Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkest Light ❯ Hello, Kitty-kitty! ( Chapter 2 )

I'd like to say that, while the first couples chapter won't be explicit enough to merit this fic a NC-17 rating, these following chapters will. Now that I've said that, I'd like you all to settle back and get ready for Arty and Charlie's first day of school. Enjoy!

Part 2: Hello, Kitty-kitty!

A little boy is playing in an open field on a warm summer night.

"Artemis…"

A breeze blew across the tall grass, making silvered waves on a sea of deep green. Small golden lights twinkle above them like St. Elmo's fire.

"Artemis…"

Amidst a swirl of fireflies, there stood a beautiful woman. She had long black hair with two white streaks in the bangs, just like the little boy's. Her eyes were warm gray, brimming with love and kindness. The woman wore a dark blue kimono with a rainbow of embroidery flowers. She held her arms wide open, smiling as she called out gently.

"Artemis…"

Suddenly, the field burst apart in a torrent of fire and smoky ashes. Before the woman loomed a large, dark figure. With a flash of brilliant steel, the figure cut her down. Time came to a crawl as she fell, trailing a delicate, lacey stream of crimson behind her. The fire died away while the woman was falling, leaving them silhouetted upon an inky blackness. The boy, stunned by the deed he had just witnessed, could only watched a dark stain seep across the once dazzling silken threads of the kimono as the blood began to form a pool beneath the woman's body. Her lifeless eyes stared at him in mute horror. The murder turned slowly on his heels with a stiff, nearly mechanical click of his boots. His icy eyes glared down at the boy, a pair of frozen stars against a field of pine green. The voice was frigid as a single word came from his lips.

"Artemis..."

With a terrified gasp, Artemis sat bolt-straight in his bed. He glanced wildly about the room, his breath rasping in panic.

Grumbling something about the noise, Ara rolled over and pulled a pillow over his head.

"A nightmare." Artemis gasped. "It was just a nightmare… Just a nightmare… Just a nightmare…" He continued chanting that over and over until his heart stopped racing, then looked at the clock on the wall. 'Four in the morning.' With a sigh, he fell back onto the bed. Artemis laid there in the darkness for hours, still haunted by that woman's eyes.

~*~*~*~

"Biz-zit!~Biz-zit!~Biz-zit!~Biz-…THUMP!"

Charlie hit the snooze alarm for the seventh time, then yank the covers over his head. He could hear the door open and the dull thump of heavy boots as someone walked toward the bed. With a groan of displeasure, he greeted his guest. 'Maybe if I ignore him, he'll just go away.'

"Master Charles," began the clipped monotone of a voice that Charlie had now learned to hate. "It's time for you to wake up."

The boy didn't move.

"Master Charles?"

Silence.

"Master Charles…"

Still nothing.

Irritated and thoroughly pissed by his charge's action {or should I say IN-action}, Marlin grasped the blanket and, ever so sweetly, yanked it off the bed. He also ended up dragging poor little Charlie off along with it, causing him to land face-first in the floor.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!" Charlie roared, rubbing the fresh lump on his forehead.

"It's time for you to get ready for school, sir." Came the deadpan reply.

Charlie glared at him evilly. "It's six in the morning."

"I know that. Now, please go get ready, sir."

"But school doesn't start till eight-thirty."

"While that may be the case, Master Charles. However," He stiffened even more as he spoke. "As the son of the Guildmaster, you are expected to be punctual, and well-groomed in both your mien and bearing."

"Geez… It's not such a big deal." Charlie yawned as he stood and dusted off his pjs. "So why don't you just lighten up?"

"Lighten up?" The veins in Marlin's forehead started to bulge. His eyebrow twitched. "Lighten up…" With a feral, inhuman snarl, he bared a formidable set of fangs and grabbed the boy by the collar of his shirt. "Do you have any idea the seriousness of your station?! You're the son of the Guildmaster! Don't you realize that anything and everything you do reflects upon Sigmund and the entire guild! You're every waking moment from now on will be scrutinized and judged in minute detail. If you fuck it up now, no matter how trivial it may seem to you, it will have disastrous results for your father."

"Okay! Okay! I get the point!"

"Good." He released him. "Now do as I tell you!" With that, Marlin marched out of the room, leaving a badly shaken Charlie in his wake.

~*~*~*~

Ara opened his sleepy violet eyes. Yawning, he sat up slowly, less than eager to face the first day of school.

"Good morning."

"AIEEEEEE!" The poor boy jumps and nearly fell out of his bed in surprise.

The light clicked on revealing a full dressed Artemis sitting crossed legged on his own bed. He glanced lazily over at Ara, trying hard to keep a straight face.

"GEEZ-US-LORD-CHRIST! Don't do that again!" Ara snapped, striding over to him. "You nearly made me have a heart attack!"

"But all I said was good morning." Arty replied deadpan. "It wasn't like I was trying to kill you or anything."

Ara flinched slightly. "Thanks for reminding me." He sat down beside him. "So, how long have you been sitting there?"

"Since around four."

"Gah." Ara made a face. "I didn't know you were that much of geek."

"No, I'm not. It's just…" He paused, wondering whether or not to tell Ara about the nightmare he had. Artemis decided not to. "I just have trouble sleeping sometimes."

"Yah…sure you do." The grin on his face twisted quickly into a leer. "You were jerking off, weren't you?"

Arty glared at him. "No I was not."

"LIAR!" Ara chirped, giving him a rough poke in the ribs. "You must have been doing something for the last three hours."

"Yah, I was doing something. I took a shower and got dressed, then sat here."

"Oooh…A shower? Was it a quick cold one or of the long, hot 'n' steamy variety?" He snickered nastily. "You could have woke me up, I'd have been more than happy to rub your back…among other things." He nudged Artemis softly with a devilish wink.

"Don't you have better things to do this morning?" Artemis snarled, scooting away from the other boy, blushing.

"Like what?"

"Like…oh, I don't know…Maybe getting ready for school?"

Ara laughed, draping his arm across Artemis' shoulders. "Arty, Arty," He tutted, pulling the taller boy closer. "We're in a boarding school, silly boy! That mean's we don't have to be in class till nine-something."

"I knew that." Artemis growled, shrugging out of Ara's embrace. "But breakfast starts at eight, and I'm hungry dammit."

"Alright-alright…I get the message." Ara hopped off the bed and head toward the bathroom.

~*~*~*~

Charlie walked toward his first class, glad to be free of Marlin's overbearing vigilance. 'Man, that guy just doesn't know when to quit, does he?' As he reached the door, a small child came running down the hall.

"WHAM! Ooof!"

Before Charlie could move out of the way she slammed into him, sending them both sprawling to the floor. He stood up and was about to help her up when he gaped in shock. The little girl was a little blue kitten in a super frilly, sugar pink and candy purple sailor fuku.

She hopped to her feet and glared angrily at Charlie. "You dare to trip me, princess of the Royal House of Toranekojin? You must be punished!" With that, she whipped out a humungous, bejeweled gold mallet and tries to bash Charlie over the head with it.

"HEY! CUT IT OUT!" After dodging the mallet several times, Charlie finally grabs a hold of its handle and pull out of the little kitten-girl's hands. "You're going to hurt somebody with this thing."

"Oi! Give that back, stupid human!" She jumps up and down, trying to get her mallet back. "That belongs only in the hands of a royal princess of the Toranekojin clan!"

"I don't think so, kid!" Charlie holds the mallet high out of her reach. "Not until you learn to how to behave yourself."

"How dare you speak to me in such a fashion! I am Koneko no Hoshi-hime, heir to the throne of Toranekokai!"

"Well, I don't really care who you are. Even a princess shouldn't run into people and then try to smash their heads in with mallets!"

Hoshi hissed at him, her fur bristling in rage.

"Excuse, but is there a problem here?" Standing behind Charlie was a tall man with dark caramel skin and brilliant white hair. He would have looked like any other schoolteacher expect for the fact that he was holding a large, thin staff with a sharply curved blade at the top.

"Yes there is, Kismet-san!" Hoshi piped, waving an accusing finger at Charlie. "This mean human tripped me and stole my clan's priceless heirloom! Make him give it back!"

"Is that true, young man?"

"No, sir! You see…" As Charlie turned to face Kismet, he saw that the man had his eyes closed tightly. "Umm…"

"Well…"

"She…she ran into me, sir, and when I tried to help her up, she attacked me."

"Ojoo-chan," Kismet 'looked' sternly at the little girl. "Is that true?"

Hoshi looked down at her feet in embarrassment. "Yes, Kismet-san." Suddenly she jerked her head up and added. "But I wouldn't have if he hadn't stared at me like I was some sort of freak!"

"I'm sorry about that, Miss Hoshi." Charlie said gently. "But I've never seen a cat-girl before, especially a blue one."

"Cat-girl? Cat-girl?!" She bristled and started to growl. "Why you insentive…"

"That's quite enough, ojoo-chan." Kismet turned to Charlie. "I'd like to apologize for Hoshi's rudeness. She, like many young metafelines, is often very rash and hothead." He smiled, politely taking the mallet from him. "I don't think I've introduced myself yet. My name is Janus Kismet. I am a chemistry teacher here at the Academy and Saint Joan's."

"It's nice to met you, sir." Charlie replied. "I'm Charlie Sigmund, a student."

"Oh," Kismet mused. "So you're Dov's son." He bowed his head slightly. "It is a pleasure to finally make you acquaintance."

"Thank…thank you, sir." Charlie shifted his feet nervously. "Umm…I hope you don't think this is a rude thing to ask, sir, but why do you have your eyes closed?"

"You shouldn't ask something like that, Karisu no baka!" Hoshi hissed, giving him a sharp poke in the ribs.

Kismet chuckled softly. "It's alright, ojoo-chan. Many people ask me that when I first met them. You see, I was working alone in the laboratory one afternoon setting up for an experiment for one of my morning lectures when a beaker of acid burst, spraying me in the eyes and blinding me. I'm just thankful that it didn't hit my mouth, otherwise I wouldn't be able to lecture any more." He smiled and cocked his head slightly. "I think I've detained you two long enough. Now, off to class with you."

"Okay, Mister Kismet/Kismet-san" They said in unison as he walked on down the hall.

~*~*~*~

As the bell rang for the first of many classes at Saint Joan's that year, students poured into various auditorium-style classrooms.

Artemis took a seat between Lucky and Ara, who both happened to have first and fourth block with him, in the hope that they wouldn't start fighting before class started.

Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen.

"Arty-kun," Lucky purred, laying her head on his shoulder. "What is that jerk doing here?"

"Excuse me, Bitchzilla," Ara hooked his arm around Artemis. "But he's my man, aren't you, Arty-poo?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Lucky growled, narrowing her eyes at him.

Ara grinned nastily. "I don't think I have to explain that to you, Pinky."

"Listen here, kisama!" She snapped, clutching Artemis protectively. "Arty-kun isn't a fag like you." Lucky looked up at the dark-hair young man lovingly. "You like girls, don't you Arty-kun?"

"Ano…" Artemis' face was now flushed red.

Suddenly, a door to one side the teacher's stage opened and in strolled a rather funny looking young woman wearing a long black cape and a mantle with timed in yellow and red, a cream colored turtle-neck girded with a long, light beige sash, billow black pants, and tan boots. Her straight, jet-black hair stopped just at her shoulders and, behind her glasses, she had her eyes closed in the classic anime happiness look. She also had a large staff topped with a dazzling crimson orb. "Ohayoo, minna-san! I'm Doctor Rinnu Jones, your English teacher." The grin on her face was almost a mile wide. "But you may call me Rinnu-sensei."

Everyone, except Artemis, cringes.

"Oh my god!" Ara stammered. "Our teacher's a Slayers' nut!"

"Worse, Ara." Lucky spoke in a fearful whisper. "She's a Xellos otaku!"

"Why, Kamiko-chan," Rinnu chimed perkily. "You make that sound like a bad thing." She pulls out the role book and leans back and crosses her legs, floating in a sitting position. "Now, let's see here…Lorelei Ashburn?"

"Here, Rinnu-sensei." Called a lovely blonde girl.

"I already know Lucky." She checked off her name. "Mitch Bellstup?"

The snoozing boy sat up with a jerk. "Uh…I'm here!"

"Good for you, Mitch." Rinnu continued calling role until she reached the last name on the list, but for some reason, she never called Artemis' name. "Well, now that that's over with, let's get started shall we?" Going over to the board, she lazily chucked the role book onto her desk and pulled a battered, book marked copy of Beowulf out of her cloak. "Everyone, please take out a sheet of paper and take down these notes."

Artemis raised his hand. "Excuse me, Rinnu-sensei."

"Yes, what is it?"

"You…you didn't call my name when you took role."

"Oh, sorry 'bout that, Arty. I forgot to put you name in there." Rinnu quickly scribbled a note down and stuck it one the role-book. "Any more questions?"

"Umm…I have a question, Rinnu-sensei." Called one boy in the far back.

"Well, what is it, Brain?"

"Why are you dressed up like that?"

She grinned evilly, opening one lustrous emerald eye. "I'm glad you asked that." Rinnu sat down on top of her desk. "You see, minna-san, it's a little tradition I have. On the first day of every new school year, I always come dress like Xellos."

"But, why?"

Gleefully, Rinnu answers. "Sore wa, himitsu desu!"

Everyone, excluding Artemis, face-vaults.

Ignoring their reaction, Rinnu turns to board and starts lecturing on the Anglo-Saxon history and the origins of Beowulf.

~*~*~*~

Twelve-o-clock at the Lazarus Academy, and the lunch bell had just rang.

Charlie got himself a tray and started looking around the crowded dining hall for someplace to set.

"Oi, Karisu-kun!" Hoshi waved at him from her table. "You can set here with us!"

"Thank you, Hoshi." He said, setting down beside her.

"Allow me to introduce you to everybody. This is Cassandra," She pointed to a stoic-looking young girl with curly brown hair.

"Hello."

"And that's Sara."

"Hi!" Chirped a spunky looking, freckled faced redhead.

"And last, but not least, we have Donovan."

The pale, sharp faced youth with disheveled brown hair and an all-around nerdy look quickly bowed his head. "I-it's a pr-…a pri-…it's a prue-…an honor to met you, s-s-sir."

"O…kay." Charlie leaned over to Hoshi and whispered softly, "Does he always talk like that?"

"Y-yes, s-sir." Donovan stammered. "I…I have a spe-…a spe-…speech imped-…imped-…a lisp."

"Yeah," Sara chimed in. "That's why everyone calls you 'P-p-porky the Half-elf'!"

"That wasn't nice, Sara." Cassandra scolded lightly.

"I was just kidding around, Cass." She rolled her eyes and looked at Charlie. "So, you're the son of the Guildmaster, eh?"

"Yes, I am."

"So…tell me, Charlie," Sara smirked. "Is it true you're gay?"

Donovan choked on his drink, spewing cola across the table. "SARA! T-th-that's totally uncalled for!" He glanced at Charlie, bowing his head in shame. "Puh-puh-puh-please sir, accept my…my m-m-m-most sincere and huh-huh-humble ap-puh-puh-…"

"Knock it off!" Sara bopped him in the head. "I just wanted to know if those rumors about him and that kid are true."

Charlie blinked as it all hit him. 'Arty…' His face reddened slightly.

"Gee…" Hoshi purred, noticing the look on Charlie's face. "Karisu sure doesn't look happy now, Sara-chan."

"Say what?!"

"Well, you were asking if Karisu was gay or not." She looked at her in mild confusion. "Doesn't being gay mean being happy?"

Sara gave the kitten princess an icy stare. "That's not what I meant, Hoshi."

"What did you mean, Sara?"

"We'll explain it to you later, m'lady." Cassandra politely answered.

The bell rang again, signaling the end of lunch.

"Well," Charlie said nervously. "I'll see you all later. Bye!" With that, he dropped his tray off and bolted to his next class.

~*~*~*~

On that note, I'll end this installment. Yeah, I know you all are just dying to see what happens to our lovely young couple, but I'm really not ready to break out the citrus yet, so you'll just have to wait for the next part. Oh, and Izzy, thanks for the dedicating a chapter of Boarding School to me. That really made my day. ^.^ Until the next fic,

Ja-na!

V-chan,

Murasaki no miko!