My eyes flutter open, my body still sore. I look up to see the boy awake next to me. I smile at him, "Feeling better?"

He smiles back at me, "I'm fine now. Are you feeling better?"

I sit up slowly, "Getting there."

I hug my knees and we are silent for a moment. The boy extends his hand and says, "I'm Neo."

I take his hand and shake it, "Alex."

He smiles and looks away for a moment, "Um….I bandaged your wounds…..Sorry, I couldn't tell if you were a guy or girl."

I grin and say, "No biggie, I got nothing to show off anyway."

He blushes a little and says, "I also ruined your school uniform. It's covered in blood, sorry about that also."

I look down at my blood covered clothes, "No problem either."

He has a guilty look in his eyes as he sighs, "I have some extra money, at least let me repay you by getting another uniform."

I shake my head and say, "No, no. You don't need to do that."

He looks at me with big puppy eyes, reminding me of when Ryu sometimes pouted, "Please…"

I sigh and smile, "Ok, let's head out."

Neo jumps up and grabs my hand, dragging me out of the shack. He had a big grin on his face that reminds me of a kid.

As we walk into the uniform shop, I look at the boys uniforms for my school. Neo stares at me and complains, "Awe, Alex….. Why won't you wear a girls uniform?"

I shrug and say, "Hm, no reason. I just don't like wearing them."

He runs over and grabs me a girls shirt and skirt, a boys tie, and a pair of leggings. He hands me them and says, "Try these on, please."

I half smile and say, "Ok, just to try them on."

I go into the changing room and finally step out, with all the clothes on.

I blush and try to avoid eye contact, fidgeting with the unfamiliar clothes. Neo walks up to me and whispers in my ear, "You look amazingly cute."

I feel my face turn bright red at his words, "Um…thanks.."

I rush to get unchanged and Neo buys the clothes for me.

As we walk out, Neo hugs me playfully, "Oh, Alex. Thanks for helping me before."

I hug him back, "No problem. You remind me of a little brother, maybe that's why I trust you."

He looks at me a little depressed as he mumbles, "Only a little brother, huh?"

I cock my head to the side and question, "Um….are you ok with that?"

Neo walks away from me and then stops, turning to face me, "I don't mind….. But I am older than you, not as wise and mature though…."

I feel as if I heard this before, "Neo…..what are you getting at?"

A black car pulls up behind him as he whispers, "I really thought I was more to you than that, Yuki."

I quickly look up at him in response to my other name. A man wearing a black suit opens the car door and bows, "Master Neo, we have come to take you home."

Neo nods and before getting in the car, he pulls the collar of his shirt to the side to show a marking on his neck.

I feel the tears roll down my cheeks as I reveal my own dragon mark, which was burning my skin painfully, "I've never forgotten about you….."

He smiles and gets into the car without a word.

(Author's Note: Help! Any suggestions on how to continue this little problem between Alex/Yuki and Neo/Ryu?)