Chapter 1: Noticed for Once

"Has he always been in our class?"

Micha looked over towards where her red haired friend, Alyssa, was pointing. Her eyes swept the spot she pointed at, seeing nothing, before she went over the area again and spotted the curly brown haired head. Then she shrugged replying

"Don't know, maybe." Then she went back to listening half-heartedly, paying more attention to Alyssa's other friend Carmichael talking to her. Alyssa frowned at Micha; she wasn't very wise for a dragon-human, before looking at Carmichael and finding her almost asleep. Sighing at the water spirit, she looked back over at the boy.

It was already halfway through the year and she was positive he hadn't been there before. Shrugging it off, she turned back to the front and smothered her yawn…yawning in the middle of class would ruin her 'Angel Act'. Mr Marbles, their Language teacher, was talking on and on about the ancient texts of the world and how this semester they would be studying various languages such as Egyptian, Aboriginal, Greek and Roman to name a few. That made her smile; technically this would be a piece of cake since Atlantean was in her family lineage somewhere.

As the bell rang for lunch, many students cheering, the class made its way to the grounds and the cafeteria. After noticing the boy, Alyssa couldn't help but watch him. He was so much like a ghost around others it wasn't funny. He slipped between groups of students, not one noticing him or even batting an eye if he accidently brushed against them. It was like he didn't exist in their eyes.

"Alyssa! Come on or we'll lose our seat!" Micha elbowed Alyssa in the side, bringing the girl back to the real world. Alyssa sighed and muttered

"Coming." She and her friends went into the cafeteria and grabbed their food before heading out to sit under the furthest oak tree on the field. It was quiet and no one came down here. As her friends talked to each other Alyssa's mind drifted to the boy again. He hadn't done any work and the teacher didn't seem to notice him either apart from the brief moment during roll call. His name slipped her memory though.

What confused her was why no one seemed to notice him. He wasn't exactly easy to miss. The boy stood about six feet tall with a boyish face and brown hair that curled becomingly around his face, framing distant navy blue eyes; he was the boyish handsome type. So what made him unnoticeable? As she contemplated it she heard Carmichael calling her name repeatedly.

"Yeah?" Carmichael sighed loudly as Micha tapped Alyssa's head saying

"Alyssa? Are you still in there? Come back to Earth." Alyssa chuckled, brushing Micha's hand away as she said

"I'm fine. I'm just thinking about the upcoming Math test tomorrow." Her two friends nodded in agreement, starting to talk about the test and then switching back to their previous topic as Alyssa zoned out again. Dimly she heard the bell ring for last class and she looked up, her friends getting up and ready for class. Finally coming back she shook the boy from her mind so she could concentrate. She didn't want to disappoint Mrs Reddling who viewed her as her best student…she'd hate to ruin that reputation.

As usual, Math passed uneventful and slightly boring, but the bell rang loudly, signalling the end of another school day. Alyssa's eyes drifted over to where the boy sat as she packed her things. He was already packed and moving out, weaving between the other students who were milling out into the hallway. Alyssa found her feet moving as he vanished out the door and headed toward the exit. For some reason she chased him, Micha and Carmichael calling her name but she barely heard them which was so unlike her.

She needed to know who the boy was!

He was already halfway down the main street and turning into a side street by the time she caught up with him. He didn't pay attention as she came up behind him and moved to the side, allowing her to pass by him. But she didn't pass him. Instead she reached out and grabbed his arm, halting him mid-stride. The boy froze but didn't turn around for a while. When he did, he looked lost and confused, dazed navy eyes locked on to where her hand gripped his wrist tightly. She breathed deeply, calming her still fast beating heart from the sprint, before she smiled up at the boy.

"Hi, I'm Alyssa Sina. What's your name?"

He looked even more confused, brows furrowing as he tried to figure something out. Finally he said quietly

"You noticed me? I'm dreaming aren't I?" Alyssa frowned at him, curious about his words. They were not what she expected from him.

"Of course I noticed you. Why wouldn't I? And why would you be dreaming just because I noticed you?" The boy nodded, looking away as he muttered

"I am dreaming. I knew it. Having someone find me, that's a laugh." Alyssa sighed, this was getting frustrating. To make sure he knew he was awake she pinched his arm hard. He didn't even react to the pain of having his skin pinched and then twisted…as if he didn't feel it.

"You're awake. Now, what's your name?" The boy rubbed the red spot on his arm, eyes moving up to meet her light green ones. His face was expressionless, emotionless; his eyes clearing slightly so his dazed gaze turned piercing.

"My name is Daisuke Sencula. Miss Sina, you have lovely eyes, you know that right?"

Alyssa gaped at him, the comment surprising her. Her name rolled off his tongue as his voice took the sing-song lilt of the Atlanteans mixed with a hint of Roman and Egyptian thrown in there. It was an odd and strangely alluring tone. Her hand loosened out of surprise and Daisuke pried his arm from her grip with ease. He gave her a very small smile and said

"Thank you Alyssa, you've made my day." As he walked off at an easy pace, Alyssa came back to her senses and called

"How did I do that?" He stopped long enough to turn back and give her a soft smile.

"You found me."

Then he vanished around the corner and, by the time she got to the corner, he was no longer in sight. Walking back the way she came and then heading towards her house, she muttered

"Sencula? Now where have I heard that name before?" Brushing it off, she picked up the pace. Chasing after him had made her late and she still didn't know why she had chased after him to begin with.

Daisuke watched Alyssa go as he stood lightly on top of the light post. Alyssa Sina: seventeen years old, bronze red hair, light green eyes, about five foot eight, teacher's pet in all areas; best friends with Micha Chang and Carmichael Claster. He jumped down, landing silently on the ground before he cocked his head. After their brief meeting he had deducted two things…she was different than others and not what he had expected. Acting on a whim, he followed her, his footsteps light and body barely visible. Even if she turned around she wouldn't see him.

Alyssa stopped at the T-intersection of the road; the left one heading home while the right headed to the library. After a very quick debate she turned right and soon entered the public library. She glanced around quickly and then made her way to the computers, deciding to ask the librarian later if she couldn't find what she wanted. As she typed in Sencula she could have sworn she heard a gasp from behind her but when she looked, there was no one there. Turning back to the screen she cursed as the computers shut down on her, screen going black on the information she had found on the Sencula family.

Cursing the computers silently, she marched to the counter and said politely,

"Excuse me; the computers have all just shut down. I was wondering if you had any books on the Sencula family." As she asked she felt a brush on her shoulder and she shivered, glancing over her shoulder to see nothing. The lady at the counter looked over her glasses and then nodded, pointing toward the History section at the back of the library.

Alyssa thanked the librarian and wandered in that direction, chills creeping down her spine and it was starting to creep her out but also starting to annoy her majorly. She cast continuous glances over her shoulder through narrowed eyes, fists clenching in annoyance. There was nothing there; no one else was in this section. Brushing it off and blocking all chills she ran a finger along the book spines, trying to locate the book she was after.

"Let's see; Ancient Languages, Knighthood, Mysteries of Transylvania…where is it? Oh there it is! 'Families of the World'" She left the section before ducking back to grab the Ancient languages book. Never knew when that would come in handy. Borrowing the books out she thanked the bored looking librarian and headed home, noting how late it was. Tucking the books securely into her backpack she picked up the pace, running home.

She didn't hear Daisuke slam his head into the wall repeatedly, cursing his luck and that girl's own curiosity. This was not going well! He had to stop her from looking into his family.

"This is becoming a pain…and all from one simple meeting! Arghh!" He ran after Alyssa who had a good ten minute head start. He caught up just as she entered her house which suited the title mansion better. Unwilling to trespass, Daisuke turned around and left, vowing to confront her tomorrow.

…Maybe…

"Where have you been Alyssa? It's almost six o clock."

Alyssa smiled at her Aunt who was making dinner for the three of them before replying

"Sorry Aunt Wisteria, I had to duck by the library for Language Class. I needed some books for the report we're doing in class on Ancient languages of the World. I'll try to be on time from now on." Wisteria smiled back and said

"Okay then, dinner's on the table in twenty. Let your sister know would you?" Alyssa nodded, walking upstairs to her room. Dumping her bag there she knocked on Liz's door, the one right at the other end of the hall, and called

"Dinner's ready in twenty." Task complete and not waiting for an answer, Alyssa locked herself in her room and retrieved the books.

Pushing the language book aside she opened up the family book to the reference pages at the back of the book. Running a finger down the page she stopped at Sencula, locating it on page one seventy five. Just as she reached the page, her aunt called her and Liz, her elder sister, down for dinner. Sighing loudly, she dog-eared the page and left it on her desk, the language book open now to make it look like she had been studying for school.

After dinner, she helped wash up the dishes, did her usual chores and routine before finally heading back to her room. Making sure her door was locked; she reopened the marked page of the book, eyes scanning the words written there.

"Sencula…where is it? Oh, there it is; the Sencula Royal Family." She spent the next half hour reading, the information storing inside her head. As her Aunt knocked on the door, calling her name, Alyssa gasped, eyes locked on one section of the page.

"No way, that's impossible…"

"Alyssa, you're up early today."

Alyssa woofed down her toast and juice, rushing upstairs to brush her teeth and change, grabbing her backpack and then running out yelling

"I got work this afternoon aunties so I'll be home late. Thanks for breakfast." Wisteria smiled and shook her head, wondering what had Alyssa so worked up. She had never seen her niece so energetic like this. She heard the car start up and then leave, Alyssa was in a rush.

Alyssa raced toward school, the navy blue car hovering about a metre from the road and flying way over the speed limit. She knew she would be about half an hour early but she needed to see Daisuke. There was something she had to confirm. The book couldn't be right; that's what her sane side said. But her imagination was going wild, making her doubt her own mental abilities. She slowed as she reached the school gates, recomposing herself, before walking calmly into the school yard. There were very few students at this hour but more than she had expected. As she walked toward the doors, she heard a soft male voice singing in that same sing-song Atlantean voice she had heard before.

"Is this a dream?

If it is;

Please don't wake me from this high.

I'd become

Comfortably numb
Until you opened up my eyes

To what it's like
When everything's right
I can't believe

She followed the sound into the building, glancing about to see if anyone else could hear it. But no one else stopped to listen; no one else was following the sound or asking where it was coming from. Alyssa walked at a calm pace up the stairs to the final level and stopped at the door to the rooftop. No one was allowed up here, it was out of bounds. And yet; that's where the voice was coming from, floating to her.

"You found me

When no one else was looking
How did you know just

Where I would be?

Yeah, you broke through

All of my confusion

The ups and the downs

And you still didn't leave

I guess that you saw

What nobody could see

You found me

You found me

So, here we are
That's pretty far
When you think

Of where we've been

No going back
I'm fading out

All that has faded me within

You're by my side

Now everything's fine

I can't believe"

She pushed open the door, letting it swing back on silent hinges, before looking around. The rooftop was empty as far as she could see. Then she looked up toward where the water tank stood, noticing a pair of black clad legs beating out a soft rhythm.

"You found me

When no one else was lookin'

How did you know

Just where I would be?

You broke through

All of my confusion

The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave

I guess that you saw

What nobody could see

You found me

You found me"

Alyssa climbed up the ladder, stepping quietly onto the tank, her eyes catching the brown curled hair of Daisuke Sencula. His eyes were closed as he sang to himself, not even noticing her presence just yet. She crossed her legs and sat down, smiling slightly as the tune washed over her.

"And I was hiding
'Til you came along
And showed me where I belong

You found me
When no one else was looking
How did you know?
How did you know?

You found me
When no one else was looking
How did you know

Just where I would be?"

The song came to a close, his voice trailing off before his eyes flew open as Alyssa clapped. He sat upright quickly, piercing navy eyes locking with her green ones and silencing her claps. Alyssa smiled at him and his gaze settled back to its usual dazed look. He turned away asking,

"Why are you here Alyssa?"

Alyssa stood, making her way to sit beside him before replying

"Is it wrong for me to be here? I came to see you." Daisuke's eyes widened as he stared at her, his face turning childish.

"You're here…to see…me?" Alyssa turned and nodded her head, Daisuke's face full of confusion and even doubt. It was like no one had ever sought him out before. She looked out over the school yard, eyes not meeting his, as she asked

"Dais, can I ask you a question?" Daisuke looked out as well, nodding his head as the doubt turned to concern.

"How old are you Daisuke?"

Daisuke visibly stiffened, Alyssa's eyes looking at him sidelong. He gave her a small smile before replying with,

"I'm seventeen; same age as you. Why do you ask?" Alyssa sighed silently, Daisuke seeming to hear it, as she answered,

"I meant; how old are you really Dais?" Daisuke looked at her, frowning slightly as he asked

"Why do you ask Lysa? What has made you curious about me?" Alyssa reached into her bag and pulled out the thick book borrowed from the library. Daisuke read the title on the cover out loud,

"Families of the World; and that made you curious how?" Alyssa opened her mouth to tell him, to question him again, but the bell rang. Daisuke smiled as he stood, holding out a hand to help her up. His hand was solid and warm, not cold and transparent like she had imagined. "Come on, let's go to class Lysa. We can talk at lunch if you like." Alyssa stood and gripped his hard tightly.

"Definitely."