability to pass through walls and closed doors. Bait to impending death. Ghostlike. Maybe the key to mastering it is to not think of slippery thought but of finding a way to block one’s emotions and feelings.

Staring at the table, I could feel my heart beat and the air move in my lungs. A sudden memory of watching my mother lay unconscious on a cemented floor and was soon placed in a black body bag filled my mind. It wasn’t easy living with death surrounding me. It was because of Alphonse that my life changed drastically. Memories of grief, sorrow, and pain, shuddered my body.

Anxious, I squirmed on the hard seat, believing that I was on the right track. Eyes closed, I fell deep into my thoughts and tried to see myself as a singular identity, chained to the present by the chains of the past. My hearing was becoming sharper now and I could hear the noise around me clearly: Alice slurping her drink, the sound of the cafeteria’s bell – and after years of learning how to concentrate, something finally came my way.

Excitement shot through me as I suddenly could see the line my life had made. Tense, I saw how I grew from a possibility to a presence, marveling at how my life wove in and out of people’s lives and the ear deafening wail of a great loss, almost as if time or space were making a know to hold itself together when a soul was shattered out of it. It was as if the memory of grief bound the darkness here where I’d kept it, giving shape by what was lacking, a shadow of a presence that burst suddenly back into existence when I obtained happiness.

I felt myself shiver when I realized I could see my soul painting dark images of thought into the future – for thought must have to move faster than time. I could actually see black lines stroked on an invisible canvas extending from me into the future, pulling me on with the rest of the universe. What made it all work, what stroked the lines from my emotions onward, was my own self giving time on which to fasten.

And if I could break some of those lines running from my thoughts to the present, maybe I’d become invisible, like running away from my own pain.

Anticipation made me shiver, and I unfocused enough of my attention to make sure I was still sitting in the cafeteria with Alice and nothing was going on. This had to work. I wouldn’t destroy all the lines – just a few – and none of the lines that were pulling me into the future, just the ones that tied me to this instant of right-this-second.

I took a slow breath and as I exhaled, I plucked a line that held me to the present. It separated like ashes, making a soft hum in my mind as it parted. Encouraged, I ran a theoretical hand between me and the present, taking out a larger number. The soft hum gradually changed into a low growl as it seemed to echo through me.

“Angela?” Alice whispered, and my eyes flew open. I stared at the table, my fingers tingling. “It’s working,” she said, awe in her voice.

I inhaled as if coming up from deep water. I looked over and stared at her. I felt dizzy, almost as if I were to collapse any minute. Alice stared at me with wide eyes.

“It worked.” We both said in unison.

Black Rose

Chapter 1

I was standing in front of an office door in the Moonlight Dorm at 7:30 a.m. A brass plate set into the door read: ALPHONSE SCHUBERT'S OFFICE. The door was of the finest material which was painted in a dark brown.

I tried to press my ear against the door to hear something but to my disappointment, I heard nothing. The dorm was silent and no students were in sight because they attended classes. Everyone else except me.

I knocked lightly on the door and here a “Come in,” from the inside. I slowly turned the bronze doorknob and walked in, only to be greeted by a “Hello, Angie.”

“Hi, Al,” I replied.

One could say that I’m a totally peculiar girl. I mean, who would greet the principal a casual hello after causing trouble? The answer would obviously be me. Alphonse Schubert was dressed in long black slacks, a turtleneck the color of snow, and black leather shoes.

I wore a black lacy gothic top with a huge black ribbon tied in a rose positioned on my chest, a black lacy neck accessory, white sleeves that are apart from my top with black ribbons, black stockings, and knee-high black boots. I was a 17 years old teen, Alphonse was 28. I had mismatched eyes, an emerald left and a crimson right, Alphonse’s was a pair of deep blue orbs. I was British, he was German.

“Please sit,” he gestured to a chair by his desk and I sighed before sitting down. His office walls were painted a light shade of blue and its shelves were cluttered with books, pictures, and artifacts of important value.

“So, you do know why you’re here right, Angie?” he asked.

“Oh, please. Pete has already given me a short ‘briefing’ on why you wanted my presence.”

I groaned in an anticipation of misery. Who in the world likes freaking sermons? I, no doubt, surely despise them.

“I am very disappointed with you, Angie. I have received complaints from the Blood Dorm concerning your behavior towards some of the students that reside there. It’s the 20^th complain this week and I am stressed! What did you do this time?” he stated with a depressing sigh.

“It was an accident, really!” I defended, “Well, actually it’s sort of an accident. You see, I was walking in the cafeteria with Alice when the Darrow sisters blocked our way. They were picking on my best friend and not realizing that the Paella in my tray had garlic in them, I threw it at their faces then they started to burn and stuff. Maybe you should try concocting anti-garlic meds for them now other than those day walking and image reflecting pills you’re giving them.”

Alphonse buried his face in his palms and exhaled deeply. He stared at me for a while before standing up and walking to a drawer that held my “neat” record. I rolled my eyes after. I noticed something at the center of his desk and stared at it. A solid gold, ten-inch pendulum suspended from a pyramid of three gold sticks. The ball of the pendulum was a large, deep green emerald.

I could feel him looking at me as I flick the pendulum with my finger. “Not a very beautiful piece,” he said, opening the folder he was holding,”but not without value. By the look of its stone, I’m guessing that it may have come out of a Turkish sultan’s collection, probably in the late eighteenth century. What do you think?”

I shrugged.”Maybe, but it might be older, perhaps early eighteenth century. No doubt it’s Turkish, though. The gold is finely worked.”

Alphonse returned his attention to the folder he was holding and I watched the gentle sway of the pendulum. I looked across the desk and asked,”So, is this still going to take more time? I’m missing two class periods already.”

“We still have something to talk about.”

“Personally or is it about my record?” I joked and saw a smile curve his lips.

“I'd say personally. I keep up with your activities through your teachers and all but your personal life is quite different.”

“Touché,” I grinned. We were always like siblings. We’re close, we exchange secrets, and more of those sibling-like stuff. “Well, I could say that things are getting pretty interesting.”

He raised a brow. “Anyone I know?”

“Probably, but before we could go into true confessions, don’t you think that this isn’t the right time and place to talk about my personal life? Well, I know that you’re my legal guardian and all but you’re the head of this enormous Academy. You have works that are much more important to deal with that me,” I shrugged.

Then he stood up and pulled me into a tight embrace. “I know, I know. But it’s just that I can’t stop worrying about you nor do I have time to see you other that you being sent to my office every week and all,” he muttered by my ear making me shiver.

I pulled away and smiled, “I better be going, Al.”

He nodded and moved away before rustling my hair with his big, strong hand. “I do hope we won’t meet again in this office with the same complaint very soon,” he teased.

“Don’t worry. I won’t work you too hard. I’ll try to restrain myself as much as possible.” I grinned.

He laughed,” When you say not to worry, is when I worry the most.”

I looked down at the pendulum. It slowed considerably and was nearing the point where friction would win out.

“Nothing is forever,” Alphonse said, “No perpetual motion.”

“Very true,” I replied, “and too bad. Bye, Al”

“Goodbye, Angie.”

I leaned forward and extended my index finger into the pendulum’s field of motion. The emerald stopped against it. I smiled at Alphonse before leaving his office.

Sand and Snow
Summary:
Gaara and his childhood friend meets once again in the village of Konoha. Oneshot. OCxGaara. OC's POV :)
 -----------------

Character Profile:
Name - Sayamichi Kaeru
Age - 16 (Gaara is 17 )
Race - Human
Appearance - Jet Black Hair, Sea Green colored eyes, Fair Complexion
Description - She is Gaara's childhood friend and was the only one that accepted him for who he was. Her parents died in on of the ninja wars. She's a shy, quiet, intelligent and fun girl. She's a medic ninja :D

START!

RING! RING! RING! The noise of the alarm clock echoed in the room. Kaeru reached for her always noisy alarm clock and groaned. She pressed top of the alarm clock (Me: i don't know what that's called T.T) and moaned,"Too early..." She rolled on her bed until she fell which jolted her awake. She rushed to the kitchen and placed bread in the bread toaster, and went to the bathroom. She took a bath for 5 minutes. Afterwards, she came back down wearing her usual black colored Chinese styled shinobi clothes (Me: Her mother was half-Chinese). She pressed the button at the bottom of the toaster and caught the bread that she heated up, "Owie! ouch ouch ouch..." and she then, took a quick small bite at the bottom. She looked at her wall clock,"Shoot! im gonna be late in meeting with Tsuade-sama!" and she took 5 minutes or something, she reached Tsunade's office and knocked. "Come in!",Tsunade said. She was half nervous on what Tsunade could do to her now that she's late. She slowly went in and recieved a yelling lecture from her,"Your 10 minutes late! What were you doing?" She bowed a couple of times repeating "Gomenasai!". Tsunade gave a deep sigh and replied "Never mind it anymore. Anyway, Please guide the Kazekage in his tour here in Konoha. We dont want him to get lost right?" She replied,"That guy cant probably get lost here. He went here a couple of times already." Tsunade gave her an evil glare,"JUST FOLLOW MY ORDERS!" Kaeru got a little shaken off and replied nervously,"I got it! Just.. don't yell at me..." She left her office and went directly to the village gate. Her eyes widened when she only saw Gaara coming without Temari, Kankuro or even Baki with him. She ran to him and gave him a pat on his back,"Yo!" Gaara almost fell down and replied laughing,"Hahaha.. hey there kaeru!" She gave him a quick yet seemingly gentle smile,"Seems like your alone." He nodded.

Gaara's POV
It's been a while since these two saw each other. Gaara sure missed the heart warming smiles of Kaeru which makes his heart skip a beat almost every second! He held a huge crush on her but was afraid to confess to her. Afraid of the fact that she might end their friendship and leave him alone. Just then, small white flakes started to fall. Kaeru smiled,"Hey look Gaara! It's snowing!" Gaara grabbed her arm and dragged her to somewhere. Kaeru was seemingly confused,"Where are we going?" Gaara flashed her a smile,"Somewhere we can talk like we used to and with a beautiful view!" He pulled her close to him and carried her, bridal-style. But he thought,"I cant hide these feelings for long anymore..."

Back to regular POV
She was shocked by his sudden actions and blushed like a ripe tomato. She thought,"I hope he didn't see me blush like hell!" Gaara soon stopped his movements and placed Kaeru down. He panted while smiling and fell down facing the gray coloured sky. She asked him,"Why are we here Gaara?" He smiled at her,"Look below..." Kaeru Sat with awe and she suddenly smiled,"Its... Beautiful! I can see the whole village!" Gaara watched at her and she turned to him,"Thanks Gaara! You made my day wonderful!" and smiled at him, innocently. Suddenly, Gaara kissed her (Me: In the lips! Kyaa~!)
[I Hope You Like it! I worked hard on this! Dedicated to a good friend of mine :)]