by Lara Yokoshima

This is an alternate universe (AU) fiction, based on the Project: Unigenitus main characters. It can also have some small appearances of characters from other of my stories. Nothing written on this story can be related to PU, except for some character behaviors and names.

I. Ask for answers

I really believe in fate. Maybe it was because of that that we met again after a long time. A really long time. Our parents had decided to divorce when we were little kids; I think it was very cruel to separate us from the very beginning. We are twins… although we don’t look like it.

The white haired boy approached the high school’s huge, metallic doors carrying his brown leather briefcase over his right shoulder with tranquil and precise steps. After two long months of vacation, here he was again. He was wearing the regular school uniform, a white shirt and white jacket with gray stripes, and light gray pants that matched. He suddenly stopped right before crossing the line between school and the outer world. The first boring school day of the new year, the boy thought. He had the looks of a vibrant 17-year-old youngster, but for some reason, he had a more mature appearance than other students.

“Wassup Yamah!” a voice came from behind. “C’mon, we are gonna miss class if we don’t hurry, dude!”

The young man turned to see his school buddies crossing the portal to the Nephillim Private High School (NPHS) for boys. Yamah was not a very friendly person actually. He was more like a loner in some way, but he had to have at least two or three “allies” if he didn’t want to be bullied at school often. He felt kind of protected that way. Of course, there was always that despicable random guy who liked to call him a freak, because of his natural white hair that made him look less human. But Yamah liked the style. It was not common for a regular person to be born with silvery hair. He thought of it as a way to show he was not ordinary; he despised being ordinary.

“I’m coming, I’m coming…” Yamah answered to his partners, and started to follow them closely. Only one more year and they will finally graduate from high school to begin with a new kind of life. Yamah couldn’t wait to enter one of the best and most famous universities of the country; they were even offering him a scholarship because of his great academic performance. He could be considered some kind of prodigy, excelling in everything you could possibly imagine. You could say Yamah was able to understand anything. Anything but…

“Hey! Darling, you got home early!” a woman’s voice greeted the young man who was walking through the door of his house.

“Mom… don’t call me darling”, he just answered, dropping his briefcase near the stairs that leaded to his room. “I just came back for my clothes; I am going back to the dorms in just a few minutes”.

“Hmmph” the woman made a face while shrugging her shoulders, “then how do you want me to call you? That lame name you made up at school so your schoolmates won’t familiarize with you perhaps?”, she replied to Yamah’s first sentence.

“Mom, stop it”.

“How was that name… hmm… was it Yamah?” his mother finally said while staring at him from the living room when she was dusting the cabinets. “You want me to call you like that now?”.

Yamah didn’t care anymore; he just shrugged and went up the stairs to his room. His mother just let out a soft sigh while sitting on the couch. What could she do to see his son happy again? She remembered the good old times, when they were all together under the same roof, as any typical family. Maybe it was the fact she divorced from her husband unexpectedly. But they were too small to remember, to understand, she reasoned. I don’t think he even remembers he has a twin brother.

The young boy entered his room in silence, and he let his body fall on the bed feeling like a rock, bouncing over the soft cushion. He let a sigh leave his mouth and closed his eyes, letting his mind fly away like he always used to do when he was left alone. Recently he had felt this emptiness, a void inside his soul that he could not manage to fill. He had tried almost everything, from studying all the time to keep his mind busy, to even having the guts of tasting his first marihuana cigarette. Either way, he didn’t feel… complete. Once he decided to drop everything and escape from his constant depression. But committing suicide was not an intelligent choice for him. He had to give at least one last try to prove that this life had any sense at all.

Today school was a little different from other regular days. He arrived at his classroom, sat down on his desk and began waiting for the teacher to arrive. That day the first hour was going to be Biology class. Yamah was fooling around when suddenly a brown-haired boy – a boy he had never seen before, entered the classroom. He was also wearing the same school uniform with gray stripes, and was carrying a backpack on his left shoulder. He searched the room with his golden eyes, and just for a moment, his eyes met with Yamah’s. His platinum colored eyes fixated into the other boy’s golden ones. He could swear he had met this guy before. But after a few seconds, the boy disappeared by the same door that he had used to enter. It seemed he was lost or something. “Weird”, Yamah murmured. One of his friends heard him speak.

“What was that?” the ash blonde haired boy asked him.

“Nothing important, Koji”, Yamah answered coldly and turned his face around to stare at the window.

Just after a few more minutes, a tall, good looking man with raven hair entered the classroom. He was wearing glasses, and a small ponytail flowed from the back of his neck. He was also carrying a few books and his suitcase, walking towards the desk and standing in front of the students.

“Good morning class”, the still young professor greeted his students, while they patiently took their sits. “Good morning Dr. Yamada”, a student casually greeted him when he entered the classroom, and the professor just smiled, replying with a slight nod. The teacher waited until his students were absolutely quiet, and then he cleared his throat, beginning to speak.

“Today we begin a new year, and as you may know, this will be also your last at this school” the professor said with a calm and decided tone of voice. “Be prepared for what this year has for you, and enjoy every moment of it. This year most of you reach your adulthood. Don’t take this advice too seriously though”, he paused for a moment, “I don’t want to hear from your other teachers that you failed every class because you were enjoying those precious moments at the local strip club” he finished the sentence with a big smile. The whole class began laughing immediately; Dr. Mamoru Yamada was well known for his jokes on the first day of school. All of them laughed, except for Yamah. Although he found professor Yamada a very intelligent – and attractive person, he just couldn’t laugh at his jokes… or any other people’s jokes for that matter.

“Class…”, professor Yamada started to speak again when his students became silent, “… this day we also have a new student” he continued and then approached to the room’s door.

A new student?, Yamah wondered, Great… maybe he will be one of those eccentric rich boys from the neighborhood, he began to make early conclusions. Just like that pathetic foreign guy from last year, what was his name? Ah, yes… Latka. How could I forget that annoying little fag? He even dyed his hair the same color as mine, the silver-haired boy remembered how that Norwegian kid was always following him, trying to be his friend. Perhaps he was attracted to me in some way… gross. Thank God he was transferred back to Norway.

But he stopped his thoughts in middle air when he heard the door of the classroom being opened by his teacher. “Meet Yokoshima Eiji, our new student. Please make him feel at home”

Yokoshima? He has the same family name as me??,  Yamah was very surprised. But he couldn’t be more surprised when the new boy entered the classroom when professor Yamada named him. It was the same brunette guy that a few minutes ago was standing in front of the same door! Eiji stood in front of the other students, and made a slight bow with his head.

“Pleased to meet you” was all that the golden eyed boy said with no facial expression whatsoever, as if he didn’t care where he was or what was going to happen next.

“Eiji is also new in town. It seems his father sent him to study here while he had to attend some business outside the country”, professor Yamada informed his students about Eiji’s current situation. Yamah noticed that Eiji wasn’t very excited about entering a new school or moving to this city. His face had a blank expression. He reminded of himself in some strange way.

“Well, you may sit now Eiji”, Dr. Yamada said to him, while pointing at an empty spot, about two desks and a row away from Yamah’s seat. The brown-haired youth proceeded to sit on the chair and stayed there, silent, not even saying hi to his neighbors. His looks made Yamah think he was from a wealthy family, perhaps like his own. Perhaps a little more.

The teacher began his class, with a different topic that would interest his class, he commented. He started talking about genetics and how our genes pass along each generation, sometimes for the best and sometimes not. But Yamah wasn’t really paying attention to professor Yamada, even if genetic manipulation was one of his favorite science subjects. He was too busy staring at Eiji from the corner of his eye, recalling how the boy was so familiar to him in an odd way. It was like some kind of disturbing déjà vu.

The day went along, and the class took every course that corresponded to the first half of the morning. The bell rang, announcing lunch time to the students who reluctantly began rising from their seats to the cafeteria and take their ‘nutritious’ school lunch. Yamah was about to join his fake friends, but then he took a last glance to that new boy. It seemed he wasn’t thinking on moving from his seat, and just stayed there like a statue staring at the floor. Should I invite him to join us?, was Yamah’s first interrogative.

 “C’mon Yamah, what are you waiting for?” the ash blonde haired boy asked him, but then he noticed that Yamah was staring at that new boy. Koji looked at Yamah, then at Eiji, and without hesitation he walked towards the lone boy. Yamah noticed this with a little shock on his face.

“What the hell do you think you are doing??” Yamah murmured, trying to stop Koji  while grabbing him from one arm.

“What you couldn’t do a few seconds ago. Ask him to join us!” Koji answered back.

Eiji turned his head around just a little to see that Koji and Yamah were standing beside him.

“Would you like to join us?” Koji friendly asked with a big smile on his lips. He was well known at school because he was always friendly with everyone and he had no enemies at all. Or maybe that’s what everyone thought. Some people even though Koji was just too hypocrite. But Koji didn’t care what they thought, just like Yamah.

“Ok” Eiji answered after a moment with a weak smile and rose from his seat. They directed themselves to the cafeteria, where Yamah and Koji’s friends were sitting over one of the long tables, waiting for them. In the entire trayect, Eiji didn’t say a word, neither did Yamah. He felt intimidated by this boy in a way he didn’t like.

“You guys! Where were you?”, two other boys waved their hands to them, and  soon they joined them.

“Ok, I’m going to get some of that ‘delicious’ food they prepare here with all their heart and soul” Koji said with sarcasm and stood up from his seat, walking to the kitchen and forming in the line.

“Aren’t you going to get some food, Yamah?” one of the boys with brown hair like Eiji, except for the green eyes, asked him.

“Nah… I’m not really hungry” he answered.

“Ok, whatever”, the guy replied and shrugged. “By the way, who is your new friend?”

“Oh… well… he our new classmate”, Yamah responded while staring at the brunette with a soft smile. The boy looked at Yamah, and then to the other teens.

“My name is Eiji, nice to meet you”, the young man introduced himself before Yamah could do it, offering his right hand to the other boys and shaking it with some enthusiasm.

“Well, hi Eiji! Welcome to our lovely school” the green eyed boy greeted him. “My name is Matsujirou Shiro and this guy beside me is Alexander” he said while pointing to his silent friend on his right side who was until now unnoticed.

“Hi Alexander”, Eiji greeted him with a smile. The other boy –who had a menacing appearance and longish black hair with a golden stripe that covered his right blue eye, also greeted him with a silent smile.

“He is too quiet sometimes, eh Alex?”, the slimmer boy said, referring to his good-looking partner. He had a European style Eiji didn’t notice before. “My friend here is from Ireland; you see, we have many foreigner students in this school, isn’t that right Yamah?” Shiro insinuated Yamah’s ‘relationship’ with the Norwegian boy from last year.

“Shut up!” Yamah shouted in his face, but he tried to remain under control. He frowned and stared directly into Shiro’s eyes, who only grinned.

“Well, I have to go now, I have some ‘business’ to attend”, Shiro said with a wicked smile on his face. Yamah already knew exactly what he meant; Shiro was one of the few boys that sold illegal drugs inside the school. Alexander was also in the business with other English guys that everyone knew as the ‘Moore cousins’. They were like the mafia of the NPHS, and everyone was pretty cautious with them.

Both boys rose from the table and got out of the cafeteria, leaving Eiji and Yamah finally alone. At first, both of them felt a little bit uneasy in each other’s presence, but none of them wanted to show it. They remained quiet for what seemed like hours until Yamah decided to break the ice.

“So…” Yamah turned to face Eiji again, “where are you from?”

“Some neighbor town. Is not really relevant” Eiji answered while staring at Yamah with tranquil eyes. It looked like he really didn’t care to make friends at this school, and Yamah could notice that. In other circumstances perhaps he would just give up and walk away like he always did, but this time, some strange impulse told him to make this new boy a true friend of his. Yamah was about to try starting a new conversation again when he felt a heavy hand fall over his shoulder.

“Well, well… look who we got here” a voice from behind him said in a sarcastic tone. Yamah and Eiji turned around to see a blonde guy with spiky hair. He had a scar that crossed his nose bridge that in some way ruined his fine facial features. His jacket was opened revealing his strong, well-built body under that white turtleneck T-shirt.

“Kurumada…”, Yamah murmured, tightening his fists. He tried to stand up, but the other youth who was stronger than him, pushed his body down immediately and forced him to sit again. Eiji just stared at the other guy but didn’t –or couldn’t do anything about it. Then Kurumada noticed Yamah was not alone. He stared at the brunette boy with his deep blue eyes while the other teen did the same, but not a trace of fear could be seen in them. The blonde young man smiled a little and let Yamah’s shoulder free.

“And who is this cute boy here?” Kurumada asked the silver haired boy, still staring at Eiji. “Perhaps is your new boyfriend?”

“You…!” Yamah couldn’t take it anymore and rose from his seat, ready to punch Kurumada right in the face. Unfortunately, his fist was easily stopped by Kurumada’s hand, applying a karate move and quickly immobilizing Yamah.

“Easy there… you know you are no match for me” the strong blonde guy responded. The other students at the cafeteria noticed the small fight between these two and began murmuring between them, some of them running outside the cafeteria to spread the word of a possible fight. Yamah couldn’t move and Eiji finally stood up and faced the other guy.

“Let him go” Eiji said with menacing eyes. The blonde let Yamah alone; he was now more interested in the new boy, smiling wickedly and closing the distance between Eiji’s body and his. In that moment, Koji literally flew and placed himself between them to stop them.

“Stop it already!” Koji shouted to the three young men. “Kurumada… please…” Koji pleaded from the bottom of his heart; he didn’t want them to be involved in a fight the first day of school, especially for the newcomer. It would be a terrible experience for his first day at this school, Koji reasoned. Besides, he didn’t want his friends to be in fights.

“Fine…” the blonde replied to Koji’s pleads. He couldn’t say no to such a nice guy like him. At least Kurumada was alone, so Yamah, Koji and Eiji were safe from trouble if he had arrived with his team. The blonde walked away and exited the cafeteria. In that moment, Koji let out a deep sigh and weakly smiled to his friends.

“That was close” he said in a low tone of voice, sitting down again. The other boys also sat down, while the crowd began to dissipate, minding their own business since there was not fight.

“That motherfucker…” Yamah threw his fist to the table, he was really mad, not because he was being bullied again, but because he felt useless against him.

“Who is he?” Eiji asked Yamah a little bit concerned. Yamah just stared at Eiji’s golden eyes for a moment and left out a sigh, organizing his thoughts.

“He is Kurumada Kenji. Captain of the karate team of our school” Yamah said.

“No wonder why he feels that powerful” Eiji smiled to himself, remembering that Kenji guy in his mind. Yamah just glanced at Eiji with a weird look in his eyes. It seemed that his new friend was interested on that guy in some way… nah, that’s too stupid, Yamah concluded.

“He looked pretty angry at you, not the usual bully attitude” Eiji commented one more time. Yamah was very surprised. How could he notice that?

“Wanna know why?” Koji replied to Eiji’s intuition. “My friend here once challenged him” Koji continued, while putting his hand over Yamah’s shoulder and shaking him a bit.

“No way…” the other boy said smiling, absolutely interested in the new topic.

“Yeah! Tell him Yamah!” Koji stared at the silver haired boy, who had now a low face and didn’t want to talk about it. But he just spoke a few words.

“He was annoying me again. I had to punch him in the face” he responded almost in a murmur.

“That’s not all” Koji said again, and continued, “he left him that horrible scar across his face!” the blonde boy said pretty excited. Eiji just smiled again, and stared at Yamah, waiting for some explanation.

“I… was wearing a ring that day… with a sharp stone in it” Yamah continued.

“A diamond, man!” Koji interrupted, “his mother gave it to him on his 16th birthday. I wish my mom was that generous”.

Yamah stared at Koji, he didn’t like being interrupted. Koji just smiled somewhat ashamed, and closed his mouth with his hand, letting the other boy continue his story.

“So, when I threw the punch, obviously the stone hit his face, leaving him that scar. He was fucking mad at me” he remembered while smiling a little. The trail of blood running down his nose bridge, and Kurumada’s eyes wide open as if he didn’t believe what just happened. It was in truth a triumphant moment for Yamah, and then everyone would knew him as the guy who defied Kenji. The mark on his face, he will never forget it for the rest of his life.

“So that’s why he is always bullying him” Koji remarked. Eiji nodded at Koji, and then stared a little to Yamah one last time.

“What happened to the ring?” Eiji dared to ask.

Yamah lifted his right hand, a smirk on his lips. It was still there, in his middle finger, shinning like a trophy. Eiji smiled widely, looking deeply into Yamah’s joyful eyes without saying anything more.

The bell rang once again. The students left the cafeteria and began walking to their respective classrooms to finish their classes of the day. Everything went normal as any other day, when the bell rang one last time at 2 PM, announcing the end of the first day of class.