ToraChiFenDora

It had reached noon once again at the school. A short, blackish haired student with eyes of a delinquent strolled out of his classroom to get a drink from the nearby vending machines located next to the indoor staircase. The seventeen year old boy clothed in a black Gakuran uniform dug into his right pocket for his loose chain. Once he approached the machine, a voice called for him.

"Hi Takasu."

The tall, black-eyed student looked down to see one of his latest friends, Ami. Ami had transferred to his high school a few months back due to a stalker. With the situation under control, she had no reason as to stay in his high school, yet she was still here. Originally, she was a photo-shoot model, but she decided to take a break. Ami was a violet-eyed girl with blue hair with a slim figure and light skin. Her school uniform was a female Gakuran outfit; a blue skirt that almost reached her knees, a red Gakuran coat, a white undershirt, a black tie, and brown shoes. Ryuujji looked down at her as she sat in-between two vending machines, drinking some canned juice.

"Hey Kawashima."

Ryuuji selected his drink and grabbed hold of it. He popped the lid open and took a sip out of it.

"Is something the matter?"

Ami's happy expression slightly saddened. She took another sip out of her juice.

"It's nothing important."

"Oh?"

Ryuuji took another gulp.

"You know, I haven't seen you in this spot for a while. You're usually with your friends."

Silence came from Ami. Ryuuji sighed.

"Geez, sometimes, you do act like a child, not telling anyone what's wrong."

Ami smiled a little bit.

"That's why I like you," she whispered to herself.

"What was that?"

Ami faced Ryuuji.

"I can't really talk about it here. Um… Could I go over to your house to explain things."

"Mm? Why can't you tell me now?"

"Someone might hear, and word will spread. If that happens…"

Ami bit her lip. Ryuuji was taken aback by her expression. The one time he saw fear in Ami's eyes was when they faced the stalker situation. There was no doubt that it was troublesome, and it seemed she could not handle it. He smiled at her.

"Okay. You should come by at six thirty. That's when dinner is set."

Ami's eyes widened.

"You're inviting me to dinner?"

"Well, by the time I go home, I will be making dinner, so to talk, I think dinnertime will be better."

Ami smiled.

"Okay. I promise I won't be late."

"Then I'll see ya."

"Yeah."

Ryuuji started to walk back to the classroom. Ami just stayed where she seated herself and looked at her juice can. She looked at the ingredient list of the juice, but her mind did not process the information.

No. I-I messed up. I was going to handle this, but it slipped out. Takasu, how could I ask you when I told myself not to get involved? …But…part of me wants this.

Ami stood up and headed back to class with a smile.

Ryuuji, along with Taiga, had returned from shopping for food. As always, Ryuuji was in the small kitchen of the poor apartment as Taiga was in the living room next to the kitchen. The whole apartment itself was old and built like a traditional Japanese home. It had wooden paneled sliding doors, green floors in rooms meant for comfort, and wooden floors in the kitchen and bathroom. The apartment was a two-room apartment, but the biggest room was the living room. The living room had a green floor, a small table, cushions for sitting, a television, and a bird cage where a parakeet named Inko-chan lived in. It also had a big glass sliding door where one could go out into the wooden balcony and literally knock on Taiga's window of the apartment complex she lived in.

Speaking of Taiga, she was best described as a doll. She was the smallest in the school, with the ferocity of a tiger. Her very long hair that reached her calves was honey blonde color, and she had maroon purple eyes. Not only was she short, but she was also flat-chested and did not like that fact, even though she was very cute. Her skin was fair, and though her appearance came as a little girl, she could pack a powerful punch. She wore her school shirt, which reached her knees, and a short-sleeved, white blouse that she was too lazy tuck in. She sighed.

"Ryuuji," moaned Taigi. "I'm hungry."

"It's almost ready."

Taigia sighed.

"Besides, why did we have to go to the store? We have enough food for three of us."

"Well, you're right about that. I just didn't think that Yasuko had to go in early for work."

"Then it's the two of us, yet you're still taking long."

Taiga, who was seated near the table, spread her upper body across the short-pegged table.

"It's better be pork for keeping me this hungry."

"I told you that we already had pork twice this week. I'm just making some rice and curry. Besides, it's still three people."

Taiga pulled herself up from the table and looked at Ryuuji curiously.

"There're three of us?"

Soon, there was a knock on the door. Taiga looked at Ryuuji, who had a smile on his face. Curiosity got the best of her. She got to her feet and walked towards the kitchen as Ryuuji called out, saying that the person was welcomed in. The door opened to reveal a smiling Ami. Taiga narrowed her eyes and pointed at Ami furiously.

"EH! W-What is Stupid Chihuahua doing here?"

"Hi Taiga. Still getting spoon-feed by Tasaku I see."

"Sh-shut up," she said, blushing in embarrassment. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, Takasu invited me."

Taiga sharply turned over at Ryuuji and grinded her teeth at him. Her face stood in shock as the aura from Taiga sent chills down his spine. After an awkward moment of silent, Ryuuji tried to explain himself.

"Well, you see-"

"Oh, my. Is that curry?"

Ami quickly took of her shoes at the entrance and walked to the stove to see the boiling curry. She smiled.

"I hope it isn't spicy this time," she smirked as she faced Ryuuji.

Ryuuji looked at the pan and then at Ami and then at Taiga and then back at the pan.

"Oh, it's almost done. Um, Taiga, could you get the drinks ready?"

"Oi. Stupid, Chihuahua, come help me."

Ami nodded, and the two girls prepared the drinks and silverware as Ryuuji began serving three bowls with curry and rice.

"Did you locate Kawashima?"

"Yes, Sir. We received information that she does attend Ohashi High School."

The man leaned back in his comfy chair as his butler waited for his orders.

"Good. I'll just happen to meet her along the way."

He grinned wickedly.

"Kawashima, you will not make a fool out of me this time."

Ami refilled her cup with sweetened tea and set the pot of tea down. Taiga looked at her and then back at Ryuuji. Ryujji, who sat across from Taiga and Ami along the other side of the table, started to think on what to say without asking Ami what she needed to talk about.

"So, how is it?"

Ami faced him and smiled.

"It's good. Really good."

She looked at Taiga, who sat towards her right side.

"Wow, Taiga. No wonder you come here for food."

Taiga and Ryuuji blushed since the way she said it made it seem they were together.

"I-It's not like that. I was fine with cup noodles and take-out until Ryuuji said I shouldn't eat like that."

"Hey," said Ryuuji as his blushed had faded away, "those things are bad if you eat too much."

"Taiga, you shouldn't get mad. I think it's nice."

Taiga looked down, flustered. After she relaxed a bit, she spoke.

"Hey, Ryuuji,' she said in a settled voice. "Why did you invite her anyway?"

Ryuuji finished chewing his food and swallowed. He faced Ami.

"Kawashima, you wanted to talk about something?"

Ami slightly tilted her head down and grew nervous.

"Oh, yeah. That."

She looked up at Ryuuji.

"I was hoping to talk to you alone, but it isn't bad that Taiga's here too."

"What did you want to talk to him about one-on-one?" asked Taiga.

"Well…um… Takasu?"

Ryuuji gulped as his face reddened a bit. Ami's voice had grown nervous. That much he noticed, which meant that whatever she was going to say was important. Overall, he felt like something was troubling her. It was just that he could not pinpoint on what it was unless she told him. That was the whole reason why he invited her over. Like his friend Yusaku said, Ami would only reveal her true self to them. That meant the Ami could tell Ryuuji or Taiga what was wrong without lying about the situation.

"I'm sorry, Taiga. I need to borrow Takasu for a while."

Ami paused for little bit and heaved.

"I need him to be my boyfriend."