Right. So, the last time I posted was in July apparently. And now it's November. Whoops. Time sure does fly, huh? I'm so sorry, you guys. SO SORRY. But being a junior in high school is tough work. I've got my AP classes, club stuff, and soccer. Anyway, there's my list of excuses as usual. I swear someone's going to just have to PM me every other month or so to remind me I have a story to take care of. Anyway, here's the list of the super duper awesome people who review despite my being such a fail:
ThePandaHat: Here is moar of the story. Just like you requested :)
TsukiyoTenshi: Thanks for reviewing. You're the best.
Guest: Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm glad you like the story so far!
angelcheonsa: Ah. You found me out! I guess the conversation topic was kind of obvious since a lot of people got it. Alas. Such is life.
Alyanna Carino: Well, the soon part didn't actually happen, but at least made another chapter.
snowiewolf: Another person who guessed what the conversation was about. Was it really that obvious?
AnimeLover261: Love how you tell me gambatte! You're so sweet! Thanks so much!
sweetwithobsessions: At this point, I kind of don't want Kaname as a boyfriend because he's currently an stubborn jerk face. But I'm sure he'll repent. When he does, I'll fight you for him.
amuxikuto123: WOAH. Just realized you reviewed TWICE. That's really sweet of you. I can't believe my story moved you to do that just so I'd write another chapter. (That is you in the anonymous note, right? Or did someone just choose the same username as you? I really hope not, because that'd be so awkward on my side.)
Armandhas: Wow. You actually read my notes. I'm surprised to be honest. Thanks a lot. I gotta say, I'm impressed that you read that. So, thanks again. You're fantastic.
BookWormMissy: The story will go on no matter what! It just may take a while. Sorry about that, but thanks so much for supporting me!
Namine1993: Hope this chapter satisfies you!
Guest: Here's the TakumaxYuuki moments you requested! In fact, this entire chapter is about them. I hope you like it!
Vocaloid Marmalade86: I'm so glad you love the story! Thanks for reviewing!
Precious Thing: Thanks for reviewing!
You guys. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I have 82 reviews for the whole story. That's just crazy! You guys are the best. Seriously. THE BEST. I love you guys so much. I have the best supporters in the world! You guys give me ideas, forgive me for updating slowly, and the list goes on and on. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU ALL.
Disclaimer: I do not own VK.
Also, sorry for the almost nonexistent KanaYuu action in this chapter. You guys are constantly asking me to add KanaYuu bits to my chapters and it just never happens. But don't worry, you guys. There's a plan. The KanaYuu will come someday, just not today.
xxx
"What do you want, Kaname?" asked Ichijou. He was currently standing across from the brown-haired boy in a secluded corner of the school.
"I want you to stop hanging around Yuuki Cross," the cinnamon-eyed boy bluntly replied.
"Why?" asked Ichijou, "Give me one good reason to," he challenged.
"I, uh," Kaname faltered, quickly trying to come up with an excuse, "just don't think it's a good idea for you to hand around with her. She's obviously going to break your heart," he declared.
Ichijou threw his best friend a skeptical look, "Right. Yuuki Cross is totally the type of girl who runs around breaking hearts. That's more like you. Try again."
Kaname sent an irritated look towards the blond class president, "First of all, I'm a dude. So therefore I'm not a 'girl who runs around breaking hearts.' Just wanted to clear that up. Second, just stay away from her, man. It's not like I'm asking you to kill somebody. It's just a simple favor. Really. It's for your own good, actually." Oh, god. Was he babbling? For some reason, his forehead felt sweaty too. Please, please, Ichijou, the brown-haired boy mentally begged, just take the hint and stop hanging around her.
"Look Kaname," began Ichijou slowly, "I'm not going to stop hanging around Yuuki unless you give me a good reason. She's a nice girl, and I feel like we could end up being really good friends."
Besides, you have no business telling me to stay away from Yuuki unless you break up from Sara. It's not like Yuuki's your girlfriend. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to meet Yuuki in the library."
"Why are you hanging out with her?" demanded Kaname suddenly, "Do you like her or something? She's not that pretty, and she isn't classy like Sara or anything."
Ichijou looked at Kaname with something akin to pity in his eyes, "You don't really mean that, do you? Yuuki's a beautiful girl, and she's got a heart of gold to go along with it. She's real. Honest. Innocent. She's a very special girl. Don't pretend you don't see it, Kaname. I know you do. You're just trying to convince yourself you're not, but if you persist in acting like a spoiled child, I refuse to hang out with you anymore."
Kaname looked at the serious expression on his friend's normally smiling face. Ichijou's normally emerald green eyes had darkened to a dark stormy sea green, and Kaname knew without a doubt that his friend was serious, "Very well. I'm sorry it had to end this way, friend."
"Me too, friend. Me too." Ichijou left the brown-haired boy and walked away. Kaname was left confused.
Takuma left Kaname with various thoughts running through his head. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts he didn't notice somebody was standing in his way until he bumped into a very solid body. The blond-haired student looked up to see Zero Kiryu looking down at him.
"Oh, hello, Zero," remarked Ichijou cheerfully, "I'm sorry for bumping into you. I didn't see you there. What's up?"
The silver-haired boy was silent for a few moments, looking very closely at Takuma, as if trying to see his thoughts, "I heard what you said to Kaname," he drawled.
Takuma felt his blood run cold. Several few choice curse words ran through his mind, "Oh," he remarked off-handedly, trying to retain his composure, "what exactly did you hear?"
Zero was quiet again, as if trying to ponder what to say next. "I know what you said about Yuuki. I wanted to thank you. She doesn't really have many friends here, and Ichiru and I aren't always there to save her when she needs it. So, thank you."
Ichijou mentally breathed a sigh of relief, "It was no problem, Zero. Yuuki's a nice girl, and I would hate for her to be bad-talked. So you don't have to thank me," he replied, a smile on his face.
"Good," replied the normally taciturn Guardian, "because I would hate to have to this again. So I'm going to throw you a bone here, and we'll call things nice and even. Yuuki's right now in the library, probably sweating over some math homework. I was supposed to help her with it today, but you can fill in for me, can't you?"
Ichijou smiled, knowing what this meant. Zero was giving his blessing for him and Yuuki to hang out and maybe even date. The cheerful green-eyed boy thanked Zero and turned to head straight to the library.
"Ichijou?" Zero called out, causing Takuma to turn, "if you hurt her, I'll kill you," he warned.
If possible, the blond-haired boy's smile grew even wider, "Don't worry," he replied, "that'll never happen."
Yuuki had been puzzling over a complicated math problem when a cheery voice commented, "You're using the wrong formula. You need to use the second formula for this type of problem."
The brown-haired girl looked up to see the smiling face of the class president.
"Hello, Takuma. What are you doing here?"
"I came to help," the blond boy brightly replied, "Zero mentioned you'd be here and told me you'd probably be here struggling over your math problems and I thought I might lend a helping hand."
"Why?" questioned the brown-haired girl.
"Well, honestly, I kind of need you to help me plan the talent show. The Chairman approved the idea, and as part of the Guardians, I kind of need your help," Ichijou sheepishly admitted, not mentioning that he also just wanted to spend time with the sole female Guardian.
"That's sounds great," exclaimed Yuuki, "I've been stuck on this stupid worksheet for ages, and without Zero, I'm lost."
Ichijou gave a mock bow, his emerald eyes sparkling with delight, "I live to serve, my fair lady," he said, causing a giggle to escape from Yuuki's mouth. The girl immediately covered her mouth, remembering that the librarian was a grumpy old woman who would immediately throw out anyone who even seemed remotely happy unless, like some of the students had learned to do, you carried . Unfortunately, the brown-haired girl made the mistake of meeting the twinkling eyes of her blond companion. Laughter erupted from the two. Every time the laughter began to die down, the two would meet the other's eyes and laughter would burst out again.
"No, stop laughing!" commanded Yuuki between laughs, "Ms. Shiro is going to kick us out of here if you don't stop!"
"I'll stop if you stop," replied Ichijou, now holding his sides. Suddenly, the blond-haired boy saw a dark figure behind the shelves, "Oh, no! She's here. Come on, Yuuki," he said, grabbing her petite hand in his, "Let's get out of here."
The two left the library amidst laughter and giggles with bright smiles on their faces. Anybody who didn't know the two would have mistaken the two for a couple as they raced from the library to a quiet spot in the garden, their hands still entwined and faces bright with laughter. Takuma came to a sudden stop when the two finally reached a small corner that was protected by an overhanging tree, causing Yuuki to stumble into him. The class president's free arm immediately went around his female companion's small waist to steady her, and acting on instinct, Yuuki's arms went around Ichijou's body, the only near source of stability. The two finally stopped tripping and managed to stand still. Breathing a sigh of relief, the class president and female guardian looked into each other's eyes and started laughing at the absurdity of the situation, their arms still winded around each other's bodies.
It was in this position that Kaname Kuran found them. He had been on his way to find Ichijou to apologize, but when he saw his best friend with his arms entwined around Yuuki Cross, all he could see was red. Clenching his fist, the brown-haired boy swiftly turned on his heel and went to go find his girlfriend. She wouldn't betray him, the boy murderously thought, although he really did not exactly know how Ichijou had betrayed him, save that he did.
Yuuki did not see Kaname, but her blond companion did, and as the emerald-eyed boy saw his best friend walk away in anger, he could not help but let a feeling of satisfaction run through his body. Kaname needed to learn where his priorities lay. If he was too stupid to see how wonderful Yuuki was, then it was to Ichijou's gain.
"Hey, Takuma," said Yuuki, noticing the emerald-eyed boy's silence, "Is something wrong? You're awfully quiet all of a sudden."
Takuma turned to face the cinnamon-eyed girl and pasted a smile on his face, "No, nothing's wrong. Just thinking how lucky I am that I get to be your friend," he smoothly replied.
Yuuki blushed and ducked her head, "I should be the one saying that. I'm a nobody; I don't deserve to hang out with people like you, Takuma."
Takuma looked at the female guardian with concern and lifted up her chin with one of his fingers, "Hey, don't talk like that, Yuuki," he murmured to her quietly, his deep emerald eyes looking deep into her cinnamon ones, "You're such a wonderful girl. You're not a nobody. You're kind, compassionate. You have friends that care about you. What about Ruka? Rima? Yori? Zero? They all care about you. You're not paying for them to do that. They do it because they love you. So, see? You're not a nobody." The class president used his extra hand to tuck a stray strand of Yuuki's chocolate hair behind one of her ears and then proceeded to cradle her face in his hands.
Yuuki looked down, her face still in his hands, "I'm not beautiful like Sara. I'm not popular like you, Takuma. You really shouldn't be talking with me. If people see you hanging out with me, they might say stuff."
Takuma felt a flash of anger go through his body. Nobody, nobody should have to feel like this, he thought angrily, least of all Yuuki, sweet compassionate Yuuki. The blond-haired boy took Yuuki into his arms and hugged her with all of his might, "I think you're beautiful, Yuuki. In fact, I think you're one of the most beautiful girls in our class," he declared, stroking her silky hair now, "Yes, Sara might be what some consider to be gorgeous, but you, Yuuki, are a beauty that only some can see. You're beautiful when you smile. You're beautiful when you help others, when you stand up for others. Yours is a beauty that only a few can recognize, Yuuki, but to those who see your beauty, they consider you to be one of the most beautiful. It's a beauty that shines with your character, and it's something only you have, Yuuki. So don't be discouraged, Yuuki, because I see it, and I think you're beautiful," Takuma reassured the girl in his arms.
Yuuki felt tears start to well up in her eyes, and she threw her arms around Takuma's neck, "Thank you," she sobbed. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
The two stood there for a while, wrapped in each other's arms. After a while, it was with a sense of disappointment, Yuuki disentangled herself from Takuma's arms already missing the warmth of his arms in the cold chilly autmn air, "I need to get going to my dorm or Yori's going to start worrying," she stated sheepishly.
Takuma smiled, "Well, we wouldn't want that to happen now would we," he said and offered her his arm. His chocolate-haired companion smiled and took the offered arm.
When the two reached the girls' dormitory, Ichijou took one of Yuuki's dainty hands and brushed his lips softly over her knuckles, "I bid you adieu, my sweet lady," he stated with a grand flourish of his hand, causing Yuuki to softly giggle.
"You're so silly, Takuma."
A lopsided grin found its way on the blond boy's face, "I know. Are you sure you'll be fine?" he asked, concern evident in his voice despite his earlier silly actions.
Yuuki nodded and reassured her male companion, "I'll be fine."
Something in her voice must have given her away, because instead of leaving her to go to the boys' dorm rooms, Takuma searched intently into Yuuki's cinnamon eyes, looking for some sign of her wellbeing.
Deciding that it would be better for him to give Yuuki some space, Takuma embraced the Yuuki's slight frame in his arms again. "Sweet dreams, Yuuki," he murmured into her ear. Tightening his arms around her small body, Takuma hoped that Yuuki would feel the truth of what he had said to her earlier through his hug. Letting her go, he turned back to his dorms, a lonely walk in the chilly weather. Before he could descend down the steps, however, he was stopped by a small hand on his shoulder. He turned, and saw Yuuki's still tear-stained face. He silently waited for her to say what she wanted, not wanting to push her into more tears.
"Thank you again, Takuma. And, um, sweet dreams to you too," Yuuki said softly, her voices becoming squeaky at the end. Takuma felt a smile begin to form on his face at the slight blush on Yuuki's cheeks, "You too, Yuuki. I'll see you tomorrow." If anyone had seen the young Ichijou clan member after that, they would have asked why he had such a stupid smile on his face.
xxx
So, a pretty meaty chapter, huh? I didn't want it to be some filler chapter. Thanks for supporting me so far, you guys! We've still got a long ways to go before Yuuki and Kaname realize they're meant to be, so just please hang with me for a bit longer, okay? Review and happy Thanksgiving! Stuff yourself with food! The holiday season is almost here!
Thank you all again!
