CHAPTER 2
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I was on vacation but now I'm back. Enjoy
Taiga sat on a bench, her eyes stared lifelessly at the scattered mess that was her lunch. She didn't go to Ryuuji's that morning. How could she? She couldn't face him. The entire day she made no eye contact nor did she say a word to him. In truth, she wanted to be alone, at least for a while so that she could settle her thoughts. She was about to take a bite of her messy bento when she felt someone sit beside her.
"Hey, Taiga," said Minori, "What's up with you? You haven't said a word all morning. Is everything alright?"
Taiga merely nodded as she didn't take her eyes off her lap which held the grossly made bento. She couldn't look at Minori either. She felt awkward due to the fact she felt a sense of anger towards her even though she had done nothing wrong. She wanted to get rid of that feeling but nothing was cutting it. Just sitting next to Minori only made her temper silently flare.
"I'm fine," she found herself saying.
Minori stared, her dark eyes filled with worry for her friend.
"You coming to the trip tomorrow?" she asked. Taiga felt her stomach drop to the pit of her abdomen. She wanted to say "no" or "are you kidding me?" but nothing came to her lips. She didn't want to be there when Ryuuji confessed himself to Minori. She didn't want to admit she liked him, to admit she was jealous and somewhat hurt that he was paying far more attention to a girl who wasn't even spending time with him like she was. Was it so wrong to feel that way?
"I don't know yet," was the only words she could regurgitate.
Minori nodded as she said, "Do you want to share my lunch?"
Taiga stared miserably at her own lunch and as much as she wanted nothing more than to eat something more edible she declined the offer.
"Well, I'll leave you alone but if you want to talk you know where to find me," said Minori as she stood.
"Wait."
"Yeah?"
Taiga peered down at her feet.
"Don't…don't be mad at me," she said. Minori looked quizzically at the small girl unable to decipher what her friend meant.
"I'm not mad at you, how could I be?" she asked.
Taiga shook her head and gave an obviously fake smile and said, "Forget it, and forget what I said."
Ryuuji peered out the window from the main hall overlooking the school courtyard. He watched Minori walk away from Taiga who sat with a disgusting looking parcel on her lap. They hadn't walked to school together that morning. He spent the better half of the morning knocking on her apartment door only to realize she had left before him. He had tried to talk to her that morning in homeroom but she would run off and say she was busy which was odd for her.
"Something wrong, Takasu?" asked Kitamura as he slung his arm around his friend's neck. Ryuuji shook his head slowly as he kept his gaze on the palm-top tiger. Something was off ever since yesterday and he had a feeling it involved him.
"Yusaku, come and have lunch with me," said a feminine voice. Ryuuji turned to see a rather attractive girl standing beside the two of them. The girl noticed his confused look and quickly added, "Hey, introduce me to your friend."
Kitamura laughed and said, "Oh yeah, sorry. This is my new girlfriend."
Ryuuji felt his heart leap into his throat. It made total sense. He peered out the window again to notice the girl had vanished; the only thing left was her uneaten bento which sat alone at the bench.
"Taiga…" he whispered.
"Hey, Takasu, you going on the school trip tomorrow right?" asked Kitamura.
Ryuuji only nodded.
Something told him this weekend was going to be something to remember.
Later that day Ryuuji sat in the classroom with his head resting on his palm. The day was long but almost to an end and he had been meaning to talk to Taiga. He found himself looking over to where she sat. She must have been down because Kitamura's new girlfriend, that he could understand but why was she still silent about it. Knowing her she would have said something to him about it and why didn't she tell him earlier? Although he wanted to believe that she was simply disappointed by the outcome something else was playing a key role but he just couldn't figure it out.
A small folded piece of paper hit his cheek and the girl in front of him pointed behind her indicating that it was for him. Opening the folded note he began to read:
"Who do you like more? Aisaka Taiga or Kushieda Minori?"
Complete with two unmarked boxes by their names.
His eyes darted upward and scanned the faces around the room in hopes a pair would reveal the identity of the messenger, however, none claimed the letter which only made him wonder who was asking? Maybe if he crumbled it the person who sent it would turn to him. It was worth a shot.
He began to crush it between his palms and indeed someone did turn.
It was Taiga.
His brows rose.
Did she send him the note?
Her eyes caught sight of the paper that was half crushed and she immediately shot forward. Was she serious?
Then out of nowhere another note appeared on his desk.
It read:
"Reconsider your plans…"
He couldn't recognize the handwriting but who else would know about his plan besides Taiga? She must have been the one to send him this but why? She said it was good the other day, why the sudden change? The bell rung and the student body rose to leave, he was going to catch Taiga and ask her about what was going on.
But it wasn't that easy.
The moment he stood to confront her he noticed she had already disappeared. Her desk was empty, random pieces of paper began to fall from overhead, the door to the room squeaked as everyone stared at the sudden exit Taiga had made.
"She must have been in a hurry," said someone.
Ryuuji didn't go home that afternoon. He wandered into the plaza where his gut intuition pulled him to. The setting sun painted a unique gold color over the city; the spring breeze was soothing but didn't quiet the soft sobs he heard. His ears perked and he stopped. Turning he spotted a small girl sitting alone, her dirty blonde hair cascading a veil over her eyes and thusly ignoring the knowledge of his presence. Her small shoulders bobbed up and down, as if suppressing the urge to full out ball out her soul, within her hands she clutched a self-served ice treat, and her nails were beginning to cut through the plastic exterior. In all the time he had spent with Taiga he had always known how to deal with her madness… but… but something was different. This was the first time he couldn't find it within himself to approach her.
Maybe because he didn't want to get hit.
No. That wasn't it.
"Taiga?" he whispered. He noticed her fingers soften as the white from her knuckles faded. She sat up and swiftly used the sleeve of her school uniform to wipe an invisible substance from her face. She didn't look up.
"What?" she said, her voice was harsh and raspy. She had been crying to the point her throat was sore.
He pointed to a chair opposite her, "You mind if I sit down?"
She didn't answer right away but after a few moments she nodded. As he sat he wasn't sure to bring up the situation with Kitamura. He could understand how she felt that he was with another girl and her chances were now zero. She had been pursuing him for some time and it must have been hard to know it had to come to an end.
Little did he really know.
He watched as she fidgeted with her cup of melting sweet ice, her gold bangs dangling in the breeze.
The silence was nearly deafening.
"Why didn't you tell me about Kitamura?" he asked.
Her knuckles tensed.
"I thought you knew and I really don't care about that anymore," she said. He could tell she was trying to avoid the matter but he couldn't help but continue.
"Did you send me the note asking me if I liked you or Minori?"
She flinched.
"No," she said.
"What about the second note?"
"You were getting notes?"
"Yeah, I thought they were from you… are they?" he asked.
She didn't say anything.
"You coming tomorrow?" he asked, "I know you probably don't want to see Kitamura with his new fling but you can help me with Minori,"
She lifted her head exposing two large eyes filled with tears, her cheeks were a shiny red and the tips of her bangs were damp. He was completely stunned. He didn't know what to do. It seemed as if she was a second away from breaking down…but for what?
He should have paid more attention; he didn't realize she had snuck her hands underneath the table. With a powerful grunt she overturned it allowing her untouched ice treat to hit the floor spreading its contents and drenching Ryuuji with it. People around the plaza came to a halt as they watched the tiny girl grab her friend's collar and pull.
Ryuuji could feel he struck a nerve but as to what that trigger was he couldn't figure out. He felt his collar being taut by her small yet powerful hands. He didn't dare say a word as he saw the raw anger and hatred that brewed behind her brown eyes. He couldn't understand. Why was she so angry with him?
"Have fun on your trip, idiot," she spat, her voice laced with poison. She released him and stormed down the street kicking down signs and leaving a trail of destruction in her wake. Once she was lost from view several people looked at Ryuuji who had a large stain between his legs.
Looking down he blushed and said, "No, no! It's the drink she had, I swear!"
Taiga slammed the door to her apartment nearly tearing it off its metal hinges. With a blinding flash she made it to her bedroom where several of her bags sat in wait and all full with her belongings for the trip. She tore them open and began to throw all the clothes and knick knacks from their bowels onto the floor. She wasn't done yet… no… this alone could not satisfy her hatred for him. Grabbing her wooden sword she went into the living room and began to swing wildly not caring about what she hit or how expensive it could have been.
She didn't care.
She didn't care about the trip.
She didn't care about how she felt.
She didn't care about him…
By the time she threw down her sword she noticed the confetti of broken glass and wooden shards that littered the floor. Looking down she saw specks of red all over her forearms as well as her shins, some were small, and some were bleeding long strands of blood. She didn't care about that.
Why was he such an idiot?
Why was this eating her up inside?
"Because… because…"
Why was she acting the way she was?
"Because… it's not fair," she found herself whispering. Was this jealousy? Was it because her chances with Kitamura were gone or was it because Ryuuji…
"Why does he not see me?"
These words she herself could not understand. She could not understand why the guy she spent most of her time with was now attempting to be with a girl who hardly ever spent more than five minutes with him.
"He should be interested in me," she said to himself. She couldn't understand the feeling that began to take over her mind; it was like a swarm of biblical insects. She no longer wanted to help him confess to Minori, how could she? Every time she thought of the idea she felt her stomach pang with pain. She felt like vomiting every time she thought of trying to help him.
Knock! Knock!
Her ears perked as she stood in the center of her destroyed living room. She waited, not knowing whether or not to answer it.
Finding her way to the door she clutched the handle and forced herself to take in a deep breath. Hiding her cuts within her long sleeves and crossing her legs she cracked open the door, just enough to see who it was.
"It's me, let me in," said Ami as she tried to force her foot in. Taiga immediately tried to close the door. Being in the same room as that stupid Chihuahua was the last thing she needed.
"Go away," she hissed but it was too late. Ami found a way to gain leverage using her size to overcome the palm-top tiger and managed to barge her way in. Taiga fell on her backside and right on several pieces of scattered glass causing her to cut her hands adding insult to injury. Ami stood at the doorway, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.
"What the hell happened here?" she asked. The entire apartment looked as if it had been ransacked. Furniture was toppled, the glass table was now only a wire frame, and clothes littered random areas. She peered down to the small girl whose forearms and legs were covered with blood, she took a step back.
"Taiga, I know we can get pretty bad on our lady days but you just took it to a whole new level,"
A chipped wooden sword rocketed to the side of her face.
"Shut up, baka!" screamed Taiga, "Get out!"
Ami rubbed the side of her face, a sour look spread across it, "You know, I'm going to let that one go, only because I feel sorry for you,"
"What did you say?" she hissed.
The sapphire haired girl stood in a triumphant manner as she carelessly swung her hair behind her shoulder.
"I feel bad for you; no matter what you do you will always act how you look. A small child," she said.
"You want your ass kicked don't you?" said Taiga.
Ami smiled, "It's too bad, and I was going to help you since you cried like a child last night. I tried to see who Ryuuji really liked,"
Taiga's eyes widened. It was her! She sent the notes but how?
"What are you talking about?"
"You're much dumber than you are vicious; I was trying to help you. I sent the note asking whether he liked you or Minori."
"What about the second note?"
"What?"
"He said he got a second note,"
"I only sent one," said Ami, "But it seems he didn't take the bait. I was thinking about trying to get information out of him on the trip."
Taiga got to her feet brushing off the excess glass that stuck to her clothes. Something was up, why was the Chihuahua helping her despite being slapped in the face with her sword?
Just before she opened her mouth to ask Ami continued, "Don't think I'm merely doing this for you. I feel somewhat sorry for you because you can't do it yourself and plus I have my reasons,"
"I don't want your help," spat Taiga.
"Oh? Like I said don't see it as I'm helping you,"
She turned to leave.
"Then what should I see it as?"
Ami stopped, turning her head slightly she said, "See it as me helping myself."
ToRaDoRa!
A/N: Review, thank you :)
