Lesson Four

Taichi P.O.V

The next day at school I had to find Hinata and apologize for what I said.

"Taichi." I hear someone say and I see it was Karasuma.

Instead of going over to him like normal I keep walking. I want to find Hinata as soon as possible.

Suddenly I feel someone grab my wrist. I seen it's Karasuma with a serious expression.

"What are you doing Taichi? I hope you're not planning to see the dog again. We just talked about this and you were on my side." He says with a harsh tone. I snatch my wrist from his grip.

"Karasuma, this is none of your business, and for the last time, she's not a dog! I was wrong and you are too, okay?" I yell and he now looks at me angry.

"Seriously? Don't you get it yet? Taichi, she killed someone, which means she may try to kill you too! Why do you purposely put yourself in danger?" He yells at me. I should of known Karasuma wouldn't understand after all.

"You're the one who still doesn't get it. You're really going to just believe a bunch of rumors? Where's the evidence? The body? Think logically for a second, she is just a girl. Why can't you just get to know her? " I plead.

"I already know her enough! I don't get you Taichi. Ever since you met her you've changed. Is she telling you to act this way or--" He began to say but then his voice trails off, he then looks off to the side. "Or are you in love with her or something?" He adds.

"Huh? It's not like that and you know it!" I shout, not believing what he was saying right now. Is that what he really thought this was about? He makes a sinister smirk at me.

"Wouldn't surprise me by the way you have been lately. Who knows maybe you could of been wanting to do indecent things to her and--"

I don't let him finish speaking, instead I grab him by his shirt collar and slam him against the wall. I put my fist up ready to punch him while he still smiles.

"Go ahead do it! You know you want to. I bet the dog has taught you lots of things." He says with a smug look. I start to swing when suddenly another hand stops my fist.

"Taichi! What's wrong with you? I thought you were better than this!" I see it was Hinata who stops my punch from hitting Kurasama.

I release him. Hinata gives me a serious look before releasing my fist and walking away. She was right I am better than this, which means there is a better way to handle this.

"Look Karasuma, you have been my best friend for a long time, but you have to trust me on this. Hinata isn't a bad person and besides did you ever hear her side of the story?" I explain and Karasuma doesn't say anything, instead he just looks away.

"Whatever, but if you get hurt don't say I didn't warn you." Karasuma says before walking away.

I proceed to head to class and sit in my normal seat next to Hinata. She still just looks out the window. Do I even dare talk to her?

Liar! Traitor!

Her words and face flash through my mind. I sigh, I don't have a right to talk to Hinata.

"Hey Taichi..." I notice Hinata say and I look over at her. She stares down at her desk like something is on her mind. I was sure she would hate me after everything but she actually spoke to me first.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Are you afraid of me?" She questions, now making eye contact.

"What are you--" I stop when I remember my conversation with Karasuma yesterday about her possibly murdering someone.

I then look down. Am I afraid? I look over at her again. She doesn't look like a killer, then again most killers don't look like a killer. Even so, I just feel like Hinata isn't one. Plus, there's no proof.

"No Hinata, I'm not afraid of you. We're friends, why would I be?" She then makes a small smile before speaking.

"Well, I know people have been telling you about the incident that happened last year." She says and I assume that she is talking about her causing a guy to end up in the hospital.

"Yeah, but is that actually true?" I ask curious. She doesn't respond at first, but she sighs before finally speaking.

"Partially, I did hurt a guy enough for him to go to the hospital, but he didn't die. Everyone assumes that because he never came back to school. I heard from my dad that he transferred to a different school where they believe that he would be safer." She says putting emphasis on the word safer.

"I see it makes sense, but why do people continue to say that he died, even when you have an explanation?"

"Well Taichi, who wants to believe the person that ended up sending someone to the hospital? No actually, who wants to even take the time to listen to anything that person has to say after such an act? People are scared of a lot of things Taichi, but for some reason no one ever thinks to include rumors on that list. I have." She says and I can't help but feel bad that unfortunately sometimes rumors can overpower the truth.

"Well, if you don't mind me asking, why did you beat him up in the first place?"

"That's because--never mind, I don't need to be telling this to an idiot like you. That's really none of your business anyway." Hinata states coldly. I honestly expected this, Hinata isn't really open with people, but I know when she's ready she will open up. Not wanting to talk about this anymore I quickly change the subject.

"So, how about that next lesson?" I ask Hinata.

"Are you still on that?"

"Well, we did make a deal." I say smiling. She just looks at me for a second, then her face softens up into a tiny smile.

"Taichi, what is with you and mention our deal so much." She says rolling her eyes. Hinata and looks good with a smile. I'll remember to try and make her smile more often.

***

Later on I walk in the hallway with Hinata to get snakes from the vending machine. I didn't care about all the stares we got as we walk.

"So, Hinata lesson three is learning to cope with anger," I explain and she doesn't say anything so I continue, "We should find things that help when you do get angry, since we can't guarantee that your anger can always be prevented."

"Help, like what?" She asks me. I'm surprised she didn't say anything mean to me this time.

"Well--"

"I'm sorry!" Karasuma suddenly says, interrupting us in the the middle of our conversation. We both look at him confused.

"Eh--I mean, sorry to approach you with this so randomly, it's just I want to apologize to you both for all the things I did and said earlier." Karasuma states. He then looks over at Hinata and holds his hand out for a handshake. Like normal Hinata stares at his hand, and finally taking the hint, Karasuma pulls his hand away awkwardly.

"Ahem. I'm Karasuma and you must be Hinata, right?" He says and I'm surprised that he calls her by her name. Hinata nods in acknowledgement.

"I guess, what I'm trying to say is, can we all just start over? Hinata, Taichi, I want to understand you both better." Kurasama says to us.

I look at Karasuma. What's with the change of heart so quick? Something isn't sitting right with me, but either way it's not like I can call him out right now. I'd have to do so more privately.

"Very well." I say and we all head back to our classes.

***

At the end of the day I see Hinata in the garden again. She seems to be planting more seeds. Her hands gently places each seed into the dirt. I walk up next to her and sit beside her. She jumps when she notices me

"What is wrong with you Taichi? You scared me!" She says hitting me on the head.

"Hey, remember stuff like this can get you suspended." I joke, rubbing my head where she had hit it. She doesn't say anything back, instead she continues to plant seeds.

"Let me help." I say grabbing a seed out of the bag and placing it into the dirt.

"Ugh, how careless can you be? You have to be gentle with it." She scolds me. I feel a hint of shame. I never really knew how to garden. I never done something like this before. "Here, let me help you." She adds, before she takes both my hands to show me how to cover and pat the dirt over the seed. I feel her body close to mine. For some reason, the whole time she was showing me what to do, I couldn't focus on anything but her, and her warm hands on mine.

I look at her eyes, they remind me of the dark, blue moonlight sky.

"What?" She asks noticing I'm staring.

"N--Nothing. Uh, thanks for showing me. I think I have to get home now." I say to her blushing.

"Oh ok." She says and she continues working in the garden. I get up and begin to walk home. What is wrong with me? Why was I so nervous back there? It's not like I like her or something, do I?

I don't have time to be thinking about this, I have to focus on what's important. Coping with her anger.

***

When I get home the first thing I do is research ways to cope with anger. I didn't find much and none of it seems to be something that would help in Hinata's case.

After hours of searching, I gave up. This was going to be a lot harder than I thought, but I made a promise to Hinata that I'd help her.

Suddenly, there is a knock on my door, and before I could say come in, my younger sister, Juno rushes in.

"Hey, knock before you barge in Juno!" I yell at my sister, that was only one year apart from me. She plops on my bed and puts her feet up against the wall. Juno is seriously annoying most of the time.

"I did knock, didn't I?"

"Well true, but that's not the point!" I say. She comes over by me and stares at my computer screen.

"Coping with anger? Last time I checked you hardly seem to have anger problems. Why the sudden change?" She says to irritate me more.

"None of your business. Now will you please leave?" I say sternly.

"Fine fine, but just know this, if you really want to cope with anger try music. I find music relaxing." She says before walking out my room.

Juno was right music really is relaxing. Why didn't I think of it before? I bet we can all say that most people like some type of music. I wonder what kind of music Hinata listens to?

Starting tomorrow, I'll get Hinata relaxing and listening to music in no time.

***

The next day I didn't want to waste a single second. I want to share with Hinata what I found yesterday. I don't know why, but since I started helping Hinata out, I've been feeling really good, happy even.

Like always I knew I would find Hinata in the garden, so I walk straight there. I see her standing there facing the garden.

"Hey, Hinata I--" I stop in the middle of my sentence when I notice something. Hinata has a blank expression plastered on her face. I proceed to look around in horror. The garden was destroyed. Many of the flowers that were planted have either been dug up or pulled out forcefully. Bags of soil were ripped open and thrown everywhere. Not to mention, the soil is flooded because watering cans are tipped over.

"Hinata, who did this?" I ask immediately. She doesn't say anything instead she just hands me a slip of paper.

You actually thought we would help you garden? You're so hilarious, you dog.

The note read. I instantly feel angry.

"Hinata, who were the people that helped you? I swear when I get my hands on them--!"

"Taichi, don't okay. From now on pretend you don't know me." She says with a forced smile, before walking away. I then look back at the destroyed garden and notice there sat the red rose I gave her.

I pick it up and see that its stem is crushed. A petal falls off. This was all my fault. If I didn't insist on asking people to help Hinata with the garden none of this would of happened.

Don't worry Hinata I'm going to fix this.