Chapter Text
The rustle of the newspaper, lightly followed by a cough or sniffle. The ticking of the clock. The echoes of the soccer team outside in the distance, past the long wall of windowed glass. These were all the sounds that reverberated inside the room.
More accurately, the detention room.
The only three occupants of said room, was the teacher, who had one to many coffees and was currently checking the stock section as if his life depended on it, and two students. Two students who sat so far part away from one another, one could assume they hated the other. And if you were to think that you would probably be correct.
Looking over the edge of his newspaper, the teacher eyed the two students. The girl with the golden eyes and honey blonde hair, was sprouting a busted lip and slightly mused hair. She didn’t look to worse for wear, considering the other student, with the purple hair and violet irises, sported a black eye and torn shirt. To think, that these two teenagers had gone at each other like cats and dogs. It had taken at least four teachers to break them up and the only reason why they were in detention, rather then being suspended, was because both their families were quite affluential.
The perks of being rich.
Lumine Tigel refused to even acknowledge the boys presence, all the way on the opposite side of the room, as she sat and stewed in her anger. This wasn’t the first time she had gotten into a confrontation with the boy, their verbal assaults back and forth were stuff of legends, but this had been the first time that she had used her fists… And an elbow.
“You two have anything to say?” it wasn’t his job to play counselor, but everyone on campus knew who these students were. They were famous amongst the staff, model students actually and to find them, going at each other’s throats in the courtyard of all places, had been appalling to say the least. “Nothing, huh?” their silence spoke volumes.
Kunikuzushi Fiorillo clicked his tongue loudly in annoyance, a scowl growing on his face, as he glared at the teacher. With those simple gestures alone, did the teacher immediately stop talking, even looking apologetic as he held up the newspaper, minding his own business.
“…” Lumine hadn’t missed the whole intimidation act, it wasn’t the first time such a thing happened, and it wouldn’t be the last, especially when it came to the arrogant jerk. POUMPUS, arrogant jerk. Shifting her eyes towards the boy, a snarl curled on her lip, as he was blatantly eyeballing her.
‘Tigel.’ Kunikuzushi mouthed, a sneer forming upon his lips.
They were considered the top dogs of the school, right beside Ajax and Xingqiu, the latter of the two amazed that they had fought without him present. Both of their families were of prestigious backgrounds, they attended social functions on a daily basis. Their fight had solidified that those rumors would be spreading like wildfire for weeks, no, months!
Lumine & Kunikuzushi HATE each other!
That simple statement would be plastered everywhere.
‘Screw you.’ Lumine mouthed in return, bringing her finger to tap underneath her eye. ‘I like your makeup.’
Kunikuzushi did the same, but towards his lip, ‘I like yours.’
Glowering at the boy, Lumine turned away, bringing the back of her hand to wipe at her lip. All he had really done was shove her to the ground and pull her hair, the fall had caused her to land awkwardly. Her elbow had caused his black eye and she had struck his privates with her foot. By then, their entire class had surrounded them, some trying to tear them apart. But Lumine had gone right for his throat, clawing, and biting him. She had even ripped his fancy, black shirt that he adored so much.
That had been a proud moment for her.
She had expected to be hit in return, even worse. Broken bones, teeth, anything really. Kunikuzushi was known for being ruthless, just like his family. Despite his height, the boy could hold his own against individuals taller than him, at least, that’s what was rumored. So, it went without saying, that Lumine had expected him to fight back. No, she had wanted him to fight back.
Instead, he had stuck with pushing her around, toying with her, as a cat would do with a ball of yarn. That fact alone made her angrier. After all he had said to get under her skin, to get her riled up, to get her to her breaking point, in the end…
It felt as if he had just been playing with her.
The teacher’s cell went off, ringtone blaring a jaunty jingle. With a soft gasp, he quickly scrambled to pick it up. His eyes lifted towards the students, specifically Kunikuzushi, apologizing profusely with his gaze, as he clicked the ‘answer’ button. Under his breath he began to talk, trying to keep his conversation private. Eventually, he stood, walking to the very back of the room, looking tense.
“Y, yes, okay.” He paced about, bringing his thumb up to his mouth, to bite his nail. “Alright. I’ll be right there. P, please, give me time.” Ending the call, the teacher inhaled and exhaled, sweating from his furrowed brow. Shuffling back to the desk, he looked to be debating over something, before speaking, “I, will be right back you two,” he looked around shiftily. “, r, right back. Don’t go anywhere now. St, stay p, put now…” Without another word, he hurried out of the room.
“…” frowning, Lumine watched the door of the room click closed behind the man. What the heck was his problem? He was sweating like a sinner in church!
“Brendon Walters-“
Lumine whipped her head to the side, glaring at Kunikuzushi, who sat casually in his seat, eyes appraising the desk that the teacher had left.
“Forty-nine years old, twice divorced, his two kids in college. He’s in debt over his head. He likes to play the ponies. He has a gambling addiction that started when he was nineteen and it just got worse from there. After draining all his families trust fund and that of his two wives, his bookies started to grow impatient.”
“… It would figure you would know all that.” She didn’t even try to hide the disdain from her voice.
“In about a month, if he doesn’t come up with 4 million mora, he’ll lose not only his kidneys, but one of his eyes and a rib or two.”
“Stop it!” slamming her hand upon the table, Lumine practically snarled at the boy. “Just stop it!” it wasn’t as if it were a secret that Kunikuzushi’s family brokered not only in business, but information trade. There was of course all the underground rumors, but none of them could ever be proven. If her family was praised as being the ‘sun’, basking in the light and all the good that came out of it, then his family was definitely the ‘moon’, lurking about in the darkness.
They were polar opposites.
“Testy.” Kunikuzushi smirked, leaning back in his seat. “I assumed the hot blooded of the two twins would be your brother, Aether, but-“
“DON’T-“ her chair screeched across the floor, the ferocity in which she stood, causing it to leave scratch marks across the tiled floor. “YOU EVER BRING UP MY BROTHER! DON’T BRING UP ANYONE IN MY FAMILY!” her hand came to clench the back of the chair, as if ready to chuck it right at his head.
Kunikuzushi tilted his head ever so slightly, eyes pinned on her from across the room. Ever so slowly, he examined her stance, the way her breathing had picked up and grown erratic. Her pupils had dilated even. “…” it was apparent now, more then ever, that something had occurred. He was now 100% sure of it. The Tigel family often alluded their network of information and he was in fact, enamored with the female Tigel twin. No, in love would be the proper term, but he refused to admit that to himself.
Love was weakness.
A Fiorillo had no weaknesses.
Lumine Tigel was a hard one to crack. But that’s what he liked about her. The challenge. It was also entertaining watching her get all riled up. Her golden eyes burning brightly with anger. She was every much the goody two shoes he pegged her for, so it was nice to see such a change within her. A change he had caused.
Witnessing a different side of her was quite amusing.
A wicked smile grew upon his face, as he remembered the adorable roar, she had come at him with. It had actually caught him by surprise, seeing her lunge for him, gunning right for his most vital areas. Had she been anyone else, ANYONE else, she would be dead. Or at least, begging to die. But no, it had been Lumine.
“You should sit. The teacher did say to ‘stay put’.”
“Shut up.” Fixing her chair, Lumine sat, eyeing the clock upon the wall. Their cellphones had been taken away, so this was her only means to know of just how much longer she had to spend with the jerk. Counting the seconds, watching the hand tick away on the face of the clock, was torture.
Silence reigned between the pair again.
“There’s something I noticed.”
“…” all she wanted was for the last hour of their detention to pass by in peace. But it seemed as if the boy wouldn’t even give her that. I shouldn’t have lost my temper… No matter how much of rotten scumbag he is, I shouldn’t have lost my temper. Bringing up her hands, Lumine stared at them, as they shook slightly. It had been the first time she had ever tried to physically hurt anyone. And now that she really thought about it, she shouldn’t have let him get under her skin.
*screeeeech*
“!?” with a soft gasp, Lumine shot her gaze over towards Kunikuzushi, who was now intentionally sliding his chair against the ground, all the way to the other end of her table. Satisfied with the distance, he plopped himself right down, giving her a rather smug look. “…”
“I’ve noticed,” his posture was relaxed, torso bent to face her, legs in a position of manspreading. “, that you’ve been coming to school alone.”
“… Is that so wrong?” no one had ever brought the topic up. Not any of her close friends either. Not even Xiangling, or Barbara, Fischl, or even Xiao. A whole two weeks.
Kunikuzushi studied Lumine’s face, watching her expressions shift drastically with the thoughts that were circulating in her head. The girl wore her heart on her sleeve, she was the definition of kindness, good will and cheerfulness. This also made her very naïve. Gullible even. And in this school, those were horrible qualities to have.
Especially, being honest.
“Nothing wrong with coming to school alone. It isn’t a crime.”
Lumine let her gaze fall towards window, hearing the sound of a whistle being blown, a sign that the coach was either making the players do laps, or lining them up for scrimmage. Her brother loved to play soccer, in fact, he was one of the star players. All his classmates were on the field right now, practicing.
“I’ve noticed though, that your brother hasn’t been joining you.”
“…”
“He hasn’t been joining you for the past two weeks.”
Swallowing what little saliva she had in her mouth, Lumine looked over to the boy, who no longer held a smug expression, or even a smile on his face. “…”
“’Why him?’” he murmured, reading her like a book. “That’s what you’re thinking.”
“It’s been two weeks.”
“It has.”
“Not even his best friends have said anything. Not even my own. And its you… It’s you who says something.”
“I’m not surprised.”
Lumine frowned, “What?”
“I said, I’m not surprised. You think any of those people are your friends? Tell me, what have they ever done for you?”
“…” despite not wanting to participate in whatever he had up his sleeve, Lumine found herself wrecking her mind for an answer. She knew he was referring to all of the people she sat with at lunch, she hung out with after school. “It doesn’t matter what they do for me. If I say they are my friends, then-“
“Lets’ just pretend, for a second here, that they’re only your friends on paper. You’d think after two weeks, any one of these so-called friends would say something, right? You’d think they’d be concerned that your brother isn’t showing up for classes, for soccer practice. The star player, the one who won the championship last year. Come on, Tigel, even you’re not that dumb. You see, on paper, they care. On paper they are your friends. They only care when you can give them something.”
“I have never given them anything.” She snapped.
“You have the potential too. You’re one of the heirs of the Tigel fortune. Everyone in this school, has a problem. Everyone has something to hide, something to gain. Except you, idiot.” He could tell she was warring with herself. But since she wasn’t denying him outright, meant that she was listening, and this is what he needed her to do.
Listen.
“Then that means you have something to hide and gain, too!”
Laughing, Kunikuzushi grinned a little manically, “I never said I didn’t. I was in fact lumping myself in with that statement. Think Tigel, have I ever said I was your friend? Have I really ever lied to you?”
“…” pursing her lips together, Lumine let out a shallow exhale of breath. “No.”
“Good answer.”
Narrowing her eyes, Lumine stared straight into those violet irises, wondering what this boy’s guys angle was. Why was he saying all of this? What did he want from her? Was he going to read her mind again? Am I really that easy to read?
“I can read your mind, because your eyes don’t lie.”
“!” she was taken aback by that statement, which got another chuckle from the boy, who looked quite amused by their conversation. This was actually the first time Lumine had ever heard him laugh before, a normal laugh that is. Not one that grated on her nerves and made her want to hurl something at his head.
Laughter subsiding, Kunikuzushi stood, picking up his chair and bringing it to face Lumine. Coming to sit, he leant forward, speaking in a business-like tone, “Was he kidnapped?”
“Huh!?”
“Your brother, idiot,” slapping the back of his hand into his palm, Kunikuzushi needed the girl to focus. “, I need to know if he was kidnapped.”
“N, no, I- we don’t think he was…” her hands, which had been resting upon her knees, gripped them tightly. “One day, he was just gone, and no one could find him. We called everyone we knew. But he just vanished without a trace.”
“No ransom note. Nothing?”
“Nothing.”
“Any leads so far?” it was just like a family made of money to go about their lives as if they weren’t going through an existential crisis. So, this was the reason why Lumine’s attitude had been changing. Each and every day, she had to wake up knowing the fact, that her brother was missing. Everyday, was another day, that he could possibly be dead.
“Not one. No. Not even a paper trail, or anything. His computer was searched, his phone records. Everything was wiped clean.”
“Suspicious.” Leaning back in his chair now, Kunikuzushi mulled over what he had just learned. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cellphone.
“H, hey!” Lumine exclaimed. “I thought-“
“Please, like I’d like anyone take my cellphone away.” Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Kunikuzushi began to fiddle around with a couple of apps, fingers swiping across the screen.
“Fiorillo?”
“What?” he didn’t bother to look up from his phone.
“W, why do you care?”
“I don’t.”
Lumine glared at the boy.
“Don’t give me that look, I have my own end game goal.”
“With my brother!? What, does he owe you money!? Whatever it is, I’ll pay it!”
“No, your brother doesn’t owe me money.” Scoffing, Kunikuzushi lowered his cell now. “I’m doing this, because I want something in return.”
“What?” she couldn’t keep the attitude out of her tone, her arms coming to cross in front of her chest. “A brand-new car? A seat at my father’s company? According to you everyone is out to gain something. What’s your motive? Our house? Our stocks? Our dog? We have a cat too, you want her!? What could you possibly want? I’m super curious now. What does Kunikuzushi Fiorillo possibly want?”
“Your love.”
Her eyes almost bulged out of their sockets at the blunt statement, spoken without a hint of hesitation. In fact, Kuni had spoken so frankly, that it felt as if they were holding a business meeting and that was the offer, he was throwing at her. Even his face spoke volumes to her, much more louder than his words had been. “I, I…”
“You don’t have to say anything. I don’t expect you too. Not yet at least. I haven’t’ done anything,” he looked back down at his phone. “, but I plan too.”
“Y, you’re gonna help me find my brother?”
“That’s the plan.”
“A, and in return… Y, you want my love?”
“I’m not good with the whole dating scene.” His eyes narrowed on her now. “I would hope your in the same boat.”
A little to quickly, Lumine nodded her head and answered, with a bit of stutter, “Y, ye, yes.” In all her seventeen years, it really hadn’t crossed her mind. Aether was sort of against her hanging out with the opposite gender, even when it came to Xiao and Childe. His supposed best friends…
“Good answer.” Once again, he was looking down at his phone, tapping the screen. “So, whatever it takes you to start,” his hand waved around in the air, as his eyes still fixated on the screen of his phone. “, liking me, we’ll do.”
“L, like a date?”
“If that’s what it takes for you to love me. Then yes.”
“Y, you really aren’t good with the whole confession thing, are you?”
“Confession?” Kuni frowned, finally looking up at her. “Is that what I’m doing?”
Lumine arched an eyebrow, “You aren’t confessing?”
“Is your answer ‘yes’?”
“NO!” visibly bristling, Lumine’s cheeks grew bright red.
“Then, I’m not. I’m simply stating what I want.” Shrugging nonchalantly, Kunikuzushi finished with whatever he was doing on his phone. “So, do we have a deal? I help you find your brother and you give me, your love.”
“A date.”
“A date.” He held out his hand, for a mutual and beneficial handshake.
“…”
“What?”
“You’ve forever been mean to me. I just… I just don’t get you.”
“I can’t help that I think you’re a big idiot and that’s only because your oblivious to the cruel nature of everyone around you. I’m angry at the fact that its so easy to fool you. I watch you constantly parade around, unaware that they watch you while you walk away and think ‘sucker’. I’m mean to you,” he tapped her forehead with his forefinger, making her blink rapidly. “, because I want them to think I hate you. I want them to think you hate me. If we’re enemies, that’s perfect. That’s what I want. That’s all they need to know.”
“B, but that’s so sad…”
“Now that I’ve opened your eyes, maybe you’ll start to see the cracks in the glass, that surrounds everyone’s façade.”
“…” Lumine wasn’t so sure she ever wanted to see it to begin with. To think that of all people, Kunikuzushi Fiorillo would be the one ally on her side. She always thought she was a good judge of character, but if what he was saying was the truth, then that meant everyone in Windchase High was just being… Fake.
“Deal?” once again, he was presenting his hand to her.
“I’m sorry for jabbing you with my elbow.”
Kunikuzushi smirked, remembering the scene he had caused, right before she attacked him, “You know, I was trying to get you to finally open up. You looked pretty out of it today. It wasn’t helping that your supposed friends were trying to get you to go to a party that you really didn’t want to attend, either.”
“Y, yeah…” Fischl had bugged her all day to pitch in some money for a function her parents were hosting. Normally money wasn’t given, unless the attendee was joining, but Lumine didn’t want to join and so there would be no money. Fischl had been very pushy. Had he stopped me from saying ‘yes’? She remembered, just before he had shown up, she had been on the brink of just giving in.
“Tigel, do we have a deal?” for the last time, Kunikuzushi held out his hand.
“… Deal.” She took his offered hand.
Both sharing a firm handshake.
“Kunikuzushi?”
“What?”
“Do I have to pretend to hate you?”
“Do you hate me?”
“N, no…”
“Do you like me?”
“…Mmmm, maybe…?”
Kunikuzushi smirked, “I’ll take that answer.” It wasn’t quite love, but they’d get there eventually. It was good enough for her to simply be looking at him with a new emotion. An emotion she had never showed him before. One meant just for him, he hoped. “For now, let’s continue to be enemies. For now.”
“Okay. Um… Kunikuzushi?”
“What?”
“A, are you gonna let go of my hand?” despite this question, Lumine actually found the warmth of his hand comforting. His grip was strong, yet gentle.
“Not yet.”
Lumine found herself smiling softly, as she thought, Good answer.
For the next thirty minutes, the pair sat hand in hand.
In the silence of the detention room.
= the end =