AN: HELLO EVERYONE..! SORRY IF I HAVEN'T UPDATED FOR AWHILE. SOMETHINGS CAME UP AND I LOST SOMEONE CLOSE TO ME (SO YEAH, I LOST MY INSPIRATION). I STARTED GETTING REALLY SAD AND I KEEP MISSING THAT PERSON SO IT REALLY AFFECTED MY MOOD IN WRITING THIS FIC. I'M REALLY SORRY AND I'M SORRY IF I KEEP TALKING ABOUT MY STUPID MISERABLE LIFE. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO…

Ririchiyo stared from outside the window as the teacher started checking their attendance and began calling their names one by one. It wasn't her turn yet and she had better things to keep her mind occupied with- like about what happened last night. She propped the side of her face to her hand as she let herself get whisked away to a world of thoughts.

'What really happened last night?'

The same question kept running inside her mind over and over again.

"Kagerou Shoukiin," Ririchiyo snapped back to reality as the teacher called a certain name.

No answer

"Kagerou Shoukiin," The teacher repeated.

Still no answer.

"So Kagerou Shoukiin is absent for today,huh," the teacher scribbled on his attendance sheet.

Ririchiyo's gaze fell on an empty chair at the corner. She had a bad feeling about this. As much as she hated it, she felt a little worried. Those raucous she heard last night… Maybe Kagerou…

'No. It's not possible. But… Kagerou…' Ririchiyo shook her head from her negative thoughts. Her worried eyes landed on the empty chair.

All throughout class Ririchiyo just can't help but think of what happened last night and about how it could possibly be connected to a certain arrogant brat's absence. A sigh of relief escaped her mouth when she heard the bell ring through the corridors and classrooms signaling their dismissal. Ririchiyo quickly picked herself from her seat and shoved her things inside her bag as she threw it over her shoulder. She quickly started for the exit, pumping her legs harder in each step. There was only one thing on her mind 'She needs to get home.'

Ririchiyo was relieved when she arrived at the Ayakashi kan. Finally. She entered the building and made her way to the elevator. Waiting for the elevator seemed like forever. She wasted no time when the elevator rang and opened. She could almost see the door to his room but something made her stop. How was she supposed to face him? She could never let him know that she was somewhat… worried. She'll just look like a total idiot. Then a voice ripped her away from her thought…

"Chiyo-tan?"

Ririchiyo looked over her shoulders to see Zange standing there, with that usual smile of his.

"Chiyo-tan?" He looked behind Ririchiyo and a smirk work its way through his lips as if he realized something. "Kagerou's not inside his room, he's by the sakura tree. I was just on my way there; you can come with me if you want."

"I… I… wha-" Ririchiyo stuttered. Trailing off, she realized explaining herself would be useless. That guy could read anyone like an open book, after all that was what he was good at. She tried to fight the blush that was about to work its way on her face.

Ririchiyo was glad Zange didn't throw other embarrassing words at her but just started walking away. If he did, Ririchiyo would really turn into a human tomato then and there. Ririchiyo followed him, walking behind him.

Ririchiyo and Zange arrived in front of the old sakura tree. A few cherry blossoms fell and landed on the ground. Under the old sakura tree a certain by with a dark shade of ebony hair just like hers was sitting on a bench. Kagerou felt their presence and turned his head to look at the pair who just emerged.

"Kage-tan, I brought a friend. She was worried sick about you so here she is," Zange smirked and gestured for Ririchiyo to go forward.

"H-hey...!" Ririchiyo was flustered and turned a dark shade of crimson.

"Hoho… My fiancé's here," Kagerou smiled at her.

Ririchiyo noticed the mask of pretends again. Lately she realized that she could easily tell when Kagerou's mask of pretends was in place, it was always there but there were times he's take it off and she liked that Kagerou better. She also noticed something- Kagerou had bruises. She tried to hide the worry in her face but it was still there and it was still visible. Ririchiyo opened her mouth to speak but before she got the chance to speak Zange managed to cut her off.

"Ririchiyo, here you go." Zange hands her a first aid kit. Without giving Ririchiyo a chance to react, Zange walked away and left the two of them there, in awkward silence.

Ririchiyo tilted her head to examine the box in her hand. It wasn't like she didn't know what she was supposed to do; in fact she knew exactly what she was supposed to do. Kagerou give her a ' So what now' look. She took some steps forward and sat beside Kagerou. She gave a long sigh.

"You know, I could just ask Chino to do this if you don't want to. She'd be more glad to," Kagerou said, not looking at her but looking at the scenery Ayakashi kan had to offer them.

Ririchiyo snapped her head towards Kagerou. Chino Kotomura- the cheerful koropokkuru, she's in the same class with Kagerou and Ririchiyo. Not to mention, she lives in room 4, just next to Kagerou's. Something sparked inside her, she didn't know what it was. She quickly opened the kit and started tending Kagerou's bruises- roughly. Kagerou winced at the rough treatment.

"By any chance, are you trying to make it worse?" Kagerou winced again.

"Shut up," Ririchiyo applied more force to it. She sighed and started doing it gently." Who did this?"

"Uhm… I fell down the stairs," Kagerou scratched his cheek with a finger. That was obviously a lie. Only a fool could fall for that and unfortunately for him Ririchiyo was no fool.

Ririchiyo was done with her little task and placed her hands on her lap. She hung her head low and sighed again. She cocked her head and her violet orbs met his blue ones.

" Kagerou, who did this to you?" Ririchiyo's expression softened.

"I told you, I fell down the stairs." Kagerou tried to look away, avoid her eyes but it was like there was some kind of force, keeping him still, making him look into her beautiful violet orbs.

"Kagerou Shoukiin, I can tell when you're lying or not. And that was one obvious lie," there was a mixture of anger and sadness in her voice. But somehow he felt that the anger was not directed to him. Ririchiyo suddenly stood up and started walking away.

Unfortunately she tripped on a rock. She shut her eyes tight, bracing herself for the fall but nothing. She just felt two arms wrapped around her.

" Are you okay?" She heard Kagerou's voice.

"Tell me Kagerou, do you want history to repeat itself? Did you forget how you died? Do you want that to happen again, Kagerou? Is that what you want?"

"Ririchiyo…" Kagerou's grip tightened.

"Did it ever come to you that we don't want you to take that lonely path to death?! That I don't want to take you to take that path again?! You didn't know how much everyone mourned that day we lost you, Kagerou..!" Ririchiyo's voice sounded brittle and there were tears threatening to fall but she tried to fight it. Why? Why was she acting like this?

"Hey Ririchiyo.. Ssshhh… don't cry. I don't want to see you cry," Kagerou turned her to face him. He put both his hands on her shoulders. He tilted her chin up so she would meet his gaze.

Her eyes were already glassy but she tried to fight the tears.

Kagerou place a hand on her cheek. He knew Ririchiyo was such a delicate person, she was always prone to tears. But he wanted her to be strong on this one because he knew she had always been strong ," Sshhh… Don't cry," He shushed her.

" I heard swords clanging last night. I knew something happened," She said. Her voice was still brittle but she didn't look like she was going to cry anymore.

" It's okay. Nothing wrong's gonna happen. Let's just go back, alright?" He tried to comfort the poor girl.

Ririchiyo just nodded her head and followed Kagerou.

A smile work its way on Kagerou's lips as he felt a little warm hand holding his. Her grip was tight as if she was afraid he'd disappear if she lets go.

END OF CHAPTER 6

RIRICHIYO: WAITING FOR THE AUTHOR TO UPDATE SEEMED LIKE FOREVER.

KAGEROU: *NODDING* THE AUTOR REALLY IS SUCH AN S FOR MAKING US WAIT FOR TOO LONG.

AKIYUNO123: HEY! I GOT A LIFE TOO, YOU KNOW. ANYWAYS THANKS FOR READING. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED ~