A/N: Oh look at this. RioKai to the death. Modern day what not heartland. Yeah. I finally decided to do a cliché high school story so please enjoy!

Other couples include: Skyshipping, Strangleshipping. More will be added as time goes on.

Everyone's aged at about 16 to 18.

It Started Out With A Kiss

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Kaito really hated the mall.

Well maybe he didn't always hate it… but right now he most definitely felt a deep loathing. It was crowded, people were rude, and now he found himself on some kind of quest to find Yuma- Yuma who currently had his little brother with him.

He tried not to panic, really he did. Haruto was safe with Yuma he knew that. But… he wasn't sure how safe Yuma was by himself. Something told him he didn't want to know.

As it was Haruto and Yuma had disappeared from the arcade they had sworn they would stay at. And No matter how many times he texted or called either of them there was no answer. Of course. Honestly he should have seen this coming but Haruto's puppy dog eyes far outweigh any possible disasters apparently. Kaito really hates himself sometimes.

After thirty- minutes of failed attempts to find them and barely escaping a fight with a guy he accidently knocked over in the toy store, Kaito decides he's never coming back to the mall ever again.

Also he's never letting Yuma run off with Haruto again.

A vibration in his pants pocket stops his inner damning of the shopping center and he pulls out his phone with an annoyed huff.

He's a little surprised to see Shark's name flash on his screen but he feels almost all of his worry evaporate as he reads the text.

Yuma's at the food court.

Like always Ryoga's texting continues even without an answer from him.

Are you lost or something?

Kaito can practically hear the 'tch' sound Ryoga makes far too often.

A grin settles on his face as he responds, ever the battle between the two of them, seeing who could best the other.

And why were you late? Busy doing your hair?

He presses send and makes time to make one more comment before turning around to see where exactly he was.

Or did you run out of hair gel?

He makes his way past the candy shop he had somehow ended up in front of- more like he had been determined to find because, "Kaito they have the best taffy here!", and Yuma was always one to give into temptation of sweets- and heads toward the sign marked, 'ELEVATOR' in bright red letters. He passes by the twirling and glowing signs inside the candy shop and ignores the unfortunate health food store inconveniently placed besides the over advertised shop.

His fingers tap against his phone as he presses the button with the green arrow pointing downward.

And so Kaito finds himself in an elevator anxious to actually see Haruto, and Yuma, and make sure they're in one piece from their apparent journey to find Ryoga , and more importantly- mostly to Yuma- food.

He looks down at his phone just as a new message comes through.

We can't all have your bad hairstyle.

That manages to get a grin out of him, despite the dig at him and what Ryoga refers to as the nightmare on top of his head.

The numbers on the elevator slowly drop before the floor number 2 flashes brightly and a 'ding!' sounds as the doors open.

Kaito stuffs his phone back into his pocket before pushing himself off the wall and stepping onto the stone floor of the food court. The only problem being that the moment he gets out of the elevator he comes face to face with Rio Kamishiro. Rio Kamishiro who looked as white as a ghost.

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Kotori had called Rio earlier that morning, inviting her to go to the mall with their group of friends to look for dresses for the upcoming dance. Of course Rio had been excited to go; after all, the alternative was being home alone since even Ryoga had made plans this weekend.

It had been a tiring day filled with shopping and trying on way too many clothes as they made their way through the mall, one shop at a time. So when Anna had finally lost most of her energy and declared they should go get some food, everyone agreed, and they had made their way to the food court in record time.

And so Rio found herself after four hours of shopping finally sitting down and trying not to get a brain freeze as she drank her cherry slushie. Kotori sat next to her while Anna and Cathy sat down across from them at the table, Cathy looking exhausted- especially since she had already had the luck of finding her a dress at the very first store they went to and now was just tired- and Anna immediately diving into her side of fries. It was mostly silent as the girls ate, Kotori texting Yuma every once in awhile, laughing randomly and smiling at something on the screen. It was almost funny how embarrassingly cute Kotori got when texting Yuma.

Apparently she wasn't the only who noticed it though. Anna was watching the girl between bites of her burger, slowly moving closer to try and see the conversation.

Rio saw the mischievous look right before she pounced.

"So Kotori," said girl looked up from her plate of noodles to watch as Anna nearly flung her cheeseburger into Cathy's face in her enthusiasm.

It's a sensitive subject; Yuma Tsukumo. Everyone knows Kotori and Yuma could be a couple, but they aren't. Quite frankly it's almost too painful to watch at times. Anna and Cathy both had once harbored feelings themselves for Yuma but here they are, Anna with Vector, of all people. And Cathy as single as she's always been. Though lately Cathy had been talking about someone in her Literature class…

Kotori too has been single since she met her two years ago, it's a sad thing considering how many romantic gestures Alit had tried with the girl.

"Did Yuma ask you to the dance yet?"

It was impressive how quickly Kotori's face flushed; Rio could feel her embarrassment coming off in waves. The poor girl managed to look constipated and nauseous at the same time.

"I don't-" Kotori's phone slammed against the table in her haste to keep it away from Anna's grabby hands. "I don't really-"

Rio decided to help her friend out.

"So Anna," She started just as Kotori had managed to slide her phone back onto her lap and out of the other girl's reach. "You're going to the dance with Vector?" The question weighed heavy in the air, Anna slowly biting off a piece of her burger before turning to face Rio.

"Yup. And who are you going with Rio?"

All eyes turned to her as though suddenly she was the most interesting person alive. It was a bit unnerving how fast the atmosphere changed. "I think I'm going solo this year."

"Didn't Garasu ask you out?" Cathy asked, Kotori nodding her head at the other girl.

Anna gave a very unladylike snort. "Half the student body asked her out."

Rio shrugged her shoulders even as she felt Kotori's questioning gaze. "Garasu's not my type." She Ignored Anna's statement completely.

And really he wasn't her type. She liked him well enough but she certainly wasn't anywhere close to having feelings for him.

"You really wouldn't go with him?" Cathy's voice stopped her train of thinking, the girl looking honestly puzzled for a minute.

Rio shook her head, starting to get a little put off at the conversation. "No."

"Really?"

Rio grit her teeth. "Not even on a dare."

Anna grinned at Rio with a challenge clearly shining in her eyes. "Oh yeah?"

Rio just stared right back at the girl as she lightly tapped her fingers against the cool marble of the table they were seated at.

Kotori let out a defeated sigh as she looked to the ceiling like it could answer all her problems. "This was supposed to be fun."

"It is!" Anna shouted a bit too loudly, managing to attract the attention of a few people around them. Kotori blushed and apologized while Rio and Anna continued their stare down.

"So-" Anna's voice was still too loud, sigh exaggerated as she eyed Rio like prey. "Kamishiro, in for a game of truth or dare?" Rio smiled, confident in her ability to win against the other girl.

She stole a fry off the girl's plate and took joy from Anna's pouty face.

"Dare."

Kotori shook her head, defeat clear in her expression. "Why do I bother?"

The green haired girl was ignored as Anna practically smashed her burger to crumbs as she let out an almost evil laugh- that she blamed on dating Vector for far too long- before glancing around the food court as she tried to come up with something. It took only a moment before her eyes focused on something and that laugh was back. Rio seriously considered having an intervention with the girl.

Anna's finger came far too close to her face when the girl pointed enthusiastically behind her.

"I dare you to kiss the first person that walks out of that elevator!"

With that she let a cheeky smile grace her face before nudging Cathy with her elbow. "Is that too humiliating for you Rio?"

Rio's eyes narrowed as she gracefully stood from the table. "No problem."

She marched away with that, on the outside looking calm and confident. On the inside though, she was panicking just a little. Not that it would stop her from doing the deed.

It was a short walk to the black doors of the elevator, she was grateful for that; at least she'd have her courage to push her forward. She evened out her breathing as she looked up at the numbers above the doors. The person was coming from the fourth floor, giving her just enough time to think if she should say something first or just kiss and run.

Rio watched the elevator doors with barely concealed anxiety as she impatiently tapped her foot against the white tile beneath her.

She could do this.

All she had to do was complete the dare and then she could go back to her friends and be triumphant against Anna. The only problem being- who was the person she was about to smooch?

Glancing back at her treacherous friend(s) she saw Anna with a classic grin on her face and giving her a big thumbs up, Cathy was just smiling, while Kotori looked more nervous than Rio herself.

The elevator let out a loud 'ding' and Rio braced herself. She could do this.

She would give this person a kiss and walk away with her dignity before confidently striding back to her friends. With a determined nod of head she watched the doors slide open at a terribly slow pace.

The lighting in the elevator had her blinking for a moment before she could clearly see who was in front of her.

Her mouth nearly hit the floor when she saw a far too familiar face looking back at her.

Oh god it's Kaito.

Rio almost stomped her foot at how unfair life was.

Sure Kaito was not that bad looking-maybe he looked a bit cute in his dark jeans and lame graphic tee, complete with a look of confusion on his face-but he was Kaito- Kaito as in her brother's somewhat friend that she had only had one conversation with. Oh was she going to regret this.

He stared at her for a moment before he took a hesitant step forward- and really didn't that show how unsettled she must look to make Kaito Tenjo think twice- and opened his mouth to say something. That was when she struck.

Before he could say anything, before he could probably let out a breath, she reached her hands up to grasp the collar of his shirt and yanked him down the few inches to her level. There was a moment of awkwardness, Kaito and her face to face; her thoughts running rampant, a hot rush of breath, and then Rio closed her eyes so she wouldn't see the train wreck happen.

She pressed her lips against his.

For a moment Kaito was stiff as board, his body tense against hers and Rio could practically feel his discomfort; just as she was about to pull away though… His hands met hers still gripping his collar, his fingers brushing against hers, and suddenly she felt his lips pressing back against hers.

It was a small kiss, barely there, something she could pretend didn't happen but- wow- this was not supposed to happen. Because she liked it. As in Rio Kamishiro liked this timid little kiss from Kaito Tenjo. Well what was a timid kiss before he broke away, leaving her- the one who initiated the kiss in the first place- blushing and a mess. It was mortifying. His eyes were wide and Rio was contemplating just turning and running but her fingers felt almost glued to his shirt, something she was ignoring as he stared at her.

"What," Rio tried to fight the blush off her face as Kaito gawked at her- and seeing him stare down at her breathless and surprised- well it did something to her she'd rather ignore, "Was that?"

Rio bit her bottom lip, desperately trying to think of a way out of this situation.

Anna was so dead.

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So I kind of changed some stuff, sorry guys. I just feel like I could have done better so I rewrote it. So here we are. Also thank you so much for your reviews! I really appreciate and love reading them!