Seiran Academy

Chapter 22

Minako and Belle sat on the front lawn for lunch during the autumn weather. This was the time where the air was brisk but when protected by the surrounding trees the weather could be quite nice, the wind just rustling their hair enough to make them have to shove at stray strands every few moments or so. They sat together companionably, laughing together, people watching in amazement as Belle had finally made a true friend.

“Do I look all right for the part?” Minako asked quietly, keeping her bright, sweet, innocent smile on her face.

Belle nodded, reaching over and snagging a strand of Minako’s hair. “You look more than all right, all of the time.”

Minako flushed slightly. “Keep talking like that and people will wonder if there is not something going on between us.”

Belle did not release the strand of Minako’s golden locks. “I believe for Mr. Rose that is the point.”

“Draco…”

“I am Belle right now,” he insisted. “I know you are going to apologize to me again, but do not. I knew what I was getting myself into. I still do.” He moved his face closer to Minako’s so they were bare inches apart. “When it comes to you I can barely resist.”

“Dra… Belle,” Minako let the word out on a sigh. It was time to start acting and yet there was little need for them to act. The rising desire to place hands on one another remained there. The cool wind was offering only a small bite to their heated skin and Minako could not help reaching out towards Belle and she had to be careful where she placed her hand. She reached out and ran her hand over Belle’s shoulder and the two of them drew closer. Classmates were blatantly staring at them, but not in disgust, just utter surprise. They were not the ones that they put the show on for. The show was entirely for the two men walking up the walkway, two men who mutually respected one another, and both had a rising desire for Minako. Mr. Evans and Bartholomew Rose walked together towards the school while Belle and Minako embraced one another. It was but a friendly embrace, or so it was meant to be believed. Anyone with eyes could have seen the heat the belied their innocence.

Their lips were barely inches apart, their whispered words heating one another’s skin, and still they did not turn to look towards the adults’ eyes that were drawn directly to them as they passed. Minako’s world was in slow motion, the man of her dreams walking by with the man that she was meant to seduce, and all she could think of was Belle’s lips, within kissing distance. Was he drawing closer to her or was that her drawing closer to him? Were their bodies reaching for one another or was she forcing her hand down his arm to feel muscle that would have been wrong on the feminine body if she did not know what truly lie beneath that skirt he had fastidiously placed around him.

“There you two are!” Nemesis called it out a little louder than he intended. Seeing Minako so close to Belle had him driving his jealousy back down to the pits once more, and now Thomas Evans and his father were coming over as well, noticing that Nemesis and Sage were sitting next to their ‘girlfriends’ with practiced ease and looking like the perfect ivy league couples that would one day go to the best schools, dress in the best clothes, and never even think of consorting in sexual acts before they were married. They all looked innocent and friendly, something everyone knew they were not and still the façade was working.

“Dad, how pleasant to see you,” Nemesis sneered. It was the one time he did not need to act. His father knew of his dislike and to act like he was happy to see the older man would have been too far-fetched of a lie.

“Nemesis, I did not expect to see you enjoying your lunch out on such a beautiful day,” Mr. Rose spoke scathingly, a hidden insult behind the words that no one but his own son would know of. “Belle, Sage, how wonderful to see you again, and Miss Aino, Akane’s daughter, how lovely to see you. You are looking very splendid. Why Thomas here and I were just discussing your wonderful talents with those deft little fingers.”

What my son has I want , was the underlying meaning to the words, not to mention the more obvious pun on her fingers. Minako fell directly into the trap, actually, she glided into it with ease, expecting every turn. “I would be glad to show you how wonderful my fingers truly are,” she said with a maiden flush.

Mr. Rose smiled brightly. “You and your talents are wasted on that step-father of yours,” Mr. Rose said, and the ambiguous meaning was lost only on Thomas. It meant that Mr. Rose knew exactly what Daisuke Aino had done to this young girl. They could only hope he would not lose interest due to his old student’s taint.

Mr. Rose’s attention drifted from Minako. Panic rifted through the four. He turned to Thomas and gave him a wan smile. “You would do well, Mr. Evans, to make sure that my son does not further corrupt and waste away that beautiful talent.” A small tremor collectively ran through the four in relief. He still desired her, needed her, and that was his way of telling his son to keep his hands off of the young girl, which only made Nemesis want Minako more.

“I have been keeping a close eye on them,” Mr. Evans assured Bartholomew Rose. “I assure you that he has not tainted her.” Mr. Evans wondered if he was truly catching on to a meaning that he had denied was at the underbelly of the uppercrust society that Minako and Nemesis came from. Belle was an outsider, Sage a suspected… well, the two of them were outsiders looking in, Minako and Nemesis, two children of the highest ordain, were the ones that seemed to come from the lowest of the low.

What else was out there that he did not see?

“Well then I must say good day to you all,” Mr. Rose said, mildly disappointed. “You see I have much business to go over with Mr. Evans. I will see you all later, though, I hope. Nemesis, you are inviting Miss Aino to our Thanksgiving dinner, are you not?”
“Her, Belle, and Sage,” he admitted. He seemed to becoming overly protective of the girl he had thrown into this situation to begin with.

“Good, I look forward to see you all then,” he smiled brightly and he and the teacher walked into the school.

“Your father celebrates Thanksgiving though we are going to school in Japan?” Minako asked of her friends. She tried to ignore Nemesis’s grip around her waist, his hands holding her possessively.

“It is just one of his excuses to hold a large party and feed everyone and to enjoy some debaucheries that he can blame on the alcohol.”

“Then we aim for Thanksgiving,” Minako said brightly.

“That’s a bit soon, you can not even seduce a school teacher so far,” Sage pointed out.

Minako flipped her golden hair and stood. Belle stood with her, two friends in whatever fight they had together. “I think I will by the end of the week, just watch, but I will require Sage’s help for that.”

“See, Nemesis,” Sage smiled, standing with the two ‘girls’. “You chose to be the boyfriend, so you are the one to lose all of the great opportunities.”

Nemesis watched them walk off. Minako was angry at Sage yet she required his help. Why was it such a burden for her to admit she wanted to be near Nemesis? She would rather be with the man who would care little about making her miserable and the man who dresses as a girl than to be with him?

His own jealousies flared as he stalked off, allowing the trio to walk off without him. There was no need to act his anger, it was clear as day, and Minako was going to get exactly what she was asking for.