My Sanctuary

Note: Back by popular demand!! Sorry it TOOK so long………… There's a special kind of hell that comes from school. It's called "homework." It's called "exams." ; Sorry. Anyway, Chapter 4 will be more interesting, I promise!!

I really am VERY sorry for the long wait. ; I haven't been able to have enough free time to brush my hair, let alone write….

Tidus shifted his feet uncomfortably. He broke the gaze with the girl. She did also, and suddenly became very fascinated with the books in her bag, leafing through them. Tidus stared out the window, in awe of the Japanese cityscape.

"Wow!" He exclaimed, "There really aren't temples everywhere and short-skirted magical girls running around!"

"Quite." Lulu glared.

Tidus fidgeted again. He watched out the window and something flew by him.

"WHOA!"

Tidus launched himself to the window, pressing his nose against it. "Mickey D's!"

Wakka found Tidus amusing. Childlike, he was.

"We have those here, too, you know." Lulu growled.

"I didn't know that." Tidus whimpered, afraid of her.

"Well, learn it." She hissed.

"You don't need to be so mean, oneechan." Rikku muttered to Lulu harshly in her own language.

Tidus plinked it out, embarrassed that such a young girl had to defend him.

Yuna watched the American with fascination. Her different-colored eyes scanning him up and down. Tidus didn't notice.

Rikku discovered a keyring on Tidus's backpack and started playing with it.

"Umm…" Tidus began.

"It's shiny." Rikku blushed- she liked shiny things.

This keyring in particular was shaped like an angled "J." And, was very shiny- to Rikku's delight.

Rikku let the keyring go and then proceeded to snoop through Lulu's purse. Some Romance Novels, a compact, some make up, a-

"Ahem." Lulu coughed in her hand.

"Gomen." She whimpered, and put the contents of the bag back.

Wakka smirked and started singing with the Beach Boy songs on the radio.

Everyone began to tremble…

Fortunately, Yuna stuck out her arm and turned the knob around again.

"Awww, Yuna…" Wakka groaned.

"No hard feelings."

"We're here anyway." He grumbled.

"Thank you so much for the ride, sir." Tidus got up and tried to bow hunched over, but smacked his head against the seat.

Lulu started laughing like never before.

Auron fingered through the blinds on the window, the sunlight piercing his sensitive eye. He picked up his small glasses and put them on, shielding him from the harsh rays. Peering through the windows at the students approaching the school, Auron made out the familiar shape of Tidus.

And Yuna.

Auron flinched. She looked so much like him. He regained his composure and adjusted his turtleneck. He peered closer at the group.

Lulu walked closely by Yuna, protectively, slightly behind her. She walked briskly, while Yuna took careful, timid steps up each stair. Rikku charged up the steps flapping her arms up and down and turned around every now and then to see if Yuna and Lulu were coming. Wakka was a bit behind them, shoving around the smaller, blonde boy.

I have to watch after him? He narrowed his eyes. He slid back, shutting the blinds. He's fine on his own.

Yuna made small steps up the stairs. Her layered hair fluttered slightly as she walked. The other students took notice of her and whispered. Tidus had seen this before in America- packs of girls spreading rumors the same way a disease would infiltrate an area. He'd seen those looks before. Pointing at someone without using a finger, cupping their hands and pressing them to their girlfriends' cheeks. Or, worse, whipping out a cell and calling their ninety closest friends to tell them all about Yuna, the girl walking up the steps.

He wondered what an innocent-looking girl like Yuna Yobidasu could do to have rumors spread around about her. Then one of the students came beside her.

"Miss Yobidasu- what do you plan on doing on the board?"

Another flanked Yuna on her other side.

"Yobidasu-san, what is your position on taxes?"

Yuna froze. Tidus was confused- why were they asking a high schooler this? Unless…. OH NO! Japanese High School is more hoity-toity then I thought!!

"I have no comment on either of your questions. Thank you." Yuna said coolly and then continued up the stairs.

Tidus scampered up behind her. "Woah, wait… what was that about?"

Lulu glared, Wakka growled, and Rikku bared her pointy teeth and hissed. Yuna rose her hand at them. "He didn't know. Don't hold it against him." Her friends stood down. "I'm sorry, Ashling-sama. I really don't care to talk about it…"

Tidus took the hint. "Oh… okay…"

She walked into the entranceway of the school, Tidus spoke again. "Yuna, where do I go to find my Schedule?"

Yuna smiled halfway. "In the office, I'll take you."

Lulu looked at the digital clocks poking out of the walls. "I have to study. I'll see you in class."

"I got conditioning. I'll see you later to pick you up, Yuna." Wakka grunted as he heaved his gym bag over his shoulder.

"Bye Yunie!" Rikku chirped, bounding off down the hallway.

"This way." Yuna said softly as she walked down the hall.

Tidus followed her. He walked in long strides with his hands folded behind his head, backpack slung over one shoulder. She walked placing one foot in front of the other, looking down. She clasped her book bag in both hands as she walked.

Two girls with Louis Vuitton bags and Coach shoes walked by. Tidus forgot, in Wakka's frumpy VW, that Station Academy was a high-end, private school. He glanced from the girls, who had rolled their skirts up a few inches, to Yuna. Yuna lowered her head slightly as the two passed. The girls snorted quietly.

The American quickened his pace to catch up. "Hey… what was that about?"

"Nothing." She murmered.

Yuna wore the normal uniform, her hair was un-dyed, and she wore no make-up. Maybe her parents are making sacrifices to let her come here… Is she poor??

"Here's the office." She pulled the door open. "Hello? Good morning."

"Yobidasu-sama." The secretary stood when she came in. "How are you, can I help you?"

"I'm alright, Mrs. Doe." Yuna said with a smile. "This is a new student… he needs his identification card and schedule."

The secretary referred to her with respect…there's more than meets the eye with this girl… Tidus said as he looked her up and down. And I'm gonna find out.