A Dragon\'s Call

Chapter Three : School Days


Chapter Three :   School Days

The next day was Wednesday, two days before Homecoming.   The big game was
scheduled for Friday, with the Homecoming Dance on the following Saturday.   The
entire school was a buzz with the festivities.   If they won this game, their team
would be going to the state finals.   Never had the town or school been so excited
before.   Everyone seemed ready to participate.   Including the twins.

They'd never seen such a strong devotion to anything, except God.   It was very
confusing, the way the students of San Marcos High School seemed to be in a constant state
of excitement.   Everyone on campus seemed to have been bitten by the same bug.
  Everywhere the twins went, people accosted them, seeing what they thought of the
coming event.  

Neither had any interest in it.   Home life had grown worse with the coming of the
event.   Rachel condemned the entire town as sinful and evil.   Nothing seemed
to pleas her and the twins stayed at school for as long as they could, just so they
wouldn't have to go home.  

During this time, Jonathan's feelings had grown more and more confusing.   He
would see his twin, and a fluttering would fill him.   He found himself imaging what
his twin would like nude and then would turn away, his face a scarlet red.   Whenever
this happened, Joshua would question his brother, but would never get a response from his
brother.

Currently, the twins were sitting together on the blade of grass on the football field.
  Physical education had ended early, and they had quite a bit of time left before
their next class.   They sat in companionable silence, watching the local team
practice.

The captain, a fiery redhead by the name of Nicholas Dainty, instructed his players in
various plays they intended to use for the upcoming game.   He wasn't as tall as many
of the other boys, but he had a temper to match any of them.

"JACKSON!!!   WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING??!!!!"

The twins snickered, watching Nicholas as he stomped over to the receiver.  
Jackson blinked stupidly, staring at his captain.   "Uh…catching the
ball?!"

"I know that you fucking moron!!!   Why the hell are young ing it?!!  
You're supposed to be guarding Thompson!!!"

"Uhhh…."

Cursing under his breath, Nicholas headed back to the other players.

"He really needs to cool down."

Jonathan looked up, staring at a small boy no older than thirteen.   The boy had a
light rose-colored hair and piercing green eyes.   He smiled down at the twins,
holding his hand out.   "Christopher Dainty."

Blinking, Joshua looked from the boy to the loudmouthed captain.   Christopher
nodded, grinning.   "Yeah, he's my brother."

"Hey…aren't you that kid genius?!"   Joshua piped up unthinkingly.
  Jonathan whacked his brother on the arm with his flute.   "That wasn't
nice, Joshua!   Apologize for being rude!"

Christopher giggled.   "It's okay!   He wasn't rude!  I get that a
lot.   And yeah I am.   I just came out here to wait for Nick.   He's
taking me home after practice."

Joshua smirked at his brother triumphantly.   The elder just rolled his eyes.
  A loud cry jolted the boys out of their conversation.  

Out on the field, Jackson's foot turned, twisting.   He fell with a cry onto the
ground.   The football he had been running to catch sailed over his head and past the
twins.   Joshua jumped up, running as fast as his legs would carry him to catch the
high thrown ball.  

Jonathan's mouth had opened to stop his brother, but quickly shut as Nicholas
approached.   Nicholas' mouth was wide open as he watched Joshua run after the fall.
  "Is he insane?!"

About to retort, Jonathan could say nothing as he watched in awe as his twin ran past
the flying ball and caught it in his arms.   He'd never seen anyone run so fast in
his life!

"Holy shit!"   Jonathan frowned at the profanity, but said nothing.
  Nicholas looked behind him, at the players that were helping Jackson off the field.
  They were down a man.   Jackson couldn't play with that bum leg.  
Turning to Jonathan, Nicholas smirked.

"Say…he's not bad!   Pretty good actually.   It seems my ass of a
receiver broke his leg.   Think your bro would be interested in taking his
place?!"   Nicolas grinned, his front teeth appearing to be fangs.   They
were, in fact, that.   When he just started high school, he had them filed down to
points to make a statement.

"You're…kidding, right?"   Jonathan almost fell to the ground in
shock.   Their mother would go ballistic if she found out…

"Nope.   He's one of the best receivers I've ever seen.   And I bet he's
never played, right?!"

"Yeah…"

"Cool!   I can teach 'em all he needs ta know!   Awesome!!"

"But…"

Joshua suddenly appeared, cutting of any protest Jonathan could have made.   He
tossed the ball to Nicholas.   "Yours right?"

"Yeah…thanks kid.   Look, I got a proposition for ya…"

Ten minutes later, Jonathan was shaking his head as he led his brother home.  
"Mother will freak."

"Who said we had to tell her?!   Come on, Jon, I wanna do this!  
Please?!"   Joshua begged his brother, his blue eyes pleading.

Unable to withstand such an onslaught, he caved.   "Fine.   But you know
Friday night is bible study night."

"Oops…"

Jonathan smiled, seeing the crestfallen expression on his brother's face.  
Putting his arm over his shoulders, he gave his twin a hug.   "Don't worry.
  We'll think of something."

"Really?!!   Aniki you're the best!"

Jonathan gasped, falling onto his back from the force of his brother's hug.   The
two tussled on the ground, laughing.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

Nicholas gave his brother a nasty look.   "What?!   We need a
receiver…"

"Tasuki.   I ain't that stupid, even if I am your brother now."  
Christopher grinned, jabbing his brother in the side, which yelped.

"Yeah, yeah…hey, I'm trying to be nice to the kid.   After what that
brat did…"   Nicholas' eyes darkened.

"That was a life time ago.   They're different, just as we are.  
Besides, if the stories about their mother are true…" Christopher sighed,
leaving the rest unsaid.

"Yea kno know Chiriko."   Nicholas put his arm around his little brother
and hugged him.   "I know.   Let's get going.   Reykia and Anthony
will be wondering where we are."

"Sure thing."   Christopher slung his backpack onto his shoulder,
following his brother to the locker rooms.   "Say…did ya hear about that
new kid?"

"The exchange student?   Yea…got him in my Physics class."

"Really?!   What's he like?!   I haven't gotten ta see him yet."
  Christopher plopped down onto a bench near the showers after the pair entered the
locker room.  

Nicholas shrugged, pulling out a towel from his locker and entered the open showers.
  Turning the warm water on after disrobing, he let the water soak his flaming red
hair.   "Why don't you just spit it out, Chiriko.   You want to know if
he's one of us."

Christopher blushed, looking down.   "Sorry…it's just that…ever
since we found the others…"

"You want to find the rest.   Yea, yea I know.   Just remember, we
weren't the only ones reincarnated.   Those Seiryuu bastards were too."

Nodding wordlessly, Christopher stared at the far wall.   "Yeah, I know.
  That's why I'm concerned.   You do know that Ashitare is on the team."

Nicholas made a face, his hand running through his wet hair.   He stood at the
entrance to the showers, the towel he had carried in with him around his hips.  
"Look, Chris…Sam is a good player.   He's…"

"Innocent.   And does everything that Dirk tells him to."  
Christopher finished, staring back at his brother.   

"Damn those Seiryuu bastards!!!"   Nicholas slammed his fist against the
wall, the skin cracking under the force of his blow.

Christopher shook his head, drawing his brother to sit next to him on the bench.  
He took a towel from a nearby stack and began to dab at the blood on the bruised knuckles.
  "Hurting yourself won't help.   It isn't your fault.   You know how
Raphael is always badgering Sam.   And we'll stop them, just like we did before.
  But you haven't told me about the new boy.   Is he who we think he is?"

Sighing, Nicholas allowed his little brother to treat his self-inflicted wound.  
"Yeah, its Tamahome all right.   He's as irritating as always."

Christopher grinned.   "Oh…does this mean I get to watch you two beat
the shit out of each other?!"

"Watch your mouth!"

Snickering, Christopher continued wipe the blood from the hand he held.  
"Okay, okay…next question.   Does he know who he was?"

"Oh, hell yeah!   The bastard came up to me before class and as sweet as you
please, told me I couldn't burn his ass anymore.   Asshole even called me 'Tasuki!'
  Right in front of everybody!   Geez!!"

"Well, what else was I suppose to call you?sp; sp; Shit face?!"

The two brothers turned, startled.   Behind them was none other than Tarek
Schiereck.   "Tamahome!!!"   Christopher gave a glad cry, jumping off
the bench and tackling Tarek.

Laughing, Tarek fell to the ground, holding a squealing Christopher.  
"Chiriko!!   What are you doing here?   Never mind…genius boy strikes
again, ne?!"

Christopher blushed, sitting on the floor.   "Well...ye133;133;but I'm just
waiting for my brother."

"Your…"

"Me, asshole."   Nicholas finished buckling his jeans and turned around.
  His wet hair framed his features.

"You gotta be kiddin' me…" Tarek blinked, staring from Christopher to
Nicholas.   "Oh man…this is great!   I always knew ya were protective
of him but geez…"

"Ah, shuddup!"

Christopher snickered, then poked his brother in the ribs, who yelped.  
"Let's take him to the others.   We gotta meet them anyway."

"Fine."

Tarek closed his eyes, sighing.   Had he finally found the others?   Was this
the end of his long journey to find her?

"Quit daydreamin' ya clod!   Let's go!"   Nicholas growled from the
doorway.

"Comin' dipshit!"

to be continued...