Author's note: Onto a more serious chapter - *mystical voice* We shall delve into Aido's mind...

Aido walked from the water with a small frown on his face. Asuka watched him with concern, her light blue eyes dancing sadly as she watched him.

"I should go apologize," Akatsuki said distantly, starting to walk out of the water to go after his cousin. Ruka placed a hand on his arm as if she was trying to comfort him but he simply blew her off and walked out into the forest to find Aido.


Asuka followed Akatsuki as they went to find Aido. The first place they looked was the campground. To their luck, Aido was there, sitting by the fire as he swished his blood tablet water around in a glass, freezing it occasionally.

"Hanabusa," Akatsuki said as they walked over to him, "I'm sorry about burning you. I didn't mean for it to hit you. Are you ok?"

Aido nodded, drinking the rest of the artificial blood.

"Yeah, I'm fine. The burns have healed already." He replied.

"That's good!" Asuka said happily as she hugged him.


"Yeah," Aido said distantly as he rubbed her arm that was wrapped around his chest in the hug. She felt her smile falter as she studied his saddened face.

"There's something else bothering you, isn't there?" Asuka asked as she nuzzled her face into his neck. He sighed slightly, trying to hide his depression silently.

"No, there –"

"Yes, there is. Tell me what's wrong," Asuka pressed on, kissing his neck lightly. Aido mentally cursed her and all her damned cuteness.

"Well, I'm gonna go back to the lake. I'll tell everyone you're ok." Akatsuki said as he walked away, leaving the two lovebirds alone.


Aido sighed, knowing Asuka wasn't going to leave him alone until he told her what was bothering him.

'No, don't tell her. She'll think you're weak!' A voice in his head said.

'Just tell her. If she really loves you then she won't care.' Another voice advised him.

'Don't tell her!'

'Tell her!'

"I'm just kind of mad that everyone keeps making fun of me." Aido finally admitted.


"Oh…" Asuka trailed off, unsure of what to say. She knew Aido was fairly decent about handling all of the comments made, but she had no idea that they could get to him like this. "I'm sure none of them actually meant it," She offered in hopes of consoling him.

"No, I'm sure that Ruka meant every single word she said," Aido stated in a rather disappointed voice.

"No, I actually didn't," Ruka stated from the trees as she came out to stand by the hugging couple. "As heartless as people may think I am, I actually do care."


"Well look at that, queen bitch has feelings." Jensen said.

"Be nice Jensen." Yuki said, nudging the girl's arm.

"I was being nice." Jensen replied, "I refrained from using the 'f' word or, you know, punching her in the face."

"Now, now, do I have to threaten you with disciplinary committee duty?" Headmaster Cross warned.

Jensen leaned against Zero as he put his arm her.

"Do you really want me out at night with him?" She asked, smirking.

"Say no! Say no!" Yuki pleaded.

"Why?" The headmaster asked.

Instead of answering her father's question, Yuki only shuddered.


"Moving on from your sex life," Ruka sneered, glaring to the couple, "I am sorry, Aido, if something I said hurt your feelings." Ruka walked over to the blonde and patted his shoulder robotically, the action clearly foreign to her.

"Thanks, Ruka," He smiled, pulling her into an unsuspected hug that clearly displeased her, "But I do hope you realize that from now on, I'm going to have to call you my Queen B, right?" Aido laughed as she shoved him away with a harsh expletive from her mouth and a glare in her eyes.

"Damn it, Nakajima! You just had to say that, didn't you?" Ruka growled, looking to Jensen with an evil aura about her.

"Yes, yes I did," Jensen smiled smugly as she held her hand out for a high five from Aido.

Author's: WE'RE SO SORRY! *both glomp him*

Aido *smiles and hugs them back*: It's all right.

Both *inner thoughts*: WE'RE FREAKIN HUGGING HANABUSA AIDO!