Author's Note: This story is Fan-based. This does not take place in the current story line; it is outside of the story. So if some things seem wrong or out of place, remember this is AU. If there is OOCness, well it is to be expected, but if it's too much for you to handle then tell me. I would like to keep this story as IC as much as possible. Rude comments will be ignored. Thank you

Another thing! This is a yaoi story, a.k.a. boyXboy love. So if for some reason you did not know this fact, well now you do. So if you complain about the relationship pairing well then it is your own fault for not checking the Author's Note.

Mega thanks to my Beta reader Pyrrhicvitoly for taking the time and patience to help me improve not only this story but also my writing. Thank you!

NOW ONTO THE STORY!~~~

Catching Cupid

Mamori walked into her dark room, not bothering to turn on the lights. Slowly she walked around the many books and notebooks that litter her floor, stepping on scrap paper, and plopped herself onto her soft, yet messy bed. Sunday's practice had been longer than planned but is easily forgotten with how comfortable her bed was at the moment. She was tempted to just sleep now and take an early shower in the morning.

Thinking deeply about it, a bad habit where she over thinks any situation, if she slept now she would never really have the time to take a shower the following morning. She would have to clean her room a bit in the next day, make sure she wasn't forgetting anything in her bag, make lunch, and that's even including the hours it took fixing her appearance at all. Sighing, she even remembered that she still had some homework that was due tomorrow. It was deiced; homework first, than shower, she'll sleep later.

Being a team manager is so time consuming, especially since a certain demon took it so serious. Shaking her head to get rid of that thought, she sat up. Looking around her room she saw her book bag near her desk. Again she walked around the piles of mess that sprawl around the floor. Once reaching her desk she stared at another mess. This was on her desk, well under all those sticky notes, scrape paper, pens, eraser shaving, and whatever that glob was, had to be her desk. So she pushed aside some loose leaf papers and pens, along with that mystery glob that went into the garbage bin, that litter her desk making a clear spot to place her book bag.

Placing the slightly heavy bag on her desk, she opened it up. She took out the first book she saw; her history book. A piece of paper fell as she took the book out, noticing the strange paper; she bent down to pick it up. It was slightly wrinkle around the edges and folded in half. Mamori tense as she felt a sense of dread coming.

Opening it, she noticed that 'Fictional Paper' was written on the top. She read the rest of the paper only to groan out in frustration. This was the handout her creative writing teacher had given to the class last week. They were reading stories on journeys and quests and got so into the stories that the teacher deiced to test their imagination. They were assigned to write their own journey or quest. There was no real limit as to what they could or couldn't write, and they could make it as long as they wanted; given a reasonable amount. After all, teachers have lives too!

Mamori's head dropped as she realized that this was a pretty long paper that was due and she had yet to start it! Groaning out in frustration, Mamori faced her calendar. The evil paper stated that it was due on the 16th of February. She noticed that she had about a week to finish the paper. There was no big deal about it at…

Running to her calendar, tripping on one of the books on the floor causing her to stub her toe, she did a double take of the dates. Yeah, there it was, no mistaken in it. Sliding down to the floor, Mamori cried a bit. "Why?" she said as she hung her head in a deeper depression. There, circle in deep red, was February 14th. Valentine's Day. How did she forget such an important day?

This has never happen before. She had always remember holidays and to get ready for them at least two weeks in advance. No matter how much homework or extra activities she had to do. Maybe today was just not her day. Or maybe the powers that be hated her for some reason.

Sighing, she stood up and grabbed her jacket that was hanging on her chair. She needed to go to the closest grocery store. There was bound to be one open at, looking at her clock it read 10p.m. Yeah she was going to need a miracle. Glaring at the taunting clock Mamori grabbed her purse, some sticky notes, and a pen to write what she will need, and headed for the door.

The sun was rising as Sena started his jog down the street towards school. People who have seen him a few times would wave to him saying a quick "Good morning Sena" as he passed by. He would yell back "Good morning to you too!" without missing a beat.

A soft breeze blew across his face and pushed his uniform closer to his body. Sena enjoyed his morning runs. The wind would always dance pass him, messing with his hair. The sun would gently warm him as it rose, and the rhythmic sound of his steps brought him peace. Smiling softly, Sena though it would be better if he had someone to jog with, but not many people can keep up with his speed for long. He slowed his pace at that though.

The only person who can keep up with his jogging is Shin. Well Shin and Suzuna, but only because she had her roller skates. Kakei and Mizumachi could as well, with their long legs and all. There is also Riku, since he was the one who taught Sena how to run, and Agon, and Yamato too. Tilting his head Sena realized that he made friends with a lot of people who could keep up. But they all went to different schools; some lived in other countries, so it would be difficult for them to jog in the morning.

Maybe there should be a day when all those who could, would get together and just enjoy each other's company. To just jog around the city and chat about whatever came to mind, instead of just seeing each other on the field. The idea was getting him excited and he could barely wait to see if it was possible.

"Sena!"

Someone yelling out to him brought him out of his thoughts. Sena was too late to turn when he felt somebody put their arm around his shoulder. Not expecting the added body weight, Sena was almost thrown to the floor.

"Whoa Sena! You okay?"

Turning to see his best friend Monta, Sena smiled. "Yeah Monta, I'm fine. Good morning. How are you today?" Monta just smile back and started talking about his unlucky events this morning. Like the fail alarm clock, his hot turned cold shower, burnt toast, etc.

All Sena could do was just laugh weakly with his friend at hearing everything. He could never be as energetic as Monta was at the moment if all those things happen to him. If anything, it would have made him paranoid and expecting the world to end at any minute. How and why was Monta smiling?

Curiosity took hold of Sena as he asked, "Eh, Monta. If your morning was so bad, then why are you smiling?" By now, they were on school grounds about to walk into the school. If either of them were paying any attention at all, they would have seen someone walking sluggishly towards their direction.

"Because with all this MAX bad luck something good has to come fro-OMPH!" Monta bumped into the slug person falling on his behind. "Ah, sorry 'bout that. Wasn't watching where I was goin'." He laughed sheepishly as he realized he bumped into a girl who has also fallen.

Sena could sense that the girl had a very dark cloud cast over her as she just sat there. He notice that she looked sickly pale and very thin, almost like a living skeleton. Monta picked himself up and lend a hand to the girl. She just sat there ignoring Monta's hand.

Sena send worry glances at her. There was something odd about the girl, like he had seen her before. But that couldn't be it. He has never met a person this, dead, in all his life. He watched her closely as she slowly got up and brushed her skirt. Lifting her head up, Sena gasped as he noticed the girl as Mamori. He could hear Monta doing the same thing next to him.

This had to be a dream, a really bad dream. There was no way that Mamori could ever look like a zombie. This Mamori look-a-like is not the same cheerful Mamori that Sena knew.

"Ma-Mamori-neechan? I-is that you?" Sena asked with caution. He took slow, small steps to her all the while frowning.

Mamori just turned her head and looked as if she just noticed Sena was there. "Sena? What are you doing here so late at night? Practice is over, go home and sleep," she smiled a soft tired smile but it soon turn into a frown. Smiling seemed to be too much for her to do, Sena though. "Tomorrow is school and you need your rest."She continued and looked like the talk was really wearing her out, so she patted his head softly as a sign that she was done.

Laughing awkwardly, Sena tried to explain the situation to his sister figure. "Mamo-neechan, today is Monday; school's about to start. Are you okay? I think we need to take you to the nurse."

Grabbing her right hand, Monta grabbed the other hand; he led the ghostly teen down the hall to the nurses' office. When they enter he noticed that the nurse was not yet there. Turning to look at Monta, they agree to just lay her down on one of the mattress. Unwilling to leave her alone Sena and Monta waited till the nurse would come in. In the mean time, Mamori was trying her best to get back up.

"I, I have to go. Need… Need to finish shopping. Not enough time to…" With her shaking arms, Mamori just feel back on the bed. She closed her eyes and tried again to at least sit up. "Have to hurry. Good sale now, mob taking everything…"

Sena saw Monta panicked seeing how much suffering Mamori was going thru just trying to talk and sit up. Monta started saying anything to calm her down just so she can rest. "Don't worry MAX! Sena and I will get everything you need so please, just rest Mamori-chan."

Sena nodded his head agreeing with the proposal. He stared hard at Mamori making sure she knew how serious he was about taking over the shopping. Mamori sigh in relief once she was convince and passed out. Sena gave a small smile to the sleeping Mamori.

Sighing to himself, Sena's mind started to wonder. He wondered on how Mamori came to be in the shape she is now. The last he saw her, she was perfectly fine, albeit tired like everyone else. And what shopping did she do where mobs were involved? If there were mobs involved, what has Monta and he put themselves into? Sena was freaking out now that everything was calm. The whole situation was catching up with him and all he wanted to do was panic.

Looking over to Monta, Sena noticed that his friend was in the same boat. But Monta was staring very hard at Mamori and a small flame of determination was staring to glow in the receivers eyes.

"Sena, I don't know what I got us into, but if it would help Mamori-chan than I would do whatever it takes to help." Monta spoke with such a firm belief that Sena was surprise.

Sena stared at Mamori now. Monta's words playing over in his head caused him to think differently. Mamori had handled the mobs by herself; he was going with Monta. Mamori probably spent all night shopping for whatever it was she needed because it was important to her. She always helped Sena with his studying and football because it was important to him. Now he could help Mamori the same way she helped him.

"I agreed with you, so it just wasn't you that got us into this. I want to help no matter what as well. Mamori-neechan is always there for us, it's time we were there for her." Sena didn't need to see that Monta was smiling with him. He could feel the others approval.

The sound of a door opening startled Sena as he looked to see who was coming in. There standing in the door way was the nurse in her brown overcoat mumbling about something. By the sound of her voice, Sena could tell that the nurse was not in a good mood. Oh how he prayed that she would not let her anger out on them.

Author's End Note:Well, here's Chapter 1! Not much going on and I doubt there's going to be much going on the second chapter… But the first few chapters are the set up to what's to come! I have to set things before the good stuff happens. So until the next chapter/update tell me what you think. :D

Ciao,

Angel~