Authors note: *cries* I feel so unmotivated! SO LITTLE REVIEWS! But since I love my loyal readers I'm updating! Enjoy! You will see the true side of Tezuka, although he's always stoic—his mind is wild XD AND REVIEW PLEASE!

Disclaimer: Sadly, none of these babies are mine.

Ch.2 Cracks

Echizen looks around and smirks, "Are you stalking me or something?"

The boss looks at both of us, "You guys know each other?"

I stare at his desk while asking god why he torments me like this. My boss chuckles and stands up, patting me in the back. "I'm sure it will be fine. Ryoma, don't cause Tezuka too much trouble."

Something in Echizen's eyes tell me he is going to do quite the opposite. He leans against the wall and smiles, "Sure…I won't cause him any trouble at all."

The boss laughs again, "It's obvious when you are being sarcastic Ryoma. And here, I ordered a uniform for you. Just wear this shirt over the one you have on during work."

Echizen places his shoulder bag on the floor and puts on the shirt. I laugh inside my head; the shirt fits his thin body a little too big. He notices my amusement and glares, daring me to say something. I sigh and walk towards the door, turn back to look at Echizen "I have little patience so you better learn quickly. If you can't keep up, figure it out by yourself."

I walk to the register and Echizen follows closely behind. I wait until he is besides me to start talking. I take the box of new arrivals and put it in front of him, "these are new arrivals; every time we get boxes like these it's our job to put them in their correct place. You do know how things are sorted in a book store, right?"

Echizen gives a bratty smile, "No, why would I?"

"I thought it was normal for everyone to go to a bookstore at least once in their lives."

He shrugs, "so I don't read, what's the big deal?"

I sigh, "Genre, books are first assorted into their genre and then alphabetically by author within that genre."

"Oh, that makes sense."

It strikes me that Echizen is only acting like he's clueless, but I hide my irritation and continue to explain. "You can find the genre of the book here, and the authors name is on the front cover."

Echizen nods, "Okay."

He looks like he didn't listen to a word I said, I sigh and hand him the box, "Since you are new, have fun with that. You can learn how to work the register later, when you actually want to pay attention."

Ryoma smirks, "Sure BOSS."

I hold back the urge to punch the kid and turn my attention to arriving customers. I politely ask all of them if they have what they were looking for, then if they have a Kumiko member card, and I finally charge them. Having a job is like acting; every line is rehearsed, no wonder it gets old so quickly. I sit on a chair near the register after charging the last visible costumer. Echizen comes back with and empty box and before he even asks his question, I point him towards the paper recycling.

After putting the box in the recycling, he walks towards me, "What next?"

I point to two more boxes and hope he gets the hint; I was growing tired of talking. He walks over to the boxes and picks them up, surprising me a bit. One, I didn't know his small frame could carry those heavy boxes and two; he didn't give me a snarky comment. I watch Echizen to pass time but snap out of it when I hear someone clearing their throat. It was a man in front of a huge line of customers, waiting to buy their books. I get off the chair and go to the register.

I sit down again with a huge sigh, it was finally closing time. The evening went by smoother than I expected-Echizen is strangely obedient when he isn't with his posse. Echizen finishes mopping the floor and putting chairs on top of the tables. He returns the mop to the storage closet and leans on the register counter. He stares at me with big hazel eyes, "Is there anything else I need to do?"

I stand up and grab the clipboard on the corner of the counter, "No, you can leave."

"And what are you going to do?"

I answer while walking away, "Inventory."

"Oh, then I can help."

I sigh and look into his eyes, "You can cut the act; both you and I know that we can't stand each other."

Echizen smiles sinisterly, "Well that's certainly true, but I promised the boss I'd behave well, so you'll have to deal with it."

"The boss isn't here right now and that stupid grin might become permanent if you keep it up."

"It's worth it if it ticks you off."

"Do what you like." I am sure of it, Echizen and I will never get along. I head to the room where our inventory is kept and start working. I look at my watch and sigh, this will take a while. After thirty minutes pass and my work still seems never ending, my mind fills with regret. I should have let Echizen help, we would have half of it done by now.

I shake my head to push the thought out, "too late now."

"Too late for what?"

I jump internally but keep myself collected outwardly. I turn to see Echizen leaning against the wall, when did he get there? He laughs and walks towards me, "Even through that stoic face I can see an idiot expression of confusion. You were so out of it that you didn't notice when I came inside."

I continue to count the inventory while ignoring him; I didn't want to make it obvious that I regretted refusing his help earlier. He puts out his hand and I look at him, "Yes?"

"Give me half of it."

"Why?"

"Because you obviously need the help or do you plan to miss the last train?"

I give up and hand him half the inventory sheets, "You know how to do it?"

He smirks, "Duh- did it at my previous job."

I continue to do my part, discreetly watching Echizen from the corner of my eye from time to time. I'm surprised he offered to help me; he seems like the type to be amused by my restless work. After another while, we both finish the inventory sheets. He hands them to me and smirks, as if waiting for me to express my gratitude.

I grit my teeth, "Are you waiting for me to bow down to you or something?"

He laughs, "Something like that."

I sigh but swallow my pride, "Thank you…that's all you get."

He smiles, "That's good enough."

I turn off the lights and walk towards the register counter, Echizen walking behind me. I remember that I have to grab a few books from the inventory to put on the shelves. I turn around and head towards the inventory room.

Echizen smiles as I walk towards him, "If you aren't careful, you'll sl-

It's funny how things look slower when one is falling, yet it all happens so quickly. I was walking too fast and as if on tune with Echizen's warning, I slip. By my surprise Echizen tries to catch me, but because of his small body, he ends up falling with me. And this is how I ended up laid out in the floor with Echizen sitting on top of me.

I rub the back of my head; it had hit the floor pretty hard, "How lame." I look up at Echizen who was rubbing his arm; did he stress it while trying to catch me? I look at his eyes…the streaks of hidden gold glisten in the dim light of the bookstore.

He looks down at me, "You would slip, how unclassy."

Even behind that demeaning smirk I can see a slight shade of red on his cheeks, why? I put on my most annoyed face, "How long are you planning to sit on me?"

He laughs but the red is still there, "Does it bother you?" He leans in towards my face, "Does it make you feel uncomfortable?"

"Yes, you are heavy and I have a train to catch. Now, get off me." The part about him being heavy was a lie of course…he was unbelievably light.

"Nope."

I lay back down on the floor, I wasn't about to let this kid make me lose my temper, he'll get bored eventually. "You know nothing about personal space, do you?"

He leans forward, using his elbows to hold him up a few inches away from my face, "Yes I know a bit about personal space…when there is a lack of it." He smiles, waiting for me to get angry.

I sigh and look into his eyes, "If you swing that way, okay- but don't take me as that type."

"Che' you are no fun, so damn stoic." He stands up and smiles, "but at least now I know I'm safe, since none of us swing that way."

I stand up and take off my uniform, "Great, I'm happy to know I'm not a threat."

He puts on his shoulder bag, "So sarcastic."

"Hm? Are you talking about yourself?" This isn't like me, I'm never so short tempered and snarky…but this kid just brings me to the edge. Even if he calls me stoic, my façade has been slightly cracked by all the anger he evokes in me. Why do I have to deal with such an aggravating person?

He laughs and walks to the door, looking back after he opens it, "It was fun to bother you all day; I'll see you tomorrow." He leaves with a sadistic smirk, leaving me to pity myself.

I slide to the floor, sighing endlessly, "… and life was so peaceful before this."

I clean my glasses while squinting at the time, only a few more minutes until the bell rings. I put my glasses back on and try to grasp the last bit of another rant from a teacher. Is ranting what teachers call teaching now and days? I stare at the clock and right on time, the bell rings. Fuji stands by my table again, waiting for me to get my boxed lunch from my book bag.

He chuckles, "If you keep watching the clock Tezuka, the teacher will notice."

"I already know what he's teaching; I have no other way to pass time."

Fuji smiles, "It would seem so. Do you want to eat lunch together?"

I nod, "I like eating in the roof."

"The roof? Hmm I guess it suits you. It's a quiet, desolate, peaceful environment."

We head towards the roof and I beg god that Echizen and his gang don't go today…or ever. I open the door and look around, relieved to see no one. I walk towards the corner edge of the gated roof and sit down. Fuji sits down next to me and opens his boxed lunch.

He smiles, "We have nice mothers, don't we?"

I can't help but slightly smile at that, "Yeah, we do." In both his lunch and mine, it is obvious that our mothers dedicated themselves to the meal, given the variety and delicious appearance.

He eats one of his eggs while I eat one of my octopus shaped sausages, I'd never felt so at peace with another person. It's like Fuji blends into the peaceful scenery, unlike everyone else who disrupts it…especially him. On cue, the roof door bangs open. Echizen and his posse walk through as if they own the place. And again, like yesterday, his posse finds something to enjoy themselves with while their leader smokes. The worst thing is, what first pops into my mind is how weird Echizen looks smoking, as if it doesn't fit his pretty face.

Echizen looks our way, smirking, "So you're friends with Fuji, Tezuka?"

I just glare at him, as if to tell him the answer to his question is quite obvious. He laughs at my silence and walks towards us, "Is he one of your targets, eh Fuji?"

Fuji gives him a closed eyed grin, it makes chills run up my spine, "And what if he is? Jealous?"

Echizen smirks, "No, just surprised and concerned. After all, I don't want little Fuji-kun to be heartbroken since yesterday he told me he doesn't swing that way." He shrugs, "well I guess you have a chance since they say birds of a feather flock together."