The black gates of Yamaku stood parallel to the bright blue sky. They were not just the entrance to a school, they were the passage to a whole new life. A life of pain, joy, love, and loss. Once you passed through the wrought iron gates, you will never be society’s standard of normal again. As long as you wear that uniform, you’re forever branded as different. For some, this is their sanctuary. A place of respite from the opinions and influence of the outside world. For others, it’s a constant reminder of why they are there in the first place.

Zeal looked over his drawing and scoffed. The gate was skewed slightly to the left, the designs in the center weren’t symmetrical, and the walls surrounding it looked like tacky carpet. With a flick of his wrist, the paper bounced off the edge of the trashcan and plopped onto the floor. “Dammit.” The black haired youth mumbled as he got off his chair to pick up the stubborn drawing. Because he arrived a day early, Zeal wasn’t even sure there were other students here yet. The silence was both comforting and unnerving at the same time.

Instinctively, he reached down to pick up the paper with his right arm only to find he would never be able to reach it, let alone grasp it. The stump slid back to its place under the boy’s jacket as the paper was thrown in the trash. Instead of returning to his seat and beginning again, Zeal walked to the window. Puffy clouds dotted the crystal clear skies with an abundance of whimsy, being carried wherever they feel like going. Zeal envied the clouds, not for their freedom but for the fact that they were never alone.

He returned to his drawings with an almost reluctant pace. Once again, he tried to concentrate on the gates of Yamaku in his mind. The swirls of the metal. The texture of the stone surrounding it, every detail was placed perfectly in his mind. With new determination, the pencil struck the paper, ready to make a masterpiece.

*SNAP*

The tip of lead landed on the soft white paper, creating a startling contrast. With an audible sigh, Zeal scooped the drawing utensils into his bag and left the library. As expected, the hallways were deserted. The clack of shoes on tile floor echoed through the school, giving a more it a more ominous feel even though it was early morning. Walking outside, the sound of engines filled the parking lot. ‘Looks like the buses are here. That means the initiation assembly starts in...33 minutes.’ Zeal watched curiously as the first years stood at the gate. They were having the same thoughts he had two years ago. They had reached the ledge of no return and were deciding whether or not to jump off. It was actually a little depressing to watch.

Ducking into the dorms, Zeal coasted down the hallway to his room. With ease, the door opened and he stepped inside. The walls were covered in posters and drawings of Mechs. The giant robots each held a weapon, be it a gun or sword, and were always posed in a badass position. Along the western wall rested his prize video game collection. Games ranging from the original Mario for NES to the brand-new Bioshock: Ultimate Rapture Edition are sorted alphabetically and kept in pristine condition. “I wonder who my roommates going to be this year?” The thought of roommates brought a tear to his eye. His last roommate, Chojin, had passed away from stomach cancer over the summer. He was one of the only people who Zeal actually socialized with. You could even go as far as to call them best friends. Now he was alone again.

Throwing the art bag into his bed, Zeal journeyed back outside. The room list was posted in the office, which was clogged with students. He shuddered at the thought. So many eyes, so many people. He unconsciously pulled his jacket farther down his side, covering his stump, and made his way through the throng of disabled students.

Peachy sat on the bus and watched as people began to dismount. Some seemed scared and confused while others acted like this was no big deal at all. Peachy was the last one off because she was slowest and had to use a walking stick to swing herself off the bus... Then there was the issue of landing as well. She stood once everyone was more of less off and slowly made her way to the front of the bus using her walking stick as a left leg sense that one was the worst out of the both numb and nearly limp legs. She got to the front and smiled thanking the bus driver before she used the walking stick to somewhat vault her way out of the bus and onto the ground. Mild pain shot up her legs as they fumbled on contact but she managed to catch herself.

She turned her blue eyes to gaze at the gate with its intricate pattern that seemed woven into the metal. The school was quite nice but it did not feel at all like any sort of home sense this was her first year coming here. She hastily tried to force her legs to move into the group not wanting to fall behind and waited patiently as the gates opened. Most people walked in and made there way to the front door. Peachy on the other hand stood for awhile making sure she had everything before she limped behind the group of first years.

Inside the hall was full of people most first years had already seemed to find themselves a friend or there roommate and were already chatting away. Peachy on the other had did not know who her roommate was nor how to find out... In fact she had no idea what she was doing. She felt people bump into her and she quickly used her walking stick as a support so she did not tip over. Peachy spotted the room list and was about to make her way over when she saw the amount of people and decided to make her way over there in no big haste so there would be time for the crowd to slowly dissipate...

Alex didn't feel particularly excited for coming to this new school, but it would a change from the hospital he was admitted to earlier due to him falling down and hurting himself badly. He was busy drawing a picture of his childhood, but the bus he was riding stopped abruptly and made him streak an ugly line across his paper. He frowned and wished to say something, but then he remembered he couldn't talk anymore. He didn't purposely wait till almost everyone was off, but he was busy correcting his mistake. He gave up on correcting his mistake and put the notebook he was drawing in into his notebook, so he could draw the scene on the notebook again later. He stood up and walked towards the exit of the bus, since he would rather not be on the bus when it leaves the school. But before he got off the bus, he thanked the driver in sign language. He took out the notebook he used to speak to people who didn't know sign language, since not all of the school would decided to take classes to read and sign in sign language. He slowly walked out of the bus, since he didn't know if it would damage his body to jump off recklessly and he wasn't daring enough to try.

The gates were quite beautiful, but he decided to stop looking at the gate in awe. The gate reminded him of the gate that was around his family's mansion, even though the gate wasn't necessary due to his family owning a whole island and it being illegal to step on his family's land without an invitation from one of the family members. He put on a smile and decided he would try to enjoy this school, but he didn't know what to do to enjoy his new life. His parents' attempt to make him feel more normal was a mediocre, since they were trying to make him feel normal by sending him to a school that taught many with disabilities. Instead their attempt would constantly remind him of why he was here, but he would at least give it a chance and not turn the chance down without actually experiencing this new school himself. He was tired of stalling his entry into the school by thinking of other things, so he walked through the gates expecting a lot of pressure to be put upon him. He then noticed that the idea of a lot of pressure being put upon him was idiotic and just another thought to stall him from entering the school itself.

He walked into the hall and saw a lot of students speaking, but he had forgotten where to go and had lost the map given to him by the head nurse. He saw a girl with walking stick and when he walked past her he waved at her with a smile. He turned his attention back to trying to find out how to figure out who his roommate was, and by a strike of luck he saw people surrounding a list . He would later investigate the list to see what information it would hold, luckily for him it would hold the information about rooms. He then decided that perhaps he should wait until people cleared from the list, so he could get a better view and not be so crowded. To pass the time he walked back to the girl with a walking stick and decided to introduce himself, but he had no idea if the girl would be able to speak sign language. He decided to gamble and he got out his notebook to ask the question that would tell him if she spoke sign language or not. On his notebook he wrote a simple question. "Do you know sign language?"

Hana walked slowly through the hall, trying not to bump into people or accidentally trip over anything. Although she might have looked calm on the outside, that was simply a well put together facade she had mastered when her mother had taken on the habit of staring at her, as if she could make her daughter well again with the sheer force of her eyes. Hana didn't like to worry people, so she kept her face calm, but her knuckles were white as she clutched onto Nana's leash for dear life. The St. Bernard's tail was wagging happily, tapping against Hana's knee. She seemed to like having so many people around. Hana couldn't help smiling.

"Think of all the slippers you'll be able to commandeer here, Nana," Hana murmured softly, and the tapping against her knee increased. Hana began absentmindedly mumming Chopin's Nocturne #2 to herself as she listened to the excited chatter all around her. All of the students seemed to be optimistic, which made Hana happy. The overall cheery air of the school got her heartbeat up in excitement. She wanted to jump up and down with her enthusiasm; This place could prove to give her an adventure. Perhaps it wouldn't be the reckless, fast paced fantasy in her books, full of danger and surprise twists, but it would her own story, and she would enjoy every moment of it. That was one advantage of her blindness she hadn't expected, the crossroads of destiny that had sent her down a different path than the one her parents had expected her to follow. She had expected her life to be a modern success story: a nice career in music, a large house with a husband and a few children. Now none of that was certain at all. It didn't make her anxious at all- it made her breathless, faced with a future full of possibilities.

Nana whimpered softly and pressed her cold, wet nose against Hana's warm palm. Dropping the leash, Hana fumbled quickly in her bag for her inhaler, trying to take slow breaths as it became harder to breath. Her hand brushed ruffly past her acceptance letter (in Braille, of course), giving herself a paper cut. When she found her inhaler she raised it hastily to her mouth, breathing in and holding her breath. She slowly exhaled as she felt the medicine take affect, and Nana licked at her hand. She rubbed her pet's ears with grateful affection.

"Good girl, Nana." Her voice was a little shakey. She held her hand out, palm up, and Nana dropped the handle of her leash into Hana's hand. They began walking again as if nothing had happened.

(Argh. You have no idea how tempting it was to write this post in the same first-person present style as Katawa Shoujo's narration. XD I'll restrain myself, though.)

Clack. Step. Shuffle. Clack. Step. Whirr-whirr. Whirr-whirr.

Bracing herself against the familiar, cool handle of a featureless cane of black wood, a small, hunched shape slowly crested the hill at last. Stopping for a moment, Amaya placed her hand - that is, the one that wasn't focusing on helping ease the job of her tired legs via walking stick, although to even use this free appendage she had to prop up the rolling duffel bag containing her few personal belongings - against the small railing separating the sidewalk on which she walked - well, it was more hobbling, really - from the sharp drop of the hill she had the Sisyphean task of scaling, resting against it while she took a few moments to catch her stolen breath. The gently winding road was a rather long and steep one, and despite the fact that she'd managed to get a seat - she supposed that the people who immediately moved aside to let her sit down were trying to be polite, noticing the way she leaned heavily on her cane, but she couldn't help but feel insulted by the obvious act of pity, not to mention humiliated by the stares she got upon first entering the car - on the train she'd taken to get to this place - an ordeal in an of itself, considering the number of people commuting to work at this time - she still found herself completely exhausted just from the effort of walking. Considering her current physical condition - after spending so long as she had doing almost nothing, one couldn't expect to be in very good shape, so her enervation wasn't exactly surprising - in retrospect it probably would have been smarter to pay for a cab, especially considering the added strain of towing her bag along behind her. But, then again, she doubted she could have mustered the courage to actually flag down someone and initiate conversation, even if it was for something so simple as asking for cab service. And, she had her own issues with automobiles, anyway, or else she'd just have taken the bus like everyone else - although this last clause was more of a deterrent to the timid girl than anything else.

Recovering herself, she slowly raised her head slightly, her single brown eye peeking out from behind a curtain of black hair and glancing about furtively. By the look of things, most of the other students had already gone in. The area around the fancifully designed main gates was entirely devoid of activity. Well, she could count that much as a blessing, anyway. Giving a slight sigh of relief, she felt herself relax a little. Perhaps the main fear she'd had upon setting out that morning was that she'd end up caught up in some vast sea of new students, surrounded by the fellow Human beings she found it so difficult to cope with. With so many people arriving at one location at the same time, it would have been almost impossible for her to enter the school grounds without caving from the pressure. Fortunately, since she was showing up later than most, it looked like she wouldn't have to deal with that problem. She just hoped she wasn't late. If she was, then people would notice her showing up, and then things would be just as problematic as if she'd arrived early like everybody else. No, the best thing to be was just on time. At that point, everyone was already present and focused on the event at hand, so they didn't pay much attention to you when she slipped in and watched from the back.

Sighing again, she quickly turned her gaze back downward, an ever-so-slight grimace appearing across her features as she quickly rubbed her eye. Ah, it was so bright outside... Compared to the comfortable, climate-controlled darkness she was used to, the light of the morning sun that now shone high overhead, already beginning its path across the sky, was painful just to observe indirectly. Amaya sighed for a third time, this time sounding more disappointed than she did relieved. She felt like a vampire that couldn't get back to its coffin before daybreak. Then again, perhaps that was just another way of saying she felt like a fish out of water, even in a place that catered specifically towards maladjusted individuals like her.

Still, all the sun and its harsh radiance made her want to do was get inside, and this carrot, combined with the looming stick that was the lingering fear of being late, and, moreover, notable because of her tardiness, made her decide to cut her brief respite short and get back to walking. Slowly, she hauled herself back to a full standing position, bracing against her cane and taking her duffel once more. With a quiet grunt of exertion, she took the first step - which was always the hardest, as the duffel, now quite content with the spot it occupied, often refused to budge unless exhorted to do so - hauling the reluctant bag behind her, its wheels whirring quietly as they turned and turned across the pavement, and the end of her cane clacking quietly along the surface of the concrete as she planted it, placed her weight on it, took a limping step forward, then swung the cane out ahead of her and repeated the process, a practiced motion that had long since ceased being awkward and become a matter of simple habit to the young girl. The sounds of her own slow gait, and of the bag trailing like some kind of clumsy streamer behind her, were the only noises heard in the quiet, tranquil air of the early morning at the school that was to be her new home. Even as she parted the already slightly opened gates and slipped between them, there was almost nothing to be heard, save for the chirping of the birds in the distance and the occasional soft crackling of the tires of a passing car. And, despite her trepidation at her unfamiliar surroundings, Amaya couldn't help but feel at least partially set at ease. This place was so quiet... Its large grounds, vibrant in the life they held, seemed largely empty. This was one of the few sorts of places in which the young introvert wouldn't mind staying outside, so long as it was always this peaceful. Perhaps this school wouldn't be so bad after all?

To be honest, she'd been afraid, in a way, of actually taking the final plunge, so to speak, and arriving. Although it didn't seem like much, especially after she had already agreed to go, it symbolized many things. Her room, her last bastion of privacy and solitude against the frightening world outside, had been left behind her. It would be of no avail to her as a shelter. She would be living in an unfamiliar place, alone, yet also surrounded by countless people who, despite the similarities of their situations to her own, were nonetheless frightening to her. And, she'd be obligated to attend school on a regular basis. That meant that her new room, whatever sort of place it might have been, could never serve as the same sort of sanctum as her old home had for so long. But, perhaps even more disheartening than this prospect, was the realization that, by walking through the gate as she had just so thoughtlessly done, she had finally accepted the fact she had so long avoided. This school was a school for the disabled. Ever since she had come into her current state, Amaya had danced around the truth. Sure, she couldn't walk normally like most people, couldn't see out of one eye, was so weak it might have been laughable if it wasn't so sad... but she had always just told herself that she was just a little less competent than other people, that her injuries could, through time and effort, eventually be overcome. She had taken solace in the hope that maybe, someday, she'd be able to be normal again. But, she realized, all those futile dreams had just been lies she'd told herself, not wanting to accept the truth of her condition. Now, faced with the harsh reality, she had no choice but to accept it: she belonged in a place like this. Schools like this catered to her, to people who would always suffer from the problems that plagued them now. Amaya Kago would never be normal again. The fact that she was here, hobbling hopelessly down a shady path towards the main building of Yamaku, was simply the seal on a fate she'd been sentenced to already for some time now. She just hadn't wanted to admit it. In fact, she still didn't want to admit it. But she was here. She had no other choice anymore.

Despite the slowness with which she moved, it wasn't difficult to dodge those few students who weren't already inside, and to slip into the main building - she hoped - unnoticed. After that, however, things changed. Just standing at the door, she could hear the dull murmur of countless conversations inside the entrance hall. Peering around the edge of the portal as she slowly opened it, she wouldn't have needed to even use her good eye to know that there were dozens upon dozens of other people present there. She cringed slightly, her expression changing from one of contemplative melancholy to one of intense discomfort and fear. She was going to have to walk right into this? What if they saw her? What if she was somehow weird to them? Maybe most of the people at this school had, say, internal disabilities, and a girl with an eyepatch and a cane would be seen as out of place? Well, it didn't look like many of them were visibly scarred like her, anyway, from a quick glance over the group, so, her fears not being disproved, lingered, bringing a feeling of dread to Amaya's heart. But, she had no choice but to go in. Somebody was bound to come along on the way inside sooner or later, and if she just loitered by the door for too long, she was sure to be noticed, which was exactly what she didn't want. So, taking a deep breath, she adjusted her bangs slightly, hoping that they'd cover her eyepatch somewhat from the side, so people who weren't looking directly at her might not notice the scarring on her face immediately. Then, bracing herself, she opened the door as slowly and quietly as she could, and stepped in, hunching even so slightly and turning her face downward as though she hoped that they wouldn't be able to see her if she didn't see them. Being careful to dull the quiet clicks of her cane against the floor, she quickly stepped into the room, and, instinctively, made her way to the corner. Looking around herself, though, she found herself in a sort of dilemma. Where exactly were new students supposed to go? Should she drop off her bags in the dorms, or was there some kind of opening ceremony, like in traditional schools? Well, it looked like most of the students didn't have their bags with them, so... But, then again, maybe they just had their parents drop them off for them, or something? And if she left now, she didn't really see how she could find her dorm room by herself, and she might miss whatever everyone was waiting for in here. She supposed she'd just have to follow everyone else, and see what they did, but this didn't really resolve the tenseness she felt at not knowing what she was supposed to do. She was alone, in an unfamiliar environment, uncomfortable with her surroundings, with her situation, and with herself, and already, it was beginning to take its toll. Amaya was feeling more and more nervous by the second, and she didn't like it one bit.

Getting off the bus was always a nuisance. She'd always been told that you never truly appreciated something until you lost it, and such particularly seemed to be true when oddly mundane activities became and exercize in frustration. Hauling the wheelchair up from its place under the seat, while gripping onto the backing for balance, unfolding it, checking the brakes so she didn't got rattling off and mow down an unfortunate blind kid, pulling herself off the seat and into the chair, before flailing around beneath the seat at random until she found the large canvas bag that contained her personal effects. Only then was it possible to make progress over to the front, and wait, looking slightly awkward, as the driver pulled the ramp down onto the sidewalk to allow her to leave. It did not tend to marry up very well with her rather impatient nature, admittedly.

Kora's life had slowed down a considerable degree in the past twelve months, something she hoped that this place was going to help with.

As the young woman, a distinctive looking redhead, wheeled herself along through the gates, she took a chance to take everything in. It was impressive, nice...and big. She wouldn't like to think it was intimidating, though having spent so much time at home it was going to be a bit of a culture shock. There were students all over the place. For some it was clear enough what their problems might be. Some appeared to walk with canes, others had guide dogs, some were signing. For others, it was not so immediately evident. Kora was sure enough she fell into the former category, but she supposed it would at least save awkward questions in the long run. She had never been especially precious about her own problem, but she could imagine some people could be pretty touchy.

The redhead precariously balanced her bag of things across her lap, clasping the wheels of the chair and moving herself along through the gate and over toward the front of the school. Yes, she was nervous. She wasn't going to let anybody else know that of course. Confidence, that was key...if if you weren't particularly confident in the whole thing.

Kora had been to school before, though things were different then, because at that point she'd been the heir to a large company, she'd had the support of a well connected family...and possibly most prominently...she'd been capable of standing up. It had been about a year since the incident, but the young woman still found it difficult to define her identity since then. She didn't know why she'd picked such a time to get all philosophical, but as it stood this was the first time she'd actually had to go and be sociable and all that related nonsense. She was keen to make friends...but it was going to be awkward. Then again, what wasn't recently?


So, that was one of her her long term goals. Make friends, do well, impress her father.

She had more pressing short term goals however. The first ones being...how was she going to get upstairs to her dorm, and was she going to drop all her stuff and make a complete ass of herself in the process?

The sights and sounds of the bus had been no different from the years before; students chattering – most without speaking – to their friends about their expectations for the year ahead, shy students huddled into their respective bubbles, and the bus driver doing his best not to seemed surprised with new addition and their... distinctions.

“So Connors,” The driver greeted, happy to see a familiar face. “Voice any better?”

Aedan smiled, giving a gentle shake of the head as he brought up the note pad and badge. The driver smiled but gave an understanding nod.

“Eh, what ya gonna do? Bet your music's getten good.”

It was idle chit-chat and Aedan would simply let it go in one ear and out the other as he took a sit. Taking out his iPod, he put in both his ear-buds and wrapped himself in his music. Closing his eyes, he drowned out the conversations of the world around him and allowed the colors of the notes to swirl in the darkness his mind provided.

= = = = = = = = = =

When the bus lurched to a halt in front of the school, Aedan's eyes opened and turned their attention to the campus. This was to be his home for the next year, and it was a welcomed sight. Near the gate sat a familiar man dressed in a sharp suit with the name CONNORS scribbled on a small bit of cardboard. This was his translator Maurice.

Maurice was an interesting looking male, or at least Aedan thought. He was tall and showed every amount of Native American blood his people had provided him with. Maurice even had a tattoo of the symbol of his tribe tattooed on his forehead.

Stepping off the bus, Aedan adjusted his backpack. His luggage and guitar had been sent a week prior, so he didn't really have a lot to carry in.

“Hey Aedan!” Maurice greeted, taking the boy into a well deserved hug. The two were close, possibly closer than Aedan and his own father. “Did you have a good summer?”

The blonde smiled and gave a light nod before taking out his notebook and scribbling a simple sentence.

Have you seen the list yet?

Maurice looked down at the lined paper, giving Aedan a stern look. It was apparent the boy hadn't been studying his Signing.

“Yeah, you're in the same room as last year. Seems your parents want you as comfortable as can be, Kid.” He smiled, gently patting the blonde on the head before taking the boys backpack and heading towards the Boys dorms. “Though, you've got a room mate this year.”

Aedan jumped slightly, looking a little caught off guard by the statement. All the years he had been attending Yamaku, he had never gotten a room mate. Yes, he had his own secrets to keep and most of them were to be kept from prying eyes that would risk bringing his families status down. Or at least that's what his parent's were concerned with.

Do you know who?

Maurice gave a light shake of his head as he handed the list back.

"I didn't get a chance to look at the name, the other translators needed a turn."

"Oomph!"

"Sorry!" she cried at whoever she'd thrown into the bush this time, and laughed, because none of them would ever be as free as she was.

Azalea tore through the student body.

People stumbled backwards to avoid being pummelled to the ground; eyes followed her with equal parts admiration and annoyance. Azalea laughed as the wind unfurled her long, thick braid that skimmed the backs of her thighs, and her pink iris hair drifted behind her like a cape. Her iPod dug into her lacy maroon bra - where else was she meant to put it? - as her earphones blasted Ride to California by Paper Tongues into her ears.

Azalea picked up her feet and gripped the bottom of her skateboard simultaneously, jumping flawlessly onto the railings that led up to the inner school campus. She threw her body forwards, grinning when her board hit the ground before the school doors with a thump. She briefly considered walking through those doors like a boring stick in the mud - briefly - but decided otherwise. She turned her gaze to a girl clutching her books to her chest for dear life and Book Girl pushed the doors open for her, her jaw looking as if it might fall to the floor. Azalea had that effect on people, the Obey or Punch effect, she liked to call it.

Book Girl threatened to crumble to the floor when Azalea beamed at her, skating through the doors. The people stood as obstacle courses and she dodged them with relative ease, with the occasional 'Oompher.' She wasn't wearing her school uniform and they'd be damned if they ever managed to convince her to dress for prison because that was what school was, wasn't it? Cleaning up their looks with lies and books? She wore a black tank and shorts beneath an outside layer of red. Comfortable, practical... And of course, revealing.

"Azalea Fray!" a voice yelled. Zalea's concentration shattered and she skidded abruptly to a stop, crashing into a boy who had been unlucky enough to be there. The two fell to the ground in a tangle of limbs, their bodies smacking into the wall and floor.

"Well, this is strangely arousing," she said with a smirk, her pale blue eyes like broken glass burning into those of clear hazel. Azalea was on top of him, one of his legs between hers and the fingers of her right hand entwined with his black hair. She took his arm and her eyes widened briefly in shock for just a fraction of a second at the absence of it before she smiled, taking his other hand and helping him up in one fluid motion. She took a long moment to assess the boy, tilting her head to the side in appraisal. He was cute.

"Miss Fray!" said the voice who'd spoken earlier, now much closer. She turned, slowly, taking her time. The man could not have been older than 35; he wore no-nonsense spectacles, spectacles he now leered at her through. Azalea smiled half sheepishly and half curiously. The man was quite handsome and had potential, if you removed his personality and soul from his body. "Skating is not allowed on school premises," he said sternly.

"Of course, Mr...?" she began in her I'm-an-innocent-angel-with-pink-hair voice.

"Takahashi," he said.

"And your first name?" she asked.

"Unnecessary," he replied curtly.

"Okay, Unnecessary Takahashi," she said cheerily.

"Dyeing your hair is strictly prohibited," he said, ignoring her comment.

"Oh yeah, I just dyed my eyelashes along with my hair to match," she said sarcastically, batting her dark pink lashes, to which Unnecessary Takahashi simply grunted.

"You won't be pardoned so easily next time, Miss Fray, simply because you're new and because of your... Disability," he said slowly. Azalea raised a brow, cocking her hip to one side. Her disability had nothing at all to do with the things she chose to do. "Apologise to Zeal," he said, pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose with his middle finger. Azalea couldn't figure out if it was a subtle taunt, but she found it hilarious.

"Of course," she said through giggles, turning to look at 'Zeal.' "I apologise for falling all over you and sending shivers up your spine," she said with a wink.

"Miss Fray! That is inappropriate," Mr. Takahashi gasped.

"Then this must be, too," she said, blowing a kiss at who was presumably a teacher. Mr. Takahashi blushed. Azalea bent down - in a way that lengthened her slim legs and gave Mr. Takahashi a perfect view of what adventures lay beneath her shirt - to pick up her skateboard.

"I'm afraid I'll have to confiscate that," Mr. Takahashi said through clenched teeth. Azalea shrugged, moving away and baring her glove-clad palms in false surrender. If they thought taking away her skateboard would stop her, they were very, very wrong.

"Let's go, flower boy," she purred, snatching Zeal and walking away from Unnecessary Stick in the mud. "You're prettier than half the girls in the school," she told him.

The bus ride had held many smells and sounds, including the jabbering of gossip, the trading of food and vacation experiences, and the anticipation of the new school year. As he felt the bus slow down to a stop. He stood up and picked his cane off of the bus floor. Hopefully it would be a good year and he would be able to go through it with some new friends, or it could be a repeat of last year, filled with reading, meditating, and day-to-day work, all alone. After most of the students had disembarked, he made his way off of the bus, being careful to tap in front of him with his cane so that he could know where and where not to step. After his feet were successfully on the sturdy path to the school. He followed the sounds of the teenage crowd to wherever he was going, probably to wherever they were holding an assembly. Nonetheless he walked along, stalking the clacking of feet along the pavement. It was louder than stepping across carpet, but while not softer, it was quieter than the thuds of walking across wooden boards. He adjusted his headband anxiously, making sure it was straight across his eyes.

As the warmth of the academy tickled his face, Jolnas knew that he was inside the academy. He slowly walked into the lobby When he suddenly heard a clattering and the doors fly open. Soon followed by a crash and an argument, to which obviously the girl had been accused wrongfully. It was the first day after all, but what was that about a condition? Something to go along with skateboarding he supposed. For some reason she had crashed onto a boy named Zeal, interesting name. Could have sworn he had heard it before in the previous year. They were still on the ground, so he had some time to actually make friends for the first time in his long stay at this school. Jolnas stuck his hand up, signalling for a staff member to help him navigate the school better. He listened as the sounds of slippers scuffling across the floor made his way to him.
"Do you need help with anything" A rather jittered male voice asked.
"Yes," He turned towards the voice "My name is Jolnas Ritter, and I'd like to know what dorm room I am staying in this year, as well as my homeroom."
the scuttling of the aides shoes revealed the position of the board.
"You are in room 3-3, and you are staying in dorm.." his mind trailed off as he absorbed the sounds and smells of the room around him. People smell in general, but also fresh plastic, most likely from prosthetics, laughter, hands rubbing together, breathing, from this he could sense were most of the people were, and for the smells, was that a dog?
"Nobody is registered as a hallmate for you however, hope you can manage on your lonesome."
He grimaced, and quickly forced a smile. Wunderbar. He had spent the summer learning even more Japanese, just so he could make more friends, and fate slaps him in the face as if he was a spoilt child finally taught a good lesson. The anger in him welled up as he fought back against everything he had learnt to fight depression. Then, he stopped. He took a few breaths, and calmed down. He really needed to meditate tomorrow.
He turned towards where the argument had taken place, walking over to it until he hit a body with his cane. Squishy, but with some bone structure. must have been the boy that crazy skater Mädchen had landed on. Keep it simple Jolnas, making friends shouldn't be that hard.
"Need a hand up?" He out stretched his hand, completely aware that he could be reaching to an empty space, embarrassing himself greatly. Oh please let it not be that, that's the last thing I want to do.

Peachy was pressed agaisnt the wall trying not to let her slow limping walk become a nucense to other students. Her wooden walking stick was clutched in her hand tightly nearly making her knuckles white as she was pushed and shoved about by people of all sorts. Finally she just slowed to a stop allowing herself a small break so that the pain shooting up along her thin weak legs would slowly dissipate. She ran her hand over the carved wood of her wooden stick longing for home... Longing for her very brothers who'd carved it for her. She sighed feeling nervous and lonely in the large school. She'd been so excited at first but now... Now she just wasn't sure at all. She leaned against the wall before continuing on. This time with less of a rushed pace so it would hurt her legs less then it had previously.

She was still walking along the hall when she saw someone wave at her. She blinked her large blue orb like eyes and lifted a hand to wave back with a tiny smile. Though she had no idea who he was... Maybe someone who like her was rather alone and confused by the entire ordeal of simply trying to find out where to go? She watched him move along over to the crowd of people look around and then make his way back. Probably deciding to wait until the large loud crowd had at least thinned a little before attempting to find out his room and class number. She blinked rather shocked when he returned her direction and paused thinking before pulling out a sketch book. Peachy watch confused with her head tilted to the side as he wrote down something and turned to show her.

Peachy leaned on her walking stick and read the young mans inquire. She had to think about it honestly. Back home she remembered a young girl who'd been mute and very very ill. Her and the young girl were both unable to partake in gym despite how much they'd always wanted to... But that was nearly 2 years ago after the girl had moved and she'd only taught Peachy things like basic needs. Peachy blinked and smile at the boy. "I'm sorry only very very little... You don't mind do you?" She smiled kindly hoping to make a friend... Or at least an acquaintance.

Peachy let out a little yelp as a girl flew by on a skateboard nearly running over Peachy's feet. She stared after the pretty girl a little bit envious a little bit sad... And a little bit thinking how she should wear less revealing clothing. Peachy felt bad after realizing her feelings of envy and gave herself a little self discipline in her own mind. Peachy hated being envious but sometimes it did occur when she saw others with so much freedom and there she was hobbling about like some penguin. She gripped her walking stick and brought it closer to herself before realizing that she was un-politely not paying attention to the boy who'd walked over to talk to her.

She lifted her head and smiled at the boy. "I should probably introduce myself." She gave a crooked happy smile. "My name is Peachy Ro... Can I pretty please know yours???" She smiled even more and it lit up her face. She giggled. "You can probably guess why I'm named Peachy hun?" She twined her thin small fingers through her wild pinky-peach colored hair as her cheeks took on a blossomy pink hue feeling shy and rather out of place in the large group of people still walking about.

(Double post glitch.)

He was happy that the girl didn't ignore him, like countless others did in his old schools. He was genuinely smiling, instead of the facade he always put on. He would've let out a small yelp when a girl passed by him and the pink haired girl, but he couldn't make any noise no matter how much he wanted to. He wished he could be as free as the girl who passed by him, but he knew that with his weak body he would never be allowed to do strenuous and reckless things like that. He wouldn't wallow in self pity though, since he hasn't been able to do many things as a child and not being able to talk was something he got used to after a while. He learned sign language quickly due to him constantly studying it, since he couldn't communicate his thoughts with words and piano only conveyed his emotions.

He quickly regained his composure, remembering the girl's question. He decided he would ask the girl later if he could draw her and her vividly colored hair, but for now he decided to just converse or what he considered having a conversation. People found it awkward to communicate with Alex at first, but eventually they got used to it and talking to Alex became a sort of second nature. He wrote a response to her first question "I'm sorry only a very very little… You don't mind do you?" He didn't really need to think of what to respond with, since a lot of people had asked this question before. The paper read "I don't mind, I've gotten used to writing in my notebook and I know how to keep the words written to a minimum." This was true and it became a reflex for him to write on his notebook to communicate with new people. But if he knew someone could read sign language, then he would sign all his words and the person would sign back or speak normally. He wrote a response to her second question and this time he was using his other, which he could write quickly with and his response took no more than two seconds to write. "My name is Alexander Tores, nice to meet you Peachy. You wouldn't mind being friends with me, would you? I could perhaps teach you advanced sign language in the future to communicate better, since I doubt I will have enough paper to communicate as friends. That is, if you want to be friends." He hoped to make a friend here and this girl seemed nice enough, but he wouldn't be able to do strenuous activities with any of the friends he would or wouldn't make. He decided he would tell her his disabilities, so they would not have any awkward moments later on.

"If you haven't noticed yet, I can't speak and I have to sign or use a notebook. My other disability is having a weak body, and due to that I wont be able to participate in strenuous activities or risk being in the hospital again." Alex has taken many trips to the hospital due him being weak as a child, but he always recovered and eventually he decided that it would do him good to get at least a minimum of six minutes of exercise per day. His weak body isn't as bad as it was before, but he could still not participate in contests or risk his parents taking him away from the school and getting him a private tutor. He did not wish to be cut off from the rest of the world and he spoke to the head nurse about this, but him and the head nurse were still working out the details. He didn't really know about the outsider world, besides the things he learned while trying to catch up secretly on the internet. The name Alexander Tores is famous for being the name of the inventor of a lot of technology used by everyone, but mostly by teenagers. Alex does not know that hiding who he is would make his life easier in school, so he didn't have the chance to come up with an alias.

The office was so crammed, Zeal couldn’t even force his way through the mass of scrambling bodies. Several of the students, mostly ones with crutches or other supporting devices, were smart enough to wait until the mob of 1st years had dribbled to a minimum. Zeal didn’t blame them. Even the famous 24-hour nursing staff couldn’t save a student who had been trampled to death by his or her own peers. Unfortunately, the wave showed no sign of diminishing until after the entrance ceremony. With still thirty minutes to spare, the black haired youth decided to go for a walk until everyone calmed down.

As he adventured down the still pleasantly clear hallways, the familiar face of Mr. Takahashi appeared from around a corner. He smiled and walked up to the boy, the overpowering smell of his cologne almost made Zeal gag. What was that? Ode du sweaty skunk?

“Ahh, Mr. Yamaka. How was your summer?” the teacher asked politely.

“It was alright,” he responded. It wasn’t like he did anything over the summer then play video games, get pissed off at his own incompetence in drawing and mourn a friend.

“Good, good. I’m seeing you in my literature class this year right?” Zeal nodded his head. It was one of the classes he actually enjoyed, even if the teacher did have the personality of a rock. As the teacher continued to drone on about his summer with his wife when an unfamiliar sound began to rang through the boy’s head.

‘Wheels?’ The sound was getting louder. Fast. Before he even had time to react, a girl on a skateboard came rocketing down the hallway straight into his diaphragm, knocking them both into the wall. Zeal groaned in both pain and annoyance. ‘Great. Five minutes into the new school year and I’m already getting picked on.’ His topaz eyes opened to reveal an extremely beautiful girl laying on top of him, her icy blue eyes seeming to stare into his soul. The girl’s hand was buried in his sorry excuse for a hairstyle and he could swear she was rubbing her crotch on his knee on purpose.

"Well, this is strangely arousing,” she whispered, her breath tickling the young boy’s ear. In a single instant, Zeal’s face went from a soft white to a deep crimson. “W-What?” Amber eyes flicked between the quickly approaching teacher and the incredibly hot woman who was coming on to him and literally only an inch from his face. She was close enough that, with a little lift of his back, he could kiss her easily. Shaking his head slightly, Zeal cleared his mind. A hard task to do when a girl was close enough to kiss you and her perfume smells divine.

As quickly as it had happened, the girl was already pulling herself up off the ground. When the girl reached for his arm however, Zeal pulled his coat down over top to cover the stump. She seemed to get the hint and her hand quickly closed over his, lifting him off the floor with surprising strength. Crystal blue eyes scanned his body, looking for any hint of weakness or fragility. Her analysis was interrupted by a Mr. Takahashi running over.

While Zeal tuned out most of their conversation, he did pick up the girl’s name. Azalea Fray. It was a nice name that rolled off the tongue. If he’d had only known her name and not seen her in person, Zeal would have thought she was an incredibly innocent girl with social issues. This is clearly not the case. His ears pricked up at the mention of her disability and spent the next few moments trying to pinpoint what was wrong with her. It couldn’t be anything physical; she had the nicest body he had ever seen. It had to be something internal but with the way she was riding that skateboard, that was unlikely as well. He ran a hand through his thick black hair, trying unsuccessfully to get it out of its everlasting bedhead.

At the teacher’s mention of his name, he came back to reality. Again, the girl was uncomfortably close to him. "I apologise for falling all over you and sending shivers up your spine,” Azalea said flirtatiously. Zeal blushed again and began to twiddle his fingers like he always did when nervous. “It’s, um, no problem". What was with this girl? What did she see in him that was so interesting? Once again, he was lost in thought. When Azalea bent over however, Zeal snapped straight to attention. Her pink braid flowed down her back like a silken snake, ending right over her perfect heart shaped pillow of an ass. It was almost heartbreaking when she righted herself.

After giving her skateboard to the teacher, Azalea grabbed the boy’s arm and began to pull him down the hallway. "Let's go, flower boy,” she purred. “Flower boy?” He asked quizzically. She had gotten close again, close enough he could smell the peaches in her shampoo. "You're prettier than half the girls in the school,” Zeal didn’t know if this was a complement or an insult but he blushed nonetheless. “Umm, thank you?” Another person had joined the hallway. A boy with a headband around his eyes. Zeal couldn’t help but notice how cool he looked, like he had just jumped out of an anime.

He unknowingly smacked the already dazed boy in the ankle, knocking him out of his Azalea induced trance. He opened his mouth to say something when the boy struck out his hand…towards the space next to them. “Need a hand up?” Azalea pursed her lips and whispered, "Sorry," before shove-nudging Zeal to the floor - again. "Ahaha, I'm so clumsy," she said loudly, glaring at Zeal and at the hand the boy had held out for him, nudging her head for Zeal to take it.

Finally catching on to the pink haired girl’s plan, he smiled and placed his hand in the boy’s. “Thanks. I’m Zeal. Thanks for the help.” He shot a playful glare at his comrade but she just feigned ignorance. An announcement blared over the intercom. “All students report to the main hall for the opening ceremonies.” Zeal tried one last time to fix his hair before giving up entirely. With his two new companions in tow, he lead the way to the main hall, keeping a firm grasp on the blind boy’s hand so he didn’t go astray. ‘Maybe this year, I’ll actually make friends.’

Peachy smiled as the boy mentioned he did not mind. She smiled brightly. "I'm so relieved... I know some of the basics of it so maybe I can learn quickly." She giggled a little as she began to feel more comfortable around the boy. The boy whom she soon discovered was named Alexander... He also asked if she'd like to be friends. Her bright blue eyes widened as she broke into a grin. "REALLY? I-I'd love to be friends!" She blushed realizing how loud she'd bin. "S-Sorry for yelling it's just this whole time I was stressing about meeting someone and making a friend... And you asked I-It just makes me feel a little bit more at home." She gave her brightest happiest smile and it lit up her whole face.

She went quiet as he wrote down about his disability. She read each word he wrote with great care and smiled sadly when he was done. "Don't worry I can't be too wild either... Even a light hit on the head could send me back into a coma... And as for my legs..." She looked at the walking stick trailing off. "Sometimes my legs just freeze up... Other times they just hurt... At times I loose control and they shake making it imposable for me to stand even with my walking stick..." She shuffled back and forth from foot to foot. "So don't worry about me pushing you if anything you might have to catch me when I collapse... Lucky for you I'm short and skinny." She giggled. When Alex mentioned learning sign language she nodded. "Il gladly learn if you teach me... Then maybe I could be like your human translator... And not just some weird lady with a walking stick." She giggled a little feeling ecstatic that someone had asked to be her friend.

Peachy's mind wandered as she let her eyes rest on the notebook her friend carried. "Hey... Is your notebook only for communicating or do draw?" She tilted her head to the side as her large eyes filled with curiosity. "I'm asking cause I've always loved art... I'm not very good... Ok I suck at it myself but I love watching people draw... It's amazing how they can create something so beautiful on paper..." She blushed a little. "Sorry I'm rambling I'm just so excited and curious now that I've met someone who doesn't just look past me because of the walking stick and how slow I move..."

Peachy was about to say something when the intercom rang out a message “All students report to the main hall for the opening ceremonies.” Peachy watched as the flood of students immediately flooded in one direction. She quickly made herself small agaisnt the wall until the larger part of the crowd was further down the hall. Peachy turned to her knew friend and gestured with her small hands if he was ready to go.

"Is it alright if I quickly check what class and room I have... This might be the only free time with the wild current of student's flooding about the hall."

“All students report to the main hall for the opening ceremonies.”

"That oddly makes me want to not report to the main hall," she said, her gaze drifting to her left in thought before returning to staring quite plainly at the handsome boy - manlier than most - with the cloth shielding his eyes from the world. It made her curious to see what rested underneath, but also slight irritated. Azalea was not comfortable around the blind. Why? Well, because they couldn't see her. Because who was she kidding? She certainly hadn't won her admirers and pretty much everything with her startlingly superior personality.

"Nice to meet you and all that," she said absently with a wave of her hand at the two boys, one of which she'd knocked over twice. "You may refer to me as 'Your Grace,' 'My Queen' or if you want to be boring, Azalea, Zalea, Lea or Bitch-who-thinks-I-care." She gazed up at the tall man who couldn't see her, deciding she would bed him to prove she was charming enough that her lovers didn't need sight. Azalea took his hand, placing it right over... Her right breast. "This is Danger," she said, pressing his other hand against her left. "This is Angel. You may address them accordingly," she said with a smirk.

"You lucky bastard!" a student yelled at Blind and Smexy; Azalea laughed. Funny, these people were. She'd have half of them worshipping the ground she walked on by the end of the year and the other half plotting her death.

Yamaku Academy was one of the many boarding schools she'd attended since the death of her parents when she was four, but it was the first school she'd attended for those who were biologically different-ish. That was the way she liked to address them, her, she supposed, biologically different. They could still do what everyone else did, just differently, and in her case, well, she could do more than what everyone else did.

"How long have you two been here?" she asked the boys. She tossed her long braid over her shoulder, whipping an unsuspecting student behind her across the face. She laughed, speaking an apology in between her chuckles. She'd never get tired of using her hair as a whip, it was the only reason she'd kept it that long. That and because her mother used to comb her hair and tell Azalea how beautiful her pink waves were, and that she should let her hair grow. Azalea unraveled her braids - which took a surprising amount of time - and massaged her scalp, shaking out her long, soft waves. The scent of her peach shampoo seemed to fill the campus.

Azalea checked her body, clucking her tongue at the bruises and scratches that covered her and the blood that trickled from an ugly burn from her right palm to her elbow where she'd skidded crashing into Zeal. Speaking of, "You okay?" she asked Zeal with a raise of her sculpted brow.

“All students report to the main hall for the opening ceremonies,” repeated the announcer.

"What if you're deaf?" she muttered to herself, rolling her eyes. "Let's go," she said, looping her messenger bag over her head and tucking it across her body. She lifted her hair from beneath the strap, hooked her arms around each boy's elbow and headed for the main hall. Maybe she'd actually listen this time.

Yeah, right, when the Sun rises in the West and sets in the East.

"Play the damsel in distress and get a guy to carry that for you," she said not long after to a girl with hair the colour of sunsets and persimmons. She was beautiful, even if she did look a little disheveled. "That's what I do," Azalea told her with a smirk. "My mother always said a woman's real weapon was the one between our legs," she said. Well, that was a lie. Her mother never said that, but that's what Azalea thought she might had she lived. Well, that was a lie, too. The redhead was also in a wheelchair, but Azalea doubted she liked being first noticed as someone who couldn't walk.

"That's good for rolling over people you don't like," she said, gesturing towards the girl's wheelchair. Azalea cocked her hip to one side, smiling and running her fingers through her pink iris hair. Sunset - that's what she would call her - seemed like she would be difficult to charm, but that was all part of the fun. "Leave your bags, you're beautiful enough, whoever finds it and brings it to your room will crumble to the floor at a 'Thank you.'"

“All students report to the main hall for the opening ceremonies.”

Azalea gave no reaction save a slight narrowing of her eyes and a curt, "They seem to think repetition inspires obedience. More like it inspires suicide."

As Maurice continued to talk, most of the words coming out of his mouth chastising the younger man for not taking the time to learn Signing, Aedan turned his attention to the students around him. There was some crazed Skater girl who was possibly gonna kill some one if she wasn't careful, awesome. The spoiled brat could have recognized her anywhere, not that they actually knew each other; but he had seen her around during the previous years.

As the pair reached Aedan's dorm, the over head quickly came alive with a small crackle.

“All students report to the main hall for the opening ceremonies.”

“Looks like you better get goin' kid.” Maurice smiled, taking Aedans bag and setting it on the bed that became a holding place of his belongings. He would have to tend to them when he got back. Nodding obediently, Aedan took a moment to adjust the red clips in his bangs. There was nothing in the school's student hand guide about hair clips, and he wasn't going to tolerate any of the stickler teachers trying to take them from him.

Giving himself a nod of approval, he turned on his heel to leave.

The halls were crowded, as expected on the first day. It wasn't the people that bothered Aedan, but rather the noises they made. Shoes squeaked against the tile floor, suitcases scraped on the carpet and the voices grew louder as children tried to talk over each other. Once again his eyes picked out that familiar peach colored hair. But this time it was accompanied by a man with a blindfold, and another young man. It wasn't an odd sight at all.

Finding nothing too interesting going on, Aedan made his way to the main hall. It was almost as much of a zoo as the hallways; children finding ways to sit next to their friends, and translation getting lost between those who couldn't understand Sign or what have you. Finding a few spaces open in the back, Aedan moved to take a seat.

Quickly, he was joined by a few of his 'groupies', a delighted mixture of a few boys and girls, some from the years before and some new faces mingled in. Through his years of attending the boarding school, Aedan had grown quite known for his music and his looks. He wasn't as brawny or built as the other boys at the school, but what he lacked in size he made up for in beauty and attitude. His girlish figure and nearly flawless (due to the piercings he gained on his lips) skin made him look like one of those Japanese BJD's all of the girls where carrying around.

Crossing one leg over the other, Aedan pulled his iPod out of his pocket once more and began searching through his apps. Settling on some Memory game, he began to play; gray-blue eyes glued to the screen. Though his attention was on the game, his sharp ears continued to scan the room for any conversation of interest or the screech of the mic that signaled the starting of the Opening Ceremonies.

Kora was trying to work out what to do..something that the frequent announcements were not really helping with. It was hard enough to concentrate without that...when she was addressed. She looked around to see a young woman with rather startlingly pink hair, who seemed intent on persuading her into getting manipulative and getting someone to do the carrying for her.

"Not completely broken down just yet." she remarked to the girl, giving an non-comittal shrug.

Even if she hadn't been able to manage, it was highly unlikely that she would ever have attempted that. Kora wasn't really someone who flirted, or indeed attempted to charm guys on the strength of simply being a girl. Perhaps it was because she'd never gotten any attention from her mother while she was younger, or perhaps it was because she'd never really needed to. The idea of getting others to do things for her made her feel uncomfortable anyway, increasingly so since she had lost the use of her legs.
"I got it anyway. One advantage of the chair, always got a bit of storage space." she added.
She took the bag and slung the straps across the back of the chair. Fortunately she had travelled pretty light and the weight was minimal. Toppling backwards would have been a pretty embarrassing start.

"And yeah, I've already been fully testing out the wheelchair's offensive capabilities. Trouble is if you're chasing people they can always run upstairs." she stated, grinning.

"Hi everybody. The name's Kora." she stated, addressing the girl and the two other boys with her, deciding it was a good idea to introduce herself. She decided not to try and pick out what their issues were. It seemed a little disrespectful on reflection. She'd never been keen on people defining her by what she was lacking.
"Any of you know much about this place? I gotta admit I'm none the wiser. It wasn't exactly my decision to go here."

It was more announced to her that she'd been attending it, as it turned out. It hadn't really bothered her thankfully, but she was a little unsure of the whole place.

Amaya had been expecting that she'd have to follow the other students. What she hadn't expected was that she was already in the right place. Thus, it came to her great surprise that, a few moments after she'd crept along the back wall and into the corner, an announcement rang out across the entire school, giving her just enough time to realize what was about to happen before it did. Several doors opened at once, and essentially the entire student body began to crowd into the room. Stumbling backward and into the corner, pressing herself up against the wall to keep herself from falling, was the only thing that saved her from being caught up in the sudden tide of people and slowly carried into the crowd. Even still, people continued to come by for at least a minute, during which time they were all close enough that they probably could have simply reached out and touched her. Several students glanced over to see what somebody was doing, all huddled up in the corner of the room, and Amaya crumpled beneath their gaze. Turning her face downward, she looked away as best she could, trying to at least partially conceal the white patch over her left eye, even if she couldn't hope to fully hide it from view. Seeing her avert her eye was thankfully enough for most of the students to simply look away and find something more amusing to do, deciding to just leave her alone since she seemed so bothered by them looking at her, but it also had the undesired side-affect of softening the remaining stares she could still see out of the edge of her vision to expressions of pity. They probably felt sorry for her, considering the way she was shying away from the pressure of their eyes, but that only made things worse. It identified her as somehow problematic, or even more abnormal than everyone else at the school.

Her heart was beginning to beat more nervously in her chest, beginning to slowly accelerate as a girl clad in the white blouse of the school uniform broke from the crowd and approached her, exactly the thing which she had most feared. She'd tried her hardest to avoid bothering anyone, so why? Why was this happening? Why did it have to come about that she'd be close enough to be noticed, close enough for someone to decide that there was something wrong with her. She'd become a problem, the exact thing that she had most wanted to avoid. How was she supposed to deal with this, anyway? Should she run? Try to talk? Apologize? Maybe all three at once?

"Hey, are you alright?" The girl asked, seeming either not to notice the fact that Amaya was currently staring with barely contained panic at the girl's leg, only to dart her eye up for a split second, then to lower it again the moment it met the eyes of her would-be benefactor. A cold sweat was beginning to break out along the brim of her forehead, sending small pinpricks of sensation across the rest of her cranium, an annoying, tingling feeling that only served to break her already muddled concentration. Unable to decide on how to respond, she said nothing. The girl stepped closer, seeming more worried than before. "Are you alright?" She repeated. "I can call a nurse if you're not feeling well." The introvert once more was pressed for a reply. Thinking back, she tried to remember how she had talked to people before, and how she had seen other people talking. In a situation like this, she needed to affirm that she was okay, and needed to get away from this encounter as quickly as possible. So, this time, she gave a slight nod, still stuck on trying to find the right words to explain herself. She wanted to assure the girl she was okay, and to apologize for bothering her, but she couldn't use too many words to do it. She didn't have enough faith in her own ability to talk to others to actually say anything more than a single, short sentence. At last, after a moment or two of silence during which she would open her mouth, prepare to talk, then reconsider and shut it again, then go back to repeat the whole process, she finally managed to make a response. "I'm fine. Sorry," She said lamely.

The girl raised an eyebrow, confused by this. Amaya realized it a moment later, and mentally kicked herself for making such a foolish mistake. The way she'd phrased it, it sounded like she was apologizing for being okay. "...f-f-or bothering you," She added hastily, stammering the words as she attempted to get them out as fast as possible. The end result sounded completely unnatural, and gave a slight clue as to how panicked she was feeling. Now the girl seemed to understand, but even in doing so, she only increased the level of pity in her eyes, forcing Amaya's gaze right back down to the floor on which she stood, too humiliated to even look at the girl's face.

"No, it's fine!" The girl began quickly, seeming to realize that the awkward silence was back and that she should probably say something, but at the same time realizing that the problem she'd tried to solve wasn't one that wanted or needed more attention paid to it. "Just... uh... call someone if you're not feeling well, alright?" Amaya nodded slightly, and with that, the girl quickly turned and rejoined her friends. The introvert's panicked heart at last began to calm itself, and slowly, she managed to raise her eyes ever so slightly. The crowd had finished passing her by save for a couple girls who were currently walking off with the one who had approached her, and so in the silence, she was able to hear the last strains of their conversation as they went out of earshot.

"-was with her. She wouldn't even look at me."

Instantly, that calmness she had regained was shattered. So, she had failed at even the most basic sort of social interactions after all, hadn't she? And, judging by the girl's perplexed tone, it seemed that one of her most pressing fears had just been proved correct. At least in some respect, in this school for the unusual and the abnormal, she was still considered an anomaly, just as she always had been. In that case, what was even the point of coming here? Aside from the slight mobility benefits that came of attending a school for the disabled, she might as well have been back in her old middle school again. She was still just as much of a freak here as she had been there. With this realization weighing down on her, Amaya once again simply slipped into the corner, trying to hide from sight as well as she possibly could. She'd be able to hear the opening ceremony announcements from here, anyway, and unless somebody came in way late, they probably wouldn't see her. She wouldn't bother anyone here...

All students report to the main hall for the opening ceremonies.

"Okay, Nana, follow the crowd." The Saint Bernard happily began pulling her owner down the hall, sniffing at students and teachers as she went along. Dear lord, please don't let my dog eat someone's prosthetic leg, Hana thought as she tried not to shuffle her feet. That was what her mother had always told her, from the very day she went home. "Don't shuffle, Hana. Shuffling makes you look weak. Walk with a purpose." She tried to keep that message at heart, but, honestly, Hana didn't really care if strangers thought her weak. She was in an exciting new place, and had much bigger things to worry about than if her shoes got a little scuffed up on the floor. Her mission at hand was to make it to the assembly without many complications, and then to find out her classes and dorm assignment.

The idea of a roommate made Hana giddy. She had always wanted a sister, someone she could confide in and count on, but unfortunately she was an only child. She hoped that a roommate would be like the sister she never had. At least she would have a potential friend to count on. Even before her accident, Hana was homeschooled, and she didn't have many friends because she never really went anywhere other than her town's concert hall, church, and the hospital. After the accident she practically became a shut-in, her town's Boo Radley. Hana knew that there had been rumors about her, that she had become disfigured after the accident. Truthfully, she was just a little afraid of facing a world where people would stare at her. Yamaku was different; It was okay to be a little different here.

Hana regrettably had become a bit absorbed in her thoughts, and her pace had slowed. Before she could worry if she was in anyone's way, a rouge foot sent her tumbling to the ground. Hana landed hard on her knees, and spread her hands out to catch her fall. Unfortunately, this caused her inhaler, which she had still been carrying just in case, to go skidding out of her hands. She also lost hold of Nana's leash. Harsh laughter met her ears; it sounded like boys, probably two or three of them. Hana's eyes pricked at the pain in her knees, and her cheeks colored in embarrassment at her fall. That's what you get for spacing out, she thought.

"I'm sorry for stepping on your foot, I should have been paying more attention," she said apologetically, turning her head in the general direction of the laughter. She realized she might have been tripped purposefully, but she wasn't one for pointing fingers, and she didn't want to start a fight. Hana hated fighting, and tried to find a positive resolution for any conflict. Hana shakily got to her feet, wincing as her knees ached in protest.

"That's alright, baby, maybe you can find a way to make it up to me." The voice was suave, but there was a hint of malice just beneath the surface. Hana stiffened as a hand roughly and suggestively came to rest high on her waist. More laughter. Nana growled menacingly. Hana' heart was beating fast, but she tried to keep her breathing steady, being devoid of her inhaler.

"Don't know what you're gropin' for, man, there ain't much there." Hana's cheeks flamed, and she hastily tried to take a step back. The boy stepped with her, tightening his hold.

"P-please let go of me," Hana stuttered, trying to keep the threat of tears out of her voice. Suddenly, Nana barked, and Hana heard the sound of the boy holding her shouting. The hand on her waist disappeared, and Hana fell back to the ground. Her breath was coming in gasps.

"Damn dog bit me!" Someone shoved her, and Hana felt Nana's fur brush against her arm as the big dog crouched protectively over her, still growling. Blood and dog saliva dripped onto Hana's hand.

"H-help," Hana gasped out around her constricting bronchial tubes. But the hall was almost empty.

Alex was happy that he managed to make a new friend, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to make any other friends. He was afraid that he may lose his friends the same way he lost his brother and the person he loved, but he would at least give having a friend a try. He never had any translators due to the tutors he had always knowing sign language, but he has heard of people having translators and he didn't think he would need one. Now he thinks he wouldn't need one, but it would be more convenient and it would allow him to have more linear conversations. He noticed her blushing, but he wouldn't point it out and embarrass her. His brother on the other hand would've embarrassed her and somehow get away with on the other day, his brother would never mean to embarrass you that much and he would only want to pick on you as a friend. Alex's brother would pick on everyone, including people with disabilities. He made people feel normal, since other kids wouldn't pick on them and since he would never mean to cause actual harm.

Alex was happy at the fact that he wouldn't have to strain his body like he has with other friends, since the other heirs of rich families usually came to his house to play with Alex and those rich kids were the only friends that Alex's family approved of him having. Alex was able to speak almost every language as a child, so he had a lot of chances to communicate. But now that he is mute, he can not show the same lingual dexterity that he had as a child. He can still understand other languages and he can still reply in those languages with a notebook, but it is less enjoyable if you have to stop whatever you're doing just to talk to someone.

He didn't know if he should reveal what he drew in his notebook, but he decided that he might as well since this girl would be his friend. "Yes, I do draw in it, but most of my drawings are about my brother and the girl I loved." There was a longer than normal pause after he said yes. There was also a sadness in his voice when he explained what he drew in his notebook, he hoped she would guess that the fact that he was sad was that his brother and the person he loved were dead. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold back tears if he had to say that they were dead, since he still cried every once in a while and the day before his birthday. His birthday was never a happy time for him, since it was the day after his brother and the person he loved died. "Rambling is fine, I probably wouldn't have a chance to tell you what I draw in my notebook if you didn't ask." Alex was always saddened when on the subject of his family, so he always tried to find a way around the subject.

He a bit surprised when the announcement rang on the intercom, but he wondered how they announced things to the deaf. He watched the girl gesture with her hands and he noticed that he usually signed everything that he wrote on his notebook after writing it. He didn't mind if she quickly checked her class, but he wondered why she needed to ask for his permission to check her class and room. "I don't mind, since I also have to check my class and room. " He quickly walked up to the list and saw that his class was the third on the second floor, and that peachy's class was the first on the third floor. He really wouldn't have to worry about grades, since he was a genius and was credited for inventing many things sold by his family's company. He went back to peachy and he would tell her that he was going on ahead. "I'm going on ahead, I'll save a seat for you if you want me to. " He waited for her response before he left and went towards the main hall.

When he went in there he sat down in the back, putting his bags in the seat next to him. He saw a lot of kids choosing seats in the front. He didn't really mind if the girl from earlier didn't sit by him, since they would still be friends and he didn't want to take away any chances for her to make new friends. He waited there for anything new to happen or anyone to address him.

Peachy watched as Alexander checked his classes and then left to save them a seat. She smiled and using her walking stick walked to the list. She quickly memorized everything she needed before she began her slow limping walk toward the main hall. She heard someone say help and she turned around as her eye's came to rest on a girl with a dog over her growling. Peachy narrowed her blue eyes. Many people called her naive and she was but when someone was openly calling out under this type of circumstance she felt cut in two one side wanting to have hope for humanity the other yelling at her to do something.

Forcing her legs to move Peachy used the walking stick to pole vault herself half way across the hall. But the action cause her to crash and slide the rest of the way until she was in front of the girl and her dog. "HEY BACK OFF!" The boy's who'd been initially surrounding the girl took a step back surprised. "That's right I said back off!" She huffed her bright blue eyes narrowed. She watched the boy's back off before turning to walk away.

Peachy let out a sigh of relief and dragged herself to her legs as they shook in pain. "O-ow..." She rubbed her legs trying to make the pain leave but it only got worse. She bit back the pain and turned to look at the girl. "Hey you ok? Sorry if I kinda landed on you." She reached over and helped the girl up quickly noting the dog. Peachy wanted to try on a comforting smile but she knew that would have little to no effect considering the girl could not see it.

The intercom blared again and Peachy grabbed onto the girl. "Hey we need to go." Walking as fast she could she stumbled awkwardly and painfully through the hall sometimes leaning on the girl which meant most of the conversation on the way to the ceremony was her apologizing for her faulty legs. When they walked into the room Peachy's eyes quickly scanned for Alexander with luck she managed to find him and awkwardly stumble her way there. She could feel her legs burning as the pain increased but she tried not to let the shaking show. "Found you Alex... I also picked up someone else who was having troubles in the hall with some bully's... I... I don't even know her name yet..."

Peachy quickly took the seat Alex had saved for her and helped the girl she'd found take a seat also. "Umm...Sense I forgot to ask... What's you name anyway... And the name of your beautiful seeing dog." Peachy gently pet the dog's head and smiled. "I'm Peachy and my friend here is Alex... But I might have to talk for him if he addresses you... Sorry." Finally over explaining things Peachy leaned back trying to relax but found it hard with her legs shaking and hurting from the strenuous activity she'd just made it endure. She closed her eyes for a simple moment when she'd remembered something she wanted to say to Alexander about there earlier conversation about drawing. "Hey Alex... About earlier I think it's good your remembering your brother and the person you loved with drawings... Don't give it up ok." She gave a grin and then looked out and about feeling happy and optimistic about the day.

Hana was grateful for the girl's help, but she seemed to be oblivious of the fact that Hana could not breath. Nana wriggled anxiously, a low whine escaping her maw. She brushed her nose repeatedly against her owner's palm, obviously wondering why Hana hadn't addressed her condition yet. Hana clutched tightly to the scruff of Nana's neck, wheezing. She collapsed out of her chair onto the floor; Nana began barking loudly.

Hana groped on the ground, trying to find the leg of the girl with the stick. She latched onto her ankle, fear lacing through her blood.

"Inhaler." She mouthed, unable to speak anymore. She had a moment to hope the girl had seen her before she fainted.

So there it stood. Yamaku Academy, Razeluxe’s new education facility, and his new prison. What was so wrong with his old school? It wasn’t like he was going to keel over and die right there in the middle of his normal school in front of his normal friends and die somewhat normally. “Chance” was what they said. There was a chance he could simply have a heart attack, or a serious seizure, which is why they said he should move to this school. The one for all the disabled people. That sure as hell made him feel good. Now he wasn’t with his best friends anymore, and he’d have to start anew.

These ancient, worn designs on this gate weren’t his own, they were Yamaku’s. He still just didn’t know If he was going to get over that fact – that he’d have to restart life once again, just like when he moved from America. Raze enjoyed meeting new people and earning new friends, but he didn’t like doing so at the cost of old ones. As much as he’d like to stay and angst, he did hear about an opening ceremony he must really get to, lest he be late.

By now, there weren’t too many people at the front gates for obvious reasons, so instead of pushing his way through a bustling crowd of students, he walked his way straight towards his destination without bumping into a single person. Guess if anything, being somewhat late was good. He got to walk without restriction and he bet that bumping into a student without legs or something would be really, really awkward. To many of these other students, he bet he’d look like a normal kid, a bully simply knocking poor, defenseless students off their not-so-fleshy feet like he was better than them. Surely in this school of the disabled, he would still be weird.

His journey took him through some halls which he had the pleasure of being shown a few days prior (because he had a horrible sense of direction and would easily get lost otherwise) and past a few turns, down the tile walkways. Each tile had a simple pattern, he noticed. The child in him said to maybe play a game – the hot-lava game as he called it, where certain tiles spelled doom for those who walked on them. Then he realized he wasn’t five anymore, and promptly threw away that idea. Reluctantly.
It wasn’t long after that he found his destination and to his dismay, it was a bit crowded. Finding a seat would be a pain, it seemed. Ironically, you couldn’t count the amount of students Raze saw without arms on your hand. He felt bad… whereas his own disability was stamina-related, some might not even be able to throw a ball or punch! It also reinforced his idea that he shouldn’t be in this place when they could spend time and effort on someone who needed it more. He sighed – no, he was being bitter and that’s not who he was. He was normally happy and enthusiastic, now down and looking for any excuse to get his ass out of a situation. A shake of his brown head and a flicker of a smile, he decided to stop angsting and simply man-up!

And so he took a seat he found…… right behind a pink-haired girl. How strange…

Well, after helping his first possible friend in a whole year up, and hearing what Azalea had to say, there was another voice from beside the trio as he was being lead along by Zeal.
"Hey, are you alright?" a small voice piped up. Was there something wrong? Azalea would have probably said something if anything was wrong. Or maybe she was just really tough and didn't care if there was blood everywhere and, no. There was probably something wrong and he just didn't see it.
"How long have you two been here?" Azalea asked, or at least, it sounded like Azalea. Somebody else could have asked their friends the same question and he could be answering to his own social downfall.
"I was here since last year, most of my time between classes was meditating in a field somewhere though, so that should explain why we haven't met," he paused ,"that and the fact that we both move at different speeds." He waited for some sort of laugh that never came. crap.
"Hi everybody. The name's Kora." A girls voice, lower to the ground then usual, and accompanied by the squeak of metal axles. Must be a wheelchair. She delved into small talk with Azalea
"Any of you know much about this place? I gotta admit I'm none the wiser. It wasn't exactly my decision to go here."
"Yes, I attended school here last year," His head turned towards her voice as he spoke to her. “I’m Jolnas.” He had pronounced the J like a Y, giving it a stranger, more foreign sound. "And I'll take your bag for you if you tell me what class you're in. He flashed a smile. Completely aware that he could be looking at a wall, or Zeal. Hopefully the wall if not Kora herself. Hopefully he would get on better terms with her as they walked along the pre-determined path. If he tried to move it would probably end up in a wall-to-face-collision.
Then he heard the barking. It was a small whimper at first, and with the echo around them, okay they were probably in the main hall. The barking grew into a diminutive roar. Something was up, and by this schools logic, somebody was down.
"Hey guys, do you hear that barking? I think somebodies collapsed." His german accent grew thicker as he emphasized each word. It would be terribly unfair for somebody to die on the first day of school. This Academy was built to extend lives, not harbor the deaths of them. It was not a hospice. "Guys, we need to help whoever is close to dying."
This couldn't be worse. The thought that other people might be there to help, but somebody could die outweighed one another on a scale of one to one. He stood up from his seat, he, being blind could only really do one thing, announce the problem.
"Hey, who's dog is that? is everything okay?" He paused waiting for a response, calamity, anyhting to help whoever was in trouble.

Akex was a bit startled at the sudden fainting of the girl who Peachy brought along with her. He saw that the girl tried saying a word, but no sound would come out. He knew the feeling of not being able to say anything, even when you wanted to a lot. He tried pulling up the girl and setting her down on one of the chairs, his hands hurt from carrying the weight of the girl. But he didn't care about his pain, since this girl seemed to be worst of than he was at moment and he couldn't waste any time on his own pain. He patted the dog and managed to calm it down, but the dog was still anxious and worried about it's master. Instead of wasting time he searched her pockets for the inhaler and managed to find it. If it wasn't for the dog, then he wouldn't have noticed the girl's condition and he wouldn't have been able to help. He made the girl sit upright, so she could breathe better and then he tried helping the girl . He stayed calm, so the girl wouldn't get scared and so he would not do any rash actions. He turned to someone around him and signed to the person to get a nurse or someone who could help further than Alex could. He turned his attention back to Hana and he hoped the girl wouldn't die. He noticed that the clothes she was wearing weren't constricting, so he wouldn't have to do anything that might get him slapped later and he was relieved at this fact. He opened the inhaler and motioned for Peachy to open the girl's lips. He placed one hand on the girls stomach and felt a contraction, so he waited until the girl exhaled before putting the inhaler to her lips. He pressed a bit of pressure points on the girl's body to release some of the tension being built up and to calm the girl down. But before he did anything, he read the piece of paper that instructed what do in case of an emergency. He depressed the plunger on the inhaler and then he carried the girl on his back, even if this would damage his body. It hurt him to carry the girl, but it would be a more favorable outcome this way. He would get hurt a little bit and the girl wouldn't die, but if he didn't do this the girl might die and he wouldn't be hurt. He wrapped the dog's leash around his hand and began running down to the medical area, when he got there he managed to open the door and alert the head nurse of what was happening. He stayed with the girl to make sure the dog didn't get away from the girl, since he knew what it was like to have the people you care about near you when you wake up after an incident. He handed the emergency plan to the nurse and he hoped they would be able to save the girl. His muscles and body were aching quite a bit, and he might have to go to medical care himself later. He sighed a bit and patted the dog on it's head noticing that it was whimpering. He knew he would probably be scolded by his parents and he also knew they would only care that they almost lost a great source of income, but he would do his best to stay away from his parents. He then wondered why he bothered to help someone he didn't even know. Running tired him out quickly and he was in pain, but he knew the girl was probably in more pain than he was and that he should not worry about himself at the moment. A bit of his brother's kindness rubbed off on Alex . he then noticed that he managed to help even without his speech. He was happy about that fact and he hoped that he could help other people like he did today, but then again he was extremely tired and if the dog offered resistance Alex would be pulled along without the dog even having to try.