[7]

Ryoma Echizen

My heart grew more and mroe anxious for the end of the day and by the time it was the end of lunch, I couldn't stand it. I wanted to be with Tsukiko. Knowing that she's laying in bed, alone in that one room with no appetite to eat and feeling sick! I mean ever since we first met, I'd been by her side during her process of recovery from every illness she'd had.

I want to call out to her and hold her hand. Why did I even come to school? Man this sucks. I stared blankly out the window when suddenly someone called my name.

"Echizen." The voice called. "Oi! Echizen Ryoma!" I returned my gaze to the front of the room. My music teacher must've been the one that called me. "Pay attention! This is worth 30% of your final mark!" She scolded.

"Sorry." I mumbled in English. Speaking of which, I swore it was English class. Man! This day is wayyyyy to slow.

"Ryoma Echizen!" The teacher scolded again. I guess I dozed off again. "Have you even listened to a single word I'd said? Anyways, you will each draw a slip a paper out from this hat. Inside will be the topic you're writing about in your song. There will be absolutely no switching what-so-ever. There are 5 free slips, of course meaning you can write about anything you want or redraw a second time."

She went in attendance order (by last name) and called each student up to draw a slip. I was the 5th one up. I didn't bother to reach so I just took the one folded neatly on top.

I didn't read it until I got back into my seat but I didn't have a very good feeling about it.

I opened the paper as I sat down. "Romance..." I mumbled, not really paying attention. It took a while to sink in...ROMANCE?! I almost screamed out loud. I didn't know how to write songs, I never wated to write songs, nonetheless one about romance!

As I walked home, I made a useless attempt to come up with lyrics. After 2 minutes, I gave up. Instead, I made a quick trip to Kawamura Sushi to buy a large box for Tsukiko, a tradition for being sick. After that, I simlpy ran home.

As I walked through the door, Tsukiko's smile lit up. But in the brief second before,her eyes were full of plead while her smile was a scowl.

"Ryoma!~" She sang as she ran up to me. I put the sushi gently down as fast as I could before she nearly knocked me over in an body was still burning though she only wore an over-sized t-shirt with short shorts... well I think she had shorts on, either way, I'm not the perverted one in the house.

Before I was even able to say her name, she bambarded me with questions.

"How was your day? Did you have fun? I bet you missed me didn't yhou? Any homework? Why didn't you stay for tennis today? What's in the take out bag? Ooooo is it for me? Y'know I was gonna go pick you up from school but Okaa-san wouldn't let me.-" She said, referring my mom as her mom, we were used to it by now. I cut off her questioning.

"I'm fine. Loads of fun. Did I miss you? That can be debated." She flinched, her grip around my waist lossened. I pretended not to notice and kept going on with the questions. "Yes. Too tired. Sushi. No." I didn't have to look down at her to see her pain. I almost didn't forgive myself.

"Sushi?" she asked, hurt by my words. I chuckled.

"C'mon, you know the sushi is for you, after all, who's the one that's sick?"

"Ryoma-kun doesn't miss me..." She mumbled with pain in her eyes.

I shrugged. "It's debatable whether I missed ou more or vice versa. THough I gotta say. Get back in bed, you're making me sweat. And don't call me Ryoma-kun ever again."

"Hai, Hai. Ryoma-kun!!!" She laughed, she then clutched her head in pain. Instantly, I reached out to catch her fall. Following that, I picked up the box of sushi and gave it to her, I swung her into my arms and carried her up the stairs to her room.

That night, we didn't have dinner, instead, we ate the big box of sushi. Whether she was better or not, I wasn't sure. But one thing I knew for certain, she had a big appetite for someone so ill.

After I made sure she was fast asleep in bed, I let go of her hand and returned to my own room. As I sat down, I began writing.

note: sorry late update. (well for me anyways.) i hope you enjoyed the chapter. my bus ride to school is one and a half hours so i have plenty of time to write up the story on the bus but i never have time at night to type it up on the computer. Right now, I'm actually finished chapter 8 on phone and on chapter 9. It's gonna go by fast ( I hope) anyways. Thanks for the support. and feel free to review,comment, suggestions, favourites....etc etc. --Bonnie