I've promised enough people that I was gonna get back to this, and now that I have a few scenes worked out, I'm gonna resume this story for a little while, anyway.  What with the manga only being translated in fits and starts, it may yet be a while, but I hope you enjoy what there is.

Itsu mo,
Ucchan  ^_^

And now...

**********

Those of you who've been to Ryokuto Academy have probably heard all about it.  In all humility, it's probably gone down as another shining example of the legendary weirdness that goes on over at 'Greenwood' Hall.

For those of you who might not be familiar with what happened, let me give you a replay:

Keep in mind that at this point my roommate, Kazuya Hasukawa, is under the impression that I'm a girl.  So when he walks in on me in the benjo, standing at the urinal, I can almost feel him do a doubletake as he looks at me.  For my part, I try to act as nonchalant as possible.

"I hear you're going to be studying with Mitsuru-sempai these evenings."

He nods audibly, and I continue as I wash my hands.  "I need help with my studies, too... so I'll see you there, ne?"  And I walk out.

It's hard to stay calm when you know your cover's been blown.  You just have to take one step at a time, and try to stay relaxed about it.  He may not have noticed, but then again...

BAM!  "Why, you LITTLE...!!" 

"Oops!"  He noticed.  And he's furious.  Time to run!

I don't even know where I'm trying to go.  I'm certainly not going to be safe in our room.  Maybe Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai can save me; after all, this was their idea.

"OWW!"  Too late; Suka-chan's got a hold on my hair.  Damn, but that kid can run.

He slams me up against the wall, and grabs my sweatshirt by the collar.  "What was that?  Let's see that again!"

What would a real girl do under the circumstances, anyway?  I scream.  "Eek!  You pervert!"  It has the effect of drawing a crowd, but Suka-chan's not letting me go.

"Oh, shut UP!"

"I'm sorry!  Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai told me to do this.  I swear it!"  It's true, right down to the fact that they'd instructed me to take a dive today.  At 18-to-1 odds, they were going to use the money for what they called 'a proper welcome party' for Suka-chan.

THAT gets him to let go.  "Mitsuru-sempai?"

And now the hall is abuzz with voices, while Suka-chan walks, red-faced, to Mitsuru-sempai's dorm room to confront him over this practical joke.

"So, he finally knows.  What is this?"

"Third day, afternoon.  Who bet on it?"

"Damn, I lost."

"Me too.  If he coulda just held out another day..."

One guy confronts me.  "Stupid Shun.  That was a dumb mistake!"

(VVVRRRRKKKTT!!)

(Shun looks at the readers, a phonograph needle in his hand and a canary-eating grin on his face)  "Oops.  Now I've put a big scratch in this record.  It may well skip over this scene from now on..."

(He sets the needle down again, and the scene picks up from before Hasukawa arrives at Ryokuto)  "The kid was right, it *was* a dumb mistake.  I could have done better than three days.  I just did that to let my sempais win the bet - hey, we've got to finance the parties we throw somehow.

"But suppose, just suppose, I was betting too... Something like, if I can fool Suka-chan for longer than anyone else has bets on it, I win the pot...

"Granted, it's a lot more work for me... but it might be worth it, ne?"

==========

Ukyou Kuonji presents
a Here Is Greenwood fanfic

EXTENDED PLAY

==========
Koko wa Greenwood is the creation of Yukie Nasu, and all characters 
and situations therein are the property of her and Hakusensha Inc., 
Victor Entertainment, and the Pierrot Project.  No infringement 
is intended.
==========

**track one**

Takeshi bursts into my room while I'm still brushing my hair.  Thank the Kami that I'm decent, but still...

"Are you gonna get ready, Shun?  He's coming!"

"What, today?"

"Yes, today!  Mitsuru and Shinobu just went to the principal's office to pick him up and show him around the campus before bringing him over to Greenwood.  C'mon, are you blind?  Haven't you seen the club representatives gathering in the lobby?"

"Club representatives?"  Actually, I hadn't even bothered to step out of my dorm room yet this morning.  I'd managed to juggle my schedule when I arrived at Ryokuto such that I didn't have classes until after lunch on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Hey, I need my beauty sleep, after all.  So...

"No, I hadn't seen them."

"Well, check it out, but make it quick, will ya?  This is s'posed to be a surprise on him, after all.  So we getta loada the look on his face when he thinks he's rooming with a *girl*."

"Sure, sure.  Just five minutes, alright?"  Takeshi nods, and I'm at the door in a second.  But just as I'm about to turn the handle, he stops me one last time.

"Uh... Shun?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you string him along until, say, Friday morning?"

I grin.  So, he bet on fifth day morning, did he?  "Hey... I can do better than that, even..."  His face falls.  Well, tough luck, Takeshi.  I've bet on my own ability, too.  Everybody in Greenwood has put down money as to when this Hasukawa Kazuya character finally figures out that his roommate *isn't* a girl.  And Shinobu-sempai and Mitsuru-sempai have already suggested I let him figure it out some time Wednesday afternoon... something about sponsoring a 
welcoming party for him with the proceeds.

But I'm not going to take a dive for anyone's sake; not if I can help it.  Because I've got a stake in this, too.  The bets stretch out as far as three weeks from now; if I can con this guy beyond that, the pot is mine.  And it's a pretty substantial one, too.  They're giving me 40-to-1 odds of fooling him for a month.

These bookies here at Ryokuto don't know me very well, do they?

It's a longstanding Kisaragi trait.  For generations, every male in the family has looked feminine enough to pass for a girl.  My grandfather got out of the draft, in fact, because the Kamikaze Corps refused to recruit what they thought was a woman.  I'm grateful for it, too... I'd never have been born otherwise.  As it is, Grandfather's still alive and well and still putting in hours at the Kisaragi Ryokan, although being semi-retired, his real pastime is 
the local kabuki troupe.

These days, Dad runs the ryokan for the most part, enduring customers constantly calling him 'mama-san,' while my little brother Reina and I have done some work as 'draw girls' for the ryokan and occasionally for neighboring restaurants.  So I had every confidence in my ability to pass as a woman.  It's in the genes.

I *try* to check out the club representatives Takeshi mentioned, but there is absolutely *no* getting into the Greenwood lobby, what with all these guys crowded in here.  Guys in sports uniforms, guys holding posters and placards, guys with tape over their mouths...

Hold that thought.  Tape over their mouths?

The light goes on in my head.  That's right... ordinarily, direct club recruitment isn't permitted at the dorms.  But this is no ordinary student, after all.  This is the last student to enter Ryokuto Academy for the year, the last potential new member these clubs have.  And they've descended on him like tourists on a cherry orchard in spring.  The tape is how they observe the letter of the law while trampling all over its spirit.  Hell, there isn't even enough room for anyone to open the door...

And just as I think it, the door swings open, and Mitsuru-sempai steps in, a nonchalant look on his face.  He was expecting this, no doubt.  For all I know, either he or Shinobu-sempai let the information slip to various club presidents... maybe even for a fee...

The kid behind him looks like he's in a state of shock.  About my height, with a shock of reddish hair.  Poor guy looks like he's in over his head already.  Wait until he gets to the room...

And with that, I realize I'd better dash back there to prepare for the big surprise.  Thank heavens for this crowd... nobody could have spotted me in this sea of humanity.  Besides, the three of them still have to walk this gauntlet yet before they get to me...

**track two**

They're coming!  And I need time to get dressed properly!  I scurry back to the room, but I detour just briefly to let 'Brother' Kinichii know about Hasukawa's arrival.  Since his little, uh... religious group... isn't an officially sanctioned club, he doesn't feel the need to abide by the "no-direct-recruitment" rule the clubs are compelled to at least pretend to observe.  It should buy me some time, in any case, and Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai should be able to calm things down if Brother Kinichii gets a little *too* aggressive.

Okay, what to wear... nothing *too* feminine, of course.  It's not so much that I'm trying to pass for a girl, after all; I'm trying to pass for a girl trying to pass for a guy... you know, you could make an interesting musical from a premise like that.

I finally select a slightly baggy pastel yellow sweatshirt, and a pair of hip-hugging jeans.  Nothing so tight as too give me away, but enough to show that I actually do have a bit of curve on the hips.  I pinch the chest of my sweatshirt a few times, just to give a little illusion, and...

Mitsuru-sempai's voice interrupts my preparations: "Oi!  Your roommate's here!"  Okay.  I take a deep breath and brush myself down a bit, and give a quick check at the mirror on the inside of the door.  The face staring back at me returns a shy smile, and is framed by light, flowing hair, with bangs coming down just to my eyes.  It's a cute face, and one that should serve to fool him.

Say, isn't he going to open that door already?

There's a click, and the knob turns.  Guess he was gathering himself, too.  Probably not accustomed to sharing a room with someone, I'll wager.  I widen my smile, and crinkle my eyes shut, to look as 'kawaii' as possible without being *too* over the top.  So I never even get a glimpse of his reaction, as he promptly shuts the door again before I can open my eyes.

I can hear them talking outside.  "Something wrong, Hasukawa?"  Perfectly innocent, too.  Damn, but Mitsuru-sempai is a good actor.

"There's... there's a girl in there!"  Poor kid.  He really is falling for it.  This is going to be fun.

"Well, yeah.  That's your roommate..."  Mitsuru opens the door, and leads him in as he introduces me.  "Kisaragi Shun."

Now I open my eyes, and get a good look at the young man I'm going to be trying to fool for the next, oh, however long I can.  He looks like he was born to wear the suit-and-tie outfit that serves as the Ryokuto school uniform; a far cry from me, as I look just short of ridiculous in it.  He looks rather shell-shocked, and just a little embarrased, as he follows sempai in.  "Oh, wow.  I thought he really was a girl."  There's this innocence in his eyes, too; I can tell he's a guileless soul, and I like him right off.  It almost makes me feel sorry for him, and for what we're about to do to him.

Almost.

"Oh, she is,"  Mitsuru-sempai remarks casually.  Hasukawa just goggles at him in disbelief.  That's my cue. Time to pull out the trump card.  I clasp my hands together in front of myself and let fly with my first line:

"Hi!  I'm in tenth grade, too.  How do you do?"  Not only do I look like a girl, I sound like one, too.  If I could sing, I could probably do a passable soprano.  It's enough to push Hasukawa over the edge.  He really looks like he's been dropped into an alien world.

Shinobu comes alongside him with reassuring, yet deceptive tones. "I understand if this comes as a bit of a shock..."  Now *there's* an understatement... "Since you'll be living together, we thought you ought to know.  Actually," and he crosses his arms, as if to admit to something, "we didn't realize it ourselves until she told us.  We just assumed that 'he' was a little weird."

At the word 'weird', Hasukawa flinches even more.  He really looks scared.  Mitsuru-sempai continues the explanation we worked up over the past week:

"Everything up to her family's census file says she's a boy..." which is the first true thing these two have said since my name, "but she's a genuine girl.  For reasons I can't go into just now, she's been raised as a boy since birth; and now, she has to graduate from here as a male student named Shun Kisaragi."

"You've got to be kidding!"

Shinobu-sempai doesn't even bother to dignify Hasukawa's outburst with a response.  "Anyway, we'd appreciate your help with this."  His voice drops to a near-whisper, "This is to be a secret between the four of us, all right?"

Now Mitsuru-sempai drapes a brotherly arm around Hasukawa's shoulder, which only seems to add to his anxiety.  "I know it's a lot of trouble, but we're counting on you to help her."  By now, the poor guy's face has developed a bit of a nervous tic, and Shinobu-sempai senses that the joke's gone on long enough.  Besides, Mitsuru-sempai's starting to lose his straight face.

"I think we should go now."

Mitsuru-sempai nods as they make for the door.  "Get some rest and settle in."  And out they go.

There's an awkward moment between the door closing and Hasukawa letting his bag fall from his hand.  A dark scowl forms on his face... this could be trouble...

"Kisaragi-san!"  Ah, well, he's not mad at me directly, just the situation.  Fine, then.

"Oh, please, just call me Shun."

Now he looks incredulous.  "This is okay with you?"

"Uh-huh."  I settle myself onto the lower bunk bed that I have long since claimed as my own.  "I've always gone to boys' schools.  I'm used to it."  Then, I decide to overplay my hand slightly.  "Besides, I trust you, Hasukawa."

I do, I really do.  He seems a nice kid, one who would go out of his way to help someone in a situation like mine... assuming there was somebody in such a situation.

For once, he's not buying it.  "Trust me?  You don't even *know* me!"

Another cue, this time for the sempais.  The door swings open suddenly, and there they are, like angels of vengeance.

"Hasukawa-kun,"  Mitsuru-sempai leads off this time, "I forgot to mention something.  This is an old building, the walls are thin, and our room is right next door."

"If by any chance, we hear even a hint of a scream from her..."

"...then you are going to answer to us.  Clear?"  Mitsuru-sempai doesn't even wait for a reply, but closes the door immediately.  Just as well... their grins were starting to take the edge off the menacing tones they were trying for.

But what's clear is that Hasukawa has missed their levity entirely.  He looks stricken.  I'm really starting to feel sorry for him, and all that he thinks he's going through.  "I'm so sorry... I'm going to be a bother, I just know it.

"You know, I was sort of relieved when I heard you were in the hospital... it gave me a little time here when I wasn't causing problems for some roommate."  Then, I really go out on a limb: "If it's too much trouble, you can tell the dorm lady..." and trail off.  I'm betting he won't do it; he knows that for me to be 'exposed' as a female would result in my expulsion.

And he comes through, albeit hesitantly.  "N-no, it's okay, really, but..."

"Really?!"  I bound to my feet, and practically hug him.  "Thank you so much!"  He seems really uncomfortable about this.  And I'm starting to wonder about him.

That's when the intercom bell rings: "Room 210, Hasukawa-kun... your luggage has arrived."

Well, as long as I'm still in 'perky' mode, I might as well keep it up.  I whirl him around as I talk.  "They've brought your stuff... c'mon, I'll help you bring it in!"  I charge out the door, down the hall, and into the lobby.

Two suitcases, that's all.  And they're big and heavy, too.  It's like he's stuffed an entire room in this thing.  It takes both hands for me just to drag one of them up to our room...

...and when I get there, 'Suka-chan's still sitting where I'd left him, eyes glazed over with a look of 'how-did-I-get-into-this-mess' somewhere deep inside of them.  Well, no time to address that now.  "Aw, Hasukawa, get up... I'm not lugging *both* of these things.  What, did you completely move out of your home or something?"

He doesn't say a word as he gets up and trudges into the hallway.  I think I might have said the wrong thing...

**track three**

By Monday evening, I'd already seen a couple of guys tearing up their betting chits.  Poor saps.  All I could do is shrug apologetically; hey, they'd taken their chances and lost.  Suka-chan (that's my little nickname for him -- I really should check with him about it, to make sure it's okay with him, but it's so cute!) is still in the dark about it, and I think the whole situation is bothering him a bit.  I don't think he sleeps very well.

Or maybe it's just that it takes him a while to get to sleep.  He's certainly out cold this morning, while I'm up getting ready for my classes.  I don't know whether he has anything scheduled for Tuesday morning, but I figure he probably does.  So I decide to wake him up.

"Suka-chan!  Suka-chan!"  He's waking up -- I can hear a rustling noise from behind the bedcurtain.  Whoops... forgot something.  I stick my hand through the curtain.  "Uh, hold on a sec... I'm still changing."

There's more rustling, a sudden, jerking noise as he sits bolt upright.  This kid is a real deer-in-the-headlights type.  I've got to calm him down a bit.  I ask if he minds being called Suka-chan, and get a noncommittal response.  I'll take it as permission until further notice.

"Okay, I'm all set; you can come out now.  See you downstairs at breakfast?"

There's a bit of a mumble as if he were about to roll over and go back to sleep, but as I leave the room, I hear the 'shhhhk' of him parting the bedcurtains.  Yup.  He'll be down soon enough.

***

Mitsuru-sempai joins us in the dining hall, offering to help Suka-chan with his studies.  Suka-chan's got his work cut out for him, what with starting classes a month behind.  Needless to say, he gratefully accepts. I study with Mitsuru-sempai myself, and I haven't got half of the disadvantages Suka-chan is weighted down with.  Unfortunately, Suka-chan and I aren't in the same classes, so I can't help Mitsuru-sempai in bringing him up to speed, and now Mitsuru-sempai's got to tutor *both* of us in different subjects.  Oh well... he made the offer...

Between note-taking and all the other activity involved in going to class, I wonder what Suka-chan's going through.  I couldn't imagine missing a whole month of school, and trying to start from scratch like he is.  New school, new subjects, new friends... ack!

I can feel a small sweatdrop bursting onto my neck.  My looks and demeanor have earned me a bit of a reputation at Ryokuto.  What if someone spills the beans about my being a guy?

Then it occurs to me: the sempais had insisted that this was a secret between us four.  Anyone refers to me in the masculine sense, and Suka-chan'll just take into account that the guy doesn't know any different.  I exhale in relief, a bit too loudly.

"Kisaragi-kun?"

Uh-oh.  "Uh... I didn't say anything, sensei.  Sorry about that."

"Say anything?  No, I asked *you*... what was the answer to question twenty-six?"

You know how in stories and movies, when a character gets into a situation like this, there's a scene cut?  I could really use one right about now...

***

I actually get out of classes with only minor bruises to my ego, and head back to the room to give Suka-chan a proper welcome home from his first day at class.  I change back into sweatshirt and jeans, once again troubling to pinch the sweatshirt a few times.

Turns out I have quite a wait before he shows up -- and here I thought he got out of his morning class at the same time I did, too -- but eventually I hear his hand on the doorknob.  Just like the first time, he pauses.  What's going through his mind as he contemplates whether or not to open the door?

I stand up just before he finally decides to open the door, giving him my best 'kawaii' smile: "Okaeri nasai!"  I can't sing worth a lick, but I put a singsong quality to my greeting.  This is just too much... it's hard to keep from laughing out loud.

It's certainly too much for Suka-chan.  He had been wearing a determined look on his face as he stepped in, but in those few seconds, it's completely melted away.  He drops to his knees in utter defeat, leaving me to wonder once again if I've gone a little too far.  Of course, there could be more to this than I'm seeing, too...

***

Suka-chan is watching me from his perch on the upper bunk as I get ready for bed.  "Say, Shun-chan, you have to try as pass yourself off as a boy, right?"  I nod, and begin carefully brushing my hair as he continues.  "Shouldn't you at least act a little more boyish?  And that long hair, really..."

I cut him off:  "Oh, if I tried that, I'd probably screw up somewhere along the line and give myself away.  The way I figure it, I'm better off just being myself, and letting everyone assume I'm just weird.  They don't bother me this way."  I step onto the edge of my bed, and bring my face up to his.  "But if you really want me to, I'll cut my hair..."

He turns away, and I think he's actually blushing.  "N-no... I wasn't saying you should do that or anything..."

You know, if I really was a girl, I could learn to really like Suka-chan.  But I definately can't tell him that.

So I just giggle, "Suka-chan, you're just so cute!" and jump down. And before I can really think too much about how sweet Suka-chan can be, I decide to send him out.  "Listen, could you do me a favor?"

"Mm?"

"I've got to change, so... could you...?"  And he dutifully climbs down from his perch, plops himself outside the threshold, and closes the door behind him.  It only takes me a moment to change into pajamas and climb into bed.  As I drift off to sleep, I can hear Suka-chan still talking with the sempais about arranging a time to begin his tutoring sessions with them.  Looks like they're going to start tomorrow... no time like the present, I suppose.

But right now, I can't even stay awake long enough to hear when.

**track four**

*And here we begin to diverge...

Ah, it's good to be able to sleep in on weekdays -- even if I *do* wind up missing out on breakfast.  I murmur a mild oath about that as I look at my alarm clock.  Oh well, at least I can make it for lunch.  I'll bet that by now, Suka-chan's probably just getting out of class.

Well, right now, I've got to go take a leak.  I throw on some sweats, and meander over to the toilets.  And here I remember what I have to do... I walk into a stall and lock it behind me.  Now that I'm pretending to be a girl, I can't use the urinals anymore.  You never know when...

And sure enough, I hear the door opening, and someone walking in.  From my crouched position, I can make out the bottom of a pair of white sweatpants; they don't look familiar, but hey, I can't be expected to recognize *everybody's* clothes in a matter of one month.  As our mystery guest settles in, he sighs heavily.

*Now* I know who it is.  Good thing I'm in this stall.  "Suka-chan? Is that you?"

"KYAAA!!"  On the other hand, maybe it's *not* so great to be stuck in here.  I can see his feet pivot around, but I really regret not being able to see the rest of his reaction to finding me in here.  Did he yank up his pants, for instance?

"Hee-hee... watch where you're pointing that thing!"  I hear him hurriedly fumbling with his waistband.

"H-how'd you... what'd you see?"

I doubt if he can hear me shrug.  "Nothing.  I just kinda took a wild guess."

"So you can't see anything?"

"Uh-uh."

"Well then, *stay* in there for a moment, will ya?"  He settles himself back in.  "What the hell are you doing in here anyway, Shun?"

"Suka-chan... where else am I gonna go?  All the facilities in here are for boys, aside from the one in the dorm lady's room, and she's the *last* person I want to tip off."  There's a flush, and the sound of a faucet running.  "Can I come out now?"

"Huh?  Oh, yeah, sure..."

"Besides, I'm supposed to belong here... everyone else here thinks I'm just a funny-looking guy, you know, so it doesn't faze them."  As if to prove my point, in walks Takeshi, who bellies up to a stand in full view of the two of us.  "Oh, hey there, Takeshi."

He nods.  "Shun... we still on for Friday?"  I know what he's referring to, and I'm not going to dignify it with a straight answer.

"Actually, I'll be studying with Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai that morning, so I really doubt it.  Oh, that reminds me, Suka-chan... when's your first tutoring session with the sempais?"  Suka-chan and I walk out, leaving Takeshi standing there, a bit crestfallen.

"This afternoon at four."  My turn to look crestfallen, and he notices.  "Something wrong?"

"Uh... no, not really..."  That was when *I* was scheduled for a tutoring session with the sempais, too.  They'd bet on Wednesday afternoon, and this would be just perfect for their plans, wouldn't it?  Just the four of us, alone in their room, and the sempais decide to expose me... well, I'm not falling for it.  "Okay, well, then... you have fun with them; Mitsuru-sempai's a good teacher, but you have to learn when he's kidding around.  Oh, and you'll need a hard skull..."

"Why's that?"

I give him a conspiratorical wink, "You'll find out.  Right now, I've got to get into my uniform... could you just...?"

He rolls his eyes.  "Wait outside, right?  Yeah, I gotcha."

It doesn't take long to get into my uniform, and I wave Suka-chan inside as I leave.  I also bring a sheet of paper with me, and on my way out, I write a little note to my sempais to the effect that I won't be able to make today's tutoring session.  Something's come up, that's it.  I slip it under the doorway, and dash off.  Consider this a message, sempais, in every sense of the word.

By comparison, classes are relatively uneventful., leaving me to ponder what kind of things my other dormmates might have planned in order that they might win the pot.  It's starting to look as if this is going to be tougher to pull off than I thought it would be.

"Kisaragi-kun...?"  Uh-oh...

"H-hai, sensei?"  Here we go again.  Scratch what I said about classes being uneventful.  I've really got to start paying better attention in class despite Ogura-sensei's droning.  I'm getting caught far too often these days.

***

Another night, another batch of torn chits.  Including sempais'.  Not that I ever *see* them tonight; I slip into the room as quietly as possible, hoping they don't catch me and try to display me to Suka-chan.

I needn't have worried.  I can hear Mitsuru-sempai busily grilling Suka-chan on one point or another of his history lessons: dates, places, emperors, shoguns, warlords... gosh, I'm glad I'm not taking a course like that.

I bury myself in my own studies; I have to make up for the fact that I'm not over there.  Of course, if I were there, would any of us have gotten any studying done?

All at once I hear a very strange question: "Uh, sempais... why'd you leave her to me?  I mean, I don't know the first thing about girls, and how to deal with them... shouldn't she have a roommate who could take proper care of her?"

There's a momentary pause before Mitsuru-sempai reproves Suka-chan.  "'Take proper care of her'?  That's a rather sexist attitude, wouldn't you say, Shinobu?"

Shinobu-sempai's tones are more reassuring, but no less insulting.  "The boy's right, Mitsuru.  She needs someone to watch over her, what with this secret of hers.  And yes, we know you don't know what to do with a girl.  That's exactly what we want from you.  Just treat her the same way you would any other roommate you might have had."

"But I've never had a roommate before."

"Oh, you know what we mean, Hasukawa..."

Suka-chan sighs, and replies,  "Yeah, I guess so.  It's just so hard to not think about her as a girl."

I hear Shinobu-sempai offering a suggestion: "Just try not to think about it, Hasukawa," but it sounds more like a challenge to me...

Just *try* not to think about it, Suka-chan...

I could be in some serious trouble if this goes on too much longer...

**track five**

Finally!  A morning class I can actually concentrate on!  The big announcement in drama class is about the roles for the semester's production.  We're performing one of the classics this year:  Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro.  Actually, this show is more for the stagecraft class, as the challenge of all these vertical sets would pose an insurmountable problem for a regular stage. But with a little ingenuity, you can get around anything; we'll be putting the show on in one of the racquetball courts, lying flat on the floor to simulate standing.  Now that I think about it, that's going to take a bit of acting, too.

To no-one's surprise, I have drawn the role of Clarisse, your traditional damsel-in-distress.  It was such a foregone conclusion that I'd land the role that the guys working on costuming had already taken my measurements a week ago, and today have presented me with her dress, a beautiful white gown.  It's a gorgeous thing, not quite bridal, but certainly fancy-dress ball calibre.

An idea pops into my head, and I ask if I may take it back to the dorm to try it on.  It's agreed, with the stipulation that I wear it to the first rehearsals starting on Monday.  Fine.

When I return home, the dorm is bustling with activity.  It turns out the dorms are doing their annual amateur film festival, and Greenwood's entry is already underway.  Something involving swords and sorcery, evidently.  Tochizawa's directing it, and he's already got a shooting schedule hanging up in the lobby.  Looks like Suka-chan's gotten drafted for a part... wonder if he knows about this.

Time to think about that later.  I head to my room, shuck off my uniform, and wriggle into the dress.  It fits like a charm, although I'm clearly going to need to pad the chest out a bit in order to be convincing.  I loosen the top, and shrug the dress off my shoulders enough so that I can put a bra on underneath (Yes, I have a few pairs of 'training' bras... what of it?).  Once that's taken care of, I rebutton the dress, and take another look at myself.  Hm... looks like I'll need to put on the slip, too - can't have the stage lights showing my silhouette from the waist down, after all.

As I put the slip on, a shadow falls across the frosted window of the dorm room.  Here comes the true test... I take a deep breath as the knob turns.

"Okaeri nasai!"  And once again, it's a direct hit.  His briefcase falls to the floor with a thud, and he drops to his knees, clutching his stomach.  Now I'm starting to wonder if *he's* putting *me* on.

I don't know if it's part of the 'cute' act or from genuine corncern for his welfare, but I rush over to help him up.  "Suka-chan? Are you all right?"  I help him to his feet.

"I... I'll be fine, Shun,"  he says, but I'm still not sure about it.  Not only did he just look rather sick, he's looking at me with eyes full of sadness.  "Wha... where did you get that dress?  You look... beautiful," he trails off wistfully.

For now, I'll let it pass.  He *said* he was fine, so I'm not going to push it.  I smile and twirl around to show off for him.  "You like it?  The guys in costuming made it up for me.  I've got the female lead in my drama class production, and this is my costume."

He chuckles weakly.  "Ironic, huh?  What they don't know... well, it really looks good on you, Shun... chan."

He called me 'Shun-chan!'  He likes me!  He really likes me!  I beam at him.  "You're so sweet, Suka-chan."

I turn around and start to unbutton the dress.  I can hear him stutter as it falls to the floor, leaving me in the bra and slip.  With my back still toward him, I open my closet and take out a robe.  I've decided that the direct approach might be better, rather than trying to simply slink off when no one's around (when does *that* happen, after all?)  "Uh, sorry about that, Suka-chan. I'm going to go take a bath..."

"...and you want me to guard the door?  But it's lunchtime, Shun..."  Now that I've got my robe on, I turn around to face him.  He doesn't look happy about the arrangement, and I let him off the hook.

"No, that's all right, Suka-chan.  You go on.  As a matter of fact, that's *why* I'm going now... less chance of bumping into someone there when they'd rather be in the dining hall."  I shrug.  "It's inconvenient, but you have to put up with these things when you're trying to pass..."

Suka-chan smiles and nods in understanding.  "Okay, then.  I'll be at lunch, if you need me," and he pivots out the door.

"Right.  Hope your stomach settles enough for it."  That causes him to stop in his tracks.  I can tell he's considering whether to head back to me and ask me what I meant by that, or just go on to lunch.  His stomach, now apparantly better, wins, and he continues on his way.

The hall is empty now, and I pad off in the opposite direction, toward the furo.

***

I scrub myself down furiously.  It's been five days, after all, since I've managed to take a bath.  It's hard to figure out how to do this and get around this whole deal of hiding my true gender from poor Suka-chan.  I can imagine all sorts of possible mishaps that could come from trying to bathe under these circumstances.  Thank heavens Suka-chan seems quite respectful of me and my situation.  It almost makes me wish I was girl, sometimes -- at least that way, all the effort he puts out to shield me from one thing or another wouldn't have been wasted.

I fill my bucket with rinsewater and dump it over my head before starting in on another good lather.  Those looks he's given me... why was he so sad?  And what's with his stomach?  I recall that the reason he missed so much class had something to do with an ulcer... hadn't that been operated on, and removed?  Was it still bothering him?

The second rinse hits me with a flash of insight... could *I* be part of the problem?  I shake my head vigourously, and water sprays from my hair.  I do NOT want to believe that.  I crawl over to the tub, and slip into the warm and comforting waters.  All such distressing thoughts are put aside, and my mind slowly unwinds and goes blank.  As it does, it leaves me with the humorous reminder that I had considered taking my baths after curfew.  Kami... I just *know* I'd've fallen asleep in here.

I'm so far gone, I almost miss the sound of voices in the dressing room.

"I told you, I'm not going in there!  SHE's in there, taking a bath!"  Oh my gosh!  That's Suka-chan!  I scramble out of the bath, and grab for a nearby towel.  I hurriedly wrap it around me at chest height.

"And I'M telling YOU that *she* isn't!"  Takeshi!  Why, that dirty...!

I don't get to finish that thought, as the door bursts open and Takeshi charges in, with Suka-chan pulling on his arm.  That's my cue to scream.

"EEEE!!  Pervert!"

"Will you CUT THAT OUT, you stupid little...!"  Takeshi is reaching for my towel, and I'm backing away from him as fast as possible, still holding my hand over my chest.  He doesn't get the chance to finish *his* thought either.  Between the wet floor and Suka-chan's punch, Takeshi doesn't stand a chance.  He hits the floor hard, and is out like a light.

Suka-chan and I stare at each other for a long moment, each of us panting from the exertion.  Then Suka-chan turns toward Takeshi's prone form -- is this a way for him to keep from undressing me with his own eyes? -- and mutters awkwardly,  "Ah... I guess I'd better get him out of here."

I nod.  "Yeah, guess so...

"...Suka-chan?"

"Yeah?"

I do my best 'big-eyes' look at him.  "Thank you."  It's part act, and part heartfelt.  This could have caused a lot of problems if it had happened this way.

"Yeah, whatever.  You get back to your bath, okay?"  He almost grins.  "After all that running around, you might need another one. Lunch was good, too."  As he drags the unconscious Takeshi out of the furo, through the dressing room, and into the hallway, I let the towel drop, and I stare at my male form guiltily.

I walk back to the faucet and my bucket, and start scrubbing myself down again.

**track six**

It's a strange thing to be stuck in the middle of the maelstrom.  I'm in the sempais' room with Takeshi and Suka-chan, who are each having the riot act read to them for the fight in the furo. Technically, this would be a school disciplinary matter, but as Greenwood's an independant facility, we have the option to settle things before it goes to the principal.  Considering the situation that precipitated it, is it any wonder that the sempais want to take care of it themselves?  Can you imagine them having to explain this whole bet thing to the administration?

Given his situation, Suka-chan gets off pretty easily.  "Nice punch," Mitsuru-sempai mutters, looking over his shoulder at Takeshi's black eye.  "Look, I know you were trying to defend Shun-chan's honor," and here I bite my tongue; his grin is almost impossible to ignore; Suka-chan's going to figure this out if sempai doesn't stop this, "but let's try not to let this come to fighting, okay?  We don't want to call attention to... her... any more than we have to.  Otherwise, things are going to get out of hand."  Personally, I think they've been out of hand for some time already.  Not that I'm going to correct that any time soon...

Meanwhile, Shinobu-sempai's voice is low and cold as he lectures Takeshi.  "You spread the word, Masuyama... anyone else tries a stunt like this, tampering with the bet, and he forfeits any winnings he might have coming to him otherwise.  The money'll go to the dorm kitty, and it'll be split with everyone else.  Do I make myself clear?"

Takeshi nods miserably.  I'm starting to wonder how much money he bet on Friday morning; it must have been an awful lot, for him to have done something so desperate.  Of course, maybe he had just meant to embarass me for that little exchange Wednesday afternoon...

Meanwhile, I'm still puzzling over how harsh Shinobu-sempai is being with Takeshi for his efforts at tampering... weren't he and Mitsuru-sempai planning on doing the same thing a couple days ago?  Or is this whole thing making me just a little paranoid?

And Suka-chan's looking pretty ill, himself.  That's kind of odd... surely he must know how easily he's being let off for this offense.  So it's not because of any trouble he's in... but he keeps glancing at me with this sickly expression, and I'm starting to get a bit concerned.

I decide to step in.  "Sempai, I'm so sorry to have caused such a fuss.  I'm sure Suka-chan feels bad enough already, wouldn't you say?"  I jerk my head toward Suka-chan, hoping to direct Mitsuru-sempai's attention to his face.  Mitsuru-sempai blinks in mild surprise before nodding calmly.

"Yes, I suppose this matter could be considered settled.  What about you, Shinobu?"

Shinobu-sempai looks up.  "Fair enough... I think we understand each other pretty well, ne, Takeshi?"  Once again, Takeshi nods disconsolately.

"Fine... you two are free to go, then.  And watch your step, okay?"

My arm is draped over Suka-chan's shoulder as I practically guide him, hunched over in some distress, into our room.  Once the door is closed behind him, he drops into the chair next to his study desk, and I go into this whole 'rescued damsel' routine:

"Suka-chan, thank you!  That was so brave and gallant of you to stand up for me back there in the bathroom!  You were willing to get into trouble for my sake... thank you, thank you, thank you..."  I drop to my knees in front of him, and nestle my head in his lap.  I'm really taking my chances here, but he really needs some cheering up or moral support or SOMEthing right now.  He looks *awful*.  "What could I ever do to repay you?"

He doesn't move for a moment, and I decide to look up.  His eyes are closed now, but the sick expression hasn't left his face.  I spring to my feet, and grab his shoulders.

"Suka-chan!  Suka-chan!  What's wrong?"

He clenches his teeth, and his hands go to his stomach.  "It's nothing, Shun-chan..." is all he manages to say before he is interrupted by a rattling belch.

"Oh, gosh!  It's that ulcer, isn't it?  We've got to get you to the infirmary right away!"  Now his eyes pop open, and a dark expression covers his face.

"NO.  I'm *not* going to the infirmary."

"Please, Suka-chan... you're hurting.  There's got to be something for you over there.  Doctor Hasukawa must have --"

"I said NO!!"

Then it hits me.  Doctor... Hasukawa?  "Uh... Suka-chan...?"

"Yes?"  he snaps.

"Doctor Hasukawa... is he your... ?"

"Brother.  Yeah, what of it?"

"You two don't get along?"

"Gee, what was your first clue?"

***

We talk until it gets dark.  I hadn't known Doctor Hasukawa had raised Suka-chan by himself for so many years.  You'd think that would be cause for Suka-chan to idolize his brother.

"I *did*... once."

"For how long?"

"All my life, until..."

"Until... ?"

And he tells me about this girl that started to came over a few years ago.  A beautiful, kind girl name Sumire-chan.  Five years or so his senior, but he really adored her.  And then, one day...

...she knelt in front of him, asking a terrible favor of him.

"Kazuya-kun... would it be all right, if I were to become Mrs. Hasukawa?"

Suka-chan never had a chance to tell Sumire how much he loved her.  And now that his brother had beaten him to the punch, it was too late.  "Every night, it seemed I could hear them... carrying on... I couldn't stand it.

"She didn't understand it.  She thought I was mad at her.  Well, maybe I was.  I had to keep my feelings under control, and it was making me sick.  And it was HIS DAMN FAULT!

"So you better damn betcha I'm not going to him for help.  If I'm getting another ulcer, I'd rather die than talk to him about it.  Dammit, he *caused* it in the first place!"

I sigh.  It's funny, but it seems that by venting his rage, he's actually starting to look like he's feeling better.  I still would rather not have to be his sounding board all the time like this, though...

Oops.  He's noticed my pained expression, and all at once goes apologetic on me.  "Oh, gosh, Shun-chan... I shouldn't've dumped all that on you.  I'm really sorry about this."

I give him a weak smile.  "It's okay... how's your stomach, by the way?"

"Uh?"  He pats himself; he doesn't seem to have realized what's just transpired.  He does know, however, that:  "Hey, you're right!  Much better!  Thanks, Shun-chan!"

"Sure... now, what say we call it a night?"  I'm not ready to ask him about his role in the dorm film festival.  Maybe in the morning...

***

"They did WHAT?"

I'm perplexed.  That shooting schedule has been up for a whole day already, and Suka-chan still hadn't known about it.  Still, I guess it shouldn't come as *that* much of a surprise.  "Well, they'd cast you in that Devilwood flick Tochizawa's directing for the festival."

"Why me?  What about you, Shun?  They draft you, too?"

I shake my head, sheepishly.  "Uh-uh... I'm already committed to a drama class production, so I had to pass on it.  The sempais were pretty understanding about it."

Suka-chan sighs heavily, then clenches his jaw.  "Well, I'm gonna have a few words with the sempais and Tochizawa about this."  He heads out, muttering something about not have the decency to bother asking, and slams the door behind him.  I can hear angry voices from the room next door, but it gets cluttered as Tochizawa and Mitsuru-sempai chime in before Suka-chan even finishes with his tirade.  

Finally, Tochizawa calls for silence.  "Hasukawa... come with me.  We have to discuss this... in private.  Is that alright?"  There is a mumble of acquiescence from Suka-chan, and I hear the door to the sempais' room open and close.  I probably would be able to hear the two of them walk off, if it weren't for the words going on between Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai.  Evidently Mitsuru-sempai hadn't been consulted about his own participation in the film.  I don't know if Suka-chan would find any consolation in that, but it couldn't hurt to tell him... when he gets back.

***

Consolation isn't necessary, as it turns out.  He comes back from his meeting with Tochizawa, all smiles.

"Well, you look happy.  Get out of the production?"

"Better."  He is beaming ear to ear.  "Sempai's the hero, but *I* get the girl.  I get married to the princess, and Tochizawa promises that it's gonna be a real girl, too.  It's so *exciting*!  And I know who I want, if we can get her, too..."

Well,  good for him, and I say so.  "That's terrific.  Who is it, anyway?  Who's the lucky girl?"

"Well... you remember asking if there was anything you could do to repay me for helping you in the bath?"  His eyes are wild and sharp; I'm getting a wee bit nervous just looking into them.

I nod, tentatively.  "Yes... what about it, Suka-chan?"

He grasps my hands eagerly.  "Shun-chan... will you be my princess?"

I swallow hard.  Uh... could we bring the curtain down, already?

**track seven**

What can I say?  I *did* offer to do *anything* after that whole furo incident... and it's a lot less than some guys might have asked.   My first hunch was right about Suka-chan... I *could* trust him... completely.

The problem is, he thinks he can trust *me* completely.

He wants me to be his princess.  What am I going to do?

I take a deep breath.  I have to stay in character here... now more than ever, for both our sakes.  I will the colors to rise to my cheeks, and I turn away from his gaze.  I can still feel his hands clasping mine.  "Thank you for asking me, Suka-chan.  I'm pretty busy with the drama class production, you know, but I will try... ugh!"

Anything else I could say is squeezed out of me by Suka-chan's gratitude.  He gathers me up in a bear hug that's surprisingly strong, given his frame.  I can hardly breathe, but at least it's mercifully short.  "Thank you, Shun-chan!  Now I can tell the guys I'll do it!"  And he runs out of the room.

I drop onto my bed, stunned.  And a little bit queasy, myself.  Now I *have* to do it... Suka-chan's participation hinges on it.  Maybe later I'll ask Tochizawa for a script.  I hope it's a small part.

My own contemplations are disturbed by loud voices from the sempais' room.  "THIS is what I've gotta wear?  No way!"

"Put in on, Hasukawa, or we'll do it for you."  Mitsuru-sempai sounds more weary than threatening.  He's probably already made his own futile protests to Shinobu-sempai.

"I'm not getting in this school festival reject!  And what's the idea of... a skirt?"

Tochizawa's voice chimes in. "This is FOR the school festival, what did you expect?  Armani?  And it's not a skirt, it's a one-piece tunic.  It's the whole medieval bit.  Come on, you promised."

There's more defiance from Suka-chan, until Shinobu-sempai decides that there's been enough.  "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this..."  I can hear scuffling feet, and all sorts of knocking about, accompanied by Suka-chan's protests.

"HEY!  Not right HERE!?"

"You could have changed - oof! - in your room voluntarily, Hasukawa..."

"Yeah, didja - argh - HAVE to insist on doing this the hard way?"

"Damn, I didn't think you were this heavy, Suka..."

Clunk.  "Ow!  Watch it, guys!"  In spite of myself, I find myself shaking my head and giggling.

"No-no-no!  Don't rip the tunic!"

"Okay."  And the scuffling stops.  "Well, let's see what we've got here."

There's a hush next door for a moment.  Then, it falls to Shinobu-sempai to deliver the final assessment.  "Not bad... so, are we ready to start shooting, Tochizawa?"

Tochizawa makes a noise of affirmation.  "Everyone we need for the opening scene should be arriving about..."

I hear the door as it bangs open, and a voice even more feminine than mine bursts out: "Kazuya-kun!  Te kawaii!"

"...now," Tochizawa finishes unecessarily.

"S-Su-Sumire-chan?"  At Suka-chan's stammered greeting, I sit bolt upright on my bed.  SHE'S here?

"Dr. Hasukawa,"  Tochizawa greets Suka-chan's brother, "so good of you and your wife to help us out with the school festival production."

The doctor responds graciously.  "Not at all; always a pleasure to help out my old dorm mates.  And, as would so happen, my little brother, too..."

Suka-chan's response is considerably less gracious, and sounds like it's coming from between clenched teeth.  "I thought I told you not to..."

Sumire-chan evidently steps in, resolving the standoff between the two brothers.  "Kazuya-kun," she gushes, "it's so wonderful you got a part in this!  You look so cute!  You *are* going to do your best, aren't you?"

I can practically hear him melt.  Then: "All right, guys... what are we waiting for?  We've got a film to shoot!"  and then, as an aside, as everyone clatters out of the sempais' room.  "Sumire-chan... you have *got* to meet my new roommate..."

Uh-oh... I duck into the closet and close the door, squishing myself against the hangers.  But the crowd barges past the room, and Suka-chan apparantly is too swept up in it all to bother poking his head in for the moment.  I sigh in relief as I slip out.

***

For the next few days, I'm working on the drama class production almost full-time.  Oyama-sensei praises my dedication, but he's got no clue of what I'm trying to avoid.  Well, I guess the good news about this whole situation is what it's doing to my grades, then.

Turns out I'm not the only one who's busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.  I walk into the bath late one afternoon to find Mitsuru-sempai slumped back so far that he's in danger of slipping underwater.  I scrub myself down, and slip into the tub to join him.

"You look like hell, sempai."

"Yeah, well, I think I've just been through it.  Shinobu and I have been posing all day for that manga artist.  Tochizawa worked out a deal with her that she would lend us the costumes we needed for the film if we'd pose for her in them.  Research, she said she was doing..."

That's right... I'd seen the poster on the sempai's door, advertising 'Devilwood'.  She must have drawn it for them.  "Was it that hard?"

"Let me put it to you this way... ever try standing still, not moving, for fifty minutes at a stretch?  It was like that all day!  Not only that," and he sits up with a loud sloshing sound, ticking responsibilties off on his fingers, "it puts us a day behind schedule for the filming..."

"I thought Tochizawa figured that into his schedule."

"Yeah, but it means we have to do that many more scenes per day to get the thing finished in time for the festival.  Then there's my studies; I've fallen a day behind on them.  And then, I still have band practice and my athletic activities to deal with yet, too."

I chuckle sympathetically.  "Boy, you sure spread yourself thin, sempai."

He slides back into the bath, looking at me with only half-open eyes.  "Sometimes I envy you, Shun.  All you've got is your drama."

Another mild chuckle.  "'Everything in moderation,' that's my motto.  Of course, how much moderation can there be when I'm doing it 24/7?"

"Doing what?"

"Acting."

"Oh, that."  Now it's *his* turn to chuckle.  "Hey, nobody said you had to bet on yourself to go this long.  You could have taken the easy way out last Wednesday... at least you'd have been able to enjoy the party we would've thrown for Hasukawa."

It's enough to make me want to splash him.  "So, you admit to setting me up last week... glad I skipped out on *that* tutoring session."

***

Refreshed and heading back to our respective room, Mitsuru-sempai and I are still chatting away, until... Suka-chan steps into the hall.

...and sees that both of us have just come from the bath.

...and puts two and two and two together and gets six.  

Or am I using the right vowel here?

***

Suka-chan is pacing the room, furious at me.  "TELL ME that nothing happened in the bath between you and Ikeda-sempai."

It occurs to me that I could get Suka-chan off my back if I suggested that something HAD happened... but I'd still have to live with that - and him - for the next three years.  Not an appealing prospect.  "Nothing happened in the bath between me and Mitsuru-sempai."

He wheels on me.  "You're *lying*!"  Well, so much for that.  I sit and think for a moment, ignoring Suka-chan's rantings.  Then I stand up quickly, and lay a hand on his shoulder.

"Suka-chan... I'm trying to pass as a boy, remember?  If I were always taking baths by myself, some folks would get suspicious.  So every now and again, I'll take a bath with one of the sempais, just to throw the others off.  And you remember when you and Takeshi barged in on me... I was wearing a towel.  It's not like I'm giving anyone a free show.  And as for the sempais, come on... they could have any girls around here they wanted.  It's not like I'm the prettiest or the smartest they could have.  Besides, I'm more a little sister than a sex object... you could understand bathing with a little sister, couldn't you?"

"I don't have a little sister..."

I sigh.  "You know what I mean, Suka-chan."

He seems almost mollified, but there's one last question to field.  He fixes me with a worried stare, and asks, tentatively, "Shun-chan?  How do you... feel... about Mitsuru-sempai...?"

Best to play ignorant for the moment.  "What do you mean, Suka-chan?"

"I mean," and he's starting to color a little, "if he asked if you and he 
could... ever... you know... would you...?"

I realize what he's implying, and fight my gorge down to where it could be confused with mild indignation.  "No!  What kind of... girl... do you take me for?  Mitsuru-sempai's really nice, and handsome, too, but I couldn't possibly..."

Suka-chan exhales heavily in relief.

***

It turns out the role of Princess Chelsea is so small I don't even have to worry about lines.  All it consists of is wearing that white dress from drama class (how convenient!) and walking majestically down the red-carpeted stairs to meet my groom, the faithful squire Tino - Suka-chan.  This, I can handle...

If it weren't for the wedding photo.  Suka-chan and I *had* posed in the traditional manner, eyes front, gazing at the camera with rapturous eyes, and Tochizawa had taken our picture.  But at soon as the flash had died down, Suka-chan swept me up in his arms and given me a passionate embrace before I knew what was happening.  Most of the guys watching just gasped, a few were yelling encouragement to Suka-chan.

"All right, Hasukawa!  You go, boy!"

"Woo hoo!  Go for it, tiger!"

And while this was going on, Tochizawa took another picture.  

And *that's* the one they're using.  

I stare at the photo album, aghast.  Oh, Suka-chan looks dashing and romantic enough, in that white military uniform, holding that girl in his arms at a forty-five degree angle.

But she - or rather *I* - looks more than surprised.  There's no small amount of fear in those wide-open eyes.  She's in this one waaaay over her head.

Sumire's voice breaks into my thoughts, concluding her narration for the film.  "And so they lived happily ever after..."

Happily ever after... my ass.

**track eight - interlude**

They say you have to suffer for art.  I wonder who "they" are, sometimes... but whoever they are, they're right.  'Here is Devilwood' is a big hit throughout Ryokuto Academy, and part of it was because of that damn kiss.  It's mortifying, the way everybody focuses in on that.

I suppose I should really feel sorry for Suka-chan.  Everybody at Ryokuto thinks he's either an idiot or gay.  He just shrugs the comments off, though... in his mind, he knows better than anyone who would saddle him with either epithet.  He knows who I *really* am, after all

Like I said, either an idiot...

Still, if that's what constitutes the bad news, I shouldn't complain. 'Here is Devilwood,' I hardly need to tell you, won the honors for best film, so we get to keep the Golden Palm, also known as the Palm Door (No apostrophe, I should mention.  Some art student here ten years ago made a sculpture of a hand with a door frame around it, a knob on the thumb, and hinges along the side of the pinky.  One of the student council members thought it would make a cute trophy for the film contest, had it gilded, and it's been travelling throughout Ryokuto for nearly a decade, now), in the dorm lobby for the year.  It's a real coup, actually; usually the film festival is won by the drama class (we got second, actually) or the film club.  We're the first dorm to actually pull this off in recent memory.  And for all I know, the bravery of that kiss might have pushed it over, too...

Oh, well.

Not only do we get the trophy, but the prize money isn't anything to sneeze at either.  A hundred thousand yen buys quite a party - off campus, of course - well-supplied with beer and snacks.  And of course, what with all the bets made on the festival winners, most everyone at Greenwood cleaned up quite nicely.

So I'm sitting at a table, nursing a drink and enjoying the music, when Mitsuru-sempai comes over to me and claps me on the shoulder.  I look up at him.  "Nice job, sempai... and a swell party, ne?"

He nods and looks around.  "Yeah... we really should do this kind of thing more often."  His head turns, and he looks straight at me.  "We could have pulled one of these earlier, you know..."

I grin.  "Not like this... not this big."

He shrugs.  "No, probably not... but we'd have done SOMEthing..."

I cock my head at him.  "You don't think I'd do something if I win?"

"How should I know?  I'm not you."  It's enough to get me laughing.

"Look, sempai, I *promise*... I'll do something real nice for him if 
I win."

"Are Shinobu and I invited?"

I stare at him as coldly as I can, given the circumstances.  "That, I'm not gonna promise."  It's not easy to sound icy when you're enjoying yourself like this.

He gives me a look of mock disappointment.  "Aww... and I'd figured you two would *need* chaperones, too..."  It's almost enough to make me wince, but he turns before he can notice my reaction.  "Oh, hi there, Hasukawa... we were just talking about you."

Suka-chan's obviously had one or two; he's in a jovial mood, rather than his usual stern or agitated states.  "All lies, too, coming from you, Sempai..."

Mitsuru-sempai grins and shrugs.  "Hey... I gotta be me.  Anyway, it's over and done with.  What're ya gonna do now?"

"Let me guess," I interrupt.  "He's supposed to say he's going to Tokyo Disneyland, right?"

Mitsuru-sempai frowns.  "That's a hell of a thing to do..."

My turn to grin and shrug.  "Hey... I gotta be me..."  At this point, I figure I'd best get away from Mitsuru-sempai.  I think if he had a rolled-up magazine in his hands right now, he'd hit me with it.  Assuming, of course, that he didn't miss - for all I know, he may be aiming at three of me.  I stand up and grab Suka-chan.  "C'mon... let's dance..."

We're not the only couple on the dance floor - some of the guys have actually managed to wangle dates.  And the sempais, when they're not off to the side with a drink, are dealing with a line of girls who want a turn with them.  Lucky dogs...

However, when we step onto the floor, we get a LOT of stares.  Suka-chan is much better at ignoring them; ah, the bliss of ignorance.  And oddly enough, it turns out he's not a bad dancer.  A bit frantic, but with all the high-velocity stuff, it's not out of place.  I can hardly keep up with him.

Then, a slow dance comes on, and I head back to the table.  I don't make it.  There's a hand on my shoulder, and I *know* whose it is.

"Where d'you think *you're* going?"  Suka-chan's grin is a bit lopsided, as if my departure might hurt if he were stone sober right now.

I look around frantically, and spot an out.  "Uh... I was gonna try and rescue Shinobu-sempai, actually..."  And to be honest, poor sempai could *use* a savior at the moment.  The girl he's dancing with is acting singularly rude, sticking out her tongue at another girl glowering at the two of them from the edge of the dance floor.  Clearly, these two have been fighting over him most of the evening, and his normally impassive face is starting to show signs of wear.  I don't bother to find out if Suka-chan will give me his assent; I head over there, and tap the girl on the shoulder.  "Mind if I cut in...?"

"I was here first... go away."

"Now, Akiko... you've had your turn.  Let Shun have a chance, too..."

"Shun...?"  She abruptly stops dancing and turns to look at me; evidently, she's heard of me.  Her eyes scour me from top to bottom, trying to get a bead on exactly who or what I am.  They settle on my chest momentarily, and she speaks.  "You aren't... are you a... ?"

I just smile and nod as I take my spot before Shinobu-sempai.  "Shall we?"  He nods his head once, takes my right hand in his left, and wraps his left hand around my waist.  As we begin, Akiko starts to back away from us, cautiously.  I grin.  "I don't think you'll be bothered by her anymore this evening, sempai."

"No, I don't suppose so... thank you, Shun."

"Heh... even dancing with a boy is preferable to her and her, uh... friend, ne?"

"You could say that, yes..."  We don't say much else for the rest of the song, just move with the music and try to ignore the looks we're getting.  When it comes to an end, we head back to our respective tables...

...where I run into a fuming Suka-chan.  Before I can sit down, he stands up, grabs me by the wrist, and pulls me out of the room.  "Hey... hey... HEY!!  Whaddya think you're... let me go, Suka-chan!"

*sigh*  Every scenario I can imagine, I always wind up slammed against a wall eventually.  This is different, though, because Suka-chan still hasn't figured it out.  He's just, well... "What is the *deal* with you?  First Mitsuru-sempai, now Shinobu-sempai... I thought you weren't interested in the sempais!  I thought I had a chance!  What are you trying to *do* to me?!" ...jealous.

Oh, Kami-sama... think fast, Shun... "Suka-chan, what are you talking about?  I never said I was interested in them!  I told you flat out I'd never do anything like that with Mitsuru-sempai..."

"Oh, but *Shinobu*sempai is another story, isn't he?"

I'm getting really tired of these accusations.  I wrest myself free and glare at him.  "Look, Suka-chan... I don't know if you'd noticed that... girl... Sempai was stuck with - I was just doing him a favor by getting rid of her.  And I guarantee he'll be quite rid of her - you'll recall that most everyone here thinks I'm a *boy*."  In spite of myself, I find myself smirking.  "Of course, I've kinda ruined his reputation for awhile..."

Suka-chan looks pained.  "But, Shun-chan... I thought you were *my* girl."

"Suka-chan... I'm not *anyone's* girl, okay?"  I can feel the color rising to my cheeks, even as I'm saying this.  "I'm not going to commit belonging to anybody, do you understand?  I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea or anything..."

His shoulders sag, and my heart goes out to him.  I latch onto his shoulders, and look him square in the eye.  "Suka-chan, please listen... if there ever was a guy I could fall for..." and I decide to let my actions finish the sentance, as I lean over and give him a peck on the cheek.

The transformation is nothing short of amazing.  Suka-chan's face melts from a jealous scowl to a grateful smile.  His eyes look like they could tear up from joy.  And then, he takes my by surprise into a tight bear hug.

My voice sounds a little muffled as I squeak out a protest.  "Uh... can we get back to the party now?  I... need... some... air...!"  And quickly!

**track nine**

The days after the party go by a little less eventfully.  Fewer and fewer bettors are left all the time, and the losers don't seem to mind anymore.  Some famous con man once said, "Give the suckers a good show, and they'll gladly pay the price of admission."

Believe me, I'm putting on the best show I know how.

At this point, some guys have begun considering my victory a foregone conclusion, and they're wondering if *I*m gonna tell Suka-chan about myself once I've won.  I sure as hell would like to, and get it over with.  It's embarrassing, when we're studying with Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai.  Nearly every time Mitsuru-sempai raises his notebook to swat at me for a wrong answer, Suka-chan ducks in and takes the blow for me.

"Hasukawa, will you stop that?  This is for Shun's own good."

"I'm not letting you hit her, sempai.  I'm sorry."  For which he usually gets a whack of his own.

"Your gallantry would be considered admirable, Hasukawa, if you weren't preventing... her... from learning from... her... mistakes. "  Mitsuru-sempai still has trouble referring to me with a feminine pronoun.  One of these days, you think Suka-chan would twig onto that.  "Consider it... negative reinforcement."  Heh.  Looks like sempai's own psych classes are paying off.

Not well enough to try and analyze Suka-chan, though.  He's obviously doing this for reasons more than concern for my welfare, more than just some sort of "you're-not-supposed-to-hit-girls" ethic.  I'm getting worried that he's falling for me.  I can't tell if that's escaped Mitsuru-sempai's notice, or if he's intentionally ignoring it while I sweat it out.  But in any case... I'm counting the days until I'm able to try and worm out of this situation.

***

Of course, Suka-chan isn't draped all over me twenty-four hours a day, thank the Kami.  Not only do we have separate classes, but he's joined the track team - something I would *never* do.  And boy, can he run, too!  He's actually made Ryokuto's varsity team as an alternate in his first year here, which, while not unique, is still quite remarkable.  

Whenever possible, Shinobu-sempai and I make a point of attending meets to cheer him and Mitsuru-sempai on (Mitsuru-sempai competes in some of the throwing events like the shot and discus.  He looks like that old Greek statue when he's throwing, too - it's no wonder the girls are nuts over him).  Actually, perhaps "cheer" is a little too strong a word for Shinobu-sempai.  He applauds when everyone else does, and that's about it.  He hardly ever cracks a smile, even when we win.  But he's there, doing the whole 'athletic supporter' (^_^) routine, as might be expected of the student council president.

Me?  I try to get into it.  Besides, as long as I'm there, I oughta have *some* fun.  I stomp and whistle and hoot with everyone else.  And it doesn't hurt that, thanks to Suka-chan and Mitsuru-sempai, we've got a pretty good team, too.  Always easier to cheer for a winning team, ne?

Speaking of winning...

***

"What're you doing, Shun-chan?"  I nearly drop the pencil I'm holding.  I hadn't heard Suka-chan walk in from his bath.

"Ah... nothing!  Just... marking off another day..."

"Oh."  He shrugs and climbs up onto his bunk, closing the curtain behind him.  He's learned the art of changing clothes on his knees in that tiny space... and I'll bet he wishes I would, too.  "So... anything special?  I notice Saturday's circled, and I *know* we're still a month away from summer break."

Shit!  I can't tell him the truth, but I can't think of a plausible lie fast enough.  "Uh... not really... just something to look forward to.  Isn't the end of the week always like that?"

"Mm."  I can't tell if he's convinced or not, but it doesn't sound like he's going to let the matter drop just yet.  "Nothing specific, huh?"

"Uh... well... maybe, and maybe not.  I won't find out until then."

"Oh.  Well, hope you think of something.  Only a few days to go.  Oyasumi nasai, Shun-chan... can you get the light?"

"Sure... I was going to call it a night myself."  I switch off the light and climb into bed.  Suka-chan's voice is ringing in my head as I stare into the blackness:

"Only a few days to go..."

I can hardly wait.

**track ten**

Saturday morning, and I'm staring at the calendar.  It's been five weeks since Suka-chan arrived at Ryokuto.  The X I'm drawing today covers the circle.  Today, I win.  I can claim my prize.  

And maybe, just maybe, I can finally tell Suka-chan the truth.

***

Suka-chan's left for his morning class, so I figure I'm safe for the moment.  Time to head next door, where the sempais have been keeping the money since this whole thing started.  Everybody put down their bet at their quoted odds as to when Suka-chan would figure me out.  What wasn't won in the bet would go toward the dorm kitty.

But now, I can have it all.  Which is another reason to have been looking forward to this day.  I can't help grinning as I knock on their door.  "Sempais?" 

It's Shinobu-sempai who answers, a thin smile on his lips.  "Couldn't wait till evening, could you?"

"Of course not," Mitsuru-sempai calls out from his desk.  "He's got to do something special for Hasukawa, and he needs time to plan.  Maybe..." and he gets up and walks over to join Shinobu, "to make reservations?"

"Reservations?"

"Yeah."  He hands me a business card.  "They don't take walk-ins, but I think you'l like the place.  You owe Hasukawa this much, at least.  After all, he's responsible for your little windfall.  Better share as much of it with him as you can..."  Shinobu-sempai walks back into the room while Mitsuru-sempai is talking.

Meanwhile, I'm staring at the card.  Le Mystique... a French restaurant, ne?  No kidding this is going to chew up a lot of my winnings.  But I suppose sempai is right about owing it to Suka-chan.  After all I've put him through in order to keep up this charade, yeah, I guess he does deserve it.  And heck, when am I ever going to get the chance to go to a place like this again, anyway?

Shinobu-sempai is back, carrying a cigar box full of jingling coins.  "Seems a shame none of this could go into the dorm kitty.  Could I put you down for a contribution, in any case?"

I give him a look.  "No disrespect, sempai, but I don't think so."  I take the box... whoa, is it heavy!

"Couldn't hurt to try..." Shinobu-sempai shrugs.

"C'mon, guys... don't you still have funds left over from the film festival?"  

"Well..." and they just look at each other with grins on their faces. They're up to something... just what, I'm not sure, but I think I'm going to have to watch my step.  I pocket the card.

"I'll consider it, sempais.  Thanks for the suggestion."

"No problem."  Mitsuru-sempai looks like he does whenever he refers to me as 'her' or 'she' in front of Suka-chan... in other words, like he's about to bust a gut.  I really wish I knew what he was thinking...

...or maybe he's just trying to get me nervous.  Like this whole thing hasn't kept me on edge a bit right from day one, he's just got to add to my paranoia, too.

***

Once in my room, I'm gleefully counting my winnings.  Practically everyone in the dorm, and a number of Ryokuto students not living in Greenwood, put up at least 500 yen, and some guys bet even more.  I still wonder how much of this is Takeshi's as I tally up... nearly one hundred fifty thousand yen.  Yeah, that'll go far... even at this La Mystique place.

Fine, I'll do it.  Now to ask Suka-chan if he'd like to.

***

"You're... asking me... out?"  The last word, especially, comes out in a kind of squeak.  I know I make him nervous sometimes (and he returns the favor, unwittingly), but this is ridiculous.  I try to put on a soothing smile.

"Yeah.  It's kind of a 'thank you' for putting up with me and my situation over the last few weeks.  So... how about it?  Would you like to go out to La Mystique with me?"

"Would I?  Are you kidding?  Shun-chan... I've been wanting to go out with you for weeks," that's what I've been afraid of, "but I've never..."

I sidle over to him heedlessly.  "Never asked anyone out before?  Never had the nerve?"  I smile.

Suka-chan looks sheepish.  "Well, that and... I never had the money for a proper date.  And this... a French restaurant!  Shun-chan... where'd *you* come up with this kind of cash?"

I step back and grin.  "Consider it... like money from home."  Okay, so winning the bet wasn't really *that* easy.  But at least this keeps Suka-chan off my trail while I figure out exactly how to break the news to him properly.  "Anyway... tonight at six-thirty or so, we'll walk over there together.  Sound aright with you?"  He smiles and nods.  "Good.  Then I've got to go and phone ahead for reservations."

***

Guess the place fills up fast... the best I could do for a time was five-thirty.  So I have to cut Ogura-sensei's class -- big deal.  The man's a bore, anyway.  At least Suka-chan doesn't have a class, so he's all set.  And he looks really good in his school uniform, though I can't see that we're going to be able to order drinks if he's dressed like that.  Oh, well...

And me?  Well, I know I'm supposed to be trying to tell Suka-chan who I really am, but I'd really rather not wear my school uniform.  I just look dumb in it, really, just like a girl wearing a suit-and-tie would.  So I put on the Clarisse dress (I just keep borrowing it from costuming.  No one there seems to mind.  They know who's got it) and head out.

"Shall we, then?"  Suka-chan tries to be the perfect gentleman as he takes the crook of my left arm and escorts me out of Greenwood, but I can hear some of the other guys in the lobby snickering as we leave.  Suka-chan leans toward me, and whispers conspiratorically, "Ignore 'em.  They're just jealous."

Of us going to the restaurant, yes.  Of me or Suka-chan... no.

***

Even if I didn't have Mitsuru-sempai's impish grin burned onto the back of my mind, I would consider myself in way over my head in a place like this.  Huge cystal chandeliers, Corinthian columns, and rococo artwork all over the dining area.  This is serious intimidation.

Suka-chan looks out of his depth, too, but he usually looks like that.  Nothing really unusual there, nor should there be; after all, *he's* not the one paying for this meal.

I take a deep breath and walk up to the maitre'd.  "Kisaragi, for two?"

He blinks, and regards me for a moment, in the classic French tradition (of course, he quite clearly is NOT French, but why let a little thing like that spoil an evening, ne?), before turning toward the dining area.  "Very good, ma'mselle.  This way, if you please..."  We follow.

***

As beautiful as the place is, and as wonderful as the food is, it's hard to fully enjoy it when your mind is elsewhere.  I'm only half-listening to Suka-chan aas I think of a suitable way to break it to him that, well... that I'm not really his type.  Nor is he mine.

All at once, his words jar me into full attention.  "...I feel like I've known you since we were kids.  And I really, really like you.

"You've even taught me a lot about myself.  About how I shouldn't take losing Sumire-chan so hard, about how I shouldn't bottle up my emotions, about how, if I really want something, I need to go after it, to say something, or else risk losing it again."  Uh-oh...

"Look, I know it hasn't been a long time that we've known each other, but I've got to say this:  I think... I think... I think I love you."

Now *I*m feeling sick to my stomach.  

So it comes to this, does it?  I guess it's time to suck it up and tell the truth, before this gets waaay outta control.  "Well, Suka-chan... there's a few things you *don't* know about me.  To be honest --"

And it's right at this moment that the sommelier decides to make his appearance.  With a bottle of champagne, no less.  "For the happy couple...?"  It's enough to bring the color to my cheeks.  

"Uh..."  My train of thought has been completely derailed as I watch him struggle with the cork.  The stuff is obviously under considerable pressure.  And then -- POW!

"Kyaa!"  I scoot my chair away in a hurry... freed from the confines of the bottle, the champagne froths over, just missing me and my dress.  Suka-chan's looking over my shoulder with his mouth open, and once I'm settled, I turn around to see... a mark in the wall, just by the fireplace, where the cork must have hit.  Boy, am I glad that bottle wasn't aimed at anyone.

Now I turn to the sommelier.  "Look, this is really nice and all, but we didn't order this."

"Not to worry, ma'mselle.  It's been taken care of."  He gestures off to a corner of the room, where... Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai are sitting?!  "In honor of your first date..."

I stand up.  "Ah... thanks.  You'll excuse me?"  The sommelier nods as he pours our glasses.  I grab Suka-chan by the arm and drag him over to the sempai's table.  "All right... what's the deal, here?"

The smile on Shinobu-sempai's face is as innocent as a newborn's, but I'm *not* falling for it.  "We just want to wish the two of you well.  Anything wrong with that?"

"Is that all?"

"Well, that and the champagne.  I think you'll like it.  Cliquot '94... one of its better years of late, as I understand."

"Aw, c'mon, Shun-chan... let's just thank 'em and get back to the table."  Suka-chan seems happy enough... but then, he doesn't suspect anything

"Oh, hey... we could join you in a toast."  Mitsuru-sempai stands as if to make his way to our table, but I bar the way.

"No thanks.  This is a *private* matter, got that?"

"Won't take but a minute.  Promise."

I try to stand my ground, but Suka-chan relents.  "C'mon, Shun-chan... it's okay, they know your secret, after all."  Boy, do they ever... and are they milking it for whatever it's worth.  I sigh and head back to the table.  The sempais follow, lugging their chairs with them.  Don't see why... after all, they're going to stand in order to propose their toast:

"To life..."  Shinobu-sempai intones.

Mitsuru-sempai adds, "...to love..." with a wink at Suka-chan.  Suka-chan's face goes just a trace dark.

"To laughter!"  they finally chorus, while Mitsuru-sempai bends over to Suka-chan.  "And to the two of you.  Kampai... drink up!"

Suka-chan lifts his glass and drains it, and I do the same, a little more hesitatingly than he.  Whew... that champagne is kinda strong.  I have to sit down.

The sempais take their glasses -- still full -- and their chairs, and toddle back to their table.  "Enjoy your desserts, kids..." Mitsuru-sempai tosses over his shoulder.  I'm sure he means more than what he's saying but I'm too dizzy... right now... to... care.......

**track eleven**

Ooh, it hurts.  So... this is what a hangover feels like, huh?  Damn the sempais and that champagne.  I'm starting to wonder if they didn't slip a mickey in that stuff. Now that I think about it, *they* didn't have any.

Thank the Kami it's dark in here.  Pitch black, Stygian darkness, that's good.  Easier on the eyes.  Wonder how I got back to the dorm, anyway?

Wait a minute.  If I was back in my dorm room, it wouldn't be so dark, even if it were night.  I mean, we've got a window, for crying out loud.  And in suburban Tokyo, there's always *some* light seeping in through the curtains.

So where the hell am I?  Geez, I'm starting to sound like a character in some manga I read once.

Let's see... ah, there is a light in here, even if it's only the LED display of an alarm clock.  3:15... must be the wee hours of the morning.  Maybe I should just crawl back into bed and continue to sleep this thing off.  It's a big bed, too.  Lots of room... uh... what the heck?  Someone's in here with me?

Now I'm fully awake, three a.m. or not.  I'm in bed with someone?  What in hell is going on?  I stumble around the room, looking for a light switch.  There's got to be something...

After a bit of stumbling around, I slam into the wall (all by myself, this time!) and find something.  I flip the switch and the place is bathed in a low, crimson light.  Crimson?

Oh, hell... it's a strange place, it's going to have strange lighting.  Why should I care?  Besides, it's not as bad as say, brilliant white, especially in my condition right now.  Anyway, what do we have here?  I'm standing right next to... a small refrigerator... oh, it's a minibar.  Hmm... guess it's a hotel room.  Must have headed here to sleep that awful drunk off.  I assume that that's Suka-chan's head sticking out of the bed.  I find myself shivering just a bit at the thought as I open another cabinet.  All sorts of... paraphernalia... stare me in the face.  I close the door with a slam and spring to my feet in shock.

What the fuck... ?  We're in a love hotel!!

**track twelve**

"It's for the good of the dorm..."  Shinobu-sempai says as soothingly as possible while I cough up half of the winnings I had left after last night's fiasco at La Mystique.  Sure enough, the sempais *had* laced the champagne with some kind of sleeping potion.  Mitsuru-sempai had been careful about the dosage, as he's taking a pharmacology class, but still...

"I can't believe you two would stoop to blackmail," I say as I snatch the photos (AND the negatives - I'm no fool) from Shinobu-sempai's hand.  Mitsuru-sempai shrugs, and Shinobu-sempai puts on a serious face as he replies.

"That party after the film festival set us back quite a ways, Shun, and the dorm was running a substantial deficit even before that.  We were counting on one of the others winning this bet with lower odds, so the dorm kitty could keep the remainder and get out of the red."

My eyes widen.  "You mean... you really weren't kidding when you asked for contributions yesterday, were you?"  The sempais shake their heads.  I *think* they're telling the truth, but... I strike an indignant pose.  "Well, you could have just *explained* the situation to me.  I'm not made out of stone, you know.  Why'd ya go through all this?"  And I flip through the photos.

The photos tell the whole story, or at least help me to guess at it.  There's me and Suka-chan, slumped over the table at La Mystique.  There's Mitsuru-sempai, dragging Suka-chan out of the restaurant by his arms.  A generic outside shot of the love hotel the sempais dragged us to.  And then... well, most of the rest of the roll is devoted to pictures of the two of us draped over each other in the room and the bed.  Fully clothed, thank the Kami, but quite disheveled.  At least one of these shots has us almost kissing... am I glad I was comatose throughout this whole ordeal!  Of course, if I hadn't been, it wouldn't have happened in the first place...

Even as I'm looking through these pictures, I can tell the sempais are grinning at me.  It's as if I could *hear* it.  "Oh, c'mon, Shun.  You got to go to a swanky French restaurant that you'll never get a chance at again - "

"Since they'll never let *any* of us back in there again after all this."

Mitsuru-sempai ignores me.  " - and for that matter, so did we - and we all had a lot of fun."

"Yeah, until you guys showed up.  Do you realize what Suka-chan was doing?"

Shinobu-sempai grins.  "We did.  You know, you ought to thank us for rescuing you from that."

I put my hands on my hips.  "I *was* just about to tell him about myself when you two 'rescued' me.  I was about to get out of this jam on my *own*, thank you very much."

"Oh, I very much doubt that..."

"Huh?"

"Think about it, Shun-*chan*.  He's in *love* with you."  As if that weren't obvious even to me.  "I don't think he'd even *want* to believe the truth at this point.  And if he *could* find it in himself to believe it, I think you'd be lucky if he let you off with having to sleep in the hall for the rest of the semester."

I sink to the floor.  So it comes to this: either way, my life with Suka-chan is going to be a living hell from here on out.  The only thing up to me is whether it's going to be due to his love or his hatred.

Shit.  Looks like I'm a girl until we graduate.  "I see.  Well, I can still scream if he gets fresh, right?"

Mitsuru-sempai grins cockily.  "He's been warned, remember?  You're welcome to."

***

I've got the photos clutched in my hand as I head to my own dorm room.  Yes, I'm gonna destroy them as soon as I can, but first, I really ought to show them to Suka-chan.  I want him to *appreciate* my sacrifice on his behalf.  It cost me too much to not receive *some* amount of gratitude.

Damn, but he sleeps like a stone.  I had had to drag him from the hotel in this semi-comatose state in the wee hours of the morning.  Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai had been waiting, and got a couple of shots of that, too.  That was how I figured this all out.  If it weren't for Suka-chan, I'd've chased 'em down and yanked the film right out of their camera on the spot.  But I couldn't just drop him.

Nor can I wake him even now.  He's been asleep for what?  Thirteen, fourteen hours?  You'd think the stuff would have worn off by now...

Then it hits me.  He's just recently been operated on... his body wasn't ready for the liquor, let alone the drug!  I force open Suka-chan's left-eye -- it looks glazed.

Oh man, are we in trouble!  "Sempais!  Sempais!!  I need your help!  NOW!!"

**track thirteen**

So here I am, sitting in the waiting room of the local hospital emergency ward, cursing myself and the sempais for not thinking about this sooner, and wondering what's going to happen to Suka-chan.  Alcohol and a recently operated-on stomach - why didn't I stop him?  And that sleeping powder on top of that!  Oh man... I hope Suka-chan's going to be all right...

Needless to say, this isn't my favorite way to spend a Sunday evening.  Truth to tell, I'd almost rather be forced to sit through one of 'Brother' Kinichi's services (which should be starting just about now, I note as I glance at my watch).

Almost.  If I thought it would do any good.

Still, I suppose it can't hurt to start murmuring a few prayers.  I shut my eyes, and begin to clap my hands together.

Gosh, that last clap was awfully loud... sounded more like a door slamming or some such.  I can hear someone sit down next to me, but I'm not going to let it break my concentration...

...unless he taps me on the shoulder.  "Kisaragi-kun?"

Fine.  I know when I'm beaten.  I open my eyes, and find myself staring at... "Doctor Hasukawa?  How is he?"

"Oh, he'll be all right.  He simply forgot that the alcohol would do a number on his ulcer."  He sighs heavily.  I think there's something he's not letting on.

"Are you sure that that's all, sensei?"

He blinks and turns to face me.  "Yes, that's all.  A few days of bed rest, and he'll be fine.  I've spoken to Ikeda-kun and Tezuka-kun, and they're going to help Kazuya with his studies while he recuperates."  The least they could do, given the circumstances... Dr. Hasukawa doesn't mention the sleeping drug; either it doesn't have anything to do with Suka-chan's condition, or he figures I already know all about the sempais' little practical joke.

Another sigh.  "Why is it that this is the only way I can see him anymore?"

"Pardon me?"

"Oh, you hadn't noticed?  Kazuya's been avoiding me.  Why?  You're his roommate... has he mentioned me at all?"

Okay... do I tell him?  "Well, yeah..."

"In angry tones, I'll bet."  What can I do?  The man knows.  I nod.  "Did he say why?"

"Well, ah..."  This is no time to mention Sumire.  Suka-chan's actually getting over that problem... although I'm not sure I like the fact that *I*m the solution.  There have been other reasons, though... "he did mention how he came to Ryokuto because you did.  He always said you had guts and ambition in those days, going to school and taking care of him all at the same time."

Dr. Hasukawa chuckles ruefully.  "Yes, I was burning the candle at both ends in those days.  I was nuts.  It got even crazier when I decided to go to med school."

"How'd you manage to go to school and support the two of you, anyway?"

"Ah, well... our parents left us a bit of a legacy.  Plenty to live off of, and provide for tuition, too.  It's such that I didn't have to become a hotshot doctor when I graduated --"

"I think that's it.  Suka-chan doesn't understand why you're, ah, 'wasting your life' at Ryokuto, working in the infirmary.  Like you couldn't handle working at a hospital or something."

Suka-chan's brother shrugs.  "I did for a while; every med student has to do a residency, after all.  Didn't like it.  Maybe I could have done well, maybe not.  I didn't need to, that's all.  As far as wasting my life goes, I prefer to think of it as 'giving back a bit to the school.'"

I can understand not having to work harder than one has to, but damn... he sounds too noble to be for real.  "Is that so?"

"Well..." and a bit of a mischevous grin begins to sprout,  "that, and I can tease my little brother every now and again when I work here.  He's so *cute* when he gets angry!"

"Hmph.  No wonder he ignores you..." and, almost under my breath, I add, "and no wonder some of the guys think you're gay..."

"What was that?"

"Uh... nothing."

"Really.  In case you're wondering, the rumours don't bother me.  I know otherwise, after all.  So does Sumire."  I'll let that slide for now.  "Besides, there's similar rumours going around about you, aren't there?"

I am NOT going to answer.  I am NOT getting in the gutter with this guy.

Thankfully, I don't have to.  The doors open, and a young nurse steps into the room.  "Is there a Kisaragi Shun here?"

I stand.  "Right here."

"Hasukawa-kun would like to see you."  I step forward.  Doctor Hasukawa follows, but the nurse stops him.  "And *only* you."  He sits back down, somewhat dejected.

Serves him right.

***

Given the circumstances, Suka-chan's in surprisingly good humour, even after I explain what happened.

"Did you manage to save the bottle?"

What kind of a question is that?  "You mean the champagne?"

He gives me a look.  "No, the shampoo from the hotel.  Yes, I mean the champagne bottle.  Did you manage to save it?"

"Well, I... Suka-chan, I got knocked out the same time you did, more or less.  I have no idea what happened to the champagne.  You aren't planning on using it up or nothing, are you?  I mean, the whole bottle was spiked..."

Now he chuckles.  "Darn... and was hoping to return the favor to the sempais, too..."

"Like they'd drink any of it."

"Who said anything about making them drink it?  All I need is the bottle."  He swings his arm in the air a couple times.  "Bonk! Bonk!" and giggles.  I think he's still just a bit drugged.  Oh well... it beats him being angry.  "Anyway, thanks for bringing me here.  The doctors said I had a close call with that reaction."

I nod and sigh.  "Thank your brother, too.  He's the one who told us to get you to the hospital."  I barely have to mention Doctor Hasukawa's name for Suka-chan's face to darken.  "Please, Suka-chan... it was for your own good.  You know, he may not be a hot-shot doctor at Tokyo General or some such, but he saved *your* life.  That's something, isn't it?"

Well, at least the clouds are gone from his face.  "Shun-chan... it's not just the whole infirmary business, you know..."

"Oh, Suka-chan... are you still mooning over Sumire-san?"

Another look.  "Shun-chan... I'll never be able to get over that completely.  Don't you remember *your* first love?  You never can get her - well, in your case, *him* - out of your head."  My expression must be one of noncomprehension, because he hesitates a bit.  "You *have* had a boyfriend before, haven't you?"

I have no idea how to answer that.

**track fourteen**

Man, it is *so* nice to have a couple of days of not having to always be watching my back for Suka-chan's prying eyes.  I can use the benjo or the furo anytime I want to, and not worry about him either discovering me out, or discovering me with others and getting jealous.  Hell, I could prance around the room naked if I wanted to.

I said "if I wanted to," you hentais.  I'm not about to.  Geez...

Uh... I must sound like a real jerk, like I'm glad Suka-chan's in the hospital or something.  I'm not; at least, I'm certainly not happy for him.  But, as I've admitted before, even to him, it's just that life is easier when he's not here.  I'd wager if the tables were turned, he'd agree with that, seeing as he's trying to protect this girl and all.  Of course, he might not admit to it out loud...

"So... he's still got a thing for Sumire-san, ne?"  The sempais and I are relaxing in the furo, talking about Suka-chan.  Mitsuru-sempai, in particular, is going to need this rest.  He and I are going to be on our way to the hospital, where he's been tutoring Suka-chan.  Finals are coming up real soon, after all, and Suka-chan's going to need all the help he can get to pass this semester.  Granted, he's smart enough that he'd do well without much trouble... IF he was able to attend classes.

"That means he'll be distracted... not a good sign, Mitsuru."

"No it doesn't.  He's been this way ever since he got here.  Beforehand, even.  I'll bet it's part of why he filed for summer stay... he doesn't trust himself around her.  Anyway, he's done just fine on his studies so far."

Mitsuru-sempai grins.  "Better than you have, in any case."

That does it.  I dump a bucket of water over his head.  "Broadcast it to the world, why don't you.

"Anyway, I'll go with you, if you like.  Nothing like a hospital for a quiet place to study."

"And you need it, too."  Mitsuru grins and holds his arms over his head, hands in a warding gesture.  So much for beaning him with the bucket.

***

On our way to the hospital, Mitsuru-sempai suggests a little visiting present, something to cheer Suka-chan up... and he leads me into a candy store.  I just watch as he rummages through the displays.  "No... hmm, not exactly... that *might* work... ick, definately not..."

"What *are* you looking for, Mitsuru-sempai?"

"Hang on a sec... ah, here we go.  Not quite perfect, but heart-shaped boxes are a bit out of season, after all."  And he hands me a half-pound box of chocolates.  I stare at it for a moment, and then...

"What the hell are you trying to get me to imply?  A heart-shaped box, you wanted?  You want Suka-chan to think this is a valentine or something?"

Mitsuru-sempai just grins.  "Exactly.  Take a look inside."

I open the box to find... an assortment of *white* chocolate?  "I don't get it."

"No, but you *did*.  Back on March 14th.  Some guy gave it to ya, and you don't like white chocolate."

"But I *do* like white chocolate."

Mitsuru-sempai rolls his eyes.  "That's not the point.  We need to give Hasukawa the impression that you're spoken for, otherwise he's gonna be all over you eventually."  The thought is enough to make me reach for my wallet.  Okay, okay... I'm buying it already.

Speaking of which, though... "You really think Suka-chan's going to believe this?  I mean, it's not like I've had this sitting around uneaten all this time."  I take the box from the clerk and stare at it as I pocket my change.  "And it doesn't really look *that* much like a valentine." 

"Oh, c'mon..."  Mitsuru-sempai's grin is almost too big for his face, "this is Hasukawa we're talking about.  The perfect sucker."

"I wish you wouldn't call him that."

"Well, it's true, isn't it?"  He deftly reaches over, pops the lid of the box, and snitches a piece of chocolate.

"Hey!"

"Just saving face, Shun-*chan*," he murmurs with his mouth full.  "Yours and mine."

"Well, I know your face needs a lot of energy to maintain..."  At least that's what Mitsuru-sempai always says.  I just figure it's one more excuse to swipe food from Suka-chan's bento.  That's his prerogative, being sempai and all, but now that he's swiping my stuff, it's a bit more annoying.  "...but what does *your* eating *my* chocolates have to do with *my* face?"

"*Saving* face, Shun,"  Mitsuru-sempai corrects me.  "You need a little credence to your story."

"MY story?"

"Look, this guy gave you this box of chocolates on White Day.  You ate one, and realized you didn't like it.  So you've been looking for a chance to dump the rest of 'em.  And this way, you get rid of them and cheer up Hasukawa at the same time."

"Cheer him up?  I'd think that'd depress him, if he figures I've got some other boyfriend."

"Well, yeah, but it's as subtle a means I can think of to discourage him."

"And recycling chocolates?  Geez, sempai, you make me seem really cheap."

"You're a high school student in Tokyo.  How much discretionary income do you have?"

It's enough to make me chuckle.  "Not enough, that's for sure."

Mitsuru-sempai nods.  "Exactly.  Hasukawa would understand."

A dark flash on the road grabs my attention.  "Whoa... speaking of discretionary income.  Get a load of that car that just passed us."

"The black Mercedes?"

"That's the one.  Beautiful, isn't it?  Wouldn't you like to get a chance to ride in one of those things?"

Sempai shakes his head.  "Nah.  Only people that drive those things are undertakers and gangsters.  Believe me, you don't want to be in a car with either of those types.  Anyway, we're here.  Cross your fingers, and hope Hasukawa buys this."

**track fifteen**

"So... who is he?  What's he like?"

"Hm?"  I'm *trying* to study here.  Thanks to Mitsuru-sempai's help while he was hospitalized, and his own natural ability, Suka-chan's a cinch to ace his final exams.  Me, I've got  a lot of work to do in order to get a decent grade, and Suka-chan's third degree is *not* helping.

"What's this guy like?"  Suka-chan looks up at me from the table in the middle of the room, which he's staked out as his study area.  I stare at him from my bed, where I'm still trying to read this trigonometry textbook.  It's a comfortable enough spot, but if you're not careful, you could fall asleep with your face in a textbook.

Well, at least that's one *good* thing out of Suka-chan's grilling - I'm not going to be falling asleep any time soon.  Of course, neither am I going to get any studying done.  I close the book, and stare at Suka-chan.  "*What* guy?"

"You know... the guy who sent you those chocolates on White Day.  By the way, they were pretty good... thanks."

My heart sinks a bit.  I do so like white chocolate.  "You ate all of them?"

He shrugs.  "What else is there to do when you're flat on your back like that?  Sure I did.  I appreciate the gift, even if you *were* just getting rid of something you didn't like."  Well, at least Mitsuru-sempai was right about Suka-chan believing that story.  Unfortunately, it doesn't have the desired effect of discouraging him.  "Anyway... do I know this guy?  Or is he from your hometown or something?"

There's a sweatdrop on my neck, and somehow I know it's not from the heat.  "Well, you might recognize him..."

"What's his name?"

"Uh... look, Suka-chan, I'd rather not go into this right now... I've got to pass this trig final, which means I've got to study.  Can we talk about this another time?"

"Sure, sure..."  And he goes back to his book.  For a minute or two. "Is he cute?"

How am I supposed to be the judge of a question like that?  "Gah!  He's a short kid with a short fuse... kinda like the one I'M developing!"

"Okay, okay!  Sheesh..."  And finally, he subsides.

**track sixteen**  Intermezzo (part one)

     "To the tables down at Morrie's
      (wherever *that* may be)
     Let us drink a toast to all we love the best
     We will sleep through all the lectures,
     And cheat on the exams,
     And we'll pass... and be forgotten with the rest"
                  From "Bright College Days" by Tom Lehrer

Okay, okay... I didn't do as badly as I was afraid of doing.  And no, in case you're wondering, I didn't cheat.  In fact, I got out of my first semester at Ryokuto Academy pretty well unscathed... scholastically, that is.

In other ways, well... let's just say I can use the time off.  This masquerade has been pretty stressful for both Suka-chan and myself.  When you've been pretending to be a girl to the person you live with for three whole months, how difficult can school itself be?

Suka-chan, too, seems to be looking forward to the time off, even though he *is* staying at Ryokuto over the summer.  Oh, he tries to look sad as I head out the gate, but when I turn around to wave, I catch a trace of a satisfied grin, which he immediately tries to cover up for my benefit.  I give him a half-smile myself, and wave.  "So long, Suka-chan.  Take care of yourself.  I promise I'll bring something back for you." 

Of course, the first thing I do when I arrive at the train station is to buy a box of white chocolate _for_myself_ at a kiosk.  I can't help grinning as I pop a piece in my mouth.  This is great; finally, not having to pretend I don't like the stuff.  The trip to Shizuoka takes less than an hour by bullet train, but I wind up spending half again that much time in the station between the queue for tickets, and the wait for the train itself.  Not that I'm complaining: all it does is give me time enough to down half the box.  This stuff never so tasted so good.  I guess not being able to eat it has done 
stuff to my appetite.

Finally, the train arrives, and the crowd pours in, taking me and my box of chocolates with it.  I smile as I settle back into my seat.  And why not?  I'm going home... where I'm free to be myself.

Staring out the window of the Shinkansen, I start thinking about how I might spend my vacation.  Sure, I'll be putting in some time at the ryokan, and I may take in a performance of Grandfather's Kabuki troupe, but for the most part, I'm going to rest and relax as much as I can.

The thought does occur to me that I might not be getting as much sleep as I'd like to, though.  I'd almost forgotten, but I've got a baby sister now.  Not that it should come as any surprise; when Mom and Dad saw me off at the train last time, she looked like a big balloon.  Yui showed up just a few days after I left, as it so happened.  I just hope she isn't too noisy when it comes to her midnight feedings.  Not just for me, mind you - noise like that could be bad for business, too.

Okay, okay... I'm mostly concered about how *I'm* going to sleep through it.  Is that so wrong?

Hope she's cute, too... though with the Kisaragi genes in her, she probably won't be able to help it.  Still, it's been four generations since there's been a daughter in the family, so it's not like we'd know what to expect.

I'm so lost in thought, I never even notice when we pass Fuji-san.  I'm just lucky enough to catch the P.A. announcement: "Now approaching Shizuoka station.  Will passengers bound for Shizuoka station please..."  Right.  I grab my bags and get ready to disembark.

***

Ahh, it's good to be back.  I can smell the miso in the kitchen, I can see the freshly washed tatami mat laid out at the entrance of the ryokan as Dad and I walk in.  Mom looks up, starts to give her usual welcome, "Irra-  Shun-chan!" and practically springs over to greet us.  Heh... I'd forgotten how light on her feet she was.  Of course, she wasn't all that light last time I'd been home.  I suppose she's glad to be herself again, too.

"Shun-chan... it's so good to see you home!"

"It's good to be home, Mom."  Now more than ever.  "How's the baby?"

"See for yourself..."  And she walks off, indicating for me to follow her.  

***

I'm impressed.  Mom and Dad are building an addition onto the ryokan to serve as Yui's room.  "Heh... thought you guys were going to use my room, seeing as I'm not around much..."

"Oh no... we rent it out while you're at school."  Oh.

Anyway, Yui's room isn't finished, so she sleeps (sort of) in Mom and Dad's room for now.  Dad's smile is a bit pained as he relates this.  "I consider it incentive to finish the job."

"Oh, she needs us that much anyway, anata."  Mom doesn't seem that bothered by it, as we step into their bedroom.

And here she is... the first girl in the Kisaragi family for four generations.  Mom picks her up so I can get a closer look.  She's beautiful... 

She's everything Reina and I have tried to be... and more.

By the way... "Say, where is Reina?"

"Ah... well... anata, can you get Reina out of his room?"  Another pained look, but Dad nods and leaves the room.  When he returns, Reina is walking behind him, staring at his feet as he walks in.  There's a long silence; I don't know what to say, and he isn't talking.

"Reina, aren't you going to say hello to your big brother Shun?"

He doesn't even look up.  All I get is a mumbled "Onii-sama..." before he turns on his heel and walks out of the room.  Once he's out of sight, I can hear him break into a run.  I turn to my folks, who've got bewildered half-smiles on their faces.

"Man... what's with *him*?"

Not that I expect any real answers.  And I don't think I get any.  "He misses you, really he does.  It's just that, well..."  Mom's voice trails off as she gazes out the the door.

Dad waves it all off.  "It's an awkward age he's at, that's all.  He'll get over it."

**track seventeen**  Intermezzo (part two)

Ah, and another thing I forgot to bring with me to Ryokuto - my CD player.  I'll have to take that along when I go back.  I pop a random disc into the player, and settle in as I listen to the familiar sounds of applause followed by a fast electric guitar lick.  Only... the words sound a little different, this time around:

    "Through the passing strange I fell
     To the wide-eyed opposite
     My gender was hidden well
     Now I don't know where I left it
     I...  woke up in Escher's world today
     My mother said it was okay..."

Ouch.  I know *that* feeling.  I sit up, and shut the player off.

And while I'm up, I catch a silhouette falling across the rice paper walls.  "Who's there?"

"O...onii-sama?"

Reina!  I shunt my bedroom door open.  "Come on in.  What's been going on?  You really haven't been yourself these past few days... huh?"  My gosh... he's crying!  "Reina?"  I walk over to him and hug him.  "What is it, ototo-chan?"

"I don't *wanna* be myself, onii-sama..."

Hm?  I lead him into my room, and shut the door.  I get on my knees, so I can look him straight in the eye.  "What do you mean by that, Reina?"

His tears dry up as he stares at me like I was the most clueless individual on the face of the planet.  And I guess I am, because I don't know what's bothering him.  "*Look* at me, Shun..."  I stand up, and take a step back to appraise what might be so different about my little brother all of a sudden.

I don't see anything unusual.  He stands about chest high on me, with a tousled shock of light-coloured hair that comes to just below the nape of the neck.  Most folks might be hard pressed to tell if he was a boy or a girl, but then, that's -

"That's it.  I hate being like this."

"Like what?"

"Like a girl, Shun.  Don't you get it?  We were raised like this so we could take over the ryokan.  Now that Yui's here... we've wasted our lives..."

I blink.  Wasted?  "Reina... what are you talking about?  We were raised this way because that's what we are - the Kisaragis have always been bishonen.  We might as well take advantage of our inborn beauty.  It's not because we were being groomed to take over the ryokan someday - if that was the case, I'd have been raised as a girl, yes, but Mom and Dad wouldn't have bothered raising you like that...

"Anyway, I never wanted to run this ryokan..."  I know it sounds like sour grapes to some of you, and I'm pretty sure that others of you want me to break into some sort of silly song about lumberjacking.  Well, I'm not gonna do it.  Reina's too upset for that right now.  "If I did, I'd be taking more business and hotel management classes.  But I'm taking drama classes and the like.  I want to be an actor."  Of course, maybe less so now than when I entered Ryokuto, but at least in the real world, I wouldn't have to do it 24/7.

"You mean, like Ojii-sama does with his Kabuki?"

"Ah... something like that.  See?  You've got to find your own road, Reina-chan.  Something that allows you to use your beauty," and I run my hand along his chin, "to your best advantage."

"But girls don't want this kind of beauty, Shun-chan... they want a *real* man.  What girl could possibly be interested in a half-man, half-girl, anyway?"

Well, the good news is, he hasn't been poking through my collection of manga while I've been away at school.  Wait a minute... "What's this about girls, Reina-chan?"  His eyes widen, and he quickly looks down at his feet.  He'd obviously not intended to tell me so much.  I grin.  "Is there someone you're interested in, Reina-chan?"

He shuffles his feet, and nods.

My grin gets broader.   "Anyone I should know?"  His eyes dart back and forth for a moment, and then he leans in, and whispers a name in my ear.

No, I'm not telling.

"I see.  Well, if you think she'd be more impressed by a more masculine personality, go for it... see what you can do.  You've got it in you to act that way.  And once you finish going through puberty, it may be that much easier."  Mentally, I shrug.  Reina's a Kisaragi, too... puberty doesn't seem to affect us as much as most males.  Sure, we grow to adult size and all, but that's about it.  But he needs the hope right now - and maybe a warning, too: "Acting macho isn't gonna feel right, though, I can guarantee it."

I don't think he's been listening.  "Macho, huh..."  He draws himself up to his full height, turns, and sort of swaggers out of the room.  He's walking kinda funny... like he was a bit bowlegged or something.  I think he's overdoing it.  In fact, I *know* he is.

Once he shunts the bedroom door behind him, I can hear this "Hwwahk!  P-TU!"  I bring my hand to my forehead, and make a mental note to inform Reina that spitting will not impress *any* girl, regardless of how macho he thinks it is.

I'll do it later.

**track eighteen**  Intermezzo, part three

Reina had mentioned something about Grandfather's Kabuki troupe the last time we spoke, and to be honest, I think it's a great idea. So does Grandfather when I ask him about it.  

"So, you want to try your skill at Kabuki, do you?  Well, we can always use another geisha in the chorus."

I blink.  This isn't quite all that I'd hoped for.  "Uh... no lines?"

He gives me a look.  "Shun-chan... we've been doing this particular play for several weeks already.  All the speaking parts are cast, naturally.  And while you look much more the part of Sakurahime than my old friend Shimobayashi," and here I wince at the very thought of old Mr. Shimobayashi as an onnagata, "he is my old friend, after all, and he does know the part backwards and forwards.  And yes, he even looks the part, once he's in makeup and costume."  I think Grandfather is trying to emphasize this... it's not like I'm keeping my disbelief a secret.

"Shun-chan... you know how it is."  His smile is warm, his tone placating.  "You've got to start at the bottom sometimes.  Think of it as pantomime."

And he's not kidding about the pantomime bit.  I'll bet Marcel Marceau never had to wear this much makeup all at once.  It feels like a mask glued to your face.  It's very uncomfortable, and I've worn pancake enough times to be able to say that.  I'd really like to think that you don't have to slather it on this thick for television or movie acting.

It's no wonder that even old Mr. Shimobayashi can pass himself off in the role, though.  Between all the makeup and the elaborate costumes, anyone can be anyone.  Put him and Grandfather and I in the right amount of this stuff, and you wouldn't be able to tell us apart from looking at us.  Of course, I'm told some of you gaijin seem to have trouble telling us apart as it is...

Once onstage, it's all I can do to keep from cracking up.  It's not enough that our faces are painted to the point of looking like Pierrots in kimonos, the *grimaces* that go along with each line... I tell ya!  Eyes crossed and rolling, mouths twisted into pretzels... you know, the *real* acting job, for me, is keeping a *straight* face at all the carryings on.  I suppose I really should be prouder of my country's theatrical heritage, but after all my studies in Western drama, this looks rather odd in comparison.  I notice that my peers evidently agree with me - there isn't a one in the audience.  I think I'm the youngest person here by maybe twenty years.

I'll be honest with you, though... this is not the sort of acting gig I want to make a career out of.  Or have you figured that out by now?  Actually, I suppose once I got past  the makeup, the costumes, the all-male cast (well, that's not so bad; I *know* I'd never be hurting for parts) and the fact that everyone on the stage and in the audience is at least thirty years older than me, I suppose I could live with it.  As a last resort.

***

Once the performance is over, all I do is change kimonos.  This one, for working at the ryokan.  On my way to the front, I run into Reina in our section of the ryokan.  I half-expect to find him in leather chaps and a ten-gallon hat, swaggering bowlegged off to his room.  Thankfully, that's not the case.  Leather, yes; chaps, no.  A black leather jacket over a plain white tee-shirt and black jeans.  He's got his hair slicked back in a... what's that style called?  A DA?

Anyway, he's definately got the James Dean look down... right down to the...!

"Uh, Reina...?"

He looks up at me.  "Onii-sama?"

I reach over and take the cigarette dangling from his lips (still unlit, thankfully) and break it between my fingers with a muffled snap.  "Y'know, women get an extra ten years on us as it is.  Why make a bad situation worse, hmm?

"Not only that, but you ought to be relieved that *I*m the one that caught you with that thing.  You know Mom and Dad would freak if they saw you smoking."

He blinks, and his eyes open wide.  I take back what I said about having the complete James Dean look; those puppy-dog eyes don't fit. 

"Your point being?"  On the other hand, he's got the attitude down pretty well.  

I close my eyes and sigh.  Well, if he really wants to shock the folks, that's his prerogative.

And then I hear the bell from the front.  We've got company.  "Look, Reina... we'll talk about this later.  Right now, I've got work to do, okay?"  He smirks, pleased that he's off for the day.  Kami knows Mom and Dad would never let him work in that getup.  Still...

"By the way... nice jacket, ototo-chan..."

He smiles, and continues on to his room.

***

"Welcome to the Kisaragi Ryokan.  My name is Shun, and I'm your... hostess."  As much as I kid Mitsuru-sempai about hesitating to refer to me with a feminine pronoun around Suka-chan, calling myself a 'hostess' has always been a difficult thing for me.  The word has other, less savory, connotations than the one I'm trying to use, after all.  This may not be Tokyo, but we've got hostess bars here in Shizuoka, too.

Let's just hope this gaijin family doesn't make that connection.  I size them up.  The parents look to be in their mid-forties, and happily married.  I doubt they're here for the hostess bars.  Meanwhile, the boy with them has got to be my age if he's a day.  Probably older, in fact... and *damn* if he's not sizing me up in turn!

The husband returns my bow.  "Hajimemashite.  O'Fallon Michael desu."  His Japanese has an English accent to it, and a bit of a drawl.  They're Australians, I suspect.  Anyway, he seems to know his way around the culture a bit.  Well, after all... he's staying at a ryokan rather than the Hilton, ne?

I smile, and take several of the bags.  "This way, please," and I lead them to their rooms.  It's something I've been doing for years, but for whatever reason, I feel a bit queasy this time around.  Maybe I should have asked to rest awhile after getting back from the theatre - maybe those hot lights took more out of me than I thought.

Once at Mr. & Mrs. O'Fallon's room, I point out where the futon, the slippers and yukatas are stored and leave them to their own devices.  "Your room is right next door, uh..."

"Call me Jim."  He looks like Shinobu-sempai when he smiles, except his smile is large and toothy.  Come to think of it, that's not how sempai smiles at all.  What *is* it that reminds me of him?

"All right, Jim-san..." and I lead him to his room.

"Just 'Jim,' please.  Arigato, Shun-chan."  I'm hoping that he's being too familiar simply because he doesn't understand Japanese well enough to use the right honorific.

I'm wrong.  There's suddenly a hand on my shoulder.  "You know, you're very pretty.  Is there somewhere we could go for tea once you... get off?"

I peel his hand from my shoulder, and turn to face him.  "Jim-san..."

"Ah-ah-ah.  Just 'Jim.'"

I ignore him.  This is no time to be casual.  "Jim-san, I'm sure you're a very nice young man, but I don't ever..." yes, I have to pause here, too, "get off work here.  This is my family's ryokan, so I --"

"Live here?"  His eyes light up.  "Even better.  Maybe some time this week you can show me around.  Maybe you could even show me your room."

He is my guest, I am his host.  Hostess... whatever.  I can't slap him.  Not yet, anyway.  At least I can turn my back on him.  "You know where everything is, Jim-san.  Enjoy your stay..."  And I try to walk out.

"Wait, Miss Kisaragi!"  Oh, *now* he's going to be formal, is he?  I stop, but I don't turn around.

"What is it?"

There's that hand on my shoulder again.  Forget what I said about formal.  And the other hand is on my hip, now!  "Could you help me set up my futon?"  He begins rubbing my shoulder, while his other hand slips down to my crotch.  That DOES it!  

I turn to swing at him... and miss completely.  He's not where I expected him to be; he's backed up about five feet away from me in a matter of a split second, and is staring at me in horror.  "Y-y-y-y-you're... a..."

I put my hands on my hips and glare at him.  "Go on, say it.  I'm a *guy*.  You satisfied, now?"

There's not much else I can do but spin on my heel and stalk out.  I hope he doesn't tell his parents about this.  Then again, would he tell him how he found out?  I almost snicker.

You know, I'm actually starting to miss Ryokuto.

**track nineteen**

Sure, I'm carrying a lot more baggage to Ryokuto Academy this time compared to when I arrived in April, but I don't care.  My music's playing, and my heart is light.  No more getting groped by some stupid customer at the ryokan...

"Eeeee!"

Uh-oh...

I turn around, and I'm face to face with three stampeding junior high girls... who run right past me.  Turns out, there's a fellow Ryokuto student on his way to the dorms.  The girls swoop by him, copping a few quick feels before sprinting off toward Ryokuto itself.  The poor fellow just stares after them, stunned for a moment, before picking up the luggage he'd just dropped and resuming his trudge.

For my own part, I don't know whether to be relieved or insulted.

***

I'm at Greenwood's gate when I spot the three of them about a dozen meters off, and hail them.  "Sempais!  Suka-chan!  I'm back!"  Shinobu-sempai grins slightly and returns the wave, while Mitsuru-sempai looks up from Suka-chan... did something happen to him?

Oh, it's just another nosebleed.  Guess those girls got him, too.  

***

Tochizawa sets down his can of Yebisu.  "No kidding... Hasukawa's sister?"

"Well, sister-in-law..."

The sempais are regaling us with news of Sumire-chan's visit.  Evidently, Suka-chan's still got a thing for her: it's why he stayed at the dorm over summer break.  Not that Sumire understood any of it -- or that Suka-chan could explain.  Turns out he got a nosebleed just from her hugging him, and had to make a mad dash for the benjo.  And by the time he recovered, she'd left.  So she still doesn't know how Suka-chan feels... not that he seems to like feeling that way.  I make a note to needle him about it later.  Meanwhile, I latch onto his arm, and he looks down on me and gives me a sheepish smile.  I nestle into his shoulder a bit.  Mitsuru-sempai blinks at me a couple of times before continuing.  "But yeah... still, you remember Sumire-san, ne?  She was the Queen..."

"Oh that's right.  So she's the doc's wife?"

"Well, yeah... didn't you figure it out from the name?"

"...Doctor... Hasukawa..."  Tochizawa pauses, and chuckles.  "Never even crossed my mind.  Whaddya know."

"Yeah, a real waste, ne?  A chick that pretty stuck with an infirmary doctor, ne?  Whaddya think, Suka?"  Mitsuru-sempai nudges Suka-chan hard enough that *I* feel it.  Suka-chan just glares at him for a moment.  Then he grabs a can without a word, cracks it open and chugs it.  I can't help staring.

"Uh... Suka-chan?  Suka-chan?"  I don't get his attention until he's done with the beer, and by then, he hasn't much attention to give.  He topples backward onto the floor, and I'm hard-pressed to catch him in time.

Shinobu-sempai's expression is flat.  "That's the third time he's done that this summer.  Give him a few hours, it'll wear off."

I'm just staring at him in my arms, before I decide I'm better off setting him down on the floor.  "You're kidding... he gets drunk off of one can of beer?"

"Hardly."  Shinobu-sempai shakes his head.  "I think it's a combination of the alcohol itself, the ulcer and the medication he's been taking for it, and," and at this point, even sempai looks sheepish, "some kind of leftover body-memory from that champagne we gave you two last month."

It makes sense enough to permit me to glare at the sempais a bit, and they both have the grace to look embarrased.  I set down my can of Yebisu - I've only taken a few sips, but there's no point in tempting fate.  "Hmph.  So this wears off after a while?  Well, help me get him back to the room, will ya?"  We all rise, grab an extremity, and carry Suka-chan out of room 211 as though we were pallbearers.

We march into our room in military fashion, the sempais holding the shoulders, Tochizawa and I holding Suka-chan's legs.  Mitsuru-sempai pushes the curtain to Suka-chan's bed aside, and calls out, "Okay, everyone... hoist!"  And we boost Suka-chan practically to the height of my head, and ease him into bed.  Once he's settled, Mitsuru-sempai pulls the curtain, and we troop back out.

Rest in peace, Suka-chan.

***

Out in the hall, Mitsuru-sempai grins.  "All right, who's for some more brewskis?"  He's looking straight at me, too.

Fine, then.  "You know, sempai... Beer makes for a pretty good shampoo.  Would you like to try it sometime?"


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